Last week on Survivor, the tribes saw their loved ones, and we saw that Neleh's mother was a freak. Kathy's son Pat spent the night at Soliantu, and Kathy asked his advice, then didn't let him get a word in. The S6 continued to haggle over alliances, Joanna did some really bad math, Vecepia won immunity, and Robert got voted out. Five are left. Who will be voted out tonight?
Tribal chanting, island scenery, soaring bird, Soliantu flag. Kathy groans as she sits down, and Sean mumbles something. Kathy wants to know why he's mumbling, and Vecepia says he's hungry. Kathy offers to fetch some apples, but Sean wants "real food." He doesn't say he's lost his appetite because Kathy is picking at her teeth with something big and green and apple-like right in his face. Sean whines that the situation sucks because the days aren't passing as quickly as he thought they would. In a confessional, he says he just wants to eat, get through another day, win the immunity challenge, and then see where the cards lie. Depending on who wins the immunities, Sean thinks he could come up with ten different combinations of what might happen in the several days. He's not going to do that, though, because it "takes too much energy to strategize," and he prefers just to take it day by day. But still, he'll go out fighting. Literally, as we'll see later.
Vecepia matter-of-factly tells us in a confessional that it's easy to perceive Kathy as the swing vote, because she and Sean appear linked, as do Paschal and Neleh. She says that, as the fifth person, Kathy is looking for a reason to swing her vote someone's way, but that she "truly [does] not believe race is an issue on this beach." We see Kathy continuing to scrub her teeth nastily as Vecepia goes on insisting that -- no matter what the situation is -- people will assume that she and Sean are allied because they are the only African-Americans. Kathy nods and laughs, then tells us in a confessional that Vecepia made mention of her status as swing vote. Already there's finger-pointing, since they both told us that the other one brought up the subject of Kathy's vote. Kathy says that Vecepia was "playin' the race card a bit," but that she hadn't thought about it like that yet. As they continue to talk, Neleh creeps up in the background and then sits directly in the middle of their conversation. In a confessional, Neleh complains that being "stuck" on an island with people who are "talkin' and back-stabbin'" is difficult. And I understand that sentiment completely, because talking people are really hard to take sometimes. Neleh continues explaining (as best she can explain anything, that is) that Vecepia took Kathy aside and had a "little discussion" with her, which is a condescending way of putting it. Neleh thinks the whole race thing is ridiculous, and insists that it "never, ever" played a part in the game. When Neleh hears Vecepia say something like, "Well, you know, it's us two African-Americans against you two. And then Kathy's the swing vote," she gets irritated. Sweetly irritated, of course.
Now Neleh and Paschal lie together on a makeshift bed and bitch about the situation. Neleh says it's "almost like a guilt thing," and Paschal responds, "It's like we owe 'em something," so I'm taking it he's not a supporter of affirmative action. He says that the situation gives him more resolve, and that Kathy would be a fool to fall for the others' argument. The camera then pulls back to reveal Vecepia sitting less than ten feet away from where this discussion is taking place. In a confessional, Paschal says that Vecepia is stupid if she thinks pulling the race card so late in the game will swing Kathy to her side; he says that Kathy wouldn't allow herself to be put in that spot, and that Vecepia's maneuvering is "sickening." ["I seriously had no idea what the hell Paschal thought Vecepia was doing, or why it was sickening, except that it looked as though the tide was turning against Paschal and Neleh." -- Wing Chun]
Now it's Neleh and Paschal's turn to kiss Kathy's butt, and I'm kind of amazed how well this has worked out for someone who irritated every single member of her tribe three minutes into the first day. Neleh complains that Sean's attitude drags her down, but makes no mention of the saggy bathing suit bottoms that have had the same effect on her in all the challenges. Neleh continues rambling, and Paschal -- well aware that no argument from Neleh is a good one -- cuts her off to get to the point. He says he's had no reason from the first day to believe either Vecepia or Sean, and Kathy agrees. Neleh -- who should really just keep her mouth shut -- says she would be "pukey sick" if Kathy aligned with the others. And I'm sure knowing that Neleh might throw up will weigh heavily in Kathy's decision-making. Kathy makes the Home Alone Macaulay Culkin hands-to-cheeks- mouth-wide-open face in response to all the confusion, and then voice-overs that she doesn't want to be "cast as the swing player who made the wrong vote." She tells us that she spends all her time figuring out how to play the game, and -- despite all the others' plays for her attention -- she's still looking out only for herself.
Now we see a pair of stilts propped up against a tree, and hear exclamations of dismay from Neleh, Kathy, and Paschal as they approach the treemail. They moan and discuss what it means while remaining a good distance away, and it's like they're afraid of getting any closer to the evil stilts. The clue reads:
Balance aim and cunning
You've done it all before
Capitalize on past mistakes
Comfort awaits behind the door
And at least it was a short one. Paschal plays with his pants while hearing the clue, and then tells us in a voice-over that the clue says they'll do stuff they've done before, "whatever that means." He then hopefully tells the others, "It may not have anything to do with stilts!" Kathy quickly shoots him down, "Oh, yes it does!" He responds, "If it does, I'm out," and then explains in the confessional that he's never been able to figure out how to use the stilts, and that he'll just wait and see at the challenge. He concludes, "When Jeff tells us, that's when I'll know," and also that when Jeff builds it, that's when he'll come.
The challenge music plays as we see palm trees, colored trunks, the sand-filled towers from the slingshot challenge, and an angry-looking, exploited tiki. Peachy -- in a white cowboy hat and white shirt -- tells the S5 that in the thirty-four days they've been in the Marquesas, they've done and experienced many things, and he hopes they have few regrets. Vecepia looks incredibly unamused as Peachy continues that he knows there must be at least a challenge or two they would like to do over again. He reveals that today's reward challenge will consist of elements from six contests.
In the first part of the challenge, they will each have a "color-coded tiki that's been chopped into eight pieces." The S5 have to collect all the pieces which have been scattered throughout the jungle, and then correctly assemble their individual tiki. This is accompanied by a shot of the tikis magically assembling themselves.
In the second part of the challenge, the S5 are directed to find a pile of coconuts and break them open until a bamboo shoot overflows with milk.
They will then continue through the jungle until they reach stilts hanging in the air and tied to a log. They are instructed to undo the knots and release the stilts before progressing to the "stilt-walking portion of the challenge": a ten-foot section the S5 will need to cross before moving on. And I think this must be a two-parter: the untying of the knots, and the stilt-walking.
, the S5 will come to another pile of coconuts, one of which will contain a key. They will use the key to unlock a spray-painted trunk and then retrieve the slingshot inside.
In the last part of the challenge, the S5 will attempt to break one of their tiles causing sand falls on their tiki. And that's the win.
Peachy knows they're tired, but he hopes the reward is worthy of the very long, strenuous race. Behind the S5, a big red boat looms in the background, and there's no way they wouldn't hear that thing approaching. Still, they act surprised as they turn around when Peachy yells, "Bring it down, guys!" The prize is a red Saturn Vue, which is not nearly so ugly as the cars they've won in the past. This one at least resembles a car, and not some kind of catastrophic breeding mistake. Peachy tells them the car is "fully loaded" with "all the extras," which, given that it's a Saturn may just mean that it has windows, doors, and a steering wheel. That's not meant as a jab at Saturn; I just thought they were the no-frills "for the people" car company. Peachy makes a point of saying that the car is for them to enjoy when they return home, in case they think they'll get to cruise around the island in it for the rest of their time there.
Peachy lines the S5 up, and the challenge begins. They start out running, but quickly slow to walks because they're so exhausted from all that lying around every day. Sean and Paschal both stack up and carry a bunch of tiki parts, while Neleh carries the pieces one at a time, perhaps having learned a lesson from her attempts to carry multiple coconuts in past episodes. Vecepia is off to a strong start, while Sean's and Neleh's tikis are also quickly taking shape. Paschal's tiki stands high, but he doesn't appear to be bothering to order the pieces correctly. Vecepia finishes the tiki and moves on to the coconut-smashing section, and Neleh moves on shortly after. Kathy self-deprecatingly laughs as she asks whether her tiki is constructed properly. You know she at least kind of thinks she has it right, but Peachy tells her it's not. Sean moves on ; Paschal, meanwhile, is just staring at his tiki, perhaps willing it with his eyes to move. Then Kathy's tiki is also a go; Paschal cheers her on, and then slowly tips his whole tiki tower over, so clearly he's given up. ["I got the impression he was never really trying, since he either doesn't want or doesn't need a new car and wanted someone else (read: Neleh) to win it." -- Wing Chun]
So everyone has moved on to the bamboo-filling challenge while Paschal remains behind, which is where he will stay. Sean is good at the coconut-smashing and finishes first. From this point on, it's his race.
Paschal is still at the first part of the challenge, staring at the tiki pieces and bumbling around, as Sean unties the knots which hold down the stilts and Peachy yells, "Nobody's close!" as Sean reaches the stilt-walking starting point. Peachy snits, "Let's see if you can do what you couldn't do a few weeks ago: walk on stilts!" And then Sean totally breezes through it on the first attempt, so either they've had stilts back at camp and have been practicing out of boredom, or these are a different, easier kind to use.
Peachy coaches, "It's as good as yours. Nobody [sic] close!" as Sean cracks open his key-filled coconut and unlocks the trunk to retrieve the slingshot. He then totally nails the tile over his tiki on the very first shot.
So Sean wins, and he's excited and jumping up and down, and I'm there with him until he starts screaming, "God is so good! God is good! God!" and "I can do all things through Christ, baby! I can do all things through Christ! Jesus Christ!" and then throws himself down on the beach yelling, "God! God!" And I understand gratitude and all, but I'm just asking for a degree of restraint. Like, if his mother gave him the car, would he be running around yelling, "Mom is good! Mom is good! Mom!" ["Plus, seriously, I like to think God has better things to do with His infinite power than win people cars on reality shows." -- Wing Chun] Peachy says again that no one was even close to Sean, and then randomly slams him: "You know what? You may not look good, but you're gonna look good in that ride!" Sean's too tired to haul off and hit him for being rude, and then Vecepia comes over to congratulate Sean: "Give me some love, brother!" But not too much love, I hope, being a Leander fan and all. I mean, Vecepia's a Leander fan, but I'm a Leander fan, too. I wish Leander would come to Baltimore and hug me. But only if he hasn't read these recaps. Anyway, Vecepia seems really happy for Sean, and then suddenly they're all on the boat and swarming around the car and someone -- oddly enough, not Sean -- says, "Get your hands off it!" As they all look the car over enthusiastically, Neleh says, "And it's an automatic, too! Wow!" because they don't have those in Utah. Sean gets into the Saturn, prompting Kathy to tell Sean how good he looks. What's with that, anyway? So the S5 stand around looking proud and happy and Sean gives them the thumbs-up, and then turns around and gives the camera thumbs-up, too. I give Sean the thumbs-up back.
As the tribe returns to camp, Sean has his arm wrapped around Kathy, and Neleh wants to join in, even though she can't stand Sean. Paschal thinks Sean's students are going to be really proud of him. If Paschal had students, I don't think they'd be very proud of him, based on what he says in a few minutes. Sean can't believe he won such a great new car, and with no car payments to boot. I'm not sure if would really qualify as "winning" a car, if you had to make payments on it, but whatever. He's blessed, and he can't ask for anything better. He tells us that winning the challenge and overcoming his fatigue was as much a part of the victory, and then insists that the win was for all city kids, as well as "for everybody who feels like they can look at me and feel represented, this was for them," and who is he, Halle Berry? Vecepia hugs Sean and says, "You're Harlem, brother! Came up in here runnin' things!"
Now Paschal and Sean make a little "V" with their heads together and bodies stretched out in different directions under a tree. Sean says he didn't realize how emotionally attached he'd get to people during the game, and Paschal -- who can barely talk -- rambles on about what the experience is like for "somebody [his] age." In a confessional, he explains that he's a physical wreck. Coming into the game, he felt like he was capable of dealing with anything, but they haven't had protein, carbohydrates, or "much of anything," and the last few days have been a real struggle. He says that their bodies are "takin' a pounding," and that it's having a real effect on him. Paschal then tells Sean that he wants some water, but will probably have to wait until morning to have any because he can barely get up, and when he does get up, he needs to prop himself against a tree and close his eyes because of the dizziness that ensues. Sean jumps up and offers to go to the waterfall for Paschal. Except he doesn't, but it would have been something if he did. In a confessional, he tells us that they're all just holding on right now, and that after five to six weeks of having diarrhea and "having to dig holes to take a crap," as well as challenges, dealing with other people's lies, and "sleeping in dirt," they've reached a point where they don't know "which way is up." Sean thinks Paschal is more affected than any of the others, and this is accompanied by shots of all the S5 looking uncomfortable in various positions of supposed repose.
Now Paschal complains to Kathy that he gets dizzy every time he tries to stand up. Kathy does, too! She thinks they might be dehydrated, and suggests that they drink some water, except that Paschal says he's been drinking water all day. He then tells her he spent the prior day "in a complete fog," and couldn't see straight. Kathy, too! She tells us in a confessional that she's depleted both physically and mentally, and that Paschal's in the same place. She thinks he's "hibernating," and is not up to making any twists and turns in the game at this point because it's "too much." Now Paschal plays dead. His hand flops about off the raft-mattress like he thinks he's Anthony Edwards or something. And he didn't even get to go surfing one last time!
The same yellow bug that got swarmed by ants last week flies around today. A peaceful-looking wind blows as the tribe discusses going on a shellfish run. Kathy says they need to go soon, because the tides are low only for the hour. Neleh immediately offers to go with Kathy, but Sean thinks everyone should go together. Now they're out in the water, and Kathy wears the snorkel and places the shells into a bag Neleh holds open for her. In a confessional, Kathy complains that the water is as warm as a "bathtub," but she wants to teach the others because it's too tiring to be the "sole provider." Sean is excited because he has found his first shell, and Kathy cheers him on: "I'm tellin' ya, it's like an Easter egg hunt!" In a confessional, however, Kathy complains that Sean has only just made his "first trocka discovery," and that she's a little disappointed. Still, she says, "He's a city kid," and she's glad that she finally got him out there. Sean proudly tells us that he caught his first one today; having caught one, he's now the expert, and explains that they hang on to rocks "like suction," and it's scary because the ground is slippery and there are fish out there. He's not "Ocean Guy," so he must be careful. He then brags that he caught about five or ten of the shellfish and claims, "That's pretty good for a brother from uptown, you know."
Back at camp, Vecepia stares at Paschal. In a confessional, she tells us that she noticed he seemed down. She says he was bothered because it looked to the other Soliantus like he and Neleh had an agreement with each other outside of the S5's agreement. Now, she squats before Paschal and says she doesn't want him to have concerns about his safety in the game. Paschal responds that his attitude is that they're all very deserving, he has no problems with anyone, and thinks the best person should win. Vecepia thinks they should address this subject with the others in case they need reassuring, as well, and Paschal says that they should all have the opportunity to say how they feel. In her confessional, Vecepia tells us that they'll sit down together tonight, and that Paschal will have a chance to "clear the air." She says it's best if they just get it all out in the open so that the bad feelings don't linger, because she'd hate for anyone to go to bed feeling uncomfortable, but I'd take a big cushy bed and an unresolved problem any day over dirt and a clear conscience.
Night comes, and the S5 sit around the fire. Vecepia conducts the discussion as if it's a counseling situation. She points out that Paschal has been looking down lately, and pats herself on the back as she claims, "I finally took the opportunity to ask you, you know, what was wrong." She says he "mentioned" his concerns to her, but insists, "Since we're all here, you can just go ahead and address it." Paschal explains that he's worried that Sean and Vecepia think he and Neleh have a pact to "vote solid" on everything. He points out that from the first day, he said he wouldn't vote against Neleh, and that if it costs him the game, then so be it. Kathy immediately says, "I didn't know that." Pay attention, because that will be important later. She explains that she knew they had a bond and a friendship, but that she "honestly" didn't know that they'd agreed not to vote each other out. "We're talkin' numbers," she says, and explains that now that they're down to five, Neleh and Paschal -- allied as they are -- basically count as one vote. Paschal refuses to justify his alliance with Neleh; instead, he says that if the others want to vote him off just because he was honest with him, then they should "go for it." This makes Neleh a bit nervous, though. She says she feels like Sean and Vecepia also have a tight bond. She thinks that, in the end, they'll keep their votes together. Neleh then accuses, "Maybe that's just something that's, like, not coming out or something, you know?" She keeps rambling on, but Sean and Neleh aren't having it. Sean says Neleh's making assumptions that there is "something underneath" his friendship with Vecepia. He points out that he and Vecepia have had their differences and continue to have them, and that Neleh shouldn't accuse him of not volunteering the truth, because it's an insult to him. I concur. Stupid Neleh.
In a confessional, Neleh acts superior as she tells us that whether or not Sean and Vecepia want to call it an alliance, they are very tight. She thinks that the only difference between their situation and her own is that Neleh and Paschal have been honest. ["They haven't been any more honest than Sean and Vecepia have, if you ask me." -- Wing Chun]
Back around the fire, Sean explains to the others that from the first day of the game, the others assumed that he and Vecepia had a pact because they were the only two African-Americans. Vecepia interjects that they haven't been walking around calling themselves out as African-Americans, but it seems like they kind of have been, and also, isn't it kind of obvious? Sean insists that by no means is there a connection between himself and Vecepia that's "on the down-low or whatever," and then tells us in a confessional that the "conversation was sidetracked" by Neleh's accusations against him and Vecepia. He says that just because they're African-Americans and share a bond that's incomprehensible to the others, they're not an automatic alliance. He points out that "a few times, Vee has flipped the script on [him] and let [him] down," and I wish he'd mentioned that during the conversation with the others. Instead, he lets Paschal go on about the importance of honesty and integrity, and the others agree. Yawn. Kathy wants to break it down for them, and they have to listen, because they want her vote. She agrees that there's a small alliance; she doesn't think there's anything wrong with it, but says it does "throw a skew" on how they progress with the game.
It's now Day 35, and the tribe members stand around holding sticks and looking at their collection of pots and pans. Neleh tells Paschal that the game depends on Kathy, because she's "100% positive" that Sean and Vecepia will vote for her. Well, their other option is to vote for Paschal, so I don't know who she thinks she's complaining to, and let me just say that if Paschal gives immunity to Neleh at any point in this game, I will send him a hate letter every day for the rest of his life. Maybe I'll even use some of his own language. In a confessional, Neleh tells us that the night was intense, and "things got pretty hype." She now feels vulnerable, and hopes that Kathy doesn't fall for what Sean and Vecepia are "kind of playin' out on the table." ["Which is what? Turning against Paschal and Neleh? Yeah, obviously Neleh hopes that doesn't happen. Duh." -- Wing Chun]
We join a confused Kathy and a pissed-off Paschal, who snarks that Kathy shouldn't be confused because "this thing is so plain to [him]; it's sickening," which seems like no way to win over know-it-all Kathy's allegiance. She scoffs and asks him to fill her in. Paschal backs down slightly, insisting that it's his perspective, and that he would never ask her to "change a thing that's in her heart," but that something hit him hard last night: the realization that Vecepia and Sean have been playing the same game since Day 1. ["And...?" -- Wing Chun] He says, "We have been duped by Vecepia and Sean. They duped everybody else on the other side. They duped people on this side." ["HOW?! Okay, I give up." -- Wing Chun] In a confessional, Paschal tells us that Vecepia and Sean have been "skating" throughout the game, and that both Maraamu and Rotu members have had the same complaint. Kathy responds, "Oh, I just don't see that. Damn!" She doesn't sound particularly convincing, though, and clearly wants her butt kissed a little more. Paschal keeps going on, and then Kathy says she's naïve, which I don't really believe. Paschal tells us that Vecepia and Sean are trying to make Kathy feel like the swing vote, and I don't really see what's so wrong with that, considering she is the swing vote, isn't she? Wouldn't it be equally wrong for Paschal and Neleh to suddenly start acting like Kathy had all along been a third and equal partner in their alliance? In any case, Paschal insists that he doesn't give a damn about Sean and Vecepia's agenda, but that he's fed up with their denials of being in alliance. Paschal tells Kathy she shouldn't think for one second that she'd prevail in a final three with Sean and Vecepia. In a confessional, he then says, "Kathy, now, she's from Vermont. I'm from Georgia, and Sean from Harlem. This thing runs deeper than a game." And why was it okay by me when curmudgeonly old Rudy said something like that (I mean, I knew it was wrong, but it was Rudy!), and then gives me the wiggins when Paschal makes such a comment? Maybe because Paschal is an educated man charged with making judicial decisions every day, and a statement like this is hard to dismiss. It's clouded in minor ambiguity, so maybe I've misunderstood. Maybe Rosie will give him an opportunity to explain himself. Bryant would have had a field day with it, that's for sure. Anyway, Paschal tells us he's unwilling to "capitulate," and instead he plans to "dig in." He says that Sean and Vecepia are lying and deceptive, and that he'll vote them off the first chance he gets.
Kathy is out attempting to fly her kite, but it won't fly because, she says (according to this editing anyway), the "tensions are just too high." She tells us Paschal thinks that Sean and Vecepia have been up to no good since the beginning of the game, and so she decided to go fly her kite. Kathy tells us she will "invariably get voted out" if she goes into the final three with Paschal and Neleh. She's trying to figure out how to get into the final two, and she's beginning to believe that Sean and Vecepia are her answer.
Now Kathy tells Sean that if she allies with him and Vecepia and they make the final three, they have to be fair. She says that she's the odd man out as the "white girl," and Sean tells her not to say that, so she says, "I'm the white mama" instead. Sean points out to Kathy that Vecepia has switched sides on him a few times, and Kathy agrees that Vecepia "moves around a lot." Sean responds that people just assume his loyalty to Vecepia is "brother and sister." In a confessional, he tells us that Kathy doesn't like the alliance between Paschal and Neleh, and he thinks she's leaning toward voting one of them off. Kathy tells Sean that neither Neleh nor Paschal will be a big adversary, and then deems it a "wide open game," because the immunity challenges are no longer physical. So does that mean she thinks mental challenges are a lock? As long as they don't involve following or giving directions.
The sun sets, and we see flames; a clip of a little wooden plaque that reads, "The warrior who made the kill"; bones being tossed into a wok; and three little not-so-angry- looking, still-exploited tikis. It's challenge time, and we're clue-free for the second week in a row. Yippee! Peachy takes back the necklace from Vecepia, seats the S5, and jumps right in. He explains that their success in tonight's challenge will depend on their ability to answer a series of questions about a story he'll tell. There are six stations around the area (which can only be occupied by one person at a time), each containing a question and two possible answers. Correct answers are rewarded with a tiki to be worn on a necklace; and wrong answers get the bone -- literally -- which then needs to be "sacrifice[d]" into a distant "fire wok." Peachy snits, "So a wrong answer will cost you valuable time running to the wok!" The first competitor to answer five of the six questions correctly and cross the finish line with five tikis wins immunity.
Peachy then launches into the story about the beauty of the Marquesas and its history "steeped in violence." Peachy explains that the area they are sitting in was once home to a legendary warrior named Keikahanui. He does not say that Keikahanui is now rolling in his grave. Anyway, here's the story in brief: Keikahanui was one bad-ass dude. He had lots of tattoos, was chief of his tribe, infiltrated a rival tribe, learned their battle plans, wrapped some sea urchins around his foot, smelled really bad, dressed up like Princess Leia, grabbed a war club, took a shortcut, ambushed the war party, killed the chief, ate his ass, revealed his true identity, and then united the two tribes. Peachy explains that all of this happened "on this very spot." Meanwhile, Neleh's face is horrified as she thinks, "If I win this, I have to eat somebody's ass?"
So the challenge begins, and they're off and running with their torches. I'd think running with torches was pretty much off-limits according to the same tenets as running with scissors, but not on Survivor, it seems. They live dangerously. Peachy runs behind the S5 like the dork that he is. We see Neleh answer her first question, which reads, "The meatiest part of the flesh was reserved for...." She chooses "the warrior who made the kill," over "the chief of the tribe," gets it right, and collects a tiki.
, we see Kathy answer a question: "The war club was made from...." We don't see the other choice, but she picks "wood" and scores a tiki.
Sean reads, "A mana stone was used to...." and deliberates between the two choices: "crush the skull of the dead" or "capture the spirit of the dead." He picks the first answer and gets a bone, so he's off to make a sacrifice at the fire wok.
Now it's Vecepia's turn. Her question is: "Keikahanui disguised himself for battle by..." and the answers are kind of a trick question, but not really. Between "gathering his hair into two buns" and "wrapping his feet with two sea urchins," she goes for the urchins, and gets a bone, too. "Dressing up like Princess Leia" was not a choice. She and Sean arrive at the fire wok at the same time.
Paschal stumbles up to a question looking disoriented and on the verge of collapse. His question is, " Tattoo combs are made of pearly or human bones, but never animal bones." He knows that the answer is "false," and nabs a tiki.
Then follows a montage of quick answers: Neleh says "wood" and gets another tiki. Vecepia knows a warrior's most lethal battle weapon is a war club as opposed to the delightful-sounding "neck breaker." We see that Neleh now has her fourth tiki; she excitedly squeals, "Oh, my gosh!" as she collect it. Paschal nearly burns down the Marquesas by falling with his torch. Nothing ignites, further convincing me that those things are electric. Kathy knows what a mana stone is, so she also has four tikis, tying her with Neleh. They get their fifth questions right at exactly the same time, and take off for the finish line. We see a tiki fall out of Kathy's hands, but she doesn't notice. She reaches the finish line just steps ahead of Neleh, and immediately realizes that she's lost a tiki. Neleh shrieks, "Yes!" and starts celebrating with both arms raised; she then confusedly looks down and starts counting -- on her fingers, most likely -- her own tikis. And ha! She's missing one, too! They must have greased those suckers up, but I don't care as Peachy sends them both back to either find the tikis they dropped or answer a new question correctly. Meanwhile, he tells the others, "The game is still alive, guys! Make sure you hang on to your tikis!" Kathy finds her dropped tiki right away, while Neleh runs around aimlessly in circles. So Kathy wins after all, and yells, "It's so fun to win this game!" while making patterns in the air with her lit torch. Peachy delicately places the necklace around her neck, and says that it couldn't get any more valuable. A shrieking Kathy takes us to commercial.
We're back at camp on Day 36. Kathy struts about like she owns the place -- which, at this point, she kind of does. In a confessional, she tells us she's the "core fifth player," with two pairs on either side of her. She explains that she's been with Neleh and Paschal since the beginning of the game, but that their bond puts her in a dilemma. She says "[her] other two people" have also been together from the beginning, and they insist that their bond is not strong, "yet they're both African-Americans." Huh? Kathy is weighing the issues, and needs to make a decision. Then, suddenly, they're already heading off to Tribal Council, so we know we're in for a long one. But who knew it'd be so amusing?
Tribal Trill, and the group looks so small! Peachy brings in the jury, who look like a biker gang. Maybe it's Halloween. Not that Robert -- who looks huge here -- doesn't look like the member of a biker gang normally, anyway.
Peachy calls them to attention, and then singles out Kathy as the swing vote. He points out that the others have been vying for her attention, and wants to know what she's thinking. She calls the "layers" facing the S5 "ridiculous," and says that the strategy is the first thing; she needs to "dissect" how she's going to fare among the two pairs. Peachy thinks it's ironic that she's the safest one out there, and yet she has immunity. He snits, "You're not in any danger, and you're wearing this very valuable thing," which I don't think is exactly true, since the others could want to vote her off because she's so good at the challenges. Anyway, Peachy asks whether Kathy has ever thought about "utilizing" the value of the necklace in another way. She answers that she's always up for negotiating if someone comes to her, and then climbs on her soapbox to point out that no one has. She preaches, "If it's a game, and people are playin', and they wanna win, nobody has talked to me!"
Peachy asks whether anyone wants to proposition Kathy now, and Sean's hand immediately shoots into the air. Peachy wants to know what Sean's offering Kathy, and Sean says that if she gives him her immunity, he won't vote for her, and they'll go to the top together. Peachy points out that such an alliance would only account for two votes, and thus would be useless, since they'd still be outnumbered. Sean says he's not going to give himself away completely, but there are some obvious factors that Kathy is aware of. He again says that Kathy definitely will have his vote behind her, and that she should "read between the lines" about what that means. Sean attempts to go on, but Kathy is way loving being in the power seat. She complains that he hasn't made himself clear, and says, "Explain it to me, man," because she doesn't "understand where [his] head's at." The rest of us, however, understand where his head's at: up Kathy's ass, along with the heads of the rest of the tribe and Just Peachy, for some inexplicable reason. Kathy appears to have her arm around Neleh's waist during this discussion, which is suggestive of where her true allegiance was throughout this argument. Sean explains that because Neleh and Paschal have such a tight alliance, he thought Kathy would want to hook up with him and Vecepia. He then laughs and awkwardly says, "It's funny just gettin' into it" because he so totally does not want to get into it. He says that he and Vecepia never had the "kind of agreement" that would have concerned Kathy. Still, he insists that since Neleh and Paschal have a pact, the other three should have one, too. Then Vecepia figures out that Sean needs some help, and says that she understands what Sean is saying, and that if Kathy agrees, she will fall in with their threesome, as well. Paschal -- realizing that his game is now on the line -- jumps in to argue that although Sean is capable of explaining his position, he finds it amusing and contradictory. Paschal argues that Sean has disclaimed an alliance with Vecepia all night, but that as soon as he was confronted by Kathy, he made it clear that Vecepia's vote was assumed. Paschal thinks it's revealing and "disingenuous." Sean is immediately upset, because his character is being questioned. He claims that he wasn't disingenuous because -- again -- he and Vecepia didn't have any agreement. He says that Vecepia could have been anybody, and that he just put out a life raft for himself, Kathy, and anyone else who jumped on. He insists that he and Vecepia have been underdogs since the beginning, and have gotten this far without an alliance. Sean says he was just throwing something out there, and that if Kathy says no, then the others can vote him out. If she agrees, he says, "Let's roll the dice."
Peachy recaps that both pairs have propositioned Kathy, and asks whether they have anything else to add. Sean says, "Why didn't [Kathy] know about [Paschal and Neleh's] pact a long time ago?" Paschal shakes his head in disgust, as Kathy suddenly says that she assumed the alliance, which completely contradicts her response earlier at the campfire. Paschal says he knows she at least assumed they had an alliance, and Neleh says she thought Kathy just knew. You know, telepathically. Paschal insists that they never hid it from anybody, but Sean is completely unsatisfied, and I am, too. Sean argues that if Neleh, Paschal, and Kathy are supposed to be so close, then Kathy should have known. Kathy tries to say that she doesn't care (but we all know she cared earlier), and Paschal says all that matters is that she knows now. Sean still thinks the point is that Kathy didn't know two weeks ago, and tells the others not to point the finger at him. Paschal says, "Well, I'll point it at you!" and rudely tells Sean that if he'd "just listen once in a while instead of runnin' [his] mouth all the time," then he'd know that Kathy knew, and I think I lost any respect I had for Paschal and Kathy during this argument, and since I didn't have any respect for Neleh to begin with, you can see on whose side I perplexingly suddenly find myself. Not that it matters. Because somewhere in the middle of this argument, it's become very clear that Kathy is not on Sean's side. Sean and Paschal go back and forth for a while longer while Sean desperately tries to get Kathy to admit that she just recently made a big fuss over not knowing about the alliance. Still, she won't. Kathy is then to pronounce "the deal" as the tribe's ultimate ruler, but Sean won't be silenced. He says that they can't shut him up because he'll speak his mind and then yells, "She did not know!" He says they can play this "hanky panky" all they want and just vote him out. Kathy says Sean's putting words in her mouth. He still -- apparently in disbelief -- insists, "But you didn't know about their pact, though. That's all I'm sayin', right?" Kathy says she didn't hear it "officially," but that it was a "logical assumption." That's terrible, and I feel so bad for Sean. He tells the others that he might be young and outspoken, but that he can make sense. He says, "Damn, I do listen, Pap. I still got respect for you, Pap," but in my mind, he shouldn't. He says he's a man, too, and that none of this "jibes up." Sean makes one last attempt to sway the others, claiming that since Neleh and Paschal have an admitted alliance, they're doing exactly what he's been accused of doing. ["Exactly!" -- Wing Chun] When Neleh tries to jump into the argument, however, they are all in agreement that it's an embarrassment worth avoiding, and Kathy tells her to "let it go," which Sean echoes. And so it's let go, but Neleh still looks very smug.
Peachy reiterates that Kathy is in a powerful position, and says it's all going to come down to the decision she makes in the walk from where she sits now to the voting booth. Except it seems to me, based on her behavior in the argument they just had, that Kathy's mind is already made up.
Sean votes for Neleh: "The girl--door act don't worked [sic] on me." He says she's there for the ride, trying to win the million just like he is. He hopes she'll go out tonight, and I hope so, too.
Neleh snits that she's voting for Sean because there's "too much drama" and she can't stand it. Aw, Neleh, learned a new expression, and even used it appropriately.
Paschal votes for Sean and chooses not to denigrate him further. He says he's "a great competitor," but Paschal's already behaved in some rather unflattering ways in this episode, so I don't know who he thinks he's kidding with the gentleman act now.
Vecepia votes for Neleh, saying she's a great girl, but that she started playing the game too late. She says nothing about Neleh being a Mormon.
We don't see Kathy's vote. Duh.
For the first time ever, maybe, Peachy doesn't say, "I'll go tally the votes." Instead, he's suddenly walking back and ready to read. The votes are as follows: Neleh, Sean, Neleh, Sean, after which Sean's spastic tongue appears. Sean puts his face in his hands for the reading of the final name. And it's his, and he handles it very well. He exclaims, "D'oh!" but is smiling, and he doesn't wig out or start shouting about it being unfair or how Kathy dicked him over. He holds his head high and smiles as his torch is extinguished. As he walks off, he and Vecepia make loving gestures toward each other. I wish he'd shot smirking Neleh a "loving" gesture as well. At least the rest of the S4 are completely non-expressive, even if some are glad to see him go.
In closing, Peachy says that he doesn't know if the S4 have noticed, but the jury is all dressed up like a biker gang, and he doesn't know if that means anything. Then he lowers his voice and whispers that the only thing that guarantees them a spot in the final two is winning two more immunities, and since Neleh hasn't even won one yet, things are still looking like they might turn out okay.
time on Survivor, it's the "the finale you just can't miss," and also, it seems, "the finale you can't see previews for." Rosie O'Donnell says we shouldn't miss it, and also that she was never hiding her sexual preference, just as Neleh and Paschal were never hiding their alliance.
Paschal's voice may or may not tell us not to miss this week's C.S.I..
We already know that Kathy voted for Sean. As the credits roll, he tells us that it's been a blast, and that he wants forgiveness for any mistakes he's made. He says, "I'm just a humble young man tryin' to find my way through this world," tells the camera to keep its head up, and closes, "God bless America." And who would have known twelve episodes ago that I would have ended up wanting Sean to go all the way? Sigh.