Episode 7 - Changed Rules, Changed Fortunes
By Car84
Last week on Survivor - Pearl Islands: Rupert regrets his vote at Tribal Council. Morgan had a visit from a pesky Panamanian pelican. Shawn continues to wear out his welcome at Drake. After the Reward Challenge, Drake savored a tasty victory. Minds and bodies were pushed to the limit in the Immunity Challenge, where Morgan outlasted Drake. Shawn was on the chopping block, until Trish put Rupert on the chopping block, until Rupert and Shawn put Trish on the chopping block. Up until the very moment the deciding vote was cast, a confident Jon chuckled his way through Tribal Council. Trish took a walk. Jon experienced a blinding flash of reality.
Rupert starts the show with a couple rounds of "Who the hell voted for me?" He confronts Jon. Jon confesses, and is then pelted with an obscenity-laced tirade from the big guy. Rupert knew all along that the two votes came from Jon and Trish. "I was ready to kill Jon. Literally. Grab that little scrawny ass by the neck and pop his head off like a *knockin'* chicken." Jon tries to shift the blame to Trish. Hey, the Puppetmaster was only following orders.
While Jon and Rupert were having their animated discussion, the three others talk about how Trish had all of them (except Shawn) locked up, and that Jon can't say he wasn't in cahoots with Trish.
Rupert's grilling continued. To Jon's comment that Drake made the decision to go after Rupert, Rupert loudly counters with "Drake made the decision. You were the odd man out." Jon reveals to us that he could not forget how Rupert helped Morgan win that Reward Challenge, and that he continues to view Rupert as a threat.
Jon defends himself: "You said in your own words, if any one of us went over to Morgan, that they would vote him off. However you did say if there was one person that could go over they wouldn't do that to, it would be you." Rupert denied ever saying that. (We've never heard it. But we aren't privy to everything.) Rupert counters, "If I thought that, why wouldn't I have stayed there and made the Morgans stronger. I would have stayed there and said you Drakes were dead." (We ask ourselves whether Rupert could stayed with Morgan if he wanted to.)
Jon said he feared Rupert would turn on Drake. Rupert pledges, "I am the one person who will always stand true to Drake." He comments that Jon was following Trish, who was telling everyone that he and Jon were going to be in the final two. With that, Rupert suggests, "Let's start fresh." Rupert tells us that Jon isn't entirely out of the woods yet. "I don't believe a damn word he says."
On Day 19, Shawn looks out through the rain at the surly waters, and comments that he can't go out fishing. Andrew says they are a little worn out, due to a lack of protein, a lack of energy, and a lack of Rupert. Having Rupert for a couple of days really helped out. With plenty of fish to eat, Andrew "felt like a new person."
Armed with the fishing spear, Shawn stalks a stingray in shallow water. After spearing it, he is unable to bring it ashore before it brakes loose and skitters away. Tijuana complains about having to eat beans again and again. To that, Andrew responds with the universal truism, "You can only eat so many beans." And Morgan is low on rice. Osten sizes up their only chance for vittles by saying that it's "imperative that we merge." He also says he is probably at 175 pounds - down from his normal 200 pounds. "It's wearing on me." Shawn wonders aloud how Skinny Ryan would have fared if he were still there. "He would perish." Andrew adds, "And so would Lill."
Andrew talks with Osten, who complains that he's tired and that his body aches. Andrew comments: "This morning he checked out. I can see it in his eyes." Always the optimist Andrew predicts "he'll rally. Hopefully."
Drake anxiously walks to get their sea mail. Jon declares it to be "the biggest tree mail we'll ever see." Rupert is not at all convinced that there is going to be a merge. "I have a strong tribe right now. I do not want to merge yet." But he'll deal with it if it happens.
After the sea mail is read, Shawn suggests "some popcorn before we go." Rupert is up for popcorn, which is actually fried coconut. Shawn later declares that they don't have enough time to prepare the "popcorn." While Jon chops on a coconut, Shawn decides that the others may want pieces of the coconut he is holding. Jon says the others don't want to eat it raw. Shawn drops off his coconut on Jon's platter. Jon suggests that Shawn help in order to speed up the process. A prolonged and heated argument between the two ensues, with Shawn and Jon coming close to blows. Sandra comments: "Let them duke it out. You know, let them kill each other and vote each other off. As long as it ain't Sandra, I'm happy."
At the Reward Challenge, the two tribes stand in front of THREE sets of bamboo cages, including one decked out in purple. Jeff reminisces about the past 19 days: bugs, lack of food, miserable living conditions, ever-shifting tribal dynamic. Six people were voted out for various reasons. Jeff observes, "The only real common trait among the six people you voted out is that they're no longer in this game. But that may soon change.
"Morgan. Drake. Your past has come back to haunt you."
Nicole, "Skinny Ryan," Lill, Burton, Michelle, and Trish enter under a purple banner as a third tribe, wearing purple buffs. Burton's reflects the tribe's chosen name - "Outcast.". Jeff explains that pirates would cast off people they were tired of. Typically, they died. But every so often they didn't. Jeff asks Michelle what motivates this group of outcasts. She answers, with a mischievous smile on her face, and bit of a swagger: "Revenge baby. All about revenge!"
Jeff tells the tribes that all three will compete in the challenge, and "the stakes are severe." If one tribe loses to the Outcasts, that tribe will go to Tribal Council and vote off a member, whom the Outcasts will then replace with a person they choose. If both tribes lose, there will be two Tribal Councils, and two replacements from the ranks of the Outcasts. To allow a chance for the newcomer to integrate with their new tribe, a replacement is immune from being voted off in their next Tribal Council. If the Outcasts are smoked, it just affirms that they are not worthy. Jeff assures Drake and Morgan that the Outcasts have been living on "very limited rations" after they were apparently snuffed for good.
The challenge is a series of rescues. There are three prisons, each with three cages. All tribe members, with the exception of a rescuer, will be locked up. The rescuers will first have to race to the beach to retrieve a flag. Upon returning, the rescuers must use their hands to dig into the first cage and rescue the one tribe member who is tied up inside. Together, the two tribemates dig into the second cage, where two other tribemates are tied up. Upon releasing them, the four tribemates fashion a pole out of sticks and strings that are scattered about the floor of the second cage. That pole is used to pull in keys that can be used to open the door into the third cage, and to release the remaining tribe member(s) who are shackled in that cage. The pole is then used to retrieve a final key that unlocks the third cage. The first tribe to cross the finish line with all members and their flag wins.
Burton, Andrew, Shawn are selected as rescuers. Burton takes an early lead, and is the first to enter the initial cage, where he works to untie Trish. Shawn enters to free Christa, and Andrew tries to untie Ryno. Christa is the first to enter the second cage. Then Trish, aided by a vigorous butt massage from Burton, breaks through for the Outcasts. Christa digs feverishly, momentarily losing her top, to dig enough space to allow Shawn to get through. They work to untie Rupert and Jon. Andrew struggles, still untying Ryno. The Outcasts both move to the second cage, and try to free Lill and Michelle. Ryno and Andrew finally get through to Osten and Tijuana.
There is a race to build a pole to get into the third cage. Drake's pole is completed, and Rupert gets the first set of keys for Drake. The Outcasts get their keys as Morgan struggles with a rickety pole. The Outcasts enter to free Nicole and Skinny Ryan (sporting "Die Jerks" on his head band). As Drake's pole falls apart, Burton carefully works on the Outcasts' last key, which drops just out of reach. They drag the key in, unlock the final door, and win!
Burton comments, "Revenge is sweet." Jeff informs Drake that they will go to Tribal Council first. Morgan will follow. Then the Outcasts will vote two people in. "They will report to their tribes immediately."
Later that day, Andrew reflects on "The game to end all games." He makes it clear that the "misfits have no right to be here." He wants everyone's word that the person who joins Morgan will be "gone the very next opportunity." Ryno reminds him of the first-time immunity. Tijuana comments that Andrew has "the best seat in the house. I think he wants to keep that." Osten offers himself up for being voted out. "I'm out of gas. I'm spent." If he can't give his 110%, "I'm out." "Vote me off. It's been a pleasure."
At Drake, Sandra describes the situation as "terrible, horrible, horrible, horrible." The prevailing thought is that Burton and Lill will be voted back in to the game, though Jon thinks it might be Michelle and Lill. Jon refers to the Outcasts as losers. Sandra looks for a volunteer to go home. "Raise your hand right now." No takers. Rupert confidently tells us "The two other guys in the tribe are vulnerable." Rupert, Sandra, and Christa confer. Sandra suggests that they ask Jon and Shawn to sing for their supper - explain why the other guy should be voted out. Rupert describes the idea as hilarious. Shawn and Jon were given two minutes each to make their case.
Drake arrives at Tribal Council #1. Rupert comments, "Never would I have thought that we'd be here two days in a row." Christa said that the challenge was "a little shocking,' and that she's happy she hadn't badmouthed those departed of her tribe. Sandra admitted to Jeff that she felt "a little bit threatened" by what Burton said. She said she expects him to be the one to come back. When asked what transpired back at camp, Sandra explained to Jeff that Shawn and Jon got two minutes apiece to convince the others to keep them around. "It is Shawn or Jon that's going home tonight." Shawn said he's "dedicated to this tribe." Jon says he "cares more about this tribe than anyone else. I've shown tribe loyalty."
Rupert, Christa, and Sandra vote. Shawn votes: "Jon. You and I know the truth. Basically you've been backstabbing everyone, including myself." Jon votes Shawn. "*Bleep* you."
The votes are read: Shawn. Jon. Shawn. Shawn. Grab your torch, Shawn.
Jeff tells them, "Maybe tonight you've reached your lowest point." Soon you will both have new tribe members. Shawn's last words included: "Should have seen this one coming …I dunno. What can I say? Game, set, match."
It was a stormy night at Morgan's Tribal Council. When asked what happened after the "Reward" Challenge, Andrew told Jeff that Osten stepped forward and said his mind and body has shut down. Osten confirmed this. "Right now, my body is done. I would be more of a liability than an asset to my team." Jeff seems bewildered by this. He asks other tribe members about their will to go on. Tijuana is willing to go until she's dragged out. To Darrah, Jeff observes that she's shrinking by the day, and has to pull up her top continuously. Darrah insists that she doesn't want to leave the game. Ryno says that he's going to honor Osten's wishes. Jeff says that he's been in about a hundred [actually 97] Tribal Councils, and "I've never ever seen anyone lay down his torch." With a disgusted tone in his voice, Jeff polls Andrew, Ryno, Darrah, and Tijuana, and declares that there is "no need to vote and waste any more time. Grab your torch. Osten. Per your wishes, go home."
In the aftermath, Jeff tells that they will soon have a new tribe member. "I can promise you this. That person wants to be in this tribe."
There are no final words from a disgraced Osten - just a shot of his torch.
Car84 can be contacted by email at car84@survivorskills.com
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