SHII ANN FIGHTS BACK: ALICIA SENT HOME
Clearly on the verge of extinction, Shii Ann, the only ex-Mogo Mogo member remaining, won a difficult Immunity Challenge, thus forcing the old Chapera tribe members to vote out one of their own. Shocked to be targeted at the last moment, Alicia Calaway, the 35-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK from Trumbull, Connecticut, was eliminated from the Chaboga Mogo tribe in a six-to-one decision.
Shortly after witnessing her torch extinguished, Alicia warned, "Now I sit on the Jury, and believe me, when I have to decide who actually gets the million dollars, I'm not going to make it easy."
LIFE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
After returning from the Tribal Council that sent home her best friend Kathy, Shii Ann Huang, the 30-year-old All-Star of SURVIVOR: THAILAND from New York City, felt the pressure of being the only remaining ex-Mogo Mogo member in the tribe. Knowing she was on the chopping block, Shii Ann approached Rob Mariano, the 28-year-old All-Star of SURVIVOR: MARQUESAS from Canton, Massachusetts, with the hopes that she could save her skin. Despite her plea, Rob told Shii Ann he was going to vote according to plan. "I don't have anyone here. I got no one," Shii Ann realized sadly.
REWARD CHALLENGE: FACE OFF
As the tribe convened for a Reward Challenge, they were surprised to see a display of masks made from their likenesses. Host Jeff Probst explained that the castaways would have to face off in a SURVIVOR Q&A. First, the Survivors would fill out a questionnaire that asked personal information and private opinions of other Survivors. Next, they would vote on what they thought was the most common answer given by the tribe as a whole. Each Survivor who answered a question correctly would get to cut a section of rope connected to the swinging log of the tribemate he or she wanted eliminated from the game. Three cuts of a rope would send the log smashing into the mask. The tribemate with a mask still intact at the end would win the Reward.
The Reward would take the tribe to a restaurant, where the winner would get to choose what each tribe member would eat for dinner that night. The meals would range from a juicy steak to a cold plate of rice. Nobody would be allowed to share food.
The Challenge began with the All-Stars answering their questionnaires. Jeff Probst read the questions aloud, then announced what the most common answer was in the group.
After the group found Boston Rob to be the most trustworthy, Shii Ann and Tom Buchanan, the 48-year-old tribe member of SURVIVOR: AFRICA from Rich Valley, Virginia, each took a hit. After the group thought Shii Ann and Alicia were both least deserving of being an All-Star, Boston Rob cut the rope, which released the log that smashed into the mask of Big Tom's face. After Jenna Lewis, the 26-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: BORNEO from Franklin, New Hampshire, Shii Ann and Alicia were taken out, the group found out that Alicia was voted most likely to be under the false assumption that she was smart. Needless to say, this upset Alicia greatly.
When Boston Rob witnessed his own mask being smashed, the Challenge came down to Rupert Boneham, the 40-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS PANAMA from Indianapolis, Indiana and Amber Brkich, the 25-year-old of SURVIVOR: THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK from Beaver, Pennsylvania. Both of them answered the question correctly, but because Rupert was ahead at that moment, he had the pleasure of sending a log into the likeness of Amber's face. With that, Rupert won Reward.
THE TRUTH CAN HURT
After returning from the Reward Challenge, Alicia voiced her distaste with the fact that the tribe thought her not only the least deserving of being an All-Star, but also the one most under the false assumption that she is smart. So foul was Alicia's mood that she even rebuffed Jenna's attempts to console her. "I don't want anyone hugging me or touching or trying to do something," she barked, "Leave me alone."
CAFÉ RUPERT
As Chaboga Mogo arrived at a special Panamanian restaurant, they beheld seven meals laid out before them. The meals spanned the spectrum from a juicy steak to a cold bowl of rice. After choosing the steak for himself, Rupert allowed Rob to settle on the cheeseburger; Jenna, the hot dog; Amber, the sandwich; Alicia, the salad; Big Tom, the potatoes; and Shii Ann was left with the rice. Some members of the tribe thoroughly enjoyed their dinner, while others, not so much. "We really wanted to stay at the restaurant for as long as we possibly could," Amber recalled, "'cause we dreaded coming back here with all the bugs and the really long night."
YOU'RE ALREADY GONE
Shortly before departing camp for an Immunity Challenge, Shii Ann approached Alicia in hopes of negotiating an alliance. Before Shii Ann could get a word out, Alicia waived her off, claiming, "There is a plan, Shii Ann. And it's too late for anything to change."
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE: WHEN IT RAINS, IT REALLY POURS
As the tribe reconvened for the Immunity Challenge, Jeff Probst explained that it would be a battle of endurance. Each castaway would stand on a post directly under a large bucket filled with water. The bucket would be connected to the Survivor's wrist by a chained rope just above their head. If the Survivor were to drop their hand, they would be "all washed up" and eliminated from the competition. The last dry person still standing with a full bucket would win Immunity.
The Challenge had barely begun before both Amber and Jenna were soaked and eliminated. Big Tom and Alicia followed suit, leaving Rupert, Rob and Shii Ann to duke it out. It was no secret that Shii Ann needed Immunity more than anyone. After Rupert was splashed out of the competition, a one-on-one battle raged between Boston Rob, leader of the old Chapera alliance, and its next targeted victim, Shii Ann.
But the old Chapera alliance was not going to feast on another ex-Mogo Mogo as Boston Rob moved his arm to swat at a bug, thus washing away his hopes of Immunity. This granted Shii Ann the all-important Immunity.
EAT ONE OF THEIR OWN
After returning to camp, the old Chapera alliance knew they had the task of voting out one of their own. Without the sacrificial Mogo Mogo lamb on the chopping block, nobody was safe. Even the budding relationship between Rob and Amber was up for grabs. Rob reflected, "She may be playing me. I don't know. I don't think so, I really don't. I think it's genuine, what's going on. I could be the biggest sucker in history."
But in the end, Rob wasn't a sucker at all as, yet again, the person he picked was eliminated. Alicia Calaway, the castaway who wouldn't consider an alliance with Shii Ann right before the Challenge, was now the castaway witnessing her torch snuffed out. After hearing the six-to-one verdict, Alicia Calaway became the third member of the Jury and will now have a hand in deciding who will win the million-dollar prize and earn the name Sole Survivor.
