Blog Entry, 03/31/2008
Authored by: Derek Forrest, bigblueclassof2009I'm writing this at a time when I am just not sure if I want to laugh, cry, kick a wall, or burn my entire dorm down out of pure frustration. On one hand, life should be great. My team's in the Frozen Four, and I think we're going all the way if we can get through Notre Dame and whoever wins the Cornell-Michigan State game. No sweat; even I scored a goal, and all I do is beat the hell out of people. What else can be said about a guy who leads the tournament in penalty minutes?
But I can think of someone else who deserves a penalty, and it might be a major - yes, Dad, I'm looking at you. Where the hell were you at the last two games? I saw you nowhere, and I know what your car looks like. Yes, I understand you're in Nashville now, but come on; you couldn't be bothered to come to a tournament game when you said you would be there? You didn't even send my uncle and aunt in your place.
Maybe you learned your lesson in the game, though, because all this playing of both sides is not good for you. Are you with Tom and Cirie or Rafe and Jonathan? And are you trying to turn Maria straight again? What the hell? The only certainty is that I know you can't get enough of Danni. Damnit Dad, is it just because I told you I thought she was hot? Thanks a lot, Dad. I was going to ask her out at the Reunion. Sure, I don't have a chance in hell and she's way older than me, but what the hell, right? Don't go killing the little chance I had with her.
And I'm not about to get back at you by dating Paula. That's just too weird for me.
Back from commercial.
Angakauitai Island, neutral camp, Day 18. The Fati camp is arriving at the beach after the loss at the challenge.
Maria: That challenge was absolute s---.
Danni: We should have had it.
Maria: Well, only one thing we can do.
(confessional) Danni: At this point in time, there's not much room for the alliance to screw around, so if we want someone gone, we're more than happy to vote for that person and then not tell Maria. She has an immunity idol, and I just don't trust her.
The camera shows Maria talking to Jonathan.
Maria: I think they're voting for you.
Jonathan: Why the hell would they do that?
Maria: I think it's Rafe's fault we lost, and I just don't think he's helping.
Jonathan: Wait a minute, are you with them?
Maria: I'm with this entire tribe. Rafe needs to go, but if we go farther in the game, I want the six of us together. And then you, me, Charlie, and Danni can go to the final four.
Jonathan: I could get into that, but Charlie would kill any of us.
Maria: And what makes you think we're letting him stick around?
(confessional) Jonathan: Maria makes a good point. If we have challenges we can win, our tribe's unbeatable. The only thing that stands in our way is if Ozzy goes on an immunity run, and if Charlie or Tom's on our side, that shouldn't be an issue.
The camera switches to Tom talking to Cirie and Danni.
Tom: The four of us have no room to mess around.
Cirie: The vote is Rafe, and we don't tell Maria.
Danni: Who do you think they're voting?
Tom: With any luck, each other.
(confessional) Cirie: The plan is to get rid of Rafe, misdirect Maria's vote, and make sure the idol doesn't get played. It could be any of us going home if Maria gets wind and flips.
The camera shows Danni talking to Charlie.
Danni: It's Rafe.
Charlie: Rafe?
Danni: Rafe.
Charlie: OK. I'll tell Maria--
Danni: No, don't.
Charlie: If she's not told, she won't trust us.
Danni: If she is told, she might pass the idol and then we're split three-three.
Charlie: I'm in charge of making sure she doesn't flip, though.
(confessional) Danni: And at that point, I wanted to take Charlie and tell him to stop being so damn stubborn. Maria didn't need to know about our plan.
Danni: She has an idol, Charlie. She could play it.
Charlie: Like anyone ever passes the idol like that.
Danni: Mookie did.
Charlie: And look how much good it did.
Danni: Don't tell Maria about this - or I'll flip my vote.
(confessional) Charlie: Excuse me, young lady? You're threatening to get me voted out for telling Maria the plan? Are you that stupid? Are you so incredibly stupid that you would flip on your number-one ally just because he trusts the fifth person in your alliance? I've seen turds that have more sense than that.
Danni: OK, maybe I won't flip my vote, but this still doesn't make sense.
Charlie: Sure it does. If we tell Maria, she's with us, we promise her final three, and she's with us at the merge. We have five solid, we ditch Tom and Cirie at final five, and then the end is you, me, and Maria.
Danni: And guess who wins in that scenario?
(confessional) Charlie: No kidding, Danni. Of course I want to go to the end with two winners. All I have to do is win immunity and I get a million bucks.
The camera switches to Charlie talking to Maria.
Charlie: So the plan is we vote Rafe.
Maria: Rafe? What?
Charlie: It's simple. You keep that idol of yours in your pocket, we all vote off Rafe, and then you, me, and Danni go to the final three together.
(confessional) Maria: Charlie's had a lot of time to plan this. Granted, I could probably beat Danni in the final, assuming the jury doesn't shoot themselves over having to vote between two previous winners.
The camera switches to a setting sun and then to the outside of the Tribal Council set, where the seven Fati members file in one at a time. Everyone takes their seats; all the men except Charlie are in the back row. Maria is in the back row next to Tom; Cirie is on the camera's right.
Jeff: Cirie, is this tribe falling apart?
Cirie: No, not at all. If the challenge is physical, we pretty much always win.
Jeff: Today's challenge had a lot of physical elements. Why didn't you win?
Cirie: I couldn't tell, but it looked like the other tribe had a lot of strategy working for them.
Jeff: Strategy is the number one element of this game. Charlie, you and Danni seem to be wearing yours in the open.
Charlie: A lot of people call me a leader, but I'm no leader.
Jeff: That's not what I mean. I don't think I've ever seen two people holding hands at Tribal Council.
The camera focuses on Charlie and Danni; indeed, the two are holding hands, as they have been since they sat down.
Danni: It's not a secret that Charlie and I are close. He's my friend, my confidant, and if people want to say there's more to it, let them.
Jeff: I don't even remember Rob and Amber from the first All-Stars holding hands at Tribal Council. This is where you're held accountable for everything you've done; it's the most important part of the game. And here the two of you are telling everyone you're a couple.
Charlie: I never said anything about us being a couple, Jeff.
Jeff: Sure looks that way to me.
Charlie: It doesn't mean Danni won't step over me on her way to the million.
Jeff: Danni, would you step over Charlie to get to the top?
Danni: If I had to, sure. It doesn't mean we can't be close friends out here.
Jeff: I don't buy the whole close friends business. Cirie, do you?
Cirie: It's hard to say. They're very friendly with each other at camp; they're inseparable. I've yet to see one without the other nearby.
Jeff: That's a pretty strong statement. Rafe, is that pretty accurate?
Rafe: I wouldn't know. I watch my own game; what other people do when they're not thinking strategically is their business.
Jeff: Maria, does that make sense?
Maria: I fell in love on the last season and it didn't change my strategy.
Jeff: You didn't fall in love with another contestant, though.
Maria: No, but my point is that falling in love doesn't necessarily mean your strategy changes.
Jeff: Every person I've seen who fell in love on the show saw their strategy change.
Charlie: Wait a minute there, Jeff. I don't think falling in love affected Billy and Candice.
Jeff and the tribe both pause to laugh.
Jeff: Tom, does this affect how you relate to Charlie and Danni? They're definitely not shy about this. Look at them.
Danni is shown sitting right against Charlie with her head on his shoulder.
Tom: Yes, they're into each other. But I think they're here to play the game, and enjoying someone else's company out here is not a crime.
Jeff: Jonathan, is that pretty much true?
Jonathan: It's easy enough to look at them and say they're only out for themselves and each other. It would be very easy to dump them if we wanted.
Jeff: Is that the plan?
Jonathan: Not now, but when the time comes.
Jeff: Well, we're about to see if the time is coming. Again I remind you that, if you want to play an idol, you should do so when you vote and you should write your name on the parchment inside it and place it in the side pouch. It is time to vote. Tom, you're up.
Tom gets up to vote; he writes down a name, but it is not shown.
After Tom, Rafe votes; again, his vote is not shown.
The next to vote is Cirie. She votes and sits back down without it being shown.
After Cirie, Charlie votes; his vote is for Rafe.
Charlie (to voting camera): I like you and all, but you just don't fit in. Sorry.
After Charlie, Jonathan votes; his vote is not shown.
The next to vote is Danni; she also votes Rafe.
Danni (to voting camera): Before you do it to me.
Danni sits back down; the last to vote is Maria. She is not shown voting, but she is shown taking the parchment out of her immunity idol.
Maria is briefly shown taking her seat.
Jeff: I'll go tally the votes.
Jeff goes to get the votes; he returns carrying the urn.
Jeff: Once the votes are read, the decision is final; the person voted out will be asked to leave the Tribal Council area immediately unless someone plays an idol on their behalf. I'll read the votes.
Jeff opens up the urn and takes out a ballot.
Jeff: First vote...Rafe.
This is Danni's vote.
Jeff: ...Rafe. Two votes Rafe.
Charlie's handwriting.
Jeff: ...Danni. One vote Danni.
The camera shows Rafe looking intently.
Jeff: ...Danni. Two votes Danni.
Danni looks a little shocked at this; she is still holding Charlie's hand but not resting her head on his shoulder.
Jeff: ...Danni. Three votes Danni. Two votes Rafe. Two votes left.
The camera focuses on Cirie, who has an expressionless face.
Jeff: ...Rafe. We're tied at three votes apiece for Rafe and Danni. I'll read the last vote.
Jeff reaches into the urn and takes out the vote.
The camera quickly focuses on Maria.
Jeff: ...the eighth person voted out of Survivor: All-Stars II...
Jeff turns the vote around.
It reads...
Jeff: ...Rafe. That's four votes; that's enough. I'll check for idols now.
Jeff turns the urn and opens the side pouch.
He lets the flap fall...
...to reveal...
...that the side pouch...
...is empty.
Jeff: No one plays an idol; the vote stands. Rafe, you need to bring me your torch.
Rafe turns and grabs his torch without a word and places it in the holder.
Jeff: Rafe, the tribe has spoken.
Jeff snuffs Rafe's torch. He waves goodbye without saying anything before leaving.
Jeff: It may be the case that three people tried to send Charlie and Danni a message about their relationship. It may be that the majority is picking off the minority. It may just be a coincidence; I couldn't tell. All I can tell is that you never know if it's your time to go, so be ready for anything. Grab your torches; head on back to camp. Goodnight.
The remaining Fati members file out of Tribal Council as the credits begin to roll.
Jeff (voice-over): Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode.
The screen cuts to commercial.
SURVIVORS STRIKE BACK
Brian: I see Danni hasn't changed a bit from her Guatemala self. Last time it was Gary, the ex-quarterback with a secret. This time it's Charlie, the Navy captain who's at least not pretending he's a landscaper. She's still the nice, football-loving jock who's more 'one of the guys' than I ever was.
I'm absolutely rooting for her. I don't mind saying it; after all, someone has to represent our season, and Judd's just too careless to do it. Rafe's right about one thing, though; if Charlie and Danni make the merge together, they might be very hard to stop. An unkillable force from Guatemala going against the sympathy story and challenge master who would win the final vote over Mother Teresa.
Danni, if you want to repeat as Survivor winner, ditch Charlie at the right time. He'll understand. That guy loves you to death.
Earl: I've never seen a tribe that's as machine-like in their work ethic as Ta'aroa. Sure, we had hard workers in Fiji. We had geniuses like Yau-Man. But I've never seen a tribe that works as hard or plays as hard as Ta'aroa. And even with my man Yau on the tribe, that's the only thing that's keeping them in this game.
Fati's wild, undisciplined, and carefree; even Tom seems less concerned than he did last time. Charlie and Danni are too busy making wedding plans, and Jonathan's off wandering or something. If they merge at 10 like we did, Fati's probably at a disadvantage. Oh well, at least they might be on the jury if they do that messed-up scheme like they did in Fiji.
Ethan: I reiterate what I said about Ozzy earlier in the season. No one can stop him. He is many. He is one.
That man can do it all, and it's exactly why Ta'aroa became a winning tribe. Now he actually has someone to work with. Incredible. Terry's the perfect complement to Ozzy and the perfect one to take all the way. Unlike Yul, Terry seems to have no idea how to play the social game. Against a quality opponent, Terry does not win. And pretty much everyone left is quality.
The best he can hope for is one of those game-exploding three-way ties that could have destroyed the Cook Islands and Fiji seasons. Thankfully, Japan reversed that and went with the traditional format; hopefully Burnett learns that the jury of nine doesn't always work.
And if they decide to ditch Terry, Harriet and Twila are perfectly good foils in the final vote.
Jenna: If I'd stuck around on the first All-Stars, Ethan and I would have been a force greater than Rob and Amber. But I had more important places to be, so I went to be with my mom, and thank God I did.
No one in this cast has that problem, it seems. Frankly, this cast needs a little more chaos. I'd like to see them merge next week. Imagine the loop they'd be thrown for. Maybe start off with a double-boot. Merge the tribes, kick two people off, and start the jury a couple of episodes later. They need to try the early merge. It's not as if they're too destitute to afford two extra Tribal Council ballots, you know.
Now that would be chaos. And fun to watch. And I've got my eye on Yau-Man. I wonder if he'll win the car again.
Back from commercial.
Jeff (voice-over): Next time on Survivor...the tribes go head-to-head once again.
Jeff: Again, these matches are one-on-one.
Jeff (voice-over): Things explode at Ta'aroa.
Terry (shouting): I'm not the problem here! I play an honorable game!
Paula (shouting back): Oh really, so it's honorable to sabotage the tribe? Is that it?
Jeff (voice-over): And Charlie and Danni throw caution to the wind.
The camera shows Charlie and Danni together exchanging a kiss on the mouth.
Voice-over: Stay tuned for an all-new CSI coming up next.
Rafe (final words): I thought I had it; I was sure I was staying. I came on Survivor again to prove that the gay Mormon could do it a second time, but I ended up outmatched and outclassed. Someone needs to break up Charlie and Danni sooner rather than later, or else they'll end up running this game.
4 votes Rafe: Charlie, Cirie, Danni, Tom
3 votes Danni: Jonathan, Maria, Rafe
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