The camera presents an overview of the Ogasawara island group.

Jeff (voice over): Previously on Survivor…Jason was sick of his tribemates.

(confessional) Jason: I don’t have anything nice to say about any of them. All I can say nice is that Loretta picked me.

Jeff (voice-over): Minamoto’s good luck continued when it won another reward.

Jeff: That’s the tenth match. Take that shell from Becky.

Jeff (voice-over): With the win, Minamoto got some help staying clean, but at the same time, not everyone agreed on what to do with the water the tribe earned.

Charlie: Why don’t we just use the whole 50 gallons for drinking water and forget the showers?

Kevin: Have you smelled yourself lately?

Jeff (voice-over): At the immunity challenge, tribes had to break themselves out of jails buried in the woods.

The camera pans to Becky and Abdullah struggling separately to escape from their cells.

Jeff (voice-over): Minamoto was the fastest and won immunity.

Jeff: That base is burning; Minamoto wins immunity!

Jeff (voice-over): And before Minamoto could stop them, the Taira tribe took the fire they built and won immunity for themselves.

Jeff: Taira just stole fire from Minamoto!

Jeff (voice-over): Fujiwara was sent to Tribal Council, and right away, the tribe splintered into two factions.

Catharine (to Danny): We need to split up Becky and Paula.

Danny: Who goes first?

Paula (to Becky): Can we work with Catharine?

Becky: If you want to get Catharine out, go for it.

Jeff (voice-over): Antonio was the swing vote, and he sided with Becky and Paula to get the scheming Catharine out of the tribe.

Jeff (snuffing Catharine’s torch): Catharine, the tribe has spoken.

Jeff (voice-over): Twelve are left. Who will be voted out tonight?

The screen pans to shots of Japanese warriors in fierce battle, spliced with images of great ships and dojos. As pictures of gold coins and logos of “Survivor: Japan,” “Ronin,” and “Geisha,” begin to appear, the Survivor theme begins to play in the background while the castaways are shown in various outdoor images wearing their respective tribal buffs. This time, members of Minamoto are shown first in poses all seen in the first episode; the players appear in alphabetical order. Taira follows immediately, as does Fujiwara; each tribe’s members are shown in alphabetical order. The screen pans finally to a background of waves, ripples, and islands with the “Survivor: Japan” insignia superimposed over it.

At this point, the screen cuts to commercial.

Back from commercial.

Fujiwara, Day 18. The tribe is woken up and preparing to eat.

Paula: With three tribes still in this game, it’s going to come down to whoever works together after the merge.

Antonio: Can we work with either of the other tribes?

Paula: It’s going to come down to the Taira tribe. Minamoto’s going to want us out, and I know Taira’s going to be caught in the middle.

Danny: Maybe we can work with the Minamoto tribe.

Becky: Maybe. There are an awful lot of wild cards on that tribe. I don’t know where everyone stands.

(confessional) Antonio: We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do at the merge. I don’t know if I’m part of their post-merge plans, but what I do know is that every tribe has four members and every original tribe has four members. It’s a pretty even game as far as tribal lines go. It’s anyone’s game, so I don’t have a problem trying to get my foot in the door with any alliance I can.

Danny: I know the vote didn’t go my way last night, but I would take the three of you to the final four with me. I think it’s just easier that way.

Becky: If we can get someone to go along with us at the merge, I’m all for that.

Danny: We’re a pretty good tribe, and I can’t imagine that the other tribes are holding up as well as we are. We can try to take advantage of a broken tribe.

(confessional) Becky: The idea of the four of us going to the final four and taking advantage of another tribe that hates each other might just work. On the other hand, if both other tribes work together well, then we have to figure something else out.

Paula: All I know is that I didn’t like voting someone out. You don’t stay in the game by voting people out like this.

Antonio: Well, you have to vote someone out eventually.

Paula: I know, but I was hoping to wait for the merge for that.

Antonio: No one makes it to the merge without going to Tribal.

Paula: I can dream.

Danny: At this point, it’s just a dream now. All we can do is try to avoid going again.

Antonio: That’s not a problem to me. The way I see it, we have to win two, maybe three more immunities, and I think we can do it.

(confessional) Paula: If all we have to do is win two more challenges, then we’re set. That is, if we can swing another tribe to work with us.

Paula: What sucks is that we’re the only tribe that won a reward that we can really take with us. The other rewards are probably gone by now, but the other tribes get to enjoy our victory spoils.

Danny: I hope you’re kidding; none of us were here when this fishing gear showed up.

Paula: Hey, you’re right. Becky, was this why you picked this beach?

Becky: That was part of it. That and I didn’t want to go back to my old site.

Paula: Well, at least you earned it when Charlie tossed it away.

Becky: Charlie’s a crazy guy. Part of me says we can work with him; we were close back at Minamoto. He might be a guy we can work with.

(confessional) Paula: I don’t know if Becky’s going to stay loyal at this point. She does have Charlie on the other tribe, and Charlie and I are both leaders. Charlie and I both get things done. I just hope I can outwork him.

The camera switches to Taira, Day 18. Three tribe members are sitting around not appearing to do anything; Jason, on the other hand, is up and carrying firewood.

Jason (to himself): Someone has to carry this tribe’s weight. God only knows the rest of them won’t do it.

Harriet (to Billy): Jason’s lost it.

Billy: You mean to tell me he actually had it?

Harriet: We have enough firewood. And if we merge soon, I don’t want other tribes to get lazy; they’re going to work for it just the same as us.

Billy: It really wouldn’t break my heart to merge elsewhere, though.

Harriet: Same here; it sure would be nice to go back to Fujiwara.

(confessional) Billy: At this point, it’s been a tribal game for too long. We want to play as individuals. And frankly, I wouldn’t mind voting Jason out without having to lose a challenge.

Loretta: I don’t think we have a challenge today. Maybe it’s just immunity this time.

Harriet: What, like we have an immunity challenge tomorrow?

Loretta: I think so.

Harriet: It sure would be nice to have a reward, though.

(confessional) Loretta: I miss the fishing gear. I can catch fish without it, but the gear made it easy. If it’s easy, we get more food and save our energy. If we have more energy, we win more challenges. We’re holding up all right, but we’re going on hard rice and a prayer at this point.

Jason: You guys gonna help me or what?

Loretta: Go easy on the firewood. Save your energy for the merge.

(confessional) Jason: All anyone wants to talk about is the merge. I don’t even know why people think there’s going to be a merge. It’s ridiculous. People try to live like it’s six days later or something. We’re a tribe here, as much as I don’t like being part of it, so I’m going to stick it out and I would appreciate it if the rest of the tribe wouldn’t live in a fantasy world.

Harriet: Do you think we’re going to get a bunch of food at the merge?

Billy: Don’t talk to me about food.

Loretta: So, fried chicken or a hamburger?

Billy: Don’t do this to me.

(confessional) Loretta: I’m not the first to notice that the only thing anyone’s eaten so far is camp food. It’s time for something different. I would even settle for one of those continental breakfasts you get at a hotel.

Billy: If you’re not actually going to bring out hamburgers and chicken, don’t talk to me about them.

Loretta: Maybe the next challenge will be for both reward and immunity and we can eat while everyone else gets grilled.

Billy: Please don’t say grilled.

Loretta: OK, would you prefer seeing them get fried? Roasted? Covered in barbecue sauce?

Billy: You’re all killing me!

Loretta: Isn’t it fun?

(confessional) Billy: We all need food. I need food. I need a big, juicy steak. I want a beer to wash it down. I’ll even settle for a Coke. At this point, I just want something.

The camera switches to an overview of the island as the screen cuts to commercial.

Back from commercial.

Minamoto, Day 19. All four members are sitting around the campfire talking; no one is playing cards, as they had in the past.

Charlie: Why the hell couldn’t we have all lied to Steve when he got voted out so we could keep his cards?

Kevin: Maybe we can do something else to pass the time.

Charlie: Like what? Sit here and pretend to play cards? Here, I have four aces. Beat that.

Kevin: My four aces beats your four aces.

Abdullah: I don’t know what you’re arguing about, because I have a straight flush.

Maria: Well, I have a royal flush.

Charlie: Well, I have an ace up my sleeve and I got five aces.

Maria: My God, we need a hobby.

Charlie: I thought this was our hobby.

(confessional) Maria: Ever since Steve got voted out, it’s been nice because I can’t hear him whine, but it sucks because he took his cards with him. I would be nice and leave my suntan lotion behind. I know someone would use it, since it’s been all over me.

Kevin: We have Tree Mail, guys! It’s a big one!

Abdullah: Do we have any rice?

Charlie: Oh, just go kill something and eat it.

Abdullah: You eat it just as much as we do.

Charlie: What, like I’m going to sit here and pass up perfectly good rice?

Abdullah: I don’t know; are you?

Maria: So what do we have here?

Kevin (from Tree Mail): Put your heads together, work as quickly as you can,

Maria (from Tree Mail): It all depends on how long your strongest ones can stand.

Abdullah (from Tree Mail): This is the biggest challenge yet; give it all you’ve got,

Charlie (from Tree Mail): Stay ahead of the game or else your seat gets really hot.

Kevin: Whatever it is, it sounds important.

Charlie: Oh, every challenge is the most important ever.

The camera switches to Nishino Shima as all three tribes row in.

Jeff: Come on in, guys!

All three tribes take their normal spots.

Jeff: First thing’s first – Abdullah, Loretta – hand it over.

Jeff takes the idol pieces from Abdullah and Loretta.

Jeff: Immunity, back up for grabs. Let’s get to today’s challenge. In front of you are thirteen puzzles. Two members of each tribe will complete as many puzzles as possible; put simply, whoever finishes the most puzzles wins immunity. For the losers? Tribal Council tonight. The amount of time you have to complete the puzzles depends on how long your other two members can hold some heavy weight. Whole two members of each tribe are solving puzzles, the other two members will be kneeling on these platforms over water while they hold onto two ropes. The ropes are attached to a group of hooks that hold weight. Every 10 minutes, 25 more pounds will be added. The weight bearers will be holding 25 pounds to start. Once a tribe loses both of its weight bearers, the puzzle solvers have to stop working. The two tribes that solve the most puzzles or the first to solve all 13 puzzles will win immunity and will be safe from the vote once again. Also, there’s one more thing.

The camera switches back to the tribes, who anxiously await the next announcement.

Jeff: If you go to Tribal Council, you will be losing two members, not just one. Regardless of the outcome, two people will be leaving the game.

The camera shows a look of nervous shock on the Survivors’ faces.

Jeff: Also, this Tribal Council will work differently from others. The first vote will be cast only by the winning tribes and will take place immediately after the challenge. At Tribal Council, those results will be announced, and then all three remaining members will compete in an individual challenge. The winner will single-handedly vote out the second person to leave the game today. At that point, the losing tribe will be down to two members. Everyone’s even as far as members go, so you’re all playing. Pick your solvers and your weight bearers and wait for my go.

Taking their places on the weight platforms are Kevin and Abdullah for Minamoto, Billy and Jason for Taira, and Danny and Paula for Fujiwara.

Jeff: The challenge starts when I release the stopper on the weight hooks. Survivors ready?

No response from anyone.

Jeff: GO!

All three tribes’ solvers throw the covers off their puzzles; all the puzzles are identical, but there are barriers between the tribes so they can’t copy.

Jeff: Remember, when your strong players can no longer hold out, you have to stop working. Do as many puzzles as you can. You have to complete them in order. If you get one incorrect, every puzzle you complete after that is voided.

Charlie and Maria are shown completing a puzzle; it doesn’t appear to have any flaws.

Jeff: It looks like Charlie and Maria are moving on to their second puzzle!

The camera switches to Danny losing his grip and falling into the water.

Jeff: Fujiwara’s fate is all on Paula now! Danny just lost his focus! You can’t do that out here, folks! There’s only 25 pounds of weight here, guys; don’t let your mind get off the task at hand!

Harriet and Loretta are working on their third puzzle; at the same time, Becky and Antonio are on their second.

Jeff: Taira’s in the lead! Remember, make sure you do it right! You can go back and check your work all you want, but use your time wisely!

Charlie and Maria are shown working on their third puzzle; the puzzles are seen getting a little more complex with each one.

Jeff: The first few puzzles are easy; your last puzzle is going to be tough!

The weight bearers all seem to be holding up.

Jeff: I’ll be adding 25 more pounds in 5, 4, 3, 2…

Jeff puts 25 pounds on the hooks.

Jeff: You’re up to 50 pounds. Everyone’s been working for 10 minutes.

By this point, the puzzles appear to have more pieces and more Japanese characters. Harriet and Loretta are in a dead heat now with Antonio and Becky for first place.

Jeff: Minamoto, you have some catching up to do! You’re one puzzle behind!

Maria: How does this go together?

Charlie: Try switching these around. Put these pieces over here.

Maria: I think we have it.

Jeff: Minamoto’s off to their fourth puzzle!

The camera shows an overview of all three tribes working on their fourth puzzle; Becky and Antonio race to their fifth.

Jeff: Just one more minute before I add more weight!

Both Minamoto and Taira catch up to Fujiwara and all begin working on their sixth puzzle.

Jeff: More weight in 5, 4, 3, 2…

Jeff puts the extra 25 pounds on the hooks.

Jeff: You’re up to 75 pounds. Hang on tight.

Billy loses one of his ropes.

Jeff: Just one rope keeps you up. Lose that rope and it’s over.

Billy struggles for a minute with his rope…then he falls in.

Jeff: Billy’s in the water! Taira and Fujiwara down to one weight bearer each!

Minamoto appears to have a slight lead and is working on their seventh puzzle; Taira and Fujiwara are behind.

Jeff: All it takes is first or second place! Stay out of last!

Kevin drops his left hand’s rope.

Jeff: Two ropes keep you going strong. One rope keeps you alive. If you don’t have a rope, you don’t have a chance. One rope may not be enough when I add more weight.

Harriet and Loretta are behind the others, still working on their sixth puzzle.

Jeff: Taira’s struggling. Time’s ticking. More weight goes on in 5, 4, 3, 2…

Jeff adds another 25 pounds to the hooks.

Jeff: That’s 100 pounds. If you can handle it, you’re really tough.

Kevin drops in the water.

Jeff: Everyone’s down to one weight bearer! Kevin’s down!

Jason starts biting his lower lip and holding his ropes tighter.

Jeff: It’s not going to get any easier, guys!

Harriet and Loretta are still struggling with their sixth puzzle; an overview shows Charlie and Maria on their ninth puzzle.

Jeff: Minamoto’s running away with it! Fujiwara has seven done! Taira, you need to catch up!

Someone falls in the water, and it’s not clear who.

The next shots show Abdullah still up, and then Paula.

Jeff: Taira, you’re done! Stop working!

Harriet and Loretta smack their hands on the puzzle table and walk back to the start.

Charlie and Maria start on their tenth puzzle.

Jeff: Charlie and Maria might run the table!

At that point, Abdullah drops in the water.

Jeff: Never mind, guys! Stop working, Charlie and Maria!

Charlie and Maria drop their puzzle pieces and walk toward the end.

Jeff: Just Paula remains! It’s time to add more weight here in one minute!

Paula promptly drops.

Jeff: That’s all, guys! Stop working, Becky and Antonio! It’s time for me to check your work!

The camera shows Jeff looking at Charlie and Maria’s work.

Jeff: You missed the ninth puzzle. All your others are good. Taira, we know you didn’t beat eight puzzles, so Minamoto wins immunity.

The next screen cuts to Minamoto in celebration, though Kevin and Abdullah are still soaked.

Jeff: Taira, all five of your finished puzzles are good. Fujiwara, you have to beat five puzzles.

Jeff starts looking at the puzzles one at a time and abruptly stops.

Jeff: This puzzle is no good, guys. You didn’t finish it. You only got three puzzles right. Taira wins immunity!

Taira jumps for joy while Fujiwara starts holding their heads in their hands.

Jeff: Minamoto and Taira are losing no one tonight. Fujiwara, your odds of winning this game just got cut in half. Only two of you will survive tonight’s Tribal Council, and only one of you will be voted out by your own.

The camera shows Fujiwara panicking as the screen cuts to commercial.

Back from commercial

Nishino Shima, Day 17. The tribes are still gathered at the challenge for the vote.

Jeff: As I said, the two winning tribes will vote out a member of Fujiwara. The results will be revealed at Tribal Council, and then the three remaining members will compete for the right to take a fellow member to the next round. Without discussing the vote, each member of Minamoto will vote, followed by the members of Taira. The urn is over there. There’s no need to comment on your decision; just write down a name. Kevin, you’re up.

All four Minamoto members are shown voting one by one; no comments are shown, and none of the votes are revealed.

After that, the Taira members vote; just like the Minamoto votes, none are revealed.

Jeff: These votes will be revealed at tonight’s Tribal Council. Head on back to camp.

The camera switches to Fujiwara, Day 19. The tribe is clearly unnerved.

Becky: So who do you think they voted off?

Paula: I just know it’s me.

Becky: What makes you say that?

Paula: I held up longer than anyone.

(confessional) Paula: I was the only woman to do the weights, and I lasted longer than any of the guys. I can’t imagine not being seen as a threat.

Antonio: You had the best performance, Paula. Danny, on the other hand…what the hell, man?

Becky: We blew that challenge pretty bad too, you know. We had that in hand and we must have just been sloppy on that puzzle.

Antonio: I know. What were we thinking? It doesn’t make sense.

Becky: We’re usually better than this, but we got on a losing streak at the wrong time.

(confessional) Danny: Last time, we lost because the other tribes were sneakier than we were. This time, we just blew it. It’s no one’s fault. OK, well, it was partially my fault. It just wasn’t Paula’s fault.

(confessional) Antonio: At this point, the game is almost out of our hands. Only the challenge winner gets to make any decisions.

Paula: I know I’m probably gone, so best of luck to everyone here, and whoever wins the challenge should take whoever finishes second.

At this point, the camera switches to a setting sun that turns to a night sky; all four Fujiwara members walk into Tribal Council.

Jeff: Welcome to Tribal Council, guys. This isn’t a normal Tribal Council, as you have already figured out. I’ve already tallied the first set of votes.

Paula: I’ve already resigned myself to going home.

Jeff: Really.

Paula: I’m too much of a target.

Jeff: Because you held your weight the longest?

Paula: Exactly. People are going to be scared of me.

Jeff: Why wouldn’t they vote off Danny for dropping quickly?

Paula: I’d rather go up against Danny than me at this point.

Jeff: Danny, what happened at that challenge?

Danny: The first rope just slipped out of my hand, I panicked, and I lost it. I don’t even think it made much of a difference, really.

Jeff: Because Paula held out so well?

Danny: Exactly. If I had taken her down too, that would have been really bad.

Jeff: Well, Paula did her part. Becky, what was with that puzzle you and Antonio missed?

Becky: We must have rushed through it. I don’t really know what happened.

Antonio: I know what happened.

Jeff: Tell us.

Antonio: We didn’t check our work.

Jeff: So it came down to a lack of checking your work? If you have gone back and checked your work, would you have won?

Antonio: If we had checked our work, Taira would be here instead of us.

Jeff: You’re probably right, but it came down to one little error. As a result, the other tribes had the right to cast votes against you. I will now read those votes.

Jeff opens the urn and takes out a vote.

Jeff: First vote…Becky.

Becky looks a little shocked.

Jeff: …Antonio. One vote Becky, one vote Antonio.

Jeff pulls out another vote.

Jeff: …Danny. That’s one vote each for Becky, Antonio, and Danny. Next vote…

Jeff takes out the fourth vote and reveals it.

Jeff: …Danny. That’s two votes for Danny.

Danny is shaking his legs a little bit.

Jeff: …Danny. That’s three votes Danny with three votes left.

Becky is seen crossing her fingers.

Jeff: …the seventh person voted out of Survivor: Japan…Danny. That’s four votes; that’s enough. The last two votes will remain a mystery. Danny, you need to bring me your torch.

Danny takes his torch to Jeff and puts it in the holder.

Jeff: Danny, the tribe has spoken.

Jeff snuffs Danny’s torch.

Danny (final words): This was a great life experience for me. It’s an experience I will always treasure, even if I left earlier than I wanted to. It just goes to show that the game is never in hand even when you think it has to be.

The screen switches back to the Survivors and then to commercial.

Back from commercial.

Tribal Council, Fujiwara, Day 19. Only Antonio, Becky, and Paula remain.

Jeff: You know the rules for this challenge. Each of you will try to build a fire, the first to burn through your string will have the power to vote out one of the other members. You will each have 25 matches, some husks, some sticks, and some bigger sticks. You cannot touch the string with your sticks. The only thing that matters here is first place. Take your positions.

All three Survivors sit at a station.

Jeff: Survivors ready?

All three signal that they are.

Jeff: Begin.

All three start throwing husks into a small pile and start lighting matches. Paula’s fire burns out almost immediately. Antonio’s flame starts getting bigger and catches some sticks on fire.

Jeff: Antonio has something.

Becky starts putting sticks around her fire and lighting each side.

Jeff: Becky making some ground up.

Paula’s still struggling with her fire and is loading up her fire with husks, which burn up quickly.

Jeff: Paula gets fire and loses it. Remember to get some sticks caught on fire.

Antonio and Becky both have larger fires but are short of the string.

Jeff: It’s coming down to two tall fires.

A fire is shown burning through a string. The camera zooms back.

Becky is shown pumping her fist.

Jeff: Becky wins the challenge. Becky, you’re going through to the next round. You have a decision to make. You will cast the only vote, and it will be for the person you are voting out. Each of your tribemates will have the chance to make a short speech telling you why you should keep them. Antonio, you’re first.

Antonio: I have a lot still to do in this game. I can’t give up now. We lost that challenge together, and I came close to winning this challenge. I know I would have taken you if I won.

Jeff: Paula, your turn.

Paula: I’ve bonded with you since the beginning. I think we can take this game and turn it on its ear. You’re a strong competitor and I’m a leader, and together, we’re going to win the game.

Jeff: Becky, you have a tough decision. Please cast your vote now.

Becky walks up to the voting booth and writes down a name. It is not shown what name she writes; however, her speech is heard.

Becky (into vote camera): I haven’t made any promises in this game. I can’t make a promise at this point. This vote is for my own good, and to the person who’s being voted out, I apologize. I know the dream’s over for you.

Becky walks back and sits down by her fire.

Jeff: I’ll go get the vote.

The screen switches back to the Survivors, who are still behind their fires.

Jeff: Once the vote is read, the decision is final; the person voted out will be asked to leave the Tribal Council area immediately. I’ll read the vote.

Jeff opens the urn and unfolds it.

Jeff: The eighth person voted out of Survivor: Japan…

Jeff turns the vote around.

Jeff: …Antonio. You need to bring me your torch.

Antonio walks over to his torch and takes it over to Jeff.

Jeff: Antonio, the tribe has spoken.

Jeff snuffs Antonio’s torch.

Jeff: At this point, the game is about to change again. Waiting for you at your campsite will be the members of the Minamoto and Taira tribes. Take these to your campsite; you are now one tribe. Make a tribe name and a tribe flag. You are now competing as individuals. Grab your torches; head back to camp. Goodnight.

Only Becky and Paula walk out of Tribal Council; both are carrying torches as the screen credits begin to roll.

Cut to commercial and input from corporate sponsors.

Back from commercial.

Jeff (voice-over): Next time on Survivor…the tribes merge.

Harriet: It’s about time we all got together.

Loretta: I’ve missed the fishing gear.

Jeff (voice-over): However, it’s not all fun and games.

Paula (shouting at Charlie): You don’t know what it’s like! You can’t say s--- to me!

Jeff (voice-over): And the Survivors play mind games at the immunity challenge.

Billy: I know none of you are going to mess up. (pause) DON’T MESS UP!

The camera pans to some of Survivor’s sponsors before switching to Antonio.

Antonio (final words): It’s hard to go out of the game the way I did. My tribe is decimated, and my chances at winning the game are gone. It’s really disappointing; I’m used to winning. I wanted to be on the jury at the least so I could have a hand in the end of the game, but it’s just not meant to be.

6 votes Danny: Abdullah, Billy, Charlie, Harriet, Loretta, Maria

1 vote Antonio: Kevin

1 vote Becky: Jason

1 vote Antonio: Becky