Airheads

Plot
The episode opens with Team Glory in the luxury cabin. Zach is working out, Nick is scarfing breakfast alone at the big table, and Izzy is still asleep. Alex, Kathryn, Kirsten, Colby, Lauren, Hailey, Beyla and Eli are in one of the big bedrooms, discussing whether or not they should still consider Izzy a member of the alliance. Eli asks how they’re supposed to trust her again.

Eli (CONF): I mean honestly I think Izzy is pretty cool, but how do I know that won’t happen to me, I mean Dani is gone now, that’s a billion dollars down the drain

Lauren argues that she has sound reasoning – CK does have the numbers in this game still, with fifteen counselors left. Alex immediately argues that Chi Psi has similar numbers, with eight, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem. Everyone begins bickering when Hailey speaks out over everyone. She says that if they don’t have trust in this alliance, then they might as well not be one. She argues there are still forty-six people left in this game, and only nine of them, ten counting Izzy. If they continue with this attitude, then none of this will matter because one by one they’ll be eliminated, and instead of focusing on what organization has the “most people” in the game, focus on keeping a strong alliance and winning challenges. They are the strongest team currently in the game, with seven wins, and that has brought them together, so they just need to trust it will keep them together after a merge. Alex and Lauren apologize to each other, and Kathryn asserts that Hailey is right. She tells them they should give Izzy one more chance, and if she betrays their trust again, they vote her out. Alex also adds that they also need Nick, as he is great in challenges and for team morale, and Beyla backs him up. Hailey agrees, saying they need to keep a strong team, and don't need to make Nick feel like an outside just because he goes to Duke. Everyone agrees.

Kathryn (CONF): Damn Hailey where did that come from

Izzy, now woken up, walks downstairs to breakfast. She sees Alex and is about to apologize again when Alex stops her. He asks her if she is dedicated to this alliance, to which she agrees. He tells her that people decided she has one more chance, and the two hug.

Izzy (CONF): Ok that was fucking close, if I want to make a big move I've got to wait a little and not make it so obvious

In the meantime, Rourke has officially asked Ani to leave the alliance. She is shocked.

Ani (CONF): Rourke who even made you in charge? Me, you, Paige and Suzanne started this alliance together

Paige and Phillippa tell Rourke he’s being ridiculous, but he asks how, because this is a game and having a love affair with someone in an enemy alliance will cause the person to flip to that alliance. Paige argues that isn’t necessary anymore, because now she definitely will, and they have officially lost the numbers.

At the pier, Ani is sitting with Matt. He tells her he can ask Abbey if she can join their alliance, and she thanks him. They are joined by Mary, who tells them about Suzanne and Phillippa helping Izzy in the previous challenge. This makes Matt and Ani concerned about Suzanne and Phillippa’s allegiance in the game come a merge.

Helina, Ranjitha and Yuri are also at the pier. The three are talking about what they’re going to do to make sure it’s either Townes, Sam, Wilson or Kirk voted out at the next elimination ceremony.

Yuri (CONF): This game is about to get so intense *giggles excitedly* and I’m hype

Helina considers throwing a challenge to get at least one of them off the team before a merge, but the other two immediately rebuff that idea, arguing there are still so many people left that a merge isn't coming anytime soon and it's too risky.

In the meantime, Sofia is at breakfast with Grant, seeing where is head is at in the game.

Sofia (CONF): Ok I’m not going to lie this is a little weird given we never really talk

Grant (CONF): About time someone approached me to talk strategy

Nico, Miller, Clayton and Dan are on a run, something that Ryan opted out of again, as he is getting breakfast with Annie, Myra and Fiona. He tells the girls he feels like an odd man out from the guys on his team, and Fiona counters saying at least his team isn't at war. Suzanne and Izzy are lying out on the beach, Gianna, Duncan, Sammi, Archer and Frances are hanging out on the steps of Team Friendship’s cabin, and Phillippa, Kelsey, Townes, Paige and Garrett are still dead asleep in their cabins.

On the guy’s side of Team Waka’s cabin, Brian is thinking about what Garrett was talking about.

Brian (CONF): I mean Garrett is right, if I don’t step up my game, it's only a matter of time before I get eliminated, and this is the experience of a lifetime...no way that happens anytime soon

Chris suddenly blasts the air horn over the intercom, leaving them with an extra loud wake up call today. He tells the contestants to report to the beach for their next challenge. As the contestants walk up to the beach, they notice forty-six giant bubbles with their faces blown up on them. They all chuckle at how ugly they look with their heads cartoonishly large, particularly Rourke's.

Nico (CONF): This is frightening

Sammi (CONF): I feel like this game is 75% intense challenge that makes you wish you were dead, and 25% bizarre challenge that Chris probably fantasizes about in his twisted brain

Chris is standing on the beach as well, with season one contestant David. David and Sam chest bump, excited to see each other again, and Myra and Alex walk over to hug him as Chris begins to explain the challenge.

Sam (CONF): Damn I honestly forgot David was even on this show, he got voted out so early last time

Chris tells them that they will be playing bubble soccer. But instead of using an actual ball, one player will act as the ball, and your goal is to get that player to run into the opposing team's goal. David chuckles. The other team will try and prevent that from happening, while their own ball is making a similar run for the goal. It will be tournament-style like back in the dodgeball challenge, and the losing team will be voting someone off at the night’s campfire ceremony. He says he randomly picked the match-ups, but ensured they weren’t the same as dodgeball. Game one is going to be Team Booty against Team Friendship.

On Team Friendship, everyone nearly unanimously decides that Nico should be the ball. For Team Booty, they decide on Grant, given he has the most muscle out of the guys on their team. Miller, Kelsey, Ryan, Frances and Dan plan on protecting Nico, while Clayton, Myra, Sibu, Gianna and Annie plane on staying back and playing defense.

For Team Booty, Kirk, Wilson, Fiona, Helina and Sammi plan on helping Grant get to the other side, with Townes, Sam, Archer, Yuri, Ranjitha and Sofia hanging back on defense. Chris blows the starting horn, and Grant and Nico immediately take on different strategies.

Nico attempts to circumvent the oncoming defenders, while Grant decides to take the most direct route, relying on Kirk, Wilson, Fiona, Helina and Sammi to protect him.

Kirk (CONF): Ok Grant what the hell are you doing

Kirk slams Clayton out of the way, but is immediately blindsided by Gianna and Sibu. Annie gets a running start and, tucking her legs into the ball, somersaults into Grant, pushing him back a couple feet. In the meantime, Nico sidesteps Ranjitha and is about to be hit by Yuri before Miller and Kelsey double-team him. Frances, Dan and Ryan are holding off Sofia, Sam and Townes, giving Nico a clear shot at the goal. Suddenly, Archer appears out of nowhere and slams him aside, buying time for the other three to try and break out and help defend.

Grant reaches a pile-up right in front of Team Friendship's goal. Clayton, Myra and Annie are pushing with all their might, as he slowly pushes the three toward the goal line with the help of Fiona and Wilson behind him. Helina and Sammi keep trying to help, but Gianna and Sibu keep slamming them out of the way.

A split screen shows Nico barreling toward the finish with Archer right behind him on the left, and Grant slowly inching his way to the finish on the right. Chris suddenly blows the air horn, and the screen on the left becomes the entire screen as Nico claims the win for Team Friendship.

Chris in the meantime is laughing hysterically, watching the giant heads of the competitors slam into each other.

Eli (CONF): Ok Chris’s behavior is seriously concerning

Fiona (CONF): Does Chris get some sort of sick pleasure from seeing us beat the shit out of each other?

Regardless, the members of Team Friendship flood Nico, ecstatic they won't be sending someone home at the night's elimination ceremony, Clayton throws him into the air, proclaiming "yeah big guy," as Sibu, Frances, Annie, Myra, Kelsey, Ryan, Dan and Miller surround them and cheer and Sibu and Gianna hug and jump up and down.

Team Glory is up next, facing off against Team Waka.

Colby (CONF): A game where I get to beat the shit out of people…I like this

Ani (CONF): This makes me very uncomfortable

Alex agrees to be the ball for Team Glory, while Matt does the same for Team Waka. Similar to the previous round, the teams split into offense and defense.

For Team Glory, Colby, Zach, Beyla and Hailey agree to support Alex, leaving Kirsten, Nick, Eli, Izzy and Lauren on defense – agreeing a larger defensive presence will be beneficial.

Lauren (CONF): I was a great defender on Bicycle Lane so I got this

For Team Waka, it will be Garrett, Brian, Abbey, Mary and Phillippa supporting Matt, with Rourke, Duncan, Ani, Paige, Suzanne and Vani staying behind on defense.

Suzanne (CONF): I can’t get over how bizarre this challenge is

Alex and Matt lock eyes through the clear, air-filled shells of the bubbles, with Alex winking at him. Chris yells the starting horn, and the second round is off.

Alex and Matt both employ Nico’s strategy, seeing its success in the first game. They bolt to opposite sides, trying to circumvent their way around the defense. Immediately, Alex tucks in his legs and rolls into Ani and Suzanne, knocking them on the ground using Annie’s strategy from the previous round. Annie laughs and cheers from the sideline. Colby, Zach, Beyla and Hailey clash head on with Rourke, Duncan, Vani and Paige respectively. While they’re locked in combat, Alex tries to find a way around the pit of people, with Ani and Suzanne back on their feet and chasing after him.

Matt is running into similar trouble. Thankfully for him, Abbey nails an oncoming Nick out of the way and Phillippa rolls out of the way of Izzy and Kirsten who are charging from opposite directions causing them to crash into each other, opening a path. He's shown bolting to the finish line, with Mary boxing out Kathryn and Garrett holding off both Lauren and Eli, when suddenly a horn is blown.

Alex triumphantly throws off the giant bubble ball, and hugs Colby and Hailey who had broken free and helped him fend off Ani and Suzanne to get to the finish line.

Chris says the next game will be for first class to the next destination challenge – Team Glory v. Team Friendship, a rematch of the match for the win in the dodgeball tournament.

*flashback to Beyla dodging two throws from Gianna and Miller, before nailing Gianna and catching Miller’s next ball after it hit her in the stomach*

Nick (CONF): Hell yeah let's get it

Both teams look intensely toward each other, with Team Friendship wanting to avenge their loss in the dodgeball tournament and Team Glory looking to defend their title. Alex and Nico shake hands and hug, but jokingly talk trash. Both teams decide to stick to the same offensive and defensive squads.

The ten from both teams form a line, with Alex and Nico behind their respective teams. When Chris yells go, any notion of offense and defense immediately goes to shit.

A montage shows the ten clashing right in the center of the arena – Colby and Clayton, Izzy and Gianna, Eli and Miller, Zach and Dan, Kirsten and Kelsey, Nick and Ryan, Lauren and Frances, Beyla and Annie, Kathryn and Myra and Hailey and Sibu. All twenty start digging their feet in the sand, trying to get the upper hand on their opponent. In the meantime, Nico keeps trying to vault himself over the line combat, while Alex keeps employing the tuck and roll strategy trying to cause a break in the line. Finally, Nico manages to scrape over the top of the line, but Zach and Lauren immediately give him resistance as he treks toward the goal. Izzy and Nick also peel off to help, leaving an opening for Alex to roll through. He is met with similar resistance from Annie and Miller.

Two giant pileups start to form right on the goal line for both teams. A montage of Eli slamming into Sibu and Myra slamming into Hailey is shown. The fighting is fierce both ways for ten minutes. Then twenty. Chris loudly says this is how you compete in a challenge, prompting the contestants from Waka and Booty to roll their eyes.

Another montage shows Kirsten, Kelsey, Eli and Ryan sweating profusely within their bubbles. It also shows Gianna unable to get up after having been knocked over by Kathryn, and Frances and Beyla weakly leaning onto each other. Finally, Chris reminds them that if they lose they will have to sit in…economy class on the way to the next challenge. This provides an extra spark of fire, and Chris suddenly blows the air horn.

The twenty-two contestants all are drenched in sweat, as Chris appears to let them know the results. Slow motion footage shows Alex barely edging out Nico for the win, giving Team Glory the title yet again. They flip out, with Alex scooping Colby into the air, Eli and Zach chest bumping and Kathryn and Hailey jokingly mocking them, Izzy nearly on the verge of tears she doesn’t have to risk being voted out, and Nick, Beyla, Kirsten and Lauren hugging.

For being the final two teams in both the dodgeball tournament and the bubble-soccer one, Chris provides a twist…if Team Glory wants to, they have the option of bringing Team Friendship to first class with them. If they do that, a random member Team Friendship will earn an advantage in the game, but it may earn them brownie points.

Team Glory huddles up. Kathryn is vehemently against the idea, but Alex argues they have to be thinking about a merge. He says the likelihood of this advantage making it out of the team stage is unlikely, and this will make it easier to work with the members of Team Friendship down the road. Hailey impulsively turns around and says that they accept. Team Friendship also cheers, running over and hugging the members of Team Glory. Team Booty and Team Waka look annoyed.

Vani (CONF): What the- how is that fair?

Zach (CONF): *laughing* Maybe you guys should start doing better in challenges

Helina complains that Chris is bending the rules, but Chris argues that Team Booty should have won against Team Friendship then. Or maybe against Team Glory in the first round of the dodgeball challenge. Or maybe against Team Waka in the second round of the dodgeball challenge. Helina just rolls her eyes.

Next up is the match to determine who is sending someone home, between Team Waka and Team Boss, similarly a rematch for the two.

*flashback to the epic showdown between Duncan and Morgan, then to Morgan walking the Dock of Shame*

Rourke (CONF): Oh this is gonna be fun

Wilson (CONF): If they think they are taking the win again, they have another thing coming

Duncan suggests he be the ball and not Matt, but Matt wants the role again. Grant keeps the role as the ball for Team Boss, promising he'll employ a better strategy. When Chris blows the starting horn, a similar battle for dominance begins, now with eleven people wailing on each other. This time though, people are fighting more intensely, no one wanting to be sent to elimination.

Ranjitha dodges a charging Paige causing her to trip and roll out of the way, Suzanne wails on Sammi, trying to forge open a path for Matt, Kirk, Sofia and Townes are locked in place against Mary, Garrett and Duncan, and Abbey and Helina keep fighting to help their teams, knocking people like Fiona and Brian out of the way.

Finally, Abbey manages to open up a large enough space for Matt to run through, by nailing Fiona and Archer out of the way. Matt breaks through, and has a clear shot at the goal. He begins sprinting, but the weight of the ball combined with his exhaustion keeps causing him to trip onto the sand. The still-sweaty members of Team Glory and Team Friendship cheer him on, but he keeps only being able to make it a few steps before falling. By the time he gets back up for a third time, Yuri is already slamming into the side of his ball, with Sam, Kirk, Sammi and Sofia looping around to form a defensive wall. Abbey and Vani come and attempt to hold off the defenders when the air horn blows. Grant is standing triumphantly in Team Waka’s goal, with Rourke, Garrett and Ani all lying exhausted on the ground around him.

Chris congratulates Team Booty on redeeming themselves against Team Waka, and says he will be seeing Team Waka at the elimination ceremony…for the second time in a row. This causes them to groan.

Duncan (CONF): Ok look Matt I love you but that was some serious suckage you had in the challenge today

At dinner that night, the members of Team Glory and Team Friendship are sitting together, laughing and giddy for the opportunity to ride first class together. Team Booty just looks relieved they lost, partially because of pride but mostly the fact none of them are going home tonight.

Duncan is sitting at a table with Abbey, Matt, Ani and Mary. Matt apologizes to Duncan for not letting him be the ball, as he should have gotten them the win. Duncan forgives him, and Abbey welcomes Ani into their alliance, causing both Matt and Ani to smile. Abbey says they should target either Paige or Suzanne, because going for Rourke will be too obvious, but again they rely on the votes of Garrett, Brian and Vani. Mary suggests they target Suzanne, for her obvious connection to Izzy and the others in the merge.

Rourke, Paige, Suzanne and Phillippa debate between targeting Matt for costing them the challenge, or Abbey for being the head of the other alliance, and being a threat down the road. Suzanne makes a push for Matt, saying obviously taking out Hank was a questionable idea so they should try and keep better physical players like Abbey in the game, but Paige retaliates saying that will 100% crush all chances of Ani working with them in the future.

Vani, Garrett and Brian are eating outside, looking at the stars. Garrett asks the two if they know which way they want to swing, and Vani has an idea. She explains it to the other two, and they both agree as the scene transitions to the campfire ceremony.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris walks out with a plate full of eleven marshmallows, telling them he’s disappointed yet again. After the voting, he begins to call out the names.

Vani.

Vani begins to yell out a “hell yeah,” before quickly stopping herself.

Garrett. Mary. Phillippa.

The three run up and gratefully grab their marshmallows.

Rourke. Brian.

The two cordially hug, but shiver with excitement they’re safe.

Ani. Paige. Matt.

Matt and Ani kiss again, their relationship ramping up. That leaves the bottom two as Abbey and Suzanne, both looking absolutely shocked.

Abbey (CONF): Wait ok how the hell did this happen

Suzanne (CONF): *squeezes her eyes shut and crosses her fingers*

And the final marshmallow goes to…

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Suzanne.

Abbey’s mouth drops, as do the other members of her alliance. She hugs everyone, and tells them she had a lot of fun, before sadly walking down the Dock of Shame.

Abbey (CONF): I just honestly don’t understand how this happened, but hey, I got to do some crazy shit on this show and I'm so glad I got as far as I did...it's just a fucking bummer

*flashback to Abbey laughing with Clayton as they build a rollercoaster in Innovations, looking in awe as she runs up to the castle in San Marino, and chicken-fighting on Garrett's shoulders at the beach party after the boot camp*

The members of Team Waka stand at the edge of the Dock of Shame, watching as the Boat of Losers pulls Abbey into the distance. Duncan looks frustrated, having lost his number one ally, and Mary is shaking, extremely nervous about her place in the game now. Chris decides to throw them another beach party, winking that the next destination may not be so…not freezing. He winks, and heads to the craft services tent.

Torches light up the party area, and have been set up to extend into the water, tall enough to avoid the waves. Annie and Colby look extremely upset that Duncan is gone, with Kirk asking what happened and Duncan explaining as music begins and the scene transitions into the party.

Alex, Mary and Nico excitedly chase after Nick, Grant, Townes and Zach, who are going to teach them how to surf after learning from Caelan in Hawaii. Duncan, Ani, Matt, Kelsey, Colby and Annie are playing taps with a volleyball in the shallow part of the water, and Kirk is lying on the ground letting the tide rise and fall over him.

Helina, Paige, Ranjitha, Sibu, Izzy, Kirsten and Phillippa start a dance circle, and Eli and Wilson leisurely play a game of pong against Clayton and Dan.

Ryan and Lauren sit by the fire, joking about the challenge and talking about how excited they are that they get to be in first class together. On the other side sit Myra, Sam and David, with Myra and Sam filling in the former contestant with all the crazy happenings of the season, from bungee jumping off the Sydney Harbour Bridge to riding crazy moose in the X-games. David tells them they’re lucky, because not only do they get to play twice, they’ve already gotten pretty far twice, given he was voted out in the third episode. Fiona, Sammi and Sofia are also by the fire, and when they overhear David’s little speech, they talk amongst themselves about how grateful they are to still be there.

Vani is sitting with Garrett and Brian. Brian tells Vani that it was a good idea to not target Matt because Duncan may have played his idol for him given he obviously cost them the challenge. Garrett agrees. Vani says she's glad they have their little alliance, and the three hug. She says she now just hopes that Matt won't cost them more challenges.

Gianna, Frances, Kathryn and Hailey are also splashing around in the water, with Kathryn jokingly lamenting about traveling to a cold destination next, and Miller hangs out with Wilson and Rourke next to them, introspectively reflecting on everything that’s happened in the game so far.

As Annie runs to shore to get another cup of PJ, Chris pulls her aside and hands her an idol, wishing her luck and telling her to use it wisely. He winks, and disappears back into the night, as she ponders what she is going to do with her new power.