Scared to Death Valley

Plot
The episode opens up with Team Waka sitting in first class, recovering from another night of no sleep. Dan is on the couch with Rourke, yet again analyzing his relationship with Kirsten. Rourke tells him it can’t be the forefront of his mind, the game has to be.

Rourke (CONF): Alright Dan this whole “Romeo and Juliet” act is getting a bit old

Frances and Mary are at the mini-bar, talking about how lucky they were to escape elimination the night before, especially since two strong competitors, Hailey and Myra, were the ones sent packing. Mary tells Frances that sabotage is maybe not the best strategy, and that they should win fair and square, and Frances just nods along.

Frances (CONF): Look Mary I think that’s noble and all but I’m trying to win this thing

Duncan, Matt and Ani are in one set of chairs, with Duncan telling the two of them how lucky it is their romance has been working out in the game. In the other set of chairs, Phillippa, Vani and Garrett crack up as Paige tells them a crazy story from the previous night about how she ended up at a weird pizza place at four in the morning without everyone and the jumbo jet almost left without her.

At breakfast, Alex sits with Beyla, Annie and Nico, and tells them they should have had the numbers to take out Hailey the night before without Annie having to use the idol. Alex also tells the three he’s scared since Myra got the boot, worried people are going to start turning on returning players soon.

Beyla (CONF): We have to get another alliance started real quick if we plan on staying in this game

They have a list of everyone on Team Glory, and begin going through, thinking about who should be included in this secret, smaller alliance.

Helina is also at breakfast with Ranjitha, Sofia, Archer, Yuri and Gianna. The girls are speculating who they think flipped on Myra, with Helina having an idea.

Helina (CONF): Ok I’m just annoyed because I feel like Archer, Sofia and Gianna still don’t trust me and this was their way of showing it

Yuri (CONF): Yeah let’s hope the girls don’t find out it was me and Archer who flipped, Grant and Kelsey are kinda on the outskirts of the alliance too

Kelsey and Grant sit a few tables over, talking about how to get back in the good graces of Helina and Sofia given they think Wilson is too big a threat to still be in the game.

In economy class, Kathryn and Zach talk about how much they’re going to miss Hailey, but need to stay strong in the game for her. Wilson, Townes, Eli, Kirsten and Colby play a card game, and Miller talks to Izzy about strategy and potentially working together.

Miller (CONF): We’re almost at the halfway point, strategy is only going to get harder from here and I need allies. Honestly, other people don't really trust Izzy, which means they're less likely to work with her and means I can rely on her more

The plane lands in Death Valley, California, with the thermometer showing that it’s a whopping 106° outside. The contestants arrive to see a huge obstacle course behind Chris. At the end of the course, is a huge pile of boulders. At the beginning, three metal platforms about thirty feet off the ground with a single hole in the middle of each platform. Through the holes are ropes connected to giant metal baskets hanging beneath the platform. On the top of the platform, the rope splits in four, allowing for four people to hold on.

Ani (CONF): This just does not look like it’s going to be fun

Also with Chris is Alex from season one. Sam and Alex both excitedly greet her, but the cameo of another veteran makes the group feel Myra’s absence even heavier. Chris welcomes them to Death Valley National Park, and begins explaining the day’s challenge. Four members of each team will be holding up the huge metal baskets by standing on top of the tall metal platforms and holding on to the four thick ropes. The other seven or eight members will be running the obstacle course. Once they get to the end, they must take a boulder, run along the outside of the obstacle course on the way back, and drop the rock in the basket of one of the other two opposing teams, similar to collecting the buoys in Australia. As the challenge progresses, it will be harder for the four to hold up the basket given its continually increasing weight. The first team to drop is going to elimination, with the team coming in first earning themselves immunity and a stay in the luxury cabin.

Kathryn (CONF): Alright look I am already sweating I do not have time for this nonsense

As he explains the obstacle course, he makes a reluctant Alex from season one demonstrate. Alex and Sam laugh, knowing how much she hates physical activity. It starts with an army crawl under a net, followed by scaling a huge rock wall, sliding down the wooden ramp to the other side, crossing a series of balance beams, using a series of tire swings to get over a giant mud pit, climbing a steeply angled wall using a rope to help and climbing a ladder down the other side, and finally ends with high knees through a giant field of tires. Everyone giggles as season one Alex struggles to keep up with what Chris is saying – falling into the mud pit twice and tripping on one of the tires.

Alex (CONF): *panting and heavily sweating* Ah yes, this is the part of the show I absolutely don't miss

Chris ends telling them to assign who is doing what, and tells them there must be two guys and two girls holding up the basket.

For Team Glory, Zach, Eli, Kathryn and Kirsten are holding the basket, while the remaining eight: Colby, Alex, Nico, Izzy, Beyla, Lauren, Annie and Miller, run the course.

For Team Booty, Grant, Archer, Helina and Kelsey are holding the basket, while the remaining seven: Gianna, Sofia, Townes, Ranjitha, Yuri, Wilson and Sam, run the course.

For Team Waka, Garrett, Duncan, Paige and Vani are holding the basket, while the remaining seven: Matt, Ani, Rourke, Mary, Frances, Dan and Phillippa, run the course.

He gives the twelve holding the basket a couple minutes to figure out their grip. Already, the contestants are drenched in sweat from the sheer heat. Sam notices a little EMS tent set up by the course.

Sam (CONF): That’s just not a good sign

An exhausted Alex from season one lies next to Chris, chugging water, and he yells "Go!" and blows the airhorn prompting the other contestants to start off through the obstacle course. Immediately, Nico, Alex, Sofia and Mary take an early lead in the army crawl portion. Sofia, who is right behind Nico, suggests teaming up against Team Waka since they didn’t have to eliminate anyone in the last challenge. He nods, and the two agree to try and make it as subtle as possible. Both proceed to keep army crawling, panting already even though they just started. The plan reverberates across the two teams. Phillippa takes up the rear with Gianna.

Kathryn, Zach and Kirsten yell loudly in support of their team, with Eli trying to readjust his grip.

Eli (CONF): This basket is pretty heavy even without any rocks

Vani looks like she’s already struggling but Garrett encourages her, and Archer and Helina holler in support of their team.

Intense EDM music begins to play as a montage of the obstacle course follows. It starts with Sam, Dan and Gianna covered in dirt as they complete the army crawl, while Colby and Townes scale the rock wall. Ranjitha and Frances grunt in pain as they slide down the other side, while Rourke, Mary and Lauren carefully cross the complex balance beams. Beyla, Phillippa and Izzy jump side by side from tire swing to tire swing over the mud pit, as Ani, Wilson and Matt side-by-side climb the angled wall, grasping onto the ropes. Sofia, Annie and Miller carefully slide down the ladder on the other side, as Alex, Nico and Yuri high-knees through the tires. They are the first three to make it to the pile of boulders, and they’re too heavy to take more than one. The three groan as they each heave a rock from the pile, and begin making their way back toward the baskets.

Kelsey, Grant, Helina, Paige and Kirsten are hollering encouragement to their teammates. Paige, Garrett, Duncan and Vani solidify their stance as Nico, Alex and Yuri all unload their boulders into their basket.

Duncan (CONF): Ok what the hell?

As Dan and Frances return and unload boulders in Team Glory’s basket, Dan yells "sorry babe!" to Kirsten, prompting Frances to roll her eyes. Duncan yells for his teammates to go after Team Glory, as they have the most players left in the game. Kathryn, Zach, Eli and Kirsten square up as Matt, Ani and Phillippa unload boulders into their basket.

Another montage shows the contestants battling with the intense heat on top of the obstacle course, with everyone now profusely sweating.

Paige (CONF): Hey at least I think I’m losing a lot of weight, just sweating it all out

It starts with Lauren lying exhausted underneath the net crawl and Matt trying to catch Phillippa who falls backward off the rock wall, unable to muster the strength and falling as well. Then it shows Kathryn and Zach grunt as Dan unloads a rock in the Glory basket. Yuri tumbles down the other side of the rock wall, unable to stop himself, and Wilson, Alex and Sofia move extremely slowly over the balance beam. It then flashes to Garrett shouting words of encouragement to Paige and Vani as Ranjitha and Wilson unload boulders in the Waka basket. Mary falls off a tire swing into the mud pit, crashing into Beyla who had already been lying there and didn’t have the strength to move.

Mary (CONF): But like honestly this mud pit is low key refreshing

It then shows Helina yelling for Archer, Kelsey and Grant to be prepared as Frances and Rourke unload rocks in the Booty basket. As Frances and Rourke re-enter the course, Duncan yells and reminds them to go for Team Glory or they don’t stand a chance since both teams are gunning for them, but Frances and Rourke are so exhausted they barely hear him.

Finally, it shows Miller gets tangled up in the rope on his way up the angled wall, Izzy, Alex and Townes fall off the ladder while trying to climb down and Ranjitha and Colby collapse next to each other while trying to move through the tires.

Alex from season one asks Chris if this is legal, and he just shrugs stating an intern tested it. She asks where that intern is now and he motions to a young girl lying in a nearby cot. Alex cautiously asks if she's alive and Chris just shrugs again.

The scene shows the sun emanating heat waves, before panning down to the obstacle course. Colby passes out over the tires and Beyla struggles to pull a rock from the pile. Dan sweats profusely as he carries a rock back, and Eli readjusts his grip on the rope. Interns carry a weak Phillippa off the course after Chris deems her unfit to continue the challenge, and Matt isn’t too far behind. Sam is struggling, but thanks to all his working out in preparation for these challenges, he is still holding his own. Nico is like a machine, providing a steady stream of boulders into Team Waka’s basket, and Lauren and Rourke are the next to collapse, joining Phillippa and Matt in the dehydration tent.

Tension builds as the camera shows Alex sweaty as he swings over the tire swings, Vani’s eyes water as the weight of the basket slowly becomes unbearable, Yuri letting out a cry of pain from sliding down the wooden ramp, Helina’s hands readjusting, Kathryn leaning some of her weight on Eli making sure to still hold onto the rope, Townes collapsing to the ground, and finally ends with the sound of metal clattering onto the ground.

Sofia (CONF): I don’t know what scared me more, the chance of dying in the heat or the sound of the metal basket crashing into the ground

Team Waka could no longer handle the weight, causing their basket to go plummeting to the ground. On the top of the platform, Garrett, Vani, Duncan and Paige lie in a sweaty heap, entirely out of breath and muscles bulging with veins.

Almost immediately after, Kirsten lets out a giant sneeze that accidentally makes her let go of the rope. Eli, Zach and Kathryn weren’t ready for the sudden increase in weight, and soon Team Glory’s basket also goes crashing to the ground, naming Team Booty the winners of the challenge and allowing them to escape elimination for the first time in three challenges. Kathryn warily eyes Kirsten as Helina, Grant, Kelsey and Archer hug and jump up and down. Alex from season one tells everyone she was tired just watching that challenge, and Chris tells them to quickly get back on the plane so they can get out of this hell hole.

At dinner, the interns hold giant fans and everyone is chugging water. On top of that, everyone is still disgustingly sweaty, with long lines for the jet's showers and everyone envious of Phillippa, Rourke, Lauren and Matt with their wet hair and fresh clothes, who got to shower first because of the dehydration. Kirsten apologizes to Kathryn, but she accuses Kirsten of trying to throw the challenge to protect Team Waka and prevent Dan from getting voted off. Kirsten tells her that’s ridiculous, but Lauren, Miller and even Izzy look a little doubtful.

Kirsten (CONF): Alright I have to make sure my team trusts me, especially with the end of the big alliance

Kirsten pulls aside Rourke in private and asks him if he could get his alliance to vote out Dan. He looks shocked she would ask that, but she begs him not to tell Dan anything because she wants to continue a relationship, it’s just too hard with the game and she has missed out on some good times because he wanted to talk about their relationship.

*flashback to Dan pulling Kirsten out of the movie post-Delirious challenge to discuss their relationship, as well as them sitting on the balcony at the New Years party*

Rourke tells her he’ll see what he can do, but once she walks away, tells Phillippa and Paige he has no clue what to do because Dan is in their alliance.

Matt, Ani, Duncan, Frances and Mary discuss targeting Phillippa, given her collapsing gives them an excuse to take out a solid physical threat. As Mary goes to get in line for the confessional, she overhears Rourke.

Rourke (CONF): I mean I guess to gain Kirsten’s trust voting out Dan wouldn’t be a horrible idea, and to be perfectly honest he’s even irritating me with it

Mary returns to her alliance with this information, but Duncan is still adamant they should take out a weak link. Ani accuses him of just wanting to protect a Chi Psi, but Duncan tells her it’s strategy. They have to benefit both the alliance and the team.

When Dan joins Rourke, Paige and Phillippa to discuss elimination, the three tell him that they are targeting Ani finally for betraying the alliance. Dan nods, and proceeds to pull aside Vani and Garrett, having gotten closer to them due to the fact they’re Kirsten’s friends. They both agree, still trying to take full advantage of being swing votes after seeing Brian taken out, as the scene transitions to the elimination ceremony.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris tells Team Waka he’s hoping for another juicy elimination ceremony after the two dramatic eliminations in New York City. Alex from the first season is still with them, using a mini-fan and acting out of breath as if she also participated in the challenge, prompting Paige and Duncan to chuckle.

Garrett (CONF): I guess this is the plan? Sorry Ani, I like you but couples are dangerous in this game *stamps Ani’s passport*

Dan (CONF): Sorry girl, it’s your time *stamps Ani’s passport* I hope Kirsten doesn’t get too upset

Phillippa (CONF): This is a little bit to save my own ass, but good day to you sir *stamps Dan’s passport*

Matt (CONF): *holding up Dan and Phillippa’s passports* Agh I don’t know

Chris comes out with a plate holding ten barfbags full of airline-issued peanuts. He calls the first name…

Duncan.

Duncan cheers and runs up to claim immunity.

Matt. Mary. Paige. Rourke.

As usual, hugs are exchanged, but Rourke eyes Dan and Ani, unsure what’s going to happen.

Frances. Garrett. Vani.

Vani does her signature “eat the booty” move causing Garrett and Frances to laugh. Chris tells Phillippa, Ani and Dan that all three of them received votes. Dan looks confused, as Ani grasps Matt’s hand and Phillippa closes her eyes and crosses her fingers on both hands. Chris hands the next barfbag to…

Phillippa.

She cheers and runs up, thanking her team. That leaves Dan and Ani as the bottom two, both gaping at one another, with the final barfbag going to…

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Ani.

Dan looks shocked and extremely upset. A nearby Kirsten comes in and Dan apologizes to her for being eliminated so soon. Kirsten laughs and tells him it’s not his fault. As he’s hugging some of his team one by one, he tells Kirsten how much she means to him, but she can barely look him in the eyes. He gives her one last kiss, holding on to it as long as he can, before Chris comes and shoves him out the Drop of Shame.

Dan (CONF): Man this sucks. I mean sure losing my shot at the money blows, but this was like the date of a lifetime with Kirsten and I just wasn’t ready for that to be over

Kirsten (CONF): Oh my god I feel awful

Rourke rubs Kirsten’s back, as Chris tells them to change into their swimsuits because he rented them out a water park for the night's festivities.

Garrett (CONF): Ok but like actually where does Chris get all this money

Season one Alex cheers, telling them she’s glad her hard work paid off causing some to laugh but Kirsten still looks upset.

The contestants cheer as they run into the lit-up water park, the ginormous area completely to themselves. It has a huge wave pool, tons of slides for tubes and people, a lazy river, play-sets and they even have the concession stands running (by the interns of course) for free.

Kirsten sits sadly with Rourke, who is still comforting her, at the big concession stand by most of the attractions. She thanks him, telling him she owes him, but is worried she made a mistake. As she sadly eats her hot dog, Rourke looks like he wants to go join the others.

Rourke (CONF): Look I love Kirsten and Dan so much don't get me wrong, but I am so glad for this relationship talk to be over

Townes and Alex laugh as they slide down a huge water slide in a two-person tube down a giant water slide, with Ranjitha and Gianna and Sam and Alex from season one laughing in two-person tubes next to them as they weave in and out of each other. A camera also shows Miller, Annie and Garrett head on as they laugh and slide down their own water slides, all of them lying on their backs.

Matt and Ani lounge in a two-person tube down a lazy river, and Kathryn, Beyla and Frances are locked in a water gun fight around one of the giant, watery jungle gyms with Zach, Grant and Kelsey. They laugh as they fire streams of water at each other, occasionally getting blasted by random jets or having random buckets dumped on them from the play structure. Duncan stalks Matt and Ani like a shark through the lazy river, capsizing them causing all three to laugh. Colby also relaxes down the lazy river, as do Eli and Lauren. It also shows Phillippa and Izzy going on a two-person tube and Nico shooting after them in a single tube.

Vani, Helina and Yuri call for everyone to come to the wave pool, and even Rourke and a dejected Kirsten join them as huge waves crash people to shore and people try body surfing, boogie-boarding and tubing to see how long they can ride them. A montage shows Kathryn crashing into Beyla with a boogie board, Yuri and Wilson cheering next to each other on tubes, Alex from season one hysterically laughing after tackling the other Alex into the water, and Mary whimsically jumping into a wave, before a huge wave crashes into the camera and cuts the scene to black.