An Amazonian Adventure

Plot
The episode opens up with Team Glory celebrating in first class for the first time since they were on their way to New York City. Zach is sitting in a set of chairs with Beyla, Nico and Alex, but he’s being quiet because he’s still not entirely pleased with the two of them helping vote out Hailey and Kathryn in their last two elimination ceremonies.

Beyla cracks a joke that makes Alex and Nico laugh, but Zach just stares at her.

Beyla (CONF): Yeah this is super awkward

In the other set of chairs sits Kirsten, Izzy, Colby and Miller, confident about their current place in the game. Miller reminds the three to not get too cocky, but Kirsten argues that once they vote out Zach, it’ll be easy to pick off Beyla and Nico and potentially Alex if they have to so they destroy anymore CK ties.

Colby (CONF): Ok wow that’s an intense plan that I was definitely not aware of

Izzy (CONF): Kirsten may need to chill on the strategy front

Kirsten (CONF): I think I finally found my life in this game without Dan, it’s been a roller coaster but I’m in a solid place right now

Annie, Eli and Lauren sit and laugh at the mini bar, staying out of strategy for the moment.

Rourke, Helina, Duncan, Garrett and Paige eat breakfast together in the cafeteria, with the five members shocked that Team Booty voted Sam out in the previous episode.

Duncan (CONF): I’m not gonna lie, I thought he was going all the way

At the next tables over sit Grant and Kelsey, still debating whether or not they made the right move, Gianna, Frances, Mary and Sofia laughing as they eat, and finally Ranjitha with Ani and Matt, slowly but surely recovering.

Matt (CONF): I legitimately thought Ranjitha was going to die

Townes and Wilson sit in economy class, upset about the turnout of last night’s vote.

Townes (CONF): Alright without Kirk and Sam…we’re officially screwed

Vani lies down on the hard wooden bench and tries to nap, as Archer and Phillippa play a card game. Chris calls everyone into the cargo hold, and when they arrive he’s wearing jungle attire.

Ani (CONF): Well this just can’t be good

Chris tells them that the day’s challenge is going to be in the Amazon Jungle, causing a lot of excited chatter amongst the contestants, since it had been a while since they had left North America. He tells them the challenge will mirror the one from post-merge season one.

*flashback to Sydney getting stuck in a large spider web, Caroline trapped in the pit trap, and Liz laughing at Myra and Justin who were tied up by natives*

But of course, as always, this would be a longer trek due to the increased difficulty of season two.

Nico (CONF): Fantastic

They are dropped into the jungle via parachute, something they are used to, and the scene flashes to Chris standing with backpacks full of supplies. He hands one to each team, and tells them the challenge is to make it to Machu Picchu and find the treasures. Whichever team re-boards the plane empty-handed will be voting someone out of the game.

Despite having been through thirty-one begrudging challenges, the thought of voting someone out still sends chills down the contestants’ backs.

Gianna (CONF): I can't believe how far we've made it...

He tells them it will be an overnight trek, and to set up camp because they’ll need the energy the next day. He also tells them he has laid out three paths and assigned each team one, each with it’s own “fun” set of obstacles, causing Annie and Grant to roll their eyes.

The starting horn sounds, and the teams start lightly jogging down their respective paths.

Team Glory comes across a problem almost immediately.

Lauren (CONF): Why does it have to be more heights

Over a giant chasm there’s a zip line, but only one T-bar.

Annie (CONF): So this feels…wrong?

Zach suggests holding on, and everyone holding on to him, but people were skeptical.

Beyla (CONF): This is a terrible idea

Nico and Eli each grab a leg, with Alex, Miller, Kirsten and Lauren holding onto Nico, and Izzy, Beyla and Colby holding onto Eli. They go and make it almost the entire way across, before Zach’s arms give way and they all drop into the water. They are close to the edge, but unfortunately the water is infested with piranhas so they frantically swim to shore to try and avoid getting bitten as the scene transitions to Team Booty.

They make it fairly far before the path starts getting covered with silk, eventually reaching a point where pillars of it go in all directions making the path nearly impassable. This makes the contestants nervous.

Grant (CONF): Not a big spider guy if I do say so myself

The silk string becomes so close that the contestants are crawling through the gaps, with a montage showing Ranjitha climbing up some like a ladder and slipping down the other side, Wilson and Gianna sliding on their stomachs as they try and slip underneath one, and Townes trying to pull Sofia through a small gap.

Suddenly, Helina gasps, and they don’t see spiders, but giant silk worms the size of Archer, and they don’t look happy.

Kelsey (CONF): I just didn’t sign up for this fucking Pokémon, monster mash bullshit…

They immediately begin firing huge pillars of silk, almost like lasers, but what’s even worse is maneuverability is low. It shows shows Kelsey dive over a low shot and Wilson push Townes out of the way as the scene transitions to Team Waka.

Frances (CONF): Something tells me this isn't right

As they sit at the bottom of an enormous pit.

Mary and Rourke scold Paige for recklessly trekking ahead. She turns red and apologizes, trying to quickly divert attention away from her.

Paige (CONF): Literally the smalllest thing can get you eliminated out here, and I wouldn't say, well, knocking your entire team into a giant pit is a small thing, so trying to get the attention off me asap

Duncan suggests climbing, but Garrett comments that he doesn’t think all ten of them could manage it, looking at Ani who gets visibly offended. The group begins attempting to climb up; with a montage showing Frances slip off and Duncan grab her hand, and Matt and Ani side-by-side sweating.

Ani (CONF): Woah Garrett, if there are weak links on this team I am definitely not one of them

The scene transitions to a soaking wet Team Glory, with bite marks from their fishy friends in the Amazon River. Colby is comedically complaining to a giggling Izzy, while Annie, Nico and Alex joke that they each look like shit and Miller takes the lead down the path.

The path seems long, and they aren’t sure when the next obstacle is going to arrive, but many use this as a time to strategize. Zach is talking to Beyla about flipping and helping him try and take out Izzy, arguing she’s untrustworthy after she single-handedly blindsided Dani in Orlando, a move that no one seems to be upset about anymore. Beyla counters they don’t have any numbers, but Zach says they only need six for a majority, and thinks he can lock in Nico, Alex, Miller and Lauren too. Suddenly, the trail becomes partially covered by leaves and branches. A single machete with a golden handle lies on the ground, with a note.

"You’re welcome,

-Chris"

Lauren rolls her eyes, as Zach grabs the machete and begins forging a path forward.

The camera zooms out showing the whole Amazon Rain Forest, before zooming back in to Team Booty. Helina is gagging as she pulls silk off herself, as Archer laughs and Sofia follows the map ahead. Their path also becomes covered with foliage, with the same note from Chris and a machete with a light blue handle.

Townes (CONF): Chris is actually the fucking worst

Townes grabs the machete and begins chopping at the trees as the scene transitions to Team Waka. They are all drenched in sweat, having finally pulled all of their members out of the ravine. Frances and Vani shoot Paige dirty looks for putting them in that dilemma in the first place.

As they walk along the path, Frances again strategizes with Duncan and Mary, talking about what move they should be making, potentially considering targeting Ani because as the game progresses, the fact her and Matt are a couple is dangerous.

Duncan (CONF): It may be a bit early for that Frances, I mean you're definitely right but she's in our alliance...

Matt and Ani hold hands in the back, with Vani holding the map in the front. Unfortunately for them, they find the same blockage on their path, with the same note from Chris and a machete with a light orange handle.

Vani (CONF): I've about had it with this bullshit

Vani grabs the handle and begins hacking away at the branches. A side-by-side shows Zach chopping a vine, Townes curse as he swings at a branch but it doesn’t break, and Vani trip and nearly cut herself on the machete. Each third of the screen shifts as the owner of the machete changes, first showing Alex hack at leaves, Helina sawing off a branch, and Duncan climbing over a wall of vines, then Beyla sweating as she army-crawls under a branch with the machete, Ranjitha kick a rock in frustration when she can’t finish off a vine, and Matt stomp on a branch to move it out of the way. Night begins to fall as all three come across their designated campgrounds.

Ani (CONF): This is actually the woat, there’s at least 100 things out here that could actually end our lives

In the middle of the night, turmoil strikes all three teams.

It starts with a close-up shot of Miller, his face bathed in moonlight and a rhythmic sound pulsing in the background. His eyes slowly blink open, and he shakes Kirsten to ask her if she hears it too. The two wander closer toward the ominous noise, that Kirsten says sounds like tribal chanting.

Suddenly, a loud drum beat starts and begins inching closer to the camp, abruptly waking up Alex, Annie and Beyla. As the sound nears in, Izzy and Colby jolt awake, Alex shakes Nico and Zach slowly yawns, oblivious to the growing panic. The drum beat nears, as the scene transitions to Team Booty sleeping peacefully by a fire that Wilson built.

Suddenly, it snuffs out, the sudden shift waking up Gianna. She feels around in the dark, wondering if she can get the fire going again as she already feels the temperature dropping, when she feels something slimy.

Gianna (CONF): No thanks!

Her scream gets suddenly muffled as the scene switches to Team Waka.

Paige wakes up in the middle of the night to pee, when she notices thousands of eyes looking down on the group from the tree above.

Paige (CONF): Yeah not a huge fan of bats

She begins slowly inching away, when she trips and screams, startling the mysterious creatures that begin diving toward the group.

A montage shows Alex and Beyla frantically shaking Lauren and Eli awake, Kelsey screaming when she realizes the giant caterpillars had returned to attack Team Booty again, Frances and Ani ducking as thousands of vampire bats swarm their area, Nico and Kirsten taking the lead as a native tribe begins chasing Team Glory down the path, Ranjitha diving out of the way of an oncoming silk shot, and finally Duncan shooing a vampire bat about to bite Phillippa.

Phillippa (CONF): Well that wasn’t fun

As the sun rises, the contestants are still trekking along, none of them having sleep due to the episodes from the night before. Team Glory is the first to make it to Machu Picchu, where Chris chuckles at the contestants' distress.

Colby (CONF): I think Chris is officially a sadist

Immediately the team disperses to try and find the first treasure. As Colby and Alex search among the top of the ruins, Colby points that Team Booty is running in the distance. He shouts at the team to look faster, and a montage shows Zach frantically dig through a pile of giant stones, Izzy and Beyla work together to climb into a hidden chamber in one of the temple’s ruins, and Annie and Eli making a lap around the perimeter.

Once Team Booty gets there, still covered in remnants of silk, they disperse as well. Wilson and Townes immediately go join Zach at the pile, annoying him, and Helina and Ranjitha begin climbing the tallest stone temple toward Alex and Colby. Grant and Kelsey are wandering through when Grant trips on something, causing it to light up and making the whole temple shake.

Grant (CONF): Uh…?

The ensuing earthquake causes Gianna to trip into a wall, prompting it to come crashing down and reveal none other than – the first treasure. Immediately the members of Team Booty swarm Gianna, ecstatic they get to avoid going to elimination after the past two episodes. Helina and Ranjitha jump up and down and hug, Wilson hugs Townes then proceeds to find others to celebrate with, Kelsey jumps on Grant’s back and Sofia, Gianna and Archer cheer and run around with their hands in the air.

Shortly thereafter, Lauren stumbles across the treasure for Team Glory, securing them second place before Team Waka even arrives at Machu Picchu.

Duncan is the first to arrive, but is dismayed when Chris tells them their too late, with Alex, Nico, Miller and Annie hugging in the background and Gianna doing the “juju on that beat” dance with Kelsey.

At lunch on the jumbo jet, Team Booty and Team Glory laugh and compare stories from their adventure while Team Waka is segmented with people discussing strategy. A general consensus is that Paige cost them the challenge by falling into the hole and aggravating the bats, which ultimately wore them down for the second morning's hike, but Rourke is hard at work protecting her. He is telling everyone Paige is too much of a physical asset to lose at this stage in the game. He’s meeting with her and Phillippa in economy class, sitting on the ground eating their lunch. The three discuss a game plan, with Rourke saying, as per usual, they’re going to need Garrett and Vani’s votes to even force a tie. Paige looks nervous, asking who they should target. Rourke says anyone would be equally good to vote out at this point.

In the mess hall, Frances sits with Duncan, Mary, Matt and Ani. Mary says that while this could be a good opportunity to vote Paige, it could also be a good opportunity to take a shot at Garrett or Vani for being swing votes. Matt, having offered Garrett a more concrete spot in the alliance in the past, is unsure, but says they'll have to flush out the pros and cons.

Matt (CONF): It’s nice to finally have some concrete numbers in this game

Matt and Ani get up to go back to economy class, when Frances tells Mary and Duncan they need to take out Matt or Ani. She continues to argue that being a couple makes them a huge threat, and Matt is horrible in challenges so getting rid of him may better position themselves to win more before the merge.

Duncan says not only can they not risk losing the numbers, but Matt is their friend and Paige literally cost them the challenge. Frances says Paige costing them the challenge is even more the reason to target them, since they won't be expecting it.

Duncan, uncomfortable, goes to talk to Matt and Ani, deciding to share that Frances is targeting them.

Ani (CONF): Wait…what?

Rourke, returning from the bathroom confessional, overhears this conversation and smirks, coming up with a game plan. In the meantime, Phillippa tries to work Garrett and Vani, although they don’t look convinced, as the best outcome that could happen is a tie. Vani also reiterates that it's only fair if whoever cost them the challenge gets voted off.

Team Glory and Team Booty watch as people frantically break off and strategize, happy that they are safe from elimination that night. Amidst the chaos, Chris announces over the intercom that it’s time for elimination.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris walks out, holding a plate with nine marshmallows on it. He tells the team to go vote for the person they want eliminated by stamping the passport with their face on it, and wishes them luck.

Frances (CONF): This move is going to be epic *stamps Matt’s passport* If it's Paige tonight...

Matt (CONF): I know Frances is being shady, but we have to stick together *stamps Paige’s passport*

Duncan (CONF): Ah shit this is so hard *holding up three passports*

Mary (CONF): Sorry girl *stamps Paige’s passport*

Chris begins reading out the names of those safe.

Vani.

She sighs with relief.

Mary. Rourke. Phillippa. Duncan.

The four all cheer and hug, despite being in rival alliances.

Ani. Garrett.

The two also hug, but Ani is distracted, worried about Matt’s safety in the game. Chris tells them that everyone left received at least one vote, but the person who didn’t receive enough votes to be sent home…

Matt.

Frances looks shocked and Ani cheers, shooting a dirty look in Frances’s direction that causes her to get nervous. That leaves Paige and Frances as the bottom two, with the last barf bag going to…

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Paige.

Frances looks absolutely shocked. Even Matt looks a little shocked, and looks at Ani, who just avoids eye contact. She ignores Duncan, Matt and Ani, then hugs Mary, Garrett and Rourke goodbye before taking the Drop of Shame.

Frances (CONF): I’m just actually shocked…this would have been a big move, and I’m guessing Duncan went ahead and told…this just sucks that it cost me the experience of a lifetime

The party that night is back in the Amazon Rain forest, and is appropriately jungle themed. Chris drops them in the middle of a huge circular clearing, where the party's to take place.

It is pitch black around the outside of the clearing, with torches lining the edge illuminating the circumference. There’s also an eclectic range of animals roaming the grounds. However, the contestants notice something odd.

Vani (CONF): I feel like cows aren’t wild in nature?

Eli (CONF): Did Chris…import animals for this party?

When the other two teams see the new Team Waka, people immediately notice Frances's absence. Beyla and Zach exchange a dismayed look, while Annie says "fuck" and Miller puts a hand on Colby's shoulder. Gianna, however, isn't surprised.

Gianna (CONF): Girl you had this coming ever since you started campaigning against Yunah after the scavenger hunt

Once the group acclimates to the newest loss to their numbers, the party begins. Alex, Duncan, Eli and Zach laugh as they swing off a vine into a huge pool that was dug out for them, with Gianna, Lauren, Garrett, Kirsten, Matt and Ani happily playing in the water.

Ranjitha, Beyla, Sofia, Nico and Vani cheer as they take on Annie, Archer, Miller, Kelsey, Grant and Izzy in flip cup, and Phillippa is in the middle of the dance floor with Colby, Rourke, Mary and Paige, the latter hammered because she’s so relieved she wasn’t sent home that night.

Matt asks Ani how Paige was spared that night, and Ani replies that she helped Rourke and the others vote out Frances. Matt is concerned, given Ani used to be in their alliance, but Ani reassures him she would never work with them again, and not to worry because with Vani and Garrett they still have numbers. When Matt gives her a look, she insists it was the right move since Frances was literally targeting them. She reaches to hug him, but he swims away upset.

Duncan, who had just landed, asks what that was about, and Matt sighs as the camera zooms out and the scene fades to black.