Sucks to be in Santorini

Plot
The episode opens up with the shot of a rat on a steel floor. A bread crumb is dropped, and it snags it and scurries into the wall, the camera zooming out to reveal everyone eating in the mess hall of the jumbo jet. Alex and Annie stare at where the rat used to be, stunned into silence, before they continue their conversation with Lauren and Beyla. The four are wondering if they made the right choice in blindsiding Kirsten as opposed to taking out Garrett and hence weakening Team Waka. The four turn and watch Garrett toss little rolls of bread into Helina’s mouth, laughing at how bad she is. Annie says they probably missed an opportunity to take out a big threat, but Kirsten was too volatile to be in an alliance with.

Annie (CONF): And honestly kind of scares me a little

Beyla (CONF): Yeah no Kirsten scares the shit out of me

Lauren chimes in that she was with Kirsten and Zach in the workout room before the last challenge, and they were talking about turning on Annie so who knows if that would have happened if they had the momentum. Annie eyes Zach, who is eating across the table from Beyla, the two laughing at Zach making some dumb comment about his fraternity. Annie replies saying she guesses it’s easy who they’re target is if they lose then.

Alex (CONF): Part of me thinks I should try to vote out Zach, but I definitely haven’t forgotten the countless CK counselors that have been voted out for that reason. There are still a lot of us left, if we can make the merge…

Garrett tells Helina, Vani and Ranjitha, the latter two having returned to the table with trays full of Chef's "mystery mush", how last night was the closest he’s ever come to being eliminated.

Garrett (CONF): That was such a close call holy shit

He says his heart is still racing, and he keeps running the scenario in his head where his name wasn't called and what'd that'd be like right now. The camera pans to the table over where Duncan comforts Ani.

Ani, through tears, is complaining that Chris made her a “villain” even though didn’t vote for Matt in the campfire ceremony that sent him packing.

Duncan (CONF): Look Ani, I want to believe you but...the numbers don't quite add up

Izzy is complaining to Kelsey and Miller about how they all were put in economy class, despite the heroes technically winning. Miller reminds them that Chris does whatever he wants.

Kelsey (CONF): At what point do we mutiny and shove Chris out the Drop of Shame

Miller follows up saying it's a bigger bummer they've lost Gianna.

*flashback to Gianna burping loudly after eating in Norway, and dropping it low to Christmas music at the beautiful lights-display in Hollywood Studios*

Kelsey and Izzy laugh, with Izzy agreeing Gianna was such a light and the three continuing to reminisce.

The camera rolls past Nico and Eli, talking in line for the confessional.

Nico (CONF): You know what sucks? When you actually have to use the bathroom *tries to cover the camera while some plop noises are heard*

Eli (CONF): *walks in, pauses and takes a sniff before turning green and coughing* Jesus Christ Nico...*gags* anyways there has to be a merge coming soon, I mean there’s 26 of us left, didn’t they merge with like 30 last season?

It also rolls past Paige gagging as Chef plops mystery meat on her plate, Grant strumming his guitar in economy class with Sofia and Mary, and Phillippa lying asleep on one of the benches.

It ends with Colby talking with Wilson and Townes, also in economy class, about how he’s nervous about an alliance on Team Glory that doesn’t include him. The two tell him Nick came to them with the same problem, and was subsequently voted out, so to watch his back. Wilson mentions that when the teams inevitably merge soon, they’ll gain numbers with Rourke, Paige and Phillippa and Colby should jump ship too.

Colby (CONF): *screams in frustration* What do I do

The plan lands in Santorini, Greece, and the contestants are breath-taken by how beautiful the scenery is.

Nico (CONF): Damn, last time I came here was on a vacation with Leigh...it feels like ages since she’s been voted out

Sofia (CONF): *breathing quickly* I love this. So much.

Chris is standing with Chef and the contestants by the water, and welcomes them to a huge turning point in the game – people cheer and start to hug in anticipation of a merge -

Paige (CONF): Wait shit is this actually happening?

Colby (CONF): This is a game-changer

Ani (CONF): *swallows* Alright, I have got to do this - for Matt

Wilson (CONF): *finally*

– the 35th challenge!

Everyone groans, and Chris tells them they aren’t merging yet but to get ready for a kickass challenge. He tells them the challenge is the teams will race up throughout the buildings to the building spot at the very top of the cliff, and race to assemble a boat. Once it’s correctly assembled, an intern will hand them a GPS and they have to race the boat back down the cliff-like town and into the water, following it to coordinates that will lead to buried treasure.

Ranjitha (CONF): Ooh now this is my kind of challenge

He also tells them to be wary of who opens the chest, pauses, and says they'll realize why soon enough.

Miller (CONF): Yeah that's incredibly sketchy but not sure if we should be making sure someone in the alliance opens it or someone we want eliminated does...

Chris also points out that production didn’t think the challenge was easy enough, and gestures behind him as interns release a crate filled with all sorts of dangerous animals.

Wilson (CONF): Alright was that really necessary

Chris yells "Go!", and the contestants begin racing up through the paths that weave through the buildings. Almost immediately, a bear jumps out and swipes Alex down the side of the cliff and he tumbles into the water. As his head pops out, spitting out water, the camera flashes to the other contestants making headway toward the top, with Grant and Ranjitha in the lead. Suddenly, a wave of raccoons comes tumbling down the narrow path. Grant tosses Ranjitha over, but is swept away by the creatures.

Grant (CONF): *covered in scratches* This is just bizarre

Ranjitha is the first to reach the top, and stumbles across the Booty blue pile of boat parts. She looks confused, when Helina arrives and spots the manual – that is over a hundred pages. Half of it is in Chinese, and Ranjitha snickers telling Helina to read it. Wilson and Townes arrive to Helina jokingly beating Ranjitha with the steering wheel and calling her racist. The four get to work, just as Eli and Lauren arrive. The two get to work on the manual too, as Zach, Colby and Beyla all reach the top. The five are hard at work, when Archer and Kelsey reach the top and run to help Team Booty.

Once both boats are partially assembled, Vani and Rourke reach the top, the first from Team Waka to do so. They are both covered in a weird slime, and a camera zooming out reveals an angry drooling fox in the background. Phillippa is close after, as is Annie who runs to join Team Glory, both covered in a mysterious brown substance.

Phillippa (CONF): I am extremely displeased

A montage shows Paige arriving to the top out of breath, Wilson trying to bark instructions to Team Booty, Miller narrowly avoiding stampeding deer, Nico jumping off a nearby roof to the building zone after being chased by a coyote, Lauren and Zach successfully shoving two pieces together, and finally Duncan arriving to the top, carrying Ani over his shoulder.

Ani (CONF): I've got to get my head in the game...

Once Garrett, Izzy and Alex, still soaking wet, arrive to the top, everyone has made it and the construction-portion of the challenge intensifies.

Team Booty is still scrambling to be organized, in the usual dilemma of deciding between listening to Wilson or Helina who are both barking orders. Sofia is ignoring them altogether, working with Ranjitha and Archer to organize things the best they can while Helina and Wilson in Sofia's words,"figure their shit out."

Team Waka is operating more smoothly – for once their numbers disadvantage is benefitting them. Rourke assumes a natural leadership spot, while Mary starts making quick work of the manual and Garrett carries the pieces needed into the correct piles for the team to organize them and begin assembly.

Team Glory, unlike usual, is having a lot of trouble gelling as a team.

Zach (CONF): Ok what in the fresh hell is happening right now

Annie asks Colby for a pipe labeled A, and he sarcastically replies that he will as long as she doesn’t use it to stab him in the back. She asks what he’s talking about, but he rolls his eyes. Beyla asks Alex for a piece of the engine, but Alex is deep in thought and she has to shake him to snap it out of him. Eli stands off to the side with Zach, and both working on some semblance of structure, having to artificially create it unlike the team's normal natural flow.

Chris blows the airhorn, telling them to pick up the pace.

Back at Team Waka, Ani dejectedly puts two pieces together that don’t fit and gives up, lying down, and Rourke picks her up. He tells her that he knows she wasn’t actually going to flip on his alliance back when her and Matt started dating around when they went to Orlando – he was just being paranoid and it’s his fault. After many long challenges, he apologizes. But he tells her putting that aside, he knows her and she’s not someone who gives up. She looks up and sees Phillippa and Duncan put together two pieces and cheer, and she perks up.

Ani (CONF): He’s right…I’m not ready to go home

She dives in to help the team, with Paige asking what that was about and Rourke reminding her that they’re still friends despite the competition.

After another hour in the sun of intense assembly, a “done!” is heard. Everyone turns to see Team Waka bolting down the path, Mary, Vani, Duncan and Rourke lining one side of the boat and Ani, Paige, Garrett and Phillippa lining the other. Garrett has the GPS in hand. The beautiful buildings rush by them, and Ani smiles, reinvigorated with energy.

Helina curses, and when Wilson tells her to back off, she rolls her eyes and tells him to do the same. It’s tense, until finally, Ranjitha snaps. She tells them both to sit down and that she is going to take charge. The other team gapes as they watch her.

Townes (CONF): I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ranjitha that angry

Sofia (CONF): Honestly that was terrifying

Helina (CONF): Atta girl

She begins splitting the team into groups to tie up the loose ends, and it’s not long before they’re finished as well. Wilson grabs the GPS, and he, Townes, Sofia and Helina take one side of the boat as Ranjitha, Kelsey, Grant and Archer take the other, and the eight begin bolting down the cliff.

By this point, Team Waka was already in the water, paddling out to follow the coordinates. Zach loudly curses, telling the team they have to pull their shit together. Finally, after some more bickering, Nico stands up and shouts, getting everyone’s attention.

Nico (CONF): This is just getting ridiculous

He tells the team that things have been tenser since Nick’s elimination in Bora Bora, especially with the addition of three new players, including himself. But follows that there has to be a merge coming up, and the more of them that make it to the merge, the stronger of a Glory alliance they could have and dominate the other two teams. Everyone nods in agreement, and gets to work. Alex is putting pieces together next to Nico, and puts a hand on his shoulder and smiles.

The scene flashes to Team Waka and Team Booty, both out on the water. Team Waka has reached their coordinates, and everyone throws on diving equipment and plunges into the depths. The GPS coordinates lead them to an abandoned shipwreck, and Ani points as she spots the treasure through the window, indicating they have to go inside. Garrett busts down the door, and the eight swim in, trying to navigate the confusing corridors.

Garrett (CONF): This is so fucking cool

It's a maze inside, with Duncan and Ani exploring the captain's quarters, Paige and Mary swimming up to the crow's nest, Rourke and Vani exploring the deck and Phillippa and Garrett going through the dungeons.

Team Booty’s treasure lies on the sand at the bottom, but is guarded by a shark. The eight are circling, trying to figure out how to distract it when it darts toward Sofia. That freaks her out, causing her to frantically swim to the surface. It circles around and does the same to Townes, evoking the same reaction. Helina and Ranjitha look at each other nervously, as Wilson swims around seeing how the shark reacts and Archer, Kelsey, Grant and Townes just go for it and start charging the treasure.

As the sun begins to set, Izzy pops the last piece in place, Eli grabs the GPS and the team rushes to surround the boat. Eli, Annie, Nico, Alex and Izzy take one side while Beyla, Colby, Miller, Zach and Beyla take the other and the ten frantically run down to catch up.

Lauren (CONF): Honestly if it wasn’t for Nico we’d be screwed

As Team Glory heaves their boat in the water, a cheer is heard. The eight Waka contestants, all in their wetsuits but their masks off, circle around the treasure chest as Rourke pops it open. In it, is a small brown bag that Rourke triumphantly lifts in the air before inquiring what it is. Chris tells him to wait until the other two teams have opened their chests, but congratulates Team Waka for absolutely annihilating this challenge. Rourke happily lifts Ani in the air, as Garrett does the same with Phillippa and Duncan and Mary jump up and down hollering. Vani and Paige join in, wildly celebrating.

As Team Glory reaches the water, the ten quickly find the coordinates thanks to Annie’s guidance and dive in. They frantically approach a sunken submarine. Izzy and Alex pull at a door, while Colby tests to see if he can break any windows, Nico swims to the other side and Zach and Beyla kick at the windshield. As Lauren, Annie, Miller and Eli swim up, an air horn is heard throughout the water. The ten rise to the surface to see Sofia popping open Team Booty’s chest, earning the second brown bag and sending Team Glory to the night’s barfbag ceremony.

Beyla (CONF): Damn we just got blown out of the water

At dinner that night, talk of elimination rages, as tensions are high after that horrible performance in the challenge. Alex, Annie, Beyla, Miller and Nico meet in economy class and Annie brings up at that Colby knows about their alliance. The five ask how, and she says she isn’t sure but she thinks that’s the reason he’s been treating them coldly. Miller suggests adding him, and Alex and Annie agree but Beyla and Nico are hesitant, saying they don’t know him well. Miller reassures this can still be final five, but the numbers will help in the merge.

Nico (CONF): I also don’t love how close they are with Colby, and I don’t want this final five deal to turn into a final four deal – that doesn’t include me and Beyla

Lauren meets with Eli about the obvious alliance that took out Kirsten, and what to do. Zach and Izzy approach as well, and right as Colby walks up, Annie pulls him aside and says to follow her.

Zach says it has to be Annie – she’s strategically savvy and good at challenges, and will be a huge threat come merge. As he’s saying that, a side-by-side shows Annie saying it has to be Zach, given his physical prowess and the inclination that he's targeting her after what Lauren heard him say to Kirsten in the luxury cabin's gym. The group of five officially inducts Colby into the alliance, despite Beyla and Nico’s concerns, and is discussing how they feel confident now that they have the numbers. Colby doesn’t seem upset, and is just happy he’s finally in the loop.

Colby (CONF): Ok wow this alliance has some...power players...but for now, this is solid

Zach approaches Beyla, Nico and Alex and tells them that CK has to stick together. He reminds them Gianna was voted out last time, then Matt and Frances right before that. Alex nods along, as Beyla and Nico eye each other, unsure of what to do. In line for the confessional, Alex asks Nico and Beyla what they think they're going to do, and Nico says it may be risky taking out Zach. Beyla seconds, saying Annie and Miller went ahead and added Colby to the alliance even after they voiced concerns.

Alex (CONF): I just honestly still feel really shitty after what went down with Kirsten...and I feel like I have the chance to stop it from happening to Zach

Chris announces over the intercom that it's time for elimination, and Annie and Zach eye each other as they walk down the narrow hall toward their fate.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris tells Team Glory he is extremely disappointed in their performance today. Not only did they lose, but got absolutely crushed. He tells them they’re lucky he isn’t making them send two people home today, before telling them that it’s time to vote and to go into the confessional.

Annie (CONF): Potentially the easiest vote I've had to make so far *stamps Zach’s passport*

Zach (CONF): It’s literally so obvious *stamps Annie’s passport*

Colby (CONF): Now that they finally INCLUDED me *stamps Zach’s passport*

Izzy (CONF): Sorry girl, nothing against you *stamps Annie’s passport*

Chris walks out with a plate full of nine barfbags filled with airline-issued peanuts. He tells them that one person will be sent out of the game, and missing an epic rooftop party in Santorini. Everyone tenses up a little. He hands out the first barfbag to…

Lauren.

She sighs with relief.

Lauren (CONF): This never gets less stressful

Beyla. Eli. Alex. Colby.

The four all group hug, letting the bags hit them and spill on the floor.

Nico. Izzy. Miller.

Izzy screeches, always hyper excited to be safe, and tackles Nico before he has the chance to catch his barfbag. Miller just sits their silently, taking it in. Chris disappointedly looks at the floor, now covered in peanuts, before announcing that Zach and Annie are the bottom two. Nico, Alex and Beyla eye each other nervously, as the last barfbag is handed to…

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Annie.

Zach shoots up and curses, before composing himself and telling them it’s been a pleasure playing the game together. Annie just nervously sweats next to him, out of breath from the close call.

Zach scoops Alex up into a giant hug, before doing the same with Beyla and Nico. He tells them he understands why they voted how they did, but warns them to not let their guard down, before quickly running through the rest of the team with hugs and diving out the Drop of Shame.

Zach (CONF): *screams in frustration* This fucking blows...

Then, Chris holds Glory’s brown bag that theoretically would have been in their chest. He throws it to Annie, as a little extra bonus for surviving the night’s elimination ceremony, and tells her to meet with Sofia and Wilson tomorrow at breakfast.

The plane drops them off at this beautiful rooftop bar atop the cliffs of Santorini, bathed in warm moonlight, reflecting off the water below. They have an incredible view of the city, now lit up. For the first time in a while, the group comes around Rourke, who is already hammered despite only being there for about twenty minutes, as he gives a speech. He tells them that every single one of them deserves their spot here, and they’ve had to fight for it. Through countless challenges, and countless eliminations, they are the twenty-five left, and it’s time to party. Everyone cheers, as the camera rolls past Colby, Phillippa and Annie toasting, Garrett’s face lit up, Ani smirking, Alex and Miller laughing and Grant, Kelsey and Ranjitha throwing back the shot.

They get drunker than most night’s, trying to forget the hardships of the competition. A dance circle forms, and in the center Izzy does her head spin, Paige and Ani drop it and Nico hits a tiny whip that causes everyone to go insane.

Rourke is still hammering shots with Wilson, Townes and Mary, and Annie is drunkenly kissing everyone. Chris watches from afar with Chef, telling them he hopes they’re ready for the twist that’s right on the horizon.