Forever and Everest

Plot
The episode opens up with Team Waka in first class.

Mary (CONF): Twenty-five of us left…damn

*flashback to the previous night, with Mary laughing and dropping it low with Sofia and Rourke*

She’s sitting in a set of chairs with Duncan and Ani. The three are discussing how they need a merge to come soon, because if not it’s more than likely one of them is going to be voted out if they lose again. Ani, who is reinvigorated in the game, tells them they have to secure Vani and Garrett for these next couple votes.

*flashback to Ani throwing back shots with Alex and Ranjitha as they overlook the lit-up city of Santorini, saying she is back in it and ready to win*

In the other set of chairs sits Paige, Phillippa and Rourke. They too talk about needing a merge soon, something to switch up the game and keep the three of them in it.

*flashback to Rourke and Mary talking about how they need to come together soon before it's too late while refilling their drinks at one of the kegs*

Paige suggests getting Vani and Garrett’s help, but Rourke tells them he’s tired of Vani and Garrett’s swing votes controlling the game. They’ve essentially swung back and forth and knocked out tons of allies on both of their sides, and that’s a lot of power. HPhillippa tacks on it also looks good on their end of game resume, should they make it to the final three.

Phillippa (CONF): Honestly Garrett and Vani may be the most threatening players on Team Waka

Rourke (CONF): We’re getting so close to the end I can taste it

Paige suggests potentially teaming up with Mary's alliance to take one of them out, and Rourke grins as the scene transitions to Vani and Garrett sitting at the mini-bar, and talking about their next target: a member of Duncan’s alliance. They think now is a perfect time to target Ani, because she’s still emotionally vulnerable after what happened after the blindfolded puzzle challenge, and is a strong player so there may not be another opportunity.

In economy class, everyone is hungover after a night of increased shenanigans and having to stay in shitty economy class. Ranjitha is sitting with Helina and Alex, the three talking about strategies moving forward. Now that some big players like Kirsten and Zach out of the game, things are going to shift. Helina tells the two she thinks Rourke, Wilson and Townes will band together and form a big alliance that they won't be a part of.

Ranjitha (CONF): Yeah no see that sounds terrifying

The three talk about potential moves post-merge that may keep them in the game for as long as possible as the scene pans past Townes and Wilson chatting by a window, Miller groaning as he lies on a bench, with Colby and Annie giggling over him, Beyla talking with Sofia, and Nico doing push-ups on the ground, with Archer satirically cheering him on.

Archer (CONF): Nico is so dangerous – he’s such a good friend but at what point is he too big of a threat? I mean a lot of money is on the line

Lauren and Izzy are gossiping about things that happened the previous night and Eli and Kelsey are slumped asleep.

Rourke, Annie and Sofia meet in the mess hall to discuss the bags they received from the previous challenge. They each open the bag and find a package in each one that reads ''"Open me at the final fifteen, if you are voted out beforehand, pass the bag along to someone you trust." ''The three look at each other, and decide to keep the advantage, called the "legacy advantage", a secret.

Suddenly, a red light begins flashing throughout the jumbo jet, and a montage shows Duncan, Ani, Lauren, Grant, Beyla, Sofia and Paige all looking up and staring at it from their respective locations. Suddenly, Chris’s frantic voice comes over the megaphone telling them to come to the cargo hold.

Townes (CONF): Oh no not the cargo hold, I know where this is going

As the teams come in out of breath, Kelsey frantically asks what’s wrong. Chris just grins and pulls a rope, opening the bottom of the hatch. They all scream, preparing for a huge fall, but only fall a couple feet onto the peak of Mt. Everest.

Beyla (CONF): This would probably be beautiful if Chris hadn’t just given us a heart attack

A giant pile of miscellaneous material awaits them atop the mountain, as do Chris and Chef bundled up in winter clothes, with interns operating heaters and providing oxygen to the contestants who are jarred by the exposure to the altitude change.

Wilson (CONF): Oh hell yes, the Himalayas is where they merged last season, which must mean…

Chris welcomes them to the beautiful Nepal, the site of something big. Something huge.

Grant (CONF): This is insane

Lauren (CONF): Oh my god we made it

Mary (CONF): *closing her eyes and crossing her fingers*

The 36th challenge!

The contestants all groan in unison, something that they’ve grown accustomed to. He tells them they are so close to the merge, but it isn’t happening yet.

Garrett (CONF): Damn it Chris

But emphasizes they’re very close, so no one wants to be the one voted out at the night’s elimination ceremony. He tells them this challenge is reminiscent of the challenge in the Himalayas from the previous season. The three teams will race down the mountains in sleds that they construct, and the last team to finish loses the challenge and is voting someone out in the barfbag ceremony. This year though – in the continued effort to make the season harder – they have to build the sleds themselves. He tells them he hopes Team Glory does better than they did with the boats in Santorini, before wishing them luck and yelling "Go!" loud enough to start a tiny avalanche off in the distance.

Immediately, the teams get to work.

Izzy (CONF): This cannot be a repeat of last time

Thanks to Nico’s words of encouragement from the previous episode, Team Glory is working in unison, despite the divisive elimination ceremony that sent Zach home. Team Waka and Team Booty are also on their grinds, and a montage shows Annie and Rourke digging through the pile of material, Vani tossing a part out to Duncan, Sofia and Grant nailing two things together, Izzy sliding a hammer to Miller to nail in a piece, Helina and Wilson nodding at each other as they watch Townes, Archer, Ranjitha and Kelsey put the body together, and finally all three teams shouting "Done!" at the same time.

Kelsey (CONF): Wow that was a lot smoother than the last challenge, I feel like last challenge was pretty much determined by who built the boat faster

Suddenly all three teams take off down the mountain. On Team Glory’s sled, Annie, Eli, Alex and Colby sit to the left while Beyla, Izzy, Miller, Nico and Lauren sit to the right. Lauren is holding onto a little rudder that helps them steer. They’re the first to make it to a divide in the paths, and shoot down Team Glory’s designated path on the right. It takes them into a thick forest, with the path weaving around the numerous trees.

Miller (CONF): This is definitely more challenging than I thought it would be

Lauren sweats as she tosses the rudder left and right to avoid the trees as the scene shifts to Team Booty. Helina, Sofia, Wilson and Grant sit on the left while Townes, Ranjitha, Kelsey and Archer sit to the right. Archer grasps on to Team Booty’s makeshift rudder, and veers them left down Team Booty’s designated path. Almost immediately they come across what looks to be an expansive trick park, with moguls, tons of giant jumps and half-pipes.

Helina (CONF): What the?

The scene flashes to a pile of interns lying amongst shovels and tiny construction equipment in the jumbo jet, who are nearly frozen solid and completely out of breath.

Going through the moguls makes Team Booty lose control and Archer struggles to gain it back with the rudder, albeit not in time to prevent them from shooting off a giant jump and crashing into the ground, breaking the sled and tossing everyone out as the scene shifts to Team Waka.

Rourke, Mary, Garrett and Phillippa sit to the right and Vani, Duncan, Ani and Paige sit to the left, with Paige in control of the sled’s direction. They head straight down the middle, their designated path, and enter a cave filled with icicles that are jutting out of the ground from all directions. Ani ducks underneath one and Duncan throws himself onto Mary to avoid getting jabbed with one from the right.

Duncan (CONF): I just love how these challenges get more and more death defying as time goes on

A montage splits the screen into three and shows all three teams facing their designated obstacle. Lauren screams as she throws her weight into shifting the sled to narrowly avoid a giant pine tree, Helina reveals she brought the hammer and tosses it to Kelsey who is working with Townes, Archer and Sofia to quickly reassemble the sled, Vani ducks and Rourke uses his hands to shove off the wall to help Paige steer and avoid the dangerous icicles, Colby helps Lauren by grabbing onto the rudder and adding strength, Archer nails in the rudder and finishes the sled for Team Booty so they hop back in, and finally Garrett breaks off an icicle and uses it to destroy other icicles in the path for Team Waka.

Garrett (CONF): If I don’t make the merge after all of this...

Grant (CONF): ...I’m going to fucking…

Ranjitha (CONF): ...scream, I mean we’ve…

Beyla (CONF): ...made it way too far to be voted off

As the sleds near the end of their paths, huge obstacles await them before they reach the finish line. For Team Glory, the path suddenly disappears from beneath them.

Annie (CONF): Ah yes, perfect

The bumpiness makes the sled even harder to navigate, and Colby and Lauren grunt as they toss the steering rod left and right to avoid patches of trees and rocks.

For Team Booty, a long winding half-pipe path is in between them and the finish line. They attempt to go straight down the middle, but a sharp turn sends them veering over a side, and suddenly they’re weaving back and forth going jump after jump.

Townes (CONF): *pukes into one of the barfbags* Yeah no, not great with the whole motion thing *pukes again*

The end of the tunnel for Team Waka is completely covered with icicles.

Vani (CONF): So we have to…ram it?

A side-by-side shows Team Glory about to bust out of the woods through a narrow opening in the foliage, Team Booty about to go off a gigantic jump before the finish line at the base of the mountain, and Team Waka about to slam into the icicle wall, before turning into Izzy, Mary and Wilson screaming at the top of their lungs. It then transitions to Team Glory busting out of the woods, Team Booty in slow motion gliding through the air and Team Waka busting through the wall. Unfortunately, Team Booty’s sled breaks upon landing, as does Team Waka’s upon breaking through the wall. Cheers are heard as Team Glory slides across the finish line.

Suddenly, a giant snowball comes veering toward them, as Chris is in the middle of congratulating them, and it wipes them all out. As everyone comes to, they see a team emerge from the wreckage…

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Team Booty.

The Team Waka members come sprinting down the hill and across the finish line, but dejectedly look down when they realize Team Booty and Team Glory are already there.

The scene flashes to the dining hall, where everyone sits and shivers with huge heated blankets on, with hot chocolate being distributed amongst the contestants (alongside interns awkwardly providing oxygen as Chef giggles in the background). Chris tells them congratulations on surviving…completing, a tough challenge, but the biggest congratulations goes to Team Glory, for pulling their shit together after an embarrassing performance in Santorini and locking in their 14th win as a team. He congratulates Team Booty for avoiding elimination, and tells those on Team Waka that he’ll be seeing them shortly.

The scramble to not take the Drop of Shame begins immediately when Chris leaves the room. Fingers are starting to be pointed toward Paige, for being in charge of steering and hence potentially being the one who cost them the challenge, but Rourke immediately jumps to her aid and tells the rest of them it was the wall of icicles that cost them the challenge, not Paige’s steering.

Paige (CONF): Ok this whole getting blamed for losses thing is getting old

Garrett says that brings up a good point, given Rourke was in charge of the sled's construction and clearly the durability was a factor as well, to which Rourke argues that Team Booty’s sled also didn’t withstand the force. Vani says it’s not Team Booty who’s being sent to elimination that night, and the whole team bursts out bickering again.

The team suddenly shifts into moving pieces and with Rourke and Paige on the chopping block; their alliance begins to make moves to save them. Pulling in Garrett and Vani, Phillippa, in a strategy that has been proven to work, brings up the potency of a CK alliance post-merge and the numbers are still there to be tight. Vani rolls her eyes and tells her that’s no longer an excuse, when something clicks and Phillippa suggests something else.

In the meantime, Duncan is saying that even though she’s their friend, they have to take out Paige. An obvious threat due to her athleticism and likability, her potential post-merge is dangerous. Ani agrees, saying if the merge is coming soon it will become much harder to take someone like Paige out. Ani also says that she thinks Rourke would still work with them post-merge and he's less threatening in regards to winning individual immunity. Mary agrees, and the three talk about a game plan. However, in line for the restroom, Rourke tries to make a plea to have them join together and take out Vani or Garrett. Chris's voice comes over the intercom, beckoning everyone to the elimination ceremony.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris walks out with a plate that has seven barfbags on it. He nods his head, and tells them he’s sorry to see them go to elimination this late in the game. He tells them it’s time to vote, and to think carefully about their next choice.

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

Mary (CONF): It’s just gotta be you *stamps Paige’s passport*

Rourke (CONF): Look...I'm really out of options and I'm genuinely sorry about this...*stamps an unknown passport*

Paige (CONF): I love you girlie *stamps an unknown passport*

Garrett (CONF): *holding up two passports and looking back and forth*

Chris walks out with the votes, and proceeds to hand out safety.

Duncan.

Duncan sighs with relief, running to catch his safety.

Phillippa. Rourke. Mary. Vani.

The four all hug, partially to celebrate but mostly for body warmth. A giant wave of relief sweeps over Rourke, who had been convinced he would at least be in the bottom.

Garrett.

Garrett catches his bag with glee. That leaves Paige and Ani as the bottom two, and Chris tells them it’s been a long journey. Thirty-nine contestants before them have suffered the fate that one of the two girls is about to experience. Paige gulps and Ani’s leg is bouncing, eying Rourke who just shrugs, pretending to be confused. Paige thinks of Suzanne. Ani thinks of Matt. The last barfbag is handed to…

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Paige.

Duncan turns to Garrett and Vani in absolute shock, angrily telling both of them that it’s going to be one of them if they lose again because he’s sick of them riding the middle. Rourke and Phillippa nod along, as Vani rolls her eyes and Garrett avoids eye contact. Ani looks dejected, but seems to accept it. She tells them that she’s bummed, but it’s been a wild ride and she wouldn’t want it any other way. She also thanks the team, saying she’s glad they’ve been together for all the memories. Paige runs over and hugs her, weeping, and soon Rourke and Mary join in too. Phillippa, Vani and Garrett are next, and finally a reluctant Duncan joins. They sit there, Paige’s crying perforating the silence, before Chris makes a gagging noise and tells Ani it’s time to go. He tosses Ani a parachute, and Ani tells them there has to be a merge coming up, so to stay strong.

Ani (CONF): This blows. I came here for the memories, but now I’m so close to the end it stings that I'm not going all the way...but at least I get the chance to see Matt at Playa des Losers and explain what happened...it's been real

The remaining seven contestants are ushered into the dining hall, where the other two teams await. Chris tells them it’s a special time, causing Rourke to roll his eyes and Sofia to tell him she’s tired of his shit. He drops them off in a beautiful log cabin for a huge party to celebrate a huge turning point in the game – he congratulates the remaining twenty-four contestants for reaching what everyone dreams of: the merge.

People go absolutely insane.

Phillippa (CONF): No...no way, he’s kidding

Nico (CONF): This is fucking insane

Alex (CONF): *screaming* Two for two baby!

Paige (CONF): *throwing her hands in her hair* This is unreal

Helina and Vani (CONF): *rapping* We’re BLESSED not STRESSED, and ready for the TEST...

Wilson (CONF): Oh now it’s fucking on

Rourke gathers the contestants and apologizes for his speech being one challenge too early. He gives a huge speech about the contestants’ journeys – from the woods of Ireland to the Great Barrier Reef. From staying up all night to playing capture the flag with greased pigs. From jumping off the cliff in episode one to sledding down Mt. Everest. It’s time to party.

Alex and Helina clear out the family room area of the cabin to convert it into a giant dance floor. Even Miller is dropping it. Garrett is by the makeshift bar, scooping Phillippa and Izzy into a hug and congratulating the girls. Duncan is excitedly chatting with Annie and Colby about being reunited, as is Vani with Helina and Ranjitha. Archer, Nico and Beyla take shots, Sofia and Mary hug and jump up and down, and Townes and Wilson scoop Rourke into a bear hug. Grant, Eli, Kelsey, Paige and Alex hug and exchange drinks. Paige's heart is pounding out of her chest, barely believing that she almost got voted out literally the elimination ceremony before the merge.

The scene transitions to every contestant on the dance floor, as Everytime We Touch comes on and everyone absolutely loses it. A quick montage of the clump shows Ranjitha and Izzy jumping on one another, Archer with his arms draped around Nico and Beyla, Duncan, Annie, Colby, Alex, Rourke, Phillippa, Helina and Vani heavily sweating as they jump in time with the music, Townes laughing next to Miller and Wilson who are going crazy, and Paige and Kelsey pumping up Garrett and Grant.

Chris and Chef again watch from a distance, but this time with two shadowy figures who can’t be distinguished. Chris asks them if they are ready, and they both nod, almost in unison saying they can’t wait.

Trivia

 * This episode's challenge is based off of the challenge in the first season's Are We There Yeti?
 * This is the second time the team merge occurs in the Himalayas, although this time it doesn't occur until after the elimination ceremony