Um, That's Not Water

Plot
The episode opens up with Team Friendship in the luxury cabin. Dan is going on and on to Miller about his date with Kirsten, and is extremely nervous now about being eliminated.

Dan (CONF): I seriously have to be on my A game now. I mean come on it's me there is no way I’m being voted out before the teams merge...but now I also have to make sure she doesn’t get voted out either

Dan decides it's up to him to strategize with some of the members of Team Glory to ensure Kirsten's safety, but keeps this to himself so Miller doesn't question his loyalty to the team.

In the meantime, Nico, Kelsey, Clayton and Annie are eating breakfast together at the giant table. Kelsey and Annie laugh after Clayton hurls a little chunk of scrambled eggs at Nico that catches him off guard causing him to choke up a little piece of bacon. Gianna is passed out asleep on one of the giant comfortable couches, and Frances and Myra sit by the fire and laugh with some mugs of hot chocolate. Ryan is showing Sibu how to cook, and is subtly trying to figure out more about the alliances on the team.

Ryan (CONF): Ugh this just gives me so much anxiety but I seriously need to step up my social game

In Team Glory’s cabin, energy is low since everyone is still upset about losing Dani and Rice, two huge morale boosters for the team, in back-to-back elimination ceremonies. On the girl's side, Izzy is talking to Lauren in one of the bunks about how bad she feels, explaining that Rourke and Townes got into her head by feeding her paranoid suspicions about CK. Lauren tells her she should have been more strategic with how public the betrayal was, but also that it was rooted in a valid fear. Beyla and Kathryn, however, don’t forgive her so easily. Izzy notices the two girls listening and tries to loop them into the conversation, but Kathryn angrily cuts her off and asks her why she questioned their loyalty when she was clearly the one that couldn’t be trusted. An upset Izzy is unsure if she is even still in the alliance, and is wondering what will happen if the team loses again.

Kirsten (CONF): Hey as long as the attention is on Izzy getting voted off, it’s not me...sorry girl

In the meantime, the five remaining guys on are on the boy’s side of the cabin. Nick, thankful to have escaped elimination again, is talking about how weird it is that Rice, Clay and Graham are gone.

*flashback to all the guys talking on the second night of the season, after the party following Connor’s elimination, and Graham cracking a joke at Rice's expense causing the others to laugh while Clay attempts to toss goldfish into people's mouthes*

Alex tells them it only gets weirder from here, remembering how weird it was when he got to the final four last season.

Nick (CONF): Don't get me wrong, Alex is seriously one of my best friends but...he won last season, why is he not more of a target?

Mary, Sofia and Sammi are getting ready in the girls' side of the washroom. Sammi tells Mary to protect herself, as Team Waka doesn't have as strong of a CK presence as her and Sofia do on Booty. Mary agrees, but warns her that she's almost in a worse position with Wilson and Helina's strategic prowesses acting as big threats on their team. Sofia, anxious, shifts the subject to how fun Disney World was, with the two excitedly agreeing and chatting about the night's festivities.

Yuri, Helina, Vani and Ranjitha are getting breakfast, and are joined by Alex, Nick, Kirk and Beyla. Ani and Matt eat alone, and Matt, inspired by Dan's bold move with Kirsten in the previous challenge, asks Ani out on a date. She pauses, clearly flattered, but says it will have to wait which catches Matt off guard. The scene flashes back to Rourke telling Ani at the lights-show in Hollywood Studios that if she doesn’t stop her thing with Matt, she won’t be considered a part of the alliance anymore.

Ani (CONF): This is so hard, I like Matt so much but am I willing to jeopardize my place in the game for it?

An upset Matt goes to get advice from Duncan, Hank and Archer, who are skipping stones down on the Dock of Shame. Hank asks if she gave a reason why, and he tells them no but that "it’s game related". Duncan speculates it has something to do with Rourke’s alliance, which Matt finds ridiculous.

Matt (CONF): Alright if that really is the case then sorry dude but you have to go

As he storms back toward the messhall with a determined look on his face, he passes Wilson and Grant kicking a little soccer ball back and forth, Townes returning to the Booty cabin freshly-showered and Abbey doing yoga in the open space between the regular cabins.

Brian and Kirsten are also at breakfast, and are joined by Colby and Fiona. The four are mid-conversation when Chris demands them to meet him in ten minutes over the intercom. It is so loud that it causes Fiona to spit her food onto Colby, causing Kirsten and Brian to laugh.

Chris tells them that they day’s challenge will be a giant water balloon fight.

Garrett (CONF): So Chris goes from deadly Hunger Games, climbing an active volcano, vomiting our guts out at the peak of a mountain in Norway and literally almost dying in a temple in Thailand to…water balloons?

The twist is though, that most of the water balloons aren’t filled with water, and are filled with things ranging from a live beehive to glue. Anyone hit by a balloon is immediately out, and last team standing wins the challenge. But he says before they start, he wants to congratulate them on making it through another two rotations – four campfire ceremonies and four barfbag ceremonies – and will again pay tribute to their fallen comrades.

Again, excessively sad and dramatic music begins to play, as a montage shows Zack being dragged away by the psycho killer with the chainsaw and the hook right by the finish line, Yunah hitting a high note in a voice battle to Elastic Heart against Fiona, Rourke and Alex, Cleo diving over the Sydney bridge to collect a buoy, Karthik laughing at the Thanksgiving feast, Erica carefully eating the cooked blowfish, Patrick doing the Thriller-like dance in the boot camp, Rice ducking under a column of flames in the final corridor of the temple in Thailand, and finally Dani singing to distract the rhino at the Kilimanjaro safaris in the Animal Kingdom.

Brian (CONF): Wow that’s seventeen contestants now…damn Chris gives the members of the team a minute to grab as many balloons as they can and another five minutes to spread across the island. Once the contestants hear the air horn, the challenge is on.

Helina comes up with the idea to get something sharp to pop the other contestant’s balloons onto themselves, and assembles a blow dart tube, using sharp stones as ammo. She comes across Ani and immediately breaks her balloon onto her, which turns out to be filled with bees, causing her to run away screaming. She does the same to Kathryn, whose balloon explodes all over her, having been filled with sneezing powder. Kathryn begins uncontrollably sneezing.

Kathryn (CONF): This is so *sneezes* fucking stupid *sneezes again*

The scene transitions to Alex walking with Beyla and Eli. The three have loaded up on balloons, and come across Myra and Ryan. Alex immediately lobs one high into the air, distracting Myra and Ryan and allowing Eli and Beyla to hit them both in the stomach.

Eli (CONF): Classic gym dodgeball move

Myra yells “rude” at Alex, now covered in a mysterious green goo, while Ryan flicks mystery meat off himself.

Nico and Gianna are hiding in a tree, and ambush Fiona and Sammi when they walk by, high-fiving after their accomplishment. The two, now covered in oatmeal, groan and move toward the ocean to wash off.

The scene flashes to Helina, shooting another rock from a bush and nailing Brian’s balloon, covering him in soy sauce and causing her to chuckle.

Brian (CONF): This feels racially charged

Izzy stumbles across Phillippa and Suzanne and begs the two not to eliminate her, not wanting to risk Team Glory going to elimination because she's terrified she'll be the next going home, and the two agree to protect her knowing they'll be allies should they make the merge.

Suzanne (CONF): Australia proved that there are tangible benefits to teams working together and it's honestly ridiculous it doesn't happen more. Besides, Izzy is one of my best friends and that's a rare strategic advantage in this game

The three come across Townes, and before he can make a move, Izzy nails him with a balloon, still slightly upset with him for his role in influencing her vote against Dani in the last elimination ceremony. Townes, who luckily got hit with an actual water balloon, is confused.

Townes (CONF): It’s certainly not like I told her to flip on her alliance

Kirk, who sees Colby and Kirsten rested in a tree, sneaks up to try and lob balloons toward them. The two are extremely focused on Yuri and Ranjitha and when the two walk underneath the branch they are perched on, Kirsten and Colby drop balloons on their heads, covering both in a weird pink goo.

Yuri (CONF): You know what this looks like?...*giggles*

Ranjitha (CONF): Yuri I already know what you think and that's disgusting

But because the two are distracted, Kirk manages to hit both of them, with Colby now covered in honey and Kirsten covered in glue. Kirk chuckles and runs away.

Colby (CONF): *honey dripping off his head* This challenge is disgusting

Rourke and Hank are walking around the beach when Wilson and Sam suddenly approach them. Hank tackles Rourke out of the way of Wilson’s oncoming balloon and simultaneously throws two accurate shots at Wilson and Sam, covering Wilson in itching powder and Sam in spiders. Rourke thanks him.

Hank (CONF): I hope this proves to Rourke my value on the team

Rourke (CONF): Yep, this is why Hank is a threat

The two trek on, as the scene flashes to Mary who comes across Suzanne, Phillippa and Izzy. Mary is about to approach, when she notices neither of them are attacking Izzy. Confused, she decides to watch and learn more, but it’s too late as Sofia and Archer come running and lob three balloons at them, eliminating all three. All three are covered in tapioca, causing them to laugh and further feed Mary's suspicion they were working together this challenge. Unfortunately, while she is deep in thought, Sofia spots her and nails her with a balloon too, covering her in pee.

Mary (CONF): *wet* Are you kidding me? Pee?

The scene flashes to Helina, still using her blow tube instead of her stash of balloons. She shoots another dart at Dan, causing his balloon full of cockroaches to erupt all over him. He freaks out, causing Helina to give herself another pat on the back.

A montage shows Beyla, Alex and Eli hitting Frances and Miller, covering the former in mud and the latter in paint. It then shows Hailey and Zach appearing on both sides of Garrett and him yelling, suddenly covered in sneezing powder. It then shows Paige throwing a well-aimed one at Lauren, covering her in mice, and Clayton doing the same to Vani, covering her in flour.

As Helina is about to shoot a dart at Annie, Kelsey, who had been warned by Dan, swings by on a vine and drops a balloon filled with water on her head. Kelsey and Annie high-five and proceed on.

A transition shows Grant hitting Duncan with the paint managing to also eliminate Paige, and Abbey and Matt double-teaming Sibu, covering her in glitter.

Chris announces the intercom that there are only twenty-people left in the challenge, causing everyone to try and step up their game. Nick ambushes Rourke and Hank. All three throw their balloons at the same time, eliminating each other and hitting all three with loose sand.

Alex and Beyla have another successful confrontation against Kirk and Grant, the two now covered in hot sauce and dust respectively, but the Glory teammates alongside Eli fall into a pit trap dug by Archer and Sofia, who proceed to dump ant-filled balloons on the three, causing all three to freak out and Archer and Sofia to apologize for the gross-ness as they run away.

Beyla (CONF): *frantically scratching all over* Are they on me? Are they?

Archer (CONF): I honestly feel a little bad those balloons ended up being full of ants…whoops

Abbey and Matt are hiding at the top of a cliff when Archer and Sofia walk underneath. Abbey is about to take the shot, when Matt argues he can do it better. The two wrestle over the balloon, causing it to explode on the two of them, covering them in the weird green goo. Archer and Sofia look up, chuckle, and run as the sound of an air horn takes over the intercom. Chris announces Team Waka is the first team out, and he will be seeing him at the campfire ceremony that night. Abbey glares at Matt, who profusely apologizes.

When Annie and Kelsey hear something in the bushes, they barrage it with balloons, but it turns out it’s Clayton, now covered in chocolate sauce. He is angry at first, but forgives them when the two proceed to wipe out Sofia and Archer with fruit-punch filled balloons and begins to laugh at the fact that he is covered in chocolate sauce.

The horn goes off again, with Chris announcing Team Booty is also out of the challenge. Abbey notices Sofia and Archer walking by, covered in fruit punch, and realizes they were the only remaining members of Team Booty, and that Team Waka could have avoided elimination if Matt hadn't popped the balloon all over them, making her even angrier.

Abbey (CONF): Like, why would you do that, come on dude

The scene flashes to Gianna and Nico walking to the eliminated contestants area, Gianna covered in mystery meat and Nico covered in slime. Zach and Hailey managed to find them in the tree, and Zach sniped Gianna while Hailey took out Nico.

It then flashes to Zach and Hailey coming across Annie and Kelsey. They engage in an epic showdown, throwing and dodging balloons left and right. Swarms of bees, explosions of glitter, waterfalls of soda and clouds of flour rage around the battlefield, with Annie getting hit by one of Hailey’s beer-filled balloons and Hailey hit by one of Kelsey’s Gatorade filled ones.

Hailey (CONF): *wringing out her hair* This shit is so sticky

Annie (CONF): *smelling her arm* I smell like the basement of DKE

Momentarily distracted with her success, Kelsey is nailed by Zach in the stomach with a balloon filled with snow. This wins the challenge for Team Glory and ends their losing streak. The other members of Team Glory, covered in tapioca, honey, glue and more, flood Zach, covering him in all of the above but he doesn’t care given they just won the challenge. He throws his hand in the air and yells in triumph. Alex, Colby, Kathryn and Nick hoist him up, as Beyla starts a "Zach" chant.

Team Friendship is also satisfied, having avoided yet another elimination and, thanks to Team Glory’s losing streak, are now tied for the team with the lowest amount of members as opposed to being the only one.

At dinner, all the contestants have wet hair and smell nice, having showered extensively to forget the spiders and beer that had been all over them.

Word that Matt cost Waka the challenge spread quickly, but Abbey is discussing with Hank, Duncan and Mary about the pros/cons of trying to protect him.

Hank (CONF): I mean come on Abbey, we definitely need to have each other's backs right now

Rourke is at another table with Ani, Paige, Phillippa and Suzanne. Ani is sweating profusely, scared now that Matt's an easy target. Rourke tells them that they have to remember that Duncan, who doesn’t seem to be on their side, has a special advantage he won in boot camp. So potentially, instead of targeting the obvious choice – Matt, they should target someone else, because they’d be less likely to protect someone else with an idol. Ani aggressively agrees, causing Rourke to remind her that this doesn’t mean they are protecting Matt in the future, and this is purely strategic. Paige suggests Abbey for being the head of the alliance, while Suzanne argues Mary is a bigger social threat. Phillippa suggests Hank for his athletic prowess, and Rourke reminds them now would be a good time to target Duncan who may waste his advantage on someone else or not use it. Rourke says the first order of business, is trying to convince Garrett, Vani or Brian to work with them so they have the numbers to begin with. Ani agrees to talk to them, and when she walks away, Rourke tells Suzanne, Paige, Phillippa and Suzanne that they need to also still seriously consider Matt so they can secure Ani's loyalty.

Matt, nervous about elimination, is talking to Vani as they go up to get more food. He asks for her help, and she hesitates.

Vani (CONF): Oh ok so you barely talk to me for weeks but now that you’re in trouble you want to work together?

Matt tells Abbey he wants Rourke out, for being the head of the other alliance, but Abbey’s short responses worry him. Abbey returns telling the other she thinks they need to vote out Matt, given he single-handedly cost them the challenge, but Hank defends him, saying they are going to lose the numbers if they do that. Mary looks unsure of who to go with, as Hank and Abbey debate.

Helina, Ranjitha, Nick and Yuri overhear the chaos, and they talk about how relieved they are it's not their teams going to elimination as the scene transitions to the campfire ceremony.

~*ELIMINATION CEREMONY*~

Chris walks out with a plate filled with twelve marshmallows. He tells them they almost maintained a numbers advantage over the other teams but have just lost it…again. He tells them to go vote, and once that’s completed, he asks if anyone wants to use an advantage. Everyone eyes Duncan, but he doesn’t move, causing Chris to proceed with the marshmallows. Rourke eyes Paige and smirks. Chris tells them this elimination ceremony was incredibly close. The first marshmallow goes to…

Duncan.

*flashback to Suzanne arguing it's too risky to vote Duncan while they have other options, just in case he does choose to protect himself*

Duncan sighs with relief.

Garrett. Vani. Paige. Suzanne. Phillippa.

All five embrace, sharing another immunity.

Abbey.

*flashback to Paige saying Abbey will be the next most-likely to be protected by an idol*

She looks incredibly relieved as she catches her marshmallow.

Brian. Ani.

Brian smiles, but Ani is worriedly staring at Matt.

Mary.

*flashback to to Rourke saying Mary could definitely be a potential ally in the future*

Mary does her twerk on the log with Abbey and Duncan cheering her on.

Matt.

Ani sighs loudly with relief in unison with Matt, and the adrenaline drives the two to share a kiss for the first time, prompting a handful of their teammates to cheer and clap but angering Rourke greatly. That leaves Rourke and Hank as the bottom two, both looking extremely nervous. The final marshmallow of the night goes to…

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Rourke.

Hank looks absolutely shocked. Chris, being Chris, decides to intervene, and laughs that Abbey wanted to turn on Matt, and if Hank had not defended him and instead just gone with that plan, it would be Matt voted out tonight and not him. Hank’s innocent and hurt look makes Phillippa, Paige and Suzanne feel slightly bad and the three go hug him.

*flashback to Rourke telling the girls about Hank's athletic display earlier, and how they can't risk bringing that to the merge phase*

Everyone converges and, similarly to Dani’s elimination, joins in a big group hug. Hank wishes everyone luck, and sadly walks the Dock of Shame and boards the Boat of Losers.

Hank (CONF): Man, I really thought I was safe tonight, but that’s what this game does to you, you feel good for a minute and BAM, the adventure of a lifetime is over

The contestants stand on the edge of the dock as the Boat of Losers pulls Hank into the starry night. While they watch, Garrett whispers to Vani and Brian, who both still voted for Matt, that they need to do a better job playing the swing vote. If their outcast alliance serves as a subtle swing vote, they can let the other two alliances destroy each other.

Chris, in honor of them getting disgusting with bugs, juices and other miscellaneous liquids and objects, decides to throw them a "water"-themed party to help them clean up. Sammi stands next to Sofia and Archer as Team Waka returns, and they notice Hank is no longer with them.

Sammi (CONF): There goes another one

Others like Sibu, Alex and Gianna look devastated to see Hank gone, especially after losing two other lights in the competition - Dani and Rice. Chris over the intercom says enough with the "boo-hoos", and to head to a new clearing in the woods to get the party started. When the contestants follow the torch-lit path into the woods, they see a huge party set up. A long slip-and-slide runs on one side, as another holds tons of water balloons and water guns. There's also the hot-tub from some of the other parties, sprinklers, and a constructed pool with a huge water-slide and a diving board.

 Ranjitha (CONF):  No but really, when the hell does Chris do all this and how does he have the money

 Lauren (CONF):  I don't quite understand how some moments Chris literally tries to assassinate us then the next he throws us extravagant parties like what's the end game here

Fun music begins to play as the contestants disperse into the party. The first scene shows Rourke, Helina, Ranjitha and Yuri arming themselves with water guns, and immediately chasing down the other contestants. It shows Fiona running and laughing, Alex and Nick hiding behind a tree, and Garrett grabbing two and tossing one to Vani, with the two retaliating.

Kirk, Abbey, Duncan, Annie and Colby sit in the hot-tub, with them discussing their favorite memories with Rice from the game, still bummed about his elimination in Thailand. Miller and Frances join, and the seven laugh and throw back drinks together.

At the pool, Gianna and Beyla manage to find bath soap and turn it into a huge foam party. A montage shows Hailey, Phillippa, Mary, Kathryn and Sammi going down the slide in slow motion, Dan, Matt, Ani and Clayton flipping off the diving board, Brian and Kirsten laughing in two side-by-side flamingo floats, and Nico, Beyla and Sibu in a "bubble" fight with Zach, Mary and Sofia. Paige, Suzanne and Izzy sit on the side of the pool with their legs in, laughing with cups in hand.

Suddenly, Alex and Nick come cannon-balling in, a huge wave sweeping over the other contestants prompting them all to laugh. As the two swim for floaties, Nick confesses his nerves about the game, having never outright asked Alex. He says being from Duke has made him feel strategically on the outs, and Alex nervously scratches his head.

 Nick (CONF):  I just really need to know if there's some sort of thing that's happening without me

Alex dodges the question, but says he is doing his best to protect him as Kirsten notices them in the pool and swims up. Nick quickly thanks him, but looks worried as the two begin talking to Kirsten.

The scene shows Wilson and Townes calling everyone over to come try the slip and slide, now also covered in bubbles, and the music picks back up as it shows the two of them racing down, Kelsey spinning out of control, Kirk using it to tackle Alex, Nick and Ranjitha wrestling on their way down, Eli then Duncan gleefully laughing, Annie and Abbey holding hands and running down (and slipping), and Phillippa, Suzanne and Paige throwing bubbles at each other as they fly down.

Sammi, now covered in bubbles, sits with Mary and Sofia at the make-shift bar, with Chef in comically small arm floaties making them drinks. Sammi confesses she's extremely nervous now with Hank out of the game, and Mary backs that up, saying Matt was the alternative so a CK person was going to be voted out either way. Sofia says they have to start actively watching each other's backs, as they get called to the dance floor and the scene fades to black.