Survivor Samoa- November 19/09

It's night 24 at Camp Aiga. Kelly is gone. EGG says his work is done and tells us his is a work of art, not unlike Picasso. Even Dave congratulates EGG on his fine work. The women of the former Galu tribe though, whisper that EGG is sneaky. This is of little concern to EGG and Shambo who laugh about how tribal council went down.

As day dawns on day 25, EGG is already out looking for the immunity idol (which Dimples has assured us has been put back into play) while the others sleep. While EGG is turning the jungle upside down, Shambo is talking to John and trying to get him onside to get rid of Laura.

The reward challenge involves having two teams. One member of each team lies face down in a suspended cradle while their team-mates maneuver the cradle using four ropes. The person in the cradle tries to pick up 15 flags. The first to collect all of their flags wins a trip to a neighbouring island, to have a picnic by a waterfall. They also get a Sprint phone with which to take pictures of the trip.

Natalie does a masterful job of hanging from her cradle suspended by one thigh and a string bikini to win it for her team (Shambo, Brett, EGG, Dave and Laura). So they head off on their trip where they discover that their Sprint phone has both a text message and a video clue to the whereabouts of the immunity idol. The text message talks about a rolling stone gathering no moss and the video shows a large square moss-covered rock being overturned to reveal the idol.

Back at camp Jaison and Mick are trying to woo Monica into voting Laura off, telling her that they already have a firm five notes. Monica guesses that the fifth vote is Galu's very own Shambo.

When the reward challenge winners arrive back at camp there is a mad scramble to find the hidden idol. Everyone is prowling the jungle looking for moss covered rocks. Dave (obviously thinking that EGG has some idol-finding radar) elects to follow EGG through the jungle. The scene reaches a Keystone Cops level as the two of them run through the trees. But EGG eventually gives Dave the slip, circles back to a promising area, overturns a rock under a small overhang and turns up the immunity idol.

As the idol hunt unfolds, Monica is telling Laura that there is a conspiracy against her. Don't trust Shambo, she says. Convinced that Foa Foa is out to get her she tells us that she must win a third immunity challenge to stay safe.

Right on cue, Dimples shows up in his alternative pale green shirt. The immunity challenge involves throwing a rock at rows of ceramic tiles. Each Survivor gets one rock and one throw. If they break a tile they get a spear and move on to stage two of the challenge. If they break a tile belonging to someone else, that person gets the spear. Laura throws her rock last and misses all of the tiles, causing Shambo to laugh out loud and shamelessly. Brett, Jaison, Monica, Mick all earn spears and move on to the final round, where Miok wins immunity. Shambo tells us it is now Laura's destiny to go home. EGG is certainly ready to get rid of her, and tells Brett that she is too strong and too manipulative to leave in the game. There is no more Galu, he tells Brett. For her part, Laura wants to get rid of EGG. A lot of plots and counterplots are hatched, but when the votes are counted at Tribal council it is, indeed, Laura who is heading home. But the vote is, by no means, straightforward. The first vote ends in a tie between Natalie and Laura. They vote again and in the second vote Laura is voted out. With Laura goes Debbie from our pool. Lets all wave to Debbie and Laura! Sadly, Jack voted for Laura to win so he is also crying in his pale American beer tonight.

Until next week,
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

Pat (aka Erik I should get an award for being the jury member able to convey the most without using any actual words Cardona)