NOTE: I gotta bounce for work soon so that's why this is hella shorter.
***At the Immunity Challenge
“Welcome, welcome.” Jeff watched them all come in to the area. “Solana, Aparri, you know what I need.”
“Honestly, Jeff, can I just keep it here?” Driz came forward and set it down on the podium.
“You know the rules.” She pointed to the statue. “Sit. Stay.”
“Yet again… Driz, confident she’ll return to her camp with the immunity. We know what we’re playing for, nothing else at stake besides your safety. Solana, yet to send ANYBODY home, Luzon down to four, and Aparri has only had to send one of their own. Nobody wants to go, but somebody will. This challenge requires four from each team, Luzon will be playing, Solana has to sit two out, Aparri has to sit one out. One at a time, teams will swim out to that rope. There’s a bouy tied at one meter down, two meters down, all the way to four. You will each go once. Swim out there, come back in with a bouy. When all four bouys have been retrieved, your team will start to shoot them into the basket. Be one of the first two teams to sink all four buoys,” Jeff looked back to them, “And you will be safe from tonight’s tribal council. If you’re the last place team, well… we all know how that plays out. Solana, Max and Dev have to play, Aparri, Caleb must play. The same people cannot sit out in back to back challenges. I’ll give you guys a minute to strategize and we’ll get going.”
“Get out of here.” Sindy looked at James. “Sit. Out.” She pointed to the bench. Michael didn’t put up much of an argument. Mike shrugged and Caleb didn’t care.
“For Solana,” Jeff looked at the bench. “We have Ryan and KC sitting out. Michelle, Drizella, Max, and Dev are competing.” He turned his head to see who was sitting out for Aparri. “James taking the bench for Aparri. Alright, we’re all set… this challenge is on in 3… 2… GO!”
Drizella went first for Solana. They decided it’d be best to let her go first, since she’s the tallest. They were going to work from the bottom up. Alex, the weakest swimmer on her team, went first. They decided that if she fell behind, the boys could make up for her. Caleb went first for Aparri.
“Drizella gets to the buoys first!” Jeff announced. “She’s going under. Alex is almost there, Caleb is going under.” He paused. “Drizella still not up – Caleb on his way back in with the first buoy!”
“Come on! Come on!” Sindy was ready to go. Caleb put the buoy on the dock and Sindy took off.
“Alex making it back in, Gangey getting the second. Drizella came back and Max is taking off. There’s no apparent leads at the moment! Gangey under, Max almost there, Sindy surfacing with a buoy!” Sindy was taking big breaths. She wasn’t too good with cardio.
“Let’s go, Sindy!” Michael was clapping.
“Michael, cheering on his team!” Jeff watched over them. “No significant leads yet! Sindy is slightly ahead, Gangey right behind her, then Max coming back in.” Sindy took herself up onto the platform. “Sindy, struggling a bit. Michael is taking off! Dev is taking off! Micky taking off!” Jeff watched them all swim out there. “Micky, swimming ferociously, speeding through the water pulling out a little bit of a lead!”
“Go! Go!” Alex was yelling. She apologized to Gangey and Purple while since she took some time.
“Michael is at the buoys, Dev is on her way back in – Solana worked from the bottom up, which means they don’t have to dive as deep anymore to get their buoys! Dev pulls a lead out for Solana! This leaves Micky and Michael to fight for second! Micky comes up with his third buoy! Michelle is off for Solana to get the last buoy! If she keeps the pace up, they will have enough time to practice some shooting!”
“Come on!” Sindy yelled to Mike.
“Micky is coming back in, Purple DIVING IN!” Jeff was hollering. “He passes Michelle, their weakest swimmer, apparently!” Jeff watched. “He’s under! Mike is going out for Aparri, Michael took a while and set them behind!” Mike was pissed at Michael. He’s been fighting tooth and nail for him to stay but this really did him in. “Michelle undid the fourth! Solana now in second, Purple just getting on that platform! Luzon, start throwing!”
Micky took the throwing spot. He threw the first ball and missed. He threw the second one and missed. He threw the third and nicked the hoop, still missing. Gangey and Purple went to retrieve the buoys as he took the fourth.
“Solana, you can throw! Drizella throwing for Solana! Mike starting to come back in for Aparri, they might still be in this.” Jeff watched over to see everybody again. “Drizella scores the first ball! Sindy, throwing for Aparri! She misses all four!” Mike and Caleb went to get them.
“Take your time, Micky.” Purple looked up to him from the water. “Slow and steady.”
“Micky landing Luzon’s first ball!” Jeff watched, yet again. “Drizella getting close for Solana! She’s been JUST missing with each ball.” Max and Dev were holding hands behind Drizella. KC and Ryan were anxious, sitting out. “Sindy still, hasn’t landed – Driz with the second ball for Solana!” Max yelled. “Her team cheering her on. Can she- DRIZ WITH THE THIRD BALL! Luzon and Aparri need to turn up the heat!” Mike took over for Sindy. “Aparri switching out throwers. Purple taking Micky’s spot on Luzon. Aparri has yet to land a ball – Purple with Luzon’s second ball! Aparri needs all four, Solana with one, and Luzon needs two! This isn’t over until it’s over!”
“Focus, Driz. Focus.” Michelle looked at her.
“Driz, SINKING the final ball for Solana! Solana, yet AGAIN safe from this tribal council and elimination!” Jeff was done watching them. “Woah! Mike just sunk two balls, now tying it with Luzon! It is just a fight for who doesn’t want to lose now!” Mike threw two balls and missed. “Purple misses a ball – Purple sinks their third! One more and they take it.”
“Go, go, go!” Alex was yelling for Micky and Gangey to swim and get it. Gangey picked it up and threw it to Micky who threw it to Purple. He threw it again and missed.
“Aparri now with both balls back in possession. Can they do it?” Jeff watched Mike throw a ball and miss the first one. “Ooo, Luzon back in this!” Micky tossed the ball up. “It’s a tied game, YET. AGAIN.” Purple was focused, honing in on the hoop. “Could this be it through, Purple is concentrating.” He threw the ball. “Up annnnnddddd – IN IT GOES! LUZON. YOU HAVE WON IMMUNITY. I’m sorry, Aparri, but you’ll be attending your second tribal council tonight.” Mike slammed the ball into the water.
They recollected on the shore and Jeff handed out the winnings. Drizella took their first place immunity statue and they all trotted out. Luzon, all smiles, super relieved, they took the smaller one and left the challenge area. Sindy, James, and Caleb all looked extremely upset – for different reasons, and they headed back annoyed.
***At the Solana camp.
“Like… everybody says this game is super stressful but I don’t even see it.” Ryan was confused. “I mean, we’re what… four people down after tonight. This is a breeze.” Ryan did his usual, planting his toes in the sand and hands over his eyes. Nobody was surprised that they were safe. They’ve been killing it.
The compliments went around and around again. This time, Drizella was starting to hang out with Max and Dev more. Michelle and KC were a little concerned because Ryan didn’t care. Ryan did however hold an idol, but they didn’t know that. The conversations were small and meaningless, just slight bonding over mutual interests and learning about each other. Other than that, they bathed in the sun on the many pillows they’ve received from their previous reward challenge.
***At the Luzon Camp.
CONFESSIONAL FROM PURPLE: I’m kinda glad we won because… I didn’t want to have to decide on who to send. Our tribe is a bit of a mess right now with alliances. It’s more of a “who will flip first” type of thing, so it’s unsettling to think about who will flip on who.
Their conversations weren’t strategic, but more of a dull chat. Everybody was happy and they weren’t focused on sending anybody home at all. They took a break from the game. Gangey spoke with Micky and that built a trust. Alex reconnected with Purple and Micky. Their communicating would only make it more difficult for when they did have to send someone home.
***At the Aparri Tribe
“Are we talking about this one?” James spoke up first. “Because if we’re being quite frank,
Sindy, your throwing could’ve been a little better.”
“Really… you’re going to put this on me?” Sindy looked at him. “Maybe you should’ve been playing then.” Sindy folded her arms.
“Yeah! Maybe I should’ve!” James got loud. “Guess who didn’t give me a say in that though?” James looked around in a circle at everybody.
“I don’t know I mean… who said the voting had to be based off of the challenge?” Michael spoke up.
“Right?” Sindy defended that. “Why not the previous statement – where someoneeee,” Sindy looked back to James, “Abandoned his whole tribe because he got a little pissy.”
The conversation went on for a good twenty minutes. Caleb didn’t say much but was thinking the whole time. He was scheming up and down the walls. Mike was watching, observing who said what. He didn’t like how uneasy this feeling was. Michael was defending Sindy but didn’t say he would not be opposed to voting her out. They kept going around and around, per usual. Caleb and James were walking to get water a little later and Caleb pulled him aside.
“I have a plan.” Caleb watched as James looked up. “We can get Michael out right now.” James was very interested. “What if… we were going to make it a four to one vote, right?”
“Yeah – but I mean, we’re in a questionable majority.” James looked over to Michael.
“Exactly… so we need – I found a way to get us in the majority. We tie it.” Caleb raised his brows. “If they’re voting for Sindy, that’s two votes, if we vote for Michael, that’s two votes. Whoever Sindy votes for, that’s only one vote. It’ll be either you or me, I’m sure.” Caleb went on. “So… two votes Michael, two votes Sindy. The revote is only Mike, you, and I. We’re in the majority of a two then.” James dropped his jaw.
CONFESSIONAL FROM MIKE: Something is up… I mean… I’m safe… but like… something is off.
Sindy and Michael were by the fire. “I don’t like this. I want James to go. This is dumb as hell.” Sindy was doing her usual, throwing rocks in the distance. She was very stressed. “But like… I know I’m the vote.”
“I can switch it.” Michael looked up. “We just have to get Mike.” Mike came from out of the woods and walked over to them. “Just the man we’re looking for.”
“Get over here. Sindy, a moment, please?” Mike asked and she said sure, sarcastically. Michael asked what was up. “Caleb is throwing your name around to James and I.”
“So…?” Michael was confused. “It’s me?” He was starting to panic.
“No. I’m just saying, he wants you to be the NEXT vote… so… just be careful of what you say to who. I gotta go, they’re watching.” Mike took off.
Everybody stayed in a pretty confused state of mind as nobody knew who was doing what.
CONFESSIONAL FROM MIKE: I think I have a plan, actually. I just planted a few seeds and… we might be in for a bit of a shock tonight at tribal…
***At Tribal Council.
“Everybody has their torches.” Jeff sat down. “Sindy, at the immunity challenge, you told James he HAD to sit out, what was that about?”
“Well, he gave up on us so I gave up on him.” She shrugged and looked down at him. “Simple.”
“If only you could see how bad we were losing.” James looked at her.
“There’s some animosity here between you two. So James, is Sindy a target tonight, because of that?”
“Because of that?” James questioned. “Sindy has… been a target. She’s loud, she’s obnoxious, she’s a sore loser… she’s a lot of things that I don’t want.”
“Woah! Sindy, James is right here saying he doesn’t want you, so what decides your vote?” Jeff turned it back to her. She replied that her vote was pretty strategic actually. James scoffed because she was by herself in the game, almost.
“Michael, how are you voting tonight?” Jeff looked at him. “Has there been anything that made you question the way your vote is going?”
“Yeah I mean… from our last tribal council, it’s pretty much been decided it’s going to be four to one, Sindy.” Michael shrugged. “Buuuut… people talk, plans change.” He shrugged.
Caleb cocked his head. “What do you mean?” He asked.
“I’m just saying, I’m voting how you think, but I’ve heard my name thrown out. I don’t appreciate it considering how I’ve been loyal.” Michael spoke and Mike snapped his fingers.
“So the names on the board tonight are Michael and Sindy?” Jeff asked. “Mike?”
“Yeah, it appears so. But apparently there is a greater plan in play here.” He told Jeff. “So who really knows who will be leaving here.”
“Never a certain moment out here. I think that’s a good point to make. So with that, let’s get to the voting.” Jeff watched them all walk one by one to the voting booth. Everybody, confident in the choices they made this time. Caleb sat down and casted the final vote. “Okay. I’ll go tally the votes.” Jeff returned with the urn. “The votes have been tallied, I will ask if anybody would like to play a hidden immunity idol before I read them. Once the votes have been read, the decision is final and the player with the most votes will be asked to leave.” Jeff waited. “Alright, let’s go.”
“First vote…Michael.” Jeff watched and Michael nodded. He knew it was coming.
“Second vote… Michael.”
“Third vote… Caleb.” Jeff watched Caleb twist his head a bit.
“Fourth vote… Caleb.” James dropped his jaw for the second time today.
“Fifth vote… James. We have a tie. Those of you in the tie cannot revote. Sindy, Mike, and James, I will ask you to go cast a vote again.” Jeff watched.
Michael looked over to Caleb and smiled. “Sindy! Sindy please!” Caleb begged. “Mike!” Mike just turned his head and shook it.
“Alright… first vote… Caleb.”
“Second vote… Michael.”
“Third vote… fourth person leaving Survivor Cagayan… Caleb.” Jeff turned the vote around. James was completely mind blown. The plan Caleb tried to use to get Michael out instead came full circle and got him out.
“Was this the first #Blindside?” Caleb looked at the camera. “Play nice, kids.” Jeff snuffed his torch and he went out the pathway.
“As you may have realized, this game is only beginning. Strategy DOES matter… head on out.” Jeff watched as Sindy, Michael, and Mike were all smiles and James was in utter disbelief.
(Votes: Caleb and James - Michael, Sindy and Michael - Caleb, Mike - James then Caleb)
