Episode 10: God-forsaken balls, Found
As day 28 started, the spirits were high at Gluboko. The four of them were jovial that they were all saved and the other tribe, Melkiy, was down a member. Eve volunteered to cook breakfast that morning, while Missy, Brandon and Will organized camp and tended to the fire. A few minutes later, Eve yelled out "BREAKFAST!" As the others came scrambling over, they screamed as Eve had found some of the candy eyeballs from a previous challenge and stuck them in the morning gruel. Will sarcastically remarked, "These eyes will make us spend our morning in mourning." No one laughed at Will's humor attempt.
Meanwhile, the mood was much more serious as Melkiy awakened. No one really missed Sean, but the three of them agreed they couldn't lose again. They figured that in order to pump them up for the immunity challenge (even though it still lurked a few days away) was to win the reward challenge. The three of them decided to save their strength for the immunity challenge. They laid down in camp and every few minutes, they played an elaborate game Corey invented called Bus Stop to determine who would check tree mail. Sue finally discovred tree mail around midday. She came back holding a tape recorder with a tape inside. When she hit play, they all listened to an audio message spoken by the nine booted castaways asking how well everyone thought they knew them.
Later that afternoon, the two tribes met at challenge beach and saw Adam there holding a sheet of paper, a giant red X and huge wooden paitings of the nine booted survivors. He began to explain, "For this challenge, stand on your mats and select a captain." The two tribes moved towards the colored mats and Gluboko selected Eve as their captain, while Melkiy chose Mike. Adam then handed each captain paintings of the booted castaways. He continued explaining the challenge, "I will then read a quote and tell you which episode it was said and on which tribe. Then, confer with your captain about who said the quote and tell them to hold up the picture of who said the quote. Whichever tribe gets the most correct, wins this red X, the significance of which will be revealed later." Ok, first quote:
"'No one is really communicating with me, and you're one of them' is the quote. This was uttered on Gluboko, episode 1" Sue thought this had to be Zach, and he got Mike told up his picture. Eve thought it could be Kim and held up her picture. Adam remaked, "You're both wrong. It's Michael. Next quote:
'He entered as a stranger to the rest of us tribe mates and made no attempt to respond to my friendliness.' This was also Gluboko, episode 1." Melkiy agreed since the quote sounded mean it must be Mike, while Gluboko randomly Hayley. Adam started again, "You guys are both wrong once again. It's Lachlan. After two questions it's 0-0. Once again, the quote is Episode 1, Gluboko:
'The first day was hell... no one would talk to me. I felt so isolated from the group and from the start felt that I was gonna go.'" Will said he remembered Matt saying something about not being part of the group early, so Gluboko guessed Matt. Melkiy thought since Zach was never really in the game, it could be him and Mike held up his picture. When Mike raised Zach's picture, Adam said, "Finally, someone is right! The quote was uttered by...Matt! Gluboko is up 1-0. OK, here's quote number four:
'As I landed on the stranded island, I felt a bit like the first day that you go to a new school and your a loner. Cause thats exactly what I was, a loner. But I wasn't the only one' If you haven't guessed, that's Gluboko, episode 1." Gluboko thought Matt would have said that and guessed him again. Corey asked his tribe, "Who'd be that dumb to thing we're on an island?" They laughed and Mike held up Lachlan's picture. Adam looked at their gueses and said, "Nope and nope. It's Hayley. The score is still 1-0 Gluboko. Here we go with quote five:
'Great job everyone, just the start we needed!'
For once this is from Episode 1: Melkiy. Missy, who was on Melkiy in episode 1, couldn't remember anyone saying that but she urged Eve to hold up Frank's picture. Meanwhile, Mike thought he remembered Ryan saying that after the first immunity challenge. He held up Ryan's picture. Adam continued, "Way to go, Melkiy, you've tied the score up at 1-1. The next quote is Gluboko, episode 2:
'Our tribe is so great! I think their is a 4-way alliance to the final 4 with me'" Sue thought that around that time, Kim was trying to form an alliance and Mike held up her picture. Meanwhile, Eve thought maybe it was an Australian and Gluboko guessed Lachlan. Adam then said, "Melkiy-that's two in a row! Quote number 7 is:
'It was a good game and I'm sorry I couldn't be there more'. This was uttered on Melkiy during episode 3. Missy remembered that Ryan was voted out third, so Eve held up his picture. Meanwhile, Corey and Mike were debating whether Frank or Ryan went third, so Mike guessed Frank. At that, Adam said, "Gluboko has tied it up at 2-2. Time for quote number 8:
'Wow, the game has gotten intense, everyone is kinda sucking up to the rest of the tribe which is kinda annoying but all in all it is tons of fun". This was said on Gluboko, episode 3. Sue remembered Hayley sucking up to Michael around this time, so Eve held up Michael's picture, while Melkiy also guessed Michael. Adam remarked, "You're both wrong. It's Sean. We're still at two each going into the ninth quote:
'Shes been so sneaky and is lying to me through her teeth. Here are two words to describe Kim 'Manipulative & Sneaky''." Even before Adam announced it was Gluboko, Episode 3, both tribes held Matt's picture up high. Adam said, "No question, you're both right. Tied at 3, we go into quote #10:
'Wow, Survivor: Balkhash has gotten really exciting I've really grown to like these people so it's gotten harder to vote one of them out I am very worried that I may be the next one ousted because I was chosen to sit out in the challenge so of course I was thinking do they not like me? Will I be voted out? etc.' This was Gluboko, Episode 4." Sue recalled Sean that was struggling at that point in the game and got Mike to hold up his picture. Meanwhile, Brandon thought that seemed like something Hayley would say, so Eve held up her picture. Adam said, "One team is right. Congratulations, Melkiy!" They high-fived, as they had taken a 4-3 lead. Adam continued, "Here's quote 11:
'Now ,he's sucking up to me, now the switch has happened because he knows I could betray my tribe and eventually voting him out'. This was said during episode 5 on Gluboko." Melkiy didn't really know, so Mike randomly held up Matt's portrait. Meanwhile, Eve thought Sue said it, but she had forgotten only people voted out were included. Gluboko did not hold up any picture. Adam then announced, "It was Matt, and Melkiy is now up 5-3! Gluboko, you better start catching up with quote 12:
'Ok, I am feeling safe in my position in camp right now!' This was said on Melkiy during episode 6." Remembering the switch, Gluboko knew it could be Sean, Michael or Kim. Eve guessed it was Sean and held up his picture. Meawhile, Melkiy forgot about the switch, so they guessed an original Melkiy, Ryan said it. When Mike held up Ryan's picture, Adam remarked: "I'm sorry. Neither of you are right, it was Kim. Onwards to the 13th quote, should Melkiy answer correctly and Gluboko answer wrong, Melkiy will have clinched a win:
'This will be a very interesting Tribal Council coming up!' This was Gluboko, Episode 6." This time it was Gluboko's turn to forget the switch, as Eve held up Kim's picture. Sue remembered this was when Matt was voted out and urged Mike to hold up Matt's picture. As soon as he did, Adam yelled, "MELKIY, REWARD!" They danced around, hugging each other and Mike grabbed the red X, as both tribes headed back to camp.
At Melkiy, the three contestants were in an upbeat mood coming off the reward challenge win. They didn't know what to do with the X so they just put in the middle of camp where they could all see it, to remind them they were the stronger tribe. They went to bed on the late side that night, after doing some partying.
Meanwhile, the mood at Gluboko was very somber. Everybody pretty much hung to themselves all afternoon, pondering strategies. Missy decided the only way she could stay was to try to swing Brandon's vote against Eve, who would go against her in a tie-breaker because of previous votes. Will was thinking up a plan to get him and Brandon into the final 2. He, Eve and Brandon would all vote for Missy at tribal council and win the next immunity challenge, hoping it would be team. This would cause the Mike/Corey/Missy/Sue alliance to lose another member, while he, Eve and Brandon could easily progress to the final three. He told this plan to Brandon, who readily agreed. Brandon remarked, "This new tribe thing can work to my advantage. I think now me and Will's plan will work out to lead us to the final 2 and let the jury go from there". At the same as Will came up with his idea, Eve was making her plans of her own. She also thought that they should vote out Missy and take it from there. The three of them all made a handshake, and as they were departing, Eve called them back. She said, "Hey, guys, I have an idea. Since we've got Missy trapped, let's throw the challenge to vote her out." Will and Brandon nodded and soon afterwards Gluboko was asleep.
The euphoria from the challenge win carried over into Day 29 for Melkiy. Everybody had more energy than usual, and they all used it productively around camp. Mike spent all morning cooking up a huge meal. When he served it to Sue and Corey, Sue shrieked when she found a hair in her food. She instinctively threw it all onto the ground. Mike, with a look of anguish, said, "Aww...Sue, I worked HARD on that. Don't let a little bit of a hairy situation like this get you down." Sue shrugged and she and Corey shared a hair-less bowl of food.
Meanwhile, the mood was tense at Gluboko. Missy felt alone as Brandon, Will and Eve continued to gravitate away from her. She remarked, "I don't know what's happening here. I hope there's not a secret plan against me." Late that evening, Brandon picked up a bizarre tree mail. He saw a bunch of letters followed by lines. They went to bed curious to what it meant. However, Missy didn't sleep that night. It wasn't because she was worried about the challenge or tribal council, but because she was feeling lousy. She was throwing up throughout the night, and the next morning, when the others awoke, they were agahast when they looked at Missy. She was extremely pale, and even her hair was fallen out. Brandon mumbled, "You like a zombie." Missy half-smiled, but then they left their camp for the challenge.
When they arrived at the challenge, Melkiy came in holding hands. Mike broke the chain as soon as Gluboko arrived. He ran over to the wan Missy and whispered to her, "Look, Missy, throw this challenge. We can't have one of us go, and I'm sure you'll be able to get rid of Eve. They're so dumb over there."
Shortly afterwards, Adam walked in. He collected the immunity idol from Missy, who had brought it over from Gluboko. He also noticed that Melkiy brought the red X with them. Adam started, "First things first, Gluboko, since you are up a member, you must sit someone out." Gluboko conferred and much to the shigrin of Mike, sat out the sick Missy. Adam continued, "All right. Melkiy, give your X to whichever Gluboko you want to sit out." After a second of discussion, they gave it to Gluboko's biggest threat, Eve. Eve and Missy sat down a rock bench and listened as Adam explained the rules: "For the five of you playing, you will each be given a rock tablet and a chisel. There will be numbers, letters and a few small words on the chisel. For example, it could say '6 R P in S B to which you would chisel letters out to get the phrase "6 remaining players in Survivor Balkhash". Whichever tribe has the most combined words in two hours win immunity."
Immeadiately, Sue got to work. She quickly chiseled out words in within half an hour she had completed all ten messages. After another half hour, Mike had also finished his. Corey was still chisling away, while Brandon and Will pretended to be thinking about theirs. A few minutes later, Corey completed his and Adam announced Melkiy had culminated. After Corey turned his in, Will and Brandon "gave up" and Adam announced with a score of 24, Melkiy was immune! They had a huge group embrace, while Gluboko went back to camp.
Back at camp, an anxious Missy confronted Brandon. She reminded Brandon that he promised never to vote for her. Brandon said, "You're right" and left. He said, "I told Missy I couldn't vote against her and I feel I should make good on that promise. Between Eve and Will, I'd probably rather vote for Eve-though I'd hate too. Meanwhile, Eve and Will, feeling confident, spent the day lounging around camp and right before tribal council, Eve told Will and Brandon, "let's do it!".
At tribal council, they met Adam who kept the questioning short, and the survivors went to vote. Eve was up first and she wrote "MISSY" on her voting card saying, "I don't want to do this but I have to. I'm not looking out for you, Mike and Corey, I'm looking out for myself." Will voted next, followed by Missy. Brandon was up last. He stared at his card for awhile and eventually wrote down "BRANDON". He said, "I told Missy I couldn't vote for her, and I would never vote Will or Eve, so this is the only option." With that, Adam collected, tallied and began to read the votes:
"The tenth person voted out of Survivor: Balkhash is:"
Missy sighed as she saw the final vote flipped over. She hugged each of her tribe mates and got her torch snuffed. On the way out, she noticed a huge smile on Eve's face and shook her head. The three remaining players then left to go back to camp.
Next week on SURVIVOR:
The Survivors merge back together, and the former Melkiys are shocked when Missy doesn't merge with them.
MIKE: "We must avenge Missy's death!"
The Survivors find a reward challenge with huge ramifications.
COREY: "We must win!"
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