Dec 17 2007
Four Hae Da Fung members remain in the running for the $1M prize: Beauty queen Amanda, flight attendant Todd, server Courtney and lunch lady Denise. Amanda tells us that her strategy has been to remain quiet throughout the competition. Todd feels he has been the most strategic player, lying and backstabbing in the name of the game. Courtney is surprised she is still there, and Denise is just in awe of all of the experiences she’s had in China. The four head back to camp after the last tribal council and congratulate each other on a game well played. Courtney says that she hopes she can keep slipping through the cracks to win as they share a group hug. The next day (day 37), Denise speaks of how they are almost out of food and she is exhausted, but the game has been a life-changing experience and she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The last reward challenge
Jeff tells them that they will have to assemble their own versions of the Great Wall. They will begin on top of a wall, go down a ladder to a build-a-bridge, which they cannot cross until they build it, and then they will gather blocks to transport back over the bridge, up the ladder and into the “Wall,” which is a puzzle, of course. The first to win gets the reward. They are told they are playing for “comfort and advantage,” the comfort being pizza, beer, soda, and brownies, but only enough for one person, and the advantage being the calories the food will give the winner. Surprisingly, as tired and hungry as they all are, they all manage to get their blocks back up to the wall and make it a real competition. Amanda is the first to complete the puzzle, thus winning the reward. Jeff tells Amanda that she can keep the reward to herself, or share it with one or share it with two, but not all three. She chooses Todd to share the meal and sends both Denise and Courtney back to camp.
Eating good in the neighborhood…
T&A (Todd and Amanda, get your minds out of the gutter) sit down to chow down. Amanda tells Todd she chose him to accompany her to dine because she wants to get inside his head. She tells him she doesn’t trust him. She says she is sure if he had won the challenge he would have picked Denise, even though they are supposed to have an alliance. Todd feigns surprise by her remarks and says that he has been totally honest with Amanda from day one. He swears on his life that she can trust him.
Meanwhile…
Back at camp, Denise and Courtney are sitting out in the heat complaining about the heat. Instead of sitting in the cave or under the “structure” they’ve called home for 37 days. Denise takes off her shirt and jumps into the lake. Gather your own visual there. Courtney asks Denise who she wants to vote off, and Denise answers “Todd”. Courtney says that Todd is a slippery little sucker. When Amanda and Todd return, Todd tells them that he loves all three of them, but he has no choice but to write one name down at tribal council. He interviews that girl power will probably send him home. Courtney overhears Todd and Denise talking and assumes he’s trying to turn Denise against her. She says that Todd doesn’t care about anyone else. Thing is, at this point in the game, you aren’t supposed to…Courtney and Amanda go fishing. Courtney tells Amanda that Todd was talking with Denise, and has been telling each of them different stories. Amanda tells Courtney that she took Todd to lunch because she wanted to see where he stood. Todd walks up on them and asks if they are cool to send Denise home. He interviews that he isn’t comfortable at all.
Day 38
Time for the last immunity challenge. First, they will walk to the statue of Guan Yin, where they will light firecrackers in remembrance of the members voted off before them. From there, they will proceed to the immunity challenge. As they walk and light, there is a montage of members and comments from them since they’ve been voted off. When they get to Jean-Robert’s torch, they say they hope he’s the player most changed. Afterward, for the final challenge of the season, Amanda gives back the necklace as Jeff explains they will be testing on the ability to eliminate distractions. They have to balance porcelain dishes on a wobbly wooden arm. They will stack the dishes as he dictates which one to add to the pile. The last one standing wins immunity. After 27 minutes, Todd crashes his dishes first. Courtney loses hers second. Feeling the pressure, Denise asks Amanda if she wants to make a deal. Amanda says she will not give up. Denise’s dishes fall, and Amanda wins the final immunity challenge. They all hug and congratulate Amanda on a job well done. However, somebody else is joining the jury tonight.
Liar, liar, pants on fire
Back at camp, Denise talks to Amanda, telling her she only has her job as a $7/hour lunch lady to go back to. Amanda says that she hasn’t decided who she will be voting for but admires Denise’s determination. Later, Todd, Amanda and Courtney decide that Denise will be voted off. Courtney says that Denise will cry and give her sob story to win. Amanda says that Todd will try to sugarcoat the jury. Courtney says that the game isn’t welfare, and Denise doesn’t deserve to win just because her life sucks. She then laughs that she (Courtney) is the biggest bitch on the planet. Since I believe in karma, I believe that is when Courtney nailed her coffin shut. Anyhoooo, moving right along…Amanda walks with Denise, and admits to her that she feels torn. She says that she has always had an alliance with Todd. She says that she wants Denise in the final three. She then tells Denise that she will not vote for her at council, but she cannot guarantee what Todd and Courtney will do. Denise tells her that if she can trust her, now is the time to prove it.
