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survivorwildwest · 4 years ago

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Episode 14 - Finale - They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

Jerri, Colby, Ken, Michaela, Bi, and Lauren, return to camp after a close vote taking out Kass. They tie their horses to the saloon’s hitching post.

“Well done,” Bi says, before retiring to bed.

“Do you want to talk,” Ken asks Lauren.

“There’s nothing to talk about. You’re playing your game. I’m playing mine. I’m not mad at you, baby,” Lauren tells him as she cups his cheek in her hand.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a cottontail rabbit wriggles its nose.

At high noon the next day, the Final Six meet Jeff for their next reward challenge. Jeff and his trusty clydesdale stand before two wobbly tables, each of which have three ropes attached.

“For today's reward challenge, you will be randomly divided into two teams. Each team will have six cards on a barrel, which will spell out a classic Wild West phrase. Place the correct cards in the correct order while balancing a heavy table by holding a long, heavy rope. First team to do so wins reward. Want to know what you’re playing for?”

Everyone nods as they look over the challenge.

“Here in the United States, Nearly one in every four Native American households experience brutal food insecurity, meaning not enough variety, quality or desirability of their diets. Today, you will serve as ambassadors of goodwill when you deliver food and other supplies desperately needed to help their life be a little bit easier. Hot meals, gardening supplies, books and other school supplies. You will then be treated to a traditional Wild West feast.”

“Beans,” Michaela presumes.

“Beans, yes, as well as chips & guacamole, margaritas, pork, beef, baked potatoes with all the fixins. Worth playin for?”

They all nod and clap and get ready for the challenge. The two teams are randomly assigned by rock draw. They take their places and Jeff explains, “Wearing orange we have Ken, Jerri and Lauren. Wearing teal, we have Colby, Michaela and Bi.”

Each of them take their respective rope and stand over the barrel when Jeff calls for the challenge to begin. All six competitors look over the thick wooden cards.

“We have two Es,” Colby says, “An A, a Y, an H and a W.”

“Yeehaw,” Michaela whispers.

Bi takes the Y card and begins her walk to the table Colby and Michaela hold. Lauren is quick to figure it out for orange.

“Both teams think they have it figured out,” Jeff yells, “It’ll be a race to see who can get it done sooner.”

Bi places the Y in its upright position and begins to walk backwards, holding her rope as she returns to the barrel. Hoping to gain an advantage over the other team, Colby holds his rope tight so Michaela can begin her march toward the table before Bi returns.

“Teal team, taking a gamble having two people away from the barrel at a time. We’ll see if it pays off.”

For the orange team, Lauren runs back quickly so that Jerri and Ken don’t have to hold the rope as long. Jerri pushes forward as soon as Lauren returns to pull her rope taut. Jerri places their second card as Michaela walks backwards toward their barrel. It’s a close race but the strategy of leaving Colby in one position the whole time proves successful as the teal team spells out “Yeehaw” first. Jeff announces, “Colby, Michaela and Bi win reward!”

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a scorpion burrows under a large, rocky hill.

Colby, Michaela and Bi ride their horses south, trotting through the Colorado River and into Arizona. They pass through the hot springs of White Hills and by the Hackberry General Store before riding along Route 66 for over 20 miles. They come upon a lived-in trailer and a cabin made of stone and wood. The paint has been stripped from the wood after years of inattention. An American flag flies overhead.

They hitch their horses outside a motel. Inside, an old man opens his arms and says, “Welcome to Peach Springs! We’re so happy to have you. I am Dr. Damon Rudy Clark. You can call me Rudy.”

“Nice to meet you, Rudy,” Colby says, shaking the man’s hand.

“Nice to meet you tooo,” Rudy says, elongating the last syllable to ask Colby’s name.

“Colby. My name’s Colby.”

“Colby,” Rudy says, “Thank you for coming.”

“Hi, I’m Michaela,” she says, taking a step next to Colby and shaking Rudy’s hand.

“Michaela, thank you for coming.”

“I’m Bi,” Bi says, jutting her hand out for Rudy to shake.

“Bi, thank you for coming.”

“Pleasure,” she says.

“I would like to introduce you to Tim. Tim lives in a trailer, but his mom recently lost her ability to walk. So, now she’s in a wheelchair. Tim needs help installing a ramp so his mother can more easily live her life.”

“We’d be happy to help,” Colby says.

Rudy takes them to his old, red pick-up truck The supplies are thrown in the truck bed. He drives them in his rusted red truck to Tim’s trailer. Tim sits on the stairs outside his trailer with his head in his hands. He looks up when he hears the truck. He doesn’t look much older than Colby.

“Tim,” Rudy calls, “These kind folks have offered to help with your ramp!”

“Oh, really,” Tim asks.

“Absolutely,” Michaela says.

“Oh thank you. It’s not a big job, but the more hands the better. Thank you.”

They unload the equipment from Rudy’s truck before he leaves to give the rest of the supplies to the stores and schools who need it most. Colby and Tim begin sawing the wood while Michaela and Bi take measurements. The screen door slowly creaks open and an elevated foot in a wheelchair emerges.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” the woman behind the screen door says.

“Hello,” Michaela says, sitting on the next to last stair.

“Thank you for doing this,” she says with a shaky voice, “Would you like some lemonade?”

“Oh, no thank you,” Michaela says.

“If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to your leg,” Bi asks.

“Oh, it was really nothing. I just fell on these steps one morning while on my way out on my way to work. I’ve fallen a thousand times on these steps. But, I’m always able to catch myself. This time… I wasn’t. I guess that’s just part of aging.”

“How old are you,”

“I’ll be 90 this fall.”

“And you’re--”

“This fall,” the old woman laughs, “that’s funny. I didn’t mean to do that.”

“It’s very funny,” Michaela agrees, “So you’re nearly 90 years old and still working?”

“Well, not anymore. This has taken me out for good.”

“So, it’s broken,” Bi asks, noticing no cast.

“Oh, I assume.”

“Does it hurt,” Michaela asks.

“Oh, at my age, honey, everything hurts. It’s just like everything else…”

“You didn’t go to a doctor,” Bi asks.

“Oh no,” she waves it away.

“When I hurt my foot, I saw a doctor immediately,” Bi says.

“How am I supposed to pay for a doctor,” she asks. “Between me and Tim, we can barely afford this trailer. A doctor’s visit? Out of the question.”

“But… I thought the government was supposed to... help you,” Bi says.

“They’re supposed to,” Tim says as he and Colby drop some unfinished wood next to the stairs.

Somewhere near the Mojave Desert, creosote bushes dominate the mountainside.

After installing the ramp and a handrail on either side. Tim and his mother join Colby, Michaela and Bi for the feast Jeff Probst promised. With meats and sweets, they fill their pleats. Colby makes sure to cover his cornbread with beans.

“More beans, Colbeans?”

“What can I tell you, I like beans?”

“Does your butt,” Tim’s mom asks.

Colby only laughs.

“They call it the magical fruit,” Tim’s mom says.

“So I’ve heard,” Colby says.

“Have you,” Michaela asks.

Colby sighs and says, “Not yet…”

After filling a plate for himself and his mother, Tim takes a seat at the picnic table next to a cactus blooming a single yellow flower.

“I really want to thank you all for doing that. I could not have done that without you,” Tim says.

“We’re happy to help,” Colby says, slapping Tim’s back.

“Life can be hard on the reservation. I’m sure you know,” Tim says, “but at the end of the day, we’re really not asking for much. All I want is a good home for my mom. Maybe a wife and some children, and some food to feed them every night.”

They all nod along as he speaks. Colby grabs Tim's shoulder and says, “Yes, of course. We hear you.”

“Thank you, Colby,” Tim says.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a spider continues building its web.

Back in town, Jerri sits alone while Ken and Lauren snuggle on the bench next to the fire.

“Jerri,” Lauren asks, “Are you really taking Michaela to the end?”

“Why do you ask,” Jerri retorts.

“I’m just saying, she’s out with Colby and Bi right now. You don’t think the three of them are making a deal without you?”

“They’re not gonna do that.”

“Okay. I hear you, but if I were you, I wouldn’t go up against Michaela in the final three.”

“What are you proposing,” Jerri asks.

“The three of us take out Michaela tonight.”

“She is a jury threat. Ken, you’re okay with this?”

“I’m not gonna beat her in the end,” Ken surmises.

Jerri tosses the idea around in her head.

“Lauren makes a good point,” Jerri says in a talking head, “Taking out Michaela would help make my argument at final tribal.”

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a rosy boa emerges from its hiding place.

As the sun begins to set, Colby, Michaela and Bi make their trek back to town on the backs of their horses.

“So,” Bi says, “We should probably discuss who we’re targeting.”

“I want Lauren out,” Michaela says. “She’s got too many connections on the jury and she hasn’t really pissed anyone off”

“Plus, she’s not in our alliance,” Colby adds.

“There you go,” Michaela says.

“Works for me,” Bi says.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a cottontail rabbit finds shelter in some brush.

The final six meet final six meet Jeff for their next immunity challenge. He stands in front of a board that looks like this:

“For today’s immunity challenge,” he tells them, “you will each fire bullets from a replica nineteenth-century Colt six-shooter revolver. Each time your name on the target wall is hit, you score a point. You’ll each begin with six bullets. But, to make things interesting, you’ll come behind this wall, and secretly distribute your bullets to the other Survivors by placing them in marked containers. Each time you give another person a bullet, you give them another shot at the wall and a better chance at winning immunity and this game. Whoever’s name has been hit the most often by the end of the challenge, wins immunity and has a one-in-FIVE chance of winning this game.”

Jeff gives each of them the opportunity to drop their bullets in the other’s containers, then announces, “Bi received two bullets and will be going first as she received the least. Do you feel unloved, Bi?”

“Not at all. I’m going to use what I have to win.”

“Great attitude. Go for it.”

Bi lines up her shot and hits one of her tiles for her first point. Without moving her arm, she pulls the trigger again, piercing the same tile again. She hands the gun back to Jeff who congratulates her on her two perfect shots. He grips the barrel of the revolver and calls for Colby.

“Colby will take five shots. You handy with a gun, Colby?”

“I believe this is when I’m supposed to say ‘yeehaw,’” he says as he tips his hat to Jeff and takes the revolver’s handle.

He aims for one of his tiles in the center of the board, for fear he may miss off the side. His first bullets strikes a tile with Lauren’s name, just barely missing his own. He takes a deep breath and fires again, hitting the same place. He lets out a frustrated grunt and adjusts his stance slightly. He takes a shot, then another, then another. In quick succession, all three of his bullets fly through his own tile.

“Colby takes first place with three points,” Jeff says. “Bi has two and now Lauren has two. Up next with five shots is Ken.”

Michaela throws her hands up in the air as Ken makes his way to Jeff.

“What’s the issue, Michaela?”

“He’s just gonna give all his points to Lauren.”

“Not necessarily,” Ken says, taking the revolver from Jeff.

He points his gun at the board and closes one eye. His steady hand pulls the trigger. His bullet penetrates Lauren’s tile. Then, again. Then, again. Then, again. Then, with his last shot, he adjusts his aim slightly so that it pierces Michaela’s tile.

“Oh, thanks, Ken,” Michaela unenthusiastically says.

“Up next is…” Jeff says, “Lauren.”

Lauren skips to Jeff and takes the gun. He tells her that she has seven shots. Her eyes go big as she looks at the gun, then the board. She takes aim and says, “I’ve never shot a gun before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” Jeff tells her.

Lauren wraps her fingers around the grip and holds it tight. She closes an eye and aims for her own name. The bullet races toward the board and hits the wooden border separating her name from Colby’s.

“Damn, okay.” she says before rotating her hips for a more goal-oriented angle.

She fires again and the bullet smashes through her own tile. She takes a deep breath to calm herself then fires again. Again, it hits her target. She jumps up and down excitedly before finding her footing again and taking another shot. Without moving, she takes two more shots, both piercing the same tile. For her seventh shot, Lauren has to reload the six-shooter. When she gets the gun back in working order, she finds a familiar stance and fires. Lauren’s seventh and final shot hits the tile just below the one she’d hit five times in a row, giving Colby another point.

“Thanks,” Colby says.

“Michaela, you’re up next,” Jeff says, “You have seven shots.”

Michaela looks over the board and counts the holes left by the bullets. She looks at the gun and continues her count. She drops her head and aims at the board. She fires all six shots of her first round at Colby’s tile. All six hit.

“You’re not even trying to win immunity,” Jeff asks.

Michaela doesn’t respond. Instead, she places her final bullet in the chamber, lines up her shot, and gives Colby his eleventh point.

“I can’t win this, but Colby still can,” Michaela explains as she hands the gun back to Jeff, “I’m just looking out for my own.”

“Last but not least,” Jeff says, “Jerri. You have ten shots.”

The rest of the tribe looks around at each other, none of them entirely shocked by Jerri’s popularity.

“So,” Jerri says as she takes the revolver from Jeff, “I can’t win this.”

“Seems that way,” Jeff says.

“So, it’s up to me who wins immunity?”

Jeff lifts his shoulders to neither confirm nor deny her comment.

Jerri aims at Colby’s line of tiles. She pulls the trigger six times and leaves six holes in the board. Three in a tile for Colby and three in a tile for Lauren. She looks at the board as she reloads. She rolls her eyes upon seeing the result. She uses the same strategy for her last four shots. The first hits the top right corner of Colby’s tile. The second hits only a couple inches to the right of the first, piercing the top left corner of Lauren’s tile. The third strikes a couple inches higher in the lower left corner of Jerri’s tile. The fourth and final shot of the challenge pierces the board a couple inches to the left, in the bottom right corner of another one of Lauren’s tiles. Jeff calls out “Lauren wins immunity!”

“Dammit,” Michaela says under her breath.

Lauren jumps for joy as she runs to Jeff. He drapes the bandolier across her chest and hands her the key to the Immunity Suite. She beams with pride before rejoining Ken and the rest of the tribe.

“God,” Lauren says in a talking head, “I have been waiting for this for sooo long.”

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, two cottontail rabbits approach each other cautiously.

The tribe returns to town. Jerri makes her way behind the bar in the saloon and grabs six tumblers “to celebrate the final six,” per Lauren’s suggestion. Jerri fills each tumbler with the brown stuff and passes them to her tribemates sitting at the bar. As she looks up, she notices only Colby, Michaela, and Bi. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Lauren run upstairs with Ken in tow.

“Didn’t realize this was a reward challenge too,” Jerri says.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a newborn cottontail rabbits takes in the new world.

Lauren lays on Ken’s chest. The immunity bandolier can be seen under the sheet they wear.

“Do you think we should take out Colby,” Lauren asks, blue skying.

“Me, you and who, Bi?”

“Unless you can convince Michaela.”

“I can try.”

Ken trots down to the bar where he finds Michaela, Bi, Jerri and Colby sitting at the bar. Jerri is excited to see him and invites him over.

“Oh, no thank you. I’m just going to go get some water,” he says, making brief, but noticed, eye contact with Michaela.

“I could use some water, actually,” she says.

The two millennials make their way to the oasis. Ken is characteristically nonverbal until Michaela says, “Okay, what’s your plan?”

“We need you.”

“Okay. Who is it?”

“Colby,” Ken finally admits.

“That’d be a Big Move,” Michaela says.

“It’s a necessary move.”

“Alright, Ken,” she agrees.

Constellations blossom as evening descends on the Mojave Desert.

As the sun sets, the final six get on their horses and ride to tribal council. They take their seats and Jeff calls in the jury, “Elizabeth, Todd, Russell, Ben, Wardog, Wendy, and Kass voted out at the last tribal council.”

On their akhal-tekes, the jury surrounds the final six. Each juror places themselves behind each of the seven people sitting around the campfire.

“Lauren,” Jeff begins, “First individual immunity of your career. That must feel nice.”

“Couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I know I’m their target. They have to target someone else tonight,” she says with a proud smile.

“When you say ‘they?’”

“Michaela, Colby and Jerri.”

“Does that mean it’s you, Ken and Bi, on the other side?”

“Could be,” Lauren says, looking across the fire at Bi. “Or it could be me, Ken and Michaela, or it could be me Jerri and Colby. We won’t know until you read us the votes, Jeff.”

“Jerri, does Lauren winning immunity change your plans tonight?”

“Come on, Jeff,” Jerri says, “You should know by now that plans change by the minute in this game.”

“Bi, any change of plans since Lauren won immunity?”

“I don’t concern myself with the activities of others,” she says.

“Okay. Colby, has your plan changed tonight?”

“I’ve had the same plan since two-thousand-and-one. And that is to win this game.”

“Well, good luck. It is time to vote. Bi, you’re up first.”

Bi makes her way into the cave to cast her vote. The rest of the tribe makes their way in, one-by-one. Jeff collects the votes and returns to the campfire. He tells them, “If anyone has the hidden immunity idol and you’d like to play it. Now would be the time to do so.”

Michaela stares at the glowing sand around the fire. She taps her feet a few times before looking back up to Jeff, who says, “Alright. I’ll read the votes.”

He reaches into the urn and pulls out the first vote, “Colby, Colby, Ken, Ken, Ken, Fifteenth Person voted out of Survivor: Wild West and the eighth member of our jury, Ken.”

Ken nods his head, grabs his torch and stands next to Jeff, who tells him, “Ken, the tribe has spoken.”

“It’s been wonderful. I love you all,” Ken says, “Good luck.”

Ken strokes his quarter horse’s chest before riding off into the horizon of the moonlit Mojave.

Ken and Lauren voted for Colby. Everyone else voted for Ken.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, bats awake in a cave and fly into the night.

Colby, Lauren, Jerri, Bi, and Michaela, return to town and hitch their horses outside the saloon. As Lauren ties her brown quarter horse to the hitching post, she says, “Have you noticed, the jury doesn’t ride in on the same horses they were voted out with?”

“Yeah,” Michaela says, “There’s are a lot prettier.”

“What do you think happens to the horses when their person gets voted out?”

“I think in horse racing,” Colby slowly recalls, “they... shoot horses, don’t they?”

“I hope not,” Lauren cries.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, in the early morning, a wild horse runs free, kicking up the sand among the red rocks as he gallops.

Colby approaches with another piece of tree mail, alerting them to their next reward challenge.

“Oh, dammit, is it mud,” Colby asks.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a rosy boa sllides through a very small cave at the base of a rocky hill.

At high noon, the final five find Jeff and his clydesdale standing in front of five empty wooden buckets and a pit of mud.

“For today’s reward challenge, each of you will dive into this mud pit, then transfer the mud in any way you can into your bucket. Whoever gets the most mud in their bucket wins reward. You want to know what you’re playing for?”

They all nod with excitement but not much energy.

“Whoever collects the most mud will win an overnight trip to Las Vegas. A bed, cocktails, casinos, a shower, which will come in mighty handy after a dive into this mud. Worth playing for?”

They all nod and say, “wow.” Jeff clasps his hands together and says, “Alright, we’ll draw for spots and get started.”

They all take their places and Jeff calls for the challenge to begin. Jerri tries to fill her hair with mud. Colby covers his whole body. Michaela and Lauren each try to cradle as much mud as they can. Bi takes the strategy of making a lot of small trips.

Colby, having the most body mass, wipes a significant amount of mud off himself into his bucket. Michaela and Lauren each bring back a comparable amount to one another. Bi doesn’t bring much, but she’s in and out faster than the rest. Jerri was able to collect a lot of mud in her hair, but getting it out is proving more difficult.

Each of the final five continue with their same strategy as the challenge goes on. When Jeff finally calls time, all five appear to have similar levels. Jeff grabs Bi’s bucket first. He places it on the scale and announces, “Bi, twelve point three pounds.”

He returns Bi’s and grabs Jerri’s bucket, “Eleven pounds even.”

He takes Michaela’s bucket after returning Jerri’s, “Twelve and a half for Michaela. A new leader.”

He returns Michaela’s bucket and takes Lauren’s, “Lauren got… also twelve and a half pounds.”

Jeff finally takes Colby’s bucket, weighs it and announces, “With thirteen pounds even, Colby wins reward.”

“For real,” Colby asks with genuine surprise.

“For real,” Jeff assures him.

“Of course,” Michaela says with a dismissive tone.

“What’s the problem, Michaela?”

“Lauren and I worked just as hard, if not harder. He’s just bigger. It’s whatever. I’m not mad. It’s Colby. Colby’s gonna do everything right,” she says while wiping the mud off her face.

“Alright, Colby. You’re headed to Vegas tonight. Who do you want to bring with you?”

“Oh, jeez,” Colby says, looking at the four women before him. Lauren and Bi both expect to not be picked. Michaela raises her eyebrows expectantly. Jerri brushes some mud from her lip and smiles at Colby.

“You want to go to Vegas, Jerri?”

“I’ve been waiting 20 years for you to ask me out, Colby. Of course I do.”

“You two will be headed to Las Vegas,” Jeff says, “Lauren, Bi, Michaela, I got nothing for ya.”

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a spider has caught prey.

Lauren, Bi, and Michaela ride their horses back to town and take a seat around the fire. Lauren stretches out on Ken’s bench and says, “Sorry Colby didn’t pick you, Michaela. I know you guys are close.”

“Yeah, thanks. You know, it is what it is. He’s known Jerri for, what, twenty years. I can’t be mad at him. Plus, if I were out there, y’all’d be targeting me.”

“No one’s targeting you, Michaela,” Lauren assures her, glancing to Bi, who nods quietly.

“No, it’s okay,” Michaela says, “I know I’m a target.”

“Would you vote for Colby,” Lauren asks.

“The three of us?”

“Then whichever of us is best at fire can take out Jerri with fire next time.”

“Yeah, that could work,” Michaela says, “Are either of you good at fire?”

“I’m good at fire,” Bi promises.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, two desert tortoises slowly crawl over the cracks in the sand.

Jerri and Colby find their dirty bodies in a pristine hotel room. They track the dirt over the white carpet and into the white & gold marble bathroom. Behind a floor-to-ceiling glass door, they see a large shower with shower heads from more angles than should ever seem necessary.

“Oh wow,” Jerri says as she runs her fingertips over the etched glass.

“That looks so nice,” Colby says.

“Looks big enough for two,” Jerri hints.

Colby grins before unbuttoning his shirt. Jerri does the same and they swing the glass door open. The warm water rinses the excess dirt from their skin. Jerri’s hair drops as the once dry mud falls over her body. Colby takes a washcloth and places it over Jerri’s shoulder to remove the dirt. They both stare at his fingers, his skin nearly touching hers. She places a hand over his and the other on his cheek.

“Jerri,” Colby says, mirroring her movements.

“Colby,” she says softly, staring into his eyes.

The water from every which direction removes all the dirt from their bodies. Colby’s hand drops from Jerri's cheek. His knuckles trace her neck. They haven’t stopped staring into one another’s eyes but their fingers interlace with perfection.

“Would you look at that,” Colby says.

“Almost like it was meant to be,” Jerri says.

“Something like that,” Colby says.

“Seems like someone should have listened twenty years ago.”

Colby gives Jerri a polite smile. He removes his other hand from her shoulder and begins collecting water in his palm. Once full, he pours it over Jerri’s face.

“Hey,” she laugh-screams while trying to push him away. She tries to collect water in her own hands to toss at him. They chase each other around the shower until Colby finally shuts it off.

“Oh, Colby! I was having fun!”

Colby smirks and says, “We’ve got a dinner date.”

Jerri wears a burgundy dinner gown with floral accents draped over her shoulders. Colby wears a classic tuxedo with a matching burgundy pocket square.

“It feels like we’re at prom,” he jokes as they sit down atop Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower.

“There is a certain romance to it,” she says with a gentle smile as she looks up from the menu.

They order some wine and lobster and look out over the desert. Colby cocks his head to Jerri and lifts his glass of pinot noir, “to twenty years,” he says.

“Twenty years,” she says, clinking his glass. “You ever expect us to be here?”

“I honestly did not ever imagine this,” he laughs.

“I did,” she says before flashing a genuine and charming smile. “I’m really happy to be here with you, Colby.”

“I’m really happy you’re here, too, Jare.”

“How’s your stomach and--”

“Yeah, no. Still can’t pass gas.”

“That’s so weird. Have you tried pushing?”

“Like I was giving birth.”

The two Australian Outback castaways laugh and sip their wine and eat their dinner while basking in each other's company. They watch as a young man on a date takes credit for the fireworks display. The young man wears an ill-fitting suit. He seems nervous. A firework shaped like a heart, complete with an arrow and a ribbon reading “Jerri & Colby,” explodes.

“What is that,” Colby asks, “Did you do that?”

“I had nothing to do with that,” Jerri says, “Did… Jeff?”

“Oh my god, yes,” a voice to their left exclaims. The crowd applauds. Colby and Jerri look to see what’s all the commotion. The nervous young man holds his date in the air. Her arms are wrapped around him. As they spin around in celebration, the young man’s young date opens her eyes and yells, “Oh my god! Colby!”

The nervous young man sets her down and looks over at Colby. His eyes go bing and the two come charging at Colby & Jerri.

“Oh wow,” the nervous young man says.

“Uh… hi…” Colby says to the nervous young man.

“Colby…”

“Yeah, hi. Nice to meet you.”

“That’s my name! And this is my girlfriend-- well fiancée now, Jerri!”

“Oh wow,” Colby says. “So, you just proposed?”

“Yeah, hi, sorry,” the young Jerri says, “We’re just really big fans.”

“Oh yeah,” Jerri asks.

“Oh yeah! I was actually named after you!”

“Oh…” Jerri says, “So, how old are you?”

“Nineteen,” she says with glee.

“And how old are you, son,” Colby asks.

“Twenty, sir,” the young Colby tells him.

“Twenty years old? What are ya drinking,” Colby asks.

“Sarsaparilla, sir,” the young Colby tells him before sipping from his straw again.

“So,” Jerri says, “Are you named after my Colby?”

“No ma’am,” the young Colby says, “I just happen to be named Colby. But, that’s how my parents were introduced to the show. Their friends--”

“My parents,” the young Jerri informs them.

“Yeah, her parents. They knew my name was gonna be Colby so they said ‘Oh, you should watch this show.’ So they did. And then when her parents were pregnant they said…”

“Well, whose Colby meant to be with,” the young Jerri finishes, “That’s you!”

“Right,” Jerri says she says with a fascinated grin. “So your families are really close?”

“Oh yeah,” the young Colby says, “Family’s really important to us.”

“Yeah,” the young Jerri says, “His uncle does the fireworks show at the Bellagio.”

“That’s how I got the fireworks with all our names on it.”

“Wow,” Colby says, “That’s really cool.”

“Some people call me Coolby,” the young Colby says.

“Alright Coolby,” Colby says, “Congratulations.”

“Yeah, congratulations,” Jerri says.

“Thanks,” the young couple says before returning to their table.

“Alright then,” Colby laughs as he clinks champagne flutes with Jerri.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a tortoise rests.

The next day, Colby and Jerri return to town, hand-in-hand. They separate before being seen by anyone. Michaela is sitting alone at the fire.

“Afternoon,” she calls when she sees them.

“Howdy,” Colby says as he takes a seat on Ken’s bench. “Where are Bi and Lauren?”

“Getting water. How was the reward?”

“Fantastic,” Jerri says.

“It was exactly what we needed,” Colby says.

“That’s great. I’m happy for y’all,” Michaela says, looking around before speaking again. “We’re all on board for Lauren, right?”

“Yeah, of course,” Colby says.

“Okay, good,” Michaela says, “I’m worried they’re coming after me.”

“We’re with you one hundred percent, Michaela,” Colby says.

The shadows of old rocks cover the wildlife of the Mojave Desert with temporary respite.

Bi and Lauren collect water for the tribe at the oasis. Bi says, “It’s Michaela tonight, right?”

“Oh, absolutely. She’ll win if she makes it to Final Three.”

“Glad we’re on the same page. You think Jerri and Colby will go for it?”

“If they’re smart.”

The next day, Colby wakes up and makes his way to the saloon. There, he finds Lauren making coffee.

“Coffee,” Colby asks.

“Yeah, you want some,” Lauren asks, grabbing a blue and white mug from above the bar.

“Sounds great.”

“I do have to warn you. We are out of sugar.”

“How’d we run out of sugar?”

Lauren shrugs her shoulders before asking, “Are you going to get tree mail?”

“Yeah, you want to come?”

“Sure!”

The two of them walk to the lone tree in the desert when Lauren says, “I have to be honest. My trek to the tree with you has ulterior motives.”

“Yes. I’ve played Survivor before.”

“Okay, so, what do you think of voting for Michaela tonight?”

“She’s my closest ally.”

“I thought Jerri was your closest ally.”

“I’m not going to rank them.”

“Okay, whatever. Just, think about it. You’re not going to beat her in final three. I don’t mean to be harsh, but...”

“Why do you say that? I’ve played a good game.”

“Look, the way I see it, you, Michaela and Jerri-- not all three of you are going to make it to Final Tribal together. Do you want them to turn on you before you turn on them?”

They make it to the tree before Colby has a chance to respond. He taps the envelope on his fingers as he paces back toward town.

“Bi’s already in on this?”

“Take a wild guess.”

“Alright. Alright. Let me think about it.”

When they return to town, Lauren stands behind Colby as he reads the tree mail to the rest of the tribe who sit around the fire.

“Sound,” Michaela huffs.

At high noon, the final five find Jeff standing before five metal contraptions. As they take their places, Jeff says, “First things first, Lauren, gotta take it back.”

Lauren kneels in front of Jeff and bows her head. He removes the bandolier from her shoulder. She returns to her tribe and Jeff explains, “For today's immunity challenge, you will have one hand tied behind your back. You will drop a ball into the contraption. The ball will race through the contraption and fall out from one of two alternating tracks. When it comes out, you have to place it back in the contraption. At regular intervals, you will add more balls. Last person with all their balls still in play wins immunity and has a one in FOUR chance of winning this game. We’ll draw for spots and get started.”

The final five take their positions and drop their first ball into the track. Each of the five balls slowly rolls through the track while their respective castaway watches. Once the balls reach the bottom, they all place the ball back in the starting place. The balls continue through the track until they all switch to the other track. All the eyes dart around the track as their balls descend. When Michaela drops the ball for the third time, she closes her eyes and waits for the ball to drop into her hand at the bottom of the contraption. Everyone successfully makes it through the third go round. Once they all place it a fourth time, Jeff tells them they now have fifteen seconds to drop a second ball. When Michaela hears the first ball take one track, she drops the second ball and waits again. Colby is watching his without distraction. Bi is invested in her two balls as they spiral through the track like a mirror. Lauren rocks back and forth and she waits for hers. Jerri pays attention to the new ball, but forgets about the first. It drops and she simply laughs and throws up her loose hand.

When everyone seems to get a rhythm down with two, Jeff gives them fifteen seconds to drop a third ball. Bi mistimes the drop and misses catching one of her balls in the process. Lauren, Michaela and Colby all seem to have three down to a simple pattern. Michaela still hasn’t opened her eyes, focusing solely on her ability to hear. Colby’s focus has become determination. Lauren’s rocking has become quieter. She places her hand in front of the left side of the contraption and the ball comes out of the right.

“Wait, No,” Lauren yells.

“Time for a fourth ball,” Jeff tells Colby and Michaela.

Michaela times out the clinks and clanks of the balls around the rusty metal structure. When feeling they’re evenly spaced, she drops it. She rushes to get her hand down to the one exiting as Colby does the same. Colby grips the ball as it shoots out, waits a beat, then drops it back in. Michaela’s ball flies out with more force than she expected and she bobbles it. She’s able to retrieve it and place it back in but has to open her eyes.

“Nice save by Michaela,” Jeff calls.

The near-fumble by Michaela messes up her rhythm and the next ball falls to the ground.

“Colby wins immunity,” Jeff calls.

As she walks to the bench, Michaela throws her hand in the air. Her three other balls shoot to the ground in quick succession.

“Colby’s gonna Colby,” Michaela says in a talking head, “but Michaela’s gonna Michaela too.”

Back in town, after hitching up their horses, everyone meets in the saloon for a celebratory whiskey in Colby’s honor.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, the sun beats down on the sand all day, but in the early evening, the moon begins to rise.

The final five ride the last five horses in town to Tribal Council. Jeff welcomes them as he stands next to his clydesdale. He announces the jury, “Elizabeth, Todd, Russell, Ben, Wardog, Wendy, Kass and Ken voted out at the last tribal council.”

Ken gives a gentle wave to Lauren as he approaches on his shiny akhal-teke.

“Colby,” Jeff starts, “Once again, you are wearing immunity.”

“Yeah, Jeff. I’m starting to feel like the old Colby again, the Colby everyone fell in love with.”

“Everybody’s always gonna love Colby,” Lauren says.

“Yeah, he doesn’t need challenge wins for us to love him,” Michaela says.

“He’s just a good dude,” Bi says.

“Any praise from you, Jerri,” Jeff asks.

“Colby knows how I feel about him,” Jerri says, almost giggling to tease a smile out of Colby.

“And how’s that,” Jeff asks.

“Same way she always has,” Colby says, still smiling at her.

“Are you gonna question them incessantly about their relationship, Jeff,” Lauren asks.

“I might,” Jeff says.

Lauren just rolls her eyes.

“How has camp been without Ken, Lauren,” Jeff asks.

“Again,” Lauren says, “Ken and I are just friends.”

“Pretty good friends from the sounds of it,” Michaela says.

“Does that influence how you vote, Michaela.”

“It all depends on context, Jeff. If Lauren wants to work with me, then I love their friendship. If they're against me, well…” she says, gesturing to the now voted-out Ken.

“Are you taking credit for Ken’s vote out,” Jeff asks.

“No. It was a team effort. Ken got four votes. You can’t vote someone out by yourself, Jeff.”

“What do you vote for on a vote like this, Bi?”

“Well, I’ve made a lot of deals with a lot of people throughout this game. Some of them are worth preserving. Some... aren’t.”

“Do you have certain deals you don’t think are worth preserving, Colby?”

“I don’t know if that’s the phrasing I would use,” the immunity winner says, “but the game of Survivor, at its core, forces you to weigh relationships against each other.”

“Alright,” Jeff says, “With that, it is time to vote. Jerri, you’re up first.”

Jerri gets up from the campfire and makes her way to the cave to cast her vote. Bi follows her, then Lauren, then Colby and Michaela, who casts the final vote. Jeff tells them he will go tally the votes. When he returns, Michaela is already rummaging through her bag. He tells them, “If anyone has the hidden immunity idol and you’d like to play it, tonight is the last night you can play it.”

“Jeff,” Michaela says, “I’m not going home. You guys can chase me but uh… you know you gotta Bi, ha, quicker than that.”

“Unbelievable,” Colby says.

“Wow,” Wendy mutters from the jury.

Michaela walks up to Jeff and holds her gold nugget. She turns to the jury and says, “I found this with Todd the first day of the merge.”

She hands it to Jeff and returns to her seat.

“This is,” Jeff says before pausing.

“Oooh,” Michaela says, proud of her play.

“A hidden immunity idol,” Jeff continues, “Any votes for Michaela will not count. I’ll read the votes.”

Everyone, castaways and jury alike, are rubbing their head and laughing in disbelief.

“First vote,” Jeff says, “Michaela. Does not count.”

Michaela beams with pride.

“Second vote, Michaela. Does not count. Third vote Michaela. Does not count.”

Michaela nods her head, happy she made the right move.

“Fourth vote, Michaela, does not count.”

“Damn,” Michaela says, unsurprised. She turns her attention to Colby, “Even you.”

“You know I had to… I’m sorry.”

“Yeah,” she says with a now defeated tone, “I could have guessed.”

“Sixteenth person voted out of Survivor: Wild West and ninth member of our jury,” Jeff finally reveals, “Lauren.”

Lauren juts out her chin and nods, “Yeah, that’s fair.”

Michaela stands up and hugs her before she leaves and whispers, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s a game. You had to.” Lauren says, “I mean, I was trying to take you out too.”

The two women laugh together before Jeff tells her “The tribe has spoken.”

In her final talking head, Lauren says, “aaah! Taken out by an idol in fifth place AGAIN! Whatever. I’m not mad. I got outplayed. Good on Michaela.”

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, a bat stretches his wings.

Colby, Michaela, Jerri, and Bi ride their horses back to the ghost town they’ve made their home.

“Great job,” they tell Michaela.

“Yeah, thanks,” she says without eye contact. She retreats to her empty bedroom.

Over the horizon, the sun rises.

On the morning of Day 38, Colby meets Bi, Jerri and Michaela in the center of town for the reading of the tree mail.

“I think this is the last one,” Colby says before breaking the wax.

“Thank god,” Michaela says, “it’s always just some lame rhyme.”

“They do this time after time,” Bi jokes.

“It really oughta be considered a crime,” Jerri laughs.

“Wait wait wait,” Bi says, “Before you read it. Can we just have a toast to the McQueens? We actually did it!!”

“Great idea,” Jerri says. She runs into the saloon. After a couple minutes, she returns with a nearly empty bottle of whiskey and four tumblers.

“Vroom vroom,” Bi says as she holds her glass of brown stuff over the fire.

“Bottoms up,” Jerri says as the three of them join Bi in the cheers.

Michaela lifts her glass without looking away from the fire.

“Wouldn’t you know it, Michaela,” Colby says, looking over tree mail, “You’ve got another rhyme crime.”

Michaela rolls her eyes and puts on a smile.

Colby reads the tree mail.

“Fire,” Michaela says, “You need fire. It’s the fire making challenge. We already know this.”

“I’m so close to the end,” Colby says in a talking head, “I can feel it. I just have to make fire. Who’s better at making fire than Colby Donaldson?”

As dusk descends, Jeff leads the jury to the campfire in town. Before each of the four seats around the fire is a fire making kit and a revolver. Jeff explains “Tonight for your final immunity challenge, you will all build a fire. The first person to build fire and raise their flag will win immunity and automatically be going to Final Tribal Council. The three who don’t make fire will then partake in a Mexican Standoff. Each of you will take a revolver and point it at one other person. Once one person has two revolvers pointed at them, you will all fire and the person with two guns pointed at them will be eliminated and become the final member of our jury.”

The jury leans in to watch the final four fire making challenge. Bi takes her time building a base. Colby makes a classic teepee shape. Jerri stacks some kindling. Michaela builds a system she believes should work. They all begin striking their flint. Colby is the first to achieve fire, followed shortly by Bi. She places another piece of wood on the flames whipping with the desert wind. She holds it in the flame until it catches. Once ignited, she places another piece of wood beneath it. The wind nearly extinguishes Colby’s fire to the point he has to rebuild his structure slowly. But, it’s clear as the night sky. Colby’s too late. Bi’s fire is already licking the twine. It snaps and Bi’s orange flag jolts upward.

“Bi wins immunity,” Jeff calls.

Bi lets out a deliberate, slow exhale, as if she’s been holding her breath for 38 days.

“Colby, Michaela, Jerri, the three of you will now take up your arms and two of you must decide, together, in front of the whole town, who will be the last member of the jury. Once two of you have come to a consensus, pull the trigger.”

Somewhere under the star-littered night sky of the Mojave Desert, a tortoise is mere steps from a river.

The three of them take their revolvers and stand before the saloon in a triangle. They all trade apprehensive glances as they hold the irons at their side. Michaela, while staring at the sand, finally says, “Colby.”

“Michaela…”

“We established a relationship on day one. We wanted to find common ground, no?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“That was real for me. That was a genuine friendship I wanted with you. I trusted you.”

“The feeling’s mutual, Michaela.”

“Right, but then you didn’t vote with me at our FIRST tribal council. I said, ‘It’s alright. Don’t be mad, Michaela. It’s only the first one. This is a long game.’”

“Right.”

“Then you voted out Wendy.”

“I was vo--”

“I almost went home that night, Colby,” Michaela says, holding back tears, you coulda helped me and you didn’t. You chose not to. You said you wanted to help however you could and when the opportunity presented itself, you didn’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not done, Colby. Because, just last night, you tried to vote ME out!”

“I- I’m sorry. What do you want me to say? I'm trying to win this game too! I did what I felt I needed to do to win. I’m sorry!”

“Yeah, truth be told, Colby... your sorries have soured,” Michaela says as she raises her revolver to America’s Favorite Son.

Colby chews his words in his mouth before jutting out his chin and, with tears in his eyes, he points his revolver back at Michaela. They both look to Jerri, who hasn’t looked up from her feet.

“Jare,” Colby says, “It’s me and you to the end.”

“Yeah, Colby,” she said, “From the beginning to the end, Colby & Jerri. But... you’ve had your shot at the end. I think it’s my turn now.”

She points her revolver at Colby and pulls the trigger with Michaela. From the barrel of the gun comes a stick and from the stick unspools a red flag exclaiming “Bang!”

Colby adjusts his hat over his brow. He collects his things, grabs his torch and sets it next to Jeff. He looks back at the final three and says, “Great game, ladies.”

“Colby,” Jeff says, “the tribe has spoken.”

Colby slings his pack over his shoulder, waves so long, and walks off into the night with the reins of his black mustang in hand. Jeff turns to the final three and says, “Jerri, Michaela, Bi, congratulations. You have made it as far as you can in this game. Tomorrow, you will present to the jury why you believe you deserve the million dollars and to be crowned the winner of Survivor: Wild West.”

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, sand blasts a forgotten town.

On Morning 39, Jerri, Michaela and Bi ride their horses to the tree where they receive tree mail. This time, they find a chest filled with food and champagne. They dig through the feast of sausages and fruits and sweets.

“You know what’s not in here,” Bi says.

“Hm,” Jerri asks.

“Beans!”

“Good thing Colby’s not here,” Jerri jokes.

“Colbeans!” Michaela and Bi both shout and laugh.

The final three spend their day contemplating their place in the game and prepare their speeches.

“I can’t believe I actually did it,” Bi says in her final talking head. “After David vs Goliath, going out like that, I told myself I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass me up again. So, I did what I had to do to get to the end. I’m not going to apologize for being successful.”

They clean their rooms, pack their bags, and meet outside the saloon for the final time.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to get to Day 39,” Jerri asks in her final talking head, “I’ve been vilified for 20 years. And for what? I don’t think I’ve ever done anything villainous. I hope the jury can finally recognize that too.”

They unhitch their horses and ride to tribal council. Their torches light the way through the dark desert.

“I know how I’m perceived,” Michaela says in her final talking head. “In my first two seasons, people called me abrasive or entitled. Why? Because I’m a millennial? That’s some bullshit. Millennials work hard as fuck. I think people finally realize that. So, maybe it’s something else...”

Michaela sits atop her white mustang. Jerri’s curls bounce as she rides her brown quarter horse. Bi strides across the Mojave Desert on her grey lipizzan with her chest forward and her chin pronounced.

Somewhere in the Mojave Desert, wild horses roam free.

Jeff sits on his strong clydesdale as the final three enter the Tribal Council area. He welcomes them to Final Tribal Council. They take a seat at the three stones next to the fire. Jeff calls in the jury, “Elizabeth, Todd, Russell, Ben, Wardog, Wendy, Kass, Ken, Lauren and Colby, voted out at last night’s tribal council.”

The jury takes their seat on a provided bench. The ten akhal-tekes line up behind the jury, as if they were a part of it. The horses, too, stare at the final three. It’s a pressure none of the final three anticipated. But, they all feel it.

“Congratulations on making it to Final Tribal Council,” Jeff begins, “You have outlasted 18 other people. Tonight, the power shifts from you to the jury. Based on what they’ve seen over the last 39 days and what they hear tonight, the jury will make a million dollar decision. Opening statements, Bi, you’re up first.”

“Alright, hi everybody,” Bi starts, “As I’m sure you know, I went out early my first time playing Survivor because of an injury. I went into this game hoping to make the best of this second chance. So, I think, that’s what I did. I saw a path to the end. I saw who I needed to take out to get there, so I did.”

“Jerri,” Jeff instructs.

“Sure, so, everybody knows my story. The public absolutely destroyed me my first time out. That persona has followed me around for two decades. I came in this time, hoping to shed that. I tried to foster positive relationships. I wanted to be a hero this time, like Colby.”

Colby gives a knowing and sheepish smile.

“Michaela,” Jeff says.

“Right. Okay. So, first, I don’t have any real history with anyone on the jury, Jeff. So that feels like a disadvantage. But, more importantly. I knew coming in, I didn’t have a lot of close relationships I could fall back on. I knew I had to build those relationships and sustain them throughout the game. And, it wasn’t a game move. I genuinely wanted to get to know Colby, Jerri, Lauren, hell, even Kass. What I’ve found now in my third time playing, and I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long, but when you are truly invested in getting to know someone, you know, that’s felt. That’s heard. That’s what I tried to do over the last 39 days.”

“Alright, Jury, now it’s your turn. Any questions you have for the final three, ask away. Elizabeth, you’re up first.”

Elizabeth gets up from the Jury bench and stands before the final three, “Good evening, ladies. First things first, congratulations. My question is for Jerri.”

“Shoot,” Jerri says with a smile.

“The night I went home, you voted for me. Why did you vote for me over, say, Michaela, since she’s sitting there next to you?”

“Oh sure. I saw that Ken and Michaela were a strong alliance. Stronger than you, Todd and Wardog, no offense. I thought a foursome of me, Colby, Michaela and Ken could be stronger than that of Me, you, Todd and Wardog.”

“Fair enough. Thank you,” Elizabeth says before taking her seat again.

“Ben, you’re up.”

Ben marches to the imagined lectern and asks, “Bi, how long were you planning on taking me out like that?”

“I wasn’t targeting you specifically, Ben. I just figured you had an idol because you always do. I had the idol nullifier, so I used it on you, along with Wardog’s extra vote to ensure you would go.”

“So, you targeted me because you knew I had an idol?”

“More or less, yeah.”

“Michaela had an idol. Why didn’t you target her?”

“I didn’t know she had an idol. If I had, maybe it would be you sitting here instead of her.”

“I’m good, Jeff. Thanks,” Ben says.

“Lauren, you’re up next.”

Lauren climbs over Ken on the second row of the jury. He holds her hand as she steps down to the ground.

“Michaela, my question to you is simple. You could have taken anyone out when you took me out with your idol. Why me?”

“I saw you as my biggest competition at that point. I knew you would all come after me, so I knew I would play my idol for myself and I’d be able to take out whoever I wanted. And, sorry Lauren. I thought you and I were playing a similar game and I knew the jury would vote for you over me if we were both here, so I wrote your name down that night.”

“Alright, thanks. Jerri... Me, you, Kass and Wendy had what I thought would be a solid final four. Why did nothing come of that?”

“I had every intention of keeping that alliance together. I knew you and Wendy were close and I was close with Wendy. I hoped you and Kass had a similar relationship on your tribe. But, then Kass took out Wendy so we couldn’t do anything anymore.”

“Alright, thanks, Bi, what can you tell me about myself?”

“Oh, okay, um, you dated Ken.”

“I specifically said time and time again that we were just friends. What else, other than my relationship with Ken do you know about me?”

Bi simply shrugs.

“Okay, I’ll make it simpler for you. What do you know about ANYONE you helped vote out?”

“Wardog’s in law school.”

“Okay,” Lauren says, turning back to the jury, “It seems to me we have two people who worked hard to maintain relationships in this game of social politics and one person who refrained from getting to know anyone because she didn’t care to. That’s all. Thanks, Jeff.”

“Sure. Russell,” Jeff prompts.

Russell rubs his hands together as he makes his way to the stand.

“Jerri, Michaela, Bi,” he says, “congratulations. My biggest issue in this game has always been jury management. Now, I’m on the jury. Wouldn’t you know it?! So, my question is, how do you feel you were at jury management? Whoever wants to go first.”

“Well,” Bi says, “I’ll say, people may be mad at me. And while I think that’s fair, I’m not going to apologize for it. I got here how I needed to. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Jerri,” Russell says.

“I hope the jury recognizes I was trying to be good the whole time. I never befriended anyone solely to keep them close until I wanted to cut them,” Jerri says with a quick glance to Bi.

“Michaela,” Russell says.

“Well, how the jury feels about me isn’t really up to me, is it? I know how I feel about y’all. I got nothing bad to say about any one of you. I pray that feeling is mutual.”

Russell nods once and returns to his seat.

“Kass,” Jeff says.

She makes her way to the stand and says, “Congratulations ladies. Bi, Michaela, sit sistas.”

They both give her a knowing smile.

“I’ve battled a sexist view of my game since the first time I played. I know Jerri can relate to that. Do you feel your gender influenced your game?”

“You’re right,” Jerri says, “Seeing you play in Cagayan brought up a lot of the feelings I had in Australia. But, to answer your question, not once did anyone’s gender influence my vote.”

“Same here,” Michaela says, “I mean, my two closest allies were Ken and Colby.”

“My closest ally was Wardog,” Bi says, “There was never any all-women's alliance.”

“Thank you. That’s all I wanted to hear,” Kass says before returning to her seat.

“Wardog, you’re up,” Jeff says.

“Alright,” Wardog says as he lifts himself up and walks to the stand, “Bi, quick question for you. How soon after finding the Idol Nullifier did you know you would take me out?”

“As soon as you showed me the Extra Vote. You showed me that and the whole plan came into my head immediately. I just had to be patient.”

“Alright, thanks, Bi. Good luck.”

“Wendy, you’re up.”

Wendy hops up and skips to the stand.

“Hi guys,” she says with the same beaming smile she always has, “Jerri, I wanted to thank you for being my support and my friend through all this. I really appreciated it. My question is this: were you really planning on taking me to the final three?”

Jerri stares at Wendy and taps her foot. She cocks her jaw to the side then looks at the sand. She adjusts her hat and finally says, “Wendy. I want to be honest with you. You deserve that. I knew I wasn’t going to beat you.”

“So you were planning to vote me out.”

“Not if I could help it.”

“So, you were gonna let someone else do it?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.”

“Well, you said you weren’t taking me to the final three but you also weren’t going to vote me out, so which was it?”

Jerri lets out a slow and soft exhale as she searches for her words. Then, finally, she says, “I didn’t want to vote you out. I never want to vote anyone out, but that is unfortunately the game of Survivor.”

“Okay, Jerri, thank you,” Wendy says before returning to her seat.

“Todd,” Jeff says, “You’re next.”

Todd makes his way to the stand and greets them with a positive exhale before saying, “I can’t say I don’t envy your position. But, I’ve been there before. I’ve had my chance. I’m happy to give up my spot to you three lovely ladies. My question is for Michaela. It seemed like we could have worked together, but you took me out immediately. What was your motivation for that?”

“You knew I had the idol. I couldn’t have anyone knowing I had that. The fewer people know about it the more powerful it is.”

“Alright, thanks, Michaela. Good luck.”

Todd takes his seat once again and Jeff calls for Colby. Colby stands up from the Jury and has to hold his stomach as it grumbles when he moves. Once contained, Colby walks to the stand. “Congratulations. I just wanted to say--” Colby says through a stifled burp.

He can’t get the words out. He contorts his face as he holds his stomach. As he deliberately inhales to begin speaking, a different, louder, perhaps more unexpected noise is heard from the wrong hole. The Jury, the Final Three, and Jeff are treated to a long, sustained rumble of thunder out of Colby’s butt louder than Krakatoa. Colby goes white as his body deflates. He rests his hand on his stomach and says, “I’m so sorry. That’s incredibly inappropriate.”

The final three all yell “Col-beans” together.

“The magical fruit,” Wardog says.

“Are you alright,” Jerri asks.

“Yeah,” he says, “Never better after that!”

“Do you still want to ask your question,” Jeff asks.

“I actually don’t have a question. I know who I’m voting for. I just wanted to say, Jerri, after last night, I gave it a lot of thought. I was planning on giving you this big speech. And maybe if we were ten or twenty years younger, in Australia or Panama or Samoa, I would, but you don’t need all that. We know how we feel about each other.”

“Yeah, of course,” she tells him and they simply smile at each other, both satisfied with where they stand. Colby takes his seat again and Jeff calls, “and last but not least, Ken, you’re up.”

Ken takes his place before the final three and says, “I’ve always found that Survivor, more than a game show, is an educational and potentially transformative experience. So my question is, what do you feel you’ve learned through this experience?”

“I am competitive, “Bi says, “I’ve always been competitive. That much I know, but with that competitive nature, I never took the time to get to know each of you and for that I am sorry. I saw this as a game show, like you said. I saw you all as my competition. I saw my goal and I did what I felt I had to to get to the end and that is what I’m not going to apologize for.”

“Very good. Thank you, Bi. Jerri?”

“You know the phrase, ‘no man is an island,’” Jerri asks.

“Yes, of course,” Ken assures her.

“Well no woman is an island either. I couldn’t have gotten here if not for my relationships with Colby and Michaela, you and Lauren, Wendy and Russell. I owe my game to the people around me. And for that, I thank you.”

“Okay, thank you. Michaela?”

“When Colby, Bi and I went on that reward to Peach Springs,” Michaela says, “there was a moment when we were talking to this guy Tim, and I looked at the four of us, me, a young black woman, Colby an old white man, Bi, a young Vietnamese woman and Tim, a middle aged Native American man. And Tim said something that just put it all in focus for me. All this strife between us is unnecessary, not just in this game but just… everything. Colby, I got nothing against you. Bi, I got nothing against you. Tim said all he truly wants is a comfortable life for him and his. Isn’t that what we all want? Not money, or love, or any concrete thing. We all just want to feel safe in our home. But, I noticed something else in Tim’s eyes after we installed that ramp for his mom and that was the hope that their future was bright, or at least brighter... I feel that same hope inside me tonight.”

“Thank you, Michaela,” Ken says before returning to his seat.

“Alright,” Jeff says, “Thank you, Ken. You will now have a chance to give a closing statement and then the jury will vote.”

“Well,” Jerri says, “I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. I strived to be a good person this time. I strived to build relationships. I never intended to hurt anyone. I hope no one feels hurt by me.”

“I feel I greatly improved this time out,” Bi says, “I’m proud of how I played. That being said, looking back, I wish I’d been more invested in getting to know you all.”

“All I’ve gotta say is,” Michaela says, “I played this game with great patience. I know how I’ve come across in the past. I know what people say about me. It’s two things: She’s smart or she’s abrasive. I can’t turn off my intelligence, but I can turn down what people perceive to be abrasiveness, so I did, or at least I tried to. People will still be rude online. But whatever. That’s their shit. When someone shows you who they are, believe them. I put trust in people and that trust was reciprocated... until it wasn’t. At which point, I had to do what I had to do. And, I’ll remind you, this is Survivor: Wild West and a lot of the first cowboys were black.”

“Alright, Jury, take a moment to collect your thoughts and then we’ll vote.”

The jury collects their thoughts as the final three hold one another’s hands and wait. Elizabeth is first up. She proudly writes Bi’s name and draws a pair of boxing gloves in the corner. Kass writes Jerri’s name and draws a rock smashing a pair of scissors. Ken writes Michaela’s name, holds it up to the camera and says, “been a long time coming.”

Jeff collects the urn and returns to the campfire. He tells them all, “Thank you for an incredible season. I will see you all in LA for the reading of the votes.”

He straps the urn to his clydesdale, climbs aboard and rides off into the night. He rides through the southern tip of Nevada and crosses the border into California. He and his horse traverse the San Bernardino Forest. He comes upon the CBS Studio Center and the doors are opened for him. He rides through the standing audience. On an aisle, Jeff sees Adam Scott hollering. He removes his cowboy hat and places it atop Adam’s head. Jeff hitches his clydesdale to the hitching post at the bottom of the stage. He takes the votes and greets the cast on stage. The stage holds a recreation of town square. Bi wears a strapless yellow dress. Jerri wears a fitting red gown. Michaela wears a black dress with long lace sleeves. Jeff wears his same blue safari shirt as he sets the urn on his lectern and waits for the audience to finish applauding. Once they’ve seated, he says, “I’m gonna read the votes.”

The audience hips and hollers again.

“First vote: Jerri.”

The audience cheers and Jerri gives a bashful smile.

“Second vote: Bi.”

There’s a smattering of applause.

“Third vote: Michaela.”

The crowd erupts in applause. Michaela is taken aback by the response. Jeff just grins.

“Bi, Jerri, Michaela,” Jeff says, reading the next three votes, “We’re tied as two a piece.”

Everyone in the studio waits in anticipation.

“Michaela,” Jeff says to more hooting and hollering.

“Jerri,” Jeff says, unfolding the next vote to great applause.

“Michaela,” Jeff says reading another vote, then, unfolding another vote, “Winner of Survivor: Wild West, Michaela.”

The crowd erupts and Michaela stands up with tears streaming down her face. Her mouth is half-agape in disbelief. She holds her hands a few inches from her face as she greets her family in the audience.

Elizabeth and Wardog voted for Bi. Kass, Wendy and Russell voted for Jerri. Todd, Ken, Lauren, Ben and Colby voted for Michaela.

#Survivor #Survivor Wild West #colby donaldson #Jerri Manthey #michaela bradshaw #Lauren O'Connell #ken mcnickle #bi nguyen #millennials vs gen x #The Australian Outback #edge of extinction #david vs goliath

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