Post by Host Kyle on May 17, 2006 12:10:01 GMT -5
Survivor Holidays: All Stars
Episode XII
“The Beginning of the End”
Saint Patrick’s Day: Christopher, JoJo
Halloween: Jake
Valentine’s Day: Elisabeth, Taylor
Episode XII
“The Beginning of the End”
Saint Patrick’s Day: Christopher, JoJo
Halloween: Jake
Valentine’s Day: Elisabeth, Taylor
The moment Ashley Miller disappeared into the night, minds raced. Where would they go from there? For a good portion of the game everything had built up to this final five finish, and now…
Each of them were flooded with a mixture of relief and pride and accomplishment, but each of them wanted their own security for the coming days. Only six days remained. The game was about to shift into high gear.
Taylor Napier immediately looked around at his fellow final five contestants, but could read nothing. He and Elisabeth Marie locked eyes, and he knew what she was feeling—exactly what he felt. The vulnerable look in her eyes said it all.
JoJo Treadwell, Christopher Collins, and Jake Erickson got up, picked up their things, and quietly left the council area, leaving Taylor and Elisabeth to stare off after them. Elisabeth turned to look at him, troubled.
Elisabeth: Now comes the great time of the final five.
Taylor nodded and looked down at his feet. He was suddenly back to his insecurity, but he had Elisabeth to share it with. They were all suddenly vulnerable.
Elisabeth: I think we need one really good group chat just to say…don’t let it get ugly.
She took him by the shoulders and forced him to face her.
Elisabeth: By being here, by overcoming what we have, we are all winners. Now we just have fun and decide who best represents what we accomplished.
Taylor nodded again.
Taylor: Agreed.
But what he was thinking was: it wouldn’t be a win until he was seated in the final two and crowned the winner by the jury.
Along the beach, JoJo couldn’t help herself anymore but reached out for a hug from Jake. Jake, guarded, maintained his distance, and JoJo pulled away at once. Jake wasn’t one for a sappy display of affection, and she knew that.
JoJo: We’re at the end, Jakey!
Jake: Yep. So close.
She looked at him fondly.
JoJo: Remember…I love you. Sorry I got mushy.
He nodded and looked ahead as they walked.
Jake: I refuse to display any affection.
JoJo laughed and patted him on the back.
JoJo: All good, Jakey. I feel it. Neither do I need it.
They walked along in silence, Jake throwing her sidelong glances. He finally broke and reached out with his left arm to give her a side hug. JoJo was overjoyed.
Jake: I don’t want to vote anyone anymore. We should end the game and have all five of us win.
He paused and shook his head vigorously.
Jake: Ok, I don’t mean that.
JoJo: Let’s all quit. Holding hands!
Jake: No! This game is too much fun.
JoJo thought back to the tribal council.
JoJo: I thought Isaac’s head would fall off with all his nodding. And since when are he and Beth so tight? I thought it was nauseating.
Jake: Nauseating? I didn’t think so.
JoJo: It’s ‘cause you are nice, and I am a bitch. Everyone likes you.
Jake waved her off and pretended to hide his face in embarrassment.
JoJo: Cute.
Jake: Maybe one day I’ll stop being cute. What would you do then?
She put her arm over his shoulder as they made their way into the aisle of huts, now vacant of fifteen tenants. It was like a ghost town.
JoJo: I’ll growl at you. Beware.
Jake smiled at her, and they continued on to the aisle of huts.
Later that evening as Christopher settled in his hut, he ran the events of the game through his mind. If he didn’t say so himself, he had done a darn good job at ruling the game, deflecting any votes against him. He and JoJo had worked magnificently together. As he lay there staring at the ceiling, he couldn’t help but feel that nothing could stop the dynamic duo. Nothing but the kids, and the kids were too loyal to them.
Then it hit him. After thirty-three days, twenty individuals, and eleven tribal councils, he and JoJo had zero votes cast against them. It made him smile as he gloated to himself.
“Jojo & I are the only two people in the game without votes. And I have to say, considering how many times I've been a target and how many times people have tried to get me voted out...
...I'm d**n proud.
I walked into this game with one of the biggest targets on my back. I've won before, everyone knew I was a threat, I've been in arguments, I haven't always had Immunity...and somehow, in spite of all that - I've managed to not pick up one single vote...while 18 others have.
It feels good. Even if the jury doesn't like me, they haven't voted against me. Ever. And that's saying something.” – Christopher
...I'm d**n proud.
I walked into this game with one of the biggest targets on my back. I've won before, everyone knew I was a threat, I've been in arguments, I haven't always had Immunity...and somehow, in spite of all that - I've managed to not pick up one single vote...while 18 others have.
It feels good. Even if the jury doesn't like me, they haven't voted against me. Ever. And that's saying something.” – Christopher
He savored the moment and the contentment he was feeling. The game wouldn’t officially start until the following day when the alliance would start to turn on itself. At the moment, he wanted to rest in the accomplishment of his final five.
A knock came softly at his door, and he came out of his bed quickly. Was this it? Was this when the deals were going start being thrown out, before the day had even ended?
He thought about not answering but something brought him to his feet and carried him to the door. Seeing Elisabeth on the other side brought comfort to him, even though she stood with Taylor.
He smiled at once and gave her a hug, then invited them both in.
Elisabeth began hesitantly, twisting her own fingers with her hands.
Elisabeth: I was telling Taylor we all needed to get together and just…let it be. Don’t let it get ugly.
She looked at him hopefully.
Elisabeth: Pretty much…that is all.
Christopher shook his head and smiled.
Christopher: Nope. We made it to final five. We rock, and I am proud of us considering the targets on our backs.
Taylor: I agree.
Elisabeth nodded.
Elisabeth: We have overcome a lot. It really does amaze me how we all got here. It took a lot of work and any of us five are well deserving.
Christopher: This is your furthest ever, right?
Elisabeth: Ever!
Taylor: Congrats, Lizzie!
She shook her head humbly and threw an arm over both of their shoulders.
Elisabeth: Congratulations to us all! JoJo and Jake have accomplished so much as well.
Christopher snickered and leaned in closely to whisper.
Christopher: But they haven’t had the targets on their backs that we’ve had.
Elisabeth: This is new territory for me since I’ve never made it this far with my intended group. Usually it chips off somewhere along the way.
Christopher: Well, we did lose some folks.
Elisabeth looked down sadly.
Elisabeth: Poor Jenne.
Christopher: Jenne…even Beth.
Elisabeth: I wish Jenne and Beth were still here. I miss them both.
Taylor jumped in.
Taylor: Well, Survivor Central players still have the majority at final five.
He then looked at both of them fondly.
Taylor: And trust me…there aren’t two people I’d rather have left with me at the final five.
Christopher ruffled his hair.
Christopher: Awww, that is sweet. Thank you so much.
Taylor: I love JoJo and Jake, but I have history with you guys.
Elisabeth flushed slightly.
Elisabeth: As if we needed to get sentimental right after tribal council.
And so they enjoyed the moment together. As much as they told each other to keep it clean for the final six days, each and every one of them was apprehensive.
Someone was going to get angry…
Elisabeth excused herself for the night, but Taylor lingered.
Taylor: So, tomorrow is the beginning of the end.
Christopher: What do you mean?
Taylor shrugged and eyed him carefully.
Taylor: Just…tomorrow is the immunity challenge. It seems to be the day the five of us have been waiting for.
Christopher shrugged it off and paced away. This was the conversation he had hoped to avoid before the night was over—until immunity had been determined even.
Christopher: Eh…not me. I could care less.
Taylor narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.
Taylor: Yeah, yeah. You are just taking pleasure in the fact that you are killing me. You know how I am.
Turning, Christopher grinned.
Christopher: Oh, I know. But I take no pleasure. I just don’t want this to get ruined. Even if I go…we took final five out of twenty! We stuck together!
He paused for a moment. He could see in Taylor’s eyes and thought he most likely knew what Taylor was thinking.
Christopher: I know one of us has to go, and I am resigned to that but not going to get upset. We will all see each other again and be proud when the show airs that we rocked it!
Taylor nodded, but wasn’t content on promising not to be upset if he should go. He wanted security that he would not go.
Christopher sighed and put a hand on his shoulder.
Christopher: Look…you don’t have to worry about me. I am not planning on voting for you, and that’s all I’m saying for now. We can talk after immunity.
Taylor’s eyes widened. It was a shock to hear him say that, but after all, Jake didn’t have the history with Christopher the others had. Why would Christopher keep Jake over Taylor?
Taylor: I never thought you were voting me.
Christopher: Let’s just not talk strategy until then. I don’t want to get us all unhappy and mad at each other.
Taylor: I just like to have things planned…that’s why it’s freaking me. I don’t like to leave things open to chance.
Crossing his arms, he threw his gaze directly at Christopher, waiting for a response, though it was apparent Christopher was finished talking. He said nothing. He only met Taylor’s gaze like a challenge.
Taylor: I’m not voting you either.
Still Christopher kept his lips pressed together. Taylor sighed.
Taylor: I guess I will leave it at that, then.
Christopher shrugged finally.
Christopher: Then we are good. I don’t think Lizzie will vote for either of us. So…final four.
Taylor nodded slowly.
Taylor: Right.
There was something a little too nonchalant about the whole situation, but Taylor knew he had to take it at face value for the time being and go full tilt toward immunity. It could be his only option.
Taylor: Then I’m glad we talked—not that I feared you voting for me. But you know me…paranoid freak.
Christopher knew all too well. It was one of the reasons he had hoped to avoid all talk of strategy until after immunity had been determined. He knew what he wanted to do, and that was remove Jake for his challenge skills.
But telling Taylor prematurely would be like putting his own head on the block—with his own hands.
Before it got too late, Christopher rapped on Elisabeth’s door, and she answered promptly. She eyed him curiously as he came inside.
Christopher: I think we are both safe.
Elisabeth bit her lip thoughtfully.
Elisabeth: You are. I don’t know about me.
Christopher pulled curtains back and glanced out the window quickly.
Christopher: That’s why I came to talk to you. You should be safe. JoJo is supposedly up for booting one of the boys.
Still Elisabeth wasn’t certain. She and JoJo hadn’t allowed themselves all that much personal time together. The connection wasn’t there as solidly as it was between Elisabeth and Christopher and Taylor. As a matter of fact, Elisabeth hadn’t allowed much personal time with the majority of the orginal twenty on that island.
Elisabeth: Ok.
Christopher took her by the shoulders.
Christopher: I have your back. The promise I made to you when we embarked is one I stand by. You are my girl! I will never vote you, and I will do my best to keep you here.
Elisabeth smiled.
Elisabeth: You are my boy. I’m never voting for you either. But I also know that I have the most votes of anyone left, and that will probably get me out somewhere along the road.
He nodded.
Christopher: He could—which is why Jake needs to go this round. If he wins, then we run into trouble ‘cause JoJo loves him. Maybe we should firm it up with Taylor. The three of us can insure that Jake leaves if he doesn’t have immunity.
Elisabeth: I’ve talked to him, and he wants to get rid of Jake.
Christophe: Ok, then I will leave it alone.
And he did for the evening. They all turned in for the night with much to think about.
The game was just beginning.