The episode started with the Tagi tribe making another attempt to catch fish. Sean complained in a confessional that there can be no fish thriving in the ocean at all, while Sue expressed her concern about their nearly empty stock of ready-to-eat canned meals.
“
Fishing is horrible. That saying, "There's a lot of fish in the sea"? Not this sea. They apparently didn't grow up in Pulau Tiga uh, because there is nothing to be caught out there.
As far as the food holding up, uh, I don't... I think we're into Day 7. I lost track, but I know it's starting to whittle down. And I know we got to get fish in here then.
This is frustrating. I mean, it's the ocean! You think you'd get a fish somehow, but no luck so far. We all thought, "Oh, yeah, you know, we got these traps, we got hooks, we got a raft." You know, there's no reason why we shouldn't be having big, fat fish for dinner every night, but we're just not. To me, that's kind of like "Oh yeah, woo-hoo, big survivors!" You know?
Later, Sue, Stacey, and Kelly were still trying to fish, but still to no avail. Kelly revealed to Sue and Stacey that she was getting fed up by Rudy's sarcastic take on their failed fishing expeditions.
“
I think we've all sort of come to the conclusion that Rudy really needs to get out of here. He just criticizes whatever we're doing. He's hurting morale.
I think we were all kind of stoked that, you know, yeah, he's an ex-Navy SEAL, we're going to kick ass. But he really hasn't contributed very much. I think is definitely going to influence me the next time I go to Tribal Council. I think it's influencing all of us, you know.
In a confessional, Sue revealed that she wanted to vote Stacey out for being the weakest. It seemed also that Stacey felt that Sue might betray her when she saw that Sue wasn't ready to commit to an alliance between them.
“
I have conflicts − personality conflicts every day with people. I deal with them, I work with them, I live with them, I go on. I'm gonna do the same thing here: I'm gonna get rid of the weakest member and vote Stacey out. And Stacey's trying to buddy up with everybody because she knows she's the weakest.
When Kelly, and Sue and I were on the raft we talked about who we'd vote off. Sue initially didn't want to talk about it, which immediately clued me in that she was planning to vote me off, even though we decided to stick together. So now I don't trust her as far as I can throw her, which, according to the group, would be not far.
They decided to return back to camp, fully muddied as they divulged the rest of their tribe about their discovery. In the end, Pagong ended up having a mud bath, being a more cohesive tribe than when B.B. was still around.
“
We walked out of the woods like, you know, Lord of the Flies, and, uh, I think the others were quite interested in our discovery so we took a group field trip.
It was a great feeling. It's just like a nice little celebration for everybody. You get together, just get dirty, and have a little fun − have a couple of laughs.
I just need that quiet time, and especially a lot of that quiet time includes just praying and meditating and praising God. That's kind of where I feel like all my strength and energy comes from. My testimony is not something I'm afraid to share, and that's just part of getting to know people and at a deeper and deeper level.
Dirk then started preaching to his tribemates, secretly irking Sue.
“
I can only take so much preaching. I went to church. I put my time in. I believe in God and all that, but to constantly everything always come back on to "Jesus, Jesus"... yeah, Dirk's about driving me wild with that.
Stacey later noticed that Dirk liked Kelly and told her about it, but Kelly was not moved by that, because she was dating someone back home. Dirk expressed his true feelings to Kelly, but said that he will not cross the line.
“
I think Dirk has a little crush on Kelly. He doesn't have a chance in hell.
Stacey came up to me, "Yeah, I think he likes you." you know. I was just, like, "Oh great!" you know? I didn't come out here for that, you know? I don't need, we don't need that.
Dirk then revealed to the tribe that he was a virgin, but Sue comically taunted him to have sex. In their confessionals, Kelly and Richard praised Dirk for his sexual abstinence.
“
I'm obviously not a virgin, but if he, uh... that's how he wants to live his life, that's cool. You don't meet too many 23-year-old guys who are virgins.
He's interesting, being a virgin, 23, and not, uh, thinking about crossing that line 'til marriage. Ooh! He's extraordinarily religious, and I don't know that we'd ever be, you know, real close as a result of that because we're on such different ends of the spectrum religiously.
Dirk revealed in his confessional that he despises homosexual people and premarital sex, leading to a conflict with gay Richard.
“
Rich, you know... homosexual people tend to talk about their homosexuality all the time, and it's really annoying to me. Maybe that's just me, but if he could cut that out, it'd almost be perfect around camp.
Day 7 on the island. After Pagong's visit to Tribal Council, both tribes are now even at seven members. Today we'll see what effect losing B.B. has on Pagong as they prepare for their next challenge. Both tribes will have their work cut out for them today, as it requires strength, endurance, and most importantly, teamwork. Try to go this one alone... you'll never make it to shore.
Both tribes received Tree Mail informing them of their upcoming Reward Challenge which they guessed would involve diving underwater. Over at Pagong, Gervase was dreading the challenge due to not being good at swimming.
“
The thing is this: everybody knew coming in water wasn't my thing − swimming wasn't my thing, and my team knew it from the beginning, and so when we get into any kind of swimming situation, if it's actual swimming, we're gonna be struggling. You know, they have to compensate for me. But that's what a team does.
The tribes met Jeff at the Sand Spit, where they competed for reward. It was a close race, but Tagi ended up going back to camp with their treasure chest filled with fishing gear.
Day 8
Richard put Tagi's reward to use. Sean belittled him, and still used his "Superpole 2000" with Dirk and went to the sea, insisting that his "invention" was still more effective.
“
Yesterday's competition was great. That was the, uh, pulling the treasure up from the water, dragging it in and getting the mask and snorkel. Oh, baby, that made me feel good. I wanted that mask and snorkel from Day 1... to go get, uh, fish.
Rich, he overestimates himself sometimes, and we were kind of thinking that he wasn't going to catch anything. When you snorkel down there, there's nothing you can stab at. We have a good pole. I have my "Superpole". Uh, which is, you know, it works-- in a Gilligan's Island sort of sense. We got some maggots, we got the "Superpole 2000" and we got the persistence of Dirk and me. We can't lose.
In the end, Rich ended up victorious when he approached Dirk and Sean's raft with a stingray and eventually caught more fish, while Sean and Dirk stayed empty-handed.
“
This is a pretty good moment for me, 'cause I knew people were thinking I was just full of caca. It was just... you know, one of those things that I've been talking about fishing, talking about what I've been doing all my life...
My position with the tribe-- it's probably gonna increase as a result of this. I talk about the things that I'm capable of doing and this might give them that "Oh, maybe some of what he's saying is true."
At Pagong, Joel and Colleen went on fishing using their old fish cage, but to no avail, resorting them to catch rats, with Greg making a contraption to catch them. Initially, Gervase and Ramona weren't too excited to eat the rodents, but eventually they got used to them and decided to catch more.
“
We heard the rumor that the other team caught a fish with their spear.
The mask-- that was definitely the key to them starting to get fish. And that does worry me a little bit 'cause they're going to be eating some protein.
Ho, I'm so ready to eat rat! I want to gut 'em, bone 'em, and then we'll have, like, some little rat meat in with the rice that we're eating. That would be delicious.
Anytime anybody can hit one over the head, we're hitting them over the head, too. Gretchen hit one over the head the other night-- last night with the soup spoon.
The principle of the trap: This noose is wrapped around the inside of this area here. The bait's in there and is getting tugged out by the rat... (releases trap mechanism) and the noose goes tight.
I'm concerned that it'll be a bit gamy. We won't have quite the gravy we're looking for, which would really be helpful. Uh, when cooking rats, I would imagine the sauce is of the utmost importance.
There's plenty of food on the island. You won't starve out here with all these rats, man. There's tons of them and they're everywhere, so... there's definitely stuff to eat out here. I think people would just rather eat some fish instead, that's all.
Both tribes received Tree Mail informing them of their upcoming Immunity Challenge. The note informed them that they had to build a stretcher that would be able to carry a tribemate. Both tribes started constructing the stretchers and made practice runs.
“
Today's Immunity Challenge day so we're building a, uh... stretcher. Gotta be a strong one. We don't know for what, but, uh... obviously, it's a competition that's gonna determine who kicks somebody out tonight.
It's important to keep winning these games because for one, you win the Immunity. You don't have to go through the brain rush of worrying about kicking somebody off the team.
In general, we're a really tight group. We all have our individual strengths and we're pulling together. It's just, if we could get Rudy out of here I think we'd be even stronger.
We're feeling a little bit defensive, but we're also feeling like we can do it. We can beat them 'cause you got a really light person and a really strong team pulling her.
At the Immunity Challenge, Pagong emerged victorious, thus sending Tagi back to Tribal Council. Back at Tagi camp, the vote was torn between the eldest member Rudy and the deemed weakest tribemate Stacey.
“
Since we lost the challenge today, we go back to the Council tonight. Fun, fun!
We haven't been in this Council in six days, and in those six days, we've all gotten to know each other pretty well, and I feel bad 'cause I know they're all, you know, as scared and... (sighs) about being, you know, voted off as I am. I thought it was a done deal that Rudy would be the next one off, but it could be me. I don't know.
It's either going to be me or Stacey, you know, that get voted off. I think the younger people are going to band together. They're going to get rid of me, and then they gotta cutthroat each other. I'm going to vote Stacey out at the Council tonight 'cause I don't like her (chuckles) and I'll never will.
I told Stacey I was going to vote for Rudy. But I was thinking about voting for her 'cause she was the weakest. I gotta think of the team; that's what I come here for.
I've kind of prioritized people based on who's contributing, I think, and can contribute most to the competitions. I even wanted to talk with the group about who we were voting for and let's, you know, before we even go, know, so we could talk with the people, but... boy, did that not fly!
I don't think anybody's out here to make friends. I'm not out here to make friends. People that you're forming alliances with now, and the people that you're getting along with now are people that are going to have to turn around and vote you, but somebody's gotta go. So, it's just the way it goes.
In a rainy Tribal Council, Jeff abruptly ended the conversation as the rain started to get too strong. In the end, Rudy was deemed more valuable for his survival knowledge from his military background, and Stacey was eliminated, 5-2.
After the vote, Jeff allowed Tagi to stay at Tribal Council until the rain subsided.
A treasure chest is submerged 150 yards off the Sand Spit. Each tribe must swim out to the treasure chest. Once the entire tribe has arrived, they must dive down and work as a group to drag the chest along the ocean bottom back to shore. The first tribe to haul their chest ashore and open it wins. Reward: The winning tribe will bring their treasure chest to camp. The chest contains fishing supplies (mask, snorkel, spear, flippers, and bait). Winner:Tagi
Before the challenge, both tribes received Tree Mail where they were instructed to make a stretcher and pick one tribemate (preferably the smallest or lightest) that will be lying on it. They are to choose "leaders" as well. Simulating a real plane crash, the smallest members from both tribes (pretending to be plane crash survivors) will be sent to the middle of the jungle and harnessed into a parachute dangling from a tree. The leaders will then guide the other tribe members to "rescue" the "survivor" and proceed to the "first aid tent." The first tribe to reach it wins Immunity. Winner:Pagong
Susan and Dirk were shown writing down Stacey on their parchment. Rudy showed his Stacey vote to the camera but did not give a confessional. Kelly showed her Rudy vote to the camera but did not give a confessional. Also, Richard and Dirk's confessionals are only available on DVD.
“
(voting for Stacey) I'm voting for Stacey. Um, nothing personal. I just feel that we need as much athleticism and brute force in this competition. I love her to death and this is no reflection on the type of person she is.
They kicked off their bug-eating hero instead of their food-stealing, stumbling, ornery, old Navy SEAL. Probably the guys said, "Well we need to vote a woman off 'cause we need physical strength" and, you know, "Who do we think is the least productive?" And that would be me. And yet I was much more productive than the four guys.
In February 2001, Borneo player Stacey Stillman filed a lawsuit claiming producers interfered in the process of the game by persuading two members of her tribe (Sean Kenniff and Dirk Been) to vote her out instead of Rudy Boesch. This was the first legal problem Survivor had faced. The case was settled out of court.[2]
Other
Though Stacey Stillman's torch was already extinguished because of the heavy rain, Jeff Probst still placed the snuffer on top of Stacey's torch to formality.
This episode has the very first storm in Survivor history and was also the first Tribal Council to be held under rain.
This was the only time that the castaways were allowed to stay at Tribal Council to wait until the rain subsided. Tagi returned to camp the next morning.
All the decorative torches including the fire pit and the contestants' torches were extinguished because of the heavy rain. All the Tagi members have flashlights beneath them to increase visibility.
This is the first episode in which a castaway's final words took place at daytime (because of the storm).
Crew members can be seen in the background of the Reward Challenge.
Crew members can be seen sitting behind Dirk Been at the Reward Challenge.
In this episode's Tribal Council, a conch shell was used by the castaways to pass around and take turns talking. This would be the only time the shell is used as Jeff Probst disapproved of this method of moderating Tribal Council because he felt that he didn't have anything to do other than sit and listen.
