Episode 13: See'ya Cindy

See'ya Cindy
official title: Big Win, Big Decision. Big Mistake?

Reminder: the final is this Sunday (Dec. 11).

Summary: Cindy wins a car in the Reward challenge but is voted off at Tribal Council after just missing out on Immunity to Stephenie.

After the re-cap of last week's episode: they all talk about Judd's 'scumbags' and 'I hope you all get bit by a crocodile' comments. In confessional Danni says it looks like there's a break in the alliance (Axis of Evil). Cindy is worried because she sees a pattern: Judd wasn't told that Jaime would be voted off and then Judd himself was voted off. Now Cindy wasn't told that Judd was being voted off, so is she next? Tree mail brings a key, could it be a car key? Yes, it's car-time at Reward Challenge.

Reward Challenge
Competition: Second Chance
Reward: Car and night away from camp.

This challenge repeats parts of previous challenges in three stages.

First Stage, the balance beam - first three move on. The Survivors must make their way across a balance beam and untie things along the way. Cindy, Stephenie and Danni move on.

Second Stage, break tile with throwing club - first two move on. Cindy and Stephenie move on.

Final Stage, puzzle of Maya calendar and ride down hill in cart. Cindy wins Reward!

Jeff Probst now reminds Cindy of the Survivor Car Curse (no one who has won the car has gone on to finish in first). He gives her the option of forgoing the car herself and giving each of the others a car. As she is thinking about it four more cars drive up to the area. After careful consideration, Cindy decides to keep the car for herself. Jeff now says that she can chose one other person to share the night away from camp at a archeological camp with a bar-b-cue. Cindy chooses Stephenie to go with her.

At the Maya archeological camp Stephenie offers a toast to her and Cindy making the final four. They talk strategy and Cindy says she sees Danni as the biggest threat and Stephenie kind of agrees, but she says she will have to check with Rafe regarding voting Danni off. [And here I thought Rafe was Stephenie's pawn, maybe she's his puppet?]

Meanwhile back at camp . . .
Rafe in private says that if he had won Reward then he would of had to give up the car so the others could get one. He also says if she had given him a car then there is no way he would vote for her at tribal Council. Danni also says that she would not have taken the car for herself.

They're back . . . (Cindy and Stephenie)
In front of the others Cindy goes on and on about her new car: I've never had a new car before . . . it handles so nice . . . I hardly felt any bumps in the road . . . it's so nice, like a luxury car. The others are disinterested. In confessional Rafe says that Cindy was grating on everyone. In private Cindy says they all were excited to hear about her new car and they aren't bitter or going to hold it against her [oh, really?].

Stephenie and Rafe are disagreeing over Cindy's choice to keep the car. She says it's the first time they haven't seen eye-to-eye. Lydia chimes in and says that Cindy made the right decision.

Immunity Challenge
Competition: Ropes, Chains and Poles - oh, my!

Each Survivor is in handcuffs and leg irons and tied to a pole. They are also tied to a long rope which winds its way around several other poles. The Survivors must use a big key ring full of ten or so keys to unlock their chains and untangle their ropes at each succeeding pole. The if they have freed up enough rope they can run to their flag and release it to win.

Stephenie takes an early lead and although Cindy givers her a run for it, Stephenie wins Immunity.

Scheming is Free
Rafe to Cindy: 'I want to be in the final four with you.'
Danni: Rafe said that he won't vote for me.
Rafe: Danni said that she wants to be in the final two with me. [That would be an interesting decision for the jury to make.]
Rafe and Stephenie talk about voting Cindy off and she says that she would feel bad since they already turned on Jaime and Judd. Stephenie goes to Cindy and tells her that Rafe sees her as a threat. Cindy says let's vote Rafe off and make it an all girl final four. [Just a little while ago wasn't Cindy saying Danni was the real threat?]

So it looks like Cindy or Rafe at Tribal Council . . .

Xhakum at Tribal Council
Jury watches: Bobby Jon, Jaime, Gary, Judd
(paraphrased, not word for word)

Jeff Probst: Rafe what's the mood like in camp?
Rafe: I feel threatened. There are only guys on the jury and I'm the last guy left in camp.
Jeff Probst: So Danni do you give in to paranoia or stick to your plan?
Danni: I'm just glad to still be here.
Jeff Probst: Cindy I reminded you of the Car Curse and you still chose the car?
Cindy: Yes, there are no guarantees. I could have given them a car and still have been voted off.
Jeff Probst: Cindy who is the most competitive out here?
Cindy: Rafe, he's won challenges already and he's likable. He's the complete package.

Time to Vote:
Cindy is shown voting for Rafe and he her, however he says 'I love you though.' we don't see who Lydia voted for but she says she's voting with the tribe. Jeff shows the council one vote for Rafe and three for Cindy - that's enough.

Cindy is voted off.

Jeff Probst's Final Thought
You made the final four, there are 3 days left, 3 tribal councils and 2 immunity challenges to decide 1 winner.

Cindy's final words:
The thing that I'll miss the most is the sounds of the jungle, nature's orchestra . . . I didn't win the million dollars but the memories are priceless . . . [now that's a classy way to leave Survivor].

Alliances
Is Rafe serious about being in the final two with Danni? His and Danni's best chance for winning is with Stephenie. Lydia would win up against any of them. The three of them should get Lydia off next. She has not crossed anyone on the jury and is a sympathetic figure - single mother of modest means.

Heroes and Villains
Go Danni, go Danni! My preference to win is: Danni or Rafe. Stephenie should not have gotten this far and Lydia has just been carried along.

Won Reward: Cindy (a new car)
Won Immunity: Stephenie
Voted Off: Cindy