The Storm Makes its Way In

Old Men: Shane is having the most rough time with handling island conditions and being away from his child. He is clearly breaking down.

Old Women: They are having a very difficult time getting the fire to start.

Young Men: The conditions are bleak at camp.

Young Women: Courtney manages to get some papaya and the women rejoice in the food.

Tribal Breakdown

After Probst tells the others to notice that Tina was voted out of the Older Women's tribe, he directs the remaining Survivors to stand on disks (8 for the men, 7 for the women) after filing into the challenge area. They then lift the disks and Terry and Danielle both have buffs under their disk, signifying the two who will lead the schoolyard pick 'em.

Danielle picks Shane.         Terry picks Sally.

Shane picks Courtney.       Sally picks Austin.

Courtney picks Aras.          Austin picks Misty.

Aras picks Cirie.                 Misty picks Nick.

Cirie picks Bobby.              Nick picks Ruth Marie.

Bobby picks Melinda by default.

Ruth Marie must choose either Dan or Bruce. She chooses Dan and Bruce is left out of the pick 'em.

Jeff Probst asks Bruce whether he would be disappointed if he had to leave the game right then and there. He obviously gives an answer of YES, stating he wants to play and win the game. Probst eases his nerves by saying he won't be leaving, in fact, he has three more guaranteed days as he is granted immunity. The catch is that he will be in Exile and won't return until Tribal Council of whichever tribe loses. The losing tribe will receive Bruce, who will get to sit in and hear about what is going on with the tribe. He waves goodbye to all and the newly formed tribes start the reward challenge.

Reward Challenge - A Reptile Dysfunction

One Survivor per tribe must be selected as the snake carrier. There are 6 snakes scattered across an obstacle course in which each member of each tribe must traverse (including mud pits, a mini ramp, balance beam). Only the carrier can hold onto the snakes. The reward: fishing gear for the tribe!

Casaya selects Courtney and La Mina selects Nick as the snake carriers. With a relatively close race all the way through, the Casaya tribe was able to find their snakes in the leaf pit much quicker, clinching the win.

Exile Island

Bruce gets an additional clue about the hidden immunity idol, it is hidden above the tide. He vows to find the idol as soon as he starts a fire, but he destroys his flint. Shortly after, he starts to practice karate moves.

The New Tribes Mingle

La Mina: Terry and Dan approach the young guys of the tribe, Nick and Austin for an alliance. He says it will assure them at least four, meaning they would start to vote women out of the tribe if they had to. Shortly after, Sally approaches Austin and talks about the possibility of 2 men and 2 women banding together to form a solid four. She tells him to let Nick know of the proposition.

After winning the reward, Sally and Nick go out to fish. Sally accidentally lets go of the spear and loses the gear. Nick reassures her things will be okay, but when they return to shore to tell the others of the news, Terry, most notably is upset by what has happened.

Casaya: Melinda has a few things to say about the eccentric Courtney who says like almost after every word. Cirie and Melinda realize that they are the odd balls of this tribe of 'cool' odd balls. The express how they will definitely be in danger if they don't have immunity.

Shane, out of his "I don't want to be here" approaches the younger women, Danielle and Courtney with an alliance proposal with him and Aras. The women jump on the band wagon and Shane continues to express how happy he is now that the tribe has women on it. He also is happy no longer being labeled as an old man.

Immunity Challenge - Zombie Head

The tribes must retrieve a zombie at a platform out the shore. The catch is that the tribes must row back in a boat full of holes and that is anchored at the ocean floor by a heavy crate. Tribe members must bail the boat with small pails while two members must drag the anchor so the boat can reach the shore. Once ashore, the tribe must carry the heavy anchor to their mat and then place the zombie head on the body. First tribe to do so wins immunity.

The Casaya tribe figures out how to move the boat most effectively after Austin suggests pulling the rope as Terry carries the crate. They gain momentum over La Mina easily, after they have many failed attempts at moving the crate (that is until Courtney and Aras give it a go). Casaya reaches the shore first and Ruth Marie climbs on Nick's shoulders placing the head on the zombie. Casaya wins immunity!

Tribal Council: Pulling Out All Stops

With Tribal Council looming, Shane asks the members of his alliance to vote him out already, he can't handle it. Cirie is excited about the news, let him quit is what is on her mind. However, Aras wants to protect his alliance of four and convinces that with some water, Shane will be as good as new and will want to stay in the game. After much convincing, Shane tells the tribe to forget what he said about being voted out. Aras takes over the discussion and says they must talk about who will be leaving tonight, he doesn't want to blindside anyone. He says that his vote tonight will go toward either Melinda or Cirie. Courtney interjects in a confessional saying how stupid it was for him to expose their alliance of four. Melinda and Cirie are none too happy about it, but Shane assures whoever goes tonight, the other one will follow suit shortly.

The women are distraught. Danielle tells the ladies how it sucks to make such a decision and those on the chopping block just says how the situation is not fair. Neither of the women are sure who will be going - and they head into Tribal Council.

Shane complains more about his stay on the island as soon as they arrive to Tribal Council. Wow, as if he hadn't said enough during the episode. The focus then completely shifts to Cirie and Melinda. Probsts ask Cirie how things were going and she addresses that things started off well until today. She then goes on about how four particular tribe members were up front about who was going to leave. She breaks down into tears because she doesn't want to disappoint her family - could this be her genuine feelings or just a cover up?

Melinda also talks about the issue and is not happy with how things are panning out. How could the tribe possibly keep someone who is consider quitting over two women who have not given any clear cut indication that they are indeed the weakest links on the tribe? All the while, Bruce is sitting opposite the tribe taking in all the information about his new tribe. While the women are crying, we are shown shots of a distraught tribe who will be forced to make a tough decision, however, it seems clear they knew who was going to get the axe long before they made the Tribal Council visit.

Upon reading the votes, Cirie holds onto Melinda's hand after the 3rd vote for her is cast. We only see Melinda's vote for Shane, stating how she would uphold her promise to vote him out. The emotional Tribal Council ends after Probst reads 5 votes for Melinda, and 2 votes for Shane (both cast by Melinda and Cirie).  Melinda leaves and points to Cirie in a motion that says: stay strong and kick their butt.

Bruce comes over and joins his new tribe, and receives a purple buff.

Melinda's Final Words mentions how she was on a tribe of 'cool' people and would not change to become like them.