NIGHT 27: YAKKITY-YAK!

Well, after the Las Vegas showgirl "pulled an Osten" and bailed out, everyone on the tribe seems to know exactly whom to blame: Stephenie. But MVP Tom puts a rather interesting spin on it. He says they were going to vote Janu out ANYWAY and keep Steph around all along (uh huh... sure). Steph is not sure what's going on here... but she's going to find out before she's Jury-bound.

Gregg is genuinely SCARED of Steph's influence on the tribe. Here they were, a well-oiled tribe who had destroyed their competition at every turn... and now the last one of the conquered Ulong tribe is all but making them get rid of each other in one fashion or another. He confides in Ian, saying, "I hope this doesn't come back to bite us.".

DAY 28: A WOMAN'S WORK IS NEVER DONE...

As Steph and Katie work in the "kitchen" of Camp Koror, they talk about who seems to be running the show here, Gregg or Ian? Katie stays quiet about this, so Steph talks to MVP Tom about what's going on. Tom tells Steph she's "showing herself way too much"... and he knows he'll be next unless he continues his impressive Immunity run. He tells the others not too hold his wins against him. Once Tom goes on a swim, the others discuss... MORE than certain that he'll be gone in due time.

Steph and Katie look for an all-girl alliance with them, Caryn and Jenn. This makes sense since it IS four-against-three right now. They're not sure about Caryn, though. They DO agree that, as soon as MVP drops that Immunity Necklace, he's history. Steph, however, is just thinking for herself. "You want to think I'm a threat," she asks the camera. "I'll SHOW you how threatening I am!"

REWARD "CHALLENGE": WHAT DO I HEAR FOR A RUINED DIET?!

Almost immediately, the tribe's thinking "auction", just like there were in many Survivors in the past. Tom thinks, though, that the "MOSTLY" part means that the envelopes full of money they'll receive will be for buying MORE than food and drink.

We travel to a previously unexplored part of Challenge Cove... and, sure enough, Uncle Jeff has wallets for each tribe member with $500 inside each one, in which to keep... or to spend. It is, indeed, an auction. The bids will start at $20 and will go up in $20 increments. Unlike eBay, the auction will end WITHOUT WARNING so, unless they want to stick with coconuts and fish, they should jump in when they can.

Item number one on the block is... a covered mystery dish. And it's... SOLD to Jenn for $120. And it is... an ice cream sundae! Ian can't even LOOK at it.

This seems to be a "blind auction" as everything seems to be covered dishes. Karen & Steph split $260 for a CHOICE between two dishes (which they sniff before deciding on). They give up crackers and cheese for a double cheeseburger, fries and a soft drink. Ian gives $300 for spaghetti and meat sauce, with Gregg chipping in $20 "for a bite"... but he ALMOST trades it for live sand crabs. (Jeff says, "Ian, you reek!") Ian then buys a $40 beer (and I hope Uncle Jeff gives up the Monty Hall shtick).

The last item of the day, as Tom predicted, is a letter from home. Tom, who had saved his moolah, bids $220 and gets the "food for the soul" he was looking for is a drawing from his grandkid. Almost everybody else accepts Uncle Jeff's offer for THEIR letters for $220 apiece. Ian doesn't have that kind of bread, having spent it on garlic bread, spaghetti and a beer. No one leaves empty-handed... though Tom and Jenn DO leave empty-stomached.

AFTERNOON 28: RUBBER DUCKIE, YOU'RE THE ONE...

As Steph goes through all her letters - including one from her boyfriend - Ian, taking the hint from Uncle Jeff, finally takes a bath. As billions of bacteria die an awful death, Ian asks Gregg to wash his back (no word on whether Ian will wash HIS back later). Everyone thinks this is hilarious.

DAY 29: SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH?

Tom talks to Caryn about KOing Ian, wanting it to be six-on-one. Caryn doesn't believe him and refuses to "bite the hand that feeds" her. MVP appreciates it... and just hopes he hangs on to Immunity.

DAY 30 - IMMUNITY CHALLENGE: FIVE TILES FROM HOME

Back to Challenge Cove we go where Tom gives up the Necklace he's worn for five days now. A rather unusual Challenge awaits us. We'll be on a platform looking at a 35-ceramic-tile board - five each of seven colors - twenty feet away. We'll each be assigned a color and will proceed to toss coconuts, one-by-one, at the board in an attempt to shatter tiles of our own color. If we break someone ELSE's tile, that counts for that someone else. The first member to have all five of his or her tiles broken wins Immunity.

After randomly drawing for colors and position, Ian (in red) starts by choosing the right coconut for the job and hefting it... right into a red tile. Katie (brown) tosses it awkwardly and doesn't break ANY tiles. Gregg (blue) nails one of his own. Jenn (orange) takes out one of Caryn's white tiles, followed by Caryn tossing short. Tom (green) busts a brown and Steph (yellow) puts Caryn ahead, 2-1-1-1-0-0-0 after the first round.

Round 2: Ian busts red, Katie gets orange, Gregg takes red to put Ian ahead, Jenn busts a green tile, Caryn goes overhand to take out a brown, Tom gets his second with a green bust and Steph gets a bad bounce. Ian leads with 3; Katie, Caryn and Tom with 2; Gregg and Jenn with 1; Steph with nada (or is that "Nada III"?)

Round 3: Ian nails his third in a row to put him one busted piece of tile away from staying alive here for four more days. Katie nails an orange one, Gregg nails HIS second blue, Jenn gets an orange for her third. Caryn then FINALLY gets Steph on the board by slamming a yellow tile. Tom gets his third for busting a greenie, and Steph... falls short. Ian leads with 4; Tom, Jenn with 3; Gregg, Katie and Caryn with 2; Steph with 1.

Round 4: Ian's been three-for-three (obviously thankful for all that "Toss Across"(TM) training he did as a kid). He winds up... he tosses... and he yells, "OH NO!" as he smashes a yellow tile, giving Steph two. Katie breaks a brown for her third. Gregg goes to three as well by getting his blue one busted. Jenn's coconut bounced on the wooden frame, but broke nothing. Caryn gets short... and Tom tosses... and it takes a wicked bounce and busts Ian's last tile! Since nothing Steph does can make anyone tie the dolphin trainer, IAN WINS IMMUNITY! (And Tom is sweating bullets!)

AFTERNOON 30: RAINY DAYS AND TRIBALS ALWAYS GET ME DOWN

The rain-rain-rain came down-down-down in rushing rising rivlets. This keeps most of the tribe by the shelter... dead quiet. Tom's expecting the sun to emerge and for everyone to run off in their little groups to discuss tonight's vote.

Sure enough, the rainbow appears and the groups mingle. Caryn and Jenn go out for snails... and talk about voting one of the men out (specifically Tom). Caryn then talks to Tom about it... who then speaks to Ian... who talks to Katie. The "daisy chain" of alliances ends there when Caryn arrives again... and Ian is torn between Steph and Tom. And Caryn thinks her big mouth has made her vulnerable. Gregg doesn't want to "mess with the plan" and wants Steph to go.

TRIBAL COUNCIL: SURVIVOR'S STRONGEST MAN COMPETITION

Ah, the Ulong Memorial Supply Dump O' Doom... where Steph has gone for EVERY SINGLE TRIBAL COUNCIL since the game started and, yet, remains in the game. Coby and Janu (the gay and the stray) sit in the Jury Section and listen to Uncle Jeff ragging us.

Ian admits that the paranoia's slipping in but they are STILL solid. Steph was RELIEVED to not be voted out thanks to Janu's quit... but she's still an outsider and knows it'll be tough to deal with the Jury. Caryn noticed the intensity pick up after the last Council. MVP Tom says his winning streak is just "happenstance" and was not used to show Ian up.

Ian keeps the necklace... and it's time to vote. Koror shleps to the alcove and scrawls names down yet again. Caryn, Tom, Ian, Katie, Steph, Jenn amd Gregg vote... and we see NONE of them.

Uncle Jeff tallies... and reveals: Caryn, Steph, Steph, Steph... and Steph. Koror remains strong! They unanimously kick out the last of the Ulongs. And, sick as it sounds (so sick that NONE of the prescription drugs she sells can cure it), Steph will HAVE to vote for one of the guys who made her life a living HELL for 22 days to get the million she so wanted.

So... Koror is back to a happy family. But, over the next nine days, it's going to be broken up!

(Wolviegram to Chico: No, I won't quit recapping just because all my tribe is gone. I'll do the one before the finale... but I will get you for this!)