Rory starts the day the same way every morning, praying for another day on the islands. And today, he has a lot to be thankful for. He cracked the ladies and has another day to worm his way into the fold. Today, it's all about Ami and Leann.

The alliance of one asks Ami where he stands, telling her that Eliza would be a more fitting candidate for expulsion. Ami's thing: no women's alliance has went the distance, which is what's keeping them going. *DING* That would be my mad feminist alarm. It goes off whenever Ami starts talking. Anyway, Rory contests that Eliza can't bring jack to the table, while Leann says that the fact that the women have the alliance excludes him. Thinking that Rory might ally with the men once the merge comes, Ami puts Rory in his place. Well, his former home, at least. Rory's response... can't be aired at the 8 o'clock hour. "You're playing me. I already told you that I don't give a (^_^) about Sarge, I don't give a (^_^) about Chad. I don't know them men."

So Rory goes into self-destruction after having been dealt the death card. "I discussed with my wife is that I'm going to institute a slash, burn, and salt the earth policy. If I get voted off this island, Yasur tribe will burn." Or, as my friend Lizzy Zastrow would say, "Yasur will burninate."

R-CHALLENGE: Hard Nuts To Crack (for a trip to the Homecafe, complete with snacks, reminders of home... oh, and Folgers Homecafe coffee with the machine; Sarge sits out)

Players must crack a coconut to let out sweet laxative juice (coconut juice has a laxative effect. If anyone asks, you heard it here) and fill up a coconut cup. Then each player must navigate a wood crawl, see-saw, low hurdles, another see-saw, and bamboo cage. Then take whatever juice you have left and pour it into your hand-blown glass jug. If you run out of juice, return to the start and let your teammates have a go. First team to fill their jug to the line with juice wins $100 and control of round... sorry, slipped into Double Dare mode.... wins REWARD.

Eliza and John are first to the course. Then it's Leann and Chad. Chad manages to negotiate the course on his prosthetic leg to pass Leann. Play continues until Scout comes up with an idea... She dumps her juice to make way for the smaller, thinner, more slinky members to go the distance. And to the distance they do. Leann is first to the jug, and the Yasur jug is first back to home plate to win coffee!

At the HomeCafe ($PLUG$): What, no half-and-half?

Pictures, letters from home, and a HomeCafe machine greet the tribe. I'm partial to hazelnut, myself. Ami reveals a rare glimmer of emotion, as she sees pictures of her brother and a letter from home saying that "her brother is looking down on her and is proud." The brother in question died in a car accident seven years ago. Scout and Rory also get letters from their respective others. Scout breaks down in tears, while Rory says that, as always, she has impeccable timing. No self-destruct button today, but also no diversion. Remember, Rory, you have control over how you respond. "Anybody that knows me know that I always carry an extra ace up his sleeve. I ain't forgotten where they put me. Another beautiful day on Vanuatu. *sips coffee*"

Day 18: Treemail!

Rory: "Let's get ready to rum-bllllllllle! Introducing... the ladies of Yasur... plus one!" This is a must-win for Rory to stay on the island, but with three cups of java in his system, he feels he has the will to succeed.

I-CHALLENGE: Crackshots (Chris sits out)

One at a time, each tribesman will shoot a slingshot at a grid of 20 tiles. Each tribesman will also be given a lane. For every tile that is broken on the grid, a corresponding tile is revealed on the game board. When the lane is exhausted of tiles, the player sits out. First team to crack all 20 tiles wins immunity.

It's all about Rory here. He knows he needs to win, so he steps it up and is the MVP of Yasur. Leann is the first one out, as Yasur leads, 8-5 to begin. In the end, it's Rory with the winning run as he wins Immunity for the ladies (plus one) in Yellow. "This one's for my baby boy!"

Day 18 (still): Big win!

Rory: "Today, I rocked Ami. I rocked her whole entire world. She has had chances to get me out and failed." He's at the top of his game, and Ami's at the top of his sh(^_^) list. Ami is hurt that either Julie or Twila is going home tonight (DING!) There's that alarm again... 

But Ami's notion would prove unfounded, as John K. is on the next boat out.