EPISODE 11
Recap by Gordon Pepper
Original Airdate:  November 28, 2001

So we are down to four teams - and after tonight, it's going down to three. This is the last elimination leg - its then a 3 team race down to the end and the one million bucks.

Last time we left the teams, we had the lawyers and Frank and Margarita wayyyyyy in front of The Greeks and the Life Couple. Team Guido is hoping for the airlines to once again equalize the teams, but the time lap (over 12 hours) is too much for the plane equalizer.

Top Paviliion in JinJiaing Park, in Beijing China, is the first travel destination for this leg.  The Layers leave at 6:03 - Frank and Margarita at 6:15. Margarita: "We've been doing things pretty relaxed" You think Frank the human caffeine machine thinks so? Both Team FM and the Lawyers take a taxi to get to the airport - and miss the 830 flight. The next flight is at 12:15, which both teams worry will give the other 2 teams more time to catch up to them.  Both squads will take a flight to Bangkok, and then go to Beijing from there. The lawyers get a flight the next night, while Team FM, realizing that they are stuck for a layover, switch bags and buy new, easier to carry bags. OK, so this is where Frank is using all of that money that they were saving - but they aren't spending any money on clothes - they leave close to half of their stuff in the mall.

11:35 pm - Drew and Kevin start out on their quest - and ignore both a party across the street and a house of ill repute - wow, they must be serious. They find a flight that takes them there overnight. 1:30 am - Joe and Bill start and get to Phuket Airport at 3:45 am to take an early morning flight - they catch the Frat Pack and they both wind up taking the same plane.

The Lawyers and Team FM take the same flight and get there before the other 2 teams. Team FM get to the Pavillion first - and hit a detour - Volley or Rally. Either score 5 points in a ping pong game against a local champion, or travel through the congested street using 3 types of transportation. Frank and Margarita decide to play ping pong - as does the Lawyers. Frank just realized that they needed to score 5 points - and he looked like he just ate the ping pong ball by mistake. Oops.

The lawyers think they can play well - at least Rob does - but he screwed up his finger and Brennan will be playing. Frank gets to play against the champ - a kid - and Frank quickly goes up 3-1 - the kid comes up 6-4 - but Frank gets the fifth point and they get the next clue - which is to get a shopping list full of strange stuff.

Brennan gets to play ping pong next - you start to think what sort of a challenge is that if Frank beat him that quickly? But the kid is actually very good as he is handing Rob's butt to him as the kid scores the first 13 points off of him.

The shopping list consists of 5 beetle larvae, one large squid, and 2 chicken feet - but its all in Chinese. This is not a problem to Frank and Margarite, as they quickly find a woman  who is happy to help translate.

Meanwhile, the kid is giving Brennan a new bunghole and goes up 16-1. Rob (the one  with the busted hand) finally switches places with Brennan - and does absolutely no better. Frank and Margarita gets to see the lovely squirming beetles as they continue their shopping spree.

Rob finally gets the team's fifth point - after the kid scores 24 off of him. Ouch. Frank was looking great compared to him. Frank and Margarita compete their shopping list and now go to the 57th  cart to drop off their groceries. The lawyers get a guy to help them with the groceries - and they tip the guy for his efforts.

Roadblock - and both teams guess what it is they have to do with the food that they got from the market - Bon appetite! (munch munch munch) Margarita elects to do it since Frank has a stomach ache - and then realizes what she got herself into. D'oh! They are bickering - and Frank apologizes to Margarita - who calls him a jerk - but Frank apologizes to the camera first. Meanwhile, the lawyers get there while Margarita gets her food and balks at the beetles - but she gets them down. Brennan is eating it as well thinking that its not too bad, while Margarita is thinking college tuition. Margarita finishes first and gets the next clue, which is to get to the Temple of Heaven - that finishes this lap of the race. Frank and Margarita finish in first, and Margarita is only too happy to drink some of the tea. The lawyers come in second -so they are both in the finals. Meanwhile, both the Frat Pack and Team Guido are still waiting for their plane at the airport and one of them isn't making the finals.

Kevin and Drew get the first taxi as they try to get in front of Team Guido -and those teams have no love for each other. The Greeks get to the Pavillion first and decide to take the bus/motorcycle/rickshaw route - until their driver has no clue where the first bus is. Team Guido finally get to the Pavillion - and they decide to use the transportation too. Now its a 3 transportation race. The Greeks are singing Batman as they go on the motorcycle - but Team Guido catches the Greeks. The Greeks and guidos are telling their guys to go faster -and down the stretch they go - the Greeks lean forward and pass the Guidos - they both get to the Supermarket at the same time - just to see the Supermarket close. Early morning shopping at 630, as both teams profess their mutual dislike for each other. No, you think?

The Greeks get an interpreter as both teams get in front of the supermarket - each armed with their own interpreter - and each team trying to slow the other down with people getting in their way -and both teams turn in the food at the same time. You would figure the Frat boys have the food advantage - as each team roots the other partner, and sure enough, the Frat boys finish first, but Team Guidos driver gets ahead in front. The Greeks get ahead - but the driver doesn't know where to go. Team Greek take a chance and run towards the park, not knowing which gate is the South Gate. That turns out to be the dumbass move of the episode, as they get to the East Gate instead. The Greeks find the South Gate - but Team Guido gets there first.

Team Guido spouts off Winston Churchill's success, while the Frat Boys discuss Buddha's teachings - and they'll have plenty of time to discuss the ways of the Buddha while they are looking for their luggage - which is still in the taxi. Do'h! So we're down to Lawyers, Gay Guidos, and a dysfunctional couple for the money - which will be decided in the next 2 episodes.  Who wins the money?