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(C) 2002 CBS, Inc. and Mark Burnett Productions. This page is in no way associated with CBS, Mark Burnett Productions, or the Survivor production.

By Chico Alexander
Reality Editor, StormSeeker.com

Thirty-seven days ago, there were sixteen castaways. In two hours, there will only be one. Read on to find out why three tribal councils plus two immunity challenges plus seven votes will equal one Sole Survivor.

Night 36: The tribe celebrates being the Final Four. "The whole thing is like a giant puzzle. All of a sudden, you find the loose puzzle pieces and you find where they fit in," said Lex, referring to the no-longer-phantom vote cast by Teresa. With emotions running high, Lex revealed to Ethan that Tom had been conspiring with others to oust Lex. "In his mind, he can't write the vote down. But if someone else does, it's okay", Lex added.

Day 37: "Same old, same old." Not necessarily. Everyone is taken aback by the fact that they're still here. More now than ever, Lex's brain is focused on if anyone's trying to burn him. Has Tom pulled treachery? Lex confronts him with the accusations. "Did you tell T-bird that I couldn't be trusted?" Tom vehemently denied. "But if I did, Lex has been the man to watch," Tom said, regarding his seemingly endless stream of wins. Lex made his point very clear that he was not here because of anyone's good graces. Tom worries of paranoia in the ranks. At the same time, Lex cannot forget what Tom has done for him in the past. "I don't need to shake on it again."  A gamble? Maybe.

The tribe takes a hike up to Boer Rocks, just to "zen out." The peaceful serene gives way to revelation of just how much and how long and how large this adventure has been. Everyone has their confidence, Lex mostly. "I'm here only to take that million dollars and run with it."

When they get back: mail.

"Names of dogs and diplomas, hope you paid attention.
You may be the next to go if your memory lacks retention."

This is going to rely on the mind, which so far puts Kim at an advantage and Lex at a disadvantage.

Night 37: I-CHALLENGE: Fallen Comrades 3 (to be followed by Tribal Council)

Ultimately this is a game of relationships. Jeff asks eight questions about the twelve fallen tribesmen. Most right wins immunity. 

1) What rank did Frank reach in the army? A: Staff sergeant. Everyone stalled at the gate.

2) Which Survivor listed "manipulating men" on their application as one of their favorite hobbies? A: Kelly. Everyone right.

3) Who was the first to hit a target in the archery competition? A: Lindsey. Tom has two.

4) Whose children are these (photograph) and what are their names? A: Teresa; Elly and Tyler. Everyone right. Tom still in the lead at the half.

5) In which city and state is Jessie deputy sheriff? A: Orlando, Florida. Everyone right.

6) Which Survivor has a tattoo of a black widow spider and, for an extra point, where is it? A: Brandon, on his back. Big Tom, Lex, and Kim have five.

7) Who are Sage Hunter and Jocelyn Rose? A: Frank's kids. Still a three-way tie.

8) Which female Survivor has nothing pierced including her ears? Kim says Kelly. Right. Ethan said Linda. Wrong. Lex said Lindsey. Wrong. Big Tom, Jessie. Wrong. Kim wins immunity and a spot in the Final Three.  Time to vote.  The ones we're sure of...

Kim: TOM.  Manipulation.
Big Tom: LEX. The immunity streak.

Tom and Lex are tied at one.  The others?

Ethan: BIG TOM.
Lex: TOM.

Three to one, Tom.  Big Tom, THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN.  Lex, Kim, and Ethan are in the Final Three. As for Tom, "Love, peace, and hair grease." See you in a bit, Tom.

Ed's byte: Usually, the vote by the oustee is the next one to go, as another show proves. This means that Lex will have to win the next challenge in order to stand a chance in TV City. 

Day 38:  Everyone is awakened by the sound of Jeff with his torch. It's going to be a long day, so better start early.  Call me crazy, but isn't before sunrise just a little too early? Lex says the obvious, "The game of Survivor doesn't stop." At that moment, the tribesmen go on a little trip.

This morning will feature the ultimate spiritual experience, a Samburu tribal rite, beginning with a blessing from the Samburu elders. Continuing north, they would follow the tribespeople's lead, "fire on the east and west, never looking back," with a tribute to the thirteen people who didn't make it. Then the Samburu people will cleanse your soul with a ritual washing of goat's fat and blood. They then conclud the ritual with an elaborate display of traditional, native dance, of which  Kim, Ethan, and Lex were a part.  All the ritual will culminate in the final challenge. The tribe embraces the drama and the experience that few will have a chance to embark upon.

I-CHALLENGE:  Hands on the Idol 2

It all comes down to who wants it the most, as the three must keep one foot on a pedestal and one hand on the immunity idol. The person who lasts the longest will win immunity and choose who they will take with them to the Final Tribal Council. It's all about will power.  After 2:46, Ethan, who took his foot off the pedestal, is out of the game. "It doesn't feel good to let go. I work my butt off to get here and I blow it on a silly mistake. I can never EVER get to that spot again. It feels horrible." After three hours, the temperature is 101 degrees. Imagine a typical summer's day in Phoenix.  The two are talking about the problems Ethan faced last night.  Three hours and 41 minutes later, When the temperature hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit, Lex's stomach problems got the best of him. Kim wins immunity again, and the trip to the final Tribal Council.

Back at camp, Kim is ecstatic. "It shows that dreams come true. I can remember the firs night here, thinking 'I'm going to be the first one voted off'."  That feeling of joy is shared with everyone. What will be weighed heavily on the mind is who stays and who pays.  Ethan is scared, having his destiny in someone else's hands.  It's a hard decision, but one that has to be made. What would make Kim decide if she loves both Lex and Ethan? "It would be more of a strategic move if I thought I stood a chance against one or another."

Night 38: TRIBAL COUNCIL

This is the moment Kim both awaited and feared. Kim, in an absolute test of will power, "went against two young strapping guys and kicked their asses." Kim did not expect it. Ethan still is kicking himself over his loss. Lex finally did not have the strength to finish the game. "The strongest person won."  Lex and Ethan cannot vote for each other, so Kim will be the only person to vote. She hasn't made up her mind, so she will hear both cases. Lex says, "Vote your heart. Don't look back." Ethan says, "Do what makes you feel good inside." Kim, it's time to write a name. The name is...

LEX.  In this particular case, KIM HAS SPOKEN. So it will be Kim and Ethan in the Final Two. This should be an interesting match, because neither Kim nor Ethan had a single vote against them in the regulation.  As for Lex, "You had to vote for someone. No regrets."

Day 39:  The final day. The two players remaining will have the whole day to think about what they want to say in order to convince seven people that they voted out of the game to turn around and reward them with one million dollars.  In the morning, both Kim and Ethan are relishing being at the end with each other. The stakes are huge, and Ethan has reason to believe that today is a very good day. Kim outlined her strategy, "Lex thought he deserved it. Ethan didn't think that he deserved it. That's what made the decision."  Meanwhile, Kim and Ethan share a small kiss as they cross off the final day and mark it with their initials: KJ and
EZ. Time to pack up and leave without turning the lights off.  As Kim and Ethan make their way to the Tribal Council Village, the jury's emotions ring true: having to choose between two people who are equally deserving of winning the game and two people who no one expected to last this long... Well, except for Kelly, the bitch. Ethan sees the guys' vote as
his and the girls' vote as Kim's. Will Brandon be the swing? Let's see.

Night 39: FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL.

By now you know how this works. Each jury member will have one question, which both Kim and Ethan must answer, not necessarily truthfully. After that, the jury will vote for who will win the million dollars (this time, you WANT to see your name on that paper). It's time for the players to state their case.

Kim: I can't ask you guys to vote for me. When you're out here for 39 days, 24/7, it'll be very hard for me to tell you that I am something that you already knew. By being older than every one of you, you all made me feel young. You all made me feel the best I can be.

Ethan:  When I first arrived, I set some goals... to prove that good, honest people can get far in this game. If you knew me from day one, it's important to look at the whole picture and to vote what's in your heart.

It's time for the jury inquisition.

Brandon:  Neither one of you liked me enough, so if the two of you weren't sitting there, who would you like to see sit there and who you thought would not deserve to sit there?
Kim: Lex and Tom
Ethan: Lex and "you."

Lex:  What is the first selfless act that you will perform once you get home?
Kim:  The Wamba Project.
Ethan:  Give my time to inner city soccer leagues.

Frank:  If 16 new contestants were set upon you, what would be the big five things you would say you need to win?
Kim:  respect, fliex, love, respectfulness, and understanding.
Ethan: will power, strength, integrity, intelligence, and a little bit of
luck

Kelly:  Kim, I was surprised and disappointed by your conduct but you did do some great things. You gave me some great things. Though you totally sold me out, I admire you, but remember your success comes at my expense. Ethan, you talk about a relationship game, but you didn't try to make a relationship with me. Pick a number between 1 and 1000.
Kim: Three.
Ethan:  888.

Little Kim:  Who on the jury did you learn the most/least about yourself from?
Kim: Most: "You." Least: Tom.
Ethan:  Most: Teresa. Least: Kelly.

Big Tom:  In camp, I lost a little bit of weight. If a hyena came through and ate the mush and licked himself, would it be to clean his hind end or just to get the taste out of his mouth?
Kim:  The hyena was just cleaning his hind end.
Ethan: If I was a hyena, it would probably be to clean his hind end.

Teresa:  If you could take back anything you said about the jurors, what would it be and who was it said about?
Kim:  I didn't sell Kelly out but I didn't know enough to go against her defense. I misjudged a vote, but it all occurred so fast.
Ethan: When that same vote was cast, I thought that vote came from Frank. I definitely said that we gotta take care of this right away. I feel bad about accusing someone so quickly.

The time to vote has come. The most deserving, (or the lesser of two evils, KELLY.)

Brandon: KIM. "You know what? Ethan was so stupid! He slammed me on my own question!"
Little Kim: KIM. "It was a very hard decision. You're 56 years old and you're a very strong woman."
Tom: "EATHEN".  "Your fate has caught up with you. Shut up, you're done. Ethan, the best man won."
Teresa (concealed):  "Well deserved."
Kelly: ETHAN. "**quoting the Graduate** 568.  The Graduate was my favorite movie."

So far, two to two. This one may go down to the wire. "You don't get to this spot by accident."  During the commercial, by magic, seemingly, the African savannah is transplanted to CBS Television City in Hollywood.

Now that the game is out of their hands, it's time to come clean. Kim was scared most of the time of failing and letting herself down. Ethan was surprised by Kelly's "pick a number gambit."

To the winner goes a Chevy Avalanche, the title of Survivor Africa, bragging rights, and one million dollars. The vote to win is four. So far, a two to two draw. And now to the rest of the votes.  Only two are read, only two that needed to be. And the jury has spoken.  The winner of Survivor Africa, as sneakily read on live television, is... (insert cheering here and the cheering of...)

ETHAN!  First embraced by the $100,000 runner-up, Kim, and then by the jury, Jeff proceeds to put out Kim's torch.  Afterwards, the nine players on stage are reunited with the remaining seven players. Game over.

Final notes from the editor: I can really sum it up with one sentence. Ethan's goal was to prove that a good, honest person could get far in the game. Mission accomplished.