Survivor: South Pacific eliminated castaway Mark "Papa Bear" Caruso from the game after he lost the season's second Redemption Island duel to Christine Shields Markoski during Wednesday night's broadcast of the fourth episode of the CBS reality series' 23rd edition.

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"When I saw Survivor, I said, 'Someday, I'm going to be on that show. I don't know how I'm going to get on that show but someday, I'm going to audition for that show.' And all the cops and firemen were like, 'Oh, yeah, you'll get on hahaha.' And now, to fulfill that dream, I feel blessed," Papa Bear, a 48-year-old retired New York City police detective from Forest Hills, NY, told Survivor host Jeff Probst when asked how it felt to achieve his goal of competing on the show following his ouster.

Later in the episode, the Upolu tribe also voted Stacey Powell out of their tribe at the season's fourth Tribal Council session.

As the game's newest Tribal Council victim, Stacey, a 44-year-old mortician from Dallas, TX, will now take Papa Bear's place on Redemption Island, where she will battle Christine, a 39-year-old teacher from Merrick, NY, in the game's next duel and attempt to eventually earn a chance to rejoin the game's other remaining castaways and resume competing for Survivor: South Pacific's million dollar prize.

"Tribal was a joke today and they're talking about loyalty? You need to be loyal to nobody but God. They're over there being loyal to their god, which is Coach. When this Redemption time comes, I'm going to spill everything that's going on over there," Stacey said upon arriving at Redemption Island.

Survivor: South Pacific's fourth broadcast began on Day 9 at the camp of the Savaii tribe, which consisted of John Cochran, a 24-year-old Harvard Law School student from Washington, DC; Whitney Duncan, a 27-year-old country singer and former Nashville Star finalist from Nashville, TN; Dawn Meehan, a 41-year-old English professor from South Jordan, UT; Jim Rice, a 35-year-old medical marijuana dispenser from Denver, CO; Keith Tollefson, a 26-year-old water treatment tech from Edina, MN; Elyse Umemoto, a 27-year-old dance team manager and former Miss Washington from Las Vegas, NV; and former Survivor: Cook Islands and Survivor: Micronesia -- Fans vs. Favorites castaway Ozzy Lusth, a 30-year-old currently residing in Venice, CA.

Elyse and Ozzy were bonding in a hammock just talking, and Jim began to worry that they were becoming a pair -- which he claimed would be a very powerful asset in the game. Jim didn't want to allow Ozzy to become a voting presence, nor did he want him to even remain a physical presence on the tribe.

Jim then discussed strategy with Cochran about getting rid of Elyse next in order to eliminate the variable and diffuse some of Ozzy's power. Cochran was thrilled because it would buy him another three days and possibly take him off the chopping block.

Meanwhile, the Upolu tribe -- which consisted of Sophie Clarke, a 22-year-old medical student from Willsboro, NY; Albert Destrade, a 26-year-old "baseball/dating coach" from Plantation, FL; Brandon Hantz, a 19-year-old oil tanker crewman from Katy, TX; Edna Ma, a 35-year-old anesthesiologist from Los Angeles, CA; Rick Nelson, a 51-year-old rancher from Aurora, UT; Stacey; Mikayla Wingle, a 22-year-old model and Lingerie Football League player from Tampa, FL; and Survivor: Tocantins and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains castaway, Coach, a 39-year-old currently residing in Susanville, CA -- had one member still reeling from his prior poor decisions.

Brandon said he let his pride get to him when he had lied to his tribe members in attempt to vote Mikayla off. He said it ruined his good intentions for playing the game and acknowledged how everyday was a struggle. Brandon said he wanted to become a better player and then decided to apologize to Mikayla. Although Mikayla accepted his apology, she admitted he still looked like a fool because saying sorry just wasn't enough to get over how he had treated her.

Brandon then spoke to Edna and told her that although she was in their core six alliance, she was not included in the core five. With the new knowledge she had acquired, she felt she was going to be the next one to go. 

"It's easier to believe a lie sometimes than accept the truth," Edna said.

Back at the Savaii tribe, the castaways received Tree Mail giving them their bathing suits and inviting two tribe members to attend and watch the game's second duel, and Cochran and Jim opted to be the spectators.

Dawn, observing the young women in their bathing suits, realized she had to perform well because she was the tribe's oldest member. She felt there were stronger bonds between her fellow castaways based on their similarities, and as a result of being somewhat of an outsider, Dawn believed she had to step up her game.

While Dawn was worrying about her position in the tribe, Ozzy was concerned Jim was trying to strategize too much too soon. He was clueless that Jim had basically teamed up with Cochran, and Jim didn't want anyone to take notice how friendly he was with Cochran.

Later that day, Jeff met with Papa Bear, Christine and the onlookers who came to watch the duel. While Cochran and Jim attended the duel on behalf of the Savaii tribe, Brandon and Edna were the witnesses for the Upolu tribe.

At the duel, Papa Bear told Jeff if he was allowed back into the game, he'd switch tribes and turn his back on his original tribemates because of how they had betrayed him.

Jeff then explained the rules to the duel. Papa Bear and Christine were each required to toss sandbags, attempting to land the bags ontop of wooden crates. The first person to get one bag on each of the 10 crates would remain on Redemption Island and stay alive in the game, while the person to lose the challenge would be immediately sent home. 

Papa Bear and Christine then squared off in the duel. Christine commanded a quick and steady lead but Papa Bear was able to catch up towards the end at tie her. When they each only had one bag left to throw, Christine nailed it before Papa Bear could and ended up winning her second duel in a row. Papa Bear then left the grounds.

On Day 10, Upolu member Edna felt that she had to be cordial and polite to her tribemates in order to stick around longer in the game because she didn't know who to trust in her alliance. She wanted to utilize the social aspect of her game, because it was all she basically had left at that point.

Edna then tried to talk more and ask people questions, being very friendly to everyone. However, her strategic plan backfired and her tribemates just became annoyed with her.

Meanwhile, Savaii members Jim and Cochran continued to scheme.

"I think Jim and I developed a partnership moving forward, but numerically, it doesn't seem completely straight forward that we're going to get rid of Elyse. Because right now, there's only Jim and I who are onboard with voting out Elyse. So, we're going to have to find somebody that's going to be willing to do this or else we're screwed," Cochran explained.

Cochran didn't think they had the numbers to take someone down, so he decided to talk to Dawn to see if she would get onboard and vote off Elyse next.

"It turns out Dawn is sort of on the same page and wants Elyse out. For somebody like me, who thrives on big strategic moves and loves seeing that in a game like Survivor, I've been dying to be a part of something like this. Getting rid of Elyse is going to devastate Ozzy and it might make the other pretty people feel a little bit less secure. This is finally going to be the time that the Savaii tribe makes a move that's going to change the course of the game and it's going to surprise a lot of people."

On Day 11, the castaways met Jeff again and he explained the rules to what would be their fourth Immunity Challenge and fourth Reward Challenge.

The tribe members learned that three members from each tribe would be given a long pole to hold across their shoulders. During each round, weight would be added on both sides of one member on each tribe's pole. The decision about which tribe member must handle the weight would be made by the other tribe, deciding as a team. When the weight became too much to bare for a castaway, he or she would drop his or her pole and be out of the challenge.

The last person standing, holding all his or her weight, would win immunity for his or tribe and be safe from elimination. The losing team would have to vote someone out -- who would then be sent to Redemption Island.

In addition to receiving immunity, the winning tribe would also be given one rooster, two hens, eggs, and a clue to the location of the hidden Immunity Idol.

The Immunity Challenge required two men and one woman from each tribe to be the weight bearers. Keith, Dawn and Jim opted to participate in the challenge for Savaii, while Brandon, Stacey and Albert represented Upolu. Each bag weighed 10 pounds, so within one round, one person on each tribe must hold 20 pounds on their pole.

Brandon and Jim both broke a Survivor record when they held 240 pounds for an impressive amount of time, but the challenge came down to the willpower and strength of Dawn and Stacey. However, Dawn ended up outlasting Stacey and proudly won immunity for Savaii.

Following the challenge, Stacey said was disappointed that she lost but was still pleased with her performance. She began to wonder whether it would be her or Edna to get voted out at the subsequent Tribal Council, and the same thing was on Edna's mind.

"The challenge, we didn't win, but I think I did just fine. I held up 140 pounds, so I do believe that I proved to them that I have strength -- more than any one of the other girls. But you know, at the last Tribal Council, it could be me or it could not be me. That's what a blindside is. I could be blindsided," Stacey said.

Coach told Stacey she did an awesome job in the challenge and wanted to make sure everyone was still in high spirits even though they had lost. He told his tribemates to pick themselves up and put it all in the past.

"I feel pretty confident within my alliance, but at the same time, I have that little voice in me that says, 'Everyone perceives me as the weakest link in the tribe.' And so, I want to make sure that I'm absolutely safe, and I won't feel safe until after Tribal tonight," Edna said.

Edna then addressed Stacey and told her she thought she'd be the next one voted off because she was the weakest link, but Stacey gave her little advice or comfort to work with.

"Edna is on an Easter egg hunt right now. She is scrambling like scrambled eggs in a hot skillet right now. What do you think? You haven't talked to me since Day 1. Now all of a sudden you want to talk to me because you know it's either me or you? Hopefully they choose me. Look how much I lifted today. Could Edna lift 20? I doubt it. Bones can't lift too much if it's all just skeleton and bones," Stacey said.

Coach then approached Stacey and told her it was between her and Edna. Stacey insisted she had pulled her weight in the challenge and deserved to be there. She wasn't giving up or quitting, so she said she had to lie in order to fit in.

As a result, Stacey told Brandon to keep an eye on Mikayla, Sophie and Albert because they were forming an alliance. Brandon, disturbed over the news he had heard and automatically believing it was true, ran to Coach and told him their alliance of five tribe members may no longer exist. Coach was frustrated Brandon was playing the game so naively. 

"Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Dude, look at me. This game is going to get so much crazier than this, and if you believe somebody that is on death row -- like Stacey knows she is -- over somebody that is in our core alliance, then you might as well throw in the towel right now. I'm telling you, I don't care what she says. You have one person tell you something outside of our alliance and you're biting it every time. It's like you're already taking it as fact. Don't worry man," Coach told Brandon.

Brandon brought up the fact about how people had screwed Coach over in his last two game, but Coach insisted his head was "buried in the sand" when he last played. Brandon thought he was a good judge of character, but realized maybe he had jumped to conclusions

"I think that Brandon is a great guy and I want to be with Brandon every step of the way, but I worry that he's going to kick over the kettle at the most inopportune time and ruin the game for everybody, and that's why I have to also protect myself. I have to remember that I'm out here for the third and possibly last time, and this has got to be my game. I can't let anybody or anything mess it up," Coach said.

That night, Survivor: South Pacific's Upolu tribe castaways arrived for their second Tribal Council.

Coach said that based on warrior spirit, Stacey was not on the fence, and the tribe felt she had performed great in the challenge. Sophie then defined strength in Survivor as strength in numbers and physical strength -- which needed to be balanced with team unity.

Jeff then played a little game with the castaways and asked certain people what annoyed them about their tribemates. Brandon said Edna was opinionated and had a lot to say, while Edna said it was hard to engage Stacey and open up to her. Stacey defended herself and felt she gave Edna exactly what she asked for, answers to her questions.

When Mikayla was asked what annoyed her about Brandon, she said it still bothered her that his uncle is former Survivor: Samoa and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains castaway Russell Hantz. It remained in the back of her mind even though he seemed like a "good kid." Brandon said he loved his uncle but was there to play his own game -- a different game.

Brandon began to cry and said it was tough to hear people say bad things about his uncle because he's family, but he also didn't want to be misrepresented and hoped to look good on behalf of his family. Brandon wanted better his family's name, putting it in a more positive light.

The voting then commenced and Jeff revealed the votes. One castaway voted for Edna, while five tribe members voted for Stacey. Five votes were enough to constitute for Stacey's elimination, so Jeff did not show the rest.

The episode's closing credits later showed that everyone had voted for Stacey except for Stacey, who had voted for Edna.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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