It ended with teasers about Episode 10, in which we viewers were left guessing about the surprising twist at the reward challenge, which teams toys with the idea of throwing the immunity challenge and rival tribe members raise eyebrows at someone’s behavior. Going by the title, who will be broken hearted? Will the heating up romance between Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano face a setback? By the way, viewers voting in the Episode 9 Poll aren’t too terribly sure that this is a real romance.
Episode 10 begins early morning of Day 22 with Rupert Boneham and Tom Buchanan of Chapera up early doing chores. Rupe says they are the “worker bees” while the rest of the tribe sleeps in. They go fishing, and after Rupe goes fishing, Tom, who has been waiting 22 days for his chance, tries his hand at it, too. He brings back a small fish. Rupe congratulates him on his catch, but laughingly says its of the goldfish category.
In Mogo Mogo camp, Jerri Manthey complains of the wet weather which is taking its toll of her. Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien tends fire, having trouble getting it lit. She is depressed, being always on the “losing team.”
Tree mail brings a can of paint, in the other team’s colors, to each camp. Mogo Mogo discusses the meaning and chooses to do nothing with it until the challenge. Chapera dives right in and uses it as body paint. Speculation about an imminent merger has both camps buzzing. Alicia Calaway warns “something is going to happen.”
At the reward challenge, host Jeff Probst welcomes Chapera with compliments about their body paintings and asks Mogo Mogo why they did nothing with theirs. Kathy says they are conservative while someone on the Chapera team whispers “Good,” when they see Ethan Zohn was voted out.
Jeff tells them there will be no Reward Challenge. Instead, he has the tribe members choose a number. Since Chapera has two extra members, two will sit out. As Jeff explains it, each of the players will choose a member of the other tribe for a private conversation. Amber and Jenna Lewis sit out. Amidst wondering looks,
Over a snack of cheese, fruit and crackers, the pairs try to pump each other for information, trade strategy secrets and complain about other tribe members. Tom counsels Jerri to “suck it up” for the remaining 18 days.
After lunch, Jeff instructs the tribes to drop their buffs, but instead of the merge the castaways expected, they have a tribal shuffle to even the numbers. One by one, the castaways dip their hands into a container and pull out a new buff. Amazingly, each member of each team pulls out the other tribes team but remain as a group. All except Amber, who is the only one to switch.
The new Chapera team members are all the ex-Mogo Mogos plus Amber. The ex-Chapera team is now Mogo Mogo. Jeff informs them that more than the team name and buff is switched. They now live at the other’s camp, with all the possessions remaining as they are.
Amber and Rob share a poignant moment as they say goodbye. Amber feels like she got the raw end of the deal and wants to stay with Rob.
The new Chaperans are thrilled with their camp. They exclaim over each of the amenities, the blankets and pillows, the swing and bench, the organization, fire and wood, and feel they lucked out. The new Mogo Mogo tribe do not share the same joy. They see the disorganization, the dirty state of the camp, no fire and the camp set up too close to nettles. However, both teams are happy to find a welcome basket with cheese and bread and wine.
While they eat, the new Mogo Mogoans moan about losing everything and speculate what the new Chaperans are doing. What they are doing is enjoying the shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Jerri brushes vigorously while Kathy and Shii-Ann bathe in the sea and the Mogo Mogoans complain about an unfair trade.
Rob is angry and upset at losing Amber to the other tribe. Saying, “It kills me to have Amber by herself,” he adds that he hopes she can make it. He proposes a toast to her.
Day 24 brings tree mail: a book of Survivor history which both tribes study in preparation for the Immunity Challenge, which will be a trivia contest. Rob is still fretting about Amber, saying he’d promised to take her to the end and if anyone harms her there will be “serious consequences.”
Next page: Immunity Challenge: Survivor History and Tribal Council