Episode 7: Story - Utilities - http://maxpages.com/survivor/Episode_7

Gretchen Cordy, the 38-year-old preschool teacher described by many as the "heart and soul" of Pulau Tiga, was voted off the island tonight. In the first vote of the new Rattana tribe, Gretchen was sent packing. "I consider it the highest compliment," she explained later, living up to her reputation as a "soccer mom" by kicking a green coconut through the jungle as she spoke. "People didn't vote me off because I was weak, they voted me off because I was strong."

The voting was spearheaded by the scary and strong Tagi Alliance. Though the Tagi tribe no longer exists, the voting block consisting of former members Richard, Rudy, Susan and Kelly was instrumental in ridding the island of the beloved Gretchen. "Of course I voted for her," Richard said calmly after Tribal Council. "She was a threat to win."

Rattana

The voting capped a whirlwind three days on Pulau Tiga that saw the remaining castaways merge into one new tribe. Tribal ambassadors Sean and Jenna spent a night on the Sand Spit drawing up the guidelines for the new group ( Greg talks about Ambassador Sean after his visit to Pagong; Rudy discusses Ambassador Jenna after her visit to Tagi). Not only was the name "Rattana" chosen to replace Tagi and Pagong, but the former Tagi Beach was chosen as home for the new tribe. Tagi had hoped Jenna would bring her tribemates to their beach, and for Jenna it was an easy decision. Most of the Ambassadors' time on the Sand Spit was spent eating lobster and drinking four bottles of wine, living in total luxury. Their tribemates, hungry, could only wonder what was going on ( Colleen and Gretchen can't figure out what's taking so long for Jenna to return from the Tribal Summit).

After the decision was made, the former Pagong members were given mere moments to grab three personal items and leave their former home behind ( Gervase talks about what Pagong will bring to Tagi if they relocate).

On the first cramped night in the Rattana shelter, Rudy was heard to complain about the overcrowding. "I wanted to get up and go to the head in the middle of the night but there was too many people in the way. Too many bodies in a small space. I don't like it."

Salt and Light

In the often Machiavellian world of Survivor, Gretchen was seen by many as a warm, calming presence. But after she failed to win immunity, Gretchen's time was limited. As a driving rain pelted the island, the Tribal Council votes against her piled up. By the third vote she was shaking her head in recognition - the Alliance was very strong.

"Grab your torch, Gretchen," she heard a few moments later. "It's time for you to go."

Post-Council Food

Dirk, the fifth castaway voted off, holds the island record for post-Tribal Council ingestion. He scarfed twelve pieces of chicken, a bucket of shrimp and a tub of rice. While Gretchen didn't match Dirk, she set a record for showers, washing herself a half-dozen times in the hours after being voted off. "I just couldn't get clean," she noted.

Food

During the Tribal Summit process, when ambassadors from each tribe paid a visit to the other's beach, Tagi welcomed Jenna with a meal of fish, rice, and coconut milk. Pagong welcomed Sean with a hearty hello. The famished Jenna devoured her food and declared adamantly, "We're moving here."

Hooking Up

Sean and Jenna spent the night in the same tent on the Sand Spit. Sean claims nothing happened. Jenna claims Sean made a pass, but she turned him down ( Jenna repeats what Sean said). Both agreed, however, that Jenna drank Sean under the table as they sat on the beach and consumed four bottles of wine.

Wine

For those keeping track, Sean and Jenna drank Australian Chardonnay during the Tribal Summit.

Budding Friendships

Richard and Greg are cozying up, much to the chagrin of Colleen. She's really come to depend on Greg for friendship and moral support. His flirting with Richard has left her adrift. Greg thinks he's more of a Survivor than Colleen for being so pliable. Colleen thinks changing one's personality to adapt to the island is morally incorrect. Only Tribal Council will determine who's right.

As for Richard…

Richard thinks Greg is cute, but doesn't believe he's gay. "It's all part of the game," Richard says with a shrug. "He's trying very hard."

Immunity Things

The Immunity Idol and Immunity Talisman both represent the same thing. Greg made a reputation when Pagong was still an entity by being carefree about matters of island living, but hardcore when it came to competing for the tribe. Now that he's won the first immunity challenge, he's no less competitive. "Hey, if I win the Immunity Talisman every challenge, no one can vote me off. That seems like a pretty smart way to stay on the island to me," he noted with an ironic tone.

Survival

Greg once attended a survival school in the Montana wilderness where he was forced to live off the land - alone - for 27 days.

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