Author's Note
It's been an...unusual week for me, dear readers! On top of the usual coldness outside and plotting out future events, I've also had to deal with somebody plagiarizing my work. More happily(?), though, the anniversary of Twitch Plays Pokemon has begun, and has proven to be nearly as distracting as the original was. I've managed to get this chapter out on time, though, so I don't expect any future delays.
Also, I'm super glad that my elimination last episode was so well-received! In that vein, time to answer the reviews!
FOWLKON: Thanks! I'm glad that scene with DJ and Sammy was liked as well.
PizzaTheBomb: Thank you, although they didn't quite kiss - Chef shot them just as they were about to. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Ddynamo: Haha, yeah, deciding on the elimination order has been pretty difficult, especially for the early ones. I just don't want to get rid of them this soon!
I. M. Poik: Don't worry about the drama, I've got plenty in store.
Cole D. soul: I'm glad you feel that way!
acosta perez jose ramiro: True, true, and I'll keep this in mind!
ultrablud2: Interesting team predictions. And yeah, I'll definitely be focusing on more than just two characters when I finally get to All-Stars.
Knifez: Thanks, although Sammy's been out as bisexual since the horror challenge last season, so either you missed it or I missed something with your review. Your team predictions are also interesting, but I think you forgot to take into account the 'boy-girl-boy-girl' pattern used in canon.
Madison Wooten: Yeah, all of that is kind of what I was thinking when planning these first few chapters out.
JinxQueen: Yup, that was the idea!
Guest: I'm happy you liked what happened with the cast! And yeah, I see what you mean about what Beardo said about Beth. Also, interesting team predictions.
Star Saber21: Thanks for the review, your thoughts, and your team prediction!
spader13: Yeah, I'll admit that I never really even thought that much about that particular interaction when I was planning these first few chapters, so sorry for the disappointment on that front. And yeah, the love triangle is somebody I'm gonna make more of a conscious effort to have interact with the others - they've already interacted with each other, so it's time to expand a bit. Other than that, thanks for all the thoughts and predictions you've given!
With that taken care of, here's the weekly reminder of who's still left in the game:
Girls - Beth, Dawn, Jo, Sammy, Scarlett, Sierra
Boys - Alejandro, B, Beardo, DJ, Lightning, Shawn, Topher
And here it is, this week's episode! Also the intro sequence, so enjoy!
- Fangren
Episode 3 – Riot On Set
"Last time, on Total Drama Action!" The recap began immediately, cutting from a brief shot of the giant hill set to a door slamming shut in the spaceship interior set used for last challenge. That in turn was followed by a cut to a pair of bombs being dropped onto the western set, the green slime splashing Chris' helicopter before he rolled the window down and laughed.
"Fifteen teenagers," the trio of Beth, Beardo, and B were shown splitting off from the rest of the castmates by going down a level. "One spooky film lot," the boiler room door opened inside, and the heads of Scarlett, Shawn, Jo, and Sierra peered inside. "And a whole bunch of alien eggs," a shot of the mist-shrouded egg pit was shown, the camera panning up to show the four who had entered the boiler room talking amongst themselves.
"In a world where an army chef wore an alien costume," a door slammed shut behind Beth, B, and Beardo; then the team of Bridgette, Geoff, Alejandro, and Topher looked shocked at something out-of-view; and Chef's first appearance in the set as he jumped to a lower floor and ran off, "only the strong could survive." Dawn was shown frantically pushing her two friends towards an intersection before running off, and DJ and Sammy were shown getting shot just as they were about to kiss.
"Finally, only two were left to share a heroic victory," Shawn was shown spotting the last two eggs, then he and Scarlett were shown taking them before a sulking Chef could stop them. "Now, they will be pitted against one another, by destiny." The two winners were shown arriving back at the cast trailers, the host was shown talking with a sly look on his face, and the losers were shown gasping.
"And so it was," Bridgette and Geoff were shown gaping in horror as they spotted Chef grinning darkly at them, "that a pair of lovers were the subject of a vote-off for the ages." The surfer looked around in shock and disappointment before the party-lover smiled at her and held up a pen. "But not before getting everyone to sign a cast – both their enemies," Alejandro's voting confessional was replayed, "and myself included," the close-up shot of the cast from inside the limousine was shown, with a focus on the host's giant autograph. "You're welcome!"
"This week," the recap finished up with the clip up Alejandro throwing his hands in front of his face before Chef finally took him out of the game, "we're gonna bring the pain! Haha! Well, if I have anything to say about it." The footage finally cut to Chris, standing between the numbered studios. "And I do, by the way!" he told the camera, pointing a thumb at himself. "So brace yourselves, for some deliciously painful Total! Drama! Action!"
xxx
(Fade to Opening Theme)
[Lights swing up in front of various fake buildings and turn on; a camera pops out of an open manhole with a rat on top of it; another camera bursts out of a tree hollow, sending various pieces of garbage and a startled raccoon flying. A film slate is clapped in front of the camera, and the camera does a fly-over of the film lot; Chris drives the tram cab into its path, grinning and waving a hand to his other side as the camera passes through the cab and the lyrics start.]
Dear Mom and Dad, I'm doin' fine;
[The camera passes through the browning leaves of a birch tree and along the road between the numbered studios, dodging a pair of backdrops that are rolled into its path – a farm and an ocean sunset – before heading through a clothing rack, disturbing the costumes hanging on it.]
You guys are on my mind!
[The camera flies up the artificial pine-covered hill, the sun flaring as it reaches the peak and looks over to see a pool of water far below, then jumps in.]
Ya asked me what I wanted to be,
[A cloud of bubbles disperse from around the camera, revealing Jo in her one-piece bathing suit floating underwater. A short pan to the right show a giant shark approaching her with its mouth open; she notices it, then purses her lips and punches it hard on the nose. The shark rubs its new bruise in pain, and the camera moves up and out of the water.]
And now I think the answer is plain to see!
[Sammy is shown on top of a red-and-orange surfboard hooked up to a rigging on the side of the pool.; behind her is a backdrop of a cloudy sky. Seagulls are shooting past her likes bullets, causing her to frantically duck down and put her hands over her head. It isn't enough, however, as one of the gulls finally knocks her backwards into the pool.]
I wanna be...famous!
[The camera quick-pans to the left, showing Lightning manning some sort of seagull gatling gun with a grin on his face. Amy is shown doubled over with laughter next to him; the two pause to look at each other, then begin to make-out as Lightning's inadvertent trigger finger fires the remainder of the avian ammunition. They break their kiss, and the camera flies off between them. It pauses just before a large door as the Sasquatchanakwa runs across the path in a pink dress, a feather boa, and a boater. The door opens, and the camera passes into the light.]
I wanna live close to the sun!
[The bright light fades into a shot of the beach set, where Dawn sits on the sand meditating in lotus position. She is joined on either side by a shark, also meditating, and as the camera zooms in on her she smiles slightly.]
Well pack your bags, 'cause I've already won!
[The camera quick-pans to the right, ending on Alejandro in the make-up confessional. As he examines his gold tooth in a hand mirror, a hand from someone off-screen applies a bit of make-up to his cheek. He turns his head slightly just as another hand appears from the other side and sprays a puff of hair spray, which gets in his eyes. He winces, dropping the mirror onto the counter and bringing his hands to his face.]
Everythin' to prove, nothin' in my way;
I'll get there one day.
[Another quick-pan to the right puts the focus on Sierra and Topher, standing on top of what appear to be pillars of rock in front of a dark and craggy backdrop. The each hold a jousting stick, blue cushions on the end of Sierra's and orange cushions on the end of Topher's. They exchange a few blows, and Topher manages to knock his rival off her feet; she manages to cling to the edge of her platform, but flails her legs and causes one of her shoes to drop. The camera quickly pans down to show the shoe landing in a large metal pot of some sickly green liquid; Chef picks the pot up by its handles and takes whiff of its odor.]
'Cause I wanna be...famous!
[Chef looks at the shoe in his pot and shrugs, then turns around, scowls, and places it on a table in the middle of his kitchen. DJ, stirring a pot of rotten potatoes on a stove on the other side of the room, cranes his head to take a look. He grabs a small bottle from his workspace and sprinkles it into the pot the shoe had landed into, then takes a taste with a ladle and smiles. The camera pulls out to show Scarlett watching the scene on a monitor in another room. The scene on the monitors changes to a shot of a studio; her glasses gleam as she begins to type swiftly on the keyboard in front of her. An explosion happens on the monitor, and she smirks devilishly.]
(Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[The camera cuts to the explosion as it fades away, revealing Shawn walking across the screen with a nervous expression on his face. He walks up to B, who appears to be tinkering with the engine of a motor scooter; more explosions start occurring nearby, shocking the two boys. In a panic B jumps on his scooter, Shawn jumps on his back, and the two zoom off to the right, passing the Lame-o-sine on the way.]
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[The camera zooms in on the limousine's window, which rolls down to show a smiling and braces-less Beth. Beardo leans forward from the seat next to her and shoots a finger pistol at the camera, then opens the door with a flourish as the camera flies through. A series of flashes go off, and the camera passes through the hands of journalists, paparazzi, and fans as it flies towards Chris waiting on the amphitheater stage. The host grins and opens an envelopes with his thumbs, then looks over with a frown at the dress-wearing Chef Hatchet, holding a tray of Gilded Chris's and scowling. The host purses his lips and shoots a look at the camera, and the shot changes to the view from another television screen. The camera pans down and to the left to show Geoff sitting on a couch with Bridgette on his lap, about to kiss before they notice the camera on them.
The camera zooms out as the last few whistling notes of the song play, showing that the blonde lovers are sitting on a set of tiered couches on the left side of what looked like the set of a talk show, and that all twenty-two of the original Total Drama contestants are present and looking at the camera – Dawn, Sammy, and DJ next to them; Jo, Sierra, Lightning, Amy, and Shawn on the row above; Topher, Beth, Beardo, and B on the second row of the tiered couches on the opposite side of the stage; Scarlett, Staci, Ezekiel, Sugar, Scott, and Alejandro on the row below them. And on a couch in the very middle, directly below the large monitor that still showed Chris and Chef, sat Sam and Dakota. The camera zoomed out, and the central television screen flickered before the 'Total Drama Action' logo appeared over static.]
(Fade to Episode)
xxx
The episode opened up with a shot of the cast trailers at night, the moon visible just at the edge of the screen. The camera zoomed in on the guys' trailer and cut inside, showing Lightning sleeping peacefully on a top bunk. It panned over DJ on the top bunk next to him, then over to Alejandro and Topher on the other side of the trailer, and further still to Beardo and B. A flash took the camera briefly to Shawn, still dressed in his usual clothes, sleeping in a tree with one of his legs tied to the branch.
Another quick flash showed the four sets of bunks inside of the girls' trailer. Beth now had a set to herself in the front-left, with Scarlett still on top of the bunks further back; on the opposite wall were Jo and Sierra, then Dawn and Sammy. The camera focused on Sierra as she hugged her pillow and giggled, then panned over to the cheerleader lying under her covers with a smile on her face.
The sudden sounding of an airhorn caused her to bolt awake with a shriek. The shaking camera cut to the instrument in question as its owner shut off the horn and winked.
"ALL CREW ON SET!" Chris McLean yelled through the combination megaphone-airhorn. "CALL TIME IS, 4 A.M.!" He kissed the device and smiled. "I love this thing!"
xxx
"At first," Beth told the confessional camera in a slightly whiny tone, "I thought he was talking to the crew crew, not us. I was really hoping they'd replaced 'Chris the Creep' with a nicer host this time around! Is that mean?" she cowered suddenly. "Sorry!"
xxx
The door to the girls' trailer opened and Sammy walked out in a slump, dark circles under her eyes. Dawn followed in a similar state, then came Beth and Scarlett.
"And there go my hopes of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule..." the brainiac muttered as she stepped out into the darkness, Jo and Sierra following after. All six girls had changed into their usual clothes.
The camera panned to the right, showing Lightning, B, DJ, and Beardo trudging away from the guys cabin before zooming in on the doorway. "Not to question your greatness, Chris," Topher said as he stepped outside, "but we can hardly look good on-camera if we don't get our beauty sleep!" Alejandro came up behind him, placing a hand on the other boy's shoulder and shaking his head. Shawn walked by in front of them, and the two handsome young men went to join the rest of the group.
/
The footage skipped ahead several hours so that the sun was already well risen, and a small pink bird flitted and chirped across the sky. The shot panned down to the cast trailers, the thirteen castmates already assembled and divided by gender.
"You're on a film set now," Chris said as he walked past them, "and you're gonna learn that showbiz is not all red carpets and pool parties," he told them, getting up close to B's face, who shared a look with Shawn as the host whipped back around. "Today you're gonna get schooled on how tough on-set production life can be!"
He walked past Jo and Sierra, and the jock-ette rolled her eyes. "Oh please, I bet my morning workout is tougher than working on a film set. Heck, I've worked the morning rush at a drive-thru coffee shop, and there's no way anything is worse than that. Everyone thinks their order is clear, but let me tell ya, at 6 a.m. it sure as heck ain't! And then they have the nerve to blame me when their cappuccino doesn't have enough foam!"
"Well," Chris said, "speaking of taking orders from people you don't like, it's time for Scarlett and Shawn to pick their teams, and then try to stick it to each other!"
The camera panned over to Scarlett and Shawn, who had been standing near the middle of the group. While the brainiac had a confident smirk on her face, the bald survivalist was looking far less certain about his situation.
"Just so you know," Scarlett told him, "I've already determined my selection criteria, and ranked the others accordingly. Don't expect to give me any difficult decisions."
"R-right...," Shawn replied, gulping nervously as she walked away.
/
The footage flashed forward to show the thirteen castmates in two facing lines near the trailers – Shawn, Sammy, Dawn, Jo, Sierra, and Beth on one side; Scarlett, DJ, Topher, Alejandro, Lightning, B, and Beardo on the other.
"Okay," Chris said between them, "let's get this bloodbath started! We're gonna choose schoolyard style: girl, boy, girl, boy," as he alternated between the two he pointed at the respective groups. "I'd normally go with ladies first, but since we have an extra dude, first pick goes to Shawn!"
The camera panned left at the host's gesture, and the zombie theorist scratched the back of his head. "Uhh, Jo, I guess?"
"Yes!" the jock-ette said, pumping her fist. "Knew I'd get picked first!"
xxx
"Okay, I kinda hate to say this," Shawn began to say in the confessional, his hand covering his eyes for a moment before he lowered it and gave the camera a distressed look, "but team building really isn't one of my best skills. I mean, if it were just for one challenge it wouldn't be a problem, but picking a group who works well together long-term? This is gonna be tricky."
xxx
Jo was shown walking over to stand by Shawn, and the focus switched to Scarlett. "Just to clarify," she said, turning her head towards the host, "picking the team means I'll automatically be given leadership of it, correct?"
"Uh, yeah, sure," Chris said, raising an eyebrow at the young woman.
"Excellent," Scarlett said, folding her arms behind her back and turning her gaze over to the guys. "In that case, I choose Lightning."
"Sha-booyah!" the overachiever cheered, kissing his biceps and jogging the short distance over to his new team leader, who smirked at Shawn.
xxx
"Taking into consideration his physical aptitudes in conjunction with his transparent motivations, Lightning is the obvious first pick," Scarlett explained confidently.
xxx
"Okay...," Shawn said slowly. "Guess I'll go with the strong guy who gets along with everyone. DJ!" he pointed at the gentle giant, who walked over with a smile.
"Lookin' forward to workin' with you, brother!" DJ said, exchanging a high-five with the survivalist.
The focus moved back to Scarlett, but her eyes were on Lightning instead of the girls she'd have to choose from. "Just so we're clear," she whispered, "as I'm the leader of our team, you'll defer to my orders during challenges, correct."
Lightning frowned, and rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, since Chris said you get to be in charge, I guess I got no choice. But only for challenges, Lightning's vote is his own."
"Understood," Scarlett said simply. "Oh, and I choose Beth." At the decision, the short girl jumped up and clapped her hands giddily, then hurried over to her new team.
Shawn shrugged and said "Dawn." The mystic smiled and walked over to stand next to a smiling DJ.
Scarlett closed her eyes and took a breath. "Alejandro," she announced, and all four of the boys she'd had to choose from looked surprised.
xxx
"I'll admit," the redhead said cautiously in the confessional, "choosing Alejandro for my team confers a number of...risks. However, I would prefer having some form of control over his elimination rather than allow him to work unhindered on the other team. That he'll be an asset in challenges is just a bonus."
xxx
"I must say, I'm quite surprised!" Alejandro said as he walked over to his new team. "I thought-"
"Save it," Scarlett interrupted. "I'd rather not discuss my reasons right now." The charmer shrugged, and the camera panned back to Shawn.
"Hmmm...," he said, rubbing his chin and narrowing his eyes. "Might as well go with super-smart B." The silent genius nodded and strode over confidently.
The next pick from Scarlett was announced simply: "Sammy." The girl in question gasped, however, as did DJ and Dawn on the now-opposite team.
"B-but...," Sammy stammered before a stern look from Scarlett caused her to sigh and slowly walk across the area. She shot one last sad look at her two long-time friends and crushes before taking her place with Scarlett, Lightning, Beth, and Alejandro.
"Guess that leaves Sierra for me," Shawn said after glancing awkwardly at his two teammates.
The tall girl shrugged and jogged over to join the group. "Don't worry," she said to Dawn and DJ, "at least you can still see each other outside of challenges, right? I mean, it's not like being forced to compete against her is gonna destroy your friendship or anything!"
Dawn and DJ looked at each other, then smiled at her. "Oh yes," Dawn said, "you're quite right. We won't allow this game to come between us."
"Yup!" DJ added with a nod. "We're better than that, right Sammy?" he said, shooting a smile across to the cheerleader. Sammy blushed, then smiled and nodded.
The camera cut to the remaining pair of boys, focusing on Topher as he rolled his eyes. "Can we just get this over with," he said to Scarlett. "I mean, it's obvious who you're gonna pick. I mean, all that's left is me," he flashed a grin and shot a wink at the camera, "and him." He motioned to Beardo, who had closed his eyes and brought a hand up to his left ear as he idly pretended to work a turntable.
"Oh yes," Scarlett answered with a smirk, "the choice is obvious, just like you said." Topher nodded his head smugly as the brainiac said "I choose Beardo."
"Wait, what?!" Topher said, his jaw dropping and eyes bulging as the hairy young man opened his eyes and calmly walked over to his new team with a smile on his face, happily bumping fists with an ecstatic Beth. "Why would you choose him?"
"Because I already know that he works well with another member of my team," Scarlett explained bluntly. "And since you and Sierra make no secret of the animosity between you, it was only natural to force the two of you onto the opposing team together."
"Sorry dude," Shawn said, "but she's got a point. And as much as I don't like it either, I have no choice but to pick you."
Topher immediately shot a pleading look at Chris. "Sorry Toph, but them's the breaks!" the host said jovially. The pretty boy drooped, and he plodded over to the team he had been forced on to, pausing only to exchange a glare with Sierra.
"Scarlett," Chris announced moments later in front of the redhead, Lightning, Beth, Alejandro, Sammy, and Beardo, "I christen your team the Screaming Gaffers!" A short and soft yet still triumphant rock chord played in the background as a logo slid onto the top of the screen – a pale green lightbulb-and-crossbones against a lighter background.
"Shawn," the host continued after quickly jogging over to the team of the survivalist, Jo, DJ, Dawn, B, Sierra, and Topher, "you're the Killer Grips!"
Another rock chord played softly in the background as their team's logo slid onto the top of the screen – and orange-red fist raised as if in salute. "Do we have to?" DJ asked nervously. "I don't really like the sound of that."
"Hey, does that mean we can change too?" Beth asked from the other side of the area. "Gaffer sounds kinda gross..."
A sudden crash from off-screen was accompanied by a series of dramatic notes in the background music, startling Beth and the other Screaming Gaffers. The shot cut to a pair of men, one fat and black and the other white and of average size, standing on a set with some production equipment. A light lay broken on the ground in front of them, and a television on a cart rested nearby.
"I'm sick and tired of gettin' no respect around here!" the white man declared in a gruff and angry voice, walking off before his black companion shoved the television off its stand and left as well.
"Okay," Chris said quickly, checking his wristwatch, "since we're running late now and don't seem to have any more," his expression became uncertain as he tried to recall the words he wanted, "uhmm...whatever those...two...crew...dudes...did? We better get going!" He smiled and walked over to two sets of film equipment, including lights, cameras, a cart of props, and a small trailer.
"Your challenge," he said as the team logos appeared at the top of the screen, Grips on the left and Gaffers on the right, "for each team to set up a film set!"
"See?" Jo said. "I told you it'd be easy."
"Oh really?" Chris asked with a devious look. "As Location Manager, I want your sets to go...," he cast sneaky looks around the area before finally wiggling his finger and pointing upwards. "There!" A dramatic beat was played as the camera zoomed out to a long-distance shot of the giant fake hill set, a winding path leading all the way up to the top.
"Is it in your job description to make challenges more difficult whenever someone remarks on their apparent simplicity?" Scarlett asked in a deadpan tone.
"No," Chris replied, "I just happen to like doing it. Chef!" he said into a walkie-talkie he suddenly pulled out of his pants pocket. "All cleared for traffic up there?"
Mid-way through the host's question the scene moved up to Chef Hatchet standing at the top of the hill. The large man looked away from his own walkie-talkie to scope out the scene, and quickly shrugged at the camera.
The camera quick-panned back down to the base of the hill as the background music began to build. "Lights!" Chris called through his megaphone, Shawn frantically leading his team in a dash towards their equipment. "Camera! Action!" The bald boy picked up a light and turned for the hill, while behind him Beth and Lightning of the Gaffers were also seen making a dash to pick something up.
"FREEZE!" Scarlett commanded immediately, the shot changing to show her standing between her five teammates and the path up the hill, the remaining Gaffers freezing in their tracks with the equipment they had grabbed.
"We need to do this efficiently," their leader quickly explained. "As such, we'll pass the equipment up relay style – I myself will start off here, passing to Sammy, who will pass to Beth, then Beardo, Lightning, and finally Alejandro near the top. I want you two," she pointed at the two well-muscled boys, "to work together on getting that trailer up first. Once you've finished, get into relay positions, understand?"
The two young men exchanged a look and Alejandro shrugged, "I suppose we may as well follow our leader's orders," he said.
"Then you better make sure you don't slow down the Lightning!" the uber-jock said as they went over to the trailer, picked it up by its hitch, and started to run up the path.
"You three," Scarlett moved her gaze to Sammy, Beth, and Beardo, "should just grab something for now and go take up your spots along the path. Beardo, I want you to keep watch for when Lightning comes back down the mountain, then signal loudly when you start running equipment up to Lightning."
Beardo gave her a thumbs-up and short ding before grabbing the prop cart, imitating an engine's roar, and running up the hill at top speed.
"Sammy, Beth, once you hear Beardo's signal you need to begin running things up to the next station, understand?" Scarlett asked the two young women.
"Got it!" Beth nodded, grabbing a camera and heading off.
"Right!" Sammy added, taking a light and following after.
Scarlett nodded as she watched them go off, then quickly turned her attention back to her team's remaining equipment.
/
The scene flashed over to Jo and Shawn, who were carrying lights at the head of the Grips' pack. "So what exactly is your strategy here, Noble Leader?" the jock-ette asked. Behind them, DJ was shown with a larger three-bulbed light set, Dawn and B were guiding the cart, while Sierra and Topher carried a light and a camera respectively and determinedly did not look at each other.
"I don't know," the survivalist answered, "just keep running as fast as you can!"
/
Another skip forward showed Jo and Shawn reaching the top, followed shortly by Alejandro, Lightning, and the Gaffer's trailer. They shared a nervous look before turning around and starting the run back down, only a few feet ahead of their rivals. As tense music played in the background, the four passed by DJ and Sierra on their way up.
"I'll be waiting for you here, amigo!" Alejandro told Lightning, coming to a stop at a corner as Topher came by. "We're counting on you!"
"And sha-Lightning will always deliver!" the overachiever boasted before speeding up ahead of Shawn, who was looking over his shoulder with a perplexed look on his face, and Jo, who merely grit her teeth and pushed herself to keep up.
It was around when the two athletes passed Dawn and B that Lightning frowned and skidded to a halt. "Hah!" she cheered, looking back only briefly as she kept heading downhill. Her brow creased when she passed Beardo coming by the opposite direction, sounding off an incredibly loud and shrill air raid siren as he pushed his team's cart. A little while later she passed a huffing Beth holding a camera, and some time after that spotted Sammy carrying a light.
"What the...?" she muttered as she saw, several yard behind the cheerleader, a pile of equipment on the ground. As she neared the base, she was joined by Scarlett heading in the same direction. "Hey!" Jo said. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Winning!" Scarlett replied with a smirk as the two girls reached their respective teams starting areas – the Gaffers had much less still at the base than the Grips.
/
"Despite a slow start," Chris announced happily through his megaphone, "it looks like the Gaffers have taken the lead, having most of their stuff in play and the heavy stuff already on top!"
The camera cut away from the host's close-up to show Chef standing up at the top of the hill by the Gaffers' trailer and the Grips' pile of other equipment. Alejandro arrived with the cart and dropped it off without a word, and Chef checked something off of the clipboard he was holding.
/
"Crap," Jo muttered, catching her breath while Scarlett grabbed her team's last camera and ran up with it. There were still a light and a rack of clothing left on the Gaffers' side, but the Grips had several pieces of the smaller equipment and the trailer to deal with.
"What are you standing around for?" Shawn asked as he arrived back at the starting area. "We have to keep going!"
"Well what are we gonna do about this freaking trailer?" Jo asked as DJ and Sierra came up, followed by B on a collapsible scooter with Dawn and a rather scared-looking Topher on his back. "One of us needs to get that up there too!"
"Ooh, what about DJ?" Sierra suggested, raising up the gentle giant's muscly left arm.
"Nuh-uh," DJ said, yanking his arm away from his teammate, "no way. What if the trailer slips and rolls down the hill and possibly hurts someone?"
"Fine," Jo rolled her eyes as Shawn tapped his chin and looked at their remaining pile in the background, "then I'll pull it, and you can keep it steady from the back. That way it won't slip, and we'll go faster than if just one of us pulled it!"
"No time!" Shawn interrupted frantically. "We still have enough other stuff that we can't spare anyone, so we'll have to come back for the trailer later!" He quickly grabbed a camera and ran off.
"But-" Jo protested, but as her teammates began to follow Shawn lead she just groaned in resignation.
xxx
"Okay, seriously?" Jo said in the confessional, slapping her face. "That trailer's gotta be the hardest thing to lug up there, and he wants us to get it last?! We might as well just hand the other team the win!"
xxx
The background music switched between hectic and triumphant as the focus went from the Grips to the Gaffers and then back again. The Grips, despite their hustle, seemed to be losing morale as they passed – or were passed by – each member of the constantly-moving Gaffer relay.
For their part, the Gaffers seemed to have adjusted well to their assigned roles. The camera followed Scarlett as she handed off a set piece to Sammy, who then ran it up to Beth, who handed it over to Beardo, who then gave it to Lightning, who in turn dropped it off with Alejandro, who put it with the rest of their team's equipment just as Shawn and Sierra arrived for the Grips.
"Better get moving!" Alejandro taunted with an impish smirk before leaving to meet up with Lightning again.
"Aww, man!" Shawn moaned, removing his cap to wipe the sweat from his brow before he and Sierra raced back down the hill, passing DJ and Jo on the way.
"With Scarlett's relay strat keeping things moving," Chris narrated over a shot of Lightning tossing a boom mic into Alejandro's hands, "it looks like the Grips are trailing behind!" The camera cut to a close-up of the host as he chuckled at his own joke. "Will they be able to make it there and back in time to beat the Gaffers? Find out after the break to see whose gamble will actually pay off!"
"It'll be mine," Scarlett said with a confident smile as she passed between the host and the camera, pushing a rack of costumes.
(Fade to Commercial and Back)
The scene faded back in to a long-distance shot of the hill, the Gaffers visible from their positions along the path and their team logo appearing in the upper part of the screen.
"Welcome back to Total Drama Action," Chris said, lounging in a chair on top of the hill with sunglasses over his eyes and a drink-filled coconut in his hand. "We're in the middle of some pretty wild action right now!" he added, lifting his shades and leaning forward.
/
The focus was put on Sammy as she ran downhill, looking tired. Just as she got to a light that was sitting on the ground, Scarlett approached with the costume rack...and continued on right past the startled cheerleader.
"Wait," Sammy called, "does that mean...?"
"If your question is what I assume it is," Scarlett answered, "the answer is yes!"
"Ohmygosh!" the nice twin said, her face lighting up as she quickly grabbed the last piece of equipment off the ground and ran up the hill with it. The background music picked up its pace as the two young women raced upwards confidently, only to get temporarily blown aside by the frantic blurs that were Shawn, Jo, Sierra, and DJ.
"It's too late!" Scarlett called back with a hint of a cackle in her tone. "You'll never stop us now!" The camera cut to Sammy shooting her team leader an uncomfortable look, then flashed over to the Grips as they arrived at their trailer.
"Come one, we have to hurry!" Shawn said as he grabbed the hitch of the trailer and started pulling with all his might.
"No duh!" Jo barked, grabbing it with him as Sierra and DJ began to push from behind. Together, the four of them managed to get the heavy thing moving at a quick pace.
"Guys, I think we can do this!" DJ said with a smile as the background music rose triumphantly...only for the shot to immediately cut to Scarlett and Sammy arriving at the top of the hill where the rest of their team was already waiting.
"You did it!" Beth cheered as Beardo began a trumpet fanfare.
"Excellent work!" Alejandro added.
"Boo-yah!" Lightning cheered. "Looks like we win, y'all!"
B, Dawn, and Topher were shown standing sadly nearby, and the four Grips still coming up with the trailer were shown slumping, growling, and sighing in their defeat.
"Weeelllll...," Chris interrupted slowly with a sly grin on his face, "nnnoooottt exactly..."
"...Pardon?" Beth asked, her hands still raised mid-cheer, the background music fading into a deeper, more ominous tune.
"That was only the first part of the challenge!" the host explained. "Did I neglect to mention that?" He forcibly lowered the girl's arms, and the other five Gaffers slouched forward in new-found depression.
/
"It's time to make a movie!" Chris announced over a shot of the artificial hill growing closer. The scene cut to the top, where the host himself stood in front of the Killer Grips and a fully-constructed set of what looked like an elderly person's living room – pictures hung on each of its two walls, a grandfather clock stood on the left side, and a lavender sofa was sitting in front of a yellow-curtained window in the back. "And what we have here," Chris continued, "is the set for a tear jerker. Starring, an elderly lady considering her long life!"
"Great," Jo spat, "not only do we have no trailer, but we have a boring plot, too."
"Yeah, guess I kinda messed up on that call earlier, didn't I?" Shawn said, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck.
"I kinda feel bad for them," Sammy said from in front of a red-curtained window, her eyes fixed on the Grips.
"Don't bother," Alejandro told her, the camera zooming out slightly to show him standing near a green armchair. "They lost, and now they must deal with it."
The shot changed to show Chris' back as he faced the Gaffers, who were on a set of their own – with a desk set in front of the window and armchair and a maroon couch on the righthand wall, the fake room had a darker and more masculine feel to it. "You'll be making a feature about a thug," the host told them, "who tries to go straight, but can't resist the lure of the street." The camera angle switched, showing the handsome man directly as he spoke to the team of six, then focusing back on the Gaffers themselves, looking largely unimpressed.
"How...unoriginal..." Alejandro said dryly. "Incidentally, I don't suppose we'll be breaking for lunch anytime soon, will we? If we're to be working on a film set, then surely we must follow union rules, which include mandatory meal breaks."
"Oh yeah?" Chris asked. "Who here is in the union?" He raised his hand happily, and none of the castmates did. "Yeah, I thought so."
xxx
Alejandro groaned. "I really should have expected that. Since when has Chris ever treated us as more than tools for his amusement?"
xxx
"And now, it's time to choose an actor to perform a scene," Chris said as the footage cut back, showing the host and Chef standing in between the two sets, the team leaders standing nearby at the edge of their respective sets. "Chef!" the host said with a grin as he turned to his assistant, who held a pair of large manilla envelopes in his hands. "Give the teams their scenes!"
The hulking man shoved one of the envelopes into Shawn's arms, and he opened it with an uncertain look. "Uhh, okay, looks like we need an old lady for this," he said, pulling a sheet of paper halfway out and reading it. The camera panned over to the six other Grips, with Dawn, Jo, and Sierra as the central focus, the latter of which was smiling.
"Yeah, no way," Jo said immediately. "I'm not gonna pretend I'm old and weak."
"I...do not think I can act," Dawn added in a close-up. "Sorry."
"Oooooh," Sierra squealed happily, "looks like I get to do it!"
"Well, I guess if nobody has any objections," Shawn said hesitantly, and immediately six pairs of eyes and the focus of the camera fell on Topher, who looked like he was trying not to scowl after stepping in something unpleasant.
"As much as it pains me to say this," he said, "and believe me, it does...Sierra, horrible though she is, might actually be able to pull this off. At least, I know firsthand that she's good at pretending she's something she's not," he added with a glare.
Sierra huffed and turned away, her long braid hitting Jo in the arm causing the jock-ette to scowl.
"I guess that's settled then," Shawn said with a shrug before he and Sierra broke out into a smile each.
/
"It appears our character's name is 'Big Lucky Parmigiano'," Scarlett read from her team's papers, Beth and Sammy standing nearby.
"Sounds like a tough guy, so we go with whoever is toughest, right?" Beth asked before the camera panned over to Beardo and Lightning.
"Well count me out," the hairy boy said. "I'm more of a special effects guy anyway." He immediately mimed shooting a Tommy Gun, complete with perfectly mimicked gunfire.
"Ain't nobody tougher than Lightning!" the uber-jock boasted with a kiss of his biceps.
"Ah, but can you act?" Alejandro asked, stepping forward from the jock's left. "It takes much more than mere toughness to perform on stage. I think we all know who has the experience, the understanding of human emotion, and the charisma," he paused to flash a smile at the camera as a Latin riff played in the background, "to play this part."
"And I suppose your gold tooth does add to your 'tough guy' credibility," Scarlett quipped, causing Alejandro's face to fall. "But I must concur, you are our best choice." She smirked as he snatched the envelope away from her.
"Alright," Chris announced through his megaphone, "set up the shot! Whoever can get Chef," he explained as the man in question walked over to a pair of director's chairs stationed in front of a video monitor as a military drumline played in the background, "mister ex-Army Corporal, to show any emotion wins the challenge."
Chef sat down in one of the chairs and put a pair of headphones on, then crossed his arms. As soon as the host stopped talking, he leaned in close to the camera that was on him, baring his tightly-clenched teeth and growling angrily.
/
The footage skipped ahead, showing Shawn adjusting one of the stagelights on top of the set. The camera panned down and to the right, briefly catching a glimpse of Jo holding a boom mic before the shot stabilized on Topher and Sierra, the former watching over the girl as she held her script and hunched over.
"Okay, your pose is almost perfect," the host-wannabe said stiffly. "You just need to try feeling elderly, don't make the make-up and lightning do all the work for you."
"Ugh," Sierra rolled her eyes, "I know!" She immediately scrunched up her face and trembled, making herself look remarkably older.
"Hmm...," Topher said, tapping his chin in thought. "How's the lightning?" he asked, looking up at Shawn.
"Just about got it!" Shawn replied as he adjusted the same lamp he'd been working on earlier.
Topher looked back at Sierra and shrugged, "I suppose this should work. We just need to get some make-up on you, although with your skin and hair we hardly need it."
"I could do without the insults, thank you very much!" Sierra muttered angrily, still in her 'old woman' pose.
"So could I," Topher said haughtily, "but here I am, stuck having to work with you."
The camera cut over to the left, where Chris was peeking around the edge of the Grips' set and laughing. "Friction between the crew and talent," he told the camera watching him, "I love it! It's almost like a real film set!"
B and Dawn were shown exchanging a worried look as they stood behind a soundboard; the silent genius wearing a pair of headphones.
"But even you suggested it!" Sierra protested, finally breaking her pose to throw her arms up in the air.
"So?" Topher began to reply before Dawn slid up between them, holding her arms out to separate them.
"Friends, please," she said, "you must put aside your differences! Despite the past you share, I know that you still recognize each other's talents. Topher," she looked at the boy, "your on-screen training and experience is without peer among us! And Sierra," she turned her head to the girl, "your limitless passion is your greatest strength! If you two work together, we are certain to succeed!"
Sierra sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right..."
"You might have a point," Topher admitted. The two rivals looked each other in the eyes and shot out a hand.
"Truce," they said together, tersely shaking hands.
"I can't believe they settled that so fast!" Chris said from the edge of the set. "Sometimes, this business really stinks!"
/
The scene flashed over to the Gaffers, Alejandro reading over his lines while Scarlett fiddled with a cord running across the stage nearby. Beth was adjusting the lights above, and Lightning was practicing moving the boom mic around.
"I must say," the charmer said, "these lines do not fit the character description. There must have been a mix-up."
"Even if there were," Scarlett told him, setting the cord down and standing up to look at him, "do you really think Chris would allow it to be corrected? It's far more probable that you'll still have to use the script we were given, so you should just focus on doing what you can. I shouldn't have to tell you who'll take the blame if we lose."
Alejandro scowled. "Very well then. I suppose I don't have much choice in the matter, do I?"
"Yo, can I get a sound check?" Beardo asked suddenly from their team's soundboard, holding the headphones up to his ear.
"Oh, yes," the pretty boy replied idly. "Lightning, the mic?"
"Huh?" the uber-jock said, looking up as he fiddled with the boom mike cord. "Oh right, yeah." He swung the microphone around, but due to the way he was holding it the thing knocked into Alejandro's forehead. The charmer winced in pain, and the feedback from the impact earned a cringe from Beardo as well.
/
The scene cut to DJ as he pulled the Grips' costume rack with one hand behind their set. The camera zoomed in on his foot as he absentmindedly hooked it on one of the many cords that were running through the area. It quickly tightened up and caused him to nearly stumble, but he quickly realized the problem and started to tug his foot free.
In doing so, he also yanked on the taut cord, and as the camera followed it up the wall of the set the group of lights it was hooked up to also began to wobble. Shawn, who was currently adjusting them, failed to notice, and another mighty yank from DJ brought the lights and the young man working them down with a shout.
"Oh no!" DJ said, looking up and seeing his teammate and the lights falling towards him. Despite a fearful look he stuck his arms out, and caught everything before it hit the floor. "Whew, that was close," the gentle giant said as he put the lights down and Shawn jumped to the ground. "Sorry about knockin' you down, guess I shoulda watched where I was goin'."
"Nah," Shawn told him, "it was probably my fault for trying to move those lights this close to the deadline."
"Gotcha," DJ said. "You want a boost back up?"
"Sure," the survivalist shrugged.
The footage flashed forward, showing a smiling DJ handing the fallen lights back up to his team leader before turning around to see Chef standing a few feet away.
"Hmmph," the large man said dismissively, "actin' like you a tough guy. You're just lucky you didn't get on that brainy girl's team."
"Why would you say that?" the gentle giant said, his voice trembling. Chef just snorted and walked away.
"Oh, don't listen to him," another voice came from behind the saddened form of DJ; he turned around to see Dawn. "Your gentle soul is what makes you such a wonderful person!"
"Thanks," DJ told her with a sniff and a smile.
/
"Could you, umm, stand still...please?" Sammy said meekly as the shot moved over to her and Alejandro standing on the Gaffers' set. While the cheerleader was trying to apply make-up, the charmer was trying on a variety of fedoras and looking at himself in a hand mirror.
"I could," Alejandro answered dismissively, "but I find it more important to get the rest of my 'tough guy' appearance determined first. After all," he chuckled, "my face should already be perfect!"
"It's just a touch-up," Sammy told him, "but if you want me to go, I can-"
"Oh, no no no!" Alejandro interrupted quickly, turning his full attention towards the blonde before she stepped away. "You are right where I want you, señorita! Just tell me," he flashed a dashing smile, "which of these do you think looks better on me?" H switched the greenish fedora he'd been wearing with a browner one, and looked at Sammy expectantly.
"Ummm...the first one?" she said hesitantly.
"You have excellent taste," Alejandro said, putting the greenish fedora back on and admiring his reflection again. "Although I'll need a better jacket..."
xxx
"Was it just me," Sammy asked the confessional camera uncertainly, "or was Alejandro just trying to flirt with me? Because I kinda have a boyfriend...I think..." Her face briefly fell into a troubled expression before she shook it off. "At any rate, I'm not really interested..."
xxx
"With the team that Scarlett's put together," Alejandro explained in the make-up confessional, "I'll need an ally to ensure my safety. And since she's been separated from her little friends, Samey is my best choice – I need to get to her before the others do."
xxx
"And now," Chris cheerfully announced through his megaphone, "time for the final hair and make-up!" The shot switched from the six Gaffers on their stage to the seven Grips.
The camera zoomed in on Sierra as DJ walked up to her with a large purple flower-print make-up bag in his hand. "This light is appalling," he said as he took out a make-up brush and started dusting Sierra' face, "how am I supposed to work without a proper trailer and lighting?" Shawn and Topher gasped, and the gentle giant's tone lightened up considerably. "I mean, could you tilt that pretty chin up just a smidge?"
"That's enough!" Chef shouted, a military drumline underlying his every word. He grabbed DJ by the shoulder, and threw him into a director's chair.
"What?" the gentle giant asked with a shrug. "My Momma always told me I had a flare for applying her church make-up, so I figured-"
"We've got to toughen you up, you big old marshmallow!" Chef said, poking the younger black man in the chest for emphasis. "So here's what we're gonna do. I'll help you-"
His train of thought was interrupted when a few taps came on his arm. "WHAT?!" he shouted as he whipped around to see Dawn standing behind him looking oddly calm.
"Sorry for interrupting," she told him, "but we really do need DJ right now. I'm afraid you'll have to speak to him later!" She grew more and more nervous with each word as Chef's angry grimace deepened. When she finished she quickly grabbed her friend by the hand and took him back to their team's stage.
Chef just stood there, seething with mute rage.
xxx
"I've gotta admit," Chef confessed, his hulking frame taking up a considerable amount of space in front of the mirror, "I see a bit of myself in DJ. But I had to develop the macho in myself without somebody like me helpin'! But if he ain't gonna take this seriously, then I'm gonna have to force him to!" He ended his confessional by punching his fist and cackling.
xxx
Topher was shown tying the straps of a maroon bonnet into a bow under Sierra's chin while DJ quickly did her make-up. The girl's long braid had been curled up and hidden into the bonnet, and she had paired it with a long skirt of a similar color.
"Not too shabby," Topher told her, stepping back and framing her with his fingers. "Not perfect, granted, but this'll have to do since we don't have a trailer." Sierra rolled her eyes, and the footage cut over to the Gaffers.
Alejandro had put on a dark green suit coat to match the fedora he'd chosen, and he flashed a gold-flecked smile into his hand mirror before stowing it away. "Dashing as always," he said idly, "and now for the finishing touches." He snapped his fingers, and Sammy tossed him a lime green paintball gun prop.
A drumroll started as the shot cut to Chris, who held a film slate above his head and slowly opened the stick. "And thaaatt's...action!" The camera cut to a close-up of the slate just as the drumroll ended and the stick was clapped.
The footage switched to letterbox format and a noir-style tune started to play as the Gaffer's scene began. "When I was young schoolgirl in Poland," Alejandro began in a gruffer voice than usual, idly petting his gun while looking up at the ceiling, "frolicking through the fields with my pet goat in the summer sun," as the budding actor continued, the shot cut to Chris and Chef as they watched the monitor and listened with looks of shock and disbelief on their faces, "those," Alejandro sighed as the two watching him shared a glance and the camera showed the grainy monitor feed, "were my happiest days."
"Did you check the envelopes before you labeled them?" Chris asked with a sly look.
"I thought you checked 'em!" Chef answered, a briefly troubled expression fading as the host began to snicker, and the cook joined in.
/
A touching tune began as the Grips' scene began to play on the monitor feed. "Now you listen and you listen good!" Sierra said in an elderly tone as she hobbled across the set assisted by a cane; the footage promptly switched back to letterbox format for the remainder of her scene. "If your fighter doesn't go down in the first round, you'll be sleeping with the fishes!" She brandished her cane menacingly as she spoke. "I've risked a lot to come back here, to this life, and I won't have you mooks acting like you can get the better of me because of it!" She slammed her cane back down and spun around, folding an arm behind her back as she stepped back towards the grandfather clock.
The shot cut to Shawn and B watching from the Grips' soundboard. "Huh, guess she really is good at this!" the team's leader said. "Good thing we went with her." B nodded sagely.
/
The viewpoint moved over Chef's shoulder as he watched the next part of the Gaffers' scene on the monitor, the footage switching back to letterbox format as the handsome young man began to speak again. "I've lived a good, long life," Alejandro said mournfully, closing his eyes and shaking his head as he set the prop gun down on the desk. "I've loved, I've laughed," he paused to sigh and put his hands on the desk, hanging his head sadly, "but what I miss most of all...is my sweet little goat. Shopa!" he cried, raising his head dramatically towards the sky as touching music swelled up in the background. "Ohhh, baaa, baaa!" Tears began to roll down his cheeks as he mourned the lost goat.
"Baa, baa!" Chef echoed, struggling to contain his tears before he broke out crying. Sammy and Beth were shown wiping away their own tears with the aide of a box of tissues, and Chef walked over to join them, even blowing his nose.
"C-c-cut!" Chris declared, trying to hide his own emotion from the camera. "Okay! Enough! It's too much for Chef to take! Alejandro clearly wins for best performance!"
Triumphant music opened up in the background as the shot cut back to the charmer, now taking a bow. "The Screaming Gaffers win it!"
"Well it looks like I know who's gonna be sleeping with the fishes tonight!" Sierra said, still in character as she wielded her cane like a gun, pointed straight at the Gaffers.
"Weren't you wantin' me to get tougher?" DJ asked with a light chuckle to a still-crying Chef.
"Tough guys cry!" Chef countered, grabbing the younger man by the neck of his shirt. "And did you notice how your team just lost, DJ? And you'll keep losin'," he growled in a low voice, "until you agree to let me toughen you up to win this, and then split the prize money with me!"
The camera focused on DJ as he cringed in fear and new-found panic.
/
The footage skipped forward, and the camera flew in towards the cast trailers. A flash took the scene inside the girl's trailer, where Sierra was pouting on her bed while Jo stood nearby.
"Great," the super-fan mumbled, "now Topher's gonna try to convince everyone else to vote me out."
"Which is why we need to stop wasting time in here and go talk to them," Jo told her. "I mean sure, Al won the acting challenge, but that's not the only reason we lost, and I think we can convince some of the others to vote someone else out."
"Really?" Sierra asked hopefully. "You'd do that for me?"
"Uh, yeah, sure," the jock-ette told her awkwardly.
xxx
"So I've been rethinking my strategy since last season," Jo explained in the make-up trailer, "and I've decided that I need to try to be more lenient with other people's failures in order to build their trust. And since Gangster Granny's my best shot at an ally right now, that means helping her out when her butt's on the chopping block."
xxx
"Ooh, can we vote out Topher?" Sierra asked with a hint of viciousness.
"Sorry, but as far as I can tell Pretty Boy didn't mess up today," Jo answered. "We're gonna have to go after someone else, and I have just the guy in mind. But it's not gonna work if it's just the two of us, so let's go talk to some of the others." She smirked confidently and motioned for Sierra to follow her out of the trailer. The tall girl lingered for a moment on her bed before giving a small shrug and walking after.
/
The scene faded into the same sequence used to introduce the Gilded Chris Ceremony during the previous episode – the shot of the amphitheater, the stream of scenes featuring the host himself, and the gleaming golden statue flanked by fireworks, all set to that dramatic award show theme.
A jazzier tune began once the footage flashed to the ceremony itself, Chris waving to the camera as he approached the podium. The seven members of the Killers Grips were shown watching with unimpressed looks – Topher, DJ, Dawn and B in a higher row; Shawn, Jo, and Sierra in a lower one – and Chef Hatchet was shown doing a drumroll ending in a motion towards the host.
"And now it's time to cast your votes and determine who will stroll down the Walk of Shame!" he announced to the castmates before motioning to the limousine idling at the end of the red carpet. The seven grips gasped, and a dramatic beat began the usual musical accompaniment used during an elimination. "Under your seats you'll find voting devices," he said as Shawn reached down and picked his up. "Just press the button of the person you want voted off!" The screen of the voting device was shown, the face of each remaining contestant scrolling past long with a button next to each.
"It's easy," Chris told them, "sooo, cast your votes! Who will it be?" he asked over a shot of DJ looking nervous. "Who will be cast off the set?" The footage flashed through shots of most of the Grips – Dawn, then B, then Jo, then Sierra, then Topher – as they considered who to vote for. Chef began another drumroll as the votes were cast, and a stream of electronic boops and beeps were heard as the camera panned over to a large old-fashioned computer sitting on the stage just past the cook-turned-drummer.
Chef motioned to the computer at the end of his drumroll, and it began to slowly print something out. "And it looks like all the votes have been cast," Chris announced from off-screen before the camera switched to his close-up. "Chef?" The sound of paper being torn was heard in the background, and Chef handed the print-off.
"Remember," the host told the castmates, "if you get a Gilded Chris, you get to stay because, rather suitably, the Gilded Chris represents the luster of fame, and, immortal greatness!" As he spoke, a trapdoor opened in the stage next to him, and six of the golden awards rose up on a marble pedestal from below. Chris chuckled, and the camera focused on the anxious Grips as he announced the results.
"Aaand Gilded Chris's go to...Dawn and B!" With a smile he tossed an award to the mystic and the silent genius in succession, and though both made their catches only B seemed to be happy about it. Dawn, on the other hand, seemed to be shooting DJ worried looks.
"Likewise, Jo and Topher also get awards!" Chris added. The jock-ette caught hers with a smug smile, and the junior host stuck his tongue out at his long-time rival after getting his.
Sierra returned the gesture, and the camera switched back over to the host. "Only three nominees left," he said as the view changed to a split-screen with a confused Shawn on the left, DJ hanging his head in the middle, and Sierra frowning nervously on the right. A tense and high-pitched tune began to play as the bottom three's eyes widened.
"And, the loser is...!" A drumroll began during the host's short pause. "Shawn!" Both DJ and Sierra looked towards the survivalist just before their parts of the split-screen slid away and Shawn was left gaping. "Time to go!" Chris announced, pointing towards the Walk of Shame.
"But...but why?" Shawn stammered in disbelief.
"Sorry Zombie Boy," Jo told him, "but you messed up when you told us not to grab that trailer. If we'd had that, maybe we would have actually won the challenge."
"Aww, what?!" Topher shouted in protest. "Come on! The reason we lost is because Sierra failed to perform! Isn't that right, guys?" he asked the three sitting next to him.
"Well...," Dawn mumbled as she and B purposely avoided eye contact with him. DJ just closed his eyes and hung his head.
The camera cut back to Shawn as he sighed and stood up. "Welp, looks like this is as far as I get to go. Sorry for failing the rest of you."
"And remember," Chris told him as he started to walk past the stage, "you can never come back, ev-er!" The reminder just caused the bald boy to sigh again, but as he lingered in front of the podium he looked back one last time just as the usual sad and reverent music began to play.
Topher, DJ, Dawn, B, and Sierra were shown all waving him off, the middle three with sad smiles on their faces, and even Jo managed to give him a few curt waves. Shawn smiled and sniffed back tears as he waved back, and started walking again. He continued to wave even as he walked down the red carpet, only stopping when he finally got into the Lame-o-sine and drove off.
The shot cut back to DJ and Dawn, still in their seats. "I can tell you're feeling troubled," the mystic said softly, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You think you should have been the one to go home, don't you?"
"Yeah," DJ told her. "We lost because Chef's tryin' to force me into some kinda alliance with him, and I don't know what I'm gonna do about it!"
Dawn nodded, and hugged him from the side. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll help you think of something."
DJ looked down at her and smiled. "Thanks."
(Fade to Credits)
/
/
/
[Bonus Clip]
Shawn closed the door of the limousine, and his smile immediately fell. "I can't believe I lost my shot at a million bucks, and all because of a lousy trailer! And I really thought I was gonna be a pretty good leader, too!"
He sighed deeply. "Aww, who am I kidding, there's no way I woulda made it much further after I won last season. Sorry, zombie bunker," he said as he took the blueprints out from his pocket and looked at them sadly, "but it looks like I'll have to earn you the old-fashioned way." He sniffed, and wiped the tears out of his eyes.
"And you know what makes it worse?" he asked the camera that was facing him. "I could have avoided all of this if I had just said 'no' to that deal Chris gave me at the end of last season! Sure, I still wouldn't have all the money I need, but I'd at least he a hundred grand closer than I am now!"
He sighed again, then took off his toque, revealing his bald head as he blew his nose with his hat. He blinked, then sat up straight. "What am I doing?!" he exclaimed. "I can't be moping around, this limo could get attacked by zombies any second!" Without thinking about it he put his hat back on, then jumped up and stuck his head out of the compartment's moon roof. "I may not be able to see you, undead scum," he shouted to the outside world, his legs dangling in front of the camera, "but I know you're out there!"
Author's Note - Post Script
Trust me, eliminating Shawn here was one of the toughest decisions I had to make. I really like him, and I had originally planned to have him go further than this, but since he's already gotten a lot of screentime last season and I didn't want to prematurely end one of the more interesting subplots, I ended up switching his elimination with the person I had previously planned on giving the boot in this episode. To all you Shawn fans out there, I really am sorry that I had to do it.
At any rate, that leaves the teams at an even six each: the Screaming Gaffers with Scarlett, Lightning, Beth, Alejandro, Sammy, and Beardo; and the Killer Grips with Jo, DJ, Dawn, B, Sierra, and Topher. Hopefully the reasons why everyone was picked make sense.
Let's see, what else...well, the subplot with Chef and DJ is going to be a bit different, as you may have already noticed. And of course, knowing that I was going to put Sammy and DJ on separate teams was one of the reasons why I had them hook up last episode, although they didn't get much focus this time around.
For the challenge, I ended up deciding to have their be more equipment than was strictly shown in canon. As I rewatched the canon episode, I realized that both teams probably could have just gotten everything up in one trip had they tried, as Chris never explicitly told them to leave the trailer for last; this thus caused Heather's suggestion of a relay to make little sense. So when adapting that part of the challenge, I decided to help set up Shawn's elimination by giving the teams more equipment to work with, allowing for a relay suggestion from Scarlett to give her team the edge. Hopefully that all made sense.
Oh, and one last thing. As you may have guessed from the opening sequence, I'm going to go ahead and confirm two things: unless something causes my plans to change drastically, Amy will be the one who joins the game halfway through, while Sam and Dakota will be hosting the Aftermaths. Sorry if I disappointed anyone, especially with that last decision!
Until next week,
- Fangren
Appendix: TSA Eliminated Contestants
Geoff - (Tied for 14th Place)
Bridgette - (Tied for 14th Place)
Shawn - (13th Place)