TRIBAL COUNCIL
Denise brings her already lit torch to Tribal Council (a carryover from her oldMatsing days), but the rest of Kalabaw lights their newly acquired torches, since this is their first Tribal Council. Jeff Probst reminds them that when their fire is out, they will be gone too, since fire represents life in this game. Dawson admits, "Dana leaving hit us harder than the rain every could.” Jonathan agrees and comments that they would have won the challenge today if Dana was not sick and still part of their tribe. After tonight, they will have two fewer members than the Tandang tribe. Katie admits to doing poorly in today’s challenge and says, "I feel like the biggest idiot in the world.” She hopes that her tribe judges her by her performance in other challenges and not this one. Dawson praises Denise for her contribution to the Kalabaw tribe. Jeff asks Dawson what contribution she makes to the tribe. She replies, "I try to keep the spirit of the camp up.” Jeff Kent lists three things on which he is basing his voted tonight: work around camp, loyalty and value at challenges. The Kalabaw tribe then votes. Jeff reveals the first five votes, which are one vote for Denise and four votes for Dawson. Just after Jeff Probst snuffs her torch, Dawson gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before departing. Sarah Dawson, the 28 year-old insurance salesperson from Silver Spring, MD, becomes the sixth person to leave SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES
The Kalabaw tribe hurries to get back to their camp from the challenge, since the rain is pouring down. Jonathan welcomes Denise. Denise tells everyone she is glad to be a part of of her new tribe and is there to help out. She explains, "Whatever I can do to prove that I have value and even if it can keep me around for one more Tribal, then I can regroup.” Katie is glad that Denise joined their tribe instead of Malcolm. Hoping to get Denise to join her women’s alliance to swing the votes in her favor, Katie says, "From here on out, it’s my job to get Denise underneath my arm.” As the rain continues, the Kalabaw tribe huddles together in the shelter under the tarps to try and stay warm. Dana hasn’t felt good all day and now she feels worse. She is not only cold, but also nauseated and dizzy with a sharp pain in her stomach. Eventually she grows so ill that she runs out of the shelter and vomits. Dana says, "You know back home I’m kind of supposed to be tough, but ‘um you’re only as tough as your body I think will allow you to be.” When Dana returns to the shelter, Dawson notices that she is burning up with a fever. Jonathan wraps her up in the tarp and tries to keep her warm. He admits, "This girl is shutting down. She needed some medical attention.” Later, Jeff Probst shows up on the Kalabaw beach with the medical team reacting with surprise to learnhow much pain that Dana is experiencing. Dr. Joe examines Dana and determines that her life is not in danger, but she is in a great deal of pain. He recommends that they see if she can get better on her own in the next twelve hours. Jeff then asks Dana what she wants to do. Dana starts to cry and says, "I can’t be out here sick anymore.” Jeff confirms that she is pulling herself out of the game and then puts his jacket over her. Next, the Kalabaw tribe comes over to say goodbye to Dana. They all give her words of support. Dana apologizes to her tribe for leaving. Jonathan says that he knows exactly how she feels, since he too left the game for medical reasons. As Dana boards the boat to leave the game, Katie is shows her discomfort explaining, "My best ally just got taken away by the medics and I’m like, ‘What the hell am I going to do to survive?’” So, Dana Lambert, the 32 year-old cosmetologist from Winston-Salem, NC, becomes the fifth person to leave.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You know we’re about to talk all about that big smooch from Dawson, right? What were you thinking as she leaned in for the kiss, and what was your reaction after? Is your wife Lisa on your case about it?
JEFF PROBST: Honestly, it did take me by surprise. Nothing like that has ever happened. As I snuffed her torch I felt her really staring and connecting with me. It was as if she had already accepted her fate and was now looking for her goodbye from me. As she leaned in toward me I thought she was going to kiss me right on the lips. It was one of those moments that slowed way down as it was happening. Dawson is an “in the moment” girl and though I have no idea what she was thinking in that moment, I thought it was both fun and funny. Fortunately, my wife Lisa is not a terribly jealous person!
EW: Look at you giving up your rain jacket to Dana after she bowed out! And to think they say chivalry is dead. You’ve made the distinction in the past between contestants that needed to be removed the game and some that maybe used illness as an excuse to bail early. What’s your take here with Dana?
PROBST: Dana was truly sick. Very sick. I felt awful for her because she was such a vibrant woman and was giving so much to the game and then she got walloped. It was just too much for her body. The distinction is that if medical says “you cannot go on any further” then they are pulled from the game. It never has to do with pain — it has to do with the condition being life threatening. So in Dana’s case the medical decision was “you can go further… if you can stand it.” She couldn’t. So technically she did quit, but I have to say that from what I saw, I would have done the same thing. She was in real pain.
EW: You made a few comments about Abi sitting out so many challenges. Is it time to revisit the rule that players are allowed to sit out consecutive challenges when they do not appear in the same episode cycle, and make participation in every other challenge mandatory?
PROBST: Perhaps, but I don’t know that it would change the game in any demonstrative way. The players adapt to the rules, whatever they are, and alliances tend to dictate strategy — but with the number of “one challenge episodes” growing, it is worth consideration. Thanks for the idea!
EW: This episode was double trouble for Kalabaw as they lost two members. What can you tell us about next week?
PROBST: Next week, another Survivor first! It happens at one of the following three points in the show: A.) Challenge B.) Tribe camp. C.) Tribal Council.
| Player | Survivor | Tribe |
| Christi | Carter Williams | Kalabaw |
| Colin | Jonathan Penner | Kalabaw |
| Karen D. | Katie Hanson | Kalabaw |
| Tonya | Jeff Kent | Kalabaw |
| Steve | Denise Stapley | Kalabaw |
| Alyssa | Artis Silvester | Tandang |
| Cara | Peter "Pete" Yurkowski | Tandang |
| Cheryl | Michael Skupin | Tandang |
| Lauren | Lisa Whelchel | Tandang |
| Lee Anne | Roberta “R.C.” Saint-Amour | Tandang |
| Sandy | Abi-Maria Gomes | Tandang |
| Dick | Malcolm Freberg | Tandang |
