CBS's big plan is to have one more castaway jettisoned and then force the 10 remaining members of the two groups to merge. The two tribes busy themselves trying to set up alliances to deplete the other team once this dreaded merger is consummated. Pagong has six members, Tagi five: If Tagi loses today's challenge, the 6-4 odds will doom them to being picked off helplessly, one by one, by the implacable Pagong.

Pagong is abuzz about male chauvinism. Gervase made some crack about women being dumber than cows. (It's unclear how exactly he said it.) And cocky Joel, who's looking more and more like the guy who fronts the band Sugar Ray, is viewed as insufferably condescending by the group's four women. Gretchen, particularly, seems out for blood.

When it comes to Pagong's three chickens, won last week, everyone's out for blood. One hapless fowl is decapitated for dinner; the group plans to eat the other two before the merger, to keep any of the precious meat from falling into the hand of the loathed Tagi.

Tagi is grappling with its own problem, a big one: Tubby Richard has decided to go bottomless. An extra-large blurred spot supplied by CBS techies keeps the corporate trainer's butt out of viewers' sight. This is just another modern convenience not available to the Tagi tribe members.

CBS drops off some mysterious cans of food to both camps. It's probably Alpo, the tribes decide. Pagong dumps the dog food in a skillet and gathers round to eat; over at Tagi, only Richard chows down.

In a potent bit of irony, Pagong's last chicken is eaten by a monitor lizard. Joel gets upset. There's also a mini feature on Gervase, who by his own admission doesn't do a damn thing but somehow manages to not get himself booted off the island.

Richard, deigning to wear shorts, blows the reward challenge that night, a hunt for junk in a deserted army hut. His teammates start looking at him the way the Pagong looked at their chickens. The prize is chocolate, among other goodies.

The immunity challenge is an arduous obstacle course set up by some Green Berets brought in by CBS. Tagi wins, sparing Richard's big white ass for another episode.

At the tribal council that night, the Pagong meet to off one of their own. Jeff Probst tries to stir the sexism pot. He doesn't need to though; Joel is toast. Jenna gets two votes, but one of them was Joel's, so she's safe for the time being.

(B.W.)

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