After last week's episode ended dramatically in a disorder of braids, freckles and tears, it was only fitting that tonight's episode should begin in darkness.

It's always darkest before a cliché.

"I cautioned against it," says Shannon, shaking her head. "Because what you learn out of context is only going to destroy you."

She's talking, of course, about the forbidden video Mandy chose to view last week. Here it is again! A slowed-down, sepia-toned, flash-framed Billy -- a Billy nightmare! -- peels off his clothes for perfect-10 cover girl "Broncobuster" Vanessa as his friends cheer him on and the triangles go plink and the drums go bonk.

The girls, naturally, are concerned. Billy's behavior indicates that they have reason to worry. "If Billy is acting that way," Valerie says sagely, "I'm screwed."

Shannon might have chimed in as well, but her face has frozen into a stiff rictus of fear. She can barely dislodge her upper lip from her teeth.

On the other side of the island, the boys are considerably less distraught. They deduce that the girls are "getting more wild"; but, Andy concludes, "everything happens for a reason."

His reason is that he's on this show, see? And there are a bunch of girls there, too, and they have to go out with him or get kicked off the island.

Daylight comes.

Walberg collects the girls and tells them it's time to send another fantasy single home to wherever it is that fantasy singles reside. First, however, the singles must come before the ladies and declare their undying like for one of them. Mandy can hardly contain her delight. Shannon shudders, visibly ill once again. "I'm screwed," Valerie thinks sagely.

As predicted, the first two boys choose Mandy. She smiles and shrugs and shucks and shuffles and looks to her buddies for approval. Shannon smiles a hard little smile and turns away. She has been overlooked for more popular, more flamboyant girls before. And she just hates it when Andy does that to her.

The next two singles pick Valerie.

"I mentioned your tan before, Valerie," says one sunned muffin. "You are hot."

"Thanks, Jim," croaks Valerie, deeply moved.

Then, much to Mandy's miffed amazement, the six remaining boys pick Shannon as their favorite!

"This is so uncomfortable," she mumbles as Tom, "Ivy League graduate" and object of their unanimous affection, struggles to spit out his choice.

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