The Smole: 35.09-All for expediency

Last episode,

Sylvia: "Douglas, can I ask why you didn't take part in the mission yesterday? You were the only one to do so."

Sylvia: "Even Ryenn and I went in even though we were scared. You should have at least tried."

Douglas: "I know, I know. I'm a scaredy-freak. I'm worthless. I can't even walk into an ex-cemetery at night with other contestants and crew member in there. Every time I try so hard I just screw up anyway, so what's the point? I've always been useless, at school, at sports, at everything."

***

Sylvia: "Hykel has been nothing but nice. Don't assume he's bad just because of his religion."

Grace: "I know you have a heart of gold, goddess, but don't be fooled by him!"

Sylvia: "If you continue to be so hostile to him I will bar you from being my fan or attending any of my concerts. Do you hear me?"

Grace: "What? How could you? I--I--"

Hykel: "There's no need to fall out over me, Sylvia."

Grace: "Hmph!"

Grace: "Why doesn't she understand what I'm doing for her?"

Grace: "I know every detail about her, including all her food allergies and the exact spot her birthmark is. It's on her left bumcheek. I know what's best for her."

Grace: "She must have been poisoned by him. That's the only explanation. That's why she was so rude to me. I need to get rid of him to save her."

Grace: "Maybe if I use her makeup she'll see that I'm always on her side. Wait, what's this?"

Grace: "Hmm...if I set Hykel up with this, then she'll see his true colours and learn to stay away from him."

***

Morris: "You're always so domineering. Why do you think you're always right?"

Monique: "I make the best decisions. You know that."

Morris: "It was only once."

Monique: "That one time was enough to end you."

Morris: "Just let me make my own choices."

Monique: "You're still young and immature. You don't know how life will try to eat you at every corner."

Morris: "This is the Smole. This isn't real life. And you aren't that much older than me. What gives you the right to lord over me?"

***

"Unfortunately, Grace Gina Pierce, you are the next to be executed. Please pack your bags and leave."

Grace: "I knew I should've worn the dress."

Monique: "Gina is executed?"

Courtney: "Hmm..."

Ian: "She was just an obsessive fan so bye to her."

***

Morris: "You look hot today."

Monique: "What!?"

Monique: "Get off me!"

Monique: "What do you think you're doing?"

Monique: "Are you out of your mind? Are you not afraid that tongues will wag?"

Morris: "Who cares about that?"

Monique: "Listen up, Delven. You are nothing more than a client. That's it."

***

Ryenn: "Is it just me, or has it gotten really hot in here?"

Ian: "Maybe it's because I'm here too."

***

Ryenn: "Oh Ian..."

Ian: "Your skin is so smooth..."

Ian: "How about we bring this to the bed?"

Ryenn: "I...I've never done this before. I'm a virgin."

Ian: "Don't worry. I'll guide you step by step."

Ryenn: "Where did those tinted glasses come from?"

Ian: "What glasses?"

Ryenn: "Must be a metaphor."

Ian: "I'll make sure your cherry pop."

The drama heightened with Grace's execution. Will this affect the group's ability to earn more points, or will the pot stay at 245/550 points?

***

Ryenn: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Ryenn: "Oh my god! Did I...please don't let it be true."

Ryenn: "What have I done? There's no way I can face my family or friends or Ian. And worst of all, it's televised! I'm so ashamed of myself. What do I do now?"

Monique: "Morris, now that you're sober, I think we need to have a talk."

Morris: "A talk? Why?"

Monique: "Do you not remember what you did last night?"

Morris: "It's a little hazy. What did I do?"

Monique: "You tried to kiss me."

Morris: "I what?"

Morris: "I would never have done such a thing. You know that. I know where we stand."

Monique: "But if that's the case...it must have been the wine. You did drink a lot last night. And again, it's alcohol that almost ruined you, Morris! Ugh, my words will fall on deaf ears anyway."

Morris: "Monique! Wait!"

Courtney: "Who's there?"

Courtney: "Shoo!"

Courtney: "Both of you!"

Monique: "Why did you even follow me in?"

Morris: "I...uh...I just wanted to apologise for trying to get fresh with you."

Monique: "Apologies are useless if you don't learn."

Ian: "Ryenn? Are you in here?"

Ryenn: "Knock when you enter!"

Ian: "Sorry."

Ian: "About what happened last night..."

Ian: "I don't know what came over me. I'll take responsibility for it."

Ryenn: "How? You're already married!"

Ryenn: "What am I to you? Some kind of goal on your bucket list of things to try?"

Ian: "Woah, easy there."

Ryenn: "MY LIFE IS COMPLETELY RUINED THANKS TO YOU!"

Ryenn: "You used me. I should have known you were a bad person."

Ian: "Don't put it like that. I regret it too."

Ryenn: "Do you?"

Ian: "Don't cry now, please."

Ryenn: "Just leave me alone."

Ian: "I know. I'm a horrible person."

Ian: "I'll make it up to you. I promise. Let's just forget about last night."

Ryenn: "I guess that's our only choice..."

***

Ian: "Monique Plaita! Why did you set us up like that?"

Monique: "What are you talking about?"

Ian: "You know what I'm talking about. There's no way I could have gotten that tipsy and lose all rationality based on what I drank. You drugged the wine."

Monique: "Excuse me?"

Monique: "How dare you insult my integrity like that?"

Ian: "Then how do you explain it?"

Monique: "Explain what? I have nothing to explain to you. All I can tell you is that my wine was touched before I took it out. It was placed in the wrong position. If someone really did tamper with my wine, it's not me. It could be Gina for all we know. You know how crazy she is."

Ian: "You're right. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that."

Monique: "You better watch your words next time, mister."

Monique: "Your show is very lax about what contestants are allowed to bring in. Contraband items?"

Cameraman: "All for expediency. Where's the fun and drama in restricting drugs?"

***

The contestants are stationed and ready for their next mision. They must pass bags to each other from the military base to Twinbrook Esplanade. Each bag contains a different amount of points and whatever bags reach the end after one hour will be whatever points they earn. They can earn up to 100 points this mission.

"And begin!"

Hykel: "I'll just take the nearest one."

Hykel: "I need to be quick."

Hykel: "I wasn't thinking about how many points was in each bag. There was a truckload of them, like maybe 20. I would be wasting too much time checking them individually. It was very stressful and just a mad rush."

Morris: "There he is."

Hykel: "I'm not allowed to run past here. Come over here."

Morris: "We arranged ourselves such that the strongest ones physically would be in front while the weaker ones were behind. Monique wanted to be the last to oversee everything and make sure the bags actually got to the end point."

Morris: "I should have worn better clothes."

Morris: "Ian, take this and go."

Ian: "You can count on me."

Courtney: "Why are they taking so long?"

Hykel: "My second bag."

Courtney: "Ugh, I'm dying here."

Courtney: "At long last I see someone."

Courtney: "Finally. Some action."

Ryenn: "I hope I don't let the group down."

Courtney: "Catch!"

Ryenn: "Here I go."

Ryenn: "A little girl is cycling faster than I run..."

Ryenn: "My legs aren't that strong."

Ryenn: "I'm here!"

Ryenn: "My feet are going to break. We should be wearing proper clothing. Did you forget that there's someone who just recovered here?"

"Duly noted. We will bring your clothes over to you shortly."

Hykel: "Here you go."

"Attention all contestants. The mission will temporarily stop while we fetch you your athletic wear."

Morris: "Let's use this time to strategise. You look like you need a few deep breaths."

Ian: "Which sissy complained?"

***

The mission continues.

Morris: "Excuse me, coming through."

Douglas: "I'm not the fittest but I will do my best, especially after the last mission."

Douglas: "Sylvia, I'm...huff....here."

Sylvia: "You are extremely out of shape, boy. You should exercise more often."

Sylvia: "Can't chat with you for too long."

Courtney: "Ooh, Ian likes to go shirtless. But on a cold day?"

Sylvia: "Monique. The first bag has arrived."

Sylvia: "Here you go."

Monique: "And the first bag is properly delivered."

Monique: "Time to wait for the next one."

Sylvia: "Pardon me for speaking my mind but I think Monique is being lazy. She's fitter than some of us here and yet she chose to be last, which has the shortest stretch. We all saw how she managed to run and outlast everyone with heels last mission, so why can't she run in sneakers and help those who are struggling?"

Courtney: "Ryenn, your second bag."

Hykel: "Third bag. This is starting to get tiring."

Ryenn: "I can't run very fast. I have asthma, so I'll just jog and take deep breaths."

Douglas: "Sylvia! Huff..."

Sylvia: "Please don't collapse on me."

Monique: "There she is."

Monique: "Time to deliver the second bag."

Morris: "Outta my way. I'm rushing."

Marshall: "Ey! Come back here! How rude of you."

The fourth bag.

The fifth bag.

The sixth bag.

The seventh bag.

Monique: "Eight bags. I hope we have time for one more."

Sylvia: "Almost there..."

Sylvia: "Monique!"

"Time is up."

Sylvia: "No!"

Monique: "So close."

***

The first bag has 1 point.

This bag has 5 points.

This bag has no points.

This bag has 10 points.

This bag has 1 point.

This bag has 5 points.

This bag has 3 points.

This bag has 10 points.

Altogether, they have earned 35/100 points, making the pot 280/650 points.

Ryenn: "I feel responsible for the dismal performance. I'm not a good runner and I'm asthmatic. I dragged the whole group down and made the rest wait for me."

***

Next episode,

Hykel: "I never told anybody this, but I have anxiety disorder. I get anxiety attacks whenever I become too stressed out. It doesn't happen all the time, but if it doesn't then I start to become aggressive. It's a good thing they have exercise machines here or I wouldn't be able to take it."

***

Courtney: "Stop being such a nerd. Talk to someone for once. You're always hiding in a corner reading your book or a journal."

***

Sylvia: "Good evening. I'll be playing one of my latest songs, Rain on 36th Avenue.

And the rain comes pouring down

Army of droplets pounding on my head

You left me cold and helpless

Was my love not drenched in your fire~"

***

Morris: "Every time we talk it's always about work. Even back home. We hardly talk about anything else. We've lived together for quite a while now, Monique, but it feels like I don't know you."

Monique: "What is there to know? We do not need to get too close."

***