FINALLY!!!  A real episode!  Not another dull recap special.  No preempted
due to March Madness.  A genuine, brand new episode of "SURVIVOR"!

Night 15 and Jalapao returns after voting off Spencer (remember that?  LOL!)
The gang is solemn but united.  They all booted him.  But come the dawn and
we find Sydney worried.  She suspects that the boys will stick together,
leaving Taj and her vulnerable next Tribal Council.  Sydney hopes the boys
like her more.  She's pretty certain she has Joe's support… and interest!
Wink, wink.

Over at Timbira, it's another episode of "Cooking with Coach".  Today's
special ingredient is beans.  Erinn wasn't cooking them long enough, in
Coach's opinion.  So he whines and moans and the rest let him have his
way.  A storm approaches, sending the rest for shelter while Coach adds
dirty river water and who knows what else to the pot.  He finally gets wet
enough and also heads for shelter.  By the time the rain stops, the beans
are burnt.  LOL!  There's a two-inch thick layer of charcoal-beans on the
bottom of the pot.

This causes a miserable meal and a 'blame-Coach' festival.  Coach is
sarcastic as he apologizes and dismisses suggestions about cooking
his own meals in his own pot.  Everyone is getting tired of his shenanigans.
Brendan observes that he accepts Coach's behavior as he is predictable.
Yep, you can set your clock to him!  Over at Jalapao, Taj tells Stephen that
she'd like to tell JT about having the idol.  Stephen is concerned about
this, as he enjoys his position as the go-between.  He wants to keep them
apart and remain the filter.

Time for a Reward Challenge.  Each tribe gets 15 minutes to place barriers
in the other tribe's frameworks.  Then, both tribes will get 10 minutes to
toss ceramic pigs through the frames in relay fashion.  The tribe with the
most unbroken pigs thrown to the final player wins a picnic at a waterfall,
plus makes an exile choice.

Timbira scores first as they get into a rhythm.  They are up 4-0 before
Jalapao gets their first.  But now the event gets tighter.  The score is
tied at  8-all.  Jalapao takes the lead 10-9.  With 30 seconds left, the score
is tied again at 13-all.  Timbira scores one more before the clock runs out.
Timbira wins reward!  They select to send Joe to exile.  He picks Erinn
to go with him. 

At the waterfall, Timbira finds a full spread of goodies.  Burgers, drinks,
etc., they have a great time stuffing themselves.  Coach is glad that Erinn
isn't around to spoil the moment.  Speaking of Erinn, she and Joe choose
urns at Exile Sand Dune.  She gets the clue and reads it alone.  Erinn
figures out that there are two idols, one at each camp.  After playing coy
with the ever-horny Joe, she decides to share the info.  He learns that
the idol is concealed at the tree-mail box.

Day 17 at Jalapao finds Taj and Stephen discussing the fact that Joe will
probably know where the idol is supposed to be.  They plot to make a
fake idol for him to find.  Taj gathers some bits and pieces and makes
a very convincing looking trinket.  While she's placing it at the tree-mail
box, JT stumbles across the real idol.  He tells Stephen that Taj has the
idol.  Stephen admits to knowing and explains that they were planning
on telling him.  Taj returns and talks with JT.  She promises to protect
him with the idol, even letting him have it if he is threatened.  The three
make an alliance to go all the way.

Day 18 and it's Immunity Challenge time.  It's a variant of Break-the-Tiles-
with-a-Slingshot.  The target has three tiles, each behind the other and
separated by a wall of sand.  As each tile is broken, sand spills and a bag
filled with puzzle pieces is released.  Once all three bags are obtained,
two players must solve the puzzle.  Each team can change shooters
whenever they want, or choose not to change.

Tyson and JT are the first shooters.  They quickly bracket the targets
after a few shots.  Tyson breaks  his first, giving Timbira a small lead.
Both teams decide to let them keep shooting.  JT and Tyson get their
second bags about the same time.  But JT only broke half his tile, which
obscures the last tile.  Tyson breaks his third quicker, since he has a
larger target area to hit.  Brendan and Erinn begin working on Timbira's
puzzle as JT keeps trying to connect.  He finally does, but the sand flows
slowly.  Stephen and Joe work on their puzzle and make good time, but
they are too far behind.  Timbira wins!  Sydney is worried.

Back at Camp Jalapao, we learn that Joe got cut a few days ago and one of
his legs is getting infected.  He pretends to go for water by way of the
tree-mail box.  He finds the fake idol immediately.  LOL!  Upon returning,
Joe starts talking up the others to boot Taj.  Stephen and JT chat alone
about booting Sydney instead.  Joe joins them and Stephen argues that
they should keep Taj since she has connections with Timbira.  She might
be able to turn a couple to their side.  Joe disagrees, he's promised
Sydney to take her all the way.  LOL!  I bet he has!  JT and Stephen chat
alone again.  When Stephen tells JT that he has physical possession of
the idol, they discuss the option of booting Taj and keeping the idol for
themselves.  Hmmmm?

At Tribal Council, JT admits that they are in big trouble.  The Merge is
on everyone's mind now.  Joe says that his vote depends on who he
can trust.  Taj tells all that she has connections with Timbira members
and is confident that she can turn a couple.  JT considers that even with
Taj's connections, they may still be sitting ducks.  Sydney claims to be
a loyal tribe member and can be trusted.  Joe knows who he's voting
to boot.  JT says he feels bad about tonight's vote.

It's time to vote.  We see Joe vote for Taj and Taj vote for Sydney.  Jeff
collects the ballots and reads them.  It's 3-2 against Sydney.  Only Joe
and her voted against Taj.  JT and Stephen stuck to their alliance with
Taj.  Joe looks upset at the results.  As Sydney walks away into the
night, Jeff warns them that they better stick together from now on.

SPOILERS:  Yep, it's time for The Merge!  JT is still worried that Jalapao
are in big trouble.