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In fact, she is already considering how to seduce Stephen into joining her super-secret dual-tribe quadratic alliance. She has the sales pitch perfected by the time she makes him the offer. "This is going to change your life, okay? Do you want to be a part of the biggest upset on Survivor history?" Without hesitation, he says, "Yes, I do!" As she explains all of the moving parts, euphoria sweeps across his face. She cracks him up by dismissing Exile Island as a breeze and tells him that if they pick Sierra to go to Exile Island, she will pick Stephen to join her. There, the two of them can hammer out the details of what is now being referenced as the Exile Alliance. The only problem is...Brendan hasn't gotten around to telling Sierra about such a deal yet. Oh yes, this will end well.

Probst Sighting! It's time for a reward challenge, and it involves one of those brutal weight-carrying events. Substantive weight is placed in a pouch and that pouch is attached to a pole. How many pouches are attached is up to the opponents, meaning that the weakest links of each group may be targeted. Counteracting this somewhat is the fact that members of each tribe are allowed to sit out the event since only five are able to participate. Timbira sits Sierra while Jalapao makes the odd choice of having Stephen and Spencer take a seat. Clearly, Jalapao is thinking long term toward the immunity challenge, but the winner here gets to poach items from the opposing camp. This is not the best time to blow off a challenge as a loss should prove quite detrimental.

Brendan is targeted more than anyone else. He sustains 200 pounds of weight in impressive fashion. Taj, a participant in the challenge rather than a strategist, points out that he is wobbling and cannot sustain further weight. She is proven correct when the next 20 pounds sets Brendan. He should hold his head up high, however, as Probst points out that Rupert is the only contestant who has ever held that much weight previously. In terms of physical accomplishments, that's the guy contestants should aspire to be compared to.

Immediately afterward, JT impresses by successfully maintaining 220 pounds. Meanwhile, one of his opponents, Tyson, collapses under the weight of 140 pounds. This is dreadful news for Timbira as Debra, their only female contestant, is the only remaining player. Before the next round begins, they do catch a break when 220 pounds eventually gets the best of JT. Almost instantly after that, Joe's shoulder pops under the weight of 140 pounds. This leaves Taj and Debra mano y mano (or the female equivalent of that term) with both of them at 80 pounds.

20 more pounds are added, but both women hold their ground in impressive fashion. Right as Probst calls for 20 more pounds to be thrown on top of the pile, Debra's pole slides off, making Taj and the rest of Jalapao winners for the fourth consecutive challenge. Taj shows tremendous sportsmanship by running across to reassure her fallen opponent that she did "a hell of a job". Gameplay becomes a factor again when Taj instantly selects Sierra to go to Exile Island and Sierra returns the favor by selecting Taj, who is a little sporting this time. "Oh, you little bitch," is her exclamation, and her surprise that it was not Stephen chosen is unmistakable. Brendan admits to the camera that he may have screwed up by not talking to Sierra first. He's hoping Taj can work a deal on her own that he can confirm once Sierra is back at camp. There's a decent chance this surprising alliance falls apart in the next scene.

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