The Final Four: No Regrets

The Final Four: No Regrets
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	Africa
Episode Number	14/15 (044)
Original Release	January 10, 2002
Viewership (in Millions)	27.26
Ratings/Share (18-49)	11.3/25
Episode Chronology
Previous	"Truth Be Told"
Next	"Reunion"
Subpages

The Final Four: No Regrets is the season finale of Survivor: Africa.

Story

Day 36

After exterminating the last member of Samburu, the four remaining Borans celebrated their triumph over the competition. But not before long, a fuming Lex van den Berghe talked to Ethan Zohn and claimed that Tom Buchanan had been conspiring with others to oust him.

	Lex	“	In his mind, he can't write the vote down. But if someone else does, it's okay.	”

Day 37

Lex confronted Tom about the latter's plot to oust him and asked if he told Teresa that he cannot be trusted. Despite Tom denying all accusations, he stated in a confessional,

	Tom	“	Lex has been the man to watch. He has been winning immunity and everything else. That's why he is getting all of the votes.	”

After the heated conversation, the two somehow mended their differences. Tree Mail instructed them to proceed to Tribal Council for their next Immunity Challenge. Jeff Probst told the castaways that the challenge would be held at Tribal Council, in front of the jury. The challenge would be a quiz about how well the final four knew their eliminated season contestants. Tom had an early lead, but eventually lost it when the others caught up with him. At the final question, Kim Johnson answered correctly, while Lex did not (see Trivia), earning her first immunity win and a spot in the final three. Voting immediately ensued, and with Lex, Kim J., and Ethan having trust issues with him, Tom was unanimously eliminated.

Day 38

At dawn, Jeff made a surprise visit to Moto Maji camp and woke up Ethan and Kim J. to make their Rites of Passage to commemorate the eliminated cast members, before heading to their Final Immunity Challenge (Lex stayed awake from experiencing stomach pains all night). After a ceremonial ritual conducted by the real Samburu tribesmen, the final three went on a path walk with the torches of their fallen castaways, leading to their Final Immunity Challenge.

With Jeff frequently asking, "How badly do you want this?" the three remaining castaways made their one last struggle for immunity. Ethan lost his balance and fell out of the challenge after 2 hours and 26 minutes. As Kim J. and Lex continued to find a comfortable footing, the Kenyan sun reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit, Lex's stomach problems made him stumble, thus granting Kim J. immunity.

At Tribal Council, Jeff congratulated Kim J. for making a last-minute surge by winning the last two challenges. After a short plea from both Ethan and Lex, Kim J. then proceeded to the voting booth. After a hard decision, Kim chose Lex to complete the jury and picked Ethan to join her at the Final Tribal Council.

Day 39

At the Final Tribal Council, the Final Two made their opening statements. Kim J. argued that, being the oldest female of the season, she had proved that she was a worthy competitor. Ethan exclaimed that he kept his integrity and honor to last this long.

Brandon Quinton was first to speak, where he revealed of being confused of who to vote since he had been tribe mates with Ethan and Kim J. only after the merge. He only asked if anyone from the jury deserved their spot other than them, who will it be. Both Kim J. and Ethan answered Lex for he dominated in challenges. Brandon then asked of who was the least deserving. Ethan outright answered Brandon, while Kim J. answered Tom because she perceived him as a sexist. Lex asked them of what will be their most selfless act they would possibly do after the game. Kim J. answered she will help spread AIDS awareness using her win as a platform. Ethan said that he would make a charity soccer project to help AIDS victims.

Frank Garrison asked the Final Two what their "top five qualities" that a Sole Survivor should have was. Ethan took a long time to answer but he replied willpower, strength, integrity, intelligence and luck. Kim J. answered respect, thoughtfulness, flexibility, love and understanding.

Kelly Goldsmith said that she expected the two of them to be on the jury instead going to the end, but she thanked Kim J. for voting Lex off. Kelly then lauded Kim J. for lasting this long, but was unmoved of her "integrity." She then criticized Ethan for not making much relations with her during their time in the game. She then asked the two to pick a number between 1 and a thousand. Kim J. said 3, while Ethan answered 888.

Kim Powers asked of which among the jury members did they learned the most and the least about themselves. Kim J. answered she learned the most from her because she admired that in a young age, she courageously called off her wedding and she was not trying too hard to do what is expected of her. She also stated that she still forgave Brandon for deceiving her. She picked Tom for the least, for no apparent reason. Ethan answered Teresa Cooper for the most because he was inspired of her willpower. He then he learned the least from Kelly because he indeed confessed that he did not get to know her that much during their days in the game.

Tom made a startling query: "Ethan, if a hyena came through camp and ate our mush and after he ate it he turned around and licked his hind end - did he do it because that was the animal instinct, or to get the taste of mush out his mouth? What do you think?" Ethan took another long pause and answered, "Well, if I was a hyena, and  had eaten that mush... it would probably be... (thinking pause)... To clean his hind end. Because I didn't mind the taste of that mush as much as you did." Kim J. answered, "I would have to say... ah... that the hyena, you know, was just cleaning his hind end. I mean, the mush was the only thing we had to eat. And I would think that maybe, you know, he needed it to survive. And when you get hungry enough you eat what you have to eat. And taste is one of the first luxuries that goes out the window."

Teresa asked the two if there is any regretful words that they had uttered, what would be it. Both answered that their regretful action was misjudging Kelly who made the "mystery vote" during Clarence Black's elimination and helped her getting eliminated.

After all had been said and done, the jury made their decision. After a 5-2 vote, all revealed live, Ethan was declared the third Sole Survivor.

Challenges

• Immunity (Day 37)
• Immunity (Day 38)

Challenge: Fallen Comrades
The castaways will be quizzed on how much they knew about those voted out before them. Eight questions would be asked about the twelve fallen survivors with whom they had spent the past thirty-six days. The person who answered the most questions correctly would win Immunity.
Winner: Kim Johnson

Challenge: Hard Idol
With the tribal Immunity Idol perched between them, the group had to hold their positions without moving their hands or feet. The last person standing would win.
Winner: Kim Johnson

Tribal Council

Day 37

Tribal Council 12: Moto Maji
Voted Against	Voter
Tom (3 votes)	Ethan, Kim J., Lex
Lex (1 vote)	Tom
VOTED OUT: Tom Buchanan

Voting Confessionals

Ethan's vote was not revealed during his confessional.

	Kim J.	“	(voting against Tom) Sorry, buddy, you were great fun, but you started playing that manipulating game, setting one person up against the other. That just doesn't cut it with me.	”

	Ethan	“	(voting against Tom) This is the exact thing I didn't want to happen. It's not personal, it's every man for himself, and I have no prayer of beating you against the jury. I respect you more than anything in the world. You, uh, carried me all the way, and I thank you for that.	”

	Tom	“	(voting against Lex) Boys, it's been a hell of a bunch of fun. We have kicked ass all the way from 16 and would have done it again tonight, but not one got Immunity, so best of luck. It's been fun. One of us has got to run.	”

Final Words

	Tom	“	Well, well, look at old Big Tom now. Whew! It's been a journey. And I do want to say a special thanks to Lex, Ethan, uh, for making an alliance with me, and being man enough to stay with their alliance. Without y'all, I couldn't have made it this far. Hey, love, peace, and higher grace. Big Tom will talk to you later. (clucks tongue)	”

Day 38

Tribal Council 14: Moto Maji
Voted Against	Voter
Lex (1 vote)	Kim J.
VOTED OUT: Lex van den Berghe

Voting Confessionals

Kim's vote was not shown during her confessional.

	Kim J.	“	(voting against Lex) Please forgive me. This is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. You've been an incredible competitor, a great friend. If I could come up with a wonderful reason, I'd love to give it to you. I know we'll always be friends.	”

Final Words

	Lex	“	I can honestly say I spent 38 days here, I played as hard as I could. I played straight and honest and true. And Mom Cat, I don't have any ill feelings. I've got no problem with the vote that you cast tonight. You had to vote for somebody. It was a tough call.	”

Final Tribal Council

Tribal Council 15: Jury Vote
Voted for Winner	Voter
Ethan (5 votes)	Frank, Kelly, Lex, Teresa, Tom
Kim J. (2 votes)	Brandon, Kim P.
RUNNER-UP: Kim Johnson
SOLE SURVIVOR: Ethan Zohn

Voting Confessionals

Teresa's vote was not shown during her confessional.

	Brandon	“	(voting for Kim J.) This is a pretty funny game because I came here, I knew my question was totally just a way for me to get one last jab at Frank. I totally was going to vote for Ethan without even thinking about it. But you know what? Ethan was so stupid; he slammed me on my own question. So you don't slam somebody on their own question and say you would be the least likely to pick that person and then expect them to vote for you. So, Kim's just as deserving as Ethan, and it's kind of cool that a 56-year-old woman did really well. So... and she didn't slam me on my own question. Dumb, Ethan, so stupid.	”

	Kim P.	“	(voting for Kim J.) (sighs) This was just an unbelievably hard decision for me to make, and, uh, I have to say that I came in here tonight thinking that I would be voting for Ethan. I think I realized that, um, both you and Ethan were absolutely amazing competitors in very different ways. And, uh, I was extremely impressed with both of you. And it was a very hard decision for me. Kim, you impressed me so much. Um, you're 56 years old, and you are a really strong woman, and for whatever reason, I just… I think you deserve to win.	”

	Tom	“	(voting for Ethan) Just like a woman in my hometown, stuck a knife in my back. Everything that goes around comes around, and Kim, you lost two or three challenges, and I felt sorry for you. But then I decided we'd keep the weakest woman, and you was the weakest one, and you rode me, Ethan and Lex's coattail to get where you are. But you're not Dorothy, and you can't click them shoes and do something miraculous this time, because your failure's caught up with you. And no, I'm not whispering like you tell me every morning. Tonight it's my turn to tell you, 'Shh', I'm hushing you. Shut up, you're done. Ethan, the best man, has won. The weak one, you have not. I don't care if they did hear it.	”

	Teresa	“	(voting for Ethan) Well deserved.	”

	Kelly	“	(voting for Ethan) 'Benjamin, isn't there something you wanted to tell me?', 'Oh, yes, Mrs. Robinson, thank you very much for the opportunity', 'No, no, Benjamin. The room number'. '568!'. The Graduate was my favorite movie. Congratulations.	”

Final Results

Diane 16th	Jessie 15th	Carl 14th	Linda 13th	Silas 12th	Lindsey 11th	Clarence 10th	Kelly 9th
Brandon 8th	Frank 7th	Kim P. 6th	Teresa 5th	Tom 4th	Lex 3rd	Kim J. 2nd	Ethan Winner

Trivia

• A mistake was found in the final question in Fallen Comrades challenge. The question revolved around which among the eliminated female contestants had no body piercings. The accepted answer was Kelly Goldsmith (the answer Kim Johnson gave that won her the challenge), but it was found that Lindsey Richter (the answer given by Lex van den Berghe) also did not have body piercings. The producers were alerted of the mistake, and as consolation, Lex, who would have tied with Kim J. after the question, and Tom Buchanan, who was voted out immediately after, both received the $100,000 runner-up prize instead of the traditional third and fourth place winnings.
• This season's Rites of Passage is the first in the series to feature commentary from the fallen castaways.
• This episode marks the first time that the winner of Survivor was not decided by one vote.