Paradise Hotel, August 25: Girl Power

Later on, Charla and Desiree discuss which guy they’d like to stay – Charla says Tom should stay, and when Desiree says that Dave should stay, Charla quickly agrees. Charla also says that Keith is trustworthy and should stay as well, leaving Alex or Scott as the two she wants voted off.

In the workout room, Amy is on the stationary bike and Alex tells her that Scott thinks it’s down to him and Scott. Amy says that Scott is more likely to get picked than him. Alex agreed, and said that it all came down to Desiree – if she sided with Charla and Tara, it would be 3-2 against Amy and Holly, and they could basically vote out anyone they wanted. Alex is getting angry – he says that Tara and Charla have been plotting, and he’s going to get down and dirty and play the game. Alex says that if Scott goes, the three of them would be in big trouble. He says they’ve got to get Desiree on their side to be safe and he’d help out working on her.

Desiree knows she’s the swing vote, and asks Charla who between Alex and Scott is stronger. “Scott, by far,” says Charla. Everyone trusts him: Charla lists Holly, Amy, Tara. When she gets to herself, Charla hedges, saying she’s not all the way there with trust for Scott, because she’s watched him for two months. Desiree confirms that she’ll vote for either Scott or Alex, and they pinky-swear on Desiree’s not telling anyone who she will vote for. If someone asks her, she’s going to say she just doesn’t know. Charla tells Desiree that Desiree can always trust her to do what she says and not tell other people what she says. Charla spells it out for Desiree: if Desiree, Charla, and Tara all decide to get rid of someone, that person is gone – Amy and Holly have absolutely no say in it.

Alex is brought an envelope at lunch, which informs them that the spa facilities have been brought poolside so the men could pamper the women. Alex gripes that, in order to stay, they have to give them massages and asks why the last nine weeks wasn’t enough for them to make their decisions!

The women arrive at the “spa,” Holly being carried by Dave. Tom gives Tara a pedicure, Scott massages Charla, and Dave paints Amy’s toes with a Frank Lloyd Wright-esque design. Alex even applies the press-on nails to Charla’s fingers. During the pampering, Dave orders five special Paradise cocktails for the ladies, and Keith brings a plate of fruit to feed to them.

Desiree, Charla, and Tara slip away to discuss the vote. Charla lays out her argument: she’d feel better about it if Scott, who she thinks is someone who ought to win the game, was not voted out over someone like Alex, who absolutely should not win the game, who is more likely to do dirty, nasty things to win. She believes that Scott is more trustworthy overall; she doesn’t want to send him home that way, and she isn’t going to do anything to help Alex along in the game. Desiree and Tara agree.

Tara’s hanging out with Scott, and he asks her a question straight out: Does she know of a conspiracy against him? After a pause, Tara says no. Has he? He hasn’t heard anything, but he trusts her to tell him if there has been a gang up on him. She tells him that he doesn’t have to worry… well, she is pretty sure he doesn’t have to worry. Scott doesn’t look reassured.

Charla, in curlers, tells Keith she hopes he has supports her decisions, but that, between Alex and Scott, she doesn’t see much of a difference – that neither is a bigger threat than the other. Keith’s shocked. Charla tries to explain her Alex-game-progression theory, and Keith still can’t believe it. She tells him that all the girls were with her on this, and he told her they’re voting on personal feelings instead of playing the game. When Charla says she’d rather see Scott win than Alex, Keith tells her it is a terrible way to look at the game – you have to take down the top dog to play and win. Alex has no one to support him, but Charla disagrees. Keith tries one more time and tells her directly that they have to take Scott out now, while they have the chance. Charla half-heartedly says okay, but doesn’t sound like she means it.

Everyone files in for the ladies’ edition of Pandora’s Box, and Desiree stands behind the box and asks the first question, to Dave: Dave’s admitted thinking that Keith is kissing his ass. Why does he keep letting him do it? Dave says he thinks everyone is playing the game, causing Keith to burst out that he’s not kissing anyone’s ass whatsoever. Dave says that people will do things to win the game, and Keith asks him if Dave’s been kissing his ass – Dave says no. Keith continues pressing him, asking if Dave feels that Keith would even bother kissing ass at all. Dave apologizes if he said that, and Keith wants to know if he admits to saying it. Dave backs off further, saying he doesn’t remember saying it.