Paradise Hotel, August 27: One Down…

Dave comes out from talking with Charla in his room and talks to Tom in the pool. Tom immediately tells him that he’s glad to be going to battle with him and Keith, and tells him that they’re his boys, his best friends – they’ve been honest to him, and the only reason he’s still here is because of them. Cut to Tom telling the camera that Dave’s a goofball and that there’s no one at Paradise he can trust 100 percent. In the pool, he continues, telling Dave that he trusts both Keith and him – that Dave has never given him a reason not to trust him. Flashback to Keith telling Dave soon after Tom arrived that Tom wasn’t that smart. Anyway, Tom thanks Dave for reassuring him that he’s been safe in the game, and Dave shakes his hand goodnight and leaves. To the camera, Tom says that he would be really upset if he had to leave the game because he’s been playing it 800 percent.

Keith and Dave clear the air – Keith says that he and Charla are just friends; they’ve roomed together and have related to each other, and that’s all there is between them. Dave apologizes, and Keith tells him he has no reason to be sorry. Dave almost doesn’t, but then decides to tell Keith it’s the physical aspect of their flirting that bugs him the most. Keith says it was just dancing, that Charla knew Dave was watching, and Keith’s sorry, but he doesn’t feel he was doing anything wrong.

Unconcerned by the dramas unfolding around them, Tara and Alex make out and snuggle in bed.

The next morning, the guys each receive an envelope, which tells them to pack their bags because one of them will be leaving Paradise forever. Charla jokes with Dave that he’s outta there… Dave’s pretty sure he’s staying, but that comment makes him just a bit nervous.

Tara and Charla are hanging out in the hotel room, and Tara tells Charla that she and Alex were cuddling the night before, and all she could think was, “Sayonara!” Charla laughs, but Tara says it made her feel horrible to lay in his arms and know that he was going home. Charla sees her hesitation, and reminds Tara that she has to be prepared to say her vote to evict Alex out loud. “You’ll do it, right, Tara?” asks Charla; Tara doesn’t answer.

Alex, Holly, and Amy are also hanging around their room. The vote-off is on Alex’s mind too, and he tells Holly and Amy that he and Tara talked about trust. “Do you think she trusts you?” asks Amy. Alex hopes so, because they need to trust each other because once Keith is gone, she’s got nothing.

Charla and Dave are also discussing the vote-off. Dave is concerned that Tara’s newfound crush on Alex might influence her vote, although instead of Keith, Dave thinks that Tom would be voted off. Charla asks Dave what he thinks Tara’s going to do, and he refuses to speculate, but he does say that the reason behind every move he makes is to protect his and Charla’s interests.

Dave explains to the camera that Tara has been fooling around with Alex lately, and there’s a possibility that she might change her vote at the last minute. Dave also mentions that Desiree, being the newest, is the least predictable, and he’s not completely sure that she’s going to vote the way that Dave would like.

Alex tells the camera that it’s going to be Tom, Keith, or him going home, with an equal chance for it to be any of them. He hopes that it will be Keith, but he’s not sure. He thinks that Desiree is the swing vote.

Keith explains to the camera that he has no choice but to trust Tara – he’s put his faith in her from the beginning. If she betrays him, he’s going home.

The guests arrive for the elimination, and host Amanda arrives. Amanda reminds the guests that the ladies have used their power to protect Scott from elimination, and calls Scott over to her side. She asks him how it feels to be safe, and he says it feels pretty good, but he acknowledges that the game is getting tougher and emotions are running high.

Before the women vote, Amanda allows the men give an optional final plea to the women. Dave takes this opportunity to sing the song that he wrote, “The Girls of Paradise.” The girls giggle, embarrassed, and Dave starts to sing. Fortunately, the producers back Dave with some music and touching videos, thus reducing the cringe factor somewhat:

The other guys chime in on the last line, and the girls clap and laugh good-naturedly.

Now it’s time to find out which of the guys is being sent home: Dave, Keith, Alex, or Tom. Amanda asks Charla who she wants to leave Paradise: Alex. Holly’s choice: Keith. Why? It would be the best move for her, even though he’s been a good roommate. Which man would Desiree like to see leave? She loves them all: Dave’s had her back since she arrived, Keith has pampered her, and she’s getting close to Tom, so she has to go for Alex because of her stronger bonds with Dave, Keith, and Tom. Amy’s vote is next: No surprise, she votes for Keith – he wants her out, she wants him out. The votes are tied between Alex and Keith, and it comes down to Tara’s vote. Amanda points out that she’s been getting along well with Alex, flashbacks remind us of her alliance with Keith. She’s free to choose any of the men except Scott – which one does she choose? Tara tells Alex that they get along great and their personalities and senses of humor are so similar it’s scary. She tells Keith that she feels they’ve been getting closer lately too. She says her decision isn’t personal, so she has to send Alex home. Tara looks sad once she says the words, Alex looks bummed, Amy looks upset, and Charla’s hiding a big smile.