The Apprentice, Episode 12: Mile-High Club

Then, Amy squeals like she’s in sorority rush as her sister joins them on the plane. With her is Nick’s dad. And check this out: Nick’s dad is named Moose. Excellent. Nick is giddy with excitement and is thrilled to see his dad. Moose asks Amy and Nick if they are “sweethearts.” Amy says that Nick has talked a lot about his family, so she isn’t surprised to see the way his dad teases him. Amy jokes that maybe she’s meeting her father-in-law early. Dude, we haven’t even seen them kiss yet. Why are they getting married already? In an interview, Moose says that Amy seems great, but that Nick has a bad history with women. Amy’s sister asks Nick if he’s single. He says he is, but Moose interrupts to ask about “that girl on the west coast.” Nick denies it, but Amy does not look amused.

The four of them arrive at Mar-A-Lago in a limo. The place definitely looks like something Trump would go for – it has the same ornate style as his apartment. The historian gives them a tour and points out the antiques and tapestries, but he doesn’t point out my absolute favorite part of the place. It’s a great big oil painting of Trump in tennis whites in front of a sky with God-like rays coming from behind the clouds. It is absolutely hysterical. I totally want one. Everyone enjoys mimosas and caviar, and Amy declares this the best reward ever.

Back in the suite, the men of Protégé enjoy some cereal. Kwame says that the day before was tough, but he doesn’t want to be disgruntled anymore. Bill says that he’s a nervous wreck and didn’t sleep a wink the night before. The two of them go together to get haircuts so they’ll feel more confident in the boardroom. Bill tries to keep the stylist from putting too much gel in his hair. He’s finished before Kwame, so he decides to read their horoscopes. Bill’s is a good one, and says that the last few weeks have been productive, and that there are promising things ahead. Kwame says that he believes in astrology to an extent and often finds truth in his horoscope. He’s an Aries (and must have a birthday coming up, so happy birthday, Kwame), and his horoscope is not so good. Bill reads that someone Kwame loves and respects will let him down in the next 24 hours, and that he shouldn’t let it affect their relationship. Wow.

The men go out for one last dinner together and decide to live it up. Kwame says that he believes one of them will win the game. He wonders which of them Troy will choose to go into the boardroom. He and Troy are friends, so Troy might save him in honor of their friendship. But, on the other hand, Bill has a better record in challenges, so Troy might not want to go up against him.

Well, the suspense will end soon, because it’s time for the boardroom. Trump asks what happened. Troy doesn’t know – he says that the team had great ideas and executed them well, but in the end, they lost. Trump says that he’ll still take the offer the customer made on the penthouse, because he loves a good deal. Carolyn asks the men what their initial minimum price was. Kwame says that they were looking to rend the place in the $35,000 to $40,000 range. Trump points out that they were aiming too low – even if they’d received their maximum price, they still would have lost.

Trump asks Kwame who he’d send back to the suite if he were project manager. Kwame says he’d send Troy back. Bill points out that Troy is about to make that very decision, so Kwame might have an ulterior motive in saying so. Would Bill hire Troy? He says he would, depending on the position. No, he wouldn’t hire him as his CFO. Would he hire Troy as his CEO? Bill says he might, but he’d have to get to know Troy better first. Kwame says that he would not hire Troy as his CFO because his strengths lie in sales and motivation. He would hire Troy as the CEO of an appropriate company. Bill says that of the two, he would fire Kwame because Kwame needs more experience to go with his education.

Trump asks Bill what his background is. Bill has a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University. Troy says that he only has a high school diploma and has made his own success. He passes Trump a copy of his senior yearbook quote, “Look out, Trump!” He says that his only education came from reading Trump’s book, The Art of the Deal. Trump points out the dichotomy in front of him: a Harvard MBA, a degree from a good college, and a high school diploma. He points out that Kwame works for a very prestigious company – why would he want to work for Trump? Kwame says that you only have a few opportunities to do something extraordinary.

Who will Troy send to the suite, and who will he take to the boardroom? Troy invites Kwame to go head to head with him in the boardroom. Kwame high fives him. Bill is safe, and wastes not a minute beating it out of there and back to the suite. Trump is surprised that Troy chose Kwame, but Troy says, “Business is business, friends are friends.” The two friends wait in the lobby and reminisce about all they’ve been through together. Kwame hugs Troy and says, “May the best man win.”