The Rebel Billionaire, Episode 7: Road to Morocco

On last week’s show, our band of billionaire wanabees discovered the world of publicity stunts. The men’s team had trouble completing their tasks, failing on both the team and individual level. You can read about it here.

Half of our billionaire wanabees have been sent home, and eight remain. This episode begins with the contestants on a plane to Morocco on the northwestern tip of Africa. This week’s challenges center on a theme of “working in foreign environments.” The successful candidate must be able to overcome language barriers and unfamiliar surroundings. This task will show who can work well when they are not in their own element.

There is friction among the ladies – Candida is not getting along with Erica and Nicole. She calls them “The Brunette Bully Brigade.” They call her, “Can-diva.” Well, Sara has noticed The Brunettes in action as well, so it’s not just Candida’s imagination.

Branson tells the contestants, “I strongly suggest that you look around, pay attention, and that you learn everything you can. You will need it!” and, “As I say, keep your eyes open.” What obvious foreshadowing, too bad not everyone was listening!

Players are again split into two teams, but (thank-you Lord) not by gender. Branson asks Candida to be a leader as she is the only one left who hasn’t done it already. She is asked to pick the other leader, and she picks her archenemy, Nicole.

Leaders then pick the rest of their teams. Candida first takes Heather, then Steve and Gabriel. Nicole responds by taking Erica first, then Shawn. Sara is the last one left. Heather is happy not to be with The Brunettes. She’s sure “they’d turn on me and suck my blood, and then I’d be dead.” Instead of a Reunion Show, maybe there will be a cage match – these folks really don’t like each other very much!

Dinner that night is in the Royal Palace, and it’s a very lavish affair. The players dress in traditional Moroccan garb. Rest assured, when I was in Morocco I did not get dinner in the Royal Palace! Branson sure moves in the best of circles.

Sir Richard shows them a place he calls Kasbah Tamadot, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. He’s in the process of turning it into a high-end hotel, and wants our teams to decorate two suites that are built, but completely undecorated. They have $5,000 to spend and the task must be finished by 5:00 p.m. the next day (24 hours). Yes, it’s The Complex: Marrakech!

Branson notes that the market is an hour away, and most people there do not speak English. He calls this, “an incredibly difficult challenge,” and I have to agree.

The teams begin to brainstorm. Nicole’s team settles on a music theme, and it’s apparent that drums will be prevalent. Candida wants a waterfall or a fountain. I like that idea, but it never seems to work out when they try to install one on Trading Spaces! Maybe the fact that Hildi will not be here, that could actually be a help!

The teams go into town to buy what they need. Initially they seem focused, but Candida’s team is not supportive of her vision for the rooms. Steve wants to go to a Wal-Mart. They’ve lost respect for her, and it does seem that she’s focusing only on the big things without thinking about all the other tasks ahead. Other plans seem like they can’t be completed in one day. There’s limited time – buy stuff, paint things, hire people!

Nicole’s team is working through the bartering process, which is incredibly frustrating. However, they are making acquisitions. They decide to split into pairs for efficiency, and Sara is less than thrilled at being stuck in the market with Nicole. Meanwhile, Shawn makes good use of his time by hiring a carpenter.

The Moroccan vendors like to grab Candida’s arm when they talk to her, and it is freaking her out. She gets to a point where it’s impeding her shopping abilities. Heather tries to calm her down, but I think they’re done for the day. Night falls, and Candida’s team has only bought the bed. Oh no, this can’t be good – you need time to assemble the room, you can’t be doing a lot of shopping tomorrow!

The next day, Steve wants to go shopping without Candida. He doesn’t see her bartering skills as sufficient, and makes faces behind her when she says something he doesn’t agree with… which is, most anything she says.

Next, Nicole’s team goes through a near-crisis when the shop where they are buying curtains is about to close. Sara is running all through the marketplace but she can’t find the place – trust me, those streets are hopeless mazes and it’s very easy to get lost. However, the crisis is averted when Sara finds the shop in time.

Steve is starting to get seriously hyper about how dismal the shopping is going, so, separated from the other two, he and Heather start buying things as quickly as they can. Amazingly, the one thing they don’t seem to have time to buy is… Candida’s waterfall! Who saw that coming? Oh, everybody? Well, at least the room won’t be empty.

In the other room, Shawn moves a ladder without noticing that a full, open can of red paint is sitting on it. It hits the floor – SPLASH, and it’s all over the place. He feels bad, but then inexplicably says, “Well, that just made it more interesting, didn’t it?” Shawn, your team is not very impressed with you right now – SHUT UP!! Fortunately, it seems like they’re able to pretty much clean it up.

There’s very little time left, and both teams are scrambling over the final touches. Steve hangs ripped curtains because they have no options. Sir Richard has to stop them so the judging can commence.

Branson examines Candida’s room first and calls it “OK.” He complements the bed, pillows and lights but says, “It looks a bit like a students version of a Moroccan room,” and particularly dislikes the curtains. In Nicole’s room he says, “Slightly kitsch, but they definitely got away with it.” Actually, he is clearly more impressed with this room and there’s little doubt how this one will play out.