The Rebel Billionaire, Episode 10: Down to the Final Two

On last week’s show, our band of billionaire hopefuls had an experience that was out of this world. Most entertaining was the elimination of The Brunette Bully Brigade. Least entertaining was that the episode ended clumsily in the middle of a challenge. You can read about it here.

At this stage of the game, twelve have been sent home and only four remain. Heather and Gabriel are the underdogs and Shawn and Sara are their opponents. Eliminated player Erica remains as an observer.

The episode begins right were we left off – 30,000 feet up, with Heather in the throes of a panic attack and feeling pretty queasy. She wants the plane to land – now! However, the other players need to complete filming the additional 15 seconds for their Virgin Galactic commercials. Gabe has to use one of Branson’s stewardesses (Frankie) to fill in for Heather in order to complete their ad.

A second hit of turbulence pretty much puts Heather over the edge. Erica’s comforting her like she’s her mommy, and tells us that Sara doesn’t feel good either. Both teams try to talk Heather into a third shot at Zero-G, but she’s having none of it. Heather feels badly, but everyone has to know that she’s just made Branson’s next decision incredibly easy.

Shawn is disappointed the trip is over, but realizes you can’t ignore someone who’s having a meltdown. Well, maybe Nicole could, but she’s gone so let’s move on. Gabe is hoping that his efforts can somehow be separated from Heather’s meltdown and non-performance. Ri-i-ight, we’ll just ask Erica how that’s likely to come out…

Gabe shares with us that his cameraman barfed four times as well. Ahh, the need to know is too strong sometimes.

Gabe also informs us he sees the difference between Erica and Nicki, and that Erica showed her softer side on the plane.

Branson meets with Erica to get an update on the flight. Oh Richard, you missed so much fun! He views Heather and Gabriel’s footage first, where Gabe uses an “imagine the experience” kind of message. It’s not the best, and his skills as narrator aren’t the greatest. Branson’s first comment is, “Is that it?” So I check my tape and it was the full 15 seconds they were allotted. (Both ads were, actually.) His next comment is, “Where’s Heather?” Erica spills the news about Heather’s panic attacks on the plane, but in as fair a way as she can. I mean, the basic fact that Heather aborted the flight cannot be overlooked or understated.

Next up, Shawn and Sara’s video, where the kicker line is, “No wonder there’s Virgins in Space.” OK, that makes no sense! In the first commercial, the phrase “Virgin’s In Space” made sense because when it’s oral, you don’t immediately get it that there’s an apostrophe before the “s” at the end of “Virgin’s.” But in this context, you cannot make the proper connection to the company name and it just becomes… foolish.

Branson comments, “Both teams’ second commercials were lacking. The conditions were obviously difficult, but the ads weren’t as thought out I would have hoped for. This will be a difficult decision.” Well, maybe if the ads were all you had to go on…

So, we’re back to the tarmac. Well, not exactly, it’s a seaplane this time! Heather is hoping her decision to end the space flight won’t be fatal, and Gabe is hoping his tie with Heather won’t kill him. Fat chances!

Branson tells Heather she’s ambitious and determined, but that this time out, zero-gravity got the best of her. Gabe is lauded for performing under stress and having the respect of the group. Funnily, he also cites Gabe for being “under the radar,” which was more Heather’s game. About Sara, he likes that she knows when to hold back and when to assert herself. Shawn is said to have recovered from a bad start and proved himself to be creative and fearless.

Sir Richard concludes that the experience is about more than business savvy and taking risks, it’s about character and not getting caught up in pointless drama. Was that line for the Bully Brunettes, watching from home? Richard, we like that drama!

So finally, he gives out the tickets. They do their best to stretch out the suspense here and even Amanda Byram and Ryan Seacrest are getting envious. Hugs all around, and finally, we see Sara and then Shawn enter the plane. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see Erica eliminated again. My loss.

We see the “funeral videos” for the dearly departed players next. Both are appreciative of the adventure they’ve experienced. Gabe’s is first, and we see him catching jumpers in Zimbabwe, shopping in Morocco, cable-walking with Candida in London, and space walking. It makes me realize how strong a competitor he’s been. Heather the mom is shown next, getting out of a helicopter via a rope ladder in Morocco and falling into the gorge in Zimbabwe. I have to admit surprise that an under-the-radar player could last so long in a Branson/Virgin game.

On the plane, Branson announces the destination is Necker Island in The British Virgin Islands. Naturally, the geographically savvy among you would not have confused this with Necker Island (aka Mokumanamana) in Hawaii!

Nope, this is a private island that Branson bought in the early 1980s and has been developing ever since. It’s where he was married. I note this is one of the few places in the world with the name “Virgin” that predates Branson’s rise to prominence!