(sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean)

JD: Guys. Girls. You awake? (kids come out of the cabins and sit down on the porch of the guys cabin) How was your first night here on the coast of the Atlantic? (“great” “loved it” “cold”) Excellent. I know you know why I’m here. I can sense it. So let’s talk about partners for a bit. Having a good partner is obviously really important, critical to your success in this game. Through the seasons everyone has had different opinions on what makes the best partner. Any thoughts on what would make your perfect teammate?

Sophia: Well I want someone who’s strong and that I can talk to without worrying that he’ll tell everyone else.

Tonya: Yeah they have to be athletic so we can win challenges. And we have to be able to work together good.

Ethan: I want my partner to push me to do better. I don’t want her to hold me back.

JD: So physical strength is a common one I’m hearing. (kids nodding) And good communication. Both are great qualities to look for in a partner. On the flip side, what if you don’t get the partner you want? (kids exchange nervous glances)

Kevin: Then you’re screwed.

(laughing)

Kevin: Just kidding. You just gotta…gotta work through it. You have to make it work for your team.

Brent: Yeah you can’t just give up cus you didn’t want that person. You have to ENDURE past it.

(few giggles)

JD: (chuckling) Nice. That is the base of this entire game. To endure past the things that don’t go your way. So keep that in mind for today’s partner mission. And I’ll see you later this afternoon. (kids staring after him as he leaves).

Heather: What?! That’s it? He’s not gonna tell us how the mission is gonna work or anything?

Sophia: Guess not. Well we should probably make the famous partner list.

Greg: Now? I don’t really know exactly who I want yet. Come on we have all morning to figure it out. Let’s just go swimming or something.

Sophia: No we need to do it now. This has to be perfect so that no gets screwed out of the partner they want.

Grace: Soph chill out. (Sophia crosses her arms) A half hour’s not gonna make a difference. And most people don’t know who they want as a partner anyway. I’m going swimming.

Sophia: Fine does anyone care if they get a good partner??

Kelly Ann: It’s not that we don’t care. We just don’t want to do that right now. If we made the list now, it would change a million times cus no one is sure what person they want. So let’s just give it a little time.

Sophia: Whatever. Go swim. You’ll be sorry when it’s mission time and no one knows who their partner is gonna be. (walks away)

(everyone stares at her with wide eyes)

[Brent]: Man what’s that girl’s problem? She’s so uptight about everything.

Sandy: Okay then.

Kyle: Swimming anyone?

(kids-minus Sophia- run to the ocean-laughing and splashing)

Tonya: AHH. Hey. That’s cold. (as Brent splashes her)

Bella: (standing ankle deep) Actually I don’t want to swim.

Kevin: Yes you do. (dragging her in)

Bella: (laughing and screaming) Stop! Stop! Oh fineee since I’m already wet. (dunking Tonya under)

Sandy: Chicken fight!! (climbing on Grace’s shoulders)

(Bella climbs on Kevin’s, kids all laughing and splashing and having fun)

(flashes over to Sophia on the steps- looking frustrated)

*Sophia*: I just don’t get why people aren’t more focused on the game. If you want to win you need the best partner. And they just seem to care about having fun. Playing in the ocean…come on!! This isn’t a vacation it’s a game!! And now people probably hate me. So no one is gonna want to be my partner.

(kids starting to come back up to the cabins)

Kelly Ann: Sophia why are you crying? (sitting down next to her-her hair dripping wet)

Sophia: Cus…I just screwed myself over. No one is gonna want me as their partner.

Kelly Ann: (hugging her) Oh sorry I got you all wet.

Sophia: (laughing a little) It’s okay.

Kelly Ann: And I’m sure they’re still going to want you. You’re strong and athletic and smart. Remember this morning? JD said those were the most important things in this game.

Sophia: I guess. (looking up as Walt, Bella, Kevin, and Dave come up the beach)

Kevin: What’s wrong?

Sophia: Nothing. (wiping her eyes in a hurry) I’m sorry I was so pushy. I just really want to make sure we all get the partner we want.

Bella: Aww it’s okay. I think we’ll all be ready soon. Cus we really do need to get started on that list.

(go inside to dry off a bit-Heather Sandy Grace and the guys come up later)

(everyone in the boy’s loft)

Walt: I’m good with anyone…

Sandy: I’m not. No offense. I want Greg or Ethan or Kyle.

Grace: I want Greg or Dave.

(Kelly Ann and Greg at the same time “I wan…”)

Kelly Ann: Go ahead.

Greg: Okay. I want Heather.

Ethan: Well I want Heather.

Kyle: Come on. I told you all last night that I wanted Heather.

*Bella*: Big shocker. Every single guy wants Heather. She’s the “hottest” one here. She’s a flirt. (shows Heather laughing and flipping her hair at something Greg said) It’s so annoying. Cus the guys are all gonna fight over her and then the rest of us…well no one’s gonna want us. Except Walt. Poor kid. None of the girls want him. He’s just too quiet and geeky. With his little glasses and his hair…I don’t know how he made it past the right to stay.

(guys arguing about who get’s Heather)

Sophia: HEYYY GUYS!!! (everyone shuts up and stares at her) Thank you. Let’s just make a list of who everyone wants. And then we’ll see.

Dave: Sounds good.

Sophia: Okay so girls first. Bella who do you want?

Bella: Either Brent or Kyle or Kevin.

Sophia: What did you say Grace? Greg and who?

Grace: Greg and Dave.

*Greg*: All the guys want Heather. I think me and her would make the best team ever. But only one of us guys are gonna get her. I think that even if we make this list it’s gonna change. Now every guy wants to win the mission. And when they do they’re gonna pick Heather. This is so insane.

Sophia: Okay so here’s the list of who everyone wants. (posts it on the side of the cabin)

Bella- Brent/Kyle/Kevin

Grace- Greg/Dave

Kelly Ann- Kevin/Dave

Sandy- Ethan/Greg/Kyle

Tonya- Ethan/Greg/Kyle/Brent

Sophia- Greg/Ethan

Heather- Greg/Ethan/Kyle

Brent- Heather/Tonya/Sandy

Dave- Heather/Grace/Tonya

Ethan- Heather/Sandy/Sophia/Grace/Tonya

Greg- Heather/Grace/Sandy/Tonya

Kyle-Heather

Walt-anyone

Kevin- Heather/Kelly Ann/Tonya

Grace: So what if we put Kyle and Heather together and th…

Ethan and Greg: No. Come on. That’s no fair.

(boys all shouting and arguing again)

Heather: THIS IS STUPID. I DON’T EVEN CARE WHO I GET ANYMORE. JUST STOP FIGHTING OVER ME. I’LL TAKE WALT FOR ALL I CARE. AHHHH (guys all shut up and everyone stares) STUPID BOYS!!! (storms down the ladder and out of the cabin)

(dead silence for a few minutes)

Tonya: (quietly) What if we just skipped her and then came back at the end…

Greg: Yeah okay.

Sophia: So what about Kevin and Kelly Ann?

(Kevin and Kelly Ann look at each other “okay” “sure”)

Kyle: Phew. Alright one team down. 6 to go.

Sandy: How bout me and Ethan?

Ethan: Umm…yeah sure. That’s good.

[Ethan]: I still really wanted Heather. But I didn’t want to cause any more drama. And Sandy’s not a bad choice either. She’ll be a good partner.

Sandy: Yay! (hugging him)

Sophia: I really want Greg.

Grace: Sorry but so do I.

(both stare at Greg)

Greg: I’d be fine with either of you…

Grace: Well pick one.

Dave: I actually wanted you to be my partner Grace.

Grace: I know…It’s not that I don’t like you. But…Greg is my first choice and…

Dave: I get it. Well I’ve done all I can do. You guys fight it out. I’m done. (climbs down the ladder and out of the cabin)

Tonya: Dave. Dave? Come on. Uhhh. Well let’s just leave that one alone too. I want Brent.

Bella: Oh my God. Are you serious? I want Brent too.

Brent: Sorry Bella but I think I would do better with Tonya.

Bella: What?! Come on. Why? (Brent just looks down) Fine…Wait. NO. I’m not being with Walt. No No No. Not happening.

Walt: Ouch.

Bella: Sorry Walt. I just don’t think me and you would do well together…that’s all. I think you and Tonya would be a much better team.

Tonya: After all I’ve done for you. I can’t believe you would try to steal my partner.

Bella: All you’ve done for me? What a drama queen. Whatever. And hello news flash. He’s not your partner yet!!

Brent: (quietly) I’m gonna go…and see what Dave is…uhh…doing. (sneaks down the ladder and outside)

(in the other cabin- can hear Tonya and Bella’s voices getting louder)

Dave: (pounds bunk bed) This is so messed up. Why is it this hard to pick partners?

Heather: I know seriously. It’s called compromise.

Brent: (walks in) I’m so done. This is too much stress for me. Why can’t everyone just relax instead of yelling all the time.

Dave: Yeah. And poor Walt. No one wants him.

Brent: No one wants Bella either. She’s just too hyper for me. Doesn’t seem like she’d be into the game as much.

Heather: She’s a really nice girl actually. But anyways. Who’s got partners set? Anybody?

Brent: Yeah so far it’s Ethan and Sandy. Kelly Ann and Kevin. And that’s it.

Heather: That’s it?? The mission is in few hours and that’s all we’ve got. So I guess I’m left with either Kyle or Walt. I think me and Kyle would be good together actually. I can talk to him pretty easy. I think I’m gonna go write that on the list. Wish me luck.

Dave: Yeah be careful. You’re entering the line of fire.

(camera follows Heather into the other cabin-theres only Kelly Ann, Kevin, Kyle, Sophia, Grace and Greg left in there)

Heather: Wow. This is insane.

Kyle: I know. Do you still want to be my partner? Cus I’m all there is left besides Walt.

Heather: Yeah. I was just coming in here to ask you that.

Kyle: Okay so Sophia you wanna write that down.

Sophia: Sure. Finally someone agrees on something. My God. So here’s the list. (Dave and Brent walk in).

Sandy and Ethan

Kelly Ann and Kevin

Heather and Kyle

Grace: You can add me and Dave. If you still want me?

Dave: Yeah I do.

Grace: Sorry I didn’t want you before. (Sophia writes it down)

Sophia: Thanks Grace. You’re the best. (hugging her)

Brent: Can you write me and Tonya too. I mean I feel bad for Bella but I really don’t want her…

Sophia: Yeah I know. Okay so we finally have a list of everyone. I just hope this works out…

Sandy and Ethan

Kelly Ann and Kevin

Heather and Kyle

Grace and Dave

Sophia and Greg

Tonya and Brent

Bella and Walt

(shows Tonya digging her toes in the sand on the beach, Bella crying on the porch swing, Walt in the doorway of the cabin, Ethan and Sandy talking on a bunk bed)

*Walt*: That list is never gonna hold up. Half the people really want someone else. They just said who they did to keep the peace. At the mission there’s gonna be even more tears and fights. You just wait.

Kevin: This show should come with a disclaimer or something. Warning-Must Love Drama.

(out at the beach for the mission)

JD: Hey everybody. I’m seeing so many different emotions on your faces here. Sandy you look very happy. But then Bella you’re crying. We haven’t even done the mission yet. What’s up?

Bella: We all partnered up and (sniff) I got stuck with Walt even though I told everyone who I wanted.

JD: Wait, you all partnered up…we haven’t played the mission yet. So technically no one has partners yet.

Sophia: Well we made a list and I think everyone is gonna stick to it. So we pretty much know who our partners are.

JD: I wouldn’t be so sure Sophia. We pick partners different ways for different seasons remember. And this season…we’re leaving it up to fate.

(everyone’s jaws drop)