Graceland – Hey there. Glad you like it. One more to go. I had to get Anya in there.
Tonto – Thanks. I’m sure a double wedding would be cool to see. Did you watch the Rob & Amber wedding? It was cheesy but boy was it beautiful!
SallyMcFine – I knew someone would catch it.
Quote:
inspired by memories of baby spitup?
Actually we got pretty lucky. He’s a pretty low messy kid: few poos, very little spitup.
meretricious – Hey back. Thanks. I agree, it’s very epilogue-ish (if that’s a word?). To tell the truth, I kind of wish that the last update could be the last one so that the last line would end it. But instead, I’ve got another update right now…
I agree about Ariel’s good fortune and Willow’s efforts toward her. She seems to be doing a very good job.
Quote:
was a little suprised tara didn't correct the reporter when her referred to kent as her ex-husband,
And I’m surprised that you’re the first person to mention it. Yes, I think that she’s used to it plus which who wants to say, “Oh, he’s not my ex-husband. We just had one night of drunken and uninspiring revelry.”
You’re so welcome for all your kudos and thanks.
Willster – Thanks. I’m glad to make the list. I have some more writing projects in mind. Thanks.
Justin – Hey there. Thanks. Lol. Glad you liked the party and Ariel too. Thanks.
Kajun – Yes, that would have been cool. Of course the Kitten would have voted for W/T to be ½ from the beginning so there’s not much competition there. Here comes the interview… Glad you liked the final line and the limo part.
watersong84 – Thanks. Lol about making it better with Anya. It was hard not to use her on the island so I’m glad I got her in here. I don’t think Tara’s so much mad as enjoying the comfort of joking around with a good friend once the tension is over.
Thank you about the last line. Like I said above, I kind of wish it was the last line of the fic but there’s one more update. Thank you.
Title – Survivor – Ash Island
Part 35 – The Latest Early Show
Author – JustSkipIt
Pairing – T/W (who else?)
Feedback – Oh yes.
Spoilers – None
Rating – PG-13
Disclaimer – I own none of these characters nor do I own Survivor. And believe it or not, I also don’t own any small islands. On the other hand, this island is fictional so let’s say I own it. I’m making no money from this fiction and intend no copyright infringement. I also don’t own The Early Show nor The Ellen Show.
Note – Debra’s soapbox: You liked this story right? You send feedback and thank yous. Kittens are really wonderful. Honor the story today. Do something spectacular: tell someone you love them, make a donation to charity, retrieve the ball that rolled away from a little kid, or even just feedback another fic. Namaste.
Note – Congratulations to the Canadian Kittens, including Patches, on your equality today!
Harry and Julie stand outside the CBS Early Show studio in a space cordoned off from the crowd. After the news update is complete they announce, “And coming up in the next segment, the final four from Survivor – Ash Island.”
When the Early Show returns from commercial break Harry narrates for the clip from last night’s season finale.
Show clip [blockquote]To recap, that’s three votes Faith. Three votes Tara!” Jeff pulls the last vote from the container and looks at it for a long moment. “And the winner of Survivor – Ash Island … is Faith!” Both Faith and Tara look shocked for a second, neither moving. Then the crowd cheers and both women jump up and hug each other tightly. As soon as they let go, Faith runs from the stage into the crowd where she embraces her family including picking up Ariel and hugging her and kissing Kent deeply to the cat calls of the crowd. [/blockquote]
“Last night we saw the final four for Survivor – Ash Island go from four, to three, to two contestants and saw Faith Lehane crowned the Ultimate Survivor.” The camera pulls back and we see Harry sitting in a tall director-style chair with the Robin, Kendra, Tara, and Faith in similar chairs. “Congratulations, Faith.”
“Thanks.”
“And Congratulations to each of you. You all played a great game.”
The other three competitors all say thank you. “Now Faith, you played a very daring game.” We see shots of Faith conspiring with Robin, Willow, and Buffy at different times. “You schemed throughout this game and still won.”
“I came into the game with a plan, Harry. I didn’t know if it would work but I got lucky.”
Harry indicates Robin and Kendra. “In fact, both of you actually voted for Faith to win the money?”
Robin begins to answer the question. “You know we had a very clear and interesting choice to make in the tribal council. The contest between Tara and Faith was so clear cut.”
Kendra takes up the explanation. “This was a very hard decision to make. I mean I was with these girls throughout our time on the island and I was thankful for Tara every day. I mean has there ever been anyone on Survivor who knew what she knew? No. But then when it came down to it, I voted for the person who played the best
Survivor Game.”
Faith laughs. “I think everyone agrees that Tara is who they would want to be stranded on a desert island with.”
“That seems like slight consolation.” Harry directs his statement at Tara.
“I was s-surprised to make it through the game and to the final two. The fact that I made it that far is consolation for me.”
“And you did win $100,000.”
“Well that c-certainly helps.” Tara laughs nervously.
“Robin. You made it very far in this game and you never really seemed to fit into a strong alliance. Do you have doubts about your strategy now?”
“I’m very pleased about how far I made it in this game. I made it this far on my wits and my physical fitness.” He looks sideways at the other three girls. “And these girls were in control of the game the entire time but they wanted to take me with them.”
“Kendra, you were aligned with Faith and Tara for every day of this game.”
“Yes, mon.”
“But you don’t seem to have really made the impression that they made on the jury or the audience. The CBS website shows Tara with a 90% popularity level and Faith at 84%. Even Robin and Willow are at 79% but you hovered at 63% throughout the entire game. You never seemed to spike up or drop.”
“Well Harry, I was myself on the island. I had a great experience and played a very good game. I might not have set the world on fire but I wasn’t the lowest rated Survivor either, I think.”
“Good point,” Harry agrees.
“Tara, I just recounted your popularity. How has that changed things for you?”
“It wasn’t anything I was e-expecting.” Tara looks down at her hands. “I don’t think I really thought about what it would mean for me or my daughter for me to go on this show. Now I get stopped in airports, grocery stores, at my daughter’s s-soccer games.” She looks back at Harry. “But everyone has been v-very nice.”
“Not everyone,” Harry disagrees.
Show Clip
[blockquote]But I think that you’re worse, Tara.” Tara looks puzzled at Buffy’s statement. “I had a friend in this game, an alliance member.” Everyone glances at Willow. “But you used her. You told her lies about who you were and what she meant to you. You sold yourself and you sold her and that makes you pretty disgusting in my book.” Tara is shaking her head and mouthing “no” but she isn’t given an opportunity to respond by Buffy who angrily turns on her heel and sits back down. A shot of Willow shows her mouth clenched, her fists balled at her side. [/blockquote]
“This speech seemed to really come out of left field. Was anyone expecting it?”
Robin answers first. “Buffy was pretty unhappy about her performance in the game.”
“Buffy is a very passionate and loyal person. When someone is her friend, she wants to defend them, whatever it takes.”
Harry follows up Kendra’s answer. “And she thought that Tara was taking advantage of her friend—Willow?”
“B-buffy and Willow are very close friends. She honestly believed that my i-i-in… i-i-i…” Tara shows takes a deep breath as if trying to compose herself.
“You know, Harry,” Faith takes over, “Buffy was just trying to defend her friend. She didn’t realize how Tara really felt.”
“Would you like to say anything about that, Tara?”
Tara looks off screen to the crowd surrounding the “stage.” She smiles widely. “I would absolutely never do anything to hurt Willow.”
“Yet, you voted her off the show.”
Tara looks down but Faith reaches over and takes her hand, giving it a squeeze. Tara looks back up. “Willow understands that decision.” She smiles again off screen.
Harry changes the topic. “Faith, how has your appearance on this show changed your life?”
Faith smiles. “Well my business has certainly increased.” Everyone laughs. “The attention has been great. And people are very open with their opinions.”
Robin laughs along with the trainer. “That’s for sure. People stop you on the street to give advice on the game.”
“As if you can go back and change anything you did months ago,” Kendra laughs and the other Survivors all join her.
“When we return we’ll hand out the checks and find out some interesting news from our winner.”
When the show returns from commercial, Robin and Kendra have left the set. Now just Harry, Tara, and Faith sit in the director’s chairs. “Welcome back to The Early Show.” The crowd applauds. “We are visiting with Tara and Faith, the final two players on Survivor – Ash Island.” He turns and picks up a check that is about 3 times normal check size. It is clearly for $100,000 and made out to Tara Maclay. “Tara, your appearance on Survivor – Ash Island was probably the most competent showing any one has ever made in coping in the wilderness.” He holds up the check and slowly revolves so the audience sees it. “I’m happy to award you this check for second place and $100,000.”
Tara reverently takes the check and shakes Harry’s hand. “Th-thank you, Harry.” The applause continues.
Harry reaches behind him and pulls out a check that is easily twice as big as the first one. This one says $1,000,000 and “Faith Lehane, Ultimate Survivor!” in the “pay to the order of…” space. “Faith, CBS and The Early Show is excited to present you with this check for
one million dollars!” Faith happily accepts the check and shakes Harry’s hand as the crowd applauds loudly. She and Tara hug and then she waves to the crowd as the applause continues.
“After this commercial, we’ll have some exciting news from the Ultimate Survivor.”
“Welcome back to The Early Show. We’re visiting with Faith Lehane Ultimate Survivor for Survivor – Ash Island and Tara Maclay, her competitor in the final two.” After continued applause and smiles and waves from Tara and Faith both.
“Faith, I understand that you have some exciting news from last night in addition to your winning Survivor.”
“I really do. I met the most wonderful man in the world on this show.”
We see two show clips: Kent and Faith working together to win the reward challenge and Faith talking to Kent as he sits by the fire.
“And we’re going to be married.” The surprised crowd waits a second and then begins applauding and shouting.
“Congratulations, Faith,” Harry says, “Now have you had any discussion with CBS about broadcasting the wedding?”
“No one has mentioned it but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested. I let the publicity and legal people take care of stuff like that.”
“Tara, you must be really excited for your friend.”
“Kent has been my best friend for many years and to have b-been able to introduce these two and see them together is just really great.”
PhotoThe screen flashes a shot of Kent, Ariel, and Faith arriving at the Survivor Finale show.
“Now speaking of Survivor romances, you and Willow made no secret of your relationship while on the show. But some viewers couldn’t really tell whether you were just playing her or whether you were serious.”
“I know that some viewers thought I was playing the game b-but I think that my popularity shows that most believed I was acting with my heart.”
“It wasn’t just the viewers that doubted your feelings,” Harry says as a lead in for the next clip.
Show Clip
[blockquote]But I think that you’re worse, Tara.” Tara looks puzzled at Buffy’s statement. “I had a friend in this game, an alliance member.” Everyone glances at Willow. “But you used her. You told her lies about who you were and what she meant to you. You sold yourself and you sold her and that makes you pretty disgusting in my book.” Tara is shaking her head and mouthing “no” but she isn’t given an opportunity to respond by Buffy who angrily turns on her heel and sits back down. A shot of Willow shows her mouth clenched, her fists balled at her side. [/blockquote]
“How did it feel watching that speech last night?”
“I think it was worse when it happened at the tribal c-council months ago. Then I didn’t know what had happened between Buffy and Willow at the resort. I didn’t know if Willow might have believed those things that Buffy said. I was very scared to lose her and very shocked that s-someone would believe that about me.” She takes a deep breath. “But last night, all I could think was that my daughter and my mother were with me and that they were hearing what Buffy said.”
“And how did they react?”
Tara smiles before answering. “My mother just patted me on the hand throughout the speech and then leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek when it was over.”
“And your daughter?”
“Ariel was very upset with Buffy. I had tried to explain to her during the commercial breaks that people might s-say mean things about her mother but she didn’t really understand it.”
Faith interrupts Tara for a moment. “Ariel’s about the smartest six-year old I’ve ever met but she’s also a very sensitive child. It was hard for her to hear Buffy say what she knew wasn’t true. I mean she knows that Tara loves Willow. Anyone with eyes could see that on the island.”
“So you were aware that Tara’s feelings for Willow were real during the game?”
Faith nods her head enthusiastically. “There was never much of a doubt about it for anyone who spent more than a few days with the girls. Actually the most surprising thing about the two of them is that Tara stayed true to her alliance with Kendra and I.”
“In fact, you voted Willow off the show.”
“Y-y-yes. I had made a promise to the women in my alliance and I was committed to keeping that promise. It hurt to vote off someone who I cared about so deeply but my v-vote was part of the game.”
“Back to Buffy,” Harry says. “Have the two of you spoken since tribal council?”
Tara nods her head. “A few months ago Willow and Buffy met for dinner while Willow was in Chicago. Buffy called me shortly after that to apologize and she apologized again last night.”
“Yet,” Harry says, “Buffy’s vote seems to have cost you the game. Do you wonder whether she would have voted for you if she had known the truth?”
Faith and Tara both laugh. Tara motions to the dark haired girl and herself. “We talked about it months ago and agreed that no matter how it came out, we wouldn’t play ‘what if’ about the vote.”
Faith chimes in. “Yeah, Harry. You can really make yourself crazy thinking, ‘what if I’d given that person a pat on the back’ or ‘what if I’d given a different answer to the question?’”
“Well that’s an incredibly mature attitude,” Harry commends them. “We at The Early Show would like to congratulate you both again and we’ll be looking for more information on your wedding, Faith.”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks.”
--
Tuesday Morning – The Ellen Show
After she’s done with her dancing and has given her introductory comments, Ellen introduces her first guests. “Now I’m pretty excited about our first guests today. We’ve had Survivor contestants on before but never like these.”
They play a two clips: Willow kissing Tara for the first time and Tara kissing Willow’s icon.
“Let’s welcome Tara Maclay and Willow Rosenberg from Survivor – Ash Island!” The two girls come out through the curtain and Ellen greets them. As the band plays dance music all three start dancing and laughing. Tara blushes and looks down but is obviously buoyed by the enthusiastic response from the audience. Once they have finished dancing, Ellen leads the way over to her lounging area.
“Welcome.”
“Thanks, Ellen,” Willow responds as she places her hand palm up on Tara’s knee and the blonde entwines their fingers. “We’re really happy to be here.”
“Ok, for anyone who hasn’t been watching Survivor this season…” Ellen looks around. “Who did watch?”
The entire audience bursts into applause and shouting.
Ellen laughs along with Willow and Tara. “Well in case anyone at home didn’t watch, you two were quite the story this season. Tara, you made it to the final two and barely lost by a 4-3 vote Sunday night.”
“Yes.”
“And Willow, you played a bold game. You solved all these puzzles and courted a woman who wasn’t even out of the closet.”
“I guess that was pretty unusual,” Willow agrees. “But I just felt this connection to Tara. It wasn’t anything that I could deny or anything I wanted to.”
Ellen looks at Tara. “Let me clarify. You were out of the closet, just not on the show. You had no intention of discussing it at all.”
“R-r-right. I wanted to play the game I wanted to play. I didn’t want my loving women to become my story.”
“I know how that can be,” Ellen deadpans. The audience again laughs and claps.
“And since you two left the Island, you’ve been dating?”
“Actually we didn’t see each other until the weekend of the premiere.”
“Is that a rule that CBS has or did one of you come up with the idea?”
Willow and Tara share a glance. “We agreed that it would be b-best if we both returned to our lives and gave our relationship some time.”
Ellen smiles. “So you’re on this island for what 5 weeks?”
“If you’re lucky,” Willow answers.
“What do you do? I mean aren’t you completely bored.”
Tara nods as Ellen is speaking. “It would be hard to describe just how b-boring the time on the island is. I mean imagine being there for 5 weeks—actually 39 days in the case of Faith and I.”
“What did you do?”
“W-well part of the time you are working on the shelter, getting water, or finding food,” Willow explains.
“And the rest of the time you spend s-sitting around trying to conserve your energy.”
“And talking?” Ellen suggests.
“You talk forever. You talk about everything. Every car you ever owned. Your family, your high school sports scores, everything.” Tara and Willow both laugh as if sharing an inside joke.
Ellen watches the girls with amusement. “Inside joke?”
“Well we got tired of telling our life stories over and over.”
Willow segues directly to telling Tara’s story. “Kendra and Faith were huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans.” Quite a few audience members shout and cheer.
“Apparently they aren’t alone,” Ellen says with a wave of her hand.
“So when we ran out of things to talk about, they would tell the rest of us the details of every single episode.”
“S-sometimes they would a-act them out.” Tara and Willow are laughing pretty hard now at their remembrances.
“And you had visitors on the island?”
“Just one time.” Willow nods.
“Ok, so tell me who this guy is.” Ellen holds up a two pictures of Kent. One shows him working with Tara on the reward challenge. The other shows he and Faith arriving for the Finale Sunday Night.
“That’s my b-best friend, Kent.” Tara points at the picture. “He and Faith met on the island and they’ve really hit it off.”
“They’re engaged?”
“They got engaged Sunday night,” Willow confirms.
Ellen smiles. “Sounds like you all got very
busy on the Island.” She pauses. “And the two of you found something else to do to entertain yourselves.”
Show Clip
[blockquote]
Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
“When Willow and Tara got back from getting mail, they were both blushing like crazy, man. I mean everyone with eyes has noticed the way they look at each other. And one walks in the woods, the other gets up to follow. I say, good for you girls. But don’t mess up my game. Tara’s been with Faith and I all along.”[/blockquote]
“Ok, you can tell us. What happened in the woods? And what happened in that cabin?”
Tara laughs. “You know that a cameraman follows you e-everywhere on the Island right?”
“Yeah,” Willow laughs, “this one guy had like a waist pouch of snacks. He would always hold the camera in one hand and eat with the other.”
“That had to be hard,” Ellen prompts.
“You know those c-cartoons where the person is hungry and their friends start to look like steaks with eyeballs and a hat?” The audience laughs at Tara’s description.
“So you’re saying that the two of you went for walks in the woods and just talked and wished you had the cameraman’s food?”
Willow smiles. “Well that wasn’t all we did in the woods.” The audience whistles and cheers.
“Now speaking of food…”
Show clip
MFashnek Camp – Day 18
[blockquote]“Peanut butter,” Kendra is saying. We see all five MFashnek members sitting around the fire. They are drinking coffee to begin the day. It’s unclear how long this game has been going on.
“Cheese,” Willow says. “A grilled cheese sandwich.”
“My daughter,” Tara adds. “And a Snickers bar.” Everyone laughs. “What about you Robin? What do you miss?”
“A shower,” Robin answers with a smile.[/blockquote]
Ellen smiles a sneaky smile as the theme song for Snickers starts to play. Two interns push out a pallet holding thousands of Snickers bars and leave it near the seats as Willow claps and Tara hangs her head so her eyes are behind her hair. Ellen stands up and both Survivors join her in walking over toward the pallet. “I could never eat th-that m-many … Tara looks up and looks at the audience. Can we give some to th-them?” As soon as the words are out of her mouth, the interns and a few others start taking bars off the top and filling baskets to carry them out into the crowd.
“Hey, what’s this?” Willow pulls a large envelope from the pile and hands it to Tara.
Tara looks at the envelope and then to Ellen who is still smiling widely. “Th-this is from…” As she speaks she opens the envelope and pulls a sheet of crisp paper from it. She reads for a minute as Willow looks on before screaming and hugging first Willow and then Ellen. By the time she finishes hugging the two of them and all the available interns, she is crying and the audience is clapping and stomping their feet.
Finally leading the girls back toward the desk, Ellen asks Tara to explain what the letter says. Having composed herself by wiping her face with a Kleenex and taking a drink of cold water, Tara finally discloses that the letter is from the Ohio University system and provides credit for her to finish her Art degree as well as credit for Ariel’s college education. She can not finish the explanation as she again begins crying. Willow holds her lover’s hand and pats it as she sees how moved the blonde is by the wonderful gift.
“I have the best job ever,” Ellen says conclusively. Then she reaches behind her desk and tells Willow, “I don’t want you to think we forgot you.” She hands the redhead a box holding a new IPod and a gift card. “That’s for 5000 songs at ITunes.”
Like Tara before her, Willow jumps up and hugs the host and thanks her profusely. The band starts to play and Ellen turns to the audience. “Coming up after the break we’ll have an 11 year-old boy who has just set a world record for jumping rope.” She turns back to Willow and Tara. “Thank you so much for coming on the show today. It was a pleasure seeing the two of you on the show and meeting you.”
Tara and Willow return the host with smiles. They quickly hug her and thank her for having them on and again thank her for their gifts.
---
ETA: THE END