Ep 13. End of the Road
- September 7, 1998
Susie survives flirt-mania and a bit of kissing with Coach Shane. The closeness of the All-Stars has Christina contemplating the future of her own cast. "It's making me look at my group and wonder if we're going to be like that." Over lunch, the girls discuss the Coach Shane situation. Susie fondly recalls, "Did you hear him say, 'Do you want me to run you a bath?'…Don't even kid me." The reality of their departure hits Susie, "Oh my God! I don't want to leave. I'm not leaving!" Sorry, Susie, you're in this thing until the end. That's another thing bugging her. The trip is actually coming to an end. "I'm very sad about leaving everyone. I really don't want to leave these five people." At the hostel, Susie asks the other Shayne if he'll miss her. "When you're gone, I'll probably just cry a lot." Joking or not, at least he's showing some emotion. Kefla is being his typical self: withdrawn and quiet, something that adds to Christina's growing frustration, "I just feel like our boys are so unemotional. I don't understand how you could be this cold to people that you've been through so much with." During a meal between just the two of them, Susie asks Piggy, "Do you think that our cast will be close?…I know I'm very attached to you guys." When Piggy asks her what she would change if she could do it all over again, she says, "I would have said more. You keep a lot of stuff in. I think that's what happened with Kefla. He would make me mad everyday when he'd just lay there." Piggy puts it like this, "Kefla's got nobody who understands what he's about at all. I don't think he's being rude. I just think he's a fish out of water." That aside, Piggy warns Susie that she's a "big phone girl" and that a conversation with her will last a long time. Later that day, a message is delivered to the hostel. It states, "Hey Road Rulers, it's time to remember the good times and forget the bad. Celebrate the conclusion of your trip at the Last Supper." "That's not a mission, that's a dinner!" quips Piggy. Either way, they're thrilled. Back in the happening town of Sidney, the cast checks into their high-class hotel complete with a balcony view. In preparation for the important feast, they get dressed up in their best clothes. Caught up in the festive spirit, Christina and Susie pop open the shower, revealing Shayne's bare bottom. Maybe this cast is growing closer... During the ride over to the restaurant, the fact that the time they have together is almost up really starts to sink in. Susie quietly remarks, "I am very heart-broken that the trip's ending." They sit in silence and the first tears begin to flow. At the Waterfront Restaurant, the Rulers sit around a circular table, enjoying the lavish atmosphere. The wine is poured, and Christina says it's too bad none of them hooked up with each other. The pressure pours onto Piggy and Chad to kiss -- just once. Piggy bats her eyes, but Chad keeps his cool. Christina makes the observation, "We're obsessed with the opposite sex, and yet we can't even bond." When Kefla jokes, "There's no place like home," Christina thinks it's rude. She can't believe he's not going to feel sad. He replies that it's not like they're dying, and he'll see them again. She asks him straight out, "Doesn't it make you a little bit uneasy to say goodbye to all of us?" His answer? "To be honest... no." Just when the night's mood seems buried in the sands of somberness, a giant paper airplane sails over the table, landing in Susie's lap. She unfold it and reads, "Don't look back. Take one step toward your final mission: the handsome reward. What goes up, must come down. Rip your cord or splat on the ground. - Sydney Skydiving Centre." They go crazy! Clapping, screaming, the works. Although jazzed at the final mission, Christina remains irritated at Kefla. Returning to the hotel, she confronts him one-on-one in his room. "You won't f'king show one emotion. I've defended you for two months! You don't care that we're leaving?" Kefla says he'll stay in touch, but he's not going to cry about it. Once again, he states the case that he's the only black person on the trip. She replies, "You have to find some common ground…There has to be a point when you set aside all this external s't and look at us as human beings." Later, Kefla states "I'm glad Christina chewed me out. It's starting to open my eyes a little bit." The next day arrives. The FINAL day. At the Skydiving Centre, they waste no time in preparing for their plummet to Earth. They'll be participating in a tandem dive. This means an experienced sky-diver will be attached behind them when they leap from the plane. The Rulers slip into some groovy red and yellow jumpsuits. Waiting for their departure, Piggy has a quiet conversation with Chad. When she says she's going to phone him, he responds with a laugh, "How are you going to get my number?" During an interview, Chad reflects, "I've learned a valuable lesson from Piggy. It's not important to win an argument every time, just as long as you are heard and understood." While they're having a heartfelt talk, Christina is almost peeing in her jumpsuit. She's scared! "I just feel like a total dork because I'm the only one that's terrified of doing this." When the time to board the plane arrives, the instructor reveals to them that they'll be skydiving to their handsome rewards. The plane takes off, and the hearts start racing. Who's going to be first? Chad! The red "jump-light" starts to blink, and before he knows it, he's free falling toward the ground. Wait a second! Isn't this supposed to be ROAD Rules? What happen to the ROAD part? You're plummeting TO the road. Oh... One by one, they leap from the plane. The phrase most commonly heard? "OH MY GOD!!!" Not to worry though, all the parachutes open, and they drift safely to the ground. Everyone cheers! Chad even does one of his patented back-flips. And now it's time to claim their handsome rewards! They charge the spot, rip off the cover, and scream: underneath are two different types of motorcycles and a jet-ski! They're free to choose any one reward. Their cash is returned and an emotional group hug is shared. Arm in arm, Kefla says a prayer for the group. The tears are plentiful, the embraces tight. Piggy recognizes a change, "I stopped bursting into tears. I stopped feeling sorry for myself." And what about Susie? "There is a definite battle between the girl and the woman in me. It's time to move into the grown-up side and take it for what it's worth." Chad sums up their amazing time in Australia, "The biggest mission that we had to accomplish was all coming together and understanding each other a little bit more."