Final Three

[Nicole Schaffrich]

Wow…this is it. Literally one competition (in three parts) stands between me and the final two. I'm a little nervous, I'll admit, but I'm not worried. See my picture in that first spot on the memory wall? Yeah, it won't be going anywhere.

[Nicole Schaffrich]

This is a retrospective DR entry.

If there's any testament to my strategic prowess in this game, it's the way I handled these very final stages of the season. Was evicting Dustin over Porsche a good idea? On the surface, some might say no. But it was absolutely the best possible scenario that I won the Veto and that I evicted Dustin…because it means that I saved Porsche. And that will only help me to dissolve the very obvious bond that Porsche and Renny share. Porsche has never once spoken to me about the final two, and considering how gung-ho she was about getting Dustin evicted, it become clear rather quickly that Renny had also promised a final two deal to Porsche. Now, call me naïve, but I absolutely know, without even the slightest doubt, that Renny will stick to our deal and take me to the end if she wins the final HoH. Renny and I have had somewhat of a roller coaster relationship in the game - in the sense that our trust has wavered here and there - but in these past weeks, I've done absolutely everything possible to show her I have her back 100%. And I've been doing the same to Porsche. I want each of them to realize that I'm the most loyal Zombie Slayer in the group and I have to do this by creating as much contrast as possible between my current gameplay and the image that Jun has created of me in my allies' minds. As far as working Porsche, part of that was getting rid of Dustin and keeping her around. Will Porsche be more difficult to beat in the final HoH? Yes. Will Porsche be more of a challenge to be campaigning against in the final two? Absolutely. But if I cut Porsche's throat with no warning in the final four, not only do I instantly lose her vote; I lose Sarah's, Jun's, and Dustin's too. And that means I'll lose the game. I needed to keep Porsche because it will set me up perfectly to drive a wedge between her and Renny and it will get me to the final two, regardless of my performance in the final HoH.

That being said, I still want to win. I want to have six competitions under my belt. I want to have the final say. I want to write a killer speech. And I want Renny in the finals with me. When Porsche finally asked me about my plans for the final two, I considered lying to her and saying I wanted to take her…for about half a second. Why would I tell a lie that would likely go unbelieved? I knew exactly what I had to do:

Porsche: I am hoping that you and I can possibly talk about plans for after this HOH. It's not something that you and I have discussed at all, so I guess I should probably just ask directly. I wont be hurt if the answer is yes so please be honest I wont think any less of you, I swear! I wanted to know if you have a final two deal with Renny?
Nicole: I guess the reason I never brought it up is because I've always been nervous to mention a final two deal. To answer your question - and I'm answering you 100% honestly out of respect to you as a loyal ally and a competitor - I promised that I would take Renny to the final two if I won this last HoH. It's probably a bad game move for me to tell you that, but it's the truth. I never approached you for a final two deal because I wouldn't want to tell lies just to cover my butt in case I don't win the last competition. And if I did win and I had made promises to both of you, I wouldn't know what to do. So there you have it. I hope that you don't hate me or hold it against me. It was more out of respect for you than anything that I didn't approach you with a deal; I didn't want to lie to you or lead you on.
Porsche: I don't hold it against you at all that you have a deal with Renny. That’s cool with me but you have actually just opened my eyes to something that I am quite shocked about. Nothing to do with you at all, don’t worry. If I can win the final HoH, regardless of the fact that you wouldn't want me for your final two, I plan to take you because, as of right now, you have just become the only one that hasn't lied to ensure that their own ass is covered. Some people doing it shocked me more than others though. I know that I have doubted you and you have still always come through.
Nicole: I appreciate you saying that. It's not that I don't want you in my final two, but the truth is I made a promise to Renny earlier in the game. And like I said, I couldn't lie to you and then go back on my word. And I just don't want to be dishonest with you because I feel like we've actually gotten really close as this season progressed. I don't think that I played the best game but, above all, I've tried to be as honest as possible. That's why evicting Sarah was so hard; I wish I could have told her but that was a sticky situation all around.
Porsche: Sorry that wasn't how I meant it, I think I just worded what I said wrong. After the game is over I have some things to tell you that are surprising to me. I don't want to say right now, I want you to keep your promises because you are loyal and stick to what you say and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am glad that, out of the many people that I met in this game, at least you are who you say you are and who you depict yourself to be. It comes as a huge shock to me just how many people are not.

And just like that, I knew I had this shit in the bag.