The Key To A Million Dollars… Finale Recap PART 1

cali · 02-09-2005, 11:51 AM

…Is to never give up … ever.

First I want to apologize about last weeks recap… or rather lack of a recap. I have issues. Anyway, I didn’t get to the writers to get a sub, and because of that there was no recap. I really am sorry. Hopefully the fact that this recap will come in two parts will make up for that.

The Episode wasn’t, but the recap will be… a two parter that is. This is Part One and will cover the race up to the final elimination.

Let’s get it on….

The Particulars

Leave Shanghai and travel 800 miles by train to Xi’an China. Once there grab a cab to the Drum Tower.

The Drum Tower, of course, has hours of operation, so teams must wait for it to open. Once inside they will be given the Detour choices. This leg team must choose between Spray where they will travel 34 miles to a car factory and paint the shell of a car with pneumatic sprayers. If teams choose Scroll they need to search 10 bolts of fabric for two small Chinese characters, cut them out of the fabric and receive the next clue.

Teams are sent to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum where 7,000 terra cotta soldiers stand guard. In pits.

The clue they find there has them traveling 70 miles to Mount Hua where players need to get to the North Peak to receive the Roadblock. The player who performs this task must be methodical. There are more than 3,000 padlocks at the top of the mountain and the team member must use a key to unlock one. The task must be completed by 7pm. Once the player opens the lock they are sent to…

The Pit Stop located at the South Gate of the Xi’an Wall. The last team to arrive will be eliminated

And away we go…

Hayden and Aaron 11:20pm

Hayden begins this leg as she has so many in the past… she’s freaking out already. On the train to Xi’an she’s making babies cry…OK, that’s not fair of me, she’s actually being cute with one baby who just got scared when she jabbed him in the face with a box.

In Xi’an the taxi ride has Hayden worried, then she gets mad because Aaron is NOT freaking out. She is sure the cabbie will get lost.

It doesn’t and they arrive at the Drum Tower without incident. Once they receive the clue they opt for Spray, and head off to the car factory.

Again Hayden is upset, more so because Aaron is still calm. Of course this cab ride is fine too, and the pair paint the shell of the car in good time.

Do I need to tell you how Hayden acted upon entering the cab? Yes? OK, she’s freaking out again. I guess third time is the charm as it seems there was reason to worry this time as it takes the cabbie a while to find the Warrior Museum.

After they get the clue inside the museum they see that the same cabbie is there waiting. Hayden really doesn’t want to use him again, but Aaron thinks it would take too much time to find a new one.

Did I say third time was the charm? Perhaps it is more appropriate to say the fourth time is the charm, as this time the cabbie gets really lost. Hayden makes him pull over and is irate when she learns they are headed in the wrong direction. She refuses to get back in, then yells at Aaron because she figures they won’t be able to get a cab at the side of the road.

Aaron, who really is still pretty calm, refuses to pay the cabbie in Chinese currency, which upsets the driver, but I guess everything turned out OK, as in the next scene the driver is gone.

They manage to get a cab, but once they arrive at Mount Hua Hayden is in “full freak” mode. She is yelling at locals, who are honestly very patient with her. She demands to know where the shuttle is. They are trying to tell her, but it seems as though she won’t let them finish a sentence. Finally she and Aaron board a shuttle, but because the driver wants to be paid Hayden GETS OFF.

Again I will go with an assumption and figure that Aaron calmed her down, as they do get on either that shuttle or another one and get to the gondolas that will take them higher up the mountain.

At the North Peak they choose Hayden to perform the task. Now I will spoil a little here and let you know that other teams are there. Hayden and Aaron can plainly see what needs to be done, and they STILL choose Hayden.

You don’t need a psychic to tell you that Hayden is spazzing out within seconds. Her key is too big, too little, it fits but wont turn, it won’t fit. Uhg, shut up already. She manages to get her key stuck and decides that the best way to unstick it is to use her teeth. I cringe as I watch her bite at the key. I don’t know if it broke off in her mouth, or if she was back to using her hands, but I do know that it broke, sending them to a hotel for a replacement key.

After trying for a while longer Hayden gives up and takes the penalty. They head off for the Pit Stop where they arrive…

Freddy and Kendra 11:30pm

They start the leg arguing. Kendra wants to go into the Exit at the train station causing Freddy to talk to her in a condescending manner. Then once in the gate Freddy walks past the sign directing them the other way for ticket sales so Kendra gets to talk to Freddy in a condescending manner.

I’m already bored with these two,

Once in Xi’an they taxi to the Drum Tower where they seem to quickly opt for Spray. At the car factory there is a small mix up over which entrance to use, but they find the right way quickly and do an OK job on the car…. As long as the company is planning on using it for scrap anyway.

They head to the museum in the same cab, but this time the cabbie gets lost. Freddy is not a happy racer.

At the Warrior Museum Kendra wants to dig for the clue. Luckily Freddy knows better and the two search for the box.

Freddy and Kendra make it to Mount Hua easily and get to the North Peak without getting lost. Even though they read the clue and know it calls for the methodical player they still choose Kendra. She decides it’s methodical to pick a lock try it, then skip 20-30 or so locks and try another. Finally she gets some kind of system down and thinks she has tried them all. So she starts again.

After what seems like a very long time she unlocks the padlock and receives the clue that sends them to The Pit Stop where they arrive…

Kris and Jon 11:44pm

On the train to Xi’an Kris and Jon are talking with Rebecca and Adam. Kris tells Adam that she thinks Jon was worried that she would wind up being some raging bitch on the race. Adam laughs saying that Kris’ raging bitch is Rebecca on a good day.

Three out of Four racers laugh at this.

The couple gets a taxi driver that does nothing but laugh the entire trip to the tower. Jon figures it must be all the green tea, an idea that Kris readily accepts.

I go make tea.

At the Drum Tower they waste no time getting the clue and decide that the best choice of Detour is to Spray. For some reason the cab ride seems to take a while, and when they arrive at the car factory they have a bit of trouble getting to the right entrance.

Once inside they do a great job with the car and are given the next clue.

At the Warrior Museum they see another team inside reading over a clue. Kris decides to look around where that team was standing, assuming the box would be near by. They search for a while, but finally realize the box is on the other side of the museum.
After reading the clue they grab a cab and spend a few minutes discussing how cool the museum was and how they wish they could have stayed a while.

At Mount Hua they climb most of the way up the East peak before realizing the mistake. Once at the North peak it’s up to Kris to perform the Roadblock. She does a grand job and seems to skip over the old locks and the ones that are obviously too small.

She finishes the task and gets the clue with directions to the Pit Stop where Kris and Jon arrive…

Adam and Rebecca 12:24am

Starting the leg with no money would have been a lot harder for some teams. Rebecca seems to be able to get money from every one she asks, including 100 US dollars from some random dude in a restaurant. The team gets 180 US and heads off for the train station in pretty good shape.

At the Drum Tower they decide to Spray for their choice of Detour, so they head off for the factory. After painting for a few minutes Rebecca decides she was an auto body tech in a former life and Adam feels like Michael Keaton in Gung Ho.

They finish up the car and grab a cab, but after a few minutes it gets stopped so a government motorcade can go by. They sit for a while and traffic starts to move, but their cabbie has a hard time figuring out how to merge. His waiting gives another team time to pass Adam and Rebecca.

At Mount Hua the couple gets almost all the way to the top of the East Peak… and when I say almost all the way, I think Rebecca may have actually reached it with Adam just a few feet behind. They figure out where they must go and head down the east peak.

At the Roadblock Rebecca will be the player that wields the key. She tries to have fun by singing a song about her lucky key, but it doesn’t seem to work. I’m pretty sure she went through all the locks once and had to start again before getting it to work.

The receive the clue and head for the Pit Stop where they arrive…

The Pit Stop

1. Kris and Jon winning themselves their fourth vacation. This one to the Caribbean
2. Freddy and Kendra
3. Hayden and Aaron
4. Adam and Rebecca

Ahhh… The Penalty garnered by Hayden, who my husband has dubbed “The Key Bitch”, costs the couple four hours, and their third place finish. They knew it and were not surprised seeing that Adam and Rebecca stepped on the mat about 2 minutes after they did. Aaron did take the opportunity to propose to Hayden who agreed.. blah, blah, yadda yadda.

Kris and Jon, Freddy and Kendra and Adam and Rebecca will be the three teams heading into the final leg of the race.

I hope to have part two of the finale up later today…..And Here it is

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park_ave_teach · 02-09-2005, 12:11 PM

Great recap, Cali~! My 24 year old nephew does an amazing impression of Adam running like a "toddler after an ice cream truck!"

Cali -- "I cringe as I watch her bite at the key. I don’t know if it broke off in her mouth, or if she was back to using her hands, but I do know that it broke, sending them to a hotel for a replacement key."

Ok, I must have missed something. They went to commercial right after the bite/break/key fit.... and when they came back, there she was trying a key! How did you know about the hotel? Did I doze off during one of her many many many tirades?

Toby · 02-09-2005, 12:19 PM

Such a great recap!! Oh man, what a show?? I couldn't believe that Freddie and Kendra beat out Kris and Jon!!! So sad

When Kendra told people she had a sick child in Hawaii, I was so angry with her. Some people...

Nikki_Brandon · 02-09-2005, 12:25 PM

Hey cali, youu dont have to be sorry, you do this week in week out and what more can we ask from you. Great recap as always

Leo · 02-09-2005, 12:33 PM

Great recap - good job breaking down such a fast-paced hour.

Primetimetommie · 02-09-2005, 03:22 PM

Thanks for the super-fast recap...but just one thought...

Hayden and Aaron had NO CHOICE but to give the Roadblock to Hayden. Aaron had already completed his allowed six. (Legs 2, 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11)

I predicted that they might lose because Hayden would be forced into a roadblock not suited to her, but I thought it would be something concerning her fear of heights.

cali · 02-09-2005, 03:54 PM

ahhhh... good catch! Looks like you were right

ShrinkingViolet · 02-09-2005, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the fantastic recap, Cali.

Quote:

Adam laughs saying that Kris’ raging bitch is Rebecca on a good day. Three out of Four racers laugh at this.

Your line really cracked me up.

I'll look forward to Part II!

Vicarious_Viewr · 02-09-2005, 06:27 PM

Cool recap. Does anyone know offhand who won the most legs & vacations?

JR. · 02-09-2005, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali

On the train to Xi’an she’s making babies cry…OK, that’s not fair of me, she’s actually being cute with one baby who just got scared when she jabbed him in the face with a box.

No way, you had it right. The kid was probably thinking "this looks like Dave Grohl...but with boobs", and was freaked out.

02-09-2005, 11:51 AM	#1
cali Soccer Kicks Balls Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: right behind you Age: 42 Posts: 15,258	The Key To A Million Dollars… Finale Recap PART 1 …Is to never give up … ever. First I want to apologize about last weeks recap… or rather lack of a recap. I have issues. Anyway, I didn’t get to the writers to get a sub, and because of that there was no recap. I really am sorry. Hopefully the fact that this recap will come in two parts will make up for that. The Episode wasn’t, but the recap will be… a two parter that is. This is Part One and will cover the race up to the final elimination. Let’s get it on…. The Particulars Leave Shanghai and travel 800 miles by train to Xi’an China. Once there grab a cab to the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower, of course, has hours of operation, so teams must wait for it to open. Once inside they will be given the Detour choices. This leg team must choose between Spray where they will travel 34 miles to a car factory and paint the shell of a car with pneumatic sprayers. If teams choose Scroll they need to search 10 bolts of fabric for two small Chinese characters, cut them out of the fabric and receive the next clue. Teams are sent to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum where 7,000 terra cotta soldiers stand guard. In pits. The clue they find there has them traveling 70 miles to Mount Hua where players need to get to the North Peak to receive the Roadblock. The player who performs this task must be methodical. There are more than 3,000 padlocks at the top of the mountain and the team member must use a key to unlock one. The task must be completed by 7pm. Once the player opens the lock they are sent to… The Pit Stop located at the South Gate of the Xi’an Wall. The last team to arrive will be eliminated And away we go… Hayden and Aaron 11:20pm Hayden begins this leg as she has so many in the past… she’s freaking out already. On the train to Xi’an she’s making babies cry…OK, that’s not fair of me, she’s actually being cute with one baby who just got scared when she jabbed him in the face with a box. In Xi’an the taxi ride has Hayden worried, then she gets mad because Aaron is NOT freaking out. She is sure the cabbie will get lost. It doesn’t and they arrive at the Drum Tower without incident. Once they receive the clue they opt for Spray, and head off to the car factory. Again Hayden is upset, more so because Aaron is still calm. Of course this cab ride is fine too, and the pair paint the shell of the car in good time. Do I need to tell you how Hayden acted upon entering the cab? Yes? OK, she’s freaking out again. I guess third time is the charm as it seems there was reason to worry this time as it takes the cabbie a while to find the Warrior Museum. After they get the clue inside the museum they see that the same cabbie is there waiting. Hayden really doesn’t want to use him again, but Aaron thinks it would take too much time to find a new one. Did I say third time was the charm? Perhaps it is more appropriate to say the fourth time is the charm, as this time the cabbie gets really lost. Hayden makes him pull over and is irate when she learns they are headed in the wrong direction. She refuses to get back in, then yells at Aaron because she figures they won’t be able to get a cab at the side of the road. Aaron, who really is still pretty calm, refuses to pay the cabbie in Chinese currency, which upsets the driver, but I guess everything turned out OK, as in the next scene the driver is gone. They manage to get a cab, but once they arrive at Mount Hua Hayden is in “full freak” mode. She is yelling at locals, who are honestly very patient with her. She demands to know where the shuttle is. They are trying to tell her, but it seems as though she won’t let them finish a sentence. Finally she and Aaron board a shuttle, but because the driver wants to be paid Hayden GETS OFF. Again I will go with an assumption and figure that Aaron calmed her down, as they do get on either that shuttle or another one and get to the gondolas that will take them higher up the mountain. At the North Peak they choose Hayden to perform the task. Now I will spoil a little here and let you know that other teams are there. Hayden and Aaron can plainly see what needs to be done, and they STILL choose Hayden. You don’t need a psychic to tell you that Hayden is spazzing out within seconds. Her key is too big, too little, it fits but wont turn, it won’t fit. Uhg, shut up already. She manages to get her key stuck and decides that the best way to unstick it is to use her teeth. I cringe as I watch her bite at the key. I don’t know if it broke off in her mouth, or if she was back to using her hands, but I do know that it broke, sending them to a hotel for a replacement key. After trying for a while longer Hayden gives up and takes the penalty. They head off for the Pit Stop where they arrive… Freddy and Kendra 11:30pm They start the leg arguing. Kendra wants to go into the Exit at the train station causing Freddy to talk to her in a condescending manner. Then once in the gate Freddy walks past the sign directing them the other way for ticket sales so Kendra gets to talk to Freddy in a condescending manner. I’m already bored with these two, Once in Xi’an they taxi to the Drum Tower where they seem to quickly opt for Spray. At the car factory there is a small mix up over which entrance to use, but they find the right way quickly and do an OK job on the car…. As long as the company is planning on using it for scrap anyway. They head to the museum in the same cab, but this time the cabbie gets lost. Freddy is not a happy racer. At the Warrior Museum Kendra wants to dig for the clue. Luckily Freddy knows better and the two search for the box. Freddy and Kendra make it to Mount Hua easily and get to the North Peak without getting lost. Even though they read the clue and know it calls for the methodical player they still choose Kendra. She decides it’s methodical to pick a lock try it, then skip 20-30 or so locks and try another. Finally she gets some kind of system down and thinks she has tried them all. So she starts again. After what seems like a very long time she unlocks the padlock and receives the clue that sends them to The Pit Stop where they arrive… Kris and Jon 11:44pm On the train to Xi’an Kris and Jon are talking with Rebecca and Adam. Kris tells Adam that she thinks Jon was worried that she would wind up being some raging bitch on the race. Adam laughs saying that Kris’ raging bitch is Rebecca on a good day. Three out of Four racers laugh at this. The couple gets a taxi driver that does nothing but laugh the entire trip to the tower. Jon figures it must be all the green tea, an idea that Kris readily accepts. I go make tea. At the Drum Tower they waste no time getting the clue and decide that the best choice of Detour is to Spray. For some reason the cab ride seems to take a while, and when they arrive at the car factory they have a bit of trouble getting to the right entrance. Once inside they do a great job with the car and are given the next clue. At the Warrior Museum they see another team inside reading over a clue. Kris decides to look around where that team was standing, assuming the box would be near by. They search for a while, but finally realize the box is on the other side of the museum. After reading the clue they grab a cab and spend a few minutes discussing how cool the museum was and how they wish they could have stayed a while. At Mount Hua they climb most of the way up the East peak before realizing the mistake. Once at the North peak it’s up to Kris to perform the Roadblock. She does a grand job and seems to skip over the old locks and the ones that are obviously too small. She finishes the task and gets the clue with directions to the Pit Stop where Kris and Jon arrive… Adam and Rebecca 12:24am Starting the leg with no money would have been a lot harder for some teams. Rebecca seems to be able to get money from every one she asks, including 100 US dollars from some random dude in a restaurant. The team gets 180 US and heads off for the train station in pretty good shape. At the Drum Tower they decide to Spray for their choice of Detour, so they head off for the factory. After painting for a few minutes Rebecca decides she was an auto body tech in a former life and Adam feels like Michael Keaton in Gung Ho. They finish up the car and grab a cab, but after a few minutes it gets stopped so a government motorcade can go by. They sit for a while and traffic starts to move, but their cabbie has a hard time figuring out how to merge. His waiting gives another team time to pass Adam and Rebecca. At Mount Hua the couple gets almost all the way to the top of the East Peak… and when I say almost all the way, I think Rebecca may have actually reached it with Adam just a few feet behind. They figure out where they must go and head down the east peak. At the Roadblock Rebecca will be the player that wields the key. She tries to have fun by singing a song about her lucky key, but it doesn’t seem to work. I’m pretty sure she went through all the locks once and had to start again before getting it to work. The receive the clue and head for the Pit Stop where they arrive… The Pit Stop 1. Kris and Jon winning themselves their fourth vacation. This one to the Caribbean 2. Freddy and Kendra 3. Hayden and Aaron 4. Adam and Rebecca Ahhh… The Penalty garnered by Hayden, who my husband has dubbed “The Key Bitch”, costs the couple four hours, and their third place finish. They knew it and were not surprised seeing that Adam and Rebecca stepped on the mat about 2 minutes after they did. Aaron did take the opportunity to propose to Hayden who agreed.. blah, blah, yadda yadda. Kris and Jon, Freddy and Kendra and Adam and Rebecca will be the three teams heading into the final leg of the race. I hope to have part two of the finale up later today…..And Here it is __________________ "Rice is great when you're hungry and want 2,000 of something' -- Mitch Hedberg Last edited by cali; 02-09-2005 at 06:13 PM. Reason: to add link to part 2

02-09-2005, 12:19 PM	#3
Toby FORT Fogey Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Age: 27 Posts: 1,248	Such a great recap!! Oh man, what a show?? I couldn't believe that Freddie and Kendra beat out Kris and Jon!!! So sad When Kendra told people she had a sick child in Hawaii, I was so angry with her. Some people... __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin.

02-09-2005, 12:25 PM	#4
Nikki_Brandon Kris&Jon 4 Life Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The Carrie Underwood and Kris/Jon World Posts: 422	Hey cali, youu dont have to be sorry, you do this week in week out and what more can we ask from you. Great recap as always __________________ Well, I was thinking when he said, "king of the jungle," I was, like, "Well, during the first challenge you would still be lost in the jungle if Jim and I hadn't, like, led you out. - Brooke Struck on Judd Love is like the wind...You can't see it, but you can feel it

02-09-2005, 03:54 PM	#7
cali Soccer Kicks Balls Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: right behind you Age: 42 Posts: 15,258	ahhhh... good catch! Looks like you were right __________________ "Rice is great when you're hungry and want 2,000 of something' -- Mitch Hedberg

02-09-2005, 12:11 PM	#2
park_ave_teach FORT Newbie Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 45	Great recap, Cali~! My 24 year old nephew does an amazing impression of Adam running like a "toddler after an ice cream truck!" Cali -- "I cringe as I watch her bite at the key. I don’t know if it broke off in her mouth, or if she was back to using her hands, but I do know that it broke, sending them to a hotel for a replacement key." Ok, I must have missed something. They went to commercial right after the bite/break/key fit.... and when they came back, there she was trying a key! How did you know about the hotel? Did I doze off during one of her many many many tirades?

02-09-2005, 12:33 PM	#5
Leo FORT Fogey Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,033	Great recap - good job breaking down such a fast-paced hour.

02-09-2005, 03:22 PM	#6
Primetimetommie FORT Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 124	Thanks for the super-fast recap...but just one thought... Hayden and Aaron had NO CHOICE but to give the Roadblock to Hayden. Aaron had already completed his allowed six. (Legs 2, 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11) I predicted that they might lose because Hayden would be forced into a roadblock not suited to her, but I thought it would be something concerning her fear of heights.

02-09-2005, 06:27 PM	#9
Vicarious_Viewr FORT Fan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 176	Cool recap. Does anyone know offhand who won the most legs & vacations?