Can’t we all just get along?

That plaintive plea for racial harmony could have been the title of Wednesday night’s episode of “Survivor,” when Phillip Sheppard, an African-American, accused a white tribemate of calling Sheppard “crazy” when what he really meant was something else.

“I know it when I see it,” a bitter Sheppard told “Survivor” host Jeff Probst during tribal council.

The racial scuffle began with a rice war.

The original two tribes have merged into one tribe called Murlonio, but they are still keeping their rice supplies separate. Sheppard, who was a member of the Ometepe tribe, saw the former Zapatera tribe cook a whopping 7½ cups of their rice stash.

Sheppard went to Boston Rob Mariano and accused the “Zaps” of trying to use up their rice before they are all voted out so the Ometepes can’t get it. Sheppard tried to even things out by stealing some of the other tribe’s rice.

Cut to Redemption Island, where Matt Elrod, Mike Chiesl and David Murphy had to build a house of cards out of tiles for their “duel.” David Murphy lost and left the game after 25 days, becoming the first member of the jury that will determine the million-dollar winner.

Back at camp, things got nasty. The Ometepe group discovered their rice canister had a leak in it, and the rice was moldy and full of maggots. Sheppard suggested that all the rice be combined in one pot. When Zapatera member Steve Wright flatly refused, Sheppard went ballistic.

Wright called Sheppard a lunatic. Sheppard countered that that was a typical response when “someone of my color” makes an argument that a white man doesn’t want to hear.

“So now you’re making it a black thing?” an incredulous Wright responded.

“Phillip somehow managed to make a war about white rice into something racial,” Boston Rob observed.

Mainer Ashley Underwood was consistent in her low opinion of Sheppard, saying she’d “rather die than keep him around.”

At the immunity challenge, the Survivors had to unscrew a wheel from a pole by running around in circles, then solve a puzzle on the wheel. Underwood got dizzy and stumbled in the sand, failing to make the cut for the second round.

“God, I suck,” she said.

Boston Rob, known for doing well at puzzles, won the challenge and was granted immunity at tribal council.

Before heading to tribal council, Wolfe stole Sheppard’s swim trunks and buried them in the sand. Sheppard, angry again, confronted the group.

Underwood stuck her tongue out.

“Everybody in camp is over Phillip,” she said. “Phillip says all the time that he was a special agent, and he knows how to read people. Crazy Phillip, who wears feathers and pink underwear.”

At tribal council, Sheppard accused Wright of stealing his swim trunks, and it all blew up again.

“Because he doesn’t want to call me the ‘N’ word, he called me crazy,” Sheppard complained to Probst.

Sheppard said that none of them could understand what it’s like to be a black man. He said he recognizes racism directed at him by a white man.

Probst, the George Mitchell of “Survivor,” deftly validated Sheppard’s feelings while pointing out that it doesn’t necessarily mean that Wright is racist.

Julie Wolfe then confessed to stealing Sheppard’s swim trunks.

“If this were therapy,” Probst said, “I’d say ‘very good session.’“

When it came time to vote, the three members of Zapatera voted to kick Sheppard out.

“It’s got nothing to do with the color of your skin, Phil,” Wolfe said as she cast her vote. “You are one crazy dude.”

But in the end, Wolfe was the one voted out of the game.

As she reached for her torch, Wolfe leaned over to Sheppard and said: “Guess you’re not going to ever find your shorts.” 

Staff Writer Meredith Goad can be contacted at 791-6332 or at:

mgoad@pressherald.com

 

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