India: A River-Crossin' Adventure
#14 of The Amazing Race 2
On the last leg of the Amazing Race, the teams traveled to Vietnam. Some teams had trouble catching gold(fish), while others had a tough time. One team passed the Fast Forward thank to another's help. Vince & Sam came in first and Tammy & Rachel came in last; but it was another non-elimination leg so, sadly, they got to stay. 11 teams are still in the race. But today, someone IS going home. Or are they? Only one way to find out, stick around for... the Amazing Race.
***
"Welcome back to Ha Long, Vietnam." Toner says. "We're officially halfway into the race, which means from here on out, every move the Racers make will be crucial. Vince & Sam won yesterday so they go first." Sam steps up the clue box, presses the button, and Vince reads the clue.
"Route Info: go to Agra, India." Agra is known for the Taj Mahal and The Mosque. Teams will travel here and find their next clue at the airport.
"Let's go, honey!" Sam says. Him and Vince take off as the rest of the teams collect their clue and get on the 3 hour flight to Agra
***
"How come there are still 11 teams?" DeeDee asks. "You'd think Toner would just kick somebody out by now."
"I bet you he's saving a crazy surprise for us." Diesel says. "After all, you've seen the last race. We could have 2 U-Turns and a Yield on the leg for all I know."
"So, as it turns out, the last 2 legs of this race has been for nothing." Rachel says. "I'm just glad I'm still here, but Tammy still ain't taking the fact that we were in last yesterday very well."
"Are you kidding me?" Tammy asks. "Last place is a shame! We have got to do better today. We haven't had an elimination since Fiji, there's absolutely going to be one today."
"Hey, here's a thought: maybe you can actually try being sane... for once."
"You heard Toner, we're halfway into this thing and I'm willing to draw blood if it means winning the million."
"Ok. Now you're crazy."
***
The plane lands in Agra at 10:22 am. The teams rush out of the plane and towards the clue box outside. "Route Info: drive a cab to the Taj Mahal." Griffin reads. Everyone gets in their own cab and starts driving towards the Taj Mahal.
***
The Policefurs, twins, and vegetarians make it there first. DeeDee gets to the clue box first and reads it. "Detour: Maps or Matches." Teams can either search through a few bins to find a map with an Amazing Race logo or search through bins with cloth in it to find two squares that are the exact same color. The catch? They're hidden somewhere within a huge pile of black squares, which will make it difficult. Bring either a map or two matching square to an Indian local (red cat) and she'll give them the next clue.
"Maps." Diesel says.
"We're right there with you." Kit says.
"You wanna look for maps?" Miles asks.
"Sure." Joey says. As teams arrive, some choose maps (Vince & Sam and Jasper & Mitch) while others look through the squares (Milon & Zax, Zoe & Patricia, Barbara & Eddy, and Becky & KiKi).
"Maps, it will take quicker." Tammy says.
"Fine." Rachel says. "But no funny business, ok?"
"Whatever." The Olympians run over to those who are looking through maps as the last team arrives.
"How are we in last?!" Griffin asks.
"Hurry, let's through the maps," Zander says, "we might be the last here but we can still be the first ones out." They go over to the bins of maps and start searching.
"This is impossible! How are we supposed to know if it's right?" Kitty asks. Kit takes a map and unrolls it. It's another map of India, but with no logo on it.
"She's right." Diesel says. "What the heck are we even looking for?" DeeDee unrolls a map.
"Nothing." She says as she tosses it aside.
"Dude, I found two of them!" Mitch says. Everyone else there gasps.
"You've gotta give one to someone else. It's only fair." Jasper says. Mitch looks at everyone who's still searching. Instead of just handing it over, he rolls it up and tosses it in the air. Tammy jumps up and catches it before anyone else can even move.
"Thanks." Tammy says. "First place, here we come!" Her and Rachel run off with Jasper & Mitch.
"Hurry! We still have searching to do!" Sam says. Tammy makes it to the local first and she giver her the next clue.
"Random Roadblock: whoever is holding this clue must cross the Yamuna River to find their next clue attached to a hotel key."
"I guess you're doing it." Rachel says. Mitch gets the next clue and him and Jasper take off towards the river. Meanwhile, those who chose to search through the cloth are starting to catch up.
"C'mon! Where's another blue one?" Eddy asks, holding a blue square.
"I'm trying to find it." Barbara says, paws deep in the bins trying to find it. Zoe holds a red square with one paw, while still searching for the other with her other paw.
"You sure we should've went after red?" Patricia asks.
"Of course." Zoe says. "It's a brighter color so it should be easier to find. Plus, these are neon squares, which makes it easier."
"I can't find another blue." Something does catch Barbara's eye though, and she pulls it out. "But I found a red."
"Zoe, I have a blue, but no other red." Patricia says. She looks over at the critics and then sees what's going on. "Apparently there's only one of each pair in a bin."
"I guess so." Eddy says. "Look, we need to switch colors or we aren't going to get anywhere. Those who chose the maps are already in first." He points over to the other teams. Miles & Joey find a map with the logo on it and they get to the local, who hands it to Joey.
"He's right." Zoe says. "Alright. We'll switch. Your red for our blue."
"Alright." Barbara hands the publishers their red square and Patricia gives her their blue one. "Let's go!" The four of them run to the local, who gives the clues to Patricia and Barbara.
"Diesel! Got one!" DeeDee says, holding another map with a logo on it.
"Us too!" Kitty says.
"Run guys, we're falling behind!" Kit says. The Policefurs and twins get the next clue. Kit and Diesel specifically are going to be doing the Roadblock.
"Sam, we're falling behind." Vince says.
"I know." Sam says. "I'm trying to find it but it's hard to do that."
"I know." Zander says. "How much longer are we going to have to search through them?" Griffin unrolls another map and tosses it aside. Nothing.
Mitch and Tammy make it to the river first. They jump on deprecate rafts and start paddling with their paws. "Good luck, Red!" Mitch says.
"Silly Mitch, when you're an Olympian, you don't need luck!" Tammy says.
"I was just being kind, sheesh." Miles & Joey get there next. Joey jumps on and starts paddling. As Patricia and Barbara get there and start crossing the river, Tammy makes it to the other side first. 11 keys sit in a row, each with the next clue attached to it.
"Hmmm." Tammy thinks quickly. She grabs two keys and then gets back on her raft. Mitch makes it soon after and gets his key. He didn't notice Tammy taking two. Joey makes it to the other side of the river and gets a key. Tammy looks around and makes sure no one's watching, then she drops the second key into the river.
"What's the clue say?" Rachel asks when Tammy makes it back.
"Route Info: drive to Hotel Sidhartha where the checkpoint is." Mitch makes it back and reunites with Jasper.
"Yes! Got 'em." Milon says holding two purple squares. Him and Zax run off.
"Becky! I found two orange ones." KiKi says, holding them.
"Good, we've gotta go!" Becky says.
"C'mon, this has to be it!" Sam says. He unrolls another maps and sees the logo straight on the corner. "Yes!"
"Sweet! Let's go!" Vince says.
"No! We're in last!" Zander says. He unrolls a map and his expression changes. "Never mind. Let's go, we might still be able to catch up to them!" Griffin & Zander run off towards the river.
"We're nearly there!" Kit says. Her and Diesel shared a raft like they have been with cabs the whole race. When they make it to the other side to row back, Diesel's arm starts to hurt.
"Oh man. Can I break or something?" Diesel asks.
"Do you like the idea of losing a million dollars?"
"No." Diesel sucks it up and paddles back. Joey makes it back and her and Miles run off. Milon & Zax and Becky & KiKi make it to the river and Milon and KiKi get on their rafts.
"Stay here, kitty." Zander says. "I'll be right back." Zander hops on and starts crossing. Vince, on the other hand, only crosses a few feet when he notices something in the water. He reaches under and pulls out the key Tammy threw in earlier.
"Sweet! Luck is definitely on my side!" Vince says as he turns back.
"What're you doing?!" Sam asks.
"I found one in the water. We have to drive to a hotel, come on!"
"What?!" Griffin says. "How is that fair? I thought the keys were on the other side of the river!"
"Got one!" Patricia says. Barbara makes it to the other side soon after and grabs a key too. KiKi makes it next and she quickly gets one. Milon makes it to the other side next.
"Crap!" He says when he only sees two keys. He grabs one and paddles back to the other side with the realization that him and Zax are falling behind. Milon passes Zander shortly after.
"Oh no!" Zander says. He grabs the last key and fights like hell to catch up to Milon.
"Hurry, Zander!" Griffin yells. "The other 9 teams are gone!"
"You can do this Milon!" Zax cheers. Zander and Milon quickly cross the river and make it back with their partners. Once they do, they quickly run off to their cabs.
***
Toner sits in a lawn chair outside Hotel Sidhartha trying capture a few Z's when he hears the sound of teams coming. He opens his eyes and looks up to see Jasper & Mitch and Tammy & Rachel running like hell to get there first. Toner gets off the chair and yawns. He sees one team speed up and they make it to the checkpoint rug. "Tammy & Rachel, first place." He announces.
"Yes!" Tammy says. "We're right back on top!"
"Awesome." Rachel says. Jasper & Mitch then step on.
"Fraternity brothers, you've come in second." Toner says.
"Awwwww yeahhh!!" Jasper says. Him and Mitch quickly hug and they step off.
"Sam! Drive faster, I can see other teams coming!" Vince says.
"I'm trying." Sam says. He steps on the accelerator and parks. Him and Vince run out and make it to the checkpoint but another team has already made it.
"Miles & Joey, you're in third place." Toner says.
"Nice!" Joey says. Her and Miles get off as Vince & Sam get on.
"Cruise directors, you're in fourth place..." Vince hugs Sam and is about to kiss him, when he hears more. "... if no one makes it in the next 20 minutes because you have a penalty."
"What?!" Sam asks. "What did we do?"
"Vince was supposed to go completely across the river but he only went a few feet."
"But there was a key in the water towards the shore!" Vince says. "What was I supposed to do? Keep paddling to the other side and then come back?"
"Yes." Toner says. He pushes the two off the rug. "Now step aside until your twenty minutes are up."
"This is outrageous!" Sam says. "Who put that key on the other side of the river?"
"I don't know. But if we stay in this race, I'm gonna find out who and destroy them!" Vince says. As the boys wait out their penalty, more cabs show up, making Sam's heart beat faster.
"Oh no." He mutters.
Diesel & DeeDee- 4th place
Kit & Kitty- 5th place
Barbara & Eddy- 6th place
Zoe & Patricia- 7th place
"Becky & KiKi, you've come in 8th place." Toner says.
"Sweet!" Becky says. "We're in the top 10!" Her and KiKi step off the rug. They have no idea, Toner thinks.
"Well, that leaves three teams. The Arcadia workers, the coworkers, and the cruise directors." Vince & Sam look at each other, nervous.
***
"Surely our penalty is up!" Sam says.
"Nope. You've still got a minute." Toner says. He looks up and sees other furs coming. "And here come the Arcadia workers." Milon & Zax run like hell to the rug.
"We're almost there, man." Zax says. The two pass the cruise directors and step on the rug.
"9th place. You're still in this thing!" Toner says. They step off and Vince & Sam stand up. "You still have 30 seconds left... and here come Griffin & Zander." The look over and see a sweaty tiger and an over-anxious wolf.
"I can't believe our cab ran out of gas!" Zander says.
"Don't care! Keep running!" Griffin says.
15 seconds.
14.
13.
"No!" Vince says. Griffin & Zander make it closer with each step.
5.
4.
3.
"And..." Toner start out. The coworkers are 6 feet away. "... time's up!" Griffin & Zander collapse over Vince & Sam and they all land on the rug. "Oh, wow! That's what you call a tie for last. No worries, I'll get the footage on my tablet and show you what happened."
***
Toner walks out of the hotel 20 minutes later, tablet in hand. "I managed to get the video feed." He says. He holds up the tablet and shows the two teams, in slow-mo who came in tenth. Vince is shown hitting the rug first. Then Zander. Then Sam.
"What does that mean?" Vince asks.
"It means, Griffin, despite his big size, was the last one to touch the rug. The coworkers lose." Griffin & Zander groan and Vince & Sam cheer.
"I'm so sorry." Griffin says. "I should've been quicker with those maps." Zander hugs Griffin tight.
"That's fine." Zander says.
"Guys, one last thing." Toner says. "This leg of the race... is a double elimination. Vince & Sam are going home too." The cruise directors release each other.
"Wait, what?!" Vince says.
"Why bother check the footage if you were gonna cut both of us?" Sam asks.
"Because I was curious." Toner says. "Now away. All four of you." He walks off, leaving the others alone. Griffin & Zander and Vince & Sam walks the other direction.
"I can't believe this." Vince says. "And we were doing so good too."
"I'm sorry, hon." Sam puts an arm around his shoulder. "Maybe we weren't meant to to win. At least you get to go home and see your kid again."
"True, but still."
"Cheer up, Vince." Zander says. "Things could've been a lot worse. At least you guys made it to the top 10. We didn't."
"Although we did get to see more of the world and that's pretty awesome." Griffin says.
"You're right. It was pretty awesome to see Paris." Vince says.
"See? There you go. Now why don't the four of us go home and you guys could come over sometime?" Sam asks.
"Sure." Griffin says.