Fall From Grace

**Fall From Grace** is the sixth episode of *The Challenge: The Duel*.

## Story

Following the dramatic elimination, the players returned back to the mansion. Tye sat with Boherty and Jake as they prepared dinner for the night. Tye said the whole situation came as a total shock to him and that he felt really bad for Zion. Jake said that he definitely anticipated for things to be awkward with Cameron now that he’s still there. Maria joined them and the group congratulated her on her second elimination win. She smirked as she sat down and said she was really taken aback when Katie picked her. Maria said she really didn’t understand why Katie went for her instead of an easier competitor to beat. Boherty asked Maria if she ever found out who stole her protein powder. Maria shook her head and sighed.

Melvin thanked Skanivan for saving him and said he’d hold true to their arrangement. Skanivan expressed that he was so sick and tired of Frasier and Troy running things. He said that he was ready to be the one who stirs things up. Melvin encouraged this and said they needed to start playing offensively. Lenny and Shona sat at the staircase and talked about things. Out of nowhere, Shona apologized for dropping Lenny for Zack back in their original season. Lenny told her not to lose sleep over it and that she’s moved on. Shona started tearing up and opened up about how much she’s let herself just slip into Zack’s shadow and just go wherever he goes. She said she didn’t even realize it until being put in a TV show setting again. Lenny encouraged Shona to do stuff for herself, and that she’s more than capable of doing so. The two hugged it out and Shona said she was glad they talked.

Ezra was sitting on his bed alone when Cameron swung by, his eyes red and wet. Without judgement or even second thought, Ezra got up and hugged him, promising it’ll all work out and that it’s okay. Cameron vented about how he never meant to cause trouble and that the kiss just randomly happened, and neither of them planned it. Ezra blatantly tells him he fucked up, but that it doesn’t mean he’s a bad person and they’ll find a way through this. Cleo and Grace reflected on the night in their room, with one bed vacant in Katie’s absence. Cleo expressed sympathy for Katie, saying it hurt seeing her be piled on by everybody in that way. Grace showed less sympathy and said Katie brought it on herself by being unfaithful. The two tried to figure out what to do gamewise now that they’re down a number. They agree that it’d be smart to try working with Kaliegh.

Neisha, Troy, and Owen sat by the bonfire and discussed the future of the game. Neisha said that she was a bit intimidated by Maria now that she’s won two eliminations. Troy agreed and said her and Melvin were by far the biggest threats to them winning. Owen said he was stressed out about Gloria. Troy defended her and said Owen needed to stand up for her more, and then she wouldn’t waver on the alliance. Kit and Lukas sat in the living room. Kit was giving Lukas the silent treatment and he was trying to decipher why. Eventually, he sat across from her and asked why she wasn’t talking. Kit looked at him and told him that if he wants to be her friend, he can never withhold tea. After a silence, she then smirks and said that what he did to Katie was incredible, she just wishes she could’ve been apart of it. Lukas smiles and promises the next time he has an evil scheme, he’ll include her. The two pinky swear on it.

The players arrive the next day for the daily challenge. TJ explains the rules; it’s entitled “Hang In There”. All of the players must hang from a bar. The last man and woman left hanging win their daily challenges respectively. The competition quickly becomes intense and difficult for several players as they’re bars become slippery and hands ache. It quickly became clear the challenge wouldn’t last very long. After about ten minutes, a lot of people start dropping one-by-one. Boherty is the first to fall and she starts a train of several others. After the purge, only five players remained still hanging; Cleo, Maria, Owen, Skanivan, and Troy. After another few minutes, Troy slips off, putting the pressure on Owen to win. The final four reached the twenty minute mark when they all visibly started struggling. Just then, almost at the exact same time both Cleo and Skanivan slipped off. Cleo’s face was written with disappointment. Skanivan also felt defeated. TJ blew his horn and announced Maria and Owen as the winners of the daily challenge.

Grace and Cleo held a meeting with Kaliegh and Maria after the challenge. They congratulated Maria on the win before getting into business. They explained that they really needed to ensure one of the girls from the majority alliance left. Maria said she felt the exact same way and that she’d pick one of them if they promised to protect one another in the safety chain, as well as Boherty and Kit. They agreed and the four girls shook on it, agreeing to align going forward. Grace checked in with Lenny and asked if she had anything to worry about with being dragged into elimination. Lenny reassured her and said if she got sent into elimination, she’d be dragging Kit with her, not Grace.

Owen asked Gloria what she wanted to see him do with his power. She said that she felt the target should be Melvin or Lukas since they scheme. She explained that Lukas was no hero for what he did to Katie and Cameron, and he only pulled it out then for game because it was convenient. Owen relayed this to Troy, Frasier, Zack, Shona, Neisha, and Nori at the balcony. The group agrees that Lukas is a big threat but again, are also really intimidated by Melvin. Frasier adds that Cameron also deserves some comupance as a result of last week. The girls then discussed their plans. They assumed one of them or Lenny would be going into elimination. They discussed who to send into elimination and were mostly between Boherty, Grace and Kit. They felt Boherty and Grace would be easy to beat but that Kit was the next biggest threat after Maria. Troy encouraged them to challenge Grace since she was after the group and is smarter than Boherty or Kit, but the girls weren’t so sure. TJ gathers the men outside for the safety chain ceremony.

At the men’s safety chain, TJ invited Owen up to the front to begin the chain and save the first player. With his first pick, Owen decides to save Frasier. With his next pick Frasier stood at the front and chose to save Troy. Troy then headed to the front and saved Zack next. Zack then took more time to select the next player to save. After pondering it, he chose to save Jake. Jake then stood at the front and chose to save Tye. Tye thought it over, looking around at the remaining guys. He then chose to save Ezra. Ezra moved to the front and without even a second thought, he chose to save Cameron. Cameron looked at Melvin and Skanivan and tried to pick one of them, before landing on saving Melvin. TJ then reminded Melvin that whoever of Skanivan and Lukas that he didn’t save would be sent into elimination and pick someone to come with him. Melvin thought long and hard about it but he was interrupted when Skanivan asked him to save Lukas. He stated that he wanted to go into the elimination. With that, Melvin complied with the request and saved Lukas. TJ asks Skanivan who he’d like to face in the elimination. Skanivan said he was sick of people whimping out so he was going to make himself be the one to take a shot, with that, he invited Troy to compete with him in the elimination. TJ wished the guys both luck and sent them off. Troy took it well but Zack felt it was a cop out for Skanivan to volunteer.

Next up were the women. TJ asked Maria to join him at the front to start off the chain. Holding true to her previous deal, Maria chose to save Grace first in the chain. Grace thanked her and then saved Cleo next. Cleo then moved to the front and again held true to the agreement and saved Kaliegh. Kaliegh then looked at the rest of the girls and saved Boherty, per Maria’s previous request. Boherty rushed up to hug Kaliegh, she then picked Kit to the surprise of nobody. Kit then struggled to pick anyone as she didn’t like the lineup at all. Reluctantly, she saved Nori next. Nori then picked to save Gloria with her next pick. Gloria struggled to decide between the three girls as she was close to all of them. Hoping to extend the olive branch after messing up her plans last week, Gloria saved Shona. TJ reminded Shona that whoever she didn’t save between Lenny and Neisha would be sent into the elimination and get to drag someone with them. She thought about it but in the end, Shona chose to save Lenny and hugged her. TJ asked Neisha to head to the front and choose who she’s going to challenge. She explained that she was going to pick someone who’s been against her and her allies from the start and is a strategic force. With that being said, she asked Grace to join her for the elimination. Grace’s face was flushed with concern and defeat. She felt she’d already lost. Cleo rubbed her arm and told her she’s got this and to fight hard. Grace joined them up front. TJ asked Grace and Neisha to prepare as the others watch the first elimination.

The cast met at the bleachers as they awaited for Skanivan and Troy’s match to begin. Smoke appears and the two men head out from the sides of the arena. TJ explained the rules. The challenge was titled “Hall Brawl” and the goal was to reach the other side of a hall and ring your bell before your opponent. You and your opponent would share a hall meaning you’d have to get through one another to reach your bell. The first round begins and the men charge at each other, Troy puts up a fight but Skanivan shoved through and made more ground. He grabbed Troy by the arm and dragged him along, running to the end. Troy tried to pull him away but Skanivan couldn’t be stopped and rung his bell, winning the first round. He just needed one more win to win the elimination. The second round began and Troy switched up his strategy, instead of trying to fight Skanivan, he tried to play defense and dodge him. Skanivan tried pushing through him but Troy kept moving towards his bell, closer and closer while dodging Skanivan. Whenever he felt he had a big enough advantage, Troy bolted for it. Skanivan ran and tried to reach his bell but it was too late and Troy won the second round. The final round began and this time, both men were aware of one another’s tricks and merely fought each other. In no time, they were both on the ground, Troy used his weight advantage to push Skanivan closer and closer to his bell, maintaining control. When he thought it was safe and Skanivan was hurt enough, Troy ran to the end and rung his bell. TJ blew his horn and declared Troy as the winner of the elimination. Troy celebrtaed and swung his arms around. Shona and Frasier both jumped up and down for him from the bleachers. TJ congratulated Troy and invited him to head back up to the bleachers. He then thanked Skanivan for his effort but informed him that his time was over and he was eliminated. Skanivan left with his head held high and everyone cheered for him as he walked off.

The next round begin and the two competitors walked in from the smoke. Grace and Neisha took their spots as TJ reexplained the rules. Zack whispered to Troy that it’s time for Grace to put her money where her mouth is. Troy smirked and said Neisha’s going to kick her ass. The first round begins as the two girls charge at one another. Neisha pushed through her and used aggression, Grace put up a good fight keeping her away. The two fall to the ground, crawl and drag each other. Neisha pokes Grace in the eye. Grace covers her eye out of reflex, which triggers Neisha to bolt towards her bell. Before Grace can even get up, Neisha’s already rung it and wins the first round. Grace felt the nerves racing through her body after that around. She got up and tried to encourage herself. The second round began and the two girls yet again chased after each other. They yet again pushed each other to the ground and wrestled. Grace kneed Neisha in the stomach, halting her momentarily. This gave Grace the chance to run for it but before she got far, Neisha grabbed her ankle, causing Grace to fall on her chin. Neisha then got up and ran for her bell. Grace got up through the pain and chased her, trying to catch up. But before Grace could get there, Neisha rang her bell, winning the second round and the elimination. TJ blew his horn and announced Neisha as the winner of the elimination. Neisha helped Grace up and hugged her. Grace’s eyes teared up as she congratulated Neisha. TJ congratulated Neisha and asked her to head back up to the bleachers. All of her friends, rallied and cheered for her. Grace felt defeat as she stood in the sand listening to them all cheering about her loss. Zack shot the loser L finger sign at her, and she blew him a middle finger kiss. TJ thanked Grace for her effort but asked that she leave. Cleo cheered for Grace. Maria, Kaliegh, Jake, and Tye all joined in. Lenny also cheered for her and made a “wooo” noise. Troy and Zack both laughed as Grace headed off. She waved goodbye to her friends as she walked out.

## Trivia

* This is the first episode to ever feature a player's name in the title, that player being Grace Kitty.