The sun was high, the stage was set in the mess hall clearing: wooden platform, makeshift curtains from old tarps, a few strung-up lanterns, and Chris McLean standing in the middle with his microphone and that signature grin that promised chaos.
Chris: "Welcome to Total Drama's very first Talent Show! Rules are simple: three performers per team. The judges – me, Chef, and the audience clap-o-meter – decide who wins immunity for their team. The losing team votes someone off tonight. No pressure… or do I mean *all* the pressure? Let's get this show on the road!"
The Screaming Gophers stood in a loose huddle. Heather had spent the morning barking orders like a drill sergeant.
Heather: "Order is final. I go first – ballet. Trent second – your love song. Leshawna closes with your dance. No changes. No improvisation. We win this."
Leshawna rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She knew her dance would steal the show anyway. Trent just nodded quietly, guitar already in hand. Gwen stood a little apart, arms crossed, still processing yesterday's chaos. Cody kept glancing at her, Ezekiel sighed dreamily, and Owen was already dreaming about the post-show buffet.
The Killer Bass looked more relaxed – mostly because Harold had spent the morning quietly convincing everyone to let him close.
Harold (nervous but determined): "Trust me. I've got something special for the end."
Izzy bounced on her toes.
Izzy: "I'm first! I'm gonna blow their minds!"
Geoff grinned, skateboard under his arm.
Geoff: "And I'm gonna shred. Easy points."
**Performance order began.**
**1. Heather – Screaming Gophers**
Heather stepped onto the stage in a makeshift black tutu (she'd sewn it herself from old T-shirts and trash bags). The music started – a classical piece Chris had on loop. She moved with sharp, precise grace: pirouettes, arabesques, leaps. Every motion calculated. No wasted energy. No emotion. Just perfection.
When she finished with a perfect bow, the clap-o-meter went wild. Chef gave her a 9. Chris smirked and gave her a 9. The audience roared.
Heather: "Nine out of ten. Not surprised."
Total so far: **9 points**
**2. Izzy – Killer Bass**
Izzy bounded onto the stage like a feral cat on caffeine. No music. Just her.
She started with cartwheels. Then backflips. Then she pulled out a hula-hoop she'd stolen from the arts & crafts shed – spun it around her neck, waist, ankles, then threw it high and caught it with her teeth. The crowd gasped. Then she juggled three flaming torches (nobody knew where she got fire). One landed on the stage curtain – Chef quickly stomped it out. Chris laughed so hard he almost dropped the mic.
Izzy ended by doing a split while screaming "I LOVE THIS SHOW!" at the top of her lungs.
Chef: "Nine. Insane, but nine."
Chris: "Nine. You almost set the place on fire – bonus points for danger."
Audience clapped like crazy.
Total for Bass: **9 points**
**3. Trent – Screaming Gophers**
Trent walked on alone, guitar slung low. No introduction. Just sat on a stool, strummed once, and began.
The song was slow, soft, aching – a love ballad. Lyrics about "a girl with storm-cloud eyes" who "cuts through the noise like moonlight". He never looked at anyone. Just played. But everyone knew who it was about.
Gwen froze in the audience. Her cheeks flushed. Ezekiel felt his stomach twist but, there was no hatred, he just feels he has no chance against Trent for Gwen's love. Cody looked down at his shoes. Because he wondered if he would ever have a chance, Trent was too perfect for Gwen.
When Trent finished, the silence lasted three seconds before the clap-o-meter exploded.
Chef: "Nine. Beautiful."
Chris: "Nine. That one hurt in the best way."
Total for Gophers: **18 points**
**4. Geoff – Killer Bass**
Geoff rolled onto the stage with his skateboard. Music kicked in – fast, punk rock. He started with basic tricks: ollies, kickflips. Crowd cheered.
Then he tried a 360 flip.
The board snapped in half mid-air.
Geoff landed hard on his back. The board pieces flew. One hit Chris in the shin.
Chris (grinning through pain): "Ouch. Five points. For effort… and because that was hilarious."
Chef: "Five. You broke the board, dude."
Audience laughed and clapped sympathetically.
Total for Bass: **14 points**
**5. Leshawna – Screaming Gophers**
Leshawna stepped up in a red top and black leggings. No music at first. Just her heartbeat.
Then the beat dropped – heavy hip-hop mixed with soul. She moved like liquid fire: popping, locking, spins, drops, twerks, all seamless. Every move powerful, confident, sexy, joyful. Harold watched from the Bass side with literal heart-eyes. Gwen smiled despite herself. Even Heather couldn't hide a flicker of respect.
When she ended with a perfect split and a hair flip, the clap-o-meter nearly broke.
Chef: "Seven. Strong, but could've been cleaner."
Chris: "Seven. But damn, girl – you owned it."
Total for Gophers: **25 points**
**6. Harold – Killer Bass**
Harold walked on slowly. No props. Just a microphone.
Harold: "This… is for someone."
He started beatboxing. No instrumental. Just his mouth.
Basslines. Hi-hats. Snares. Scratches. Drops. Layer after layer. It built. It swelled. It exploded. The crowd went from curious to screaming in thirty seconds. Leshawna stood up, clapping, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. Duncan's jaw dropped. Eva actually looked impressed.
When he finished with a final booming bass drop, silence… then eruption.
Chef: "Ten. Perfect."
Chris: "Ten. Nerd just won the whole damn thing."
Total for Bass: **24 points**
**Final result**
Chris raised his arms.
Chris: "By one point… Screaming Gophers win immunity!"
The Gophers exploded. Leshawna lifted Harold off the ground in a hug. Trent quietly put his guitar away. Gwen looked at Ezekiel for a long second, then at Trent, then walked away.
Bass side – silence. Geoff sat on the broken skateboard half. Harold looked guilty. Izzy hugged him anyway.
Chris (chuckling darkly): "One point. One. Single. Point. That's all it takes to send someone home. See you tonight, Killer Bass."
The fire was already burning, the flames dancing orange in the darkness. Chris stood by the fire in his usual manner, arms folded, grinning as if not a single person's fate would be decided in a matter of minutes.
Chris: "Killer Bass, you lost the talent show yesterday. By a single point. Because of Geoff's board. Now it's time: vote. Get ready for marshmallows… and the Dock of Shame. Who's going to start?"
The team members were sitting in a row on the logs. The atmosphere was tense, but not open war—more like whispers, sidelong glances, quick strategic glances.
Duncan had pulled Geoff and DJ aside before the vote. The alliance of the three of them (Duncan–Geoff–DJ) still stood, and Duncan didn't want to lose Geoff—he was one of his most loyal men, the party boy who was always there for him.
Duncan (whispering): "Listen. Geoff can't go. If Geoff goes, our alliance will be weakened. All three of us are voting for Tyler. Tyler is the weak link. He needs to be eliminated. Got it?
Geoff nodded, but he was nervous.
Geoff: "Okay… but if he doesn't go through, I'm the target."
DJ: "Me too, Tyler. He really doesn't bring anything to the team."
Vote Summary (Secret Vote, from Chris's box):
Geoff Voted (5 votes total - close, but enough):
Tyler → Geoff ("We lost because of the board. Sorry, Geoff, but it's a fact.")
Izzy → Geoff ("The board broke into pieces! BOOM! But it's not a good boom! So sorry!")
Katie → Geoff ("I'm sorry, Geoff... but because of the board... yeah.")
Sadie → Geoff ("Katie voted for him too... me too. Sorry, Geoffie.")
Eva → Geoff ("Are you seriously breaking your board halfway through your trick? It was embarrassing to watch you fall on your face. We lost because of you.")
Eva Voted (1 vote total):
Bridgette → Eva ("Eva... I'm sorry, but you're scary. I'm always scared of you. I mean, I saw a big, thick tree fall down with my bare hands, that was really scary.)
Tyler Voted (3 votes total - Duncan's alliance worked):
Duncan → Tyler ("Tyler is weak. He can't handle the pressure. He should go.")
Geoff → Tyler ("Duncan said it. Tyler isn't strong enough for the team.")
DJ → Tyler ("Tyler… sorry, man. But Duncan is telling the truth.")
Duncan voted (1 vote total):
Harold → Duncan ("Duncan always bullies me. Every day. I can't take it anymore.")
Final result:
Geoff: 5 votes
Tyler: 3 votes
Duncan: 1 vote
Eva: 1 vote
Chris slowly pulled out the papers, enjoying the silence and the tension.
Chris: "Five votes… for Geoff. Geoff, you don't have a marshmallow. You go."
Geoff stood up. He didn't look at anyone right away. He just took a deep breath, then looked at Duncan.
Geoff: "Guys… thanks for the alliance. Duncan, DJ… take care. Harold… congrats on the beatbox.
Duncan stood up, walked over to him, and hugged him—a short, hard hug.
Duncan: "It's not fair, bro. But we'll fight back. See you at Playa des Losers."
Geoff nodded, smiling faintly.
Geoff: "Yeah."
Geoff started toward the Dock of Shame. His footsteps were quiet on the ground. The firelight glinted one last time on the broken plank he was carrying—a memento.