Contents
Chapter Five
Overview
Facing a food crisis, the compound adopts departments and a stricter task regimen under Andrew and Tom. After refusing to banish someone for pasta, worsening hunger pushes grueling tasks and frayed tempers. A lawn mower win lifts spirits, but only Sam’s improvised duck hunt secures dinner. Lily’s attraction shifts toward Sam, reframing alliances.
Summary
With supplies unexpectedly depleted, Andrew convenes a meeting and, with Tom’s quiet authority, assigns departments: food management to Vanessa and Sarah, cooking to Candice and Carlos, cleaning teams, leadership to Andrew and Tom, yard work to Ryan and Marcus, safety to Susie and Evan, and repairs to Jacintha and Sam. The new structure boosts productivity as they complete quick tasks for shelves and a pool net, exchange compliments—souring Lily’s attempt to reconcile with Sam—and climb to the roof for pillows, where the group bonds over sunset views and meager potatoes.
That night, a task to banish someone for pasta appears. Buoyed by camaraderie, everyone refuses and celebrates in the bedroom. At dawn, Vanessa and Sarah enforce rationing and accountability; Lily and Becca quietly make up missed cleaning. In the morning tasks, Evan struggles to lift Vanessa, tensions spike between Vanessa and Susie, and a major challenge—an in-unison “Uptown Girl” routine—earns a lawn mower after hours of work led by Candice and Susie, despite Jacintha’s poor coordination.
Brief fun by the pool follows as Ryan debuts the mower, but hunger returns after more tasks yield only paint and hats. A phobia-reveal task stalls until Marcus admits his true fear, unlocking the reward. The next task demands spitting into bedmates’ mouths; amid disgust and debate, Andrew wavers as they all take a break and hydrate. Lily and Ryan share an intimate kiss, but Lily remains image-conscious under the cameras.
In the kitchen, Sam, Jacintha, and Lily quickly organize a hunt: Jacintha cuts barbed wire; Lily secures the pool net via Ryan. At the pond, Ryan and Jacintha corral ducks while Sam efficiently kills them; Lily assists, fascinated by Sam’s calm competence and feeling newly drawn to him.
Candice and Carlos butcher and cook the ducks; Vanessa and Sarah store fat and freeze portions; Susie cleans feathers and gifts one to each resident. The meal is satisfying despite not being filling, restoring pride and agency. The group’s morale lifts as they imagine further self-sufficiency, while Lily reassesses loyalties and attractions.
Who Appears
- LilyNarrator; helps clean, completes tasks, dances for a shoes task, assists Sam in the duck hunt, and feels drawn toward him.
- SamReserved fixer; coordinates and executes the duck hunt, calmly killing ducks; tensions with Lily shift to fascination.
- AndrewEnthusiastic co-leader; assigns departments, motivates tasks, regrets refusing the pasta task, torn on gross spit task.
- TomPragmatic co-leader; structures work and tasks, enforces pace, grows irritable under hunger, oversees choreography push.
- JacinthaSkilled and adaptable; struggles with dance, aids duck capture, uses shears; potential triangle with Marcus and Carlos.
- RyanLily’s partner; focused on yard work, thrilled by lawn mower, helps corral ducks; flirts and kisses Lily.
- VanessaCo-leads food management with Sarah; enforces rations, bristles at Susie’s jab, participates in tasks.
- SarahStrict co-manager of food; polices kitchen duties, pushes accountability, tracks dwindling supplies.
- CandiceKitchen lead; co-designs dance, butchers and cooks ducks, manages morale with practical focus.
- CarlosCook and helper; assists Candice, boosts others onto roof, debates cooking methods, helps process ducks.
- BeccaKitchen cleaner with Lily; quiet worker, helps early chores; uneasy with Tom’s rooftop lift.
- SusieSafety team; completes a crude personal task, helps choreograph, cleans feathers and gifts one to each resident.
- MarcusYard team; poor dancer; lies about phobia then admits fear of space; flirts with Jacintha.
- EvanSafety team; struggles lifting Vanessa; joins tasks and pool time, contributes little under fatigue.
- MiaBathroom cleaner; observes tasks, stays quiet during duck butchering debates amid hunger.
- SebBathroom cleaner; participates in tasks, uncoordinated in dance, offers little amid mounting hunger.