As the field dwindles in Africa on Survivor Gabon, the intensity is heating up between tribe mates. Last week on Survivor Gabon, something extraordinary happened that no one could have ever thought possible. When Randy retrieved the second immunity idol, Jacksonville doctor Marcus Lehman casually threw out the idea that no one should accept immunity so they could keep the playing field intact. To his surprise, and most at home, his tribe mates agreed and threw it away. Despite his efforts to keep the tribe together and continue the good times, Marcus felt the bitter sting of elimination from his tribe as he was the one voted out of Africa.

The next morning, we hopped on the line with Marcus to get his reaction on the second immunity idol being tossed away and why he thinks Crystal turned on him despite learning they had a common friend.

THE DEADBOLT: Why did you suggest that no one go for that second immunity idol?

MARCUS: [laughs] I have a multitude of reasons - not just because it would be hilarious to watch Jeff [Probst], like seeing his forehead start twitching when he found out about that, but it was mostly because we were all sitting around having this great time. And when Kenny pulled that clue out, you could just feel the weight of the game totally change and turn really negative. Everyone knew the idol was going to be there so it just painted the biggest target on everyone’s back and it was just a totally awkward situation.

Then when Randy went and got it and it was sitting on the table, literally nobody wanted it. So instead of trying to figure out a one-in-ten chance of me ending up with it, we just sort of thought, ‘Let’s just get rid of it. Let’s just turn this game on its head back in their direction [and] get it out of this game.’ For our group of people it was a benefit because it just simplified things. We knew Sugar probably had the idol, so that would’ve been the potential, a 50/50 chance of getting the other people another idol. So we really didn’t want to go there, and I’m just amazed that everybody did it.

THE DEADBOLT: I’m surprised that no one wanted to draw straws or something like that.

MARCUS: Well, we tried that. But it’s that whole thing, where it’s like I would still rather that idol be floating in the ocean than one of the people that I don’t want to have the idol have it. And that’s the thing - when you have ten people out there trying to disagree on what to do with the idol, that’s really almost the only choice you have.

THE DEADBOLT: Since you were out in Africa for so long, were you starting to get used to it or was it difficult every single day?

MARCUS: I loved it. I tried to remember every day, to step back and be in Africa. So I’d go on walks and hike and canoe and swim, just never sit in the hut and take a nap and complain about everybody else. I knew it was hard, we all knew it was hard, and yet that was almost one of the things to appreciate - what it felt like. So I got every drop out of every moment while I was out there. It was awesome.

THE DEADBOLT: What are your thoughts on Crystal? It seemed like you had a new alliance when you figured out her cousin was your friend and then it just all fell apart.

MARCUS: Yeah. I mean, her cousin, Kenneth Cox, he’s a great guy, a really stand-up person. He’s like a brother to me and has just always been reliable, always been there for me when I’m in Atlanta. And so to have a huge connection like that, which I felt would be something that - I mean, I don’t know about you guys but for the most part I don’t care where I am [but] I try and honor and respect my real friends. And I thought that would be something great for us to build upon, especially given that Susie was - I mean, she spent days trying to back out of every promise she made with us. So for me it was like this is a godsend. Like I would love to have somebody I have this much faith in because they've got to be aware how this impacts your life outside of the game, and that wasn’t the way she saw it.

THE DEADBOLT: What did you notice about your first real meal after you got voted off? Did you eat a lot? Did the food go right through you?

MARCUS: Probably both, I ate a ton. And it was weird because you get full. And that being said, I had the reward feast and then the merge feast so I probably wasn’t as starving as I might’ve been otherwise. But I ate and I ate and I ate and then I just had to, like, keep the food near me. It wasn’t that I had to eat it, it was just like I had to have it just in case. I really wouldn’t let them take the trays away and I kind of slept with them in my room. I mean, I didn’t end up eating any of it but the whole concept of being without food for a second after that just became the scariest thing ever. [laughs]

THE DEADBOLT: So you were keeping it like a security blanket, I guess?

MARCUS: Yeah, pretty much. Like if I could’ve spooned with it, I probably would.

THE DEADBOLT: At tribal council you said that you wanted to keep the tribe strong rather than merge, and that made sense to me. But are you surprised or frustrated that the tribe members didn’t see logic or even learn from past episodes?

MARCUS: You know, I made that comment really from the standpoint of hoping that Crystal would come around. I mean, she has all of the skills you would think she’d need to be a strong member and we didn’t know if we were going to merge or not. So she was definitely one of the people that would’ve been good to keep around. I wasn’t saying that to protect myself at all, it was just more of a commentary. And honestly, I knew I was not dealing with logical people. So at that point I had my bags - I knew that these guys were either going to figure it out or not and I was hoping that Crystal would think twice because of her relationship with my friend Kenneth. And if that’s not going to stop you then nothing is going to stop you, so enjoy the show. [laughs]

THE DEADBOLT: Since you’re the first jury member, how much thought are you putting into what you’re going to ask?

MARCUS: A lot of thought, you know? If you see Ponderosa episodes within a few days, it starts to weigh on you, like you still have an impact on the show. And in between trying to take deep breaths because your stomach is so full and enjoying the sights, it’s there. And you know it’s exciting to see what’s coming up next and it’s exciting to have someone else to hang out with soon. It’s just a part of the game and it felt good to at least have a legacy that I was going to get to follow through the whole rest of the program.