"I CHOOSE NOT TO": SCOTT WINS PoV, DOESN'T USE IT

The noose continues to tighten around Mike's neck as Scott wins the Power of the Veto in the "Flaringo" ring toss game. After some deliberation, Scott elects not to use the PoV. This decision leaves both Jennifer, a.k.a. Nakomis, and Mike as the HouseGuests still up on the block.

Jase, relishing his Head of Household power, calls the Power of Veto meeting and explains how, in a twist from years previous, not every HouseGuest will be competing. Rather it is the HOH, the two nominees and partners of their choosing who will compete. This immediately ramps up the intensity, as it is clear that each choice will have ramifications on the participants' success or failure in the game. Jase loves the game. His parting exhortation? "It's going to be a shoot-out at the Big Brother corral."

NOBODY WANTS TO BE LIKE MIKE

An on-the-ropes Mike casts about trying to form alliances and help open people up to the power of the Scott-Jase alliance. It's difficult for him to get anybody's ear. Drew says, "You can't even talk to Mike." At no time is this more evident than when Mike goes outside and pulls up a chair to the whole group, and slowly over time, every single person gets up and leaves. Only Diane stays behind.

Mike's frustration at being singled out begins to show as he first lays into Scott, in front of Marvin, saying to him, "Any fool would know you're working together." Later he takes Jase head-on, saying that he knows that he and Scott have an alliance. Jase replies, "I swear on my mother's grave we're not a team." Then, as Mike won't let the subject drop, Jase says, "Quit following me, I'm walking away."

Mike, having grasped what the new "partner" arrangement in the Veto competition means, lets Holly know he'll be choosing her because that will leave him with one less person to compete against. He breaks it down for her, saying, "All you have to do is lose. Can you do that?" She replies, "Lose?" Mike smiles widely and gives her a big you-go-girl gesture.