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THE BROKEN ARROW GANG The six former finalists now got their moments to shine as each checked in with their thoughts about how things had turned out for them following their departures. Among the highlights were Ken's admission that "there is no greater rush than standing on that stage watching one of your dates go right down the toilet"; Joe wooing Laura, "I know there's chemistry. Don't fight it, don't let your ego get in the way"; and Renda claiming that he was a new man after his experience on the show, "like a rose whose petals are opening more and more now." ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST The time had come again for another of the three remaining Suitors to join the list of the dearly departed. Once again, Evan, Hank and Robert joined Brian at the front of the stage. And once again, Brian read the name aloud of the next guy to bite the dust, and that name was Evan. He had come very close, but not close enough to win the prize. Evan sounded accepting of his fate as he told Lisa, "I'm gonna miss you. I hope America chose wisely and chose the right guy." For her part, Lisa enthused, "I enjoyed every minute with you. We had a great time." With Evan gone, Laura and Kimberly admitted they were growing nervous as the show reached its conclusion. Kimberly even confessed she was, in Brian's words, "doing the pee-pee dance." ( Goodbye to Evan  )
THE FINAL SHOWDOWN: A NOT-SO-FRIENDLY RIVALRY Which meant there were only two Suitors left: Robert and Hank. Two guys out of the hundreds of men who had turned up to battle it out for Lisa Shannon's heart. Before finding out which one America picked, we were given a final videotaped look at the two men in head-to-head competition. As this retrospective revealed, there was clearly no love lost between the two. Robert claimed, "If Lisa is marrying Hank, she is doing a big mistake." He later told Lisa's family, "[Hank] has a hate in his eyes like I never saw." Hank told Lisa's father that seeing Robert get eviscerated on a weekly basis was "painful to watch." He also claimed that Robert was "playing the quirky laughter vote" and that Robert "knew there was no chance she would like him." The two were each given the opportunity to have one last meeting with Lisa. In his, Robert made clear that he'd honor America's wishes if he were picked. But he also confessed to Lisa, "I don't want to propose and then get disappointed." When he met with Lisa for the final time, Hank wanted to make sure that Lisa felt as strongly for him as he had come to feel for her. No sooner had Lisa sat down than Hank asked her point blank if she was glad she signed up for the CUPID experience. Clutching his hand she told him, "If I come away with you, then it was worth it." Hank was clearly pleased with her response: "I am looking forward to a future with Lisa, and I think we're gonna have a great one." A DRESS FOR SUCCESS Before announcing the final vote, Brian introduced one last videotape: Lisa's shopping trip to find the perfect wedding dress. But with her always-critical friends Laura and Kimberly along for the ride, the search was not an easy one. Laura in particular found it difficult to give her seal of approval to any of the dresses Lisa tried on. The mounting train seemed to be taking its toll on Lisa. As Kimberly observed, "I think [Lisa's] feeling a lot of pressure and a lot of stress right now." As hard as it was trying to find the right dress, Lisa's focus remained on America's upcoming vote. She may have had her doubts, but her optimism shone through: "Everything I know tells me that the right man is up on that stage." THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: I DO OR I DON'T? And now, the moment of truth had finally arrived. Would America honor Lisa's choice of Hank, or would they pick Robert, perhaps thinking they knew better who was the best match for her? As Hank and Robert, not to mention Lisa, stood by anxiously, Brian announced the final result: Hank was America's choice! As the audience roared its approval, Robert took his seat with the other finalists, leaving only one last question to be answered: would they or wouldn't they? ( Hank is America's choice )
Lisa's father did his part as he gave Hank his daughter's hand in marriage. But it wasn't until the good Reverend Block asked Hank if he took Lisa to be his wife, that Lisa and America would have their answer. In what can only be described as a shocking turn of events, Hank looked Lisa in the eye and told her he wouldn't marry her, for now at least: "I want you to have everything. I want you to be able to pick the wedding, the flowers, have your bridesmaids, have the shower, everything. And I want to have everything for my family. And because of that, I will not do it with you on national TV." ( Wedding bells? )
When Brian asked Lisa how she felt about Hank's refusal to marry her right then and there, she sounded anything but disappointed: "I came on the show to find the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I did. So, for me, the show was a success." Though they had not tied the knot, and had passed up the opportunity to share the million-dollar dowry, the starry-eyed lovers embraced in a passionate lock that spelled what looks like a very bright future for Hank and Lisa. America, you've cast your vote, and it appears that you have performed your Cupid-duties admirably, as true love really does appear to have conquered all! |
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