Islands 1997

The sleepy little town of Fort Collins lays buried in a white blanket of snow. Inside a crowded apartment, a blond bomb-shell, KALLE, bids her boyfriend Brian farewell. They've been together for five years, and Kalle's ten week trip with ROAD RULES will be their first separation. Kalle explains that she feels a little guilty, but is secretly ready to shed her old life. You go girl... Meanwhile, at the Fort Collins International Airport, a small jet lands, the gang-plank lowers, and out pops JAKE - a curly-haired eighteen year old from Philly. At a glance, you can tell Jake is a groovey, hip-hop, kik-it, da bomb type guy Bit of a joker. Bit of a player. Jake enters the airport and an attendant hands him puzzle piece that reads ""keep an eye peeled for someone wearing a ROAD RULES backpack."" Now VINCE, a darkly handsome and intense twenty year old from Florida, steps off another jet, puzzle piece in hand. Excuse me, but aren't you... Jake and Vince bump into each other and press the

The new cast is cuddling up to each other as they motor from the paint-ball warehouse over to MARE ISLAND and the COAST GUARD NAVAL BASE. Oscar has taken the wheel and he's taking the turns a little too sharply. Erika braces herself against the wall as Kalle reminds island boy ""driving the Winnie is not like driving a regular car."" You can say that again... Jake and Kalle settle in hip-to-hip at the dining table, working the laptop computer together. Using the mapping software, Jake shows Kalle where his Philly apartment is located. Kalle shows Jake where her Boulder apartment is located. They're kind of bonding. Are sparks sparking? You be the judge. Kalle privately explains that, so far, she feels closest to Jake. She reveals that although she has been in a relationship with boyfriend Brian for five years, they have agreed that Kalle has the option to do whatever she wants during the ten week trip. Hmmm... The roadies arrive at Treasure Island and pull into the Coast Guard base

We start with the Road Rulers on board the Coast Guard cutter Long Island. While manning the radar equipment, Kalle received a mayday message from a boater whose vessel had caught fire. Actually it's a drill, but why tell the cast and ruin the fun! Now the cutter is chugging towards the coordinates and it's rescue 911! Oscar and Erika jump into the life boat and Erika takes the wheel as they motor out to the drowning victim. Our Puerto Rican paramedic pulls the water-logged body into the boat as look-out helicopters roar overhead. Vince and Jake pull on their fire-fighting gear and grab one of the powerful hoses as Kalle directs the movement of their craft from the bridge. The boyz put out the fire as Erika and Oscar drag the charred and dazed victim onto the deck of the cutter. Oscar places the man's neck into a brace and assures him the danger has passed - you'll live. Whew! All in a days work... Later that afternoon, captain John calls a debriefing and it's all hands on deck. The

It's rise and shine on a sunny morning in the glamorous Balboa Island RV center! That stands for RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, in case you haven't heard. The Roadies are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, showered and groomed, ready to head off to WILMA'S PATIO where the next mission will be revealed. But where the heck is Oscar? Vince volunteers to act as search party. He scours the RV park, looking for the lost Latin. Finally, he crosses paths with the Puertorican Powerhouse - Oscar out for his morning jog and dripping sweat. Vince reminds him, ""we're leaving in fifteen minutes."" Oscar assures Vince he'll be ready - and then jogs on! Vince is furious - there's no way Oscar will be ready in time. Florida sunshine-boy reports back to the others in the winnie and all decide they will leave Oscar behind if he isn't ready in time. Oscar hits the showers, but he's too late. Vince wants to take off - we can leave him a note and he can meet us there. Kalle insists they wait and all go together - ""he's

Our heroes fly to Miami and find their new home on wheels. But alas, no horns this time! They head to Key West, and during the drive Kalle and Erika have a heart to heart about what it was like going through their parents' divorces. Mission #4 is ""wing-walking,"" which means standing on top of a plane while it's flying all over the place. Gulp. Only one person will qualify to do this daredevil feat, while the other folks will train to do loops and rolls in a snazzy red plane. Oscar and Kalle are chosen to train for the wing walk, and after a serious competition, Kalle wins out (though Oscar does get to stand up in the cockpit and wave to everybody back on the ground). Kalle does amazingly on her wing walk, and returns to earth to gush about how it was the best thing she's ever done. Kalle and Oscar aren't the only ones who get to fly! Vince takes the cockpit and executes a perfect loop (rosary in pocket for good luck), Erika rocks out on a barrel roll, and Jake successfully comple

Skill, concentration, and determination are generously displayed as Kalle and Oscar battle for the opportunity to wing walk. Kalle lands the part and Oscar is endearingly relieved. Meanwhile: Vince, Jake and Erika perform like Top Guns as they take turns behind the wheel of a little red jet. Finally, Kalle straps on a BI-plane and eats some clouds at ten thousand feet. After safe landings, the Road Rulers huddle around a payphone waiting for their next clue to ring in. Hello? Go to COCOMO? It's a gray, drizzling morning and we find Jake at a payphone complaining to his mommy that he and the cast are broke and food-free. As a solution to their empty tummies, Jake suggests a trip to KFC. Pulling in, Jake fails to notice the awning of the drive-thru is too low for Winnie clearance and - CRASH, BANG, BOOM! Kalle screams as Jake remodels the exterior of the restaurant. Another day, another few thousand dollars worth of damage. The cops let is slide and everyone eats to their heart's cont

Scott the photographer hands over a map that reveals the location of the next clue. Through the dark of night, Oscar, Jake, and Kalle race to X-marks-the-spot on a stretch of beach. Oscar unearths a glass jar filled with BEES and Kalle screams! Our fearless friends pile into their trusty left-handed jeep and head over to Otto's Bee Farm where hundreds, maybe thousands, of wood crates are piled and stacked all over the front yard. These crates are the little bee condos! Otto greets our brats, and it's handshakes all around. Otto is a gentle soul with a Caymanian accent so thick, you'll think you need an interpreter. Otto, clutching a little oil-can smoke machine, leads the nervous nellies over to a skyscraper of towering bee crates. He pumps the handle on his machine and explains that smoke keeps the bees away. Smoke gets in your eyes... Oscar takes control of the smoke machine as crazy glove-free Otto removes a frame from inside the top crate, explaining that this is where the ho

Everyone's little buddy, actor Bob Denver, rescues our cast from their three day tour on a food-free deserted island. Back on dry land, Denver hands over the next clue; message in a bottle. It's a note from Oscar's baby sister: come home to Puerto Rico! Oscar is wetting his pants as everyone boards the plane for that mythical land, Puerto Rico; where life is always perfect, right Oscar? We'll just see... The jet lands, and Oscar is the first to de-plane. He drops to his knees and kisses the ground. Well, the tarmac. Yuck. The kids pile into the Winne and motor over to Oscar's papy's pad. The large all-white home is in a swank gated community; very nice. Oscar's pops greets everyone at the front door and it's bear hugs all around. Erika notices that Oscar's father sounds just like him. So that's where he gets it... In the kitchen, Oscar points out all the delicious dishes that his step-mother has prepared for them. Makes you hungry lookin' at it. Oscar makes everyone smell the

The rulers receive another clue: a Barbie-sized life raft and a GPS (global positioning system) computer. Ready to ride a raging river? Using the miraculous GPS, the kids motor on over to the coordinates of their destination: it's an iron bridge erected over a wide river. A spunky Spanish-speaking man introduces himself as Rosano and explains that the cast will be building rafts and racing down the river - racing against each other, that is. The winner of the race will receive a gourmet meal served by your choice of lovely lady or buff boy. Sounds tasty.... The kiddies race down to the river's edge where they find inner tubes, bamboo logs, rope, and paint. They are allowed exactly 15 minutes to build their rafts. Ready, go! Times up! You have never seen such a pathetic collection of hodge-podged, thrown together, good-luck-pal rafts. These vehicles don't even look seaworthy! In fact, Kalle's could pass for a submarine. Get it? Sink? It's time for the race to begin. But first, a s

The Rulers get their next clue while lounging in the galley of the Lady Jane: sail to St. Lucia and help plan a wedding. Cutting through deep ocean waters, the boat and it's unprepared crew face a violent storm complete with tidal wave. It's Tarzan time as Vince takes the rope from the mast of the sailboat and uses it as a swinging vine - he flies out over the side of the boat and drops into the water. PLOP, splash, kewl! Now Kalle gives it a try, and as usual screams her head off, legs flailing in every direction. PLOP, splash, kewl! Hey, that looks fun. Next up, Oscar. He takes the rope and leaps off the side of the boat, screaming ""Puerto Ricoooooo...."" CRASH! Oscar you have to let go of the rope! But he didn't! Instead of dropping into the drink, he smashed into the side of the boat. He crumples to the deck in pain. Christian's first mate, SONJA, bandages up his toes. She jokes, ""you'll have to get those amputated."" Oscar's mouth falls open - he believed her for a second. The

Oscar breaks two toes in a tarzan escapade aboard the Lady Jane. He bravely hobbles through a traditional Creole Wedding that the Road Rules Gang planned and then, donning his Puerto Rican T-Shirt, hoofs it to the top of... A VOLCANO! It's one of those moments where you contemplate the meaning of life. The wind whips through your hair as you stand with your cast-mates at the edge of the volcano, looking down into the crater. Yes, we have to hike down inside now. Yes, we could die here. It's an ominous moment. Jake is really nervous: ""I've got fifty pounds on my back and Oscar has two broken toes!"" Erika instructs everyone to move an inch a minute. Vince leads the way and is quickly shimmying down the life-rope, calling up to the others a play-by-play of what to watch out for. Suddenly, he slips into a vertical ditch, nearly loosing hold of the life rope. He's quickly out of the hole and back on track, but this gets everyone's blood racing. Now it's hand-over-hand, foot-behind-foo

Our heroes make it through the night inside a volcano, and then head to Grenada. The mission: give advice for the lovelorn on a radio call-in show. The gang make a few friends, and a few enemies, before Jake's Dad calls and tells the kids to haul butt back to Philly. The Road Rulers pile into a waiting jet; destination Philadelphia. Erika reminds everyone we've had a fabulous seven weeks in the Caribbean, but enough is enough! Let's get back to the continent. En route, Jake whips out his laptop (that's a computer) and Kalle helps him create a college entrance essay. A smooth landing and Vince inhales crisp Philly air. No balmy breezes like Cayman, but that's OK. ""It's cold and we're in America!"" Land that I love... The tikes motor on over to Jake's parent's house. It's a kewl joint - an old warehouse turned into a funky living space. Of course, mom and pop are thrilled to see their young pup. Kalle is a little nervous as her potential-future-in-laws conduct a little prying; so wh

During the Knicks basketball game, the Road Rulers discover a clue as it is broadcast over the enormous digital score board. Now it's off to New York City for love in the afternoon! New York, New York. Our Road Rulers are spinning in delirium as they stroll through the impressive streets of the City-that-never-sleeps. Mirrored monoliths loom, reflecting clouds into infinity. This is the city where news and deals are made. This is the city where Kalle will hang her hat after fighting for her handsome reward. This is the island where Jake will kick it as he chases Kalle and follows his heart. Jake and Kalle take a late-night stroll over to the apartment building where Kalle will be living while attending classes. Kalle is thrilled that Jake will finally meet her best friend, Nicki. But she's also nervous. It's time to meet her new roommates - two girls Kalle has never laid eyes on! Up the elevator, in the door, and it's introductions all around. Everyone is kewl and it's all gonna

During the Knicks basketball game, the Road Rulers discover a clue as it is broadcast over the enormous digital score board. Now it's off to New York City for love in the afternoon! New York, New York. Our Road Rulers are spinning in delirium as they stroll through the impressive streets of the City-that-never-sleeps. Mirrored monoliths loom, reflecting clouds into infinity. This is the city where news and deals are made. This is the city where Kalle will hang her hat after fighting for her handsome reward. This is the island where Jake will kick it as he chases Kalle and follows his heart. Jake and Kalle take a late-night stroll over to the apartment building where Kalle will be living while attending classes. Kalle is thrilled that Jake will finally meet her best friend, Nicki. But she's also nervous. It's time to meet her new roommates - two girls Kalle has never laid eyes on! Up the elevator, in the door, and it's introductions all around. Everyone is kewl and it's all gonna

The last mission is a doozy: walk over hot coals... barefoot!! After a short training session the kids make their painful jog with ease! At the end of the fire walk the crew is given a last night together in luxurious Trump Tower. After a feast they find out about their handsome reward: a semester at sea! Erika begins to cry... she just wants to go home. The next day, some dry eyed and some teary eyed, the Road Rules Islands cast part ways to pursue their futures... a little wiser and a little older, and with a bundle of Island Memories