Welcome back to what Michelle Money called "the craziest rose ceremony" she's ever experienced. How many times has Bachelor Nation heard that one before, right? In this case, though, Michelle Money may be, well, right on the money. Episode five of Bachelor in Paradise picks up right where episode four left off on Monday, Aug. 25, at the moment when AshLee called Graham's name to give him the rose, and Graham just up and walked away. Let's recap!
We open on Graham freaking out, telling Michelle he needs to sit down and see a medic. Clare is hoping his sudden breakdown means he's "starting to see the real AshLee," but no such luck. Despite everyone else's objections, he happily accepts the rose once he's back on his feet.
Immediately afterward, Lacy says she's going to be sick and runs off to the bathroom to throw up. The timing makes it seem like it's because of AshLee and Graham, but a visit to the hospital (in an ambulance, no less) reveals she's legitimately ill. (It has something to do with inflammation in her intestines.)
Following her dramatic exit, the rose ceremony resumes as planned. Michelle gives her rose to Cody, Sarah gives her rose to Robert, and Jackie gives her rose to Jesse — leaving Kalon and Marquel the odd men out.
On to all the hookups and love triangles!
Christy, Zack, and Clare
Newbie Christy, a contestant on Juan Pablo's season of The Bachelor, joins the group the morning after the rose ceremony and immediately makes a move on Zack, whom she met at a Bachelor event prior to the show. Sarah tells Christy that Zack is coupled up already with Clare, but Christy nevertheless invites him on a date, which he (reluctantly) declines.
That of course leads to an uncomfortable conversation with Clare, who can't believe Christy had the balls to ask Zack on a date after finding out they're together. Zack assures her it's no big deal, but later admits he's struggling with his commitment to Clare and isn't sure they're right for each other. He essentially tells her what Juan Pablo told her during their helicopter ride, but in less vulgar terms — he's attracted to her, but he doesn't know if they have a connection beyond that.
"I'm just trying to figure out if we're a great fit," he says. "It just got very intense, very quickly, and I wasn't prepared for that."
Clare is taken aback by his confession and runs off crying into the jungle. "I didn't f—ing come here for this," she says through her tears. "I'm having a panic attack on f—ing national television, looking like a f—ing fool, again."
Angry and humiliated, Clare decides to leave Paradise in what seems like the middle of the night. After a brief conversation with Michelle, she goes to see a sleeping Zack to tell him she's going home. He attempts to smooth things over by saying that he wanted them to work as a couple, but she interrupts, snapping, "You don't have to sugarcoat anything."
Later, in her exit interview, she complains about how "exhausting" it is to be hurt again. "This is why I just wanted to do Dancing With the Stars," she says, sniffling.
Christy, Jesse, and Lucy
Having been rejected by Zack, Christy asks Jesse to accompany her on her first one-on-one date. He accepts, but there's something not-quite-right about this pairing, foreshadowed by a strategic bit of editing in which Christy bemoans her ex-boyfriend's lying, cheating ways as the camera shows Jesse showering and getting ready.
Despite that ominous little snippet, Jesse and Christy have a great time on their date — at least as far as Christy is concerned. She (naively?) gushes that Jesse is "so cute" and "not trying to manipulate" her in any way.
Enter, Lucy, the "free spirit" from Juan Pablo's season, who introduces herself to the group by walking around topless. Lucy and Christy are friends, but that doesn't stop her from going after Jesse. Their date goes well, much to Christy's chagrin, and ends with a steamy makeout in the dark.
Christy, upset that Jesse and Lucy are hitting it off, confronts Jesse about dating both her and her friend. He lies and says he only accepted the date with Lucy so he wouldn't hurt her feelings, which Christy thinks is "so nice." What a gentleman, right? "Jesse is 100 percent honest, genuine, charming, and good-looking," she gushes in a voiceover as they start to make out on the couch.
Later, Jesse joins Christy in her room. They're fooling around in the dark when Lucy bounds in and makes herself welcome. What happens next isn't shown on camera, but it's later revealed that they all woke up in the same bed.
Cody and Michelle
Things are moving fast for Cody and Michelle — so fast, in fact, that on their first date, they take engagement photos at a local resort. Michelle doesn't mind playing along at first, but she freaks out a little when she's asked to change into a wedding dress and veil. Having been married before, she's wary of being a bride again too soon, even if it's just pretend.
She eventually re-emerges on the beach in full wedding garb for her faux photo shoot — but she's quick to tell passersby that it's all fake. Cody, meanwhile, is dreaming of the day these pictures might be on their wall for real.
"I think I'd feel more comfortable if Cody held back a little," she admits.
Robert and Sarah
Sarah is worried that she and Robert may be headed for the "friend zone," because despite the fact that they've exchanged multiple roses, they have yet to even kiss. Her concerns are alleviated, though, when he makes a move during a post-dinner swim on their one-on-one date.
Graham and AshLee
Whatever doubts Graham said he had about AshLee before the rose ceremony are gone by the time they go on their race car-themed one-on-one date. He's even charmed by the fact that she's too scared to drive above 40 mph around the track. "I think AshLee proved today she's ready for a minivan," he quips.
Marcus and Lacy
After Lacy is released from the hospital, she and Marcus return to Paradise stronger than ever. 'I hope you know by now that I love you," he tells her during a romantic rendezvous on the beach.
Zack and Jackie
With Clare gone, and Jesse sleeping in Christy's bed, Zack and Jackie decide to make a go of it with each other. It seems more convenient than romantic, honestly, but who knows what the future holds for them?
Rose Ceremony
Since Clare left of her own volition earlier in the week, only one lady is going home after the rose ceremony. The results are fairly predictable; the only real uncertainty is whether Jesse will choose Christy or Lucy. Ultimately, he gives the rose to Christy, because she likes him and he wants to ensure he gets a rose next time around. The other couples are Robert and Sarah, Graham and AshLee, Cody and Michelle, Marcus and Lacy (who make out for an uncomfortably long time), and Zack and Jackie.
