Doris made her way down to the lagoon, hoping and praying that the Skipper would be there. She was anxious to talk this thing over and put the whole ordeal behind them. She was also anxious to see if he was alright. More than likely he felt as awful as the other men had this morning. She finally spotted him sitting under a tree, head in his hands. She slowly made her way down to where he was. The morning was already turning out to be a hot one. The heat and humidity in the air had caused the putrid smell of vomit to be intensified. Doris held her breath, as she approached.

"Skipper," Doris said, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up at her, she could see his eyes were glossed with wetness. Had he been crying?

"Skipper, what is it? What's wrong?" She asked sympathetically. He didn't even answer her question. He rose to his feet and held her hands in his.

"Doris, I'm sorry. I"m so, so sorry. I was awful to you last night," he said, looking deep into her eyes.

"Well, yes you were. You were a real jerk and I was shocked that you could be like that... but I do realize that you were drunk and didn't have the capability to make wise decisions. I do forgive you, though. Just promise me you'll never drink like that again. I was... everyone was worried about you this morning. If you want to compete with Mr. Howell, challenge him to a game of golf or something... not drinking. People have died from drinking too much. It's called alcohol poisoning," she pointed out to him.

"I won't. The way I feel this morning is enough to deter me from that," he said. "I'm just glad you aren't mad."

"Not mad? Jonas Grumby, I should be furious with you. I was last night, and the words still hurt some today. Believe me, I'm far from happy, but I do realize accidents happen. Besides, I need to forgive you. There are nine people on this island and we all live in close proximity to each other. It doesn't make sense to stay mad and hold grudges with someone I'm going to run into everyday," she said with her arms folded. It was then that the Skipper noticed her arm. His mouth hung agape and he gently took her arm into his hands.

"Doris! My God, did I do that to you?" He said, slowly turning the arm over in his hands.

"Yes," she replied, "it doesn't really hurt. Your words and attitude hurt more."

"God forgive me," he whispered. He wasn't being flippant that time. He really meant it. "Oh Doris. This makes me sick, just absolutely sick. I never meant to hurt you." She looked at him. The compassionate expression on his face made him look more handsome than she already thought he was. Her face reddened and her heart skipped a beat.

Steady Doris. You're going way too fast. Keep your emotions in check, or you may just scare him off. Damn intuition! Why can't you be a little wary of people once in awhile? Why can't I figure out why I'm so drawn to him? What's our connection? He seems so familiar.

"Doris please, can we start over? I was really enjoying our time together. It thrilled me to know that you liked me just as much as I liked you. I'll completely understand if you don't want to," he said.

"Well...ok, I guess we can start over again. Clean slate it is and we never bring this up again, agreed?" She said, sticking out her hand. The Skipper took her hand and shook on their agreement.

The Skipper took Doris by the hand and led her to a large rock, big enough for both of them to sit on. Once they were both seated, the Skipper turned towards her and began to speak.

"Doris, I like you. I really... really like you. I like you more than I've liked any woman in a long time. Not only are you beautiful, you are smart, funny, compassionate, gentle. I can see all that in you in just four days of knowing you. I don't know how long you'll be on this island, or how long any of us will be here, but i want to spend that time getting to know you... not just finding out how much passion you can lavish on me. Believe me, you are very passionate. Well... what I'm trying to say is... sometimes I talk a good talk and move a little fast."

"Are you just wanting to be friends, Jonas?" She asked, not looking at him. Great! I'm falling in love and now I have to step backwards? Well if this isn't my lucky day! She thought sarcastically.

"Well, you and I both know there is more going on than just friendship, isn't there?" He asked her. She nodded in agreement.

"What do you propose?" She asked him.

"For one, we could spend more time with the others. I mean, they want to get to know you too. I'm sure you'd like to get to know them better as well," he suggested.

"Are you saying we need chaperons?" She teased.

"I don't know about you, but I think I probably do. You see, the only real girlfriends I've ever had are Betty, and this one gal I met in a cocktail lounge once. I liked Betty all during junior high, and then we started dating in high school. Being that she was my best friend's sister, it's like we practically grew up together. You know she broke up with me when I went to the Navy, right?" Doris nodded her head, showing that she remembered the story. "Well, I became a different person in the Navy. I was the ideal sailor when i had to be, but on the weekends I was a party boy. I got drunk a lot, used terrible language, and slept with more girls than I can remember." The Skipper hung his head, not even wanting to look Doris in the eye. "So, I had a bit of a problem for a long, long time. I think all those girls were somehow my way of trying to forget Betty... not to mention it made me feel like a hot shot. Those memories don't make me feel that way anymore. I'm ashamed of myself."

"Jonas, you don't sound any different than any other sailor I've run into. You're not like that anymore, are you?" She asked.

"Well, I did straighten out some when I left the Navy and got into the charter business. Besides that, I was so busy looking after Gilligan, I knew I had to keep my nose clean," he said, finally with a smile. "Most of all, this island has changed me. The people on it have changed me, including you."

"What do you mean?" Doris asked.

"Well, like I said, I spent a lot of time looking after Gilligan. It was like I was his second father. I was always making sure he didn't have some sort of fatal mishap or didn't say anything that might get him into trouble or offend someone. Gilligan always means well, but sometimes he shoots off his mouth without thinking or will say something upsetting without even realizing he's doing it. Then there is Mary Ann. I think of her like a daughter. I would think back to all those girls I went out with and thought about what their fathers must have thought of me. Then I thought if anyone acted toward Mary Ann the way I acted toward some girls, I would have popped them in the chops." He explained.

"Those two adore you. You know that, right?" Doris asked.

"Yeah, I know that," he said with a grin, then he continued, "Mrs. Howell is the essence of etiquette and proper behavior. I would never have felt right using foul language around her, and Mr. Howell is such a gentleman and very protective of his wife's innocence. Ginger showed me that I was not much different than the men she faced in Hollywood. I would get angry and outraged when she would talk about some producer, agent, director, or whatever getting what they could from her. Then I realized I had made some phony promises in my time too. The Professor, now he's a real ladies man in disguise. It seemed like he was never interested in romance, but once Ginger took him down that road, he was all on board. A perfect gentleman he was. He does anything to please her and constantly encourages her not to give up on her dreams of returning to Hollywood one day."

"Well, how have I changed you? Doris asked, now reaching out to grab his hand.

"Doris, you are vibrant and beautiful. Except for last night and earlier this morning, I have done more smiling and laughing than I have in quite awhile. I was becoming a real grouch. I'd up and hit Gilligan over nothing, then get upset at myself for doing it," he explained. "More than that, I have finally realized that I am done playing around with women. There is something unique about you, Doris Collins. I really want to make this work and see what happens. Call me crazy, but I feel like I know you from somewhere."

This shocked Doris. "I... I... feel the same way too. I just can't put my finger on it. I keep racking my brain... but I can't come up with anything."

"Maybe we crossed paths somewhere," the Skipper suggested.

"Maybe," Doris said. Suddenly, she began to have a vision, she closed her eyes and sat very still. The Skipper tried to ask her if she was alright, but she shushed him. She was deep in concentration. The vision before her was not of future, but of the past. It was nearly thirty years in her past. A young WAVE, training on a naval base in California. A weekend pass finds her at the Flamingo Lounge on Open Mic night. She is singing a song by the Andrew Sisters, which one it is she cannot remember. Across the room, a young sailor catches her eye, a new recruit. He is handsome, a large man with wavy blond hair and heavenly blue eyes. She can tell they are blue from across the room. His eyes are on her as well, as he absentmindedly sips his Ginger Ale. He flashes a smile her way. She smiles from the stage. Afterward, he asks her to dance, the face becomes clearer. Doris gasps as her eyes pop open.

"Doris, are you alright?" The Skipper asked with concern this time. His arm was on her shoulder.

"Jonas," she replied in a shaky voice, "does the nickname "Big Teddy" ring a bell to you?"