Author's Note: Gilligan's Island belongs to creator Sherwood Schwartz! I hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 1.
It was a warm summer afternoon on the island. The castaways were gathered around the table. It was just after lunch and everyone was chatting away about this and that. The professor had recently been working on something to get them home and they were all eager to leave.
" I think we should have a celebration tonight at dinner. After all, we've been here three years and tonight may just be our last night on the island. We've all been working hard and deserve to celebrate." The Skipper suggested to the group.
The others all nodded in agreement, hoping this would indeed be their last meal on the island before they sat sail for home.
" Say, that's not a bad idea. We did catch that boar. Maybe we can work on some ribs. Ginger and I could make up a salad and a coconut cream pie of course." MaryAnn said with a smile.
" We could work on the ribs now and start getting them ready." The Professor said, grinning in delight.
" I just adore parties! Thurston and I would love to come!" Lovey Howell grinned in delight. Lovey could never turn down a good party.
" I'll bring a bottle of bubbly out of the reserves. I'm sure I've got a good year cooling in the stream." Thurston remarked.
They all got excited after making plans for dinner and went their separate ways to plan and prepare.
Thurston and Lovey Howell we're enjoying their usual stroll, on their way to pick a bottle of bubbly they kept cooling in the stream.
Lovey had her arm linked with her husband's as they walked, her parasol in her other arm, shielding her face from the sun.
The summers on the island were filled with many warm afternoons allowing the castaways to be outdoors enjoying the splendor of all that the island had to offer with its beautiful bright plants and exotic animals.
" Just think, we could be enjoying a wonderful afternoon of polo or dining at the club, instead we're stuck on this dreary little island, but hopefully not for too much longer." Thurston said, rather sadly.
He just wished for once they could be rescued. He knew that the professor had been working on something rather large and he was definite it would get them off, that they would leave once and for all.
" Oh cheer up Thurston. It could be worse, we could be missing the opening of the symphony or the opening opera season!" Lovey replied, gently patting her husband's arm.
" Quite right Lovey. I was so looking forward to attending the opening night with you. Maybe next year. The Howells will certainly be dressed to the nines, front and center!" Thurston chuckled to himself making his wife smile.
The two millionaires had quite the shock upon boarding the three hour tour starting with going on the tour with people they weren't even in the same social class as they were, and then becoming stranded with them.
However, the past three years of being stranded had opened their eyes to seeing what having true friends was like; having people in their lives that didn't care about their money.
It changed their perspective on quite a lot of things and they suddenly found themselves enjoying the simpler things in life that much more, even though Thurston still loved his money and the stock market report.
The two continued their walk deep into the jungle. They stopped at the stream and stood debating on champagne before continuing their journey.
As they walked, they came across Gilligan climbing a tree, gathering coconuts.
" Oh look darling, There is Gilligan, climbing away in the trees!" Thurston pointed out the bumbling first mate.
" I do hope he doesn't fall out of the tree!" Lovey worried.
"Don't fret my dear. That boy has learned a thing or two from that little monkey friend of his he spends time with. He's our version of Tarzan." Thurston nudged his wife, chuckling at his joke.
Lovey giggled in response and they continued their walk, chatting along the way.
" Hello Gilligan!" Thurston called up to the young sailor as they approached.
" Hi Mr. and Mrs. Howell!" Gilligan replied waving,then quickly grasping the tree once more so he wouldn't fall.
" You're an awfully long way up Gilligan, do be careful." Lovey worried.
" Don't worry Mrs. Howell! Skipper has me gathering a few coconuts for MaryAnn's coconut cream pie." Gilligan replied with a smile.
" Ohh. Those pies are delicious. Mr. Howell and I just selected our champagne for the night. Do bring it in on your way back." Lovey said.
" Sure, Mrs. Howell. Enjoy your walk!" Gilligan called down, waving. As he did so, Thurston was bending down to help get Lovey's heel unstuck from a muddy patch of sand. Gilligan was teaching for a coconut when it slipped from his grasp.
" Oh no! Mister Howell, look out!" Gilligan quickly covered his face with his hat as he heard the coconut make contact with the millionaire's head.
" Gilligan! You blundering-"
He heard Mrs. Howell's frantic voice below. Gilligan adjusted his hat and climbed down as carefully as he could from the tree. He could see Mr. Howell had fainted.
" Gilligan! Thurston's been knocked out! Oh wake up darling!" Lovey panicked, kneeling by her husband, trying to gently shake him awake.
" My poor Thurston! He does have a hard head you know, but I don't think it was a match for that coconut. Here, let me try this…" Lovey grabbed a few bills from her handbag and crinkled the bills near his ears, knowing that worked on more than one occasion.
When he didn't move, Lovey became worried. " I don't think we can carry him back."
Gilligan nodded in agreement before standing up.
" Don't move Mr. Howell, I'll go get the professor!" Gilligan said to the unconscious man before hurrying back towards their huts.
" Professor! Skipper! Anybody! Help!" Gilligan ran, flailing his arms as a flurry of red ran through the jungle.
…
Gilligan ran as fast as his arms and legs could carry him to get back to the others so he could get help for Mr. Howell.
He found the captain and professor talking together as they sat inside the professor's hut. They were discussing something important but upon hearing his yells, they were now outside standing and waiting for him.
" Gilligan little buddy what is it?" Skipper asked.
Gilligan took a moment to catch his breath before explaining. " Skipper! Professor! You have to come! You have to come! Mister Howell is hurt! He fainted! I accidentally dropped a coconut and he was standing under me. It hit him in the head. Mrs. Howell is with him." Gilligan exhaled as he said his peace.
The Skipper rolled his eyes and belted Gilligan with his hat.
" Good going little buddy!" Skipper replied.
" I'll get my bag. Take us back to where Mr. Howell is." The Professor ordered. Gilligan agreed.
The Professor ran to grab his medical bag and followed the bumbling first mate and captain to the millionaire.
10 minutes later, they made it back towards the Howells. Thurston was still out cold on the ground.
Lovey was frantically waving her arms, signaling where they were.
The Professor hurried over and examined Thurston Howell. The millionaire had a rather large goose egg on his head. He continued to check his vitals and then asked Gilligan and the skipper to help him get him back to the hut.
Lovey followed beside the men as they hurried back to camp.
She quickly got ahead of the men and pulled back the blankets so the men could lay him down.
She, Gilligan, and the Skipper left the hut so he could be looked over. The girls were sunbathing so they weren't aware of what was going on.
Gilligan paced back and forth as Lovey and the Skipper sat.
" Gilligan would you quit pacing? You're making me nervous!" Skipper ordered, before pointing at the table.
Gilligan stopped and grabbed his hat, twirling it around in his hands before taking a seat.
" I'm just worried about Mister Howell. I hope he isn't hurt too badly. I would feel awful if I hurt him." Gilligan was truly anxious about the millionaire's well being.
Lovey patted Gilligan's shoulder gently and gave him a smile.
" Oh Gilligan, my dear boy, don't be too upset. Thurston shouldn't have been standing underneath the tree in the first place." Lovey admitted.
Thurston was in the line of fire. The captain rolled his eyes knowing good and well that Mrs. Howell was just being nice.
" I'm sure he'll be just fine Mrs. Howell." The captain reassured her.
Before more could be said, the professor left the Howell hut and approached the table.
" I've got some news. I'm afraid the bump on Mr. Howell's head caused temporary amnesia. He's resting now as he should be, especially to help with the swelling and his headache . I gave him a slight sedative to help him sleep." The Professor announced.
" Thurston's had amnesia before- it's a horrible drink." Lovey waves her gloved hand.
" Skipper- what's amnesia?" Gilligan asked.
" What I'm going to give you if you don't be more careful, Gilligan. Mr. Howell's lost his memory. Isn't that right professor?" The captain asked.
The Professor nodded and looked Mrs. Howell's way. She was shocked.
" Oh no! His memory? Oh Professor, can't we do anything to help him find it?" Lovey asked innocently but also deeply worried about her husband, hoping she'd leave the island with the same Thurston Howell she was shipwrecked with.
" Well I'm afraid I won't know anything more until this evening when he wakes up. I don't think it will last long though." The professor replied.
" Do you think he'll be alright to travel tomorrow?" Skipper asks.
The Professor nodded. " Yes. I have no doubt Mr. Howell will be fine."
" Such a shame Thurston will miss the party this evening. Could we have dinner served in our hut?" Lovey asked.
" Sure Mrs. Howell. It would be better for your husband to remain quiet and rest until we leave tomorrow." Professor replied.
Lovey nodded and parted ways from the men, and headed into the hut. She tucked teddy under his arms and she took a seat right by his bedside and decided to work on petit point.
It was a shame to miss such a delightful party, celebrating their last night on the island but she hoped her husband would feel back to normal when he woke up.
TBC...