Monday, 12 February 1979
0600 Zulu (5:00 PM Castaway Island Time)
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
The Minnow IV was underway with the Anchovy following close behind on the surface. To save batteries, oxygen, and other resources, the mini-sub will wait until it gets in the proximity of the island to submerge. Captain Grumby was carefully going over charts.
Mary Ann asked, "When will we get there?"
The Skipper answered "6:00 AM Wednesday morning, local time."
Ginger said, "Wow, that is a lot longer than you originally explained."
The Skipper explained, "Actually its only 13 hours from now, because we pass through the International Date Line along the way. Speaking of which, Mr. Gilligan!"
"Yes, Captain?" The First Officer answered.
Captain Grumby ordered, "Little Buddy, I want you to get some sleep. I'll wake you up around midnight when we pass over the International Date Line to take the helm so I can get some rest before we make it to Love Island."
"Aye Captain." Gilligan replied. A nap sounded like a good idea, anyway.
Mary Ann said to Ginger, "Ginger, I just realized something."
Ginger inquired, "What's that Mary Ann?"
Mary Ann replied dreamily, "We'll be arriving at Love Island on Valentine's Day."
Monday, February 12, 19791200 Zulu/
Wednesday, February 14, 1979
0 hour (Midnight) Local Time
180 Degrees Longitude 8 Degrees N Latitude
"Gilligan, wake up Little Buddy, its time," The Skipper quietly said.
Gilligan mumbled, "I'll go put more wood on the rescue fire, Skipper."
Captain Grumby laughed, "No its midnight, and we are crossing the International Date Line."
Gilligan woke up immediately when the Skipper said that. He saw the Skipper was already dressed as King Neptune, which was his right as senior Golden Dragon aboard. Since Gilligan had also crossed both the equator and date line, he had the right to dress as Davy Jones (the mariner, not Monkee).
Captain Grumby got on the Minnow's radio and ordered, "Minnow to Anchovy, heave to and come alongside. Bring your crew aboard the SS Minnow IV."
The Professor's reply was puzzled, but he complied, "Yes, Captain."
When the Anchovy got alongside, Gilligan started securing the lines. The Skipper then rang the Minnow IV's bell. The first officer helped the Professor and the Howells aboard. Ginger and Mary Ann came up from below.
"What's going on?" Mary Ann asked.
"Evidently another costume party," Mrs. Howell speculated after seeing Gilligan and the Skipper's outfits.
"Silence!" Ordered Neptune, "I am King Neptune, protector of the deep. It is up to me, with the advice of my loyal First Assistant Davy Jones, to determine whether or not you are worthy of membership of the Order of the Golden Dragon."
The Professor whispered, "Traditionally, sailors are initiated in the Order of the Golden Dragon when they pass the International Date Line."
Mr. Howell said, "See here, Lovey and I have made many trips to Australia and the Orient."
Davy Jones replied, "Not on a Navy vessel."
King Neptune asked Davy Jones, "Do you think they are worthy?"
Jones whispered in King Neptune's ear.
King Neptune said, "For not merely surviving, but thriving, in one of the most challenging environments We could possibly provide for 14 years; for making it back from Mr. Jones' locker not once but twice; and for doing all of that and much more with a positive attitude; I, King Neptune, do hereby accept all persons aboard the SS Minnow IV and the SS Anchovy into the order of the Golden Dragon. Let the festivities begin!"
Davy Jones flipped on the deck lights to reveal a banquet set for seven. At the places reserved for Mary Ann, Ginger, and Mrs. Howell were flowers and a card that read 'Happy Valentines Day from King Neptune and Davy Jones.' His Highness and Mr. Jones then went below. Less than five minutes later, the Skipper and Gilligan appeared in their usual clothing.
"Wow a party," Gilligan said
"That was nice," Mary Ann said to the Skipper and Gilligan.
"Why, I have no idea what you are talking about, Mary Ann," The Skipper replied with mock confusion.
The seven laughed, and talked just like they did when they were on the island. Gilligan felt very content.
After everybody had a chance to get their fill, the Captain had to say, "OK people, we have to get underway. Gilligan man the helm and stay on the heading I set while I get some sleep. Wake me when we are in radar range of Love Island. Professor, I also suggest you get some shut-eye and let 'Commander' Howell drive. Mr. Howell, just stay along side the Minnow."
Gilligan replied, "Aye, Sir."
The Professor said, "Sleep sounds good to me."
Mr. Howell concurred, "I'm up for it." Howell had been napping most of the day.
Mrs. Howell quietly told the Professor, "I can take over if Thurston gets tired."
Ginger said, "I think I'll stay up for awhile."
Not quite trusting Ginger with Gilligan, Mary Ann added, "I think I will too."
The boat and mini-sub were separated and then were once again underway.
1500 Zulu (3AM).
Gilligan was starting to get sleepy. The Ginger and Mary Ann were still up, and they didn't like the thought of the officer at the wheel nodding off. They came up with a plan to startle him awake. The women then approached the helm of the boat.
Ginger went first, "Say, Gilligan, do you want to pass the time rehearsing stage kissing?"
"Huh!" Gilligan said, causing the boat to zig.
Mary Ann exclaimed, "Yes, let's practice stage kissing!"
"The three of us?" Gilligan cried, causing the boat to zag.
"What is he doing?" Mr. Howell said to his wife, while having trouble keeping up with the Minnow as ordered.
Ginger said, "Or if you want, you can watch while Mary Ann and I practice."
The room started to spin for Gilligan and he fell on the wheel. Mary Ann ran and grabbed the smelling salts.
Mary Ann cried, "Now look what you did, Ginger, he fainted!"
Ginger sultrily replied, "I do tend to have that affect on men."
Gilligan started to come around and said, "The microwave is beeping." Realizing it was the boat's radar, the Lieutenant shouted "Holy…." The expletive was conveniently masked by the sound of the foghorn on the Japanese freighter on a course to broadside the Minnow IV. The First Officer hit the throttle and the twin Mercury Marine engines pushed the little boat out of the way of certain doom, barely.
Simultaneously Mrs. Howell screamed, "Thurston, Look Out!"
The Professor awoke, and shouted, "Crash Dive!" and brought the sub down—fast. The Japanese freighter passed over the Anchovy with less than a fathom of clearance
Mr. Howell quietly asked, "Are we following the Minnow IV or the PT 109?"
Mrs. Howell scolded, "Thurston! That was in very bad taste."
Much to the Howell's relief, the Professor reported, "Active sonar shows that the Minnow IV cleared the freighter."
After the freighter safely passed, the Professor surfaced the little sub. The Professor then got on the radio and asked, "Anchovy to Minnow IV, What is your status?"
LTJG Gilligan responded, "Minnow IV to Anchovy, we are shaken up, but otherwise five by five. Thanks for asking. After this point, we should maintain radio silence, and use visual means of communication only."
"Roger, Minnow IV," The Professor acknowledged.
Mrs. Howell said, "Well, I never, after all that he doesn't want to talk to us!"
Mr. Howell replied, "Its not that Lovey, I believe he meant that we are getting close enough he was afraid the island may pick up our transmission."
"That's exactly right," agreed the Professor, "now I'm going to try to get back to sleep. Keep up with the Minnow and wake me when we get to the point we have to dive."
After the near miss, Mary Ann and Ginger agreed that maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to disturb Gilligan while he drove. They both went below and tried to sleep, but it was difficult with what the thoughts of what almost happened. The Skipper's snoring didn't help. Thanks to his years in the Navy, Captain Jonas Grumby could sleep through an atom bomb (in fact, he had off of Bikini).
Wednesday February 140500, One Hour West of Love Island
Gilligan rang the boat's bell to mark their proximity to the island and used a signal light to flash a message to the Anchovy.
Mrs. Howell said, "There's Gilligan's signal. Thurston, wake the Professor."
Mr. Howell woke the Professor up, who then brought the sub down to periscope depth.
Waking instantly at the sound of the bell, the Skipper came on deck of the Minnow IV and told his first officer, "I had a great night's sleep." The Captain then asked his Lieutenant, "Anything interesting happen when I was asleep?"
Gilligan thought about it, then answered, "No Sir, not really."