Valentine's Day, 1979
The Captain ordered, "Mr. Gilligan, wake Ginger and Mary Ann." The women needed to be alert when they docked at the island. Besides, he didn't want them to miss the beautiful sunrise
Lieutenant (j.g.) Gilligan did as he was ordered. Ginger and Mary Ann were on deck after several minutes of getting ready, but both women did catch the tail end of the sunrise.
The Skipper's trained eye saw the periscope of the Anchovy, but knew the People's Republic of Love Island would have to have a pretty sophisticated sonar set up to detect the mini-sub. The intelligence Captain Grumby had would indicate that the small island republic did not have those capabilities.
As the skipper got closer to shore, he was surprised at what he did see. There was a wooden dock with several steel buildings next to it. Judging by the architecture of the buildings, they appeared to be World War II surplus. But they also appeared to be very well maintained. The Skipper pulled the Minnow IV up to the dock. He couldn't help but notice the large flag flying with a white background, a large red heart centered, and the letters 'PRLI' superimposed in green.
Gilligan jumped off on to the dock, and Mary Ann threw him the lines, which the first officer tied off. The Skipper dropped the anchor. Soon, they were greeted by a welcoming committee of natives. It was show time..
Skipper put his arm around Ginger, and Gilligan followed suit with Mary Ann. The Captain did a mock salute, turning on the button to transmit to the Anchovy.
Mrs. Howell said, "The Captain is transmitting." The socialite hit the 'record' button on the Betamax.
The Professor observed, "It looks like a tribe of natives. The village is a well maintained World War II base."
The Skipper greeted the natives with, "Happy Valentines Day! May we speak with Aquarius or Sun Blossom?"
The natives then chanted, "Valentines! Valentines!"
Soon Gilligan was soon chanting along, "Valentines! Valentines!"
The natives then led the Minnow IV's passengers up a trail that led to a Quonset hut. There was evidence of small children, with handmade toys all about. An attractive dark haired woman appeared at the door.
Sun Blossom greeted the four with, "Good Morning, and Happy Valentines Day! Would you please join us for breakfast?"
Gilligan answered, "Breakfast sounds delicious!"
The Skipper gave him a glance and said, "We'd be honored."
When they entered the hut, they saw a little girl of about six, and a boy who looked around four. The skipper also noticed a shortwave radio set up in one of the corners. A man matching the photos of Maynard 'Aquarius' Jacobson entered the room.
The Skipper made introductions, "They call me Skipper, this is Gilligan, the lovely lady next to him is Mary Ann, and the beauty to my left is Ginger."
Aquarius shook the Skippers hand and said, "The survivors of the Minnow need no introductions. I'm Aquarius, you met my lifemate Sun Blossom, over there is my daughter Coral and my son Palm."
Seeing their new guests' surprised looks, Sun Blossom explained, "Aquarius was in high school and I was a freshman in college when you were first declared missing. Quite a deal was made of it in news. We heard of your rescue over the shortwave. 14 years, it must have been quite an ordeal."
Ever the actress, Ginger responded for the group, "It was a trying experience, but at least we had each other. We became one big family."
"This looks delicious," said Mary Ann, eyeing the breakfast spread.
"It's all grown here on the island or harvested from the sea," explained Sun Blossom.
Listening in Mr. Howell said, "I can just see it in a job interview, 'Hello, I'm Palm Jacobson, MBA.'"
The Professor commented, "I doubt that kid will grow up to go to B-school."
After they were done eating, Aquarius said, "You must come to our Valentine's Day celebration. It lasts all day today.
Mary Ann hesitantly asked, "Your celebration… it doesn't have anything to do with 'free love' does it?"
Sun Blossom laughed, "Miss Summers, nobody here is ever asked to do anything they don't want to do."
The Minnow castaways were surprised to find that the festival was mainly a fine arts exhibition with crafts, singing, dancing, and plenty of food. They spent most of the day eating and drinking. The food booths shut down promptly at 3:00 PM so as people wouldn't spoil their apatite for the evenings feast. Most of the group were island natives, with a few American and British former volunteers and others who decided to join the PRLI.
The Skipper asked a sailor who was now part of the community, "So, Aquarius and Sun Blossum are your king and queen?"
The Sailor answered, "Nah, there's a tribal council. I think Aquarius is on it this year, but membership rotates."
The Skipper then asked, "Then what's with the name PRLI? It sounds almost communist."
The Australian sailor laughed, "That's just to twist the Yank's tail. Basically, we just want to be left to do our own thing."
Ginger walked up to Mary Ann and said, "Gilligan would have made a good father," noting how he was playing with the children at the festival.
Mary Ann replied, "He's only 39! He still has years ahead of him to be a dad!"
Ginger smiled and observed, "About the same age as you are. Tic toc."
Mary Ann couldn't make out whether Ginger was taunting or trying to make a point. Yes, she had thought about Gilligan, and yes she was getting older, but Gilligan even now didn't act like he was ready to settle down with a woman.
After a long tiring day of dancing, climbing, hiking, and exploring, the four visitors were ready for the feast. After a beautiful ceremony with singing and dancing, food was served. As guests of honor, Gilligan, Mary Ann, Ginger, and the Skipper ate with Sun Blossom and Aquarius.
When the festivities died down, Aquarius finally asked, "So what does bring you here to our little island?"
The Skipper gave the answer he had been waiting to say all day, "As you know, we were shipwrecked together for 14 years. Like Ginger said, we became a family. After we were rescued, we became quickly disillusioned with the modern world. Nobody seems to care about anybody else. Its all me, me, me."
Sun Blossom explained, "That's why we set up this community, to experience what you had. Sure, we have a few more luxuries than you had, but we are a community. When I first decided to stay, my father kept sending men to bring me back. He just didn't get it through his head that I wanted to stay. He thought money could buy everything, and I got mad and told him to 'send all the money to the People's Republic of Love Island.' Thus, the PRLI was born." Sun Blossom then asked, "Where are the other three castaways? I seem to remember there were seven."
Since the Skipper was digesting what was said, Ginger answered, "The Howells will always be ruthless capitalists, and the Professor is too busy doing experiments as a pawn of the military-industrial complex."
Aquarius simply said, "We all have our own paths to walk."
Aquarius and Sun Blossom invited their four guests to sleep "slumber party" style in the office/living room area of their hut.
When their hosts were asleep, the Skipper woke Gilligan, "Little Buddy, I think we have enough intel, let's shove off." They then woke Ginger and Mary Ann.
Mary Ann left a note saying:
Dear Sun Blossom and Aquarius,
Thank you very much for your hospitality on this day that is very important to your community. We have decided that our path is not on Love Island, but we wish you the best.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Summers
Ginger Grant
Willy Gilligan
Jonas Grumby
The four made it back out to the Minnow IV and sailed to a nearby uninhabited atoll where they could rendezvous with the Anchovy.