First mate's log:

June 26, 1968

The Skipper and I flew from Honolulu to Los Angeles this morning and then one of the Howell limousines took us to Santa Barbara! (It's about an hour and a half away, depending on traffic.) We feel really spoiled but of course the Howells take things like this for granted. Their mansion is probably the biggest building I've ever been in but they say it's one of their smaller "summer homes."

It's great to see everyone and at first it was just lots of hugging and eating. But then after dinner, Mr. Howell made an announcement that surprised everyone but his wife.

"I've gathered you all together, not just to celebrate our survival on the island, but to invite you all back to the island, permanently."

We all stared at him and he explained that he wants to found a small town on our island, not just us but people who qualify in a contest he'll be holding this summer. "...There will be roles for all of you to play in this. For instance, the Skipper and Gilligan could give boat tours to neighboring islands. And we could use the Professor's expertise and Ginger's talents."

The Professor coughed, then said, "That's very flattering but I'm afraid I've already made a commitment to help Mrs. Smith on her island."

Now we all stared at him.

"A commitment?" Ginger whispered.

"Yes, I can't reveal the details, but she's also planning an island settlement and I'm going to help with the engineering side of things."

"Oh." She looked at Mr. Howell again. "It's a very sweet offer, but I'm trying to rebuild my career in Hollywood after four long years away, and my next movie starts shooting next week."

Mr. Howell looked surprised that anyone would say no right off to his offer, but he shook his head and then looked at Mr. Brady. "Well, Mike, I hope you're willing to go, because I could really use a good architect."

Mr. Brady looked put on the spot and said, "Oh, well, like Roy said, this is very flattering. But it's a big step and I'd like to have some time to think it over."

"Of course. But I want to start construction after July 4th and have the island habitable for newcomers by Labor Day."

Soon after that, we all split up into smaller groups, and I noticed that Mr. Brady and Mrs. Martin went for a walk around the grounds. The Skipper and I went to the billiard room and talked it over. He really wants to go and maybe start a ferry service between our island and Mrs. Smith's island. Or he could give boating lessons. He says it would be different now that we wouldn't be cut off from civilization. He likes being back in Honolulu but he misses our island.

I miss it, too, and it would be great to keep working with the Skipper. I know things wouldn't be the same as before, but maybe it would be better. I would miss the Professor and Ginger but maybe they could visit. I wonder if Mary Ann will go. It'd be great if she started a bakery and I could eat her pies every day.

Carol Martin's diary:

June 27, 1968

I have a lot to think about now. We're here at the Santa Barbara mansion, and the Howells of course tolerate the children's table manners (even if the footmen wince), since they've seen them grow up for four years. And it turns out they want to see them grow up more, because they've invited all of us to join them in the small community they want to start on our island. Mike would be architect.

He and I talked about it last night, strolling the Howells' extensive grounds. He thinks it's a marvelous opportunity, and he would at least like to do the initial designs, even if he doesn't end up living there. But he understands that it's a big step for me, and that I have many unhappy memories about the island.

And even though we probably wouldn't have criminals and hostile natives arriving every few weeks, it is still very remote, with Mrs. Smith's island as our closest "neighbor" and contact with the outside world, unless Mr. Howell is somehow going to fit an airport on our island. On the other hand, perhaps that's part of the appeal, its distance from an increasingly frightening modern world. I'm sure he'll get many entries in his contest for new settlers.

The children are thrilled about the idea of going back, even though they've enjoyed ice cream, amusement parks, television, and all the other trappings of civilization, not yet having encountered, or at least not remembering encountering, things like dentists and exams. (Mike and I didn't bother with grades in our little school and obviously there was no competition as there would've been in a larger class without such a wide age range.)

I want to talk this over with my parents when I get back to their place tomorrow. They may not want to let me and the girls go after missing us so much and, yes, we would miss them, although maybe we could visit every year or two.

Another thing to consider is that I have started contacting caterers and florists and so on to plan for our Christmas wedding. Now I don't even know where or when the wedding will be. Maybe Alice and Mary Ann, without Ginger, will end up doing the food and flowers on the island after all.

I don't even have a gown yet, and now I have to wonder if I should get a muumuu to fit in with the tropical climate. I was planning to wear yellow, since it's my second wedding, something modern but without too short a skirt. (Shopping for myself and the girls has been an experience, trying to adjust to all the changes in fashion, including prices.)

I haven't talked much to anyone but Mike about this, but Mary Ann did tell me she's giving up on trying to make things work with Herbert when she has a chance to go back to the island and maybe run a restaurant. I'm sure the fact that Gilligan will be working on the Skipper's ferry doesn't hurt. She says her aunt and uncle will miss her, but they're used to managing without her on the farm and she hopes they won't raise any objections.