"Gilligan dear." Mrs. Howell said as she found him sitting by a coconut tree. "What are you doing all by yourself."

"Oh hi Mis. Howell." He greeted. "I just wanted to be by myself for awhile."

"Whatever for dear? Come join us…the two Marines are simply delightful."

"I know" muttered Gilligan. "Mary Ann thinks so too."

Mrs. Howell's ears perked up. "Mary Ann? Gilligan…you..you love her?"

Gilligan's silence spoke volumes.

"I see." said the older woman. "Is Mary Ann aware of your feelings?"

"What difference does it make?" said a frustrated Gilligan standing up. "She seems to be enjoying the company of that Scott fellow."

Mrs. Howell looked at him sympathetically. "Dear…can I tell you a story?"

"Sure I like stories." replied Gilligan.

"Years ago I met a handsome man."

"Mr. Howell?" asked Gilligan.

"Yes. Mr. Howell. He was so handsome and charming….I drawn to him..like…"

"Like Ginger is to the Professor?"

Mrs. Howell laughed a bit. "Well not quite like that but close." She then continued. "I adored him a great deal however I didn't think it was meant to be."

"Why not?"

"I was nurse. I didn't come from a well to do family. Yes my father had money but he wasn't exactly a millionaire. I convinced myself that Thurston could never love me. So much that I…I almost lost him."

"You did?"

Mrs. Howell nodded. "There was another girl…her name was Grace Malone. Her father was extremely wealthy. I saw her dancing with Thurston at a party. The two had a couple dates. Out to dinner and the theater. I never told Thurston my feelings and was content to allow him to be with Grace. I saw the way she appeared to adore him. I never once believe he wouldn't reciprocate. I had allowed myself to believe he would make her his bride. But then.."

"Then..what?" asked Gilligan.

"Thurston walked up to me and asked me if I would care to dance."

"What did you say?"

"I said. Yes I would be honored."

Mrs. Howell smiled. "I remember him taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor. I felt just like a princess and he was my handsome prince. Afterwards, we talked and he asked if he could escort me home. When we got home…I thanked him for a marvelous time and then…He kissed me…a soft romantic kiss…My heart just soared!" She said clasping her hands together. "Ever since then we were inseparable."

"That's a great story Mrs. Howell."

"You see dear Gilligan, sometimes what you think isn't what you think."

"Huh?" asked a confused sailor.

"Gilligan you may think that Mary Ann doesn't have feelings for you but she just very well may...You need to find out for sure."

The first mate pondered this. "You're right Mrs. Howell. Thanks! I feel better now."

"Good Good. Now run along dear."

Gilligan took off in search of Mary Ann hoping that Mrs. Howell was right.

Lagoon

Ginger sat on a chair that the Professor made watching the sky. She couldn't believe that soon she would be headed home back to Hollywood. To get back into the movies…she looked forward to it so. She heard a sound and smiled when she saw it was Edward. "Hello there." She greeted.

"Hello Mrs. Hinkley." He replied.

"Please..call me Ginger." She laughed.

"Okay…Ginger…Hello." Edward said sitting on a log by her chair.

"What brings you out here?" asked Ginger

"Just wanted to explore the island some." said Edward. "How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful." sighed Ginger happily. Her eyes went to where the Professor was setting new lobster traps.

The marine watched her eyes. "You really love him huh?"

"Yes. Very much." Ginger smiled.

"I have to admit I was a little disappointed to find out you were married." Edward said with a laugh.

"I'd say sorry but I'm not." Ginger giggled. "I wouldn't trade him for anything."

"He does seem like a great guy." Edward remarked. "And he seems to think the world of you."

"He loves me." Ginger said watching her husband. "Very very much."

"Tell me." Edward asked adjusting his position. "Did you always know that he was the one?"

Ginger thought a minute. "Well…I suppose in a way I did….there had always been something between us. Ever since we were shipwrecked, there had been a strong attraction."

"Well he is a lucky guy." Edward said. "I wish I could be that lucky."

"Edward you are a Marine. Any girl would love to date a handsome marine."

"You would think but it's not that easy. A girl wants a man to be home and have a regular steady job. I'm deployed overseas a lot….It's hard to have a relationship…"

"But if you found the right one…You could make it work."

"I've tried." sighed the young man. "But I always ended up getting that letter….Dear Edward, I'm sorry to tell you but I met someone…"

Ginger looked at him with sympathy. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. At least I got to meet a famous movie star. Ginger Grant….errr Ginger Hinkley…..say could I have an autograph?"

"Of course." Ginger said. "I'll make sure you get one before we leave. I promise."

"And if you happen to have any single friends in Hollywood…."

"I'll tell them all about you." Ginger laughed. "I promise."

The Professor walked over. "What's going on here?" He asked with a smile.

"Oh nothing darling. Edward tried to convince me to leave you and marry him but I told him I couldn't possibly do that…and then he threatened to throw himself in a volcano…"

The Professor laughed and shook his head amused at his wife. "Wasn't that a plot to one of your movies?"

"Maybe." She said.

Edward stood up. "I'm going to go check out the island some more. I'll see you all later." He walked off leaving Ginger with the Professor.

The Professor kneeled down by his wife taking her hand. "So what were you really discussing?"

"Nothing much." shrugged Ginger. "Edward was just telling me how hard it is for him to have someone special in his life…being a marine and being sent overseas…I should introduce him to some of my Hollywood friends. He's a good man. So nice of him to fix it so we can leave together."

"Only because a certain someone is too stubborn to leave on her own." clarified the Professor kissing her hand.

"Darling I wasn't about to leave you here all alone. You are my husband. If I'm going back home you are coming with me."

The Professor leaned over and kissed her on her lips. "I love you. And I'm looking forward to our new life in Hollywood. Just promise me that you won't do any love scenes with Cary Grant…I don't want the competition…"

Ginger giggled. "I told you…he's dull and boring compared to you darling." She said kissing him again.

Outside camp

Mary Ann finished washing the dished and was placing them in the basket when Scott approached her. "Hello." He greeted.

"Hi." She said with a smile. "Great dinner by the way. Really delicious."

"You are welcome." Scott said. "So..I heard you say you grew up on a farm, is that correct?"

"Yes…I grew up on a farm in Kansas."

"Kansas? Really? Wow…I'm from Kansas." Scott said in awe. "I'm from Wichita."

"How nice." Mary Ann said sitting down.

Scott sat next to her. "Maybe…when you get back to Kansas…we can…go out sometime?"

Mary Ann took a breath and shook her head. "I'm sorry Scott…you are very nice but…I…"

"What? Don't tell me…you have a boyfriend."

"Well no…but…I….I sort of…It's complicated."

"How complicated?" asked Scott.

"He doesn't know." Mary Ann replied.

"He doesn't know? What are you saying?"

Mary Ann looked down. "I…I haven't told him….How I feel…I'm just afraid…"

"Who is this guy you are talking about?"

The Kansas girl was about to speak when she saw Gilligan who had paused to pick some flowers.

Scott followed her eyes. "Oh I see…Gilligan."

"Yes. Gilligan. I…I can't explain it…"

"Who said you had to?" asked Scott. "Mary Ann…you don't have to explain why you love a person. And you shouldn't be afraid to tell them how you feel."

"But you don't know Gilligan." Mary Ann said trying to explain. "He's…He's a little shy around girls…I don't want to scare him off.."

"How a pretty girl like you could scare a guy off is beyond me. Mary Ann…just say it: I love you."

Had Gilligan heard the entire conversation he would have known that Scott was advising Mary Ann to tell him she loved him. Not to tell Scott. But he didn't hear the whole conversation. Just the last part.

Gilligan was about to drop the flowers on the ground and leave when Mrs. Howell's voice rang in his head. "Sometimes what you think isn't what you think." Maybe this wasn't what he was thinking. He needed to be strong. He needed to have some courage. He needed to tell Mary Ann how he felt. Why should he let Scott whisk her away? But how could he tell her? Who could help him?

He got an idea and rushed off towards the lagoon and found the Professor with Ginger.

"Professor….Professor…" He said running over. "Professor can I talk to you a minute?"

The Professor stood up. "Sure Gilligan what is it?"

Gilligan looked at Ginger. "It's uh…kind of private."

Ginger spoke. "Is this about Mary Ann?" She asked.

Gilligan turned a bit red. "How…"

"I have nose for these things." She said as she stood up. "But I let you two to talk." She gave the Professor a kiss and headed back to their hut.

"Okay Gilligan what do you want to talk to me about?"

"Well it is about Mary Ann…I want to tell her I love her but I don't know how. How did you tell Ginger?"

The Professor thought back to that moment on the other side of the island when he had kissed Ginger and she was furious with him. Until he had confessed he was in love with her. Then she confessed her feelings and then… He certainly wasn't going to advise Gilligan to do what he had done.

"I think my situation with Ginger is a little different than yours." He stated. "However I will advise you the best thing is to be honest. Tell Mary Ann your feelings. Let her know how much she means to you."

"But how do I do that? I'm not very good…"

The Professor pondered this question then spoke. "You could go on a walk with her. Just the two of you. Use that time to let your feelings be known."

"Okay I'll do that. Thanks Professor!"

"You're welcome."

"By the way..how did you tell Ginger…"

"Never mind Gilligan." The Professor said brushing aside the question. "You just concentrate on Mary Ann."

"Will do!"

Gilligan hurried off to find Mary Ann.

The Professor walked back to his hut and found Ginger inside sitting on the bed engrossed in what he was sure a romance novel.

She looked up at him and smiled. "So what did you and Gilligan talk about?"

"Just gave him some advice." He said sitting down next to her. "That's all."

"About Mary Ann?" questioned Ginger.

"Yes…about Mary Ann. He wanted to know how I told you that I loved you."

Ginger grinned. "And…"

The Professor raised his eyebrows. "My dear you surely can't think that I would…."

Ginger laughed and sat up putting her arms around his neck. "Why not? It's a romantic story…it ended happily…very happily…" She purred..

The Professor shook his head. "I've read about a pregnant woman's hormones acting up during the pregnancy but I think you my dear take it to a whole new level."

"You take me to a whole new level.." She said kissing his ear. "I…want you.." She breathed into his ear.

Knowing that he was weak and had no ability to resist her…the Professor gave in and took his wife in his arms kissing her passionately.