One by One

"Where are the Howells?" Mary Ann's worried voice broke the long silence at the communal table. The sun had already sunk behind the trees, and everyone had getting ready to eat the banquet of bananas, coconuts, fish and pineapples when they noticed the millionaires weren't in attendance.

"They said they were going on a stroll before dinner about an hour ago," Skipper told her, hoping to ease her nerves.

"But they should be back by now!" Ginger exclaimed. "They never go out longer than fifteen minutes, and even that's a stretch!

"Well," Professor started, "I'm sure that they will be back just as soon as they're ready. I say we should eat and save some for the Howells."

"Agreed!" Skipper declared. Gilligan nodded and eagerly dug in. Everyone else was reluctant to start without the rich couple, and the girls were both picking at their fish with wooden forks.

Dinner went on as usual, though no one uttered a word. All of the castaways were hoping that Mr. and Mrs. Howell would return- but they didn't. After a while, the Professor spoke up.

"I believe that there is a strong possibility that the Howells have been abducted."

"What's ab-duct-ted?" Gilligan asked, sounding out the word.

"It means he thinks they were captured," Skipper said, annoyed and none too quiet, making Gilligan wince at his tone.

"What do you mean, Professor?" Mary Ann asked, even more worried than before.

But it was Ginger who answered. "I think he means that Gilligan's double kidnapped them. He's certainly capable!" She shot a look over at Gilligan, as if she didn't completely trust that there even was a double, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Precisely!" the Professor exclaimed, standing. "He kidnapped Gilligan, who managed to escape, and now the Howells. We know he is dangerous and we must act now!" He slammed his fist on the table, causing everyone to jump.

"But, Professor," Gilligan began, "he's really dangerous! His pocket knife has a laser beam and a death ray!"

"He's right, Professor," Skipper agreed. "He has a death ray, and all we have is our hands!"

"But we've got to find the Howells," Ginger protested. "We have to stop him before he does something to Mr. and Mrs. Howell!"

"I say we form a search party!" Skipper cried, adrenaline pumping.

"You're right, Skipper. Girls, you're with me; Skipper, you're with Gilligan." The Professor got up and started for the jungle without even waiting for Mary Ann and Ginger to follow. Not wanting to venture out alone, they quickly ran after him.

Skipper got up and motioned Gilligan to follow him, and the first mate was quick to listen. They both went the direction opposite of the Professor and the girls.

"Now Gilligan," Skipper started, whispering, "I don't want you to say a word."

"Aye aye, sir!" Gilligan saluted him. "I won't say a single word!"

"Good."

"You can count on me! Not a single word."

"Okay."

"I won't even say something that isn't a word. I'll be perfectly s-"

"GILLIGAN!" Skipper bellowed, forgetting his rule, mentally cursing himself for doing so.

"Shh, Skipper!" Gilligan whispered. "You're not supposed to talk!"

Skipper grabbed his own hat and hit Gilligan over the head with it.

"Ow!" Gilligan complained, though it hadn't hurt so much as startled him, but he kept quiet. Skipper sighed in exasperation, before continuing on through the jungle. "Wait up!" Gilligan called, and Skipper didn't even attempt to shush the boy.


The moon cast an eerie glow upon the forest, causing the three searchers to jump at the slightest rustle of a leaf. The Professor led the girls through the foliage, calling out "Mr. and Mrs. Howell?" as softly as he could, Mary Ann and Ginger following his example.

"Wait, girls!" He halted, holding his arm out to stop the other two.

"What is it, Professor?" Mary Ann asked. Ginger didn't say anything; she just kept making strange poses and facial expressions. Curious, Mary Ann turned to Ginger. "And what are you doing?"

"I'm going to try and lure the other Gilligan away from Mr. and Mrs. Howell!" the movie star exclaimed, continuing her 'rehearsal' as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Professor rolled his eyes, but the girls couldn't see this in the dim light.

"I think we should split up," Professor suggested. "I believe we can cover more ground."

"Oh, in this light?" Mary Ann cried, fear coating her soft, sweet voice.

"And with that man running around?" Ginger asked, shocked.

"But if we cover more ground, we can find the Howells faster!" the Professor tried to explain, nudging Mary Ann one way and Ginger the other. "Mary Ann, you go that way, Ginger go that way, and I will be over here." And with that, the Professor turned and speed walked through the jungle. Mary Ann and Ginger glanced at each other, before running out into the undergrowth, nearly scared out of their wits.


Agent 222 paced back and forth in front of the prison he had created. The Howells he kept in the jail were shooting him dirty looks, but he didn't care. He was waiting.

Sure enough, the bushes rustled as someone brushed by them, the signal he had been waiting for. He walked close enough to where he could see Mary Ann, scuttling through the undergrowth like a frightened mouse.

"Hey, Mary Ann!" he called, using his Gilligan imitation.

"Gilligan?" the farm girl asked, wary. "Where are you?" She glanced around, and, seeing his red shirt, came running toward him. She clung onto his arm and whispered, "I'm so afraid... I never liked the dark, especially if it's in a tropical jungle."

"Well, come on this way, Mary Ann!" he told her, leading her toward the cave.

222 had just gotten to the door and was about to unlock it when Mr. and Mrs. Howell cried in unison, "Run!"

"Mr. Howell and Mrs. Howell?" Mary Ann looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on her. "You're not Gilligan..." Her voice trailed off as she backed away, only to trip over the rock that was behind her. The agent took her by the arm and dragged her to her feet, causing the girl to scream.

222 winced at the sound, praying that no one had heard it but himself and the Howells. He yanked the key from his pocket, opened the door, and threw her in. Mary Ann barreled into Mrs. Howell, who fell right into Mr. Howell, knocking all three of them onto the cave floor. 222 grinned at the scene, before slamming the door shut and locking it once more.

"Do not escape vhile I'm gone!" he shouted before speeding off into the jungle.

"How can we escape?" Mr. Howell pouted as they picked themselves off the ground. "This grid is like solid gold!"

"I think you mean rock," Mary Ann corrected.

"No, I mean gold!" he exclaimed, offended.

"A Howell be trapped in anything less," Mrs. Howell began, just as vexed. "I mean, really!


Ginger nearly ran into a tree when she heard Mary Ann scream. She quickly turned around and ran as fast as she could in heals calling, "Professor!" Suddenly, she bumped into something and fell to the ground.

"Ginger!" the Professor cried, giving her his hand and pulling her to her feet. "Mary Ann's been captured!"

Ginger looked like she was about to cry. "It was a horrible idea to split up!" she shouted.

"I know, I know." The Professor drooped his head solemnly. "I shouldn't have even suggested it. I just assumed that we would be able to find the Howells faster. Now I've only caused us to lose one more person!"

Neither of them said anything for a while. The Professor and Ginger held hands as they slowly crept toward the area from which Mary Ann's scream had emanated. They were so caught up in searching for the farm girl that they did not notice 'Gilligan' was right behind them. Suddenly, they both paused, and 222 almost ran right into them.

"Ginger," the Professor began softly, "I will go up ahead. You wait right here." He reluctantly let go of her hand and slowly walked forward.

Suddenly, he heard a scream behind him, and someone yell, "Shh!" When he turned around, the movie star had vanished.


Ginger couldn't stand being dragged by Agent 222. She was about to attempt to break free from his vice grip, but something held her back. Whether it was the fact that she knew she couldn't overpower him, she wasn't sure, so she meekly allowed herself to be pulled along like a child and their parent in a super market.

Soon, she had been dragged into a small, moss covered clearing, though it was hard to tell what covered it in the little light that the moon cast. She could see a rather large grid covering the mouth of a cave, and behind it stood Mary Ann, Mr. Howell, and Mrs. Howell.

"Ginger!" Mary Ann exclaimed. "He got you, too?"

"No," she began sarcastically, "I just felt like being dragged here!"

"Shh!" 222 repeated, holding up his index finger. "Ve do not vant the others to hear!"

"You mean you don't want the others to hear," Mary Ann corrected.

222 paused, considering her words. "Maybe you are right!" Mary Ann rolled her eyes. 222 fished out from his pocket the key to the door. He swiftly unlocked it and shoved Ginger inside. "This is vhat you get for running," he said before slamming the door and locking it once again. Ginger gave him a dirty look before marching off to the back of the cave, only to sit down on the floor. 222 shrugged and started to waltz back into the jungle. That's when he noticed a man creeping up on the cave, as if he were going to try and let the prisoners free. Upon closer observation, 222 could tell it was the Professor. He slowly tiptoed back until he was right behind the man.

"Professor!" Mary Ann exclaimed excitedly, not noticing 222 behind him. "Oh, Gilligan's double will be back any minute!"

"It's about time," Mr. Howell commented, and Mrs. Howell nodded in agreement, though the Professor could tell they were happy to see him.

"Stand back!" the Professor ordered. "I'm going to try to pick the lock, but if it doesn't work, I'm going to try and ram the cage."

Mary Ann and the Howells stepped back and Ginger stood up, all four of them brimming with enthusiasm. Professor stuck his hands into his kaki pockets, but pulled them out empty.

"Vhat are you doing?" 222 asked, whispering.

"Trying to free my friends," the Professor answered, not realizing who he was talking to.

"Maybe this vill vork better." the agent said, handing the Professor his wooden key.

"Thank you!" The Professor stuck the key in the lock and opened the door. Just as he did so, his eyes widened and he turned to see 222 standing by him, ginning evilly. Suddenly, he was pushed inside the cave. He heard the door close and the lock click.

"You just made my job that much easier!" 222 exclaimed, shoving the key in his pocket with the mirror, which promptly fell on the ground.

"You dropped something," alerted Mrs. Howell.

"Vhat?" the spy asked, looking down. "Oh! Thank you!" He bent down to pick the mirror up, and they all gasped.

"Lovey, I think I'm going to faint!" Mr. Howell cried.

"That's the mirror you found, Ginger!" Mary Ann blurted out, covering her mouth when Ginger shot her a look.

The spy shook his head and turned, walking away until he was out of earshot of the trapped castaways. He pulled out his pocket knife, opening it. Soon the familiar shrill whine emanated from it.

"Commandant, I have captured five of the spies!" 222 said proudly.

"Good," the Commandant purred. "Who is left?"

"Only the Skipper and Gilligan."

"Gilligan escaped?!" the Commandant cried, furious.

"Vell, he is mastermind!" 222 explained. "He escapes no matter vhat he is in!"

"Gilligan is mind behind whole mission," the Commandant agreed. "You should have killed him vhen you had de chance!"

"I know, Commandant." the spy confessed. "But at least I have five prisoners, da?"

"Da. You only have thirty one hours left. As soon as you capture de last two, interrogate dem. After you have gotten de information, dispose of dem, once and for all."

Agent 222 grinned. "Of course, Commandant." He folded his pocket knife, before continuing on to search for the Skipper and his first mate.


Gilligan looked down at the sandy shore below him. The Skipper had suggested that they rest awhile, and Gilligan had decided to look around. He had come to the top of a cliff, about twenty feet above the ground, and he had begun thinking about what would happen if one fell from that height. He sat down to look at the view of the majestic ocean, the moon and stars reflecting in its waters, the very picture of beauty.

Suddenly, someone put a hand on Gilligan's shoulder, snapping him back to reality. He looked up to see the Skipper, motioning for him to follow. He quickly got to his feet, almost tripping, but regaining his footing only by grabbing onto the Skipper's arm. He sighed in relief and took one last look at the fall, before he and the Skipper began to walk.

It was then that Gilligan saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was his double, holding up a mirror that had the Skipper, unaware of the spy, reflected in it. One of the rubies encrusting the mirror was glowing, and he turned to the Skipper and saw a small red dot right on his middle. That's when it dawned on him.

"Look out, Skipper!" he cried, pushing the Skipper out of the way to safety a few feet away, just as 222 press a button on his mirror.

Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the mirror, engulfing Gilligan in its brilliance. Gilligan could feel his limbs freeze, and he realized he couldn't move. Slowly, he could feel himself slipping away into unconsciousness. When the beam melted away, Skipper watched in horror as his little buddy's limp, unconscious body fell backward and tumbled down the cliff.