BEAUTY IS, AS BEAUTY DOES

Mary Ann and Ginger were doing the laundry, determined to get the Miss Castaway contest out of their heads, but they couldn't help overhearing the three men's conversation.

"Tic-tac-toe! I could've sworn he'd have favored Ginger, she was perfect choice."

"What has she ever done for him? Mrs. Howell has been like a mother to the boy."

"Mary Ann is the one who cooks all our food - she is by far the best choice, gentlemen!"

"Oh, please, Professor! Ginger won hands down!"

"I object! As the richest man here, I say Mrs. Howell is Miss Castaway!"

"As a scientist I can prove the numbers do not lie! Mary Ann is our queen!"

The arguing went on like that, each man convinced their candidate had won.

"Guess Gilligan really did choose that gorilla," Mary Ann whispered, pulling Ginger back, so they wouldn't be seen.

"Please, Mary Ann! My reputation will be ruined if this ever makes it back to Hollywood!" Ginger scoffed.

"I guess it doesn't matter, all three of us are perfect beauty queens," Mary Ann decided.

"Some more than others," Ginger smirked, fluffing her hair with her hands.

"Are you telling me that you think Gilligan should have picked you?" Mary Ann asked, angry at the woman's over-confidence.

"I didn't have to. You said it," Ginger answered, with another smirk.

"Fine, then! I'll just go ask him myself!" Mary Ann fumed, throwing down her basket of laundry. She stormed off with Ginger on her heels.

"Not if I see him first, Mary Poppins," Ginger challenged her, and ran off as fast as she could in high heels.

Both were out of breath when they finally found him, still sitting where the men had left him, gathering up all his papers.

"Hi, Gilligan, sweetie," Mary Ann cooed.

"Hey, handsome," Ginger greeted him with a bit more zest.

"Hi girls, I was just leaving," Gilligan answered, and stood up only to have Ginger push him back into his seat.

"All right, Gilligan, sweetie, tell Ginger who really won the beauty contest," she said breathily, gently stroking his cheek.

"Oh, please, Gilligan, tell me! I'm baking your favorite pie tonight," Mary Ann said, pushing Ginger out of the way. The redhead fell in the sand and scowled. Gilligan helped her up, and then backed away.

"I told you all - Gladys won because she's the only one from the island," he answered.

"Oh, please! People win pageants from states they're not born in all the time, Gilligan," Mary Ann protested.

"They... do?" Gilligan stuttered, anxious to dart off. "Well, I don't care, I voted Gladys to be Miss Castaway."

"You only did that to keep out of trouble," Ginger said, folding her arms over her chest.

"No, she was my own contestant," Gilligan said, pulling at the collar of his shirt.

"Come on, Gilligan, no one else has to hear your true vote," Mary Ann coaxed.

"Yes, Gilligan, tell these silly girls how you voted for me - the one who treats you like a son," Mrs. Howell whispered in Gilligan's ear, suddenly appeared behind him.

"Mrs. Howell! Girls, please, I gotta go... collect fruit now," Gilligan said, backing away from the rich woman. He darted off quick as he could; dropping his notes.

"Hey look, the backs of his games have letters on them… MA-2 points, G-2 points and Mrs. H-2 points," Ginger said, picking up one paper.

"Maybe he likes us all," Mary Ann said and Mrs. Howell pouted. "Oh, pooh, I was hoping to have lunch as the queen," she said.

"This is silly… we already know who'd have won, anyway," Ginger said, pretending to wave to her adoring fans.

"Yeah, keep dreaming, Ginger. I'm Gilligan's choice. After all, Mrs. Howell tried to set us up before," Mary Ann argued.

"That was before he saved my life. I think Gilligan would have chosen me. After all, I am like his second mother," Mrs. Howell said, and the three women continued to argue.

XXX
That night, dinner was very silent and the group sat in pairs - Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Ginger and the Skipper, and Mary Ann and the Professor. They all talked in whispers, only with their partner.

"Hi, everyone," Gilligan greeted them when he finally showed up. No one really paid him much attention. He went into his hut instead of joining them and no one said a word. Then he came out again carrying a duffel bag.

"I have something to say," he said. The other six looked at him reluctantly.

"What do you want Gilligan?" the Skipper asked.

"It was my idea to do the contest, and to be completely honest, you all should have won," Gilligan went on, ignoring the Skipper.

"You picked Gladys, though, Gilligan," Mary Ann pointed out, folding her arms.

"Yes, but I picked you for "Miss Talented," since no one else can cook like you, Mary Ann," Gilligan answered her. He opened his bag and pulled out a crown with the word "Queen" written on it.

"So you picked Mary Ann, then?" Ginger asked, feeling betrayed.

Gilligan turned to her and smiled. "Yes. But I picked you as "Miss Gifted," for no one else on this island can sing and dance better than you," he answered, and handed her a crown identical to Mary Ann's, and then he turned to Mrs. Howell. "One more crown for "Mrs. Poise." The Professor gave me the word," Gilligan admitted, handing out the last crown. "For no one can wear a diamond ring like you, Mrs. Howell," he finished. "I'm sorry, but I can't choose one of you. You are all very special to me. I'll leave now…" he went on, but he was stopped as everyone ran to him.

"Gilligan, you did it again," the Skipper playfully bopped him with his hat. "Come on, everyone. Let's eat dinner and forget this. Gilligan is right - we have three wonderful women in this island who all deserve crowns," he went on, and dinner became joyous and festive once again.

Gilligan joined them, but first pulled out his diary. Everyone laughed and talked around him as he wrote.

Dear Diary,

Who do u thenk shuld be mis castaway? I cant decid ether so I piked them all. Mary Ann, Ginger and Mrs. Howell are all specile to me. If you are wundering whos won the contist, it was Glady's - my 'girlfreind.'

Gilligan