What a sweet gem of a story! It was amazing! :)

This is a beautiful piece of work! You have done an ncredible job of balancing your plot with incidental humour and with character interactions. In spirit you stayed wonderfully true to the show, but you also added something a little extra, making this truly memorable and lovable.

I especially liked your take on Lord Admiral Gilligan. He was, in many ways, much like our Gilligan, but with a certain confidence and independant streak which differentiated him suitably and let you make some poignant observations about how different people really are just different, not so much better or worse. Both of the Gilligans had triumphs and failures which made them very human and which followed their personalities logically.

This was also a neat way of connecting the island-centric story to the outside world, both physically and temporally. Heck, even emotionally. It was often easy to forget that all seven castaways had families, friends, and pasts left behind on the mainland, but periodically, something would come up in a story that made me briefly wonder what their loved ones back home thought about them/their situation. Your use of Gilligan's ghostly great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather let you explore some of the hardships of such a separation, noting that the ancestor died and never saw his son grow up or got to spend time with his wife. But while you examined separations you also gave Gilligan a connection to home in a way he rarely enjoyed.

Coming to the point, I laughed at the funny parts and felt for everyone during the painful moments, and I think you did a fantastic job on all fronts with this tale.

Once again you've captured the Howells. The Episcopalian commentwas great. I don't remember if that was said in the show, but many of old money would've been, especially back then!

cool!

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum- seventeen reviews on a dead man's chest.

I've finally reached the last chapter of this epic, swashbuckling tale of two Gilligans...I don't want to finish it though! I want Lord G to come back!

"Ha ha! Chase me, Professor! I love to have handsome men chase me!"- Flame-haired strumpet!

'He looked over at his wife, her blue eyes the colour of the dancing sea, and smiling, squeezed her hand. "Well...almost nothing." He reached over, turned the radio off, and kissed her.'- Whoa! Mr. Howell! Did someone put something in the water, or is romance all around?

"I say, Captain, why aren't you out there frolicking with the young folk?"- Because five's a crowd. Plus, he'd probably cause a tidal wave.

Ginger toweled the ends of her red hair. "I wish Hollywood could have seen this. Just call me Esther Williams!"- Flame-haired strumpet!

'Gilligan was perfectly happy to follow these orders. He scooped up a coconut cup and ensconced himself in a wickerwork lounge chair just as the Skipper came up. Leaning back and fanning himself with a palm leaf, Gilligan smiled up at his big buddy. "Skipper...tell me again why we want to get rescued from this island?"- Gilligan, Man of Leisure. Just sippin' and swingin' all day long.

LOL at Skipper dumping his little buddy in the sand.

'Between the grilled fish, fruit and lots of punch sweetened with some of Mr. Howell's rum cache, the luau lasted until the swiftly falling tropical sunset. The castaways gathered around the fire as the huge expanse of sky, swathed in pink and gold, faded to deep blue. One by one, stars began to twinkle in the great depths.'- Oh My God, don't you just want to be there? SIGH!

'The instrument Gilligan was holding gleamed in the firelight. It was some kind of brass instrument that looked almost like a huge mathematical compass with an arcing band of metal connecting its feet. A small tube, like a miniature telescope, was affixed near the top.'

- OH MY GOD CALLENSENSEI, I KNOW WHAT IT IS!SQUEEEEE!

'Gilligan didn't look at the millionaire; he seemed lost in wonder, staring at the instrument. Then he looked up at his Skipper. "Skipper...you don't know what this means to me. I...don't know how to thank you."- Oh, Gilligan. WE know what it means to you! And we're overjoyed!

What a fantastic ending to an absolutely delightful, charming, touching, adventurous, ribtickling tale (ha- cannibal pun). I completely adored it from beginning to end. It could have, should have been an episode. Bob Denver would have got to play himself twice, which is always a bonus, and we would have seen him as a prancing dandy. Oh, but I can so imagine it. SIGH!

Fantastico. LOVED it.

*standing ovation*

Look at it this way. If I'd been in on this story when you wrote it, I'd have still given you the same amount of reviews. It's just that I've bunched them all together )

"You start back with the others. I'm gonna stay here for a little. I…uh…" and inspiration struck him. "I want to give thanks for the miracle."- Hey, Gilligan's becoming quite the quick thinker! Thanks for the miracle indeed!

'Alone, the two Gilligans, one in a rugby shirt and jeans and the other in full dress and braid, stood facing each other.'- And such a shame the others couldn't see it!

"You've folk waiting for you. So have I. My wife and son." The blue eyes were pleading now. "You have your future. Give me my past. Let me go home."- Ohhhh...I *know* it's the right thing to do, but...but...*wipes eye* what's so great about doing the right thing all the time?

Gilligan- what are WE gonna do without the fabulous Lord Admiral Horatio Gilligan?

"God be with you, William Francis Gilligan. You're the best of us all."- No truer words were ever spoken. *sniff*

Bye Lord Gilligan, byeee! *sob*

'Vertigo is what you get when you fall from a cliff.'- Yeah. that and killed.

It's no use...even the Howells can't cheer me up...*boo hoo*

'For a few moments there was nothing but a blur of arms and legs careening down the steep slope in a roiling cloud of dust. At last the pair hit the beach, rolled a few yards and lay motionless as the last of the little avalanche settled over them'- ooh, ow, ooh, ow, ooh- that MUST have hurt. *opens eyes tentatively*

Roy Hinkley hung on. "It's far too steep and treacherous, Skipper! You'll never reach them! You'll need a vine!" He turned imperiously to the others. "Ladies! Mr. Howell! Get us a vine from the edge of the jungle! Hurry!"- Roy's talking sense for once- and in English!

But- what's this- the two logs WERE crocodiles after all? And not just any old crocodiles, massive, man-eating saltwater crocodiles? *facepalm*

'Gilligan knew this would only work if he were not afraid. He remembered his words to the Skipper from long ago: I understand animals and get along with them. You have to think like them.'- Yes, but *crocodiles*? They're like, brain dead programmed robots! Vicious eating machines and very little else!

"We're your friends." ? Good luck with that, Gilligan!

And yet...

'The male's jaws had slowly closed; the tip of its nose was now resting near Gilligan's bended knee. The cold, terrible eyes narrowed and the throat softly rumbled. Gilligan reached out and gently, reverently, laid his hand upon the hard snout. "It's all right," he murmured. "They'll be okay. You can go now."

-*blinks* Did Gilligan just tame two saltwater crocodiles?

Oh, MAG- you HAVE to make sure you pass on those genes!

The pirate's teeth were clenched in fury. "I'll lay me own curse on ye, Lord Admiral! May your cursed breed rot on this rock forever! May he live to wish the beasts had eat his heart out! May he die an old man here, and alone!"- Yeah yeah, Scallion, like, talk to the hand, whatever.

'Whatever Scallion wanted to say, he no longer had the voice to do it. With a soundless howl he whipped and vanished like the blown-out flame of a candle.'- And good riddance to the mangy cur!

"Are you okay, Mary Ann?"

She looked up at him, her face filled with wonder. Her voice was a whisper. "Gilligan, how did you do that? That…that was a miracle!"

He turned and looked into her eyes. "Mary Ann, I told you I'd never let anything hurt you. Never."

For a moment Mary Ann didn't move. Then she began to lean towards him and-

"LITTLE BUDDY! MARY ANN! Thank goodness!"

- NOOOOO! Jonas! Grrrrr! *shakes fist*

"Surely not all," quipped another voice, "or you'd have let them alone for a moment more! You great mooncalf!"- My sentiments exactly! Jonas, you great mooncalf!

'The sun was setting at the far side of the bay, flashing orange fire into the darkening sky and bathing the rugged mountains in an unearthly glow. An orange-gold pathway shone over the creaming water, beckoning to another world.'- I LOVE your descriptions. I can almost taste them.

Loving the swordfighting lessons. Don't stamp your foot like you're putting out a fire on deck, that's hilarious. As is Gilligan doing the splits- although that's painful as well. *wince*

"I'd say you haven't a ghost of a chance, my boy."- bada bing! A ghost with a sense of humour.

"Give me a remise, followed by a ballestra!"- A who and a what?

'Gilligan charged forwards, flailing the cutlass about him in wild swaths and yelling like an Apache on the warpath.'- I see Dusty doing the same thing. *grin*

"I said a remise! Not a fleche!"- Doh! I knew that!

"For pity's sake, lad. It's not a cavalry saber, nor a machete, come to that! You can't just whirl your blade about like a Dutch windmill!"- Why not? Have at ye! Swish, swish!

"I meant don't let your anger master you, lad. Let it be the wind that fills your sails, not the hand that turns your wheel. Keep your temper, and you'll hold your course."- Wise words, difficult to adhere to, though.

"Now look alive – no pun intended." - Hooray for ghost puns!

"Yes, Gilligan," said the Professor. "I realized that I've been too conventional in my analysis of your dilemma. I'm now proceeding on the hypothesis that your supernatural phenomena may have a basis in fact."- OH, ROY. My brain is bleeding now.

Ginger answered for him. "I made a lot of horror movies in Hollywood, Gilligan, and learned a lot about this kind of thing. We've brought the bell, the book and the candle and I'm ready to perform the ceremony."

The Lord Admiral shook his head. "Great heavens. Is the strumpet a witch as well?"- Yeah. He likes her. Definitely.

"Oh hear me, spirits of Kitchitomie," she intoned, raising her hands. "I conjure you, by the power of the bell, the book and the candle, to hearken to my command!"- Ooh, I'm gonna try that.

ROTFL- I name thee Bloody Mary, Tom Collins and Harvey Wallbanger!

"Ha ha! You're afraid to taste the cold steel of my sword!" Gilligan caroled, striking a brief heroic pose before gallivanting into action again.'- Go, Willie Gilligan! Cute and slightly confused but deadly!

The Lord Admiral saw where he was heading. "The edge!" he yelled in horror. "Mind the edge, lad! It's right behind him!"- OMG, no- don't repeat your ancestor's mistake! *puts hands over eyes*- is it safe to look?

'Ginger flicked a few pages in the book again and held up her hands. "Pirate spirit! Hear me! By the power of the…squeeze of lemon…uh…no, the splash of.. I mean the jigger of… Bacardi, Kahlua and Pina Colada, I conjure you to vanish!"- Or at least collapse in a drunken heap.

"Tell me, sprat," he purred, "what's yon pretty little wench like between the sheets?"

The words froze the first mate. "What?" he whispered.

"You've a fine taste in female flesh, sprat, I'll lay to that. I mean to have her warm me berth tonight – whether she be willing or not!"

It took Gilligan a moment to realize what he meant. Then his face twisted in a tigerish snarl. "Why, you—"

-Oh, you've done it now, Scallion, you dirty, disgusting dog...

"Nothing to worry about! Gilligan and Mary Ann have gone off who knows where all alone together, with Gilligan in the state he's in, and you're telling me there's nothing to worry about?"

"Oh dear, Captain," said Mrs. Howell, "didn't you have a chance to speak to Gilligan about the birds and the bees?"- Mrs. Howell! She never stops hoping!

Thurston Howell quickly took his beaming wife by the arm and steered her towards their hut. "Come along, Lovey. Let's get that book that Ginger wanted."

"But Thurston, what if Gilligan and Mary Ann are simply—" - Yes, Thurston, I want to hear, too!

'the Skipper shook his head. "Oh, Professor, what do I have to do to keep him out of trouble? Wrap him up in a fish net? Chain him like an anchor?"- That would make some of your readers happy. Well, me...

"He was," she gasped. "We walked up to that pretty little bay on the western side of the island. The one with the steep ridge that slopes down to the water."

"What for?"

- Skipper! That's a bit of a personal question.

ha ha ha, oh Mrs. Howell- never have I heard of an exorcism being referred to as an Evening Performance!

'The two ghostly combatants were locked hilt to hilt and straining like fighting rams'- OH! the testosterone! Even if they are ghosts! *fans face*

'Prancing dandy'! I love it! I think Bob Denver would approve, too! *applauds*

The ghost nodded approvingly. A moment later he pulled a pout as he looked down the trail where Mary Ann had disappeared. "Damn the fellow. No sense of occasion at all! Just as you and the little milkmaid were getting on so splendidly."- Watching were you, Lord Admiral? Tsk. But you score points for pulling a pout.

Love the way Lord Gilligan ships MAG too. Must produce new Gilligans! Must produce new Gilligans!

"...I'm tired of Scallion pushing me around! I know you mean well, but I want to stop him next time, not just watch from the sidelines!"- Woof! Gilligan! You little fighter! *fans face again*

Awwww...Gilligan reprises his epic Hamlet performance. (I've seen it on YouTube. Oh, hurry up, DVDs!)

Oh, my heart is breaking for poor Lord Gilligan. We might think it's cool to be a swashbuckling spirit, but he had unfinished business in the real world and died a lonely death. He can rest a little easier though, knowing that his son survived and the Gilligan blood line carried on- but he was only twenty five. That's really sad.

But Gilligan instantly makes him feel better by telling him his son lived to be a ripe old age and had a big family. Huzzah!

Oh, Ginger. It doesn't take much to put the smile back on her face- just a ton of flattery.

"Mary Ann's looking after him" says Mrs. Howell, and the Professor says "the signs are encouraging". Okay so I've paraphrased this conversation to suit my own needs, but waddya gonna do.

"...the Howells and I have been discussing a plan that just might put Gilligan's ghosts to rest for good."- Oh no, Roy, not another one! No more drugs!

"Oh, Thurston!" Mrs. Howell cried. "This is going to be such fun!"- Not your average reaction to news of AN EXORCISM. And what does one wear to an exorcism? Black? Red? Pea soup green?

'Mary Ann looked up at the passion in her friend's voice, and saw that it was reflected in his eyes. He was gazing at the vista before them like a pilgrim at a shrine.'- And if I was there I'd be looking at him the same way. SIGH.

"I can never get over the island, you know," he murmured, half to himself. "It's like it's got a soul of its own. Just look at this bay – look at the colours! Did you ever see colours like that before? It feels like I can smell them, taste them, almost touch them. And the island's got moods too. They can change with the waves, the light, the mist, the wind….it's hard to explain."- OH. GILLIGAN, can't you see, the island is your destiny! Oh, it's all so romantic...

"Gilligan!" (Mary Ann) gasped, surprised at his strength.- Ooh, another moment takes hold. It's the little wiry ones you gotta watch.

"Not by a long shot, me darlin', " snarled the buccaneer, stalking up the rocks. "I don't fancy this world bein' populated with a new damned generation of Gilligans. Better nip it in the bud, as they say."- Damn you, Tom Scallion, don't you dare nip epic MAGness in the bud! The next generation of Gilligans must be allowed to happen! (And if anyone wants to write a fanfic about it- with details- please, go ahead!)

'Gilligan stood braced with Mary Ann behind him and the cutlass brandished in front of him.'- What. A. Hero.

'The air soon rang with the sound of zinging blades – except that only Gilligan could hear it.'- Mary Ann, you don't know what you're missing!

Hmmm. has she not thought to wonder whether crocodiles really chase people all the way inland, ha ha. She should just throw Gilligan to the ground and ravish him.

Okay, so, the Professor redeems himself a little here. "I'm not surprised. Gilligan, I must ask you to forgive me for administering that sleeping potion without your knowledge. I hope you realize I would never take such a liberty except under the most extreme circumstances. The truth is, I feared you were temporarily non compos mentis."- I'll let him off the hook.

But oh, Lord G, stop stirring the boy up, you know how he misunderstands! There again...Lord G is a Gilligan too...oh dear.

"I'm still not certain as to the exact nature of your psychosis, Gilligan. It does seem to involve delusions and a deep-seated need for self-affirmation."- Sounds normal to me.

"It's in the blood, lad. The ladies never could resist us!" He leaned over to peer at Gilligan's left hand. "No ring, eh? So the little lass still stands a chance! Huzzah!"- Lord Gilligan, I like the cut of your jib, you rascal.

"Oh…well…not half as sweet as…" he faltered and blushed. "Gee..I better eat this soup before it gets cold!" He bent his head and scooped up spoonful after spoonful as the Lord Admiral rolled his eyes.

"Oh, for pity's sake, lad! Faint heart never won fair lady! Ease up on the rations and ask her to take a turn with you! Ain't there any pleasant prospects on this desert isle? Some romantic spot where you could sweep her into your arms and—"

-And? Oh, no- don't stop there!

Ooooooooohhhh...could there be some MAG moments on the horizon? I shall sail forth and find out!

Wow- I am so into this story. Lord Gilligan is really floating my boat.

"You've slept most of the day away. Must have been pure Jamaican they gave you."- We could be talking about a number of things now. But I suspect you mean rum.

'Woozily, Gilligan craned his head to see Lord Admiral Gilligan, still in full dress, leaning against the doorpost.'- Why can't I wake up to visions like that? (And why did I mentally just say that in Dusty's voice?)

"Unngh." Gilligan was only half listening. He groaned and slid awkwardly from the hammock, dragging the blanket with him. Bundling it blindly back into place, he stumbled to the water barrel and awkwardly ladled himself a cup.'- Well, if the Professor didn't keep DRUGGING him...!

Red-headed strumpet! Poor Ginger. Maybe the Lord Admiral secretly likes her.

Aw, bless. Gilligan has the Sight. It means he can see ghosts and magic, hooray- but not when the Professor is about to DRUG him. Boo. Still, maybe he can put a cheeky little leprechaun curse on the man. Make him drink his own concoctions!

Ginger, come on you red-headed strumpet, don't be shy! "The Professor thought that maybe you might open up and talk to me about what's bothering you."- I'm starting to think the Professor is ever-so-slightly-just-a-teeny-tiny-bit evil.

'In his nervousness, Gilligan forgot that loose tongues sink ships. "The-the Skipper's only said that whenever you were after me I should close my eyes and think of gutting fish!"- OMG, that's fantastic. I'm sorry, Ginger, but that's just so funny.

OMG, hilarious- Lord Gilligan causes Gilligan to get a proper slap across the face. This story gets better and better!

'The Skipper arrived back at the camp at first light, stumbling to the communal table with a throbbing headache.'- He probably had quite a few mornings like that when he was in the Navy.

'suddenly he wavered back into relative solidity, only now he stood resplendent in the full dress uniform of the 18th Century British Navy, in dark blue tailcoat, gold buttons, braids and epaulets, and in place of the white hat was a tall blue bicorn with white trim. The ghost surveyed his new appearance and grinned in delight.'- He's not the only one! Oh, Lord Gilligan...swoon.

(I'll bet you had SO much fun writing this story.)

OH, NO! you mean to say the girls can't even see this fine figure of a man before them? *shakes head sadly*

"Which is more than can be said for this hussy!" the Lord Admiral remarked, lifting his lace handkerchief to his nose as though he smelled something distasteful. "What's the brazen trollop mean, sauntering about in no clothes but the bedclothes? And clinging to that fellow like a wet sail?"' Tell it like it is, Lord G!

"Lord Admiral, please!" Gilligan chided. "Ginger's my friend!"

The Lord Admiral's eyebrows rose. "I daresay she's been a friend to a good many sailors, lad."- Ooh! Get back in the knife drawer!

"Gilligan," (The Professor) called, walking over to him. "Before you do that, I need you to drink this vitamin complex. You've been though an ordeal and will need all your strength in order to stay alert. Now here."- PROFESSOR! Vitamin complex? You...you...double-dealin' drug-dosin' dandy!

Still, Gilligan's sedated, which means I can have another of my moments.

Awww, but what a sweet ending to this chapter.

'Gilligan was delighted. He perched on the tree trunk and threw his arms about his knees, feeling like he was back in school, being read Treasure Island.'- That's just how I feel! especially with the GORGEOUS Lord Gilligan doing the storytelling. Swoon!

"You lost the sextant and the compass? How'd that happen?"

The Lord Admiral looked embarrassed for a moment and fiddled needlessly with his cravat. "A compass is a damned tricky thing to hang onto in rough weather," he murmured. "Then later in the longboat I was trying to fix our position with the sextant and we nearly struck a rock…" He straightened, smoothing the frothy lace. "But I'm getting ahead of myself."- HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Rolls on the floor laughing. Once a Gilligan, always a Gilligan.

Wow, I'm so wrapped up in this tale, and the way Lord Gilligan tells it, casting himself as the unflappeable hero when he's clearly a Gilligan.

'And then I tried the oldest trick in the book. 'Look!' I cried, pointing to the jungle. They all spun, and I turned and dashed off in the other direction to lead them away from my men.'- Classic! Brilliant!

Whoops- talk about an untimely demise. But I just can't stop laughing.

Oh, yeah, the Skipper! Yikes!