Disclaimer: I do not own Gilligan's Island or the characters from the show.
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Part One
Walking through the dense jungle terrain, humming softly, Ginger's peaceful walk was ended abruptly. She had just rounded a corner and was coming into the clearing when an obviously enthralled Gilligan ran into her, almost knocking her down.
"Gilligan," Ginger sighed, smoothing out her dress, "do you ever watch where you're going?"
"Sorry, Ginger," he replied, hurrying into the supply hut.
Her curiosity aroused, Ginger followed Gilligan into the hut and asked, "Gilligan, what's going on?"
"I can't talk right now, but some guy landed his boat –and what a boat!- on the island because of some problems in the engine, and anyway, the Professor thinks he can fix it because the damage is minor and I need to get some tools for him so I really don't have time to chat, but if you want, you can tell the others to start packing, because we should be getting off the island pretty soon," Gilligan said hastily as he procured the toolbox.
Ginger's confused face was quickly replaced with one of excitement and impending joy. "That's wonderful! But I was just down at the lagoon and didn't see anybody."
"Oh, they're out on the beach."
"Well, why don't I take the tools down to the Professor, I was looking for him anyway, and you can tell the others."
Ginger didn't have to walk along the shore long, before she spotted the boat. No, more like a small yacht, she thought, taking in the vessel's grandeur.
Upon seeing Ginger approaching, the Professor climbed down from the boat and greeted her with a quick peck on the lips.
"Hello dear, I take it you ran into Gilligan," the Professor said cheerfully.
"Quite literally, actually. I brought you some tools. So what's the story behind this?" she asked, gesturing to the boat.
"Minor problems in the engine, nothing I can't fix."
Ginger smiled brightly and replied, "I'm sure. But where are the passengers of this… ship?"
"Right here," a tall, broad-shouldered man with thick dark hair said in a silky smooth voice. The man, who had just jumped out of the boat, sauntered over to them with a wild grin on his face.
Ginger did a double-take and in her face flashed something which the Professor determined to be surprise, worry, or excitement …or maybe a combination of the three. "Tony?"
"Well, well, well… If it isn't the lovely Ginger Grant," Tony announced, still grinning a grin that the Professor thought to look wolfish.
The Professor felt his jaw tighten as Tony hugged Ginger warmly; a little too warmly, in his opinion.
"How, ironically nice that the boat acted up off the shore of this island," he said emphatically.
"Yes, it is kind of, funny," Ginger agreed uncertainly, mouthing "sorry" to the Professor over Tony's shoulder.
Finally, he released her from his powerful embrace. "Strange though it may be, Hollywood will be delighted when I bring back their lost starlet perfectly alive and well. That is, of course, if we can get this boat up and running."
"Don't worry, he will," she answered, forcing Tony to acknowledge the Professor.
Tony laughed heartily at the situation and said, "Oh… Ginger, it has been too long."
Ginger felt as though she was being scrutinized unmercifully by Tony's piercing gaze which she couldn't determine if it was admirable or sordid. Maybe she was just imagining it; nevertheless, relief washed over her when the Professor cleared his throat uneasily.
"And here comes everybody else," he said, noticing the group walking down the beach.
After making the introductions, the Professor pulled Ginger aside. "So, you know this guy well?" he asked in a would-be casual voice.
"Um… a little bit."
"How little?"
Ginger didn't reply.
"I mean, what
were you? Co-stars, acquaintances, friends, lovers?"
She
looked hesitant and then admitted. "Well… we dated for a few
months, and then, it ended… badly."
"Oh?" the Professor asked in both amusement and annoyance, "because you two seemed friendly enough."
"Now come on, you wouldn't suspect that I still like him," Ginger laughed, "because I certainly don't. Especially not with you here to distract me."
The Professor smiled, put his arm around her waist, and lead her back to the group saying, "I'll keep you to that."
Later that same day, Ginger and MaryAnn were setting up for dinner, hoping it might be their last time to do so.
"So, you used to be with Tony?" MaryAnn noted, grinning as she stirred a pot of soup.
"Yeah, for a little while," Ginger replied, stacking plates to take out to the table.
"Well, does the Professor know?"
"I told him."
"So, what happened?"
"He didn't seem too upset, but I can tell he doesn't like Tony."
"No, that's not what I meant," Maryann explained. "I mean, what happened to end the relationship?"
"Oh, well, it didn't end too well, actually. Everything was fine; in fact, it was really great, until he started skipping dates and would scarcely tell me anything that was going on. At first I didn't think much of it, but then as the circumstances got stranger, I became suspicious. Finally, one night I went over to his house and found him sipping martinis with a half-dressed woman. On second recollection I realized that the woman was the director's wife of some 20 years. Well, eventually, the director found out his wife was cheating on him and things got really tense on the set. Finally, I became so furious with Tony that I told the director about what I'd seen. Tony was fired from the movie and we never talked again," Ginger answered almost too placidly.
"Oh, wow," MaryAnn said in slight shock.
"Yeah, and it was terrible because I really liked him at the time. No matter what he would do or not do, I could never hate him. I used to worry afterwards, that Tony would hold my actions against me for the rest of my life," Ginger mused quietly, more to herself than MaryAnn.
"Well, he seemed overjoyed to see you again," MaryAnn noted hopefully.
"Yeah," Ginger responded in a voice that held both sarcasm and pondering, "That's what surprises me."
Dinner that night held the same excitement and levity that all pre-rescue affairs held. The conversations were enhanced by Tony's quick-wit and charm. He reveled in assuring the castaways in his joy of being able to rescue them, while the castaways attested that they too were delighted with the situation.
"Unfortunately," the Professor began after Gilligan noted how nice it was to be going home, "it might take a little more time than I first thought to make the necessary repairs. I t might take up to a week."
Although a little crestfallen, Mrs. Howell exclaimed happily, "Oh, well, what is seven days when we've been on this dreary little island for years."
"Mrs. Howell's got an excellent point," Tony agreed amiably, "Besides, everyone here seems friendly enough. I think I'll enjoy this little excursion."
Everyone greeted this comment lightly except for the Professor who, having observed that Tony had directed his attentions solely towards Ginger, glared back coldly into the grinning face of Tony. Ginger, however, had either not noticed this behavior, or chosen to ignore it.
To increase the Professor's less than friendly feelings for the actor; Tony had insisted that Ginger should show him the island so that they might "catch up". The Professor was fairly certain that Tony had more than talking on his mind as means of catching up. However, he declined Ginger's offer of joining the tour group fearing it would show a flaw in his trust. Besides, Ginger wasn't stupid, she could hold her head if things went too far. Anyway, he did trust her.
As they trekked through the jungle down a well beaten path towards the lagoon, Ginger told the wildest stories of the near rescues while Tony stayed close behind.
"And here, is the lagoon," she said with a slight flourish to the calm water, "The threshold for many of our strange adventures."
Tony took in his surroundings for a moment with outstretched arms before declaring, "What a beautiful slice of paradise!"
Ginger laughed and replied, "It's not so beautiful after three years… Tony, you have no idea how badly I want to get home."
"You really do love Hollywood, don't you?" Tony asked, a trace of ironic sarcasm in his voice.
They stood in silence for some time, marveling the scene as the day turned to night and stars filled the sky overhead.
"You know something, Tony," Ginger began, "it's really great that we can put our pasts behind us. It's wonderful what time can do, I mean, how much it can change things, heal them."
"Oh sure… but you know, there are some things time can't change," he observed shooting Ginger a sideways glance. "What would you say to a moonlit swim with me?"
All of Ginger's senses flashed warnings through her brain like a shock wave. Her heart pounding rapidly, she attempted to brush off the matter lightly, "Oh, come on, Tony, you know I can't swim."
"Ginger," Tony smiled, stepping closer towards her, "I'm not joking around. Whether I like it or not, you still infatuate me. And if I had to guess, I'd say you still feel something for me."
Ginger looked into his eyes briefly and felt clammy, what if he was right? "No, I'm afraid you're wrong. I don't care for you anymore than an acquaintance and possible friend. Besides, I'm already with the Professor so your efforts would be in vain."
"Yeah, but… when has that ever stopped you before?" Tony observed, running one hand over the strap of her dress, the other hand he wrapped around Ginger and paced it in the small of her back.
As she felt her body tense, Ginger answered quietly, "That's not entirely true. Anyway, the Professor is different."
Tony tried to pull Ginger closer; however, she was quicker and pushed him away.
"Ginger," Tony said in cold astonishment, "you've changed."
Unsure of the emotion reflected in his eyes, Ginger retorted in disgust, "That's odd, because you haven't changed a bit."