Gilligan's Island/The Big Gold Strike

The Big Gold Strike
Season 1, Episode 9
Airdate	November 28, 1964
Written by	Roland Wolpert
Directed by	Stanley Z. Cherry
Produced by	Sherwood Schwartz
← 1x08 Goodbye Island	1x10 → Waiting for Watubi
Gilligan's Island — Season One

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The Big Gold Strike is the ninth episode of the first season of Gilligan's Island.

Starring: Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale (Skipper)

Also Starring: Jim Backus (Thurston J. Howell III), Natalie Schafer (Mrs. Howell)

and Also Starring: Tina Louise (Ginger Grant)

Co-Starring: Russell Johnson (The Professor)

and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann)

Plot Overview

When being caddy for Mr.Howell,Gilligan discovers gold in a deep hole.Mr.Howell of course wants to cash in on the find.He makes a deal with Gilligan to keep the gold a secret from the others.The next day,the castaways themselves make a discovery,a raft from the SS Minnow.The raft needs minor repairs.This raft will be their chance to get off the Island.Everybody is excited about the prospect of leaving the Island;everybody except Gilligan,and the Howells.This makes the other castaways suspicious.So,they follow Gilligan who is working for Mr.Howell for a percentage of the Gold to their secret gold mine.Once discovered,the other castaways are smitten with gold fever.They also start digging for their own shares of the gold.Very soon they dug for so much gold that they have several pounds worth.Unfortunately,they will not be able to carry any on the raft.Only each of their combined weight,and the necessary provisions,will the raft float safely.The Gold will be too heavy,and would sink the boat.The crew,and the castaways board the boat,and no sooner that they are in the middle of the Lagoon does the raft starts sinking.The raft,and all of their provisions sink to the bottom of the Lagoon.The crew,and castaways manage to swim back to shore.As it turns out each person,except for Gilligan had smuggled one bag of Gold abroard the raft.The castaways later drying themselves by the camp fire promise never again to be greedy.While eating an oyster,Gilligan finds a pearl,and tells the others that he discovered there are thousands of oyster down by the cave.Actually,there is only four oysters,and Gilligan not only has the only four oysters,but also the last laugh as the other castaways run towards the cave.

Notes

This is a rare episode. This is the only episode where everyone except Gilligan fouls up their rescue.