Plant You Now, Dig You Later

Plant You Now, Dog You Later is the 16th Episode of the First Season. It aired January 16, 1965.

Synopsis
Mr. Howell asks Gilligan to dig a barbecue pit for him, and they uncover a treasure chest off the lagoon where they dig the pit. The girls and the Howells overhear and come running to check it out for themselves. The Skipper immediately tries opening it by breaking the rusty chain with little results. After dark, everyone tries sneaking back to try picking the log, but when they run into each other, they depart without trying. Meanwhile, the debate of ownership eventually comes up over the chest. Since Gilligan found it, it would legitimately be his, but since he was doing a job for Mr. Howell, it might be his. In the morning, the Skipper finally decides to drop the chest and let it break open under its weight, but when Mr. Howell comments on rewarding him from the chest, it's obvious he thinks its his. Everyone splits over who really owns the chest with the Skipper and Mr. Howell finally settling on playing poker with the chest as the stakes. By now, the Professor returns from exploring caves on the other side of the island and interrupts their game before it starts to act as mediator. He will play judge in a trial to decide ownership. Meanwhile, Mr. Howell tries to pay Gilligan for the pit to strength his hold on the chest, but Gilligan doesn't accept the money because he didn't finish the job. Ginger also tries to tempt Gilligan for Mr. Howell into giving up on the chest, but the Skipper asks her to give it up instead. He rehearses Gilligan for the trial, but Mr. Howell over-hears and tries to bribe the Professor. In the morning, as the trial commences, everyone is soon offended by numerous accusations flying around and threatening to sue each other. The Professor's coconut gavel sprays milk all over Mr. Howell trying to plead his case. After everyone wraps their cases, the Professor takes time to deliberate, finally deciding that the chest should be considered part of the natural resources of the island and shared equally by everyone. Mr. Howell, however, still wants the chest to himself. He offers $100,000 for the other Castaways's five shares of the chest, but no one takes the offer. He ups his offer to $250,000 which is again rejected. He goes up to $500,000 to each castaway, and they take the offer. The Professor now cuts the rope to the chest which comes down spewing large black balls. The Howells think they're giant black pearls, but after looking at them closer, Mr. Howell realizes they're just worthless cannonballs. Fortunately, the others don't take the promised money since they all thought it was full of treasure. They share the balls as part of their new bowling alley.

Credits
Main Cast
 * Bob Denver as Gilligan
 * Alan Hale Jr. as The Skipper
 * Jim Backus as Mr. Howell
 * Natalie Schafer as Mrs. Howell
 * Tina Louise as Ginger
 * Dawn Wells as Mary Ann
 * Russell Johnson as The Professor

Guest Cast
 * None

Trivia

 * Syndicated versions of the episode don't include the bowling scene at the end of the episode.
 * The cannonballs are never seen again in the series; they are replaced by stone bowling balls in Gilligan's Personal Magnetism.
 * The decision by the Castaways to share all the natural resources equally first came up in The Big Gold Strike, but it was temporarily forgotten in Water Water Everywhere.

Quotes
Gilligan - "Yeah, her testimony.' Skipper - "No, her legs."
 * Skipper - "Ginger's very damaging to us."


 * Gilligan - "You didn't say something... the penny mention worker barbecue pit!"