A Summer Place

On Pine Island off the Maine coast, Bart Hunter runs a crumbling inn with his long-suffering wife Sylvia and their teenage son Johnny. Bart's drinking and the family's money troubles place constant strain on daily life. Sylvia pushes Bart to accept a summer reservation from Ken Jorgenson because the money is badly needed.

Ken Jorgenson arrives with his wife Helen and daughter Molly to spend the season on the island. He is now a wealthy research chemist, a sharp contrast to the lifeguard he once was when they knew each other. The encounter rekindles Sylvia's memories and hints at a renewed attraction.

Sylvia and Ken, both unsatisfied in their marriages, begin secretly meeting every night while the families coexist. Their late-night meetings deepen their connection and threaten the fragile peace on the island. The affair remains hidden from their spouses for a time as the summer unfolds.

Helen becomes suspicious and decides to expose the affair as leverage for a future divorce settlement. A night watchman spots Sylvia and Ken together, and Helen moves to reveal what she has learned. The revelation triggers a tense confrontation as long-held resentments erupt.

Over Ken's weekend business trip, Molly and Johnny, with Ken's permission, go sailing around the island. Their boat capsizes in rough water and they spend the night stranded on the beach. The Coast Guard rescues them the next day.

Helen publicly reveals the affair before Bart, Ken, Sylvia, and Johnny. Bart admits he has long known about Sylvia's love for Ken and offers to forgive, but she cannot go back. The Hunters and Jorgensons go through acrimonious public divorces and the teens are sent to boarding schools.

Ken and Sylvia marry and move into a Frank Lloyd Wright beach house. Their marriage marks a fresh start but keeps the old hurts simmering under the surface. The new home stands as a symbol of their attempt at a new life together.

During a visit by Molly and Johnny, the teenagers have sex (off camera). The act deepens the hidden tension between the families and tests everyone’s loyalties. The affair's consequences continue to ripple through the summer.

Soon after, Molly discovers she is pregnant and runs away with Johnny, planning to marry. They hope to wed, but their secret plans are endangered by legal and social obstacles. The situation forces both families to confront their past choices.

The local justice of the peace suspects they are underage to marry and denies the license. This legal setback blocks the couple's plans and increases their sense of desperation. Molly and Johnny must rethink their next steps.

Ken and Sylvia, though still entangled in past mistakes, are supportive of Molly and Johnny and invite them into their home. They provide guidance and shelter despite the scandal surrounding their families. The couple's help signals a fragile, yet hopeful, bridge between generations.

Having overcome the obstacles, Molly and Johnny are married and return to Pine Island for their honeymoon. The seaside town witnesses a rare moment of happiness amid a web of past regrets. The ending implies forgiveness and a cautious, lingering hope for the future.