Griffin in Summer

Griffin Nafly, a 14-year-old aspiring playwright, begins drafting Regrets of Autumn, a divorce drama inspired by his parents' troubles. He dreams of moving to New York City and staging his plays on Broadway. The project sets the tone for his summer as he imagines a future for his work.

Kara volunteers to direct Griffin's play, taking the first major step toward putting Regrets of Autumn on its feet. She helps recruit Winnie, Pam, and Tyler to fill the roles and starts lining up rehearsals. Griffin feels excited, even as he recognizes the undertaking will demand more time and effort than he expected.

Helen hires Brad Rizzo, a 25-year-old handyman with acting ambitions, to help with the family pool. Griffin is initially irritated by Brad's loud techno outside while he works, but the two gradually connect through shared interests in art. A crush begins to form as their conversations deepen.

Griffin stakes out Brad at a bar hoping to find ways to cast him in the play, only to learn Brad is there with a girlfriend, Chloe. He persists in pursuing a role for Brad and plots ways to involve him in the production. The possibility of Brad joining the cast becomes a rising fixation for Griffin.

Brad tentatively agrees to take a role after Griffin offers payment, and his arrival prompts changes to the script and the dynamics among the remaining cast. Tyler is fired to make room for Brad, reshaping the ensemble. Griffin's insecurity leads him to lash out at Kara when she voices concerns about the shifting plans.

Griffin writes and sends a sexually explicit email to Brad under the alias 'Glenn Bening' in a misguided attempt to break up Brad and Chloe. Chloe reads the message and ends her relationship with Brad, throwing him into a tailspin. The incident exposes Griffin's growing possessiveness and the fragility of the production.

Brad confides at a lakeside conversation that he feels like a failure and has returned from New York to ordinary life, naming Griffin as his closest friend there. Griffin offers reassurance, insisting that Brad is not a loser and that their friendship matters. The moment deepens their emotional vulnerability as the summer progresses.

Brad moves back to New York City, apologizing in a text for missing rehearsals as he rethinks his future. Griffin impulsively boards a train to NYC to find Brad and tries to reconnect in his apartment. The reunion is tense, with Griffin confessing his feelings and hoping they can build something together.

Griffin confesses his romantic feelings and dreams of a shared life, but Brad reveals he is not gay and asks Griffin to leave. The rejection shatters Griffin's confidence and threatens the summer production. Brad's honesty forces Griffin to confront the limits of his obsession and the reality of their relationship.

Griffin calls his mother Helen, who has been frantic over his absence, and transfers money from her account to pay Brad, which Helen slowly forgives. He also apologizes to Kara, Tyler, Pam, and Winnie, and the group begins to mend their rift. The cast agrees to rejoin the production and commit to finishing the play.

Kara guides the cast to rebuild trust and commit to the play, with Griffin's apologies strengthening the group. Winnie, Pam, Tyler, and the others decide to stay in the production and give Regrets of Autumn another shot. The emotional repair reinvigorates the ensemble and refocuses the project.

The friends debut Regrets of Autumn at a community center, with Griffin tweaking lines to reflect his growth and letting go of his obsession with Brad. Winnie introduces Mark, who enjoys the work and joins the cast. The day ends with a poolside afterparty at Griffin's house as he finally joins his friends in the water.