The Last Song

Ronnie and her brother Jonah travel to Georgia to spend the summer with their father, Steve, a former Juilliard professor who now lives quietly in Wrightsville Beach. Ronnie hasn't spoken to Steve since their parents' divorce three years earlier, and this visit strains their tentative reunion. She confronts the sense that piano and her father’s influence shaped her life, as she quietly resists picking up the instrument again.

On the first night, Ronnie befriends Blaze, who lives with her boyfriend Marcus. Marcus makes advances toward Ronnie, creating a tense moment between them. Blaze, misreading the flirtation, frames Ronnie for shoplifting as vengeance.

Ronnie discovers a loggerhead sea turtle nest by her father’s house and vows to protect it from raccoons. While guarding the eggs, she meets Will Blakelee, a charming and popular aquarium volunteer, and she is drawn to him despite her initial resistance. The night they spend defending the eggs together deepens their connection.

The next day Will takes Ronnie to the aquarium, and she quickly learns he has a long dating history. Ronnie, eager to end things, is surprised by how quickly the moment turns intimate, and Will kisses her passionately. Their kiss marks the start of a complicated romance.

Will brings Ronnie to the large, gated mansion he shares with his family and introduces her to his parents and sister. He reveals the loss of his brother, giving Ronnie a glimpse into his vulnerabilities. The pair confess their mutual love, cementing a deepening bond between them.

During Will's volleyball game, Ronnie overhears locals insinuating that Steve caused a church fire. She urges Will to tell the truth through his friend Scott, but Scott refuses to reveal anything. The rumor creates tension and threatens to pull them apart.

Ronnie, Will, Jonah, and Steve watch the turtle eggs hatch, but Steve suddenly collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Ronnie and Jonah learn that their father has terminal cancer that has spread to his lungs. Ronnie stays with Steve as Jonah and Will return home to continue a stained-glass window project.

As Steve’s cancer progresses, hospice care begins and Ronnie remains by his side. The truth about the church fire remains a looming secret as the other friends’ actions weigh on Ronnie and Will. Jonah and Will continue repairing the stained-glass window while Steve's health declines.

Scott and Will confess to Steve that the church had been accidentally ignited by friends behind it, and they allowed Steve to take the blame. Steve chooses not to report the incident, but Ronnie is horrified that her father bore the guilt. Ronnie breaks up with Will, unable to accept the arrangement.

Kim arrives to take Jonah back to New York City, leaving Ronnie to stay in Georgia. She continues working on Steve’s composition, titled 'For Ronnie,' as his hands ache with illness. Steve dies just as Ronnie finishes the piece.

At Steve’s funeral, Ronnie finds words insufficient to capture his greatness and instead performs the father's own composition as a eulogy. The performance speaks to the depth of their bond more than any spoken tribute. Will approaches outside the church and praises the rendition before moving on.

Will meets Ronnie outside the church after the service, apologizing for everything that happened. He reveals his plan to transfer to Columbia University so he can be with her. They share a hopeful, passionate kiss, acknowledging a possible future together.

Ronnie decides to attend Juilliard, packing up to return home as she considers the next steps in her life. She sees Will again outside, and he apologizes while revealing his intent to transfer to Columbia to be with her. They kiss again, sealing their renewed commitment.