The Man in the Moon

Dani, a 14-year-old, escapes chores to skinny dip at the neighbor's creek. She enjoys the lazy heat of summer until a new neighbor, 17-year-old Court Foster, shows up and harshly kicks her out. The encounter seeds a tense first impression between them.

Abigail hosts an old friend, Marie Foster, who has moved back with her three sons, revealing Court and his brothers. Dani learns that the newcomer is the boy she met at the creek, and curiosity mixes with unease. The arrival sets the stage for soon-to-be complicated family dynamics.

Dani accompanies Court to town for groceries and begins to thaw toward him. They start sharing small talk and harmless outings, and Dani starts to develop a crush. The uneasy air from the creek melts as familiarity grows.

Maureen breaks up with her boyfriend Billy after he pressures her to have sex following a dance, leaving emotional fallout in the family. Dani asks for her sister's advice on kissing, signaling a shift toward her own romance. Maureen's split calls up a mix of sisterly care and new boundaries.

Dani and Court go swimming again and grow closer. Their affection deepens and they share Dani's first kiss. The moment marks a turning point in their awkward attraction.

A thunderstorm forces Dani to hurry home where her mother Abigail is injured tripping on a root. Dani's father, Matthew, races her to the hospital for treatment, delivering a separate blow when he administers a belt whipping. The family atmosphere tightens with fear and tension.

Court brings food to the Trant house the next day and apologizes for the night before, insisting they remain friends. Dani accepts his gesture, and their bond continues in small, everyday moments. The possibility of romance lingers beneath the surface.

Court comes over to meet Maureen, and Dani senses instant love at first sight between them. Maureen is initially reluctant but gradually returns his affections. The family dynamics begin to shift as romance enters the household.

Dani's father suggests inviting Court over again so the two families can know each other better. Court and Maureen's attraction grows as Dani watches. The stage is set for a secret romance that will complicate the sisters' bond.

Maureen and Court begin a clandestine romance, eventually consummating their feelings in a field. Dani returns to care for her mother at the hospital and is blindsided when she discovers them together later. The revelation deepens Dani's sense of betrayal and isolation.

Dani returns home after Court's accident, and the mood shifts from romance to tragedy. Court is found severely injured in the field after an accident with the disc harrow. His mother is inconsolable as the family braces for bad news.

Court succumbs to his injuries and his death shatters the household. Maureen hides her sorrow at first, while Dani mourns in her own way. After the funeral, Dani consoles Maureen on the porch as the summer ends, signaling a fragile reconciliation.