Summer Nights

Summer Night is the third episode of the first season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It airs on June 17, 2022.

Synopsis[]

It's Belly's 16th birthday and her best friend, Taylor, arrives in Cousins to help celebrate. Belly's birthday is always her favorite day of the year, but this year she's blindsided by a secret Taylor has been keeping from her. The debs ask Belly who she's bringing to the debutante ball. Laurel and Susannah's secret finally comes to light.

Plot[]

Every birthday Belly has is in Cousins, and it's always the same. Laurel makes Mickey Mouse pancakes, everyone gives her presents, and it's the one day of the year where the boys have to include her in everything. One year, Conrad uses syrup to draw an infinity symbol on her pancakes. He explains that he learned about it in math class. There's no start or end point, it just goes on forever - that's infinity.

Belly comes down to her traditional breakfast, everyone wishing her a happy birthday, and complimenting her. She refuses the pancakes as she isn't hungry, so Laurel suggests they open presents instead. Laurel gives her a first edition book of poems, with her favorite bookmarked; everyone recites it from heart. Susannah gifts her a pearl necklace that once belonged to her mother. Jeremiah gives her a good luck charm for her keys, so she'll pass her driving test. Steven gives her a Princeton sweatshirt so she won't steal his next years, though Laurel didn't know he was still considering Princeton. He's looking to scholarships and financial aid. Conrad starts to remove a box from his pocket but decides against it. He tells Belly her forgot her birthday, and she feigns as though she isn't expecting something. He leaves for a lesson with Cleveland. Jeremiah offers to take Belly for a driving lesson to pick up Taylor from the bus station.

Once in the car, Belly admits that while she's excited to see Taylor, she's uneasy as she's always felt like the supporting character around her. Jeremiah assures her that it's her birthday and she's the main character. She lurches the car so they laugh over her needing more practice.

Conrad tries to teach Cleveland how to tie a bowline knot, though Cleveland doesn't understand the convoluted metaphor. He wants Conrad to help him prep for an interview with Good Morning Massachusetts so he doesn't get canceled by the sailing community.

Shayla shows Steven her dress for the deb ball, gushing over going to New York for fittings with an elite designer. She shows him the menswear that would go nicely with her dress, but it's wildly expensive for him. He's flustered but the price which she picks up on. He assures her that he wants to match with her as she's the best-dressed girl in Cousins. He just wants to look good next to her. She assures him that he will.

Taylor arrives from the bus with a bouquet of balloons for Belly. She teases that Belly looks like a snack, which Jeremiah agrees with. He takes her bag for her and she calls him Jeremy, as she likes that better than Jeremiah. The trio stop to get ice cream on the way home, where Taylor gives Belly her birthday present - a purple bikini. Jeremiah doesn't think Belly would ever wear it, but Belly likes it. Taylor asks where the party is as they have to go out. Belly is happy to stay home with Susannah who planned a Midsommar theme with flower crowns. Cam will be at the dinner too, which excites Taylor as he finally got Belly off her old crush. To distract from the mention of her old crush, Belly suggests going to Nicole's big blowout at her place after dinner. Taylor wants to go back to the house to swim.

Back at the house, Taylor gushes over Belly in her new bikini, noting that Conrad will lose his mind when he sees her. Belly doesn't think so as he didn't even get her a birthday present.

Steven and Jeremiah talk in the pool about his relationship with Shayla. The girls tease them for their gossiping before Taylor suggests playing chicken. Taylor calls dibs on Jeremiah, though Steven's complaining over having to shoulder Belly prompts a switch. As the game unfolds, Jeremiah and Belly are in the lead, with the foursome having a fun time. Conrad arrives with Nicole, who greets Belly with a happy birthday. Belly introduces Taylor to Nicole, noting that playing chicken was her idea. Belly asks if they want to play a real game.

They face-off against one another in boys-against-girls pool volleyball. They have fun together until Taylor volleys the ball into Nicole's forehead. Taylor remarks that it was an accident but Belly makes sure Nicole is okay. She says she fine but her and Conrad go inside to get some ice. Taylor stops Belly from helping, as Conrad can take care of her and she adds that "they should go inside and look at themselves in the mirror some more" as a reference to what Conrad said to Belly last night. He pauses and then tells them to have fun with that.

Once inside, Conrad gives Nicole some ice and makes sure she's okay. (She is FINE. This whole plastic ball fiasco gave me even deeper second-hand embarrassment than the scene in which Hunter sang the song for Ginny in Ginny and Georgia) She thanks him for taking care of her, which he's happy to do any time. As she tries to kiss him, he gets a text from Cleveland and suddenly remembers he's late for the interview. He rushes out of the house.

Susannah and Laurel walk past the Whale of a Tale book store, admiring that the line stretches out the door. What the see inside, however, is Cleveland Castillo prepping for his interview. Laurel thinks he looks good, but then corrects that it must be the celibacy talking. Susannah thinks he might be the perfect "sex after divorce" material. Laurel isn't sure as she read his interview in The New Yorker where he talked about his male ex. She assumes he's gay - Susannah corrects that Cleveland is bi. Since that doesn't make a difference to Laurel, she doesn't see the harm in going for a summer fling. She should live a little. Conrad arrives at the book store, surprising the moms. He remarks that he's late just as the interview starts.

Taylor doesn't know what to think of Belly this summer, as she's suddenly caring about clothes, has new friends, and a boyfriend. Belly wanted this summer to be different. Taylor asks her to promise they'll always best friends, a promise that she happily makes.

Susannah and Laurel prepare the elaborate dinner for Belly's sweet sixteen. They talk about Conrad, who they can't believe forgot Belly's birthday. Susannah sighs that he's been shut down since April when he and his girlfriend broke up, though he won't tell her about it. She asks Laurel to talk to him as she's always had a way of making him open up. Laurel agrees and goes outside to follow through on the request.

She sits next to him and admits she's checking in on him. He assures her that he's fine, a retort she mimics. She then adds that they used to talk and now they barely do and that he's still her special guy, the first baby, and he can talk to her about anything. He thanks her so she adds that he doesn't have to hold everything in all the time and always be strong. He begins to tell her something when Laurel juts in that it's been a while since she was his age, but remembers what it's like to have her heart broken. Conrad realizes what she's talking about and quickly agrees, adding that it was brutal and hiding what he actually wanted to say.

The family sits for dinner, including Cam and Taylor. Jeremiah decides to call him Cam-Cameron as it's funny. Susannah's glad he's here as she knows his mom from the club and thanks her for having him, passing on his mom's hello. Laurel asks if he's ever had miyeok-guk before, which he hasn't, though it's a Korean birthday tradition. She made it vegetarian since he doesn't eat meat. He's grateful for that. Jeremiah asks why he doesn't eat meat. Cam explains that it's the number one contributor to global warming. As the teasing commences on Belly for eating meat, Cam intervenes that he doesn't judge people for eating meat. It's a personal choice. Steven jabs that Cam must not mind Belly's lips touching a dead animal, then those dead animal lips touching his. Cam doesn't mind at all and kisses Belly to prove that. The siblings go back and forth with embarrassing childhood stories, something Belly seemingly wins as Jeremiah helps with the stories. After things settle, Belly decides they should go to Nicole's party, a sentiment that excites Taylor.

Taylor and Belly prepare for the party, ultimately deciding to wear the Midsommar crowns to the party. Belly, Cam, and Taylor arrive to the party after the other boys. Nicole is glad that Belly came, gushes over her crown, and then ushers her off to show Gigi. Belly invites Taylor and Cam who both pass, with Taylor getting a drink. Nicole shows Belly the desert table which is all for her, including a cake with a number 16 on it. She thanks them and Nicole couldn't miss her Sofia Coppola moment. Belly makes a wish on the candle. Gigi asks where Jeremiah is, and Belly spots him by the punch bowl.

Jeremiah flirts with a boy named Luke on the couch and offers to give him lessons. Luke doesn't come to the pool as his parents had one put in. Jeremiah wonders if his parents' pool has all of this, while running his hand over Luke's shoulder. Luke calls him a queerbaiter, but Jeremiah corrects that he's an equal opportunity, so the pair kisses.

Gigi grills Nicole about her relationship with Conrad, but Nicole insists they aren't a thing - they're more of an "or what". She asks if he's been hanging out with other girls this summer. Belly assures the group that he hasn't as he's always off by himself. Nicole changes the topic by asking if she's invited Cam to the deb ball yet, but she's hasn't. Her plans was to do it before dinner but everyone was there. She should just ask him, with Gigi suggesting she do it in an empty bedroom so he'll have to say yes. Nicole laughs at the terrible plan.

Taylor finds Steven in the line for the bathroom. She remarks on his endless scrolling of women in fancy deb gowns. She thinks Belly is full on board with the fancy girls, but he thinks she's just trying it out. She's never going to feel comfortable around them, as she'll always need Taylor. She's her number one. Taylor offers to take him upstairs to find other bathrooms, so he agrees to follow her.

Jeremiah keeps flirting with Luke, trying to arrange a meetup after the party. He sees Cam and Belly laughing on the couch and decides to turn on the karaoke machine. He dedicates his song to Cam-Cameron and "our favorite little Belly Button". He proceeds to serenade Summer Nights from Grease. He tries to encourage Belly to sing with him but she refuses, so he goes back to the line Nicole, Gigi, and another girl have formed to do the signature snap. He points to Cam who joins him for the duet. After a moment, Belly sneaks off to find Taylor who has gone upstairs.

Belly finds Taylor making out with Steven in an upstairs bedroom. Steven runs out of the room leaving the two girls to argue. She's in disbelief but Taylor swears it just happened. Belly argues that Taylor got bored as he's dating someone else, someone he actually likes. Taylor thinks she's saying he could never like someone like her, but she assures her that's not it. She says that it could get messed up as he's taking anoter get to the deb ball, a girl whose entire friends are downstairs. Taylor is tired of hearing about this deb ball - she doesn't even know who Belly is anymore. Belly challenges that she's not just going along with everything Taylor wants her to do and asks if that's why Taylor threw herself at her brother. Taylor calls her self-absorbed as she's had a crush on Steven for years and adds that if she wasn't so obsessed with Conrad she would know that. Belly tells her to keep her voice down as people could hear, though Taylor doesn't care as there's more than one story happening here. Belly just only cares about one - the one where she's the main character. Belly can't deal with it right now and leaves the room.

Jeremiah, Cam, Conrad, and Luke play beer pong together. Conrad asks Cam if he's started the waltz lessons yet as Ms. Covington's a real sadist. Cam's confused as Belly hasn't asked him yet. Jeremiah assures him that she will. Belly joins them outside, with Jeremiah hugging her happily. She remarks on Cam drinking but he insists it's just water; Jeremiah's been drinking for him. Jere wraps his arm around Cam - he loves this kid so much. Belly asks if they can leave now, to which Cam quickly agrees. As the couple leaves, Cam asks if she's into Jeremiah, though she thinks he meant Conrad. He's sure that he meant Jeremiah as he got that vibe from them. She insists that there's nothing there as he likes to flirt with everyone. Susannah calls him a golden retriever, though she sees him as more of a border collie. Belly starts to ask him to the deb ball when she changes her mind, asking if it's weird to be the only one not drinking. He says it isn't but asks if that was all, and it was.

The next morning, Belly joins Jeremiah in the kitchen for breakfast, downing Lucky Charms from the box. He surmises she hasn't made up with Tay-Tay yet. They haven't spoken since last night. She leaves in a couple of hours and is upstairs packing now. Jeremiah asks if she's down for a muffin run, which she's always down for. He has to put his smoothie in a to-go cup, so he asks her to get the keys from Conrad's room. He isn't home as he spent the night at Nicole's, though the keys should be in his desk. Once in his room, Belly opens his drawer, pushing aside the condoms. She finds a small black jewelry bag, which she opens. Inside is a box with an infinity necklace inside. She's happy to know he remembered infinity, but wonders if he knows that for him, she would've traveled endlessly around those curves. She puts the bag back inside the drawer.

Jeremiah drives as she stares out the window. He asks if she's okay. She doesn't understand Conrad this summer because he's been acting weird since the day she got there. He assures her that Conrad's been acting weird for months, suggesting that she just forget him. He's happy she invited Cam as he's cool, but wonders if she asked him to the deb ball yet. She hasn't, so he explains that even though he and Steven gave him some shit, he does think Cam's cool. He starts to tell her something when Belly interrupts that Nicole really likes Conrad, and if he's not into her, than it's messed up. His sigh catches her attention, so he explains that last night she was all about Cam Cameron but today she's obsessing over Conrad. She wonders if his grumpiness has to do with Luke, but things went well between them, though he spares her the details.

Conrad has another lesson with Cleveland. He wonders if he'll get a lecture over messing up, but that's the role of parent, something Cleveland is not. It's not the end of the world that he showed up late - he just made up stuff on national television. However, he wants to know the real reason Conrad was late. He admits to being with a girl and they lost track of time. Cleveland chuckles over being 17 again, but wants Conrad to be on time from now on. He's also been practicing his bowline for hours and hours, which is why he can do it. Conrad praises him for making a bowline, with Cleveland teasing that he's ready for the America's Cup.

Laurel and Belly drop Taylor off at the bus station, with Laurel encouraging Belly to talk things through with her as they're best friends. After all, Taylor came all the way up to see her for her birthday because she loves her. Belly concedes and talks to Taylor just as the bus is loading. Taylor admits her hookup with Steven will never happen again as Steven said it was a mistake and they should have never gone there. Belly isn't mad, just weirded out and needs a minute to take it all in. When she returns to the car, Laurel tells her that boys might come and go, but a best friend is once in a lifetime. They have to hold tight those friendship because they never know what the future will hold.

Back at the beach house, Belly confronts Steven for making out with Taylor as she's her best friend. Not to mention the event traumatized her. Steven tells her to stop being so immature. Belly counters that Taylor really likes him, which Steven knows. He asks her not to tell anyone, specifically Shayla. She points out that, while he doesn't deserve to know it right now, Shayla likes him. He knows that too but like she's used to being with the kind of guys at Nicole's party, or guys that treat her like a queen. Belly doesn't understand, asking if him feeling insecure made him hook up with her best friend and, in a way, it did.

Belly goes inside to eat her Mickey Mouse pancakes. She pours the syrup on then places a candle in the center, lighting it. She's wished for Conrad on every birthday, every shooting star, every penny in a fountain. But if she had the power to make her wish come true, she wonders if Conrad would still be her wish. She blows out the candle.

Laurel and Susannah sit on the beach as the sun sets. Laurel did some research on alternative therapies, as a lot has changed over the last three years. She knows Susannah doesn't want to do chemo. Susannah cuts her off - she's not putting herself through treatment again. She knows how much time she has left and is at peace with that. She's gonna tell the kids when they get back to Boston, but just wants one last perfect summer at Cousins. Laurel, while saddened by her choice, holds her hand and says okay.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Braxton Alexander as Young Conrad
Major Dodge IV as Young Jeremiah
Kelsey Rose Healey as Dara Jones
Mackenzie Hicks as Young Belly
Lilah Pate as Gigi Boucheron
Jocelyn Shelfo as Marisa Pelzner
Macoy Stewart as Luke
Parker Weathersbee as Young Steven

Soundtrack[]

You Let Me Down by Alessia Cara
Can I Call You Tomorrow by Dayglow
Best Friend by Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
Too Simple by Relaye
Summer Nights (From Grease) cover by Gavin Casalegno, David Iacono, Summer Madison, Lilah Pate
Happier Than Ever (Remix) by Billie Eilish
Have Mercy by Chloe
Your Type by Carly Rae Jepsen
Beach Baby by Bon Iver

Summer Nights

Contents

Synopsis[]

Plot[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Soundtrack[]

Notes and Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Images[]

Videos[]

References[]

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