EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
The sound of CRICKETS.
A single bedroom window is lit in a modest central Texas home with an old truck in the driveway and swing on the porch.
A junebug hops on the windowsill.
EMILY (V.O.)
Heug-yang approaches Chan-woo's house with his hastily scribbled love letter in hand. His heart pounds through his chest.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
The walls of EMILY's (17) room are smothered in k-pop posters.
EMILY
He folds up his confession into a paper airplane and throws it through Chan-woo's open bedroom window. Chan-woo catches it out of the air and reads it.
Emily and SUMMER (17) sit next to each other on Emily's bed, both hunched over LAPTOPS, the backs of which are covered in k-pop stickers.
Emily looks at Summer expectantly.
EMILY
Summer, you read the note.
Emily plays with the strings hanging out of the knee holes in Summer's skinny black jeans, enraptured with the story.
SUMMER
(dramatically)
Oh. Yeah. "My dearest Chan-woo", the note reads, "There's nothing else on this planet that makes me feel the way I feel when you hold me. Your eyes sparkle in the moonlight like the reflection of the stars in the Han river. My heart grows heavier every day with my secret love for you. Please, tell me you feel the same, or release me of this burden."
2.
EMILY
... And? What happens next?
SUMMER
I haven't written the ending yet.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Emily is boiling noodles in a POT on the stove. Summer sits at the kitchen table with her laptop open, but she's watching Emily intently.
EMILY
What's the hold up on your fic, Junebug? I'm dying to know what happens!
SUMMER
I'm still working on it. The ending has to be perfect. It's gonna be my creative writing sample for my college application.
EMILY
Since when did community college need writing samples?
SUMMER
It's for a university in London.
Emily drops her SPOON and whips around to face Summer.
EMILY
(raising her voice)
LONDON?!? I thought we were both going to Wimberly Community College? When did London happen?
SUMMER
Can you please keep your voice down? I don't want your parents to hear. I haven't told mine yet.
Behind Emily, the boiling of the pot grows more intense.
EMILY
How come? I'm like basically already enrolled in Wimberly cause my mom helped.
3.
SUMMER
I don't want my helicopter mom to read my story. She'd find out that I'm gay.
EMILY
How would a story about gay boys out you to your mom?
SUMMER
I mean, it's kind of gay either way, isn't it?
Emily looks confused. The pot is HISSING.
SUMMER
Cricket, the pot.
The pot boils over, spilling water all over the stove.
EXT. HOUSE - nIGHT
Emily and Summer sit on a PORCH SWING, eating noodles in a red sauce with chopsticks.
EMILY
(pouting)
So you're just gonna leave me in Wimberly by myself?
Summer is barely touching her noodles.
SUMMER
Come on, Emily. Wimberly is run by crusty old white guys. I want to go to a school that actually has an LGBTQ student org.
The red truck in the front yard has a BUSH/CHENEY 2008 bumper sticker.
EMILY
I mean, if anybody's going to start one at Wimberly it'd be you.
SUMMER
Yeah, but I'd rather go somewhere that already has a supportive community.
Emily finishes her noodles and reaches for Summer's with her chopsticks. Summer moves her hand to hold her bowl in Emily's lap.
4.
EMILY
I support you! And we have a whole community here that we've grown up with.
SUMMER
That's exactly what I'm tired of. I want something new. And I really need your help. Could you edit this story for me? Like it's any other fanfic we've written.
Emily finishes Summer's noodles while she's talking.
SUMMER
 
This one is just going to be a little bit different. I'm going to change the characters so they're not real k-pop boys for the application.
EMILY
(while chewing)
Change them to what?
SUMMER
I mean you'll see if you read it.
EMILY
Okay. How about this. I'll read it if you go with me to the river tomorrow. We can visit, like, all of our favorite spots and you won't even be thinking about London by the end of the day. But if you are then I'll edit the story. Deal?
Emily places both of their bowls aside. She leans her head on Summer's shoulder, grabs her hand, and looks up with pouty face at Summer.
Summer rolls her eyes and smiles.
SUMMER
Okay, sure, deal.
Summer gently pinches Emily on the cheek.
SUMMER
I'm gonna finish this story and send it to you later tonight.
5.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
The sound of MOURNING DOVES.
On Emily's desk is a neatly folded swimsuit and cover-up with a sticky note that reads "For the river today - love, Mom."
Emily is in bed fiddling with her phone. She opens an EMAIL from Summer titled "FOR CRICKET'S EYES ONLY- edit please!!".
Her thumb hovers over the OPEN button. She stares at it for a second, then locks her phone.
EXT. FOOD TRUCK - DAY
Emily and Summer are both eating WAFFLES at a PICNIC TABLE with graffiti etched into the wood.
Emily holds her waffle up to Summer and watches expectantly as she takes a bite.
EMILY
Remember how we used to have these all the time as kids?
Summer ignores her question.
SUMMER
Did you get my email?
Emily nods her head yes.
SUMMER
So did you read it?
EMILY
(grimacing)
Umm.. not yet.
Emily traces her finger over an illustration of a heart with an arrow through it and a pair of initials inside scratched into the picnic table.
SUMMER
(rolling her eyes)
Okay.
Summer looks at the food truck.
6.
SUMMER
Yeah, I mean, the waffles are good, but I kinda want to go somewhere where people even know what Korean food is.
EXT. RIVER - DAY
Summer pushes Emily on an old home-made SWING.
EMILY
I still don't understand why writing boy-love is a gay thing for girls to do. I mean I write it and I'm not.
SUMMER
(sarcastically)
Okay, so name one cute boy who isn't Chan-woo. One of the, uh, eligible bachelors here at this river.
The girls look around the park at different boys: sunburned grandpas, awkward gangly teens, fit men playing volleyball.
EMILY
I'm picky.
As they're looking, an older woman seems to spot the girls and waves at them.
SUMMER
Oh my god, seeing teachers in public is so weird. I'm gonna go to the bathroom or something.
EMILY
Aw come on, Mrs. White is nice.
Emily waves back at Mrs. White as Summer walks away.
Emily unlocks her phone and looks at the email from Summer again, still leaving it unread.
MRS. WHITE (50s) approaches Emily.
MRS. WHITE
Hey Emily! I haven't seen you and Summer in ages! How's y'all's weekend goin'? Gettin' excited about college?
(MORE)
7.
MRS. WHITE (CONT'D)
Your mom told me you're already enrolled in Wimberly.
Emily puts away her phone, but still doesn't seem to be focusing on Mrs. White.
EMILY
It's good, Mrs. White. Not really that excited I guess.
Emily looks at her feet as she pushes herself on the swing.
MRS. WHITE
Well I know y'all love seeing teachers out in the wild as much as you love talking about college. But is something buggin' you? You know I'm always here to help.
EMILY
Um, I mean I thought I had my stuff figured out but Summer wants to go to college, like, really far away for some reason.
MRS. WHITE
How far we talkin'?
Emily digs her feet into the ground to halt her swinging. She looks up at Mrs. White.
EMILY
London. As in, my best friend is moving across the ocean.
MRS. WHITE
London??
Emily nods.
MRS. WHITE
Wow. She always has her eyes on the horizon now doesn't she?
In the distance, Summer is sitting on a pier, dipping her toes in the water.
EXT. RIVER - DAY
Emily and Summer are walking down the river bank. They pass FAMILIES lounging on beach towels and foldable camping chairs.
8.
SUMMER
(mockingly)
What did Ms. White want? To instill you with her 10th-grade-English-teacher wisdom?
Summer is holding her shoes in one hand.
EMILY
She was just saying hi. Remember when we did that group project on k-pop and the Korean economy together for her class?
SUMMER
Oh my god, yeah. I'm still not sure if the other students know where South Korea is.
Emily bumps into Summer on purpose and grabs the tips of her fingers. She looks Summer in her eyes.
EMILY
I need my partner in crime for college, too. I'm REALLY gonna miss you if you go to London, Junebug.
They stop walking, and Summer looks at Emily wistfully for a moment.
BOY 1
Ooooo I'm sooo in love with you Junebug.
Two BOYS (early 20s) drinking cheap American lagers and lounging on Wimberly Community College beach towels jeer at them. One of the boys is making a lewd gesture with his hand.
EMILY
(pulling her hand away)
It's not like that...
SUMMER
You jealous cause you've never held hands with a girl before?
BOY 2
Shut up, dyke.
Summer grabs Emily's hand and starts to drag them away from the boys. Emily snatches her hand away from Summer.
SUMMER
Seriously?
9.
Summer scoffs at Emily and keeps walking. Emily lags behind, then jogs to catch up with her.
SUMMER
What, so now holding my hand is too gay for you cause those normies made fun of us?
EMILY
What was I supposed to do?
Summer is increasing her speed-walking so that Emily is barely keeping pace with her.
EMILY
Summer, I really don't want to lose you.
Summer slows down slightly.
SUMMER
Whatever, let's just go home.
 
INT./EXT. CAR - DUSK
Emily and Summer are driving back in Emily's old TRUCK.
EMILY
I'm sorry about today. I was just hoping you'd remember some things that are cool about Wimberly.
SUMMER
I mean there's maybe one thing I'd stay in Wimberly for, but it's definitely not assholes like them.
Summer looks at Emily. Emily is concentrating on the road. Summer folds her arms.
SUMMER
Do you see what I mean though? These are the jocks we have to look forward to at college here.
EMILY
Who cares about them?
SUMMER
Maybe those guys weren't even wrong.
10.
EMILY
What are you talking about?
Summer
Maybe it is kinda gay when we hold hands. Is that why you're so afraid of it now?
Emily parks the car outside of Summer's house.
EMILY
It's just- we've done that since we were little. It wasn't like that before.
SUMMER
Whatever. I'm just gonna go home. And I still want to go to London, so you OWE me those edits.
Summer hops out of the car and slams the door before Emily can reply.
INT. EMILY's BEDROOM - NIGHT
The sound of CRICKETS.
Emily is lying in bed, looking at Summer's email from the morning with the story inside. Her hand hovers over the OPEN button again. She throws her phone at the ground and rolls over.
The back of the phone case is decorated with an aged photo of her and Summer at the river and a junebug sticker.
EXT. EMILY'S HOUSE - DAY
There's a MOLTED JUNEBUG SHELL on the porch. A cell phone is RINGING.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Summer sits on the counter at her laptop as Emily washes dishes at the sink. On the counter, Summer's PHONE rings. The back of the phone has a photo of Emily.
Summer picks up the phone, which displays a missed call from MOM.
11.
SUMMER
Oh, hang on, I think my parents just called me.
Summer steps outside. Emily watches through the window as Summer has an increasingly tense conversation.
She can't make out what they're saying until Summer storms in through the front door.
SUMMER
(nearly shouting)
I'M NOT DOING THIS RIGHT NOW.
Summer hangs up and tosses her phone onto the table.
SUMMER
What the hell dude? You told my parents about London?
EMILY
(shocked)
No? What?
SUMMER
My mom is furious that I didn't tell her.
EMILY
But I didn't tell your parents. The only person I told was Mrs. White.
SUMMER
You told Mrs. White?? She must have told my parents. This is YOUR FAULT, Emily. What is wrong with y'all? Why does everybody in this town gossip about each other? Did you tell them I'm gay, too?
Summer storms out the door, leaving her phone and laptop on the table. Emily grabs Summer's phone and runs after her.
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Summer is running through the dry forest outside of the house. Emily is barely keeping up with Summer.
EMILY
I didn't tell them you're gay! And I didn't mean to tell on you.
12.
Emily tries to grab Summer's wrist, but Summer snatches her hand away.
EMILY
It's not my fault you keep all of these secrets from your family!
SUMMER
At least I'm not keeping secrets from myself!
Emily continues chasing after Summer, her phone in hand.
EMILY
What are you talking about? I tell you everything. You're my best friend.
SUMMER
Yeah? Best friends share each other's secrets? To teachers?
EMILY
Junebug, you left your phone at my place!
Emily extends her hand with Summer's phone in it. Summer stops and waits for Emily to catch up, still facing away from her.
When Emily approaches, she grabs the phone out of Emily's hand.
SUMMER
(voice shaking)
Don't "Junebug" me. You're the only thing I would have stayed for but I don't even want to see you anymore.
Summer's eyes are welling with tears.
EMILY
Why are you so cryptic? Why won't you talk to me about this?
SUMMER
It wouldn't be so confusing if you would just read the story. But it's too late now. So STOP chasing after me.
Emily watches Summer walk away.
13.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Emily opens Summer's laptop. Her browser is open to a page with her CREATIVE WRITING SAMPLE on it.
EMILY
(reading the application)
Cricket folds up her confession into a paper airplane and throws it through Junebug's open bedroom window. Junebug catches it out of the air and reads it.
A JUNEBUG is knocking on the inside of the window, unable to escape. Emily opens the window.
EMILY
Junebug puts the note down, leaps through the window, and runs to embrace Cricket in a kiss.
Emily closes the laptop slowly, her other hand covering her mouth.
The junebug flies out of the window.
INT. SUMMEr's BEDROOM - EVENING
In Summer's room- decorated similarly girly but less feverishly kpop-themed than Emily's- Summer is laying in bed, looking at the London university's website on her phone.
One window is cracked open. Outside, the sound of CRICKETS.
EMILY
Junebug?
Emily is tapping on the window. Summer doesn't look at her.
EMILY
(nervously)
I know you said it's too late, but- I read your story.
Summer sits up in bed. She opens the window fully.
Emily takes a few steps back, then tosses in a paper airplane through the window. Summer catches it out of the air and reads it.
EMILY
Can I come in please?
14.
Summer holds Emily's hand as she crawls in through the window.
EMILY
I didn't realize... You wrote it about us.
SUMMER
I'm sorry... I didn't know how else to say...
Summer starts to gently retract her hand from Emily.
EMILY
It's okay, I get it now.
SUMMER
No, I'm sorry. I was being cryptic. I shouldn't have expected you to get it. I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same. That's why I wrote it in the story instead. I didn't want to be there to see you turn me down.
Emily takes Summer's hands.
EMILY
I wish I had realized earlier what you were trying to say with the fanfics. But I don't want to just write stories any more.
SUMMER
What do you want?
Summer touches Emily's hair. Emily leans in slightly.
Summer leans in a little bit more.
Emily kisses Summer.