United States

A REMEMBRANCE OF A YOUTHFUL SUMMER IDYLL Along a misty, lonely beach on a summer colony island off the New England coast, a man reminisces about his childhood. On this morning in 1971 he re-lives the balmy summer of '42. He was 15, a boy named Hermie. As his voice recalls those days, the events are as seen and heard by the adolescent Hermie. His two friends are Oscy and Benjie, also 15. In their cruising, ogling game of looking for girls Oscy is the boldest, Benjie would rather forget the whole thing and Hermie has a wait and see attitude. Hermie though, has been observing the lovely Dorothy, whose husband has just gone off to the war, and affects an introduction by helping to carry home her shopping. They have coffee and doughnuts. He is entranced. To Hermie she is a goddess. The boys have numerous escapades and adventures, usually involving their growing manhood and interest in girls. As the trio are seen running along the sand, disappearing into the mist we again hear the voice of Hermie the grown-up: "In the summer of 42 we raided the Coast Guard Station four times. We saw five movies and had nine days of rain. Benjie broke his watch; Oscy gave up the harmonica and, in a very special way - I lost Hermie forever".