Normal People

Connell and Marianne’s relationship continues in secret and they sleep together for the first time. At school, Connell makes excuses for why he didn’t see his friends at the weekend and evades questions on his mother’s job at Marianne’s house. A girl in his friendship group, Rachel, gets impatient with Connell’s lack of interest and tensions build for Connell.

Months later, school has finished and Connell arrives at Trinity College, Dublin. He has found a room in a house-share and meets his new housemate Niall. Despite his efforts, he feels out of place and struggles to articulate himself when surrounded by his eloquent and wealthy peers.

Connell and Marianne are back together. Connell has gained confidence in college; giving presentations in class and getting good grades but is reluctant to show Marianne affection in front of her friends. Will the two be able to admit that they are together?

It’s the summer holidays and Connell and Niall arrive at Marianne’s family house in Italy. The obvious chemistry between Connell and Marianne causes friction with Jamie, despite Connell’s evident happiness with his girlfriend Helen, who he clearly misses.

Connell and Helen are out celebrating New Year’s Eve in Dublin. Late that night, Connell receives a group text questioning the whereabouts of Rob. The next morning news comes through that Rob has died. Connell struggles with the emotional fallout of Rob’s death.

Marianne and Connell are back in Dublin and together as a couple. Life is calm and they are at ease with each other. Then Connell receives news that he has been offered a place to study in New York. Neither of them know how to process the news and so they decide to let it sit.