Normal People
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Tonight is a big night.
I love that inNormal Peoples visual language, hair color is your identity.
Connell is a dirty blond, halfway between the mean girls and Marianne.
Sensing a potential friend, Marianne asks Karen to dance with her.
Surely, Marianne is emboldened by the knowledge that Connell cant stop staring at her.
And how does the world reward this rare act of public happiness?
Remember that special place in hell, Rachel!
This jolt of integrity is short lived, but its lovely while it lasts.
Hes scandalized by the question.
No spoilers, but … we will come back to this later!
Anyway, Connell just goes for it and tells Marianne, I love you.
Lorraine catches Marianne on her way out the door.
She clearly endorses this choice.
At school, everyone is gossiping about Connell and Marianne.
The only person who sticks up for Marianne is redhead Karen.
Connell watches his popularity stock plummet.
And then she kicks him out.
Honestly not sure how Connell thought this news was going to go over.
Did he think he could say Rachel and I arent having sex, and were just going as friends!
!, and Marianne would be … fine?
We should all be so lucky to have Lorraines in our lives.
Im not sure how she swings this, but Marianne just … never goes back to school.
For a while, she just lies around in bed, her hair in the low bun of defeat.
Then she does all her work from home.
Connell texts her, and she ignores it, and I am proud of her.
Lorraine, who knows exactly what is up, encourages this silent treatment.
(Guys, I miss hugging so much.
Look at this hug!
Sorry, back to non-pandemic programming.)
Mariannes a very vulnerable person, and you did something really unkind, and you hurt her.
ACCURATE on all counts.
I dont think its a bad thing that youre feeling bad about this.
Shes also wearing jeans.
Maybe I should put on jeans today?
Hmm … probably not.
The day of the dance arrives, and Connell does not want to go.
Rachel brags to her parents that Connell is planning to attend Trinity.
When Connell says hell be studying English the disappointment in Rachels parents eyes!
At the dance, Connell attempts to force himself to have fun.
There are bro hugs for everyone.
One of these friends is passing around naked pictures of the girlfriend who is dancing like ten feet away!
Connell cannot be at the dance anymore.
He goes into the street and leaves this agonized voice-mail on Mariannes phone.
I cant really talk to anybody the way I talk to you.
And I really love you.
He is crying, like full-on sobbing, shouting into the sidewalk.
And Marianne is fast asleep.
