Note: For those unfamiliar with Normal People, it was a twelve 30-minute episode television program shown on British television in April/May of 2020 (during lockdown) and became one of the top shows of the year. It stars Daisy Edgar-Jones (Twisters) and Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) as young students who explore leaving school and through university, whilst also graphically exploring themselves.
During the course of the episodes there were a number of scenes where I have imagined a slightly different outcome as detailed in these stories. There is not a story associated with each episode, and they might not quite come out in episode order, but I will try and achieve this. Happy reading.
Episode 8 -- Imagine what might have happened if Marianne hadn't said no to Connell in Italy.
It had been a rather difficult day, but it shouldn't have been.
Connell and Niall had been inter-railing around Europe and had ended up near Trieste, in north-east Italy, where they were to meet up with Marianne, Peggy and Jamie who had been holidaying in Marianne's family villa.
Almost as soon as they had arrived there had been a bit of an atmosphere, and an obvious tension between Connell, Marianne and Jamie. After having given Helen, his new girlfriend, a call to say that he had arrived safely, Connell found Marianne in the kitchen chopping strawberries for their dinner later in the evening.
After another few pleasantries, Marianne indicated that Jamie had been tired and had gone for a lie down, and that she was going to cycle down to the local town to pick up a few groceries, and invited Connell to join her.
Away from the others, it was just like old times and Marianne and Connell chatted at ease with each other, and learning a bit more about each other into the bargain. But, all too soon they were back at the Villa, where a sullen and moody Jamie met them.
Over a delicious dinner, where Jamie got progressively more drunk, he did his best to belittle Connell and Niall, although much of it back-fired. This ended with Marianne storming back into the house to get the cream for the strawberries that she had forgotten to bring out.
Acknowledging the error of his ways, Jamie headed into the house, but within seconds heated voices could be heard by those outside.
Then a squeal from Marianne had Connell up from his seat and rushing into the house. Opening the door into the kitchen, Connell found Marianne and Jamie arguing from the opposite sides of the room, and he was now in the middle.
A drunk Jamie had a glass of wine in one hand and a bottle in his other, which he managed to slosh over the floor.
"Put the glass down," insisted Marianne, which Jamie ignored.
"Put the glass down, please," repeated Marianne.
This time Jamie responded by over-filling the glass with more wine from the bottle, which again spilled onto the floor.
"Ok, I'll put it down," agreed Jamie, as he held out the glass before allowing it to drop onto the floor where it smashed.
Immediately, Marianne launched herself at Jamie, only to be halted by Connell who rapidly stepped between them, holding her back.
"You're fuckin' mental!" screamed Jamie, which caused Marianne to try and lunge at him again, only to be prevented by Connell, who now began to steer her out of the kitchen and away from the raging Jamie.
Connell directed Marianne out towards the pool area, away from the others to give her the space and quiet to calm down. They hugged briefly before Marianne asked if Connell had a cigarette and the pair lit up.
"Can I sleep in your room?" asked Marianne quietly as she began to calm down.
"Sure," replied Connell without hesitation.
"I'll sleep on the floor," explained Marianne.
"The beds huge, it's fine," countered Connell, offering another solution.
The group split up shortly after that and Connell and Marianne found themselves alone in his room preparing for bed. There was an awkwardness between them.
Lying in bed, Marianne and Connell began talking, and Marianne asked Connell if there was something wrong with her as she can't get people to love her.
Connell denied this and replied that 'lots of people love you', but Marianne persisted with her pessimistic comments and revealed to Connell that her brother had recently told her that 'no-one would care when she died'.
Connell was appalled at this and tried to console Marianne by cuddling her as they lay in bed.
It was inevitable that this would turn into kissing as the pair found solace in each other's arms. Just like old times, Connell kissed Marianne tenderly, and she responded, moaning quietly, as their passions grew.
As if the past year had never happened, and the pair of lovers had not split, Connell began to take it to the next level. Slowly, he moved his hand down from Marianne's face, down on to her breast, gently cupping and squeezing it through the thin covering of the bed sheet.
"God! Yes!" groaned Marianne, as she felt Connell's hand massage her willing flesh, although her head was screaming no! It was only a couple of hours since she and Jamie had had their volcanic argument, and she knew it was over with him, but Connell still had a girlfriend, Helen, and he'd talked to her just a few hours earlier than that.
This shouldn't really be happening, but she remembered the conversation they had had after Scholls were announced and how their breakup had been a complete misunderstanding. But still this shouldn't really be happening.
"I've missed you," mumbled Connell, as he continued to kiss Marianne and explore her familiar body.
