Normal People : Season 1 Episode 3 <EXCLUSIVE>

: Upon learning of his choice, Lorraine tells Connell she is ashamed of him, calling him a "disgrace" for his treatment of Marianne.

In the third episode of , titled simply "Episode 3," the secret relationship between Connell and Marianne reaches a breaking point due to Connell's fear of social judgment. The Fundraiser and the Incident Normal People : Season 1 Episode 3

: At the Debs, Connell is miserable. A friend, Eric, admits the group already knew about his relationship with Marianne and wouldn't have cared, making Connell's betrayal feel even more pointless. : Upon learning of his choice, Lorraine tells

Marianne stays at Connell’s house that night, leading to a rare moment of deep intimacy. She reveals painful details about her family life, specifically that her father used to hit her mother. Connell comforts her, promising he would never hurt her, yet the following morning, he becomes visibly anxious when she bumps into his mother, Lorraine, while leaving. A friend, Eric, admits the group already knew

As the Debs approach, the social pressure on Connell intensifies. Fearing his friends have guessed his secret, he makes the "cowardly" decision to ask his ex-girlfriend, Rachel, to the dance instead of Marianne. When he tells Marianne, she is devastated and ends their arrangement.