“It’s money though, isn’t it?” Connells says, reflecting on the fact that he never thought he’d be on a cultural holiday in Italy while taking a break from his scholarship. “The substance that makes the world real. It’s so corrupt… and sexy. I feel like the scholarship has made everything seem possible.”

Marianne acknowledges her privileges, insisting he deserves the funded scholarship more than her simply because he is a better student – and for no other reason. “I don’t actually think about it that much, the financial side,” she says, before realising his silent reaction. “Sorry, that was an ignorant thing to say. Maybe I should think about it more. I am conscious of the fact that we got to know each other because your mother works for my family.”

She then asks why the issue hasn’t come up before, explaining she wouldn’t mind if Connell “resented” her.

“I don’t resent you, why would I?” he asks. “I just don’t think I’m processing the change all that well.”

“If you think that people should be able to go to college and get English degrees and go to Europe and look at art, then you shouldn’t feel guilty for yourself because you have every right to.”

Normal People: what Marianne and Connell teach us about class divide across relationships