You Are Here

Marnie feels that she made a mistake by extending her stay, wistfully watching the London train pass her window. She works on the manuscript of Twisted Night and again notes its improbable descriptions of perfect bodies. She reflects that she liked Michael’s imperfect physique when he stripped down to his underwear to swim. However, the Black Dog is devoid of romance.

Marnie and Michael dine at a fish-and-chip shop, and the Scottish couple joins them. Brian and Barbara reveal that they’ve been married 42 years, and their sons and daughter-in-law are joining them on the walk the next day. Barbara doesn’t believe Michael when he insists that he and Marnie are just friends. As he chats politely with the couple, Marnie receives a text from Conrad, apologizing and inviting her for a drink in London. She shows Michael the text, and he claims to be pleased for her. Returning to the Black Dog, they awkwardly say goodnight.

“Day Five: Shap to Kirkby Stephen”

The following day, the first stretch of the walk is along the railway line and over a motorway. The sound of traffic reminds Michael of his anxiety near busy roads after he was attacked. Soon, the landscape gives way to moorland and the limestone pavement of the Pennines. Marnie suggests sharing wireless headphones and listening to the music on each other’s phones.

Marnie defends “Black Magic” by Little Mix as a classic pop song, comparing the “secret potion” in the song to the love potion in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Michael finds the lyrics disturbing, pointing out that a love resulting from a magic spell would be based on dishonesty.

Marnie finds Michael’s first song melancholy. Michael tells her that Simon and Garfunkel remind him of school assemblies. Marnie’s next track is a roaring sound. She explains that the “brown noise” helps her sleep and skips to the next song.

Marnie reveals that “Don’t Speak” reminds her of her first heartbreak. She recalls her devastation as a 14-year-old when Sean Hayward dumped her after their first date and observes that her divorce from Neil didn’t have the same emotional intensity. Michael admits that his split with Natasha was heartbreaking.

Marnie is surprised by Michael’s next track, and he reveals that Natasha played it at their Sunday afternoon barbecues. The double entendre of the song’s lyrics leads Marnie and Michael to confess that they miss sex. Marnie asks what Michael’s driving is like.

Marnie is distressed when “No Limit” begins to play, reaching to turn it off. The track was Neil’s, and she suggests that the song’s lack of sophistication and inane lyrics reflect her ex-husband’s character. She asks Michael to delete it for her.

Marnie is unsurprised by the Beatles track, asserting that men like the band because they represent an ideal of male friendship. She asks Michael if he has close male friends. Michael reveals that he was hospitalized after being badly beaten up. When he returned to playing football with his friends, they treated him gently, avoiding tackling or shouting at him, which made him self-conscious about his fragility. Marnie points out that the Beatles represent “four basic personality types” (217). Michael says most men want to be Paul or John. However, Marnie concludes that Michael would be George, “the classiest option” (217).

Marnie and Michael continue this game as they cross the Yorkshire Moors. Liking everything she learns about Michael, Marnie decides to stay another day. Michael books her into the Lavender Suite in a pleasant B&B since his hotel is full. When he escorts her to the door, Marnie feels like a character in a Regency romance.

That evening, Marnie and Michael go to Curry Club Night at a busy pub. He notes that she’s wearing his favorite black dress with roses. Barbara and Brian are also in the pub with their family and sit at their table. Michael spends the evening making small talk but wants to be alone with Marnie. When he goes to the bar, she joins him and holds his hand. They dance to “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, and Marnie asks Michael to walk her home.

Marnie invites Michael to her room, where they drink a complimentary bottle of sloe gin. They kiss on the bed, but Michael leaves when the landlady pushes a postcard under the door stating, “No guests after 10” (229).

Michael wakes in the early hours, hoping that the message on his phone is from Marnie. However, the text is from Natasha, agreeing to meet him in Richmond on Friday.

“Day Six: Kirkby Stephen to Ivelet”

Marnie keeps the landlady’s postcard, reflecting that it might be an amusing souvenir of the beginning of her relationship with Michael. It’s a lovely spring day, and she feels optimistic. When Marnie and Michael reach Nine Standards Rigg, which marks the border between Cumbria and Yorkshire, they hug. Descending to Swaledale, they see a group of walkers clustered on the path. Getting closer, they recognize Barbara and her family. Brian lies dead under a silver sheet.

Barbara is too shocked and distressed to speak. However, her family assures Michael and Marnie that there’s nothing they can do. Marnie and Michael are subdued after the encounter. The conversation turns to their parents, and both admit that they don’t see their mother and father as often as they should. Michael asks if Marnie worries about dying alone.

Marnie privately compares her attempts to be witty and flirtatious with Conrad to her meaningful discussions with Michael. She reflects that Brian and Barbara were lucky since they seemed very happily married. However, Barbara’s face also conveyed the devastating impact of losing the love of one’s life.

Michael and Marnie reach their accommodations: a yurt with two single beds. Michael secretly panics because he’s attracted to Marnie but feels that he should put their relationship on hold until he sees Natasha.

Michael and Marnie play cards and drink wine. She asks him to tell her more about the night he was attacked.

Michael reveals that he and Natasha were on the night bus home and saw a group of teens harassing the passengers. Michael intervened, and when he and Natasha disembarked, the boys followed them. Natasha ran to a stranger’s door, and the teens tripped Michael and beat him up. His collarbone and fingers were broken, his front teeth were knocked out, and his jaw was badly cut. The boys ran off when residents came out of their houses. Michael was released from the hospital during the pandemic lockdown. When he returned to work, he had panic attacks and became depressed. Natasha eventually left because he pushed her away physically and emotionally.

Referring to their kiss the previous night, Michael asks if they can put things on hold for the evening. Marnie briefly holds his hand across the gap between their beds before falling asleep.

Michael reflects that he didn’t tell Marnie the full story of his attack. He didn’t confess how he pleaded with the teens and his sense of shame afterward. He also didn’t reveal his revenge fantasies and continued hatred of the boys. Another omission was his failure to tell Marnie that he’s meeting Natasha the following evening. Michael still loves Natasha but also feels that he may love Marnie in the future. He reasons that Marnie will be on the train by the evening, so there’s no reason for her to know.

“Day Seven: ‘Ivelet to Richmond’”

Michael apologizes for the scenery being unremarkable on Marnie’s last day. The route involves walking along B-roads, and the sky is gray, but Marnie is happy to be in Michael’s company. She’s also aware of their limited time together before she catches the train. Approaching Richmond, they see a sign marked “You Are Here” and remark on what they achieved together (264). Noticing how short the remaining section of the Coast to Coast Walk looks, Marnie decides to complete the route with Michael if he asks her to.

Michael is preoccupied during the walk. When they reach his hotel in Richmond, he says goodbye, preparing to meet Natasha. While Marnie showered that morning, Michael booked a restaurant. As he did so, Natasha called to check if he still wanted to meet, having learned that Michael was walking with a friend. Michael assured Natasha he wanted to meet, claiming that Marnie left two days ago. He changed his plans, booking a double room in a more expensive hotel.

When Marnie comments on the luxurious appearance of Michael’s hotel, he claims that he booked a last-minute budget room. She notes that the rooms are themed by grape varieties, and Michael’s is Gewürztraminer. Hugging awkwardly before parting, they talk vaguely of visiting one another. Marnie leaves her rucksack at the hotel so that she can explore Richmond unencumbered.

Afterward, Marnie feels the disappointment she associates with the aftermath of Christmas. Deciding she needs to know where she stands with Michael, she returns to the hotel and finds his room. When Michael answers the door, he’s clean-shaven. Marnie sees a bottle of champagne chilling and wonders how Michael knew she would return. Minutes later, she picks up her rucksack at reception as a pregnant woman enters the lobby. Marnie forces herself to return the woman’s smile.

Michael is shocked when he answers the door to Marnie, expecting Natasha. Marnie tells Michael she’s attracted to him. Michael says he feels the same way and unenthusiastically agrees when she suggests finishing the walk together. Struck by his reticence, Marnie jokingly asks if he’s expecting “a call-girl.” When Michael admits that he’s waiting for Natasha, Marnie asks if he still loves her. He states that he does “at this time and place” (275). Marnie points out that is exactly where they are.