Normal 2007

Night of the fatal crash

Nickie Reichert dies in a deadly crash while riding in the stolen car driven by Jordie. The other car is driven by college professor Walter Braugher, with his autistic brother Dennis as a passenger; both survive but are haunted by what happened. Walter is later found not criminally negligent, but guilt gnaws at him.

Two years later, lives unsettled

Two years after the crash, three families—the Reicherts, the Braughers, and Jordie’s circle—are still living with the aftershocks. Nickie's absence remains a defining presence in the Reichert home, while the Braughers navigate a fragile sense of guilt and memory. The ripple effects touch everyone close to the incident.

Catherine’s unyielding grief

Catherine Reichert clings to Nickie’s belongings, unable to accept that her eldest son is gone. The house feels like a shrine to Nickie, and daily life cannot resume as before. Her grief isolates her from her husband and younger son as she guards Nickie’s memory.

Family life fractured

Catherine’s overwhelming grief seeps into her marriage, and she neglects Dale and Brady. Dale grows frustrated as routines falter, while Brady lives in the shadow of his brother’s loss. The family dynamic becomes strained and distant.

Walter’s guilt and drinking

Walter Braugher wrestles with self-doubt and the burden of guilt from the night of the crash. His drinking becomes a coping mechanism that clouds his judgment and strains his daily life. The weight of the incident follows him into work and home.

Marital strain and distance

Walter’s relationship with his wife Abby deteriorates as he withdraws emotionally. Abby struggles to understand his detachment and the changes in their marriage. The couple’s disagreements reflect the larger emotional toll of the accident.

Seeking solace outside the marriage

Walter reaches for solace from Sherri Banks, one of his students, seeking a connection outside his marriage. The relationship introduces tension and ethical questions as it develops against a backdrop of grief. On campus and in private, the emotional lines become blurred.

Dennis’s fear and isolation

Dennis Braugher, Walter’s autistic brother, has not been able to leave his apartment since the crash due to fear. His isolation underscores the wide-reaching impact of the night on every member of the family. The world outside becomes a place of anxiety and uncertainty for him.

Jordie’s return from detention

Nickie’s friend Jordie is released from the Youth Detention Centre, returning to a life that feels unsettled and alien to him. He has become a sullen young man, carrying the weight of what happened that night. His absence and attitude create new tensions for those around him.

Carl’s unresolved forgiveness

Carl Reichert, Jordie’s father and a psychotherapist, has not forgiven Jordie for that night, and the rift strains his relationship with Elise. The lack of reconciliation adds complexity to the family’s attempt to move forward. The tension sits at the intersection of professional duty and personal hurt.

Elise seeks to feel loved again

Elise, Jordie’s stepmother, longs to feel loved again, complicating her marriage to Carl. She becomes entangled in the emotional fallout of the accident, seeking connection and meaning amidst the pain. Her yearning highlights how love and loyalty can be tested by tragedy.