How Did "What Happens at Night" by Peter Cameron End? All of the Plot Twists and Spoilers!

 

How does "What Happens at Night" by Peter Cameron end? Have you finished reading "What Happens at Night" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "What Happens at Night" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "What Happens at Night" before heading off to book club tonight or before seeing the movie? Keep reading to discuss this fiction novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

 

 

Spoilers ahead!

 

How Did " What Happens at Night" by Peter Cameron End?

What Are the Twists and Spoilers?

Brother Emmanuel tells the man his wife has died

The man goes to Brother Emmanuel's home to get his wife so that they can both go to the orphanage to pick up their baby, Simon. When the man arrives, Brother Emmanuel tells him that his wife has died. Brother Emmanuel says that early in the morning they saw she was missing from their home, and found her by following her footsteps in the snow. Brother Emmanuel also tells the man that his wife had asked for her body to stay there; she did not want to be taken back home.

The man is angry but also seems shocked as he leaves the house to return to the hotel.

The man and Livia go to the orphanage and bring home Simon

The man is unable to pick up Simon without bringing his wife. Livia offers to go with the man to the orphanage because his wife can't go now. Comically, they try to "act normal," considering their behavior for the rest of the book does not seem like something they are actually capable of doing. When they arrive, they bump into Doctor Ludjekins. Ludjekins is familiar with Livia because he regularly goes to the hotel to watch her perform; in fact, he seems slightly starstruck and describes himself as "your greatest devotee."

They tell Doctor Ludjekins that the man's wife could not come because she injured her ankle. Doctor Ludjekins tells him to come back in a few days when she is feeling better; however, that is impossible because they are due to leave the town tomorrow. Doctor Ludjekins refuses to make an exception, and insists they change their travel plans instead. Livia then lies to Doctor Ludjekins, telling him that the man is her son. The Doctor seems doubtful, and the man doesn't want to start out his life with his child based on a lie. The man tells the doctor that it is a lie; Livia is not his mother.

The man offers money and asks for other options to receive his son without his wife present. Livia then doubles down on the lie, restating that she is *really" the man's mother. She claims the man is just hysterical now because he is upset about missing out on adopting Simon. The doctor becomes insulted and frustrated that they are trying to break the rules.

The man also becomes frustrated. As tempers rise, Livia asks the man to speak with her privately. She tells the man to go outside and wait for her. Livia goes back inside to meet with the doctor. The man waits for a while outside until Livia comes back to say that they can now leave with the baby. After the papers are signed, they leave with Simon.

The man and Livia return to the hotel

The man asks Livia how she got the doctor to agree to give them the baby. Livia refuses to answer. Back at the hotel, Livia and the man head to the bar for a celebratory drink, and Livia gives the man parenting and life advice,

"Oh, I don't mean that you should be lonely, or necessarily alone. I mean you shouldn't do anything out of a fear of being alone. That's when the trouble starts." ( page 271).

The man goes back to his hotel room with his son, Simon, and is visited by the businessman. When the businessman visits, the man and Simon have fallen asleep together on the bed. The businessman wakes the man up, expresses condolences for the death of his wife, and congratulates him on his son. The businessman then apologizes for raping the man; the man asserts that he did not rape him.

"Forget it, said the man. It doesn't matter. It's what happens at night." ( page 277)

The man leaves the hotel

The man exits the hotel room with Simon after packing up their things. Livia, the man, and Simon get in a taxi to go to the train station. The man asks Livia to take care of his wife's things that he left at the hotel. Livia asks the man what he is doing with his wife's body and if there will be a funeral. The man answers that he left his wife's body with Brother Emmanuel, and he does not plan to hold a funeral for her.

The man starts to feel like the car is going in the wrong direction. Livia reassures him that it has just been some time, so he does not remember the way. When they pull up to the train station, the man says that this is not where he and his wife got off the train. Livia says that it must be because there is only one train station. The man says that their train station was in the countryside. Livia tells him that he and his wife got out at the way station, not the actual stop; that is why the building is different.

Inside the train station, the man finds his tickets. The man has an extra ticket that was meant for his wife. Livia asks for the ticket, in case she has to escape from town someday. Once inside the train, the man becomes worried and feels he can do all of what he will have to do as a father. Livia insists that he is capable, and the doubts are driving him to suggest selfish things like leaving the baby behind. 

When Livia becomes emotional about the man and Simon leaving, the man asks her to come with them to New York. Livia declines, saying that she would not belong there, and the man disagrees. While they are talking, the train begins moving slowly. Livia exits the train quickly, and the man is left behind. 

At the very end of the book, the man hopes that Livia will change her mind and meet with them. The train goes to the next stop. When the train arrives, the man sees a figure outside he thinks is Livia. He exits the train to get her, but then realizes it is his wife. The man is surprised to see his wife, whom he thought was dead. The man asks what she is doing at the train stop and she says that she is waiting. The man asks if he and Simon should stay with her and the wife insists that they leave because she is not coming with them. The train begins to move, and the man gets back on without his wife.

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What else were you surprised by reading "What Happens at Night" by Peter Cameron? Did you see the ending coming for each character? Did "What Happens at Night" end how you had hoped? Comment down below and let me know!