Norma and Norman

Norma and Norman
Nickname(s):	Soulbates
Intimacy Level:	Kiss on the lips Sleeping beside each other in the same bed
First Met:	When Norman was born.
Status:	Mother and Son

The relationship between Norma Bates and Norman Bates. They are often referred to as "Soulbates" on social media.

Background

Norman was born to Norma in 1995 and was her only child with second husband Sam Bates. Unlike her relationship with elder son Dylan, Norma constantly devoted more time to Norman and saw him as her favorite son. This led to an intensely close bond with each other, seen as unhealthy by all who knew them - as Norma put it they are "two parts of the same person".

Overview

Season 1

After tragedy struck the Bates family, Norma purchased a home that came with a motel and packed up her and her 17-year old son, Norman, to have a fresh beginning in White Pine Bay, Oregon. When they arrived, Norma instructed Norman to keep his eyes closed until she told him so, positioning herself on their car, in front of the motel and house. She told him to open his eyes, asking him what he thinks. He told her it was crazy, but she said it wasn’t and that they were going to run the motel together. They embraced and then she led him to the house. Norma gave the grand tour and when Norman reached the top of the stairs he asked if the room ahead was his to which Norma replied that his room was next to hers. After the tour and by which time night had fallen, Norman gathered the rest of their belongings from the car. While carrying a trunk up to their house, he saw his mother in her bedroom with the curtains open, wearing only lingerie without her robe being closed.

After meeting Bradley Martin, her friends and Emma Decody during his first day at his new school, Norman came home rather late for dinner to find Norma sitting at the table, having been waiting for him to return. An angry Norma asked him where he had been and that she had been waiting for him all day. He explained that he stayed after school for a track meet at the request of his language arts teacher, Miss Blaire Watson. A territorial Norma immediately inquired about the mystery woman who had taken an interest in her son. Once he had explained and handed a permission slip to sign, Norma skillfully manipulated Norman into feeling guilty about wanting to join the track team and meet new people, potential friends, instead of staying home and running the motel with her. Realizing Norma was upset, Norman tried to plea with his mother to sit down and eat dinner with him but she refused, insinuating that he didn't care. She ended the conversation, saying she wasn't hungry and she angrily signed the permission slip before leaving to get groceries.

The next day, after a tense confrontation with the motel's previous owner, Norma was on the phone and Norman doing homework, when their doorbell rang. Norma answered it only to be greeted by four attractive girls stating that they were school friends of Norman’s and that they were wondering if he wanted to study with them at the library. Not being fooled, Norma turned the girls' offer down. Norma and Norman had an explosive argument about Norma's controlling attitude and it ended with Norman stomping upstairs to his room. He snuck out of the house and joined the girls only to be taken to a party. While he was out, Keith Summers brutally attacked Norma. Norman soon returned only to find his mother being raped. Once rescued, Norma stabbed Mr. Summers to death. Norma and Norman took Keith’s body out to the lake to be dumped and while rowing, Norma confessed how she was a horrible mother and didn't deserve him. Norman professed that she was everything to him. Norma replied that she loved him and he reciprocated. As Norma and Norman stared outside his window as the sign for Bates Motel was being hung, they embraced each other once again as Norma stated that so long as they were together nothing bad could happen. (First You Dream, Then You Die)

When Norma’s first-born son, Dylan, arrived at the house neither Norma nor Norma was happy to see him. Sheriff Romero let Norma know that she wasn’t fooling anyone and that she was still a suspect in Mr. Summer's disappearance. Realizing that she needed an ally, Norma quickly took advantage of Officer Shelby's rather obvious crush on her, and agreed to go to the town's hoe down with him. Not keen on his mother shaking her goods to keep the cops off their tails, Norman threw a silent tantrum. Brushing off his response Norma claimed that it didn't mean anything and that she was just doing what needed to be done. Either oblivious to his manner or simply not caring, Norma stripped off her shirt in front of Norman revealing corset lingerie, which visibly made him uncomfortable but clearly not too much since it took him a glance or two to decide that he should look away. Picking up on his discomfort, Norma explained how she was his mother and that it wasn’t weird to change in front of him. Once done Norman pleaded with her that she didn't have to do this, which Norma quickly took offense to, convinced that her son thought she was whoring herself out to keep the cops away. Norman refused to listen once more and continued to say how he doesn't want her to go. Norman decided that since it was a community event then he would crash her not date with Shelby and go with her. Norma grabbed his hands to stop him from putting his shoes on and once again reassured Norman that there was nothing going on with her and Officer Shelby and that she wasn't actually interested him. (Nice Town You Picked, Norma...)

After Norman fainted in class, he was taken to the hospital where the doctor wanted to keep him in overnight for observation. Against doctor's wishes, Norma decided to bring him home and when they were home, Norman told Norma that he kept Summer's utility belt which was now missing. Norma had dinner with Shelby and he revealed that he took Keith Summers' belt so Norma told Norman what Shelby had said but Norman claimed that he may have been using her. (What's Wrong With Norman)

Norman told Norma that he went to get the belt from Shelby's house after she told him to do so, but Norma told him he imagined stuff that didn't happen sometimes. She didn't appear to believe him when he told her about the imprisoned girl either, but the next time she was over at Shelby's house she snuck down to the basement to look for herself but everything incriminating was gone. When Norma found out from Dylan that Norman was out with a girl she became very upset, with Dylan confronting her about her behavior, stating that he knew enough of what she had done, giving him the right to take Norman away from her to stay with him. (Trust Me)

Having spent the night with Bradley, Norman returned home to find that Norma had been arrested. When he and Dylan went to see her at the jail, he asked how they could help but Norma just mocked him, saying that any mother would be broken in half by such devotion. When Norman finally paid the bail money, he showed up to collect Norma but she told him she would walk home, clearly unhappy that he wasn't there for her the previous night. After storming out of the attorney's office, Norma and Norman got into a fight on the way home and she told him to get out of the car. When he refused to do so, she got out of the car and physically removed him before driving off. When Norma was locking up the motel for the night, she saw Emma's car and thought that she and Norman were up to no good so she went to investigate and found them in a motel room with Jiao, the girl from Shelby's basement. Norma accused him of lying and got a newspaper to show the photo of Shelby from the hoe down and Jiao confirmed him as the man who held her captive in his basement, which proved that Norman was telling the truth. (Ocean View)

In the aftermath of Jiao's revelation, Norma jumped in her car with Norman in hot pursuit. Failing to yank her out of the driver’s seat, Norman opted to leap through the open passenger window, grabbing the steering wheel. Eventually, the vehicle came to a halt and Norman tosses the car keys out the window. Norma said that Shelby couldn't be allowed to get away with this and Norman promised her that they would get him, they just have to do it the right way. This seemed to appease her.  Later, as she was getting ready to go over to Shelby’s house to look for the belt while he’s asleep, she apologized to Norman for not believing him about Jiao, which caused Norman to flash back to their original conversation about him thinking he was doing something when he wasn't.  He asked if there was something wrong with him, but Norma said there wasn't.  After disposing of Keith Summers' belt, Dylan and Norman returned home to be told by Norma that Shelby was there. He took the family hostage and when he assaulted Norma, Norman flew into a fit of rage but Shelby threw him against a wall, knocking him out. Norma dragged her son's unconscious body to the car as a fight broke out in the house between Shelby and Dylan. Shelby escaped and headed for Norma's car before a shot rang out, killing him. Norma confessed to Dylan that Norman had killed his father in a fit of rage when she was being attacked and had no recollection of it. She said that Norman needed to be protected. (The Truth)

When Emma called to the house asking to see Norman, Norma went upstairs to tell Norman that she was there but Norman refused to see her. Norma said that Norman wasn't feeling well but Emma knew he was really pining for Bradley. Norma asked Emma for a lift into town and Emma passed by the gym where Bradley worked out and showed her to Norma. Norma imagined her having sex with Norman and felt uncomfortable. That evening, she lectured Norman about Bradley, saying that it wasn't acceptable that she should turn up on their doorstep one day after they moved in and advised him to be careful. Norman got angry with her and stormed off. (The Man in Number 9)

When Norma was called to the school meet Blaire Watson and Tom Hutchins to discuss Norman's behavior, Norma asked Blaire Watson if it was appropriate for her to be touching her students in the way she did. They advised her to consult with a psychologist and Norma made an appointment, but she couldn't stop interfering whenever Norman was asked a question. He suggested that Norma may have had control issues over her son. Norma angrily refuted this. (A Boy and His Dog)

As Norma searched for possible places to move to, Norman came in with the taxidermied Juno under his arm, He asked Norma for her approval, and trying to be supportive, Norma gave her approval. Norman said that he a good day in school and was getting good grades, subtly telling her that he didn't want to move. Norma said it was the grades that counted, not the school. She later announced that she had found them a place to live, but Norman said he was happy in White Pine Bay and said that no matter where they went things would be the same, accusing her of being crazy before apologizing. When Emma arrived up at the house, clearly high, Norma told Norman to get her toast and juice. Later, as Norman lay in bed, Norma asked if she could sleep in the room as she was still freaked out after finding Zach Shelby's corpse on her bed. Norman offered to sleep on the floor, but Norma climbed in beside him for a cuddle. (Underwater)

Norma went to see Dr. Kurata alone and asked for advice on how to handle stress. He asked why she's feeling stress. She says just normal life stuff and he asked about Norman. She said it was fine, saying he was such a good boy. He noted he was not really a boy anymore and asked if it was going to be hard when he left to go to college. Norma figured he would go locally. He asked if she thought this was what parenting would be like when she was a little girl. She mulled it over and said she couldn't remember. While waiting for Emma to arrive to pick him up for the dance, Norma made a stunning confession to Norman, saying she wanted someone to know the truth about her. She grew up in Akron, OH and her older brother repeatedly raped her from when she was 13 until he moved out, many years. Her mother was mentally checked out, they were poor, and her father was so terrible she was worried that if she told him that he would kill her brother. One day, when he was doing things to her she heard her father come home and she jumped up so quickly that she hit an iron and it fell on her leg, which is where that scar comes from. Norman cried and said he was sorry and they hugged. She said it didn't matter since it was a long time ago but she wanted someone to know it about her in case anything happened.

When Norman got into a fight with Bradley's boyfriend after repeatedly eyeing Bradley at the winter formal, he ran off and Blaire Watson saw him by the roadside and offered to take him back to her house to get cleaned up. While there, she went to her bedroom to get out of her dress, leaving the door open, and Norman saw a vision of Norma who told him what he needed to do as he headed towards Blaire Watson's bedroom. Sometime later, he ran home and was almost run over by Norma. Seeing his face, she asked what happened but all he could remember was Blaire Watson offering to drive him home and then he was running in the rain. They hugged and she said that everything would be okay, before Blaire Watson's corpse was shown on her bedroom floor with her throat slit. (Midnight)

Season 2

After Norma got an automatic message from the school about Blaire Watson's death, she asked Norman about the last time he saw her. He admitted that she was going to drive him home but couldn't remember anything else until he was running home through the rain. They went the funeral and Norman took it very hard. Norma and Norman went home and he asked who would do something like this. When she was teaching him how to drive, he drove them to the cemetery and she accused him of having a morbid obseesion with Blaire Watson's death. After Romero told Norma that Norman had called to the police station to see him, Norma stormed home to confront Norman, who revealed that Blaire Watson actually had taken him back to her house. He said that she sort of made him feel uncomfortable with the touching and the strip tease. It made him scared that she might have done something or hurt him so he took off running. He couldn't remember what happened in between but he blamed himself for her death because he thought someone broke in after he left and he could have stopped it. Norma embraced him. (Gone But Not Forgotten)

While making Norman's bed, Norma found Blaire Watson's pearl necklace and a newspaper article about her death. In order to bond with him, Norma told him that she wanted both of them to audition for the community musical. Norman was initially reluctant but went along with it so she wouldn't be disappointed. When they went to the audition, he revealed that he had to be somewhere else and she told him to cancel. He told her that he didn't want to do the audition and she said she wanted to do something fun together. Norman then said that they were always together; they worked together and ate together. Norma then asked if he told her everything about Blaire being killed, because of the pearls she found. Norman told her that he found them in his pocket after and hugged his mother trying to comfort her. He told her it was nothing and that she was getting all worked up over an idea of nothing. Norman told her that they would do the audition together and that he would cancel his plans. (Shadow of a Doubt)

When Norman asked Norma about practicing for the musical but Norma said that she didn't get the role and he was cast in the chorus, so they weren't doing it any more. Norman later went to the theatre and met the cashier from the grocery store, Cody, who suggested that he should work backstage and he asked Norma's permission, which she granted. That evening after Norma returned home from Christine Heldens' party, Dylan confronted her about Caleb and she admitted that he repeatedly raped her as a teenager, which Dylan refused to believe. They started to argue and Norman heard it as he walked in the door. He rushed to his mother's defense and tackled Dylan to the ground, telling his mother that he wouldn't allow her to be treated like that. Their fight stopped when Norma blurted out that Caleb was Dylan's biological father. (Caleb)

As Norma got dressed to go out to dinner with the Heldens, Norma spied on her from the door before she saw him and asked for help with fastening the back of her dress. He encouraged her to go out. After Cody suggested that Norman get revenge on Caleb by confronting him at his motel, he bottled at the last minute and returned home, where he hid as Norma and Dylan fought again and the latter stormed out. Norman returned to his uncle's motel and it soon became clear that he was taking on Norma's personality when he told Caleb about all those years of being raped. He went for his uncle with a knife but was wrestled to the ground and kicked. (Check-Out)

Norma approached Cody as the latter arrived to pick Norman up for work and she acted rudely towards Norma. As Norman ran back to the house to get something, he told Norma about Cody. when he arrived home late, Norma asked to him and said that she just wanted him to make good choices in his life. Norma said she doesn’t like Cody because she was rude and wasn’t respectful around parents, also the smoking and tattoos didn’t help. Norma told him that were are girls who had no future and that they were born in circumstances that they couldn’t get out of. Norma said that were people who could be helpful and others who could hurt him and said she didn’t want him to see Cody anymore. Norman told her that he needed to finish the play with her, but he said he wouldn’t spend any more time with her. (The Escape Artist)

When Norman returned home, Norma found a bottle cap on the floor and flipped out on him for drinking. She said that he couldn’t take his driver’s license test that weekend if he was sneaking around and drinking. He reassured her he wouldn’t drink again and it was not that serious. Later when Cody same to pick him up, Norma kicked him out of the car and climbed in, telling Cody that Norman couldn’t drink because of “medical reasons” and told her not to let him drink under any circumstances. She climbed out and allowed Norman to get back in the car and leave with her. However, Cody went to her house to get some alcohol and the two teenagers spent the afternoon at the river drinking and making out, before Emma and Gunner showed up. After Norma received the news that she had been given a place on the council, she and Norman celebrated before going to take his driver's test. However, as Norman prepared to take it, Emma phoned Norma to tell her that Cody had said Norman had a blackout. Concerned, Norma questioned the driving instructor, who said that it was unsafe for Norman to take the test. On the way home, Norma and Norman argued and he got out of the car, telling her to go home alone. (Plunge)

After accidently killing Jimmy Brennen, Norman was taken to the police station for questioning while Norma was at city hall. Romero interrupted Norma's meeting with Max Borowitz to tell her what happened and took her to see Norman. George Heldens arrived and Norman felt a bit jealous, asking why he was there but Norma said that George was an attorney who could help them. Norma later approached Cody and asked her not to mention Norman's blackouts to the police. Norman was eventually free to go and Norma took him home. Romero told Norma that Jimmy's death was being ruled accidental and that Norman was in the clear. Cody dropped by to tell Norman that she was moving to Indiana to live with her aunt and that they would no longer be in contact, but advised him to find out from Norma what happened when he blacked out. Norman confronted his mother about his blackouts. She said they were troubling but refused to take an steps to manage the situation, leading to Norman angrily storming off. (Presumed Innocent)

After searching Norman's room, Norma found him in the motel office and invited him to go on a mother-son date with her that evening. Norman turned her down and headed back to the house. She later found him placing creepy stuffed taxidermy birds all over the house and tried to tell them they “don’t really go”, but Norman didn't want to hear it. That evening, she told him that she was going to George’s house for dinner and he said he wouldn't wait up for her. However, her visit to George's house was cut short when she started crying and she decided to go home to see Norman. She confronts him about “being a dick about something that isn’t her fault" and was tired of him being distant from her. He reminded her that she was the one keeping secrets from him. Norman stormed off and said that he didn't trust her anymore. He grabbed her arms and told her that it was all just a game, that they were devoted to each other and love each other.. Norma cried that they did love each other. Norman announced that he was going to his room and instructed her not to follow him. She banged on his bedroom door but he had locked her out. Norma told him off and then ran out the door and drove back to George’s house, where they ended up sleeping together. When Norman heard a noise that he thought was Norma returning home, he went to investigate, only to be subdued by Jodi's guard. Norma suddenly awoke in George's bed. (Meltdown)

When Norma returned home from George's house, Norman was nowhere to be found so believing that he was still avoiding her, she left several voicemails on his phone. Nick Ford contacted her and said that he was holding Norman captive and that he wanted her to tell Dylan to visit him. Romero told her that a semen sample that matched Norman had been found in Blaire Watson and after he left, Norma collapsed and left Norman another voicemail, telling him that he meant the world to her. Still trapped in the box, Norman's sanity began to slip and he hallucinated his mother reassuring him that she loved him and that everything would be okay. Hours later, Norma was awoken by the doorbell ringing and answered it to find Romero there. She confessed that Nick Ford had taken Norman hostage and wouldn't free him unless Dylan killed Zane Morgan. Romero promised to find Norman. Meanwhile, Norman hallucinated the night he killed Blaire Watson and saw himself having sex with her before he slashed her neck and left with her pearls. (The Box)

After Dylan and Romero rescued Norman, Norma rushed in to the hospital to see him. When Norma learned that Dylan found Norman, she expressed her love for him. Norma was there as Norman awoke and she attempted to calm his fears. When she returned home with Norman, they were greeted by Emma who had some questions but Norma didn’t leave any room for questions or for her to speak to Norman. She had an entire story ready to go and quickly shuffled Norman off and got him to bed to rest. That evening at the dinner table, Norman confessed to his mother that he believed he may have killed Miss Watson. He said that he started to recall things when he was in the box. It forced him to see himself having visions that told a story of what happened. While Norma told him not to say such things, he continued on that they had to face the truth. Norma got very angry and screamed at him, then continued to peacefully eat her dinner, as she instructed him to do as well. Later, Norman dug around in a drawer for a gun and Norma kept an eye on him throughout the night. As Norman and Norma were doing dishes he asked her to spend time with him after he was told about the scheduled polygraph. Norman puts the music on and they began to dance. As they danced, Norman shared his feelings and told her that she was the best mother in the world.

When Norma arrived home from visiting Dylan, she called for Norman, but couldn't find him. She saw a gift on her bed from him with a note. She was scared at what it could mean as it sounded like a “goodbye.” When Norma asked Emma where Norman was, she explainws that he told her he was going out for a walk in the woods and just left. Norma was able to catch up to him and saw that he had a gun. She ran after him and he ran away. He fell and hurt himself and she was able to catch up to him. He told her that he was bad and wanted to kill himself. He told her she cannot stop him. She was able to get the gun away and begged him to stay with her so they cukd work through things together because she would surely die without him.

The next morning, in preparation of the polygraph test, Norma and Norman had breakfast before heading out. They arrived for the test and Norma was asked to wait outside as they administered the test. He was asked several questions about lying, stealing, holding information, and then he was asked questions about Blaire Watson. When Norman was asked whether or not he killed her, he saw Norma talking to him. She assured him he didn’t kill Blaire Watson, because she did. That gave him the ability to pass the polygraph because knowing he himself didn't do it, he could say so without lying. In his mind, it was his mother that committed the bad acts. Just then, Romero shared the good news with Norma and she ws shocked and relieved to find out he passed the test. (The Immutable Truth)

Season 3

After spending the summer with his mother, Norman was now 18 years old and still sleeping in the same bed as her. Dylan questioned her about it, saying that it wasn't right. Norman returned to school to begin his year as a sophomore, but refused to get out of the car until Norma forcefully grabbed him out of it in front of his schoolmates. When he hallucinated Blaire Watson while having lunch, he ran home to Norma and told her. It was decided that he should be homeschooled. As they lay in bed together, Norma decided it would better if he went back to his own room to sleep, which he didn't take too kindly to. He also took an interest in a new motel guest, Annika Johnson, and that evening as he shooed a raccoon away from a pile of garbage, he noticed the window to Annika's room was open and approached it. He observed her taking a shower until he was caught by Norma, who told him it wasn't normal to be peering into the guests' room. He later found her crying on her bed and believed he had something to do with it, but she said it was because of her mother. He got in the bed beside her to offer his support. (A Death in the Family)

After noticing that Annika had failed to return to the motel after being out the previous night, Norma questioned Norman but he denied having seen her. Norma later found out from Emma that Norman had been the last person with Annika as he offered to show her into town. She told him that unhinged women seemed to be drawn to him but he said he did it to be helpful. They drove into town where Norma went into a restaurant to question a waiter as Norman waited in the car, staring angrily in Norma's direction. That evening after infiltrating the grounds of the Arcanum Club, a tired Norma returned home and hugged Norman, who had been waiting for her on the steps to the house. (The Arcanum Club)

When Norma returned home from having to identify the body of a young female, who had been found in the marshes, she and Norman got into an argument. He was concerned about Annika being missing but Norma told him not to think about it because at the end of the day, it wasn't their problem. Later, Romero arrived at the house to question Norman and Norman asked Norma to leave them alone. After Romero left, Norman aggressively defended his actions and was angry about Norma's behavior. Norman yelled at Norma, finally stating that he thought that one of them had a problem and he was tired of the assumption being that it was him. She said nothing in return and watched him walk up the stairs. That evening, he decided to confront Norma and charged up his stairs and up into his bedroom, glaring at her as he passes by. Norman finally came clean: he wanted to take responsibility for the death of Blaire Watson but Norma wouldn’t let him and now he was feeling trapped. He was trapped in a world of tension and lies and he was furious with Norma for putting him in that position. After their argument, Norman went into the bathroom and had a vision of his mother. He tried to recreate events by submerging himself underwater in the bathtub and just as he began to lose consciousness, Norma bust down the door and rescued him. She got him into bed and Norman murmured, “What if I did kill her, Mother?” Norma ran down to the office to lock up and was shocked when Annika pulled up in a car. Norma noticed she had been shot and just before Annika succumbed to her injury, she handed Norma a flash drive and told her to use it for her and Norman. (Persuasion)

When Norman was awoken by the sound of the police cars, he went down to the crime scene and when he saw Annika's corpse, he believed he was responsible for killing her but Norma assured him that he was in the clear and told him that Annika had already been shot before he arrived on the scene. Later, when Norman and Emma decided to go on a picnic, Norma warned him that he shouldn't sleep with Emma due to her delicate condition. Norman ignored his mother's warning but things came to an abrupt stop during the picnic when Norman mentioned to Emma that Norma had warned him against sleeping with her, which caused an angry Emma to rebuke him and storm off. Meanwhile, Norma went to Dylan for help with the flash drive, which led to Norman becoming suspicious about their secrecy and he followed Dylan back to his cabin where he found Caleb and told Dylan that Norma had to know what he was doing, but Dylan told him not to say anything as he didn't want to destroy his renewed relationship with his mother. However, Norman refused to listen and drove off. (Unbreak-Able)

The following morning, Norman awoke in his bed to find Emma in his room, as she told him that he had blacked out and that Norma had asked her to watch him while she went out. When Dylan arrived at the house, Norman told him that he had to tell Norma the truth about Caleb being at the cabin but when Dylan went to the hospital to collect Norma after her accident, he realized that she was oblivious to the news and that Norman had lied to him. When Norma offered to make dinner for Norman, he questioned her about her floral dress and she told him she had been wearing the same clothes since morning. He went upstairs to her room and rummaged through her closet, finding her floral dress. He smelled it and put it close to him as Norma called him for dinner. He hid the dress under the mattress of his bed. Norman also apologized to Dylan, admitting that he was jealous of his growing relationship with Norma. He offered Dylan his support in telling Norma about Caleb. However, Norma did not take the news well and grabbed a suitcase and a gun, before running out of the house with Norman trying to follow her. She yelled to Dylan to take care of Norman, as she drove off and Norman screamed to her. (The Deal)

Freaking out, Norman thrashed the kitchen and yelled at Dylan to bring Norma home. Dylan tried to get him to calm down as Norman said that Norma had never left him. Dylan ended up punching Norman across the face and put him to bed. Dylan left Norma several messages, which led to her shooting her phone. A dazed Norman told him that this was what Norma did, just like when they often moved and never let Dylan know. Sometime during the night, Dylan found Norman in the kitchen making breakfast wearing Norma's nightgown and was confused when Norman told him to go wake his brother. He then realized that Norman thought that he was Norma. When Norma finally returned home early the following morning, she told Norman and Dylan that she was going to fulfill their wishes to talk to Caleb. They drove to the cabin and Norma came face-to-face with Caleb, who sank to his knees and apologized how he treated his sister. After a moment, she finally embraced him as Dylan and Norman looked on. However, Norman had an angry look on his face. (Norma Louise)

Norma decided to organize a evening meal for the family and when Dylan told her he had asked Emma out for dinner, she told him to invite Emma to the house. When James Finnegan called to the house, Norma told him that she was worried about Norman and James said that he could have a word with him, so Norma took him down to the basement, where Norman was working on his taxidermy. Norman, wanting to keep his mother happy, agreed to talk to James but wanted to do it alone and told Norma that they wouldn't be needing her. When Norma left, James and Norman engaged in talk about his taxidermy before Norman talked about how opinionated people were. Turning the tables, he asked James what it was like sleeping with Norma and said that he had known Norma all his life so knew what she was like and asked him if he would be concerned if his own mother abandoned her kids in the way Norma did. Getting uncomfortable, James got to leave and Norman accused him and Norma ganging up on him, believing him to be crazy. James asked him if it bothered him that Norma could be attracted to another man and if it would mean that she would be taken away from him. He then asked Norman if he wanted to sleep with her, which made Norman snap and attempt to choke James. Suddenly, Norman snapped out of it and James rushed out of the basement, as Norma met him running out of the front door. James told her to get Norman help right away. Norma found Norman at the bottom of the stairs to the basement, but he wouldn't repeat what James had said. Norma embraced him, saying that "[we] all go a little mad sometimes" and that she wouldn't leave him again. As everyone found their seats at the dinner table, Norman stopped Caleb from sitting next to Norma and took the seat next to her. Later that night, as Norma slept Norman entered her room and bent down beside her, caressing her thigh. (The Last Supper)

After Norma found out about James being tortured by Bob Paris and his men, she told Norman that she had revealed things to James about Norman's father's death, which angered Norman. Norma retaliated by telling him that he didn't know what it was like to be his mother and that he would end up killing her. He was stunned and she apologized before telling him to stay home as she was going to try to sort everything out. When she was gone, Norman saw a hallucination of Norma, who told him that if anyone got in his way she would kill them. Norman suddenly snapped out of his fugue state and ran off. (The Pit)

When Norman returned home after spending time with Bradley, he went down to the basement to find Norma clearing away his taxidermy tools. He questioned her and she told him that she didn't want the investigation into his father's death to be reopened and said it would look suspicious if the police were to find his taxidermy tools laying about. Angry, Norman grabbed a knife and pointed it at her before saying that he was tired of everyone assuming that he was the one with the problem. Norma told him to go to his room. (Crazy)

When Norma informed Norman that she went to see a mental health facility, saying they could get the treatment he needed, Norman didn't take the news well, accusing her of giving up on him, and stormed up to his room. Later that evening, Norma found him trying to conceal a suitcase under his bed. He told her he had had enough and was leaving with Bradley. Norma said she was dead and Norman asked how she was in the motel if she was dead and Norma grabbed the suitcase, but lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs with the suitcase. Norman gathered up his belongings but Norma roused and knocked him out with a doorstop, before dragging him down to the basement and tying up his hands and feet, just as Norman started to come to. She then went back upstairs, locking the basement door, and phoned Dylan for help as Norman lay awake on the floor. When Dylan arrived, he went down to the basement but they discovered that Norman had freed himself and escaped via a small window. Norma said he was talking nonsense about Bradley but Dylan revealed that she faked her death and he could just be imagining her.

As Bradley and Norman drove past the sign that said they were leaving White Pine Bay, 'Norma' asked to speak to Bradley and at first Norman refused, which confused Bradley. He then asked 'Norma' if she would leave if he granted her request and told Bradley that his mother wanted to speak to her, forcing her car off the road into the woods. 'Norma' asked her if she really thought she could take Norman away from her. Norman got out of the car and rushed over to Bradley's side where 'Norma' was seen trying to open the driver's side door. She grabbed Bradley out of the car and Bradley tried to make a run for it, only to trip and fall on the ground. 'Norma' ranted at her and bashed her head on a rock, killing her. Suddenly, Norman saw Bradley's lifeless body and his hands covered in blood, asking his mother what she's done. He screamed.

He then drove the car to the waterfront and opened the trunk where Bradley's lifeless body lay. He apologized for his mother's actions before closing the trunk and going back to the driving seat, where he turned the engine back on and put it in motion, watching it go into the water and sinking to the bottom. 'Norma' told him that Bradley was a mess and that she did her a favor as she had a death wish. She was going to take Norman away from her and said she could never let that happen. If Norman had died being out in the world, she would have died too and told him there's a cord between their hearts, before hugging him and reassuring him that she will take care of everything and that it will remain a secret. She said they will always be together and Norman agreed that would be nice, as he stood alone on the water's edge. (Unconscious)

Season 4

After Norman was taken to the psychiatric hospital, Norma was informed by a doctor that because she never sought help for him, she could be seen as being neglectful. When she was cutting his hair that evening, Norman made her promise not to send him back to the psychiatric hospital and told her about the "dream" that he had where she had killed Bradley. The following morning, as she went out, she locked him in her room as he slept. When he awoke, he realized what she had done and repeatedly banged on the door until the managed to break through the one that led into his own room. (A Danger to Himself and Others)

When Norman awoke the following morning, he asked Norma why she had locked him in her room while she went out. She told him she had gone shopping and over breakfast he questioned why there were no grocery bags out. She later found him in the basement next to the freezer and he questioned her about Audrey Decody's missing body. He said that Norma needed help and he would protect her. He later found her searching the pit and when a family arrived to check in, he told Norma to go up to the house to clean herself up as he would check them in. After he finished doing so, he found the consent forms that Pineview had faxed over. He hallucinated his father who told him Norma was crazy and was really the one who killed him.

Norman confronted Norma as she prepared dinner, refusing to leave her as he didn't trust her. As he sat at the opposite end of the table, he started creeping Norma out. He approached her and started yelling at her about her being the one who really killed Blaire Watson and Bradley Martin as she was jealous of them. Norma fled the table and ran upstairs with Norman in pursuit. She tried to find the gun under her mattress but saw that Norman had it. She tried to get him to give it to her but knowing what she was up to, he pushed her away and she barricaded herself in Dylan's room and phoned Romero for help.

Later when the coast was clear, she went downstairs and grabbed a scissors. She went down to the basement where she found Norman. He said he had found the consent forms and she told him she only wanted to help him. From the way he talked, it seemed like he was prepared to kill the both of them but as Romero arrived, she took the gun from his hand and he was lead outside. She grabbed the forms and pleaded with him to sign them, which he di. (Goodnight, Mother)

Norman was none too pleased about being admitted to Pineview and seemed disinterested when the nurse showed him around. He asked how long he would be there and was told it was for Dr. Edwards to decide. During their initial therapy session, Norman refused to say anything to Dr. Edwards but blamed Norma for putting him there. However, he later said that she was the most wonderful mother in the world. Norma also made several attempts to see her son but was told there was a 72-hour waiting period. Dylan later told her she was doing the right thing by having him committed.

Later when Norma finally visited, their reunion did not go well as Norman was cold and distant, telling her he would never forgive her. Afterwards, still on edge from the visit, he stormed to Dr. Edwards office, demanding to see him. He ended up in solitary confinement and when Dr. Edwards finally visited, Norman said he had reason to believe that his mother was crazy and committing murders. Dr. Edwards said that such and accusation would warrant an investigation and Norman agreed. ('Til Death Do You Part)

After Norman saw that Julian had been lobotomized, he ran outside and Norma called to him. He ran to hug her and as they walked together, she asked about his therapy sessions and told him not to talk about his father as it would upset him. However, Dr. Edwards later revealed that Norma hadn't actually visited as he received an e-mail of the visitor list each day and her name wasn't on it. (Refraction)

As Norman was having a therapy session, "Norma" appeared and told him not to reveal anything. Norman later recalled how abusive his father was which included raping Norma as he hid under his parents' bed. Norma held his hand through the ordeal. (The Vault)

As Norman was having an art session at Pineview making a papier-mâché model of Juno, he saw a photo of Norma on a strip of newspaper and after assembling the pieces he discovered that Norma and Romero had married. He phoned home only for Romero to answer the phone. Norma took over but Norman didn't let on that he knew about the marriage and surprised her by announcing that he would be coming home unless she could give him a reason not to. When she later visited, their reunion was tense and he then revealed that he knew that she and Romero had married. She told him that everything she had done was for him and he told her to prove it by allowing him to come home. She reluctantly accepted his request and took him home the next day. (There's No Place Like Home)

Norma awoke in the middle of the night alone in her bed since Romero decided it would be best to move out so that Norman could re-adjust to being home.  She discovered the heating was broken and when Norman complained about the new TV and DVDs, she told him to go back to bed.  However, he decided to get into her bed beside her as he said it would be a good way to keep warm before asking why they had drifted so far apart.  As they ate breakfast together, he again complained about how different everything was and Norma told him to be thankful to Romero for helping them out.

That evening as they went Christmas tree shopping with Dylan and Emma, Norma rebuked an almost psychotic Norman for having told Romero to divorce her and told him the truth about her marriage to Romero, causing Norman to throw up.  When they got home, they found themselves unable to sleep due to the house being cold and Norma recommended sleeping down in the motel but Norman elected to sleep in a separate room.  Hours later and unable to sleep, he saw Romero return to the motel to see Norma, who informed him that she had told Norman they were married.  Norman crept into the room next to hers and listened through the wall before removing a painting from the wall and using a knife to create a peephole so that he could spy on them having sex.

The following day as the repairman spoke to Norma about the faulty furnace, Norman listened in on their conversation and she introduced them to each other.  She informed Norman that he was to be on his best behavior since Romero would be coming around for dinner.  While they were seated at the dinner table, Norman acted overly polite and informed Romero again of his intention to get a second job and insurance.  Romero said that he would get used to him being around and Norman realized just how close he and Norma had become, which angered him.  He accused Norma of replacing him and when she told him it was okay for someone to love more than one person, saying that she and Romero loved each other, Norman angrily stormed out of the house. (Unfaithful)

The following morning, Norma tried to talk to Romero, who had slept all night on the couch, but he was still insistent that Norman be re-committed to Pineview. As he left for work, Norman stood at the top of the stairs and saw him kissing Norma. She then told Norman to get dressed as she would take him for his appointment with Dr. Edwards.

While he was with Dr. Edwards, he lashed out about Romero, saying that Romero had planned to get Norman out of the way so that he could have Norma all to himself but insisted that he would never leave his mother no matter what. In the car on the way home, Norma reassured Norman that he would always remain number one in her heart and kissed his hand.

When Dylan later visited and confronted Norma about Audrey's disappearance he got angry at her when she refused to admit that Norman was sick. He stormed out of the house and met Norman on the way. As he said his goodbyes to Norman, he told him that he needed to get help. Norman questioned Norma about what Dylan meant and she reassured him that she knew him better than anyone else. She then confronted Romero about his joint plans with Dylan to send Norman back to Pineview and told him that she could no longer trust him.

Norma returned home and eventually broke down as her fight with Romero had really hit her and Norman comforted her. As she got ready for bed, she wrote Romero a note telling him she was sorry and that she would always love him before placing her wedding ring in the envelope. She broke down again as she got into bed and Norman, who had come in to say goodnight, lay down beside her and tried to cheer her up with his plans to leave White Pine Bay for Oahu so that they could live alone with each other. He then sang to her as she settled down.

Sometime later, he left the room and navigated the house, locking the windows and front door before going down to the basement and lighting the broken furnace. He then returned to her bedroom to lie down next to her and fell asleep. When Romero returned home, he was puzzled to find the front door and windows locked. He entered the house and called out for Norma but got no reply. He went upstairs and entered Norma's room, again calling to her, and tried to rouse her but got no answer. He smashed open a window and carried her lifeless body out into the hallway, opening the other windows before returning for Norman. He then attempted CPR on her and heard Norman cough before waking up. Realizing that Norma was gone, he cradled her in his arms as Norman looked at them and quietly said "Mother". (Forever)

As Norman was stretchered into an ambulance he saw Norma's covered body being loaded into another ambulance. When he came to in the hospital, a doctor informed him that Norma was dead. He discharged himself from the hospital after arguing with Romero and returned home alone. He climbed into Norma's bed and fell asleep.

When he awoke, he disposed of his meds in the toilet and received a call from funeral director Justin Willcock, who wished to discuss funeral arrangements with Romero. Norman said that Romero no longer lived there and arranged to meet the funeral director personally. As he removed the TV from the house he dropped it on his way down the front steps. Detective Chambers witnessed him taking his anger out on it and he invited her in. As he made Norma's bed he praised his mother and badmouthed Romero, mentioning his involvement in the drug trade.

As he met with Justin Willcock and his son, he said that he didn't want Norma cremated and revealed that he had an interest in taxidermy. He asked to view Norma's body and was brought to the morgue. He briefly saw Norma open her eyes and quickly removed the wedding ring that had been placed back on her finger. Justin Willcock later became concerned that no one had showed up to Norma's funeral but he said that he would be the only one there. As he gave his eulogy he blamed Norma for leaving him. Romero arrived and Norman told him he had to leave before returning the wedding ring to him. Romero took it back and punched him before Justin Willcock said that he would inform the police.

Norman returned home to an empty house and was approached by Juno. He told her that Norma would be home soon and that she just wanted everyone to believe that she had just run off. When Dylan phoned he said that he didn't want to speak to Norma and Norman told him it was probably best that they no longer spoke to each other.

That evening, he argued about Norma having abandoned him and decided to take matters into his own hands by driving to the cemetery and digging Norma's corpse up. However, he wasn't happy that she wouldn't talk to him on the way home. When they got home, Juno was there to greet them and Norman laid his mother on the couch, pleading with her to open her eyes. He grabbed a bottle of superglue from the basement and used it on her eyelids before opening them. He was horrified to see her glassy eyes and when Chick arrived to offer his condolences he asked Norman if he realized she was dead.

After Chick's departure, the gravity of the situation started to sink in and Norman ran upstairs to grab Norma's gun, putting it in his mouth. However, he didn't pull the trigger when he again heard the piano playing downstairs. He descended the stairs to find the living room decorated for Christmas and 'Norma' playing at the piano. He was surprised to see her and she told him that she would never leave him. He sat down beside her, hugging her in the assurance that they would now be together forever. (Norman)

Season 5

Picking up almost two years after the events of Season 4, Norman awoke in his mother's bed to be greeted by Juno. Getting dressed he descended the stairs for a lavish breakfast cooked by "her". They discussed re-decorating the motel and "she" lamented the fact that "she" could not go outside due to "her" being dead As he left the house, he said he would be back later and the scene dissolved into one of complete chaos with a darkened kitchen and dishes everywhere.

When Norman went to the hardware store, he met the owner Madeleine Loomis but when he went to pay for the paint he realized he had another man's wallet. He ran home and questioned "Mother" about it who told him to put it in the safe. Madeleine later called to the motel to invite him to a meeting for local businesses and "Mother" spied on them from her bedroom window. That evening as he attempted to leave, "Mother" tried to prevent him from going since "she" believed Madeleine had other ideas and even stood behind his car as he tried to reverse. "She" grabbed him by the ear and dragged him down to the basement, where "she" showed him the body of the man whose wallet he had. Together, they wrapped the body in a shower curtain and went to the lake in order to dispose of it. The man's cellphone rang but in spite of "Mother" protesting, Norman answered it to discover Romero on the other end of the line. (Dark Paradise)

After visiting Romero at the prison, Norman returned home to find "Mother" learning French and "she" said that she would deal with Romero. When Chick called by, he was confused to hear Norman talking to himself as "Mother" said she hated pretending to be dead.

During Norman's double date, he excused himself to the bathroom where "Mother" appeared, asking him if he still liked "her". Norman got "her" to go out the window but then found "her" in his car. Noticing that Madeleine looked like "her" she asked him if he was going to be "that guy". Norman drove to a bar and in his "Mother" persona admitted that "she" was taking care of a mentally ill child.

After Caleb learned of Norma's death, he found her tombstone inscribed with a love letter from Norman and a spot next to her already reserved for her son. That evening he returned to the house to extract revenge on Norman and went down to the basement where he came across Norma's dead body in the freezer. Before he had time to react, Norman, dressed as "Mother", knocked him out cold and told Chick, who had followed Caleb back there, "Well, now you know, Chick. I'm still alive". (The Convergence of the Twain)

When Caleb awoke to find himself chained up in the basement, he thought he saw Norma talking to him but it turned out to be Norman as "Mother". Caleb pleaded to be spared even telling "Mother" that she was a grandmother but she decided to keep Caleb tied up. "Mother" also criticized Chick for being dressed in a kimono and while at dinner he talked to "her", offering to do odd jobs around the house.

After Caleb had a dream of him and Norma as kids, he told Chick about how abusive their parents were and while alone in the basement he thought he saw his sister alive, but it turned out he was just hugging her corpse. "Mother" later told Norman that Caleb had to die and gave him a gun to do the deed but he decided to allow Caleb to make a run for it and never return. Angered, "Mother" gave chase but Caleb was ultimately killed after being knocked down by Chick Hogan's car. (Bad Blood)

Following Caleb's death, "Mother" told Norman they had to call the police but Chick took it away for a proper burial. The following day, Norman decided to do some spring cleaning, which involved giving away Norma's dresses. After sheriff Jane Greene visited the motel office and gave Norman the license plate number of Jim Blackwell's car, he told "Mother" to get dressed as he needed to dispose of the car. When he was heading out the following evening to dinner at Madeleine's house, he told "Mother" that he would take care of the car. However, his date took a bad turn when he saw "Mother" slashing Madeleine's throat and he bolted from the house. (Hidden)

The following day, a bartender phoned from the "White Horse Bar" to say that Norman's car was found in the parking lot and Norman asked if a woman named Norma had been in the night before. When he showed up to collect the car, he was confused when the bartender seemed to recognize him. When he reversed the car out, he noticed a pair of lacy red underwear on the back seat. He later returned to the bar where panic set in when everyone recognized him and when he went to the restroom a man approached him, which led to Norman having a memory of "Mother" having sex with the man. (Dreams Die First)

As Norman prepared a sandwich for Marion, "Mother" voiced "her" disapproval of the new guest but Norman commented that "she" seemed to be having too much fun on her frequent bar trips.

After Dylan rang to rebuke Norman for not mentioning that Norma was dead, "Mother" called Norman for dinner and he headed straight for the fridge, saying that "she" was just in his mind. This led to an argument during which "Mother" thrashed the kitchen and tried to pry Norman's eyes open as he was trying to convince himself that "she" was not real.

Following Marion's departure from the motel on Norman's insistence, "Mother" again voiced "her" disapproval for him allowing her to escape but when Sam turned up to see Marion, "Mother" told Norman that Sam was just like his own father and needed to be dealt with. (Marion)

After Norman killed Sam, "Mother" told him to dispose of the body. He drove to the lake but "they" were shocked to see the police pulling a body from the lake. Norman was even more shocked when "Mother" mentioned that other bodies had already been disposed of on the cliffs and in the woods. "They" found an abandoned well where "they" disposed of Sam's body and sold his car for scrap before returning to the motel. Norman saw the sheriff who informed him that Jim Blackwell's body had been pulled from the lake along with another unidentified body. She noticed the tire tracks on the gravel which Norman put down to a guest that left in a hurry the previous night. Fearful about Sam's murder being discovered, he decided to bury Norma's corpse in the woods after the sheriff departed.

He returned home to find Dylan there and while "Mother" watched from behind, Dylan said he should have contacted him after Norma died since he should not have had to be alone. When Dylan was out, "Mother" told Norman that Dylan would have to leave and suggested preparing dinner for him. Following Dylan's return from the pharmacy where he got Norman's medication and learned of Dr. Edwards' disappearance, he encouraged Norman to start taking his meds again. As Norman got some water, "Mother" asked to speak to Dylan and told him that "she" could only love one son, striking him on the head with a glass. As "she" attempted to stab Dylan Norman intervened and a struggle ensued, but Dylan could only see Norman struggling with himself. After it ended, Norman picked up the phone, ringing the police in order to confess to Sam's murder. (Inseparable)

Following the sheriff's arrival at the house, Norman asked to be given his meds and was taken to the police station for questioning. While he was placed in a holding cell, he was given his meds but "Mother" appeared and forced him to spit them out before he fully swallowed them and knocked him out. Norman was later questioned by both the sheriff and his attorney, who were unaware that they were talking to "Mother" and "she" attempted to implicate Madeleine for the murder of Sam since Norman was infatuated with her. As Madeleine left the police station and tried to get in contact with Sam, "Mother" glared at her as "she" passed by, which made Madeleine realize that Sam was dead.

After the sheriff found out new information about the unidentified body, "Mother" told Norman to keep calm as everything would be fine but the sheriff soon delivered the news that Norman was been formally charged with Sam's murder. (The Body)

As Norman, still being possessed by "Mother", was being fingerprinted "she" asked about the preliminary hearing and was told it would be up to the judge to decide what the punishment would be but not to expect a positive outcome. After Julia Ramos said they should plead insanity, they attended the hearing and learned of Norman's fate. Later, Emma came to see Norman but realized she was talking to "Mother" when the latter said that Audrey deserved to die since she was not a good mother. Emma asked if she could speak to Norman but "Mother" said that he was sleeping and Emma told "her" to tell him that she missed him. When Romero showed up at the station, he abducted Norman from his cell and told him that he was going to take him to his body. (Visiting Hours)

After Romero let Regina go and told her to go back to town, he forced Norman into the passenger seat, where the latter soon revealed that he was really "Mother". When they reached the woods, Norman found where he had buried Norma's body and Romero beat him up, knocking him unconscious. However, as Romero was distracted with Norma's body Norman roused and hit him over the head with a rock before grabbing his gun and shooting him dead. As he drove home to the house with Norma's body, he had memories of her telling him they were moving to White Pine Bay and her showing him the property. He set her corpse on the bed and decided to invite Dylan to join them for dinner. When Dylan arrived Norman had propped Norma's corpse up at the dinner table, which caused Dylan to throw up. Dylan told Norman that he was in need of help and when Norman lunged at him with a knife, Dylan shot him in the chest and as Norman lay dying he had a vision of him running into Norma's arms. Both his body and Norma's bodies were removed from the house and buried side by side in the cemetery. (The Cord)

Quotes

Season 1

Norma: [to Norman] "It's you and me. It's always been you and me. We belong to each other"

Norma: "Norman, did you know that having sex with a woman literally affects her physical being? There are chemicals that are released in a woman's body during and after sex that actually alter her. It's like a science experiment. It affects her mind, okay? That's dangerous stuff. That's not something you want to be dabbling around in for fun"

Norma: "I-I know I've said a lot of things, but this is the truth. And I want someone to know the truth about me in this world, and I'd like that to be you, if you're okay with that"
Norman: "Yeah, of course I am"
Norma: "My brother used to make me have sex with him when I was, like, 13. And it went on until he moved out. Oh, I know I shouldn't have told you. I shouldn't have told you. It's just you're the person that I'm closest to in this world"
Norman: "I understand, Mother"
Norma: "When I realized just how messed up that was, I couldn't tell anyone. We had so much trouble. There was no money. My mom was already checked out of her body. My dad was insane. He was so violent. I knew that if I told my dad, he would kill my brother, so I never told. One day, when my dad was supposed to be at work, my brother was doing things to me, and I heard the front door open and it was my dad, home unexpectedly. And I was so scared that I jumped up so fast. And the hot iron fell off the ironing board, and it hit my leg"
Norman: "I'm so sorry, Mother"
Norma: "Anyway, you know, it-- it doesn't really matter, right? It was a long time ago"

Season 2

Norma: "You're a teenager, it's summer. You should be out, I don't know, playing baseball or going to swimming holes or something normal"
Norman: "I don't think mourning the death of someone who had been special to you is particularly abnormal!"
Norma: "Oh, I am just a little concerned that you seem obsessed with...[looking at Norma's taxidermy animals]...morbidity or something. I mean, you spend your days equally mooning over a dead teacher and taking apart dead animals. It's just weird"

Norman: "How can you ask me to live with this?"
Norma: "Because I will die if you leave. I will, I'll die, Norman. We're like the same person. If you kill yourself, I'll be there one step after. We have to be together. We're supposed to be together. No matter what, I will be with you every step. I will be right by your side, and we will face this together"

[Norman is undergoing the polygraph test when 'Mother' appears]
Mother: "You have to keep this a secret. Do you promise?"
Norman: "I promise"
Mother: "I will always be there for you. I will always protect you, no matter what. Remember that"

Season 3

Norman: "You know, I really feel like everything's under control. The school work, the motel, and I'm really okay and I'm going to be dating Emma"
Norma: "You are?"
Norman: "Mm-hmm"
Norma: "When did this happen?"
Norman: "Just felt like the right time. I'm 18 now, time to start laying some foundation"

[Norma berates Norman after she catches him spying on Annika through her open bathroom window]
Norma: "You can't go around peering into guests' bedrooms. It's not normal!"

Norma: "You can't keep getting into cars with questionable women"
Norman: "Questionable?"
Norma: "Slutty. Oversexed. Crazy. Unhinged women seem drawn to you"

[Norman finds Norma clearing up his taxidermy and they argue]
Norman: "I think one of us has a problem, and I'm tired of the assumption being that it's me"

[Norman and Norma are arguing after she tells him she told James the truth about Norman's father]
Norman: "Are you really here?"
Norma: "Yes, I'm here, and it happened!"
Norman: "Well, then how could you do that?!"
Norma: "Because, Norman, you have no idea what it's like to be your mother! To see you have these blackouts! To worry about you night and day! It's killing me! It's killing me! You're gonna kill me, Norman!"

Norman: [to Norma] "I'm glad that we had this talk of yours. I see where we stand. You've given up on me"

Season 4

[Norma is cutting Norman's hair after taking him home from the psychiatric hospital]
Norman: "So happy to be home, Mother"
Norma: "Yeah"
Norman: "To be with you"
Norma: "You too, darling. But you do realize, you need to see a doctor, a professional who can help you"
Norman: "Like Dr. Palma?"
Norma: "No, a nice doctor, okay? A good doctor"
Norman: "Okay. We can try, but you must promise me that you won't ever send me to a place like that horrible place full of crazy people. Promise me, Mother. I don't ever want to be separated from you again. Okay? Okay I I was wrong about things, and and I will see a doctor, okay, but just please don't send me away from here"
Norma: "Stop worrying, okay? Just turn your head back around and sit still for me, please"
Norman: "It's just, I had horrible dreams in that place. I dreamt you killed Bradley Martin and bashed her brains out on a rock"
[Norma stops cutting his hair and steps back horrified]
Norman: "But I guess that wasn't real, and none of it was real"
Norma: "None of it was real, Norman"
Norman: "Are you absolutely sure, Mother?"
Norma: "Yes, I'm sure"

[After Norman awakens to find Norma has locked him in her room]
Norman: [angrily] "Mother? Mother? Why'd you lock the doors? Mother! Aah! Mother, let me out! Mother! Let me out of here right now!"

Norman: "There is something dark in you, Mother. Something that needs to be stopped"
Norma: "Norman, you're scaring me"
Norman:"I'm not going to lie. You should be scared"

Norman: "You have painted me in a corner that I cannot get out of"

Norma: "I know you're angry with me but we have to think about the future. All I care about is that you get the help you need. Norman, say something. Speak to me"
Norman: "You're dead to me"

Norman: "What are you doing here, Mother? I can't leave yet. There's a waiting period. I said that I'd call you"
Norma: "I know. I know. I'm not I'm not here to pick you up. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of the work that you're doing. And um, but, a-as much as I want you to come home too I-I think it might be worth it if you give it more time. And we were so lucky to get you in this place"
Norman:' "We"?
Norma: "We. Yeah, we. We. You and me. We. You know Dr. Edwards is such a good doctor, and, um and I know you've been working hard, but real change takes time, and if you just work with him just a little longer, you'll be that much stronger when you do come home. All right? That makes sense, doesn't it?"
Norman: "It does. I'm just wondering, Mother, is this your idea or your husband's? I perfectly understand that newlyweds often want time alone. Is that it? If I come home now, will I be in the way of your honeymoon?"
Norma: "I don't know what you're talking about, Norman"
Norman: [showing the newspaper cutting] "Don't embarrass yourself by lying to me"
Norma: [attempting to grab the paper only for Norman to back away] "Okay, yes. I... okay. It's not how it looks. Norm, it's not what you think. Okay, I did it for the medical insurance"
Norman: "I don't believe you"
Norma: "Norman, no. Pineview is expensive. You needed help, and I did it for you"
Norman: "He answered our phone"
Norma: "Yes"
Norman: "He was in our house. Have you been sleeping with him?"
Norma: "What are you talking about? I can't even believe that you are asking me this"
Norman: "I can't believe you're doing it"
Norma: "Don't look at me like that. I can't bear it. Stop. Stop! I did it for the insurance. That's it. I swear, Norman. That's all. He is a public figure. It has to look real. That's all it is. I swear. I... I... I love you. Everything I have ever done, I have done it for you. You are my child. You are my priority"
Norman: "Then prove it"
Norma: "How? What?"
Norman: "Let me come home"
Norma: "I... but I... I don't think that that's what's best for you"
Norman: "Please, Mother. Please. I've done everything that you asked. I came here, and I stayed, and I made an effort, and I've made progress. Even the doctor says so. And I'm taking medication, and I'll keep seeing Dr. Edwards. I just can't stay here. I... I want to be home with you. I need to come home, Mother. Please. Please let me come home. Oh, please"
Norma: "Okay. Of course you can come home. I'm so sorry. You can come home"
Norman: "Oh, thank you. I'll keep seeing Dr. Edwards, I promise"

Videos

Bates Motel The Evolution of Norma and Norman A&E

Gallery

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Trivia

• The opening scene in the series premiere shows a scene from the 1940s movie "His Girl Friday" on the TV. In it Ralph Bellamy discusses his own domineering matriarch to Cary Grant - a parallel to the relationship between Norma and Norman.
• Norma and Norman singing "Mr. Sandman" together in the Season 2 episode Shadow of a Doubt after she signs them up for the play at the community theater foreshadows his murder-suicide attempt that results in her death in the penultimate episode of Season 4 since the song plays over the scene.
• In the Season 2 episode Meltdown, the film that Norma suggests to Norman that they go see together and then the latter later watches alone is the 1944 psychological thriller film noir Double Indemnity, which is about an insurance salesman lured to his doom by a predatory femme fatale, a parallel to the close relationship between Norma and Norman.
• In the Season 3 episode Norma Louise, Norma mentions the children's book The Giving Tree in which the tree is really a symbol for the boy's mother. Her willingness to give and give despite getting so little in return is symbolic of the unconditional love of a mother for a child, which describes Norma's love for her youngest son.