Bates Motel quotes

Julian Howe

Did you start your meds?

Norman Bates

Yeah.

Julian Howe

You sleep?

Norman Bates

Not really.

Julian Howe

Yeah, well, that'll go away. You may even sleep more.

Norman Bates

I think I'll sleep better when I'm home in my own bed.

Julian Howe

You gonna miss your mommy tucking you in? [Norman looks offended] It's a joke, dude. Lighten up. I'm I'm sorry if you're homesick.

Norman Bates

Oh, no. I'm not homesick, Julian. I'm going home.

Julian Howe

Seriously?

Norman Bates

Yep.

Julian Howe

Dr. Edwards sign off on your paperwork yet?

Norman Bates

He will.

Julian Howe

No, he won't. Even if he did, someone like you, you're gonna boomerang back here in one, two months, tops. That is, of course, unless your family freaks out and dumps you back here sooner.

Norman Bates

Someone like me?

Julian Howe

Yeah, I'm... look, I know you think you're different, playing all calm and nice, but you don't wind up in a place like this just 'cause you're normal.

Norman Bates

You're right, Julian. I'm not normal. But I'm also not like you. I may be crazy like you are, but I'm smart, and I can get myself out of this place because I want to. I know how to make the world see me as someone normal, someone kind, someone nice, and you just can't do that. That's why you're never gonna get out of here.

Dylan Massett

[about Audrey's letter] That's how I knew your mom was staying at the motel. I tracked down her landlord, and she said that she hadn't heard from your mom, and that your mom owed back, like, four months' rent, so they had to get rid of her stuff and evict her. Did you read this? I think that, you know, it seems like she wants to get to know you and make an effort.

Emma Decody

What it says is that she wants to tell me about why she left. What it means is that she actually wants to tell me horrible things about my dad.

Dylan Massett

Are you sure?

Emma Decody

All that stuff you found out about the disconnected phone. The back rent. It all makes sense. She's broke. She wanted to make us feel sorry for her so that we'd bail her out. She did it a few times when I was little, until my dad finally told her to go to hell. I can't keep pretending like I don't remember that. She's not a very good person. I'm such an idiot.

Dylan Massett

No, no.

Emma Decody

No, it's fine. I don't need someone who doesn't who doesn't want me.

Dylan Massett

I want you. I love you.

Norman Bates

I just really wanted to thank you for everything that you've done for me. And for my mother. I know it was a very difficult time for her, and I know that it probably meant a great deal for her to have a friend there. And the fact that you married her, it's above and beyond. We're both really very grateful.

Alex Romero

Oh, that's, uh, I mean, I was happy to do it, Norman.

Norman Bates

I-I just want you to know that you can be done now.

Alex Romero

Uh, I can be done how?

Norman Bates

I know you got married for the insurance, and I don't want to burden you with it. I'm an adult, and I'm going to get my own insurance.

Alex Romero

All right, well, um... Uh, insurance is... it's really expensive, Norman. And I-I know the motel hasn't been doing well, and...

Norman Bates

There's other places to work besides the motel, Sheriff. And other things that I can be doing besides managing. So I'll be getting a part-time job while I continue on at the motel. And as soon as I get all this straightened out, which should be in the next two weeks, you and my mother can get a divorce.

Alex Romero

You know, Norman, uh... things change, and that's just that's a part of life.

Norman Bates

That's where you're wrong. Certain things can never change. Things that you know nothing about and never, ever will. But I will always remember that you helped my mother at a time that she was so confused and so vulnerable.

Alex Romero

I-I think you need to be careful about how far you want to push this, Norman.

Norman Bates

I'll let you know when I have my own insurance and we can start the paperwork for the divorce, so as not to expose your fraud.

Norman Bates

Mother!

Norma Bates

[gasps] Geeze! Norman! Don't jump out from a bunch of trees and sneak up on people!

Norman Bates

I didn't jump out from a bunch of trees you're just on edge. What's going on?

Norma Bates

I don't know Norman. I don't know what's going on. You know why!? Because no one tells me anything! Things that you do. Things that affect my life. I mean but why talk to me about anything? I mean what am I? Like a doll? And the men folk are gonna hash out who gets the woman in the homestead?

Norman Bates

Oh I see. So he told you?

Norma Bates

Yeah he told me because he respects me enough to tell me.

Norman Bates

Pfft.

Norma Bates

What the hell does that mean? Pfft! That's bullshit Norman. Anyone could do that. Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! [mockingly] I just diminished what you said!!

Norman Bates

Maybe this just isn't the place for this discussion. Mother.

Norma Bates

I tried to talk to you about it at the house but Dylan and Emma were already there. I am so upset with you. And I don't want to get into it so STOP PROVOKING ME! STOP IT! [storms off]

Norman Bates

You might as well tell me what's wrong. I know you're angry it's not like I can pretend you're not and go have a glass of cider and a candy cane and fa la la la la!! You're ruining everything!!

Norma Bates

Fine!! I cannot believe that you went behind my back to tell Alex that he and I should get a divorce!

Norman Bates

Mother! You don't have to lie to me. I know you've been sleeping with him. That you had to do it to get insurance for me! That sort of thing is horrible and you shouldn't have to live life like that, no one should. But if I have learned one thing at Pineview, it is that sometimes you have to let other people help in order to alleviate your burdens.

Norma Bates

But that's not what happened!

Norman Bates

...

Norma Bates

He's a good man...And I like him.

Norman Bates

You like him?

Norma Bates

...Yes.

Norma Bates

I told him.

Alex Romero

How do you feel?

Norma Bates

It was hard. Why do you have this magical ability to make me feel calm?

Alex Romero

There's something I got to tell you. I'm, uh, I'm actually magical. [whispers] I'm a unicorn.

Norma Bates

[laughing] You're a unicorn? - What? Is that what you said?

Alex Romero

[smiling] I don't know what you're talking about.

Norma Bates

You did! Well, thank you. Thank you for for being whatever it is that you said. That you say that you are.

Alex Romero

Okay. Yeah, you're very welcome.

Norman Bates

Okay Alex, there's something that you don't seem to understand. Nothing is going to change. You can be married to her, you can be sleeping with her but you're never going to get in between us.

Alex Romero

I'm not trying to.

Norma Bates

Norman there's room in the human heart for more than one person. It doesn't diminish the love that's already there.

Norman Bates

Oh really? Imagine that we are on a ship at sea. The ship is going down and there is one tiny boat and room and provisions for two. Who are you gonna put in that boat with you?

Alex Romero

Well maybe you and I get in Norman and we leave her on the ship.

Norman Bates

My whole life, you have kept me so close to you that I couldn't breathe without you. You never wanted me to have a girlfriend or even a good time. I-I gave up everything. Everything for you, Mother. And I did it gladly, because I understand the bond between us, the cord. I understand that it is huge and sacred and unique. And now you want to tell me that doesn't matter. Now, all of a sudden, there's room for someone else. Well, there isn't, a-and you know it. This is our world. Our world, Mother! And that's what love is. Real love. Not this pale corpse you're trying to put in its place, and you never will be able to. You are setting yourself up, and he is making you think that it's possible!

Norma Bates

Get this through your head! No one is making me do anything! I am a grown woman. I love him. He loves me. And that is it. And you have to deal with it!

Alex Romero

You need to grow up a little right now, and you need to think of your mother.

Norman Bates

Don't patronize me. I have spent every waking moment of my life thinking of my mother.

Alex Romero

Well, then you need to think of her as a human being, Norman. She's always gonna be your mother. Nothing's ever gonna change that. But don't you think she wants to be with someone? W-w-with a partner? A friend? A lover? Someone she can share her life with? I mean, why is that such a terrible thing? Don't you think she deserves to have a man in her life?

Alex Romero

Put that down. Oh, back up. Back up. Back up.

Norman Bates

AAAAH! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you so much! AHHH!

Norma Bates

Norman? What happened?

Alex Romero

I'm moving back in. I'll go home and get my stuff tomorrow. But I'm not leaving this house tonight.

Norman Bates

He has got a big surprise coming when he realizes just how difficult she can be and how damaged she really is! Everyone sees this part of her that is normal and friendly and happy. But I see what is really there. That she is as frightened and tiny and fragile inside as a baby bird. And that she's lived her whole life that way, because she can just be crushed by disappointment. Oh, but she doesn't let anyone else see that but me. He's got no idea what he's got coming for him. What'll happen next is that he won't measure up to her standards. She'll start to pass judgment on him. Not like this or that. She'll criticize him. And after a while, he'll leave. He'll run away. He'll be gone. Her heart will be broken, and then it'll be little old me picking up all the broken pieces If I can.

Norma Bates

How dare you go behind my back to my own son to try and get Norman taken away from me? Who the hell do you think you are?

Alex Romero

Someone who loves you and is worried about you. And Norman.

Norma Bates

That's nice that that's how you frame it in your head, but how it looks from here is that you are an incredibly presumptuous and arrogant man who thinks he knows what's best for me and my son.

Alex Romero

Wow. I'm sorry you see it that way.

Norma Bates

No one who loves me could ever do this to me.

Alex Romero

No. That's where you're wrong. He's dangerous.

Norma Bates

He's my son! You don't think I would know if he was dangerous?

Alex Romero

He had an axe in his hand, and he wanted to kill me!

Norma Bates

Yeah, well, are you dead? The point is, he didn't! He was angry! He took it out on the shed and on my door. [sighs] You know, we were happy when we were in a bubble, but life isn't a bubble. You know, the second that a little reality crept in, that was it for you. Bam. So much for the stupid bubble.

Alex Romero

You can spin it however you want, Norma. It doesn't make it the truth. You just you can't see clearly here 'cause this is about Norman.

Norma Bates

Yeah, because he's my son! You're gonna plant yourself on the mountain like you're God and tell me how things work with my son? Wrong. You crossed over a line, and you are never crossing back. I will never trust you again.

Alex Romero

No, you left me no choice.

Norma Bates

And you left me none.

Norma Bates

We're supposed to be together, aren't we, Norman? Are we?

Norman Bates

Yeah. Yes, we are, Mother. Forever.

Alex Romero

You think I'm putting up with any of your crap, you think again.

Norman Bates

My mother would just be touched at how you're handling her son, who she loved more than anything on this earth.

Alex Romero

Oh, yeah? That wasn't a suicide. We both know that.

Norman Bates

I-I-I tried to warn you. I tried to warn both of you it was never going to work. You pushed her too far, and you broke her. Now, I-i-if she has gone, it is your fault.

Alex Romero

That's not true.

Norman Bates

No, it is true. I don't want you anywhere near me. I don't want you at the house, and I do not want you near her at that funeral home or at the funeral. I don't want to see you ever again.

Alex Romero

Go on go on, cut me out of everything. I don't care now. She's gone, so what does it matter?

Norman Bates

What are you gonna do, kill me in the hallway?

Alex Romero

No, I'm gonna prove you did it, you piece of shit.

Norman Bates

[giving Norma's eulogy] My mother was the most wonderful person who ever lived. She was just beautiful beyond words, radiant, half queen, half little girl. She had an innocence to her that illuminated everything that she did, everything that she touched, every word that she said. She was like a miracle. And I miss her. I miss... I miss her. I miss her so, so terribly. I... I just can't believe she left. She was not supposed to leave me. And I know that they say that God has a plan and that we have and we have to trust that. We have to trust the plan. [angrily, to Norma's portrait] Well, it would be nice to know what the hell that plan is. I guess nobody thought telling me that would be important. I'm just supposed to figure this shit out by myself!

Norman Bates

Mother, I have really had enough of this. If you're angry and you're just punishing me, then you win. You win. I'm sorry. Would you just please come back now? You can't just leave me here, Mother. You can't just leave me here alone in this abyss where I can't find you!