Bates Motel: “Goodnight, Mother” — March 14, 2016
This week on Bates Motel, Norman believes Norma is responsible for the murders in White Pine Bay; Dylan wants to be a better man for Emma; and Alex makes a surprising choice. Find out how it all plays out in this week’s recap by Special Contributor Tracey M. – David F.
Photo: A&E
Norman is hallucinating while he’s washing his face. He sees Mother putting Audrey into his taxidermy freezer and fighting to keep the lid down while Audrey fights for her life. Unsuccessfully.
Norma yells up to tell him she’s heading down to the motel to clean out a recently vacated room. Her son watches until she’s at the motel before running down to the basement. He yanks open the door to his freezer and (aha!) finds it empty. He’s suspicious of Norma and scared to let her out of his sight. He’s convinced that Norma is dangerous and needs help. Hello, Pot, have you met Kettle? When Norma returns to the house, she finds Norman peering into his freezer, with its frozen specimens scattered about. Norma asks about this; Norman asks her where the woman’s body is because he “knows” Norma is responsible. She has no idea what he’s talking about….unless. He’s decided she needs looking after, and he will take charge from now on. Saved by the doorbell, Norma opens the door for Sheriff Romero. He’s checking to be sure Norma is alright after her panicked dawn visit. She says she is fine and quickly heads back inside. Poor Alex is a drunken moth to the crazy flame.
On the other hand, Alex has found a good use for Bob Paris’ ill-gotten gains. He takes the bundle to Pineview to help the Bateses. Asking for immediate admission for Norman, he hands the money to Vicki Monroe (Fiona Vroom) at the front desk. She asks the sheriff if he’s related to the family. He says he’s marrying Norman’s mother. Attaboy Alex, embrace the crazy! Norma Louise has got more than enough to spare.
Back at Bates manor, Norman reads to his mother. She nervously peers out the window at the “pool” Bob Paris had dug for her. It’s nothing more than a huge, deep pit, now full of rainwater. She puts on her rain gear, and heads down a ladder into the pit. Feeling around in the muddy water but she only finds a rubber glove before hearing a car pull in. Norman hurries down to check in their guests and sees Norma climbing out of the pit, mud on her cheek. Norman sternly sends Norma up to the house, threatening to make a scene if she doesn’t go. He yells after her to stay in the house.
While Norman checks the family in, Norma receives a call from Alex. He tells her he’s reconsidered, and will marry her if she’s still interested. The form for voluntary committal to Pineview must be signed, and Alex is faxing it to Norma as they speak. Norma panics; the fax machine is in the hotel office. The forms are in Norman’s hands now, and he reads every page.
Will and Dylan are sitting and talking in the hospital coffee shop. Will thanks Dylan for helping his daughter. He reminds Dylan that Emma’s going to want more out of life than a small-town romance with a pot-farmer. Will feels Dylan deserves better for himself, as well. Dylan goes to Emma and tells her he’s leaving to check on the farm. Emma asks him if he’ll be coming back. Dylan says he will if she wants him to. She does. Awww, two sweet people with a rough start are feeling the first blush of romance. Who isn’t a sucker for that? Norman, that’s who.
Norman sits in the office, clutching those committal forms. His father has decided to join him, and add his two cents to the mix. Norman asks him to please leave, but daddy stays, and begins to tell him the things that Norma has done and blamed on Norman instead. He tells Norman his mother is dangerous and must be stopped. Norma is hiding outside, waiting for Norman to leave the office so she can check the fax machine. Of course the forms are gone, Norman’s just crazy and dangerous, not stupid.
Norma Louise sneaks back into the house, and is startled at the door by Norman. I hate when that happens; Hell, everybody hates when that happens! She offers to fix him a turkey pot pie for dinner. Hey, Norma, how ‘bout mixing in a nice sedative or 12 for your boy? He watches her every move and says he can’t leave her alone because he doesn’t trust her. She’s dangerous and is the one sabotaging him. They eat in silence. It’s always awkward to figure out who’s the most dangerous person at the table.
Norma says she’s scared and Norman agrees that she should be. He knows she killed Audrey and Bradley Martin and Blair Watson (Keegan Connor Tracy) out of jealousy. She killed his dad, too. That’s why she was down in the pit — covering up her latest crime. Norman stands, I feel a storm brewing… He knows she’s trying to blame him and have him locked up, but he WON’T ALLOW HER TO DO THAT!!! He’s raging in her face, veins pulsing, eyes darkening. Norma runs upstairs for her gun. Too late, Norman’s already got it. She knows she should be strapped at all times — guns come in handy in White Pine Bay. Just ask Alex. Kissing her son’s face, soothing him and telling him she loves him, Norma almost lulls her child into a calm state, but he lashes out when she goes for the gun. Norma finds a room to lock herself in, and calls Alex. Norman is scaring the crap out of her.
Later, when Norma peeks out, she hears music playing. It’s the laptop downstairs, playing a Bob Hope musical number. The house is dark and there’s no sign of Norman. She finds a sharp pair of shears and heads down to the basement and finds Norman at his taxidermy table. He shows her the commitment forms and says he can’t sign them and leave her to “run amok”. He suggests they commit a double suicide. Alex is heard forcing his way into the house. Norma cries that she’s sorry it’s come to this, but unless Norman signs the papers, he will be sent back to the state hospital. She begs him to sign. Some part of him remembers the horrors of the state hospital, so he signs. Norma cries tears of sadness and relief as she watches Alex drive away with Norman. But we know he will be back.
Bates Motel Airs Mondays 9/8c on A&E
