Bates Motel is a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film Psycho, and gives a portrayal of how Norman Bates' (Freddie Highmore) psyche unravels through his teenage years. Fans discover the dark, twisted backstory of Norman Bates and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga), truly is. Written by AandE Television Networks

Four months have passed since the death of his school teacher Miss Watson and Norman still has no recollection of exactly what happened that night. He remembers being at her house but the next thing he recalls is running down the road in the rain. He visits her grave frequently and on one occasion manages to photograph a stranger standing at her grave. Bradley Martin, who attempted suicide after realizing her dead father was having an affair with a woman using the initial B, is released from a mental institution. She approaches her father's former business partner, Gil, who brushes her off. She decides to take a more direct approach. Norma meanwhile takes on the local municipal council after she learns that work has begun on the bypass. Written by garykmcd

After killing Gil Turner, Bradley hides out in Norman's basement. Her plan is to take a bus out of town. Norma is still worried about Norman's blackouts and decides that he needs something new to keep him occupied. The local community theater is putting on South Pacific and she suggests they both try out for it. Nick Watson isn't too pleased with the pace of his daughter Blair's murder investigation and tells police chief Alex Romero things can change in the town. The police soon get a break in the case and make an arrest. Dylan and Remo aren't too keen on Gil's replacement. Written by garykmcd

Norma is disappointed to learn that she didn't get a part in the community play. She makes a new friend however in Christine Heldens who was supposed to direct the play but quit when Norma didn't get the lead. She invites Norma to a party and is introduced to new people including Christine's brother George. She also meets Nick who tells her he too is against the bypass. With Bradley Martin now believed to have committed suicide, Emma organizes a memorial at the beach but things don't quite go as planned. Norma is shattered when her brother Caleb appears unannounced. She throws him out of the house but Dylan takes a liking to him and he doesn't quite understand why she treats him so badly. She has a major revelation for him. Written by garykmcd

After the revelations, Dylan gets drunk and passes out in his car. Caleb denies being his father and returns the money Dylan gave him. Dylan again confronts Norma and she admits she never told anyone, least of all Caleb, who his father was. An outraged Norman, again goes into acting out as his mother and visits Caleb at his motel. It's the morning after the night before for Emma who wakes up in bed with the boy she met at the beach party. Sheriff Romero warns Zane to take it easy or that there will be repercussions. Soon after, Romero finds that his house has gone up in flames. Written by garykmcd

Cody takes care of Norman until he comes out of his fugue state. He lies and tells her it's never happened before. He learns that she has a difficult situation at home and she shows him her hideaway. When he gets home however, Norma has harsh words about the girl and asks him not to see her again. Norma finds a supporter and a benefactor in her attempt to stop work on the bypass. Nick Ford gives her the ammunition to stop the work, at least temporarily. She doesn't realize just who she's dealing with however. Emma is thinking of having sex with boy she met on the beach and asks Norma for some advice. Romero moves into Norma's motel and subsequently delivers a message to Zane. Written by garykmcd

The death of councilman Lee Berman in a car accident opens up a vacancy on city council and Christine Heldens suggests Norma should replace him. Sheriff Romero suggests she avoid it. Dylan leaves the hospital and is picked up by Zane's sister, Jodi Wilson. She takes him home and gives him a room until things blow over. Norman spends the day with Cody but when her father suddenly comes home, they hide in the closet causing Norman to recall a traumatic childhood experience. When they go to the river, an incident with Emma results in Norman turning on Cody. Worried about Norman's blackouts, Cody tells Emma what's happened and she in turn tells Norma. It all leads to an angry confrontation with Cody and her father. Written by garykmcd

Norman questions Norma's faith in him. Zane's thirst for revenge threatens Dylan. Romero's presented with new evidence that may change the course of Miss Watson's murder investigation. Cody's friendship with Norman reaches a breaking point. Written by Anonymous

Norma and Norman's relationship continues to deteriorate as she flatly refuses to tell him anything about his blackouts. In the aftermath of the attack on his warehouse, Nick Ford asks Norma to tell Dylan he wants to talk. When Nick and Dylan meet, Ford gives him only one way to stop an all-out war between the two families. Sheriff Romero informally questions Norman about whether he had sex with his teacher Miss Watson, on the night she died. Norman denies it but Romero has DNA tests that prove otherwise. Written by garykmcd

Norma returns home in the early morning to find that Norman's bed hasn't been slept in. She soon gets a call from Nick Ford who says that he has Norman and if she wants to see him alive, she has to get Dylan to do what he asked: kill Zane Morgan. When Dylan is unable to do so he decides to inform Ford personally. Norman meanwhile is being kept in a metal box in the middle of nowhere and recalls a bit of what happened the night Miss Watson died. Sheriff Romero asks his father's ex-partner, Declan Rogers, to conduct a lie detector test on Norman. Norma blocks the sheriff's attempts to see Norman but eventually breaks down and tells him he's been abducted. Written by garykmcd

With Nick Ford dead, Dylan and Sheriff Romero rescue Norman. Together, they set a trap for Zane Morgan. Now safe at home, Norman tells his mother he's recalled killing Miss Watson but Norma refuses to believe him insisting that it can't be true. Romero has scheduled the polygraph test which nearly sends Norma over the edge. Convinced that Norman will be found out, her plan is to flee but Dylan intervenes. Norman is contemplating another way out however. Written by garykmcd