The summer is over and it's time for Norman to return to school. He does so reluctantly and at Norma's insistence but an hallucination in the school cafeteria sends him running home. Norma decides it would be best for him to be home schooled and so makes him the motel manager. Norman and Emma agree they should date. Norma meanwhile learns that her mother has died. She tries to maintain a cool facade and tells the lawyer she wants nothing to do with her mother's estate. Her brother Caleb is still around and he tries to give some money to Dylan who is out of a job now that the DEA has shut down the grow op. A sexy call girl, Annika Johnson, checks into the motel and Norman happily offers to show her how to get to the party she is working that night. Written by garykmcd

Vera is concerned when motel guest Annika Johnson can't be found. That concern grows exponentially when she realizes Norman lied to her about seeing Annika the previous evening. Norman insists he only drove her car back and that nothing happened but Norma is coming to the end of her rope. Norma learns of the Arganum club and sneaks onto the grounds only to run into someone she knows. Meanwhile, Caleb kills a dog which turns out to be his neighbor Chick Hogan's pet, or so he claims. Norman and Emma go out on their first date. Written by garykmcd

Norma is summoned to the morgue by Sheriff Romero to identify the body of a young woman who was found floating in a tidal basin. She's relieved to find that it isn't their missing motel guest, Annika Johnson. The police identify the girl as a high class call girl who's been coming to White Pine Bay one weekend a month for nearly a year. Norma is stressed over starting her business classes and doesn't make a very good start. She does get an unusual offer that she might just accept. Emma accepts a special delivery intended for Dylan, who is still trying to work out his relationship with his biological father, Caleb. Sheriff Romero meets Marcus Young who plans on running against him in the next election. Written by garykmcd

With the death of Annika Johnson in the Bates Motel parking lot, Sheriff Carbonell has a second murder to investigate. He can't quite understand why a wounded Johnson would drive herself to the motel but learns that the car she used belonged to the dead girl they found on the tidal marsh. He knows both girls are connected to the Arcanum club but club president Bob Paris warns him off. Norma is having trouble opening the files on the USB drive Annika gave her. Others are desperate to retrieve that information as well - and seem quite ready to kill for it. Written by garykmcd

Things begin to get serious when Norma is run off the road as a warning to return the information that has come into her possession. When the information on the flash drive is finally deciphered, she realizes it relates to the drug trade and names many of White Pine Bay's most prominent citizens. With a very reluctant Sheriff Romero in tow, she visits Bob Paris and tells him exactly what she wants. Dylan meanwhile has decided to tell Norma about Caleb living with him at the farm. Her reaction is to flee. Written by garykmcd

After Dylan and Norman calmly suggest to her that she meet with her brother Caleb, Norma has a panic attack and runs off. She has nowhere to go but checks into a motel to sort herself out. She buys a new car and goes to a bar where a pick-up doesn't work out as planned. She finally ends up at James Finnegans' house where he tries to get to the root of her problem. Back home, a traumatized Norman has a blackout but Dylan sees him in full Norma-mode, dressed as their mother and making breakfast for him in the kitchen. Elsewhere, Sheriff Romero is recovering in the hospital from the attempt to kill him and gets a visit from Marcus Young. Written by garykmcd

Norma's return home after her brief absence is anything but smooth. Norman has been acting resentful and she tells him to grow up. His first meeting with a psychologist doesn't go well. After acquiring a new phone, Norma realizes that Sheriff Romero has been shot. Romero finally has a look at the list of names on the flash card Norma was given and finds some very disturbing information. Dylan learns more about Emma's condition from her dad and the fact that she may never get high enough on the list of people waiting for a lung transplant. Dylan may have a way to help her out when his neighbor offers him a dangerous but well-paying job. Norma decides to put everything behind her and cook a nice dinner. Written by garykmcd

Bob Paris is still trying to recover the flash drive and learns from a severely beaten James Finnigan about Norman having killed his father. He tells Romero what he's learned and Alex in turns asks Norma about how her husband died but she sticks to her story that he died in an accident. Meanwhile, Paris get a work crew to dig a 25 foot deep hole on Norma's property, supposedly the swimming pool she wanted as part of their deal. Dylan and Caleb set out on their gun delivery job but it's clear that Chick wasn't entirely truthful about the reception they would get at the other end. Written by garykmcd

After nearly being killed during the gun delivery, Caleb makes sure that Dylan gets the money he needs. In doing so however, he realizes it's no longer safe for him to stay in the area. Before leaving, he tell Norma about the time Norman visited him acting like he was her. Norman is shocked by Bradley's sudden reappearance. She finds that much has changed while she has been away. Norma decides to give up her battle with Bob Paris and give him the flash card - only Sheriff Romero refuses to return it to her. Written by garykmcd

Norma decides she can no longer deal with Norman's problems and visits a group home where he could get the best care. When she speaks to him about it, Norman concludes that his mother has given up on him. Bradley Martin convinces him to run away with her and in the circumstances, he agrees. When he tells his mother he's leaving with Bradley, Norma - believing the girls is dead - is now convinced that Norman is completely mad. Norman makes his escape but once alone in the car with Bradley, he tells her that his mother wants to speak to her. Meanwhile, Emma learns from the hospital in Portland that a transplant donor has been found for her. Afraid, she runs off but Dylan convinces her to go through with it. Written by garykmcd