Bates Motel Page #6

Norma opens the door to find Bradley, Lissa, Jenna and

Hayden.

BRADLEY:

Hi! Are you Mrs. Bates?

Norma is a little guarded.

NORMA LOUISE:

I am.

BRADLEY:

I’m Bradley Kenner. We’re friends

of Norman’s from school. We’re

going to the library to study for

the history test and we wondered if

he wanted to study with us?

Norma looks surprised and not thrilled to see girls there for

Norman. Norman appears behind his mom. His face lights up

seeing Bradley. This does not go unnoticed by Norma.

29.

NORMAN:

Hey...

BRADLEY:

Hi Norman.

NORMA LOUISE:

I’m sure he would love to go. But

we’re in the middle of doing a lot

of stuff. We still have unpacking

and all -

BRADLEY:

Oh...sure. I totally understand.

HAYDEN:

I like your house. It’s cool.

NORMA LOUISE:

Thank you. We have some work to do

but it has potential.

NORMAN:

Mom, maybe I could --

NORMA LOUISE:

(cutting him off)

Norman. Not tonight. It’s not a

good idea.

(looks at him; kindly)

Another night.

The girls sense the tension. It’s a little awkward.

BRADLEY:

No worries. Thanks so much. It

was nice meeting you, Mrs. Bates.

NORMA LOUISE:

You too. Thanks for stopping by.

She closes the door. Norman looks at her, so angry.

NORMA LOUISE (CONT’D)

What?

NORMAN:

How could you do that? You didn’t

even let me answer...

30.

NORMA LOUISE:

There was no point in answering

because I knew you were going to

say “yes” and I knew I would have

to say “no”...

NORMAN:

I could have gone, Mom.

NORMA LOUISE:

You can go another time. Once

we’re settled in -

Norman, angry, sits on his anger and heads back into the

kitchen. But half way there he explodes.

NORMAN:

That’s always what it’s going to be

with you. “Later”. “Another

time”. When, Mom? You said you

wanted me to have a life here.

This is how you have one. You meet

friends. You let other people in

your life -

NORMA LOUISE:

“Friends”? I wasn’t born yesterday

NORMAN:

So what? So she’s pretty. So

maybe she kind of likes me. I’m

sixteen.

NORMA LOUISE:

Norman you don’t even know them.

You have to be a little careful -

NORMAN:

(yelling; frustrated)

Why? Why do I have to be careful?

NORMA LOUISE:

Norman, don’t lose your temper at

me. I’m just looking out for you -

He storms up the stairs, slamming his door. STAY ON NORMA,

frustrated. Confused. Did she handle that wrong? Then, not

knowing what else to say --

NORMA LOUISE (CONT’D)

Well maybe you better just stay

there the rest of the night then.

31.

STAY ON HER one beat longer. F***. That didn’t help her

feel any better.

INT. NORMAN’S ROOM - SAME TIME

Norman, breathing hard, picks up a DOG EARED TEDDY BEAR that

shouldn’t even be in the room of a sixteen year old boy and

CHUCKS IT AGAINST THE WALL. Realizes what a completely lame

gesture that was.

NORMAN:

I suck.

Then he sits on the bed. F***. Then he starts to think of

something. Something really radical. Something he’s never

done before. He grabs his cell phone and TEXTS

BRADLEY...WAIT FOR ME AT THE CORNER. He throws on a jacket

and grabs his history book.

EXT. NORMAN’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As he backs out of the open window -- precariously reaching

for a nearby tree branch with his foot. He barely makes it.

Almost falls. Then he’s safe. He starts climbing down.

EXT. STREET CORNER - MINUTES LATER

The girls car is idling. Norman runs up. The back door

opens. He sees Bradley’s smiling face.

BRADLEY:

Get in -

INT. CAR - MOMENTS LATER

Norman, now in the back seat, as the car takes off. Bradley

sees his book.

BRADLEY:

Oh my God you are so cute. You

actually thought we were going to

study...

ON NORMAN...what the f*** have I gotten into?

32.

INT. PARTY HOUSE - NIGHT

Music blasting, drinking, people making out all over the

place, dancing/grinding, girls in effortlessly sexy clothing

run amuck. In other words, a normal high school party.

NORMAN’S POV as he walks through the room, following the

girls. GUYS making friendly/sexual gestures at them about

how hot they are, Hayden gets pulled away by SOME DUDE and

just starts KISSING HIM like it’s a dare, A GROUP OF KIDS

with an ELABORATE BAGGIE BONG, ANOTHER COUPLE making out in a

guest bathroom with the door ajar as she starts sliding to

her knees, RANDOM GIRLS salaciously checking Norman out,

etc...

ON NORMAN. Holy f***. Never been to a party like this.

Never been to anything like this. Trying not to look

completely out of place and overwhelmed, which is how he is

feeling. He sees Bradley peel off and head to the back of

the house. Where is she going?

Meanwhile Lissa is making Norman a drink -- Diet Mountain Dew

and about half a bottle of vodka. She hands it to him,

smiling...

LISSA:

Welcome to Humboldt Bay!

Norman takes it. Takes a drink as the girls make more drinks

and chatter. He looks at the party over the rim of the huge

cup. This is insane...

SAME - LATER

Norman is standing in the kitchen with Lissa and Kaylie who

are talking to THREE DUDES who are totally hitting on them.

The girls are flirting with the guys and Norman is just kind

of standing there with no function.

DUDE #1

(to the girls)

I really think you need to come

outside and see this -

LISSA:

(flirting/teasing)

Like what’s so different about it?

DUDE #1

I’m telling you it’s some different

deal. New strain. It’s killer -

33.

They all head out. Norman isn’t sure if he’s supposed to go

with them or not so he just stays behind. By himself.

Awkward. Isolated. Then his gaze lands on...

BRADLEY:

Talking with a group of people. Beautiful and cool and real.

She sees Norman. Eyes meet. He doesn’t drop the eye

contact. He keeps it up. I LIKE YOU, BRADLEY. Bold move.

She smiles at him while she finishes talking, then she

excuses herself and walks over to him...

BRADLEY:

(with affection)

Did those dumb b*tches leave you

here by yourself?

Norman laughs.

NORMAN:

It’s fine. There’s a lot to look

at.

BRADLEY:

Was that a line? You don’t seem

like a guy that would have “lines”

NORMAN:

(laughs)

No, I mean, really, there’s a lot

to look at. This is better than

SPARTACUS -

Bradley laughs. She looks at him, kind of just appreciating

him.

BRADLEY:

You’re different, aren’t you?

NORMAN:

I don’t know. Maybe. I think

people who are different don’t know

they’re different because they have

nothing to compare it to -

She moves a little closer. Still just studying his face.

Admiring it.

BRADLEY:

Yeah, you’re different.

NORMAN:

What’s so different about me?

34.

BRADLEY:

I don’t know exactly. It’s just a

feeling. You’re like a beautiful,

deep, still lake in the middle of a

concrete world -

Now they are just staring into each other’s eyes. Norman’s

heart is starting to race. He doesn’t even know what’s

coming out of his mouth at this point -

NORMAN:

I am. That’s kind of weird -

BRADLEY:

You’re kind of weird. Weird-good -

And just when we think they might actually kiss -

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