1959
Marion Crane, a real estate secretary, embezzles $40,000 from a client and flees Phoenix, intending to start a new life with her lover, Sam Loomis. During her journey, she stops at the isolated Bates Motel, where she meets the shy and awkward proprietor, Norman Bates, and is subsequently murdered in the shower by a shadowy figure. When Marion's sister, Lila, and Sam become concerned by her disappearance, they hire private investigator Milton Arbogast, who traces Marion to the Bates Motel and is also murdered while investigating Norman's reclusive mother. Lila and Sam then go to the motel themselves, where they discover Norman's mother is a mummified corpse and that Norman, suffering from dissociative identity disorder, has been committing the murders while embodying his mother's personality.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Mary, a secretary, steals forty thousand dollars and flees, only to end up at the isolated Bates Motel where she is murdered by Norman Bates.
Open full beat sheetMary Crane is listed as Protagonist. Attractive girl nearing the end of her twenties, experiencing inner tension and conflict. In the parsed data, Mary Crane is connected to 29 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
29 scenes / 2 dialogue linesNorman Bates is listed as Antagonist. Thin, tall, soft-spoken and hesitant man in his late twenties. In the parsed data, Norman Bates is connected to 24 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 48 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
24 scenes / 46 dialogue linesSam Loomis is listed as Mary's lover. Good-looking, sensual man with warm humorous eyes and a compelling smile. In the parsed data, Sam Loomis is connected to 19 scenes, 60 dialogue lines, 62 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
19 scenes / 60 dialogue linesLila Crane is listed as Mary's sister. Attractive girl with a definite manner and look of purposefulness. In the parsed data, Lila Crane is connected to 16 scenes, 52 dialogue lines, 52 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
16 scenes / 52 dialogue linesMilt Arbogast is listed as Private Investigator. Cynical, routine-logged investigator. In the parsed data, Milt Arbogast is connected to 6 scenes, 52 dialogue lines, 53 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
6 scenes / 52 dialogue linesCaroline is listed as Office worker. Girl in the last of her teens with a vague Texan accent. In the parsed data, Caroline is connected to 5 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
5 scenes / 7 dialogue linesMr. Lowery is listed as Mary's boss. Pleasant, worried-faced man, big and a trifle pompous. In the parsed data, Mr. Lowery is connected to 5 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
5 scenes / 3 dialogue linesTom Cassidy is listed as Oil-lease client. Gross man, loud, exuding a kind of pitiful vulgarity. In the parsed data, Tom Cassidy is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesAl Chambers is listed as Deputy Sheriff. Tall, narrow man with a face destined for Mount Rushmore. In the parsed data, Al Chambers is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 41.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesPatrolman is listed as Highway Patrolman. Suspicious officer who stops Mary. In the parsed data, Patrolman is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 14.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCar Dealer is listed as Used car salesman. Cheerful, high-pressure salesman. In the parsed data, Car Dealer is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 15.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDr. Simon is listed as Psychiatrist. Serious, frowning young man. In the parsed data, Dr. Simon is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 59.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesHelicopter shot of Phoenix, moving from the city to a specific hotel room where Mary and Sam are together.
Mary Crane, Sam LoomisMary and Sam discuss their secret affair and their desire to be together properly.
Mary Crane, Sam LoomisMary exits the hotel and takes a cab.
Mary CraneMary arrives at her office.
Mary CraneMary interacts with Caroline and Mr. Lowery, and meets Tom Cassidy who brings a large sum of cash.
Mary Crane, Caroline, Mr. Lowery, Tom CassidyMary informs Lowery she is leaving early.
Mary Crane, Mr. Lowery, Tom CassidyMary prepares to leave with the money.
Mary Crane, CarolineMary packs her suitcase and prepares to leave town with the stolen money.
Mary CraneMary leaves in her car.
Mary CraneMary encounters Lowery and Cassidy while driving.
Mary Crane, Mr. Lowery, Tom CassidyMary drives away from the city.
Mary CraneMary stops for gas but leaves when a phone rings.
Mary CraneMary drives through the night, exhausted.
Mary CraneA patrolman stops Mary on the side of the road.
Mary Crane, PatrolmanMary trades her car for a new one to avoid suspicion.
Mary Crane, Patrolman, Car DealerMary hides the money.
Mary CraneMary completes the car trade and leaves.
Mary Crane, Patrolman, Car DealerMary drives past a police car, feeling anxious.
Mary CraneMary continues driving.
Mary CraneMary imagines a conversation between Lowery and Caroline about her absence.
Mary Crane, Caroline, Mr. LoweryMary drives as evening falls.
Mary CraneMary continues to hallucinate conversations about her theft.
Mary Crane, Caroline, Mr. Lowery, Tom CassidyMary arrives at the Bates Motel.
Mary Crane, Norman BatesMary registers at the motel.
Mary Crane, Norman BatesNorman shows Mary to her cabin.
Mary Crane, Norman BatesMary and Norman have supper and talk.
Mary Crane, Norman BatesNorman spies on Mary.
Mary Crane, Norman BatesMary is murdered in the shower.
Mary Crane, Norman BatesNorman cleans up the crime scene.
Norman BatesNorman cleans up after disposing of Mary's belongings, then drives away to dispose of the car.
Norman BatesNorman pushes the car into the swamp and hides the evidence.
Norman BatesNorman uses a hose to erase remaining tire marks and returns to the house.
Norman BatesLila Crane visits Sam Loomis to inquire about her missing sister, Mary.
Sam Loomis, Caroline, Lila Crane, Milt ArbogastArbogast arrives at the motel to question Norman.
Norman Bates, Milt ArbogastArbogast presses Norman about his mother.
Norman Bates, Milt ArbogastArbogast calls Lila to report his findings.
Milt ArbogastArbogast enters the house and is murdered.
Norman Bates, Milt ArbogastSam and Lila wait for Arbogast.
Sam Loomis, Lila CraneLila waits for Sam at the hardware store. They discuss the disappearance of Arbogast and decide to visit the Deputy Sheriff.
Sam Loomis, Lila CraneSam and Lila arrive at the Sheriff's house and ring the doorbell, which makes a loud, alarming sound.
Sam Loomis, Lila CraneSam and Lila speak with the Sheriff and his wife about Mary's disappearance and the private investigator.
Sam Loomis, Lila Crane, Al ChambersNorman reacts to the phone call from the Sheriff and decides to move his mother to the cellar.
Norman BatesNorman enters the house to move his mother.
Norman BatesNorman carries his mother down to the cellar despite her protests.
Norman BatesSam and Lila meet the Sheriff after church and discuss the lack of evidence.
Sam Loomis, Lila Crane, Al ChambersSam and Lila drive to the motel, discussing Mary and their relationship.
Sam Loomis, Lila CraneSam and Lila arrive at the motel.
Sam Loomis, Lila Crane, Norman BatesSam and Lila check into the motel.
Sam Loomis, Lila Crane, Norman BatesSam and Lila discuss their plan to search the motel.
Sam Loomis, Lila CraneSam and Lila search Cabin One and find a scrap of paper.
Sam Loomis, Lila CraneLila enters the house to search for the mother.
Lila CraneSam keeps Norman occupied in the office.
Sam Loomis, Norman BatesLila enters the mother's room.
Lila CraneSam confronts Norman about his mother and his desire to leave the motel.
Sam Loomis, Norman BatesLila explores Norman's childhood room and discovers disturbing items.
Lila CraneSam pressures Norman about the money and his mother.
Sam Loomis, Norman BatesSam confronts Norman in the parlor; Norman realizes Lila is in the house.
Sam Loomis, Norman BatesLila discovers the corpse of Mrs. Bates; Norman attacks.
Norman Bates, Lila Crane, Sam LoomisDr. Simon explains the psychological state of Norman Bates.
Mary Crane, Sam Loomis, Lila Crane, Al Chambers, Dr. SimonNorman sits in his cell, fully consumed by his mother's personality.
Norman BatesMiss Crane, please. She leave a number? Thanks. Lila there, Mr. Loomis? Arbogast. Lila? Look, this isn't much, but it might make you feel a little better. Mary was up here. Spent last Saturday night at Bates' Motel, out here on the old highway. Young fellow runs it, said Mary spent the night, left, period! I did question him, believe me. I think I got all there was to get. Just have to try to pick up the scent from here. Well... maybe that's because I don't feel entirely satisfied. He's got a sick old mother, confined type, and I think she saw Mary and talked to her. Shame, too... confined old women love to talk to strangers. I was, but I think I'll go back to the motel, first. No, you stay put, Lila. With Loomis. I should be back in an hour. All right. And Lila... You'll be happy to know what I think. I think our friend Sam Loomis didn't even know Mary was here. See you in an hour. Or less.
She was tired. She said she had a long drive ahead of her, in the morning... Yes, now I'm remembering very clearly because I'm picturing. When you make a picture of the moment in your mind, you can remember every detail. She was sitting back there, no she was standing up, with some sandwich still in her hand, and she said she had to drive a long way.
...They tell you what its ingredients are and how it's guaranteed to exterminate any insect in the world, but they do not tell you whether or not it's painless. And I say insect or man, death should always be painless.
Look, if you two are in this thing together, I don't care, it's none of my business... But I want to see Mary. I want her to tell me she's all right and it's none of my business. Then I'll go back to Phoenix and...
How could I go away? I'm in debt up to my... If she did steal that money... It's hard to believe she did because it's hard to see why she would. Unless she had some wild idea that it would help me... us...
I don't even bother with guests registering any more... I mean, little by little, you drop the formalities. I shouldn't even bother to change the linen. I guess habits die hard. Which reminds me...
Yes sir! Marie Samuels. Interesting alias. Don't know where she got "Marie," but "Samuels" figures. Her boy friend's name is Sam. Was she in disguise? Or do you want to check the picture again?
The vacancy sign. Just in case. We had a couple the other night, said if the sign hasn't been on they'd have thought this was an old deserted mining town or something.
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