"Thank you," Norma replied as she handed the cabbie the fair and got out.
It had been over 30 years since a Bates had stepped foot in Hidden Spring but Norma had decided long ago that was to change. From a very young age she had heard all the stories about the famous 'Bates Motel' and how it was one of the greatest celebrity hangouts in its day. How the town had run her family out, calling them killers, psychos and filth. Killers? No, Norma didn't consider them killers. They fixed people, her daddy had taught her that. He had taught her a lot of things and she loved him so much. In fact, he was the only person she ever loved.
Her mother had died in a tragic car accident when she was two, something about the brakes being faulty. She really didn't care as she didn't remember her anyways. From that day her father, Robert Bates, had raised her. He taught her everything she knew and told her many stories of his childhood and all the things he fixed along the way. Norma had always found it fascinating.
When Norma was fifteen her father was taken away in a police car. They said he killed her teacher, Mrs. Larson, but Norma knew the truth. Her teacher had yelled at her and failed her on a test that Norma had studied a week for. Daddy didn't like that Mrs. Larson had made Norma cry and so he fixed it for her. What was wrong with that? Daddy's were suppose to protect their little girls, right?
They state sent Norma to a psychologist after that trying to assess the "damage" her father had done to her. They were scared as to what they saw. The little girl was not only delusional, had multiple personalities, she really did believe what her father and her did was right. With no other choice they placed her in Sunset Valley Mental Hospital. They kept saying they were going to "fix" Norma and someday they hoped she could live a normal life with the proper medications.
Norma knew the drill, another thing Daddy had taught her. One thing you always do is pretend. She was a good pretender and had the doctors fooled within a year of being at the hospital. They really believed she was getting better and that the medication was working. Norma kept it up for a few more years until she was old enough to be released and on her own, with proper medication of coarse.
"Fuck them, someday I will show them what it is like to be fixed," Norma said aloud as she looked at her new house in Hidden Springs. "But first, daddies list needs to be worked on."
Norma looked down at the list of names. Her father and her had devised a plan many years ago and Norma had promised to carry it out on the day they executed him.
Fucking assholes they will regret that. She thought for the millionth time. She hated them all, hated them and wanted to torture them like they had her daddy.
"Daddy won't like that, stick to the plan Norma," Norma Jean said.
"You're right Norma Jean, stick to the plan, make Daddy proud." Norma replied as she headed into her house to drop off the small luggage she carried.
"Where to start?" Norma said aloud. No one was really in the house with her, but Norma Jean was always there.
Norma Jean had been Norma's best friend since as long as she can remember. Her aunt Sarah had told her she was just an imaginary friend and that Norma would outgrow her. This hurt Norma Jean's feeling and aunt Sarah had an accident down the stairs that same day. It was okay, Norma didn't like aunt Sarah really anyways, she just tolerated her for daddies sake. Daddy loved his sister and sometimes Norma saw him dressed as Sarah, she liked it when he did that, it made her laugh.
"Lets go check out the motel, see what we need to do to buy it." Norma Jean said.
"Good idea! We need to start on this list anyways, I'm not getting any younger." Norma replied as she called a cab and headed outside to wait.
The plan was simple, or at least Norma thought it was. Norma Jean didn't like it as much but she understood the reasoning behind it. She'd rather just "fix" them all and be done with it. None of this lovey dovey crap. Norma had never had a boyfriend, never had a friend actually, so she was actually excited to start on daddy's plan.
Daddy's plan, it was simple really. Norma was the last of the Bates line as Sarah never had any children and daddy only had Norma. The world was a big huge place with lots of people that needed fixing, too much for one Bates to do alone. So he had devised a plan that not only would fix that problem but get them their motel back as well. Norma was to move to Hidden Springs, find the people on the list, or at least their descendents, make them fall in love with her, produce another more Bates and then fix the father. So simple really, plus Norma liked fixing people, it was fun. She also had a soft spot for children and she'd always wanted a big family. The plan was perfect, at least in her eyes.
"The cab is here," Norma Jean said in her head, pulling Norma out of her daydream. She could always get lost in her thoughts of fixing people. She had never actually had a chance to fix a human before, kitties yes, doggies yes, even a rabbit one time. She had seen her daddy do it though and wanted to be just like him. She had even learned some of the best ways to do it as to not get caught.
Norma was lost in her thoughts once again as the cab took her across town, down an old dirt road out by the ocean, that lead to Bates Motel. When she first set eyes on it she was in love, the picture she carried in her purse did it no justice. She couldn't wait till she could afford to buy it and move in. She really did think running a motel would be amazing.
It was a bit run down, some overgrown brush in places but Norma thought it just added to the appeal of the place. She looked around the motel seeing that nothing was broken and someone seemed to at least do a little maintenance on the place. She then headed up the house behind the motel. Locked, crap Norma wasn't expecting that, she had really wanted to see the inside, see the place where daddy had fixed his mother. The old bat deserved it as far as Norma was concerned. She never understood her son and Norma knew her fixing was necessary for her daddy to be who he was.
Heading back down the stairs Norma saw a sign at the end of the driveway. It was a real estate sign that had the realtors information on it. Perfect.
The sign read:
For Sale
Contact Bert Alto - Real Estate Broker
765-555-2365
Norma wrote down the number and then checked her list. Alto... Alto.. yep they were on the list but it wasn't Bert. Ebenezer was the name on her list, Bert must be his son? Norma wasn't sure, maybe a brother. She'd find out soon enough though as she took out her phone and dialed the number.
"Hello, Bert Alto, how may I help you?" a deep male voice said on the other end of the line.
"Hello, I am calling about the motel on Lakeside Drive," she replied, surprised Bert actually answered the phone.
"You are? *coughs* I mean, yes, beautiful place isn't it?" Bert said. She could hear the shock in his voice. Had no one ever asked about it?
"Could we meet?" Norma asked, walking back up the dirt road to where a taxi could pick her up.
"Sure, sure. Why don't you come over to my house and we'll talk details," Bert said, sounding more eager than he had before.
"Perfect, what is your address?" Norma asked getting her pen and paper out again. This just might be easier than she thought.
After getting his address Norma called a taxi and headed over to Bert's house. Should she tell him the truth, that she was Norma Bates, daughter of Robert Bates, Granddaughter of Martin and Noelle. Did people still know about Noelle? Nah it had been years, they probably didn't remember something or someone so insignificant.
Norma pulled up to Bert's house and the first thing she thought was how big the house was. Hmm, this could get interesting. Norma had always had a way with guys and usually could get anything she wanted by just batting her eyes.
Knocking, it didn't take long for Bert to answer the door. "Norma?" he asked as he held out his hand.
Norma took it, smiling to herself. Older? Alone? Yep, he would be perfect to start her daddies plan.
Bert invited her in asking her if she would like a beverage. "No thank you," Norma stated, "I'd just like to get down to business."
"Fine, fine, so you are interested in buying the old motel?" Bert asked.
"Well, yes, kinda." Norma replied, trying to figure out how to start.
"Oh. I thought you were ready to buy now," Bert said, disappointment clearly in his voice.
Norma had decided to tell most of the truth. It wasn't like she had anything to hide and no one probably remembered who the Bates were anyways.
"I actually am Norma Bates, granddaughter of Martin Bates, the previous owner of the motel." Norma said not sure Bert was really listening anymore.
"Bates? As in Killer Bates? You are his Granddaughter?" Bert asked, starting to step away from Norma.
Norma laughed, she couldn't help herself. "Is that what the rumors have turned in too?" she asked.
"Rumors? No, no, these are facts." Bert said as he headed towards the door. "I think it is time for you to leave Miss. Bates."
"Wait a minute!" Norma screamed as she felt her blood starting to boil. 'Hold it together Norma, you can't fix him yet, you need him!' she heard Norma Jean say. 'Yes, you are right, Norma Jean' Norma replied in her head.
"Ma'am, I believe it is time for you to go. If you do not wish to purchase the property we have nothing else to discuss!" Bert said, his voice cracking a little with the last few words. Boy she really did have him scared and she hadn't even done anything yet. She held back a giggle, stupid man.
"Listen, I don't have the money right now, but I do plan on buying it, that is why I am here now. I just moved into town and want to eventually reopen the motel." Norma explained, batting her eyes at Bert to get him to calm down. 'Sucker' Norma Jean said in her head.
"I don't know what kind of rumors flew around here, but I can assure you Mr. Alto, they are not true. My grandfather did not nor has he ever kill anyone in his life. He was the most sane man I knew." See she didn't lie!
"I beg to differ Miss. Bates. My father was chief of police at the time and although there was never any hard evidence to convict your grandfather, he knew he killed his wife. There was no other explanation. Now kindly leave my house!" Bert replied as he held the door open.
So he was the son of Ebenezer, this was good. She just needed to convince him to let her stay.
"Please Bert... may I call you Bert? Listen to me, my family has lived with this hovering over us all our lives. I have grown up trying to clear my families name and do not plan to stop now. I will save up enough money, and I will buy back my families motel. You can either help me, be part of that profit or I can take my business elsewhere." she said as she started walking towards the door.
"Wait... what is this profit you are talking about?" Bert asked as he shut his door.
Norma knew money would get his attention, she had a way of reading people right from the beginning. 'See not so hard,' Norma Jean said.
"Here is my proposal, Bert. There was never any evidence to convict my family of my grandmothers murder. I need help clearing my family name, you seem like a well known resident in this town and could help me do that. I also need to save up enough money to buy the motel back and then get it running again. How about I make you a partner in my plan and you get 50% when all is said and done?" Norma said batting her eyes again at Bert.
"What will I need to do? There has to be some sort of a catch," Bert asked.
"No catch really. You would need to marry me, for show purposes only of coarse." Norma replied, blowing a kiss at him.
"Marry you? Are you crazy?!" Bert screeched. "I don't even know you!"
'Kill him! Kill him now! He called you crazy!' Norma Jean said. 'All in good time.' Norma answered.
"That is the deal Mr. Alto, take it or leave it," she knew going back to his surname would make her sound more firm.
"How much money do you have already, Miss Bates?" Bert asked, hoping she would have most of it.
Norma lied knowing what he was getting after. "I have $100,000 in a trust fund. In order to have that money I have to get married. Mr. Alto, it is enough to get my plan going."
'We have $340, not quiet $100,000!' Norma Jean laughed. Norma hid her laughter of what Norma Jean said. She knew Bert had money, if they were married that would get her a little bit closer to her plan to buy the motel.
"Oh well then... so this could happen real quick?" Bert asked, shocked that Norma was rich.
"Oh yes Bert, the sooner the better. You just have to marry me for me to get my trust fund and for us to get the motel bought." Norma said, getting on her knee and pulling out the fake diamond ring in her purse. She was so glad she won it in that claw machine.
"Bert Alto, will you marry me? Become my business partner and help my family clear its name?" Norma asked.
"I don't know.... I think I should think about it." Bert replied as he closed the lid to the ring box.
Pissed Norma could feel her fists clench and her teeth grind. How dare he turn her down! Oh he was going to pay all right, fuck him! She started to stand when she heard Norma Jean 'Woo him girl, he's just being stubborn,' God she hated begging, people should just do what she says, it would be easier!
"Bert, baby, I thought we got this worked out." She batted again at him this time pushing her breasts up against him. "You do know marring me means you get the whole package, it is not just business"
"Ooooh really?"
Bert's eyes lit up as he looked down at the woman in front of him, he could make this work and he'd get ass on top of it! Yes, this would do nicely.
'Fucking Sleazeball, just cut his throat now!' Norma Jean pipped in. 'Quiet! He's almost ours!' Norma replied.
"Okay fine, I'll marry you!" Bert said interrupting her thoughts of slitting his throat.
Norma didn't bother this time with the whole getting on one knee, she handed him the ring and told him he need to marry her right then and there to make everything official. He didn't hesitate again as she knew he wouldn't once she had a hold on him.
Yep, this really was going to be a simple plan.
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