Plot

Norma and Norman focus on Annika's disappearance; Norma learns the truth about the Arcanum Club.

Norma 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.—garykmcd

"Bates Motel" - "The Arcanum Club" - March 16, 2015

We open on the next morning at the Motel and Norma knocks on Annika's door. She sees her car there so she's confused that no one is answering her knock. She peers in and sees the bed was not slept in and her suitcase is open.

Norma goes into the office where Emma is checking out a businessman. Norma asks Emma if she's seen Annika. She posits that perhaps she is hiking. Norma does not think she looked like a hiker and stares balefully at her car.

She goes to see Norman in the basement where Norman is stuffing a dead baby goat. Norma asks after Annika and he says he hasn't seen her. Norma notes it is all odd and asks if he saw her last night and he lies and says he didn't. She tells him to finish the goat and then get back to his job and his home schooling. He tells her not to worry, that he's sure Annika is fine. Norma is not convinced.

Caleb and Dylan's friends are laying out plans for the barn, when Dylan arrives. He is greeted by his friend's guard dog Rex. The friend proposes hooking up irrigation from the nearby lake. Caleb says he can do that and Dylan's friend is impressed. Caleb thanks Dylan for letting him stay.

Norma comes home from the grocery store and notice's Annika's car and asks Emma if she has come back yet. Emma says no. Norma says she's nervous about her and asks Emma if she saw her last night. Emma says yes, and that Norman drove with her to town. A storm crosses Norma's face, she tells Emma she's fine.

She heads into the house and screams at Norman for lying to her about Annika. He says Annika asked him to drive her car back and he knows that Norma doesn't like it when he drives without a license so that's why he lied. He claims she said she was going to drink and didn't want to drive back drunk so he offered to drive her car. He said she was meeting a friend and maybe seemed a bit anxious. Norma says this is bad since he was the last person to see her. She tells him he shouldn't be getting into cars with slutty women, like he did with Miss Watson and look how much trouble that caused. She says unhinged women seem drawn to him. He says Annika is not unhinged, she was nice but maybe a little troubled. She asks troubled how? He says she was a call girl for rich men. She wonders why she would tell him that. Norma wants him to take her to the bar he said they went to.

They arrive at the Olive & Anchor and she goes in to see if they saw her. She then realized Norman used the past tense "was" when referring to her earlier. She asks him about this. He tells her to stop it. He waits in the car and watches through the window as she goes in to make her inquiry. Being Norma she gets overheated and she appears to be yelling at the manager. She returns and says they don't remember if she was there. She tells him she doesn't know how long she can keep doing this. He says "doing what?" And she blows it off and says nothing and heads home.

Caleb and Dylan's friend are around a campfire at night in front of the cottage and Dylan says he has to go. Caleb tells him to hang and have a beer. Dylan says he has stuff to take care of. Suddenly another dog appears and gets into a fight with Rex. Caleb stops the fight abruptly by shooting the newcomer dog and announces he's turning in.

Back at the house Norman tells her that everything is going to be okay with him and that he's dating Emma. This makes her happy. He says it's time to start laying some foundation. He asks if she's okay with it. She says she is and hugs him. He bids her goodnight. She looks in the bathroom mirror, still clearly concerned.

The next day in the motel office Norman is staring mournfully at Annika's car and Emma says it's nice that he and Norma are so concerned.She apologizes for telling Norma that he drove to town with Annika and wants him to know that she doesn't tell Norma everything and what they do stays between them. It is their date night and Norman says he has stuff to take care of before they leave.

A scruffy looking man approaches Dylan and Caleb's cabin. He claims to be looking for his dog. He is very bizarre. He says he is their neighbor over the hill. Caleb comes out menacingly and asks what's up. The guy, named Chick Hogan, reiterates he's looking for his dog. He asks if they're going to grow "tomahtoes." They say they are, as well as corn and green beans. They all agree they like green beans. Chick points out that last year's "tomahto" crop was wiped out by the DEA so there's lots of opportunity. He leaves and continues to whistle for his dog.

Back at the motel Norma peers in Annika's car. Emma suggests going through the things in her room for clues. Emma finds her feather duster and asks what Annika does for a living. Norma tells her. In her suitcase Norma finds a fancy invitation to a party at the Arcanum. She asks Emma what it is, and she says she isn't sure but knows it's some kind of exclusive hunting club. Her dad did taxidermy for them but didn't care for whatever it was that went on there. Norma asks Emma not to say anything about this to Norman. And then she gets a bad idea.

As she leaves the room Sheriff Romero is checking out. His house is finally ready. He thanks her and gives her a check for the last three months. She tries not to take it since he is a "family friend." But he says the bypass is half-paved and they're starting cars on the part that is finished tomorrow so he insists she will need it. They thank each other and then have the world's most awkward hug. As he's driving off she stops him and tells him she always felt safe with him there.

Speaking of awkward, Norman and Emma have their dinner date and have a bizarre conversation about sex. She admits she had sex with Gunnar. He asks if she felt "bad" after. She said she felt naughty but that's what's fun about it. She asks if he does. He says it depends on the person and that it can be overwhelming. She agrees that sex is complicated, magical, and heady. He says he wouldn't describe it as magical. She notes that she loves Norma but thinks that she doesn't want him to grow up and that because they're close he may be feeling sexual is wrong. He says she does the best she can. Yes, but he needs to grow up unless he wants to be Peter Pan. He says he might, if she'll be Wendy. She notes Peter and Wendy never had sex.

Norma's bad idea is to go to the Arcanum party. She is turned away at the door when she doesn't know the password so she sneaks in. When she peers in the window, she sees a full blown orgy going on with one tuxedoed man sitting back and watching the shenanigans. Romero catches her and tells her she needs to get gone since it isn't safe for her here-- he adds he isn't there for the sex but the networking with politicians. She explains she is worried about Annika and asks him to go see if she's in there. He says he will and tells her to leave.

Caleb and Dylan pay a nighttime visit to Chick, who has lots and lots of guns. Chick says there are rules and if everyone abides by them all shall be well. He asks how many plants they plan to cultivate. Dylan says 99, the medical marijuana limit. Chick says they remind him of two guys in a book and he asks if they have any rabbits up there. He then toasts to rabbits. The whole exchange is super creepy and loaded. Caleb says they're going to do whatever they want and if they see each other around they will be neighborly but that is all.

On her way home from the party Norma spots the new "Leo Berman Memorial Bypass." Berman was the city councilman that was killed so she could take his place. She gets very angry at the sign: hitting it, kicking it and eventually knocking it down with her car in a screamy rage.

Emma drops Norman off at the Motel and they start to make out. He pulls back saying he doesn't want to start anything they can't finish. She leaves. Norma drives up her bumper falling off and her whole being a hot mess. She explains how she hit the sign and went to the party and bursts into tears and doesn't want to explain further. Norman hugs her and says he's worried about her, that it's been a tough two years and she has not been herself. They hug again and he tells her that it's all going to be just fine.

We cut to a dog barking at a lake's edge. He is barking at a dead, naked female body floating in the water, obviously Annika.