If you’re a fan of its subplots, then the fifth episode of the third season of Bates Motel (The Deal) will thrill you. The relationship of the town to its illicit business and to Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell) and Bob Paris (Kevin Rahm) becomes clearer than ever and Dylan (Max Thierot) takes front and center as an intermediary between Norma (Vera Farmiga) and Caleb (Kenny Johnson).
In fact, the episode begins with Dylan asleep in his truck in a liquor store parking lot following the previous night’s encounter with his younger brother, Norman (Freddie Highmore), who threatened to tell his mother that Dylan was harboring the man who incestuously raped her. It turns out he needn’t have worried: Norman had another blackout and only thinks he told Norma. More later…
After Norma is run off the road and threatened by one of Paris’ thugs and Gunner (Keenan Tracey) inadvertently discovers what’s on the thumb drive, Dylan finally convinces her to take it to Romero. She agrees… sort of… She explains, “It’s the first time since I moved to town I’ve got someone by the short hairs. I want you to take me to see Bob Paris. I’m going to ask for some favors in return.
He agrees. What follows is a tour de force for Farmiga as she confidently explains her conditions to Paris while constantly looking over at Romero, proudly showing him what she can do and simultaneously seeking his approval. It’s hilarious, well written and snappily directed. Romero and Paris are practically silent, which both feeds Norma’s fury and causes her to keep adding conditions.
She explains, “This business of mine is all I have to support me and my son, who has some… medical issues. I’m in a desperate situation here.” She demands that he make sure an exit is created off the bypass with huge billboards on either side to direct travelers to her motel. And while she’s at it, she asks for all kinds of improvements to the motel including a swimming pool.
Paris responds, “I have to hand it to you Norma Bates, you got me. Well done, Norma. We have a deal.” But there’s a catch, and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to come back to haunt Norma. Once the deal is complete, she can never ask him for another favor. As he says, “No asks. Ever.” I think she’s being a little shortsighted to think she may not need him again in the future.
Back to Norman, who swears he told Norma about Caleb, even though he didn’t. Dylan tells Norman, “Then either she’s insane or you are!” Regardless of the confusion, by the end of the hour, Dylan and Norman both sit down with Norma to break the news. I won’t reveal what happens next, but there’s a dramatic ending to the episode that threatens to send Norman into a tailspin.
The other interesting seen is an interaction between Caleb and Chick (Ryan Hurst), when Chick approaches Caleb with a gun:
Caleb: “Don’t point that thing at me unless you’re going to use it.”
Chick: “OK.” Then, “ Something bad happened to you; wanna hug it out?” and “Life’s shit, there’s only one thing that makes it better – boar jerky.”
Caleb: “What the hell’s the matter with you?”
Chick: “Everything.”
Actually, Chick has a job for Caleb if he wants it. He needs a driver. “The pay is good – 25 large – but it’s not without risk. When Caleb says, “I’m turning over a new leaf,” Chick replies, “Leaves are leaves, money is money.”
Like I said, if you like these subplots, The Deal is a loaded episode. However, I am going crazy to return to Norman’s story that hit a series high in episode three. We see only one tidbit related to his blackout. When Norman insists his mother was wearing something different earlier in the day, he goes to her closet to find her blue dress… then smells it, embraces it, and hides it under his bed.
Hmmm…
