As Marion flees Phoenix on her way to see Sam, in the town .
of Fairvale, California, a policeman awakened Marion from a nap on the side of .
the road and questions her. He can almost see the envelope with the money. She trades .
in her vehicle for one with different plates and sees the same policeman across the street .
from the lot staring at her, with his arms folded and leaning on his car. This set up .
appears as if establishing a story line that will follow until the end. Marion is now .
frightened and tired as she continues on her journey, when a violent rainstorm slows her. .
She pulls into the Bates Motel and begins to converse with Norman Bates. The .
scenes and dialog persuade viewers that Marion and Norman will be the main characters .
for the rest of the film. This is done during their long conversation in Norman's "parlor."" .
Marion suggests that Norman should not stay in the run down hotel almost as if she cares .
about him. Norman is touched and begins to feel threatened by his feelings. At first, .
Norman evokes the viewer's sympathy as well as Marion's. When Norman spies on .
Marion, he is portrayed as a peeping tom and it does not seem as if a murder is about to .
take place. Marion was stabbed to death in the shower by a mysterious female figure. .
Norman mopping up the scene follows the death of the heroine. Now that Marion is dead .
one can identify with Norman, by his being consumed with fear and guilt. Norman puts .
Marion in her car and pushes it into a swamp. The car sinks then stops for a little while, .
Sullivan.
as Norman watches nervously, and then the car finally disappears. Viewers wanted the .
car to sink just as much as Norman did. The film's lead abruptly changes from Marion to .
Norman. Marion's sister Lila and Sam begin a search for Marion, which leads to the .
Bates Motel. There are two more shocks in the movie. The private eye Arbagast is .
murdered, in a scene that seems to follow him down the stairs and the secret of Norman's .
