• Beverly Sutphin True Story
• Serial Mom True Story
• Inspirational Single Mother Stories

John Waters' 'Serial Mom' has been chosen as the closing night film for this year's Cannes Film Festival, being held in France May 12-22.' This is wonderful,' Mr. Waters said from his Baltimore. Killer Mom: The True Story of Diane Downs At 22.48pm on May 19th, 1983, a young, single mother pulled up outside McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon, in a blood-spattered Nissan Pulsar, repeatedly shouting that someone had shot her children.

Beverly Sutphin True Story

Norman Bates is a fictional character created by American author Robert Bloch as the main antagonist in his 1959 thriller novel Psycho. He was portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the 1960 version of Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock and the Psycho franchise. He was also portrayed by Vince Vaughn in the 1998 version of Psycho, and by Freddie Highmore in the television series Bates Motel (2013–2017).^[1] Unlike the franchise produced by Universal Studios, Norman is not the principal antagonist in Bloch's subsequent novels and is succeeded by copycat killers who assume Norman's identity after his death in 1982's Psycho II. Despite wide-ranging assumptions, the character was not inspired by Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein. Bloch later revealed that he was nearly finished writing Psycho when he first became aware of Gein, and was struck by 'how closely the imaginary character I'd created resembled the real Ed Gein both in overt act and apparent motivation.'^[2]

• 3Novel sequels
• 4Film sequels
• 5Television
• 10Appearances

Character overview[edit]

The 1959 novel, its 1960 film adaptation and the 1990 film prequel explain that Norman suffered severe emotional abuse as a child at the hands of his mother, Norma, who preached to him that sexual intercourse was sinful and that all women (except herself) were whores. The novel also suggests that their relationship may have been incestuous.

After Norman's father died, Norman and his mother lived alone together 'as if there was no one else in the world' until Norman reached adolescence, when his mother met Joe Considine (Chet Rudolph in Psycho IV: The Beginning) and planned to marry. Considine eventually convinced Norman to open a motel. Driven over the edge with jealousy, Norman murdered both of them with strychnine. After committing the murders, Norman staged it like murder–suicide, making it look as if Norma had killed her fiancé and then herself. After a brief hospitalization for shock, he developed dissociative identity disorder, assuming his mother's personality to repress his awareness of her death and to escape the guilt of murdering her.^[3] He inherited his mother's house—where he kept her corpse in the fruit cellar—and the family motel in the (fictional) small town of Fairvale, California.

Bloch sums up Norman's multiple personalities in his stylistic form of puns: 'Norman', a child dependent on his mother; 'Norma', a possessive mother who kills anyone who threatens the illusion of her existence; and 'Norman', a functional adult who goes through the motions of day-to-day life. 'Norma' dominates and belittles 'Norman' much as she had when she was alive, forbidding him to have a life outside of her and flying into violent rages whenever he feels attracted to a woman. 'Norma' and 'Norman' carry on conversations through Norman talking to himself and to her corpse in his mother's voice, and Norman dresses in his mother's clothes whenever 'Norma' takes hold completely.^[4]

Psycho (novel and film)[edit]

In Bloch's 1959 novel and the 1960 Hitchcock film, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a young woman on the run after stealing money from her employer, checks into the motel one night. Norman is smitten with her, and shyly asks her to have dinner with him in the house. 'Mother' flies into a rage and threatens to kill Marion if Norman lets her in the house. Norman defies her and eats dinner with Marion anyway, but lashes out at her when she suggests that he institutionalize his mother. When Marion goes to her room to shower, Norman spies on her through a peephole he drilled in the wall. 'Mother' takes control and stabs Marion to death (she beheads her in the novel). When Norman awakes to discover what he believes his mother has done, he sinks Marion's car—with her corpse and the money in the trunk—into a nearby swamp. As 'Mother', he also murders Milton Arbogast (Martin Balsam), a private detective hired by Marion's employer, days later.

Norman is finally caught when Marion's sister Lila (Vera Miles) and boyfriend, Sam Loomis (John Gavin), arrive at the motel looking for her. When Norman figures out what they want, he knocks Sam out and goes running after Lila, who has reached the house and found Mrs. Bates' corpse. He attacks her as 'Mother', but Sam, after awakening from having been knocked out, overpowers him, and Norman is finally arrested. Norman is declared insane and sent to an institution, where 'Mother' takes complete, and permanent, control of his mind: he becomes his mother.^[4][5]

Novel sequels[edit]

Psycho II[edit]

In Bloch's 1982 sequel to his first novel, Psycho II, Norman escapes from the psychiatric hospital by killing a nun and donning her habit. Picked up as a hitchhiker, Norman tries to attack the driver with a tire iron, but the driver overpowers him. This in turn causes a fiery accident where the driver escapes, but Norman dies. Meanwhile, Dr. Adam Claiborne, who discovered Norman's corpse, assumes his personality and goes on a killing spree.^[6]

Psycho House[edit]

In Bloch's 1990 sequel to his second novel, Psycho House, Norman appears only as a novelty animatronic on display in the Bates Motel, which has been converted into a tourist attraction.

Psycho: Sanitarium[edit]

In Bloch's 2016 prequel to his second novel, Psycho: Sanitarium, Dr. Felix Reed tries to bring Norman out of a catatonic state. Sanitarium introduces Robert Newman, Norman's twin brother who was taken away at birth after the attending doctor pronounced him brain damaged. As Robert and Norman grow to know each other, Norman senses a darkness in Robert, even deeper than that which has lurked in Norman himself.

Film sequels[edit]

Psycho II[edit]

In 1983's Psycho II, the first sequel to the original film, Norman is released from the institution twenty-two years after his arrest, seemingly cured. He meets Mary Loomis (Meg Tilly)—Marion Crane's niece—and falls in love with her. However, a series of mysterious murders occurs, as well as strange appearances and messages from his mother, and Norman slowly loses his grip on sanity. The mysterious appearances and messages turn out to be a plot by Mary's mother, Lila Loomis, to drive him insane again in order to get him recommitted. The actual murders turn out to be the work of Norman's coworker, Emma Spool (Claudia Bryar). Before Norman discovers this, however, Mary Loomis is shot dead by the police during a confrontation with Norman, and Mrs. Spool murders Lila. When Spool tells Norman that she is his real mother, he kills her and embalms her corpse while assuming the 'Mother' personality once again.^[7]

Psycho III[edit]

In 1986's Psycho III, set a month later, Norman continues to struggle, unsuccessfully, against 'Mother's dominion. He also finds another love interest named Maureen Coyle (Diana Scarwid), who eventually dies at 'Mother's hand. In the film, Mrs. Spool's corpse is first discovered by sleazy musician Duane Duke (Jeff Fahey), whom Norman kills when Duke tries to use the discovery to blackmail Norman. Tracy Venable (Roberta Maxwell), a reporter interested in Norman's case, finds out that Spool was in fact Norman's aunt - Norma Bates' sister - who was in love with Norman's father and killed him when he chose Norma over her. She then kidnapped the child Norman, believing him to be her own, but she was arrested and institutionalized, leaving Norman to be raised by Norma.

'Mother' orders Norman to kill Tracy, but in the end he destroys Spool's corpse, attempting to break free of her control. He is then arrested and put back in the institution.^[8]

Psycho IV: The Beginning[edit]

Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990), the final film in the series, retcons the revelations of the second and third film, supplying that Norman's father was stung to death by bees and removing all references to Emma Spool. In this film, Norman has been released from an institution, and is married to one of the hospital's psychologists, a woman named Connie (Donna Mitchell). When his wife becomes pregnant, he lures her to his mother's house and tries to kill her, wanting to prevent another of his 'cursed' line from being born into the world; the film implies that Mrs. Bates (Olivia Hussey) suffered from schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder and passed the illnesses on to her son. However, he relents at the last minute, when Connie professes her love for him. He then burns the house down in an attempt to free himself of his past. During the attempt, he is tormented by hallucinations of 'Mother' and several of his victims. He almost dies in the flames before willing himself to get out, apparently defeating his illness at long last; he is finally free of his mother's voice, which demands to be let out. This was Anthony Perkins' final performance as Norman Bates; Henry Thomas portrayed Norman as a teenager.^[9]

Television[edit]

Bates Motel (film)[edit]

In the 1987 television spin-off movie and series pilot Bates Motel, Norman is never released from the institution after his first incarceration. He befriends Alex West (Bud Cort), a fellow inmate who had murdered his stepfather, and wills ownership of the titular motel to him before dying of old age.^[10]

Bates Motel (TV series)[edit]

The TV series Bates Motel, a contemporary prequel to the 1960 film Psycho, set in the present day, depicts the young Norman Bates' life with his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga). In this continuity, Norman suffers from hallucinations and blackouts, and begins manifesting his 'Mother' personality while Norma is alive. He kills his abusive father, Sam (David Cubitt), while in a dissociative state, and Norma moves them from Arizona, where he was born and raised, to White Pine Bay, Oregon, to protect him.^[11] The series also introduces his maternal half-brother, Dylan Massett (Max Thieriot) and gives him a love interest in Emma Decody (Olivia Cooke), a classmate with cystic fibrosis.

As 'Mother', Norman murders Blaire Watson (Keegan Connor Tracy), one of his teachers who seduces him;^[12] Bradley Martin (Nicola Peltz), a girl he has feelings for;^[13] and Audrey Ellis Decody (Karina Logue), Emma's estranged mother.^[14] Fearing for his sanity, Norma briefly has him committed to a mental institution.^[15] While there, Norman recovers a memory of witnessing his father rape Norma; it is implied that this trauma fractured his psyche.^[16]

When Norman's sanity begins to deteriorate, Norma marries the town sheriff, Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell), so she can use his insurance coverage to pay for Norman to be treated in a mental institution. While the marriage is at first merely a financial arrangement, they eventually fall in love. After Norman is released from the institution and finds out that Norma is married, he grows insanely jealous and tries to kill both Norma and himself by flooding the house with carbon monoxide while his mother sleeps. Romero arrives at the house in time to revive Norman, but finds that Norma is already dead.^[17] Romero figures out what happened and swears revenge, but is arrested for perjury before he can do anything. Meanwhile, Norman cannot bear losing his mother, so he digs up her corpse and assumes her personality to preserve the illusion of her being alive.^[18]

Two years later, Norman is running the motel and living alone in the house with Norma's corpse, which he keeps frozen and preserved in the cellar. He and his 'Mother' personality live together as if there is no one else in the world, and she takes care of his problems - such as killing and disposing of a hitman sent by Romero^[19] and helping him get rid of his uncle, Norma's brother Caleb (Kenny Johnson), after he discovers the truth.^[20] Norman falls for Madeline Loomis (Isabelle McNally), a lonely woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Norma, and whose husband Sam (Austin Nichols) is cheating on her. 'Mother' becomes jealous and starts behaving erratically, at one point taking possession of Norman's mind and making him have sex with a man at a gay bar while dressed in Norma's clothes.^[21] Norman finally begins to suspect that 'Mother' is not real, and she confirms that he created her in his mind to deal with things that he could not, such as his abusive father.^[22]

When Sam's mistress Marion Crane (Rihanna) checks into the motel, Norman has dinner with her and tells her that Sam is married. Marion comes back to the motel after confirming Sam's infidelity, and seeks comfort from Norman. He fears that 'Mother' will kill her, however, and tells her to leave and never come back. When Sam comes to the motel to look for Marion, Norman stabs him to death in the shower.^[22]

Dylan comes to see Norman after learning of Norma's death, and they get into a fight that ends with Norman assaulting his half-brother at 'Mother's instigation. Terrified of what he might do, Norman calls 9-11 and confesses to murdering Sam.^[23] While he is in jail, Sheriff Jane Greene (Brooke Smith) finds the bodies of Norman's other victims, and charges him with their murders, as well.^[24] While Norman is awaiting trial, Romero - who had earlier escaped from prison - breaks into his cell and takes him hostage.^[25] They drive to the woods where Norman hid Norma's corpse after the police began searching his house. There, Norman gets the better of Romero and shoots him dead, but not before his former stepfather tells him he will never escape from murdering his own mother. When Norman finally admits to himself that he killed Norma, 'Mother' appears to him and tells him she is leaving, as there is no longer anything she can protect him from.^[26]

Now completely alone, Norman loses all contact with reality. He calls Dylan and invites him over for a 'family dinner', complete with Norma's corpse seated at the head of the table. When Dylan tells him that Norma is dead, Norman flies into a rage and attacks him with a knife, forcing Dylan to shoot him in self-defense. As he dies, Norman sees a vision of his mother embracing him.^[26]

Characterization[edit]

The character Norman Bates in Psycho was loosely based on two people. First was the real-life murderer Ed Gein, about whom Bloch later wrote a fictionalized account,^[27] 'The Shambles of Ed Gein', in 1962. (The story can be found in Crimes and Punishments: The Lost Bloch, Volume 3). Second, it has been indicated by several people, including Noel Carter (wife of Lin Carter) and Chris Steinbrunner, as well as allegedly by Bloch himself, that Norman Bates was partly based on Calvin Beck, publisher of Castle of Frankenstein.^[27]

The characterization of Norman Bates in the novel and the movie differ in some key areas. In the novel, Norman is in his mid-to-late 40s, short, overweight and homely. In the movie, he is in his mid-20s, tall, slender, and handsome. Reportedly, when working on the film, Hitchcock decided that he wanted audiences to be able to sympathize with Norman and genuinely like the character, so he made him more of a 'boy next door'.^[28] In the novel, Norman becomes 'Mother' after getting drunk and passing out; in the movie, he remains sober before switching personalities.

In the novel, Norman is well-read in occult and esoteric authors such as P.D. Ouspensky and Aleister Crowley. He is aware that 'Mother' disapproves of these authors as being against religion.

Portrayals[edit]

Norman Bates was portrayed by Anthony Perkins in Hitchcock's seminal 1960 film adaptation of Bloch's novel and its three sequels.^[29] Perkins hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1976 in which he performed numerous sketches portraying Norman, including the instructional video 'The Norman Bates School of Motel Management'. He also portrayed Norman, albeit more lightheartedly, in a 1990 commercial for Oatmeal Crisp cereal. Vince Vaughn portrayed Norman in Gus Van Sant's 1998 version of Psycho, while Kurt Paul, Perkins' 'Mother' stunt double in Psycho II and Psycho III, took on the role in the made-for-TV film spin-offBates Motel. Perkins' son Oz portrayed a younger version of Norman in Psycho II. Henry Thomas played a younger version of the character in Psycho IV: The Beginning. Freddie Highmore portrayed Norman in the TV series Bates Motel. For his performance, Highmore was nominated twice for a Critic's Choice Award, a Saturn Award, and won a People's Choice Award in 2017.^[30]

Comic books[edit]

Norman appears in the 1992 three-issue comic book adaptation of the 1960 film Psycho released by Innovation Publishing. Despite being a colorized adaptation of the Hitchcock film, the version of Norman present in the comics resembles the one from Bloch's original novel: a middle-aged, overweight, balding man. Comic artist Felipe Echevarria has explained that this was due to Perkins' refusal to allow his likeness to be replicated for the books, wanting to disassociate himself with Norman Bates.^[31]

Reception[edit]

Norman Bates is ranked as the second-greatest villain on the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 film heroes and villains,^[32] behind Hannibal Lecter and before Darth Vader. His line 'A boy's best friend is his mother' also ranks as number 56 on the institute's list of the 100 greatest movie quotes.^[33] In 2008, Norman Bates was selected by Empire Magazine as one of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters.^[34] Bates also ranked number 4 on Premiere magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.^[35]

Appearances[edit]

Novels[edit]

• Psycho (1959)
• Psycho II (1982)
• Psycho House (1990, as an animatronic)
• Psycho: Sanitarium (2016)

Films[edit]

• Psycho (1960)
• Psycho II (1983)
• Psycho III (1986)
• Bates Motel (1987)
• Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
• Psycho (1998)

Television[edit]

• Bates Motel (2013–2017)

Comics[edit]

• Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1992)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Cruz, Gilbert (March 25, 2013). 'We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes: On Norman Bates and Psycho's Four Sequels'. Vulture.com. New York City: New York Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
2. ^Guran, Paula (August 1999). 'BEHIND THE BATES MOTEL: Robert Bloch'. Dark Echo Horror Online. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
3. ^Breslow, Peter (July 1, 2008). 'Norman Bates: A Most Terrifying Mama's Boy'. NPR.org. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
4. ^ ^abBloch, Robert (1959). Psycho. New York City: Simon & Schuster. ISBN978-1590203354.
5. ^Alfred Hitchcock (Director) (September 8, 1960). Psycho (DVD). United States: Paramount Pictures.
6. ^Bloch, Robert (1982). Psycho II. Venice, California: Whisper Press. ISBN978-0-918372-08-6.
7. ^Richard Franklin (Director) (June 3, 1983). Psycho II (DVD). United States: Universal Pictures.
8. ^Anthony Perkins (Director) (July 2, 1986). Psycho III (DVD). United States: Universal Pictures.
9. ^Mick Garris (Director) (November 10, 1990). Psycho IV: The Beginning (DVD). United States: Universal Television.
10. ^Richard Rothstein (Director) (July 5, 1987). Bates Motel (DVD). United States: Universal Television.
11. ^'The Truth'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 1. Episode 6. April 22, 2013. A&E.
12. ^'Midnight'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 1. Episode 10. May 13, 2013. A&E.
13. ^'Unconscious'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 3. Episode 10. May 13, 2015. A&E.
14. ^'A Danger to Himself and Others'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 4. Episode 1. March 7, 2016. A&E.
15. ^'Goodnight, Mother'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 4. Episode 2. March 14, 2016. A&E.
16. ^'The Vault'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 4. Episode 6. April 18, 2016. A&E.
17. ^'Forever'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 4. Episode 9. May 9, 2016. A&E.
18. ^'Norman'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 4. Episode 10. May 16, 2016. A&E.
19. ^'Dark Paradise'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 1. February 20, 2017. A&E.
20. ^'Bad Blood'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 3. March 6, 2017. A&E.
21. ^'Dreams Die First'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 5. March 20, 2017. A&E.
22. ^ ^ab'Marion'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 6. March 27, 2017. A&E.
23. ^'Inseparable'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 7. April 3, 2017. A&E.
24. ^'The Body'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 8. April 3, 2017. A&E.
25. ^'Visiting Hours'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 9. April 17, 2017. A&E.
26. ^ ^ab'The Cord'. Bates Motel (TV series). Season 5. Episode 10. April 24, 2017. A&E.
27. ^ ^abConradt, Stacy (March 18, 2013). 'Everything You Need to Know About Norman Bates'. Mental Floss. New York City: Dennis Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
28. ^Leigh, Janet (1995). Psycho : Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller. Easton, Pennsylvania: Harmony Press. ISBN978-0-517-70112-6.
29. ^Ferrell, David (September 13, 1992). 'Anthony Perkins, 60, Dies; Star of 'Psycho' Had AIDS'. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Tronc. ISSN0458-3035. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
30. ^Swift, Andy (January 21, 2017). 'People's Choice Awards 2017 Winners: Priyanka Chopra, Outlander and More'. tvline.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
31. ^Johnston, Rich (August 31, 2016). 'Felipe Echevarria, On Taking Anthony Perkins Out Of The Picture'. Bleeding Cool. Rantoul, Illinois: Avatar Press. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
32. ^'AFI's 100 YEARS...100 HEROES & VILLAINS'. afi.com. American Film Institute. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
33. ^'AFI'S 100 GREATEST MOVIE QUOTES OF ALL TIME'. afi.com. American Film Institute. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
34. ^'The 100 Greatest Movie Characters'. Empire. London, England: Bauer Consumer Media. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
35. ^'100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time'. Premiere. New York City: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links[edit]

• Norman Bates on IMDb

Dottie Hinkle:Hello?

Beverly Sutphin:Is this the Cocksucker residence?

Dottie Hinkle:God damn you! Stop calling here!

Beverly Sutphin:Is this Four Two One Five Pussy Way?

Dottie Hinkle:You bitch!

Beverly Sutphin:Now let me check the ZIP code. Two-one-two-fuck-you?

Dottie Hinkle:The police are tracing this call this very minute.

Beverly Sutphin:Well, Dottie Hinkle, then why aren't they here, huh, fuckface?

Dottie Hinkle:FUCK YOU!

[hangs up]

Beverly Sutphin:Hahahaha!

[immediately calls her back]

Dottie Hinkle:DIDN'T I JUST SAY FUCK YOU?

Beverly Sutphin:[in a different voice]I beg your pardon?

Dottie Hinkle:Who is this?

Beverly Sutphin:Mrs. Wilson from the telephone company. I understand you're having problems with an obscene phone caller?

Dottie Hinkle:Yes, I am. I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilson. But this is driving me crazy! I've had my number changed twice already. I'm a divorced woman, please help me.

Beverly Sutphin:Well what exactly does this sick individual say to you?

Dottie Hinkle:I can't say the words out loud, I don't use bad language.

Beverly Sutphin:Oh well, I know it's difficult but we need to know the exact words.

Dottie Hinkle:I'll try. Cocksucker, that's what she calls me.

Beverly Sutphin:[reverting to the original voice]LISTEN TO YOUR FILTHY MOUTH, YA FUCKIN' WHORE!

Dottie Hinkle:GODDAMN YOU!

Beverly Sutphin:MOTHERFUCKER!

Dottie Hinkle:COCKSUCKER!

Misty Sutphin:He killed people, mom.

Beverly Sutphin:We all have our bad days.

Rosemary Ackerman:[to Detective Pike]I tell you right there I saw blood on the bottom of her shoes, not exactly blood, it was gore, hanging there like a runny nose.

Beverly Sutphin:So you admit you just lied?

Dottie Hinkle:No I don't, you bitch!

Judge:Watch your mouth Mrs. Hinkle.

[Beverly whispers 'fuck you' to Dottie]

Dottie Hinkle:Did you see that? She just said 'Fuck you' to me!

Beverly:Let the records show I'm merely standing here!

Dottie Hinkle:Fuck you too, you whore!

[Juror #8 is talking on a payphone when Beverly grabs the receiver from her]

Beverly Sutphin:You can't wear white after Labor Day!

Juror #8:That's not true anymore.

Beverly Sutphin:Yes it is! Didn't your mother tell you? Now you know.

[she whacks her in the face with the phone]

Juror #8:No! Please! Fashion has changed!

Beverly Sutphin:No... it hasn't.

[she hits her again]

Beverly:Mrs. Hinkle, are you insane?

Dottie Hinkle:No I'm not, you motherfucker!

Chip:I'm so happy I could shit.

Beverly:Chip, you know how I hate the brown word.

Father Boyce:Jesus said nothing to condemn capital punishment as he hung on the cross, did he?

Congregation:No.

Father Boyce:If ever there was a time to go on record against the death penalty, wasn't it that night? Capital punishment is already the law in the state of Maryland. So what are we waiting for, fellow Christians? Let's just do it.

Congregation:Amen.

Beverly Sutphin:Are those pussywillows?

Rosemary Ackerman:Dried ones. Aren't they pretty?

Dottie Hinkle:What did you just say?

Beverly Sutphin:[in the stalker voice]Pussywillows, Dottie!

Sloppy:Will you believe that god damn litter bugger?

Beverly:I have told her and told her. It takes ninety to a hundred years for a tin can to decompose, and she still won't recycle.

Gus:Cost the tax payers millions of dollars last year. But she don't care nothing about the national budget!

Beverly:I hate Mrs. Ackerman.

Gus:I hate her too.

Sloppy:I hate her guts. You know, somebody ought to kill her.

Gus:Yeah, give her a happy face, and then recycle her.

Beverly:For the sake of this planet, someone just might.

Beverly Sutphin:Do you think I need a lawyer?

Chip Sutphin:You need an agent.

Beverly:[to her family after she squashes a fly with a fly swat]Scrambled eggs anybody?

Misty Sutphin:[upset after learning her mother may be a serial killer]Now I'll never get a boyfriend!

Eugene Sutphin:Beverly, I've read all about this. Is it menopausal?

Beverly:Oh, honey.

Detective Gracey:Doctor Sutphin, is your wife mental?

Eugene Sutphin:You think the kids are awake?

Beverly:We could be very quiet.

Serial Mom True Story

Eugene Sutphin:Oh, honey! You're hot tonight!

Beverly:Oh, yeah!

Eugene Sutphin:Honey, I'm ready!

Chip:Mom, are you a serial killer?

Beverly:The only 'serial' I know anything about is Rice Krispies.

Chip Sutphin:If mom's psycho, Scotty will still be okay, won't he?

Eugene Sutphin:We hope so, son. And no matter what your mother is, we'll love her anyway.

Misty Sutphin:I'm stood up! I'll kill that bastard! I mean it, he should be dead that lousy creep! He told me he'd be here! I'll kill him!

Beverly Sutphin:Umm, don't use words unless you mean them, Misty.

Birdie:Hey, can I borrow your mother? My Aunt is coming for dinner and she's always getting on my nerves.

Beverly:Buckle up, Scotty!

[uses aerosol can and lighter to create flamethrower]

Scotty Barnhill:[on fire]No, Mrs. Sutphin, please. I'll wear my seatbelt.

Betty Sterner:Are you okay, Ralph?

Eugene Sutphin:Mrs. Sterner, please stay in the waiting room.

Ralph Sterner:[about Eugene]Help me, Betty, he's worse than the dentist in 'Marathon Man'.

Concert Goers:[chanting]Serial mom! Serial mom! Serial mom! Serial mom!

Beverly:[to Chip, Birdie & Jimmy]I don't know what it is about today but I feel great. Cookie?

Chip Sutphin:[about 'Blood Feast']The 'Citizen Kane' of gore movies.

Detective Gracey:[to Detective Pike]Christ, that was Beaver Cleaver's mother.

Emma Lou Jenson:Keep the change, you son of a psycho!

Cop:All units: Serial Mom is headed south on Keswick. Proceed with caution. She is armed and fuckin' nuts!

Beverly Sutphin:Officers, life doesn't have to be ugly. See, look at the birds out there. Listen to their call: 'Oo-ee! Oo-ee! Oo-ee! Oo-ee! Oo-ee!'

Beverly:[as Beverly hits Mrs. Jenson a final time]REWIND!

Beverly:Officer, I'm sorry, but we don't allow gum in this house.

Inspirational Single Mother Stories

Detective Gracey:Sorry, ma'am.

Detective Gracey:I should warn you. This note contains, uh, language.

Beverly:Oh, my.

Beverly Sutphin:I don't like to read about movies. They're so violent.

Birdie:You know, you're bigger than Freddy and Jason now, only you're a real person.

Chip Sutphin:Dad, you don't think she did it, do you?

Misty Sutphin:I do! Mom's gone crazy.

Eugene Sutphin:Your mother may have some problems. That's all.

Timothy Nazlerod:There she is, Henrietta Lee Lucas, Joan Wayne Gacy. A new face in the deck of serial killer trading cards.

Beverly:[in court to Chip and Misty]Oh, kids, are you doing your homework?

[first lines]

Eugene Sutphin:That's a nice dress you're wearing this morning, Misty.

Misty Sutphin:Thanks.

Chip Sutphin:Did you bring back 'Ghost Dad'?

Emma Lou Jenson:There ya go.

[handing over video]

Emma Lou Jenson:I just love Bill Cosby pictures!

Beverly:Wear your seatbelt!

[stabs at Scott's car]

Beverly:[to Eugene, Misty and Chip]It's been a crazy day hasn't it?