A boy's best friend is his mother.
Note: ranked #56 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.
Norman Bates
Anthony Perkins · 28 quotes
Marion Crane
Janet Leigh · 16 quotes
Sam Loomis
John Gavin · 10 quotes
Caroline
Patricia Hitchcock · 4 quotes
Lila Crane
Vera Miles · 4 quotes
Charlie
John Anderson · 3 quotes
Detective Milton Arbogast
Martin Balsam · 3 quotes
Mother
3 quotes
Most scenes together: Norman Bates & Marion Crane (6), Norman Bates & Sam Loomis (3), Norman Bates & Mother (3)
Psycho quotes
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Hardware store customer So far of those I've used, I haven't had much luck with any of them. Well, let's see what they say about this one. They tell you what it's ingredients are, and how it's guaranteed to exterminate every insect in the world, but they do not tell you whether or not it's painless. And I say, insect or man, death should always be painless.
[voiceover while Marion is driving]
Heck, Officer, that was the first time I ever saw the customer high-pressure the salesman! Somebody chasin' her?
Highway Patrol Officer I better have a look at those papers, Charlie.
She look like a "wrong one" to you?
Officer
Acted like one.
The only funny thing, she paid me seven hundred dollars in cash.
Yes, Mr. Lowery?
George Lowery Caroline? Marion still isn't in?
No, Mr. Lowery. But then, she's always a bit late on Monday mornings.
George Lowery Buzz me the minute she comes in. Then call her sister -- if no one's answering at the house.
I called her sister, Mr. Lowery, where she works -- the Music Makers Music Store, you know -- and she doesn't know where Marion is any more than we do.
George Lowery You'd better run out to the house. She may be, well -- unable to answer the phone.
Her sister's going to do that. She's as worried as we are.
George Lowery No, I haven't the faintest idea. As I said, I last saw your sister when she left the office on Friday. She said she didn't feel well and wanted to leave early; I said she could. That was the last I saw -- Now wait a minute. I did see her sometime later, driving -- Ah, I think you'd better come over here to my office -- quick! Caroline, get Mr. Cassidy for me! After all, Cassidy, I told you -- all that cash! I'm not taking the responsibility! Oh, for heaven's sake! A girl works for you for ten years, you trust her! All right. Yes. You better come over.
Tom Cassidy Well, I ain't about to kiss off forty thousand dollars! I'll get it back, and if any of it's missin' I'll replace it with her fine, soft flesh! I'll track her, never you doubt it!
George Lowery Oh, hold on, Cassidy! I-I still can't believe -- it must be some kind of mystery. I-I can't...
Tom Cassidy You checked with the bank, no? They never laid eyes on her, no? You still trustin'? Hot creepers! She sat there while I dumped it out! Hardly even looked at it! Plannin'! And -- even flirtin' with me!
I'm in no mood for trouble.
What?
There's an old saying, "First customer of the day is always the trouble!" But like I say, I'm in no mood for it so I'm gonna treat you so fair and square that you won't have one human reason to give me...
Can I trade my car in and take another?
Do anything you've a mind to. Bein' a woman, you will. That yours?
Yes, it's just that -- there's nothing wrong with it. I just --
-- sick of the sight of it! Well, why don't you have a look around here and see if there's somethin' that strikes your eyes and meanwhile I'll have my mechanic give yours the once over. You want some coffee? I was just about --
No, thank you. I'm in a hurry. I just want to make a change, and --
One thing people never oughtta be when they're buyin' used cars and that's in a hurry. But like I said, it's too nice a day to argue. I'll uh -- shoot your car in the garage here.
[taking pill bottle out of purse]
I've got something -- not aspirin. My mother's doctor gave them to me the day of my wedding. Teddy was furious when he found out I had taken tranquilizers!
Teddy called me -- my mother called to see if Teddy called. Oh, your sister called to say she's going to Tucson to do some buying and she'll be gone the whole weekend, and --
[coversation interrupted]
It's the first time the customer ever high-pressured a salesman. I figure roughly... your car plus seven hundred dollars.
Seven hundred dollars?
You always got time to argue money, huh?
All right.
Deputy Sheriff Al Chambers
Your detective told you he couldn't come right back because he was goin' to question Norman Bates' mother. Right?
Yes.
Al Chambers
Norman Bates' mother has been dead and buried in Greenlawn Cemetery for the past ten years!
Mrs. Eliza Chambers
I helped Norman pick out the dress she was buried in. Periwinkle blue.
Al Chambers
It ain't only local history, Sam. It's the only case of murder and suicide on Fairvale ledgers. Mrs. Bates poisoned this guy she was involved with when she found out he was married. Then took a helpin' of the same stuff herself. Strychnine. Ugly way to die.
Eliza Chambers
Norman found them dead together in bed.
You mean the old woman I saw tonight wasn't Mrs. Bates?
Al Chambers
Now wait a minute, Sam, are you sure you saw an old woman?
Yes! In the house behind the motel! I called and pounded but she just ignored me!
Al Chambers
You mean to tell me you saw Norman Bates' mother?
But it had to be, because Arbogast said so too. And the young man wouldn't let him see her because she was too ill.
Al Chambers
Well if the woman up there is Mrs. Bates, who's that woman buried out in Greenlawn Cemetery?
Dr. Fred Richmond
Like I said... the mother... Now to understand it the way I understood it, hearing it from the mother... that is, from the mother half of Norman's mind... you have to go back ten years, to the time when Norman murdered his mother and her lover. Now he was already dangerously disturbed, had been ever since his father died. His mother was a clinging, demanding woman, and for years the two of them lived as if there was no one else in the world. Then she met a man... and it seemed to Norman that she 'threw him over' for this man. Now that pushed him, over the line and he killed them both. Matricide is probably the most unbearable crime of all... most unbearable to the son who commits it. So he had to erase the crime, at least in his own mind. He stole her corpse. A weighted coffin was buried. He hid in the body in the fruit cellar. Even treated it to keep it as well as it would keep. And that still wasn't enough. She was there! But she was a corpse. So he began to speak for her, give her half his life, so to speak. At times, he could be both personalities, carry on conversations. At other times, the mother half took over completely. Now he was never all Norman, but he was often only mother. And because he was so pathologically jealous of her, he assumed that she was jealous of him. Therefore, if he felt a strong attraction to any other woman, the mother side of him would go wild. [to Lila] When he met your sister, he was touched by her... aroused by her. He wanted her. That set off the 'jealous mother' and 'mother killed the girl' Now after the murder, Norman returned as if from a deep sleep. And like a dutiful son, covered up all traces of the crime he was convinced his mother had committed!
Why was he dressed like that?
District Attorney
He's a tranvestite!
Dr. Fred Richmond
Ah, not exactly. A man who dresses in women's clothing in order to achieve a sexual change, or satisfaction, is a transvestite. But in Norman's case, he was simply doing everything possible to keep alive the illusion of his mother being alive. And when reality came too close, when danger or desire threatened that illusion -- he dressed up, even to a cheap wig he bought. He'd walk about the house, sit in her chair, speak in her voice. He tried to be mother! And uh now he is. Now that's what I meant when I said I got the story from the mother. You see, when the mind houses two personalities, there's always a conflict, a battle. In Norman's case, the battle is over -- and the dominant personality has won.
Al Chambers
And the forty thousand dollars? Who got that?
Dr. Richmond
The swamp. These were crimes of passion, not profit.
Police Officer [entering room with blanket on arm] He feels a little chill. Can I bring him this blanket?
Dr. Richmond
[lighting cigarette]
Oh, sure.
Police Chief James Mitchell All right.
Dr. Fred Richmond
No. I got the whole story -- but not from Norman. I got it... from his mother. Norman Bates no longer exists. He only half-existed to begin with. And now, the other half has taken over. Probably for all time.
Did he kill my sister?
Dr. Fred Richmond
Yes -- and no.
Hardware Store Customer [Looking at can]
They tell you what its ingredients are, and how it's guaranteed to exterminate every insect in the world, but they do not tell you whether or not it's painless. And-and I say, insect or man, death should always be painless.
He was flirting with you. I guess he must have noticed my wedding ring.
Norman Bates' Mother
[in police custody, as Norman is thinking]
It is sad when a mother has to speak the words that condemn her own son. I can't allow them to think I would commit murder. Put him away now as I should have years ago. He was always bad and in the end he intended to tell them I killed those girls and that man, as if I could do anything but just sit and stare like one of his stuffed birds. They know I can't move a finger and I want to just sit here and be quiet just in case they suspect me. They're probably watching me. Well, let them. Let them see what kind of a person I am. I'm not even going to swat that fly. I hope they are watching... they'll see. They'll see and they'll know, and they'll say, "Why, she wouldn't even harm a fly..."
Highway Patrol officer Uh... hold it there. In quite a hurry.
[nervously]
Yes. Uh... I didn't intend to sleep so long. I almost had an accident last night, from sleepiness. So I decided to pull over.
Officer
You slept here all night?
Yes. As I said, I couldn't keep my eyes open.
Officer
There are plenty of motels in this area. You should've... I mean, just to be safe.
I didn't intend to sleep all night! I just pulled over. Have I broken any laws?
Officer
No, ma'am.
Then I'm free to go?
Officer
Is anything wrong?
Of course not. Am I acting as if there's something wrong?
Officer
Frankly, yes.
Please... I'd like to go.
Officer
Well, is there?
Is there what? I've told you there's nothing wrong, except that I'm in a hurry and you're taking up my time.
Officer
[starts car engine]
Now, just a moment! Turn off your motor, please. May I see your license?
Why?
Officer
Please.
Look, that old woman, whoever she is, she told Arbogast something. I want her to tell us the same thing.
Hold it, you can't go up there.
Why not?
Bates.
Then, let's find him. One of us can keep him occupied while the other gets to the old woman.
You'll never be able to hold him still even if he doesn't want to be held. And, I don't like you going into that house alone.
I can handle a sick old woman!
She left home on Friday. I was in Tuscon over the weekend and I haven't heard from her since -- not even a phone call. Look if you two are in this thing together, I don't care -- It's none of my business -- but I want to talk to Marion and I want her to tell me it's none of my business! And then I'll go--
Bob! Run out and get yourself some lunch, will you?
Bob Summerfield
Oh, that's okay, Sam, I brought it with me.
Run out and eat it!
I've caused you some trouble.
No. Mother, my mother, uh, what's the phrase? She isn't quite herself today.
You should have bothered. I really don't have that much of an appetite.
Oh, I'm sorry. I wish you could apologize for other people.
Oh, we can see each other. We can even have dinner but respectably in my house with my mother's picture on the mantel and my sister helping me broil a big steak for three.
And after the steak, do we send sister to the movies? Turn mama's picture to the wall?
Sam!
All right.