What do you do with a murderous, schizophrenic psychopath in the modern age? Why, you rehabilitate him then let him loose, of course! Normal Bates (Anthony Perkins), the serial killer from Alfred Hitchcock's horror classis "Psycho" has been in a psychiatric facility for over twenty years receiving treatment. He is, at long last, declared "sane" and no longer a threat to society, then he is released, despite the protests of Lila Crane (Vera Miles), the sister of one of his victims. Having nowhere else to go, Norman returns to the home that started it all, the Bates Motel, and takes a job as a short-order cook, where he meets Mary (Meg Tilley). Pretty soon, though, Norman starts getting messages from "Mother," not just in his head but in written notes and on the phone. When Mary needs a place to crash after a fight with her boyfriend, Norman takes her in, but is he truly rehabilitated, or will he give in to "Mother's" wishes again?