Freddie Highmore as Norman
Norman (Freddie Highmore) goes out with Madeleine (Isabelle McNally) in Season 5, episode 2 of “Bates Motel.” A&E

Norman (Freddie Highmore) goes on a date with Madeleine (Isabelle McNally) in next week’s episode of “Bates Motel.” But as the synopsis for Season 5, episode 2 states, the rendezvous between the two small business owners doesn’t go as planned.

While it remains to be seen what exactly causes the date go awry, Norman shouldn’t really be dating Madeleine in the first place, as he knew from their first meeting that the hardware store owner is married. But because Madeline bears a striking resemblance to his late mom Norma (Vera Farmiga), it appears that Norman can’t help himself but to pursue her.

In a preview clip teasing episode 2 and the rest of the show’s final season, Norman finds himself kissing Madeleine. However, things get awkward between them when then the motel owner suddenly stops making out with her after he sees Mother (Vera Farmiga) right in front of him.

The synopsis also reveals that Romero’s (Nestor Carbonell) frustrations reach a boiling point in next week’s episode. In the preview clip, Norman visits the former White Pine Bay sheriff in prison to personally tell him that he is still alive even after sending his friend Jim to kill him.

“Hey sheriff, it was really kind of you to send your friend to see how I’ve been getting along,” Norman sarcastically tells Romero. “But I’m still alive.”

“For now,” the revengeful widower replies.

The synopsis also reveals the return of Chick (Ryan Hurst), who gives Norman a gift in episode 2. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, executive producer Kerry Ehrin talked about Chick’s relationship with Norman in Season 5.

“We loved having a person in Norman’s universe who didn’t judge him. Chick was really the perfect person for that,” said Ehrin. “The idea that Chick also at his core is just an incredibly isolated, lonely person made them like the two misfits in a weird way becoming friends. He’s just weirdly supportive of Norman and all his weird shit. He sort of has that dark poet in him. It seemed really funny, too. One of the things that we really love about this season is there’s a lot of great dark humor in it. It’s super bent.”

Although Chick likes to think that he’s acting a paternal figure to Norman, the exec producer said that the two characters are actually equals and Chick needs something from Norman.

“Bates Motel” Season 5, episode 2, titled “The Convergence of the Twain,” airs on Monday, Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. on A&E.