Duane Duke was a struggling musician. He was driving to Los Angeles when he picked up Maureen Coyle hitchhiking. He tried to force a sexual encounter with her and she fled. Duke later arrived at the Bates Motel where he found Norman Bates was looking for an assistant to work in the motel. Duke accepted the job. When Maureen Coyle showed up at the hotel Duke apologized for his behaviour. He charged her $5 extra for a room and pocketed the excess.