Person of Interest s04e01 Episode Script

Scotch, neat.
Make it a double.
That good, eh? Let's see.
I lost my job today.
Top it all off, they canceled my flight.
- Ouch.
Sorry.
- I'm a journalist.
Comes with the territory.
You religious? Seriously? That's the line you're going with? No, I'm just curious if you believe in a higher power.
Imagine if the world had utterly changed and no one had noticed a thing.
I'm talking about an international stealth operation to acquire and shutter every company researching artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence? That's a real thing? Oh, it's here.
I think an A.
l.
slipped into the world, unannounced.
Then set out to strangle its rivals in the crib.
And I know I'm onto something because my sources keep disappearing my editor got reassigned and now my job's gone.
More and more it just feels like I was the only one investigating the story.
I'm sorry.
I'm sure I sound like a real conspiracy nut.
No, I understand.
You're saying an artificial intelligence bought your paper so you'd lose your job and your flight would be canceled.
And you'd end up back at this bar where the only security camera would go out and the bartender would have to leave suddenly after getting an emergency text.
The world has changed.
You're not the only one who's figured it out.
You're one of three.
The other two will die in a traffic accident in Seattle in 14 minutes.
The early results are impressive.
Samaritan has pre-empted multiple threats to national security.
You're welcome, senator.
Your machine seems to be even more aggressive than Northern Lights.
Samaritan is designed to be proactive.
We can't afford to miss even one terrorist now, can we? All assurances aside what really concerns me is accountability.
Accountability? It appears Decima Technologies has been dismantled as a viable business entity.
Which makes me wonder who exactly is getting the NSA feeds? We had a deal, senator.
We get the feeds, you get the relevant numbers.
What we do with that information is entirely up to us.
That deal offered us plausible deniability.
If the public ever gets wind of Samaritan I just hope you're somewhere to be found.
I wonder if our fine senator has become more of a problem than an asset.
One that needs to be eliminated.
And what about Harold Finch and his associates? Ah.
That's unlike you.
Still, I'm sure whatever rock they decided to hide under we'll find them as soon as they emerge.
- Must be allergic.
- Oh! - Whoops.
- Certainly looking fierce today, sweetheart.
Unfortunately, we hired you to sell this stuff not scare off the customers.
Lady over there has been waiting 15 minutes for a makeover.
Now, put on a smile and snap to it, will you? Okay, this, uh, day-job thing? Not really working out.
Sorry, Sam.
You need an identity.
And you need to trust the machine.
Wait, the machine put me in this silly-ass job? It's the only way to keep you alive and off Samaritan's radar.
For what it's worth, I really like the new look.
You're definitely an autumn.
I could stab you with my stiletto.
Enough already.
Now, when are we getting new numbers? Keep it down.
The machine has its reasons.
Stay in character.
Follow the calendar on the phone I gave you.
Check Angler, maybe find a match.
A match? As in a date? Make it look good.
But for now, I need you to make me look good.
New job interview.
Just promise me John's a barista.
Why down here, yo? N.
Y.
P.
D.
's got cams all over the city.
Can't be too careful.
Where's the product? Uncut Afghan snow.
It's stamped? Where'd you get it from? Enough talk.
Show us the damn money.
It's in the trunk.
It's all here.
We'll take that.
Matter of fact, we'll take it all.
- This is where you get off.
- You don't want to do that.
Oh, no? Waste this bitch.
Down on the ground! Hands behind your head! Detective? - You okay? - Escort these clowns to the E.
R.
Get the drugs and money to Evidence.
Gotta go.
Sir, don't you need to file a report? Firing your service weapon.
It wasn't my weapon.
Hello.
My name is Professor Whistler and I'll be teaching this semester's course on the Ethics of High Frequency Decision Making.
Which I will endeavor to make more interesting than that sounds.
You all should've received a copy of the syllabus along with a list of general guidelines and appropriate expectations.
As a visiting associate, my office hours will be limited.
All grades are final, so please don't come to see me expecting to negotiate a higher grade.
Later.
All right, then.
That concludes today's lecture.
Your reading assignments will be posted on the department website.
Thank you.
Come on, Bear.
Professor, given the modest number of students who have signed up to take your course the department may be relocating you to a smaller venue.
- I see.
- Oh, and I managed to make it through your dissertation.
I found it a very interesting read.
Not certain how you were able to obtain a $9 million grant for such an obscure field.
I flagged a few typos.
Certainly.
Thank you.
Oh.
One more thing.
We do have a "no dogs on campus" rule.
Precedent, you understand.
Not the first corner boy to catch a bullet on these rooftops.
This place is like a shooting range for gangbangers.
What brings you up to the Bronx, detective? Last I checked, I was in Homicide.
This here looks like a body.
What's Narcotics doing here, detective? Felix was an affiliate of a street gang taking over the heroin trade.
Yeah? Well, now he's unaffiliated.
If he was dealing, we didn't find no junk on him.
- No bank neither.
- Wire strippers.
What's this kid doing up here with a pair of crimpers? Maybe he was jacking cable.
Another favorite pastime in this hood.
He didn't even live in the building, Fusco.
Why don't you let the task force conduct the investigation? It's just a shame we got here too late.
You and your pals used to be good at getting in front of this stuff.
What are you doing fooling around in Narcotics? You gonna tell me what's going on? When I figure it out, Lionel, you'll be the first to know.
- We all want to push negativity - All right, I'm here.
and open ourselves up to positivity.
Why? Because positive people are happier people.
So I'm gonna share with you the secret of how to become more positive in three simple steps.
- Oh, boy.
Number one make happiness a choice.
Romeo? I don't think so.
Decide to rid your life of negativity.
Be free from self-doubt.
Be free from the doubters around you Is that your perfume? I could smell you down the hall.
I know you're gonna do it.
This stupid day job.
Nametag's a nice touch.
- What the hell are you doing here? - Calendar alert.
Me too.
- Then why are we both here? - Because we're all here for a reason, right? Look for the positive in life.
- This sucks.
- Mm.
- Excuse me.
- Excuse us.
You're a cop? Hey, at least you get to crack a few skulls, carry a gun.
New job's got me chasing junkies and bagging bodies after the fact.
Stupid cover jobs.
What are we doing? Because if our friend has a plan I am not seeing it.
Dream.
Tram.
Foxtrot.
Six.
November.
Mike.
Up.
X-ray.
Kilo.
Road.
Looks like we're back in business.
How goes the day job, Detective Riley? Personally, I prefer my real job, Finch.
Professor Whistler, please.
We're getting numbers again, Harold.
We need to get back to work.
I'm no longer your coworker, detective.
I'm done taking orders from a computer.
I thought I made that clear after it instructed us to kill a congressman.
It also helped us to save Grace.
- And now more lives need saving.
- I'm not sure that's what we're really doing.
I've totaled the lives we've saved against deaths we've caused and I'm afraid we've been operating at a loss.
People who would be alive if we hadn't interfered.
You don't know that.
What would've happened if we hadn't intervened? There is a larger power in play now.
One that we are presently ill-equipped to face.
- Samaritan? - Please be quiet.
Here.
I could really use your input on this one.
Ali Hasan.
Owns an electronics shop in the Bronx.
He's good with computers.
Kind of like you, Harold.
If you or Sameen or anyone else attempt to intervene with these numbers you will surely find yourselves dead.
- We have to do something.
- We have no resources, John.
- The library's gone.
- So we'll get another place.
You understand they're always watching? We can't even talk on the telephone.
There is no sanctuary.
You can't be the man in the suit.
You're a cop, I'm a professor.
- That's just the way it is.
- We don't need jobs, Harold.
We need a purpose.
The world has changed, John.
I'm sorry.
Bean For the time being, he'll be happier with you.
If it's not about helping the numbers anymore, then what? It's about survival, John.
Ben, I'm back from lunch.
We got a problem, yo.
- How can I help you? - Don't play, old man.
We got a communications breakdown.
First, you rat our burners out to the N.
Y.
P.
D the ones you sold us.
Now, your new phones ain't working right.
The way I see it, you owe us a whole new system.
Everything all right, Dad? Not if you don't get those web orders boxed for FedEx by 3 p.
m.
Go.
I held up my end.
I gave your men all the equipment.
- Even taught them how to set it up.
- Yeah, the problem is my boy Felix got a bullet on the rooftops.
So now you're finishing the job.
Dominic wants a new network up and running in the next 48.
I cannot be involved in this.
It's a little late for that, isn't it? Get your boy to help you out.
- You leave him out of this.
- I'm just saying.
Got a lot of people counting on you, don't you? - Clock is ticking.
- These are ready to go, Pop.
Is there anything else? Forty-eight hours, old man.
Let's go.
Can I help you find something? Wire crimpers.
Ben.
Perfect match, don't you think? This kid ever been in your store before? Found him on a rooftop a couple blocks from here with a pair of wire crimpers just like these.
Lots of places sell them.
I wish I could help you more.
You're a smart guy.
Good with computers.
You're a very private person, aren't you, Ali? I think you're in trouble.
I figure I can help you.
Going gets tough, call me.
Why didn't you just tell him? These are bad guys, we're in over our heads.
Let me handle this, Ben.
I built this store.
I won't be bullied.
This is not the old country, Dad.
You can talk to the police.
Talking to the police is what got us in this.
I will mind my business you will mind yours.
It's Link.
Leave a message.
I fixed it.
Meet me in Times Square.
I'll give you a phone that works.
So, what's this Egyptian guy have to do with my DOA? Felix was in a gang called the Brotherhood.
Near as I can tell, they're forcing Ali to build some kind of private phone network the cops can't tap.
So they're meeting here for privacy? For the people.
There's too many signals.
N.
Y.
P.
D.
can't pinpoint who's calling who.
Ali's smart, but these guys are too.
Old man.
The network should be up and running.
But with all the tall buildings, the battery drains quickly.
You need an extra battery pack.
Dominic wants signal from the East River to the Hudson.
It will take a little bit more time.
But you can check the signal up to five blocks east.
Stay here.
I'm gonna call you in five.
This better work.
Ali's tracking Link's phone.
Keep an eye on him.
It looks like your guy's sending a text.
That's not a text.
That's a detonation code.
Battery's a bomb.
Ali's not the victim, he's the perpetrator.
Give me the phone.
The phone.
You're full of surprises, Mr.
Hasan.
Turning your cell phone into a mobily detonated explosive device.
- Where'd you learn that? - I'm guessing Egyptian military.
Unit 777.
The Brotherhood is threatening you.
We can help you, Mr.
Hasan.
But you have to talk to us.
I came to the police once.
Gave you the serial numbers of the phones they purchased for my store.
It did nothing.
They know you're listening to them, they know where your cameras are.
They're smarter than you.
This Dominic, he wanted you to build some kind of private phone network? It doesn't matter anymore.
You can't protect me so I protect myself my store my family.
That's why I had to act.
- They threatened my son.
- Where's your son right now? - Why do you want to know? - Link isn't dead.
- What? - He escaped.
How? Ben We'll call your son on the way.
Let's go.
Ben? Ben? - Keep him back there, Lionel.
- Ben? Oh, no.
It's all clear.
He's not here.
They took my son.
- Hello? - Hey, old man.
- You know who this is? - Yes.
Yeah, you took your shot, but you missed.
Now I've got your boy.
And you got till midnight to get the network up or he won't be coming home.
Don't waste time going to the cops.
You know we see them coming.
- What have I done? - We're gonna help you, Mr.
Hasan.
- How? - By getting your son back.
You? Haven't you done enough? Not yet, I haven't.
Keep an eye on him.
- Hello? - Hey, it's me-.
I need you to drop the eyeliner, pick up a gun, and help me take down a criminal street gang.
I'd really like to, but that sounds like a bad idea.
Yeah, that's what Fusco says.
I guess I'm full of them today.
You go off the reservation, they'll find you.
And if you go down, we all go down.
We have a chance to get out ahead of this one.
I'm going in with or without you.
Where's the kid? - What kid, man? - The one Link kidnapped.
Your punk ass is crazy.
I'm about to bleed you.
Now you know, you really shouldn't hold those things sideways.
You can't aim it, you'll eject a shell casing into your Ah, forget it.
Last chance.
Where's Link? - Man, Link's bringing in the Whale.
- The Whale? I told you it was a bad idea.
In her defense, she had to work quickly.
Professor.
One moment, please.
What brings you here today, Miss Groves? Your former associates, the mayhem twins.
- They're back to trying to save people.
- I'm aware.
Then you're also aware that they're gonna get themselves caught or killed without your help.
I explained as much to John though I'm not sure how long they'd survive even with my assistance.
I assure you the outcome will be determined if you don't get involved.
And this advice is coming from you, Miss Groves, or from the machine? Now is not the time to be precious, Harold.
You don't get to sit this one out.
The world can't afford to indulge your indecision.
- Oh, I think I made my decision quite clear.
- Sorry, you have to pick a side.
Because this is war.
And the thing we're up against, it has virtually unlimited resources.
Governments working unwittingly at its behest.
Operatives around the globe protecting it.
You know how many we have? Five.
Six if you count the dog.
You have a god in this fight, Harold.
And she's fighting for her life.
I wouldn't know.
She only talks to you, Miss Groves.
Just because you stopped listening to her doesn't mean she isn't looking out for you.
This job, your identity, is her keeping you alive.
She has a plan, Harold.
But she needs you to sit up and pay attention.
To what, the numbers? In the face of such a struggle, saving one or two people what difference would that make? Every life matters.
You taught me that.
The numbers, our identities, they all mean something.
It all adds up to something.
All of this matters.
We all matter.
You got your friends into this mess.
The least you can do is get them out of it.
What happened? I saved your ass, that's what happened.
- I had things in hand, Shaw.
- Yeah, things like a grenade launcher.
You can't do that anymore, Reese.
Neither of us can.
We get caught, we get exposed.
And then it's lights out.
Ugh.
No means no, asshat.
I need to get back to work.
I might still need your help, Shaw.
- Did you not hear anything I just said? - Yeah, I did.
But I'm also trying to save a kid.
You had to put it that way.
- You said you'd get my son back.
- And I will.
If you can't find Ben, I must have this network up before midnight.
I've gone over everything I can think of, but it still won't connect.
Perhaps I can be of some assistance.
Detective Fusco said I might find you here.
- Who are you? - He's a friend.
Do you know anything about wireless network architecture? A bit.
I think you'll find I'm a quick study.
- I'll leave you to it.
I'm gonna track down Link.
- Detective.
Whatever your plans, I urge you to be discreet.
Our current circumstances require that we play by the rules.
So then I'll find someone who doesn't.
Phone.
Hello, John.
How many nodes are in the network? Honestly, I don't even know.
I should've never agreed to build this thing in the first place.
Look, why don't we start over? Tell me how you constructed the network.
Maybe it's better if I just showed you.
This is it.
This is one of my routers.
- How large is your coverage area? - All five boroughs.
- All five? - Yes.
Installing that many antennas would surely raise some suspicion.
That's just it.
They didn't have to install them.
The antennas were already there.
VHF television antennas.
You can still find them on most rooftops in the city.
It's been too long, John.
What have you been up to? It's, uh, complicated.
Well, now, that is an unexpected development.
What can I do for you, detective? I'm looking for information on a gang called the Brotherhood.
They kidnapped a kid and I want him back.
Sorry to say I don't know much about this Brotherhood.
It's run by a guy named Dominic.
We haven't met yet.
Do you know why they took the kid? They're squeezing his old man to build some kind of communications network the cops can't tap.
They gave him a deadline.
Midnight.
- Or they'll kill his son.
- Why midnight? Might have to do with someone called the Whale.
I heard they're bringing him in for a meeting.
The Whale isn't a person, John.
It's a shipment of heroin.
Four times a year, a truck comes up from Mexico.
It's driven to a location.
Usually a house.
And for one night, the most protected house in the city.
And there it's cut and packaged for couriers waiting to deliver it all along the eastern seaboard.
HR used to handle the Whale.
But since their demise, the cartels struggled to find a reliable partner.
Could be Dominic creating his own opportunity.
Ambitious and smart.
Reminds me of me in my youth.
A little advice, detective.
Maybe steer clear of this Dominic.
I'm afraid I can't do that.
Which brings me to the other reason I'm here.
I'd like to hire you.
Well, I think I may have found a way to fix your network.
- How? - I've written a firmware patch that should allow the nodes to handle an increased number of connections.
I'm uploading it now.
It's working.
The network is up.
You did it.
Heh.
No, you did, Mr.
Hasan.
You took an obsolete and forgotten technology and created a modern invisible communications network.
I just need it to get Ben back.
Then we have little time to waste.
- Yeah? - It's Ali.
The network is up.
You can use it.
That's good.
Guess all you needed was the right motivation, huh? I gave you what you wanted.
- Now give me back my son.
- Relax, old man.
You're gonna get him.
But right now I'm in the middle of something.
Sit tight.
I'll be in touch.
What? Hello? - Now what? - Now we call John.
You put a lot of trust in your friend.
I do.
In all the time I've known him, he's never let me down.
- Hello? - It's me.
I'm borrowing the gang's mesh network.
I'm sending you the location of the node they're connected to.
Should be within a few hundred feet.
I'm on my way.
I'll let Shaw know.
John.
Remember to be careful.
Just like old times, huh, Finch? Hardly, detective.
The network's up.
Dominic says he wants everyone rolling out in 30 minutes.
What about the kid? As soon as we're done, we'll take him back to his pops.
Then we throw them both in the river.
Shaw, you in position? Yeah, at least until the owners come home from dinner.
All right, I got eyes on.
Copy.
Stand by.
Now, just remember, Reese.
You're N.
Y.
P.
D.
You go all Rambo, I won't be there to bail you out this time.
I'm a reformed man, Shaw.
Following the rules and keeping a low profile.
Let's go.
We've got a dozen cars moving out.
Every brick, every borough, tonight.
Look out! That's your idea of a low profile? What the hell? What's going on? Beats me.
Appears to be some kind of traffic accident.
Elias says hello.
Looks like a gang dispute over drugs.
The SUV was coming from that house.
This gives me probable cause to take a closer look.
Got your back, detective.
Go check it out.
Anybody comes near this place, kill them.
Bag it all up.
We're moving out.
Yo, you see something, shoot it.
Took care of your welcoming party.
They didn't look too friendly.
Reese, your buddies in blue are getting close.
I have to find Ben.
He's gone.
So is Link.
I got him.
They went out the back.
I can't get a clear shot.
Me again.
Time's up.
Good luck, Reese.
Down on the ground! Finally.
It's good to see you guys.
Riley.
Narcotics.
- John? - Put Ali on.
- Hello? - Dad? Ben.
Are you all right? - Did they hurt you? - I'm okay.
- They destroyed the store.
- Doesn't matter.
You're all right.
That's all that matters.
It was never about the store.
- But they'll come back.
- So we'll run off.
We are the store, Ben.
You and me.
Just come home.
- Whoa, whoa.
- Meg Watkins, Homeland Security.
What happened here? Gang war over drugs, ma'am.
Gangs? I don't think so.
Ma'am? I think I know why the machine chose this time to resurface.
It wanted you to help the number, but it also wanted the number to help you.
That's Ali's mesh network.
What about the Brotherhood? I expect they believe the N.
Y.
P.
D.
confiscated it.
But just to be safe, I've augmented these phones with a rolling encryption algorithm.
You and Sameen will be able to communicate without anyone else listening.
Including Samaritan.
It's not just about the numbers, Harold.
It's about survival.
Be safe, John.
Bean Didn't teach you knots in Girl Scouts? Are you checking up on me? I worry about you, Sameen.
I also have a black tie dinner tonight, and I need a new polish.
Something bold.
Oh, and you should check your calendar.
I think you have a coffee date.
No way.
The machine stuck me in this retail hell.
There's no way I'm letting it near my love life.
She has a reason for everything.
Even if sometimes it requires you to act like a well-adjusted member of society.
Trust her.
Hey.
What are you doing? I.
T.
, dude.
Just setting up your partner's computer.
Whoa, what do you mean? What partner? Some hotshot just made a big bust.
Got promoted from Narcotics.
He can tell you all about it.
- Detective.
- You? You guys know each other? We've met.
All set.
Make yourself at home.
Welcome to the 8th.
Sameen? - Romeo? - I've been looking for a good match.
Thought you might not be interested.
Just careful.
Us too.
I hear you're looking for some real work.
We need a good wheelman.
Interested? Absolutely.