Person of Interest s04e16 Episode Script

We are being watched.
The government has a secret system.
A machine that spies on you every hour of every day.
I designed the machine to detect acts of terror, but it sees everything.
Violent crimes involving ordinary people.
The government considers these people irrelevant.
We don't.
Hunted by the authorities, we work in secret.
You will never find us.
But victim or perpetrator, if your number's up, we'll find you.
Harper Rose.
Is she a grad student, Finch? Ms.
Rose is an anthropology major from upstate New York, Mr.
Reese.
Studied abroad in Europe, took time off to travel.
Typical college student.
Atypical, only in that the machine did not generate her social.
It gave us her college ID number instead.
That's a little odd.
Any other issues? Just with a roommate.
Harper put in a written request for transfer to campus housing.
She moved into a new single this semester.
I'll look into the ex-roommate.
You back on campus? I gotta say, it's quite invigorating being around all these idealistic young minds.
You must be enjoying your day job, professor.
As near as I can tell, college has become an overpriced Bacchanalia.
Full of entitled, oversexed binge drinkers.
Well, somebody's gotta pay your salary.
Wait.
She just switched backpacks.
Hang on a second.
Oh, no, no, no.
That's not a bone.
That's a Bontoni - Protect your right to privacy.
- Want to help us stop big data? I'm picking up a dozen cell phones, Finch.
All registered to different users.
You are in a college dormitory.
Come on, Finch, within a 15-foot radius? Creep.
This is a women's floor.
Right.
I was just leaving.
I think she's heading to another floor.
- Hey, boo.
Heh.
- Hey, babe.
Thank you for covering my shift.
- I feel like I'm coming down with something.
- Yeah.
It's called "Far Cry 4.
" And the munchies.
Hey, I need a break, okay? The boss man's got me doing cash bank runs every day.
The dude is bugging out with all that cheddar.
Look, I can handle Noah, okay? All right.
- Hit you up later? - I'll be here.
Harper's gentleman friend is a Trey Wender.
An uninspired student with a half dozen misdemeanor arrests.
Any violent crimes? "Possession of marijuana, attempt to sell marijuana possession of a controlled substance.
" No accounting for taste.
I got Harper in sight.
This job is way off campus.
Finch, that shift she's covering for Trey, he works at a dispensary.
Medical marijuana? Do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.
State regulations require a dispensary card for every patient.
- How fast can you get me into the database? - Let's see.
Detective Riley suffers PTSD from multiple gunshot wounds and Chronic back pain.
Back pain is better.
I'll have Dr.
Tillman call it in.
It won't take long.
That was easy.
How do you know so much about getting marijuana? Mr.
Reese, you want me to call this in or not? On the job, Harold? Ms.
Groves.
Good to see you're still on task.
The world could scarcely afford to lose another pot dealer.
- Sri Lanka? - Mm.
I know you prefer sencha green, but their black tea is to die for.
I did as you asked.
I stayed away.
You did that for your own reasons, Harry.
What if you're going about it all wrong? Maybe we should be looking for people to enlist.
Against Samaritan? How can you say that after? Everything that happened? "Everything that happened," is that her name now? You didn't wanna talk about Ms.
Shaw.
Let's talk about the 7.
1 billion people out there, Harold.
And the odds that a few of them just might give us an advantage over a runaway artificial intelligence.
What's the machine proposing? She wants me to build an app.
For what purpose? I don't know yet.
But it's gotta be a killer app to get the attention of the right people.
Anyone in particular you have in mind, Ms.
Groves? Looks like you've got your hands full, Harold.
I can handle it.
And this is for you.
To die for.
Detective John Riley.
PTSD.
Been shot multiple times.
Sweet Mary Jane.
This place is legal? According to state, not federal government, which means that it's still a cash business.
Wow, they must be raking it in.
They can't find banks that will take it.
And the banks can still be prosecuted by the feds for taking illegal drug money and they risk having their charters pulled.
- So where does all the money go? - Good question.
It's like the Wild West or Prohibition all over again.
It just makes these dispensaries big, fat targets for criminals.
And our number is right in the thick of it.
Thanks.
Skulk and dagger, what are you having? Something for my back.
Right.
You're new here.
Uh, try the Kona push pops over there.
Thank you.
What happened to Trey? He's supposed to make a deposit.
You can't send burnouts to the bank with cash that smells like skunk weed.
- They're not stupid.
- That burnout was your boyfriend.
You have a better idea? Biggest banks in the world have been cleaning cartel money for years.
Just gotta pay the right guy.
That's money laundering.
We're not criminals.
This is a legal business.
Cash has to go somewhere, boss.
What do we do with tonight's haul? Make a transfer to a secure off-site holding facility.
Security detail's sending multiple cars.
- Right now? - Let them in the back, close up the shop.
Clock out.
Sounds like our anthropology major has been studying economics.
They're closing up shop, Finch.
It's a cash pickup.
They vary the times, vehicle routes.
That does not sound good.
Even worse, these guys aren't standard transpo.
They're Brotherhood.
Dominic is getting into legalized security.
Get out of the car! Cartel.
It's an ambush.
Oh, my God.
What just happened? Who the hell are you? Your lucky day.
They were tipped off.
They knew your pickup time.
What the hell? - Damn.
The bags were switched out.
- Where's the cash? I'll be right back.
Finch, Harper knew more about this cash pickup than she let on.
- What are you doing? You lost your mind? - Do I know you? Your life's in danger.
- You're that fake cop back at the store.
- What? If you were a real cop, I'd have been arrested by now.
I guess we're both good at role-playing.
Beat it.
- I'm not going anywhere.
- And I'm not going anywhere with you.
Trust me, lady.
You need my help.
Like a hole in the head.
Keep it moving, Kush Pops.
I got this.
Give me the bag while you still got a chance to get out of this.
All right, fine.
Take the cash.
Good choice.
Thanks.
Mr.
Reese? Have you got our girl? No.
And she's definitely no one's girl.
Well, her number just came up, again.
And I think I know why.
Harper isn't who we thought she was.
She definitely isn't interested in our help.
Mr.
Reese, are you at Harper's dorm room? Just let myself in.
Finch, in addition to grand theft Harper has been taking up a collection on campus.
Or whatever her real name is.
I've looked into the issues with the ex-roomie.
It appears that the real Harper Rose took this semester off for mental health reasons.
Apparently campus housing doesn't know it yet.
Multiple cell phones, IDs.
Either she's a serial killer or a chameleon who changes her identity like socks.
That's the reason the machine sent us her number before she changes identities.
Finch, Harper has been tracking the dispensary cash deposits for weeks.
Last night's robbery wasn't impulsive.
It was planned.
She's not a student.
Definitely an operator.
What about the boyfriend? It was an inside job, after all.
Something tells me she wasn't all that into Trey in the first place.
And as for college I think she just dropped out.
Hey, this is amazing.
Little Ms.
Mary Jane has aliases connected to over a dozen other criminal cases.
She's been busy.
Some were girl-next-doors brought in for questioning but their alibis checked out.
She stole their identities to commit the crimes.
So, what are we dealing with? Grifter, con artist, thief? Likely all of the above.
I don't get it.
We're supposed to protect her or arrest her? Maybe both.
But we have to find her first.
And I'll bet she changes residence as often as her identity.
- Time we split up.
- Hey, whoa, there's a lot of names there.
What's your pal Mr.
Peabody doing? Nicely done, Ms.
Groves.
Smells like money.
Cash crop.
How's business, Noah? Dominic.
Things were good.
Till last night.
Since you hired me to handle security and transport I should look into the situation directly.
- These guys came out of nowhere.
- Not nowhere.
Mexico.
They were cartel.
Why steal? I'm nothing compared to what they have.
Dispensaries are taking millions out of their pockets all across the country.
That money needs protecting and washing, that's the kind of business they wanna be in.
Too bad I already beat them to it.
All the way up the I-95 corridor.
Somehow they knew when and where to hit us.
- Not me.
They didn't do most of the damage.
- Who did? Some cop in a suit.
When the shooting started he came out of nowhere.
Blasting everyone In the kneecaps.
Detective Riley.
Yeah, that's him.
He was a customer when it all went down.
- Of course.
- The cash went missing.
Someone switched out the bag it was in.
The cartel didn't get the money.
I don't like losing a shipment or manpower, so we gotta clean this up.
Scorched earth, you feel me, Noah? What does that mean? - Who else was working there last night? - Guard at the door, stock boy.
- Girl named Harper, hired a month ago - Where can I find her? I don't know.
I tried calling, she didn't answer her phone.
She's just a college kid.
Her boyfriend Trey vouched for her.
Okay.
Where can I find this Trey? Mm.
Yeah.
Score.
Harp? Not tonight, sweetheart.
A couple of differences between me and your girl.
One, I would rather do a dime in Rikers than your half-baked ass and two, I only take what's mine.
Where you been, Trey? I don't know, here, class.
I mean, maybe not class, but Whoa.
Sit.
Right.
I got friends upstate doing hard time for selling weaker schwag than that.
I'm sorry? Now that government's gone made that OG dank legal, taxing it, ain't that a bitch? Yeah, the government, it's pretty diabolical.
Do you want some ice cream? - I don't know what you want from me.
- Oh, sure you do, Trey.
We want the money back.
And we want your girl.
Time to take a little trip.
You want me to cut a deal.
I'm not that guy.
The way I see it, Jorge, you should be begging me for a deal.
You and your cartel buddy shot up a medical marijuana dispensary last night.
I told you, man, I don't flip on nobody.
Hey, that guy out there.
He looks familiar.
Is he a witness? This who tipped you off about the cash delivery? Maria.
She's not long for this world.
- Maria? - What, that's not her name? Not even close.
She lied about her name? Didn't tell us that the Brotherhood was handling a security transport.
Who's that gringo with the suit there? One thing at a time.
Tell me where I can find Maria.
- Where did you meet her? - Club Boost.
A couple of weeks ago.
She said that her favorite DJ was gonna be playing there.
That girl loves to dance.
Oh, my God.
Fiona, this club is off the hook.
- How did you get us in? - The owner and I, we go way back.
You guys want more bubbly? - Free champagne.
- Yeah! - We need to talk.
- Oh, we already did.
We were interrupted.
Right.
Sorry about the knee.
But I can tell you're the kind of guy that doesn't take no for an answer.
Champagne? Where's the money? I spent it.
All of it? Already? I paid some bills, balanced my checkbook.
And what do you know? Turns out, I owed some other guys some money.
A lot of money.
What other guys? The guys who own the club.
We're square.
They even threw in bottle service to seal the deal.
We're leaving.
Now.
If you don't mind, Fiona would like to get back to her girlfriends.
Oh, Harper, you didn't just steal drugs, you stole from Dominic.
Don't look now.
We've just been spotted.
- N.
Y.
P.
D.
Come with me.
- I don't feel like spending tonight in holding.
You really wanna do this? Come on, you.
Yum.
Thanks.
I'm starving.
The cuffs are a bit over-the-top, don't you think? Even for someone like you.
Someone like me? I know cops.
Your friend here, he's the real deal.
I bet he bleeds blue.
But you, you're playing make-believe.
My guess is former military with a side of hero complex.
What makes you say that? You military folk have all the same tells.
Posture, the hair.
It's like they make you in a factory.
Not bad.
Well, thank you for that analysis.
Now, let's just focus on you.
You're in trouble.
Dominic wants you dead and he's good at getting what he wants.
What I don't understand is why the cartel showed up when they did.
Maybe a little birdie gave them a heads-up there'd be some money changing hands.
So the cartel swooped in to knock off the cash only to realize they were left holding the wrong bag.
Worked beautifully too till your partner started playing hero.
I don't know about the cartel but Dominic's not about to let you off the hook.
Don't be such a drama queen.
Stealing from criminals is a victimless crime.
Unless you're the victim.
Detective? - I got her, Harold.
- Good, but that's not why I'm calling.
We have a new number.
- Ms.
Harper's friend from the dorm, Trey.
- Dominic must think he knows something.
I went to his dorm room, found it empty.
I couldn't tell if the disarray was evidence of a kidnapping or just a dreadful sloven.
In either event, you should make sure that Ms.
Harper doesn't leave your side.
Your buddy Trey is in trouble.
Dominic must be after him because of you.
Who was on the phone? Did you? Did you even answer a phone? Is there something in his ear? It's John and his friends, it's kind of like their thing.
They know stuff.
Sounds very technical.
Look, Trey doesn't know anything about me.
He doesn't even know my real name.
What is your real name? I think I'll keep Harper for now.
I like the way that sounds.
So, what's gonna happen to Trey? We have to get to him before Dominic realizes the kid's useless.
Let's go.
We got all manpower flipping cash for gift cards, money orders up the Eastern seaboard.
I don't need cash.
I need ones and zeros.
Get me more gamers.
Agh! Ow.
Where is she? I don't I don't know, man.
I told you.
Your girl stole from me.
She got too close to you and Noah which means she knows things, things she shouldn't.
- Harper's some girl I was hanging outwith.
- Name's not Harper.
Girl's a grifter working fools like you to get what she wants.
No way.
What about Detective Riley? - How does she know him? - Who? No, come on, dude.
Come on.
Come on.
I don't know who that is.
I wanna believe you, Trey.
It's because of guys like you, I'm taking my business to the next level.
It is? You and your video games.
See, the dispensary owners have a bank problem.
So they have to hire guys like me to protect them and all that cash.
Then I see guys like you spend thousands on games.
Warriors of the realm.
Turning real currency virtual, cold, hard cash, for fake gold.
All I needed to figure out was how to turn that into real money again then transfer it into a bank account.
- Hey, that's really smart.
- Yes, it is.
- Now I feel that's all been jeopardized.
- She's not gonna say anything.
- No? - No, she's not.
I hope not.
Because if she does you won't need to worry about studying for those finals.
We should kick this know-nothing fool.
He got played clear and simple.
No.
With Riley in the mix, she'll be coming back around.
As far as I'm concerned, they're both loose ends.
- Do you live here? - I own the apartment.
Excellent non-answer.
What about Captain Laconic? He work for you? Detective Riley and I are partners.
Didn't see that coming.
Harold, I'm gonna need that cash.
It's all there.
The withdrawal put a sizable dent in our reserves but I think the lives of two people are worth that sacrifice.
Where are you going with that? Paying off Dominic.
It's the only play to keep you safe.
I've been in way deeper than this.
What about Trey? Does he have as big of a death wish as you do? You guys are making it seem like I knew he was gonna get kidnapped.
Maybe you'll think about someone other than yourself next time you steal from drug dealers.
Don't let her out of your sight.
He's a real live wire, huh? CIA or Special Forces? Mr Uh, Detective Riley is a complicated person.
And you? What's your story? You fund some kind of alternative private military contractors? We like to think of what we do as a community service.
- Why? - Why what? You two are obviously helping people on a regular basis.
This ornately decorated apartment that no one lives in.
Which means you probably have a boatload of money and much better things to do with your time than to just stick your neck out for people you don't know.
So why do it? Everybody deserves a champion.
- Where do you get your information? - I'm good with technology.
A hacker.
You're a guy who needs order.
Coding is good for that.
It channels the OCD.
It fosters the illusion of control.
You should stop gripping the wheel so tight.
Try turning into the skid.
And you prefer disorder.
Why swim upstream when you can ride the current down to the waterfall? What happens when you reach the cliff? I'll let you know when I get there.
That's an interesting take on life.
It's freedom.
I steal from criminals because they don't call the cops.
I don't plant roots, I can bail at a moment's notice.
Sounds more like running.
An antique art deco engagement ring.
About a carat.
Is it a family heirloom? It's just a piece of tin that I stole from an old lady who tried to screw me over.
You got anything to eat around here? - I got something for your boss.
- Right here is good.
In exchange for the kid and for the girl's life.
Don't know what you're talking about, detective.
You're welcome to leave the cash, though.
Where's Dominic? He's unavailable.
But like we said, you can leave the case.
That's not gonna happen.
I'll take that.
My number for your boss when he's ready to talk.
Or I can keep kicking his ass from a distance.
Whatever he prefers.
I can't tell you how excited I am about what you brought to us.
- I needed your company.
- I thought it was a simple app but it's a truly sophisticated build for a mobile platform.
You, uh, work with an incubator? Not on this project.
It's just me.
- What partnership are you looking for? - Combining my software with your compression algorithm will save me time and money and allow us to sell it at a lower price point to the consumer.
If you're interested in partnering up on something so small, of course.
Well, I imagine the boss will be as impressed as I am with what you've created.
So, urn, why don't I call you once he weighs in? I look forward to it.
Tell me something.
Why bring it to us? You could have gone anywhere.
Your boss's reputation precedes him.
Got your message detective.
I'll give you the money you're owed if you agree to stay away from Harper.
And I want that kid back in one piece.
Okay.
It's a deal if you decide to tell me who you really are.
Because you're sure as hell no detective.
Well, you saw my card.
It says "John Riley.
Homicide detective.
" That's me.
No real cop would pay off the debt of some homeless grifter.
Well, I'm not like other cops.
We finally agree on something.
You and me, this isn't personal.
It's just that you keep trying to hurt people and I don't like it when people get hurt.
- Why does Elias get a pass? - Well, he and I have an understanding.
He stays out of my way and I stay out of his.
- That right? - That's right.
That's how it works with Elias.
But you already know that.
Just like you know he's coming for you.
I'll be ready.
But as for us, if I stay out of your way, you will show me the same respect? As long as you stop trying to kill innocent people.
The girl's not innocent.
Well, that's up for debate.
How about I give you Trey and you give me the girl? That's not gonna happen.
I got him.
He pulls anything stupid, I'll pull the trigger.
Which one is it? One of the pretty little brunettes, or your partner, Detective Fusco? You're not gonna kill an unarmed man.
I know that much.
So I guess this little talk is over.
For now.
You can stand down now.
Looks like your little parley didn't do us much good.
Harper is still in trouble and her stoner boyfriend's probably dead.
Always looking on the bright side, aren't you? Okay, Detective Sunshine, what do we do now? The tall drink of darkness failed to dazzle Dominic with his witty banter and briefcase full of cash? We'll discuss our next option when he gets back.
It'll be too late, you know how these guys work.
Shoot first, don't ask questions later because the person's dead.
I put my life at risk knowing the stakes.
Trey didn't.
So I'm gonna rescue that dummy with or without you guys.
I'll have a much better chance if I got some backup.
What do you propose? You're good with technology, right? Chica wants a word.
Send her over.
I knew you had huevos, but I never thought you were stupid.
Don't be so mad, Alfonso.
You got his nephew in a lot of trouble, little girl.
You set him up to fail.
Cops got involved, he got shot.
I'm gonna make it up to you.
Nico, jefe.
I have no interest in starting a war with the cartel.
I like the way my head looks attached to my shoulders.
Oh, we should have waited for Detective Riley.
Dominic's been consolidating power in this town.
- Half the gangs work for him now.
- Tell me something I don't know.
You're losing money hand over fist with this legalization nonsense.
You want what's yours, let me help you.
- How do you plan to do that? - Dominic's laundering cash.
A lot of it.
And he can only do that one chunk at a time or the feds will catch on.
- Do you know what that means? - He needs to keep the cash somewhere.
Bingo.
And not just hundreds of thousands, but tens of millions.
Alfonso.
You got my attention.
What do you need? Have your boys put the word out that you found me.
Dominic will have to reach out to make a deal.
Then you leave the rest up to me.
Nice job, Ms.
Harper.
Cartel took you straight to Dominic's stronghold, just as you thought.
If you're wrong, you're dead wrong.
Finch, Harper's inside with the cartel.
I'm moving into position.
Hey, I got something in the all Unh! What now? I need to get to the roof, to get to Trey without busting through the warehouse.
You're going along with the con girl's plan? Finch trusts her.
Sort of.
That's a real vote of confidence.
Where's the money? What money? Agh.
Huh? - Whoa.
- You don't wanna do this, Nico.
- We agreed to a trade.
- I know, but there's a problem.
I've got nothing to trade.
Had the money taken to a more secure location.
What? That was cool.
Hey, Trey.
I'm John.
I hope you're here to rescue me, these dudes are not messing around.
Your friend Harper sent me.
I knew she was into me.
You set us up.
- Dude, what is this for? - You ready? - For what? - Hang on.
Awesome.
Wait, what happens now? Cool.
On the ground, now! Get down! Hands where I can see them! - You! Stay where you are! - On your knees! Move! What did we do? Serial number's filed off.
That's one felony.
I'll think of some more on our way to the station.
You're welcome to inspect our weapons, detective.
They're registered for use under my private security protection, transportation service.
Squeaky clean, huh? Hands where I can see them.
Empty your pockets.
Everything out.
These guys can go.
Check these weapons.
- Walk.
- Come on, up.
Got a call from Noah.
Appreciate the heads-up.
What's your angle? I figured you'd stop trying to kill me if I prove myself.
Getting rid of the cartel seemed like a good deal for both of us.
Especially because they wanted me dead too.
- We good now? - For now.
- What about Trey? - This was never about him, anyway.
You wanted a face-to-face.
With me.
Lady bold enough to steal from the cartel and my guys clever enough to get away with it.
Makes you a force to be reckoned with.
Someone I could use on my team.
When you're done playing vigilante with that fake cop, come see me.
Where's the kid? Harp.
I'm happy you're okay, Trey, but I think we need to break up.
What? What did I do? Don't try to figure them out.
Come on, I'll give you a ride.
Your app is truly special, Shannon.
The code, it's the most elegant string I've seen in years.
I really appreciate the support.
This is like a dream, just being in the room with the great Caleb Phipps.
Oh, you give me too much credit.
Please, sit.
So where did you learn to code? Uh, I'm kind of self-taught.
Me too.
I think most of the best programmers are.
I told Shannon you wanted to discuss something with her.
Yes.
Down to business.
We were wondering if you have any interest in working on something with a team.
You mean for you? I never considered myself in that league.
You absolutely are.
It's for a new security software we're developing and we could really use someone with your skills.
So, what do you think? I'd be honored.
You guys were right.
I totally needed backup.
You should stay out of trouble for a while, Ms.
Harper.
What's the fun in that? You are a good man, Harold.
And you, thanks for reminding me that it's not just my ass on the line.
- You ever hear of right of way? - You're gonna pay for this! Finch, I think she just stole your watch.
Oh, that's okay.
I stole her ring.
She knows where to find me if she wants it back.