Numb3rs (2005–2010): Season 1, Episode 4 - Structural Corruption - full transcript

(birds chirping)

(Larry) IN 20 YEARS OF TEACHING,

I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED
EVALUATION COMMENTS LIKE THESE.

"BORING." ME?

"INTELLECTUALLY",
UH, "INACCESSIBLE"?

I THOUGHT WE
CAME UP ON THIS HIKE

TO GET YOUR MIND OFF
THIS RIDICULOUS THING.

I MEAN, ONE... ONE
STUDENT EVEN SAID

I'M OUT OF TOUCH IN
CUTTING-EDGE THINKING

IN MULTIDIMENSIONAL THEORY.

(panting) I MEAN, THAT ONE
ALONE KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT.



(grunting)

EVERYBODY GETS BAD EVALUATIONS
NOW AND THEN. COME ON.

YEAH, YEAH, SAYS THE PROFESSOR

WHO NEVER RECEIVED
ANYTHING LESS THAN A RAVE.

AS WITH ANY LARGE GROUP,
THERE ARE RESPONSES

THAT COVER THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM.

I ONCE HAD A GIRL IN MY
COMBINATRONICS SEMINAR

TELL ME THAT I WAS DISORGANIZED
AND I TALKED TOO FAST.

THAT'S AN ACCURATE
OBSERVATION, ACTUALLY.

BUT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, I
MEAN, YOUR STUDENTS LOVE YOU,

WHEREAS MINE SAY MY
CLASSES PUT THEM TO SLEEP.

YOU'RE AN EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSOR.

I SHOULD KNOW. I TOOK
CLASSES FROM YOU.

BUT YOU WERE AN
EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG MIND.



NOW, PERHAPS I'VE
JUST LOST THE ABILITY

TO REACH THE MORE
TYPICAL STUDENT.

HEY, PROFESSOR FLEINHARDT.
HEY, HOW'S IT... HOW'S IT... HOW'S IT...

HOW... HOW... HOW YOU...

SEE? WE'RE NOT EVEN IN CLASS, AND
STILL MY STUDENTS RUN AWAY FROM ME.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S IT.

(siren wailing)

(Charlie) RIGHT.

THEY'RE RIGHT DOWN
THIS WAY. COME ON.

(sirens blaring) HURRY, MAN.

(policeman) FOLKS, CAN
YOU STAY BACK, PLEASE?

LET 'EM DO THEIR JOB.

STAY AROUND THE PERIMETER HERE.

(people chattering)

(police officer) SO, WHO
DO WE HAVE HERE?

FINN MONTGOMERY. MALE,
WHITE, 21. CALSCI STUDENT I.D.

(male student) NO WAY!
IT IS FINN MONTGOMERY.

HE JUMPED?

UH, PROFESSOR? M-MY
NAME'S FINN MONTGOMERY. UH...

HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?

SADLY, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

(police officer) ANY WITNESSES?

(policeman) NOT FOR THE LAUNCH.
A COUPLE AFTER THE LANDING.

TEXTBOOK HEADER,
PROBABLE SUICIDE.

THIS IS TERRIBLE. I...

I... I COULD REALLY
USE YOUR ADVICE

ON, UH, SOME CALCULATIONS
IN MY ENGINEERING THESIS.

WELL, HE COULD HAVE STEPPED
OFF THE BRIDGE INSTEAD OF JUMPING.

YEAH, BUT THERE
ARE OTHER FACTORS.

YOU KNOW, WHILE
GRAVITY PULLED HIM DOWN,

THE WIND WOULD HAVE PUSHED
HIM AWAY FROM THE BRIDGE.

WELL, LOOK, THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF WIND AROUND HERE.

HOW MUCH EFFECT WOULD THAT HAVE?

FINN WAS WEARING A WINDBREAKER.

(Charlie) IT'S NON-PERMEABLE.

IT OFFERS AN
INCREASED SURFACE AREA

FOR THE WIND TO ACT UPON,
ESPECIALLY IF HE WAS MOVING.

BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE POINT OF
IMPACT, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SEE.

WIND AND GRAVITY ARE CONSTANT,

LEAVING ONLY THE SURFACE AREA.

SOMEHOW, THAT WAS REDUCED.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING,
HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS?

OR DEAD ALREADY.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHERE HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED

IF IT WAS A SUICIDE,
AND WHERE HE LANDED?

UH, A FOOT TO 18 INCHES.

A FOOT? OUTSIDE
THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

LISTEN, UNLESS THERE IS A
CLEAR AND COMPELLING REASON,

I CAN'T GET THE F.B.I. TO
INTERFERE IN A LOCAL INVESTIGATION

BECAUSE MY BROTHER HAS A
THEORY. THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT FINN
MONTGOMERY DID NOT JUMP OFF THIS BRIDGE.

YEAH, AND TO ME, THERE'S INDICATIONS
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PHYSICS.

PLEASE, IF YOU CAN JUST
TAKE A QUICK LOOK, UH...

LOOK, EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU
ABOUT THE FALL STILL HOLDS UP,

BUT, YEAH, FINN MONTGOMERY
WAS IN MY OFFICE 2 DAYS AGO.

(Charlie) WE ALL USE
MATH EVERY DAY.

(echoing) EVERY DAY.

TO PREDICT WEATHER,

TO TELL TIME,

TO HANDLE MONEY.

MATH IS MORE THAN
FORMULAS AND EQUATIONS.

IT'S LOGIC.

(echoing) MATH IS MORE THAN
FORMULAS AND EQUATIONS.

IT'S RATIONALITY.

IT'S USING YOUR MIND

TO SOLVE THE BIGGEST
MYSTERIES WE KNOW.

(echoing) WE KNOW.

LOOK, CHARLIE, THIS IS THE KIND
OF INFORMATION I NEED UP-FRONT.

IF THE KID WASN'T ONE
OF YOUR STUDENTS,

THEN WHY DID HE
COME AND SEE YOU?

CALSCI IS A SMALL UNIVERSITY.
IT'S A TIGHT COMMUNITY.

STUDENTS OFTEN CONSULT PROFESSORS
OUTSIDE OF THEIR DEPARTMENT.

HE NEVER TRIED TO CONTACT
YOU AGAIN? E-MAIL, OR...

MAYBE I WAS TOO
UNAPPROACHABLE, I... I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, WELL, MAYBE IT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

BUT WHAT IF HE WAS TRYING
TO TELL ME SOMETHING?

ALL RIGHT, LOOK, I'LL
MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS,

BUT THE F.B.I. CAN'T JUST INSERT
THEMSELVES IN THESE KIND OF THINGS.

IF THE POLICE CLOSED THE CASE, THEY
MIGHT NOT MIND ME LOOKIN' AROUND.

I UNDERSTAND, AND THANK YOU.

I... I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I MEAN, I'M NOT CONVINCED THIS IS
ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

YOU NEVER MENTIONED THAT
YOU HAD A FED FOR A BROTHER.

"A FED."

I DIDN'T THINK IT'D BE MUCH OF
A SELLING POINT WITH YOU, EVA.

MY VIEWS ON GOVERNMENT
INTRUSION INTO ACADEMIA

ARE RATHER FIRM.

(Don) OH, YEAH? WOULD
THAT BE TOO FIRM

TO TALK ABOUT FINN MONTGOMERY?

HIS SUICIDE OR THE
MALONE SCANDAL?

SCANDAL?

YEAH, ANOTHER STUDENT, BRIAN
MALONE, WAS EXPELLED 2 WEEKS AGO

FOR FALSIFYING DATA
IN A LAB RESULT, RIGHT?

FINN FILED THE HONOR CODE VIOLATIONS
THAT LED TO BRIAN'S EXPULSION.

DID THEY GET INTO ANY
CONFRONTATION OVER THAT?

VIOLENCE ISN'T AN AUTOMATIC
RESPONSE TO CONFLICT, AGENT EPPES.

NO, BUT IT'S A POPULAR
ONE, MISS SALTON.

EVA, WHAT WAS
FINN'S THESIS TOPIC?

IT WAS AN ENGINEER'S PERSPECTIVE

ON THE WORK OF
ARCHITECT GARR HAYBRIDGE.

HE DESIGNED THE COLE
CENTER DOWNTOWN.

RIGHT, HE ALSO DID
THE KEYERLEBER ANNEX.

SOMETHING VERY INVITING ABOUT
THAT ENTRANCE, DON'T YOU THINK?

YES, THERE IS.

(Eva) FINN WAS AN INTENSE KID.

HE WAS OBSESSIVE ABOUT
RESEARCHING HIS THESIS,

BUT HE WAS FALLING
BEHIND SCHEDULE.

NOW, WHEN YOU SAY "INTENSE", YOU
MEAN INTENSE ENOUGH TO KILL HIMSELF?

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'D LIKE TO
TAKE A LOOK AT HIS RESEARCH.

HERE IS THE KEY TO HIS
OFFICE IN THE LIBRARY.

THANKS FOR YOUR
COOPERATION, MRS. SALTON.

ANYTIME, FED.

(laughing)

THANKS, EVA.

KEYERLEBER ANNEX.

YEAH, WELL, I WAS ACTUALLY STAKING OUT A
BANK FOR 3 WEEKS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET,

AND THEY HAD A PLAQUE THAT DESCRIBED
ITS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.

LOOK, I THINK YOU SHOULD CHECK
OUT THIS KID'S WORK, ALL RIGHT?

YOU THINK HIS RESEARCH HAS
SOME BEARING ON HIS DEATH?

SURE. IF HE WAS
HITTING DEAD ENDS

OR HE WAS LATE ON HIS
THESIS, I MEAN, IT MIGHT.

(Charlie) EXCUSE ME.

UH, CAN WE HELP YOU?

I'M A PROFESSOR IN
THE MATH DEPARTMENT.

I'M CHARLIE EPPES.

I'M REALLY JUST SO
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

(sniffling) YOU JUST
NEED TO EXCUSE ME.

HONEY...

(sighing)

ARE YOU, UH...

WERE YOU ONE OF FINN'S TEACHERS?

NO, I WASN'T.

HE HAD COME TO ME FOR SOME HELP

WITH SOME CALCULATIONS THAT
HE WAS DOING FOR HIS THESIS.

THAT THESIS.

HE WAS UNDER A LOT OF
PRESSURE TRYING TO GET THAT DONE.

HE SOUNDED TIRED, FRUSTRATED.

(Mr. Montgomery) PEOPLE
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIS WORK.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT, EITHER.

HE WAS SPEAKING A
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.

MAYBE IF I'D SLOWED DOWN,
TAKEN MORE TIME WITH HIM...

THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL
SKETCHES, MR. MONTGOMERY.

THEY'RE ALL HAYBRIDGE BUILDINGS.

FINN SAID THE
DESIGNS WERE PERFECT.

HE COULD SEE SO MUCH
MORE THAN I EVER COULD.

MR. MONTGOMERY,
WOULD YOU MIND IF I, UH,

LOOKED OVER SOME
OF FINN'S RESEARCH?

BECAUSE HE ASKED ME
FOR HELP ON HIS THESIS.

WHEN YOU'RE DONE, WOULD YOU...

WOULD YOU WALK ME THROUGH IT?

IF I CAN UNDERSTAND MY
SON'S LIFE A LITTLE BIT BETTER,

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHY HE DIED.

(people chattering)

I MEAN, I REALLY DON'T
THINK IT'S MURDER,

BUT CHARLIE'S GOT
SOMETHING STUCK IN HIS CRAW

AND HE'S DONE RIGHT BY US, SO...

(Terry) DAVID AND I WILL DROP
BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S,

SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. I MEAN,
IT'S GOTTA BE ON THE SIDE, RIGHT?

IF IT WEREN'T MY BROTHER, I'D NEVER
HEAR THE END OF IT, I'D STAY AWAY.

OK. AND I CAN CHECK OUT THE KID'S
BIO FOR SIGNS HE WAS DEPRESSED.

WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE
BROTHERS EPPES, I THANK YOU.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO COME WITH ME.

IT'S YOUR FIRST JUMPER.
THEY CAN BE A LITTLE INTENSE.

SO, WHAT'S THE F.B.I. DOING
NOSING AROUND A PROBABLE SUICIDE?

AGENT EPPES HAS A PERSONAL
CONNECTION TO THE CASE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, VICTIM SUFFERED
EXTENSIVE FACIAL TRAUMA.

BROKEN JAW, BUSTED
ZYGOMATIC ARCH,

TYPICAL WITH FACE-FIRST FALLS.

SKULL DAMAGE IS EXTENSIVE.

CAUSE OF DEATH WAS
IMPACT FROM THE FALL.

ANY INDICATION THAT
HE WAS ATTACKED

OR, UH, KNOCKED
UNCONSCIOUS PRIOR TO FALLING?

IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO HIS
FACE, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL,

BUT NONE OF HIS OTHER INJURIES
SUGGEST AN ALTERCATION OR STRUGGLE.

YOU OK?

YEAH.

SO, UM, WHAT'S...
WHAT'S OUR BOTTOM LINE?

ODDS ARE THIS IS A SUICIDE.

BUT I CAN'T RULE OUT
COMPLETELY A HOMICIDE.

THANK YOU. COME ON, LET'S GO.

(Don) I UNDERSTAND FINN
GOT YOU KICKED OUT OF HERE?

(clock chiming)

(Brian) MONTGOMERY
COULD'VE COME TO ME,

GIVEN ME A CHANCE TO
REDO THE EXPERIMENT.

I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.

AND INSTEAD, HE GETS YOU
BOOTED OUT OF SCHOOL.

(Don) BOY, I KNOW HOW
THAT'D MAKE ME FEEL.

I'M NOT SAYING I DIDN'T FANTASIZE
ABOUT THROWING HIM OFF A BRIDGE.

HIS GIRLFRIEND DUMPED HIM A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO, YOU KNOW.

AND HE WAS ALWAYS
STRESSING OUT ABOUT HIS THESIS.

WELL, THAT'S NORMAL, ISN'T IT?

FINN TOOK IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

BRIAN, WHERE WERE
YOU LAST NIGHT?

(scoffing) FRIENDS CAME
BY TO HELP ME PACK.

CRASHED AROUND 6:00 A.M.
AM I A MURDER SUSPECT?

THAT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF COOL.

THAT'S FUNNY.

I'M GONNA NEED THE NAMES,
NUMBERS OF YOUR FRIENDS.

(elevator bell dings)

(sighing)

DAD. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I CALLED YOU. YOU
HADN'T CALLED ME BACK.

WELL, I WOULD'VE
EVENTUALLY. IS EVERYTHING OK?

YEAH, YEAH, SURE. I, UH,
NEED YOU TO COME TO DINNER.

AT THE HOUSE ON
WEDNESDAY. UM, I HAVE A DATE.

OH, YEAH? A DATE? HEY! YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S GOOD. WITH WHO?

OH, IT'S SOMEONE ART KNOWS
FROM YOGA. YEAH, HER NAME'S JILL.

HE SAYS SHE'S SMART, SHE'S
FUNNY, AND, UH, QUITE FLEXIBLE.

(chuckling)

SO I, UH... UM, WE'RE HAVING
DINNER AT THE HOUSE,

AND I WOULD LIKE
YOU TO BE THERE.

OK? WELL... HEY, NO.

JUST TAKE HER S-SOMEWHERE
LOW-KEY. YOU'LL BE FINE.

LOOK, IT'S MY FIRST
DATE IN OVER 35 YEARS.

I WOULD LIKE MEMORABLE
INSTEAD OF LOW-KEY.

LOW-KEY AND MEMORABLE
AREN'T MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT MY
FAVORITE DATE EVER WAS?

PEPPERONI PIZZA IN A LAUNDROMAT.

YES, WHICH EXPLAINS THE CONSPICUOUS
ABSENCE OF GRANDCHILDREN.

SO, WEDNESDAY,
7:30. BRING A DATE?

I CAN'T. DAD, I'M BUSY,

AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE MEETING
ANYONE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, EITHER.

NO, I JUST WANNA MAKE IT A
COUPLES THING, YOU KNOW.

LOOKING LIKE, SEEMING
LIKE. I DON'T THINK...

HI. HEY, MR. EPPES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU, TOO.

YOU'LL THINK OF SOMETHING.

SO, GIVE ME A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST'S
TAKE ON FINN MONTGOMERY.

HE WENT TO UNIVERSITY
MENTAL HEALTH 4 TIMES

DURING THE PAST 2 MONTHS
FOR MAJOR DEPRESSION.

INSURANCE RECORDS SHOW HE RAN
OUT OF HIS ANTI-DEPRESSANT 3 WEEKS AGO.

NEVER GOT A REFILL.

ALL RIGHT, SO HE BREAKS
UP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND,

HE FALLS BEHIND IN HIS
WORK, HE STOPS TAKING MEDS.

FROM A FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGIST'S POINT OF VIEW,

IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT IS WHAT IT IS.

(knocking)

OH, HEY, CHARLIE. HERE YOU ARE.

LOOK... HEY.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING
THROUGH FINN'S RESEARCH.

HE MADE SOME VERY
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.

MAY I SHOW YOU? I'M
SORRY. I JUST CAME BY

TO TELL YOU WE CANNOT
TAKE THIS ANY FURTHER.

I MEAN, TO US IT'S
CLEARLY A SUICIDE.

NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I KNOW YOU DON'T WANNA
THINK SO, BUT, LISTEN,

IF YOU JUST STEP BACK FROM YOUR
PERSONAL FEELINGS, I THINK YOU'LL SEE...

(sighing)

WHAT? LOOK, I'M NOT DENYING THAT

I FEEL SOME COMPONENT OF GUILT,
BUT I... I'VE MADE THESE ADJUSTMENTS

BASED SOLELY ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED...

CHARLIE, THIS KID HAD SOME
SERIOUS PROBLEMS, OK?

A STUDENT CONFERENCE
WAS NOT GONNA SAVE HIS LIFE.

DON'T ASSUME I'M BEING
SO IRRATIONAL, YOU KNOW?

IT'S JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT
AS DETACHED AS YOU ARE.

HEY, HOLD IT!

LOOK, YOU GOT NO IDEA THE DAILY
HORRORS MY JOB SERVES UP TO ME.

DETACHED. YEAH, Y-YOU'RE RIGHT,
I'M DETACHED. THAT'S HOW I FUNCTION.

I'M SORRY. I KNOW, I KNOW.

NO, YOU DON'T KNOW. LOOK,
CHARLIE, I'M GLAD YOU DON'T KNOW.

TERRY AND DAVID
GAVE YOU A DAY, OK?

I PULLED SOME FAVORS FOR
YOU. THESE PEOPLE WORK HARD.

I CAN'T SPEND ANY MORE
RESOURCES ON THIS.

WON'T, YOU MEAN. YOU
WON'T. YEAH, RIGHT, I WON'T.

LARRY. HEY, DON,
HOW'S IT... HOW...

GOOD. OK.

SOMETHING I CAN HELP YOU WITH?

WELL, IT'S EVIDENT.

FINN WAS OBSESSED WITH
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

OF THE COLE CENTER BUILDING.

THERE WAS SOME PROBLEM HERE
THAT HE WAS TRYING TO SOLVE,

THAT HE NEEDED MY HELP WITH.

SO, WE MUST INFER
THAT IT INVOLVES MATH.

IF I'D GIVEN HIM 5 MINUTES...

YEAH. WELL, OR 10. OR A WEEK.

MIGHT HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD OR NONE AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, CHARLIE,
LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

YOU'VE GOT EINSTEIN,
DEAD FOR DECADES.

DESCARTES, CENTURIES.

A SCHOLAR'S RESEARCH CONTINUES
TO SPEAK LONG AFTER HE'S GONE.

AND SOMEWHERE, IN ALL OF THIS,

FINN MONTGOMERY IS GOING
TO FIND A WAY TO TALK TO YOU.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

HE'S GOT ENGINEERING
PLANS, SOIL REPORTS,

INSPECTION UPDATES.

(Charlie) METEOROLOGICAL DATA.

WELL, HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO A THESIS ON
GARR HAYBRIDGE AND THE COLE CENTER BUILDING?

THE SAME MATH USED IN AERONAUTICAL
DESIGN AND FLUID DYNAMICS

ALSO PREDICTS HOW A
BUILDING BEHAVES IN WIND.

AND HE WAS INTERESTED IN KNOWING
HOW THE BUILDING WOULD REACT

TO DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

SUGGESTS THAT HE WAS
INVESTIGATING A STRUCTURAL ISSUE.

(Charlie) I NEED TO CHECK OUT
THE COLE CENTER IN PERSON.

(elevator bell dings)

(security guard) EXCUSE ME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
A SIMPLE EXPERIMENT.

IT'S... IT'S A PENDULUM.

SIR, YOU AND THE
PENDULUM NEED TO LEAVE.

(sighing) OK.

IT DREW AN ELLIPSE.

NOW.

(Charlie) ON PAPER,
THE DESIGN'S SOUND.

FROM THE SIMPLE
EXPERIMENTS I CARRIED OUT,

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLE CENTER

DOES NOT MATCH THESE PLANS,

THAT, IN FACT, THE BUILDING
EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE WIND DEFLECTION.

FOR THE NON-ENGINEERS HERE?

DEFLECTION? UH...

THE DEGREE TO WHICH A VERTICAL
LINE BENDS WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.

A STALK OF WHEAT DEFLECTS A LOT,

AN OAK TREE MUCH LESS SO.

BOTTOM-LINE ME. IS
THE BUILDING UNSAFE?

I'D NEED TO RUN
SOME SIMULATIONS.

I'D NEED TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
CRACKED PLASTER

OR SOMETHING WAY MORE SERIOUS?

FINN BELIEVED SOMETHING WAS
SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS BUILDING,

BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

(computer beeping)

I HAVE TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION FOR HIM.

THE DATA I COLLECTED
YESTERDAY SHOWED ME

THAT THE COLE CENTER
DEFLECTS 6 DEGREES

IN 30 MILE PER HOUR WINDS,

SO I'VE PROGRAMMED THIS
MODEL TO DO EXACTLY THE SAME.

IT WON'T PINPOINT A SPECIFIC
STRUCTURAL PROBLEM...

BUT IT'LL SHOW HOW A BUILDING
THAT DEFLECTS THAT MUCH

WILL REACT UNDER DIFFERENT
TYPES OF STRESSES. THAT'S RIGHT.

(Terry) IF CHARLIE'S RIGHT,

AND THE COLE CENTER WASN'T
BUILT ACCORDING TO ITS PLANS...

SOMEONE MADE A
LEGITIMATE MISTAKE. MMM-HMM.

OR COMMITTED FRAUD, WHICH MAKES
FINN A POTENTIAL WHISTLE BLOWER,

AND THAT EXPOSES THE COLE TO
MILLIONS IN DAMAGES AND REPAIRS.

NOT TO MENTION A LOT OF
BAD PUBLICITY FOR THE BUILDING

AND EVERYONE
WHOSE NAME IS ON IT.

ARCHITECT, CONTRACTOR...
HOLD ON A MINUTE. OWNER.

FINN MONTGOMERY'S PHONE RECORDS

HAVE HIM CALLING ELLIOT
COLE'S OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES,

AS WELL AS HAYBRIDGE,
THE ARCHITECT,

AND NEVELSON, THE CONTRACTOR.

WE HAVE MOTIVE AND SUSPECTS.

YEAH, WELL, WHAT WE DON'T
HAVE IS EVIDENCE OF A HOMICIDE.

(medical examiner) I WAS FINISHING
UP THE MONTGOMERY AUTOPSY

AND FOUND THIS.

WASN'T THERE BEFORE.

WHEN THE HEART STOPS, SO DOES
THE FLOW OF BLOOD TO BROKEN VESSELS,

BUT FLUIDS THINNER THAN
BLOOD KEEP MOVING VERY SLOWLY.

AS A RESULT, INJURIES
INCURRED JUST PRIOR TO DEATH

TAKE AT LEAST 24 HOURS
FOR THE BRUISING TO OCCUR.

SO FINN MONTGOMERY WAS INJURED
BEFORE HE FELL OFF THAT BRIDGE.

THIS COULD BE A DEFENSIVE
WOUND FROM AN OBJECT LIKE A PIPE

SOMEONE SWUNG AT HIS HEAD.

HE PUT UP HIS ARM
TO BLOCK IT, MAYBE.

OF COURSE, IT COULD
HAVE BEEN SELF-INFLICTED.

MAYBE WHILE HE WAS
CLIMBING OVER THE RAIL,

OR MAYBE HE STRUCK
HIS ARM ON THE WAY DOWN.

THOSE ARE 2 VERY
DIFFERENT COULD-HAVES.

GET ME THE OBJECT USED.

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO MATCH
IT BACK TO THE INJURY.

OK.

(Don) MR. NEVELSON,

WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT FINN MONTGOMERY.

HE CALLED YOU ABOUT STRUCTURAL
PROBLEMS WITH THE COLE CENTER.

IF I ANSWERED THE PHONE FOR EVERY
AMATEUR ARCHITECT AND RANDOM COMPLAINT,

NOTHING WOULD EVER GET BUILT.

BESIDES, I HAD ENOUGH TROUBLE
WITH THE OWNER ON THAT BUILD.

I WANTED TO MOVE ON.

ELLIOT COLE HAS A REPUTATION
AS A MICROMANAGER, RIGHT?

YEAH. THAT'S HOW I KNEW
THE KID WAS BLOWING SMOKE.

COLE CENTER PASSED EVERY INSPECTION,
AND COLE WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LESS.

F.B.I.

WHAT'D WE DO WRONG THIS TIME?

WHAT'D YOU DO WRONG LAST TIME?

THIS IS BOB MAZELLI.
CHIEF OF SECURITY.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT, EVEN
WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT INSPECTIONS,

THE COLE CENTER DOESN'T
MATCH PLANS ON FILE WITH THE CITY?

I DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT,

BUT MY GUYS DID THE WORK EXACTLY
THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

IN '94, THE CITY ATTORNEY
INVESTIGATED YOUR COMPANY

FOR A CASE INVOLVING STOLEN
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.

THEY INVESTIGATED
7 COMPANIES, HON.

OURS WASN'T ONE OF
THE 2 THAT GOT INDICTED.

IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS
WITH THE COLE CENTER,

I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR
THE LUNATIC THAT DESIGNED IT.

THE ARCHITECT, HAYBRIDGE.

OK. THANKS.

(Nevelson) THANKS.

IS IT JUST ME, OR YOU GET THE FEELING
THAT SECURITY GUY KIND OF LIKED YOU?

CAT AND DOG THING. SOME GUYS
LIKE WOMEN WHO CAN HANDCUFF 'EM.

CAN'T BLAME HIM FOR THAT.

HEY. WHAT ARE YOU
DOING FOR DINNER TONIGHT?

MY DAD'S COOKING
FOR HIS FRIEND JILL.

WHAT, YOU MEAN LIKE
A... A DOUBLE DATE?

NO, NO. I MEAN,
HE'D BE ON A DATE.

YOU'D JUST BE DOING ME A FAVOR.

I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WORK.

NICE TO SEE YOUR SOCIAL
SKILLS ARE AS SHARP AS EVER.

TERRY, I'M JUST
TRYING TO BE UP-FRONT.

I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY
WEIRDNESS, YOU KNOW, GIVEN OUR HISTORY.

NO WEIRDNESS, DON. JUST HISTORY.

IS THAT A YES?

MAYBE. IF I LET YOU
BRING YOUR CUFFS?

WELL, IN THAT CASE...

(David) MR. HAYBRIDGE,

WERE YOU CONTACTED ABOUT POSSIBLE
PROBLEMS WITH THE COLE CENTER?

(Haybridge) YES, I SPOKE
WITH A MR. MONTGOMERY.

I TOLD HIM HE WAS WRONG.

UH, THE COLE CENTER WOULDN'T
BE THE FIRST OF YOUR DESIGNS

TO HAVE STRUCTURAL ISSUES.

THE CONCERT HALL IN
SEATTLE... HAD A MINOR PROBLEM.

A QUICKLY REMEDIED
MINOR PROBLEM.

WE EXPERIMENTED WITH THIN
CONCRETE FLOORING. IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

I MIGHT ALSO ADD, THE FINANCIERS
ONLY NOTICED THE SAGGING

WHEN I BROUGHT IT
TO THEIR ATTENTION.

GREAT. DO ANY EXPERIMENTING
WITH THE COLE CENTER?

NO. NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME,

I HAVE CLIENTS WAITING
BACK AT THE OFFICE.

MR. HAYBRIDGE, PLEASE DON'T
MAKE ME FOLLOW YOU TO YOUR OFFICE

AND QUESTION YOU ABOUT
FRAUD AND POSSIBLE MURDER

IN FRONT OF YOUR CLIENTS.

LOOK, THE COLE CENTER
IS MY SIGNATURE BUILDING,

BUT COLE FROZE ME OUT
AFTER THE DESIGN PHASE.

WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?

BECAUSE I'M GARR HAYBRIDGE,

AND MY BUILDINGS ARE FAMOUS
BECAUSE THEY'RE DESIGNED BY ME.

ELLIOT COLE WANTED TO BE THE
BIG MAN BEHIND THE COLE CENTER.

YOU THINK HE MIGHT
HAVE CUT ANY CORNERS?

AUTHORIZED ANY CHANGES THAT COULD'VE
COMPROMISED THE STRUCTURE'S INTEGRITY?

NOT KNOWINGLY.

COLE EXPECTS THAT
BUILDING TO LAST FOREVER

AS A MONUMENT TO HIMSELF.

HI, I'M RACHEL.

MR. COLE WILL BE WITH YOU IN
A MINUTE. YOU CAN FOLLOW ME.

(phone ringing)

HE'S JUST COMPLETING A
CALL. WOULD YOU LIKE A SEAT?

HI. LISTEN, HI.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT EQUITY
OF ABOUT $200 MILLION.

(Cole) BECAUSE I KNOW
EVERYTHING, STEVEN.

WELL, CHECK YOUR NUMBERS
AND WE'LL TALK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE DEATH OF A YOUNG
CALSCI STUDENT NAMED FINN MONTGOMERY.

EVER TRY A STANDING DESK?

IT'S FANTASTIC. YOU
KNOW, MOZART USED ONE.

UH, MONTGOMERY?

THE ENGINEERING STUDENT

WHO THOUGHT THERE WAS
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BUILDING.

WE DIRECTED HIS CALLS
TO THE P.R. DEPARTMENT.

IS THIS THE MICHAELSON
AGREEMENT?

I DON'T SEE THE
CHANGES I ASKED FOR.

YES, THEY'RE LISTED
UNDER ADDENDUM "C". OH.

HE MAY HAVE ACTUALLY DISCOVERED
A STRUCTURAL FLAW IN THE BUILDING.

(scoffing) A STUDENT

FOUND SOMETHING THAT THE
ARCHITECT, THE PROJECT ENGINEER,

3 DOZEN CITY
INSPECTORS, AND I MISSED?

YES. IT MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY THERE'S EVIDENCE
MONTGOMERY MAY HAVE BEEN MURDERED.

OH, I SEE.

SO WE'RE TALKING
CONSPIRACY HERE.

HERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.

WELL, YOU DID PUT $300
MILLION OF YOUR OWN MONEY

INTO THE BUILDING.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

YES.

AND THE OVERRUNS FORCED
YOU INTO BANKRUPTCY?

YES, AND THE SUCCESS OF THIS
BUILDING GOT ME OUT OF BANKRUPTCY

AND INTO A VERY PROFITABLE
PHASE OF MY CAREER.

(Don) RIGHT. BUT DURING
A NON-PROFITABLE PHASE,

IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE FOR YOU TO DO
EVERYTHING TO STOP HEMORRHAGING CASH, RIGHT?

I LOVE SPENDING MONEY.

I LOVE MAKING MONEY.

TAKING RISKS COMES WITH
THE TERRITORY ON BOTH.

SO, PLEASE, DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE,
SEND IN AN INSPECTION TEAM.

THIS BUILDING IS
AS SAFE AS KITTENS.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OH, YOU'RE WELCOME. UH...

AND IF I DID CUT CORNERS,

IF I HAD COMPROMISED THE
SAFETY OF THIS BUILDING IN ANY WAY,

WOULD I HAVE MY OFFICE IN IT?

WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.

LET'S TRY AN EARTHQUAKE
WITH A MAGNITUDE OF 8.2.

(computer beeping)

A MINOR STRUCTURAL
WARNING, BUT, I DON'T KNOW,

SEISMICALLY, THE
BUILDING APPEARS SOLID.

I OWE IT TO FINN TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS BUILDING.

LET'S SEE HOW IT
DOES IN HIGH WINDS.

♪ (music playing)

WHEN I WAS WORKING
AS A CITY PLANNER,

I SAW EVERY
SHORTCUT IN THE BOOKS.

YOU KNOW, KICKBACKS,
OVERBILLING,

PULLING, UH, REBAR FROM ONE JOB
AND TRYING TO USE IT IN ANOTHER.

(Don) NO, LIKE THIS. OH, SORRY.

I MAKE COLE FOR A
NARCISSIST, NOT A SOCIOPATH.

GET THE FEELING HE'S ONLY INTERESTED
IN VICTORIES HE CAN BRAG ABOUT.

OH, MY GOD! THE BREAD.
IN THE OVEN. I FORGOT.

RELAX. I GOT IT. JUST
RELAX. THAT'S RIGHT. OK.

I'M JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS.

DON'T WORRY. EVERYTHING
LOOKS WONDERFUL.

IN FACT, YOUR SON COULD
LEARN A FEW THINGS FROM YOU.

YOU KNOW WHERE WE
WENT ON OUR FIRST DATE?

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

THE LAUNDROMAT. DINNER WAS
PIZZA. A LITTLE PROFESSIONALISM.

OH, YOU DON'T SAY?

ALL RIGHT? LET'S
JUST... OH, INTERESTING.

(doorbell ringing)

THE BUILDING IS WITHIN ALL REQUIRED
LIMITS FOR EARTHQUAKES AND WIND.

(Larry) AND THE TESTS
SEEM FAIRLY CONCLUSIVE.

(Charlie sighing)

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE... WE'RE...
WE'RE MISSING SOMETHING.

WHATEVER FINN UNCOVERED MUST
HAVE BEEN SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.

(computer beeping)

CHARLES, CAN I TELL YOU A STORY?

YES, PLEASE, AS LONG AS
IT'S NOT ANOTHER PARABLE

FROM THE LIVES OF THE
GREAT MATHEMATICIANS.

NO.

THIS IS ABOUT A SOPHOMORE
STUDENT I ONCE HAD.

KEVIN FLANNERMANS.
THIS WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

KEVIN HANGED HIMSELF.

RIGHT. WELL, FINN
DIDN'T KILL HIMSELF.

WELL, BUT, MAYBE JUST
THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE DID,

MAYBE THAT IS THE VARIABLE

THAT YOU ARE DISALLOWING
FROM THE PROBLEM.

HE CAME TO ME WITH
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I OWE HIM AN ANSWER.

OK, WELL, YOU'VE INGENIOUSLY
SIDESTEPPED MY POINT, BUT I...

YOU KNOW,

THERE ARE A FEW RARE WIND EVENTS

THAT WE HAVEN'T TESTED.

I'M SORRY. USUALLY, TALKING
ABOUT HOBBIES IS A SMART MOVE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW JILL'S
MOTHER DIED IN A SKIING ACCIDENT?

(Don chuckling) HOW?

SHE STOPPED CRYING.

IT'S FUNNY HOW CHARLIE GETS STUCK
AT THE OFFICE AT ALL THE RIGHT TIMES.

OK.

WE'LL HAVE A GOOD
MEAL, SOME NICE WINE,

AND SOME PLEASANT CONVERSATION.
EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

TELL ME... WAIT, HOLD ON. JUST TELL
ME YOU ASKED IF SHE EATS EVERYTHING.

SHE'S NOT A VEGETARIAN. I ASKED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM, STUPID?

(Alan) I SURE HOPE
YOU LIKE DUCK.

(Jill) OH, YES, I DO. I HAVE 2,
PADDLES AND MR. WADDLESWORTH.

(Jill) OH, MY GOD!

OH! I DON'T EAT IT!

(Alan) I'M SORRY.

SHH. I DIDN'T KNOW.

(cell phone ringing)
I'LL TAKE IT AWAY.

(Jill) OH, GOD! YEAH?

RIGHT. OK, OK. ALL
RIGHT. RIGHT. YEP.

WE'RE ON OUR WAY. YEP.

DAD, SORRY. WE GOTTA GO.

(Terry and Don stammering)
SURE. GO AHEAD.

COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE.
LISTEN. ALCOHOL. LOTS OF ALCOHOL.

FOR WHO?

(Charlie) THE PROBLEM IS WIND.

BUT WOULDN'T THEY HAVE ALREADY
TESTED FOR STABILITY IN WIND?

ENGINEERS TEST STRUCTURAL
RESPONSE TO GUSTS ALONG 2 AXES:

NORTH-TO-SOUTH AND EAST-TO-WEST.

AND IN THOSE CASES, A SINGLE
SIDE SUPPORTED BY 2 CORNERS

BEARS THE BRUNT
OF THE WIND LOAD.

THINK OF A STRAIGHT-ON
WIND AS 2 CARS COLLIDING.

IN CONTRAST, EXCUSE ME,

QUARTERING WINDS HIT
A BUILDING AT AN ANGLE,

EXERTING PRESSURE ON 2 SIDES
ANCHORED BY A SINGLE CORNER.

IMAGINE A CAR GETTING HIT FROM THE
BACK AND THE SIDE SIMULTANEOUSLY.

CAN THOSE WINDS CAUSE
STRUCTURAL ISSUES?

(keys clicking) OUR TESTS SHOWED

THAT THE COLE CENTER IS SOUND FOR
HEAD-ON WINDS OF UP TO 90 MILES PER HOUR,

BUT HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS
WITH QUARTERING WINDS

AS LOW AS 60 MILES PER HOUR.

(wind howling)

FIRST, THE STEEL FRAME BENDS

(alarm beeping) BEYOND
ITS LIMITS, AND STAYS BENT.

THEN THIS STRAINED STEEL
HARDENS AND BECOMES BRITTLE.

UNDER CONTINUING STRESS,
THE STEEL WILL FRACTURE,

CAUSING COMPLETE
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE.

FINN MONTGOMERY FOUND THE
PROBLEM IN THE BUILDING'S DEFLECTION.

HE SUSPECTED THE
EFFECTS WOULD BE SERIOUS.

I... I COULD REALLY
USE YOUR ADVICE

ON, UH, SOME CALCULATIONS
IN MY ENGINEERING THESIS.

HE WAS RIGHT.

(Charlie) AND HE MAY
HAVE PAID WITH HIS LIFE.

(Charlie) OUR SIMULATION
DEMONSTRATES

THAT THE COLE CENTER
COULD EXPERIENCE FAILURE

IN A 60 MILE PER HOUR
QUARTERING WIND.

NOW, AS THE HEAD OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND SAFETY,

YOU'VE GOT TO REALIZE WHAT A
HUGE, IMMINENT RISK THAT POSES

WHEN THE BUILDING
IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE.

ARE YOU A STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER? HMM?

NO.

AN EXPERT IN WIND DYNAMICS?

HE IS A PROFESSOR OF
APPLIED MATHEMATICS.

HE'S TALKING THEORY
AND SUPPOSITION.

IF ANY OF THIS GOES PUBLIC, I
WILL SUE THE F.B.I. FOR SLANDER.

PROFESSOR EPPES, I RESPECT
YOUR BACKGROUND AND REPUTATION,

BUT I CAN'T MAKE A DECISION. WELL, DO
ME A FAVOR AND FORGET MY REPUTATION.

CONSIDER WHAT
HAPPENED IN KANSAS CITY.

IN 1981, THE HYATT REGENCY
WALKWAY COLLAPSED.

KILLED 114 PEOPLE.

IN HARTFORD, IN 1978,

THE STRUCTURE OF A SPORTS
ARENA FAILED. THOSE INVOLVED

FRAUD AND MALFEASANCE.

SERIOUS BUILDING FLAWS WERE
FOUND IN EACH OF THOSE CASES.

CAN YOU CONNECT THE
COLE CENTER'S DEFLECTION

TO A SPECIFIC STRUCTURAL ISSUE?

BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL
RISK OF CASUALTIES,

WE THINK IT'S SOMETHING YOU
SHOULD TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

YOU WANT TO RUIN MY
BUILDING'S REPUTATION?

WE WANNA SAVE LIVES.
RENDER IT WORTHLESS

ON AN OBSCURE AND...
AND NONSPECIFIC THEORY?

LOOK, I CAN'T POINT TO A
SPECIFIC PROBLEM AT THIS TIME,

BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THE EVIDENCE IS THERE.

MR. COLE,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE NOW

IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
YOUR BOARD MEETING.

THANK YOU.

GENTLEMEN, THE
COLE CENTER IS ME.

IT'S MY REPUTATION
AND MY PUBLIC IMAGE.

I STAND BY ITS INTEGRITY.

GIVEN THE LACK OF SPECIFIC
EVIDENCE, I... I'D SAY WE'RE DONE.

WHAT?

THE ENGINEERS WHO EXAMINED
THIS BUILDING LAST NIGHT

COULDN'T LOCATE A PROBLEM IN
ANY SECTION THEY COULD INSPECT,

SO THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS
WHATEVER'S WRONG WITH THIS BUILDING

IS UNDERGROUND,
IN THE FOUNDATION.

RIGHT. WELL, I'M GONNA GO
SEE THE GUY WHO BUILT IT.

GUY WAS A POMPOUS ASS.

SO MY SON DISCOVERED A
STRUCTURAL FLAW IN THIS BUILDING?

WELL, HE... HE NOTED THAT THE BUILDING
DIDN'T REACT TO WIND AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO,

THOUGH HE DIDN'T KNOW
THE SPECIFIC CAUSE.

WELL, HOW COULD HE FIGURE THAT
OUT? JUST BY LOOKING AT THE BLUEPRINTS?

NO, OR ELSE OTHER PEOPLE
WOULD HAVE NOTICED IT FIRST.

NO, UH, FINN ACTUALLY
WENT A LOT FURTHER.

HE... HE NOTICED
SOMETHING WAS WRONG

BECAUSE HE WAS
PASSIONATE AND THOROUGH.

HE WANTED TO
UNDERSTAND THIS BUILDING,

AND WHEN SOMETHING DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE, HE NEEDED TO KNOW WHY.

SO YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND EXACTLY
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE COLE CENTER.

IT MIGHT TAKE
SOME TIME, BUT, UH...

WELL, WE WON'T STOP
WORKING ON IT, EITHER.

WE KNOW YOU CUT CORNERS ON THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLE CENTER FOUNDATION.

YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF FISHING
FOR A GUY THAT KNOWS SOMETHING.

LOOK, WHETHER YOU
CHEAPED OUT ON THE REBAR

OR YOU DIDN'T DRIVE
THE PILES DEEP ENOUGH,

WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU
DID, AND WE'RE GONNA NAIL YOU FOR IT.

A SUBPOENA FOR ALL YOUR RECORDS
OF THE COLE CENTER FOUNDATION.

F.B.I. ACCOUNTANTS ARE
GONNA GO OVER EVERY PAGE.

WE'RE GONNA FIND
OUT WHAT YOU DID.

KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.

(Don) HELLO? WE'RE IN HERE.

HEY, DAD.

ALL RIGHT, F.B.I. ACCOUNTANTS WENT
OVER ALL OF NEVELSON'S FINANCIALS,

AND THESE ARE ALL THE DOCUMENTS
THAT RELATE TO THE FOUNDATION.

OUR PEOPLE COULD FIND NOTHING.

SO WHY DIDN'T YOU HAVE CHARLIE
LOOK AT THE RECORDS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

MMM, THE F.B.I. HAS A TEAM OF
EXCELLENT FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS.

I KNOW, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST
TIME YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT THEY MISSED.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MATHEMATICIANS
DO HAVE EIDETIC NUMERICAL MEMORY.

IT ALLOWS US TO, UH,
RECOGNIZE NUMBERS

WHEN THEY'VE BEEN REPEATED
OR ARRANGED IN PATTERNS. SO I...

YOU DO THAT, AND I'LL DO
THE DISHES. HOW'S THAT?

I'LL GIVE YOU A HAND.

SO YOU MEAN YOUR BEST DATE EVER

WAS WITH YOUR PARTNER, TERRY?

DAD, PLEASE.

NO, IT'S JUST A SIMPLE
OBSERVATION. LOOK...

OH!

I MEAN, IF IT WAS SO GREAT,
WHY DID YOU SPLIT UP?

IT WAS AN ACADEMY THING.

WE GOT POSTED TO
DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE HAD OUR CAREERS TO
CONCENTRATE ON. SO, NOW,

YOU'RE IN THE SAME CITY,
SAME CAREER, SAME OFFICE.

WHICH, IN OUR CASE, CAN
BE A DANGEROUS THING.

YOUR MOTHER AND I MET AT WORK.

IN THE LUNCH LINE.

LOOK, DAD, TERRY AND I HAVE
TO SEE EACH OTHER EVERY DAY.

YOU KNOW? I MEAN, WE HAVE
TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THE TRUST
ISSUES ARE ALREADY BEHIND YOU.

LOOK, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE SO
EAGER TO START DATING AGAIN...

EAGER? ARE YOU KIDDING
ME? YOU SAW ME LAST NIGHT.

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW. I
GOTTA GET BACK INTO IT.

I MEAN, YOUR MOTHER SAID I SHOULD
MEET NEW PEOPLE AFTER SHE WAS GONE.

WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE HER.

I KNOW. SHE MADE ME PROMISE.

I MEAN, SHE KNEW THAT WITHOUT
A PUSH, THAT I MIGHT NOT DO IT.

SO SHE PUSHED.

JUST CONSIDER THIS YOUR PUSH.

HERE IS A LIST OF WORKERS
EMPLOYED IN BUILDING THE FOUNDATION.

AND? AND A LOT OF
THEM DON'T EXIST.

YEAH. THERE'S A
PREPONDERANCE OF 4's AND 7's

(stammering) IN THE
UNION I.D. NUMBERS,

WHICH COULD BE DUE
TO ACCOUNTING CODES,

EXCEPT THEY SHOW UP
IN THE OVERTIME HOURS.

LIKE 14's AND 17's, EVERYWHERE.
HERE, HERE AND HERE...

OH, OH, OH, OH. 14.17.

THESE... THESE...
THESE NUMBERS, THEY...

THEY CAN'T BE EXPLAINED
BY RANDOM OCCURRENCE.

SOMEBODY MADE THEM UP.

THEY'VE BEEN FABRICATED

BY SOMEONE WHO LIKES THESE
NUMBERS, WHO LEFT BEHIND

(scoffing) A PRETTY
OBVIOUS PATTERN.

YEAH, WELL, OBVIOUS TO YOU.

HERE'S A VERY
INTERESTING THING, ALSO.

ALL THE, UH, ALL THE WORKERS
I'VE IDENTIFIED AS FAKE

ARE LISTED AS WELDERS.

EXCEPT THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER
WELDERS ON THE PAYROLL BACKUP.

WELL, YOU CAN'T BUILD A
FOUNDATION WITHOUT WELDERS.

SOUNDS LIKE NEVELSON
WAS USING A SHADOW CREW.

SO HOW WOULD THAT WORK, DAD?

NON-UNION LABORERS,
USUALLY ILLEGAL ALIENS.

THEY PAY 'EM UNDER THE TABLE.

SEE, THE CONTRACTORS WOULD
USE 'EM AT NIGHT TO AVOID THE UNIONS.

SO, WHAT? LIKE, LOWER PAY,
NO OVERTIME, MEDICAL BENEFITS?

THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT PEOPLE STILL GET HURT.

(Don) AND THERE'LL
BE HOSPITAL RECORDS.

NO, NO, MA'AM,
YOU'RE NOT. LISTEN.

I... I SAID I'M... I'M ONLY INTERESTED
IN PATIENTS WITHOUT INSURANCE.

(David) THANK YOU.

GET ANYTHING FROM
THE E.R.'s? NOPE.

A JULIO PEREZ CHECKED
IN WITH SWOLLEN CORNEAS.

THEY SEE THAT WITH WELDERS,
ESPECIALLY LESS EXPERIENCED ONES.

NO INSURANCE. WHEN WAS THAT?

2:30 IN THE MORNING,
MAY 17, 1999.

ALL RIGHT, SEE, THAT'S WHEN THE COLE
CENTER FOUNDATION WAS BEING DONE.

IMMIGRATION RECORDS SHOW

THAT HE WAS DEPORTED
BACK TO MEXICO LAST YEAR.

RIGHT, HOLD ON, HOLD
ON. YEAH? UH-HUH.

THE HOSPITAL IS SAYING THAT
SOMEBODY ELSE PAID HIS BILL.

GET A NAME. CAN WE GET THE
NAME OF THAT PERSON, PLEASE?

(Don) SIR, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR KEITH BABBITT.

WE THINK HE WORKED FOR
YOU ON THE COLE CENTER.

KEITH BABBITT?

I DON'T KNOW.

HE'S A FOREMAN WHO SPECIALIZES
IN FOUNDATION WELDING.

HE PAID FOR A NON-UNION
WORKER'S HOSPITAL BILL.

I GOT HUNDREDS OF
GUYS ON ANY ONE JOB.

I DON'T KNOW MOST OF THEIR
NAMES TILL THEY SCREW UP.

BABBITT'S UNION RECORDS SHOW
HE WAS UNEMPLOYED FOR MOST OF '99,

BUT HIS NAME SHOWS UP IN RELATION
TO THE COLE CENTER FOUNDATION WORK.

IF YOU SAY SO.

OK. IT'S THE WRONG MOVE.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

(Don) SO IF BABBITT
OVERSAW THE CREW

THAT BUILT THE COLE
CENTER FOUNDATION,

HE MIGHT BE THE KEY TO
SOLVING THE WHOLE THING.

DAVID, WHY DON'T
YOU CHECK OUT BACK?

(David) ALL RIGHT.

(Don knocking on door)

MR. BABBITT? IT'S THE F.B.I.

(Don knocking)

(Don) MR. BABBITT?

(car engine running)

DON! BACK HERE!

(all coughing)

(David) HE'S UNCONSCIOUS.

COME ON, PULL HIM. PULL HIM OUT.

PARAMEDICS ARE ON THEIR WAY.

IT'S BARELY WARM, SO HE
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THERE LONG.

(David) HOW'S HE
DOING? HE'S GOT A PULSE.

MR. BABBITT? COME ON.

(gasping) WHAT HAPPENED?

IT'S ALL RIGHT. F.B.I.
YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE.

(David) DON, LOOK AT HIS HEAD.

(David) SOMEBODY COLD-COCKED
HIM AND STUFFED HIM IN THAT CAR.

THIS IS A STAGED SUICIDE.

ECHOES OF FINN MONTGOMERY.

YOU OK?

YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW WHO HIT YOU?

NEVELSON'S GOON. MAZELLI.

(Babbitt panting)

(Don) BOB MAZELLI, F.B.I.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

GET YOUR HANDS UP.

PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND
GET UP AGAINST THE STALL.

YOU HEAR FROM THE HOSPITAL?

YEAH, BABBITT'S
AGREED TO TESTIFY

THAT NEVELSON HIRED
HIS NON-UNION CREW

TO SPOT-WELD THE FOUNDATION
POINTS IN THE COLE CENTER.

NOW, THAT ACCOUNTS FOR
THE EXCESSIVE DEFLECTION.

UH, HAYBRIDGE'S DESIGN
CALLED FOR FULL PEN WELDS,

WHICH ARE STRONGER
AND MORE STABLE,

BUT PEN WELDS ARE
ALSO MORE EXPENSIVE

AND MORE TIME-CONSUMING
THAN SPOT WELDS.

WELL, THAT GIVES BUILDING AND
SAFETY GROUNDS TO EVACUATE.

WHAT ABOUT FINN? CAN WE
TIE THIS GUY TO HIS MURDER?

(Terry) TECHNICALLY, WE
DON'T HAVE A MURDER.

P.D. CLOSED IT OUT AS A SUICIDE.

THERE'S NO CONCLUSIVE
FORENSIC EVIDENCE.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'S
WHAT CONFESSIONS ARE FOR.

(door opening)

UNLESS YOU'RE HERE TO TAKE MY
LUNCH ORDER, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.

WELL, HERE'S THE THING, BOB.

SEE, YOU'RE NOT ALL LAWYERED UP,

SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT TELLS ME?

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I HAVE.

I'M THINKING HAM ON WHEAT,
HONEY MUSTARD, FRIES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE?

I HAVE YOU.

I GOT YOU FOR ATTEMPTED
MURDER OF KEITH BABBITT,

I GOT YOU FOR COMPLICITY
IN CONSTRUCTION FRAUD,

WHICH IS A FELONY, BY THE WAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I DON'T HAVE?

I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON
TO KEEP THIS CASE OPEN.

YOU KNOW WHY?

'CAUSE YOU'RE THE FALL GUY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE
PEOPLE WHO HIRED YOU WANTED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW?

THEY'RE PLANTING EVIDENCE, THEY'RE
OPENING BANK ACCOUNTS IN YOUR NAME,

THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT
YOU PLAY AS THE LONE OPERATOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

WELL, BOB, IT'S ON YOU.

YOU CAN MAKE IT WORTH MY WHILE TO
STAY INTERESTED, MAYBE CUT YOU A DEAL,

BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
TELL ME WHO PAID FOR THE HITS.

"HITS"? WHERE'D
THE "S" COME FROM?

FINN MONTGOMERY. FINN...

YOU MEAN THAT COLLEGE KID? YEAH.

LOOK, AT WORST, THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT MAYBE BUYING HIM OFF.

SO WHAT HAPPENED? YOU, UH,
THREW HIM OFF A BRIDGE INSTEAD?

WELL, I'M NOT SAYING IT
MIGHT NOT HAVE COME TO THAT,

BUT HE BEAT US TO THE PUNCH.

SO IT COMES DOWN TO, ARE
YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE FALL,

OR ARE YOU GONNA GIVE
UP WHO ORDERED THE HIT?

ALL RIGHT. GET ME A
LAWYER AND THE D.A.,

SOMETHING IN WRITING,

I'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING.

EXCEPT THAT KID.
THAT IS NOT ON ME.

I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO, BOB.

(sighing)

HEY, YOU KNOW HE'S LYING
TO YOU, RIGHT? HE'S LYING.

NO, I'M NOT SO SURE
ABOUT THAT, CHARLIE.

GET BACK IN THERE,
MAN. GET ON HIM.

HE'S NOT TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.

LOOK, RELAX, ALL RIGHT?
JUST... JUST RELAX, PLEASE.

FINN MONTGOMERY'S SUICIDE NOTE.

HE MAILED IT TO HIS PARENTS
THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH.

IT TOOK THIS LONG TO GET
FORWARDED TO HIM IN L.A.

WERE YOU WERE ABLE
TO AUTHENTICATE IT?

YEAH, IT'S FINN'S HANDWRITING.

(Terry) IT ITERATES
ALL THE PRESSURES:

THE GIRLFRIEND BREAKING
UP WITH HIM, THE THESIS,

HIS INABILITY TO CONVINCE ANYBODY
OF THE COLE CENTER'S FLAWS.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. HE
WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE BUILDING.

IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE,
BEING RIGHT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

THE CRISIS POINT THAT
TIPPED HIM TO SUICIDE.

LOOKS LIKE HE THOUGHT
THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY

TO GET ANYONE TO TAKE A
SERIOUS LOOK AT THE COLE CENTER.

CHARLIE, I'M SORRY.

I MEAN, HE WAS SMART,

BUT HE WAS JUST A KID
WHO WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH

TO DEAL WITH THIS
PERIOD IN HIS LIFE.

OK, NOW WE DEAL WITH
THE CRIMES THAT DID OCCUR.

WE'VE GOT FRAUD AND
ATTEMPTED MURDER.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, CALL THE D.A.

AS SOON AS I GET
MAZELLI TO TALK,

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
HOW HIGH THIS THING GOES,

AND I THINK IT'S ALL THE
WAY UP TO ELLIOT COLE.

HOW'D YOU KNOW I WAS
HERE? (Don) WE DIDN'T.

HONEY, WHO'S THERE?

F.B.I. YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

TERRY, YOU GOT HER? YEAH.

(handcuffs rattling)

NEVELSON AND
MAZELLI GAVE YOU UP.

GAVE YOU UP? WHAT FOR?

RACHEL AND YOUR CONTRACTOR HIRED A
NON-UNION CREW TO DO THE FOUNDATION WELDS.

YOU PAID FULL PRICE.

THEY GOT $20 MILLION AND YOU GOT A
VERY UNSAFE BUILDING ON YOUR HANDS.

I OVERSAW EVERY DETAIL OF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING.

THAT INCLUDE PAYMENT
AUTHORIZATIONS?

OR DID YOU RELY ON
HER ABOUT WHAT TO SIGN?

(Terry) COME ON, LET'S GO.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER 3 YEARS.

I GAVE YOU THIS APARTMENT,
EVERYTHING YOU ASKED FOR.

I ASKED YOU TO
DIVORCE YOUR WIFE.

WE DISCUSSED THIS.
OH, YEAH, THE PRE-NUP.

I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY.

THEY WILL CONSTRUCT THE
TUNED MASS DAMPER ON THE ROOF.

THIS IS A SCALE MODEL.

ON THE REAL ONE, THIS
BLOCK OF CONCRETE

WILL WEIGH ABOUT 300 TONS OR SO,

AND IT WILL REST ON
A THIN LAYER OF OIL.

WHEN WIND PUSHES THE BUILDING,

THE BLOCK'S INERTIA
WILL HOLD IT IN PLACE,

EVEN AS THE BUILDING
SLIDES UNDER IT.

SO THE DAMPER ACTS AS A COUNTERWEIGHT
TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S AMAZING. SO SIMPLE.

FINN'S INSIGHT WILL KEEP
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAFE,

SO ELLIOT COLE
HAS AGREED WITH ME

TO DEDICATE THIS
STRUCTURE IN HIS NAME.

YOU KNOW, IN FINN'S LETTER,

HE SAID THAT PART OF
THE REASON THAT HE...

WAS THAT HE FELT NOBODY
UNDERSTOOD HIM. HE, UH...

HE SAID HE FELT SO ALONE.

WHAT WE DO CAN CERTAINLY
BE LONELY SOMETIMES.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT

THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT
HE WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

(Mr. Montgomery) YOU SPOKE
FOR OUR SON, PROFESSOR EPPES.

THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN
BEGIN TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO I AM GETTING RIGHT
BACK ON THAT HORSE.

NOT THAT THIS LADY IS
ANYTHING LIKE A HORSE.

SHE'S REALLY QUITE,
UH, ATTRACTIVE.

SO IT'S NOT A BLIND DATE. NO.

GOOD.

IT'S THE BUTCHER THAT
SOLD ME THE DUCK. NO!

YEAH, SHE'S VERY NICE.

AND SHE REALLY
KNOWS HER WATERFOWL.

RIGHT.

CHARLIE. CHARLIE.

THIS IS NOT THE
BRILLIANT THOUGHT BROOD,

THIS IS THE OTHER BROOD.

YOU ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE?

YOU KNEW IT WAS A SUICIDE.

NO. LOOK, I SAID FROM
THE GET-GO I DIDN'T KNOW,

BUT I DID SUSPECT.

DESPITE ALL THE VARIABLES
AND THE INCONCLUSIVE AUTOPSY

AND THE LAYERS OF CRIME
THAT WERE UNCOVERED?

JUST THE FACT THAT THE KID EXHIBITED
SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND THEN HE DID IT.

IT'S OCKHAM'S RAZOR, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, THE
SIMPLEST ANSWER IS USUALLY THE RIGHT ONE.

OCKHAM'S RAZOR?

WHAT? I READ A BOOK
EVERY NOW AND THEN.

OCKHAM WAS A PHILOSOPHER.
HE WAS A MATHEMATICIAN.

AND WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAID WAS THAT YOU
SHOULDN'T MAKE MORE ASSUMPTIONS THAN NEEDED.

IT'S THE BASIS OF
METHODOLOGICAL REDUCTIONISM.

SO, IN ANY GIVEN DATA SET,
THERE ARE AN INFINITE NUMBER

OF POSSIBLE HYPOTHESES
AND CONCLUSIONS,

AND AN EVEN GREATER
NUMBER OF... OF...

(Don) YES, CHARLIE, YES.