Person of Interest (2011–2016): Season 1, Episode 21 - Many Happy Returns - full transcript

You are being watched.

The government has a secret system--

A machine that spies on you
every hour of every day.

I know, because I built it.

I designed the machine to detect acts
of terror, but it sees everything...

Violent crimes involving
ordinary people, people like you,

crimes the government
considered irrelevant.

They wouldn't act, so
I decided I would.

But I needed a partner-- Someone
with the skills to intervene.

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.

[ ♪ ]

When you find that one person
who connects you to the world,

you become someone different...

Someone better.

When that person is taken from you...

Wait for me.

What do you become then?

Are you okay, mister?

What happened to you?

I think I quit my job.

[Over PA]
Next stop, New Rochelle.

Morning, Finch.

You're off to an
early start, Mr. Reese.



Maybe I'm trying
to impress the boss.

Should have called first.

As it stands, our
docket is clear.

We don't have a number?

You sound disappointed.

Oh, a little surprised.

No one in New York is in danger
or planning to hurt someone?

If they are, they're
keeping it to themselves.

Anyway, I think you've
earned some time off.

Especially today.

Or did you think I didn't know?

Happy Birthday.

Thanks.

You're welcome.
Now go.

Do whatever you do
when you're not here.

You don't know what that is?

I respect your privacy, John.

Obviously.

[ ♪ ]

Cannon 8 to 6.

[ ♪ ]

Horse 2 to 3.

[Chuckles]

Are you sure?

You tell me, Han.

As I recall, John, you don't
make any move you're not sure of.

You're not working today?

My boss gave me the day off.

It's my birthday.

Sheng ri kuai le.

Thank you.

[Chuckles]

Did you get any gifts?

One.

A key?

To what?

Good question.

Detective Carter.

Special Agent Donnelly.

How goes your hunt
for our mystery man?

That's why I'm here.

I promised I'd keep you in the
loop on our investigation.

[Briefcase locks click]

So... we'd been looking into a
smuggling ring that was broken

up a couple of months back.

The leader was suspected of
having CIA ties, but he skipped

before he could be charged.

I recall.

Yeah, well, we think your
guy was working for him.

CSU found prints and some
carbonized blood, along with

the body of a member of the ring,
in the trunk of a burned-out car.

When they ran the blood, they got
a DNA hit on a cold case up

in New Rochelle from 2011.

What kind of cold case?

Suspected homicide.

Real estate developer
named Peter Arndt.

Real estate developer?

Yeah. Arndt was up to
his eyeballs in debt.

Lost his investors' money.

We think one of them had him taken
out, hired your guy to do the job.

And he made some mistakes.

Now someone in New Rochelle has to know
something, and then we'll be close.

Close to what?

Finding out who
this man really is.

Well, um, thank you
for the update.

How'd you like to assist?

Assist?

Up in New Rochelle.

- I would love to, but, uh--
- Think about it.

I mean, you're the reason
we're onto this guy.

[Cell phone rings] You should
be a part of taking him down.

- I'll let you know.
- Thanks.

Yeah.

Hello, detective?

There's something I need
to discuss with you.

Yeah?

I got something for you too.

[ ♪ ]

Never pegged you as
the cues-and-brews type.

All the more reason
to come here, detective.

Once we become predictable,
we become vulnerable.

If you say so.

What can I get you?

Uh, club soda for me.

- Okay.
- Thanks.

When I called, you said
you had something for me.

You know about a case
up in New Rochelle?

I'll take that as a "yes."

FBI linked your your partner's
DNA to a crime scene.

Agent Donnelly, no doubt.

He wants me along for the ride.

Perhaps that wouldn't
be such a bad thing?

How do you mean?

Well, if there was any
evidence that threatened our

mutual friend, I'm confident that you
would find it before Donnelly would.

Are you suggesting I obstruct
a federal investigation?

Of course what you did with that
evidence would be entirely your concern.

You wanted to talk
to me about something.

Oh, it was nothing important.

We'll talk again
when you get back.

Thanks for the drink.

Anything else?

No, I'll just take
the check, please.

Okay.

Here you go.

Thank you.

This is Jessica, you missed me.

Leave a message.

Do you need any help?

Yes.

I'm looking for someone.

A nurse.

Jessica Arndt.

I'm an old friend.

She might not
work here anymore.

She was always talking
about moving away.

Um, I'm sorry to
have to tell you this.

Jessica died in a car accident.

About two months ago.

[ ♪ ]

She said she would wait.

I'm so sorry.

I think I have her husband's number
here, if you wanted to reach out.

[ ♪ ]

[Wheelchair clatters]

Sorry.

Has she left the apartment?

Not yet.

Hey, what's your interest in
this broad anyway, Finch?

It's not your concern.

Just keep an eye out.

[Beep] Karen Garner.

She's wanted for identity
theft, passing bad checks.

Warrant's out of Detroit.

Your girl's a felon.

Yes, I'm aware of her apparent
troubles with the law, detective.

But I'm more concerned
that she may be in danger.

What makes you think that?

Karen Garner is an alias.

It's only been around
for three months.

She has no credit history, she
only leaves the apartment to go

to work, and she's constantly
looking over her shoulder.

Sounds like she's hiding out.

Or on the run, more likely.

Maybe she's laying low,
trying to plan something.

Yes, perhaps she's
a master criminal.

But maybe she's just a scared woman trying
to stay a step ahead of her abuser.

Yeah, right.

Let me ask you
something, though.

Why am I planted out here
instead of wonder boy?

Mr. Reese is otherwise engaged.

And you are not to contact him
regarding this matter, detective.

You and I will handle
this ourselves.

[Sports announcer speaking
on TV indistinct]

Detective Carter,
welcome to New Rochelle.

Glad to see you took
me up on my offer.

Here's what we know.

Arndt was playing it fast and
loose with his investors' money.

He ended up losing it on bad land
deals and a gambling habit.

When he exhausted his line of
credit, he was forced to take

money from less
reputable lenders.

Loan sharks.

His bookie gave us the name
of a couple local guys he

introduced Arndt to, and
we're checking it out.

Says he was married.

"Wife deceased."

What happened to her?

In a car accident.

Two months before
Arndt went missing.

Bad one.

She was killed, he nearly was.

But anyway, by that point, Arndt
was completely under water.

Shortly after he left the
hospital, he went missing.

They find a body?

No, but given the amount of blood
spilled, it's doubtful Arndt survived.

Doesn't sound like my guy's MO.

He usually covers his tracks.

That's another reason we
think it was his first job.

It was messy, violent.

[Cell phone rings]

Probably figured it would be
easy, then found out he had a

fight on his hands.

We located one of
the loan sharks.

Did you talk to the
local detectives?

No, I had their
files sent over.

I'd like to speak with them.

Sure. Great.
Let me know if you find out anything.

Will do.

Anything yet, detective?

Yep.
Our girl's on her way to work.

And you're right.

Someone's got
this girl spooked.

How long am I gonna
have to tail her?

Long enough for me to
identify who she's hiding from.

Hey, did you see a
woman come through here?

- Yes, she asked to use the
bathroom in the back. - Detective?

Hang on.

[ ♪ ]

[Breathing heavily]

So if I were to speculate as
to the reason for your labored

- breathing, detective--
- I lost her.

That would be it.

What do you want me to do?

Go back to your day job.

I'll handle it from here.

Hey.
What can I get you?

Oh, just some information.

I was in here last night and I thought
I saw my neighbour working here--

- Karen Garner?
- Yeah, that's right.

I was passing by again, I
thought I'd see if I could catch her.

Normally you would but
she called out today.

Another time then.

I'm sure I'll see her around.

Excuse me.

I couldn't help overhear your
conversation at the bar.

You're friends
with Karen Garner?

Well, more of an
acquaintance, actually.

Brad Jennings, US
Marshals Service.

Is Karen in some kind
of trouble, Deputy?

Karen Garner, also known as Sarah
Atkins, is a wanted fugitive.

I'm trying to locate her.

Sorry, I don't know
how I could help you.

Well, I thought I heard
you say you were neighbors.

Yes, you did.

So maybe you could tell
me where you live, Mr.--

I'm sorry, Deputy, I
prefer not to get involved.

I'm not asking you
to get involved.

I'm just trying to
get your address.

Now, if you prefer, we can do
this down at the field office.

Hello, Harold.

Detective Stills--
Organized Crime.

This guy you're
talking to is my CI.

He's a Confidential Informant?

And money launderer for
the late Don Moretti.

Hey, I've got some
questions for him.

You were risking his cover
by even approaching him.

Let's go.

What did he want?

Just to ask me some questions.

Funny, I've got a few of
those for you too, Harold.

[Car door shuts]

[Tires squeal]

So am I to assume that
you were following me?

I think the bigger question is...
Are you working a case without me?

I feared that, with this case,
you had certain sensitivities.

I thought it best to
let you sit it out.

What kind of sensitivities?

Her name-- or at least her aliases...
Are Karen Garner and Sarah Atkins.

She has outstanding warrants for
identity theft and passing

bad checks, but I don't think
she's a potential perpetrator.

I believe that she's on
the run from someone.

Who?

Likely someone
she was close to.

When I was first building the
machine, I kept seeing the same

numbers come up-- a week,
a month, six months apart.

Usually women.

At first I thought
it was a mistake.

How could anyone's life
be repeatedly threatened?

And then I realized...
They were living with the person

who would eventually kill them.

I've been working to
uncover who she really is.

It might help us
identify the threat.

Send me her address and we'll finish
discussing my sensitivities later.

[ ♪ ]

Hello, Karen.

Or do you prefer Sarah?

Who the hell are you?

Someone who wants to help you.

You a cop?

No.

But I know you're
running from someone.

Who is it?

Boyfriend?

Ex-boyfriend?

Husband?

Husband.

I'm going to ask
you one last time.

Who are you?

My name's John.

And I help people out
of tough situations.

What do you know
about my situation?

I know it was bad enough for
you to leave your home, your

life, everything. And I know you'll
have to keep running, Karen...

If nobody stops him.

It's Sarah.

My name is Sarah.

What if I said you could
stop running, Sarah?

I'd say you don't
know my husband.

Mr. Reese, I traced Karen's
former alias-- Sarah Atkins--

To a Chicago apartment
where she was living.

Building manager said she paid rent
using checks with a different name.

He's sending me
one of them now.

Sarah Jennings.

Jennings-- He's her husband.

He's the Marshal.

How did you know that?

That's not important.

What's important is
we can help you.

We?

I have a colleague who will watch
over you while I take care of things.

We need you to stay here.

What is it you're gonna do?

Make it so you don't
have to be afraid anymore.

That's everything we
have on Peter Arndt.

Thanks.

Did this look like a professional
hit to you, detective?

It's hard to say.

We don't get a lot of contract
killings up this way.

But this guy Arndt owed a lot of
money to some dangerous people.

And this?

Accident report from a car
crash Arndt and his wife were in.

Single car.

Husband swerved
to avoid a deer.

Wife was killed.

It's a hell of a thing.

Guy survives a crash like that only
to get taken out two months later.

[Cell phone rings]

I got to take this.

Thank you.

[Alarm chirps]

No new messages.

To listen to saved
messages, press 9.

[Female voice] It's me.

Jessica, I mean.

I don't even know if
you check this number.

Um, I need to talk.

Oh, you scared me.

Who are you calling?

Nobody.

That's funny.

It sounded like you
were calling somebody.

[Bottle pops open]

Jessica Arndt.

Pretty girl.

Dead on the scene.

Blunt force head injury
from the rollover.

No seat belt.

Do you still have her x-rays?

Uh... [beep]

Arndt.

There we go.

In your report, you identified
two previous fractures--

A broken wrist and cracked rib.

Mm-hmm.

May I?

Is that a spiral fracture?

I suppose it is.

She'd get that from
having her wrist twisted--

Hard-- As opposed to
falling on it, right?

- Come here.
- You're hurting me.

One other thing.

You listed her cause of death as...
Blunt force trauma to the head

and a broken neck.

As I said.

Could someone suffer those
kinds of injuries if the car's

front and side air
bags deployed?

Not likely, but a body is, uh,
subjected to extreme forces

in a crash like that.

Is it possible she could have had
these injuries before the accident?

You're hurting my arm.

Get back here!

[Grunts]

No, no.

Baby.
Baby.

Jess.

Hey.

[Clank]

[Cell phone dials]

Detective, I don't know what
cases you're used to seeing

down in Manhattan, but up here, car
crashes account for most of my business.

Just because something's possible
doesn't mean it's probable.

[Cell phone rings]

Excuse me.

Carter.

Detective, I'm heading up to speak
with Arndt's closest family--

His mother-in-law.

See if she knew anything
about his money problems.

Send me the address.
I'll meet you there.

All right.
Will do.

I'm watching Sarah's
apartment and I'm tracking the

GPS on her phone, Mr. Reese.

I've also discovered some new
information about her husband.

According to the Denver Public
Records Database, Jennings was

sued twice for excessive
use of force on the job.

Both cases were dismissed.

He falsified the
warrants on Sarah.

Trumped up the charges to enlist
the entire US Marshal Service

in helping him stalk his wife.

That's why she
can't stop running.

Only one way to deal with guys
like this, guys who hide who

they really are until
they get home.

What will you do, Mr. Reese?

Show 'em what a real
monster looks like.

Detective... uh, what was it?

Stills?

You have a change of heart
about me quest-- [Grunts]

Your fellow deputies
know why you're here?

Chasing your terrified wife?

If you come after her again...
I will kill you.

No one will be able to
protect you from me.

[Gun cocks]

Do you understand?

Finch, we're gonna want to
move Sarah to a safer location.

Agreed.

And then maybe you can explain
the wisdom of antagonizing an

entire law enforcement agency.

Mr. Reese, we have a problem.

Hi.

Uh, one way to New Haven, please.

Sure.
Just need photo ID.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is something wrong?

Stop right there!

Get down on the ground!

Karen Garner, we have a
warrant for your arrest!

Suspect in custody, track 20.

[Phone rings]

Yes, detective.

I just heard on the radio
your girl got popped.

Down at the train station.

They picked her up
on a Marshal's BOLO.

Where is she now?

Probably still there.

Transit cops will hold her till
the Marshals can pick her up.

Thanks, detective.

Have to get to the
train station.

We're too late.
Jennings already picked her up.

With his cover blown, he can't take
her home through official channels.

He's gonna make her
disappear, Finch.

We need to get to her.

I may have a way.

Government vehicles now have mobile
hotspots for Internet access--

Like this one.

That include Marshal vehicles?

Yes.

So I can get into
their network.

The trick will be figuring out
which vehicle is Jennings'.

[Beeping]

That's him.

West Side highway.

He's taking her
out of the city.

Get out.

Excuse me?

Leave the laptop now, Harold.

And get out.

[Tires squeal]

Your daughter was so beautiful.

Oh, thank you.

Were you two close?

Very.

We spoke most every day.

So you said you had some
questions about Peter?

Uh, yes, ma'am.

Uh, prior to his disappearance, were you
aware of your son-in-law's financial

difficulties?

No.

Peter had a good job.

He was a good provider.

Based on our information, he owed more
than $3 million to various entities.

Well, Jessica once mentioned that
they were going through a rough patch.

But that Peter was
turning things around.

That was just before
the accident.

[Cell phone rings] Excuse me.

When you said Jessica told you "they
were going through a rough patch,"

was she talking about
money, or her and Peter?

Oh, no.

Jessica and Peter had
a good marriage.

- I mean, they had problems, like any
married couple, but-- - Detective.

See you a minute?

I just got a call that a guy in
a suit assaulted four deputy

Marshals in their
downtown field office.

Wait.
What?

I know.

I'm heading back down
there to follow up.

Do you mind wrapping
things up with the mother?

It looks like a dead end.

Sure.

[Phone rings]

Detective Carter.

What's this about an incident
with four deputy Marshals?

I've got it under control.

Are you sure?

'Cause it doesn't
sound like it.

Yes, detective.

So how is your New Rochelle
investigation going?

Donnelly hasn't found anything
so far, but I think I have.

Oh?

Yeah, I think Arndt killed
his wife and covered it up.

The kind of thing you guys
usually intervene in, except

this time your partner
was too late.

Still don't understand
John's connection to this.

Are you sure there isn't
anything you can tell me?

I'm sure you'll make
sense of it, detective.

[Liquid pours]

You were saying something about
problems between Jessica and Peter.

Oh, you know,
just little spats.

Not even worth mentioning.

Do you know if these spats
ever went beyond words?

I'm not sure what you mean.

Did they become physical?

What is it you're suggesting?

Nothing.

Just some routine questions.

I should get going.

I'm sorry for troubling you.

Peter had his faults,
but he loved Jessica.

And she loved him.

I'm sure she did, ma'am.

He was so much better
than her... usual type.

She was seeing
someone before Peter?

She had a fling with a soldier.

Back when she was
living in Tacoma.

This soldier-- Do
you remember his name?

No.

They weren't
together very long.

He was always away on duty,
and then she'd be alone.

That wasn't the life for her.

He told her the same thing--
Told her not to wait for him.

However, sometimes I now wonder...
If she had waited for him,

maybe things could have worked
out, maybe she would be happy.

And we'd talk again.

Can I ask, do you have
any pictures of this man?

I don't.

But I still have some
of Jessica's things.

You're welcome to look
through them if you like.

Sure.

Jessica.

Oh, yeah.

I got engaged.

His name's Peter.

[Overlapping chatter]

That's one of the things
you learn over there.

In the end, we're all alone.

And no one's
coming to save you.

Be happy with Peter.

You don't believe that?

Tell me to wait for you and...
Say those words and I will.

[Overlapping chattering]

Hey, cheers.

In the end, we're all alone.

And no one's
coming to save you.

Gene?

Hey.

Joss Carter.

Good.

Listen, I need a favor.

Yeah, personnel file--
First name John.

Special Forces.

Stationed at Fort Lewis between
between June and September of '01.

My eyes only.

Yeah, thanks, Gene.

Mr. Reese.

What is it, Finch?

What exactly is your plan once
you catch up to Deputy Jennings?

To get Sarah away from him.

And Jennings?

Jennings had his chance.

He didn't take it.

I think, under the
circumstances, it might be a

good idea to bring the
police in on this one.

Finch, you hired me to
take care of these things.

You don't like how I do
it, hire someone else.

Mr. Reese?

John?

- Carter.
- Hello, detective.

This New Rochelle business-- The
car accident, the cover up, Jessica.

You knew what I'd
find, didn't you?

Knowing isn't always
a blessing, detective.

True.

But, I confess, I was calling
with a more urgent problem-- John.

Don't tell me
you've lost him again.

No, I know where he is.
I just... can't reach him.

Or stop him.

Why are we here, Brad?

I wanted us to have
some time together, baby.

Just you and me.

I don't know how things got
so out of hand with us.

But, I promise, I'm
going to fix it.

You don't have to run anymore.

You believe me... right?

I do.

I do believe you, I
do believe-- Mmm.

Both: [Panting]

So maybe we can
take these off now?

[Grunts]

You never did know
what to say, did you?

I know what you're thinking.

That this is my fault.

That, somehow, I wanted this.

But have you ever considered
how hard this has been for me?

The trouble I've gone
through for you?

What's it gonna take, Sarah?

I love you so much.

[Gun cocks]

But I can't do this anymore.

[Sobs]

[Phone rings]

[Gasps, cries]

[Gunshot]

[Grunting]

[Sobbing]

Go.

Where?

Anywhere you want.

You're free.

Thank you.

Sarah.

She's gone.
It's over.

[Laughs]

Something funny?

You've never been
in love, have you?

Really, truly in love?

Why?

Because then you'd know...
It'll never be over.

It is for you.

[Suspenseful music]

[Siren wails]

Your friend told me I
might find you up this way.

I can't let you take him, John.

This can't end
like New Rochelle.

Do I need to look in the trunk?

You can do whatever you like.

It isn't gonna change
what I have to do.

Let me have him, John.

If I do, he'll
get away with it.

I'll see that he doesn't.

It won't be up to you.

That's my point.

There are things you can do,
detective, and things you can't.

And that's where I come in.

I can't allow you to
just execute people.

This isn't on you.

It's on me.

All I'm asking for
is your trust.

What?

For you to do the right thing?

That I'll do what
needs to be done.

[TV playing indistinct]

Sullivan send you?
[Mutes TV]

This supposed to be some kind of, uh...
Intimidation?

I don't have his money.

You don't have anything I want.

Not anymore.

Who the hell are you?

Good question.

Haven't known the
answer for a long time.

I know who I was.

I was the guy who
left her behind.

You know why?

The real reason?

Because I thought she deserved
someone better than me.

I thought she deserved someone
who would look after her...

Be there for her.

I thought she deserved
someone like you.

So I don't know.

I was hoping you could tell me.

Tell you what?

Who I'm supposed to be now.

Now that she's gone.

See... when you find that one person
who connects you to the world...

You become someone different...

Someone better.

When that person is taken from you...

What do you become then?

I was beginning to wonder when I
was going to hear from you again.

I had some business to
take care of, out of town.

I trust you now fully appreciate why
I couldn't tell you about Sarah's case.

I hope you now understand
why you should have.

Did you know?

Was she one of those numbers
that came up again and again?

What I know, Mr. Reese...

Is that New Rochelle happened

before we started
working together.

And because of that, there was nothing
that either one of us could have done.

Forgot to include that in
your birthday present.

Must have slipped my mind.

♪ Pain ♪

♪ I guess it's a
matter of sensation ♪

♪ but somehow you have ways ♪

♪ of avoiding it all ♪

♪ in my mind I have shot you ♪

♪ and stabbed you
through your heart ♪

♪ I just didn't understand... ♪

[Cell phone rings]

Hello.

Detective Carter?

This is warden Gustavo Pena.

I'm calling from
Torreon penitentiary.

Yes?

I have been asked to inform you
we have your fugitive in custody.

My fugitive?

Yes.

A Marshal Jennings delivered him
to us, along with ten kilos

of uncut heroin found
in his possession.

Uh, this Marshal-- Just so I'm clear--
Was he tall, dark hair, in a suit?

That's him.

He said you were the original
arresting officer and informed

me to tell you that we
have him in custody.

He's going to be here
for a long time.

Thank you, warden.

One other thing.

Do you have any other
Americans in your prison?

One or two.

Thanks.

[Music continues]

♪ Strange ♪

♪ it seems like a
character mutation ♪

♪ I can't make myself ♪

♪ to destroy upon command ♪

♪ somehow forgiveness ♪

♪ lets the evil make a loss ♪

♪ no you can't hide
what you intend... ♪

I'm sorry to have
to tell you this.

Jessica died in a car accident.

[Wheelchair clatters]

Sorry.

♪ There's no way to stop ♪

♪ and the more I try
to hurt you... ♪

I'm so sorry.

♪ The more it backfires ♪