Person of Interest (2011–2016): Season 4, Episode 11 - If-Then-Else - full transcript

The first act following the Machine and Samaritan's cold war summit, which ended in a standoff, is that Samaritan starts to take the market down by crashing the New York Stock Exchange. Samaritan's plan entails a few small rebounds to prevent the fail-safe system from kicking in. Reese, Finch, Root and Fusco know that the best way to combat this take down is not to deal with anything on the market floor, where the minority of trades are actually made, but to deal with the server in the Exchange's basement, the server which processes the vast majority of trades. Shaw is not with them as she still needs to hide from Samaritan's cameras. As such, Shaw has her own task off site. Both the foursome and Shaw's tasks end up not being as straightforward as they would have liked, each placed in a precariously life threatening situation. Root has to wait for the Machine to evaluate all the possible options for success before moving. The question becomes if there is not one option which has a 100% probability of success, if the Machine will listen to a lesson taught to her by Finch in 2003 when he taught her how to play chess in evaluating what will be the best option.

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.

REPORTER: Widely fluctuating market values
began at the New York Stock Exchange.



Analysts are concerned volatile response
trading could plunge world markets...

...into further losses.

I take it your talk with our rival ASI
did not end well.

You could say that.
Our cold war just turned hot.

Samaritan's taking down the market.

FINCH: Financial ruin will be
the least of our worries if it succeeds.

A collapse in our economy would ripple
around the globe causing such upheaval.

Revolts, starvation, war.

- Why haven't the fail-safes been tripped?
WOMAN: Look, it's going back up.

[ALL CHEERING]

It's going up.

That's why. Temporary rebounds
to keep the fail-safes from kicking in.

Samaritan has a solution for everything.

But this is hers.



The machine suspected
this day might come...

...which is why she commissioned
a hacker to build this.

The software act as a counter measure,
stabilizing the market in real time.

- There's a catch.
- It has to be deployed on site.

It won't be easy.

All hands on deck for this one, Harry.

I'll contact Mr. Reese and Detective Fusco,
but I'm afraid Miss Shaw is busy...

...avoiding detection and saving numbers.
- Time for a new assignment.

How's it hanging, Sameen?

[BOTH GRUNTING]

I've had better days.
So has my broker friend here.

Do you embezzle Twinkies or money,
Harvey?

- What's up?
- Oh, we're headed to the stock exchange...

...to try to save the world economy.

Oh, that sounds fun. Is this an invite?

Not a chance. The place will be crawling
with Samaritan operatives.

And you're number one on their list.

But I do need a favor.

And you need a Metro card.

[REPORTERS SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[CHUCKLES]

Sir, it's Lambert. The operation
appears to be going as planned.

GREER:
Yes, so I see.

Any concern this move by Samaritan
might risk being too public?

This apparent madness has a method,
Mr. Lambert.

A mere first step to establishing
a new world order.

Such an undertaking will not go unnoticed.

Nor would we want it to.

Sir?

The acolytes of the machine.

Mr. Finch and his colleagues.

I fully expect they'll try to stop
what we have started.

And when they do...

...they'll be in for a rude awakening.

We received a call
from your central command center...

...that your lobby cameras
weren't working properly.

My technician needs to take a look.

Camera's working just fine.

Huh?

REESE:
Took out the camera as requested.

I'm with Lionel at the service entrance.

Gotta love where a badge can get you.

Won't be a minute.

Good.

Now we'll just need to verify that the
feed's reaching the central command center.

- Am I taking out any more cameras, Finch?
- No need.

The exchange has a closed-circuit
surveillance system...

...that neither machine can access.

Until now.

I routed the surveillance feeds
to give the machine encrypted access.

Once the feeds populate...

...she'll have eyes in the building,
but Samaritan will be blind.

Got room for two more?

This day keeps getting weirder.

Nice to see you too, Lionel.

If someone's hijacking the market,
shouldn't we head to the trading floor?

Ten percent of trades
are conducted on the floor.

The rest are executed automatically
by high-frequency trade algorithms.

It so happens those trades are processed
in the servers downstairs.

Which is where we need to go
to deploy the countermeasure.

We just need to get past the server rooms
by a metric palm scanner...

How do you suggest we do that?

With some luck
and a little help from a friend.

ROOT [OVER COMM]:
You found your mark, Shaw?

Got eyes on our guy.

How's he gonna help?

His company handles all the security
for the exchange...

...and we need to get into the server room.

- So he's got a key?
- Of sorts.

He has an administrative code
that bypasses the biometric palm scanner.

Well, you could've at least given me
a challenge.

If it makes you feel any better,
we're gonna need it quick.

Mr. Quinn's favoring his left knee.

Right amount of pressure, he'll sing.

You don't know who I am, do you?

You lost in one day
what it took me 15 years to build.

We all lost our shirts.
Market hasn't been this low in 85 years.

Yeah, well...

...this time we're gonna take that ride
down together. All the way.

Just nobody move.
I swear, I will blow this train sky high.

[ALL SCREAMING]

I'm gonna have to get back to you
about that code.

Welcome to the modern-day stock exchange.

You got access to those security feeds yet,
Root?

They just came online.

MARTINE:
Lock down, sub level six.

Something the matter, Miss Groves?

It's a trap.

Elevator's locked.

- Terrific. Now what?
- Follow me.

After 9/11, the exchange was redesigned to
go on lockdown in the event of an attack.

To keep combatants out.

Of course what Homeland Security
couldn't have predicted is...

...one day Samaritan might use
the same system to keep its enemies in.

Run!

This way.

At least we won't die hungry.

If Samaritan wants a fight,
I say we go down swinging.

Remember the Alamo.

More than a valiant last stand,
we need a strategy.

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

A little help, please.

Hell of a time for your machine
to go on the fritz, Harold.

Give it a second.

It's got a lot on its mind.

Hey, man...

...you wanna play or what?

That's very kind of you,
but I'm playing with a friend.

You've been sitting here alone
for hours, dude.

My friend is a little shy...

...and somewhat indecisive.

I thought you wanted me to teach you
how to play.

Each possible move represents
a different game.

A different universe in which you make
a better move.

By the second move,
there are 72,084 possible games.

By the third, 9 million.

By the fourth...

[PHONE BUZZES]

There are more possible games of chess
than there are atoms in the universe.

No one could possibly predict them all,
even you.

Which means that
that first move can be terrifying.

It's the furthest point
from the end of the game.

There's a virtually infinite sea of
possibilities between you and the other side.

But it also means
that if you make a mistake...

...there's a nearly infinite amount of ways
to fix it.

So you should simply relax...

...and play.

FINCH: We need a strategy.
ROOT: A little help, please.

REESE: Hell of a time for your machine
to go on the fritz.

FINCH: Give it a second.
It's got a lot on its mind.

Got it.

Got what? Who's she talking to?

When we open that door, turn left, Harold.

You and I are going to the server room to
hack the system and stabilize the market.

You two, Reese, Fusco...

...secure our escape route.

Turn right, to the mechanical room. Cut
the tension cable to the elevator's lock.

- How?
- She'll tell you when you get there.

Let's go.

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

Ready to roll?

WOMAN:
Don't shoot.

Look, it's a Degas. Original.

It's quite striking in person.

What's the point of saving the world
if you can't enjoy it?

Look out!

Two targets, Hall B. Requesting... Agh!

Sorry.

GREER:
Alpha. Tango. Report.

Wow, that didn't take long. Martine...

...two of the machine's little helpers
appear to be heading to the server room.

Should I retrieve them, sir?

No.

I'll send another welcoming party.

Gotta make sure the others don't escape.

Split up. Cover all possible exits.

And, Martine?

- Sir?
- Enjoy yourself.

Go back now.

- Looks like we drew the short straw, partner.
- FBI. Drop your weapons or we'll shoot.

Thought you were DEA?

What does it matter?
We'll shoot either way.

Remember the Alamo.

The last time I saw you was in church.

You should've prayed a little harder.

If I go to hell, I'm taking you with me.

SHAW:
Hey, Reese.

You got a sec?

Having a little problem getting that code.

Sorry, I'm busy making death threats
to Samaritan operatives.

Hey, you, with the, uh, bomb vest.

Come on.

[PEOPLE GASP]

You don't really wanna hurt
all these people now, do you?

I would blow your kneecaps off,
but then you might detonate the bomb...

...and that's a risk I
just can't take, so...

You're either gonna have to take off
your vest...

...or I'll just put one between your eyes.

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
ON PA]

- What the hell?
- No.

Hands up. Now.

Honey, you get our canary to sing?
I need that code.

Sorry.

You're on your own.

Plan B.
We'll have to do it the old-fashioned way.

Whatever happens to me,
don't stop installing that software.

- Don't shoot.
- Chop-chop, Harold.

For a second, Miss Groves,
I thought all might be lost.

Root, watch...

Harold!

Harold.

We need a strategy.

A little help, please.

[GUNFIRE]

Hell of a time for your machine
to go on the fritz, Harold.

Give it a second.

It's got a lot on its mind.

FINCH:
Now, that's interesting.

How many moves
did you consider that time?

That's good. You're paring them down.

Concentrating on the most aggressive
possible moves.

I didn't see that.

You like the queen, don't you?

She can move in any direction,
target anything.

It wasn't always the case though.
She used to be one of the weakest pieces.

They played chess in the Royal Court
of Spain in the 15th century.

Queen Isabella was offended.
She asked her advisers...

...if they thought her that feeble.

Their response was to make her
the most powerful piece in the game.

You have to be careful though.

Because in chess,
the more powerful a piece is...

...the more useful they are.

Not just for winning...

...but to be used for
sacrifice, as a trick.

How many moves
did you consider that time?

A second is like an infinity to you.

Isn't it?

You can take the time
to consider everything.

Or almost everything.
I'm afraid you missed it.

FINCH: We need a strategy.
ROOT: A little help, please.

REESE: Hell of a time for your machine
to go on the fritz.

FINCH: Give it a second.
It's got a lot on its mind.

Got it.

- Who's she talking to?
- When we open that door...

...you two turn left.

You're going to the server room to hack
the system and stabilize the market.

Hack? I can barely retrieve my e-mail.

You might wanna give us a job
that requires less technical proficiency.

It's non-negotiable.

We're going right, Harold,
to secure our escape route.

Head to the mechanical room, cut the
tension cable to the elevator's lock.

And how exactly will we do that,
Miss Groves?

She'll tell us when we get there.

Ready to roll?

Don't shoot!

GREER:
Alpha. Tango. Report.

FUSCO:
We're here, sir.

MARTIN E:
Any orders, boss?

GREER:
No. Proceed as planned.

FINCH: I imagine Samaritan is monitoring
the electrical system.

Once we disable the elevator's locks...

...it'll be a matter of seconds before
all the operatives know our location.

So we need to find a way to resupply power
to the elevator first.

- Did she say what we're looking for?
- Only that it was a hobby of yours.

When I was a boy,
I used to work on old cars.

Hopefully, I can get
this generator started.

Looks like you've got this under control.

I'll see about disabling the lock.

There's a manual release handle
on the back of the brake.

- But that elevator will be heavily guarded.
- Harold...

...you of all people should know
there's more than one way to skin a cat.

I feel sorry for the cat.

Time to get to work.

What now, chief?

SHAW:
Hey, Reese. Got a sec?

I was gonna ask you the same thing.
We need that bypass code.

Oh, I'm working on it.

How do you talk down a psycho
in a bomb vest?

- Hello?
- I was waiting on the punchline.

- Reese.
- If some guy straps a bomb to his chest...

...he must believe his life doesn't matter.

Just, you know, convince him it does.

Hey, you in the bomb vest.

I don't think you really wanna do this.

Come on. You don't wanna hurt
all these people, now do you?

You've gotta have something to live for.
Right?

Or, uh, someone?

My wife.

She's sick.

And now I can't afford to pay
her medical bills...

...because of this lousy excuse
for a human being.

He wasted my life savings,
and now he's wasted what's left of my life.

Well, you don't have to waste your death.

If you wanna die, okay.

But die for something that you love.

ANNOUNCER [ON PA]:
Now approaching Broadway...

Are you crazy?
Shoot this lunatic before it's too late.

- What the hell?
- No.

[ALL SCREAM]

Hands up, now.

Shaw, are you okay?

You're on your own.

All right. We're gonna have to do this
the old-fashioned way.

MAN: Don't shoot.
- Maybe Nutter Butter was right to send us.

- All right, glasses, you ready for Hacking 101?
- All right, but the code is rather long.

- Hit me.
- Lower case E, N, V...

...space, X, equals, apostrophe...

...left bracket, right bracket...

...left curly brace, colon...
- Curly what?

I'll send you a text.

It's important that you adhere
to the text exactly.

- Hurry up, Lionel.
- You're not helping.

- We're not gonna make it.
- No. We won't.

We're sitting ducks. We need to find cover.

Lionel, remember the Alamo?

- Yeah. What about it?
- You're gonna miss it.

- Hey, what about you?
- Someone's gotta be the hero.

[GRUNTING]

You're cheerful for a dead man.

You're carrying a grenade.

Samaritan standard issue.

Which means, you all are.

Now...

...which cable controls
the elevator's mechanical lock?

Hey, sweetie.

You busy?

A little. Skip the verbal foreplay, Root.
Why are you calling?

Can't a couple of gals take a little break
from work to catch up?

I've been arrested, and you're
fighting an Al apocalypse, so no...

...we don't have time to catch up.

Well, there's no need to be rude.

I am not having this
conversation right now.

There's no time like the present, Sameen.

Why are you so afraid to talk
about your feelings?

Feelings?

I'm a sociopath. I don't have feelings.

And I'm a reformed killer-for-hire.

We're perfect for each other.

You're gonna figure that out someday.

Root, if you and I were the last two people
on the face of this planet...

An increasingly plausible scenario,
given Samaritan's plans.

Fine. Maybe someday...

...when Samaritan wipes everyone out...

...we can talk about it.

Heh.

You're saying maybe someday?

Yeah, sure, Root. Maybe someday.

Is that good enough for you?

Yes, Sameen.

That's good enough for me.

Root?

Root.

Hell of a time for your machine
to go on the fritz, Harold.

Give it a second.

It's got a lot on its mind.

FINCH: We need a strategy.
ROOT: A little help, please.

REESE: Hell of a time for your machine
to go on the fritz.

FINCH: Give it a second.
It's got a lot on its mind.

- Got it.
- Got what? Who's she talking to?

When we open that door, everyone turn left.

We're going to the server room
to hack the system together.

Then as a team to the mechanical room
to secure our escape route.

Ready to roll?

- Why did you just do that?
- Why not? We're in a simulation.

Don't shoot!

Look, it's a Degas. Original.

Ohh.

SHAW:
Hey, Reese. Got a sec?

I'm taking out the trash. Talk with Shaw.

Yeah.

- You rang?
- How do you talk down a guy in a bomb vest?

And spare me the jokes.

Okay, well, I knew a guy in the force, he
had it rough. Talked about eating his gun.

The one thing he said,
he never felt so alone.

- So how did you convince him that he wasn't?
- I didn't. He put a bullet to his brain.

Good luck.

Hey, you with the bomb vest.

- What's your name?
- What?

- His name's Greg.
- It's Gary, you pathetic...

Okay, all right, Gary.
I know that you're a decent guy.

A decent guy
that's fallen on some hard times.

Hard?

What do you know about it?

I know a lot of people
are gonna be hurting here after today.

Take this guy.

Look, no offense, but you look like you've
been taken to the cleaners several times.

I've been wiped out.

I'll be lucky if I can pay my kid's
tuition. if I make it out of here.

And you, lady, are you in the market?

No, but my boss just lost his job today,
and I got laid off too.

- And I got three kids to support.
- Guess I can kiss my pension goodbye.

Please stop.

See, Gary? Life is crap.

Welcome to the human race.

But the good news is...

...you're not alone.

- Are you crazy? Shoot this lunatic.
- Shut up.

- Keep your nose out of it.
- Don't be an idiot.

WOMAN:
What, are you crazy?

What the hell?

Hands up, now.

- What now, chief?
SHAW: Ready for that code?

I'm gonna let our friend do the talking.

He's very interested in saving his pension.

Excuse me.

We're gonna need to borrow one
of your computers.

Coolly delivered sadistic warning.

Self-deprecating inquiry
into time necessary to infiltrate system.

Funny yet insightful retort.

Mildly agitated declaration
of mission completion.

Channel exhortation to further action.

[GRUNTING]

Overly affectionate greeting.

Greeting.

Transparent rationale for conversation.

Annoyed attempt to deflect subtext.

Overt come on.

Mildly embarrassed defensiveness
bordering on hostility.

Playfully witty sign off.

This takes me back.
I used to work on old cars as a boy.

FUSCO [OVER COMM]:
Yo, Nutella, could use a hand.

Here.

Which cable controls
the elevator's mechanical lock?

The coiled one.

But cutting it will alert Samaritan's
operatives, so wait until Harold starts...

Too late. They're coming.

Hurry, Harold.

FINCH: You've got power to the elevator.
Cut the cable that controls the lock.

Lionel, now.

Shots to the head and center mass.

On my mark.

- One...
- Two, three.

[PHONE BUZZES]

Yes, yes, you needn't rub it in.

One afternoon, and you're a grandmaster.

Mind you, you'll encounter
far more capable opponents than me...

...if you go looking.

No. I don't think so.

You asked me to teach you chess,
and I've done that.

It's a useful mental exercise.

And through the years,
many thinkers have been fascinated by it.

But I don't enjoy playing.
Do you know why not?

Because it was a game that was born
during a brutal age...

...when life counted for little...

...and everyone believed that
some people were worth more than others.

Kings and pawns.

I don't think that anyone is worth more
than anyone else.

I don't envy you
the decisions you're gonna have to make.

And one day I'll be gone...

...and you'll have no one to talk to.

But if you remember nothing else,
please remember this...

...chess is just a game.

Real people aren't pieces.

And you can't assign more value
to some of them than to others.

Not to me.

Not to anyone.

People are not a thing
that you can sacrifice.

The lesson is...

...that anyone who looks on the world as if
it was a game of chess, deserves to lose.

So much for dying with a full stomach.

Got it.

Got what? Who's she talking to?

When you open that door,
everyone turn left.

We're going to the server room
to hack the system together.

Then move as a team to the mechanical room
to secure our escape route.

Perhaps we should consider splitting up.

Yeah, maybe the machine hasn't thought
through all the angles.

Trust me...

...these are our best odds.

Ready to roll?

Don't shoot!

Look. It's an original Degas.

You'll thank me later.

What good's saving the world, Harry,
if we can't enjoy it?

Welcome to the human race.

But the good news is...

...you're not alone.

What the hell?

SHAW:
Ready for that code?

REPORTER:
The stock market has begun to stabilize...

...and even tick up after
a wild afternoon of trading.

MAN 1: Yes.
MAN 2: That's what I'm talking about.

[GRUNTING]

This brings back memories.

I used to work on old cars as a boy.

With your father.

It's funny. I remember everything
he ever taught me about cars.

In truth, I remember everything
he ever taught me.

Don't worry, Harold.

You've taught her well.

Yo, Banana Nut Crunch,
we could use a hand.

Which cable controls
the elevators' mechanical lock?

They're early. Get ready.

Hurry, Harold.

Cut the coiled cable.

I'm out.

Finch!

Surrender your weapons, now!

- Here, I'll put pressure on it.
- I'm all right, Harold.

- We've got them covered, sir.
GREER: Very well.

All games must come to an end.

- Hey, sweetie. You busy?
SHAW: A little.

Skip the verbal foreplay, Root.
Why are you calling?

Can't a couple of gals take a little break
from work to catch up?

No, we do not have time to catch up.

Oh, you guys look like crap.

- How'd you...?
- Had to crawl through 50 yards of air duct.

We won't make it that way.

Don't worry. I got a little gift
from our friend in the bomb vest.

I'll take it from here.

Come on, get him up.

We're so good at this together.

You're gonna realize that someday.

Root, no offense.

You're hot, you're good with a gun.

Those are two qualities I greatly admire.

But you and me together would be like
a four-alarm fire in an oil refinery.

Sounds cozy. I'm out of ammo, Shaw.

Need to go. Might not get a second chance.

Second chances are overrated, Harold.

What the...?

The controls aren't responding.

The desk. There's an override button.

Someone's gotta get to that button
and hold them off.

Sameen, if you even think
I'm gonna let you...

Oh, for God's sakes.

[GUNSHOT]

[English - US - SDH]