Person of Interest (2011–2016): Season 4, Episode 17 - Karma - full transcript

Reese and Finch try to protect a psychologist whose unorthodox methods for helping his patients find closure could cost him dearly. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal Finch fragile state in days ...

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.

The engineers Corwin had
reassemble the machine after we shipped?



There've been accidents, disappearances.

I think the government
may be killing them.

Alicia isn't going to have me bumped off.

I knew you would come, my friend.

Victims of the ferry bombing
include Nathan Ingram, CEO of IFT.

Did you know?

- Hello?
- Alicia Corwin?

- You are a murderer, a traitor.
- Who is this?

The actions of you and your associates
have not gone unnoticed.

Because of you, Nathan Ingram is dead.

Consider this a warning.

Code 703412.
Office of Special Counsel, please.

I'm sorry, Special Counsel is unavailable.

No, you get him on the phone right now.



I've just been threatened. Someone knows.

We'll look into it.

He was my best friend, and...

...in an instant, he was simply...

.“gone.

I've struggled with my injury
every day since then.

I fear I may never regain
the use of my arm.

I'm sorry, Dr. Edwards.
This was probably a bad idea.

It's okay, Harold. You don't have
to say more than you're comfortable with.

But, uh...

...you know the way
you talk about your accident...

...the loss of your friend, the pain.

It seems as though
you've carried this grief for some time.

Everyone grieves in different ways.

Hey, Glasses.
Tell him about all your nutball friends.

Maybe he can give you guys
a group-therapy discount.

I think, by now, you count as
one of Harold's nutball friends, Lionel.

With you people, there's no other kind.

Shane Edwards.
Shrink for victims of violent crimes.

Big-time psychiatrist, once upon a time.

- Then he lost his wife.
- Eight years ago. Lucy.

She was murdered
by a psycho delivery guy.

Shane founded his non-profit soon after.

- You live alone?
- No. Well, yes, technically.

I have a dog.

- Is the dog from your wife?
- No, we never...

My fiancée didn't have any pets.
How do you know...?

That there was someone else in your life?

Just a hunch.

We broke it off, and...

That's really all I have to say about that.

I understand. But I want you
to know I've been in that seat...

...I'm no stranger to what you're feeling.

Why don't we call it?
Talk more next time. Sound good?

- Is that your wife?
- Yeah.

Yeah, that's Lucy.

Like I said, I've been there before.

She died eight years ago.

Oh, I'm so terribly sorry, Dr. Edwards.

You know, even when your world stops...

...the world around you
keeps moving forward...

...and you will too.

- Take care, Harold.
- Thanks.

I still have dreams sometimes
where I'm walking.

And then I wake up.

- How does that make you feel?
- Trapped. Helpless.

Every morning, that first moment
when I wake up and I realize...

...I can't feel my legs...

...I'm forced to relive it.

Seeing Barton behind
the wheel, high off his ass...

...and then he hits me...

His lawyers got him out of rehab early...

...because I saw a picture of him partying.

He's posting all these stupid
status updates promoting his new club.

It's not fair.

That he does this to me,
and he gets to go out and live his life.

- Can I punch this guy in the face?
- Get in line.

You have every reason to be angry,
Angela, but you have to let it go.

You can't change the past...

...and people like that,
they don't walk free forever.

Karma has a way of finding them.

Edwards' job involves dredging up
a lot of details about violent crimes.

Maybe he dug up something
he wasn't supposed to?

You got this one, Lionel?

I got a therapy session
of my own to get to.

Yeah, give Red my regards.

There seems to be a little bit of darkness
about you today, detective.

I met a guy this morning
who lost someone.

Changed his life.

Just brings up bad memories.

And how do you handle loss?

You don't wanna go there.

You're retreating inward again, John.

What was that you said about new habits?

Developing new habits
isn't as easy as it sounds.

How was your session with Dr. Campbell?

Doctor-patient confidentiality, Finch.

Fair enough.

Any luck with Edwards' apartment?

I must say, I'm getting rather good...

...at this breaking-and-entering business.

Although, I don't quite understand...

...the purpose of the carnitas.

Oh, it's just an old spy trick
for neutralizing security systems.

Security system?

- Knock, knock.
- Oh, hey, Becca.

We got some of your mail again.

Someone should probably
say something to the mailman.

Yeah, he gets confused
because we look so much alike. Heh.

Heh. Good point. Where's Hector today?

He only does Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Hector.

That's very funny, Mr. Reese.

Uh, my co-workers and I are gonna go
check out that new bar up the street.

And I... We were wondering if
maybe you would like to come along?

Thanks, but I, uh, got a prior commitment.

Yeah, of course, sure. No problem.

I figured I'd just ask.

Say hi to Hector for me.

Will do.

All right, Edwards is headed for the gym.

Find anything in his apartment?

Edwards' wife's belongings are everywhere.

But she died eight years ago.

Perhaps he isn't taking
his own advice about moving on.

Finch, I think we may have a problem.

Edwards just planted a gun
in someone's gym locker.

And now he's leaving the gym
without working out.

Okay. He just went into a bank.

Edwards is following
a very deliberate schedule.

- He's setting up pieces.
- You think he's going to rob the bank?

He's making his move, Finch.

Or not.

Something else is going on.

He's using a code to go
in a service entrance.

Might be messing with the
electrical system, security cams.

What's he doing now?

He's making a call from a burner phone.

Clyde Barton.

- Is this the account holder
at After Hours? CLYDE: Yeah.

This is Brian Humphries,
Fisher Savings and Loan.

The government made
an inquiry into your account...

- ...and froze it.
- Are you kidding me?

My accountant said
everything was in order.

No need to raise your voice.
This is standard.

Come to our branch on Montague,
we can get this straightened out.

You bet your ass we will. I'll be there.

Finch, you got a line on
After Hours Management?

When it comes to breaking,
entering and hacking...

...I can only do two at a time.

- Finch, that guy Edwards was talking to?
- Clyde Barton?

That club owner who put
Edwards' patient in a wheelchair.

- How'd you know?
- Edwards seems to have...

...done extensive research on Clyde Barton.

And he's been researching
this bank for weeks.

- Hello, Fisher Savings.
- Hi, is this Brian Humphries?

- Yeah.
- Listen carefully.

My associate is about to rob your bank.

Now, if you cooperate fully
without alerting the authorities...

...no one will get hurt, including you.
My friend's a big guy wearing sweats.

When he comes in, he'll look for you.
Give him your keys and your key card.

Don't do anything stupid.

Okay, Finch, this makes no sense.
I'm going in.

I need to see Brian Humphries now.

- Do you see my friend?
- Yeah.

Please remain calm.
I'll get you what you need.

What are you talking about?

Look, we don't want any trouble.

- Help! This guy is trying to rob us!
- Stop right there.

I'm not trying to... Unh!

Get out of here.

Guy's got a gun!
Get your face to the ground!

You're not gonna believe this, Finch.

Edwards just framed this guy for robbery.

That's not all.

It doesn't appear that
this is the first time...

...Edwards has framed someone like this.

I believe our new number
may be something of a vigilante.

Then who's his next target?

So Edwards is a vigilante, huh?

He's put a total of seven people in prison.

All of them aggressors...

...who had harmed his patients.

How far back do these go, Finch?

Back to when he started
his victim advocacy non-profit...

...in honor of his wife, Lucy.

Her killer, Wyatt Morris...

...a delivery man who got a little bit
too friendly with Lucy...

...while making deliveries
and made her uncomfortable.

She was concerned he might be unstable...

...so they filed a complaint
with his employer.

The day before the murder...

...Morris attempted a delivery at the
house, but Lucy didn't answer the door.

He returned the following day.

She came to the door
and signed for the package.

That evening,
according to Edwards' testimony...

...he saw Morris leaving
as he arrived home from work.

Moments later, he discovered
his wife bludgeoned to death.

Where is Morris now?

In prison, serving
15 years for manslaughter.

Manslaughter? Why not murder?

The evidence was circumstantial.

There was no witness to the murder,
otherwise, he'd be serving a life sentence.

Edwards is punishing
people who deserve it...

...and making sure no innocent people
get hurt in the process.

We should hire him, Finch.
Take the week off.

Need I remind you, Mr. Reese,
his number has come up.

Which means that his next target
may escalate beyond any simple crime.

Or one of his previous targets
is coming back for revenge.

- How you doing, boy?
- It appears Edwards is arriving home now.

He's putting tape on his tuxedo.

Either he doesn't trust
Hugo Boss lapels to stay in place...

...or he's planning to start
his next frame at tonight's gala.

Edwards is making a presentation
tonight about his non-profit.

It appears to be an elite crowd.
Admission will require...

...a rather large donation
from our already depleted funds.

Save your money, professor.
I might have an easier way to get in.

Thanks for getting me in, doc.

You're the one doing me a favor.

The N.Y.P.D. has a table
at this gala every year.

I'm always looking for people
willing to come represent the precinct.

Thank you.

I think the tuxes keep them away.

It's good to see your empathetic
side, John. It shows real progress.

Well, I'm glad I could join you.

Urn, you look stunning, by the way.

And it's good to see
this other side of you too.

I feel like a waiter in this thing.

I don't think I've worn a cummerbund
since, uh, senior prom.

You're welcome, detective.
Where is Edwards now?

Don't worry, Finch. We've got eyes on him.

Hi, everyone. Thank you all for coming.

I hope you're all at least getting a drink
out of your tax write-offs tonight.

For those of you who don't know who I am,
my name's Shane Edwards.

And this is my wife, Lucy.

Lucy was a photographer.

We met in a garden...

...quiet little spot with a fountain...

...when I absent-mindedly traipsed...

...through her perfectly timed shot,
ruining hours of prep work.

But instead of getting mad,
she just started laughing.

Said there was no use getting upset now,
she'd just have to make do...

...with an avant-garde
golden-hour photo of a blurry foot.

Mr. Reese, we may have trouble.

Someone's sneaking
in the service entrance.

Oh, my. It's Morris. The man convicted
of murdering Edwards' wife.

I thought he was in prison.

Released yesterday on parole.

The system wasn't updated
due to an administrative delay.

What the hell's he doing here?

A couple of years later, I proposed
to her right there in the garden...

...after we carved our initials on a bench.

After her passing...

...I couldn't bring myself
to visit that place anymore...

...I couldn't even think about it...

...until I went into therapy.

And it was therapy
that made me whole again.

Moving on is not about
forgetting or ignoring...

Morris is heading straight for Edwards.
Excuse me a moment.

... to incorporate into your new life...

- So, doc, I keep having this dream...
- Hmm.

And that's why victim
advocacy is so important...

...no matter what form that advocacy takes.

So I'm here tonight to ask you
to help me continue in my practice.

Thank you very much.

Thanks for coming.

Been a while, doc.

You? The hell are you doing here?

- Seven years...
- Come on.

- What are they saying?
- Too much commotion.

- Seven years...
- Hey!

- Mr. Reese, what's happening?
- Morris just threatened Edwards.

- Let's go.
- Seven years!

Edwards is on the move, Finch.

Something's wrong, Finch.
The battery in Edwards' car's drained.

It's wired to blow! Get down!

All right, doc.
Why does Morris want you dead?

Hello?

It's you, isn't it?

I suppose you're trying
to tell me not to do this.

But I haven't given you a voice...

...so you have nothing to say.

- News on Morris?
- Our guys are looking for him.

Have you had any contact with Morris
since the trial?

No.

I heard he was getting out of prison soon,
but I never imagined he'd come after me.

Think he tried to kill you
because you put him away?

Killing my wife is what put him away.

I'm sorry, I'm a little on edge.

Last time I was in a room like this
was the night she died.

Worst night of my life.

It was snowing.

That kind of relentless snow where you
forget there was ever a world without it.

I remember calling my wife
on the way home.

She didn't answer, she was always
bad about answering the phone.

I saw this delivery truck
double-parked outside our building.

Just as I was going in, the engine
revved, and the truck took off.

When I got up to our floor...

...the door was hanging open.

And I ran inside...

...and saw this package lying on the floor,
this small brown package...

...wrapped in tape, lying in a...

In a pool...

When they found Morris, he denied
he had anything to do with Lucy's death.

You need anything else from me?

I got appointments starting in about four
hours, I'd like to get a bit of shut-eye.

Morris is out there somewhere.

This guy's taken years of my life.
He's not getting any more of my time.

We'll find him.

Why would Morris, a guy who was
just paroled, put a bomb in Edwards' car...

...and risk everything by confronting him
in front of a crowd?

Criminals do stupid
incriminating stuff all the time.

You don't put a bomb in a car
because you're mentally stable.

Look, before delivering packages,
Morris worked construction.

- Demolitions.
- Guy knows how to build a bomb.

Perhaps I can add some information.

I've spotted new activity on an old e-mail
account Morris had before he went to prison.

A cryptic exchange
with an anonymized account.

It says, "Roscoe has agreed to meet.
In the can.

Eleven a.m. tomorrow.
Kent Avenue and North 9th Street."

So Morris is about to meet
with a man named Roscoe?

Roscoe is an old nickname for a handgun.

Morris is trying to acquire a weapon.

I'll head to the address.

I'd like to have a word with him.

Hey, Glasses, I just heard back
from the bomb squad.

- What have you got, detective?
- Real amateur hour.

Another inch to the left, the igniter
would have been too far to set it off.

Guy like Morris with experience
in explosives should know better.

Interesting. Thank you, detective.

Any luck finding Roscoe?

Well, the gun was already here.
No sign of Morris yet.

And "in the can" meant
in the trash outside a public restroom.

Remind me to never
illegally purchase a firearm.

While you're waiting,
here's something rather odd.

Do you remember when Edwards
told you about seeing Morris' truck...

...the night his wife died?

- Yeah.
- Well, that story he told you matches...

...the story he told in court
and the story he told the cops.

Of course he would remember every detail.

- His wife was murdered.
- It's not just the details, Mr. Reese.

Verbatim. "That kind of relentless snow...

...that makes you forget
there was ever a world without it."

It's as if Edwards memorized that speech.

But why would he do that?

I've been going through the cell company's
GPS records for Edwards' phone.

He wasn't coming home
when his wife was killed.

He didn't arrive until several hours later,
which means...

...he couldn't have seen his wife's killer
leaving the scene. He lied.

He didn't just lie, Finch.

- Edwards is the one who bought the gun.
- He bought a gun under Morris' name?

Mr. Reese, it's another frame job.

Seven years ago,
Edwards perjured himself...

...to make sure the man he believed
killed his wife would go to prison.

And now Morris is out early.

And only seven years for his wife's murder.

I'd be angry too.

So now Edwards
is planning to put him away...

...for good.

Edwards is heading back home now.

He's been pretty careful
about not touching that gun.

Edwards means to kill Morris with that gun
and make it look like self-defense.

Get this. Right after
Morris was released...

...he got a text message from his brother
saying Edwards would be at that gala...

Edwards must have spoofed the text
to make sure Morris would show.

Then he blew up his car to make it
look like Morris tried to kill him.

Whatever Edwards' plan is, it could end
in someone's death, including his own.

- We have to stop him.
- Stop him?

We should give him a medal. Morris killed
Edwards' wife and he's walking the streets.

Edwards lied in his testimony. Have you
considered that Morris might be innocent?

The man was obsessed.

He didn't have a solid alibi.
No other suspect to speak of.

Precisely. All the evidence
against him was purely circumstantial.

Morris has always maintained his innocence.
It could be that he's telling the truth.

And we may never know
what really happened.

Guys, we don't even know
what's happening now.

Edwards just popped open a round
and poured out the gunpowder.

I'm betting things won't go well for Morris
when Edwards plants gunshot residue on him.

If Edwards has figured out how to
put this guy away, he should go for it.

One less killer walking the streets.

Oh, he's figured it out. The tape on
his lapels picked up Morris' fingerprints.

So now Edwards is holding a gun
with Morris' prints.

It seems fairly obvious
he intends to use it on someone.

We cannot sanction murder.

We don't know if it's murder. None of
Edwards' frames have ended in death before.

Mr. Reese, we wouldn't focus on him
if something bad wasn't about to happen.

I'm saying he doesn't look
like a killer to me.

He looks like a man who's lost.

- Hey. Sorry, I'm a little early.
- Hey.

No problem. Uh...

Sounds like Hector's looking forward
to spending time with you. I'll go get him.

Got someone here for you.

- Here she is. Here she is.
- Hey. Hi.

Yeah.

You sure you don't mind?

- I'm happy to watch him as long as you need.
- Thanks.

Yeah, something came up
I gotta take care of tonight, so...

Everything okay?

Yeah. I think it will be, yeah.

- Thanks again for watching him.
- Of course.

Bye.

Okay, Finch.

Edwards is clearing out. Whatever
his plan is, it's gonna happen soon.

I got a lead on our killer. When Morris
was in prison, his brother never missed a visit.

If Morris isn't at his brother's,
he knows where he is.

Edwards is thinking the same thing.

Looks like he's heading
for the brother's apartment.

Okay, Finch. Edwards just broke in.

Mr. Reese? What's he doing?

Making it look like
Morris is following him.

Where's Edwards?

Here.

Edwards has been planning this for years.

He can't move on. He needs closure.

Vengeance will not bring closure.
You should know that by now.

It didn't for Carter, it didn't for Shaw.

And it won't bring Edwards any peace
if he's targeted the wrong man.

Finch, the law doesn't always work.

Edwards is correcting an injustice.

If we deny him this, it will destroy him.

Don't make the mistake of assuming you're
the only person that's been down this path.

So tell me, Finch.

Where did that path take you?

Gotta find the red queen. The red queen.

You gotta pay to play, pay to play, folks.
Who wants to step up, take a chance?

- Edwards is gone.
- Did he get away, or did you...?

He's been doing frame jobs for a while.

He's good at covering his tracks.

He's left his phone at home,
so there's no way for us to track him.

We have to find him before it's too late.

I haven't been able to find Edwards,
but I've located Morris' cell phone signal.

It's an older model that doesn't have GPS.

Wait, this could be something.

- Fusco.
- Detective.

Have you located Morris' brother?

It appears that he just sent Morris
a text message...

...although I'll wager it's Edwards
spoofing the text to lure him out.

Yeah, I'd say it's a safe bet.

Sid broke his cell phone
while we were having a chat.

How exactly did...?

Does he know where Morris is?

No. But it didn't stop the lowlife
from taking a swing at me.

It says to meet at the conservatory
at the New York Botanical Gardens.

That's across town.

- I'm close.
- Could be dangerous, Finch.

You should've stopped Edwards
while you had the chance.

Hello?

Sid?

You here?

I've been waiting seven years for this.

I have received direct threats
on my personal cell phone.

Someone is coming after us.

You tell your boss
to call me back immediately.

Hello, Alicia.

I'm sorry it's come to this.

I'm aware of your relentless pursuit
and subsequent elimination...

...of the engineers involved
in Northern Lights.

Did you think that while you were watching
others, no one would be watching you?

I'd be careful if I were you.
An improvised explosive device...

...is attached to the bottom of your car.
Any sudden movement could set it off.

As a member of the black-ops
intelligence community...

...I'm sure you're familiar with the damage
such a device can do.

You have to understand.

Nathan, he was a dear friend.

I didn't know anything about his murder.

Do you even believe yourself?

You work in intelligence.
How can you not know?

No...

The second it happened, I knew it.

But I didn't know they were gonna do it,
I had no idea.

You're a trained liar.

How will I ever know
if you're telling the truth?

You won't.

But I am.

Everything we did
was to make the world a safer place.

But we strayed from the path. I admit it.

I have so many regrets,
but it's grown so big...

...and we're so...

...so small.

I don't know who you are...

...or how you know all this...

...but maybe you're right.

Maybe Nathan's death, it is my fault.

I saw the signs. I ignored them.

Maybe I deserve this.

Dump that on your hands.

- Gunpowder?
- Do it.

Dr. Edwards.

No, no, no, Harold,
what are you doing here?

I may not have been completely
honest with you in our session.

But you were right.

We've both been down the same road.

But if there's one thing I've learned...

...it's that revenge
will never bring you closure.

- Hey, you gotta help me.
- Shut up!

- I'm not a murderer.
- You're a liar.

I dropped the package
off to her in the morning...

...and that's all I did.

I didn't like leaving packages
at people's doorsteps...

...during the holidays.

A lot of thieves.

A lot of bad people out there.

I made sure she signed for it...

...and then I left.

And I never came back that night.

You really expect me to believe that's why
you kept going back? I know you killed her.

This is where you met.

Where you proposed.

Why desecrate her memory by committing
murder in the place where you were happiest?

Who said anything about murder?

When they search his apartment...

...they'll find evidence
he's been plotting to kill me.

With the gunshot residue on his hands, there
won't be any doubt he pulled the trigger.

They'll put you away for
the rest of your life.

And there won't be
anything you can do to stop it.

After I pull the trigger,
tell them he shot me.

Do that, and then everything
will fall into place.

Harold? Whoever you are,
I'm begging you, let me have this.

Harold.

- Move away.
- John, don't shoot.

Shane? Listen to me.

I watched someone close to me
die before my eyes.

Like you, I thought I
needed to make sure...

...that everyone
responsible for that murder paid...

...with their life.

And I almost did it.

I had my target,
I had my finger on the trigger.

But I realized that...

...as certain as I was
that these people deserved retribution...

...that life was infinitely
more complicated than that.

You may never know what happened
on that day.

But if you do this, if
you condemn his life...

...there will be no doubt
what you did to him.

Even when your world stops...

...the world around you
keeps moving forward and you will too.

But if you die here...

...that bright, beautiful, lively woman
that fell in love with you here...

...will forever die with you.

I know you don't want that.

You're even less chatty than usual.

Just had a long night.

Wanna talk about it?

Okay.

How about we discuss payback instead?

I got you into the gala...

...now you give me something real
about yourself, no more shutting me out.

Tell me something you're not so proud of.

Starting with how you deal with grief.

There was a woman once.

She meant everything to me.

And I kept her at arm's length.

I went away for a long time.

Then I learned she died.

So, what happened?

Talk to me, John.

If you ever wanna be able to move on...

...you have to grieve.

I'm not sure I know how to do that.

- There he is.
- Aw. He missed you.

Hey, little boy.

- Thanks for looking after him.
- Anytime.

Did you get everything taken care of?

I'm still working on it.
Think it's gonna be okay.

I'm glad to hear it.

Maybe we can walk him together sometime.

Maybe.

You wanna go?

It looks like Edwards
might finally be starting to move on.

What about Morris?
Did he kill Edwards' wife or not?

That's a question between
him and his maker.

Perhaps we should follow our own advice
and let him go.

That's not good enough.

Your machine's gotta know the truth.

It may, and the truth
will likely remain with it.

As frustrating as it might seem...

...some questions may never be answered.

But what I do know is this:

if Morris is a killer and
tries to kill again...

...we'll be there.

Come on. Walk.