04x01 - Panopticon

[bunniefuu]

[Speaks Hungarian]

Scotch, neat.

Make it a double.

[English accent] That good, eh?

Let's see. I lost my job today.

Top it all off, they canceled my flight.

Ouch.

Sorry.

I'm a journalist. That comes with the territory.

You religious?

Seriously?

That's the line you're going with?

No, I'm just curious if you believe in a higher power.

Imagine if the world had utterly changed, and no one had noticed a thing.

I'm talking about an international stealth operation to acquire and shutter every company researching artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence?

That's a real thing?

Oh, it's here.

I think an AI slipped into the world unannounced, then set out to strangle its rivals in the crib.

And I know I'm on to something, because my sources keep disappearing.

My editor got reassigned.

And now my job's gone.

More and more, it just feels like I was the only one investigating the story.

[Chuckling] I'm sorry.

I'm sure I sound like a real conspiracy nut.

(Woman) No, I understand.

You're saying an artificial intelligence bought your paper so you'd lose your job and your flight would be canceled.

And you'd end up back at this bar... [Dramatic music] ...where the only security camera would go out.

And the bartender would have to leave suddenly after getting an emergency text.

The world has changed.

You should know you're not the only one who figured it out.

You're one of three.

The other two will die in a traffic accident in Seattle in 14 minutes.

[g*nsh*t]

[Tense music]

♪

(Garrison) I have to say, the early results are impressive.

Samaritan has preempted multiple threats to National Security.

You're welcome, Senator.

Your machine seems to be even more aggressive than Northern Lights.

[Cell phone vibrates]

Samaritan is designed to be proactive.

We can't afford to miss even one t*rror1st now, can we?

All assurances aside, what really concerns me is accountability.

Accountability?

It appears Decima Technology has been dismantled as a viable business entity, which makes me wonder, who exactly is getting the NSA feeds?

We had a deal, Senator.

We get the feeds.

You get the relevant numbers.

What we do with that information is entirely up to us.

That deal offered us plausible deniability.

If the public ever gets wind of Samaritan, I just hope you're somewhere to be found.

I wonder if our... fine Senator has become more of a problem than asset.

One that needs to be eliminated.

And what about Harold Finch and his associates?

Oh, that's unlike you.

Still, I'm sure whatever rock they decide to hide under, we'll find them as soon as they emerge.

[Muzak playing]

[Coughing]

You must be allergic.

Oh!

Whoops.

Certainly looking fierce today, sweetheart.

Unfortunately, we hired you to sell this stuff, not scare off the customers.

Lady over there's been waiting 15 minutes for a makeover.

Now put on a smile and snap to it, will you?

[Dramatic music]

♪

Okay, this day job thing, not really working out.

Sorry, Sam.

You need an identity.

And you need to trust the machine.

Wait, the machine put me in this silly-ass job?

It's the only way to keep you alive and off Samaritan's radar.

For what it's worth, I really like the new look.

You're definitely an Autumn.

I could s*ab you with my stiletto.

Enough already.

Now when are we getting new numbers?

Keep it down.

The machine has its reasons.

Stay in character.

Follow the calendar on the phone I gave you.

Check Angler.

Maybe find a match.

A match?

As in a date?

Make it look good.

But for now, I need you to make me look good.

New job interview.

Just promise me John's a barista.

[Suspenseful music]

♪

Why down here, yo?

NYPD's got cams all over the city.

You can't be too careful.

Where's the product?

♪

(Man) Uncut Afghan snow.

It stamped?

Where'd you get it from?

Enough talk.

Show us the damn money.

It's in the trunk.

♪

(Man)
It's all here.

We'll take that.

Matter of fact, we'll take it all.

This is where you get off.

You don't want to do that.

Oh, no?

Waste this bitch.

[g*n cocks]

[Grunts]

[g*nshots]

[Sirens wailing]

Down on the ground.

Hands behind your head.

[Dramatic music]

♪

Detective?

You okay?

Escort these clowns to the ER.

Get the dr*gs and money to evidence.

Gotta go.

Sir, don't you need to file a report, f*ring your service w*apon?

It wasn't my w*apon.

[Quirky music]

♪

Hello.

My name is Professor Whistler, and I'll be teaching this semester's course on the ethics of... high-frequency decision making.

[Student yawns]

Which I will endeavor to make more interesting than that sounds.

[Laughs]

You all should've receive a copy of the syllabus along with a list of general guidelines and appropriate expectations.

As a visiting associate, my office hours will be limited.

All grades are final, so please, don't come to see me expecting to negotiate a higher grade.

Later.

All right then.

That concludes today's lecture.

Your reading assignments will be posted on the department website.

Thank you.

Come on, Bear.

Professor, given the modest number of students who have signed up to take your course, the department may be relocating you to a smaller venue.

I see.

Oh, and I managed to make it through your dissertation.

I found it a very... interesting read.

Not quite certain how you were able to obtain a $9 million grant for such an obscure field.

Took the liberty of flagging a few typos.

Certainly. Thank you.

Oh, one more thing.

We do have a no dogs on campus rule.

Precedent. You understand.

[Bear whines]

[Cell phone beeps]

Not the first corner boy to catch a b*llet on these rooftops.

This place is like a sh**ting range for gangbangers.

(Reese) What brings you up to The Bronx, Detective?

(Fusco) Last I checked, I was in Homicide.

This here looks like a body.

What's Narcotics doing here, Detective?

Felix here was an affiliate of a street g*ng taking over the heroin trade.

Yeah, well, now he's unaffiliated.

If he was dealing, we didn't find no junk on him.

No bank neither.

Wire strippers.

What's this kid doing up here with a pair of crimpers?

Maybe he was jacking cable, another favorite pastime in this hood.

He didn't even live in the building, Fusco.

Why don't you let the task force conduct the investigation, huh, Crockett?

It's just a shame I got here too late.

You and your old pals used to be pretty good at getting out in front of this type of stuff.

What are you doing fooling around in Narcotics?

You gonna tell me what's going on?

[Cell phone beeps]

When I figure it out, Lionel... you'll be the first to know.

[Cell phone beeps]

(Man) We all want to push the negativity...

All right, already. I'm here.

And open ourselves up to positivity.

Why?

Because positive people are happier people.

So I'm gonna share with you the secret of how to become more positive in three simple steps.

Oh, boy.

[Cell phone vibrates]

(Man) - Number one.

Make happiness a choice.

Romeo?

I don't think so.

(Man) Number two.

Decide to rid your life of negativity.

Be free from self-doubt.

Be free from the doubters around you.

Is that your perfume?

I could smell you down the hall.

(Man) I know you're gonna do it.

[Groans]

Stupid day job.

Name tag's a nice touch.

(Man) Happy people, positive people...

What the hell are you doing here?

Calendar alert.

Me too.

Why are we both here?

Because we're all here for a reason, right?

Number three, look for the positive in life.

This sucks.

[Groans]

Excuse me.

Excuse us.

(Man) Now, that wasn't very positive...

(Shaw) You're a cop?

Hey, at least you get to cr*ck a few skulls, carry a g*n.

New job's got me chasing junkies and bagging bodies after the fact.

Stupid cover jobs.

What are we doing?

'Cause if our friend has a plan, I am not seeing it.

[Phone ringing]

[Electronic voices speaking indistinctly]

Looks like we're back in business.

[Tense music]

How goes the day job, Detective Riley?

Personally, I prefer my real job, Finch.

Professor Whistler, please.

We're getting numbers again, Harold.

We need to get back to work.

I'm no longer your coworker, Detective.

I'm done taking orders from a computer.

I thought I made that clear after it instructed us to k*ll a Congressman.

It also helped us to save Grace.

And now more lives need saving.

I'm not sure that's what we were really doing.

I've totaled the lives we saved against the deaths that we've caused, and I'm afraid we've been operating at a bit of a loss.

People who would still be alive if we hadn't interfered.

You don't know that.

What would've happened if we hadn't intervened?

There is a larger power in play now, one that we are presently ill-equipped to face.

Samaritan.

Please be quiet.

Here...

I could really use your input on this one.

Ali Hasan.

Runs an electronics shop in The Bronx.

He's good with computers.

Kind of like you, Harold.

If you or Sameen or anyone else attempt to intervene with these numbers, you will surely find yourselves dead.

We have to do something.

We have no resources, John.

The library's gone.

So we'll get another place.

Don't you understand?

They're always watching.

We can't even talk on the telephone.

There is no sanctuary.

You can't just be the man in the suit.

You're a cop now. I'm a professor.

That's just the way it is.

We don't need jobs, Harold.

We need a purpose.

The world has changed, John.

I'm sorry.

Bear, blijven.

For the time being, I think he'll be happier with you.

Well, if it's not about helping the numbers anymore, then what?

It's about survival, John.

[Tense music] _

♪

(Hasan) Ben, I'm back from lunch.

♪

[Door beeps]

We got a problem, yo.

How can I help?

(Man) Don't play, old man.

We got a communications breakdown.

First you rat our burners out to NYPD, the ones you sold us.

Now your new phones ain't working right.

Way I see it, you owe us a whole new system.

(Ben) Everything all right, dad?

Not if you don't get those web orders boxed for FedEx by 3:00 PM.

Go.

I held up my end.

I gave your men all the equipment.

I even told them how to set it up.

Yeah, the problem is, our boy Felix caught a b*llet on the rooftops.

So now you're gonna finish the job.

Dominic wants the new network up and running in the next 48.

I cannot be involved in this.

It's a little late for that, isn't it?

Get your boy to help you out.

You leave him out of this.

I'm just saying, you got a lot of people counting on you now, don't you?

Clock is ticking.

(Ben) These are ready to go, pop.

Anything else?

48 hours, old man.

[Door beeps]

Let's go.

[Door beeps]

♪

Can I help you find something?

Wire crimpers.

Ben.

♪

(Reese) Perfect match, don't you think?

This kid ever been in your store before?

Found him on a rooftop a couple blocks from here with a pair of wire crimpers just like these.

Lots of places sell them.

I wish I could help you more.

You're a smart guy, good with computers.

You're a very private person, aren't you, Ali?

I think you're in trouble.

I think I can help you.

Going gets tough, call me.

[Door beeps]

Why didn't you just tell him?

These are bad guys.

We're in over our heads.

Let me handle this, Ben.

I built this store. I won't be bullied.

This is not the old country, dad.

You can talk to the police.

Talking to the police is what got us in this mess.

I will mind my business.

You will mind yours.

[Phone rings] _

This is Link. Leave a message.

[Phone beeps]
(Hasan) - I fixed it.

Meet me in Times Square.

I'll give you a phone that works.

So what's this Egyptian guy have to do with my DOA?

Felix was in a g*ng called The Brotherhood.

Near as I can tell, they're forcing Ali to build some kind of private phone network the cops can't tap.

So they're meeting in Times Square for more privacy?

For the people.

There's too many signals.

NYPD can't pinpoint who's calling who.

Ali's smart. These guys are too.

(Link)

Old man.

The network should be up and running.

Because of the tall buildings, the battery drains quickly.

You need an extra battery pack.

Dominic wants signal from the East River to the Hudson.

That will take a little bit more time.

But you can check the signal up to five blocks east.

Stay here. I'm gonna call you in five.

This better work.

[Tense music]

♪

Ali's tracking Link's phone.

[Car door clicks]

Keep an eye on him.

♪

It looks like your guy's sending a text.

That's not a text.

That's a detonation code.

The battery's a b*mb.

Ali's not the victim.

He's the perpetrator.

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Glass shatters]

[Grunts]

[Tires squealing]

[Grunts]

♪

[Cell phone beeping]

♪

(Fusco) You're full of surprises, Mr. Hasan.

Turning your cell phone into a remotely-detonated expl*sive device.

Where'd you learn that?

I'm guessing Egyptian m*llitary, unit 777.

The Brotherhood is threatening you.

We can help you, Mr. Hasan, but you have to talk to us.

I came to the police once.

Gave you the serial numbers of the phones they purchased from my store.

You did nothing.

They know you are listening to them.

They know where your cameras are.

They are smarter than you.

This Dominic, he wanted you to build some kind of private phone network.

It doesn't matter anymore.

You couldn't protect me, so I protected myself, my store, my family.

That's why I had to act.

They threatened my son.

Where's your son right now?

Why do you want to know?

Link isn't dead.

What?

He escaped.

What?

How?

Ben.

We'll call your son on the way.

Let's go.

(Hasan)

Ben?

Ben?

(Reese) Keep him back there, Lionel.

Ben?

Hey.

Oh, no.

[g*n cocks]
It's all clear. He's not here.

They took my son.

[Cell phone ringing]

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Cell phone beeps]

Hello.

(Link) Hey, old man, you know who this is?

Yes.

Yeah, you took your sh*t, but you missed.

Now I've got your boy.

And you got till midnight to get the network up, or he won't be coming home. Don't waste time going to the cops. You know we see them coming.

[Line clicks, phone beeps]

What have I done?

We're gonna help you, Mr. Hasan.

How?

By getting your son back.

You? Haven't you done enough?

Not yet, I haven't.

Keep an eye on him.

[Cell phone rings]

Hello.
(Reese) - Hey, it's me.

I need you to drop the eyeliner, pick up a g*n, and help me take down a criminal street g*ng.

I'd really like to, but that sounds like a bad idea.

That's what Fusco says.

I guess I'm full of them today.

(Shaw) You go off the reservation, they'll find you.

And if you go down, we all go down.

We have a chance to get out ahead of this one.

I'm going in with or without you.

[Line clicks, phone beeps]

[Sighs]

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Grenade launcher booms, glass shatters]

[expl*si*n booms]
[Yells]

[High-pitched tone]

[Dramatic music]

♪

Where's the kid?

What kid, man?

The one Link kidnapped.

Your punk ass is crazy.

[g*ns cock]

Yeah?

You know, you really shouldn't hold those things sideways.

You can't aim, and they'll eject a shell casing into your--

Ah, forget it.

[Men grunting, glass shattering]

[Grunts]

Last chance. Where's Link?

Man, Link bringing in The Whale.

The Whale?

[Dramatic musical flourish]

[Thud]

I told you it was a bad idea.

In her defense, she had to work quickly.

Professor.

One moment, please.

[Door clicks]

What brings you here today, Ms. Groves?

Your former associates, the mayhem twins.

They're back to trying to save people.

I'm aware.

Then you're also aware that they're gonna get themselves caught or k*lled without your help.

I explained as much to John, though I'm not sure how long they'd survive even with my assistance.

I assure you, the outcome will be determined if you don't get involved.

And this advice is coming from you, Ms. Groves, or from the machine?

Now's not the time to be precious, Harold.

You don't get to sit this one out.

The world can't afford to indulge your indecision.

Oh, I think I made my decision quite clear.

Sorry.

You have to pick a side, because this is w*r.

And the thing we're up against, it has virtually unlimited resources, governments working unwittingly at its behest, operatives around the globe protecting it.

You know how many we have?

Five.

Six, if you count the dog.

You have a god in this fight, Harold, and she's fighting for her life.

I wouldn't know.

She only talks to you, Ms. Groves.

Just because you stopped listening to her doesn't mean she isn't looking out for you.

This job, your identity, is her keeping you alive.

She has the plan, Harold, but she needs you to sit up and pay attention.

To what, the numbers?

In the face of such a struggle, saving one or two people, what difference would that make?

Every life matters.

You taught me that.

The numbers, our identities, they all mean something.

It all adds up to something.

All of this matters. We all matter.

You got your friends into this mess.

Least you can do is get them out of it.

[Door slams]

[Reese groaning]

What happened?

I saved your ass.

That's what happened.

I had things in hand, Shaw.

Yeah, things like a grenade launcher.

You can't do that anymore, Reese.

Neither of us can.

We get caught, we get exposed, and then it's lights out.

[Cell phone vibrates]

Ugh. No means no, asshat.

I need to get back to work.

I might still need your help, Shaw.

Did you not hear anything I just said?

Yeah, I did.

But I'm also trying to save a kid.

You had to put it that way.

[Sighs]

(Hasan) You said you would get my son back.

And I will.

If you can't find Ben, I must have this network up before midnight.

I have gone over everything I can think of, but it still won't connect.

(Finch) Perhaps I can be of some assistance.

[Tense music]

Detective Fusco said I might find you here.

Who are you?

He's a friend.

Do you know anything about wireless network architecture?

A bit.

I think you'll find I'm a quick study.

I'll leave you to it.

I'm gonna track down Link.

Detective, whatever your plans, I urge you to be discreet.

Our current circumstances require that we play by the rules.

So then I'll find someone who doesn't.

Phone.

[Phone thuds]

[Door slams]

[Tense music]

♪

Hello, John.

♪

How many nodes are in the network?

Honestly, I don't even know.

I should've never agreed to build this thing in the first place.

Look, why don't we start over?

Tell me how you constructed the network.

Maybe it's better if I just showed you.

This is it.

This is one of my routers.

How large is your coverage area?

All five boroughs.

All five?

Yes.

Installing that many antennas would surely raise some suspicion.

That's just it.

They didn't have to install them.

The antennas were already there.

VHF television antennas.

You can still find them on most rooftops in the city.

Huh.

It's been too long, John.

What have you been up to?

It's... complicated.

Well, now that is an unexpected development.

What can I do for you, Detective?

I'm looking for information on a g*ng called The Brotherhood.

They kidnapped a kid, and I want him back.

Sorry to say I don't know much about this Brotherhood.

It's run by a guy named Dominic.

We haven't met yet.

Do you know why they took the kid?

They're squeezing his old man to build some kind of communications network the cops can't tap.

They gave him a deadline, midnight, or they'll k*ll his son.

Why midnight?

Might have to do with someone called The Whale.

I heard they're bringing him in for a meeting.

The Whale isn't a person, John.

It's a shipment of heroin.

Four times a year, a truck comes up from Mexico.

It's driven to a location, usually a house, and for one night, the most protected house in the city.

And there it's cut and packaged for couriers waiting to deliver it all along the eastern seaboard.

HR used to handle The Whale, but since their demise, the cartel's struggled to find a reliable partner.

It could be Dominic creating his own opportunity.

Ambitious and smart.

Reminds me of me in my youth.

A little advice, Detective, maybe steer clear of this Dominic.

I'm afraid I can't do that.

Which brings me to the other reason I'm here.

I'd like to hire you.

Well, I think I may have found a way to fix your network.

How?

I've written a firmware patch that should allow the nodes to handle an increased number of connections.

I'm uploading it now.

It's working.

The network is up.

You did it.
[Laughs]

No, you did, Mr. Hasan.

You took an obsolete and forgotten technology and created a modern, invisible communications network.

I just did it to get Ben back.

Then we have little time to waste.

[Cell phone rings]

Yeah.

It's Ali.

The network is up. You can use it.

(Link)
That's good.

Guess what you needed was the right motivation, huh?

(Hasan) I gave you what you wanted.

Now give me back my son.

Relax, old man. You're gonna get him.

But right now I'm in the middle of something.

Sit tight. I'll be in touch.

What?

Hello?

Now what?

Now we call John.

You put a lot of trust in your friend.

I do.

In all the time I've known him, he's never let me down.

[Cell phone beeps]

[Cell phone rings]

Hello?

It's me.

I'm borrowing the g*ng's mesh network.

I'm sending you the location of the node they're connected to.

They should be within a few hundred feet.

I'm on my way. I'll let Shaw know.

John, remember to be careful.

Just like old times, huh, Finch?

Hardly, Detective.

[Tires squeal]

[Cell phone beeps]

Network's up.

Dominic says he wants everyone rolling out in 30 minutes.

What about the kid?

[Tense music]

♪

As soon as we're done here, we'll take him back to his pops.

♪

Then we throw them both in the river.

♪

(Reese)
Shaw, you in position?

Yeah, at least until the owners come home from dinner.

[g*n clicks]

All right, I got eyes on.

(Reese)
Copy. Stand by.

Now, just remember, Reese, you're NYPD.

You go all Rambo, I won't be there to bail you out this time.

(Reese)
I'm a reformed man, Shaw, following the rules and keeping a low profile.

[Suspenseful music]

Let's go.

We got a dozen cars moving out, every brick, every borough tonight.

♪

(Man) Look out!

[Metal crashing, glass shattering]

♪

[Sighs]

That's your idea of a low profile?

What the hell?

What's going on?

Beats me.

Appears to be some kind of traffic accident.

[Man gasping, coughing]

Elias says hello.

Looks like a g*ng dispute over dr*gs.

The SUV was coming from that house, which gives me probable cause to take a closer look.

Got your back, Detective.

Go check it out.

Anybody comes near this place, k*ll them.

Bag it all up.

We're moving out.

Yo, if you see something, sh**t it.

[g*ns cock]

[g*nshots]

[Grunts]

[Grunts]

[g*n clicks]

[g*nshots]

[Grunts]

[Grunts]

Took care of your welcoming party.

They didn't look too friendly.

[Suspenseful music]

♪

[Grunts]

[All yelling]

[g*nsh*t]

[Grunts]

♪

[Sirens wailing]

Reese, your buddies in blue are getting close.

I have to find Ben.

[Music intensifies]

♪

He's gone.

So is Link.

(Shaw) I got 'em.

They went out the back.

I can't get a clear sh*t.

[Keys jingle, engine turns over]

Hey again.

[Grunting]

Time's up.

Good luck, Reese.

Down on the ground!

Finally.

It's good to see you guys.

Riley, Narcotics.

[Cell phone vibrates]

John?

(Reese)
Put Ali on.

Hello?
(Ben) - Dad?

Ben.

Are you all right?

Did they hurt you?

I'm okay.

They destroyed the store.

It doesn't matter.

You're all right.

That's all that matters.

It was never about the store.

But they'll come back.

So we will move.

We are the store, Ben.

You and me.

Just come home.

[Tense music] _

♪

Whoa, whoa.

[American accent] Meg Watkins, Homeland Security.

What happened here?

g*ng w*r over dr*gs, ma'am.

Gangs?

♪

I don't think so.

Ma'am?

♪

I think I know why the machine chose this time to resurface.

It wanted you to help the number, but it also wanted a number to help you.

[Zipper scratching]

[Clears throat]

(Reese)
It's Ali's mesh network.

What about The Brotherhood?

I expect they believe the NYPD confiscated it.

But just to be safe, I've augmented these phones with a rolling encryption algorithm.

You and Sameen will be able to communicate without fear of anyone else listening, including Samaritan.

It's not just about the numbers, Harold.

It's about survival.

Be safe, John.

Bear, volg.

[Stapler clicks]

Didn't teach you knots in Girl Scouts?

Are you checking up on me?

I worry about you, Sameen.

I also have a black-tie dinner tonight, and I need a new polish, something bold.

Oh, and you should check your calendar.

I think you have a coffee date.

[Sighs]
No way.

The machine stuck me in this retail hell.

There's no way I'm letting it near my love life.

She has a reason for everything, even if sometimes it requires you to act like a well-adjusted member of society.

Trust her.

[Nail polish bottles clicking]

[Tense music]

♪

(Fusco) Hey.

What are you doing?

IT, dude.

Just setting up your partner's computer.

Whoa, what do you mean? What partner?

Some hotshot, just made a big bust, got promoted from Narcotics.

[Door clicks]

He can tell you all about it.

Detective.

You?

You guys know each other?

We've met.

All set.

Make yourself at home.

Welcome to the Eighth.

[Dark, brooding music]

♪ everywhere is freaks and hairies ♪
♪ dykes and fairies ♪
♪ tell me, where is sanity? ♪
♪
♪ tax the rich ♪
♪ feed the poor ♪
♪ till there are no rich no more ♪
♪
♪ I'd love to change to the world ♪
♪ but I don't know what to do ♪
♪
♪ so I'll leave it up to you ♪
♪
♪ population keeps on breeding ♪
♪ nation bleeding ♪
♪ still more feeding economy ♪
♪
♪ life is funny ♪
♪ skies are sunny ♪
♪ bees make honey ♪
♪ who needs money ♪
♪

Sameen?

Romeo.

I've been looking for a good match.

Thought you might not be interested.

Just careful.

Us too.

I hear you're looking for some real work.

We need a good wheelman.

Interested?

Absolutely.

♪
♪ oh, oh ♪
♪ but I don't know what to do ♪
♪
♪ but I don't know ♪
♪ what to do ♪
♪ oh, oh ♪
♪ but I don't know what to do ♪
♪ whoa, oh oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ but I don't know what to do ♪
♪
♪ but I don't know what to do ♪
♪
♪ so I'll leave it up to you ♪