Person of Interest: Triggerman
December 4, 2024 7:32 AM - Season 2, Episode 4 - Subscribe
When The Machine gives them the number of a mob enforcer whose life becomes endangered, Reese and Finch must decide whether to intervene or allow karma to balance the scales of justice.
Reese is across the street from a recently remodeled restaurant, Grand, watching the newest Number, Riley Cavanaugh. He works for racketeer George Massey and Massey's son Eddie. Reese decides to go in and sits at a nearby table and clones Riley's phone. The hostess, Annie Delaney, tells him that his server will be there shortly and the owner comes over to check on George. They chat and George tells the owner, Al, to pay up. When Al asks for more time, George threatens him.
George attempts to flirt with Annie, but she reminds him that her husband, Sean, died as one of his men recently. George admits that it's tragic but Sean worked with the Russians. George reminds her that Sean was a gambler and got in too deep. He tells her to accept it but Annie says that Sean was a sweet guy until he started working for George. She asks who will miss him when he's gone and walks away, and George abruptly leaves with Eddie and Riley.
George and his men go to a bar that he owns that doubles as his headquarters, and Reese follows them. They check their phones at the bar, and George goes into the restroom. Finch clones the other phones through Riley's while Reese spills a drink on his jacket and bumps into George, slipping a bug into his jacket. George, offended, tells his men to throw Reese out and then the racketeer goes in the back and complains about Annie's lack of respect. Riley suggests that he pay her a visit and tell her to drop the subject. George agrees but tells him to make Annie disappear. When Riley hesitates, pointing out that it might hurt morale to kill the wife of a mob widow, George tells him to worry about his morale and to take Eddie with him.
That night, Reese follows Eddie and Riley and Finch informs him that Annie was widowed nine months ago when Sean was killed by the Russian mobs before Elias took over. The two enforcers pull up at Annie's apartment, but George calls Eddie and tells him to take care of Riley first because he didn't come clean. Eddie hesitates and then assures his father that he can handle it. Reese, listening in, realizes that Riley may be the victim after all.
Before he can move in, there are muzzle flashes inside the enforcers' car and it goes out of control. Riley staggers out and calls Annie at her apartment. She knows him and Riley tells him that George must have found out about them. He says that he had to kill Eddie and assures Annie that things will be all right. Riley tells her to go to their place and he'll meet her there soon.
The next morning, Reese follows Riley and Finch suggests that they should protect Annie but not Riley. He says that Riley is a killer and not worth the risk, but Reese reminds him that he was a killer. When Finch reminds Reese that the police will be looking for Riley for Eddie's murder, Reese calls Carter and sends her to the address where Eddie's body ended up. Finch and Reese realize the George doesn't know where Annie is, but his men will be looking for her in addition to Riley. Finch hesitantly says he'll go to her and then tells Bear he'll be fine.
Finch goes to Annie's apartment and confirms that she's gone. He looks around the apartment and finds a desktop photo of the New York City landscape.
Szymanski takes Carter to George's bar and introduces her to the racketeer. They inform him about Eddie's death but he already knows about it and doesn't seem particularly concerned. When Carter calls him on it, George assures her that she'll see his feelings when they find the killer. Carter notices that none of his men are there and figures that they're out looking for the killer as George already knows who it is. As Carter and Szymanski and Carter go, Fusco sits at the bar and drinks, and overhears George call and tell his men that he wants to know as soon as Riley and Annie turn up.
Finch goes back to the Library and measures the angles of the photo to determine where it was taken. The address is Riley's first home, four blocks from Reese's current location. Reese gets there and finds Riley and Annie on the roof. He's saying that he wants to get her out of town alone but she refuses to go without him.
Riley agrees to leave with her and he takes a duffel bag from an air vent. However, he discovers that it's empty except for a cell phone. The phone rings--it's George, who tells Riley that he knows about his stash. George's men come outside and open fire, and Reese takes them out from behind while Annie and Riley run downstairs.
Fusco calls to tell Reese that he's overheard George putting out a million-dollar contract on the couple. Once Finch cuts off, he warns that every hired gun in the city will be looking for them. However, they figure that George is too small-fry to do it on his own and that he will reach out to someone, and they both know who. While Finch goes to check out their hunch, Reese figures he knows where Riley is going to get money.
Finch is at the prison meeting with Elias. Finch points out that Reese saved Charlie Burton and Elias realizes that he's dealing with Reese's employer. Elias thanks Finch for saving his life ,and Finch points out that he still controls the city's underworld. Elias complains he has nothing to do in prison, and he can't find a decent chess partner. He asks why Finch is there. Finch explains that they need help with George. They have Riley under his protection, and Elias dismisses George, saying that the people lurking in the shadows are the ones to watch out for. Finch asks him to withhold his assistance if George asks for it, and Elias agrees for a price.
Riley and Annie go to the train station and Riley has her stay put while he gets train tickets. Reese follows them in, and Finch calls to tell him that Elias has put the order out to leave the couple alone. One killer, Ochoa, moves in and Reese spots him, but the bounty hunter backs away when two policemen move in on Riley. Ochoa starts a fire to distract the cops and abducts Annie. When Finch wonders why Reese is protecting a killer, he inadvertently blurts out that Riley is "bad code." Reese doesn't know what he means, and Finch says to forget it. Meanwhile, Fusco calls Finch and tells him that George slipped out the back.
Reese grabs Riley and pulls him into an alley. After a brief fight, Reese takes Riley down and says that he knows what Riley has been doing to protect Annie. Reese also points out that the Russians wouldn't have killed Sean when he still owes money and then left the body in their own territory. The enforcer explains that Sean was skimming from George to pay the Russians back. Reese figures that Riley is right, but that he was the one who made the hit on Sean. Riley says that George assigned him to watch Annie to make sure that she didn't ask too many questions, but he fell for her instead. Reese warns him that he can't run away from what he's done, and Riley says that he knows what he is and he'll do whatever he can to save her. After a moment, Reese gives Riley his gun back.
Riley realizes that George is heading for a nightclub, The Emerald Pearl, that he uses to dispose of bodies. That night at The Pearl, George meets with Ochoa. He turns Annie over to George and says that Riley ran for it. Ochoa asks for his money and settles for half. Meanwhile, Reese brings Riley to the door to the club and says he wants his reward.
Inside, George condemns Annie for causing trouble and explains that he had Sean killed for stealing from him. The racketeer says that Riley knows what really happened to Sean. Before he can explain, an armed Riley comes in, threatening to shoot anyone who moves. George is glad to see him and starts to tell Annie about Riley's part in Sean's murder. Reese comes in to back up Riley, and a gunfight breaks out. Riley gets Annie to cover and tells Reese to get her to the kitchen because he's closer. Annie refuses to go without Riley but he tells her that it's okay. She reluctantly goes with Reese and one of the thugs shoots Riley in the chest. George comes over and says that he should have killed Riley himself, and Riley echoes Annie's words earlier that no one will miss either one of them. They both fire, hitting each other.
Finch pulls up outside and Reese gets her into the car and then goes back for Riley. When he comes in, he discovers that the bounty hunter killed Riley and escaped. Reese finds a train ticket on the Riley's body and leaves.
Later, Reese takes Annie to the train station and gives her the single ticket. She realizes that Riley wasn't going to go with her. Annie admits that she was fooling herself into thinking that she could change him, but Reese assures her that Riley said that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. As she leaves for New Mexico, Finch comes in and Reese asks what he meant about "bad code." His partner explains that it applies to machines and that humans, even a killer, can evolve. As they go, Reese asks what Elias wanted in return for calling off the bounty.
Finch goes to see Elias and plays chess against him.
As Ochoa prepares to leave town, Reese tracks him to his apartment. He offers Reese the money but Reese just smiles and says that he's not there for the money.
Points of Interest
Finch tells Reese that Riley is "bad code", a term first used by Root in the episode “Bad Code" s2 e2. That Finch uses the phrase in the same way Root did indicates that her rhetoric got through to Finch. But he later backtracks saying, "It means a flawed design. The term applies to machines, not to people." This indicates his ultimate rejection of Root's dim view of humanity and embracing the idea that even a murderer a can change.
In exchange for offering protection to the couple, Elias exacts a price from Finch. The price is Finch will play chess with Elias.
Reese is across the street from a recently remodeled restaurant, Grand, watching the newest Number, Riley Cavanaugh. He works for racketeer George Massey and Massey's son Eddie. Reese decides to go in and sits at a nearby table and clones Riley's phone. The hostess, Annie Delaney, tells him that his server will be there shortly and the owner comes over to check on George. They chat and George tells the owner, Al, to pay up. When Al asks for more time, George threatens him.
George attempts to flirt with Annie, but she reminds him that her husband, Sean, died as one of his men recently. George admits that it's tragic but Sean worked with the Russians. George reminds her that Sean was a gambler and got in too deep. He tells her to accept it but Annie says that Sean was a sweet guy until he started working for George. She asks who will miss him when he's gone and walks away, and George abruptly leaves with Eddie and Riley.
George and his men go to a bar that he owns that doubles as his headquarters, and Reese follows them. They check their phones at the bar, and George goes into the restroom. Finch clones the other phones through Riley's while Reese spills a drink on his jacket and bumps into George, slipping a bug into his jacket. George, offended, tells his men to throw Reese out and then the racketeer goes in the back and complains about Annie's lack of respect. Riley suggests that he pay her a visit and tell her to drop the subject. George agrees but tells him to make Annie disappear. When Riley hesitates, pointing out that it might hurt morale to kill the wife of a mob widow, George tells him to worry about his morale and to take Eddie with him.
That night, Reese follows Eddie and Riley and Finch informs him that Annie was widowed nine months ago when Sean was killed by the Russian mobs before Elias took over. The two enforcers pull up at Annie's apartment, but George calls Eddie and tells him to take care of Riley first because he didn't come clean. Eddie hesitates and then assures his father that he can handle it. Reese, listening in, realizes that Riley may be the victim after all.
Before he can move in, there are muzzle flashes inside the enforcers' car and it goes out of control. Riley staggers out and calls Annie at her apartment. She knows him and Riley tells him that George must have found out about them. He says that he had to kill Eddie and assures Annie that things will be all right. Riley tells her to go to their place and he'll meet her there soon.
The next morning, Reese follows Riley and Finch suggests that they should protect Annie but not Riley. He says that Riley is a killer and not worth the risk, but Reese reminds him that he was a killer. When Finch reminds Reese that the police will be looking for Riley for Eddie's murder, Reese calls Carter and sends her to the address where Eddie's body ended up. Finch and Reese realize the George doesn't know where Annie is, but his men will be looking for her in addition to Riley. Finch hesitantly says he'll go to her and then tells Bear he'll be fine.
Finch goes to Annie's apartment and confirms that she's gone. He looks around the apartment and finds a desktop photo of the New York City landscape.
Szymanski takes Carter to George's bar and introduces her to the racketeer. They inform him about Eddie's death but he already knows about it and doesn't seem particularly concerned. When Carter calls him on it, George assures her that she'll see his feelings when they find the killer. Carter notices that none of his men are there and figures that they're out looking for the killer as George already knows who it is. As Carter and Szymanski and Carter go, Fusco sits at the bar and drinks, and overhears George call and tell his men that he wants to know as soon as Riley and Annie turn up.
Finch goes back to the Library and measures the angles of the photo to determine where it was taken. The address is Riley's first home, four blocks from Reese's current location. Reese gets there and finds Riley and Annie on the roof. He's saying that he wants to get her out of town alone but she refuses to go without him.
Riley agrees to leave with her and he takes a duffel bag from an air vent. However, he discovers that it's empty except for a cell phone. The phone rings--it's George, who tells Riley that he knows about his stash. George's men come outside and open fire, and Reese takes them out from behind while Annie and Riley run downstairs.
Fusco calls to tell Reese that he's overheard George putting out a million-dollar contract on the couple. Once Finch cuts off, he warns that every hired gun in the city will be looking for them. However, they figure that George is too small-fry to do it on his own and that he will reach out to someone, and they both know who. While Finch goes to check out their hunch, Reese figures he knows where Riley is going to get money.
Finch is at the prison meeting with Elias. Finch points out that Reese saved Charlie Burton and Elias realizes that he's dealing with Reese's employer. Elias thanks Finch for saving his life ,and Finch points out that he still controls the city's underworld. Elias complains he has nothing to do in prison, and he can't find a decent chess partner. He asks why Finch is there. Finch explains that they need help with George. They have Riley under his protection, and Elias dismisses George, saying that the people lurking in the shadows are the ones to watch out for. Finch asks him to withhold his assistance if George asks for it, and Elias agrees for a price.
Riley and Annie go to the train station and Riley has her stay put while he gets train tickets. Reese follows them in, and Finch calls to tell him that Elias has put the order out to leave the couple alone. One killer, Ochoa, moves in and Reese spots him, but the bounty hunter backs away when two policemen move in on Riley. Ochoa starts a fire to distract the cops and abducts Annie. When Finch wonders why Reese is protecting a killer, he inadvertently blurts out that Riley is "bad code." Reese doesn't know what he means, and Finch says to forget it. Meanwhile, Fusco calls Finch and tells him that George slipped out the back.
Reese grabs Riley and pulls him into an alley. After a brief fight, Reese takes Riley down and says that he knows what Riley has been doing to protect Annie. Reese also points out that the Russians wouldn't have killed Sean when he still owes money and then left the body in their own territory. The enforcer explains that Sean was skimming from George to pay the Russians back. Reese figures that Riley is right, but that he was the one who made the hit on Sean. Riley says that George assigned him to watch Annie to make sure that she didn't ask too many questions, but he fell for her instead. Reese warns him that he can't run away from what he's done, and Riley says that he knows what he is and he'll do whatever he can to save her. After a moment, Reese gives Riley his gun back.
Riley realizes that George is heading for a nightclub, The Emerald Pearl, that he uses to dispose of bodies. That night at The Pearl, George meets with Ochoa. He turns Annie over to George and says that Riley ran for it. Ochoa asks for his money and settles for half. Meanwhile, Reese brings Riley to the door to the club and says he wants his reward.
Inside, George condemns Annie for causing trouble and explains that he had Sean killed for stealing from him. The racketeer says that Riley knows what really happened to Sean. Before he can explain, an armed Riley comes in, threatening to shoot anyone who moves. George is glad to see him and starts to tell Annie about Riley's part in Sean's murder. Reese comes in to back up Riley, and a gunfight breaks out. Riley gets Annie to cover and tells Reese to get her to the kitchen because he's closer. Annie refuses to go without Riley but he tells her that it's okay. She reluctantly goes with Reese and one of the thugs shoots Riley in the chest. George comes over and says that he should have killed Riley himself, and Riley echoes Annie's words earlier that no one will miss either one of them. They both fire, hitting each other.
Finch pulls up outside and Reese gets her into the car and then goes back for Riley. When he comes in, he discovers that the bounty hunter killed Riley and escaped. Reese finds a train ticket on the Riley's body and leaves.
Later, Reese takes Annie to the train station and gives her the single ticket. She realizes that Riley wasn't going to go with her. Annie admits that she was fooling herself into thinking that she could change him, but Reese assures her that Riley said that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. As she leaves for New Mexico, Finch comes in and Reese asks what he meant about "bad code." His partner explains that it applies to machines and that humans, even a killer, can evolve. As they go, Reese asks what Elias wanted in return for calling off the bounty.
Finch goes to see Elias and plays chess against him.
As Ochoa prepares to leave town, Reese tracks him to his apartment. He offers Reese the money but Reese just smiles and says that he's not there for the money.
Points of Interest
Finch tells Reese that Riley is "bad code", a term first used by Root in the episode “Bad Code" s2 e2. That Finch uses the phrase in the same way Root did indicates that her rhetoric got through to Finch. But he later backtracks saying, "It means a flawed design. The term applies to machines, not to people." This indicates his ultimate rejection of Root's dim view of humanity and embracing the idea that even a murderer a can change.
In exchange for offering protection to the couple, Elias exacts a price from Finch. The price is Finch will play chess with Elias.
"Bad Code" - I've got to figure that there's a subjective component to the determination of whether code is strictly "good" or "bad."
But I suppose it could also stand in for "code" of ethical (or not) conduct.
But "The Machine" is "self patching" - so can change, also...
posted by porpoise at 7:44 PM on December 7
But I suppose it could also stand in for "code" of ethical (or not) conduct.
But "The Machine" is "self patching" - so can change, also...
posted by porpoise at 7:44 PM on December 7
Root uses the term to mean predictably malevolent. She uses the term specifically after tasing Denton Weeks. She went through an elaborate ruse to show Harold that Denton is not just an awful human being with no regard for the lives of others, but also predictable. HIt indicates indicates that Denton can't evolve or change, which is in direct opposition to what Harold believes.
posted by miss-lapin at 5:39 AM on December 8
posted by miss-lapin at 5:39 AM on December 8
Finch tells Reese that Riley is "bad code"
That was a really chilling "oh, did he buy into her shit" moment; and left us hanging until the walkback.
Otherwise: this felt like another ho-hum case-of-the week episode. I suspect this is going to be an ongoing problem? the show's very clearly signaled that there are going to be longer arcs -- and spent the entirety of S1 gradually introducing the Machine as something more than just a story-of-the-week plot device -- so episodes that don't advance the greater plot are always going to risk feeling wheel-spinny.
See also: Lost, which had to do a lot of running-in-place episodes before it got a firm end data to write towards. Were there similar can't-tell-the-story-too-fast pressures here? not sure that's something I can safely google as a first-watcher.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:02 PM on December 8
That was a really chilling "oh, did he buy into her shit" moment; and left us hanging until the walkback.
Otherwise: this felt like another ho-hum case-of-the week episode. I suspect this is going to be an ongoing problem? the show's very clearly signaled that there are going to be longer arcs -- and spent the entirety of S1 gradually introducing the Machine as something more than just a story-of-the-week plot device -- so episodes that don't advance the greater plot are always going to risk feeling wheel-spinny.
See also: Lost, which had to do a lot of running-in-place episodes before it got a firm end data to write towards. Were there similar can't-tell-the-story-too-fast pressures here? not sure that's something I can safely google as a first-watcher.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:02 PM on December 8
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posted by Artifice_Eternity at 8:18 AM on December 4 [2 favorites]