John Reese quotes from Person of Interest

Sameen Shaw

How do you talk down a psycho in a bomb vest? [beat] Hello?

John Reese

I was waiting on the punchline.

John Reese

Coolly delivered sadistic warning.

Lionel Fusco

Self-deprecating inquiry into time necessary to infiltrate system.

Root

Funny yet insightful retort.

Harold Finch

Mildly agitated declaration of mission completion. Channel exhortation to further action.

Root

Overly affectionate greeting.

Sameen Shaw

Greeting.

Root

Transparent rationale for conversation.

Sameen Shaw

Annoyed attempt to deflect subtext.

Root

Overt come on.

Sameen Shaw

Mildly embarrassed defensiveness bordering on hostility.

Root

Playfully witty sign off.

John Reese

Either you talk to me now or I'm gonna invite Root in here to re-create the events of your last conversation.

Control

Good cop, bad cop? Really?

John Reese

There are no good cops here.

Root

Hey, eyes on the road. Keep your mind on navigating. Can't afford to lose any more time.

Reese

You really are sure she's alive.

Root

You know about Schrodinger's cat? There's a cat trapped in a box with something lethal. There's a 50% chance the cat's been killed, but until you open the box, there's no way to know one way or the other. Quantum physics says before you open the box, the cat isn't dead or alive. It's both.

Reese

What about after you open the box?

Root

Reality collapses back onto itself. Cat's either alive, or it's dead.

Reese

Well, we're gonna see reality soon. But you don't bet against Shaw.

Root

No. Nothing kills that cat.

Reese

You elevate abduction to an art.

Root

Always travel with an empty suitcase. Never know what you might pick up.

Zoe Morgan

Hello, John. Been a while.

John Reese

Zoe. What are you doing here?

Zoe Morgan

I do a lot of business here. Especially when high-ranking officials get arrested in a hot tub with hookers and blow and they need me to clean up the mess.

John Reese

We were trying to swing a verdict, Zoe, not ruin their lives.

Zoe Morgan

Well, a little leverage never hurts.

Harold Finch

I thought we agreed not to involve any more innocent people in our work.

John Reese

Well, Zoe's not exactly what I'd call innocent. Besides, she insisted.

Harold Finch

And saying no to Ms. Morgan was never your strong suit, was it?

Finch

How goes the moonlighting, Mr. Reese? Uncover any hidden threats?

Reese

Do empty carbohydrates count?

John Reese

Finch, how do you know so much about getting marijuana?

Harold Finch

Mr. Reese, do you want me to call this in or not?

Lionel Fusco

[to Finch] Hey, glasses, tell him about all your nut ball friends. Maybe he can give you guys a group therapy discount.

John Reese

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

Lionel Fusco

With you people, there's no other kind.

Harold Finch

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.

John Reese

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

Harold Finch

Security system?

Harold Finch

Hector. [feeding the dog] It's very funny, Mr. Reese.

John Reese

Finch, you got a line on After Hours Management?

Harold Finch

When it comes to breaking, entering, and hacking, I can only do two at a time.

Harold Finch

While I appreciate the utility of a firearm, Mr. Reese, I don't see the pleasure in firing lead projectiles at inanimate objects.

John Reese

This isn't pleasure, it's business. You've had some close calls recently. Think of it as a machine. You like machines, right, Finch?

Harold Finch

Not content with an atlas of Patagonia, he then proceeded to devour a first edition Gatsby.

John Reese

You want him to stop eating your books, stop buying 'em leather-bound. I'll buy you a new one.

Harold Finch

I don't believe I pay you enough to replace it, Mr. Reese, and you're missing the point. Some things simply cannot be replaced.