Person of Interest (TV Series)

Witness (2011)

Jim Caviezel: John Reese

Photos 

Quotes 

• John Reese : We just saved a man whose only goal in life is revenge. He spent years studying his enemies through their own children.

  Harold Finch : John, we had limited information. We knew when we began this that we might make mistakes. But we have to go now, more people to help, more numbers.

  John Reese : And how many of those numbers will come up because we saved one man's life?

• Charlie Burton : I thought about killing you, John. But I realized that that would seem ungrateful. Besides, how do you take the life of someone so talented? I could really use a guy like you in my organization. I wish you luck, John. If you stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours.

  John Reese : What if I don't?

  Charlie Burton : Then we'll meet again under less pleasant circumstances.

• Charlie Burton : What is that?

  John Reese : [Tending his bullet wound]  Cocaine.

  Charlie Burton : I guess there's a first time for everything. Is that glue?

  John Reese : Yeah. Nothing like over-the-counter polymer to close a wound in a pinch.

  Charlie Burton : You learn all this in hero training?

  John Reese : Something like that.

• John Reese : [Watching Charlie Burton]  What's his story, Finch?

  Harold Finch : He's a high school history teacher working in the Brighton Beach school district. Lives alone, never married - not much to go on.

  John Reese : Well, maybe a student's after him. You know, teaching can be a dangerous profession.

  Harold Finch : Yes, I imagine espionage is a much safer choice.

• John Reese : Hello, fellas. Can I borrow some of your drugs?

• Charlie Burton : I'm sorry I got you into this mess.

  John Reese : It's okay. It's my job.

  Charlie Burton : It's a dangerous career choice.

  John Reese : That's the second time today I've heard that. It's funny. You remind me of him.

• Detective Lionel Fusco : I'm not sure how you usually do what you do, But I'm looking for a guy, and I could use some help. He's a witness, saw a Russian mob hit go down. He's caucasian, 5'10", bald. Probably not the most popular guy in his class, If you know what I mean. We need to find him.

  John Reese : [Looking at Charlie Burton]  I think I already did.

  Detective Lionel Fusco : Why am I not surprised?

• Charlie Burton : If I testify I never get to come back here. And I've worked too hard. This is my home. My students, for starters - I-I can't leave them. They need me.

  John Reese : Well, you won't do those kids any good if you're dead, Mr. Burton.

  Charlie Burton : Charlie, please - "Mr. Burton" Is for my students.

  John Reese : Do you want to die, Charlie? Because this isn't a history lesson. Those bullets are real.

  [pause] 

  John Reese : My name is John.

  Charlie Burton : Thank you for saving my ass, John.

• Joss Carter : Elias killed your uncle. You, your father, and your brother went to the bodega for revenge. You didn't know what Elias looked like, So his lieutenant Benny D'agostino was the next best thing. And now you're trying to rub out the witness. The guy who saw your father's face.

  Peter Yogorov : We heard from a source That Elias was supposed to be at the bodega that night. But when we showed up Benny was all we saw. Found out what really went down after the owner called us. He said there was another guy.

  Lazlo Yogorov : [Cut to the Ferry]  Hey, what are you - Corrupt PD? Gun for hire? What kind of guy takes money to protect a scumbag like your boss here? You think he's going to testify after everything he's done? He's tearing this town apart.

  John Reese : What are you talking about?

  Lazlo Yogorov : You don't know who he is, do you? What he's capable of?

  Peter Yogorov : [Cut back to the police station]  You don't really get it, do you? You honestly think we'd go to all this trouble For a witness?

• John Reese : You were meeting Benny at the bodega that day, weren't you? The shooters were looking for you.

  Charlie Burton : Yeah, the benefits of no one knowing who you are Or what you look like. That's gone now, I suppose. It's time to evolve. I'm ready for the next step.

  [Turns the gun] 

  Lazlo Yogorov : Go ahead. I'd rather die than see you running my city.

  Charlie Burton : You know what Benny said before he died? He said, "Veni, vidi, vici" - I came, I saw, I won. He said your almighty Bratva was already crumbling. He said we'd already won.

• John Reese : Sir, you have a Russian hit team closing in, which leaves us with approximately five seconds before you need to make a decision.

  Charlie Burton : How do I know you're not one of them?

  John Reese : Because I'm standing in front of you and you're still alive.

• Charlie Burton : [Reese breaks into a car]  Hey, this isn't mine!

  John Reese : Not mine either. Get in.

  Charlie Burton : May I at least have your name Before we commit grand theft auto together?

• Charlie Burton : So how did you wind up doing whatever it is you do, john?

  John Reese : It's Complicated. What about you? Did you always want to be a teacher?

  Charlie Burton : No, it was sort of a career shift. I came to like the kids a lot. A lot of their parents are affiliated with the russian mob, So I try to give them other options.

  John Reese : They're lucky to have you.

  Charlie Burton : Only the ones that I get out of the life and into college.

  John Reese : What about the kids who don't make it?

  Charlie Burton : Probably the ones shooting at us.

• John Reese : [Taking Lazlo's cellphone]  Mind if I borrow this for a moment?

  Lazlo Yogorov : Screw you.

  John Reese : It's a bad move to insult your hostage taker, Laszlo. Keep your mouth shut, or I'll shut it permanently.

• Charlie Burton : Don't make me shoot you, John. Drop your weapon and kick it to me, please.

  John Reese : I thought you didn't like guns.

  Charlie Burton : You know, sometimes you have to do things you don't like.

  John Reese : Like teaching history to the children of your enemies?

  Charlie Burton : Three years, I watched them; cleaning up after the children of those pigs. It's a good amount of time to learn What makes your enemies tick, what makes them weak.

  [Turns to Lazlo] 

  Charlie Burton : You know all the secrets you and your family tried to hide, Lazlo, I learned all about from your own flesh and blood? Your children hate you almost as much as I do