They get out of a car on a busy New York street as Finch explains that someone is murdered in the city every eighteen hours. JC -- who seems to have a difficult time talking through his fake beard and moustache -- says you can't stop the bad things that happen every day. But Finch wonders: "What if you could?" He says you can't stop the things that happen in the heat of the moment, but what about the planned crimes? He says he has a list of people about to be involved in very bad situations: murders, kidnappings. Most of them have no idea anything's about to happen. They're just ordinary people. "Like her." He points to Natalie Zea, who's getting something from a food cart. Finch says her name is Diane Hansen. He doesn't know if she's victim or perpetrator; just that she's involved. He wants JC to follow her, find out what's going to happen, and stop it from happening. JC thinks Finch is a bored rich guy, and Diane's probably an ex-wife or someone he rode in an elevator with once. "Either way, I'm done." When Finch's suits try to stop him, he punches two of them out and strolls slowly away. Surveillance images remind us someone's always watching.

Back at a way-too-nice hotel for a homeless dude, JC decides to shave (he must know he's about to be the star of a TV show and he wants to look the part), then he watches a story about himself -- an "unidentified man" despite the fingerprints and warrants? -- being a "person of interest" (get it?) in a number of crimes nationwide. Not to mention four international warrants. Because, really, they're not mentioned. He drinks himself into a flashback to that beautiful day with his beautiful blonde. But this time, she looks upset and he asks, "Jess, what's wrong?" Before we get any answers, his phone wakes him up. When he grabs for it, he realizes he's tethered to his bed, using what looks like a carnival unlimited ride bracelet. Not exactly handcuffs, but I'll admit those could be a pain in the ass to remove as a child. Unless you had something like scissors or a knife. Finch is on the other end of the line, telling him he needs to know what it's like to know someone is going to be murdered and not be able to do anything about it. He hangs up and a woman starts screaming and struggling one room over.