Tim Jamieson is a character on the MGM+ TV series The Institute. He is portrayed by Ben Barnes.
Profile[]
Tim Jamieson is an ex-cop who was forced out of his job following an incident in which he shot a 16-year old boy who was carrying a rifle. Following this, he hitchhikes a ride and finds himself in a small town off the beaten path, where he applies for the job of night knocker. Once on the job, he finds himself swept in a series of strange incidents that ultimately lead him to The Institute. He ultimately becomes a key ally of Luke Ellis once their paths cross.
History[]
"The Boy"[]
Tim hitches a ride from a female trucker carrying a large load of books, who tells him that if he helps her unload and reload at each of her stops, she can take him as far as the public library in Dennison, Maine. Once there, he visits the town's police chief, Chief Ashworth, following up on an ad he saw for the position of night knocker. The chief points out that he left off certain things on his application, such as the fact that he won a commendation for lifesaving and an Officer of the Year Award. Tim, however, plays down the kudos and the chief points out that he mentioned "the incident at the Westfield Mall." Tim tells him that he had the right to know, explaining that while the shooting may have been justified, he was off-duty at the time and had been drinking. The chief asks if he's a drinking man and he tells him he was for a time, but not anymore. He tells him that if he wants the job, it's his, that he starts that night, from 8-6.
Tim meets with an Officer Gullickson, who outlines the basics of his position. Her attitude seems reserved and he asks her if she has a problem with him. She tells him that time will tell that, saying that he's just some guy off the street and that people joke about the position of night knocker, but it's key for a small town like theirs. Tim agrees that his grandfather always said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, that he was a night knocker and it's why he applied. That evening, Tim does his rounds for the first time and meets a woman named Annie Ledoux, who believes in various conspiracy theories and encourages him to tune in to a certain radio program which discusses such theories.
"Shots for Dots"[]
With news of possible criminal activity in town, Tim is offered a gun, but chooses to refuse. He is reminded that if something does happen, his only job is to call it in. During his rounds, he comes into conflict with Drew Reynolds, who feels he is becoming a bit too friendly with Annie, who has been causing trouble for a woman named Kelly Sloane. He, however, earns the respect of one his fellow officers, Wendy, who is impressed that he was able to calm her down. He learns that Kelly's daughter, Zoe, drowned in what was an apparent accident, but Annie believes it was a murder. Later on, the criminal crew that was reported arrives and Tim ends up saving a man's life, preventing him from bleeding out.
"Graduation"[]
Back at the station, Tim is asked to write an incident report, but says that he will leave it to Drew, even though this means he will get the credit for it and possibly even a medal. Wendy questions just what his deal is and he explains that he's not there to get involved. Tim later meets with Annie, who tells him about having heard something called "the Hum." She tells him that having been born in the 80s he has brain damage from isotopes added to jet fuel. She warns him to stay away from the Institute and tells him that she never touches drugs or alcohol. He later discusses his conversation with Annie with a woman named Kate who admits she doesn't know what happens at the Institute either, though it's supposedly infectious disease research. That evening, Tim finds Annie dead in her tent, her death supposedly an accidental overdose.
"The Box"[]
Tim expresses his opinion that Annie's death was not an accidental overdose, but his opinion is treated with skepticism given that he had only known Annie a week. He is told by Chief Ashworth that it is not his concern, that his job is to knock on doors. Afterwards, Wendy tells him in secret that the crew who is hauling away Annie's tent won't be able to actually do so until tomorrow. From the tent, Tim salvages a wine bottle, and points out a curious fact - the bottle doesn't have any lipstick on it, yet Annie was never without lipstick on. He talks with Wendy about a local tragedy called the Red Steps Tragedy, and asks to borrow her car, which she agrees to.
"Back Half"[]
Tim pays a visit to the gates of the Institute, where he is told by the gate guards the cover story of it being a facility where they do animal testing related to infectious diseases. His presence is noted by Dr. Hendricks, one of the top officials. Hendricks worries that he could be someone from "upstairs" sent to test them and decides they need to figure out who he is and whether or not they need to kill him. Tim later thanks Wendy for letting him borrow his car, telling her that he knows there's something suspicious about Annie's death and he's going to find out what. She tells him that isn't his job anymore, but he tells her he just can't look the other way. He asks her if anyone has ever really looked into the Institute, and she tells him they just don't have jurisdiction.
Tim is later paid a visit by Trevor Stackhouse of the Institute. He tells him that he runs security there and asks for a talk. He asks him how he got there and he claims to have just been hiking. Tim questions him about the Red Steps affair and Stackhouse tells him that the Institute is often a target for conspiracy theorists. He tells him to reach out to him if he has any further questions about their organization.
"Run"[]
Stackhouse talks with Hendricks about his meeting with Tim, expressing his believe that he is not in fact from "upstairs," but just someone who wandered into town. He tells him, however, that they may still need to kill him, that he's met people like him before and that they won't stop once they get a hold of something.
Tim meets with Wendy, telling her that he's been continuing to investigate the Red Steps aware and expressing his opinion that something is wrong and he is the only one who cares. She tells him that she cares, but that she also needs her car back. Tim resumes his investigation, when unexpectedly encounters a teenage boy, Luke Ellis. Seeing that Luke is injured, he offers his help, promising that he won't hurt him, as he seems very wary. Luke asks if he's with "them" and Tim tells him that he's a cop of sorts. He asks if one his parents did this to him and he tells him that his parents are dead.
Tim tells him they should get him to a doctor or hospital, but he says they don't have time for that, that he needs to get to the Red Steps. He tells him he's supposed to be meeting someone there, if Stackhouse didn't sniff her out first. This immediately gets Tim's attention, as he recalls his own meeting with Stackhouse. He tells him that they will hike back to his car - that they can get reception there and he can tell him his whole story, that he might just believe it.
So Luke tells him his whole story, including the fact that he has unusual abilities, such as telekinesis, the power to move things with his mind and even to read minds. Tim is clearly skeptical, but admits that he knows Stackhouse is real, it's just that the rest of it is a little weird. Luke presents him with a flash drive, telling him it was given to him by a woman named Maureen Halverson, but he doesn't know exactly what's on it and that she wants him to meet a reporter at the Red Steps and talk to her.
They reach an area with cell reception, where Tim pulls up a bulletin that claims that Luke is a wanted suspect in death of his own parents. Luke curses, realizing that it is the folks at the Institute who did this. Tim calls up Chief Ashworth, starting to explain the situation, only to lose reception. Luke says it means they know he's gone, that they have to warn Maureen. They end up encountering the reporter, named "Kate," but Luke realizes she isn't who she claims to be and is actually an assassin sent by the Institute. She pulls a gun, but Luke uses his telekinesis to drop a tree branch on her and then Tim gets the drop on her, getting the gun away from her and knocking her into the water and to her death. They realize that Maureen must be dead and so Tim takes Luke back to the police station. There, Luke presents Chief Ashworth with the flash drive, but they are unaware that there is a mole inside the force.
"Hide"[]
Chief Ashworth is stunned by what he sees on the flash drive - the truth about what happens at the Institute. Before he can really process it, however, he is killed by Drew Reynolds, who reveals himself to be the mole on the force. Drew captures both Tim and Luke and forces Tim to handcuff the two of them to a chair until reinforcements from the Institute arrive.
Tim tries to reason with Drew, telling him he doesn't really want to do this. Drew, however, tells him that it's too late. He leaves the two of them for a bit and Tim turns to Luke, asking him if he can do before with the tree and help him get a paper clip that he can use to free them from their handcuffs. Luke, however, protests that it doesn't work that way, that it only happens when he gets upset or angry. To this, Tim tells him it's time to get angry and Luke finally summons the power and uses his telekinesis to transport the paperclip, allowing Tim to free them both. When Drew returns, he finds the both of them gone.
Tim heads out to seek help, only to find that everyone else's phones aren't working either. Nevertheless, he manages to get a friend to shield him from the Institute's hunt for him and Luke. He manages to get Luke to Wendy, telling her that they have no place else to go. He tells her that Chief Ashworth is dead, that Drew shot him. Although she seems willing to help, she is somewhat disbelieving and he and Luke don't have the flash drive anymore, as it was in Ashworth's pocket. She tells him that he sounds like Annie, but he points out the communication blackout, asking just who could do that, to which she is forced to admit she has no argument against.
Julia Sigbsy, one of the heads of the Institute, arrives at Wendy's place with Drew, pretending to be with the FBI. Wendy hides Tim and Luke and allows Sigbsy and Drew in to buy time. Sigbsy tells her that Tim is the prime suspect in Ashworth's murder, but Tim gets the drop on both of them, then kills Drew when he attempts to get the drop on him. He then starts pumping Sigsby for information and it turns out that Sigsby is all too happy to talk. She admits the truth of the Institute: that they are involved in untraceable assassinations, but claims that they have an ulterior motive.
She explains that in addition to children capable of telekinesis and telepathy, the Institute has ones capable of precognition. They see beforehand people who are what they call a "hinge," who will do things that will destroy the world, and then the Institute takes them out. Tim asks her if this is true why not just do it in the open, rather than all the secrecy. She says that they can't run the risk, that he should know what it's like: he shot a child in Boston to prevent a massacre.
"Fight"[]
Tim rejects Julia wholesale, telling her that she wants to hear her give her speech to the real FBI and hear what they have to say about it. He and Wendy take Luke outside, Julia in their custody, and prepare to take Luke to the actual FBI, but Luke insists going back to the Institute, explaining that the other children there are in danger, being used as hostages against him. At first they object to the plan, but when Luke refuses to budge, Tim tells him he's not sure what the right thing is, but that he believes him and what he wants to do, he will do what it takes to make it happen.
He and Wendy put together a plan and the group heads for the Institute. At the gate, they are confronted by [[Trevor Stackhouse (TV)|Dr. Stackhouse], another of the Institute's representatives. He demands that Tim let Ms. Sigsby go, but Tim rejects this, telling him that she's going to stay in the car until he's sure they're playing things straight. He tells Stackhouse to release the kids and when Stackhouse refuses, Tim tells him that he has to at least make some sort of good faith offer. Stackhouse pretends to do so, but when he instead tries to ambush the group, Tim reveals the truth.
He tells Stackhouse that he had mistook him for a trustworthy guy and that if he had played it straight, he would have honored the deal. He shows him that it is Ms. Sigsby who is in the car. With this, Luke is able to execute his plan, which ends up bringing down the Institute, but the threat is not over, as it turns out that there are other Institutes throughout the world. Tim thus takes Luke and the other surviving children into his care and they meet him and Wendy.