Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
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Claude Speed is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series who appears as the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto 2.
Background
Little history is given for the character in GTA 2; however, DMA Design had previously released a promotional movie for the game, which was also compiled into the opening cinematic of the game, depicting a live-action rendition of Claude Speed committing several criminal acts, similar in all Grand Theft Auto games. In the movie, Claude is seen performing jobs for several crime bosses, before being killed by an assassin sent by the Zaibatsu Corporation, whose van and merchandise were previously stolen by Claude. Close inspection of Claude Speed's rap sheet in the intro movie reveals that he is 28 during GTA 2, which is either set in 1999 or 2013.
During the course of the game, Claude starts his career as a simple thug, however, he was soon hired by the major gangs that controlled Anywhere City. Claude secretly worked with all of them and in the end managed to kill all of their leaders, and later flees the city with the money he earned. Claude goes to prison during the mission Penal Ties! on orders of Rednecks leader Billy Bob Bean.
GTA 2 movie rendition
The movie rendition of Claude Speed was portrayed by English actor and model Scott Maslen. In the film, Claude is first casually walking down the street before breaking into a run when he discovered himself being chased by a large group of people. He escaped by stealing a van owned by the Zaibatsu Corporation, which earned him a mark for death from the Corporation's higher-ups. Over the course of the film Claude's various exploits are shown, including driving while taking drugs, getting into a police chase, getting a car sprayed, drug running, and rescuing a group of trapped people dressed as monks from a van and killing the owner.
"Pursuit and escape"
The film opens with overhead scenes of a city as police chatter is heard, revealing that criminal has evaded them. It then cuts to Claude Speed striding on the streets, only to be chased by a group of armed gang members (implied to be Rednecks, based on their choice of baseball caps and plaid shirts; one of them is wielding a chainsaw). Looking to escape, Claude carjacks a parked van, throwing its occupant out and driving the vehicle away, shaking off his pursuers.
"The Assassin is activated"
While in the van, Claude, to his joy, discovers boxes of Zaibatsu Corporation drug shipments inside. With his newly discovered loot, Claude stops to break into a black sedan, load a few of the boxes into its trunk, and takes off in the stolen car, abandoning the van. However, Claude's act has been reported by the driver of the van to the Zaibatsu, and an informant depicted as a homeless person updates the Zaibatsu on Claude's whereabouts and change of vehicle. The Zaibatsu Corporation promptly obtains a record of Claude, and dispatches an assassin (who doubles as a janitor in the company) to kill Claude.
"Cop chase"
Meanwhile, Claude discovers a police car tailing him, resulting in a chase that lasts for a period of time. After the police car spins out of control, allowing Claude to escape, Claude seeks refuge in a paint shop, where his car is resprayed with a white body color. This allows him to slip through police detection, and continue to go about his business.
"Meet the boss"
Claude arrives at a hideout for a group of Russians at a harbor, demanding that they help him kill a member of the Rednecks. As the Russian mob boss is about to turn him away, Claude produces two packets of the Zaibatsu drugs to the boss. To the boss' approval, the deal is sealed. As Claude heads to his next destination, he decides to consume some of the drugs himself, with less-than-desirable results...
"Basement and baseball"
Still under the influence of the drugs, Claude makes another stop, this time an underground Yakuza haunt, where an unknown individual is in the process of being tortured with baseball bats. With two boxes of Zaibatsu drugs to show, Claude is asked by a Yakuza boss to help locate and rescue a fellow associate, in exchange for a monetary reward. Claude complies and leaves, as the tortured prisoner is bludgeoned in the head with a hammer by the boss.
"Shoot him when he's down"
With the Yakuza boss' order in mind, Claude locates a step van stopping at an intersection, exits his car and guns down the driver, shooting him three times and spitting on him. Claude then proceeds to open the van's cargo hold, revealing a group of people dressed as monks, presumably meant to represent the Hare Krishna gang. Claude finds his man, and returns him to safety, where Yakuza members greet him with open arms. Claude leaves to prepare for his next job as night approaches.
"Elvis"
Using the step van acquired in his last mission, Claude arrives at a storefront to pick up the Russians, as promised. They are heading to a bar where Elvis is performing a gig; the bar scene reveals Redneck members with Yakuza members celebrating the recent rescue of their cohort. Claude and the Russians arrive, as Claude paves the way for the Russians to storm in and provoke a firefight that presumably results in casualties on all sides. Claude walks away with a grin on his face as a Russian is seen gunned down.
"Crime does not pay" and death
As Claude attempted to hijack a parked car on the street, the assassin sent by Zaibatsu approached him from behind through a darkened back alley and shot him three times in the back with a silenced pistol. Claude was thrown forward by the impacts from the bullets and, with no time to react, he looks down at himself in shock and briefly seems to brush the hood of the car in an attempt to stay upright before falling backwards onto the pavement and presumably dying from a combination of lead poisoning, blood loss and paralysis from shattered vertebrae.
Personality
Claude Speed is a sociopathic character with little to no moral conscience of his actions. He will work for anyone who will give him the needed money or resources and will be ready to manipulate, betray or attack anybody who is between him and his goals. Part of his bold character depicts him mocking or spitting over enemies he has killed.
He also worked for various gangs simultaneously, managing to manipulate each of their leaders, turning them against each other and, in the end, eliminating them all. He is an expert of a variety of weapons, from simple pistols to even rocket launchers. He's an avid smoker (as seen in-game) and drug user as well.
The movie's version of Claude Speed shares some generic physical characteristics with Claude of the 3D Universe games, including: his black jacket (made of cloth in GTA 2 and leather in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas); t-shirt (white color in GTA 2 and black in GTA III and GTA San Andreas); cargo pants (black color in GTA 2 and dark khaki in GTA III and GTA San Andreas); and slicked hair. The movie version, however, was also depicted speaking and displaying an array of emotions, a characteristic never seen with the Claude from the 3D Universe.
Nicknames
In GTA 2, Claude Speed's in-game name is simply given as a myriad of nicknames from nine bosses of seven gangs:
- "Gecko" by all three heads of The Zaibatsu Corporation (Trey Welsh, Red Valdez and Uno Carb).
- "Jumbo" by Elmo, head of the Loonies.
- "Kosai" by Johnny Zoo, head of the Yakuza.
- "Rooster" by Billy Bob Bean, head of the Rednecks.
- "THC-303" by Dr. LaBrat, head of the Scientists.
- "Comrade" by Jerkov, head of the Russian Mafia.
- "Grasshopper" by Sunbeam, head of the Hare Krishna.
- "Kiddo" or "Kid" by the Guider.
Murders Committed by Claude Speed
GTA 2: The Movie
- Unnamed truck driver - In order to save a kidnapped Yakuza member.
Grand Theft Auto 2
- Shady (killed under orders from Trey Welsh for giving Zaibatsu information to the police)
- Doctor Cubana (killed under orders from Trey Welsh to prevent him from leaking Zaibatsu secrets to the Yakuza)
- Yutes Boss (killed under orders from Trey Welsh for crushing Z-Type cars)
- Three high-ranking Yakuza members (killed under orders from Elmo)
- Three high-ranking Zaibatsu members (killed under orders from Elmo)
- Yakuza traitor (killed under orders from Johnny Zoo)
- Johnny Zoo (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Elmo (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Trey Welsh (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Chief of the Anywhere City Police Department (killed under orders from Billy Bob Bean)
- Alma Mater Prison guards (killed under orders from Billy Bob Bean)
- Flambo Cortez (killed under orders from Billy Bob Bean)
- Three SRS Scientists traitors (killed under orders from Dr. LaBrat)
- Dr. LaBrat (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Billy Bob Bean (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Red Valdez (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Nova Bright (killed under orders from Jerkov)
- Agent Alpha (killed under orders from Jerkov)
- Agent Kappa (killed under orders from Jerkov)
- Agent Epsilon (killed under orders from Jerkov)
- Jerkov (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Sunbeam (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
- Uno Carb (killed in self-defense after discovering Claude's betrayal)
Crimes Committed by Claude Speed
GTA 2: The Movie
- Evading arrest after committing a grand theft auto in the neighborhood of Chernobyl Docks, before engaging in a chase between the Rednecks in Disgracelands, at the Mobile RV Park.
- Stealing a Zaibatsu delivery van full of a Zaibatsu shipment of drugs.
- Evading arrest after a police chase.
- Dealing the stolen shipment of Zaibatsu drugs to the Russian Mafia in exchange for assisting them with killing a member of the Rednecks.
- Killing a truck driver in order to rescue a member of the Yakuza who is presumably being converted into a monk by the Hare Krishna gang.
- Taking the Russian Mafia to start a shootout at the bar (presumably in Disgracelands) where the Rednecks are located and the Yakuza members are celebrating the recent rescue of one of his men.
- Attempting grand theft auto, before being shot twice by a Zaibatsu assassin.
Grand Theft Auto 2
- Helping the Yakuza inside man Hiroshi escape the police after he illegally transferred money to Johnny Zoo's bank account.
- Intercepting and stealing an Ice Cream Van, rigging it with explosives and using it to blow up the Loonies gas tanks at the Sunnyside Asylum under orders of Johnny Zoo.
- Stealing a Medicar under orders of Johnny Zoo in order to help Yakuza associate Gama Rei escape the hitman sent by the Loonies.
- Killing a Yakuza traitor under orders of Johnny Zoo for selling his information to the Zaibatsu Corporation.
- Killing pedestrians in order to get attention from the SWAT, and stealing a SWAT Van under orders of Johnny Zoo for impounding his favorite car.
- Destroying a Tank under orders of Johnny Zoo.
- Stealing a Cop Car from the Zarelli Cop Station and using it to kidnap and kill Shady in the Zaibatsu car crusher under orders of Trey Welsh for selling the Zaibatsu secrets to the police.
- Delivering Zaibatsu's drugs to their dealers around town under orders of Trey Welsh.
- Killing the Yutes gang boss under orders of Trey Welsh for crushing the Zaibatsu cars in exchange for money.
- Destroying one of the Loonies garages under orders of Trey Welsh for slipping narcotics in the water supply and hitting the Zaibatsu's drug businesses.
- Stealing a G4 Bank Van full of clean money under orders of Trey Welsh to pay off the cops.
- Killing the Zaibatsu biologist Doctor Cubana while he is being tortured by the Yakuza for information on the Zaibatsu Corporation.
- Stealing used bank notes under orders of Trey Welsh to be used in their contraband drug operation.
- Blowing up the Futuro FM Headquarters radio transmitter under orders of Elmo.
- Attempting to destroy a Pizza Cake restaurant at the City University and later destroying their delivery van.
- Killing a Zaibatsu hitman in an ambush in Altamount.
- Destroying the Yakuza's J-Lab in Funabashi under orders of Elmo.
- Stealing an impounded Dimentia Limousine from the Flotsam Cop Station compound under orders of Elmo.
- Intercepting Taxis around town, killing their drivers and crushing the Taxis under orders of Elmo.
- Starting a gang war between the Yakuza and the Zaibatsu under orders of Elmo.
- Killing Johnny Zoo, Trey Welsh and Elmo after gaining respect from them and later betraying them, before leaving the Downtown District with the money he earned from them.
- Killing members of the Zaibatsu and SRS Scientists under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Destroying the gates of the Zaibatsu Village under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Killing a police chief by replacing his new Benson with a different Benson rigged with explosives under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Killing several Zaibatsu hitmen, including Flambo Cortez, under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Stealing a Tank from the Camp Banks Army Base for “Jungle” Montana Shane's birthday under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Destroying five SRS Scientists Meteors and five Zaibatsu Z-Types under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Infiltrating the Alma Mater Prison, causing a riot inside, killing the eight prison guards and opening the gates of the prison under orders of Billy Bob Bean.
- Kidnapping four Zaibatsu operatives using a Taxi and killing them under orders of Dr. LaBrat.
- Kidnapping groups of Rednecks and Zaibatsu Z-Men and delivering them to the Scientists Research Center to be killed by Dr. LaBrat's SRS Clones.
- Killing 47 Zaibatsu Z-Men at their Village under orders of Dr. LaBrat.
- Killing three Loonies under orders of Dirk in order to win his Pickup, and using it to kidnap his blind grandfather for the SRS Scientists to be used in experiments.
- Killing drunk Rednecks under orders of Dr. LaBrat for using the SRS Scientists generators as target practice.
- Killing three SRS Scientist traitors using remote-controlled Taxis under orders of Dr. LaBrat.
- Infiltrating the H2000 Hydroelectrical Power Station and destroying four turbines and a generator under orders of Dr. LaBrat.
- Using a Firetruck attached with a stolen SRS Flamethrower to burn several Rednecks at the Mobile RV Park under orders of Red Valdez.
- Destroying the SRS Clone Test Center under orders of Red Valdez.
- Infiltrating the SRS Research Center along with Zaibatsu operatives and destroying their cold fusion generators under orders of Red Valdez.
- Stealing four vehicles full of contraband from both the Rednecks and the SRS Scientists for Red Valdez.
- Attracting attention from the police forces in order to steal a SWAT Van and a Special Agent Car for Red Valdez.
- Killing several SRS Scientists at the Mall in Xanadu.
- Stealing a Special Agent Car from inside the Cop Station HQ in Sennora as a distraction for a job under orders of Red Valdez.
- Killing Billy Bob Bean, Dr. LaBrat and Red Valdez after gaining respect from them and later betraying them, before leaving the Downtown District with the money he earned from them.
- Causing havoc at the Lattero Construction Yard, killing the construction firm's manager and destroying their truck under orders of Sunbeam.
- Stealing and crushing three Cop Cars under orders of Sunbeam for halting the Krishna program of automotive clearance.
- Kidnapping four groups of Russian Mafia workers for Sunbeam in order to convert them into Hare Krishnas.
- Attacking the DeCon Labs in order to rescue a group of kidnapped Krishnas for Sunbeam.
- Killing a group of Russian assassins sent to kill the Krishna's Grand Master.
- Attacking the Zaibatsu Power Plant at Tower Square in order to rescue a group of kidnapped Krishnas for Sunbeam.
- Destroying the Kovski Power Station under orders of Sunbeam.
- Delivering three stolen cars and two prostitutes to the Zaibatsu Power Core Safehouse under orders of Uno Carb.
- Killing Bilovski, poisoning a Russian Mafia member and starting a war between the Krishna and the Russian Mafia under orders of Uno Carb.
- Killing a Russian Mafia dealer and stealing a Russian Mafia truck full of contraband reactor fuel for Uno Carb.
- Stealing a Russian Mafia Bulwark and using it to kill the Krishnas, and stealing a Krishna Karma Bus and using it to kill the Russian Kovski in order to start a war between the two gangs.
- Retrieving a Box Truck full of stolen Zaibatsu AI Brain Units from a Russian lock-up for Uno Carb.
- Stealing a SWAT Van, a Special Agent Car and a Tank for Uno Carb.
- Stealing a Tank from the Industrial District Army Base for Uno Carb.
- Kidnapping a group of people, delivering them to R. S. & L. Bows Meat Processing Factory, and delivering the processed human meat to the Kovski Diner under orders of Jerkov.
- Kidnapping and drowning a group of Zaibatsu dealers under orders of Jerkov.
- Destroying two Cop Cars, one SWAT Van and two Special Agent Cars under orders of Jerkov.
- Killing a group of Hare Krishna hitmen sent to kill the Russian Mafia, before eliminating their leader Nova Bright after destroying his armored Karma Bus.
- Destroying three Tanks sent by the Zaibatsu to destroy the Russian Mafia cars after they lost a poker game against Jerkov.
- Killing several Hare Krishnas at the Vedic Temple with the help of Ivan and a group of Russian Mafia members under orders of Jerkov.
- Destroying the generators of the Zaibatsu Power Cores and taking an informant to be killed by Jerkov's son for spreading information about his mother.
- Killing Sunbeam, Uno Carb and Jerkov after gaining respect and money from them and later betraying them.
Gallery
Trivia
- He is the only named character in Grand Theft Auto 2 to feature in artwork.
- Claude is absent in the Game Boy Color version of GTA 2; there are instead six optional protagonists to choose from.
- If the player remains idle for a while, Claude will draw a cigar and start smoking, like regular pedestrians do.
[[Category:Characters]
