In the opening cutscene, Playboy X brings Niko Bellic to his penthouse terrace and boasts, contemplating the city skyline: "This is my town." After Playboy and Niko make acquaintances, one of Playboy's girlfriends announces that Dwayne Forge has arrived. Playboy is taken aback after realizing he must've been released from prison. When Dwayne shows up on the terrace, they greet each other amicably. "You didn't tell me you was getting out!" exclaims Playboy joyfully. Dwayne suddenly takes a more indignant tone and reminds him that he called several times. After Playboy retires into his penthouse, Niko asks Dwayne: "Where did you get out from?" Dwayne replies: "Preschool."
On the way to the construction site in Castle Gardens, Playboy X says he wants Yusuf Amir, a real-estate developer, to be on his team, but Amir is completely ignoring him. Therefore, X would like to get in his good graces and show that he has influence in Liberty City. Thus he sends Niko to eliminate Union goons working for the Messina Family on the construction site, which they seized from Amir. X hopes that Amir will ultimately have esteem for him.
Mission Objectives[]
In order to complete the mission the player must:
Playboy has left the weapons in a car in an alley downtown.
Take out the lookouts.
Go to the construction site and find the first Union Leader.
Take down the next union leader.
Take down the next union leader.
Backup has arrived to protect the last leader. Take him down.
Once the player is on the roof or sidewalk, they must equip a sniper and take out the three lookouts on the cranes (1-3 on the image).
When the player snipes each of the lookouts, they will have a different death cutscene. The first falls, discharges his Assault Rifle and dies. The second falls and smacks onto a nearby parked Cavalcade, destroying its doors, heavily denting the roof, breaking all its windows, triggering the alarm system and then landing on the ground. (The player can take his Assault Rifle ammo which falls beside the car and lands on the ground.) The third will fall and smack hard on the street below. Once the player has eliminated all three lookouts, they must head into the construction site and eliminate the first Union leader that will be right in front of the construction entry. A first aid kit hangs on a column nearby.
Once everyone is killed on the ground level, the player must run up the wooden board at the back of the site where more goons will be waiting for them. The player must eliminate them before proceeding to the second "floor". A cutscene will show Niko running for cover as soon as the player reaches the top of the wooden board. The player then must take out the second Union leader. There is another first aid kit next to the wooden board from were Niko came from in case the player needs some health.
The player must then go left around the corner and take out the goons and the third Union leader that will be taking cover behind some pillars. Once the third Union leader is dead, the player must run ahead to find the fourth and last Union leader. The fourth leader will start to run away and a helicopter will arrive with more backup for the workers. Playboy warns Niko of the guards in the helicopter. There's a third first aid kit near some gas tanks beside the place were the helicopter landed, and the player can use it if necessary. The player must continue to chase the fourth Union leader and eliminate him.
After eliminating the fourth Union leader, the player will be paid and Playboy X will call to debrief them.
"A violent shootout in Castle Gardens earlier as striking union officials were killed at a construction site. Allegations had previously surfaced that the unions were blackmailing the project developer Yusuf Amir. Mr. Amir had no comment aside from promising that the development would be suspended as a mark of respect for those who passed."
"Several members of the local Liberty City union for construction workers were massacred on a building site today. The site had been shut down because of disagreements with the property developer, Yusuf Amir, that resulted in a strike. No one is sure what caused the altercation but the union, which was long alleged to have links with organized crime, seems to have had several heavily armed delegates at the site."
Transcript[]
This section/page depicts all cutscenes and dialogues in the mission Deconstruction for Beginners in Grand Theft Auto IV.
Come on. (to the women) Ladies, gimme a few minutes. Business calls.
The women flip off Playboy X as he leads Niko out to the balcony.
Playboy X:
This is my town. Look at it. All them tiny ants down there. Man, shit is crazy.
Niko:
So I guess you do okay?
Playboy X:
Yeah, okay. But, er, what about you? What motivates you?
Niko:
Well, I need money. This pays. I can do it... I don't care if I live or die... and I'm looking for someone.
Playboy X:
Someone special?
Niko:
Yeah. You could say that. So, why do you need me?
Playboy X:
Well I'm always looking for good guys. Build an army. But in my work... people change. Money changes people. Not me. I'm still a hustler from these streets... and I heard good things about you.
Niko:
Okay. But... I'm warning you... I'm not low budget.
Playboy X:
Do I look like I live low budget, dog?
One of the women calls out to Playboy.
Woman:
Yo playa!
Playboy X:
The fuck you want?
Woman:
There's someone here for you. Dwayne or some shit. I don't know.
You didn't tell me you was getting out! Man, I would have laid on a party, got some freaks out... shit...
Dwayne:
I called. A couple of times.
Playboy X:
Man... hey... Dwayne... This is Niko.
Niko:
Hey.
Playboy X:
Niko - Dwayne Forge. He taught me everything I know.
Dwayne:
Not everything.
Playboy X:
So hey, man. Where you staying? D'you need some money? What's the plan?
Dwayne:
What you mean, what's the plan? Pick up where we left off. I'm out. I'm back. We keep on rollin'.
Playboy X:
You say 'we'?
Dwayne:
Yeah 'we'. Unless you too fine? What? Your silk sheet, fancy dress wearing life too big for me now?
Playboy X:
Oh, hey, now I ain't saying that. You know what's mine is yours. You need help, just holla. Hell, this Slavic motherfucker any good, he could help you. Now you know I'll do anything I can. But right now, we gotta roll. Gimme one second.
Playboy X goes back inside.
Dwayne:
Ain't folk quick to forget?
Niko:
Hmm. Some folk.
Dwayne:
Yeah... that's the truth.
Niko:
Where did you get out from?
Dwayne:
Preschool.
Playboy X returns.
Playboy X:
Okay... Dwayne, we gotta roll. Please make yourself at home. Hell. This is your home. (to Niko) Let's jet, money.
He and Niko leave, leaving Dwayne by himself.
Dwayne:
Motherfucker must think I'm a idiot.
Driving Downtown
Niko and Playboy X stand outside the building.
Playboy X:
We going to Castle Gardens. There's an alley we want to hit up just off the South Parkway.
Alright, you heard a Yusuf Amir? Big real estate developer.
Niko:
I don't know. I've heard a lot of names since I got here. This guy's a big developer? Are you and him having meetings about how to run the city?
Playboy X:
Not yet, but I got an idea about how me and him can get friendly. Some Italian dudes has shut down his building site on some union bullshit. They all up in the place, strapped to their fronts with hardhats on and shit. Won't let nobody get near it.
Niko:
What are you suggesting we do about it?
Playboy X:
You gonna go in there and get them Mafia types off the site. Meantime, I'm gonna tell Yusuf how good we been to him. That cat and me is going to be tight as two cellmates on lockdown after this.
Niko:
What's in it for me?
Playboy X:
I'll give you what you after. Cold hard cash. That what you chasing, right?
Niko:
Amongst other things. I don't know how good your plan is though, Playboy. If I get rid of the guys on the site, then won't there be more? If it's a union problem, doesn't that make it bigger than a few guys with guns?
Playboy X:
Shit, 'union' is just another word for Mafia. These cats is looking to squeeze our boy Amir for dollars just because he ain't from here. When we fuck their people up they'll realize that he ain't a cat to be messed with and they'll back off.
Niko:
Okay?
Playboy X:
Shit, Yusuf is from Dubai. He's an African, an he's comin' to Liberty City to make it big. It's my duty to watch this cat's back. My ancestors came from Africa, now he's coming out a bit later. Me and him could be cousins, shit.
Niko:
I think you might want to look at a map, Playboy. Dubai isn't in Africa.
Playboy X:
Shit, it all the same. Africa, America, Dubai. It don't matter, we're brothers, spiritually I mean, and that's the important bit.
Playboy X:
This is my ticket to the big time, baby. I'm about to make it, for real.
Niko:
Yeah, how's that?
Playboy X:
You know Yusuf Amir, the big real estate developer? Well, I heard on the grapevine that he's run into a heap of trouble with some union cats. This shit is Mafia run and they all over his construction site with guns and shit. They stopping Amir from sending in the scabs.
Niko:
How's that mean you've made it?
Playboy X:
Because I'm a clever motherfucker. I'm using my God-given intellect. Yusuf is in some problems. Playboy is going to come in there and help him out. Make the Mafia cats go away so the workers can come in and everything will be cool.
Niko:
You're going to have to be a pretty persuasive guy. That's if you're hoping to talk a bunch of Mafia owned union officials off of a building site they've shut down.
Playboy X:
I don't gotta be the persuasive one, money. You do. I saw you handle yourself for Elizabetathe other day. You goin' to go in there and clear out those motherfuckers.
Niko:
You're not getting involved?
Playboy X:
No man. I'd just confuse shit if I went in with you. There's all types a' scaffolding and shit in the construction yard. I'm gonna get into a position where I can see everything goin' down. I'll tell you where the cats are at and who you need to look out for. I'm your eyes in the sky, money.
Niko:
This sounds like a pretty bad deal for me, don't it, Playboy?
Playboy X:
Shit, you doing this for a paycheck. I'm givin' you them dollar bills, and when Playboy pays, he pays big! You getting that mad money on this one.
Niko:
Okay.
They approach South Parkway.
Playboy X:
I left some heat for you in that car, money. You going to be strapped - sniper rifles, grenades, all that shit. There's also a radio headset in there, so me and you can keep in communication.
They enter the car. Playboy X describes the situation as a cutscene illustrates it.
Playboy X:
Yo, there's three lookout cats making sure no one makes move on the site. You best take them out with the rifle before you hit up the rest of them. I'm gonna get into position where I can see all the shit going down. If you can take out the main cats then the rest of them shouldn't be a problem. When you in there, I'll give you the lowdown on where these main cats is at. You might be better seeing the lookouts from up here too, money.
One of the lookouts falling onto a parked Cavalcade.
Video Walkthrough[]
Trivia[]
Playboy X's mission strand can be ignored up until the Alderney section of the main storyline. The mission will eventually be necessary after completion of the missions To Live and Die in Alderney for Phil Bell and Flatline for Jimmy Pegorino, as later missions require the player to own a Whiz Cellphone with a camera, gifted by Playboy X during Photo Shoot.
This may explain the reason why Yusuf Amir's luxurious condo construction site is active as late as For the Man Who Has Everything (post-Gracie Ancelotti's kidnapping), instead of the memorial for the dead construction workers planned by Yusuf himself after Deconstruction for Beginners.
Once the player walks in the area in which the second Union Leader was standing, they will hear the police radio saying "Reports of gunfire possibly related to a union disagreement.", however the player will not gain a wanted level nor will the police take any action much like in Triads and Tribulations.
During the drive towards the Cavalcade, Playboy X will mention that Yusuf Amir comes from Dubai and thinks that it is in Africa and that he and Yusuf could be brothers. However, Niko corrects him by advising him to "look at a map". This is the first time Playboy X shows his ignorance; the second time would be at The Holland Play.
This mission is also the only time a black Cavalcade with black rims can be acquired. The player can take it when they enter the car to collect Playboy's weapons. The player can drive it back to the safehouse without failing the mission. Also the player can leave it at the construction site entrance, and once the mission ends it will still be there. Though its body color is not black, the Cavalcade that one of the lookouts falls onto has black rims. A similar Cavalcade is also coincidentally owned and driven by Armando Torres and Henrique Bardas in The Ballad of Gay Tony.
If the Cavalcade is destroyed before acquiring the weapons, the mission will fail and a cutscene will play where Playboy admonishes Niko and then gets out of the car, becoming a random pedestrian.
This is one of the two missions that the Cavalcade is unique to have an alarm system, the other being the Huntley Sport in Three Leaf Clover.
If the last union leader is killed before the Maverick lands, the Maverick will instantly explode. The Maverick is also incredibly easy to destroy with conventional means, less than one clip of SMG fire will down it.
The Maverick cannot be stolen.
The lookouts do not actually have to be killed, however, walking too close to the site without killing them will alert the guards; immediately afterwards, the lookouts will despawn.
If the player takes the subway to Castle Gardens, they cannot leave the subway, Playboy will stand at the exit; If the player walks in to him or get in a car he will die and the player will have to restart the mission. Thus the player can choose to ride to the next station, Feldspar, and then Playboy will follow him out of the subway.
The unions will not appear on the construction site unless the player gets inside the car first.
If the lookouts are killed on ground-level, Playboy will spawn on top of the building.
