Baby, when I look into your eyes, it means something. I see little Romans, I see little Mallories, I see stars, I see angels. In my homeland we have a saying...
The opening cutscene takes place in Roman's taxi depot office, where Roman attempts clumsily to seduce his girlfriend Mallorie Bardas. Suddenly, Niko comes in. Roman springs off his chair in glee and presents Mallorie to him triumphantly. "See? not everything I told you was bullshit!" he says. Suddenly, Vladimir Glebov enters the room. Niko stares at the stranger intently. Vlad and Roman discuss the latter's outstanding debts. Presently, Vlad becomes exasperated by Niko's staring and threatens to "have his head chopped off and put a film of it on the internet" before leaving the room. Roman suggests to take Niko round the city, and they set off.
Roman asks Niko to drive him to the hardware store on Dillon Street in Schottler. The player must enter the taxi and follow the GPS route to the destination.
Along the way, Roman reveals that the hardware store is a front for a backroom gambling racket. He also reveals that the money he's using to play is the money that he owes to the Albanianloansharks.
Lookout[]
Remain stationary in the car and look out for the loan sharks.
Upon arriving, Roman gives Niko his old cell phone, with his new phone number already saved onto it. He asks Niko to keep an eye for the Albanian loan sharks, adding that they will be driving a beige Willard. He tells Niko to give him a call when they arrive, and warns him not to hurt them.
Phone Roman and warn him.
If the player remains in the car, they will soon receive a call from Roman, boasting about his good luck. Soon enough, Niko spots a beige Willard pulling up to the curb across the street and the Albanians step out. The player must call Roman to warn him.
Evasion and escape[]
Lose the loan sharks and take Roman back to the cab depot.
Roman will come out through the back door and get into the taxi. The player must drive Roman back to his office, but he reminds Niko that he isn't to hurt the loan sharks, as this will only infuriate his creditors.
The player must follow the GPS route back to the taxi office, drive into the marker, and then complete the short lesson on cell phone usage in order to complete the mission.
Aftermath[]
After the mission, Niko receives the following text message:
Shit. Need help. Come to the depot quick, man! Rom
Niko can call him after this message, which will trigger a hidden phone call in which Roman tells him that he is currently busy dealing with his lenders and will ask Niko to go to the taxi depot to help him out.
Transcript[]
Cab Depot Office
In the office of the car depot, Roman Bellic is sitting at the desk, talking to one of his cab drivers over the radio. Mallorie Bardas is sitting next to him.
Roman:
Come on, big guy - either do some work or get out of here. We don't need jokers.
Cab Driver:
Screw you.
Roman:
Screw you! (to Mallorie) Baby... when I look into your eyes, it means something. I see little Romans, I see little Mallories, I see stars, I see angels. In my homeland we have a saying...
Cab Driver:
Yeah, we got one too. You're a f*g!
He drops the microphone. Mallorie laughs.
Roman:
Shit...
Mallorie:
Jesus, Roman, you fuckin' idiota. How can I take you seriously?
Niko has entered by this point.
Niko:
Very difficult, I think... Hello, Roman! Hello, Miss...
Roman:
Mallorie, this is my cousin I tell you about, Niko...
Mallorie:
Hi.
Roman:
Niko, this is Mallorie, the beautiful girl I tell you about... See? Not everything I tell you was bullshit.
Mallorie:
I bet most of it was.
Roman:
Hey!
Mallorie:
I hope you're less full of shit than your cousin over here.
You should lose few pounds - otherwise this beautiful lady is going to leave you.
Roman:
I know... I'm a fat prick, what can I do?
Vlad:
Pay your debts?
Roman:
I... I will do man. We spoke of this.
Vlad:
No, we didn't speak. You spoke then you say your phone out of batteries. You treat me like a bitch.
Roman:
Never! I'd treat you like an idiot, not a bitch, eh?
Vlad:
I guess it's true... the beautiful women do like the guys with the funny sense of humor. Ho ho. I'm laughing.
Roman:
I'll get you the money.
Vlad:
I know. And Roman... tell this fucking yokel here if he doesn't stop staring at me, I'll have his head chopped off and put a film of it on the internet!
Mallorie:
Ouch...
Roman:
Ah... all good... great...
Mallorie:
Hah! Yeah, fantastic! Look, say what you like, but at least that guy knows how to speak to a lady.
Roman:
Yes, he's all charm. Come on Niko, let's go. Darling... I'll see you later. I've got to take my cousin around some more, get him settled...
Doing some home improvements, Roman? You going to build this mansion you tell me about?
Roman:
No, funny guy - we going to get money. In America you need money to do anything. You're taking me to a backroom game where I'll win all the dollars we need to really see this town. Nightclubs... women... titties...
Niko:
You can play, right? You are good at this game?
Roman:
I am the best. I kick all the asses that play me. They call me the Janitor.
Niko:
Because you can't pay your debts and they make you mop the floor? Incredible.
Roman:
Funny. No! I'm the Janitor because I always clean up. I always win, get it?
Niko:
The Janitor. Sure. I seriously hope your cards are better than your nicknames.
Roman:
Only problem is I'm playing with some money I've meant to give to these Albanian scumbags. Here's hoping they don't show up, eh?
Niko:
We got loan sharks after us? Roman? What's going on?
Roman:
After me, and it doesn't matter anyway. When I've played this game I'll have enough money to pay them back ten times. They're wimps anyway.
Niko:
Why are we going to this hardware store? You need to buy something?
Roman:
No, the business shut down a long time ago. We go there because some guys are playing cards. I'm going to take them for everything they have.
Niko:
I have the feeling only thing you will come out of there with is more debt. Has always been that way with you, Roman.
Roman:
No, no, this is my game that they play. I have read all the books. You know Car Jabowitz?
Niko:
No.
Roman:
He on TV whole time. The Buffet Car? Come on. Anyway, I read this book, 'May Contain Nuts.'
Niko:
What does this mean... contain nuts?
Roman:
It's about making other players think you have best cards, make them think you have the nuts in your hand.
Niko:
If you have their nuts in your hand, I believe they will know about it anyway.
Roman:
Stupid question, stupid question. You just need know that I read book and I am very good at game. And I'm going to win lot of money for us.
Hardware Store
Niko and Roman arrive at the hardware store.
Roman:
Niko, wait for me here while I go inside to clean up. Shit, I almost forgot. I'm giving you my old phone, my new number's in there. Call me if some Albanians show up in some shitty beige Willard. Those are the guys I owe money to. Do not hurt them, I know what you're like, Niko.
Niko:
You and your debts, Roman. Always the same. Never change.
After a moment of waiting outside the store, Roman calls Niko.
Niko:
It's all quiet out there Roman, you winning? Please say yes.
Roman:
Don't worry I'm getting so many bullets it's like I'm an AK. We're cool.
Of course they saw you. I mean... you're a distinctive man Roman.
Roman:
That is why the ladies love me. Fuck those shylocks, they'll get their money. They just have to wait.
Niko:
We should stand up to them. Where is your pride?
Roman:
Niko, you're new. You don't understand the way things work.
Niko:
Oh yeah?
Roman:
We're at the bottom of the ladder man. These thugs push us around. But they are not to be feared. It is the Russian mobsters, Vlad's bosses, that run everything. Be careful of them.
Niko:
You tell me to behave, Mr. Janitor? If you understand it all, where is the money?
Roman:
I lost it this time, but when I go back the last thing they will expect is for me to take everything. Then I really will clean up.
Niko:
I will believe when I see, Roman.
Roman:
Hey, they have stopped following us. Clearly they are too scared of what I could do to them. I do not understand it. I do everything I learn on TV. Everything that I read in the books. I do what Car Jabowitz tell me in 'May Contain Nuts'. I raise on flop, I ride river, it don't make no sense.
Niko:
It don't make no sense to me neither.
Roman:
Shit, you ain't going to make sense to no people if you keep speaking in that language. Here in Liberty City, we speak English. Get used to this.
Niko:
The money, the people, all of this noise around us - there is a lot of stuff I must get used to here in Liberty City. I think that speaking this language should be the least of my problems.
Roman:
Sure. I will remind you of that in a few weeks.
Cab Depot
Niko and Roman arrive at the cab depot.
Roman:
We're here. You like your phone? Maybe one day you get a premium quality one, like mine. Then you will have really made it.
Niko:
I can only wish.
Roman:
See you later, cousin.
Roman leaves, entering the cab depot.
Fail Cutscenes & Dialogues
Roman's car has been trashed.
Niko and Roman alight from a bus outside the cab office. Roman then enters.
Roman:
I see what I can do about getting money for a cab. You think anyone will let me take out insurance policy? We see.
The loan sharks are spooked.
Niko calls Roman.
Niko:
Cousin, you don't need to worry about those guys. I think I just persuaded them to drop your debt.
Roman:
What have you done, cousin? This is not good. Others will come and take more money from us. I really must win now. Leave me here.
The loan sharks caught Roman.
Niko calls Roman.
Roman:
Cousin, shit. Why you no warn me that these guys are coming in the store? Now they take all my money from me.
Niko:
If they had not taken it, others players would have. It's all the same, Roman.
Roman:
Eh, fuck you Niko.
Post-Mission Phone Call
After completing the mission, Niko receives a text from Roman.
Roman:
(text message) Shit. Need help. Come to the depot quick, man!Rom
After receiving this test message, Niko can call Roman.
Niko:
Hey Roman, I got your text.
Roman:
Great, Niko. I've got my hands full at the moment with these charming money lenders I know. Maybe you should come to the cab office and help me out?
Niko:
I'll see you soon.
Video Walkthrough[]
Gallery[]
Niko calling Roman.
Niko phones Roman and warns him of the approaching loan sharks.
The loan sharks chasing Roman's taxi.
Trivia[]
The back door of the hardware store is open before this mission, allowing the player to access it. The store consists of a darkened room with a few tables. After the mission, it will be inaccessible for the rest of the game. However, the hardware store is available for Johnny and Luis to enter in the two DLCs at any time.
After warning Roman about the approaching loan sharks, the player will be unable to move the taxi until Roman re-enters it.
If the player arrives at the store in a different vehicle to Roman's taxi, the loan sharks will not appear.
If the player arrives at the hardware store with a wanted level, it will disappear once Roman heads inside.
The loan sharks will spawn in the direction Roman's cab is facing.
If Niko hits the loansharks' car after Roman enters the cab, the mission will fail.
