This is a major turning point in the storyline, as Roman and Niko realize that they will have to leave their home in Broker and seek a new hideout in South Bohan, beginning Niko's journey across the rest of the city and, eventually, Alderney.
Niko arrives at the car park to hear Roman banging and calling for help from inside the trunk of his taxi. Niko opens the trunk, and Roman gasps for air and scrambles out of the car, saying that he got scared after receiving dubious phone calls. Niko reveals that he was betrayed by Dimitri and that Ray Bulgarin is in the environs. Roman scolds him for putting them in an unpleasant situation and, with a more amicable tone, suggests keeping a low profile for the time being. As soon as Niko and Roman then set off to the apartment, Roman calls Mallorie to ask her if she has anywhere they can stay.
On the way to the apartment, Roman tells Niko he dreamt the night before that he and Mallorie were married and owned a tavern. He also mentions that Niko was engaged in the dream.
Presently, Niko and Roman arrive at the apartment building to see it going up in flames. Roman despairingly wants to enter to pick up something, but Niko dissuades him, saying "This place is gone". They decide to go Roman's cab business instead.
Roman scolds Niko after discovering what happened to his apartment. He vents about his state of poverty upon arriving in Liberty City and the great struggle he endured to afford a good living.
At the cab depot, they discover that the place was also destroyed by fire. Niko suggests meeting Mallorie in Bohan and reassures Roman by reminding him that he still has her.
Along the way to Bohan, Niko and Roman talk about many things: Roman vents again about how hard it was to build his life in Liberty City. In an attempt to cheer him up, Niko reminisces about the day where he Roman found a bottle of vodka amid the remains of a destroyed bar in their home country. Mallorie calls Roman again and almost catches him crying. After hanging up, Roman reveals that the special item he wanted to show Niko in his apartment was a wedding ring he was planning to give to Mallorie.
Niko and Roman arrive in their new apartment in Bohan. Mallorie pays them a brief visit during which she suggests that Niko meet her at the community center where she works.
Aftermath[]
The player can now save their game at the South Bohan Safehouse, but can no longer access the Broker Safehouse, though they can still save vehicles in the parking space there.
Niko can no longer perform jobs for Roman, as his cab depot has been burned down.
Little Jacob texts Niko, telling him to lay low and remain in touch.
Brucie calls Niko, informing Niko that Roman's gambling addiction is escalating. If the player hasn't completed all Brucie's missions before this mission, then his phone call about Roman's gambling addiction will be delayed until later in the game.
Dimitri calls Niko, telling him he has burnt him and Roman out of Hove Beach, and is still searching for them.
"Following the massive rise in shootings recently in eastern Broker, police warned of a new danger lurking for residents - arson. Two buildings including a taxi garage were recently gutted by fire. Although two men were seen starting the fire with Molotov cocktails, no arrests have been made. We will stay with this story if we can find something interesting to say. In the meantime, be very suspicious of anyone buying vodka, matches and a gas soaked rag, but try not to panic. Local police were appealing for calm and also lots of snitches and widespread anxiety."
"Following the recent spate of shootings in Hove Beach and Firefly Island, there was a new danger lurking for Broker residents: Arson. Two fires were started in the Hove Beach area. One in an apartment and another in a taxi garage. Fire chiefs are suggesting both were arson. When asked why they said people saw two guys throwing Molotov cocktails in."
Transcript[]
This section/page depicts all cutscenes and dialogues in the mission "Roman's Sorrow" in Grand Theft Auto IV.
Start-of-Mission Phone Call
After completing Russian Revolution, Niko gets a call from Roman. Alternatively, Niko can call Roman to start this mission. Throughout this phone call, Roman is whispering.
We can pick up our stuff, and then get out of here. I'll call Mallorie, she might have somewhere we can hide out.
Roman calls Mallorie.
Roman:
Hey, beautiful. Listen, me and Niko are in a bit of trouble - need to get out of Broker a few days. … Any of your cousins have a place we could use out in Bohan? … You're an angel - beautiful and kind. I love you. We'll see you there.
He hangs up.
Roman:
Maybe things are not so bad.
Niko:
This I did not expect.
Roman:
I was thinking about getting out of the cab business. Last night I had a dream...
Niko:
Really?
Roman:
Yes, you and I had a place of our own. A place where people come to eat and relax. A classy place. None of this fast-food, diner bullshit. We own a real restaurant, a tavern. It's a place of distinction, you know?
Niko:
I can't see myself settling down.
Roman:
Not now, but in the dream you've met the right woman. She is beautiful. Pure like my Mallorie. In the dream Mallorie and me are married and everything is perfect. This could be the start of that. A fresh beginning.
Niko:
All I know is we have to get as far from Dimitri and Bulgarin as we can.
Roman:
We will, but I have left something important at the apartment. Something I must show you, cousin.
Roman:
It's simple, we go collect our stuff from the apartment and the depot. Then we shut everything up and get to Bohan.
Niko:
What are we going to do in Bohan? Pick up the whores on Chase Point? Maybe they will let us live with them in their crack dens.
Roman:
Even I would not go with those hookers on the point, cousin. You know what you can catch from those girls?
Niko:
I always put a saddle on a horse before I ride her, Roman. I won't catch nothing.
Roman:
You are a sick fuck, cousin. No wonder half of Broker wants you dead.
Niko:
I'm glad you have a sense of humor about this now. It was just a joke... about the whores, you know?
Roman:
Sure it was, Niko. Sure it was. I will add that to the long list of your secrets that are safe with me. Anyway, you will not have to become some crack whore's pimp. I get Mallorie to arrange place for us to stay in South Bohan. She has her local connections.
Niko:
Great.
Niko and Roman arrive at the Broker Safehouse and the cab depot. Both places are aflame by the time they get there. The following lines are said no matter which place they get to first.
Roman:
Holy fuck, it's fucking burning. The whole place... I've got to go in, I've got to get something.
Niko:
Leave it, cousin. This place is gone.
Roman:
They burnt it... they fucking burnt it, Niko!
The following lines are said no matter which place they get to second.
Roman:
I've got nothing left. Not my home, not my business, nothing. They took it all.
Niko:
I'm sorry, Roman, I'm really sorry but we have to go. We'll meet Mallorie in Bohan. You still have her.
Do you know how long it took me to get set up here? You don't because it was easy for you. You had it all from day one. It took me months to get some cash together. Finally I bought a cab and then another, then I got the depot... I slept under my desk at that place for over a year... then I got the apartment, the apartment you thought was so shitty. Well, it doesn't matter. Now it's gone along with everything else.
You remember that time when we went to the bar back home and found it razed to the ground? Just a pile of rubble... everything smashed. Except for that one bottle of vodka.
Roman:
Yeah... we sat down and finished it off there and then. Wait... wait... I don't want to talk about back home. We're here in America now and I should be thinking about my life here, my life which is ruined. Just drive, shut up and drive.
Roman starts sobbing. His phone rings.
Roman:
Hey beautiful, what's up? … No, what do you mean? … I haven't been crying, it's my allergies. Niko's wearing this new cologne. … Yeah, trying to impress Michelle or something. We're coming to your cousin's, are you there? … Great. See you in a bit, beautiful.
He hangs up.
Roman:
My dream, it was just that... a dream. I can't have the tavern now. I have nothing to buy it with. I have, I have nothing.
Niko:
I told you, you still have Mallorie.
Roman:
But I wanted to really have her. I wanted to marry her.
Niko:
You can still do that.
Roman:
I had bought her a ring. That is what I wanted to show you. It was a beautiful ring. It was worthy of her. Now I have nothing! Come on! Roman, pull yourself together. You've been here before. Positive mental attitude. Come on.
Niko:
At least they want me dead and not you.
Roman:
I do not think it will be much difference to them, Niko. One dead Bellic will give them a little bit of happiness while they wait for next. I do not care though. We are in this situation. We must deal with it. Bring on Bohan.
Niko:
Okay.
Roman:
Do diamonds burn, cousin? How about gold, will that melt in a fire?
Niko:
Roman, you sound like you did in those emails you sent me before I arrived here. Diamonds and gold? I am sorry that your worldly possessions have been destroyed, but you were not that rich a man. There were not diamonds and gold in that apartment. You probably would have gambled them away if there had been anyway.
Roman:
You add these insults to the injuries I have already suffered. Cruel, Niko, cruel. I do not speak of diamonds, but of one diamond and a band of gold. This was the engagement ring I bought for Mallorie.
Niko:
You and Mallorie are engaged?
Roman:
No, we are not. I was going to propose to her but it is no longer possible. I do not have a ring. It burnt in my apartment along with everything else.
Niko:
You do not need a ring to propose. Mallorie loves you for who you are, not for some ring.
Roman:
You are still new here, cousin. You do not understand. America is about showing what you have, you express yourself with money you spend.
Niko:
What are you expressing when you spend your money in backroom card games?
Roman:
I do not spend money at these games, I risk it for reward. I risk my bets to win more so I can spend on the hot cars and the sharp clothes and my beautiful Mallorie. Now, I have nothing to spend... nothing. Oh yeah, I have you. Great.
Niko:
You have your life, Roman. You have a life which is worth a lot more than mine at the moment. Bulgarin and Dimitri shall not be happy that I survived our meeting.
Roman:
You know what? I think maybe they might get me when going after you. That seems like the pattern of events since you get here. I am the one end up feeling the pain after you piss people off.
Niko:
I'm sorry, Roman. I tell you, I am sorry. I guess you cannot escape your past.
Roman:
Shit man, you're right. You cannot escape the past. Only thing is future, right? Must think about the future. A new apartment in South Bohan, another business, a bigger diamond for Mallorie. The future, yes?
Niko:
Only thing I see in my future is more people trying to kill me. And, perhaps, a date with the man I came to this city to find. The man who betrayed our village.
They arrive at in Bohan.
Roman:
Here we are, the beginning of our new lives... again.
Starting Over
Niko and Roman enter the apartment. They look around.
Roman:
Not so bad... I mean, I don't think we'll be impressing women with our wonderful hot tub, but, err, this looks okay...
Niko:
Yes, great!
Roman:
Come on, what's... what's wrong?
Niko:
What's wrong? What's wrong? Where should I start? Alright, I'll start with you - what's wrong with you? Fifteen minutes ago you were cowering in fear because you didn't know what was going to happen. Now, you know everything is shit and we are going to be killed, and you're all cheerful. I don't get it!
Roman:
I guess I'm an optimist.
Niko:
An idiot, not an optimist.
Roman:
I was bored of Broker anyway! I'm glad you turned up and made some Russian killers burn down my home and business! Oh yeah, thanks Niko! Thanks a bunch! Is that better?
Niko:
Much!
Mallorie enters and runs up to and hugs Roman.
Mallorie:
Thank God you're okay... both of you.
Niko:
We're fucked - we're broke and on the run.
Mallorie:
No, I'm from up here, Niko. I know a bunch of people who might be able to help out. Why don't you come and meet me at the community center later on? I've got to go to work. Bye, Papi.
Mallorie kisses Roman.
Mallorie:
And have a shower - you smell a little, erm, mature?
If Niko has completed Easy as Can Be, some time after completing this mission, Niko gets a phone call from Brucie.
Brucie:
Nicky, we got to talk serious.
Niko:
Alright man. If you want my advice, the only way you're going to get your balls back to normal is if you stop juicing or you get implants.
Brucie:
How many times I have to tell you homie, my balls are golden. Okay? I wanna talk about Roman. He's got a problem. He's gambling like an animal. Online, in clubs, everywhere. You need to control your cousin, bro.
Niko:
Roman's a grown up. He can look after himself, Brucie.
Brucie:
He's getting involved with some serious cats, homie. Even people I might think twice about dealing with. And I am one dangerous motherfucker, okay? Put him in Gamblers Anonymous or something. I'm starting to think he's more interested in cards than chasing pussy. And that ain't cool. You dig?
Some time after completing this mission, Niko gets a phone call from Dimitri.
Dimitri:
Niko Bellic, we did not find your body with the others in the warehouse. Mr. Bulgarin and I were very disappointed.
Niko:
I was loyal to you, Dimitri. Why did you turn on me?
Dimitri:
You think I could survive in a cesspit of a city like this by aligning myself with a bottom feeder like you? You, who has so many enemies? You robbed Bulgarin, you killed Mikhail. You know no more of loyalty than I do.
Niko:
You know why I killed Faustin. It was not my choice.
Dimitri:
I will find you, Niko. I have burnt you and your cousin out of Hove Beach. I will smoke you out of any other hiding place you have in this city. See you soon, Niko.
Some time after completing this mission, Niko gets a text message from Jacob.
Little Jacob:
(text message) Cha! I still vexed about that dogheart Dimitri. You got them rude driving skills to get I and I away from there! Keep ya head down and keep in touch. Easy - LJ
Niko composes himself in the Bohan safehouse while Roman looks at the brighter side of things (despite losing his home and business moments ago).
Trivia[]
As the player travels to the apartment, keep an eye out for the cab depot. It is burning, but driving past it will not affect any dialogue. There is often an explosion inside as the player drives by.
After the explosion in the apartment, two Russian gangsters in a car quickly flee the area. As stated by the Liberty Tree internet article above, Russian gangsters were seen starting the fires at the depot and apartment by throwing Molotov cocktails, but weren't arrested.
After the mission It's War in The Lost and Damned, Johnny Klebitz can read the article about this mission. In addition, both the apartment and the cab depot will be permanently burned after that mission. In The Ballad of Gay Tony, they will always appear in their burnt down state.
If the player drives past Roman's cab depot first, it will trigger a cutscene depicting the cab depot, and Roman will act as if it was the safehouse, claiming that he needed to go in and get a ring for Mallorie Bardas. Then if the player goes to the safehouse, the cutscene will show the apartment, and Roman will use the dialogue that was supposed to be for the cab depot. Therefore, canonically, Niko and Roman visit the apartment building first.
Niko was originally supposed to receive a phone call from Michelle after the mission with her being concerned about Niko's and Roman's safety due to the fires, but it was scrapped for unknown reasons. It would have progressed like this:
Michelle: Niko, I am so sorry to hear about those fires. Roman's two places burning down at once. Was it arson? Is Roman caught up with some gangsters or something?
Niko: Freak coincidence, Michelle. This is only explanation for it, is a real tragedy.
Michelle: If you guys need anything, just ask. If you guys have been caught up with some bad people, you'd tell me, right? Don't let anyone bully you because you're an immigrant.
Niko: Nobody will bully me, Michelle. Do not worry.
Doing this mission on a motorcycle will show different scenes. At the apartment, Niko and Roman will dismount the bike and Niko will block his cousin from entering the building. At the depot, they will again dismount and talk while standing beside the bike.
The windows of Roman's Taxi will be bulletproof, but after shooting at it once, the car appears to raise itself up a bit.
If the player arrives early enough, they will see the Primo before it burns and will see that it is black in color.
If the player previously saved two cars at the Broker Safehouse before doing this mission, they will be saved there like normal. However, during the cutscene when Niko and Roman arrive to see the building on fire, the vehicle closer to the entrance will disappear.
If the player previously saved a car at the Bohan Safehouse before doing this mission, the car will be saved as usual. But during this mission, when the player arrives at the Bohan Safehouse, that car will despawn and will not respawn again even after the mission is completed (confirmed on the PC version).
This can be avoided by putting the vehicle on the side furthest away from the safehouse in the parking space. If two vehicles are saved, placing the second vehicle outside of the parking area and moving it after the cutscene plays will save the vehicles.
It can also be avoided by driving to the Bohan Safehouse before the mission begins and either taking the car (if only one was saved) or moving both cars away from the parking space and selecting one of them (if two were saved), then using the car for the mission itself. It can be saved at the Bohan Safehouse again once the mission is finished.
If the player drives a resprayed Roman's Taxi to Roman in East Island City, then his taxi will be colored the same as the taxi Niko arrived in before the cutscene (for example: arriving in a red Roman's Taxi will show Roman hiding in a red one). After the cutscene however, the taxi Roman was hiding in will be colored black again.
If the player arrived at the meeting point in a vehicle, Niko will honk the horn before exiting the vehicle.
