The Exchange

For other uses, see The Exchange.

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Type	MISSION
The Exchange
Game	Grand Theft Auto III
For	Catalina
Location	Cartel Mansion, Cedar Grove, Shoreside Vale
Target	Catalina
Requirements	$500,000
Mission Objectives
Get Catalina! Follow the chopper to find Catalina.
Conditions of mission failure
Wasted Busted Maria dies Catalina escapes
Reward(s)
$1,000,000 Rhino at Phil's Army Surplus "Not So Fast" achievement [DE]
Unlocked by	Ransom $500,000
Unlocks	Story Complete
Technical Information
Time of day	In-game time

“The real question is, did you turn up to rescue Maria or to get me back? Well I got news for you, shooting you will be a pleasure but dating you was only business. You are muy pequeñito amigo! Throw over the cash. You have been a busy boy! But you haven't learned, I'm not to be trusted. Kill the idiot.”

— Catalina

The Exchange is the final storyline mission in Grand Theft Auto III. It is given to the protagonist, Claude, by Colombian Cartel leader, ex-girlfriend, and main antagonist Catalina from the Cartel Mansion in Cedar Grove, Shoreside Vale, Liberty City.

Mission

Catalina recently kidnapped Maria Latore. She now wants Claude to bring $500,000 to the Cartel mansion in Cedar Grove in exchange for not having Maria killed. Claude arrives at the mansion’s gate and hands over the money to a Cartel member, having all his weapons taken away before being brought in to meet Catalina. Catalina chastises Claude for trusting her and walks off with the money, but not before ordering her men to kill Claude.

Claude is put under gunpoint by a Cartel member, but quickly escapes by punching him and taking the pistol he dropped. Claude swiftly takes down the remaining Cartel members before leaving the mansion, only to find a helicopter hovering past him which has Catalina and Maria aboard. Claude follows the helicopter all the way to the base of Cochrane Dam, killing groups of heavily-armed Cartel members that gets in his way.

With Claude closing in to the helicopter, Catalina drops off Maria and a couple of her guards at the loading bay before re-entering her helicopter. Catalina's chopper fires missiles at the ground while Claude gets to Maria and kills the remaining Cartel men. Claude picks up a nearby rocket launcher to shoot down Catalina's chopper. After successfully hitting the helicopter, it spins out of control before crashing against the dam, killing Catalina. Afterwards, Claude and Maria walk together as they cross over to the other side of the dam.

While the credits are rolling on the screen Maria can be heard talking right before a mysterious gunshot, after which, she remains silent and is no longer heard. The news also reports the crime scene with witness Clive Denver.

Deaths

• Catalina - Killed by Claude for betraying him and leaving him for dead after the bank robbery.
• Numerous members of the Colombian Cartel - Killed by Claude for getting in his way in rescuing Maria Latore and killing Catalina.

Possible Deaths

• Maria Latore - Possibly killed off-screen by Claude.

Mission Objectives

In order to complete the mission the player must:

• Get Catalina
• Follow the chopper to find Catalina
• Get Catalina
• Rescue Maria
• Take down Catalina's chopper

Transcript

Transcript

Claude arrives at the gates of the villa in Cedar Grove, and sees two Colombian Cartel members talking to each other. edit Cartel Members: Sí, ¡sí bueno! ¿Porqué sidio? One of these scarface idiots... edit Claude approaches the Cartel members with the briefcase and is stripped of his weapons. He is then escorted into the front-yard, where Catalina and her bodyguards are waiting, along with Maria Latore as a hostage. edit Catalina: The real question is, did you turn up to rescue Maria or to get me back? Well, I got news for you, shooting you will be a pleasure but dating you was only business. You are muy pequeñito amigo! Throw over the cash. edit One of the guards hands Catalina the briefcase, which contains $500,000 worth of ransom money. edit Catalina: You have been a busy boy! But you haven't learned, I'm not to be trusted. Kill the idiot. edit One of the Cartel guards points a pistol at Claude, but Claude punches him in slow-motion and takes the pistol, leading to other Cartel members attacking him. He escapes the villa yard and finds a helicopter heading towards the Cochrane Dam. Claude heads towards the dam and kills various Cartel members getting in the way of his revenge on Catalina. Meanwhile, she's getting ready to board the helicopter, while two Cartel members hold Maria hostage. edit Catalina: Get this thing airborne! edit Once Claude kills various Cartel members and reaches Maria, he grabs a Rocket Launcher and shoots down Catalina's helicopter, killing her. As an establishing view of the carnage on Cochrane Dam is shown, a news report is heard of the aftermath. In the meantime, Claude and Maria head to the upper level of the dam. edit News Reporter: Residents in Cedar Grove have been coming to terms with the emotional aftermath of a full-blown war that hit the area yesterday. Local resident, Clive Denver described to police a single gunman he saw fleeing the scene, with a dark haired woman. edit Maria: Oh, you know, we're gonna have such fun, 'cause you know, you, know, I love you, I-I-I-I really do, 'cause you're such a big strong man and that's just what I need. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, you know, I forget, but you know what it's like, don't you? edit News Reporter: The sounds of explosions shook nearby homes as people ran for cover. Several citizens were injured in the panic as gunfire was exchanged between ground forces and a helicopter circling the dam. edit Clive Denver: Yeah, we got a good view from down here in the gardens. When the 'copter finally got taken out, better than the fireworks on the 4th of July! edit News Reporter: With the death toll already over 20, police are still finding bodies. There have been no official denials concerning rumors that the dead were members of the Colombian Cartel, and still no leads as to the cause of the massacre. edit Scene fades to black. edit Maria (Voice only): I broke a nail and my hair is ruined, I mean, can you believe it?! This one cost me $50... edit A gunshot interrupts Maria's words. Cue end credits. edit

Walkthrough

Claude arrives at the Colombian Cartel villa in Cedar Grove to give Catalina the $500,000 ransom for Maria and finds two Cartel gangsters having a chat in front of the villa gates.

The gangsters notice Claude and stop their conversation. Claude hands them the ransom money.

After Claude gives one of the Cartel gangsters the money, he is frisked and has his weapons taken away.

After the frisk, one of the Cartel gangsters opens the gate and signals for Claude to follow him inside.

Claude is taken to a front-yard where Catalina is waiting for him with several bodyguards and Maria.

Upon seeing Claude, Catalina questions whether Claude came to rescue Maria or if he wants to be Catalina's boyfriend again.

Catalina claims that shooting Claude was a pleasure and that she only dated him for her own gain.

After saying that, Catalina orders the Cartel gangster carrying the briefcase to give it to her.

Catalina opens the briefcase she is given to see all money that she had requested there.

Catalina comments on Claude having all the money as him "being a busy boy", but says that he didn't learn from their last friendly encounter when she shot him and left him for dead.

Catalina tells the Cartel gangster to kill Claude before walking off with Maria.

After a few moments, Claude punches the gangster and knocks him out.

Claude has to fight for his life; to do so he must take the gun of the gangster he knocked out.

After Claude knocks the gangster out all the guards around the Villa start firing at Claude. He runs for cover at a nearby garage where he finds some body armor and a Cartel Cruiser.

Claude drives towards the gate after stealing the Cartel Cruiser for extra cover.

Shortly after exiting the villa compound, Claude sees Catalina fly by the villa in a white helicopter.

Claude has to follow the helicopter to find Catalina.

Claude following the white helicopter.

Following the helicopter has led Claude to Cochrane Dam.

After driving further, Claude comes across a Colombian Cartel checkpoint blocking the entrance to the dam.

Claude taking care of the Cartel gangsters at the checkpoint.

After taking the weapons of the fallen gangsters, Claude proceeds further to the dam.

Catalina's white helicopter stationed on a small building at the end of the dam.

After continuing to walk through the dam, Claude sees another Colombian Cartel checkpoint set up.

Luckily, a sniper rifle can be found near some trees.

After picking the rifle up, Claude prepares to use it to clear out the gangsters guarding the checkpoint.

Claude, about to take out the first Cartel gangster.

Claude, about to take out the final Cartel gangster.

Colombian Cartel members protecting Maria from escaping.

As Claude approaches, Catalina decides to get into the helicopter and try to kill him from it.

Claude sees Catalina's helicopter approaching him.

Suddenly, the helicopter starts dropping explosives below.

After destroying two Flatbed's that were going to attack him, Claude proceeds to massacre any Cartel gangsters in his way.

Claude killing the two Cartel gangsters protecting Maria.

Claude and Maria reunited.

On the rooftop is a rocket launcher, which Claude decides to pick up and use it to destroy Catalina's helicopter.

Claude firing the first shot at Catalina's helicopter.

After the first shot had made the helicopter lose balance, Claude fires the second shot to destroy the helicopter.

The second shot spirals the helicopter out of control.

Shortly after the second shot, the helicopter starts breaking apart and exploding.

After a few moments the helicopter plummets into the chemical-filled water of Liberty City, killing Catalina and any other Cartel gangsters aboard.

A news report is seen on the massive gunfight between Claude and the Colombian Cartel.

The news report features a report from a witness who claims to have seen a single gunman (Claude) leaving the warzone with a dark-haired woman (Maria).

As the news report is relayed, Claude and Maria climb the stairs to the top of the dam.

Ditto.

Claude and Maria admiring the view after climbing at the top of the dam.

The news report says that the bodies of the dead were recognized by the police to be members of the Colombian Cartel.

The body count is said to already be over twenty, with new bodies still being discovered.

As the screen fades to black, Maria complains to Claude about her hair and nails being ruined, before a gunshot is heard, signaling the beginning of the end credits...

Gallery

Original version intro.

Trivia

The white Helicopter.

• This is the second mission to have a money requirement before starting. The first one being Bomb Da Base Act II.
• This is chronologically the last mission in the 3D Universe by plot order.
• This is one of the three final storyline missions in the GTA series given by an antagonist, the other two being "The Time's Come" and "Something Sensible" in Grand Theft Auto V.
  • However, with the former two missions being confirmed as being non-canon, The Exchange is the only canonical mission in the GTA series to be given by an antagonist.
• As Claude punches the Cartel member, Catalina instantly vanishes from the camera view. This was, however, fixed in the 10 Year Anniversary version.
  • In the Definitive Edition, Catalina's vanishing can be seen as her left arm is briefly visible before it happens.
  • Except for the Definitive Edition, the Cartel member that brings out Maria can be seen frozen when Claude throws his punch.
  • In all versions, the body of the Cartel member that Claude punches can be seen on the ground during the cutscene.
• When Catalina says the line "Get this thing airborne!" as she boards the helicopter, the line is muted in the 10 Year Anniversary version for an unknown reason, although the subtitles still appear when it is supposed to be said.
• The helicopter that Catalina rides is a blank-textured version of the police helicopter with no collision detection.
• Catalina's helicopter is indestructible until she drops Maria at the loading bay and boards the helicopter again.
• The helicopter can be destroyed before getting to Maria; this will remove the time limit for the mission.
• The explosions from the crashing helicopter does not affect Claude's health.
• Maria's speech during the credits was originally supposed to be longer during the beta.
• After this mission, the Colombian Cartel will carry AK-47s.
• In the 1.40 PAL release of Grand Theft Auto III, the cutscene audio has reverb and Catalina adds "and you can have your overused puta back." when ordering the briefcase.