“Let me put it like this... if a guy makes a mistake, should that ruin his life? People don't understand how life is. Life is like a bowl of fruit... slowly rotting in a hot kitchen...”
Niko:
“Hey, I don't give a fuck about life lessons, friend. What do you want?”
Francis McReary tells Niko Bellic that a lawyer, Tom Goldberg, has evidence against him for corruption which would lead to a court case. Francis wants Niko to apply for a lawyer position at Goldberg, Ligner & Shyster in order to retrieve the evidence and eliminate Goldberg.
Soon the law firm will call to arrange an appointment. The player must buy a suit and smart shoes from Perseus if they don't own those already. Strangely enough, the mission won't start if Niko is wearing any headwear at all (which includes glasses, hats and balaclavas). If he missed the interview for any reason, it will be postponed to 6 in-game hours later. An hour or two before the planned interview, the player must head over to the Goldberg, Ligner & Shyster Building (indicated on the map by). The player must enter without a weapon drawn and without harming anyone and talk to the receptionist, Karen. She will call Goldberg, and Goldberg will summon Niko into his office.
Niko must follow Karen to Goldberg's office and a short cutscene will play. Then, the player can stand up at any moment. If the player waits too long to stand up, Goldberg will eventually react to Niko's strange, non-responsive attitude by calling security.
The player must brandish a weapon. Pulling out a weapon without pointing it at Goldberg will elicit a variety of reactions from Goldberg, depending on the weapon used, including:
Knife - Goldberg will ask Niko if he is interested in camping, and then ask if he got the knife from The Serrated Edge.
Baseball Bat - Goldberg will mention baseball being a great American pastime and that the firm has a softball team and that they like to take group showers and "get sweaty together".
Any gun - Goldberg will say that they are lawyers, and they do not need guns, also mentioning that "guns don't kill people, video games do".
Molotov Cocktail - Goldberg will warn Niko that the office has a no-smoking policy, but tells him that it is fine if the smoke calms him down, and, after asking Niko if he has ADD, offers him a "mild amphetamine".
Grenade - Goldberg will tell Niko that if the grenade goes off, he will be able to sue the person who sold it to him, suggesting a further discussion following the interview. Goldberg then suggests that they should let Modupe (the security guard) play with it for a while and "see what happens".
Rocket Launcher - Goldberg will say that he has only seen such weapons on TV, and then mentions that holding one in a court will discourage anyone from arguing against him.
After Goldberg reveals where the files are, the player must seize them and kill Goldberg.
The player must then leave the building. If the guards are alerted, they will attack the player who will also acquire a wanted level in this case.
Whether the player escapes the building after fighting through guards and cops and loses their wanted level or stealthily kills Goldberg and silently flees the building, they must then take the files to Francis at Westminster Police Station.
"A lawyer, Tom Goldberg, was murdered in his high security Algonquin office today. Mr. Goldberg was believed to be engaged in pursuing corruption charges against high ranking members of the LCPD along with several members of City Hall. Previously, Mr. Goldberg had been involved in cases against the mafia, class action suits against food companies and also won a case against the Strike Lite match company for failing to put a warning on their matches that the product could cause fire if used correctly. In a moment of hubris, he also unsuccessfully sued God for letting it rain on his parade. The killer gained entrance to the offices of Goldberg, Ligner & Shyster, another partner in the firm, eulogized Mr. Goldberg in a press released, "Tom will be sorely missed by all the people he got off. I'll be taking over a lot of his cases, so hopefully I'll get a media profile as big as his and eventually run for political office myself.""
"So-called civil rights activist, Tom Goldberg, was the victim of a gruesome murder facilitated by laws he pushed for as a partner in the law firm Goldberg, Ligner and Shyster. The firm is famous for trying to stand up for so-called civil rights, weak on terror, woolly on immigration and far too Draconian on gun control. Mayor Julio Ochoa's agenda is not giving Liberty City the protection it needs in this climate of anarchy."
Weazel News (Radio)
"Police say lawyer Tom Goldberg was killed in his Algonquin office today. Officials are investigating all of the recent cases he had been working on to look for leads. He was an activist against the government, the police department and corporate corruption, so suspects are inumerable."
"With the murder of heroic attorney, Tom Goldberg, a blow has been struck to the heart of the first amendment and freedom fighters everywhere. A moment of silence was called in the blogosphere as Mr. Goldberg stood for the freedom of speech and the rights of the little man to slander people anonymously online with no repercussions. He was in favor of immigration and proposed much tighter gun control. No wonder so few conservatives are mourning. He stood up to corporate America and the links between big business and government."
Transcript
This section/page depicts all cutscenes and dialogues in the mission Final Interview in Grand Theft Auto IV.
Hey Mitch... looking good. Gastric bypass worked out well for you I see...
Mitch:
Yeah thanks. I'll tell my therapist about you... tell her my boss keeps sexually harassing me.
Francis:
Oh yeah, you wish.
Francis leads Niko into his office.
Francis:
I could use a drink. You?
Niko:
No.
Francis:
That motherfucker thinks he can drag me down.
Niko:
What's wrong now?
Francis:
Oh man...
Francis drinks some whiskey and offers some to Niko.
Francis:
Sure?
Niko declines.
Francis:
Listen. Where to begin? I don't know. Let me put it like this... if a guy makes a mistake, should that ruin his life? People don't understand how life is. Life is like a bowl of fruit... slowly rotting in a hot kitchen...
Niko:
Hey, I don't give a fuck about the life lessons, friend. What do you want?
Francis:
I'm a good guy! I... he's got it all wrong... but one stain on my character and I'm finished. I want to make a difference.
Niko:
What?
Francis:
Some lawyer. This big, white shoe firm. Thinks he's a crusader. Some morality c**t who takes photos of guys in the shower at the gym and then jacks off on his wife's face. Some...
Niko:
Hey, enough. Enough.
Francis:
Sorry. Look... the guy's name is Tom Goldberg. Thinks he's got something on me. Gonna go to the DA with it, use it to get into congress.
Niko:
Okay.
Francis:
Yeah. So, it's him or me. And it might as well be him, right. But... he's hard to get to. Guy has a bodyguard, limo, everything. You're gonna need to get one on one with him.
Niko:
Not in the showers.
Francis:
Not in the showers, a job interview. Then you can steal some files I need.
Niko:
An interview?
Francis:
Sure, it'll be easy. You're an immigrant. They're almost legally bound to interview you. But, uh... get yourself a suit.
Niko:
Okay.
Francis:
I'll e-mail you the details. You're a good man, Niko Bellic. A good man.
Niko:
Coming from you, that means a lot.
Francis:
It does.
Niko leaves as Francis continues drinking.
Submitting the Résumé
Niko goes to any computer to which he has access, whether it be at a TW@ Internet Café, the doorman's computer at Playboy X's Penthouse, or the laptop in the Middle Park East Safehouse. There, he finds an e-mail from Francis.
Francis:
(e-mail) Niko, you might want to look at www.goldberglignerandshyster.com. There's a job in the recruitment section that I think you'd be perfect for. Have a killer interview. Best wishes, Deputy Commisioner McReary
Niko goes to the web site, then to the Careers page, then to the Submit Résumé page, then submits a pre-loaded résumé. He then leaves.
Post-Mission Phone Call
Niko calls Francis.
Niko:
I've sent off the application. I've always wanted to be a lawyer.
Francis:
You can be whatever you like. It's the land of opportunity. Any fool can become president. Call when you hear about the interview.
Part 2
Pre-Mission Phone Calls
Some time after completing Part 1, Niko gets a phone call from the Lawyers.
Mr. Bellic. This is Karen from Goldberg, Ligner and Shyster. We'd like to arrange an interview for you at the earliest convenience. Come into our offices at noon tomorrow. Is that alright?
Niko:
I can free that period up in my schedule.
Receptionist:
Super! Your interview will be with Mr. Goldberg. Press the buzzer and we'll let you in. Have a nice day.
Niko then calls Francis.
Niko:
I have an interview with Goldberg tomorrow.
Francis:
Perfect, the smug bastard ain't gonna know what's coming at him. Teach him for sticking his nose in other peoples' business and get the files.
Niko also gets a text message from Francis.
Francis:
(text message) Remember Niko - Wear a suit and a smart pair of shoes. Try Perseus in Algonquin. You'll need to pack some heat too, but don't go flashing it about until you meet Goldberg. - Francis
Lawyers' Office
At or near the appointed time, and once Niko is dressed properly, Niko arrives at the office and activates the buzzer.
Niko:
Ahh... it's Niko Bellic, I'm here for an interview.
A security guard standing by the door will direct Niko towards reception.
Security Guard 2:
You can't go through there, sir.
Security Guard 2:
Please wait until you're called through, sir.
Security Guard 2:
Go to reception please, sir.
Security Guard 2:
You need to go to reception, sir.
Niko approaches the receptionist's desk.
Receptionist:
Mr. Bellic, welcome. I'll just see if Mr. Goldberg is available. (to Tom Goldberg via intercom) Mr. Goldberg, Mr. Bellic has arrived for his interview.
(via intercom) Ok, great, uh, tell him to come through to my office.
Receptionist:
Would you please follow me, Mr. Bellic?
Niko:
Sure.
The receptionist leads Niko to Mr. Goldberg's office.
Receptionist:
Mr. Goldberg is such a saint. He teaches kids to swim, you know? He's just so warm and giving. All he cares about is making the world a better place. And boy, are you in trouble if you get in his way.
Niko quips one of these two lines.
Niko:
Do you think he'll like me?
Niko:
I always get nervous before interviews.
She stops by the door to Mr. Goldberg's office.
Receptionist:
He's just in here. Don't be nervous. He doesn't bite.
The receptionist walks back to the front desk as Niko enters Mr. Goldberg's office.
Goldberg:
Hello, Niko. What's that short for... Nikolai? I'm looking for a man who can get jobs done right.
End of cutscene. Mr. Goldberg continues.
Goldberg:
Nikolai, I like your résumé. You seem to be the sort of man who would go the extra distance. I just need to take another look, get myself reacquainted with your experience.
After looking at the résumé, Mr. Goldberg continues.
Goldberg:
So, you're the sort of man who doesn't wait to get told what to do? A guy who looks at the world, sees problems and tries to fix them?
Niko:
Sure...
Goldberg:
My problem is that people don't notice the decay in society. They leave the decay alone and soon it's too late so you have to pull the whole tooth.
Niko:
Yeah?
Goldberg:
I'm the guy who goes around shaking people. For people, read society, read City Hall. I shake them, and I say "floss!" Get rid of the rotting flesh stuck in your teeth. Prevent decay! Mouthwash, you hear me? There's this cop. Good cop, but he thinks he's above the law. He's not. You wanna know why? Because the law is clear. I'm gonna crush him into dust. No one is above my judgment! You understand me?
Niko:
Ok.
Goldberg:
Here at G, L and S we're pushing things to the limit. We're on the front line, young man. A man I was recently with in this office, in this very room, was murdered. You gotta fight for what is just in this world.
Niko:
You do.
Goldberg:
Anyway, gimme an example of some time where you've worked as part of a team.
Niko:
I work alone.
If Niko hasn't done anything by this point, Mr. Goldberg comments.
Goldberg:
You gotta say something. You can't just do nothing and waste both our time.
Goldberg:
Damn these quotas. You end up with every dumb immigrant in the city coming in for interviews.
He then calls security.
Goldberg:
Security, get in here. We've got a problem.
Goldberg:
Modupe! Modupe, get in here! Would you remove this gentleman from the building? He's wasting my time. And while you're at it, take a look in the can, will ya? I think I blocked it up pretty good.
Modupe arrives and Goldberg flees. Niko must kill Goldberg to complete the mission.
Baseball, the great American pastime. We got a softball team in the office. Get sweaty together, build team spirit, you know.
Goldberg:
Whoa, is that thing real? You know, if that thing goes off we can sue the shit out of whoever sold it to you. Maybe we can look into that after the interview. Let the security guard, Modupe, play with it for a while. See what happens.
Goldberg:
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second there, friend! We're lawyers, we don't need guns. Strong move though, I gotta say, like that style. I'm all about the Second Amendment. Guns don't kill people, video games do.
Goldberg:
A knife? You into camping or something? Did you order that from The Serrated Edge?
Goldberg:
Whoa, I don't know what the policy is where you're from, Nikolai, but this is a non-smoking office. If it helps you concentrate though, hell, keep it going. Have you got A.D.D., is that the problem? We can get you a mild amphetamine to level you out, if you need it. You don't need to spark that bad boy up every time you need to get in the zone. No sir!
Goldberg:
Whoa, hey, hey. What's that, Nikolai? Shit, I've only seen those things on TV. Man, you bring one of those into court and no one's going to raise any objections to your opening statement. Am I right? Am I right? I'm not wrong.
If Niko aims his weapon, Niko asks about the files.
Niko:
Where are the files for your case against McReary?
Shots have been fired at the offices of Goldberg, Ligner, and Shyster. Employ extreme discretion before using your weapon. We don't need anymore lawsuits.
Mission Complete
Niko delivers the files to Francis, who is waiting in an alley behind the Westminster Police Station.
Niko:
Here are the files.
Francis:
Great, peace at last. I feel cleansed. You silenced Goldberg too, right? I don't need to worry about him?
Mr. McReary, they didn't let me see him. Must have got onto me when they saw I was packing heat. Lawyers are smart.
Francis:
Of course they're smart, that's how they squeeze all your fucking money out of you. I'm coming close to getting you thrown away for good, Niko. Don't mess up again.
Niko calls Francis.
Niko:
Hey man, I don't think I interview too good. I didn't even get in the room with him. Things kicked off a bit early.
Francis:
Fuck me, this guy's about to bring my whole life tumbling down and you can't even go into an interview room. Shit, I might as well lock you up. You'd be more useful to me on the inside.
Niko receives a text message from the Lawyers.
Lawyers:
(text message) Mr Goldberg has re-scheduled your interview for [time]. G.L. and S.
What appears in place of [time] can be "this evening at 18:00," "tomorrow morning at 08:00," "tomorrow at 12:00," or "tomorrow evening at 18:00." Alternatively, if the missed appointment is on Friday, this alternate version may be received.
Lawyers:
(text message) Mr Goldberg would still like to interview you. We shall contact you soon to arrange a new appointment. G.L. and S.
Video Walkthrough
Trivia
If police are warned of the attack, the following dispatch will be heard in the background: "Gunshots at Goldberg, Ligner and Schyster. Employ extreme discretion before using your weapons. We don't need any more lawsuits."
The second part of this mission takes place around the same time as the The Lost and Damned mission "This Shit's Cursed", as a news story on the radio speaks of Tom Goldberg's death afterwards.
The police deskman in the preparatory segment of the mission Final Interview, Mitch, is the one responsible for arresting Billy Grey during the aforementioned The Lost and Damned mission.
One of Tom Goldberg's lines in the mission - "Guns don't kill people, video games do", used if the player draws a weapon during the interview, but does not point it at Goldberg - is a take on Florida lawyer Jack Thompson, who was infamous for campaigning against violent video games (including the Grand Theft Auto series) and blaming the video game developers for the actions of those playing the games. In fact, Thompson filed a complaint against Take-Two Interactive and threatened that he would "take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game" if the persona of Tom Goldberg was not changed by the game's release. Nothing was changed, but Jack Thompson never followed through.
The mission will fail if Niko does not collect the files or if he does not kill Goldberg.
Goldberg only refers to Niko as Nikolai, although this is incorrect. While Niko is correct for Croatians, Nikola is the correct spelling for Serbians (which Niko is). Nikolai is the Russian variant of the same name.
If the player waits too long, Goldberg will eventually get annoyed at Niko for wasting his time and being another stereotypical immigrant before asking Modupe to remove him from the building. He will then run out of the office if Niko has any weapon in his hand. He will run aimlessly around the building unless he reaches the bottom floor, where he will despawn and the mission will fail.
If the player manages to get Goldberg out of an open window from his office by shooting or pushing him, the mission will also fail as he despawns outside.
In the beta, this mission was named Small Fish in Big Pond.
When the player shoots the guard at the top of the stairs, he will roll down and produce the Wilhelm scream.
He may still emit the scream even if he doesn't fall down the stairs.
In his resume, Niko writes that he went to Bulford University in England, which may be a reference to the Oxford Academy in England.
Niko's resumé also subtly refers to the work he has been doing in Liberty City, citing his work in "manslaughter, homicide, drug dealing, extortion, racketeering, and grand theft auto", as well as the work he did before arriving in America, with "drafted immigration documentation, and accelerated customs procedures for clients" and "working in war-torn areas to assist those most badly affected". It also mentions his employers, as "Dealing with emerging markets in the West Indies. Particularly Jamaica and Puerto Rico". It even mentions some of the basic abilities Niko demonstrates, with "Shooting, boxing, running, swimming to a professional level".
In the first cutscene of this mission, Francis will tell Niko to get a suit for the interview even if Niko is already wearing one.
If the player blocks Karen from entering the double doors, by standing against them, she will keep walking against them for about 3-5 real life minutes, then despawn, and respawn right outside the office where the interview would be held.
The mission complete sound is played too early at the end of the mission, as it is played in the cutscene immediately after Francis gives Niko his payment and he walks away.
Even if an alternate weapon such as a knife or molotov cocktail is used, the news of Tom Goldberg's death will still say that he was "shot dead" regardless of what weapon was used to commit the murder, suggesting that killing him with a ballistic weapon is canon.
). The player must enter without a weapon drawn and without harming anyone and talk to the receptionist, Karen. She will call Goldberg, and Goldberg will summon Niko into his office.
