Niko will receive a call from Michelle (or to save time, Niko can call her) asking to go on a date. On the way, Roman will probably call to ask for help (triggering the mission Bleed Out). The player can put their phone on sleep mode if they don't want to be interrupted. If the player chooses to proceed with the date rather than rescue Roman, the Bleed Out mission will be deferred until later, though a slightly different course of events will transpire. When Niko arrive at Michelle's place, a cutscene tutors the player on dating girlfriends and doing activities with male friends. Niko gets a brief view of Michelle's clean house then the two get into Michelle's car.
Michelle notes that the carnival is closed for repairs and is turning into a Las Venturas style theme park, she suggests the two play a few frames of bowling. Go down the walkway and play game of bowling.
Find an empty lane to play in.
The player must play a full or half match with Michelle. Niko does not necessarily have to win the bowling game, or even complete it. Michelle will say something different, depending on how the match ends.
If the drive home is successful, Michelle says she had a great time and is interested in more dates with Niko. Following completion of the mission, if Niko chooses to ignore Roman's earlier phone call, Niko will receive a second phone call from Roman, which will lead to a variation of the Bleed Out mission.
Transcript
Pre-Mission Phone Calls
Michelle calls Niko Bellic. Alternitavely, Niko can call Michelle to start this mission.
Michelle:
Hey Niko, it's Michelle. We met with Mallorie, Roman's girlfriend.
Niko:
I remember, what's up Michelle?
Michelle:
I don't normally do this, but I thought you'd probably be pretty lonely having just moved to Liberty City and all.
Niko:
You do not normally do what?
Michelle:
You're not making this easy for me, are you? I'm asking you out on a date.
Niko:
I am sorry, I am still not used to how things work here in America. A date would be good. I am getting sick of hanging out with Roman all the time. How about I pick you up from your apartment?
Michelle:
That sounds good. See you soon.
Niko:
Hey, Michelle. It's Niko. Roman's cousin.
Michelle:
Oh, hi. How's it going?
Niko:
Good. I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me sometime? You know, on a date?
Michelle:
Yeah, sure. That could be fun. Yeah, I'd like to get to know you, Niko. Why don't you come over to my place whenever? See you soon!
If Bleed Out has not been completed, Roman Bellic calls Niko as he gets near Michelle's apartment.
Roman:
Niko, Bledar has me cornered in the courts under the El Train on Firefly.
Niko:
What does he want?
Roman:
I can't think what he could possibly want or why he'd be pissed off, can you? (to Bledar and Kalem) Come on guys, let's be reasonable.
If Niko chooses to help Roman, Bleed Out will start instead.
You will make friends and meet girlfriends as you spend time in Liberty City. You will be able to partake in a variety of activities with them, like eating...
Each friend and girlfriend you have will have their favorite and least favorite activities.
Outside, Little Jacob opens the trunk of his car, revealing various weapons.
Tutorial:
Many of your friends have special abilities that they'll use to help you, should they like you enough.
An explosive device is seen planted on the underside of a Huntley Sport.
Tutorial:
These range from delivering guns to providing bombs to help you get those hard-to-reach _targets.
A goon enters the Huntley Sport. Meanwhile, Patrick McReary, standing some distance away and with his back to the camera, makes a phone call on his cell phone. The Huntley Sport explodes.
All your stuff is new. Some even still have tags on.
Michelle:
Yeah, well... I like things clean.
Niko:
I can see that... but, er... everything is new.
Michelle:
Yeah. I'm kind of obsessed with cleanliness... things get on my nerves and I just throw them out. OCD or something?
Niko:
Oh.
Michelle:
So... where are you taking me?
Niko:
Ah... you look good.
Michelle:
Aw, thanks...
Niko:
I don't know - I'm new here. I thought maybe we could go to the, uh... funfair.
Michelle:
Yeah, great! Let's go - love the funfair! Actually we call it, um, "carnival" here. Just a little difference. Ah... whoop-de-doo!
They leave.
To the Carnival
Niko and Michelle get into her Merit and they drive to the carnival.
Niko:
So, Michelle, what do you like to do?
Michelle:
What do you like to do?
Niko:
Come on, I asked you first.
Michelle:
I like to keep active I guess. Sports, working out, things like that. I'd like to know about you though. See the places you hang out.
Niko:
Yeah, maybe another time.
Niko:
I feel like I should have been more organized. Had a better plan for our date. What do you like doing?
Michelle:
I just want to get to know you, Niko. See the places you hang out. The people you associate with.
Niko:
You already know Roman. I don't hang out with anybody else really.
Michelle:
You will, give it some time.
Michelle:
So, Niko, why couldn't you come on the date earlier? What happened?
Niko:
Roman got himself into some trouble. I had to help him out.
Michelle:
Really? Does Roman get himself into a lot of trouble? Is he involved in criminal stuff?
Niko:
Roman? He made some mistakes, got involved with people he shouldn't have but really is a legitimate businessman.
Michelle:
What about you?
Niko:
I'm just trying to make the right decisions.
Eventually, Niko and Michelle arrive at the carnival, which is closed.
Michelle:
- You know, the carnival isn't open this time of year. I don't know if it would pass safety regulations anyway.
- The carnival's closed, Niko. I think some big developers have bought it or something.
- Niko, the carnival isn't open. I think they're going to turn it into a big Las Venturas style theme park.
Michelle:
Hey, there's a bowling alley up here. We should play.
Niko:
Cool. Let's go bowling then.
They go to the bowling alley.
Michelle:
Thanks for taking me out. I haven't been on a date for a while. I'm kind of lonely here.
Niko:
I thought you were doing me a favor by going out with me. You're the local.
Michelle:
I'm not a local in Liberty City. I came here from somewhere...
Niko:
Where?
Michelle:
Oh, the Midwest. You probably know more people here than me.
Niko:
More assholes maybe.
Michelle:
You know, the carnival isn't open this time of year. I don't know if it would pass safety regulations anyway. There's a bowling alley over on the boardwalk. Why don't we play a few frames?
Niko:
Sure, bowling sounds like fun.
They go to the bowling alley.
Michelle:
It's nice to get out of the apartment.
Niko:
Why's that? You do a lot of work or something?
Michelle:
I'm working the whole time. Sometimes I think all I am is my job.
Niko:
A lot of people feel that way. It's hard to keep what you do from taking over your life.
Here we are, this will be fun. Let's play a few frames.
They play a five-frame game. After which...
Michelle:
You're good, Niko. That was fun. Will you take me back home now?
Michelle:
I thought you'd be better at that, Niko? We had fun, didn't we? Will you take me back home now?
Michelle:
Good game, Niko. We had fun. Will you take me home now?
Michelle:
Shame we couldn't finish the game, Niko. It was fun playing though. Can you take me back now?
Niko:
Of course I'll take you home. Let's go. or... I'm not going to make you take the subway. Let's go.
The Trip Home
Niko and Michelle return to her car.
Niko:
So, you don't know many people here in Liberty City. No boyfriends or husbands or anything?
Michelle:
No, I guess I'm married to my job.
Niko:
Well, what do you do?
Michelle:
What do you do?
Niko:
Come on, I asked first...
Michelle:
I work with Mallorie. What do you do, exactly?
Niko:
You're a hard girl to talk to, Michelle.
Michelle:
I guess you're not used to talking to American women.
Niko:
I guess.
Niko and Michelle get in the car and they drive back to Michelle's apartment.
Michelle:
So, what are you doing here in Liberty City, Niko?
Niko:
What's anybody doing here? I don't know.
Michelle:
I think you do. There must be something that made you leave your home and come here.
Niko:
Roman's bullshit stories maybe. I just felt like I needed a new start.
Michelle:
There's nothing else in Liberty City then, just Roman?
Niko:
Maybe there's more to this place, I'm not sure yet.
They arrive at the apartment.
Michelle:
That was nice. I'm really interested in seeing you again.
Niko:
Yeah. That would be good. I'll give you a call.
Michelle:
Please do, Niko. See you soon.
Fail Cutscenes & Dialogues
Niko and Michelle stand in front of her apartment building. Roman's taxi is parked in front.
Niko:
I'm sorry about the car, Michelle. I can get you a new one.
Michelle:
Do you mean you'd steal one? Have you got caught up with the Hove Beach criminals, Niko?
Niko:
Forget about it, I'll talk to you soon, bye.
Michelle enters the building.
Niko and Michelle stand in front of her apartment building.
Niko:
I'm sorry about that, Michelle. I get carried away sometimes.
Michelle:
I didn't realize you were so violent, Niko. Have you got caught up with the Hove Beach criminals?
Niko:
I can look after myself Michelle, don't worry about me. Sorry again.
Michelle enters the building.
DETERMINANT: Phone Call and Lift for Roman Bellic
If Niko completes this mission before Bleed Out, Roman calls Niko.
Roman:
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to protect me from those crazy loan sharks you attacked, Niko.
Niko:
You shouldn't have borrowed money from them in the first place, Roman. Anyway, I was seeing Michelle. I thought you wanted me to date her?
Roman:
Not when it means me getting beat up and sent to hospital. Come and pick me up, cousin. And at least tell me that you got her titties out? Maybe then your betrayal would be worthwhile. They were nice titties, yes?
Pick up Roman?
Niko:
You're an animal, Roman. Nothing can stop you being horny. I'll see you soon.
There is is the man who chose cooch before his cousin. I hope she was worth it. Will you drive me back to the office, cousin? Argh. How was she cousin? Tell me how she was. I wondered about Michelle when I first met her. If she was not a friend of Mallorie's it would be me with the smell of tittie on my breath and you who ended up in hospital.
Niko:
Firstly Roman, my breath does not smell of titty. Secondly, I don't think that our loan shark friends could hospitalize me. I can look after myself.
Roman:
All the more reason why I should have hooked up with Michelle. Everyone would be a winner.
Niko:
Yes, well, I will not let these men treat you like that again. I'm sorry for letting you down, Roman.
Roman, I apologize again for not being there for you. You have done a lot for me since I got here.
Roman:
The choice between some titties and your safety would have been difficult for me as well. Don't worry, Niko. Call me soon.
Roman exits the vehicle and enters the cab depot.
Niko:
You're an animal, Roman. Nothing can stop you being horny. Look you'll have to have some fun with the nurses because I can't pick you up. See you soon.
Later, Niko gets a text from Roman.
Roman:
(text message) I had to get one of the nurses to take me home. I'd be pissed off with you if she hadn't given me a sponge bath with a happy ending. Rom
Video Walkthrough
GTA 4 - Mission 4 - First Date (1080p)
Trivia
This mission received a notable fix in the PC release of the game. As the mission requires Niko to drive Michelle's Merit to and from the date, the player shall have to leave their own vehicle behind. On the console versions, the vehicle despawns upon returning to Michelle's house. On the PC version, however, the car shall remain parked right outside her house, awaiting the player's return.
In one of Niko's dates with Michelle, she asks Niko what he works on. He lies, claiming to work in "construction". In GoodFellas, Henry Hill answers a similar question with this answer.
The bowling alley marks the border between the neighborhoods of Firefly Island and Beachgate. However, since the carnival is in Firefly, the bowling alley is said to be in Firefly as well.
If the player decides to save Roman Bellic in "Bleed Out" prior to this mission, the topic of the conversation between Niko and Michelle in the car will initially focus on why Niko missed his initial appointment with Michelle as well as Roman's dealings.
If the player turns on "Sleep Mode" and proceeds to play the mission, Niko will not receive Roman's phone call about Bledar and Kalem cornering him on the basketball court. After completing the mission, Roman will still call the player, asking to be picked up from the hospital and berating Niko for choosing to date Michelle over rescuing him.
If the player points any weapon at Michelle's head, she will just crouch but remain happy, however when Niko fires the gun, Michelle flees (but eventually meets with Niko for him to apologize to her).
Michelle runs off screaming if Niko repeatedly damages her car, but if not, she allows Niko to keep the car at the end of the mission.
Michelle will tolerate one or two wanted stars as long as the police aren't shooting at the player. Visiting the restricted area at the airport (4 stars) or trying to cross into Algonquin (6 stars) will cause her to instantly end the date. Michelle will also be scared off if Niko is punched by a pedestrian.
Michelle will ride in vehicles other than her own car, but will be scared if Niko pulls someone out of a car in order to hijack it.
It's possible to play pool and/or darts with Michelle if Niko decides not to play the bowling, but doing so may cause glitches.
If the player wishes to keep the car they arrive in instead of being left with Michelle's Merit, park the vehicle across from the arrow that triggers the mission. Once the mission begins, the vehicle will be parked directly behind the Merit and will be available during the mission or once the mission is complete.
This is the earliest moment in the game to unlock the trophy/achievement "Gobble Gobble" by scoring a turkey in bowling against Michelle.
When Jacob is seen eating in front of the Burger Shot in Beechwood City, he is not wearing his usual clothing, but the clothing he wears at Roman's wedding and the final storylinemission. This was probably supposed to be Jacob's original outfit. He also wears a similar outfit when he is seen selling weapons in the tutorial video except with a white jacket.
In the cutscene when Packie McReary blows up a car with a bomb, the car's color will change if the mission fails and is replayed repeatedly.
If Niko attacks, the mission fails. During the cutscene, Michelle will ask if he has been hanging out with the Hove Beach gangs and is surprised Niko has a temper.
