Keep Your Friends Close is the final storyline mission in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City which Tommy Vercetti performs independently from his mansion in Starfish Island, Vice City.

Mission

After failing to forcibly tax Tommy's businesses, Forelli Crime Family Don Sonny Forelli is heading to Vice City from Liberty City in order to deal with Tommy in person and reclaim his "cut". Tommy, informed of Sonny's impending visit by Ken and Lance, sets aside $3 million of counterfeit cash in an attempt to placate Sonny.

Sonny arrives at Tommy's mansion along with several Forelli Family members. As Tommy prepares to give Sonny the counterfeit cash, Lance openly betrays Tommy, citing "business" as his motivation. Sonny confronts Tommy over his attempt to placate him with counterfeit cash. Tommy, still reeling from Lance's betrayal, replies that he just wanted to piss Sonny off before he kills him.

This sparks a large scale gunfight within the mansion. Lance flees to the mansion roof, while Tommy defends his safe from numerous Forelli Family members attempting to take back Tommy's cash. After killing several members, Tommy heads to the roof where he confronts and kills Lance.

After killing Lance, Tommy heads back to the mansion's foyer and confronts Sonny about fifteen years he had to spend in prison because of Sonny. Sonny replies that Tommy and his life belong to him. Now after his revenge, Tommy finally kills Sonny.

After the shootout, Ken reappears and asks Tommy what happened, with Tommy explaining that he had a "disagreement with a business associate". Tommy laments Lance's betrayal, before telling Ken that they won't be having any more trouble from "up north". As Tommy announces that he is in charge, he ends the mission by telling Ken that "this could be the beginning of a beautiful business relationship".

Mission Objectives

In order to complete the mission the player must:

• The Mafia are trying to steal your money. Defend your safe.
• Go and kill Lance Vance, the backstabber.
• Kill Sonny and finish this once and for all.

Deaths

• Lance Vance - Killed by Tommy Vercetti for betraying him and siding with Sonny Forelli.
• Sonny Forelli - Killed by Tommy Vercetti for betraying him, attempting to kill him, and attempting to tax his businesses.
• Several members of the Forelli Family - Killed by Tommy Vercetti during the gunfight for stealing his money from the safe, as well as getting in his way of killing Lance Vance and Sonny Forelli.

Reward

The reward for completing this mission is $30,000 and a Hunter will spawn inside Fort Baxter or on a helipad in south Ocean Beach if the player has collected all 100 Hidden Packages. Also, members of the Vercetti Gang will carry Uzis.

Post-Mission Phone Calls

• First Note: The first and second calls only happen if All Hands On Deck! is completed first.
• Second Note: The Steve Scott call only happens if G-Spotlight is completed first and only when the player is inside the Prawn Island zone.
• Third Note: The Earnest Kelly call only happens when the player is inside the Little Havana zone.

Phone Call 1

• Kent Paul: Tommy, it's Paulo, how are you? Right mate, anyway, thought I had to drop you a line. Oh my good lord, my son, you will not believe the quality of the brass I just encountered. Street walker or something, just down in Little Havana, mate. Said her name was Mercedes or something. Oh my god, mate. You gotta check this bird out. Could strip the lead out of a pencil. Said I was the best she ever had and all. Keep you potatoes skinned for her. Be seeing you.

Phone Call 2

• Juan Cortez: Tommy, Thomas, it's Cortez. Que pasa?
• Tommy Vercetti: Things are interesting. How are you, my friend?
• Juan Cortez: I wanted to ask you about Mercedes.
• Tommy Vercetti: Ok, what about her?
• Juan Cortez: Oh Tommy, Tommy. I... I... I hear these stories, all these stories - I don't know what to think. Maybe she thinks she can do what she likes, but Tommy, tell me, is it true?
• Tommy Vercetti: Is what true?
• Juan Cortez: These stories I hear. Is she... she... she really going to be a lawyer? Tommy, the shame, the shame! You know, we Cortez's are a proud family. We would never allow a daughter of ours to become a lawyer. Please tell me it isn't so. I don't think I could take it.
• Tommy Vercetti: Oh Colonel (laughs), I can assure you Mercedes is never going to become a lawyer. Don't worry about it.
• Juan Cortez: Oh thank you, Tommy. Tommy, thank you. The shame would be unbearable. She is a lady, not a parasite, you know. Anyway, Tommy, you must excuse me, alright, the new minister of the interior has arrived. Many years ago, I killed his father in a failed coup so I must be polite. Eh, good day, amigo!

Phone Call 3

• Kent Paul: Tommy Vercetti, how's it going, Mr. big shot? I hear all these things about you, some kind of player in town, now eh...
• Tommy Vercetti: Paul, you're drunk.
• Kent Paul: Nah, you stupid prat, I ain't drunk. I only had a couple and some treats, ain't been to bed for a couple of days, you know. Anyway, don't give me that. I ain't a mug. Who set you up in this town? Who? Me. That's who.
• Tommy Vercetti: Really?
• Kent Paul: Don't give me that. Don't! I introduced you to people. I showed you the ropes, did a lot of stuff for you, and this is how you repay me. You ignore me. You won't give me a way in, after all I did for you! What do you think I am? A div or something?
• Tommy Vercetti: Paul, take it easy. I've been busy, don't be an idiot.
• Kent Paul: I ain't no idiot, mush. That's what they said in borstal. Are you asking for trouble son, because you're going to get it! (weeps) Tommy, mate. Please. You was my big hope! Please, don't laugh at me!
• Tommy Vercetti: Uh, Paul, get some sleep, seriously.

Phone Call 4

• Earnest Kelly: Tommy, it's Earnest. Earnest Kelly.
• Tommy Vercetti: Hey, how are you?
• Earnest Kelly: I'm doing okay. I'll need a stick to walk, but I should be back at work soon enough.
• Tommy Vercetti: Good!
• Earnest Kelly: I heard about Lance. What a little prick, eh?
• Tommy Vercetti: Yes.
• Earnest Kelly: Never trust a man who walks the streets in his pajamas. That's what I say. Glad you killed him. I hope it was painful for the prick.
• Tommy Vercetti: I think it was. You know, I just didn't think he was like that...
• Earnest Kelly: Tommy, for a raging lunatic, you're pretty naive. I'll be back at work soon, teach you a thing or two about life, you hear.
• Tommy Vercetti: Take your time, Earnest. Look after yourself.

Phone Call 5

• Steve Scott: Tommy, it's Steve. You're a marvel! I'm a marvel! They love us. We are re-writing the record books, pal. We're talking major awards here. I can put my dad in a home and tell him to shut up. It's hot, man. Hot. H. O. T. He never believed in me. Never thought I was an artist, and now I've made it. I'm the best damn skin flick director of all time, my friend. And I just wanted to say, it's a pleasure to have met you. I love you, baby. Don't go changing on me, you hear.

Transcript

Walkthrough

Tommy arrives at the office in his mansion in Starfish Island after an urgent call from Lance to find him discussing something with Ken.

Ken nervously welcomes Tommy and wants to tell him something.

Ken starts talking about how much he loves fish.

Ken finishes his speech with saying that as much as he loves fish, he doesn't want to sleep with them, implying that his life is being threatened.

He starts explaining something, but he's too nervous and Tommy can't understand anything, so he tells him to sit down and relax.

Tommy then turns to Lance and asks him what's the problem.

Lance tells Tommy that the problem is Tommy's brothers from up north. Lance tells Tommy that the Mafia heard about Tommy killing their tax collectors, so they're coming down to Vice City themselves to sort out business with Tommy.

Tommy says that it's a good thing it took them this long until they lost their temper completely.

Tommy tells Ken and Lance that during the meeting that's about to go down they have to make it clear that Tommy's in charge of the operations in Vice City.

Tommy tells Ken to get some counterfeit cash for the mafia.

Tommy tells Lance to stay behind and get the Vercetti boys ready for the meeting.

Several hours later, Tommy, Lance and Ken walk down the stairs to meet Sonny and his right-hand man.

Sonny jokingly asks Tommy if he won't show any happiness at all from seeing Sonny.

Tommy tells Sonny that after fifteen years of being out of action, he's a bit rusty on the mafia etiquette.

Sonny decides to joke about the incident that put Tommy in jail for fifteen years and got him the nickname 'Harwood Butcher'.

Tommy brings attention to the fact that Sonny sent Tommy to kill a single man, but somehow ten more were aware of Tommy's coming and were waiting for him.

Sonny tells Tommy to watch his mouth, as Tommy is now blatantly blaming Sonny for the ambush that led to his arrest.

Tommy doesn't want to talk to Sonny anymore and just tells him to take the money and get out of Vice City.

Sonny orders his right-hand man to get the cash.

Sonny starts talking about how kind he has been to Tommy both when he was in jail and after he got out.

Sonny says that he trusted Tommy, but he was disappointed by him in the end.

However, Sonny says that at least someone in Tommy's circle knows how to handle business properly, implying that there's a traitor in Tommy's gang.

Sonny addresses Lance, who confirms his treachery himself and says that the climate they're in requires smart thinking and the smart thing to do was to leave Tommy. Tommy is in shock and questions how Lance could sell everyone in the gang out.

Lance says that he didn't sell out the gang - he sold out Tommy. Once Tommy is out of the picture, Lance will take over the throne and rule Vice City.

Lance also tells Sonny that the cash Tommy was trying to give him was counterfeit and that the real cash Tommy had is in the upstairs office.

Sonny laughs at Tommy's plan and asks if he really thought he could get away with it.

Tommy confesses and tells Sonny that he never intended to fool Sonny, he just wanted to make him angry before he kills him.

The shootout begins; Tommy must protect his money from the attacking mobsters.

After a small gunfight, Lance appears on the second floor balcony and confronts Tommy.

Tommy says that he fully intends to avenge Lance's betrayal.

Tommy must kill Lance for his betrayal.

Tommy chasing Lance through the mansion's corridors.

The chase eventually leads Tommy to the mansion's roof, where Lance and four Forelli hitmen are waiting for him. Tommy must kill all of the hitmen and take revenge on Lance.

Tommy and Lance duelling; Tommy kills Lance.

Back in the main room, Tommy must fend off the mafia trying to steal money from him.

After Tommy gets close to his office, Sonny and two of his hitmen go inside and Sonny commands them to take position.

Tommy tells Sonny that he has waited for a long time until he can take revenge on Sonny for taking fifteen years away from him.

Sonny tells Tommy that he still doesn't understand something: Sonny owns Tommy and his life is in Sonny's hands.

Tommy and Sonny having a final stand-off; Tommy kills Sonny and finally takes revenge on him for taking fifteen years of his life.

After the shootout and the assassination of Sonny, Tommy is sitting on the mansion's main staircase, alone, thinking about the bloodshed he just caused.

Suddenly, he sees someone alive, crawling for cover and points his gun at them.

The person is Ken and after briefly considering taking the shot, Tommy puts the gun down. Ken approaches him and asks what just happened.

Tommy doesn't want to talk and tells Ken to think about it himself.

After some chit-chat, Tommy still expresses disbelief about Lance selling him out.

Ken tells Tommy that he never liked Lance.

Ken tells Tommy that Lance was self-centered, neurotic and insecure and that Tommy shouldn't be sad about having to kill him.

Tommy changes the subject and says that he doesn't think that any mafiosos from Liberty City will be bothering them either.

Tommy says that killing Sonny is basically wiping out the most powerful family in the city.

Ken asks Tommy if he really means what Ken thinks he means. Tommy asks him what he thinks Tommy meant.

Ken says that he thinks Tommy meant that they're in charge, before correcting himself and saying that Tommy's in charge.

Tommy confirms Ken's thoughts and says that this may be the beginning of their friendship and jokes about their professions; a hack lawyer and a convicted killer / drug baron.

Tommy and Ken stare down the sunset, signaling the beginning of the end credits...

Mission passed.

Video Walkthroughs

Oversights

• During the opening cutscene when Ken is mentioning the mafia arriving from up north, he's using his arm to point towards the south.
• During the opening cutscene, Tommy is heard instructing Ken to put $20 million in briefcases, contrary to the subtitles, which read three million. This was rectified afterwards, when Tommy confronts Sonny and actually says $3 million. This subtitle error was corrected in The Definitive Edition.
• The subtitle "This is the last dance for lance vance!" features Lance Vance's full name written in non capitalized letters. This subtitle error was corrected in The Definitive Edition.

Trivia

General

• This mission is yet another one of the game's references to the 1983 film Scarface, closely mirroring that film's final gunfight. The only major difference is that Tommy survives the gunfight, which Tony Montana did not.
• The mission's title is a reference to a line from the Mafia film The Godfather Part II. The original line from the movie is: "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer".
• The final words shared between Tommy and Ken may be a reference to the ending of Casablanca, where Rick Blaine says to his friend: "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

• Tommy must have at least $1,000 to start the mission. Attempting to start the mission otherwise will result in an error message. This requirement is likely to prevent the player from failing the mission too quickly due to running out of money, and also to prevent a plot contrivance where the money in the safe is not enough to be worth stealing despite the mafia's plans to do so anyway.
• Tommy will use quotes that are used during a 4 to 6-star wanted level.
• Sonny's right-hand man (seen in the game's introduction) appears in the opening cutscene of this mission, but what became of him afterwards is unknown.
• During and after this mission, the player can obtain a Stretch. Three of them spawn in front of the mansion once the introductory cutscene ends, and they can still be found there after the ending credits.
  • These Stretches act as gang member spawn points, but only if driven outside the grounds of the mansion. The player must be outside the vehicle and turn away from it. Gang members will then leave the Stretch through the left back door in groups of four or less.
• In the two brief cutscenes where Tommy aims his handgun at Lance and Sonny respectively, he is shown using a Colt Python, even if the player has a Pistol in their inventory.
  • Tommy will also be holding an M4 in the ending cutscene, even if the player had a Kruger in their inventory.
• It is impossible to attract police attention while at the mansion. Interestingly, if player goes outside and gets a wanted level, entering the mansion or even flying over it will clear this level.
• Failing this mission will make the Vercetti Gang members carry TEC-9s along with pistols.
• Killing the Forelli Mafia members during the mission will increase the player's kill count of the Streetwannabe's, being able to display them as the least favorite gang in the game's stats menu.
• If during the mission the player ventures into the Streetwannabe's territory, it can be noticed that the Forelli Mafia started spawning in their place, roaming the streets and driving the Gang Burritos. They will be carrying Pistols and using the two skins that are attacking the player at the mansion. The Mafia will either be hostile to Tommy or neutral, walking away from him.
• According to files from The Definitive Edition, Lance Vance was originally not going to betray Tommy.^[2]

References

Navigation

[ v • e ]Navigation

[ v • e ]Missions in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Introduction In The Beginning... | An Old Friend Ken Rosenberg The Party | Back Alley Brawl | Jury Fury | Riot Avery Carrington Part 1 Four Iron | Demolition Man Part 2 Two Bit Hit Juan Cortez Part 1 Treacherous Swine | Mall Shootout | Guardian Angels Part 2 Sir, Yes Sir! Part 3 All Hands On Deck! Ricardo Diaz Part 1 The Chase | Phnom Penh '86 | The Fastest Boat | Supply & Demand Part 2 Rub Out Kent Paul Death Row Umberto Robina Part 1 Stunt Boat Challenge | Cannon Fodder | Naval Engagement Part 2 Trojan Voodoo Auntie Poulet Juju Scramble | Bombs Away! | Dirty Lickin's Love Fist Part 1 Love Juice | Psycho Killer Part 2 Publicity Tour Mitch Baker Alloy Wheels of Steel | Messing with the Man | Hog Tied Assets Boatyard Checkpoint Charlie Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory Distribution InterGlobal Films Studio Recruitment Drive | Dildo Dodo | Martha's Mug Shot | G-Spotlight Kaufman Cabs V.I.P. | Friendly Rivalry | Cabmageddon Printworks Spilling the Beans | Hit the Courier Malibu Club No Escape? | The Shootist | The Driver | The Job Vercetti Estate Shakedown | Bar Brawl | Cop Land Phil Cassidy Gun Runner | Boomshine Saigon Earnest Kelly Cap the Collector Tommy Vercetti Keep Your Friends Close...* Mr. Black Part 1 Road Kill Part 2 Waste the Wife Part 3 Autocide Part 4 Check Out at the Check In Part 5 Loose Ends Side Missions Paramedic | Firefighter | Vigilante/Brown Thunder | Taxi Driver | Pizza Boy Mission | Hotring | Bloodring | Dirtring | PCJ Playground | Cone Crazy | Trial by Dirt | Test Track | RC Bandit Race | RC Baron Race | RC Raider Pickup Street Races Terminal Velocity | Ocean Drive | Border Run | Capital Cruise | Tour! | V.C. Endurance Missions in GTA Vice City | Missions | Beta Missions | Side Missions (Category) * denotes the final story mission.