The Third Way

“Hey, my bad, homie. I picked C. Ain’t that a bitch?” - Franklin Clinton.The Third Way is the (?) and final episode of Act III of Grand Theft Auto V - The Rockstar Series as well as the series finale. This episode marks the end of the Grand Theft Auto V storyline, with the continuation crossing into The Outlaw’s Saga - Grand Theft Auto: Renegade.
== Synopsis ==
== Plot ==
Franklin is confronted by Devin Weston in his home, who demands that for his final task, he must kill Michael De Santa as he ruined some of his business ventures and has ruined his plans to redevelop Richards Majestic in Backlot City. Franklin is hesitant and mentions that the FIB had already tasked him to kill Trevor Philips, and he is unable to kill them both. Devin then presents Franklin with three choices:
* A. - “Listen to some 50-grand a year pension hunter” (Steve Haines) and kill Trevor.
* B. - “A billionaire, who even the president lets finger his wife” (Devin Weston) and kill Michael.
* C. “Try and be really stupid and save his two idiot mentors of his and have everyone in the goddamn state crawling up his ass” and save both of them.
Franklin kicks Devin out to make up his mind. He ultimately calls Lester for advice on what to do, which he requests Franklin to discuss it at his house. Franklin drives to Lester’s home, who asks him what is the problem. Franklin explains then that the FIB wants Trevor dead, but Devin Westin wants Michael dealt with. Unable to think of a better solution to the problem, Lester initially gives the advice to kill them both, but the two could not decide. Just as all hope is lost, Lester suddenly comes up with a plan that could involve saving the two men and dealing with their enemies. Lester then suggests that Franklin heads for the Grand Banks Steel Foundry with Michael and Trevor, while he calls Devin Weston and Steve Haines and tells them that the three are at the foundry, melting down the gold they stole from the Union Depository, as the two would love to be involved in reclaiming the gold for themselves. Franklin agrees and leaves as Lester gets a hold of the other two.
Franklin calls Lamar and asks for his help, which he agrees. Franklin goes to retrieve him at his house, where Franklin explains the plan of saving their friends, which prompts Lamar to join in excitement and pride in Franklin for finally helping them. After some final words of encouragement and bonding, the two finally arrive at the foundry. Lamar stays outside to watch for reinforcements while Franklin goes inside to regroup with Michael and Trevor, only to spot them about to fight and possibly kill each other. Franklin confronts the two, telling them to end their feud or he will not hesitate to shoot them both. Giving them one last chance to set aside their differences and prepare to fight the real enemies, Trevor relents and lets go of his rage, asking Franklin where he shall be positioned. After Franklin instructs the two on what to do, all three get into positions just as the FIB arrive to kill the trio and recover the gold. The three eventually ambush the team, bringing down dozens of agents. Merryweather also arrive on orders of Weston. In the middle of the fight, Lamar is ambushed, prompting Franklin to rush outside and help him. While the two gangsters are fighting outside, Michael loses comms with Trevor. Worrying about his condition, he goes to his last location and finds that he is alive, but he was winded and passed out during the fray. After holding off the last of the enemies inside, the two join the other two allies outside in killing the rest of the agents. After everyone was killed and the four survive, the main trio regroups by the loading bay door while Lamar retreats and goes back home, his part having been fulfilled.
The three discuss silencing their old friends and enemies to end things once and for all. They decide to kill:
* Steve Haines for attempting to have Michael arrested and/or killed, attempting to have Trevor killed, and for putting all three through his own dirty work, as well as being a threat to all three of them. Trevor discusses killing Dave Norton as well, but Michael advises against this as he can clear them so nobody will go after them.
* Wei Cheng, as requested by Franklin, for capturing and attempting to have Michael killed, invade into Trevor’s territory and attempting to have him killed as well, and for being a liability to all three of them.
* Harold “Stretch” Joseph, as requested by Trevor, for setting up Lamar and Franklin, for attempting to have both of them set up and killed, and for being a liability.
* Devin Weston for not paying them for their efforts in delivering his requested cars, for attempting to have Michael and his family killed, and for attempting to steal their gold and have all three killed.
Franklin calls Lester and notifies him that all three survived the ambush, but now they need locations of their next targets. Lester then tells them where they are:
* Haines is taping his show, “The Underbelly of Paradise” on the Ferris Wheel at Del Perro Pier. Trevor immediately takes the job, having wanted to kill him since the moment they met.
* Stretch’s phone pinged his location on the basketball courts at the B.J. Smith Recreation Center. Franklin almost takes the job, but Michael takes it instead to keep him clear of known associates.
* Cheng’s son, Tao, used his credit card to buy a Magnum at the Pacific Bluffs Country Club, where Wei may be.
* Once he finds Weston, he will send the coordinates to them.
From there, the three set off for their targets.
* Michael drives to Chamberlain Hills to find Stretch at the recreation center courts. In a quick act, Michael shoots the Ballas that are protecting Stretch and stabs the latter to death, dispatching more of the Ballas. Michael notifies Franklin of Stretch’s death, who is grateful for it as he merely tried to set him up.
* Trevor drives to the boardwalk at Del Perro Pier, where he requests Lester to patch him into Steve’s radio microphone as he wants a last reminder of what “an annoying prick” he is. As Haines documents his last words for his show, Trevor takes out a sniper and shoots him in the end, ending his life and his liability once and for all. After escaping the cops, Lester notifies Trevor that a Merryweather team was dispatched to his house in Tongva Hills for his protection. Trevor decides to go up there and get him.
* Franklin drives all the way to the Pacific Bluffs Country Club to assassinate Wei. He finally arrives and notices Wei leaving the club. Franklin tosses a Sticky Bomb at his car, blowing it up and killing Wei. It is later revealed years later that while Wei perished in the explosion, Tao survived. Franklin kills the pursuing Triads. After doing so, he notifies the two that there will be no more Triads coming to hunt them down.
Trevor drives to Weston’s house, telling the two that he is going to pick him up to deal with him, but he will not start killing him until all three are together. Trevor finally arrives and sees that the house is guarded by Merryweather. Trevor storms the house grounds and kills all of the operatives, hunting down Devin. He finds him attempting to hide in a wicker basket and knocks him out, tossing his unconscious body into the trunk of his personal Tornado. Trevor drives the Tornado and requests the other two to join him at Paleto Cove, off of the Grand Ocean Highway to make Devin disappear. On the way, Weston wakes up and tries to convince Trevor that he is not his enemy and that Michael needs to go. Trevor counters his offers of joining his organization and investments, deeming him worthless and telling him that with this, he should prepare for his death.
Trevor finally arrives at the cliffs at Paleto Cove, where he awaits Michael and Franklin for a few hours until evening. Michael eventually arrives and joins Trevor, where he attempts to have a cigarette, but tosses his cigarette and lighter away after coughing. Franklin arrives soon after. The three open the trunk to see a beaten Devin, gagged with tape. Michael then parades their victory and reflect Devin’s own mistakes and how he had gotten to this point: 1. He outsourced Merryweather and paid them to do his dirty work, later underpaying after letting the power get to his head. 2. He offshored his profits, meaning that he sent men offshore to save money and wanted to keep his problems out of America. After this, Michael says goodbye to Devin, as all three say so as well. After closing the trunk on Weston, the trio proceed to put the Tornado in neutral and push it off of the cliff into the water, which explodes moments after falling, killing Weston instantly. The three decide to end their partnership for good, but remain close friends. After some more banter, Franklin excuses himself from the scene and leaves. After announcing his permanent retirement, Michael gets into his car and drives away, ready to live out the rest of his days without crime, now a movie producer. Trevor remains at the scene, without a vehicle, and after looking around, walks away as the credits roll.
== Characters ==
* Franklin Clinton
* Devin Weston
* Lester Crest
* Lamar Davis
* Trevor Philips
* Michael De Santa
* Harold “Stretch” Joseph
* Steve Haines
* Wei Cheng
* Tao Cheng
* FIB
* Merryweather
* Los Santos Triads
* Ronald “Ron” Jakowski (phone call)
== Deaths ==
* Stretch
* Steve Haines
* Wei Cheng
* Devin Weston
* Numerous counts of FIB Agents, Merryweather Operatives, and Triad Members
== Gallery ==
== Trivia ==
* This is one of three possible endings to Grand Theft Auto V. However, it was confirmed in Grand Theft Auto Online that this is the canonical storyline ending.