Cooper Santamaria

* 1927-1941
* 1942-1951

## About

***Cooper Santamaria*** was a character introduced in the Mafia II DLC: Cooper's Rise, where it is implied he appears in the final act of the base game when Vito Scaletta raids Carlo Falcone's Zavesky Observatory.

### Physical Appearance

#### Mafia II: Cooper's Rise

Canonically in the Cooper's Rise DLC, he is seen wearing a brown trenchcoat, with a brown waistcoat, a brown tie, a white dress shirt, sunglasses and a brown fedora. However, the player can adjust clothing options as soon as they take control of the character.

#### Mafia II

In the final act of Mafia II, Cooper is spotted sporting the same black suit as the rest of the Falcone Family men.

## Backstory

### Pre-Mafia II

Not much is known about his life before moving to Empire Bay, but what is known is that Cooper Camora Santamaria was born in Canada to a Canadian mother and an Italian father in late September, 1906. When his brother, Michael moved away to the American city of Lost Heaven when Cooper was three years old, Cooper immediatley wanted to follow in the footsteps of his brother and pursue the American Dream.

### Mafia II: Cooper's Rise

#### Chapter One: The American Dream - October 5, 1927

The story kicks off with Cooper finally moving away from his family and Canadian heritage in late 1927, when he was twenty-one years old. Less than a week into his new life in Empire Bay, he saw a man getting jumped in an alleyway by two assailants. Feeling as though he needed to help the man, he walked up to the men and intervened. When the men told Cooper that this man was a wife-beater, Cooper switched sides and helped them, figuring the man deserved it. After letting Cooper get the final blow, one of the men gave him a slip of paper, and told him to write his phone number on it. Cooper obliged, and the man said he'd be hearing from them very soon, and quote:

"*Don't think about ignoring my calls. I'm not someone you wanna fuck with.*"
— The leader of the two assailants

He wakes up in his hotel room the next day, to his phone ringing. When he picks it up, the unknown man from the previous night tells him to meet him at Freddy's Bar in Little Italy. Cooper, not yet owning a car, opts to take a taxi to the restaurant. Once he gets there, he sees the two men from the previous night sitting in two fancy seats on the top floor, beside an older gentleman. The man invites Cooper to have a seat, so he sits down beside the leader of the two assailants from the last night. The older gentleman reveals himself to be Tomaso Moretti, and the other two are revealed to be Tomaso's caporegime Carlo Falcone and his best friend Eddie Scarpa. Tomaso tells Cooper that he's heard nothing but good things about him, and would like him to work for him as a soldier in the Moretti Crime Family, and as Carlo and Eddie's partner.

#### Chapter Two: Humble Beginnings - October 7, 1927

The first job Cooper did with Carlo and Eddie was a few days later, when he got a call from Carlo telling Cooper to meet him and Eddie at Lincoln Park, which is a common meeting place when trying to be subtle. He once again takes a taxi there, and Carlo and Eddie ridicule him for not having a car, telling him that his first priority is getting a car, and a lock-pick. Carlo says he'll drive him to Giueseppe's Shop in Little Italy, and then can go car shopping. On the car ride there, Carlo and Eddie inquire about Cooper's life before meeting them. He tells them:

"*I dunno. There ain't much to say. I came from Canada after my brother moved out in '09, chasing the American Dream... only to find out he got involved with the mafia too.*"
— Cooper explains
Carlo further inquires about Cooper's brother, to which Cooper tells them his name is Michael Santamaria, and he lives in Lost Heaven. Carlo says he's heard of Cooper's brother, and that apparently he's making somewhat of a name for himself in Lost Heaven. Carlo tells Cooper if he puts the same amount of effort into the mafia as his brother has been, he'll be made into the family in no time. They arrive at Giueseppe's shortly after, and Carlo introduces Cooper to him. Cooper then buys a set of lockpicks from him, and gets a quick demonstration. Carlo then buys Cooper a Pocket Revolver. After being hesitant at first, Cooper takes the weapon from his friend's hand, and the three men get on their way.

Their next stop, is the parking lot across the street from Kingston Stadium, letting Cooper drive instead. As Cooper drives the trio to the parking lot, Carlo elaborates on the situation with Cooper's brother in Lost Heaven, stating:

"*About your brother... yeah I's heard about him from a couple a guys I know who live over there. Apparently he had every intention of joining the mafia from the moment he moved there, and hit bank after bank, until the most feared man in Lost Heaven got wind of him... Don Morello. Your brother joined up with them not long after his move. Just like you. I heard he was made into the family the same year he started doing jobs for them. I can pull a few strings to find out his number, if you'd like.*"
— Carlo explaining Michael's current situation
When they arrive at the parking lot, which is full due to the baseball World Series game being played in Kingston Stadium. Carlo tells Cooper to pick any car he likes, as long as he doesn't take too long. Cooper wanders through the parking lot, before the player is instructed to choose the black Shubert Six. Cooper picks the lock on the driver's side door, gets in and hotwires the car. He pulls it out of the parking lot, and Carlo instructs Cooper to follow him in convoy formation to a body shop around the corner. Once inside, Cooper gets the plate changed, so that the car wouldn't be recognized as the stolen vehicle once its original owner reported the theft, as well as any cosmetic change of the player's choosing.

After he leaves the body shop, Carlo tells him that's all for the day, and Cooper disembarks from the other two, heading back to his hotel room.

#### Chapter Three: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas... - December 23, 1927

Two months later, Cooper wakes up to a call from Carlo, telling him to meet him at his house in Greenfield. Cooper drives there, and Carlo presents him with an empty lot, and a sign saying he bought it. Carlo tells Cooper that when this house gets built its ownership will be transferred to Cooper. Carlo tells him that they're going to meet with Eddie at the border Canadian border. Cooper drives Carlo to the border, where they see Eddie leaning against the back of a military truck. Cooper comments on the truck, and Eddie and Carlo tell Cooper they're smuggling alcohol into Canada. Cooper is a little hesitant at first, but when Eddie tells him there is a lot of money in it, he obliges. Eddie then explains how they're going to go about it by saying:

"*Alright boys, this is how it'll work. I'll be in the back of the truck with the booze, while you two put on these soldier disguises and sit in the front seat, to get us through the border. Once we're though, we'll be in Hogtown, and then follow the directions on the map on the dashboard, which will take us to the Conquest City Garage and Dominion Tire Depot in, well, **Conquest City**. That's where we'll pull in. They'll ask who you are, tell them you're with Eddie. That's when I'll pop out, and deliver them the goods. Understand?*"
— Eddie explaining the plan
Cooper tells him he understands, but asks how long it'll take. Eddie says it'll take long enough, and that he's already booked them a hotel. Cooper tells him to cancel the hotel booking, as he has family in Conquest City that they can stay with. The two agree to this, and get started on their roadtrip. Once they arrive at the border, the show border security the ID's of the soldiers the uniforms used to belong to, and were free to go. The drive through Hogtown, where they fill up for gas, and stop for a bite to eat at a diner, before continuing on. Within the next hour-and-a-half, they arrive in Conquest City, where they head downtown to the garage. They finally arrive at the garage after what seemingly took the entire day, and they pull in through the front. A man walks up to them and asks them what he can do for them. Cooper says they're with Eddie, to which Eddie comes out the back of the truck. Eddie introduces Cooper and Carlo to the leader, revealed to be named Ricky Portman. Ricky then asks Cooper if he has a brother, and what his brother's name is. Cooper tells him he does, and his brother's name is Michael. After thinking about it for a minute, Ricky says this:

"*Oh that's right! Yeah Mike and I go way back. When he was just a kid he would do jobs with us and for us. I think that was back in '16. What happened to him?*"
— Ricky remembering his past with Cooper's brother, Michael
Before Cooper has any time to answer him, a group of men walk in through the garage door, and start shooting the place up with tommyguns. Cooper, Eddie and Carlo are the only three that make it out alive from the ensuing shootout. They escape through the back exit, while in the process, having to sacrifice all the smuggled alcohol.