eXputer

Missionmajor

Legal Trouble

Michael chases Molly Schultz through Los Santos and into the airport to recover the Meltdown film reel.

RoleStory mission guide
Importancemajor
  • ModeStory Mode
  • TypeStory mission
  • Difficultyhard
  • Walkthrough steps7

Time and medal conditions vary by route, approach, player count, replay state, and game version.

Key takeaways

Prepare before the opening marker and treat each objective update as a checkpoint.

  • Primary goal Michael chases Molly Schultz through Los Santos and into the airport to recover the Meltdown film reel.
  • Protect mission-critical assets Avoid unnecessary vehicle damage, friendly fire, or abandoning a required target outside the objective radius.
  • Use protagonist abilities Use Franklin for precision driving, Michael for controlled gunfights, and Trevor for high-damage combat whenever the mission makes them available.
  • Do not rush the final marker Clear pursuit conditions and keep required characters or vehicles together before entering extraction.

Overview

Michael chases Molly Schultz through Los Santos and into the airport to recover the Meltdown film reel.

Michael chases Molly Schultz through Los Santos and into the airport to recover the Meltdown film reel.

This Story Mode mission advances the protagonists’ connected storyline. Some neighboring missions can become available simultaneously, so the exact play order may vary.

The walkthrough below separates travel, setup, combat, pursuit, and extraction checkpoints so a failed section can be diagnosed without repeating the same mistake.

Characters in this mission

Where this sits

PreparationMeet Solomon and learn that Molly has the film
Core objectiveAvoid aircraft and service vehicles during the pursuit
CompletionLeave the airport and evade the wanted response
  1. 1Reuniting the FamilypreviousPrevious
  2. ●Legal TroublecurrentCurrent guide
  3. 3Lamar DownnextNext

Branching heist preparations and simultaneous character missions can alter the playable order.

Requirements and recommended loadout

Enter with mission-appropriate ammunition, armor, and a vehicle that can survive the opening travel phase.

  • RequiredComplete the preceding story unlocks
  • RecommendedFull body armor and stocked ammunitionParticularly valuable for missions marked moderate or hard.
  • RecommendedAccurate mid-range weaponA rifle or stable automatic weapon handles most outdoor gunfights.
  • OptionalClose-range backupUseful inside buildings, alleys, and vehicles.
  • RecommendedSave the relevant protagonist abilityUse it for the most difficult chase, driving, or combat checkpoint.

Objectives

  1. Meet Solomon and learn that Molly has the film
  2. Drive toward the airport while following her vehicle
  3. Continue through the security gate and onto the airfield
  4. Avoid aircraft and service vehicles during the pursuit
  5. Follow Molly into the terminal
  6. Recover the film reel after the confrontation
  7. Leave the airport and evade the wanted response

Detailed walkthrough

  1. 01

    Meet Solomon and learn that Molly has the film

    Meet Solomon and learn that Molly has the film

    Meet Solomon and learn that Molly has the film. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    TipBefore triggering the opening marker, restock armor and ammunition if the mission is expected to involve combat.

    Checkpoint
  2. 02

    Drive toward the airport while following her vehicle

    Drive toward the airport while following her vehicle

    Drive toward the airport while following her vehicle. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  3. 03

    Continue through the security gate and onto the airfield

    Continue through the security gate and onto the airfield

    Continue through the security gate and onto the airfield. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

  4. 04

    Avoid aircraft and service vehicles during the pursuit

    Avoid aircraft and service vehicles during the pursuit

    Avoid aircraft and service vehicles during the pursuit. Make small control inputs, maintain safe altitude, and line up the next checkpoint early instead of correcting sharply at the last moment. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Follow Molly into the terminal

    Follow Molly into the terminal

    Follow Molly into the terminal. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

  6. 06

    Recover the film reel after the confrontation

    Recover the film reel after the confrontation

    Recover the film reel after the confrontation. Approach from the safest side, clear immediate threats, and wait for the possession or collection confirmation before moving to extraction. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  7. 07

    Leave the airport and evade the wanted response

    Leave the airport and evade the wanted response

    Leave the airport and evade the wanted response. Break line of sight before hiding, avoid main roads where new units spawn ahead, and remain outside vision cones until the wanted level clears. Remain in the final marker until the mission-complete transition begins.

    Watch outA failed push can expose the mission vehicle or protagonist to concentrated damage; reset behind cover instead of forcing progress.

    Checkpoint

Difficult sections and useful strategies

Strengths

  • Frequent objective markers make the intended route readable
  • Character switching or team roles can divide pressure
  • Most combat checkpoints provide cover or a defensible angle

Weaknesses

  • Mission-critical vehicles and allies can fail the attempt
  • Police or enemy reinforcements punish slow extraction
  • Long pursuits can be lost by overcommitting to shortcuts

Best uses

  • Clear enemies from range before moving a required vehicle
  • Use special abilities during the hardest driving or combat segment
  • Restart from the latest checkpoint after a failed gold-medal attempt rather than improvising a damaged route

Completion checklist

  • Meet Solomon and learn that Molly has the filmCheckpoint 1
  • Drive toward the airport while following her vehicleCheckpoint 2
  • Continue through the security gate and onto the airfieldCheckpoint 3
  • Avoid aircraft and service vehicles during the pursuitCheckpoint 4
  • Follow Molly into the terminalCheckpoint 5
  • Recover the film reel after the confrontationCheckpoint 6
  • Leave the airport and evade the wanted responseFinal completion condition

Failure conditions and checkpoints

  • A required protagonist, ally, or protected target dies.Restart from the most recent mission checkpoint.
  • A mission-critical vehicle is destroyed, abandoned, or leaves the playable route.Use the restart option rather than continuing in an unmarked replacement.
  • The target escapes or a timed objective expires.Prioritize route discipline and the primary objective over optional combat.
  • The player is wasted or all shared team lives are exhausted.Story Mode reloads the latest checkpoint.

On failure

Major travel, combat, and transition phases generally create checkpoints, but exact restart placement can vary by approach and replay mode.

Rewards and aftermath

  • Mission completion and progression
    Unlocks the next related story activity, contact, property, or preparation where applicable.

Sources and verification