Radio

Instead of picking up a passenger, Houssine can listen to the radio to learn new information that may help with the case or unlock new conversational paths with passengers. You can listen as many times as you like, but doing so takes up 30 minutes of your time. Listening to the radio will also refresh the map screen, causing different passengers to appear. The radio becomes available to use after Night 1 is cut short by Busset, however it is unavailable on the final night.



''Your finger is poised in front of the car radio. You’re trying to find something to listen to.''

It should be about time for “Top News Tonight”, one of those call-in shows…*

(Listen to music.)

(Listen to the news.)

(Listen to a talk show.)

(Don’t listen to anything.) You turn off the radio and find yourself alone in the silence of your cab.

Listen to music:
You almost never listen to music in your cab, but you’ve preset five* stations you like.

(Pop-rock station.)
 * A deep voice reaches out to you…you immediately recognise it. It’s an oldie and sounds it… it reminds you of one particular night. You slow danced with a girl… What was her name again? …


 * You’re midway through a song you vaguely recognise… Very classic… guitar… drums… and a piano line that takes up too much space. Weird idea to use a piano… weird idea… You smile for no apparent reason. A memory, maybe?


 * As soon as you hear the first few notes, you recognise the song. A mega-classic, sung by a pop queen... you unconsciously start tapping your foot. There's one part you love... a flying acoustic guitar riff... and the singer even has the audacity to use a Spanish word. Like a sunbeam streaming into your cab.


 * A rather crazy bass line jumps out at you. The singer sounds out of breath and meows his way through a song that doesn't seem to have much of a chorus. The drumbeat is unusual. It sounds broken and slightly offbeat. The song comes to an abrupt end, like it ran out of steam.


 * Guitar. Bass. Drums. A fake, scratchy voice... You've dialed into a perfectly generic rock song. You listen with one ear... until you realise the song already ended and another has begun...

(Jazz station.)
 * The radio host announces a painfully sad song: Dorothy Ashby, a jazz harpist. You lean in: the tune is well-known and she's making the variations dance across her strings. You can easily picture her hands on the instrument... the vibrations... her fingers plucking... The piece ends way too quickly.


 * You fall right into a tune you often hear on this station... and one you love. It sounds like they're singing in Hebrew. A simple piano melody comes in as the drumbeat grows slowly angrier. What sounds like a children's song takes off in the background.


 * You recognise the tune immediately. It's Brazilian... a bossa nova. It makes you think of the sun... the beach. You dream about going to Brazil. You're drawn to it; you fantasise about it. The background beat, played on piano, comes and goes from where you're sitting, letting the orchestra take the lead from time to time. And sometimes, the drums steal the spotlight. They settle in, get louder and louder, and then pull back to let the soft strings be heard. "Superb."


 * It's a radio classic. Something from a musical that a jazz musician is forming, deforming, tranforming... You know nothing about music but can tell when a musician is having a blast with their instrument. His trumpet soothes you right up to the explosive finale, leaving a big smile on your face.


 * You don't recognise the song playing at all. A far-off double bass, a trumpet huffing and puffing over an unfinished melody... You quickly lose interest in the music.

(French music station.)
 * You dial right into a top 40s hit -- the kind they play at weddings. You know it by heart but... you've never actually willingly listened to it. It's a French rock tune... not unpleasant... a bit erratic. It's at least five minutes long, with plenty of bridges and breaks to string it along.


 * The man currently bleating on your radio has clearly never had any vocal lessons. His voice croaks and breaks like he's going through puberty. And the lyrics... they lose you completely. He keeps name-dropping like there's no tomorrow. You don't get a tenth of the references.


 * A sharp voice chimes in to explain that the world would be a better place if people would just talk to one another. Hard to disagree with the lyrics. The chorus suggests you look up from your phone and stop believing all the ads you see. A second later, the song ends and the host announces a commercial break.


 * You happen upon one of those songs where new and old pop stars get together to state the obvious about being charitable. There's one like it every year for some cause of another... After listening for a few seconds, you turn the volume down... you can feel a migrane coming on right between your eyes.


 * A nondescript song is playing when you hit the station. The lyrics are about poverty and the future. The chorus is just one bad pun. You sigh.

(Rap station.)
 * Two French rappers go back and forth, shouting insults at each other. The song sounds hysterical and you get the impression you've gotten old, that you missed something. It ends with sound effects and words in Japanese... probably from a cartoon of some sort.


 * A French rapper. With a big teddy bear voice and a very odd nasal whistle. You get through the entire song -- some sad story about losing a door code -- before you realise it's a parody. The sound... the beat... you like it all and even crack a smile.


 * You're immediately capitated by the voice coming over the radio. It is sensual and powerful and resonates with joyfulness. And yet the music is dark and the words -- you can't understand them -- sound apocalyptic. The song ends... and the next one seems comparatively bland.


 * Two voices in this song... The first belongs to an American rapper who's getting increasingly louder and angrier. The other voice... an American superstar. She's trying to calm the rapper down by repeating three lines over and over again. The song ends and you feel... relieved.

(Listen to something else.) You shake your head: you’re not in the right mood…

With a tap on the dial, you cut off the radio and let silence fill your cab.

Listen to the news:
You happen upon the nighttime news.

 The Judge
 * A crime novelist being interviewed about his latest book brings up the Judge. He's quick to say that, according to his sources, the first victim owed money to the mafia. And actually, he thinks the whole case is linked to organised crime. The Judge is just a front for the real criminals.


 * In a vox pop about the Judge, a bystander brings up the fact that the police have still not arrested the homeless man seen near the crime scene. You raise an eyebrow at this bit of news. You didn't know that...


 * In a brief update about the Judge affair, the news anchor emphasises the fact that the first three victims were part of a data leak. You vaguely remember the events: two years ago, a bunch of criminal records were leaked. Could be helpful in finding your suspect...


 * At one point, the anchor interviews a criminologist and refers to a note found at the crime scene of the third murder. The words "Time's up" were used by political opponents of the Argentinian junta...


 * A story about the victims of Rictodin, a drug that caused many medical problems among its users, informs you they are still waiting for compensation. You make a mental note of it...


 * The bystander being questioned about the Judge is convinced the murders are linked to organised crime. It's so obvious to him, he doesn't go into any detail...


 * According to the expert being interviewed, there is no doubt the killer is a pro. He preaches his truth with utmost confidence. You take note...


 * The anchor is questioning a fellow reporter with exclusive information on the Judge. The purpose of the interview is actually more about promoting his own book. You're nonetheless intrigued by one detail. The bullet shell found at the last crime scene proves the weapon was police-issued. He then goes off on a long conspiracy theory...

 Angel of Death
 * The anchor is talking about new eyewitness information about the Angel of Death case. You don't hear anything useful until the witness mentions how tall the killer is... apparently less than 170cm...


 * According to the anchor, a police source noted the victims apparently let the killer into their homes. The killer must seem harmless...


 * During a brief story about the Angel of Death, you learn that the fourth victim, Carolina Jarreau, donated her entire fortune to charity...


 * During a newsflash, a security expert claims that all the break-ins in the Angel of Death case were done by a professional. You repeat the words out loud to fully grasp their importance. "The work of a professional..."

 The Sandman
 * In the Sandman case, the anchor brings up the fact that, weeks after the murder, the fourth victim's heirs are still in a legal battle. One of the family's lawyers explains the murder be solved first, in case the killer is one Henri du Tilleux's heirs...


 * In a cold, monotone voice, the anchor talks about the Sandman case and the latest news leak... The victim was supposedly found with coins in her mouth and throat. You glance at the time and are pretty sure you don't need to hear that kind of information on the radio...


 * One of the lead stories is about the Sandman... According to a new report, the Groupe Diamant could make millions off the Albatros's insurance. That piece of news peaks your curiosity... and you tuck it away in a corner of your mind.


 * The anchor quickly brings up the Sandman affair. According to a reliable source, some of the victims used the same escort site. The police think it's a ridiculous lead. You make a mental note of it...


 * The anchor brings up the Albatros affair. According to a preliminary report, the cause of the fire is thought to be accidental and a result of a badly maintained building...


 * When she brings up the Sandman affair, the anchor takes a moment to remind everyone what an outstanding journalist her friend Mickaela Blanc was. You think about her while the anchor goes on with the rest of the news...


 * The anchor quickly brings up the Albatros. According to outside experts, not sent by the insurance company, it may have been arson. The insurance company chose not to comment...


 * The anchor brings up a new lead in the Sandman affair... The first victim was apparently brought in by the police as a suspect, thought to have been responsible for the Albatros fire, and later released. Although, he had no alibi for the night of the incident...

Requires meeting passengers:
 * ''Only half-listening, you hear something about parishoners petitioning to keep their priest despite his recent marriage. You imagine Christophe is more likely mortified than pleased with the situation.


 * The anchor talks about the release of a highly-awaited video game. A long line of fans has formed in front of a store on the Champs-Elysees where the game will go on sale at midnight. One of them refers to "Lost Legend V" as the game of the century. You recognise his voice and hope he has more clothes on than when he was in your cab... (Referring to Hugo)

Miscellaneous:


 * The anchor is talking about the death of a major French composer of film scores. He lists the films the composer worked on and you’re surprised to discover you recognise most of them. You’d never have thought a French guy could have worked on so many American movies…


 * The anchor brings up the Albatros… The building that caught fire six months ago and is the subject of a legal battle between its former tenants and its owner, the Groupe Diamant. 90 people lost their lives in the fire…


 * The anchor announces new police raids at the biggest French soccer club… Close to a half-million euros went undeclared. She’s quick to add that this will complicate the chances of the club winning the next championship. You sigh, weary of this type of ridiculous commentary.


 * Between two depressing stories, the anchor slips in a funny little item: A Saudi Arabian just bought the Eiffel Tower off a French couple. It's obviously a hoax, but just in case the anchor adds that the very low price of 22 million euros should've been enough to tip him off...


 * The anchor brings up the Albatros fire to inform us that... there's no new information. Six months after the tragedy, they have no clear lead on what caused this fire that left almost 90 people dead.


 * The anchor announces that a brand new gas station should open in Paris... in around 2022. High costs and security issues are currently preventing the city from equipping itself with any new gas pumps, to the great displeasure of its drivers...


 * The anchor seems pleased to announce that a new Confiseries du Marais store has opened in Kyoto, Japan. You're not sure what to do with this news.


 * Between two unsavory news items, the anchor brings up "Paris syndrome"... The sort of panic attack tourists, particulary from Japan, experience when they discover Paris is not as pristine as they imagined. Many tourists cut their visits short as a result of the shock...


 * One of the numerous news briefs strikes you: fast food chain New York Pizza Pizza is closing a dozen stores. Why? They discovered a dangerous form of bacteria in the pizza dough which was produced in Turkey and... airmailed in. ... You squint trying to grasp the logic...


 * After a few depressing headlines, the anchor announces the discovery of Roman ruins on the Ile de la Cité, just a few metres from Notre-Dame cathedral. They are apparently from an old temple built for an unknown goddess, probably something to do with the Seine...

As soon as the news is over, you turn the radio off so that the cab is silent again.

Listen to a talk show:
This option will randomly become available, potentially multiple times, at any time of the night.

You can, however, force the game to display this option by first picking (Listen to music.) and then (Listen to something else.)

''At night, you often happen upon the same show... A woman calling herself "Lady Monique" takes calls from all over France. People tell her about their problems, the trivialities of their lives... and Lady Monique listens and gives them advice. You like the show because callers remind you of yourself: worn out, exhausted, at the end of their rope. But especially because Lady Monique is also trying to figure out who the killer is... You tune into the show in the middle... happens every time.''

 The Judge
 * Lady Monique is explaining just how much of a relief Charles Bougrain's death was to her... He was a racist and a homophobe... and was accused for years of having murdered a communist protester of Algerian descent. Lady Monique sighs... his death took a weight off her chest.


 * A caller with a Spanish accent explains to Lady Monique that the Judge's third victim was all above a remarkable man, an important colonel. He was a helpful man and gave to the community. His death is a tragedy.


 * The current caller has no doubt that all the Judge's victims were wealthy... He uses the first victim as an example: an excellent soccer coach with a long career ahead of him.


 * A grief-stricken caller explains just how much Charles Bougrain's death has shaken her up. Such an upstanding, handsome and proud man...

 Angel of Death
 * Lady Monique and a caller are talking about the case... the Angel of Death case. According to the news, the last victim was hiding political refugees in their mansion! Lady Monique does not seem convinced.


 * You tune in right when Lady Monique is talking about the Angel of Death's third victim, Zita Vellpeau. Everyone knew -- according to Lady Monique -- that she was part of the Moonie Tunes cult. The caller adds that she was Zita Vellpeau's neighbour and on the night of her murder, she heard only female voices.

 The Sandman
 * Lady Monique is having a heated debate with a young-sounding caller. According to him, the Sandman's first victim was just a wat of diverting attention from the real tragedy: the Albatros fire.


 * The caller speaking thinks the Albatros fire was a good thing. The building was old, wasn't making any money and was taking up space in the city. Its destruction was a good thing for the Groupe Diamant's business.


 * Lady Monique is in deep discussion with a supposed eyewitness to one of the Sandman's murders... According to this man, who sounds old and has a very strong northern accent, the only thing that stood out about the killer was his height... over 180cm. As for the rest? Nothing unusual.


 * One of Lady Monique's callers is explaining that she thinks one of the products used by the Sandman is mostly used by S&M fans. She explains in great detail what she can do with pancuronium bromide.


 * Two callers are arguing about whether or not the Groupe Diamant, who owns the Albatros, is responsible for the fire. Months after the disaster, people are still talking about it. This story really hit the public right in the gut...


 * Lady Monique is debating with a caller who thinks the Albatros should have been demolished a long time ago. She thinks that people who don't have the means to live in Paris shouldn't be able to live in Paris. The discussion becomes heated and you lower the volume, feeling your head grow heavy.

Miscellaneous:


 * ''A caller is explaining why she only eats rotten fruit. You listen to her arguments for one very long minute before letting your mind wander. You're not in the mood tonight.


 * Lady Monique is speaking very intimately with a caller she seems to know. You usually like these moments of the show but... not tonight. You're preoccupied... anxious about... about... Everything.


 * Lady Monique is in a fit of laughter. A caller is attempting to explain why we should give babies the right to vote. You smile, struck by how odd the show is.


 * Lady Monique is telling an anecdote with her usual panache. You quickly lose interest. You're not in the mood.


 * Lady Monique lists everyone who contributed to the show: the people behind the window of the recording studio, all the little helpers, the ones who work in the shadows... You.


 * Two callers are having a screaming match about numbers and percentages. When Lady Monique cuts them off, she sounds sleepy. You let out a yawn.

The conversation quickly goes in circles...

A moment later, the conversation gets sluggish and they start making random comparisons...

A moment later, Lady Monique and a caller start butting heads...

A few seconds later, Lady Monique takes a caller who changes the subject completely...

You turn off the radio and find yourself alone in the silence of your cab.

Notes:
The number of preset music stations is listed as "five", but there are only four options: Pop-rock, Jazz, French music and Rap. The options specifically list (Move up the preset buttons) and (Push the lower preset buttons.) to access the last two genres, but I decided to not include those and instead list all the stations here together for convenience. The game must have an issue with displaying more than four options in one go.

I've tested out the radio on all three cases and on multiple nights. I've yet to experiment with all the passengers - as there are some entries that only appear after picking specific people up. There's also the chance I've been extremely unlucky and missed an entry or more - unlikely, but possible. Also the potential for specific criteria I haven't met stopping me from seeing some.

I started this because I was trying to find a certain radio entry (or entries) that would help me with a passenger. Specifically the one for Apollonie and Napo, but also La Pierre, but I ay be able to get that with passengers instead. Also, a user on True Achievements mentioned that first picking up Appollonie then listening to the radio may unlock these radio enteries.