Sarah grew up in Vault 21 when it was still an occupied Vault.[3][4] Even though the Vault is now little more than a tourist attraction, Sarah still considers the Vault her favorite place in the world, remembering it as a home where everyone knew each other[5][6] and everyone was equal under "Lady Luck" (as per their Vault's experiment).[7][8][9][10] In 2274, Mr. House offered the Vault 21 dwellers participation in the resurgence of Las Vegas. They initially refused, mostly content with their lives as they were, but a segment of the population disagreed. Acting on behalf of Mr. House, these dwellers challenged the decision and gambled to end their isolation. House's representatives won an hours-long, high stakes game of blackjack, opening the Vault to the outside world.[11] In the process, the Vault's resources were to be completely used in its construction and its bulk filled with concrete, with its residents forced to settle elsewhere.[12][13]
With the Vault now in the possession of Mr. House,[14][15] Sarah and her brother Sheldon convinced Mr. House to keep the top level intact as a hotel, not wanting her former home to be completely destroyed by concrete.[16] While Sarah gets why Mr. House chose this option (believing, correctly, that it was to keep people from accessing the land below New Vegas and to prevent its former occupants from taking it back), and is glad that part of her home survived, she is still annoyed that he did not let them live in peace.[17][Non-game 1][Non-game 2]
Sarah gained managerial custody over the remaining layer of Vault 21, which she soon developed into a hotel and gift shop. Business is usually good, with most of her clientele being well-to-do NCR tourists, honeymooners, and the occasional brahmin baron.[18][19] Sarah mans the hotel's entrance, which doubles as the hotel lobby and the gift shop in question. The shop only sells Vault-themed items, from souvenirs to equipment and machinery, and especially popular are Vault jumpsuits.[20] This is actually a source of convern for Sarah, since the most popular Vault gear is always sold out, leaving "lame" generic technology or Vault-Tec memorabilia that may be no better than junk to most customers.[19][21] Sarah is desperately seeking a way to replenish her inventory of Vault jumpsuits, and is willing to pay lots of caps to anyone who can supply them (even if they aren't from Vault 21 specifically).[22][23] She is also fine with getting modified Vault gear, such as the jumpsuits used by the Boomers, as she would be able to "fix" them into a more marketable form for her shop.[24]
One particular transaction by Sarah was the purchase of a unique rangefinder from a scavenger prior to the Brotherhood's occupation of HELIOS One.[25] Sarah did not think much of the item, and years later, around 2281, she would end up selling it to a strange, average looking dark-haired man with a beard.[26] In her recollection, the customer was twitchy, nervous and wearing a funny collar that he was uncomfortable with but hesitant to mess with;[27] She thought better than to ask him about it, seeing him as just another of the Mojave's odd people.[28] The customer asked if she knew of any place with concrete walls where he could hide out for a while, mentioning "airwaves." She pointed him towards some ruins in Freeside near Mick & Ralph's; she was once in the area to visit Mick and Ralph, viewing them as her "neighbors" in the business, but they never took her seriously.[29]
Personality[]
Both Sarah and her brother Sheldon suffer from agoraphobia, which makes it almost impossible for them to leave the Strip, let alone their homes (Vault 21 and Michael Angelo's workshop, respectively).[30][31][32] This poses a major problem to Sheldon's artistic inspiration,[33][34][35] but it is a little less serious for Sarah. However, she still doesn't like to admit her fear and tries to explain it away as part of her love for Vault 21.[3][36] It has gotten so bad that they do not visit each other despite being next door in separate buildings.[Non-game 3] They are instead forced to communicate via email, which they use to share their fears and concerns and try to help keep each other going.[37][38][39]
Both Weintraub siblings were in the isolationist camp before Vault 21 opened. They both miss the old days[7][40] and are discontent with Mr. House, believing he cheated in the game that gave him control of the Vault and cursing him for filling it with concrete. Sarah even fears that House could kick her out of her home at any moment, as soon as he decides she is no longer needed.[37] Sarah would be delighted to hear of Mr. House's death, believing that this would somehow guarantee her ownership of Vault 21 and that this could open the way for a New Vegas that "belongs to the people."[41] Due to her agoraphobia, Sarah is largely insulated from the news of the wider Mojave and only sees the major regional powers through the tourists that visit her hotel. Since most of these tourists are from the NCR, this has led her to believe that Caesar's Legion must not be a threat if so many NCR tourists are still visiting even as war brews, but she is still not sold on whether the NCR would be better for them than Mr. House.[37]
Tourist Traipse: The player can ask Sarah for a tour of Vault 21 and she will happily oblige.[8][9]
Effects of the player's actions[]
Sarah is essential to Classic Inspiration; her death will make it impossible for the player to complete that quest due to her brother becoming despondent at her demise.[51]
If she is killed, she will be replaced by a Securitron. The Securitron won't buy vault suits, however.[52]
Other interactions[]
Should the player decide to rent a room in Vault 21 the initial price is 20 caps,[53] with a successful Speech check of 55 the price is cut in half.[54]
Should the player insult her, her stuff, or her vault, she will refuse to talk to them until they change their attitude.[55][56]
If the player kills Mr. House, Sarah can be informed of his passing. She will be delighted that she now technically owns the Vault,[41] but it otherwise has no effect on anything.
Should the player decide to flirt with her (successful Speech checks of 65 and 75),[48] or help her find more vault jumpsuits,[23] she will decide to sleep with the player character regardless of sex.
Sarah refuses to rent the Courier a room if they have negative Strip reputation. She also refuses if the Courier's reputation is at Wild Child. Because of this, it is possible to lock oneself out of renting by raising their positive Strip reputation (going from Soft-Hearted Devil to Wild Child).
After having sex with her, she will stay asleep in bed with her Vault 21 jumpsuit unequipped and will only reequip it after she wakes up. This means, if the player picks her pocket, they can take the Vault 21 jumpsuit and she will remain in her underwear indefinitely. This leaves the option to dress her however one may please, as she will equip any clothing item in her inventory.
Notable quotes[]
"I don't know! Maybe he didn't want anybody sneaking around down there. My vault runs deep and wide! It's filled with corridors and rooms that go far. What gives him the right to screw us with the royal shaft, anyway? So, he saved New Vegas. Wohooo! Now scram and let us go on with our lives! Sheesh!"
"Okay, I do, but who wants a lame sensor module, or a nitrogen canister, anyway? All the popular stuff has been sold - especially the vault suits. I need to find more because people buy them like hot cakes. Leather suits are good times! Thinking about that just blows my top!"
Sarah Weintraub was written by Jorge Salgado, who was also the area designer on Vault 21.[Non-game 4]
Bugs[]
PCPlaystation 3 If you take her tour with companions, they may disappear and not reappear when you exit the Vault. Reload a previous save. [verified]
PCPlaystation 3Xbox 360 After having sex with her and waking her up, she will have a different voice than normal. This also occurs when she greets the player in passing (without engaging in dialogue). This glitch may also occur at the end of a transaction. [verified]
PCPlaystation 3Xbox 360 It is possible for her to not recognize that you have Vault 21 or Vault 19 suits in your inventory to give to her. The same problem can occur with any type of Vault suit if you are withdrawing them one at a time from a companion's inventory, but these issues can be fixed by exiting and re-entering the gift shop. [verified]
PCXbox 360 If you pick the dialogue option to initiate sex with her without first getting the key to the hotel room, you will no longer be able to interact with her beyond a pre-programmed response; this includes getting the key to the hotel room. [verified]
PCXbox 360 If you play a character with speech abilities high enough to use all the dialogue options (and you do it when you meet her for the first time), you possibly won't be able to have sex with her whether you have delivered any quantity of suits or not. She may sound as if she's going to meet you in the room right away, but she will actually stay in the shop. [verified]
Xbox 360 If your skill levels are below what is necessary to pass the two speech checks to initiate sex with Sarah (65 and 75), using chems (alcohol or Mentats) or skill books (Meeting People) may cause the dialogue options to disappear. [verified]
PCPlaystation 3 Sometimes, when she comes to your room to have sex, she spawns with no hair. [verified]
PC Opening Sarah's inventory by getting into Steal mode reveals her having beer, bubblegum and crunchy mutfruit among other things. However, it can't be stolen (or taken from her corpse). The GECK classifies it as cut content as all items have a 0 count. Despite this, items pickpocketed from Sarah count towards the Artful Pocketer achievement/trophy.[verified]
PC Changing Sarah's clothes (after stealing her vault jumpsuit) will cause her to wear the last clothing permanently, as the clothing will disappear from her inventory. [verified]
↑ 1.01.1The Courier: "You run the place, then?" Sarah Weintraub: "Yeah - and you got to dig what I did with it! Looking as good as it should... almost." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑Sarah Weintraub: "Hi! I'm Sarah, Sarah Weintraub. Welcome to the finest Vault hotel in the whole world!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 3.03.1The Courier: "A vault hotel? Was it like this before the war?" Sarah Weintraub: "No, silly! Of course it wasn't always a hotel. I grew up in it. I love it - my favorite place in the world! Not that I know much of the world - I never left this place, come to think of it... but it is the most special vault, ever!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You said that Vault 21 wasn't always a hotel?" Sarah Weintraub: "No, silly! Of course it wasn't always a hotel." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You know Doc Mitchell?" Sarah Weintraub: "Mitch!? You know 'mole-butt?' I hadn't thought about that name in a long time. I was just a child, and he had a big mole in his rear bumper. You understand, kids and all that. Everyone knows about each other in a Vault, there's no other way. I hope mol... I mean Mitch, is doing well!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Do you know Doc Mitchell?" Michael Angelo: "You mean, Mitch? It's been ages since I've heard the name. My sister and I used to call him 'Mole-butt.' Don't ask. That was a long time ago, before we exchanged the warmth of our home for the thin air of the Wasteland." (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑ 7.07.1The Courier: "Do you miss the old days in the vault?" Sarah Weintraub: "It was bustling with activity! We all knew each other so well - you see, the vault kept us all even. It's all symmetry and windows down there. We solved any quarrels through gambling! Lady luck casts no eyeballs, you know? So, nobody shafted anyone else! Yeah... I miss those days!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 8.08.1The Courier: "What is so special about this vault?" Sarah Weintraub: "My vault is pure New Vegas. Everyone has a chance and lady luck smiles if you play your odds right!... Okay, it was like that before we had to leave. Vault 21 had very smart ways to help people get along. All arguments and fights got solved through gambling. I'll give you a quick tour of my home! Oh, yeah, if you like." The Courier: "Sure. I would like that." Sarah Weintraub: "Righty-o, daddy-o. Let's do it!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 9.09.1Sarah Weintraub: "All right! Please, follow me. We'll head into the vault right away." "This bunker protects the entrance to the vault - solid stone outside and thick steel on the inside!" "Above us there's the control center for this level of the vault's life-support systems, electric grid, radioactive shields and all that jazz." "Don't get lost! My vault has many corridors and rooms - although it is no longer symmetrical, after Mr. House threw us out." "This is the main game-hall. Here we settled the big disputes among the vault's levels." "Chosen representatives gambled against each other here. The winner earned the right to settle the dispute as wished by the collective." "We used to have such parties in this diner! A bitch to clean later... but well worth it!" "This hall leads to our guest rooms. You can use the first room on our left. But no snooping next door! That's my room, always was." "Down there is the game room! Each side of the vault had one... but the other is filled with concrete now. Okay, that wraps it up. I'll see you soon!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "An artist - rare thing to see. What's your story?" Michael Angelo: "Well, I, uh, not much, really. Vault 21 was my home, my dear home. I left it to explore the outside world. At first it was a marvel to behold. My inspiration flowed true and its works caught Mr. House's attention. That's how I ended up in this... place." (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Are you the owner of this hotel and shop?" Sarah Weintraub: "Well... it is my vault, all right. I mean, yeah. That is, no. I take care of it but I suppose you could say that it belongs to Mr. House." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What did you say about not being the owner of the hotel and shop?" Sarah Weintraub: "I take care of it but I suppose you could say that it belongs to Mr. House." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What does Mr. House have to do with Vault 21?" Sarah Weintraub: "Mr. House has everything to do with Vault 21. He tried to get us out before he filled it with concrete. I almost went ape! So, we convinced him - okay, Sheldon and I, right? We convinced him to leave the top level mostly intact! Mr. House has everything to do with Vault 21. He tried to get us out before he filled it with concrete." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Why did he fill the vault with concrete?" Sarah Weintraub: "I don't know! Maybe he didn't want anybody sneaking around down there. My vault runs deep and wide! It's filled with corridors and rooms that go far. What gives him the right to screw us with the royal shaft, anyway? So, he saved New Vegas. Wohooo! Now scram and let us go on with our lives! Sheesh!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Do you get a lot of business here?" Sarah Weintraub: "Sure! The place's packed... usually. We get loads of NCR cubes these days, a stray Brahmin baron once in a while, and recently circled couples shining big rocks on their fingers." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What kinds of things do you sell in this gift shop?" Sarah Weintraub: "I have all sorts of things. Vault souvenirs, vault wares, vault machines, vault mementos and vault suits! And, well, lots of other vault things, too." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Vault gear - swell. Can you show me what you got?" Sarah Weintraub: "Oh, yeah, sure! Okay - I got these great lunchboxes, they are super! What else? Oh! Look at these toasters! You like toasts, right? If they are crunchy even better! What about a vintage Vault-Tec toy car? Or-" The Courier: "Sarah, stop right there. Do you actually have any vault gear?" Sarah Weintraub: "Okay, I do, but who wants a lame sensor module, or a nitrogen canister, anyway? All the popular stuff has been sold - especially the vault suits. I need to find more because people buy them like hot cakes." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 22.022.1The Courier: "I have Vault gear for you." Sarah Weintraub: "You do? That's wonderful! Let's see what you brought. All right! That's going to net you lots of caps, my friend. Do you want to trade all your vault suits right now?" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 24.024.124.2The Courier: "Shame that you can't fix Boomer suits. They're very similar to vault suits." Sarah Weintraub: "[SUCCEEDED] Hey, who says I can't fix that? You bring me those boom-suits too, okay?" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Tell me about the rangefinder." Veronica Santangelo: "It's a targeting device for some kind of doomsday weapon based at HELIOS One. It was lost sometime after the War. We held HELIOS One for a time. Lost a lot of people defending it. Too many. All for this weapon they never got working. If it turns out to be a dud, it'd show how flawed our goals have been. Father Elijah said he thinks a scavenger might have sold it on the Strip." (Veronica Santangelo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What did he look like?" Sarah Weintraub: "Oh he was pretty average, I'd say. Average height, average age. Dark hair. Beard of some kind." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 27.027.1The Courier: "What kind of collar?" Sarah Weintraub: "Well it was metal, and kind of thick. At first I thought he'd come from Gomorrah, but they're more into leather there. Didn't look comfortable. He kept reaching up like he was gonna itch it, but he always stopped himself." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 28.028.1The Courier: "I'm looking for an antique rangefinder somebody might've sold you." Sarah Weintraub: "Wow, I wish I had more of them. All this interest. It'd be my biggest seller. I sold it to a man not too long ago. Real twitchy, nervous sort of guy. Kinda seemed like he was wiggin' out about something. Had a funny collar on. I wanted to ask him about it but I figured maybe I'd regret asking. People are weird around here." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 29.029.1The Courier: "Did you happen to find out where he was from?" Sarah Weintraub: "No, but I know where he was going. He asked me if I knew of any place where he could hide out for a while. Wanted somewhere with concrete walls. Something about airwaves. I forget. But I guess he spent all his money on the rangefinder, because he said it had to be somewhere free to stay." The Courier: "What'd you tell him?" Sarah Weintraub: "I said I didn't know about anything like that around here. But if he wanted to live for free, a lot of people do that in Freeside. I know there's a concrete building there across from Mick and Ralph's. No ceiling, but I think it still counts. Went up there one time to try and... you know... meet my neighbors in the biz. But you know, I don't think they took me very seriously." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Sarah - there is something else behind all this, right?" Sarah Weintraub: "[SUCCEEDED] Okay - you're right. I hate going outside. It's almost impossible for me to step out of here. Still, I love my vault. It's my pad!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Sheldon also likes the indoors... a lot. Are you agoraphobic too?" Sarah Weintraub: "Okay - you're right. I hate going outside. It's almost impossible for me to step out of here. Still, I love my vault. It's my pad!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You exhibit clear symptoms of acute agoraphobia. I can help." Michael Angelo: "[SUCCEEDED] Ah, an educated fellow? Now that is almost as rare as artistry! So, how can you help me regain my inspiration?" (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "So, is this fear of the outside world draining your inspiration?" Michael Angelo: "Yes, I think so... But, please, uh, keep quiet about it. Without inspiration I am as good as a tumbleweed drifting in the barren wasteland." (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "It sounds as if you don't like this place. What is wrong with it?" Michael Angelo: "I feel haunted by something terrible. Working in such a huge workshop often makes me shiver... I can't even leave the Strip!" (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You seem to dread hearing about Mr. House's requests. What is the problem?" Michael Angelo: "It's this place - my inspiration ebbs and I don't know how to stop it! I can't feel the warmth anymore..." (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: You have never actually left this place?" Sarah Weintraub: "Sure I have! I made the scene in The Strip. It is just that I really like it here - Vault 21 is a kick!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You lived in Vault 21? Tell me about that." Michael Angelo: "Most people don't, uh, understand what it means to grow up in a vault. Its corridors, its walls, radiate a warmth that feels, safe, honest. But here everything is huge and threatening - so empty that I think one of these days I'll just... snap." (Michael Angelo's dialogue)
↑ 41.041.1The Courier: "Mr. House won't give you any more trouble. I took care of that." Sarah Weintraub: "Do you mean that he's a goner? I can have my Vault back?That's just super! I thought we'd never see a different New Vegas, one that belongs to the people." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "I'll also bring you Boomer suits. You can fix them and sell them." Sarah Weintraub: "[FAILED] Do I look like a seamstress to you? Those boomsters can stay in their nowhereville until the sun runs out of gas, for all I care. No deal." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Don't say anything then - you look good enough just nodding your head.|Speech 65 Failure}}" Sarah Weintraub: "[FAILED] Oh, don't floor it... There's a lot more to this than a classy chassis, you know? Anyway, what do you say about my proposal?" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 44.044.1The Courier: "I'll let you in, later, when you're ready for a night to remember." Sarah Weintraub: "You're kicking me into gear, huh? I think I'll drive my chassis over to your pad. Wait for me down there, and don't forget the oil." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "I'll help you out." Sarah Weintraub: "You would? You really would? That would help me, a lot!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "All right. Consider it done." Sarah Weintraub: "Thank you so much! You are an angel. I can't wait to see you again!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑ 48.048.1The Courier: "You know, leather is my specialty. Unzip it, heat it and rub a shine onto it." Sarah Weintraub: "[SUCCEEDED] Really? Well... Ha! I don't even know what to say to that!" The Courier: "Just don't say 'Here, now!' Don't want to get the patrons all riled up, do we?" Sarah Weintraub: "[SUCCEEDED] Ha ha ha! Okay - why don't you help me out and in the meantime I will think about where to... take advantage of your skills." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Yeah, I heard that before. What about actual vault gear?" Sarah Weintraub: "Okay, I do, but who wants a lame sensor module, or a nitrogen canister, anyway? All the popular stuff has been sold - especially the vault suits. I need to find more because people buy them like hot cakes. Leather suits are good times! Thinking about that just blows my top!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Do you still need more vault stuff?" Sarah Weintraub: "If you could bring me vault suits, I would so make it worth your while... I mean, really! But it has to be good leather, okay!?" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑VStreetSecuritronVault21 is initially disabled and is enabled by VFreeformTheStreet01 short variable SarahDead
↑The Courier: "Okay. 20 caps sounds good." Sarah Weintraub: "Go all the way down to the Vault's main hub. Your room's in the hallway to the left. Enjoy your stay!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Sarah, I plan on staying here often - got a special price for a special client?" Sarah Weintraub: "[SUCCEEDED] Well. Sure! You seem pretty special. But that will be our secret, okay?" The Courier: "Here you go, 10 caps." Sarah Weintraub: "Go all the way down to the Vault's main game room, take the hallway to your left and then the first room on the left-hand side. Enjoy your stay!" (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "20 caps for a crappy rat-hole? C'mon, you can do better than that." Sarah Weintraub: "[FAILED] What? A crappy... rat-hole!? My vault!? You are cruisin' for a bruisin', shuckster! The price stays." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Quit yapping. I am starting to think of very unpleasant uses for those toasters." Sarah Weintraub: "Cool it, smarty-pants! I don't have to take that shit from anybody, you know? Get out! Don't come back until you learn how to get along." (Sarah Weintraub's dialogue)
↑Question: "Why in the world would House cement in that Vault? It makes no sense." Joshua Sawyer: "He doesn't want it to be able to return to a fully-functional vault because he doesn't want its former residents to attempt to retake it. I.e. he wants to motivate the Vault 21 dwellers to leave the area. If he had simply sealed off areas or electronically locked portions of it, enterprising smarties like ex-vaulters might attempt to work against him and eventually restore it. With the majority of the vault filled with cement, it can only function as a tourist attraction and small-scale residence." (Joshua Sawyer Formspring posts/2012)
Free if liked enough, otherwise 20/10.
