Elsa Lichtmann

	Spoiler Warning
	Plot details follow, read at your own risk.

Elsa Lichtmann
Personal
Status	Alive
Age	30
Birth	March 25, 1917
Gender	Female
Eyes	Blue
Affiliation(s)	Lou Buchwalter Cole Phelps (Lover) Jack Kelso Roy Earle The Blue Room
Location	Los Angeles
General
Weapon(s)	Unarmed
Actor	Erika Heynatz Claudia Brucken (Songs)

"Do you think you can stop people from needing drugs, Detective?"

―Elsa Lichtmann

Elsa Lichtmann is a central character and the tritagonist of L.A. Noire. She is the singer at The Blue Room nightclub.

Biography

Background

Elsa was born in Germany in 1917. During Hitler's rise to power, she fled to the United States, with her friend Lou Buchwalter after both their parents were exterminated by Nazis. She was detained with Lou for four years on Ellis Island in New York. She described Lou as her best friend and the "only man who ever loved her without putting his hands on her," implying that she may have been sexually abused in the past.

In 1947, when the story here begins, Elsa is a singer in The Blue Room nightclub and has become a drug addict who is seeking help from Dr. Harlan Fontaine, a corrupt physician.

Events of L.A. Noire

Traffic and Homicide

"Hi, Elsa. Here's someone I'd like you to meet. Cole Phelps, war hero and crime fighter extraordinaire."

―Roy Earle introduces Elsa to Cole.

She is first introduced to Cole Phelps by Roy Earle after his promotion in Traffic, when Roy takes Cole and Stefan Bekowsky to the Blue ROom in celebrattion of his excellent case-cracking skills. The first time Cole sees Elsa, she is crying over Lou's death. Roy then slaps her to Cole's disgust. Cole develops a love for her and frequently visits the club after solving cases, in order to watch her sing.

Vice

When Cole speaks to her about the stolen morphine she is far from forthcoming. Later that night, he tails Elsa's cab back to her her apartment with the intent to obtain a lead from her and possibly as an excuse just to get close to her. Elsa welcomes him into her home and despite his marriage, the two begin a love affair.

Roy Earle is watching that night, as Phelps enters her apartment. Roy betrays Cole by leaking the affair to the press and this leak draws attention away from Roy's corrupt position in the Vice department. After the press gets hold of it, Marie Phelps (Phelps' wife) sends him packing over the adultery. Phelps then returns to Elsa's apartment. As the two spend more time together, Elsa genuinely falls in love with Cole and feels a sense of joy which helps her overcome her grief for Lou and her drug addiction.

Soon after Elsa receives a letter naming her as a beneficiary of Lou's life insurance, and offering her a $20,000 settlement. This offer arouses Cole's suspicion, and he requests her to see Jack Kelso to personally ask him to help investigate the situation but to leave Cole's name out of it for now.

Arson

Elsa then visits Jack at the California Fire and Life office and rejects the settlement as Phelps has asked her to do. She tells Jack that she has reason to believe that the Elysian Fields Development is trying to cover up something that is more than an accident, and asks him to investigate. Despite the press coverage of Cole and Elsa's affair, Jack initially appears to be unaware of the their connection and he lightly flirts with her. Elsa gives Jack her phone number so he can reach her, regarding the case. Other than striking up a friendship, there is little to indicate that Elsa is being unfaithful to Cole. Jack, however, is clearly attracted to Elsa.

Jack's initial findings indicate a conspiracy is involved with the Suburban Redevelopment Fund, and later sends them to Elsa around the back of The Blue Room. Cole jealously appears in the alley and confronts Elsa due to his indirect relationship with Jack. Elsa tells Cole to be honest and to talk to Jack, since Jack is still unaware that Cole instigated Jack's investigation.

Later, a wounded Jack arrives at Elsa's apartment, then collapses. After taking Jack to a hospital, she stays by his side until he awakes and as Jack opens his eyes, he sees her like an angel. She apologizes for not being completely honest, explaining that both she and Cole needed him to get to the truth of Lou's death and the conspiracy. Jack promises to continue his investigation and hopes to meet her again under better circumstances. Elsa's efforts ultimately help Cole in many ways, providing him comfort and assurance since his disgrace and provides a path for him to settle his differences with Jack.

Elsa attends an appointment with Dr. Fontaine. She happily explains her recovery then briefly mentions Cole and Jack. This causes immediate alarm to Dr. Fontaine, and he stutter his words. Catching him further off-guard, Elsa confronts the doctor by telling him that she knows of his involvement with Leland Monroe, the CEO in the Elysian Fields development. She also says that she knows how he suggested Lou to work at the housing site, which insinuates that the doctor is responsible for Lou's death. Dr. Fontaine then attacks Elsa, viciously knocking her out with a crystal ball and prepares to silence her for good with an overdose of morphine. She is rescued by Ira Hogeboom who kills the evil doctor and gets Elsa to safety.

Ira takes Elsa into the river tunnels and protects her by fending off Monroe's henchmen. After a serious gun fight, Jack and Cole find Elsa. The reunion between the three former Marines ends with Jack performing a mercy kill on Ira, who is mentally insane. Herschel Biggs helps by pulling both Elsa and Jack safely out of the tunnel. They are unable to rescue Cole who realizes the situation and utters a final goodbye, before being swept away by a violent torrent of water and ultimately dying.

Elsa attends Cole's funeral. It is unsettling that the corrupt Roy Earle is selected for the eulogy. He states that the rumors about Phelps are lies. Elsa then jumps up, yelling that he is sullying Cole's memory and walks out in a fit of rage and sorrow. Jack tries to stop her, and she responds, "You call yourself his friend."

Personality

Elsa is deeply troubled by her past. Her family was exterminated by Nazis during the war, causing her to flee to the United States with her friend, Lou Buchwalter, where she is detained on Ellis Island for four years. Elsa describes her odyssey to America as going through hell. She becomes addicted to drugs but her consolation was Lou, who was her best friend. Lou remains positive and keeps Elsa's spirits up.

Despite being a prominent jazz singer in L.A., Elsa is treated poorly for being a woman, a German and a drug addict. Roy Earle is a prime example of this type of behavior, frequently referring to Elsa as "a German junkie whore." She responds with equally acid remarks, once calling Earle an "Untersturmführer" (an SS rank; equivalent to 2nd Lieutenant), many of which were known for war crimes. Presumably she does this to expose his pseudo-fascist views of women and foreigners.

After Lou's death, Elsa effectively loses her only solace and companionship in her life, driving her further into depression and addiction. Her relationship with Cole ultimately helps her overcome her addiction and her grief for Lou, giving her inner strength to move on with her life. The events and her relationship with Cole seemingly lends her a role as a femme fatale mixed in as a tragic heroine. She is a desirable woman engaged in a dangerous romance with the main protagonist, comprising of a very tragic and difficult past.

Case Appearances

Traffic

• "The Fallen Idol"

Homicide

• "The Red Lipstick Murder"
• "The White Shoe Slaying"

Vice

• "Manifest Destiny"

Arson

• "A Walk in Elysian Fields"
• "House of Sticks"
• "A Polite Invitation"
• "A Different Kind of War"

Quotes

The Fallen Idol

• "He was my only real friend, Harlan. We went through it all. Do you realize what he meant to me?"
• "You have no idea. You said it was construction work."
• "Louis, for God's sake, he was my best friend. The only man who ever loved me without putting his hands on me."
• "And why would I want to meet another fascist from the LAPD?"

Manifest Destiny

• "Take a break, boys."
• "And this is your idea of making inquires, Untersturmführer?"
• "Will you sit down?"
• "Ask your questions, Herr Officer, we have work to do."

Cole Phelps: "Hopheads appear to get a free pass at this club. You all know about the morphine".
Elsa Lichtmann: "And how do you expect to prove that?"
[Lack of evidence.]
Elsa Lichtmann: "I have a rehearsal to finish. It's time for you to leave."

Cole Phelps: "I don't believe you. You knew these men."
Elsa Lichtmann: "And how would you like to prove that, Detective?"
[Lack of evidence.]
Elsa Lichtmann: "You're out of your depth here, Detective, and you're asking the wrong questions of the wrong people."

A Walk in Elysian Fields

• "A letter from Lou. His insurance policy named me beneficiary."
• "The roof that he was working on collapsed."
• "What has that got to do with Lou?"
• "Isn't this police work?"
• "Why would he help, this Kelso?"
• "He is a friend of yours?"
• "Why not be honest with this man, Cole? He deserves your honesty if you want his help."

House of Sticks

• "Mr Kelso?"
• "I don't accept the settlement."
• "I don't want the money."
• "I want you to..."
• "Of course not."
• "Lou Buchwalter was a craftsman. I don't believe he would have made a roof that would collapse."
• "How do you know that?"
• "Do you believe everything that you read, Mr Kelso?"
• "I've already told you - I do not want the money. There's something wrong with that house."
• "So now you know my motives, Mr Kelso? And how do you intend to prove that?"
• "If I wanted to dispute the settlement I would have brought along a lawyer. I want to find out what happened to my friend. Surely you understand that."
• "No."
• "We were family friends."
• "I don't like your attitude Mr. Kelso."
• "You really want to know?"
• "We were interned together on Ellis Island. Resident alien Germans whose parents had been killed by Nazis. Do you see the irony in that, Mr Kelso? We spent four years there."
• "He was my friend. Can you prove any different, Mr Kelso?"
• "Reopen the case, Mr Kelso. Save your company a significant amount of money."
• "Exactly what I said. I want that building thoroughly investigated."
• "I believe that money has value. I believe your work defines who you are, and you should be paid relative to the quality of your work."
• "There is a conspiracy surrounding Elysian Fields and the new houses they are building. I believe your insurance company is involved."
• "I've told you what I know, Mr Kelso. What are you going to do about it?"
• "I'm a German, Mr Kelso. We no longer have a government. I am not a Soviet, unless you have some way of proving differently."
• "Mr Kelso, the greatest threat to America is not another way of life, but American naivety as to how other people live their lives."
• "Yes?"
• "Is that usual?"
• "The address is on the letter, Mr Kelso."
• "My friend deserves the truth, Mr Kelso. You can find it."
• "Mr Kelso, I'm sure you have some inquiries to make."
• "You look as if you might have something on your mind, Mr Kelso."
• "If you wish to simply interrogate me for your own enjoyment, Mr Kelso, then I will answer no more questions. Here is my number. Call me when you are prepared to help."
• "Hello?"
• "Yes, Mr Kelso?"
• "Yes, and what have you found?"
• "Meet me at the Blue Room. I work there tonight. I take a break around nine. I'll be waiting at the stage door. We can talk then. Auf Wiedersehen, Mr Kelso."
• "I was doing what you asked."
• "Why do you snarl at me? Your friend came to ask me to accept the insurance money."
• "I think he's a brave man and you have placed him in great danger. You've involved him in something he has no idea of the risk. Can you live with that, Cole?"
• "Forget the past, Cole. He deserves the chance to say no. If he helps you, let it be on his terms."
• "WOAH!"
• "For God's sake, Cole, call an ambulance."

A Polite Invitation

• "Not long, Mr Kelso."
• "Please call me Elsa."
• "I'd like to explain..."
• "Cole needs your help, Jack. The police department have frozen him out."
• "I just wanted to apologize for..."
• "He was a carpenter. He built sets for RKO and Warner Bros."
• "That's perfectly understandable, Mr... Jack. I hope we can meet again under less dramatic circumstances."

A Different Kind of War

Prologue

• "Good morning, Doctor."
• "Thank you, Doctor."
• "I'm sorry, Doctor. I've been feeling much better."
• "It's the new man in my life. He's convinced me to fight my addiction."
• "He can finally see things from a human perspective, rather than the ivory tower he created for himself. It's making him stronger and it's making me stronger helping him."
• "We are both finding we have a lot to live up to."
• "In my case, Lou. He went through hell along with me and still came out smiling. In Cole's case, his friend Jack Kelso."
• "You've heard of him?"
• "Cole and Jack are working on a case together."
• "No, he works for the District Attorney."
• "He's a Special Investigator. I thought you didn't know him."
• "He has been looking into Lou's case. Cole thinks it might be linked to some fires he's investigating. You look pale, Doctor."
• "You arranged for Lou to work at Elysian Fields, Doctor."
• "I don't believe you, Doctor. I've seen you with Monroe at the club."

In-Game

• "I've felt better. He saved me from the Doctor."
• "What is he talking about?"
• "For God's sake, Jack! What are you going to do?"
• "Swine. You belittle his memory."
• "Get out of my way, Jack. You call yourself his friend?"

Trivia

• Elsa is left-handed, as demonstrated when she writes her telephone number down for Jack Kelso.
• She is the only person to be interviewed by both protagonists.
• Despite Australian actress Erika Heynatz being a singer - she released her first album around the time L.A. Noire was first released - she does not perform Elsa's songs in the game; instead, German singer Claudia Brucken provides those vocals backed by the musical group The Real Tuesday Weld.
• Elsa resides at an apartment building, situated at 6005 West Sunset Boulevard. Her phone number is MI 221.

Gallery

Artwork of Elsa singing at The Blue Room

Elsa talking to Cole Phelps

Elsa talking to Jack Kelso

Elsa on stage at the Blue Room Jazz Club

Elsa backstage

A sketch of Elsa

Another sketch of Elsa

Erika Heynatz as Elsa Litchmann