You're standing in Camp McCarran. It’s dusty, the music is melancholic, and you’ve got a feeling something is rotting inside the New California Republic. Most players stumble into I Put a Spell on You FNV because they want to be the hero who stops a monorail from blowing up. Or maybe they’re playing the villain. That’s the beauty of Fallout: New Vegas—it doesn't care about your morals, but it sure as hell cares about the order in which you talk to NPCs.
This quest is notorious. It’s buggy. It’s brilliant. If you talk to Captain Curtis at the wrong time or finish "The White Wash" in a specific way, you might find yourself staring at a quest marker that leads nowhere. Or worse, the monorail explodes while you’re still trying to figure out how to use the radio. Let's get into how this actually works.
Why I Put a Spell on You FNV Is the Ultimate Loyalty Test
At its core, this quest is about a mole. There is a Frumentarius—a Legion spy—inside the NCR’s most vital transport hub. Colonel James Hsu, arguably the most reasonable man in the Mojave, knows there is a leak. He tasks you with finding it.
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If you’re doing an NCR run, the stakes are high. Losing the monorail means losing the direct link between McCarran and the New Vegas Strip. It’s a logistical nightmare for the Republic. But if you’re working for Caesar? Well, this is your chance to strike a blow that screams "the NCR is incompetent."
The quest usually triggers by talking to Colonel Hsu at Camp McCarran or Lucius at The Fort. Depending on your reputation, the game treats you very differently. If the Legion likes you, you're the saboteur. If the NCR likes you, you're the investigator. If nobody likes you, you're just a mercenary in the middle of a mess.
The Investigation Phase: Don't Rush It
Most people fail this quest because they run toward the objective markers like a Radroach to a lightbulb. Don't do that.
First, talk to Hsu. He’ll point you toward Captain Curtis and Sergeant Contreras. Fun fact: Contreras is a shady dealer, but he’s usually a red herring for this specific problem. The real meat of the investigation happens at night. You need to stake out the control tower. If you go in during the day, nothing happens. You’re just a weirdo standing in a tower.
Wait until roughly 1:00 AM.
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You’ll see a shadowy figure slip into the tower. This is the moment. If you’ve played this game before, you know who it is. It’s Captain Curtis. The "loyal" NCR officer is the one feeding intel to Caesar.
The Monorail Problem: Seconds Matter
Once you overhear Curtis talking on the radio, you have a choice. You can confront him immediately, or you can try to defuse the bomb. Honestly, confronting him right there is the "cleanest" way to do it, but if you let him finish his transmission, the clock starts ticking.
The monorail bomb is located inside the vent of the train. If you aren't fast, the train leaves. Boom. If you have a high Explosives or Science skill (around 35), you can disarm it easily. If you don't? You're going to watch those credits for the "failed quest" screen or just live with the guilt of a destroyed transport link. It sucks.
There's a common misconception that you can just kill Curtis anytime and fix the quest. You can't. If you kill him before the quest officially starts or before you have evidence, the NCR might just turn hostile on you, or the quest will simply break and stay in your log forever.
Working for the Legion
If you’re playing the "bad guy," the quest is much more straightforward. You meet Curtis—who knows you’re an ally—and he gives you the explosives. You plant them, you leave, and you watch the fireworks.
The interesting part here is the reputation gain. Helping the Legion with I Put a Spell on You FNV is one of the biggest "middle fingers" you can give to the NCR. It sets the tone for the Battle of Hoover Dam. It proves that the NCR’s internal security is a joke.
Common Bugs and How to Avoid a Broken Save
Let's talk about the technical side. New Vegas is a masterpiece held together by duct tape and prayers. This quest is a prime example of "Obsidian Polish."
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- The Vanishing Act: Sometimes, Captain Curtis won't enter the tower at night. This usually happens if you’ve already messed with the quest triggers by entering the tower earlier in the day. To fix this, try waiting 24 hours outside the terminal building and then re-entering at midnight.
- The Silent Radio: If you sneak too close to Curtis while he’s on the radio, he might stop talking and just stand there. You need to stay back. Use the "Wait" function if he isn't appearing.
- The "White Wash" Conflict: There is a known bug where the quest "The White Wash" (involving Boyd and the missing water) can interfere with Hsu's dialogue options. Always try to finish one before starting the other.
If you’re on PC, the console command setstage 000e61a4 40 can sometimes kickstart the investigation if Curtis is being stubborn. But try the "waiting" method first. It’s safer for your save file.
Why This Quest Matters for the Ending
Your actions here ripple. If the monorail is destroyed, you’ll see the impact when you visit the Strip. The NCR presence feels more desperate. The NPCs talk about it. It’s not just a checked box in your journal; it’s a change in the world state.
If you save the monorail, Colonel Hsu becomes one of your strongest allies. Given that Hsu is one of the few competent leaders in the NCR (compared to the glory-seeking General Oliver), keeping him happy is usually a good move for a "Peacekeeper" or "House" ending.
Actionable Steps for a Perfect Playthrough
To get the most out of this quest without pulling your hair out, follow this specific rhythm.
First, ensure your Sneak skill is at least decent, or you have a Stealth Boy. Even if you aren't a stealth build, being able to overhear Curtis without him turning around and blasting you is vital.
Second, check your Explosives or Science stats before you even talk to Hsu. If you’re at level 10 and have 15 in those skills, go do something else first. You don't want to be at the bomb with no way to stop it.
Third, keep a "hard save" before you enter the McCarran terminal to start the night-time stakeout. Do not rely on autosaves here. The script triggers for the mole's movement are notoriously fickle.
Finally, if you’re going for a Legion victory, make sure you’ve cleared out any NCR-related side quests in the airport first. Once that monorail goes up, your life in McCarran is going to get very loud and very violent.
Take your time. Listen to the dialogue. This isn't a fetch quest; it's a spy thriller. Treat it like one and you'll see why people are still talking about this game over a decade later.
If you find yourself stuck, check your inventory for the "Scrap Note" or the "Radio Activation Code." Sometimes the game expects you to read those before the next dialogue option appears with Hsu. It’s a small detail, but it’s often the reason players think they’ve hit a dead end. Move through the terminal, keep your eyes open, and don't trust the guy in the beret just because he acts like a friend. In the Mojave, everyone has a price.