THE SIGNAL
Sven.
I love you.
{n8}Oh man!
Hey, come on!
Wake up! We overslept!
What? Why?
The alarm didn't go off.
Buy yourself a new phone!
Where's the CI?
Come on now, Charlie! We have to go!
Come on.
- Where have you been? - It's started! Come on! Quick!
We're here now. We're here.
- I called you three times. - Yeah?
- I was about to come over. - Hi, sweetie. Are you excited?
- Hi. - Hey.
- All good? - Yeah.
There they are!
There!
The Vision Capsule is now at an elevation of 30,000 feet.
Due to frictional heat, the tiles on the outer skin
can reach a temperature of 3090 °F...
- The parachutes should be open by now. - They know what they're doing.
Landing, stage four. Activate parachutes.
Don't even try. She's read everything about space travel.
But aren't they still a bit high, Charlie?
No.
This way, the astronauts' survival chances in case of a disaster...
Hey.
It'll be fine. Don't worry.
...under special observation...
Your hand is wet.
- It'll be fine. - Every astronaut...
Paula! The parachutes!
Paula, deploy the parachutes.
Push the button, Paula!
Hey! Paula! Hey!
Push the button!
Please, Paula! Shit!
The parachutes should be opening by now.
It's getting very low.
I'm looking at my screen, and...
- Shit. - If the numbers are right, then...
Paula!
Hey, push the fucking button!
Paula!
- Yes! - Yes!
She's back!
We did it.
- It wasn't easy for Team Earth either! - Team Earth had it tougher!
{n8}ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE
And here she is. Benisha Mudhi!
The Indian billionaire made this adventure possible for Germany.
Mudhi helped millions of people escape poverty.
She lent people a tiny bit of money.
They used it to buy a camping stove, which they rented out for a little money.
Then they bought a cell phone, which they also rented out.
And then a cow. Like Hans in Luck.
- How do you know all that? - I want to be like her.
And do you know why it worked so well? Because she only lent money to women.
- Why's that? - The men would've probably drunk it away.
Feeling better?
- For that I'd need harder drugs than this. - We could plunder Else's window boxes.
No, count me out.
I've seen too much crazy stuff.
And I live with a police officer.
It costs millions to train astronauts.
If in the future, more astronauts...
Oh man! For a second there, I thought it would go sideways.
And I could have sworn that...
Never mind.
- No, what? - No, you know me.
I'm a worrywart.
Murphy's law. I don't know.
- Oh. - Who called?
You.
Three times.
How can anyone reach you on that relic?
...interview the astronaut.
Well?
Are you happy?
One more night, and then we'll have her back.
Yeah.
What do you think she'll tell us when she's back?
Strange.
Mom looks strange.
VANISHED
Hey!
Hello.
We've almost used up my phone battery.
You're getting a new one. Resistance is futile.
You know I don't want to be a data junkie.
- I'm old fashioned. - Or paranoid.
Thank you.
Yeah, and rightly so.
I wanted to talk to you alone. I couldn't tell you some things earlier.
Because of Charlie?
Yeah, exactly.
Why? What did you want to tell me?
I wanted to tell you that we have a lot of catching up to do.
Like what?
I want a real kiss.
I want a real hug.
With gravity.
Hold on a second.
- I have to get the charger quickly. - Sven? Something crazy happened.
What do you... What happened?
I...
Paula?
I just wanted to tell you that I listened to you.
About what?
Fox and Hare.
- I'm going to win next time. - Huh?
I learned from the best, from you.
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing. I... Charge your phone.
Hold on. I'll plug it in.
Just a second.
I'll see you on the other side.
Oh man.
Okay.
Sending you a kiss.
See you soon.
Wait! My book!
Yeah. Hold on.
You forgot to lock up.
Wait a second.
- Are you okay? Too loud? - Yeah.
Maybe we should take a taxi?
I'll turn it down.
- Is the stand up ahead? - Let's...
Better? Okay.
- Sven! - Hey, Rainer. Hi.
Hello. Well?
- Who is that? - I introduced you to him at the launch.
- I'm Rainer from the Space Center. - He's Mom's boss.
Well, instructor.
The boss is far, far away, but I bet you've seen her on TV.
Rainer trains scientists to be astronauts.
Really?
- Yes. - Have you been to outer space?
About 100 years ago.
- Really? - Yes.
Now she won't stop asking.
We'll do that later with a Coke or whatever kids drink these days, okay?
Mm-hmm.
They're waiting for me. I have to deal with the press.
- Promise! - Charlie.
Of course!
Look! Mira and the boys are waiting for Hadi.
Malik!
- Hey! - Well?
Hey, you two!
Hello. You two got here late.
Dad is never on time.
- How long have you been here? - The boys woke me up at five.
- They didn't want any breakfast. - Charlie also couldn't eat.
- They'll have their parents again soon. - Yeah.
- Mom? - Yes?
What does "delayed" mean?
- What does what mean? - What does "delayed" mean?
Looks like we have some time.
They could at least make an announcement.
- Do you know her? - No.
Or she'll come over.
God forbid.
{n8}And if someone had slipped and hit the button...
Boom!
All gone!
Charlie, please put that book away.
- And? - Nothing.
Man, enough already!
- Does anyone have to use the toilet? - Anyone?
- No. - No.
- I'll be right back.
- Okay. - All gone!
It's been one and a half hours. Don't you have an update?
We don't know anything, but...
Hey! What's wrong?
It's okay.
Breathe.
It's okay.
Breathe.
Come on. This way.
POLICE
What?
Paramedics!
Yes.
Charlie! Charlie?
Charlie!
Sorry. I can't find my daughter. A woman with three...
- Charlie! - Wait! Here, the note!
- Take it! - Stop! You can't go through.
Sven!
Charlie!
There must be some information.
- Better? - Better.
Sven?
They say it's gone.
- Gone? What's gone? - They don't know where the plane is.
This is an emergency message
for Flight AE 7606 from Santiago de Chile.
Please take the bus in the departure area, section A, zone 1.
- Stay calm and follow the instructions... - Yes.
Yes.
- Come with me. - Where are you taking us now?
There.
What did they say?
- They... - They're looking for them.
- Please accept our offer. - Hey. Come here.
- Mr. Wachtmeyer... - They took a rocket into outer space.
They won't just vanish in a silly little airplane. No way.
But where are they then?
Charlie, they're somewhere. They didn't just disappear.
Hey, the transponder is probably just broken, or...
What's a transponder?
The airplane has a transmitter that sends signals.
- Like our radio. - Right! And sometimes it loses reception.
So if you have questions...
Okay...
Hey.
What would Mom say now?
...keep you updated. The airline will inform...
In the end it'll be fine, or else it's not the end.
See? That's right.
But not you.
- There's no further... - What?
You'd never say that.
We are doing everything we can
and everything humanly possible to...
Yes, we...
We have to find them.
Charlie, I...
I have to... I'll be right back.
Dad?
Yes?
Everything okay?
Yes, Charlie. I'll be right out.
It was during the Cold War.
{n8}Just imagine, the entire human race was fighting.
There were two camps.
Only friends and enemies. The USA... and the Russians.
And today?
Today it's complicated, Charlie.
Today people aren't sure who's who anymore.
Friends can be enemies, and the...
The enemy is right sometimes, and everyone's confused.
- I don't want to scare you. - I'm not scared.
Anyway, back then, during the Cold War, they reached out to the stars.
People wanted to know if anyone was out there, so they sent a message
from all of humankind.
With a map showing how to reach us
and pictures of trees and people and sounds in every language on the globe.
Even in Russian?
Yes.
Even in Russian, even though they were the enemy.
And this probe flew incredibly far into outer space.
Far beyond the edge of our solar system.
And do you think there's anyone out there?
Well, if space is infinitely large, the chance is...
- ...infinitely large... - ...that someone's out there.
- That's just math. - You sound like Mom.
But infinitely small that anyone will get the message.
Now you sound like you.
Why doesn't Mom like it on Earth?
Why do you say that? That's... Of course she likes it here.
Mom always wants things to be different.
Any news?
The chaplains are downstairs now.
In the lobby.
We're actually here to distribute these T-shirts.
And toothbrush sets.
Thanks.
And drink a lot.
Yes, thanks.
Here you go.
Thanks.
I'm...
- Do you know what my theory is? - Keep your theories coming.
It helps you to briefly lower your IQ a tad.
Then Hadi shouldn't smoke.
- Hey! Two PhDs. Please. - Okay.
She's just so smart. Sometimes I think it's a handicap.
Although there are things you're not so good at.
Like what?
Like...
No.
- Fox and Hare. - Will you come back and play?
My wife, whose IQ is probably 1,286,
has never beaten her daughter at Fox and Hare.
- She lets her win. - No.
Hard to imagine for a man.
No! She just can't imagine that her daughter is up to no good,
but that's the whole point of the game.
It's not that I can't imagine it.
I don't want to.
Want one?
No, I quit.
I've quit many things in my life.
Today I'm starting two of them again.
If not today...
If not today.
Minibar. The government's paying.
I keep thinking maybe they made an emergency landing.
No reception.
At least hijacked.
Anything. Whatever. Just not...
Anyway... what are their chances?
My wife could tell me.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
She'd say something like,
"One in 50 million. Not bad at all."
Shit!
I shouldn't have listened to her! I knew it!
Hey...
What did you know?
Nothing. No. Doesn't matter. I'm sorry.
I'm... going back inside.
Is there no Nutella?
Alex?
Alex? Oh God!
Where are you?
In... Paris?
He wasn't on the plane. He missed the flight.
Oh God.
Good morning, everyone.
Please come to the conference room.
We have news.
For once, you can watch whatever you want.
But I want to come.
You can't. It's only for adults.
I don't want to stay here alone. I want to know what's going on.
Okay.
Listen.
We were going to make a video for Mom, for when she comes back.
Of the whole trip. Why don't you start choosing some clips?
I'll be right back. Okay? It won't take long.
Mom!
Mom! Don't forget us!
As you know, the last radio contact with air traffic control
was in Newfoundland yesterday at 6:51.
At that time, the plane was over the Atlantic,
about 620 miles from the Irish coast.
When the plane failed to check in as scheduled
with air traffic control in Ireland,
the flight operator on duty tried to make contact at 7:35
on the emergency frequency.
Without success.
At 8:04, four search planes took off,
heading for the last-known position of Flight 7606.
It is my duty to tell you that
these search teams reported around 6:45 today
that they had spotted wreckage in the Atlantic.
We must assume the worst,
that in all probability there are no survivors.
Their deaths are on your conscience!
{n8}3 MONTHS EARLIER
- Oh God! Wait... - Watch out.
I feel like the very first human.
Pretty expensive hotel for just one window.
- What a view! - Yeah.
- Paula... - Yeah.
We're here!
We're really here!
...always in goal, you'll lose.
Okay, there you are.
Okay, guys. Listen.
Don't move.
I'll find them.
I accidentally left them...
Excuse me? Mr. Groth?
Timme, Federal Police. Could you come with us for a minute?
First of all, our sincerest condolences.
From all of us.
Oh God.
There's more?
- Well, we're here to figure that out. - Here?
With me? Now?
This is standard procedure
after a plane crash of undetermined origin.
We're talking to all parties.
Okay.
Can I cut to the chase?
Of course we're not talking to everyone. We're talking to you.
- Did you talk to your wife before takeoff? - Of course.
Did she seem strange at all?
- What are you getting at? - Just that. Was there anything strange?
Mr. Groth?
No, nothing strange. Why?
The landing capsule's automatic parachute failed.
It had to be deployed manually.
That was your wife's job.
Okay. And?
She didn't do it.
For a whole 49 seconds, until it was almost too late.
- Mr. Groth... - Fuck you!
Please help us. We just want to understand.
"I knew it."
"I shouldn't have listened to her. I knew it."
End quote. What exactly?
What did you know?
You are really sick.
Really sick.
Occupational hazard. It's our turn. Please.
And Mom?
- They don't know anything for sure. - Anything for unsure?
Wait.
Charlie. We'll talk at home calmly. Okay?
Okay.
€108.00 PLEASE PAY - DURATION: 1D 11H 57'
{n8}OUT OF ORDER CARD TRANSACTIONS NOT POSSIBLE
This can't be happening.
What is it?
- Nothing. - Here, take mine.
Brave New World.
PAY PAYMENT MADE
Thank you. That...
We've met before.
I'm Nora.
Mudhi's assistant.
Oh... Right. I'm really...
Mudhi wanted to come herself, but she had...
Well, the doctors won't let her.
She's not in good shape. She got very worked up.
She doesn't have children of her own,
and Paula was
very special to her.
I understand.
Thank you so much for...
I was booked on that flight.
- I had to reschedule at the last minute. - I see.
I should be dead now.
It's all just so...
- Sorry. I really have to... - I'm supposed to give you something.
This is for you, Carlotta.
Who is it from?
Mudhi.
Really?
Just a little something. A good-luck charm.
That's really very nice. Thank you. Really very nice.
If you need help...
Real help, that is.
I mean, money can't fix everything.
We do some things better
than others.
The latest news on Radio HPM with Tina Hildemann.
Still no answers over the Atlantic.
After the shocking news...
What does this mean?
It says...
"It'll be fine," Charlie.
Really?
HELLO, MOM GOOD NIGHT, GOOD NIGHT
YOUR BLANKET IS BANGING
Good night, good night. My blanket is banging. Over.
Your blanket is banging. That's crazy.
- It works! - Of course it works.
It's just physics.
It's like a miracle!
Physics is a miracle.
And you can receive it up there too?
Yes, there's an old radio up there that no one uses.
And we'll do it every day?
We'll do it every day.
I'll show you something.
The ISS flies around the Earth 16 times a day.
And the 12th orbit is ours.
And when I'm right above you, I'll say goodnight.
- Okay? - Mm-hmm.
And during good weather, you might be able to see the station.
Really?
With binoculars. Sure.
But won't the whole world be talking? How will you hear me up there?
Look, there are waves of different lengths.
- Some are tiny... - And you can't see them?
You can see some, but not these.
But you can put words on every single one of these waves.
And there are channels that are dead. No one uses them anymore.
The Russians used to use them.
- The Russians? - Yes, in the Cold War. Like in your book.
But that was 40 years ago. They're deserted.
You built that?
No, I bought it secondhand and set it up for you.
For me?
Not just for you.
TEAM EARTH WELCOME BACK, MOM!
TEAM EARTH
Okay, that's enough for today, right? Time for bed.
I want to finish this. I can't sleep anyway.
- And when you do sleep, you keep me awake. - What do you mean?
You mumble. Worse than grinding your teeth.
Lucky they gave us something for the first few nights.
I'll knock myself out.
- I wish I could too. - Then do it.
I'm such an idiot.
I'm glad we went through with it. I wanted to tell you that.
Okay. Are you coming?
I have plans later.
1 MESSAGE RECEIVED
VOICEMAIL FROM PAULA
One more thing.
It's our ten-year anniversary on St. Nicholas Day,
and you can't duck out this time.
Okay? I want us to do something big.
Go away with Flitzi or something.
Okay? I want flowers, I want kitsch, the whole package.
So think of something.
I love you. See you soon.
And don't fight with Flitzi.
Yeah, I mean... It's all... I...
- It doesn't make sense! I don't get it! - What don't you get?
Charlie and I didn't fight. We hardly ever fight. It's...
I can't think very clearly right now. Sorry.
I'm trying to get the boys out of this damn hotel,
but the police won't leave us alone.
Hey, we're all alone now.
Can we please just try to cope with that first?
Sorry.
- Listen, can we just talk tomorr... - Mira?
What?
Was Hadi acting strange?
Now you're starting with that too?
They asked that same question at least 30 times.
- What's going on? - Yeah.
That's what I'm trying to figure out. So?
Yes, damn it.
Of course he was acting strange. He had just come back from outer space.
Paula said something happened up there.
Sven.
It's a totally normal message from your wife.
Don't fight with your daughter,
and she wants a bouquet of flowers
and a little action on your anniversary.
Just be happy you got to hear her voice again.
There's just one thing.
We didn't meet on St. Nicholas Day.
Sven, what's going on? Did something happen?
- Is everything okay? - They weren't live.
- What? - It says "live," but it wasn't live.
There's a 90-minute difference, and I'm asking you why, Rainer.
Sven, now you're putting me in a...
That's the kind of thing they only do at the Oscars.
You know why? They're scared someone will say something inappropriate.
Or something political or something important.
They don't want any accidents.
There. Now it's your turn.
Sven.
What's going on?
- Rainer! - Your wife died. That's what's going on.
And Hadi.
And 176 other people.
It's a disaster. A shock.
I wish I could drink myself into a coma and wake up in three weeks.
I can barely imagine how you feel. You have to get some sleep.
You have a daughter. Please go to bed, Sven.
Please.
I can see you.
- Hi, sweetheart. - Flash your lights.
I can't.
You know, they would all think I've gone crazy.
Then tell me something. What does space smell like?
I don't think space can have a smell because there aren't any molecules.
There aren't any what? I didn't...
Carlotta? Can you hear me?
We're entering the dead zone.
What did you say?
We're entering the area with no connection to Earth, Carlotta.
Carlotta?
No news on Flight AE 7606 after the accident over the Atlantic.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The search for the black box is ongoing.
Twenty-four hours after the crash,
with freezing temperatures 620 miles off the coast of Ireland,
there is no chance anyone onboard has survived.
I'm on board the USS Hope. Right now, I can see...
- Charlie. - ...helicopters on the horizon.
- There are tons of ships. - Charlie, I...
Hey, Charlie!
Charlie!
Charlie, come on, open up! Charlie!
Charlie!
Charlie, open up, please!
Look at me.
Charlie, look at me.
{n8}I'm sorry. I didn't know...
Is Mom dead?
They're still search...
Is she dead?
We have something you might want to listen to.
Before the whole world hears it.
Air traffic control contacted us.
Early Tuesday morning, they recorded fragments of a radio transmission.
Press "enter."
When you're ready.
- Let me through! - Get out!
- We just need the intercom. - Get out!
Sven, you need to...
I'm sorry.
I love you.
Now it gets interesting.
What was your wife doing in the cockpit?
Carlotta?
Subtitle translation by: Laura Hatry