Original subtitles

This is a love story.

And here, about 900 meters up in the sky is where it ends.

To go back to the beginning, we have to descend.

Deeper.

FIRST SNOW OF SUMMER

In this little house with a little yard Alexander grew up with his grandmother.

Stop.

What's your name?

They call me Sunset.

Whey do they call you Sunset?

Because I'm always moving west.

She didn't just teach Alexander to look to the west,

but to closely feel the air in between.

16°C.

And when he felt scared,

she assured him that he just needed to wash his fear away.

And, of course, he also learned what his grandmother felt like.

Your birthday is in four days and you still haven't told me what you want.

- The same thing as last year. - Sorry, you have to help me out.

To celebrate my birthday here. But all of us together: you, Dad, and me.

I can hear them.

- How many? - Three.

No. Two.

Dandelion helmet?

- Which species? - A planet eater and a comet shark.

They're hunting.

- Hunting whom? - Us!

To Alexander it was the secret land of adventure,

and he'd never been any place else with his father.

That's not possible.

- Your dad can't come. Unfortunately. - You say that every time.

Why can't he come?

I'm a little afraid to tell you the truth.

All right, get up on the table.

Well, come on.

And now repeat after me.

Either you live your life with both feet squarely on the ground...

Or you take a risk and fall in love.

That's what your father said,

and then he jumped up on the table and shouted:

Who needs some shitty ground under his feet anyway?!

- And then? - Then he fell in love with your mother.

- And then I came into the world. - Yes, then you came into the world.

And your mother...

Your mother left this world a few days after giving birth to you.

And to this day your dad hasn't left her alone,

and when she went to sleep, he accompanied her below ground.

He promised he would stay with her.

He promised her. You understand?

At the same time, Alexander's father, wearing his best suit...

And carrying a wild rose and a suitcase, descended into the depths...

To join his beloved wife.

Alexander?

Are you here?

On the floor.

And I'm not going to fall in love either.

Promise.

- Promise? - Yes, promise.

To prove how seriously he took his promise,

Alexander passed up the chance to watch

the classic Western Last Train from Gun Hill

and stayed under the table until very late that night.

What's going on here?

Can I sleep here from now on?

Down here?

Then I'll be closer to my mom too.

From this moment on, he could hardly wait

to draw on his father's walls,

so he could send his mother one picture after another.

For the next three years he worked in a café,

where he was tempted to fall in love several times.

The first time was early one morning.

You're Alexander?

Here are my name and number. Will you give me a call?

No.

And the second time was late at night.

Are we the last ones?

I just finished closing up.

Do you have one with an odd minting year?

With what?

This coin was minted in 2008.

Do you think you could give me one from 2007, 2009?

An odd year. Do you understand?

Okay.

Alexander worried that his father's mind

was gradually being invaded by darkness.

His Sunday visits weren't enough anymore.

And so he decided to be close to him from Monday to Friday, too.

Precisely at the start of spring,

an escalator carried him to his new workplace.

Hello.

You're the new guy.

- Alexander. - Franz.

- But everyone calls me Perry. - Hi Perry.

Perry Rhodan.

Cool name.

You don't know who Perry Rhodan is?

I do now, right?

Never mind. Come on.

That... is Perry Rhodan.

Everyone thinks that pompous Skywalker is the hero up there.

That's a load of crap.

Perry is the greatest.

Without him that space clown wouldn't even exist.

Alexander liked his new job.

It wasn't particularly demanding,

but he met new people every day.

Most were normal, but there were strange ones, too,

the strangely honest...

I found this at the Stephansplatz station.

Last winter actually. I liked it so much, and it even fit.

But now it's too warm.

Or the strangely greedy...

What do you mean there's no finder's reward?

Fine, then I'm keeping it.

And then there were the ones referred to by Franz as not from this world

and by Alexander as the strangely lost.

Did I ever tell you that I lost my glass eye five times?

No.

Once I was ambushed by my grandkid.

I tried to hide.

But then a shot was fired.

Besides the space junkie Perry, there was also the lotion junkie Renate.

That's the gardener,

the snake man...

And that's the hypochondriac.

With her, he never felt like he was in danger of breaking his promise,

probably because although she knew almost everyone,

she only had eyes for this one.

While by day she watched over everything, her love patrolled the station by night,

and that, despite the fact that he was scared of the dark.

Of course Alexander also met with his father.

And he met him on that fateful day

that would change his life forever.

Dad.

I found something.

Last night.

Okay, let's see.

It's digital.

It works.

And by the way, so do I.

What do you mean?

You don't have to be here. I'm fine and I like being here.

Hold on.

For you.

Let me guess. 2007, 2009.

Thanks.

But you should know that it's not me

but your mother who loves all odd things.

Get ready!

The engineer.

And now she shoots him.

That bitch.

A hat is right...

If you can hide something unnoticed beneath it.

He shouldn't have messed with her.

Look at him.

This is from last night.

Now watch this.

A feather.

What?

No. What are you looking at?

Who is that? Do you know her?

No.

And?

And I don't want to either.

Morning!

This was just turned in. It's like new.

Look, not a single scratch on the visor.

I wanted to ask if a brown briefcase was turned in.

Let me check, hold on.

- You said a brown briefcase? - Yes, but it's not the bag that matters.

Yes, that's usually the case.

- Was something valuable inside? - A collector's item.

The only thing I have. Is it here?

I'm sorry.

- Is it that bad? - It probably would be for you, too, right?

For me? Why?

Those initials were first added to comic book number 989.

The Future of the Orbiters.

Inside my briefcase is the first edition of comic book number one.

Operation Stardust?

No!

You have the first edition of Operation Stardust?

Yes.

No.

They came from the depths of the galaxy.

Nobody ever expected them.

They are headed for the moon.

The chief pilot of the Stardust is a major of the US Space Force.

His name.

Perry Rhodan.

You have to find that comic book.

I will keep looking for it, but...

Would you call me if someone turns in the briefcase?

But of course.

Promise.

And while Franz yearned for his hero's first mission,

Alexander was still trying to get rid of the images in his head.

Your mother is sure to like that.

- You think so? - Yes.

She likes stars and she likes the wind.

Sometimes she'd stand in the garden and let the summer wind blow her dry.

And she said it felt so gentle.

And that it made her feel so light.

That's why I also think she would like the feather.

How do you know this woman?

I don't know her.

But you painted a picture of her.

You've never painted a woman on these walls.

- That's why I'm sending her away again. - Why?

I just want to get rid of them.

If you got these images from her and you want to get rid of them,

you have to give them back to her.

That's the only way it will work.

- Want to join me on my round? - Sorry, I don't have time.

C'mon, one round.

I have to finish something and it'll take a while.

But with you I'm done in 30 minutes.

Martin, why do you work at night if you're so scared of it?

- Because of her. - Renate?

Don't get me wrong. I like her very much.

But she...

She smothers me sometimes, she wants to be with me all the time.

But I need a little time for myself,

and I'd rather face the nights here than the fear of losing her.

But this stays between you and me.

Promise?

I better get going.

You sure you don't have a little time?

But I'll leave a light burning until I'm done.

The lamp burned the whole night.

And it burned till the wee hours of the morning.

That's cool, what is it?

What is this?

You shouldn't wait too long.

- What do you mean? - Go talk to her.

I don't need to.

What, that was it?

Now she has everything.

And while Alexander felt safe again,

the stars began to shift,

and the lost and found office was thrown back to the year 1961.

Be right with you, just a sec.

I found this on the U2 train.

You have to fill this out.

That's okay.

September 8, 1961.

Page by page, gravity abandons Franz,

and meanwhile a wisp of melancholy pulls Alexander down to the ground.

This was your first drawing for your mother.

The boy riding the lion and

wearing that helmet... What was the helmet called again?

Where did you first see her?

You don't remember?

You drew her and me.

Here she is.

She the goldsmith and I the auctioneer, both of us with heavy hammers.

That's how you saw us.

She bid on a bracelet for her workshop.

And she was standing way back at the left by the door.

She wanted the bracelet so badly, but she was outbid,

and that annoyed her.

That really annoyed her.

And then she was gone.

And did you chase after her?

I sent her an auction catalogue...

And marked several pieces of jewelry

which would almost certainly go for the starting bid.

And she knew it was from you?

Of course anonymously, and I only picked auctions I wasn't calling myself.

But she came. And looked around.

She wanted to find out who had sent her the catalogue.

And then you went over to her?

My goodness, no, of course not.

It would have been much too soon.

I did have the symptoms that make you believe you're in love,

but in order to really know that you love a woman...

You have to get three things from her.

- I have to go now. - The first is without any risk whatsoever.

She has to look at you.

Look you straight in the eye.

But not in passing, not just offhandedly.

It has to be intentional.

And how she reacts at that moment

determines whether the other two things are important.

I thought we were going to have a drink.

The rest of the night Alexander fought off his fear of the following morning.

And who are you going to show it to?

Which one is right for me?

The pork pie.

This one.

Not this one?

That's a little too big, the pork pie has a narrower cut,

it would suit you better.

Have you seen the movie The Searchers?

John Wayne, Vera Miles.

- A cowboy movie? - A Western, a classic.

Definitely not.

Anyway, there's a scene with the engineer and Vera Miles,

and the engineer says that he doesn't shoot women.

So she takes off her dress to reveal a shirt and pants.

She asks: "And now?"

He says: "The hat's not right."

She takes off her hat, beneath which she is hiding a pistol, and shoots him.

And then she goes over to him and says,

"A hat is right if you can hide something unnoticed beneath it."

Are you saying you want to shoot me now?

Are you the freak from the Infoscreen?

Sometimes aka Alexander.

And what's going on here?

Did you know it's a marabou feather...

Screw the feather. What do you want?

- A hedgehog has 7,000 quills... - What do you want?

I work weekdays at the lost and found office over there,

and I saw you lose the feather in the station.

Later it chased and attacked me, and I caught it.

Nothing more. That's it.

And what about the part in between? The Infoscreen part?

Since the feather was so aggressive, I didn't know how you would react.

Sorry, I didn't want to get on your nerves.

Hey, wait a sec.

Which one is right for me?

- My question was fairer. - C'mon, which one?

- None. - None?

No, they're all good, but what for? You don't need one.

You shouldn't hide anything under a hat.

You know what?

You should just leave me alone.

The fact that her gaze couldn't hurt him

let Alexander feel the ground under his feet again.

Buoyed by high spirits, he looked her in the eye one more time,

only afterwards to drink whiskey the way cowboys do.

Did I ever tell you that I lost my glass eye five times?

Once, I fell asleep in my recliner.

And I dreamt I was a trapeze artist.

And I let myself fall into the net from way up high.

And plop.

It was their last contact for the next four days.

Until the morning that started out so pleasantly loud

and came to a blustery end that evening.

Damn wind!

That happens sometimes when they turn down the air at night.

Why are you still here?

I'm going to the movies.

Now?

Just down the escalator.

You really are pretty strange.

Funny, I always think that about other people.

In that case, I'll join you.

- I don't know if that... - What?

- We won't be alone, will we? - No, but maybe...

Then no need to be afraid.

What's your name?

Caro.

Okay, Caro.

Now that you know my name.

Bang!

Good night!

A bullet from a Smith & Wesson revolver

can reach a maximum speed of 1,225 kmh.

Franz flew way faster the next morning.

He accelerated through the vacuum of the black holes

and was capable of influencing time.

Just like Alexander.

He experienced the exact same situations but with a different outcome.

Did I ever tell you that I lost my glass eye five times?

Once, in preparation to go scuba diving

I tried in vain to equalize the pressure in my ears.

And plop.

She gave you her smile.

- I have to go. - Stay a while.

- I really have to go. - Just a bit.

Alexander?

Dad, what are you doing? Get down!

- Will you sit? - Yes, but you come down from there now.

- You have her gaze and her smile. - Stop, please. I have to get back now.

Why are you here, and why are you wearing that weird shirt?

I work down here.

Because of your crazy father, or have you forgotten?

Gaze and smile are good.

Good for friendship, but for not much else.

The third part is crucial.

What is missing is a touch.

But I'm not talking about a handshake...

And certainly not about an advanced touch. No.

A tender touch that both of you want.

And all this together will then decide...

Over love...

Or failure.

Sunset!

Caro.

Want to come to a concert?

- Sorry, I can't. - It's down here. Just down the escalator.

I'm sure he has gotten over it.

I owe you now.

I just discovered this place, the cakes are great.

Hello!

I'd like the chocolate cake, please, and the homemade ice tea.

Whiskey?

A cola.

- Do you know her? - I used to work here.

How well do you know him anyway?

I know everything about him.

Then you know he's an asshole just like all men.

Absolutely.

And he's going to pay for that. I'll have two chocolate cakes.

What do you know about me?

Everything.

You don't know me at all.

Listen up.

You are a freak.

You're a little uptight.

Besides her, you haven't had a lot of girlfriends,

that's probably why you watch these macho movies all the time.

You're terrified of feathers. You know a lot about hedgehogs.

You managed to surprise me...

And make me curious and furious. I give you a lot of credit for that.

Your film was fantastic, I must have it.

Oh yeah, and you have no clue about hats. Have I forgotten anything?

They call me sunset.

How many times have you fired at me already?

- Three, and you haven't hit me yet. - You got lucky.

No, you're a lousy shot,

you turn bills into coins, you hide under hats...

Stop! Stop it.

There's just one thing I don't understand.

What?

Why do you work in a stupid lost and found office?

Well, first I tried my hand with hats.

- That didn't work too well. - Yeah, okay. Nonsense.

And for real?

- Can I look? - No, wait a sec.

Hurry up.

Now open them.

- Did you do all this? - Yes.

Oh my God!

When did you do all this?

Every Sunday for the last 20 years.

Idiot.

- What's that? - That's the comet shark.

- And what's he got on his head? - His dandelion helmet.

A dandelion helmet?

Yes, it's a kind of super weapon, it protects him.

With it, nothing can hurt him.

- And does it work. - Of course.

Then prove it.

For the next two days Franz hid out with his friend Perry,

and Alexander looked for the weapon.

The night before July eight he was ready.

Take another little step forward.

Yes, further, further, there!

And now to the left. A little... Stop!

Okay, stay there.

- And what comes now? - The train.

There aren't anymore.

There's one, the maintenance train. It's perfect.

This is so incredibly corny.

And it's so incredibly beautiful.

You have to promise me something.

Look at me.

You mustn't fall in love with me. Will you promise me that?

No matter what happens.

No matter what happens.

Hello!

Sunset!

- I found these. - Where?

Somewhere out there.

It's okay, you can keep them.

No it's not. I know who they belong to. Look, here's the address.

Well, I'd drop them off myself if I had time.

It's pretty much on my way, but... Could you do it?

- Do you do this sort of thing? - Actually no.

No idea what awaits me there.

Maybe some weird freak. The world is full of them.

And full of people who fear everything and everyone.

But if it helps, you just head west from here...

So, saddle your horse and deliver the flowers at sunset, or else...

This is a nice spot.

What do you say?

Yes Franz... Perry's cellular regeneration suit would be helpful now.

But maybe I'll feel better in a day or two.

All right, bye.

When did I say to bring them? Three days ago, a week?

A month ago?

I don't know my way around this area.

Let's have them.

Well, come in.

This is my roomie.

She is terribly loud and vulgar, but she doesn't snore.

And do you have any other roommates?

Yes, but it's sad.

Come with me.

Sit down.

A ladybug crawled from one finger to the next...

And back again, and then it crept into this crack.

I waited for hours for it to come back out.

At night I even turned on a lamp so it could find its way out, but nothing.

I think it just wanted to end it all.

2001. How long have you lived here?

Since forever.

But my mother moved out seven years ago, and...

Then I got a new roommate, and like I said, she doesn't snore, so...

What's this?

My alarm system. But it's turned off now.

Oh, fuck.

Not for us.

Roses love alcohol and the carbonation.

You can practically watch how...

Their leaves get their shine back, but only for a day and a night then it's over.

And what did you do the last couple of days?

I broke my promise.

But you promised, you...

No matter what happens, you promised me, right?

Yes, I know, but...

Suddenly it didn't mean anything to me.

Alexander, you don't even know me.

I thought you could give me time for that.

I'd like to.

But I can't.

Do you know what this is?

It's a bomb.

It is a fucking time bomb and it's ticking inside there.

And when it explodes,

it will take everything important with it, and I don't want that.

And why of all people did I have to meet such a strange guy like you?

I knew from that first stupid film that something was happening to me.

I tried to keep it away,

to push it away.

You simply have no idea what it's like.

I don't want this.

I don't need this.

I have no idea what's ticking up there,

but you shot at me four times and I survived.

Please leave now.

On the third night, the wind died down, and Alexander had vanished.

Caro tried to find him,

but he wasn't in lost and found...

He's not here.

And the cameras couldn't find him either...

If he were here somewhere, I'd see him.

She looked for him even where Renate had no eyes.

He wasn't here.

But do you know what I found in the pissoir today?

Why would he be here?

Why would anyone?

If you happen to see a brown briefcase somewhere,

please turn it in to lost and found.

And finally she went over to his house.

Ready, here comes the engineer.

A hat is right

if you can hide something unnoticed beneath it.

She simply shot him.

That bitch.

Alexander wasn't above or below,

not in the light, not in the darkness.

He was where she never would have suspected.

You were right, this one suits me best.

How did you get in here?

It was open.

Shit.

And where were you?

You asked me which hat was right for you, and I didn't know.

- Have you been looking for a stupid hat? - It took a while.

Is that the idiotic helmet?

I have no idea what's ticking up there,

but I know, and you know too,

that this works.

Try it.

Not a chance.

Please.

One time.

Okay, it really is everything. It's...

Super ugly.

It's beautiful and embarrassing and everything.

Hey Sunset, you're such a freak, Alexander.

- Say that last part again! - Freak Alexander.

Drop the freak.

Alexander.

I just wanted to hear you say it.

Sunset!

And with this nothing can happen to me?

How sure is it?

Can you tell me how sure it is?

Nothing's going to happen to you.

Can you promise me that?

Can you promise me and this time keep your promise?

That's good.

And they kissed every morning.

Every late evening.

And deep into the night.

- Hello. - It got really late, didn't it?

I brought you a piece of cake.

- What's this? - My alarm system.

But I thought that was in the door frame.

Sometimes when I'm alone at night, I get up without realizing it.

You mean you sleepwalk?

Watch this.

Cool, right?

Yes.

And exactly 23 days later,

the dandelion helmet started to take effect.

What does that mean?

Your progress over the past few weeks would let you join our trial.

Provided, of course, that you are willing.

How long will it take?

The treatment is spread out over a span of five months.

I don't want to hear percentages, but do I really have a chance?

You do.

Provided you get through the whole treatment.

Caro and Alexander saw each other every morning.

Can I come in?

And they saw each other at lunchtime.

Some days they tried to soar.

Don't move.

- Hold still. - It tickles.

Okay, lift your blouse.

And now inhale from your stomach,

and fill the balloon.

And now go up on your toes.

Some days they were loud.

I grab him without further ado, and kick him out the door...

And some days they were quiet.

This is my new favorite passage:

"You put together two people who have not been put together before;

and sometimes the world is changed, sometimes not.

They may crash and burn,

or burn and crash.

But sometimes, something new is made, and then the world is changed."

Keep your eye on the wings,

follow them, when you lose sight of them, close your eyes.

The results of the last checkup are satisfactory.

Satisfactory means no change. I'm not a suitable guinea pig,

and with my prognosis, as you call it,

this is a shitty start for a doctor-patient talk.

But I like you anyway.

It has staunched the steriocose flow. And for week four...

Of a five-month cycle that is worth noting.

Especially with your prognosis. You know that.

- I'm not stupid. - But overly sensitive.

I am not.

How were the last few weeks?

I've just been... extremely tired and I sleep a lot.

Nausea?

Chemo was worse, but it didn't last as long.

- Another four months means December. - Until the beginning of January.

I won't make it.

That's why you should stay here as an inpatient during treatment.

Not a chance.

I'm going to close my eyes again

because I feel so lousy.

And if I feel like that, I look like that too.

But what's practical is that when I close my eyes,

I don't see myself.

And you don't see me either, okay?

Close your eyes.

I'll tell you a secret,

but it's for you alone.

I'm scared.

Not out-of-my-mind scared, just a little.

Where is it, your fear?

Where is it hiding?

Here maybe?

Here?

Or here?

Hiding from it helps a little.

If I sleep just a little bit more than usual,

this beast can't find me as fast.

About my fear, you mustn't tell anyone.

- What day is it? - Tuesday.

No, I mean the date?

August 26. Fuck!

Time isn't going by at all.

This is taking too long.

I think your helmet is losing its power.

You should come up with something else.

And when Caro came to live with him, Alexander left the lost and found office.

Reginald Bull, Perry's first deputy, wasn't easy to get.

I thought you'd be happy.

I am, it's just...

Never mind.

Thanks!

And hey, have a good trip!

How do you feel?

Good.

How long was I asleep?

Hours? Days? Weeks?

Forever.

What's that?

What?

- The leaves. - It's autumn.

I told you, you were asleep forever.

Seriously now.

How long was I out for?

- What's the date? - You were out for nearly three weeks.

Dr. Fellner came by every other day,

set up your infusions, and continued the therapy.

He kept wanting to take you with him, but you were stable.

And he said that...

What?

That it's going to happen again.

What is this?

I kept wanting to be able to stop time, to turn it back.

But that was wrong. I have to make time go forward.

- Forward? - Yes.

Wait a sec.

This is for later.

I admire your passion and imagination.

But you are asking me to abuse my relationship of trust.

I can't do that.

I'm not asking you to lie about her state of health,

but she doesn't believe she can hang in there any longer.

And I just want to let her believe again.

And we wouldn't do anything you're not already doing.

All the drugs you prescribe are being administered

to combat the deficiencies in our body.

But it only works because you manipulate our system, you trick it.

That's all we would be doing too.

- May I? - Be my guest.

Linzer cookies.

You're coming with me.

Wait.

- That's ridiculous. - It's not a request.

That doesn't mean you're constantly asleep.

The sedative enzyme inhibitors produce a twilight state

that alternates with your normal sleep phases.

Which means weeks? What's today's date?

December four.

This is like such a freaky time trip.

I'll be back the day after tomorrow.

Every day Alexander let Caro hear the freshly fallen snow,

and if she was strong, she wanted to feel it too.

Look, where did they come from?

They were probably hiding somewhere warm.

It must be so absurd to them.

What?

We're not lying in a meadow. Their world is outside, not in here.

We'll bring it inside.

- What? - Their world.

When is Christmas?

In two weeks.

Okay then, go get a stupid tree.

I will.

Cool.

She's so good.

It's snowing again.

Who was that?

I have no idea.

Dad?

What really? You recognized me that fast?

And I put so much effort into my costume to make me look real.

What are you doing here?

I thought you shouldn't be alone right now.

He isn't.

And he never was.

You fool.

Mom.

Enough already, Mom.

Alexander told me that you're a kind of mole and you dig tunnels.

Yes.

I pretty much know the whole world,

although I haven't seen much of it.

And have you seen those...

Incredible pictures he painted down there?

He... told me about them, yes.

But I haven't been there yet.

You absolutely should go. They are fantastic!

I promise.

Did you leave it outside long enough, so that it's really cold?

You have to back up a little more.

Do it already.

It's running.

Exactly.

- Are you ready? - Do it!

- Are you ready? - Yes.

It really is very, very cold.

Come here.

Can you smell it?

It's beautiful.

- Should we decorate it? - No, that would be corny.

But you know what would be cool?

If the two butterflies along with more yellow, red, and blue ones came

and sat on the branches, that would be cool.

Yes.

I finally had a dream again.

- There was my alarm system... - The balloon?

Yes, but...

It didn't work,

and I didn't want it to work...

Because I didn't want to wake up.

The spikes somehow just retracted.

And I walked through.

For the first time.

And then I was outside.

And I felt so light.

And then my balloon lifted me into the air.

And I held on tight.

I held on very, very tight.

This guy helped me. He knows how.

Hey, Alexander.

- Yes. - It was a good feeling.

It felt very good

because I finally felt strong again.

One day when the wind was silent,

Alexander could be seen picking up some of Caro's winter clothes.

Which one do you think is right for me?

But don't take too long.

You're burning up.

Is it that hot outside?

No, it isn't.

Not at all.

Liar.

It's okay if you release the butterflies now.

Give me your hand.

Say it!

No.

You promised me.

But I can't.

I need it now.

Hold on tight.

Keep your eye on the wings.

Follow them,

and when you lose sight of them, close your eyes.