Original subtitles

F.W. Murnau Foundation presents.

Hans Albers in

an Erich Pommer Film Production.

F.P.1 Doesn't Answer.

With:

Also starring:

Script: Walter Reisch.

With assistance from: Kurt Siodmak.

Based on a novel with the same title,

written by Kurt Siodmak, Verlag-Scherl.

Directed by: Karl Hart!

Music by: Allan Gray.

Musical Production: Hans O. Borgmann.

Flying scenes filmed with assistance

from the German Civilian Aviation School.

Camera, Sound, Set Design, Technical Assistance.

Producer: Eberhard Klagemann.

Filmed on Klangfilm-Apparatur Afifa-Ton-Kopie.

From North Pole to South Pole, we'll do that in a nap.

We fly the distance on any weather map.

We have no hesitation, we know where we belong,

and as we take off, we sing our song:

Airmen, seeking the sunlight,

greeting the stars and touching the moon.

Our ride is just a smooth glide,

all alone in the sky with this tune.

Faster, and ever faster

turns the engine on our command.

We pilots know no limits,

in our search for the uncharted land.

If on your flight you see a falling star,

you wish you'd see your girl that is so far.

Airmen, seeking the sunlight,

greeting the stars and touching the moon.

Atlantic?

Put me through to the foyer.

Hello, Reception?

There's an odd little fat man sitting out there

with his camera.

Can you ask him to come to the phone?

Of course, just a moment.

Hello, you!

Can you come to the phone, please.

He's on his way.

Booth number 2.

Ah, there you are, Little Roll of Film.

Listen to me carefully:

Go and call a few newspapers.

The Foreigners' Gazette, The Journal,

The Correspondent, The Echo...

Tell them to come to the Lennartz Shipyard,

tonight, at 11 p.m. precisely.

And if they ask you why, just say:

Somethings about to happen there.

Hope you'll do a good job, little man.

And most importantly: Do not mention my name!

What is it you're expecting to happen

at Lennartz Shipyard?

At Lennartz Shipyard?

Why Lennartz Shipyard?

I didn't mean to listen to your conversation, but...

I am certain I heard you mention Lennartz Shipyard.

But, my dear Miss, I am sure you are mistaken.

Good evening!

I didn't say anything about Lennartz Shipyard.

- Didn't you? - Hm...

If you'll excuse me, please...

Of course.

To be honest, I have just canceled a date over the phone,

because I had a premonition that I would meet

such a charming lady tonight.

Shall we dance?

- No, thank you. - Why not?

I don't want to hold you back.

Excuse me, do you happen to know

that gentleman over there?

That's Ellissen, the ocean pilot.

Haven't you read about him?

He's just come back from Australia.

Matthias, Konrad, can I talk to you for a moment?

Not now, Claire, you're interrupting our game.

Konrad!

Look, I am just making up for my losses.

- I am playing two cards. - Me too.

Please call for my car.

Boy, Miss Lennartz wants her car.

Lennartz AG Shipyard.

Fire alarm.

I don't know myself, stop asking me.

Good evening!

We are newspapers reporters, what's happening here?

What is supposed to be happening?

Nothing is happening.

Certainly, something must be happening.

When we turn up, it usually does.

You see?

- What's wrong at your place? - Nothing's wrong here.

F.P.1

Yes!

What is happening here?

And then suddenly the fire engines turned up.

There's light up there.

Ah, the light is on...

You're still here, Foto-Jonny?

They've caught the burglar up there.

He's fighting like a lion.

Now you can shoot a nice portrait of me.

- What am I supposed to do? - A half-length portrait.

But don't forget to include my head.

Okay, now!

It looks like they were only interested

in the contents of this folder.

B.E. Droste, Lieutenant.

Hamburg, Hagedorn Str. 4.

Droste here.

Hotel Atlantic.

Please wait, I'll put you through to Mr. Ellissen.

Yes please.

- Good evening, Mr... - I'm coming.

Take my coat.

Hi, Droste, old boy, how are you?

- What are you up to? - Still at work.

Is there anything particular for you to call me so late?

Anything particular? No, not really.

I'll have to cut you off, the police want to get through.

Charlie, I'm terribly hungry.

What? Stolen?

Who could have known that my plans

are kept at the shipyard?

Of course, Detective, I'm on my way.

Lieutenant, I asked you to come here

to find out about the contents of this folder.

The Lennartz brothers were not able to tell me.

They were plans for a project I've been working on for years.

It is called F.P.1.

Over a year ago,

I submitted my complete drafts to Lennartz Shipyard,

to be evaluated and possibly approved.

But it seems they have not had time yet

to look at the plans.

And... what is this F.P.1?

Miss, I don't know if...

It is a purely technical matter.

Do you mind if I stay and listen to your explanations?

Lieutenant, Claire has the right...

and has as much interest in the business as us.

Yes.

I do not think this will be very entertaining for a lady.

Mr. Droste is right,

I am not very entertained by this.

Good evening.

Excuse me, do you have a statement for us?

Are there any clues...

who the thief might be?

Who the thief might be?

- Yes. - Yes.

No, gentlemen, we don't have any clues yet.

The F.P.I will be an artificial island

in the middle of the ocean.

An island made of steel and glass.

500 meters long, 150 meters wide.

25 meters above sea level.

In equidistance to four worlds.

Between Europe and South America,

North America and Africa.

It will be a floating airfield

that will allow connections between

all continents within 24 hours.

It will be a Floating Airfield Platform: F.P.1.

Floating Platform No. 1.

It will be built at the halfway point

between Lisbon and New York,

Pernambuco and Monrovia.

Here, airplanes will be able to land,

fuel up and have repairs done as if they were on solid ground.

Crossing the ocean with passengers in one go

is too dangerous.

Going halfway offers almost total safety.

All my calculations and drafts are written down

in these plans,

which have now fallen into unauthorized hands.

Good Evening, Mr. Ellissen.

Oh, look there.

You broke into the Lennartz Shipyard one hour ago.

Charlie, can you leave us alone for a minute?

I knew you have a special interest

in this old shipyard, haven't you?

Indeed, I happen to be Claire Lennartz.

Hm, I'll be damned!

I didn't expect that.

Sorry, miss, but you gave me such a shock.

The police are already on your trail.

- Are they? - They are searching for you.

And you came here to warn me?

- Isn't that so? - Oh no.

All I want are the F.P.1 plans back.

And if I won't give those plans to you, what then?

I suppose you want to call the police

and get me arrested?

I have no interest in you being arrested.

- So? - I only want the plans back.

Really? Is that all you want?

Hm, this is great, because we both want the same, really.

So, please do me a favor and call your shipyard.

Lennartz Shipyard.

What? What? Where are you?

In the Atlantic Bar?

With that pilot, Ellissen?

What's that? Where we are?

We are still in the archive room.

Hello?

If your dear brothers are still in the archive room,

it is time for them to leave it right now.

Yes... yes... What?

Into the director's office?

Why? Hello?

Hello?

We are to continue this conversation

in the director's office.

Let's go, gentlemen.

Can you tell me what all this is all about?

Keep calm, young lady.

It will all unravel in a minute.

Your dear brothers should have reached the upper floor,

where the door is open,

just as I left it...

forced open!

Miss Lennartz?

They are in the director's office already.

Tell your dear brothers to inspect the leather folio

right in front of them.

We are supposed to take a closer look

at the leather folio.

Tell them to open their four googly eyes really wide.

You must open your four googly eyes wide...

There they are, the F.P.1 plans!

Take a sip from this hot espresso.

You've earned it, honestly.

Well, but I don't understand why you...

Why I stole the F.P.1 plans, without taking them with me?

This is a strange story I would have to tell you in detail.

You know, Droste and I have known each other for ages.

Together, we skipped school, we smoked our first cigarette.

We were both marine aviators in the war.

In short, we've seen everything between heaven and earth.

But after the war, Droste became withdrawn,

working on his plans,

while I climbed in my flying machine

and went 'round the globe a few times.

And each time I came home,

I found Droste sitting there with a sour face,

waiting patiently for someone to come along

and build his F.P.1.

He could have waited forever and a day.

Those fine gentlemen don't even take a look at his drawings.

They're not interested in new ventures.

Only for this reason, I took the liberty

to move the folder with those three letters

from the first floor to the second.

For the fine gentlemen to agree that something new is needed

in this world.

You like to do things the difficult way, don't you?

We are never straight and easy.

We'd rather take a detour to achieve our goals.

The Sensational Million Dollar Project of a German Engineer.

Revolutionary Innovation in World Traffic.

In 24 Hours: Europe-America.

Artificial Islands in the Ocean.

Lennartz Shipyard to Build the F.P.1.

Those bigwigs were hard nuts to crack.

Yes, I believe so.

And each of them had a thousand counter-arguments

in his briefcase.

Yeah... yeah... yeah...

Strange fellow, this Droste.

Grumpy like an old professor.

And excitable like a high school kid.

Actually, I've come to say goodbye.

I'm on a big expedition to Canada, Greenland,

Alaska, and surrounding areas.

Just me, in a single plane.

Ellissen, you should give up this roving lifestyle.

Why?

You can't keep living in hotels.

You must have a home, a place where you belong.

Don't you think, Ellissen, there's more to life

than hunting elephants?

And breaking records in ocean crossings?

More to life? What, for instance?

For instance, having a purpose,

fulfilling a duty.

Not for me, my life is outdoors.

I have to get in my plane, get moving. Life is short.

I can't be stuck in one place.

Tried that several times, but it didn't work.

One day I will get the itch

and then nothing can hold me back.

- Nothing? - N0thing!

Isn't there anything that can hold you right here?

Here?

- Here? - Yes.

Waiter, please book me in for 10, on the dot,

like a weather warning.

Bar table no. 4, left of the piano, set it up for two.

The piano player is to play the Fliegermarsch

as soon as I come in.

And then the menu: A nice big Helgoland lobster,

A small Hamburg poussin.

Etc. Etc. Salad au Romaine... You know the routine.

Give me a solid Hamburg dinner.

And don't forget a good bottle of Mosel wine

and some nice bubbly.

And for me, secretly, a pint of beer.

Of course, decorate the table with the usual knick knacks.

Flowers, pretty flowers, some sweet smelling orchids,

my dear waiter.

All first-class, 10 o'clock on the dot.

Do your best, we don't want any complaints.

Is it me you're going to invite for dinner'?

Hello Foto-Jonny, good gosh!

What are you doing here?

If you did invite me, I'd have to decline.

I had my dinner already.

Now look at me. Do you notice anything different about me?

No? Well, you hardly notice anything anyway.

You little piglet, you.

But at 10 o'clock, at 10 o'clock sharp,

you will notice something.

Did you make another call to the fire brigade?

No, I didn't.

Oh, you usually call them out later, at about 11.

No, I don't have a date with the fire brigade,

but with someone else.

A lady.

I had lots of dates in my life and most of them did turn up.

But this lady is not going to attend.

This lady isn't a lady,

not like all the other ladies.

This lady is a real lady

and real ladies make themselves scarce.

But, my boy, if she did happen to turn up,

which is certainly not going to happen,

but let's just assume she did,

although I cannot believe she will,

then, my boy, then...

she'll be just there...

No... Then she loves me.

Then she loves me.

Hey hey hey, now don't look so sour!

Love. L-O-V-E!

Love, I know.

And if this woman loves me,

there will be no more adventures for me.

Then Ellissen will settle down in his very own home,

with a fixed address in Hamburg

and an entry in the telephone directory.

A taxpayer.

Why aren't you laughing?

It's not a laughing matter.

One can't always live in hotels.

One must have a home, my dear friend.

An honorable person needs a place he belongs to.

There is more to life than

chasing elephants across the ocean.

And your expedition to Alaska, Canada, Greenland?

Who told you about Greenland?

What's my business in Greenland?

Can't you stand up when I'm talking to you?

Aren't you taking me seriously?

Haven't I just told you that my adventures are over?

And anyway, who let you in here?

Was it me? No, so please go now.

Just take your things and leave.

Off you go!

What did you want from me, you clown?

I was after some news, but it seems you've gone crazy.

I've almost forgot:

Reception asked me to give you this.

What is it?

I don't believe it!

How come you keep my telegrams in your pocket?

Are you my personal assistant, or what?

Don't run away from me when I am talking to you!

Apologize and leave me alone.

The cheek of it...

It really takes the biscuit...

The first time that ever happened to me...

I don't believe it!

Hey you, light box!

Don't run away. Come back quickly.

I'm not going to hurt you.

Take this. Read it.

To Ellissen Hamburg Hotel Atlantic

offering you our latest model 7000 TK

for non-stop flight Berlin-Berlin free of charge.

Meteor Airplane Works Mannheim.

Offering you our latest model 7000 TK

for non-stop flight Berlin-Berlin

free of charge.

Meteor Airplane Works, Mannheim.

'Round the world.

Berlin-Berlin.

Model 7000 TK.

That'|| be a great photo.

"E||issen taking off for his non-stop flight Berlin-Berlin."

Excellent!

Non-stop Berlin-Berlin, once 'round the globe.

No stop, no stay, fueling up in the air.

Little piglet!

You, old monkey, this is it: The non-stop flight.

No one has ever done it before, they saved it for me!

What's up with you? Still cross that I threw you out earlier?

I can tell you: |'|| give them a show they'll never forget.

Call for the bill, pay my dues and I'm off, right now.

Pack my suitcase.

In three hours' time, I'll be in Mannheim.

Hello?

The lady is waiting at reception.

The lady?

10 o'clock, exactly.

Claire, this is the best day of my life.

You know what happened? Brace yourself:

|'|| be the first pilot to fly from Berlin

non-stop 'round the globe.

So, are you proud of me?

Aren't you happy for me?

But didn't you want to...?

What? Oh, that expedition to Greenland, Alaska.

Don't worry, dear, I can cancel it, easily.

Reception?

Thank God, I have more important things to do now.

Excuse me...

Call the airfield, ask them to prepare my machine.

|'|| take off in half an hour.

Hang on, also send a telegram to Meteor Airplane Works Mannheim:

Accept offer, on my way.

And get my bill ready, quickly.

Well, I just wanted to say:

Goodbye. See you soon.

I'll be back in 5, 10, 14 days.

- Not sure yet. - Don't worry, I understand.

Give my regards to your brothers and Droste.

Oh, how will you get home?

Don't trouble yourself, my car is outside.

I just quickly dropped by because ".because".

Don't waste your time.

Okay, goodbye then, keep in touch. Goodbye.

That's what Ellissen always says:

"I'll be back in three days' time."

And then it takes him three years.

That steel box looks pretty solid in the dock,

but surviving gale force 11 at sea

may be a different matter.

I say: If Our Lord wanted to have an island

at 45'W 25'N,

he would would have made one without Droste.

That's nonsense, I think the F.P.1 idea is a brilliant one.

I really do. I survived 17 shipwrecks.

A bit of solid ground in the ocean

will be a real blessing.

I couldn't care less, I have a toothache!

And if I have a toothache, something's usually amiss.

Perhaps with your tooth, but not with the F.P.1.

Less chatter, more work, please!

Slave driver...

If I hear you smart ass talking one more time,

you'll get a good beating

and your bones will be in a bag.

Got it?

What's he on about?

That's a really strange one.

He's been snooping around the factory

with his camera for days.

You'd better not come back,

or we'll beat the hell out of you.

Don't overestimate yourselves, gentlemen.

|'ve been thrown out by people much bigger than you.

We'll have to increase our security, Damsky.

I told you before:

Something's not quite right here.

Are we are going to hire extra security

just because of that oddball...

I can't hear you!

I said, are we going to hire extra security,

only because of a photographer? Why?

Not because of him, but...

here, because of this.

- Weakened... - Yes, weakened.

Do you know what it means? Sabotage!

Dirty, rotten sabotage!

Shall we call the cops?

No, nobody is to know about it.

Let's not scare the public.

And please make sure we're running a third shift.

From now on, we'll work through the nights.

Yes, sir.

Hello, Miss Claire, nice of you to visit me.

We are making good progress.

Everything is on track.

You're a bad liar, Droste.

Do you think I haven't noticed

that something has been going on for weeks?

It's nothing, Miss Claire, nothing.

You only keep it to yourself, because you don't want

to worry my brothers.

But you'll have to be honest with me:

What's going on at the shipyard?

Here we have important construction drawings.

They had disappeared for two days,

before suddenly turning up again.

These, for instance, are the plans

for the sprinkler system.

I am sure they were secretly copied.

Someone is spying on us.

From day one we've had an elusive adversary.

Secret forces, I don't know who.

It could be competitors, domestic or international ones.

Financial circles, all sorts of interests could be involved.

They want to stop the F.P.1 from being built at all cost.

That much is clear.

Every innovation has its enemies.

Our contact has done what we asked him to do.

But we still have no positive result,

because Droste, the constructor,

has uncovered our measures too early.

Tell our contact to stop all further activities.

We'll pick them up later.

You can't identify those people, they remain in the dark.

They only send their henchmen,

their saboteurs.

Any carpenter, any engineer could be on their payroll.

But they don't know me yet! I will build the F.P.1.

They can move heaven and earth to try and stop me.

Give me two years

and it will be swimming in the ocean.

And the first pilot to land on it will be Ellissen.

- E||issen? - Yes, Ellissen!

You can count on it, Miss Claire.

Even if the whole world thinks he won't come back.

One day he will turn up. Old boy...

We will see this through, Miss Claire.

We came this far and we'll be alright.

Is there anything I can do to help, Droste?

I would like to be more than a bystander.

Let me do some work as well.

Your concern for the F.P.1 is touching, Miss Claire.

I am concerned for you as well, Droste.

Hello, hello, this is Radio Paris.

Hello, hello, this is Radio Vienna.

Radio Rome and Naples.

This is the London regional program.

Attention, Berlin.

Today, after a construction time

of 2 years, 7 months and 11 days,

the first floating airfield platform, F.P.1,

has reached its destination.

For the first time in human history,

an artificial island has been anchored

in the middle of the ocean.

500 meters long, 150 meters wide...

- Positioning! - Positioning.

Call from Hamburg, for Captain Droste.

Is not here, pass message on.

Call from Hamburg, for Captain Droste.

Pass message on.

Hamburg calling.

Captain Droste is not here.

Hamburg calling.

Captain not here.

Hamburg calling.

Captain not here.

Attention!

As you were!

Hamburg!

- Hamburg? - Yes, yes.

- Where? - Next door, please.

- Hello, here Droste. - Here Lennartz Shipyard.

Good day, gentlemen.

Over here, it is evening already, Droste.

Of course it is.

Everything went very well.

The crew did a great job.

The first planes can take off on schedule.

Hello, Droste. How are you?

Oh, hello, Miss Claire.

Nice to hear from you, too.

Let's leave them to it...

I am still here, Miss Claire.

Everything okay, Droste?

You can talk to me now, I am alone in the room.

Seems I was imagining things, nothing more has happened.

- Everything went well. - Thank God!

Now I can tell you:

I haven't slept a wink since you left.

Because of me?

In that case, I have a confession to make as well.

I couldn't have told you in person, but now

in front of a microphone...

We have half a minute airtime left...

Miss Claire, I have... I did...| wanted to...

I always wanted to tell you, but I couldn't...

But now ...now... But...

Oh well, I'd rather tell you in person.

Go on, say it, our time is almost up.

So, my dear Miss Claire, I...

Hello?

- Hello? Hello? - Hello?

Disconnected. What a shame.

Mr. Ellissen!

Mr. Ellissen! Good evening, Mr. Ellissen!

Good evening.

You in Hamburg? What a surprise!

Where have you been all this time?

And how are you?

Well, I am back now...

Oh, come with me, they will be very excited to see you.

Good evening, Mr. Ellissen.

Good evening...

I am sure you've heard already.

The F.P.1 is operational, we've just spoken to Droste.

The first squadron can take off in a few days' time.

Yes, I read about it.

I meant to come earlier, but...

|...couldn't...

No time...

But...

I am glad.

I am glad to see you back, Mr. Ellissen.

We'll spend the evening together, Mr. Ellissen.

You must tell us everything

about your adventures.

Come, take a seat.

Mr. Ellissen, you may wish to sit here.

Thank you.

Well, you want to know about my adventures...

That's rather a long story.

I didn't complete the non-stop flight.

You must have heard about that.

I abandoned it, because I had completely forgotten

that my friend, the governor of Manila,

had invited me.

We went on an exciting tiger hunt in Indochina.

Then we took the steam boat of my friend,

the governor of Manila,

and sailed the South Seas for two, three months.

After the South Seas, we went to...

Ah, stuff it! I will tell you another time.

Why don't we have dinner together?

Perhaps at home or at the club?

Yes, that's a good idea.

I just have a few matters to see to,

send telegrams etc., and Konrad...

I know, the newspapers...

Please excuse us.

Perhaps you can keep Claire company in the meantime.

Of course, not a word is true of this nonsense.

My luck ran out somewhere in the Australian outback.

My plane crashed.

It took them ten days to find me,

half-dead from hunger and thirst.

Had to fight a fever for months.

Then there I was, with no plane and no money.

I didn't want to come back to Europe in embarrassment.

So I tried and failed again.

As if it was jinxed.

I started a thousand things and finished none.

And I thought of you a lot, Claire.

Do you remember us standing up there,

on the dock launch way?

What you said to me back then made a lot of sense.

But I didn't understand you.

I acted like a silly boy.

And all this for an airplane

that happened to have a bit more horsepower than others.

Australia. No. No.

And if it had 100,000 hp,

I won't climb in a plane anymore.

I will find something to do, but I'm done with flying.

I'll never touch a control stick again.

I want to work.

But I would need someone to tell me again:

Ellissen, you need a place where you belong.

It is time for us to leave, Mr. Ellissen,

my brothers are waiting.

Claire, you know exactly why I am here.

I have no one to turn to.

Could you be to me like you were back then?

But Mr. Ellissen, that was years ago.

I know. And I don't expect an answer right now.

But if you wanted to tell me something,

I don't stay at the Atlantic anymore.

You can find me here.

Good night.

Where a lighthouse, shines across the bay,

there's a cottage, kissed by fume and spray.

Cheerful logs, to warm the winter day, are blazing.

Listening to the breakers on the shore,

from the tiny cottage, thatched with straw,

stands a fair-haired lassie at the door, star-gazing.

Watching the dark clouds,

dreading the gales,

counting the days

since her lover set sail.

Where a lighthouse, shines across the bay,

sea gulls on the shore have heard her say:

Come home, my love. Come home, dear love,

come home.

Bermuda reports a storm approaching.

Let's take on some ballast, to be on the safe side.

Not necessary.

We are 120 feet deep in the water

and will survive any storm.

That little breeze won't blow us over.

But it won't hurt to have 50,000 tons of water extra on board.

Damsky is right, let's get lower by 2.5 points.

FLOOD VALVES OPEN-CLOSE.

Where the lighthouse shines across the bay...

Hey, what's happening?

They are flooding the tanks to get us lower.

It makes sense.

It looks like a storm is brewing.

- Doesn't it work? - I don't know...

Look at that!

Somebody's used a strip of lead on that lock.

Here we go again, after two years of peace and quiet.

Do you think we have a mole in the crew?

Bring me the hiring books into the captain's office.

I'd like to have a closer look at our people's records.

Will do.

Hm, a flashlight.

What are you doing down there?

Somebody's hidden food, water, and flares

in the inspection boat.

Somebody was planning his getaway.

What's that commotion up there?

He's acted suspiciously for a long time.

Had to stick his nose everywhere.

I've been watching him.

Attention, the Captain!

We've just caught him snooping 'round the engine room.

What were you doing there?

What's your business in the engine room?

I'm the brass polisher.

Where do I know you from?

We are old acquaintances, Mr. Droste.

I used to be Mr. E||issen's private photojournalist,

- so to speak. - I see.

And now I've got this job as a brass polisher.

I wanted to be the first one to get photos

of the F.P.1, sorry!

So it was you flashing those lights earlier?

Mm-hm.

No more flashlights, your job is to polish the brass.

Understood?

Mr. Droste!

The radio operator has collapsed!

What?

The symptoms are typical for poisoning.

Hello? Hello?

What happened to you? What is it?

I had a cup of coffee in the canteen.

Listen, doctor.

Make sure the crew doesn't hear about this.

I'm in the radio room, call me when he comes 'round.

Damsky, what are you doing there?

I wanted to give the radio operator a break.

- Sorry. - Never mind...

It's awfully hot in these stiff collars.

So what do you think about the story with the radio operator?

Just an hour ago I had coffee with him in the canteen.

The doctor doesn't have an explanation either.

God knows what this is all about.

Didn't that machine just do something?

What?

- The ticker. - No.

I thought I'd heard something.

I'll call for a replacement crew from Hamburg.

Not a single man is going to stay here.

I've had enough of this.

That was quick! I was doing 60 mph in town.

- Am I too late? - No, there's still time.

Our frequency slot has been postponed.

I am telling you:

There must be someone among the crew

being paid for sabotaging the F.P.1,

perhaps even to sink it.

Can you explain to me how you can sink the F.P.1

with a bit of lead in a lock?

I can explain this to you, Damsky.

The lead insert gives him access to the flood valves.

If the flood valves are open, and the diesel engine cuts out,

a fault perhaps planned well in advance,

you cannot close the bulkheads anymore.

And if you cannot close the bulkheads, then...

then the F.P.1 is going to sink.

What a load of nonsense...

It must be a joke, you can't be serious, Captain.

Whoever tried this would drown himself with everyone else.

Except if he has snatched away a motorboat,

loaded it with fuel, food, drinking water, and flares.

That could last him a few hundred miles

until he finds a ship.

We are going to close the flood valves immediately.

Even the best security can't stop sabotage.

Fish trawler Marshall Tennyson will pass by

100 miles southwest of F.P.1 tomorrow. Stop.

Who is this for?

Keep very still, Droste.

One move and I'll shoot you.

I see...

You'd better choose to abandon this structure.

In 36 hours' time, there won't be any F.P.1 here,

just deep blue sea.

Now I know why the radio operator

had to be off duty tonight.

You expected a telegram no one was supposed to see.

Isn't that so, Damsky?

The F.P.1 is supposed to sink

before the first planes can land.

This is your plan, isn't it?

Of course.

A fine plan it is.

Tell me: How much are you being paid for doing this?

More than I could earn in a hundred years

on this lump of steel here.

Get up! Hands up in the air! Turn 'round!

Hello? Hello? Here is the Lennartz Shipyard?

Droste! Droste!

Keep calm, Claire, there's nothing we can do.

Droste!

Droste! Droste...

But Claire, we will telegraph them.

It must have been a technical fault.

You call this a technical fault?

They were gunshots, I heard that.

There was some shooting going on.

But keep calm, Claire, it might have been a temporary problem.

We will re-establish communication in a moment.

F.P.1 doesn't answer.

There's nothing more I can do. F.P.1 doesn't answer.

Come...

We'll have to alert all ports and ships immediately.

But Claire, we can't scare the world,

two days before the official launch.

If the public gets suspicious now,

- we'll lose everything. - But someone has to get there.

We don't even know what happened to...

Dr0ste.

There must be something we can do.

We'll have to send a plane to the F.P.1.

Droste is all on his own, we've got to help him,

I have to be with him!

I belong to him.

But Claire, we'll have to be patient until tomorrow.

It's late.

And we don't have a pilot ready to go.

But I do.

A lady is here to see you, Mr. Ellissen.

So you didn't forget about me. I knew it.

It is nice of you, Claire, to come and see me.

Really nice.

Take me to the F.P.1, Ellissen.

-To the F.P.1 -Something's happened there.

An accident, a catastrophe.

Communication has broken down hours ago.

We need to get there, Ellissen.

Didn't I tell you I'll never fly again?

You must, Ellissen. There's no one else to help.

How can you at this moment think of the F.P.1?

There are people fighting for their lives.

Ellissen!

Is it so hard to understand?

This is more important right now.

You are right, Claire, of course I understand.

I understand very well,

that this is more important right now.

| will fly.

But once we are on the F.P.1, Claire...

From North Pole to South Pole, we'll do that in a nap.

We fly the distance on any weather map.

We have no hesitation, we know where we belong,

and as we take off, we sing our song:

Airmen, seeking the sunlight,

greeting the stars and touching the moon.

Our ride is just a smooth glide,

all alone in the sky with this tune.

Faster, and ever faster

turns the engine on our command.

We pilots know no limits,

in our search for the uncharted land.

If on your flight you see a falling star,

you wish you'd see your girl that is so far.

Airmen, seeking the sunlight,

greeting the stars and touching the moon.

We should have never let her fly with him.

We! We! Why we?

You shouldn't have allowed it, you're the older one.

All reports say the storm is subsiding.

Thank you.

If the machine made it,

they should be close to the F.P.1 now.

The F.P.1!

Old Droste will be in for a surprise

when he sees who's the first one to touch down

on his roof garden.

What are the boys doing down there?

Can't they hear or see us or are they all asleep?

Try and make a landing.

Who's shooting at us?

You idiots!

Stupid structure...

What a mess! What a goddamn mess!

What's happening here?

Isn't there anybody at home?

Come on...

Looks like the two of us were lucky.

We could have ended up down under, dammit!

Not a soul in sight.

Hello? Hello!

Hello! What are you doing out there?

Are you on a pleasure cruise, colleague?

Come back! Hello?

Come back!

Why is he doing a runner?

He must be guilty of something.

Look there.

Good evening, Lieutenant!

Good evening, Lieutenant!

How are you?

Why are you looking so strangely?

Can't believe it, can you?

Now say something! Hello!

Hello!

Something seems to be wrong here.

What an awful smell!

Gas.

Droste...

This is where the gas must have come from.

Oh my word...

Droste!

Droste, for God's sake, where are you?

Droste. Droste!

Hey! Old boy!

What have they done to you?

It's not as bad.

Water, where can I find water?

You will be alright.

I love you. I love you!

Now I understand.

That's why.

This is why I had to fly here.

What a fool I am.

The last thing I needed right now.

This is why I had to fly here.

Because the dear miss needed an air taxi.

An air taxi!

I should have known.

An air taxi, an air chauffeur for my friend.

Droste!

That's what I'm worth!

How did you get in here? Well?

You can't keep your nose out, can you?

Come on, tell me.

What's happening in this iron coffin?

"Did. You a" play Qassmg garnes? Did you?

I don't know myself.

Last night, everything was quite normal.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night,

gasping for air, running out into the hallway.

I couldn't breathe at all.

And then... I can't remember.

Come on, get up. This is no place for children.

Hey, little one.

- Feeling better? - E||issen!

You'll be alright.

What's that gushing noise?

The tanks are being flooded.

- What for? - As ballast.

But the water's been running since last night.

Then it's time to turn it off.

It is in... Room B23.

- In here is a lever. - Open the door.

Pull the lever down.

Flood valves closed.

- Closed. - Yes.

But it is still running.

They're closed.

But can't you hear the gushing sound?

The power is off.

What happened to your machines?

They suddenly stopped.

Something's wrong with the oil.

Where are the oil tanks?

Back there, I know them, back there.

Here.

- Oh my God! - What?

Can't you see? It's all empty.

Everything is empty, the oil barrels are gone.

It used to look like this yesterday.

It means the flood valves...

cannot be closed again.

It must have been that Damsky!

It could only have been him.

I never trusted him, that swine.

Our contact has done his job.

Lennartz Shipyard has lost all contact

with F.P.1 yesterday.

As we speak, the artificial island project

is being consigned to history.

- And our contact? - Has been informed

that the "Marshall Tennyson" will be in the area.

And the "Marshall Tennyson"?

Has never been dispatched, of course.

We're only 36 feet above sea level.

The tanks were filled with 156 thousand tons of water

within the past 23 hours.

That leaves us 17 hours until...

Where is Ellissen?

I don't know.

He may be with his airplane.

- What about the crew? - Was mostly just knocked out.

It could have been much worse for us.

What if we hadn't woken up?

We are all going to die!

We could have died in our sleep.

But now we are staring death in the eye.

There's no way we can get away from this mass grave!

We are sinking, the flood valves are stuck open.

Be quiet, nothing has happened yet.

We can radio for help.

No, we can't. The radio room's burnt out.

We don't have a single drop of oil on board.

Where are our fine officers?

Droste! Droste! Droste! Droste!

Quiet! Quiet!

What are you up to?

What is this mutiny about?

Do you think we want to drown like rats?

We sold you our labor, not our lives.

Droste! Droste! Droste! Droste!

Quiet!

Who's shouting about drowning?

Nobody's going to drown here!

We still have the motorboats.

Motorboats!

Nobody leaves the F.P.1!

One step further and you'll be shot.

But we want to get away from here.

Stop! Let me get through.

Don't be ridiculous!

Put away those guns.

I'm the commander, no one else!

Like hell, you are!

Why do you think I have come here?

For your private entertainment?

|'ve come here to save lives!

And that's why I will allow the men to use the boats.

Go on, boys, get them!

Stop!

- Ellissen, be sensible. - I am sensible.

I can't just abandon the F.P.1.

We have until tomorrow morning.

Let's send our planes out, they're bound to find ships

that can help us.

The propellers are damaged.

To the motorboats!

My dear miss, if I were you I would hurry up now.

Or all the window seats might be gone. Off you go.

Ellissen!

Does this mean it is the end of us?

I know, of course I know.

I even want it to be that way.

In 12 hours' time, we're both going to die,

you and me, me and you!

All three of us wanted to build this thing, all of us together!

Now we might as well drown on it together.

It is just up my street, such a glorious herds death.

Now, Ellissen, have you totally lost it?

What happened to you?

What happened to me?

Ask that lady over there.

Now I'm going to have a nap. Wake me when the time has come.

I don't want to miss going under on an F.P.1.

We need to talk.

Not now, Claire.

Now we need to do something in order to...

Excuse me, Claire.

We need to try and build an airworthy plane from spares.

I'm going to set off at first light.

Attention!

And... pull!

Higher. Even higher.

So, clear, lower it slowly.

Lower it slowly.

Slowly... slowly... slowly.

That rotten tooth had given me grief for a whole 11 years.

Eleven years of pain, night and day.

But to die now, just when I got rid of that damn beast,

that hurts more than the tooth ever did.

Stop crying, tooth fairy, you're not going to drown.

Don't fool yourself thinking this paper kite

is ever going to fly.

Stop talking rubbish!

Ellissen's machine has got 70 liters left.

This is all we've got left.

Maybe I'll reach the nearest ship.

Put it in the tanks.

Make your move. Chop chop!

Not with your knight...

Take the knight, you footman.

Or you will lose that pawn, you trader.

I may only lose a pawn, but you...

are losing your whole position.

Stop giving me unwanted advice.

I have quite enough of that.

Go on! Play!

Are you feeling sick already?

Can't stand the air in here?

Or are you fearing for your precious life?

Who allowed you to fan yourself with this fan?

Get up! Leave!

We're done. Good bye. Good bye.

Airmen, seeking the sunlight,

greeting the stars and touching the moon.

Our ride is just a smooth glide,

all alone in the sky with this tune.

Faster, and ever faster

turns the engine on our command.

We pilots know no limits,

in our search for the uncharted land.

If on your flight you see a falling star,

you wish you'd see your girl that is so far.

They are messing about with that machine down there.

I don't think they'll finish it in this life.

And we... and you... waste your time

singing, drinking, playing and bawling,

instead of giving them a hand.

Do you think that's right, Mr. Airman Ellissen?

Do you think that's right?

And even if you do, you won't be very popular,

if they find out you let your friend Droste fly

with a shattered shoulder.

You insolent gnome, you!

Who are you to lecture me?

Droste is not going to fly.

This wreck is not going to take anyone out of here.

Not them, and not us.

Not me, anyway.

Airman Ellissen has done worse stunts than this.

But I am done with doing stunts, you!

And I am done with the F.P.1.

And I'm also done with my friend Droste.

I am drawing a line.

Friendship? Not with me anymore.

Even he let me down. So be it.

They've all let me down.

When I asked you yesterday to rescue the F.P.1 and Droste,

I should have told you the truth.

So, and what is this truth?

I belong to Droste.

You could have told me earlier.

I didn't because... because“.

Because you were afraid I wouldn't fly. Isn't that so?

And now you've come to me again, so that I...

No.

This time the decision is all yours, Ellissen.

You can let Droste fly with his shattered shoulder

or you don't.

You can let the F.P.1 go under or you don't.

It is your decision alone.

I have come to say goodbye, Claire.

Droste, you mustn't fly.

But I have to, Claire.

I'll have to find a ship.

I will find one.

We need one barrel of oil.

That'|| make all the difference.

Don't fly. Don't fly, Droste. Don't!

Keep your nerves, Claire.

You've got to be brave now.

Good morning, everyone.

If on your flight you see a falling star,

you wish you'd see your girl...

So, this is what you call a fully repaired undercarriage?

In that case, you will allow me to give it a good kick.

That wreck won't get three feet off the ground.

This piece belongs in a museum

but not in the skies.

Ah, the wings have been patched up as well.

You really want to fall out of the sky with this, don't you?

We pilots are a happy country.

And breakfast is the best season.

Did someone mess with this funny ignition key?

It's also been nicked from elsewhere.

And the tanks doesn't hold pressure.

Turn the propeller! Hurry up!

And you thought you knew better.

This one's for the scrap heap.

It won't even start.

You won't come back, you won't come back.

I will. Give me a few hours.

Goodbye, Claire.

Clear!

I will send a ship for you.

Airplane ahoy!

Hey, boys, take me on board.

Where's your emergency transmitter?

They need oil for their diesel engine. Oil.

What kind of people are you?

And what kind of rust bucket is this?

Where are you from and where are you going?

On our way to Chile, hunting condors.

Hi, Captain, haven't you heard?

There are no more condors in Chile.

Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories.

You need to go up to Peru.

There you will find some.

But you won't find them unless I show you the way.

But I will.

I have loads of time on my hands now.

Loads of time.

I will show you the way.

You herd of sheep...

Airmen, seeking the sunlight,

greeting the stars and touching the moon.

The End.

Material: F.W. Murnau Foundation, Wiesbaden.

[Digital Re-mastering: ARR], Film & TV Restoration.

F.W. Murnau Foundation Copyright 2014.

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