Original subtitles

[hip-hop intro playing]

[narrator] For as long as he can remember,

Toni Fleischer's only goal was to make it big.

[rapping] ♪ As I hold it down tonight Never uptight ♪

♪ Letting loose on the mic Speaking the frequency pleasingly ♪

♪ Keeping me smoother than ice ♪

♪ You won't be believin' your eyes Giving you nothing but vibes ♪

♪ Keeping it moving tonight ♪

♪ Tight on the mic every day of my life ♪

♪ Yummy! ♪

♪ I was on 'shrooms You smelled the fumes ♪

[narrator] But after 18 years in Berlin, he's still just making pizza,

not hits.

The talent was there, but he was just one of those people

who was never in the right place at the right time.

[clattering]

His only two fans were

a dead-eyed jar of sourdough he called Susi,

and the owner of the pizza shop, Pipo,

who believed in Toni so much he let him live in the restaurant's basement,

something Toni was forever grateful for.

Thanks again for letting me crash here.

Pfft. Yeah, dude, you know, mi casa es su casa.

[narrator] Pipo helped Toni any chance he got.

Your good luck charm for tonight.

Sometimes with moral support…

Um, thanks, bro.

[narrator] …but mostly with pizza.

[door bells jingling]

Toni's day started out like any other.

Oh. The usual?

Fried chicken banana, 19.95, please.

Thank you.

[squishy munching]

[narrator] Today, like every day,

he was reminded that he wasn't living the life he'd dreamed of.

Your pizza's absolute shit.

["Lovely Day" by Bill Withers playing on radio]

See you tomorrow, Birgit.

-[Birgit] See you tomorrow. -[door opens]

-[sighs] -[narrator] And right at that moment,

as he was doubting everything yet again,

his mother, at her towing company far away…

[phone ringing]

…got a call that would change Toni's life forever.

Twenty-four-hour towing service. Fleischer.

[indistinct chatter over phone]

What'd you say? A duck stuck up a tree?

I'll be there soon.

-[engine roars] -[narrator] Wera Fleischer, Toni's mom,

was a six-time East German discus throwing champion.

She wasn't exactly thrilled about Toni's life choices.

[thunder rumbles]

What mom would be happy

her nearly 40-year-old son is still trying to be a rapper?

[duck quacking]

Unlike Toni, Wera liked the rural charm of her hometown, Schitten-on-Havel.

["Lovely Day" continuing]

Come down now, Günther.

-[narrator] Mostly because of the ducks. -[quacks]

Fine, I'll help you. But this is the last time, okay?

[narrator] Toni had been warning his mom not to climb trees since he was a kid.

-[quacking] -[thunder crashes]

-Come here. -[branch creaking]

Shit.

-[duck quacking] -[thunder rumbling]

[sizzling and crackling]

[narrator] Meanwhile, in Berlin, Toni had no idea

about the bizarre accident his mother just had.

Besides, he had other concerns.

He had a big gig coming up that night, and the poor guy was really nervous.

-How are you, bro? You nervous? -Nah.

[narrator] Really, really nervous.

-Are… are you sure? -Maybe a little.

[narrator] Sure he was, because it was Thursday,

which, like every damn Thursday, meant the same thing…

Welcome, welcome, welcome to Rap on Thursday!

[crowd cheering]

[scratching]

[narrator] Rap on Thursday was the largest event of its kind in Berlin

for anyone looking to make it big.

Dude, they're, like, way younger than you.

And cooler. They even smell better.

I knew inviting you was a mistake.

You know the rules. Mano a mano, one on one.

No pre-written shit, just freestyle.

[exhales]

Berlin's freshest rappers are here tonight to make their name.

Give it up for the new generation!

[cheering]

And the not-so-new generation.

[crickets chirping]

-I think she means you, bro. -No shit, Pipo.

'Cause you're super old.

[hip-hop music playing]

MC CRICKET CHIRPIN' EXT. REMIX

[obnoxious hip-hop ringtone playing]

NANCY (BIG SISTER THAT I DON'T GET ALONG WITH)

Sorry, bro, I gotta take this.

-You're up soon. -Just a sec.

-Yeah? -[Nancy] You said you'd call me back.

Yeah. Sorry, I've been busy, okay?

-[Nancy] That was nine months ago. -Nancy, I'm about to go on stage.

[Nancy] Mom died today.

-What? How? -[music slows and distorts]

[Nancy] The way she always wanted.

Rescuing a duck from up a tree?

[Nancy] Yeah, rescuing a duck from up a tree.

-Then got struck by lightning. -[sighs]

I'm sure you're busy with your rap thing, but you have to come to the funeral.

[emcee] And for our first battle, here's Svenni

from Dolph Lundgren High School in Bottrop-Ekel!

-[beat playing] -[cheers]

-Yeah, Dolph! -Let's go! Let's go!

[emcee] Versus Toni!

-[Nancy] Are we clear? -Yeah. Uh, Nancy, I can't talk right now.

[Svenni] Berlin, are you feeling good tonight or what? Yeah! Dope!

Put your hands in the air. Hands up!

[crowd chanting to beat] Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

That's right, yeah.

[rapping] ♪ I gotta battle this clown You must be absurd ♪

♪ No style, no swag Just a fat-ass nerd ♪

♪ Look at this loser Standing there like a bitch ♪

♪ While live on stage I give your mother my dick ♪

-[crowd] Ooh! -[laughter]

[emcee] Oh no, he didn't, man! [laughs]

Okay, okay, okay. And now, Toni!

[music distorts]

-♪ Uh ♪ -[Svenni] ♪ Give your mother my dick ♪

[Nancy echoing] Mom died today.

[Birgit] Your pizza's absolute shit.

-Okay. -[feedback squealing]

♪ Giving my mom some dick? Well, truth be told ♪

♪ You're too late, my mom's dead Her friggin' body is cold ♪

♪ So maybe find someone else To ride your dick ♪

♪ I just got the call With lightning, she was hit ♪

-♪ Uh ♪ -[laughter]

♪ That's why them jokes ain't lit But Svenni is right ♪

♪ I'm a fat, useless bitch ♪

♪ I always thought that one day I'd be Tupac ♪

♪ But nowadays Everyone's encouraging me to stop ♪

♪ I left my small town To prove that I'm an innovator ♪

♪ It turns out I'm just a corny, phony imitator ♪

♪ When I was young and fresh I used to spit the nicest ♪

♪ I guess I paid the prices Going through midlife crisis ♪

♪ Now we're here Rapping at some weird, weary kid ♪

♪ Myriad of raps Although he's never had his period ♪

♪ My whole life I just knew That I was gonna blow ♪

♪ But when you watch your life go by That ain't the way it goes ♪

♪ All my life I knew I'd be a master rapper ♪

♪ But my résumé just says That I make pizza faster ♪

♪ Believe in me? Not even my moms ♪

♪ Ashamed for ten years I never went home ♪

♪ Shit, man, Mom gave it to me straight ♪

♪ There was no way I would ever make it With the rhymes that I create ♪

-[beat stops] -♪ But I'm still on it ♪

♪ Realizing that I'm a pawn ♪

♪ Dime a dozen chasing a bullshit dream Until time is gone ♪

♪ Fuck it 'Cause it's too late for that, y'all ♪

♪ I think I should just leave it all ♪

[silence]

[man] Wow.

-[mic thuds] -[feedback squealing]

-[crowd murmuring] -[Pipo] Where are you going?

[Toni] Schitten.

Did he just say "shitting"?

CRAP HAPPENS

[train whistle blowing]

[narrator] Way out in Brandenburg, you'll find Toni's hometown,

Schitten-on-Havel.

Ladies and gentlemen, please have your tickets out.

[narrator] He hadn't even arrived yet, but all he could think about was one thing…

-When's the return trip to Berlin? -Four weeks.

SCHITTEN CENTRAL STATION

This is the final stop, Schitten-on-Havel. Please exit here, everyone!

[train whistle blows]

NO SIGNAL

[desolate western music playing]

[crow cawing]

Tumbleweeds for sale. Gather round! Sir? Care for some tumbleweeds?

Brandenburg authentic tumbleweeds, artisanally grown.

[narrator] The origins of the unfortunate name Schitten…

WELCOME TO SCHITTEN-ON-HAVEL

…are lost to history.

But Toni knew this, his hometown truly lived up to its name.

He never felt like he belonged in a town like this,

with an '"Upermarket" that had been missing its S for the last 30 years,

and a theater where he'd been laughed off the stage when he first tried to rap.

It just never felt like home to him.

Here, people took pride in their leaf blower museum.

SCHITTEN LEAF BLOWER MUSEUM

[blowers whirring]

And in having beloved actress Veronika Ferres…

-[camera clicking] -…voted in as mayor for multiple terms.

Vote for me when you're all grown up.

TOWN HALL

[narrator] Oh, democracy.

ANY-WEATHER HOTEL

Toni strolled past all the content, down-to-earth folk

who always thought he was weird

because he had a dream they never really understood,

and who put obstacles in his way.

FERRES, COMPLEX IDEAS FOR SCHITTEN

He had zero interest in bumping into all the people who never believed in him,

including his mother and his three sisters.

FLEISCHER 24-HOUR TOWING SERVICE

He wanted to come back as a star.

But sadly, he left a loser, and came back a loser.

FLEISCHER 24H TOWING SERVICE

"It's just one day."

"I can deal with this for one day. Then I'm gone."

Or so he thought.

[whimsical music playing]

[woman sighs]

Get off our skateboard.

Okay.

[narrator] And so, he reunited with his family.

Toni's sister Nancy is the only policewoman in Schitten.

-Nancy. -[narrator] A total neat freak.

Take your shoes off in the house.

This is not Berlin, we have rules here.

-[narrator] And a mother of four. -Children. Say hello to your uncle.

[all] Hello.

-You too. -[girl] Hello.

[narrator] His sister Kaia owns a junkyard,

likes to blow things up,

and swears so much that we have to bleep her.

You look like a sack of [bleep].

[narrator] And his sister Karo

is a driving instructor and hasn't spoken a word to Toni

since he ruined her wedding eight years ago.

[sighs]

[narrator] And this is…

[gasps] My son!

[narrator] …Johnny Carrera.

Come to Papa! Oh!

[narrator] Wera's widower and Toni's stepfather.

He's younger than Toni and basically a walking waterworks.

[Johnny] This is so nice! I'm so glad you're home again!

[sobbing continues]

[narrator] "One day. Just make it through one day."

[squelching]

[hissing]

TOWING SERVICE

My condolences. She was truly wonderful.

Thank you.

Just one wiener per person, Pedro.

I see.

-[woman] Hey! -Sorry!

So? Where is he?

[cheesy beat playing]

["Mr. Vain" by Culture Beat playing on organ]

END OF A (W)ERA

[organ continues]

Who the hell is that freak?

[man] Excuse me, that's my seat.

Sorry, you're in my seat. Can you move, please?

-Nice hat though. -[woman] Thank you.

I'm sorry for your loss, my best friend.

-Paulie. -[chuckles]

It's been so long.

So many years. Bet you thought about me a lot.

-Uh-- -Yeah?

Your mother's dead.

I know that.

[Paulie] She was so, um,

hot.

-Have I ever mentioned that? -Too often.

Seriously. I used to jerk off to her every day.

She was honestly the only thing I jerked off to in high school.

-I don't need you to be honest. -Okay.

["Mr. Vain" continues]

Remember after graduation, you said, "I'm going to Berlin to be a rap star,

and once I've made it, you'll never see me here again"?

-It doesn't ring a bell. -Well, you're here again.

-So? How 'bout you? -Me? I'm doing great.

Everything's great.

-[organ stops] -[Paulie sobs]

Ever think about the old days, Toni?

-No. -Same, dude, all the time.

-We were so young. -[Johnny] My dear friends…

[sniffles] So young.

My name is Johnny Carrera,

and I had the honor of walking alongside Wera during her golden years.

And I'm the proud and very lucky stepfather of our four beautiful children.

Toni, give the people a wave.

-Wave for Daddy. -[Paulie] Come on, Toni.

[Johnny] Wera was a woman who never left anything to chance.

Even the streets of our small town, she, uh…

She prepared them so there'd be little "accidents" for her to take care of.

That's how we met, when she… slashed the tires of my Opel Kadett and then…

towed me to her shop.

And she said, "You're staying with me now."

And so I did.

I've been thinking a lot about her very last words to me.

"You call that sex, Johnny Carrera?"

-No one thinks that's inappropriate? -Can you just pay attention?

Now, let's listen to the beautiful words of Wera's favorite poet, Haddaway.

-"What is love?" -[obnoxious ringtone playing]

"Baby, don't…"

PIPO (DUDE I WORK WITH AT THE PIZZERIA)

"…hurt me."

[buzzing and song continue]

"Don't hurt me…"

[crying] "…no more."

[ringtone continues]

[slow clapping]

-Pipo? -[echoing] Dude.

-You're not gonna believe what happened. -Hello?

[electronic lagging] A woman… you,

she saw you at the… and she wants to meet you today.

-Pipo? -She… your freestyling, seriously.

-I… I can't hear anything. -And now she's at…

-No reception in this damn town. -Can you hear me?

I'll be back tomorrow, okay?

-This is your dream… -Take care of Susi.

Toni, you there?

-He has no reception. -Where is he?

[Pipo] Schitten.

I've been thinking of letting my hair grow out.

Mom always said my face was too delicate for that, but now I might just try it.

-What if she hears you? -Are you completely nuts?

Okay. Stupid idea.

[Toni] Hey.

[narrator] Toni's family reacted the way they always did in emotional situations.

-Well? -[sisters] Well?

[narrator] They repressed it.

-How are things in Berlin? -Awesome.

-Berlin creeps me out. -Yep.

You've never been there.

They eat dogs, don't they?

[dog barking]

Yep.

-See what I mean now? -Wow.

["What Is Love" by Haddaway playing on organ]

What's up with that weird kid on the keys?

Who even organized this thing?

[sniffs]

[organ continues]

[narrator] In the book of history's greatest love stories,

the tale of Tony and Jana…

is not present.

The first time he rapped to her behind the gym,

back when they were 15,

he was the coolest guy in the world.

She was head over heels for him, until she realized he was her first crush,

but not the great love of her life.

[organ continues, then distorts out]

Women, right?

-Go away, bro. -[laughs]

Come on, let's go.

My condolences.

Thanks.

-I bet 100 euro you wouldn't show. -Sorry.

[laughing]

It's been a while.

-Fourteen years. -Really?

-Mm-hmm. -Wow.

Did you happen to get my email or…

Um… No idea.

-When'd you send it? -Fourteen years ago.

Never got it.

-Mm. -Funeral director, huh?

-Uh, yeah. -So you took over your mom's business?

Mm-hmm.

How about you? Working?

Yeah.

It's been great, actually.

-Yeah? -Yeah, really good.

-Really? -Mm-hmm.

Never heard you on the radio.

I mean, I listen to a lot of it, but I don't believe I've heard you.

Yeah, I was never in it for the mainstream stuff.

Ah. Right.

[narrator] Toni was embarrassed to be back home with nothing accomplished.

In Berlin, people say I'm the voice of my generation.

[narrator] No one's ever said that. Not in Berlin, not anywhere.

[Jana] Uh…

How about your spam folder, did you look?

-What? -Never mind. Um…

-Well… -Hey, I'll be in touch.

I'll email ya.

Mm. You do that.

[narrator] And at that moment, for just a fraction of a second,

Toni found himself wondering what his life would've looked like if he'd never left.

["Home Again" by Michael Kiwanuka playing]

♪ Home again, home again ♪

♪ One day I know I'll feel home again ♪

♪ Born again, born again ♪

-♪ One day I know I'll feel strong again ♪ -[Johnny sobbing] Wera!

♪ So I close my… ♪

[narrator] But then he quickly pushed that thought aside.

-♪ …behind, moving on ♪ -[Johnny sobbing]

♪ Lost again, lost again ♪

♪ One day I know Our paths will cross again ♪

♪ Smile again, smile again ♪

♪ One day I hope to make you smile again ♪

♪ I won't hide ♪

♪ Many times-- ♪

[booming]

[rumbling]

I used her own fat to make the explosives.

She'd be proud, for sure.

[Johnny sobs]

♪ Home again, home again ♪

♪ One day I know I'll feel home again ♪

♪ Born again, born again ♪

♪ One day I know I'll feel strong again ♪

♪ I'll lift my head ♪

JOHNNY CARRERA'S GLASS FIGURE COLLECTION THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECES!

♪ Many times I've been told ♪

♪ All this talk will make you old ♪

♪ So I close my eyes ♪

[sighs]

Knock-knock. Oh my God!

-Are you masturbating, you rascal? -No.

So, does someone wanna be tucked in again, or what?

You never tucked me in before. You're younger than me, Jesus Christ.

-Champ… -Don't call me that, dude.

What's wrong?

Why did you leave my room like this?

Oh, your mother wanted to have a place that you could always come back to,

in case the music thing didn't work out.

[scoffs]

She never really believed in me.

What? No. She always spoke so highly of, um, whatever it is you do.

Did she ever mention anything good about it at all?

Well… she said… she said many good things.

Name one thing.

Yeah… She…

-Hmm? -She loved…

Hmm?

Your pants.

What?

She… "That boy wears really sturdy pants," her exact words.

"And he needs them, 'cause of his huge thighs."

Okay, somehow it sounded nicer when she said it.

[crying] I loved her so much.

How come?

[sobs] I mean, she was always honest.

[crying]

-And a wild puma in bed. -Okay, I'd like to go to sleep.

-Goodnight kiss? Okay. -Get out.

[melancholy music playing]

[sighs]

Good night, my sweet prince!

Ugh…

[snoring]

[rumbling]

[glass breaking]

[groans]

What the hell?

[helicopter approaching]

[hip-hop music playing]

Toni Fleischer?

Yeah?

Dalia Müller-Müller.

Müller-Müller?

Yeah, my mom wanted to keep her last name.

Um, I'm a Junior A&R manager at Cutie Heart Records.

[narrator] Cutie Heart Records was Germany's second-biggest rap label

and discount heart transplant clinic,

founded and run by former heart surgeon Doctor Dietmar Diggity Drews.

How'd you even find me here?

Toni! I'm in a helicopter!

I'm happy for you… bro.

-You always roll up in a chopper? -When we want to impress rappers, we do.

It's working, I gotta say.

Toni, I wanna be honest with you, and please don't take this the wrong way,

but you're not the youngest or the best-looking

or the most charismatic or the best-smelling person I've ever met.

Okay.

Far from it.

-Mm. -However…

I saw something in your freestyle.

It's what I'm after.

Heart.

[hopeful music playing]

Heart?

Heart.

I'd like to show your rapping to my boss. Got any songs I can play for him?

[narrator] Toni had hundreds of song sketches,

half-decent song intros.

But self-doubt always crept in,

and he never managed to finish a single one.

Um, nothing recent.

[despairing exhale] Shit.

In that case… hm.

Wait a second. Uh…

I can write some.

My attention span has been completely ruined by streaming services.

[Netflix tudum plays]

I can only care about something for maybe two weeks.

Two weeks is enough time. I can write songs in two weeks, no problem.

Good. Just make sure one of them is a hit.

Actually, I don't handle pressure super well.

Two weeks to go.

And the ticking clock won't stop ticking.

Tick-tock.

Okay.

[hip-hop music playing]

Shit.

[narrator] Toni was suddenly handed the chance of a lifetime.

All he had to do was write a hit.

But he knew he couldn't do that in Schitten.

With Johnny whining, Nancy barking orders,

and that Paulie guy, whatever his deal was…

-Johnny! -…he'd never have the peace and quiet

-he needed here. -Johnny!

He had to get back to Berlin.

Johnny!

Yes?

You happen to know where Mom's tow truck is?

It's still at the spot where she died.

[raucous quacking]

[Toni groans]

And where are the keys?

[keys jingling]

Son, in a father's life, there eventually comes a point--

Johnny, I don't have time for your nonsense.

Okay.

I have to go to Berlin, and write!

[intriguing music playing]

[gasping]

[quacking]

Ugh. Shit.

[quacking]

[engine starts]

[motor revving]

-Shit. -[quacking continues]

[exhales]

[tires whine]

[frantic quacking]

-[quacking] -Shit!

Shit! Shit, shit, shit. Goddammit!

[gagging]

-[squelching] -[gags]

[quacking]

Uh, I… I didn't mean to.

[quacks]

Hey, I didn't know they were your parents.

[quacking]

Take it easy. One of you is to blame for my mother's death.

So I guess we're even.

[quacking]

It was an accident. I'm sorry.

-Don't look at me like that. -[chirps]

No, I can't take you with me.

[chirps]

I have to write songs, okay? I don't have time f-for another being in my life.

[chirps]

I apologize.

[sad chitter]

[narrator] So Toni set off to Berlin.

-And he wasn't alone. -[quacking]

-[quacks] -Tupac, don't be a drag,

or you're outta here.

-[quacks] -[narrator] He had to focus.

-It's okay, you couldn't have known. -[chirps]

[exhales]

[narrator] The moment he got out of Schitten,

the ideas started flowing.

[muffled hip-hop playing]

He could already hear it… His hit.

[crowd chanting] Toni, Toni, Toni, Toni!

Check, check.

♪ Uh ♪

Okay.

Check.

[chirping]

[quacking]

[quacking]

[tires screeching]

Hey, what are you doing in the middle of the road?

Uh, hello. Um, my name is Karsten Maria Schrammel, people call me Charly.

I'm 13 years old.

My pronouns are he, him, his.

And I'm the Brandenburg breath-holding record holder.

So?

I'm your son.

[quizzical music playing]

And my mom just left, so I have to stay with you.

Papa.

[upbeat music playing]

[soft instrumental music playing]

[music ends]