Original subtitles

Wow! - Wow!

Dad! You've got to hear this! - It explains everything!

Everything!

First question:

why, at 2:34 a.m. on a Wednesday,

is there a boy I don't know in our living room?

Don't worry. My parents have no idea I'm here.

Want to hear it again? - No, thanks.

Here's the translation key. We've only made a start.

But it's definitely a language.

This is the worst excuse I've ever heard

for a kid coming home late.

I thought your dad was a real scientist? - l am.

That's how I know aliens don't exist. - Yes they do!

No they don't. - Then how come they sent us a message?

You heard right: a message from aliens!

To explain why we of all people received it,

I'd better go back to the very beginning.

It all started when Dad and I moved to a suburb the other side of town.

To be closer to our new school. - Got it!

I start middle school after summer.

And Dad got a job teaching physics and math at the same school.

This is super convenient, as it's just the two of us now.

Obviously I didn't know anyone here

so I went to scope out the neighborhood.

And this is what I found.

Hey!

You need some help?

I didn't think you looked like...

you'd be much help.

Neither did you.

Oh, right.

I fell into the scrap press over there.

Will the limp get any better?

No.

We got this on insurance.

I've tweaked it a bit, but this is as good as it gets.

You'd have to make a sort of connection.

Between the electrical signals in your neurons

and the machine.

Exactly!

Come with me!

Billie was really cool. And she was totally on my wavelength.

I had to show her what I hadn't shown anyone else in the world.

Wow!

I believe there are intelligent beings out there

way smarter than us humans.

And I want to talk to them.

Okay.

Dino's space radio wasn't working yet

so I grabbed a few books from Dad's library.

My dad is actually an astrophysicist, which means he studies space.

And my mom was a real-life astronaut!

Here.

Every day, we made our radio telescope a little bit better.

Great.

No more Finnish police radio!

This was real noise from outer space.

But... - The signal's too weak.

More copper coils! - More copper coils!

What are you doing?

Um... removing copper coils?

Silke, honey, call the police. Roger.

It's okay, Dad! Billie's a friend of mine.

Silke, maybe you should come here instead.

Roger.

And? What do you say to that?

Copper, nickel, tungsten... - The good aluminum from the rims?

Yes, at least 2,500 Euros. - More like 2,700 Euros.

Christ boy, we've been wondering why at the end of the month...

we're always a few sausages short.

These are raw materials. You know they go up in price?

The way things are going, they'll be worth double one day.

Sybille, right?

Listen, Sybille... - Billie! Short for Annabel.

But that never really suited me. - Right, very interesting.

Do you even realize what we're doing? - No.

It's alien language we're deciphering here!

Translating.

From then on, Billie was banned.

As firstly... - This is a business, not a park!

And secondly... - You'll see Dino plenty at school.

But it's summer vacation!

Good!

And we don't even go to the same school!

Dino was forced to spend the rest of the summer

helping out with work.

As firstly... - You're old enough.

And secondly... - This way you can earn your own money.

Because thirdly... - That's life.

Even for those with a lame foot and two left hands.

From then on, we could only meet at night.

And our extra-terrestrial eavesdropping became a top-secret mission.

Here, you two.

We had to find a way to give the old analog technology a digital boost.

So Dino resoldered the entire motherboard.

One night, we finally got it.

The clearest signal ever!

Billie! - What?

Wow! - Wow!

We were certain we had everything we needed to prove

that these were real aliens trying to make contact.

We'd just forgotten two small things.

Firstly, let sleeping dogs lie.

And secondly, even my super-smart double-doctorate super-dad

can be really ignorant.

That's how I know aliens don't exist. - Yes, they do!

No, they don't. - Then how come they sent us a message?

Shoot! My parents!

Thank God!

Where's my son? - l...

Wait! Karossa, come! - Right, if I ever catch your daughter

near our son again

I'll set Karossa and Karacho on her.

Is that clear?

And you! You little scamp...

Come on.

No. - Yes!

No! - Yes! -Nope!

Negative! - Why not?

You hit a reciprocal logic-wish-coupling.

What? - I listened to your recording again.

And it does indeed have a recurring structure.

Well, there we go.

But the sequence... Look.

This tone sequence, for example, also has a repeated structure

from which we can derive the word "fantasy."

But what are we hearing? First, suckling piglets.

Second, gale-force winds on a sail boat.

And third, raindrops on a steel barrel.

Great! So we're just idiots, is that it?

Billie!

Billie, as much as I'd love to...

You get that from your mother.

Be careful!

I am being careful!

Do you know what I used to daydream about?

That my parents weren't my actual parents.

Who were they then? - Well...

just two random people

that I had ended up with somehow.

I thought a spaceship would land here one day

and pick me up.

You used to daydream about being an alien?

Sometimes I still do.

Is that bad? - Well...

With your parents?

Billie...

Do you really believe something's up there?

Honestly.

When my mom died...

everyone said:

"Your mom is now up there in heaven."

But I never saw her.

I was five.

So I asked my dad.

An expert in all things to do with space.

He told me all about the planets,

the nebulae, the galaxies...

Everything.

And at some point I realized...

my mom's not up there.

But it made me believe in aliens.

What's that? - Read it.

If anyone can help us, they can.

"Dear ESA team...

My name is Billie. I'm 11 years old and a space explorer.

My friend Dino and I have made a radio telescope for outer space..."

My little miracle probe weighs under 12 kilos: 11.83, to be precise.

And in case you're wondering: "Why so small?"

The smaller the object, the harder it is to hit.

Once we maneuver my little masterpiece into the Bermuda Triangle

it will have to dodge space debris

and withstand velocity pressure... - We don't care about that.

Will your "masterpiece" find what we want?

More of this weightless material?

Do you know any scientist who could build a better probe?

Do you know the dark side of the moon?

A popular spot for female scientists who overestimate their skills.

Get it cleared as cargo.

Margot, there you are. We need to finalize the press invites.

I got this great request... - No press.

We're not going public. - Not going public?

It's just an uncrewed research flight. - It's still a rocket launch!

Banning press makes it look like we have something to hide.

What? - Do we have something to hide?

No! - Well then?

Carlitta, you decide. I can't take care of everything.

Okay.

Dino!

Dino!

Dino! We got an invite!

Can you imagine what kind of devices the Spaceport has

for making contact with aliens?

Sure, they're pros! They have everything.

EXPLORING SPACE

I have to see it. - Will your parents let you come?

No.

Of course not.

But I could forge their signatures.

Will your dad be on board?

No. Nope. Negative.

Why not? - It's on the other side of the world.

It would be super expensive.

Plus something starts in four days... Ah yes, school.

Yes, but... - Billie, you're starting middle school.

Need I say more?

But this is a pedagogically valuable research trip!

Nice try. Still no.

You're scared. - What would I be scared of?

You used to work there. With Mom.

That was seven years ago.

And you still know lots of people there? - Barely.

I want to fly to the stars

But gravity's holding me... - Billie, stop.

That's Mom's song.

Earth smells of cabbage and gravy... - I'm not scared.

That's why you became a physics teacher like Grandpa!

And not an astronaut like Mom.

Where are your parents? - Um... They're afraid of flying.

Are you the accompanying adult?

We're about to depart.

Can I talk to your parents quickly? - Sure.

Here.

What? - Don't worry. My mom won't answer.

Who will? - My cousin's girlfriend. I gave her 50 Euros.

Okay, good.

Your mom was really nice this time!

Okay, good. Then let's go.

Billie! Look!

Right, little monsters, we'll take it easy today.

Tomorrow, I'll show you my old office

and where Billie's mom worked...

So much for taking it easy.

Okay then.

That's why today's rocket launch is so important,

as are all uncrewed research flights.

Any questions?

Good, then we can all get back to work...

Over here! - Hello!

Yes?

Firstly, bonjour, we are Billie and Dino.

From Castrop-Rauxel in Germany. Thank you for the invite.

Did you get our message? - And what message was that?

The message from the aliens!

And? What do you say to that?

Yes, Dr. Boshley. Do you believe in aliens?

I'll put it this way:

When I was your age, or maybe a bit younger, I believed in aliens.

And in Santa Claus.

As I got older, I realized Santa came every year, if I'd been good.

But I never saw any aliens.

We haven't seen any either. - But we've heard them.

As I'm sure you know, the distances in outer space are so vast,

the chances of an extra-terrestrial encounter are 10 to the power of...

18 times lower than acoustic contact.

That's why we focused on receiving sound messages.

And we were hoping you could help us fully decipher the message.

We would like to send them a reply.

But...

the thing is, our radio device is broken.

Yes, in fa-...

... in fact...

in fact, we have received such messages.

I know a bit about it. Come here.

Alex, hey! - Hey! Tomasio!

Cava? - Ca va bien.

Great to see you! - Samel!

Awesome!

Is that Annabell? - That's Billie.

And that's Dino, a stray I've taken in. Hey, did you send the invite?

The invite was from me. - Hey, Carlitta!

It's been too long since we saw you.

Oh, come on. - Uh-oh!

The boss is trying to be nice.

Boshley's your new boss?

Oh, yes! - Oh, yes!

Whoever...

hears this...

has been...

thoroughly...

taken for a ride.

Sorry, kiddies. We have thousands of recordings like these in the archives.

It's probably just the even-smarter kid next door playing a prank.

These things happen.

So Dad was right again.

No one believed us!

Even worse: they thought we were sweet.

Which cannot be said of the lemonade they tried to give us/

Ow! Even my teeth are wincing!

No one took any notice of us.

And that was our way in!

Sorry, your boss Dr. Boshley said

you'd received thousands of alien messages.

Um, where can we find them?

Jirgen?

Does the extra-terrestrial intelligence department still exist?

No, Boshley closed it years ago.

I'm sure it's all archived. - Where?

Boshley's office. She keeps everything. Why do you want to...?

Okay.

These are cool.

But which way?

I think... back there.

Come on.

Of course the mission's going to plan.

I don't understand why you're bothering me.

The press conference did not go to plan.

The press conference went poorly. - They were kids!

Kids spout nonsense! No one takes them seriously.

Except for when they talk about aliens.

You had one task: no unnecessary publicity.

Why do I always have the feeling that you two don't trust me?

If you alone could possess the greatest discovery humans have ever made,

who would you trust?

I have to think about that a moment. - We don't.

Has our cargo been assigned?

Hall B, Gate 3 in ten minutes.

Hello, Ms...

Hello, Dr.?

Huh? She just came in here!

Maybe there's a second exit.

Weird, no? - Never mind that.

See if you can find anything to do with aliens.

The cargo's on the move.

Billie, what if they're hiding aliens here?

Like the Americans?

There's no reader...

for the chip card.

I don't get it. - That was on the table!

What? - The photo of her as a witch!

Wow! - Wow!

Your letter!

And our...

alien message recording.

Hmm... They don't need our recording.

Boshley's a professional.

I knew it from the start.

What's that?

Notes for...

a decryption key, I think.

I can't read these scrawls.

What is it?

She looks like you.

Billie! Quickly! Come here!

What's that?

A floating...

... rock?

A magnet?

It's... kind of heavy.

But also not.

How is it possible?

No idea.

There's only one explanation.

The rock isn't from Earth! - Exactamente, Serorina!

And we fell for that witch's tricks!

Hook, line and sinker.

Exactamente, you pesky smart alecks!

Give me that right now, it's mine!

I'm not so sure about that!

You... - Ow! Billie, catch!

Let's go!

Hurry!

Security! Catch those two and you'll get a bonus!

They're here somewhere!

Let's search the offices!

Where now? - Back to the sour lemonade place.

We have to find my dad. We'll tell and show him everything.

Let's hide in here until the coast is clear.

Loading ready.

Ah, Amigo. Hands off.

Sorry, I just... - We'll take it from here, thanks.

Okay.

No signal. Dang.

When we show them what we found

no one will care about this boring launch.

At least they'll believe us now!

Dr. Boshley?

You can take it from here.

Carlitta, thanks for inviting those kids.

It really livened things up.

Some last-minute cargo has been assigned.

Yes, that was me. - Oh.

Thanks for letting me know.

The order came from the very top. It had to happen fast, as ever.

Trust me, I'm also really annoyed.

Alex... ander?

The loser! - Margot? The intern?

Aren't you teaching preschool in Bavaria? - I teach physics.

Near Dortmund. - What are you doing here in Korou?

And in the staff area, no less? - Um, I...

I'm looking for my kids, Billie and Dino. You met them at the press conference.

Do you have dogs here? - No, not yet.

Margot!

She's certainly come a long way.

The kids can't have got far. They would need clearance to leave.

Did you check the lemonade stand?

Careful!

Okay, that went well.

Weird...

Yeah.

The boxes are strapped in all the way around...

As if there's no up or down. - And why is it so cramped in here?

It's like... the room itself is a container.

Status report for all stations? - All stations are go.

All systems ready. - Confirmed. All systems go.

Well, you two are missing the best bit. Too bad.

... hine, eight, seven, six...

This can't be happening!

Lift-off! All systems nominal.

Roll program complete. Flight path clear. Nearing maximum dynamic pressure.

We have an additional payload weight of 72.5 kilos.

72.5 kilos.

Attitude control has compensated. All is nominal and on course.

SRBs jettisoned.

All looks good. Flight.

Jettisoning fairing in 70 seconds. - Strange...

There are two temperature hotspots in the cargo bay.

Hotspots? How? - ... central stage jettisoned.

EPS upper-stage parameters nominal.

Ten seconds to weightlessness.

Billie! This is the coolest thing ever! - I'm not so sure...

I think we just arrived in space! - Dad's going to be so mad!

Mission Control from Kourou, planet Earth.

ATV 23.

Please come in.

If you can hear me, there's a button between the seats.

It should light up red.

Push that to talk to me.

You talk!

Hi and... sorry.

Honestly, we also have no idea how this could have happened.

I'm guessing that's not the cargo you authorized?

Change capsule system from "uncrewed" to "crewed."

Or... "childrened."

No...

Which idiot decided to make this public?

Carlitta: initiate press embargo and emergency protocol.

Highest security level. No one enters or leaves.

Attention: the highest security level is in place.

Please follow the instructions of the security personnel.

Nol - No access.

I have to... My daughter... - Sorry.

You have to let me in. - No way.

That's my daughter! I have to...

Please take a step back.

Okay, merci.

Dammit! - Attention: the highest...

The first rule for astronauts is:

stay calm, we have everything under control.

We can operate all the controls from here on Earth. See?

Here's the plan.

We'll get you back to Earth as quickly as possible.

Okay!

But first we have to fly you to the ISS.

No one's there right now, but it's our only option.

Why? - Because... Well...

Your spacecraft wasn't made to come back through Earth's atmosphere.

We'd burn up...

Right? - That's right, Dino.

It won't come to that.

We're already preparing a second mission to come pick you up from the ISS.

Easy!

Easy... - How long will it take?

Well, we're just calculating that.

Go back into the cargo bay.

In container... - 25B 32.

... 25B 32, you'll find spacesuits.

Change into those.

And when you're ready, I'll have more info for you.

What a disaster!

It's good to distract them with tasks.

WHAT'S THE PLAN?

It's not how it looks. It's far worse.

Dino!

Open up! You've overslept!

Silke, honey, have you found him? Roger. - No.

And I don't have time for this.

I know he's in there! I just can't get in.

Then make some noise! - l am making noise!

Dino!

Dino!

Silke?

Honey? - Will you stop yelling at me?

He's written: "Gone away with my friend Billie.

Looking for aliens. Might be a while."

Well, he's truly lost it.

"I'll pay back the ticket money."

“Promise.” - Ticket? Have they gone to Disneyland?

Wait a minute...

There's no way...

Korou, French Guiana.

Civilians made it onto a research flight fo the International Space Station...

THANKS, MOM & DAD

The stowaways are apparently two 17-year-old kids

from Castrop-Rauxel in North Rhine-Westphalia.

They are currently at an altitude of 400 km,

orbiting the Earth at over 20,000 km per hour.

Well, screw me... - The incident has caused a global stir.

Dino...

Are you scared?

Not at all.

I'm... just wondering

if we might see aliens.

I mean, anything's possible. Right?

This is the best radio equipment I have ever seen!

And if we can figure this out,

we could send the aliens a message.

This is Kourou, Mission Control. Billie? Dino?

Are you two okay?

Yes. The spacesuits fit great. - Glad to hear it

Your remaining flight time is six hours and four minutes.

You're already half way there. You should see the ISS already.

It looks like a toy!

It is. A really big one!

Do you have any questions?

Yes.

What does the black control knob to the left of the radio do?

That should change the frequency.

I thought so.

Is the signal clear on your end?

Yes! - Yes!

Maybe try to get some sleep. It's been a big day.

And it's not over yet.

Otherwise, try not to touch anything.

Then nothing can go wrong. Okay?

Okay.

Chat later.

Do it!

Dammit!

You promised our organization you would find the place in outer space

that has more of that weightless material.

Instead, the only rock was stolen.

By kids! Who then flew off into space.

And who will, sooner or later, broadcast their discovery to the world.

That will not happen.

Margot, you may be brilliant...

Or at least believe you are. - ... but never forget:

Our organization made you. - And our organization can easily...

I know very well what your organization can and can't do.

We want that rock back.

At any cost. - As do I.

Get the kids safely to the ISS.

We'll take care of the rest.

No, that's really not...

Stay strong, Margot!

It'll be okay.

Alexander Miller.

What the hell's going on here. Huh?

You really have no idea, do you?

I'm close!

So am I... I think.

It's like an...

Alien-German interpreting tool.

You can read that scrawl? - Yes.

Easily, actually. - How?

My handwriting's the same. - Huh?

Dino, Boshley didn't write this.

Then who did? - My mom.

I don't get it.

The photo in the secret lab.

With Boshley, the man, and that woman who looked like me?

Yeah?

She was... - Your mom?

But...

What?

So... your mom and this Dr. Boshley

were working together?

Tell me what happened to Lauryn. - She believed in aliens.

That's all you need to know! - She researched sound signals in space!

She sent and... received them.

Yes, she told me. But it was a dead end.

So she dropped the whole thing.

Hey!

When you guys went home,

Lauryn started building this institute.

I was never the intern. We were a team.

Why did she never tell me this? - She wanted to protect you.

I can barely remember my mom.

Dad always talks a lot about her.

We have photos of us together everywhere.

We're always smiling.

Only the dogs are smiling in our photos.

What does your dad say?

What was she like, your mom?

She was like me.

Then she was pretty darn cool.

Let's try to make contact with the aliens.

What did they tell you was her cause of death?

Plane crash.

A private flight from Cayenne to Miami.

She was on a secret mission with Akito.

Officially, the flight was uncrewed.

Sorry? - She wanted to find the signal's source.

It's not a character-based language like we thought.

It is a rhythmical, melody-based semantic code.

Huh? - That's what it says here.

I'm not so good at singing.

Me neither. The main thing is the rhythm.

The main thing is getting an answer.

I just remembered: Aboriginal Australians can sing maps.

Really? - Yep.

One sings and the other finds the way.

Without understanding the words. - See?

The signal came from this area.

So much space debris has collected here, it must be a place with extreme gravity.

A black hole? In our solar system? - Yes.

That's where Akito and Lauryn went. Then we lost contact.

You're just making this up now.

Let me show you something.

Come here!

The capsule reappeared four days later.

It careered uncontrollably to Earth and burned up in the atmosphere.

But she found aliens. - She found aliens? Seriously?

In the remnants of the capsule, we found a rock.

Symmetrical,

with a higher density than osmium and not subject to the laws of gravity.

Do you know how many people would kill for that?

And where's this rock now?

What does it actually mean?

"Ooh-ah" is the tonal equivalent of "hello."

Or "w elcome" or "peace."

Again?

Again?

Maybe...

I misunderstood something.

Or it's the wrong frequency.

Yes!

We made contact! Yes!

We have to get to our son! - Yes.

But the dogs need to go in a crate. - Are you dumb?

I have tickets for all of us!

All dogs must be crated. - No way.

No! Quiet! Be quiet!

This is about our son!

Do you have children? Or maybe a pretty girlfriend?

Or a sick mom?

You can't be serious.

It's the first message again.

Why?

Maybe they've had enough small talk.

Sure, but... what are they saying?

We now know it's not a greeting.

Do you think it could be about the rock?

Maybe... But what?

Ariane ATV... - Oh no. Not now, please!

Hello? Ariane ATV crew?

This is Mission Control. Can you hear me?

Loud and clear! - I told you not to touch anything.

Not even the radio. - Sorry, but... we couldn't sleep

That's okay. It's good to have a little fun.

As things are about to get serious. Look up ahead.

Wow! - Wow!

We're docking in a few minutes. And we'll control it all from here.

Remember?

So please promise you won't touch a thing.

That way, nothing can go wrong. - Okay!

And we also have a co-host joining us. I'll pass you over.

Hi, Billie. You guys okay?

Dad! - Yes, honey.

Sorry that I didn't get in touch sooner, but...

I was looking in the wrong places. - We didn't mean to, Dad.

I believe you.

But it's going to take a while for us to send a new rocket to pick you up.

How long?

One or two days. You'll have the ISS all to yourselves in the meantime.

Can you come pick us up, Dad?

Okay... I'll see if that's possible.

We need to start docking.

Then start.

The program's running, but the capsule is too fast.

Run the correction program. - Already running without effect.

Without effect?

What does "without effect" mean?

Okay, are you two ready for a little game?

Um, sure? What game? - Um...

Imagine you're sitting in a spaceship and suddenly something goes wrong.

We are sitting in a spaceship!

Exactly!

And just suppose... imagine...

that suddenly there's a problem with the...

Okay. Billie, Dino, here's the deal:

The automated docking isn't working.

Okay... Which means?

You have to dock it yourselves. - Okay.

So, we have three minutes to get you safely to the ISS.

You'll be taking control in 40 seconds. - Dad...

We don't know how to fly this thing!

I know, honey.

You'll be the first kids to dock at the International Space Station!

But first we need to choose the pilot. Dino, what videogames do you play?

Everything. My favorite's Mario Kart.

Against my dad. - Very good. And who wins?

I do. Every time.

What's your online score? - 12,000 and then some.

What?

I have 3,000 and my dad 2,000!

Well... I do play a lot.

Okay, Dad. Dino's driving. - Okay.

In three, two, one...

Dino, the ship's in your hands.

Dino, all you have to do is steer the tip of the capsule

to the center of the docking port.

You need to match the cross in the periscope with that of the ISS.

Then you're on course.

Okay, but...

... is the ISS spinning?

Yes.

So are you, which makes it tough. - They'll never manage!

Does this thing have brakes?

My parents say brakes are bad for business.

You can steer. There should be a display in front of you.

It shows distance and time to contact. - Okay.

Nothing's happening. - There's just a slight delay.

I have to say, it's a bit different to a Nintendo controller.

Back up! - Dino, you have to go back a bit!

CORRECTION PROGRAM

Too fast! - Speed's okay, he knows that from Mario.

Do you see the docking port yet?

The big shaft with the bright dot? - Exactly, that's it. Good job.

Woah, we really have to drift in there.

It's the only way, right? - Yes.

How is an eight-year-old supposed to calculate drift?

I'm not an eight-year-old! - Sorry, Dino.

Do you think you can do it?

Dino? Dino? - Dad, can you please be quiet!

Twenty seconds to contact.

Okay. - The display says we're too far right.

Okay.

Now too low. - I'm just going on instinct, okay?

Will it fit? - It has to...

Okay, you two, docking maneuver successful!

Well done, Billie and Dino!

Welcome to the International Space Station!

You must be hungry, right? - Yes!

A little insider tip:

every crew that visits the ISS hides a forbidden treat somewhere.

Chips, chocolate, ice cream, efc. - Where?

That would be telling.

Okay, you two heroes, I guess you've earned it.

Take a look at the module with all the stickers on the wall.

It's flickering a lot.

This way.

I'd say the trip was worth it!

Chips!

Bingo!

Space cola?

Shake it first, Billie. - Good idea.

It's trying to get somewhere...

Good. Turn off the air.

Sing it again.

It...

ends...

the same way it begins!

And...

it sounds exactly the same sung backwards.

I think it means "back"...

The aliens want their rock back! - The aliens want their rock back!

Billie! You're brilliant! - We're brilliant, Dino.

And your mom, too.

Uh-oh... - Dad?

What's happening now?

Mr. Mller?

Mission Control to Billie and Dino. Come in.

Mission Control to Billie and Dino. Come in.

Radio contact is dead. What's wrong?

I'm not sure. But we'll get it back.

Margot, what's happening?

Margot?

Margot?

Over to you, Boshley. - You didn't...

When you pick them up in two days, you'll stage it as a heroes' death.

Then you bring the rock straight to us.

Without a word.

Margot, why is the radio down?

That's not the problem... - It is for us!

The life support system is inactive! - What?

The oxygen at the ISS can last six to eight hours at most.

We'll never get there in time... - Nonsense!

The ISS has an emergency supply that... - Alex!

The system's been hacked. - What?

Who? - It wasn't me.

We're rotating.

But not the stone.

It keeps pointing in the same direction.

Like a compass needle.

And it seems like the pull keeps getting stronger.

Billie, I think I know how to get the system up and running.

Do you still have your phone? - Yes.

But the battery's dead. - That's fine, throw it over.

Hold it a second.

I know it looks dangerous.

But it's almost all 90s technology.

No wonder it crashes.

Billie has her phone on her.

Maybe we could log into a satellite close to the ISS

and extend its reception radius enough to get her phone back online?

I can make contact with three that are within range.

I'd need around 95 minutes to take control of one.

Very good. - And what will you tell her?

The Columbus Module has a device to turn liquid to oxygen.

Space Cola, sweat, urine, anything.

Yes, true. But it still won't be enough to last...

I know, but oxygen is the priority. Every little helps.

Okay, good idea.

Here's the rescue mission procedure.

We've minimized safety protocols.

If we transfer the tanks from the Ariane 2 base

we can launch earlier.

But not until around 5 p.m. tomorrow.

That's too late... That's way too late!

Who's the man in charge?

Woman.

I want to talk to my boy. Now.

We're working on it.

Ready? Go!

It's working! - Our phones have more processing power

than this entire retro space station!

Today's just not our day. - It's also getting kind of cold.

Yes, and the air's getting thinner.

Billie? - Dino?

Voicemail.

What should I say?

Dino, my little angel.

Here's your mom.

My darling,

whatever you're doing right now,

do it the way you always have.

Okay? You hear me?

You're the best son I could have ever wished for.

You're pretty stubborn and you always get your way.

And you know what?

That's a good thing!

That time in the scrap press...

when you fell in and you made it out.

Remember?

And this time you're not alone,

you have Sybille there.

She really is a little scamp!

But she's smart.

And she likes you.

And I think you two...

make a pretty good team, actually.

So trust in yourselves and make decisions together.

Now I'll pass you to Dad.

He also has some things he wants to say. Okay, honey?

Bye.

Dino, my boy...

When you get back I'll fire up the Ferrari grill

and Mom will make extra-long fries with ketchup and mayo.

We love you very much.

So do Karacho and Karossa. Listen...

Billie?

Billie, sweetheart...

I'm no good at this.

I don't know what I can say that...

But I know what Mom would do right now.

You want to fly...

... to the stars

To the...

Mom was right...

my darling.

Always and about everything.

And you're just like her, in everything you do.

I love you, sweetheart.

What are you thinking about?

I'm wondering where my parents are.

And?

I dunno.

Do you think your parents are mad?

No, they only get mad about trivial things.

With something like this, Mom will get all weepy.

Calling me her "little angel."

Dad too...

They'd be super embarrassing.

What about your dad? What do you think he would say?

He...

never knows what to say in moments like these.

So he always just does...

what Mom would do.

I want to fly to the stars

But gravity's holding me down

When we get home, whatever the weather,

Dad will fire up our Ferrari grill.

Ferrari grill?

With a deep-fryer function for fries. It's the best.

They...

They're not coming to save us.

Are you scared?

Soaml.

The rock! - The rock!

The ISS has turned.

That's why it's moved again.

It's heavier.

Or stronger.

Much stronger.

Where would it go if there was nothing in its way?

Back! - Back!

Well then, let's take it there.

The rock will show us the way.

Bye, ISS!

What?

What's happened? - The capsule's left.

They're coming home?

The capsule's on course for quadrant 51B.

The Bermuda Triangle. - Bermuda Triangle?

It's a sort of artificial black hole.

Probably created by aliens or some other intelligent being.

We're not entirely sure. - Aliens?

When will they land? And where exactly?

We're not entirely sure. I...

Did we just pass a toilet bowl?

Looked like it.

It's crazy what they throw away up here.

It'd be worth a ton if we could take it home.

What? - The debris is floating away from us now!

Uh-oh...

Are we flying straight into a black hole? - Remind me what happens in a black hole?

Everything gets stretched out like spaghetti and...

Billie?

Dino? - l can't see youl!

I can't see myself!

I see the rock... - Me too.

It's gone. - Hello?

Can anyone hear us? - Where are we?

Hello. We can hear you loud and clear.

You speak our language?

No. - Yes, you do!

We are at an interface between time and space.

There is no matter here, no passing of time,

no up and no down.

But we can adopt sounds and shapes that are of meaning to you.

Are you aliens? - We are travelers.

We came a very long way with one mission.

to learn about your planet, Earth.

Cool. - Why?

We received a message

that Earthlings were interested in meeting other cosmic life forms.

And we liked the way you made contact.

With... music?

Music! - Music!

Music!

But sadly, Earthlings are not a suitable partner civilization.

Why not? - Because you lock us up.

The rock...

that we...

... that brought us here?

One of us is all of us.

And all of us is one of us.

So we couldn't leave.

We were no longer us.

But now we are again. Thanks to you.

You're welcome! - Our pleasure.

You humans are capable of truly remarkable things.

Things we did not find anywhere else in the cosmos.

And then you throw them away. Why?

We don't want to make excuses just because we're kids.

But...

Some people believe we all belong together.

But some people think only of themselves

and so act selfishly.

Quite different to you, it seems.

We would love to go home.

Would we?

Of course! - We want to be honest with you.

If you continue this way,

your species will cease to exist in fewer than 7100 Earth years.

That is why we've decided

to leave the Earth's solar system for the next three million years.

But you two are special.

And we owe you a great debt of gratitude.

If you like, you can travel with us.

Thank you. That's very kind.

But...

maybe another time.

Good decision, Dino. - Karacho and Karossa are also waiting.

You are very different fo the other humans we have observed.

Please accept this small gift from us.

Okay...

But how do we get out of here?

We took the liberty of preparing your spaceship

so you can return home safely.

I guess we just jump in and fly off?

Okay!

They're coming back...

Hey, people, they're coming back!

Carlitta! Action!

What's going on? - Cover all stations!

Come on! We need data!

I need to know the orbital velocity and angle of entry, now!

What are the chances of the capsule...

... hot burning up this time?

How long until they hit Earth's atmosphere?

Wow, they're fast!

In eight, seven, six...

Is it over?

Seriously?

All okay?

Dad! - Mom!

What?

Nothing. You're just...

Like Mom?

You're lighter! Much lighter!

Congratulations!

You're both true heroes!

Great job, truly.

Before you go home, your kids need to come with us.

Just a check-up. It won't hurt.

It's okay, Dad. - Yeah?

We want to change anyway. Right, Dino? - Definitely.

See you soon, Pops! - See you soon.

Make it snappy, please. - We're hungry.

Of course, we knew immediately who we were dealing with.

Guys who will wring your neck if you don't give them what they want.

Who will send you to the dark side of the moon

If you mess with them.

And whose fault it is that the aliens

don't want to come back for another 3 million years!

The good thing about these people Is that they underestimate kids.

Always.

Which is why it will be their own fault

if they find themselves on the dark side of the moon one day.

Karossa! Karacho!

Hello! I missed you so much!

Adieu!

I always was the messiest kid.

Alex, another sausage?

I'd love to, they were delicious.

But my belly's so full, I can't!

I'd take another one, my love-bunny.

Then I'll sing you all a nice song.

Weird that the rock doesn't hover.

And it's a normal weight.

I think it's just a souvenir.

Of the aliens?

Of the aliens...

Of our journey into space.

Of my mom.

Now I really do believe she's up there.

Of the... music!

And...

of the fact that we're best friends.

Goodnight, Billie.

Goodnight, Dino.

WOW! MESSAGE FROM OUTER SPACE

Grace Winter BABELFISCH TRANSLATIONS