- How are you getting on with your radio? Nearly finished?
- Yes, maybe even this evening, if everything works.

- Then I’ll see you afterwards.
- Sure, see you later.

– Stop dreaming and eat up. Father’s already smoking.

- But not too long. Make sure you’re not late again, Erich. And take your bag into your room.
- Yes.

-So how’s the radio?

– It’s broken.

– Enough now. Give me that!

(book text)
...only holes. Their eyes were dark…
...their mouths were like slits…
...five invaders. One of the alien…
...his remarkable clothes…
...but moved like a…
...Grag couldn’t identify…
...the other being. It…
...walking bipeds. Their…
...had, however, a grotesque effect…
...no throats…

– No wonder you can’t concentrate on English or maths at school any more…

-...when you’ve only got this rubbish in your head.

– He’ll have to repeat a year at school if he carries on like this. Erich, are you listening to me at all?

– I’d really like to know where he’s getting all these magazines from.

– Irmgard, you’re exaggerating. At his age my head was elsewhere too. My radios, remember?

“I have to have that – how practical!”
Fully motorize your household for not much money!

It’s fabulous what Rondo can do!

– Come on, find yourself something

– No…thanks.

– Tell me, what’s up with you, Reinhard?

– Oh Dad…I… You’ve got to help me. I’m going to have to repeat a year… because of English.

– Hmmm. That’s not good. Well, we’ll just have to see.

– Can you tell Mum?

– Have you done your homework yet?

– Yes, ages ago.

– Then help me carry the bags. I need to go shopping.

– What’s going on over there?

– Where will they go next?

– To the moon… these Americans.

– I’m meeting up with a few friends. See you later.

- Well, can we get going?
- Sure!

– I think that pretty American girl is going to be there. You liked her, didn’t you?

- Last time you were so nervous you didn’t say a word!
- Rubbish. I’m never nervous.

– Ah! Reinhard, there she is!

– So? Are we all going dancing?

– This is Charlotte from Michigan. She’s studying here for a year.

- Hello. Nice to meet you.
- Go right upstairs. It’s such lovely weather.

– Your parents are very nice.

- Are these yours?
- Yes. Would you like more coffee?

- You read them in English?
- Oh, my parents used to want me to. It was supposed to improve my English in school.

- Oh, I’d like to be an English teacher.
- A teacher?

– I always wanted to be an astronaut, and now I’m going to be a doctor…

– Can you see yourself teaching here in Germany?

– ...I meant in America!...

– Is that your Dad?

– When did your parents meet?

– Oh, I don’t really know the story…

– I think it was in the Hitler Youth, summer camp or something… They don’t talk about those times. It’s so long ago.

– Are we going dancing again on Friday?

– Ah, dessert!

– Reinhard, ask them if they know what Black Forest gateau is. I bet they’ve never heard of such a thing.

-... My Dad is a funny person. He says it was just a joke.

– Yes, it’s OK. It was just a formality anyway.

-... As a doctor I have to understand what’s wrong with people.

– You know, it’s… The responsibility is too big. My English will just never be good enough.

- But you’re learning more every day. It’s only a language.
- No.

- That’s not all of it. I can’t work here properly.
- We can talk about it again later…

- I love you, Charlotte.
- I love you too.