Proxima

I'll be in the capsule

and we'll hook up to the Station.

Thing is, it goes round at 28,000 km/h.

Super fast.

When do you float?

In the capsule, you leave the atmosphere...

On the other side,

you're in zero gravity.

So you float.

Look, now.

That's OK.

Turn round, darling.

Did you see how big my newts have grown?

One's really yellow.

They have all their little legs, tails and stuff.

- They need to go back in the pond soon. - I know.

Mummy?

Will you die before me?

Parents die before their children. It's perfectly normal.

Don't worry, I don't plan on dying anytime soon.

I want to have five children.

Isn't five a bit excessive?

I'll be a really good mother.

You'd better be, with five.

First stage separation.

Second stage separation.

Don't switch the light off.

Laika!

Come here, sweetie.

Let's give you some dinner.

Look.

- How are you, Sarah? - Great.

- Is Thomas in? - That way.

Thanks.

What's going on? What brings you here?

Can we grab a coffee?

I know what you have to say.

If I cancel Stella, not at the last minute.

I explained and she totally understood.

- When I can, I'll take her for a weekend. - That's not it.

You're flying?

Yes!

You can't do weekends, so I wonder.

- I told you, work is crazy. - This is different.

If she changes schools, too, she needs looking after.

As if I don't look after her.

- I didn't say that. - It's exactly what you said.

That I can't look after her.

You didn't come to negotiate.

You came to tell me I have to take her.

So don't go saying I don't look after her.

If I couldn't do it, you wouldn't go?

Please.

You have to think of our sponsors.

Maybe up your PR game.

Excuse me, I'll be right back. Two minutes.

Dragging on, isn't it?

Why not play with the others?

With Mike's children?

Sarah!

Come eat.

Bon appétit!

Coming.

What are you doing? I looked all over for you.

Are we going?

Yes, let's escape here.

Don't go worrying about me.

All right?

Sarah, come in.

- Want some candy? - No, thanks.

My name's Wendy.

I asked to see you today

'cause we'll be very close in upcoming months.

I'm here to look after you on trips,

when you visit your mother,

and also organising stuff for when Mummy's not here.

And I'll need to meet the father. He's familiar with the field, I believe?

Yes, he works for the Agency.

- He's an astrophysicist? - Yes.

So everything's going OK

at school?

Yes?

I am dyslexic,

dyscalculic and dysorthographic.

But she gets by just fine.

You like my bear, do you?

Your favourite animal?

The wolf.

Gosh, that's scary, isn't it?

Stella...

You know, in one week, your mother leaves for Russia.

Star City, which is for astronauts only.

It's pretty far, one hour from Moscow, but it's on Earth.

After that, she goes to Baikonur, in Kazakhstan.

I already explained.

Yes, but it's procedure.

Just before lift-off, your mother goes into quarantine.

So she doesn't pick up any germs.

It's a sterile environment, where you can't go.

You have any questions?

No.

You knew your mother would go away one day?

Yes.

You thought about it sometimes?

No.

Not really.

Now, what do you think about it?

It scares you a lot? A bit?

It's only normal, you know.

Scares me a bit.

Look, we need a minute.

Come outside with me.

Wait there for me. I'll be right back.

To you it may seem normal,

but it's not exactly like you're going on a business trip.

See what I mean? You're...

leaving Earth.

And the lift-off is...

For her, it's like you're strapped to a bomb.

- I'll be going. - No, I haven't finished.

What have you decided if something happens to her?

- In what way? - Do you want to know or not?

Of course.

You'll need to sign the form.

Can we do that later?

We can.

Thanks.

Are you OK?

It'll all be fine.

It'll be fine.

What about the cat?

The cat?

Daddy's allergic to her.

No, he's not allergic to her.

He is allergic to her.

Besides, she won't like it in Darmstadt.

Why?

I know she won't.

She doesn't like change. She's used to being here.

Don't worry about the cat.

Will you cry if you miss me lots?

Sure, of course.

But crying up there, tears don't flow.

They form a ball on your cheek.

How are the newts?

They look happy.

Can we put them in here?

Yes.

Goodbye.

Where are they?

I can't see them.

There's one, there!

Goodbye!

Find yourself a nice, new home. A really big one.

There, too!

Goodbye! Find a beautiful home.

And a really big one, too.

If I have a problem, you can't look after me.

You won't have a problem. Daddy's here to look after you.

With him, it's not the same though.

- Then do some drawings. - Yes.

With houses and skyscrapers.

Hello. Anna Dmitrievna, Mir TV.

I'm so sorry.

- Have you been waiting long? - 45 minutes.

I forgot, and the lift's out of order again.

Sorry, but can you wear your blue astronaut suit?

So it looks more astronauty.

Who are they?

Journalists. Here to ask me questions.

- Really? - But not for long.

How long will it take?

Don't worry, 15 minutes at the most.

I hope they won't gobble me up.

- Are we ready? - We're good.

- Can we start? - Yes.

Can you tell us how you got here?

About to take off into space?

I always wanted to be an astronaut.

Even as a child.

I didn't see the first steps on the moon. I'm the Mars generation.

One year away is a lot.

Roughly the time it will take to reach Mars.

Those astronauts will be the first to lose sight of Earth.

On the Station, we'll practice for that.

Shuttering the windows to cut ourselves off from Earth.

Laika...

Don't worry.

I'm with you.

Thanks.

Here.

See? I made an effort.

The room looks great.

What's that?

Her telescope.

A Skywatcher, right?

Great.

What can you see with this? Saturn and Mars?

Like Mummy?

Can I get you a coffee?