Frühling - Spuren der Vergangenheit (2020)

Greta Zerbe is out with her dog Scout when he suddenly takes off on his own and disappears into an old badger sett in the forest. Calling him is no use. They can hear the animal whimpering, but they do not know exactly where the dog is stuck. Worried, Greta calls her sister Charly for help, and Charly immediately contacts the veterinarian. Together, they try to rescue Scout. As a precaution, the veterinarian informs the forester, who advises them to call the fire department. What at first seemed like a minor incident now turns into a major operation. The veterinarian arranges for a tradesman to help them look into the badger tunnels with a mobile camera. This allows the people worried about the dog to find out which tunnel he is trapped in and that he is still doing well. Village helper Katja Baumann is on her way to the office that morning when she witnesses an argument between farmer Feichtmayr and a woman, because he does not want her parking in his meadow. Katja manages to calm things down a little and invites the woman to have breakfast at the Cafe Hagen in Frühling. Cafe owner Niedermeyer recognizes the woman as Linda Breitmeyer and later tells Katja that she is a very unfriendly person, and that neither she nor the residents of Frühling would have been surprised if Rainer Breitmeyer had one day simply “up and left.” Linda Breitmeyer had even been a beauty queen more than twenty years ago; she married, had two children, and then moved to the Fuchsöd farm, which she had inherited from her parents. Later that same day, Katja spots Linda Breitmeyer’s car in Frühling and realizes that the woman must be homeless and living in her car. The village helper manages to earn Linda’s trust in a conversation. Linda tells her about the day her husband disappeared, and how her children blamed her for it—and probably still do, since she no longer has any contact with them. At the time, her husband Rainer had left the car they were traveling in with the dog, saying he would continue by bus. After that, he remained missing. Asked why Linda lives in her car instead of at the farm, she briefly replies that there is no room for her there anymore. Katja takes Linda home so she can have a shower, and asks Pastor Sonnleitner to go to Fuchsöd farm and find out why the woman no longer wants to live there. Once there, the pastor understands a lot: Lina Breitmeyer is a hoarder. The next morning, Katja invites Linda to breakfast again, and Linda clearly enjoys spending time with a family. She would also love to have her children with her, but they apparently want nothing more to do with her. Katja gently questions Linda and knows exactly what she needs to do next. That same day, she plans to set out to look for Linda’s children. Meanwhile, the excavation work to get the dog out of the badger sett has lasted all night. The fire department cannot leave yet, however, because they have also discovered human skeletal remains in the sett. The news spreads throughout the village of Frühling, and when Katja hears that dog bones were found there too, she suspects something. The dog collar engraved with the name “Alfi” confirms it. With this news, Katja manages to pique Linda’s daughter’s curiosity and bring her to Frühling. Paula Breitmeyer deeply regrets having wronged her mother all these years, as does her brother Michi. Katja thus succeeds in bringing Linda back together with both her children. The three of them plan to clear out and tidy up the house together and stick together from now on.