Resistance is futile - the intonation between continuation rise and calling contour in German

German knows two plateau-based phrase-final intonation contours: the high level plateau of the continuation rise and the descending plateau sequence of the calling contour. They occur within a narrow scaling range of only a few semitones. The paper presents production and perception evidence for a third plateau-based phrase-final intonation contour inside this narrow scaling range. The new plateau contour shows a F0 decrease of between 1-3 st (in the form of a slightly declining plateau or a descending plateau sequence), involves additional lengthening of the vowels underneath the plateau, and occurs when resistance is futile, i.e. when speakers signal that they finally, but reluctantly, give in to a demand of the dialogue partner. Phonological implications are briefly outlined.