Franz's friend, writer Max Brod, hopes to help Franz achieve fame, but Franz doesn't think much of Max's writing and isn't grateful for his help.

Although he hardly knows her, Franz gets engaged to Felice Bauer after inundating her with letters. They hope their tenuous relationship will work out.

Domineering Herman Kafka's fractious relationship with his son has stimulating effects on Franz's writing, especially after Franz's friend, Yitzhak Löwy, has a confrontation with Herman.

While expressing the horrors of bureaucracy in his writing, Franz becomes a particularly successful insurance litigator.

Riddled with tuberculosis, Franz meets his last great love, Dora Diamant, at a spa town. While his physical condition deteriorates, his creative vision flies.