Franz

When Brod first introduced Franz to me, something unexpected happened.

Before he shook my hand, he bowed so awkwardly

that his hair touched my forehead.

He was the first person who didn't treat me any differently.

Even though he knew I was blind.

How often have I begged you not to wear my clothes?

But this is my dress!

- I bought it last summer. - What are you talking about?

- And I'm telling you... - Only in the evening.

Morgenröte! Rosy dawn!

Can't you hear it in German?

How could there be a rosy dawn in the evening?

Morning...

Franz, you know what?

You and I will make a pact, right?

You stay outside until you've calmed down and until you learn

that your mother and I need to get enough sleep.

We have no one to open the shop for us in the morning.

And if you behave like a man, you can come back to our bedroom.

Deal?

We can't leave him out there.

Don't worry. That little bit of fear will be a good lesson for him.

The moon was already at some height.

A mail coach passed by in its light.

A gentle wind rose all around.

You could feel it even in the ditch,

and nearby...

This is outrageous!

- the forest began to rustle. - An impertinence! Do you understand?

Proletarian greed!

That's this disgusting, calculating Czech way.

Hermann, calm down, you will be sick!

Sick? I've been sick and disgusted for ages

of that leftist rogue!

What happened, Dad?

The attorney has resigned.

- Again? - To hell with him.

Does he want more money?

More money, yes! Yes, gladly! Does he want more?

He can have more! A couple of kicks in the backside!

Kasl persuaded the assistants to join him at some Vinohrady shop.

- Franz. - We have no one left.

- They are all gone. - Franz!

Listen to me.

Tomorrow morning you go to Radotín and persuade accountant Pinek,

that at least he withdraws his resignation.

- Tomorrow? - Yes, scare him.

Tell him I'll take him to court if he's not back at the shop on Monday.

Without an accountant, we're finished.

- But I... - Franz can't make it tomorrow.

He has a reading at the Civil Servants' Association.

What reading?

Never mind... I...

Are you saying that your stupid writing is more important

than the bankruptcy of our business?

No, of course not.

They invited him, along with Max and Werfel.

It's not important.

- But you've been preparing for weeks! - Ottla, please, stop.

You can't just cancel and give up now.

Do I really have to witness this?

See? Your children.

We built everything from the ground up, so they could have a good life!

And when they could help just once, they turn their backs on us.

I already said I'll see the accountant tomorrow.

- You can't do that. - Ottla, go to your room.

Every father wishes for such a son.

- I'll talk to him again. - You might as well talk to the wall.

Smile!

When you see Yitzchak perform, you will understand what I'm talking about.

This is not just ordinary theater,

it's a revelation about the nature of thought.

- Jewish thought? - That too.

He shows us what lies behind us

so we can understand where we actually want to go.

And you'll also have a great time. It's incredibly entertaining.

You don't even speak Yiddish and neither do I.

You feel this kind of theater here, sister.

How about a crown, sir?

I haven't eaten for three days.

- I'll give him something. - Wait, I'm the one who's earning.

I only have a two-crown piece, do you have any change?

Change?

You wanted one crown.

- I haven't got change. - So give it back to me.

- What? - The coin.

I... I will find a crown.

No, he should return my two crowns. Then we can change.

Please!

- You gave it to me. - I gave you a crown.

A two-crown piece.

The lady here saw it.

- Come on, let him keep the second crown. - No!

Why not? See it as a double good deed.

He is responsible for what he says, Ottla.

We are all responsible for what we say.

You wanted one crown, sir. I gave you a two-crown piece,

so now you have to give me back what you owe me!

All words have a unique, unmistakable weight!

Franz...

That's what the Bible says!

How can nobody understand what a word is worth?

How?

There is so much more I want to tell you!

And yet it can all be put into one word!

Abnegation!

That is the choice that drives the body to perform.

A shout towards God that we are ready!

I am ready!

Ten days in this crate is only the beginning!

The art of asceticism begins at fifteen!

Twenty days open up the gates of heaven, but only forty will let you

step out of the body and truly see!

See the world in its primordial form

in which the Lord entrusted it to mankind!

Everyone is created to learn the truth!

Everyone! Even you!

Franz!

- Come on, hurry up! - Franz!

Oh dear...

Alright, girls!

A little bit more.

Come on! Get moving! Go on!

- Young sir! - Are you alright?

He was a normal, healthy boy.

He'd visit me in Třešť during summer holidays.

He was interested in everything modern.

He'd often say: "Uncle, you must keep up with the times,

whoever oversleeps, loses."

He's the reason why I sold the carriage and bought this infernal machine.

He was a different Franz than the one cramming paragraphs back in Prague.

I think that he was

happy at my place.

- Good morning, doctor. - Good morning.

Director Marschner and general director have been waiting for you for ten minutes.

Go.

I apologize profoundly.

I apologize profoundly. The manufacturer, he was unstoppable.

We can begin.

Dear General Director, allow me to introduce the law clerks,

Doctors Kraus, Zentel and Kafka.

All three were recommended by Director Marschner

for promotion to deputy secretary.

Thank you.

Gentlemen,

the Workers' Accident Insurance

is the largest insurance firm of its kind

in the Kingdom of Bohemia and in the entire empire.

Not only here in Vienna, but across the country,

we observe that mandatory insurance for workers

is the most important step forward in the field of insurance

that we have taken in recent decades.

Excuse me.

At the same time, it should be noted

that the evidence and management of individual cases

require the very best and brightest minds.

Excuse me. Please accept my apologies.

- Kafka! - I'll get him. Sorry.

This can't be. I'm very sorry. I ask for your forgiveness.

If you want to speak to Doctor Kafka himself,

please arrange an appointment with his secretary.

And if you're interested in his proposals on worker protection,

then contact the patent office.

Can you hurry up, already?

The blind man longs for a plain, an empty plain.

Franz is also a little blind, though he still has his eyesight.

He bumps into things and people around him.

He doesn't understand them.

Franz!

Only when he imagines them,

materializing them in his thoughts, then he understands them.

In his own way.

I was about to go to the park.

I washed my hands three times in a row.

Finally, something is happening.

He only revolves around himself.

He dissects himself like a fly under a microscope

and proudly tells us what he's discovered about himself.

Well,

he's actually a very nice boy.

He just has to eventually figure out what he really wants.

And then we can all laugh about this silliness.

"At our feet, the dragonflies came to rest"

wings spread in the gentle vapors' mist. In the water, emblazoned by the cliffs,

"we appeared as flowers or as the rocks to them."

"Up to the heights, there meandered from afar a dried path,

incandescent dust in the purest form,

leaning down to us with grapes' heavy gift,

from the vine a cool breeze flowed,

"mature as a woman."

It's not bad.

- I wrote it for you. - For me?

This is the best of the 21 I'm going to publish.

- I will publish them through Fleischer... - You've written a successful novel, Max.

You write poems and for the newspaper.

Have you finally finished writing something?

No.

Of course you did. Yes, come on, show me.

- You don't have to read it. - What?

Should I or shouldn't I? What do you want?