Fred does not approve of this world. Why should he live here, driven by the same inexorable power that forces a blade of grass through the concrete? He loses his job at a newspaper because his review of Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life is peppered with monosyllabic expletives. Since the editor in chief is quite furious, he has to leave the office before he is able to retrieve his first novel from the photocopier. Back at home, his girlfriend Susanna reveals she’s pregnant. His fear of new responsibilities drives him into a deep crisis, and a dubious offer from the editor helps Fred realize that working as a writer would mean selling his soul.