He is new to town, first time on the subway, unsure of himself. He needs instructions and directions to the last stop on the line. The woman gives him the directions he needs, but tells him too that he needs more money than he currently has to get to his stop. The man starts asking one passenger after another for spare change.
Voices rise, and responses are hurled back and forth.
The white man leaves the argument with his counterpart and starts talking to people throughout the car, asking strangers what they think of this, whether this is fair. Most do not respond. One older man with a shock of white hair refuses to even acknowledge the raggedy young man. Some help, some don't. Several passengers get off at the next station, including the angry African-American.