Margaret

Lisa Cohen runs alongside a moving bus on the Upper West Side as the driver becomes distracted. The distraction leads the bus to fatally strike a pedestrian. Monica Patterson dies in Lisa's arms, setting off the tragedy at the heart of the story.

Monica Patterson dies after being struck by Maretti's bus, and Lisa remains at the scene to help her. The incident triggers a police investigation and widespread attention. Lisa's encounter with Monica becomes the catalyst for the legal and moral drama that follows.

Following the crash, Lisa tells the police that the bus had a green signal. She is shaken by what happened and cooperates with investigators. Her early statement places bearings on the events that will be debated later.

Out of remorse, Lisa revises her account, suggesting uncertainty about the driver's responsibility. Her updated statements complicate the investigation and sow seeds of long-term guilt. The shift deepens the emotional weight of Monica's death for Lisa.

Lisa's relationship with her mother, Joan, becomes tense as they clash over Joan's sudden theater success and her new boyfriend, Ramon. The conflict underscores Lisa's sense of displacement within her own family. Their arguments reveal underlying strains that color the entire timeline.

Lisa engages in a back-and-forth discussion with her father about an upcoming trip to his home. The negotiation underscores the emotional distance between them and foreshadows the broader theme of seeking guidance and stability. The dialogue adds to the sense that Lisa is navigating multiple loyalties at once.

At school, Lisa becomes involved in heated debates about politics and terrorism with classmates. Her opinions are provocative and draw attention from teachers and peers alike. These discussions reveal a restless, questioning mindset that frames much of her behavior later.

Lisa confronts the bus driver at his home, seeking accountability. Maretti pretends to forget the details of the accident, but later reveals that he remembers and believes he did nothing wrong. The confrontation intensifies Lisa's drive to seek justice.

Lisa, supported by Monica's best friend Emily and cousin Abigail, files a wrongful death lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. They seek Maretti's dismissal and monetary damages for Monica's next of kin. The legal battle shifts the focus from personal grief to collective action.

Lisa and Emily grow closer, but their friendship becomes strained when Emily accuses Lisa of using Monica's death to add drama to her life. The tension tests loyalties and highlights the complexities of finding allies in a time of upheaval. The rift complicates the lawsuit's emotional landscape.

Lisa, Joan, Emily, and Ramon attend an after-show dinner where Ramon makes a remark that Emily perceives as anti-Semitic. Joan and Ramon have a minor falling out, and Ramon dies of a heart attack sometime after. The evening marks a tragic turn that ripples through the family and the case.

The lawsuit concludes with a $350,000 award, but the MTA refuses to fire Maretti due to concerns about inflaming a labor dispute. Abigail reveals that the settlement's financial aspect was a major motivator for her. Lisa is left shaken, admitting that she sees herself as Monica's killer.

Lisa and Joan attend an opera that Joan was planning to share with Ramon before his death. On the way, Lisa glimpses Maretti driving the same bus, and the two briefly acknowledge each other. During the performance, Lisa cries openly as she and her mother reconnect, sharing a tender, emotional moment in the middle of the opera.