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When the video begins, it appears that some sort of verbal confrontation has already taken place.
Black man: …AC Transit
Bruso: Let’s get back to business. How much you charge me for a spit-shine?
Black man: what?
Bruso: How much you charge me for my Stacy Adams? I’m going to a funeral on Friday…You said you… [note: Stacy Adams are a brand of shoe.]
Black man: Did you get what I said just now?
Bruso: Yes
Black man: Why a brother gotta spit-shine your shoes?
Bruso: You offered!
Black man: I didn’t offer you crap.
Bruso: What’d you just say when you walked by me?
Black man: I said why, why a fuckin’ brother gotta spit-shine your shoes?
Bruso: You don’t have to!
Black man: Why a white man can’t spit-shine –
Bruso: [interrupting] – It could be a Chinaman! It don’t matter!
Black man: Look dude…
Bruso: I ain’t prejudice! What? You think I’m prejudice!
We interject here due to comments stating that Bruso is telling the truth about not being racist, and that given the context of the conversation, the black man may have offered to shine his shoes, as Mr. Bruso states. Because the video begins mid-conversation, it is not clear to the viewer how shoe-shining was brought up. This allows for the possibility that the black man may have instigated the conflict by offering to shine Mr. Bruso’s shoes (whether with genuine or sarcastic intent) but to assert this would be mere speculation.
The trope of the black shoe-shine boy is one with a deep history of placing African Americans in yet another role of servitude. An example of this can be found in the story of the 73-year-old Colorado Department of Transportation worker who, in 2009, emailed a doctored picture of President Obama shining Sarah Palin’s shoes, adding “it appears he has found his niche.” (reference: Huffington Post)
Furthermore, Bruso’s casual use of the word Chinaman denotes his ignorance of other races.
Black man: [pointing toward front of bus] Take your ass back up there and get the fudge out my face right now.
Bruso: Why you being so hostile, man?
Black man: ‘Cause. I’m pissed off.
Bruso: Well its better to be pissed off than pissed on.
Black man: Take your ass up there right now
Bruso: [standing to go to the front] You ain’t scarin’ this white boy. I’m 67 years old. You ain’t scarin’ me. You ain’t scarin’ me.
Black man: [now, also standing] I’m 50.
Bruso: You ain’t scared of me. You ain’t scarin’ me.
Black man: I’ll put my foot up your ass.
Bruso: No you won’t! No you won’t!
Another passenger makes remarks. Bruso moves to the front of the bus as the two exchange threats to whoop each other’s asses. Although Bruso has physically distanced himself, he continues the verbal conflict.

Bruso: You won’t do nothin’ to me! [then something unintelligible]
Black man: Say it again! [then something unintelligible as woman who was filming talks over him]
Iyanna Washington: Say it again! Say it again, Pinky!
The black man begins walking to the front of the bus.

Someone off camera whom many allege is Iyanna Washington: Beat his white ass! Whoop his ass!
Another passenger: Leave him alone!
The two men seem to be speaking to one another at the front of the bus, but cannot be heard over the noise from the rest of the passengers.

Iyanna Washington: It ain’t worth it, blood, it ain’t worth it.
The black man begins walking back to his seat as other passengers continue to comment.

Black man: I’d put my foot up your ass.
Bruso: I see tough guys like you and I slap the crap out of them.
Black man: What?!
Another passenger: Stop it!
The black man walks to the front again to continue the confrontation.
At 1:40, the black man lunges at Bruso, being the first to elevate the conflict to physical violence when he attempts to strike him in the chest, but the blow is mostly deflected by Bruso’s arm.
Bruso stands up and punches the black man in the face repeatedly. At least 9 punches can be seen, then the camera moves too much to get a clear view.
At 1:51 the black man can be seen shielding his face.

Bruso: Don’t fudge with me! He hit me! He fuckin’ hit me!
As can be seen earlier in the video, the black man attempted to either hit or shove him, but failed to connect.
Epic Beard Man exits the bus.

Bruso: He fuckin’ hit me first! He hit me in the face! [unintelligible] – self defense!
Bruso was not hit in the face. It appears as though he may have been struck in the arm or chest.
At 2:07, blood spatter is visible on the seats of the bus.
At 2:22 Iyanna picks up a bag left by the old man.

Iyanna: Open that crap! laughs
Various passengers comment on what they’ve witnessed.

Iyanna: We can press charges, blood. I got in on videotape. He’s leakin’.
Black man: That motherfucker hit me. No no no no no.
Another passenger: Did he break your teeth?
Black man: No. Bring an ambulance.
Because of the man’s bleeding, injured face, his pronunciation of the word “Ambulance” has been misheard by many as either “bring M&M’s” or “bring amber lamps.”
The black man then claims he will “kill that nigga.”
Then there are some more remarks from various passengers, and the scene ends with a shot of a bench reading “Keep our city clean & safe. Do your part.”