In "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel, a group of people finds themselves in a dire situation, feeling abandoned and facing hunger without any functional emergency services. The atmosphere is fraught with tension as some individuals grapple with their moral compass, torn between the need for sustenance and the stigma of theft. Amid the desperation, a character named Max attempts to alleviate the situation by suggesting a pragmatic solution. He offers to pay for the group's needs using his American Express card, encouraging everyone to relax and cooperate. This moment highlights both the urgency of their circumstances and the complexities of human behavior in times of crisis.