I took three or four shots of this scene, and in each photo the two guys on the far stairs were perfectly in focus, while everyone else was not. I wonder what they could be talking about for two or three minutes that would require such full attention that they did not move whilst it was discussed.

Hey, look. I used the word "whilst". I don't know that I've ever used that word.

Pentax K200D
Pentax DA 18-55mm lens (@18mm)
f22
ISO 100
1/6 sec.