An Exciting Night Out on the Town

Now that Bill and I are dogless, childless and footloose, we have rediscovered the movies! So tonight we wound up dinner and the dishes and off we went to catch a 7:00 PM show!

The film was Monuments Men.  I felt we were on a date again. What fun – a night out with no one to account to and nothing to account for.  We could lollygag all evening even though our little town closes down at 5:00 PM.

There is only one theater here, divided into three sections now – a big downstairs for the 3D stuff, and two little upstairs balcony seating for other films. We were  in the balcony.  If you don’t mind heights, it’s a heady experience.

We were seated next to another couple and I overheard them saying this was the second time they tried to see Monuments Men. Evidently there were no seats available the night before.

Their conversation was scintillating but I couldn’t wait for the movie to begin.  Ahhhh – here came the previews and the lights went out and we were ready to go.

Whoaaaaaa…. the previews were so loud I had to put my fingers in my ears.  Well, maybe that’s the way they do movies nowadays for drama and effect.  “Patience Dor, patience,” I kept telling myself.

Then someone came with a flashlight, heading for the top rungs of the balcony.  Would they lower the volume?

My My – what dark previews!  All very fuzzy and dim.  Ahh well, maybe they are making action films dimmer now.  Darkness adds to the suspense I guess.

At last, the feature presentation!

“I hope this opening scene is supposed to be at night,” I muttered to Bill.  Was my vision impaired or were the scenes in the movie blurry and lacking color?  “Maybe the whole film is dim on purpose,” I thought. “Maybe it’s to establish a depressing mood.”  Was I going blind or what?  I kept blinking and rubbing my eyes.

 And suddenly the movie abruptly stopped!

We were looking at a dark gloomy “still” as the audience sat in the dark wondering when the movie would begin again.

It didn’t.

The lights came on (supposedly so we could safely stumble out) and a kindly voice said a bulb needed replacing so they would not be showing Monuments Men tonight.  “We will give each of you either a raincheck or a refund,” the voice said.  “The raincheck is good for any film and never expires.”  And Bill mumbled, “Neither does money.”

Oddly this whole incident put me in a giggly mood since we were experiencing small town stumbling at its best. Yes, by golly, our wonderful little cinema has modern digital technology, but they got snookered by a simple light bulb!

Even the couple next to us trying to see this film for the second time, took their disappointment with laughter.  “What will you do tonight then?” someone asked.  “Maybe watch the Olympics I guess.”  And someone else said, “Three’s a charm.”

And the lady in front of us got free popcorn because she had eaten hers and there were a whole lot of un-popped kernels left in the bottom of her box.  Where else I ask you would you get customer service like that?

Bill and I will try again tomorrow night (providing our money has not expired) and after we confirm the light bulb has been replaced.

I can’t wait for another exciting night out on the town, especially if it once again leaves me grinning!

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