I Ruined Movie Night
12.27.5
I ruined movie night last night.
Autumn and I had decided to get out of the house for a change, so we headed to the Century 16 to see "The Ringer." Actually, we showed up too late for that movie, and settled on "Fun with Dick and Jane."
It doesn't really matter though, because we ended up not seeing either of them.
When we arrived, we bought our tickets and headed towards theater eight. While entering, we passed one of the theater employees who was chatting with some little girlfriend of his. The theater was filthy, with empty cups and popcorn tubs everywhere. Not thinking much of these things, we found the best seats in the house and sat down.
About 10 minutes later another employee came waltzing into the theater with a broom and rudely announced, "You all need to leave while we clean the theater." He then started sweeping the rows. That was it. No, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." No, "Please." Just, "You need to leave."
I continued to sit right where I was, as did a few other people. Several moments later, though, he repeated his demand. This time, everyone left except for me.
He approached me and for a third time requested that I leave. I asked him why it was necessary. He then told me that it was against company policy to clean the theater in front of customers. At this time, I told him that I would not be leaving. I was happy with my seat, and was fine with them cleaning the theater in front of me.
He then informed me that he was going to get the manager. I let him.
After a few minutes of mind-numbing conversation with the proud movie theater manager, I offered up an ultimatum. "You have two options: Either I continue to sit here until the movie starts, or you can give me a refund, and I will never come here again..."
By this time, Autumn had already left the theater to wait with everyone else. As the manager and I walked past her on the way to the cashier's desk, I explained to her that we were leaving. She looked on as I exchanged the ripped movie stubs for my sixteen dollars.
To me it was a matter of principle. The manager offered up a bunch of excuses that just didn't fly with me. He claimed that they didn't have the payroll to pay an employee to stop us from entering the theater before it was clean. It doesn't cost much, however, to add an extend-a-barrier to the entrance, and besides...they apparently did have the payroll to pay their employees to hit on chicks as customers walked past them. Then he claimed that these company policies were to stop us from being inconvenienced by the cleaning. I don't need anyone telling me what will inconvenience me, though.
The whole thing just felt a lot like going to a restaurant and having my meal taken away from me after I'd taken my first few bites. It just shouldn't have happened.
In the end, I told him that I would never again be a customer of theirs. People often use this as a half-hearted threat, but I really mean it. I will add the Century 16 to my growing list of places I will never go again. Already on the list is the McDonald's closest to where I work. I actually go to a much less convenient location each lunch hour simply to avoid giving those bastards any more of my money.
I suppose what it all comes down to is stubbornness.
I am a stubborn, stubborn ass. When I feel slighted I have a tendency to make a huge scene about it. This often makes things way more difficult for myself then they have to be.
I think that having Autumn move in with me has led to a few revelations of sorts. I feel like it's a good time to start examining some of my more obvious character flaws. Yes, I'm stubborn...but I'm also an obsessive, compulsive, uncomfortable, jealous, irritable, egotistical, insecure person.
In the end, the night turned out great. We ate dinner at some Mexican joint and had a fantastic time. Autumn wasn't even the slightest bit angry at me for dragging her out of the theater without seeing the movie. That's actually one of the things I like about her: She puts up with me.
Sometimes I wonder if that's all I can really ask for from a woman...
