The movie crowd trickled into the theater.
It is Cinemark 8’s largest theater and does not seat even 300 people. It is commonly known as "the dollar theater" in Provo and is tucked behind a local Mexican restaurant on North University Parkway.
Most of the customers at this hour were elderly. They sat in their seats resting their hands in one another’s, not saying a word.
College kids walked down the aisle gossiping about midterms and relationships.
“So do you think he’s worth your time or not?” One girl asked her friend as they chose from all the empty seats. “I mean, do you think it’ll go anywhere?”
Both the old and the young waited for the movie to begin under the low lighting. Most sat and snacked on movie treats, some from the concessions in the lobby and others from their bags brought from home.
The movie previews began but the younger crowd still continued to text and talk at the same rate and volume.
The older viewers chuckled at the jokes that their grandchildren would call “lame,” and in response the younger crowd echoed their laughter.
The movie started and the glowing lights from cell phones disappeared into pockets and purses and conversations came to close.
A movie usher walked down the aisle and instead of turning around to glance at the audience, they stood there and watched the movie for a few minutes.
The usher returned with the same routine nearly every 20 minutes.
An older woman behind me softly repeated what was said on the screen as her husband sitting next to her quietly responded with “oh’s” and “ah’s.”
The movie ended.
The younger crowd quickly pulled out their phones, commented on the movie to their friends, and made their way toward the exit. The elderly couples continued to sit in silence and stare at the credits as if the movie had just begun.
