By Katherine Waters
Sun Staff Intern
The scene begins in The Colonia Theater in Norwich. It is 6:15 p.m. and the lights turn on to reveal the lobby of the theater. Assistant manager Linda Steiss enters with reporter Katherine Waters.
STEISS: This is a hurry up and wait kind of business. We start our evening at 5:30 p.m. so we can clean and get the theater ready for customers.
Colonia Theater employees, Joe Krug and Brie Levesque enter behind the candy counter, waiting for the first customers.
WATERS: [turning towards Levesque] How do you enjoy working at the Colonia?
LEVESQUE: I really enjoy it. It is a fun part-time job.
Waters walks behind the candy counter to learn how to serve popcorn and soda.
STEISS: [to Waters] Just don’t burn yourself on the popcorn machine.
The employees continue in a soft murmur as the clock loudly ticks the seconds by. Each employee slowly ends their conversation to look at the time. The sound of voices and cars drift from the open front door. The clock continues to tick loudly until 6:30 p.m., when the first three customers wander into the theater.
Steiss, suddenly in motion, walks to the cash register to help the customers.
STEISS: Good evening!
The customers buy three tickets to see ‘The Dark Knight’ and walk to the theater doors. Waters steps forward to offer assistance to the movie-goers.
WATERS: I am doing an article for the local paper, can I interest you in some popcorn?
The customers curtly say ‘no’ and continue to walk into the theater. The employees are motionless for another few seconds. There is no movement except for nervous tapping by Krug and absentminded counter buffing by Levesque. Without warning, a family noisily disturbs the employees’ silence.
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