by UnwashedMolasses » Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:57 pm
The place: The theater I work at
The time: 12:30 in the afternoon
The setting: heavy rain outside, families enjoying film, a girl scouts troop is gathering in the lobby to get ready to head into their movie
The players: A white couple, one male and one female, early thirties. An Indian family, father, mother, daughter, baby; adults in their late thirties or early forties
The story:
Our players are all watching the same film, Big Hero 6. The baby of the Indian family begins crying. After some minutes of this, the white male asks or possibly tells the father and mother to quiet their baby. Apparently he does this in a bit of a rude way, because words are exchanged, tempers begin to rise. White male says something that Indian father takes offense to. Movie ends, all exit. More words are exchanged, voices begin to rise. Indian mother and children move away, stay in hall. White male becomes extremely agitated, must be held back by female companion and theater employee. Argument is now taking place in the lobby in front of all other patrons. Threats are exchanged, white male says "I've killed your kind before, I can do it again". Takes hoody off (hilarious in retrospect). White female companion is able to convince him to step outside, tries to explain things, wisely leaves. Indian family is given refunds and apologies from theater staff.
An hour or two later the white male calls the theater to apologize profusely for his behavior and explains that he has severe PTSD from his time in Iraq, which was triggered by the argument.
I don't know how to feel. I empathize with his trauma and difficulties, but this was my theater in front of my guests that he was making a scene.