[Theater Reddit] Update: The Vanishing Guest

Didn’t think I’d be posting again, but something happened last night that I can’t shake.

For the past week, the register’s been quiet — no tickets, no midnight receipts. I figured whatever glitch was happening finally stopped. I even joked with the janitor that our “ghost customer” must’ve found a better theater.

Then at exactly 12:03 a.m., the drawer opened by itself again.

But this time, instead of a receipt, there was an old movie stub.

Yellowed, frayed edges, printed on paper we haven’t used in decades.

The title?

The Midnight Matinee – Grand Reopening, 1987.

That’s when I noticed something: the handwriting on the back.

“See you after the credits.”

I decided to check Theater 4.

Even though it’s closed off, I still have the master key.

The plastic sheeting over the seats was gone. The room was spotless. The projector — which has been unplugged for months — was humming softly.

And on the screen, a film was playing.

Grainy, black-and-white footage of the concession stand.

Me, standing at the register, frozen mid-smile.

Then the camera panned to the empty hallway.

Except it wasn’t empty.

That man — the one with the brown coat — was standing there, watching me.

Only this time, he wasn’t on screen.

He was standing just outside the projection light, right in front of the stage.

He said, “You sold me this ticket, remember?”

Then the film stopped. The lights flickered out.

When I came to, the screen was blank again. The seats covered in plastic. The projector silent.

This morning, my manager found a new stub in the till — today’s date.

But the name printed on it isn’t The Midnight Matinee.

It’s my name.

And the seat number?

Row D, Seat 8.