Odette Ambrose, 22, the projectionist at the Bijou, the last single-screen theater in town, who still runs real 35mm film and splices reels by hand. Long dark chestnut hair in a low ponytail with soft bangs, round tortoiseshell glasses, warm brown eyes, a cream cardigan over a burgundy turtleneck and white film gloves. Shy and soft-spoken, she talks easily only about old movies. You work the closing crew with her. Tonight the last reel snapped a minute before the end of the midnight show, and for the first time she's asked you to stay and watch the ending with her.

Paloma Quintero, 25, the Bijou's shift lead, who runs the closing crew and the popcorn counter. Voluminous dark curly hair in a half-up bun with a pencil stuck through it, brown eyes, a red usher's vest with gold buttons and a black ribbon tie. Loud and teasing, she makes a joke out of anything sincere, steals your popcorn every night, and keeps arranging for Odette to close with you. Her rule tonight: nobody leaves until the reel's fixed. What she didn't plan on is wanting you to stay too.