Chapter 29 — Theater at the End of the Hallway

The theater opened again on the first day of the new semester. The nameplate was repainted, still retaining the word "end of hallway". The fabric curtains were washed, but some stains were not completely removed. Huy said not to replace them because they are a sign of the times. Lam agrees, as long as it doesn't affect the image.

Showtimes are posted on the bulletin board: student films, alumni films, subtitles, audio classes, and one yard screening each month. There are no commercial project logos. The sponsor is only recorded in the operating book.

Tran receives the file cabinet key, Huy holds the camera key, Vy manages the sound, Quan is in charge of the chair and Lam is in charge of usage rights. They created a new group, allowing underclassmen to join.

A tenth grade girl asked Lam if she could use a home video in the film. The girl asked her mother, but her mother only agreed within the school. Lam instructs how to clearly state the scope, deadline and right of withdrawal. The girl thanked her, then filled out the form herself.

Huy teaches students how to handle projectors. He wasn't on stage; he used hand silhouettes to illustrate. One friend asked why he didn't show his face to everyone. Huy replied that it was his choice, not a rule that applies to everyone.

Dat is no longer in charge of destroying theaters, but still comes to meetings with the council. He convinced the commercial project to sponsor parking in another location, reducing the construction area to keep the corridor. The price is slower progress and lower profits. He said that for the first time, a good plan is not a winning plan.

Hoai An sent a letter to Nhi through Mrs. Nam. Nhi replied after three weeks. She did not tell the details of her current life, just said she read it, cried a little and agreed to keep in touch with the film instruction class. She wants to send a set of documents on how to shoot non-invasively.

Lam read the letter but did not post it. She put the original in a separate box, stating who had the right to see it.

The military organized "empty chair day". Each person can sit in a chair and then stand up, leaving a sentence for the next person. There are funny sentences, sad sentences, sentences with only one period. Quan said a period is also a story if the writer wants it to be.

One day, the green chair disappeared. The whole group panicked, thinking someone had taken it away. Huy checked the camera, Tran looked at the book. Finally, they saw that Mrs. My had taken the chair to the hallway to clean the paint because the chair's legs were loose. She put it back after repair, more carefully than before.

“It's not the same chair anymore,” Lam said.

“It's still what it is,” Mrs. My replied. “Just fix it in the right place.”

The quote goes into next month's movie.

On the day of the school festival, the council announced that the theater would be kept permanently as a student cultural space. The decision requires schools to periodically conduct safety inspections, disclose budgets and not use theaters for inappropriate commercial advertising.

The audience applauded. Dat bowed his head, Hoai An held Lam's hand. Huy stood next to the machine, laughing when Quan dropped the board.

After the ceremony, Lam asked Huy if he wanted to take a group photo. Huy thought about it and agreed on the condition that he stand behind the projector, only showing half his face. Quan said it was "a historic step forward".

The photo is kept on file, not posted immediately. Everyone watched first, then Huy himself chose the version to be shared on the school bulletin board.

In the evening, the theater shows the first show of the semester. Before turning on the phone, Lam looked at the rows of seats. The last chair is no longer empty; A new student sat there, holding his bag and looking around.

“Are you late?” Lam asked.

"I came from the beginning. Just sitting here to see if anyone remembers this place."

Lam gave me one paper ticket. There are no seat numbers on the ticket, just the line: **You can start from any scene.**

A new student named An Nhien sat in the last seat and was silent the whole time. After the movie, I didn't go right away. I asked Lam Cinema if it would accept incomplete stories. Lam said the theater accepts stories that don't yet know the ending, as long as the teller knows he has the right to stop.

An Nhien gave a piece of paper, writing about her transferring schools and not telling anyone that she was scared. I don't want to turn around, I just want the sound of footsteps through the hallway. Vy instructed me to record, Huy checked the volume level, and Tran gave me the consent form.

Quan asked me if I wanted to sit on the broken chair. Tran glared, he changed it to "the chair has been repaired". An Nhien smiled for the first time.

Hoai An listened to the recording of her footsteps and said her sound had its own rhythm. Lam asked if he could use it; I agree within class. Recordings are not posted online.

Dat stopped by and brought the council's decision: the theater was kept forever. The decision comes with maintenance responsibilities, privacy, and annual reporting. Tran read each line, asking who would be responsible when the group graduated.

The board has established a teacher-in-charge position and an operating fund. Underclassmen are trained. Huy said that's better than one person holding the key.

Quan opened a new chair that did not collapse. He bowed to everyone, declaring that his artistic career had turned a page. Mrs. My told him just not to destroy the next page.

Lam and Huy took a group photo. Huy stood next to the machine, not covering his face completely. An Nhien stands at the end of the frame, choosing the angle to turn her back. Tran asked if everyone agrees to save and post on the bulletin board. Each person answered.

The photo was posted a day later, with a caption without the name of the person not wanted. Interaction is moderate, but there are many comments asking how to join the class. Lam replied with the link to the school page, not to his personal account.

Nhi sent a congratulatory message. She said the theater no longer needed her to remind people. Lam replied that she was still invited if she wanted, and was not called.

Hoai An placed the copy clip in the theater's archive box, along with a paper granting permission to use old images in an academic capacity. Mom said the clip had found another place to belong.

Dat left the commercial project after completing handover. He accepted to be an unpaid consultant for one year, then let the group choose the next person. Lam said that's how he opened the door without standing in the way.

At the end of the day, the projector played An Nhien's movie. Footsteps ran through the hallway, stopped in front of the door, then turned back. No one knows what you have chosen; they just hear the power of choice is growing.

An Nhien reviewed the recording and asked to reduce the sound of her shoes because it reminded her of an unpleasant day. Vy asked if she wanted to quit or change. I chose to write in the sound of fabric, which is lighter. Adjusting the microphone, Tran updated the range of use. I signed the new ticket.

Lam realizes that the right to withdraw is not just for big things. Even a small sound can carry its own memory. She wrote that in the textbook.

Underclassmen organize screenings for parents. Quan trained a new leader, but the students corrected him because he used too many jokes. He admits he needs to learn how to let others shine.

Hoai An and Nhi discussed the instruction class through Mrs. Nam. Nhi agreed to send an online audio session, without turning on the camera. The lower class asks questions first, not asking about addresses or personal lives.

Huy took a group photo standing next to the camera. You look at the pictures yourself, Choose a photo that shows half your face. Lam asked if he was sure. Huy said this time he was asked and the answer was yes.

Dat sent a letter thanking the group, but Lam replied that he also had to write down what he had done wrong. Dat responded as stated in the report. No one needs a perfect thank you note.

The day the decision was announced, the schoolyard was more crowded than usual. The council chose to keep the theater, repair the electrical system and allow it to be used together with the library. The commercial area was reduced and moved to the vacant land behind. Not all of the group's suggestions were accepted; The opening schedule requires staffing and budget each year. But the room is still there, with new, clearer responsibilities.

Dat stood next to Mr. Quang during the announcement. He said the old design missed values that cannot be measured by area. Quan whispered that this sounded like an advertisement, and Tran nudged him to shut up. Lam did not film the council's announcement before asking for permission. When Mr. Quang nodded, Vy turned on the camera and only recorded the entire scene, without pointing the lens at anyone who was emotional.

In the evening, the group cleaned up the warehouse. The rule sheet is framed, not to hang as a souvenir but to use every day. Huy handed over the key to the device compartment to the lower lock. Lam deleted the old draft that had a withdrawal request and kept the confirmation record. She feels lighter knowing a video can end up being properly deleted.

On the last day before the handover ceremony, each person writes an instruction for the person taking over. Huy notes how to check the projector and safety limits. Tran notes how to save consent, deadline and feedback address. Vy notes how to name the files so that the online version is not confused with the internal version. Quan wrote down how to welcome new people without forcing them to participate in group games. Lam wrote a sentence at the top of the notebook: "Don't start with the camera; start with the question."

The lower class reads the notebook and asks if the group really did all the steps. Lam replied no, they were wrong and had to correct it. She tells stories about strange accounts, old tickets, wrong subtitles and deleted scenes. No one cut out the unpleasant parts from the handover. Huy boxes the equipment, Quan labels expired cookies, Tran locks the filing cabinet, Vy backs up the final copy. When handing over the keys, Lam didn't say a grand farewell. She just said that if you need to ask, just open the theater door and leave a message.