Posted on 02/11/2006 9:05:58 PM PST by FreedomCalls
AN Australian tourist has been charged with assault after telling a Texas woman to stop talking on her mobile phone at the movies.
Pauline Clayton was enjoying a matinee screening of Brokeback Mountain in a Texas cinema when her day suddenly turned ugly.
The former Sunshine Coast councillor said about halfway through the movie, a mobile phone started ringing nearby, a woman answered it and started talking.
"I put one finger up to my mouth to shoosh her," Ms Clayton said.
"She ignored me - I then leaned across and touched her with three or four fingers on the top of her arm."
When the "very large" woman failed to end her call, Ms Clayton again touched her on the shoulder and that was when the woman exploded.
Ms Clayton said the woman stood up over her, started shouting expletives at her and then stormed out of the cinema, in the town of Webster, just outside Houston.
A short time later two Texas police officers walked into the cinema and escorted Ms Clayton out.
She said the police took her to the food bar and explained that the woman had accused Ms Clayton of "invading her private space". The woman had made a complaint of assault because Ms Clayton had touched her.
"They were very apologetic," Ms Clayton said.
"They were very uncomfortable."
Ms Clayton said the officers had tried to dissuade the woman from making a complaint and had even told the woman that if she did make the complaint, police would charge the woman with disorderly conduct and using a profanity for her outburst in the cinema.
The woman refused to back down and not only was Ms Clayton charged, but the woman is now also due in court after being charged over her behaviour.
Ms Clayton was issued a citation and will appear in a Texas court next week to answer the charge.
With the help of an off-duty police officer who saw the fracas, she is hoping to escape with only a fine.
In the meantime Ms Clayton said she was hoping to get back to see the second half of Brokeback Mountain.
If convicted, Ms Clayton who grew up in Victoria and once worked as a journalist for The Sun newspaper in Brisbane, faces a fine of up to $675.
She said she had been told a conviction would not affect her chances of re-entering the US. Police said it was a "little matter" and they would not be notifying US immigration authorities about any conviction.
Aw Super! Let me have my fun.
It was meant as a little stab at humor.
Me.
Ps: I missed wishing you Happy 36th on your last birthday!
The 'off-duty police officer' in the audience also surprised me.
Is there nothing else at the theaters these days?
I suspect "ordinary Texans" wouldn't yap away on a cellphone in the middle of a theater and then go into a fit of adolescent rage when asked to pipe down.
Last time someone wouldn't quit talkin I knocked him out the swingin doors. He then drew his pistol but luckily I was a hair faster and shot the gun out of his hand. Then I grabbed my rope from the trunk of my car and strung him up from a tall pine tree. Then I went to the local whataburger to eat because they have free wifi.
-- 100% Texan till I die.
If your cell phone goes off in a theater, that should be automatic grounds for a lifetime expulsion from that theater.
And it ought to be legal to punch these people in the head.
No judge in Texas is going to fine this woman for telling a rude, loud mouth piece of trash to stop talking on a damn cell phone during a movie.
WTF is that supposed to mean?
I grew up with a 5 party line with 1 long and 2 short rings was our ranch phone. We survived quite well with out the gadgets.
If someone wants to take an aisle seat, sets the phone on vibrate, and make a quick but orderly exit when a call comes in, I would have no problem with that. Arrive in adquate time to ensure that either an aisle seat will be open, there will be time to politely try to find someone who will yield one, or there will be time to ask management what to do.
I hereby nominate you to the position of supreme judge of all the world.
Not sure what would be worse...to be arrested for asking someone to STFU in a movie theater...or to have to admit that it happened while watching BrokeAss Mountain?
Thats called assault.
Probably talking on the phone about how those mean, nasty people from FEMA made her move out of a hotel room after 6 months.
Crime in Houston is getting ready to skyrocket.
Nam Vet
true, and they are going to have to add about 3 wings to death row.
Well thanks alot... you just ruined the back half of the movie. ;-)
What?
How many "ordinary Texans" would actually be watching Bareback Mountain in a theater?
Good point.
I think her day turned ugly earlier - when the screening started.
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