In the home theater, everyone had settled in; some on the couches, some on the thick carpet on the floor. Low murmurs of conversation and laughter filled the room, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Not a single person touched any of the equipment or belongings. Hope couldn’t help but feel a pang of admiration for the crew. She turned to the director and said, “If anyone wants to watch a particular movie, feel free to pick a DVD.”

With the host’s permission, the director dove into the cabinet, rifling through the discs while chatting with everyone.

“Do you want a comedy or a horror movie?”

“Comedy!”

“Horror! With this weather,...