Anyway, sitting in a bar there a few years ago, waiting for my flight, I hear a series of progressively more strongly worded announcements for pax X and Y to get to the gate or else.

Noone shows. Then the 'This is absolutely, positively, make no mistake about it final call for flight such-and-such, gate closes in 30 seconds.'-announcement.

At which point the two men at the table next to me get up and stroll over to the nearmost gate.

I almost fist-pumped when the gate attendant just looked at them (eyes ablaze!) and said 'Sorry, gate just closed!' then proceeded to inform whoever was listening on the VHF that pax X and Y were no-shows, presumably to have their luggage located and offloaded.