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Unit Seven
　
　
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Several neighbors hope to find safety in the only
bomb shelter on their street when an announcement
comes over the radio that enemy missiles are approach-
ing. Can it shelter all of them? Does its owner let them
in? Here is the story...
　

THE SHELTER
　
Rod Serling
　

SYNOPSIS OF ACT ONE: On a summer evening, a birthday celebration is go-

ing on at Dr. Stockton's. Among those present are his neighbors: the Hen-

dersons, the Weiss's and the Harlowes. In the midst of it comes unexpected-

ly over the radio the announcement of the President of the United States declaring

a state of emergency for suspected enemy missiles approaching. The party

breaks up and the neighbors hurry home.

However, shortly afterwards they return one after another to the Stockton

house for the simple reason that they want to survive-- want to share with

the Stocktons the bomb shelter which is the only one on their street.




ACT TWO

(abridged)



OUTSIDE STOCKTON HOME




HENDERSON
It'll land any minute. I just know it. It's


going to land any minute-

MRS. HENDERSON
( grabs hold of him )What are we going to do?




Throughout above and following dialogue, a portable radio carried by one of

the children carries the following announcement:




ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
This is Conelrad. This is Conelrad. We are


still in a state of Yellow Alert. If you are a


public official or government employee with


an emergency assignment, or a civil defense


worker, you should report to your post im-


mediately. If you are a public official or


government employee...

MRS. HARLOWE
Jerry, ask again.

HARLOWE
Don't waste your time. He won't let anyone


in. He said he didn't have any room or sup-


plies there and it's designed for three peo-


ple.

MRS. HENDERSON
what'll we do?

HAR LOWE
Maybe we ought to pick out just one base-


ment and go to work on it. Pool all our


stuff. Food, water, everything.

MRS. HARLOWE
It isn't fair. ( she points toward Stockton


house ) He's down there in a bomb shelter


completely safe. And our kids have to just


wait around for a bomb to drop and-

HENDERSON
Let's just go down into his basement and


break down the door?

　
A chorus of voices greet this with assent.

　
As HENDERSON rushes through toward the basement entrance, HARLOWE

overtakes him saying:

　 　
HARLOWE
Wait a minute, wait a minute. All of us


couldn't fit in there. That would be


crazy to even try.

WEISS
Why don't we draw lots? Pick out one fami-


ly?

HARLOWE
What; difference would it make? He won't


let us in.

HENDERSON
We can all march down there and tell him


he's got the whole street against him. We


could do that.

HARLOWE
What good would that do? I keep telling


you. Even if we were to break down the


door, it couldn't accommodate all of us.


We'd just be killing everybody and for no


reason.

MRS. HENDERSON
If it saves even one of these kids out


here - I call that a reason.

　
The voice comes up again.

　 　
WEISS
Jerry, you know him better than any of us.


You're his best friend. Why don't you go


down again? Try to talk to him. Plead with


him. Tell him to pick out one family-Draw


lots or something--

HENDERSON
One family, meaning yours, Weiss, huh?

WEISS
( whirls around to him ) Why not? I've got a


three-month-old infant--

MRS. HENDERSON
What difference does that make? Is your


baby's life any more precious than our kids?

WEISS
( shouting at her ) I never said that. If you're


going to start trying to argue about who de-


serves to live more than the next one--

HENDERSON
Why don't you shut your mouth; Weiss?


( with a wild, illogical anger ) That's the way


it is when the foreigners come over here. Ag-


gressive, greedy, semi-Americans--

WEISS
(his face goes white ) Why you garbage-


brained idiot you--

MRS. HENDERSON
It still goes, Weiss! I bet you're at the


bottom of the list--

　
WEISS suddenly flings himself through the crowd toward the man and there's

a brief, hand--td--hand fight between them broken up by HARLOWE who stands

between them breathless.

　 　
HARLOWE
Keep it up, both of you. Just keep it up. We


won't need a bomb. We can slaughter each


other.

MRS. WEISS
(pleading) Marty, go down to Bill's shelter


again. Ask him--

WEISS
I've already asked him. It wouldn't do any


good.

　
Once again the siren sounds and the people seem to move closer together,

staring up toward the night sky. Off in the distance we see searchlights.

　 　
HARLOWE
Searchlights. It must be coming closer.

HENDERSON
( as he suddenly pushes HARLOWE aside and


heads for as he sudden steps ) I'm going down


there and get him to open up that door. I


don't care what the rest of you think. That's


the only thing left to do.

MAN#1
He's right. Come on, let's do it.




INSIDE THE SHELTER




GRACE is holding tight to PAUL .STOCKTON stands close to the door Iisten-

ing to the noises from outside as they approach. There's a pounding on the

shelter door that reverberates.




OUTSIDE THE SHELTER




HENDERSON
Bill? Bill Stockton? You've got a bunch of


your neighbors out here who want to stay


alive. Now you can open the door and talk to


us and figure out with us how many can come


in there. Or else you can just keep doing


what you're doing --and we'll fight our way


in there.

　
HARLOWE appears and pushes his way through the group and goes over to

the shelter door.

　 　
HARLOWE
Bill. This is Jerry. They mean business out


here.

STOCKTON'S VOICE
And I mean business in here. I've already


told you, Jerry. You're wasting your time.


You're wasting precious time that could be


used for something, else ... like figuring


out how you can survive.

MAN#1
Why don't we get a big, heavy log to break


the door down?

HENDERSON
We could go over to Bennett Avenue. Phil


Kline has some giant logs in his basement.


I've seen them. Let's get one. And we'll


just tell Kline to keep his mouth shut as


to why we want it.

WEISS
Let's get hold of ourselves. Let's stop and


think for a minute--

HENDERSON
( turning to face WEISS ) Nobody cares what


you think. You or your kind. I thought I


made that clear upstairs. I think the first or-


der of business is to get you out of here.

　
With this he strikes out, smashing his fist into WEISS's face in a blow so un-

expected so wild that WEISS, totally unprepared, is knocked against the

wall. His wife screams and, Still holding the baby, rushes to him. There's a

commotion as several men try to grab the neighbor and HARLOWE is immedi-

ately at WEISS's side trying to help him to his feet . Once again the sirens

blast.

　 　
HENDERSON
(shouts over the noise and commotion) Come


on, let's get something to smash this door


down.

　
They start out of the cellar toward the steps.




INSIDE THE SHELTER





STOGKTON slowly turns to face his wife. The angry screaming cries of the

people ring in their ears even as they depart.

　 　
GRACE
(looks up)Bill? Who were those people?

STOCKTON
( turning to stare toward the door ) "Those people? "


Those areour neighbors, Grace. Our friends. The


people we've lived with and alongside for twenty


years.(then in a different fixed expression and in a


different tone ) Come on, Paul. Let's put stuff up


against this door. Everything we can.

　
The man and boy then start to pile up a barricade, using furniture, the genera-

tor, books, any movable object they can get their hands on.




OUTSIDE THE SHELTER




The mob marches down the street carrying a large heavy log that is perhaps

fifteen feet long. Their own shouts mix with the sound of the intermittent siren

and with the voice of the announcer on the Conelrad station.

　 　
ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
We've been asked to once again remind the


population that they are to remain. calm,


stay off the streets. This is urgent. Please


remain off the streets. Everything possible


is being done in t he way of protection. But


the military and important civil defense


vehicles must have the streets clear. So


you're once again reminded to remain off


the streets. Remain off the streets!

　
The minute the mob gathers before the STOCKTON house, they smash into it,

carrying the giant log. They move down the cellar steps. As the log smashes

into the shelter door, the siren goes up louder and more piercing and it is at

this moment that we see both WEISS and HARLOWE join the men on the

heavy log to lend their support to it.




INSIDE THE SHELTER




STOCKTON and PAUL lean against it as it starts to give under the weight,

under the pressure. The air is filled with angry shouts, the intermittent siren,

the cries of women and children.




INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER




And it all reaches one vast pitch just as the door is forced open. PAUL and

STOCKTON are pushed back into the shelter and just at this moment the Iights

go on in the basement. The siren also reaches its top and then suddenly goes

off and there is absolute dead silence for a long moment. Then from the

portable radio in the corner comes

　 　
ANNOUNCER'S VOICE
This is Conelrad. This is Conelrad. Remain


tuned for an important message . Remain


tuned for an important message. ( a pause)


The President of the United States has just


announced that the previously unidentified


objects have now been definitely identified as


being satellites. Repeat. There are no enemy


missiles approaching. Repeat, there are no


enemy missiles approaching . The objects


have been identified as satellites. They are


harmless and, we are in no danger. Repeat.


We are in no danger. The state of emergency


has officially been called off . We are in no


danger. Repeat. There is no enemy attack.


There is no enemy attack.

MRS. WEISS
( her eyes closed. and crying softly ) Thank


God. Oh, thank God.

WEISS
( in a whisper, his face bruised and blood clot-


ted ) Amen to that.

HENDERSON
Hey, Marty. . . Marty. . . I went crazy. You


understand that, don't you? I just went


crazy. I didn't mean all the things I said. (he


wets . his Iips, his voice shaking ) We were all


of ua. . . we were so scared. . . so confused.


(he holds out his hands in a gesture ) Well,


it's no wonder really, is it? I mean . . . well,


you can understand why we blew our tops a


little--

　
There's a murmur of voices, a few half--hearted nods, but they' re all still in a

state of shock.

　 　
HARLOWE
I don't think. Marty's going to hold it against


you. ( then turning to STOCKTON ) I just hope


Bill won't hold this-- ( he points to the


wreckage around him ) against us. We'll pay


for the damage, Bill. We'll take up a collec-


tion right away.

　
AS STOCKTON walks past them across the cellar and up toward the stairs,

all eyes are on him and there's an absolute dead silence.

　 　
WEISS
( his voice shaky and nervous ) We could . . .


we oould have a block party or something to-


morrow night. A big celebration. I think we


deserve one now.

　
He looks around smiling at the others, a nervous smile born of a carry--over of

fear and the realization that something has taken hold of all of them now.

Something deadening in its effect and disquieting beyond words.

STOCKTON takes a step up on the stairs then stops and turns back toward

them. His face is expressionless.

　 　
HARLOWE
(with phony laughter desperately trying to re-


lieve situation ) Block party's not a bad idea.


( looking around at the others ) Anything to


get back to normal.

STOCKTON
( looks from face to face and slowly shakes his


head ) Normal? ( a pause ) I don't know. I


don't know what " normal " is. I thought I


did, but I don't any more.

HARLOWE
I told you we'd pay for the damages-

STOCKTON
( stares at him ) The damages? ( he nods ) I


wonder if we realize just what those damages


are? ( he looks from face to face again )


Maybe the worst of them was finding out just


what we're like when we're normal. The


kind of people we are. Just underneath the


surface. I mean all of us. A lot of naked ani-


mals who attach such great importance to


staying alive that they claw their neighbors to


death just far the privilege. ( he leans against


the stairway wall, suddenly desperately tired,


very softly as he turns away from them ) We


were spared a bomb tonight. . . but I wonder


if we weren't destroyed even without it.


He continues up the steps.





Click the button to listen to the pronunciations of new words

　

　

　

New Words

　

shelter n.
(sth. that gives) cover or protection 演变（处）

synopsis (pl. synopses)
summary or outline ( of a book, play, etc: ) 提

n.
要，梗概

celebration n.
marking (of an event or a special occasion) with

　
public or private rejoicings 庆祝

celebrate v.

midst n.
middle part

prep.
amidst

missile n.
导弹

afterwards ad.
later, after that

bomb n.
炸弹

abridge vt.
make shorter by using fewer words 缩略，删节

grab vt.
take roughly, snatch eagerly

dialog(ue) n.
对话，对白

portable a.
that can be easily carried or moved 手提式的

carry vt.
broadcast

announcer n.
a person who reads news or introduces people on

　
radio or television

employee n.
a person who is employed

civil defense
a civilian emergency program for protecting peo-

　
ple and their property against enemy attacks

　
or natural disasters 民防

post n.
place of duty 岗位

design vt.
intend; make a drawing or patterns of (sth. )设计

basement n.
a. room or rooms in a house which are below

　
street level 地下室

pool vt.
put ( things or money) together, esp. for com-

　
mon advantage 把...集中在一起（共用）

stuff n.
things in a mass; matter

chorus n.
sth. said or cried by many people at one time;

　
song for all to sing together 齐声说的话（或喊

　
声）；合唱

sent n .
agreement

entrance n.
gate, door, or other opening by which one enters

　
入口处

overtake vt.
catch up with赶上

crazy a.
mad; foolish

accommodate vt.
have enough space for; provide with a room in

　
which to live or stay 容纳；向…提供住宿

accommodation n.

plead vi.
make continual and deeply felt requests恳求

huh int.
(used for expressing surprise or disapproval)

whirl vi.
move or travel rapidly; move quickly round and

　
round飞速移动;旋转

infant n.
child during the first few years of its life 婴儿

precious a.
highly valued; of great value or beauty 珍贵的

deserve vt.
have a right to; be worthy of值得

illogical a.
be against logic; without logic不合逻辑;无缘由的

foreigner n.
person belonging to a foreign country

aggressive a.
always ready to quarrel; not afraid of opposition;

　
enterprising 挑衅的;放肆的;积极进取的

greedy a.
excessively eager to acquire; wanting to get more

　
than one's share贪婪的

semi- pref.
half

idiot n.
a very stupid or foolish person白痴

bet (bet or betted) vt.
be very sure; risk (money) on the result of a future

　
event 确信;用…打赌

fling (flung ) vt.
move (oneself) violently, esp. in anger, throw

　
violently or with force使(自己)猛扑;用力扔,掷

hand-to-hand a.
in close contact 逼近的;直接交手的

slaughter vt.
kill (animals, people) in large number 屠杀

siren n.
penetrating whistle as a warning 警报

searchlight n.
powerful light with a beam that can be turned in

　
any direction 探照灯

pounding n.
a severe beating or blow猛击

pound v.

reverberate vi.
echo repeatedly回响

long n.
原木

avenue n.
wide street in a town

giant a.
of great size or force

n.
man, animal, or plant much larger than normal

fist n.
拳头

cellar n.
an underground room, usu. used for storing

　
goods 地窖

depart n.
leave a place.

departure n

barricade n.
barrier of objects put across or in front of sth. as

　
a defense障碍;街垒

generator n.
a machine which generates, usu. electricity

movable a.
that can be moved

mob n.
a large noisy and disorderly crowd, esp. one that

　
has gathered for mischief or attack 一伙人;

　
一群暴徒

intermittent a.
pausing, or stopping at intervals; not continuous

　
断断续续

remind vt.
tell or cause ( sb. ) to remember 提醒

urgent a.
demanding. immediate action or attention; important

military a.
connected with soldiers, armies军事的

vehicle n.
a means of carrying or transporting sth.

piercing a.
(of sound) very sharp and clear, esp. in an unpleasant

　
way ; penetrating 尖利的;刺穿的

pierce v.

give vi.
bend; yield to pressure 弯曲;塌下

pitch n.
the degree of highness or lowness. of a musical note

　
or speaking voice 声音的高低,调子

tune vt.
adjust (a radio or television receiver) to respond to

　
waves of a particular frequency

definitely ad.
without a doubt; clearly

definite a.

identify vt.
认出;识别

harmless a.
that cannot cause harm

harm n.

bruise vt.
injure the outside of碰伤;使(皮肉)青肿

clot vt.

Amen int.
may this be true阿门(基督教徒祈祷结束时的用语)

hey int.
(used to call attention or express surprise)

scare vt.
frighten

gesture n.
movement; usu. of the hands, to express a certain

　
meaning姿势,手势

murmur n.
a soft low sound

half-hearted a.
showing little effort and no real interest

wreckage n.
the broken parts of a destroyed thing 残骸

shaky a.
shaking or unsteady

block party
(AmE) a party or celebration held in the street

　
by the residents of a block or neighborhood;

　
esp. to raise funds for a local church or block

　
club

carry-over n.
sth. carried or left over剩余物

realization n.
being or blooming conscious

deaden v.
(cause to) lose strength, feeling, brightness, etc.

disquiet vt.
disturb

phon(e)y a.
pretended; false

laughter n.
laughing 笑声

desperately ad.
with little hope of success 绝望地;拼命地

desperate a.

underneath prep.
beneath; under

naked a.
not covered by clothes; nude裸体的

claw vt.
tear, seize, pull with claws or hands 用爪抓

stairway n.
楼梯

destroy vt.
break to pieces; put an end to 摧毁


　

　

Phrases & Expressions

　

break up
cease to be together 散开

grab/get/take hold of
get possession of; grasp 抓住

break down
destroy

fit in
put into space or room (for sth. or sb. )

draw lots
use lots to decide sth. 抽签

make a/the difference
have an effect pr influence; matter 有关系,有影响

come up
grow louder, stronger or brighter

head for
move towards, go to

figure out
work out; understand (sth. or sb. ) by thinking 解决,


算出；理解，弄清楚

or else
otherwise; if not

mean business
be ready to act ( not merely talk ) ; be serious 是当真的

pile up
heap up 堆起

get one's hands on
find; get possession of

in the way of
in the matter of ; as regards 在…方面;关于

go on
be lit (灯)亮

go off
stop, discontinue

call off
stop or give the order to stop; cancel 停止;取消

blow one's top
(sl. ) explode with anger 大发脾气

hold. . .against
allow (sth. ) to affect one's judgment of (sb. ) 因(某


事)而嫉恨(某人)

take up
begin, undertake

born of
owing existence to; deriving or resulting from


　


Proper Names

　

Stockton
司道克顿(姓氏)

Henderson
亨德森(姓氏)

Marty Weiss
马蒂·韦斯

Jerry Harlowe
杰雷·哈洛

Conelrad ( short for Control
(美国)康纳雷民防广播体系(现已停

of Electromagnetic Radiation)
止使用)

Yellow Alert
空袭预备警报

Grace
格雷斯(姓氏及女子名)

Paul
保罗(男子名)

Bennett Avenue
贝内特大街

Phil HIine
菲尔·克兰


　

　

　

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