Unit Seven
Text
neighbors hope to find safety in the only
bomb shelter on their street when an announcement
comes ouer the radio that enemy missiles are approach-
ing. Can it shelter all of them? Does its owner let them
in? Here is the story...
SHELTER
Rod Serling
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
5 a state of emergency for suspected enemy missiles approaching. The party
breaks up and the neighbors hurry home.
, 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)
STOCKTON HOME
It'll land any minute. I just know it. It's
going to land any minute-
( grabs hold of him )What are we going to
do?
5
above and following dialtogue, a portable radio carried by one of
the children carries the following announcement:
This is Conelrad. This is Conelrad. We are
10 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
15 government employee...
Jerry, ask again.
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-
20 ple.
what'll we do?
Maybe we ought to pick out just one base-
ment and go to work on it. Pool all our
stuff. Food, water, everything.
25 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-
Let's just go down into his basement and
30 break down the door?
chorus of voices greet this with assent.
HENDERSON rushes through toward the basement entrance, HARLOWE
35 overtakes him saying:
Wait a minute, wait a minute. All of us
couldn't fit in there. That would be
crazy to even try.
40 Why don't we draw lots? Pick out one fami-
ly?
What;difference would it make? He won't
let us in.
We can all march down there and tell him
45 he's got the whole street against him. We
could do that.
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.
50 We'd just be kihing everybody and for no
reason.
If it saves even one of these kids out
here - I call that a reason.
55 voice comes up again.
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
60 him. Tell him to pick out one family-Draw
lots or something--
One family, meaning yours, Weiss, huh?
WEISS ( whirls around to him ) Why not? I've got a
three-month-old infant--
65 What differenee does that make? Is your
baby's life any more precious than our kids?
( 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--
70 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--
(his face goes white ) Why you garbage-
75 brained idiot you--
It still goes, Weiss! I bet you're at the
bottom of the list--
suddenly flings himself through the crowd toward the man and there's
80 a brief, hand--td--hand fight between them broken up by HARLOWE who stands
between them breathless.
Keep it up, both of you.Just keep it up.We
won't need a bomb. We can slaughter each
85 other.
(pleading) Marty, go down to Bill's shelter
again. Ask him--
I've already asked him. It wouldn't do any
good.
90
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.
Searchlights. It must be coming closer.
95 ( as he sudenly pushes HARLOWE aside and
heads for as he sudthe 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.
100 He's right. Come on, let's do it.
THE SHELTER
is holding tight to PAUL .STOCKTON stands close to the door Iisten-
105 ing to the noises from outside as they approach. There's a pounding on the
sheltsr door that reverberates.
THE SHELTER
Bill? Bill Stockton? You've got a bunch of
110 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
115 in there.
appears and pushes his way through the group and goes over to
the shelter door.
120 Bill. This is Jerry. They mean business out
here.
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
125 used for something, else ... like figuring
out how you can survive.
Why don't we get a big, heavy log to break
the door down?
We could go ove to Bennett Avenue. Phil
130 Kline has sorne 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.
Let's get hold of ourselves. Let's stop and
135 think for a minute--
( tuning 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.
140
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-
145 ately at WEISS's side trying to help him to his feet . Once again the sirens
blast.
(shouts over the noise and commotion) Come
on, let's get something to smash this door
150 down.
start out of the cellar toward the steps.
THE SHELTER
155
slowly turns to face his wife. The angry screaming cries of the
people ring in their ears even as they depart.
(looks up) Bill? Who were those people?
160 ( turning to stare toward the door ) "Those people? " Those are
our 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
165 against this door. Everything we can.
man and boy then start to pile up a barricade, using fumiture, the genera-
tor, books, any movable object they can get their hands on.
170 OF THE SHELTER
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 annouricer on the Conelrad station.
175
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
180 is being done in t he way of protection. But
the mili-tary 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!
185
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
190 heavy log to lend their support to it.
THE SHELTER
and PAUL lean against it as it starts to give under the weight,
195 under the pressure. The air is filled with angry shouts, the intermittent siren,
the cries of wonen and children.
AND OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER
200 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 manent 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
205
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 jist
210 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
215 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.
220 There is no enemy attack.
( her eyes closed. and crying softly ) Thank
God. Oh, thank God.
( in a whisper, his face bruised and blood clot-
ted ) Amen to that.
225 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.
230 (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--
235 a murmur of voices, a few half--hearted nods, but they' re alI still in a
state of shock.
I don't think. Marty's going to hold it against
you. ( then turning to STOCKTON ) I just hope
240 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.
245 STOCKTON walks past them across the cellar and up toward the stairs,
all eyes are on him and there's an absolute dead silence.
( hisvvoice shaky and nervous ) We could . . .
we oould have a block party or something to-
250 morrow night. A big ce~ebration. I think we
deserve one now.
looks around smiling at the otfiers, a nervous smiie bom of a carry--over of
fear and the realization that sflmething has taken hold of alI of them now.
255 Something deadening in its effect and dlsquieting beyound words.
STOCKTON takes a step up on the stairs then stops and turns back toward
them. His face is expressionless.
(with phony laughter desperately trying to re-
260 lieve situation ) Block party's not a b~d idea.
( looking around at the others ) Anything to
get back to normal.
( looks from face to face and slowly shakes his
head ) Normal? ( a pause ) I don't know. I
265 don't know what " normal " is. I thought I
did, but I don't any more.
I told you we'd pay for the damages-
( stares at him ) The damages? ( he nods ) I
wonder if we realize just what those damages
270 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-
275 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 desperateiy tired,
very softly as he tums away from them ) We
280 were spared a bomb tonight. . . but I wonder
if we weren't destroyed even without it.
He continues up the steps.
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 introduce,s 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 . agreemerit
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 rocnn in
which to live or stay 容纳；向…提供住宿
accotnmodation 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
violeritly 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 (anixnals, people) in large numberstusha 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. eeho xepeatedly回响
long/ n. 原木
avenue / n. wide street in a town
giant / a. of great size or force
n. man,manimal, or plant much larger than noumal
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. barner 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. alarge 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 oontinuous
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 respondto
waves of a particular frequency
definitely / ad. without a doubt; clearly
definite/ a.
identify / vt. 认出;识别
hattnless/ 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 beooming conscious
deaden/ v. (cause to) lose strength, feeling, brightness,etc.
desquiet/ 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
in the midst of in the middle of
break up cease to be together 散开
grab/get/take hold of get possession of; grasp 抓住
break down destroy
fit in ind 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 posse.ssion 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 judgement 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