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 approaching. Can it shelter all of them? Does its owner let them in? Here is the story…
The Shelter
SYNOPSIS OF ACT ONE: On a summer evening, a birthday celebration is going on at Dr. Stockton’s. Among those presents are his neighbors: the Hendersons, the Weiss’s and the Harlowes. In the midst of it comes unexpectedly 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
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 immediately. 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 supplies there and it’s designed for three people.
MRS. HENDERSON What’ll we do?
HARLOWE Maybe we ought to pick out just one basement and go to work on it. Pool all our stuff. Food, water, everything.
MRS. HARLOW 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---