Bunker 451 FINAL (PDF)

BUNKER 451
by Ian Nabong
and
Lavinya Stennett

!i

CHARACTERS
PRESIDENT ROSHAUN WILLIAMS, Leader of the Primes
(Roshaun Williams)
PRIME MINISTER ADAM, Williams’ second in command
(Adam Wigley)
17, the defiant rebel leader
(Eugenia Appiah)
25, the independent rebel, 17’s second in command
(Lavinya Stennett)
37 (later IAN), the fool, regretting his decisions
(Ian Nabong)
GUARD 1
(Adam Wigley)
GUARD 2
(Ian Nabong)

!ii

PRE-SCENE:
Sirens, probing lights. State of emergency.
STEWRADS USHER IN AUDIENCE TO DESIGNATED SEATS.
Soldier
One at a time please, thank you. Hey are you
listening. (HOLDS BACK ONE PERSON) I said one
at a damn time. (SIGNALS FOR EVERYONE TO GO
INSIDE)
Soldier
Tickets above your head so we can make this as
quick as possible. Hold your tickets above
your head. Tickets above your head.
Soldier
Do not panic. (CONSOLES MEMBERS OF THE
AUDIENCE) Everything will be okay.
Soldier
Oi, where do you think your going! Sit over
here, you haven't got a prime ticket!
Inside, a live video feed shows a National announcement.
Speaker
V.O
Today is (INSERT PERFORMANCE DATE). I want to
talk to you about Pangea, I know we've
previously had a number of discussions about
the process of rebuilding what's been
happening above us outside. Again today my
fellow citizens, our very life and freedom
came under attack. Thousands of lives were
ended suddenly by another despicable nuclear
fallout. I am declaring a state of emergency,
Martial Law is in place. That means several
sites will be closed and movement outside will
be prohibited. You must all reside in here
until we decide the time is right for you all
to go home.
MONTAGE OF NEWS SCENE DETAILING WAR, DESTRUCTION, LOOTING, CHAOS.

!1

The Primes work on their stations, moving like machines.
37
What a piece of work is a man!
25
How noble in reason,
how infinite in faculty!
37
In form and moving, how
Express and admirable
17
In action how like an angel!
25
In apprehension how like a god!
ALL ODDS
The beauty of the world!
The paragon of animals!
37
And yet, to me
25
What is this quintessence of dust?
17
Man delights not me.

!2

SCENE 1: A Noble Prize?
Musical anthem of around just 5 notes.
President Williams
(VO, video)
Bunker 451. It has been 40 years since our
world fell, since we reached safety and
started God’s work of preserving all of
humanity from war in one of the many bunkers.
It is the Prime governance we are to thank,
for we have built a system, founded from our
predetermined order, for lasting as long as we
have. Prime Minister Adam, our security chief,
is worth praising for his actions against
rebels, who sought to crumble the hierarchy
and destroy all we have worked hard for —
Prime Minister Adam
(VO, video)
Let it be known that any attempt at insurgence
will be heavily punished. 
President Williams cont’d
(VO, video)
(sarcastic)
Agreed. And lastly; our beloved Odds. You
selflessly manufacture our assigned industry,
culture and science, bringing updated
literature, clothing, art, music and medicine
to the whole of the Bunker system. We see all
of your work, and it does not go
unappreciated. A reward awaits, for those who
reach quotas and behave obediently! As
an incentive, and a thanks for 40 years of
work, here is a case of Naïveté.
A cart filled with Naïveté rolls from the Prime Section onto the
Odd Section.

!3

President Williams cont’d
(VO, video)
(sarcastic)
Thank you, and enjoy the next 40 years.
37 stands up from his work station, grabs a bottle, returns to his
stations, drinks, and resumes work.
25 is clearly annoyed and looks at 17. They face 37.
17
What are we doing here?!
25
Mhm. We’ve talked about this. Naïveté isn’t
what it seems.
37
We do not agree. We are to appreciate this
generous gift in this scarce time.
It makes our work easier. It is like we are
controlled by it, moved by it. We like it.
25
Exactly! It forces us to work! I don’t know
how… but can’t you see!—
37
WE must not say profanity such as I and YOU.
It is the Sin of Individuality.
25
I don’t care! They’re using you! This!—
25 grabs a bottle of Naïveté, shaking it in mid air.
25 (cont’d)
—This! Controls you!—
25 throws the bottle away.
25: (cont’d)
—I’ve had enough!
!4

She stands, approaches the cart, planning to destroy it—
37
We must not damage property! Especially gifts
from the Primes!
25
Shut up!—
17
-25!—
37
We will report!
25(cont’d)
— SHUT. UP! You are a person! We are our own
persons!
She throws the bottles away. 37 stands, looking at the ceiling.
37
Violation Report Code 6.1., Citizen Number:
2.5.
17
For fucks sake!
Prime Minister Adam
(V.O.)
Sin of Individuality Report accepted. 25 muted
for 5 minutes. Repeat. 25 muted for 5 minutes—
25 yelps and her face contorts, lips sunken into her mouth.
Prime Minister Adam
cont’d (V.O.)
—Oh dear me! 5th report this week. Tut tut.
We really must control ourselves, 25. Back
to work!

!5

17
(to 37)
Was that really called for? God!
25 angrily thrashes the Naïveté bottles.
Prime Minister Adam:
(V.O.)
25! Calm down or its a day for us? COPY?!
beat
37!
37
37! Copy!
Prime Minister Adam
(V.O.)
Stand up!
37 stands up, in attention.
Prime Minister Adam
(V.O.)
We’ve obeserved excellent behaviour!—
37
Thank you!
Prime Minister Adam
(cont’d)
—So much so that we’re rewarding 37, or as we
should say, IAN, Prime Citizenship!
37’s face glows with delight.

!6

SCENE 2: Purpose
The Odds, now only two, continue working, passive. 25 finishes
with a flourish. She stands and looks at the ceiling.
25
2.5. Resource request. Category: Publication.
Quantity: 5.
Prime Minister Adam:
Copy, 2.5. (suspicious) State your purpose?
25
Literature amended. Books required to continue
work.
Prime Minister Adam
Standby.
25 stands, walks toward the Prime section barrier, stands,
waiting.
After a few moments, Prime Minister Adam pushes through a cart
with two books.
25
Only two?
25 beings to walk away, but observes the doors are still open,
through the cracks, she hears laughter.
The Primes and Ian are feasting, champagne in hand, weapons in the
other.
Prime Minister Adam
(amused)
We’ll run out of books soon.
President Roshaun
If only the idiots knew!
Prime Minister Adam
!7