In this disturbing story about consensus, coercion, and control, a man who takes three people into his underground shelter finds himself embroiled in a power struggle as his guests come to question his motives.

SYNOPSIS:

Bill, the owner of the shelter, takes a leadership role in trying to prepare the others for the psychological challenges that lie ahead during their extended period of confinement. He is the epitome of reason as he engages the others in the process of developing a protocol for resolving differences.

Bill’s romantic partner, Riga, appears to be anything but reasonable as she throws up a continuing series of obstacles to Bill’s efforts.

Bill attempts to solicit the support of the other two, Hector and Noori, to try to bring Riga’s obstructionist behavior to a halt. Initially he is successful and Riga finds herself alienated from the rest of the group.

Slowly Riga is able to convince Noori that Bill’s utopian vision, based on his system of forced rationality, will turn them all into prisoners in his mind-control experiment. Hector doesn’t buy it, and remains a firm supporter of Bill.

Then Bill has a few drinks and a different side of him appears to Hector. This is a vengeful side that views the pandemic as a punishment on those who ridiculed Bill over the years for building his shelter. “Who’s laughing now?” he asks repeatedly, as Hector listens helplessly to Bill’s rant against his former tormentors.

Hector’s support for Bill is undone and he falls in with Riga and Noori. They decide to leave the shelter by sneaking out at night without telling Bill.

This plan fails when Bill catches them in the act of leaving and a dramatic confrontation ensues during which Bill’s cataclysmic worldview is exposed.

Riga accuses Bill of spending years lusting for a disaster that would provide an opportunity to retreat to his shelter, and attempt to reconstitute society in his own image, free from the sin and corruption of mainstream society. He has no convincing response to her accusation.

Unable to convince the others to stay, Bill ends up alone railing against their treacherous betrayal.

The psychological suspense in this story plays out through a double-level mis-representation. The lead character is mis-representing himself to the other characters, but is also presenting a false impression to himself.

The audience will become aware of his deception and this will make them invested in seeing how his un-masking plays out.

Tagline: Consensus. Coercion. Control.