Ben Plopper

Ben Plopper is a Fort Worth based playwright who has one produced full-length (The Importance of Eating Earnest) and a collection of produced short plays to his name. A frequent participant to Cone Man Running's "Spontaneous Smattering," a 24-hour play contest/festival, Ben has managed to win more than a few awards.

Ben Plopper is a Fort Worth based playwright who has one produced full-length (The Importance of Eating Earnest) and a collection of produced short plays to his name. A frequent participant to Cone Man Running's "Spontaneous Smattering," a 24-hour play contest/festival, Ben has managed to win more than a few awards.

Scripts

The Importance of Eating Earnest

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

The struggles of being British, rich, and self-absorbed can be rather difficult to manage. Do you serve pâté or caviar? Which high-end brandy should be always on-hand and in which crystal decanter? What to do when the regular hired help doesn’t show up for your fabulous dinner party, and how to handle the replacement houseboy who really doesn’t look that well and has a predilection for human brains? A zombie...

The struggles of being British, rich, and self-absorbed can be rather difficult to manage. Do you serve pâté or caviar? Which high-end brandy should be always on-hand and in which crystal decanter? What to do when the regular hired help doesn’t show up for your fabulous dinner party, and how to handle the replacement houseboy who really doesn’t look that well and has a predilection for human brains? A zombie would normally be quite the bother, but there are so many more pressing concerns, like how to hide your infidelity from your spouse who may also be cheating? Is it possible to be so self-absorbed that you don’t even realize that there’s a zombie among you? And most importantly, who will be eaten first?

Black

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

A young rockstar finds himself in the parlor room of a mysterious woman. He doesn't remember what brought him here, but something is pulling at his memories. He might find out if he can just remember how to play a simple guitar lick. Perhaps the mysterious lady can help him remember how to play...

A young rockstar finds himself in the parlor room of a mysterious woman. He doesn't remember what brought him here, but something is pulling at his memories. He might find out if he can just remember how to play a simple guitar lick. Perhaps the mysterious lady can help him remember how to play...

Far From Wonderful (Work in Progress)

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

One Christmas Eve, George Bailey was shown a world where he had never existed. His story ended when the darkness of the other world - the world of Pottersville - convinced him that his life was, indeed, Wonderful. This story is not about his life. Far From Wonderful tells the story of what happens in Pottersville after George has left it. Bert the Cop is investigating a string of grizzly and inhuman murders that...

One Christmas Eve, George Bailey was shown a world where he had never existed. His story ended when the darkness of the other world - the world of Pottersville - convinced him that his life was, indeed, Wonderful. This story is not about his life. Far From Wonderful tells the story of what happens in Pottersville after George has left it. Bert the Cop is investigating a string of grizzly and inhuman murders that all seem to center on those Pottersville residents who interacted with George Bailey that Christmas Eve. Who, or what, is hunting them, apparently intent on cleaning up a world that should not exist.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Board (Work in Progress)

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Homeowner Associations. HOA meetings. Is anything more like Hell on Earth? Well, in this case, that's pretty literal! Meet nine strangers - seven residents and two "authorities" - who come together to elect a new HOA board president. Only it seems like something has happened and maybe this is more of a Dante's Inferno meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory morality play. Are all these seven idiots actually dead...

Homeowner Associations. HOA meetings. Is anything more like Hell on Earth? Well, in this case, that's pretty literal! Meet nine strangers - seven residents and two "authorities" - who come together to elect a new HOA board president. Only it seems like something has happened and maybe this is more of a Dante's Inferno meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory morality play. Are all these seven idiots actually dead? Do the seven residents represent the seven deadly sins? Is the community manager actually an angel and the community courtesy patrol officer actually a demon? spoiler alert: The answer is a resounding "yes!" But seven of the participants are completely clueless as to the supernatural shenanigans going on around their possible redemption arc.

Armageddon Tired of All These Zombies

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Three friends of varying intelligence stumble into a deserted cabin in the midst of a global zombie apocalypse. Together, they face food shortage, unrequired feelings, and the possibility that one of them may be the last man alive on Earth.

Three friends of varying intelligence stumble into a deserted cabin in the midst of a global zombie apocalypse. Together, they face food shortage, unrequired feelings, and the possibility that one of them may be the last man alive on Earth.

Philosophy of the Infinite Heart

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Two best friends share a moment under the stars.

Two best friends share a moment under the stars.

A Fisfull of Sorrows

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Stop me if you've heard this one: God, the Devil, and Coyote walk into a saloon to play a poker game wagering against the soul of a faithful man. Will the faithful man turn away from God as his hardships increase, or will he stay true to his faith? Also, are God and Satan racist towards Native Americans (the answer is, yeah, kinda)?

Stop me if you've heard this one: God, the Devil, and Coyote walk into a saloon to play a poker game wagering against the soul of a faithful man. Will the faithful man turn away from God as his hardships increase, or will he stay true to his faith? Also, are God and Satan racist towards Native Americans (the answer is, yeah, kinda)?

Your Mom

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Little Timmy has a foul mouth that he exercises regularly in online games. Tonight, however, his mom - divorced - is going out with a new guy - whatever - but the new guy also seems to be into online games. Will Timmy and Mark bond over games? No, they won't. Spoiler alert.

Little Timmy has a foul mouth that he exercises regularly in online games. Tonight, however, his mom - divorced - is going out with a new guy - whatever - but the new guy also seems to be into online games. Will Timmy and Mark bond over games? No, they won't. Spoiler alert.

Dogs in the Garden

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Two dogs in their master's backyard discuss the benefits of their life of leisure while also contemplating getting into the trash to eat the scraps of forbidden human food. A roaming cat may tip the balance.

Two dogs in their master's backyard discuss the benefits of their life of leisure while also contemplating getting into the trash to eat the scraps of forbidden human food. A roaming cat may tip the balance.

The Time I Accidentally Started a Sex Cult (Work in Progress)

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Courtney is in a rough spot. She's an out-of-work Licensed Professional Counselor in a difficult job market, and her motivation to get back to therapy is plunging faster than a... thing that plunges. Plunger? In an effort to set up an online therapy business, the ever naïve Courtney sets up her online shop on a platform that she believes will help her reach potential clients on her own terms: OnlyFans. Not...

Courtney is in a rough spot. She's an out-of-work Licensed Professional Counselor in a difficult job market, and her motivation to get back to therapy is plunging faster than a... thing that plunges. Plunger? In an effort to set up an online therapy business, the ever naïve Courtney sets up her online shop on a platform that she believes will help her reach potential clients on her own terms: OnlyFans. Not realizing that OF is, well, mostly used for other professional services, Courtney begins offering therapy to people struggling with intimacy issues. Through a series of miscommunications, her general ignorance, and saying the right things in the wrong ways, Courtney may have started a sex cult. Oops.

He Summons His Muse (Work in Progress)

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

How far would you go to reclaim former glory? Shane's artistic career peaked years ago, and he fears - like all creatives - that his lake of creativity has fully dried up. Having turned into an alcoholic shut-in, Shane is frequently checked in on by his ex Alexis, who genuinely cares about him, and Marcella, an old friend and gallery owner who would really like Shane to produce again - both as a concerned friend...

How far would you go to reclaim former glory? Shane's artistic career peaked years ago, and he fears - like all creatives - that his lake of creativity has fully dried up. Having turned into an alcoholic shut-in, Shane is frequently checked in on by his ex Alexis, who genuinely cares about him, and Marcella, an old friend and gallery owner who would really like Shane to produce again - both as a concerned friend, but more as a potential gallery draw (it was Shane's height of popularity that established Marcella's gallery in the first place). Instead, Marcella is stuck with Alastair, an old rival of Shane's.

During an attempt to paint something, *anything* better than "technically accurate," Shane appears to accidentally summon an ancient muse named Mel (at least, she claims she is a muse). Indeed, Mel seems to restore Shane's inspiration, but it quickly becomes clear that there is a cost. Mel is not what she claims to be, and may be something far more sinister and terrifying than a mere Greek demi-goddess.

How far will Shane go to reclaim what he lost? What sacrifices will he make on the way back to the top?

Bury Me In My Red Hat (Work in Progress)

by Ben Plopper

Synopsis

Kelly and Lucas Devlin have come together after the death of their father to sort through his possessions prior to organizing an estate sale. After their mothing dies ten years earlier, their father had gone from a generally kind, if not slightly conservative father, down the rabbit hole of conservatism and the MAGA movement. Kelly and Lucas, both liberal Democrats, each dealt with their father differently...

Kelly and Lucas Devlin have come together after the death of their father to sort through his possessions prior to organizing an estate sale. After their mothing dies ten years earlier, their father had gone from a generally kind, if not slightly conservative father, down the rabbit hole of conservatism and the MAGA movement. Kelly and Lucas, both liberal Democrats, each dealt with their father differently. Kelly cut him off completely while Lucas tried, unsuccessfully, to bring his father back to the man he once was. Now they sift through memories of the man he was and the man he became, and try to reconcile their responses to his change.