Rom Watson

Rom Watson is the author of the full-length plays Lying Beneath the Surface, Image and Likeness, The Beaumont Reunion, Pinocchio in The Bronx, and The Norma Conquests (world premiere in September of 2023). Fifteen of his 38 short plays have been produced, including Three Syllables of Shame, The Beaumont Technique, Mead and Stu go to SeaWorld, and Mr. Cuddles. He also wrote the libretto and lyrics for Chamber Music for Bonsai Trees, which is based upon a short novel in the public domain. Rom studied playwriting with Bill Chang, and lyric writing with the late Marshall Barer. His full-length plays have had readings at The Road Theatre, The MET Theatre, Celebration Theatre, Unknown Theatre, The Laura Henry Studio and Alliance Repertory Company. He is a member of Fierce Backbone, and L.A...

Rom Watson is the author of the full-length plays Lying Beneath the Surface, Image and Likeness, The Beaumont Reunion, Pinocchio in The Bronx, and The Norma Conquests (world premiere in September of 2023). Fifteen of his 38 short plays have been produced, including Three Syllables of Shame, The Beaumont Technique, Mead and Stu go to SeaWorld, and Mr. Cuddles. He also wrote the libretto and lyrics for Chamber Music for Bonsai Trees, which is based upon a short novel in the public domain. Rom studied playwriting with Bill Chang, and lyric writing with the late Marshall Barer. His full-length plays have had readings at The Road Theatre, The MET Theatre, Celebration Theatre, Unknown Theatre, The Laura Henry Studio and Alliance Repertory Company. He is a member of Fierce Backbone, and L.A.'s Neo Ensemble Theatre. He is a member of The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights, and has been a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. since 1996.

Scripts

The Norma Conquests

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

The Norma Conquests is a parody/sequel to the film Sunset Blvd. After being in prison for 16 years, Norma Desmond is accepted into the work-release program.

The Norma Conquests is a parody/sequel to the film Sunset Blvd. After being in prison for 16 years, Norma Desmond is accepted into the work-release program.

Three Syllables of Shame

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Charlie and his pregnant wife Angela play a game to see who can think up the worst possible name for the baby. In between coming up with names like Marmaduke, Levitra and Cholera, they also discuss how they're going to raise their child. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Charlie and his pregnant wife Angela play a game to see who can think up the worst possible name for the baby. In between coming up with names like Marmaduke, Levitra and Cholera, they also discuss how they're going to raise their child. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Performance Anxiety

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

A psychiatrist and a new patient are able to help each other.

A psychiatrist and a new patient are able to help each other.

Randall and Ward Attend the Theatre

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Ward meets Randall outside a theatre before they go in to watch the show. Randall reveals that they met four years ago at this same theatre, and the subsequent discussion reveals the history and the future of their relationship.

Ward meets Randall outside a theatre before they go in to watch the show. Randall reveals that they met four years ago at this same theatre, and the subsequent discussion reveals the history and the future of their relationship.

Mr. Cuddles

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Dave and Miriam go to her grandmother for money, and in the process meet Grandma's new pet.

Dave and Miriam go to her grandmother for money, and in the process meet Grandma's new pet.

Mr. Cuddles and the Pet Sitter

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Miriam introduces Mr. Cuddles to her sister Ruth, who is going to house-sit while their grandmother is out of town.

Miriam introduces Mr. Cuddles to her sister Ruth, who is going to house-sit while their grandmother is out of town.

A Twin out of Time

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Penelope disembarks from her flight and is greeted by a man with a bag over his head who hands her a letter.

Penelope disembarks from her flight and is greeted by a man with a bag over his head who hands her a letter.

The Beaumont Technique

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

An aging character actor who’s very full of himself teaches his first acting class. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

An aging character actor who’s very full of himself teaches his first acting class. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Avoiding Unwanted Pregnancy

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

A woman addresses the camera to sell her book. Written to be performed on Zoom. 4 minutes.

A woman addresses the camera to sell her book. Written to be performed on Zoom. 4 minutes.

Image and Likeness

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Los Angeles newspaper journalist Charlie Doth sets out to prove that an apparent suicide was actually murder. He hunts for the killer while continuing to interview religious leaders for a story that has personal resonance for him. Charlie uses his special ability with books to consult with the spirit of Albert Einstein, and the religious story and the murder story intertwine in unexpected ways.

Los Angeles newspaper journalist Charlie Doth sets out to prove that an apparent suicide was actually murder. He hunts for the killer while continuing to interview religious leaders for a story that has personal resonance for him. Charlie uses his special ability with books to consult with the spirit of Albert Einstein, and the religious story and the murder story intertwine in unexpected ways.

Lying Beneath the Surface

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

In a future Los Angeles where a portion of the population has mutated into monsters, LAPD Detective Andrew Bell investigates the murder of a mutant prostitute. He meets the victim’s sister, Betty, who is also a mutant. His investigation of Felicia’s death leads him to question her clients, her father, and her building superintendent. He learns more about mutants then he anticipated, and his budding friendship...

In a future Los Angeles where a portion of the population has mutated into monsters, LAPD Detective Andrew Bell investigates the murder of a mutant prostitute. He meets the victim’s sister, Betty, who is also a mutant. His investigation of Felicia’s death leads him to question her clients, her father, and her building superintendent. He learns more about mutants then he anticipated, and his budding friendship with Betty forces him to confront his own prejudices. When he figures out who murdered Felicia, he races to stop the murderer from killing again.

Pinocchio in the Bronx

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

On his quest to become a real boy,Pinocchio flushes the cricket down the toilet, runs away to Coney Island, and discovers Geppetto working in a meth lab. Loosely based on The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

On his quest to become a real boy,Pinocchio flushes the cricket down the toilet, runs away to Coney Island, and discovers Geppetto working in a meth lab. Loosely based on The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

Christmas Blvd.

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

An unauthorized parody of Sunset Blvd. based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

An unauthorized parody of Sunset Blvd. based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Norma Gets the Axe

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Norma Desmond auditions for William Castle's film Strait-Jacket.

Norma Desmond auditions for William Castle's film Strait-Jacket.

Mead and Stu go to SeaWorld

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Stu becomes convinced he is part dolphin.

Stu becomes convinced he is part dolphin.

Mead and Stu Go Caroling

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Mead and Stu argue about which song to sing.

Mead and Stu argue about which song to sing.

Mead and Stu Talk About Penguins

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Stu asks his friend Mead for advice on how to talk to his gay nephew about sex. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Stu asks his friend Mead for advice on how to talk to his gay nephew about sex. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Mead and Stu Teach a Seminar

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Two friends, with no qualifications or experience, teach a seminar on financial planning for senior citizens. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Two friends, with no qualifications or experience, teach a seminar on financial planning for senior citizens. (ZOOM VERSION AVAILABLE.)

Mead and Stu Conduct an Interview

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Famous film actor Dane Stafford is known for never granting interviews. Dissatisfied with his life and wanting to get back to his creative roots, he auditions for a play but is kidnapped by a couple of bumbling crooks who intend to force an interview out of him and sell it to the tabloids. (THIS IS A 35-MINUTE ONE-ACT VERSION OF THE FULL-LENGTH PLAY MANIFESTO OF SILENCE.)

Famous film actor Dane Stafford is known for never granting interviews. Dissatisfied with his life and wanting to get back to his creative roots, he auditions for a play but is kidnapped by a couple of bumbling crooks who intend to force an interview out of him and sell it to the tabloids. (THIS IS A 35-MINUTE ONE-ACT VERSION OF THE FULL-LENGTH PLAY MANIFESTO OF SILENCE.)

Beauty Becomes Contentment

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

A woman addresses the camera and gives fashion advice in her video blog "Beauty Becomes Contentment."

A woman addresses the camera and gives fashion advice in her video blog "Beauty Becomes Contentment."

Holmes and Watson at Breakfast

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

After decades of friendship, John Watson takes Sherlock Holmes to bed.

After decades of friendship, John Watson takes Sherlock Holmes to bed.

Celebrity Death Watch

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Charlie and Angela argue about why celebrities always die in groups of three.

Charlie and Angela argue about why celebrities always die in groups of three.

Burgers for Everybody

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

A monologue for a person of middle age, proposing their ideas for reducing overpopulation.

A monologue for a person of middle age, proposing their ideas for reducing overpopulation.

Manifesto of Silence

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Famous film actor Dane Stafford is known for never granting interviews. Dissatisfied with his life and wanting to get back to his creative roots, he decides to do a play, something he hasn't done in ten years. Dane goes to what he thinks is an audition, but is kidnapped by Mead and Stu, a couple of bungling crooks who intend to force an interview out of Dane and sell it to the tabloids. Dane refuses to speak to...

Famous film actor Dane Stafford is known for never granting interviews. Dissatisfied with his life and wanting to get back to his creative roots, he decides to do a play, something he hasn't done in ten years. Dane goes to what he thinks is an audition, but is kidnapped by Mead and Stu, a couple of bungling crooks who intend to force an interview out of Dane and sell it to the tabloids. Dane refuses to speak to them. While tied up and blindfolded, Dane has imaginary conversations with his ex-wife Emily. These conversations convince him to relent and give them an interview, but only because he now has a hidden agenda of his own. In Act II, Dane tries to rekindle his relationship with Emily while starring in two productions in a small Los Angeles theatre, one of which he wrote himself.

Pickle Juice

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Pickle Juice combines scatological screwball comedy with environmental issues. Dottie Mae MacKnots invites her domineering boss to dinner for the express purpose of convincing him to halt development of a project on toxic land. When her other dinner guest isn't able to attend, Dottie Mae must improvise, and convinces a stranger to pose as a man from the Environmental Protection Agency. The evening . . .does...

Pickle Juice combines scatological screwball comedy with environmental issues. Dottie Mae MacKnots invites her domineering boss to dinner for the express purpose of convincing him to halt development of a project on toxic land. When her other dinner guest isn't able to attend, Dottie Mae must improvise, and convinces a stranger to pose as a man from the Environmental Protection Agency. The evening . . .does not go according to plan.

The Thing on the Doorstep

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

When Daniel Upton puts six bullets through the head of his best friend, Detective Drake goes to Arkham Sanitarium to find out why. Daniel’s story turns out to be a lot creepier than Drake could have anticipated. An adaptation of the short story by H.P. Lovecraft.

When Daniel Upton puts six bullets through the head of his best friend, Detective Drake goes to Arkham Sanitarium to find out why. Daniel’s story turns out to be a lot creepier than Drake could have anticipated. An adaptation of the short story by H.P. Lovecraft.

The Hound

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

Two English grave robbers steal a jade amulet and are hounded by the corpse who wants it back. An adaptation of the short story by H.P. Lovecraft.

Two English grave robbers steal a jade amulet and are hounded by the corpse who wants it back. An adaptation of the short story by H.P. Lovecraft.

The Haunted Hotel

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

When newlyweds Agnes and Henry Westwick check in to The Palace Hotel in Venice, Henry learns that Agnes chose this hotel because her twin brother died there. An adaptation of the novel by Wilkie Collins.

When newlyweds Agnes and Henry Westwick check in to The Palace Hotel in Venice, Henry learns that Agnes chose this hotel because her twin brother died there. An adaptation of the novel by Wilkie Collins.

Curb Your Urges

by Rom Watson

Synopsis

A game show about self control.

A game show about self control.