Benny B

BENNY BUCHENSTEIN (60’s), a Hall of Fame baseball play-by-play announcer, was pushed into early retirement by new team management looking to attract a younger demographic and pump up ratings by placing a ‘prettier’ face in the broadcast booth. Wanting to give him space to find himself—and lose his growing negativity—Benny’s wife, JULIA (60’s), leaves him to stay with her sister.

Alone and lost, Benny is abducted from his back yard one night by benevolent extraterrestrials. They believe Benny is uniquely qualified to save the earth from an impending invasion by Zeppendulars; an evil race of reptilian extraterrestrials who plan to harvest humans as a food source. Benny learns of his secret weapon…bubble gum…and the fact that he has only one week to prepare for the invasion.

Soon after, Benny becomes convinced that his abduction and the threat are real when he receives a nighttime visit from a Zepp. He also proves the power of bubble gum when he blows a giant bubble and melts the creature in his kitchen.

Lacking a plan and failing to convince any authorities that he’s not a raving lunatic, Benny finally secures an ally in MATIAS (12), the way smarter than his age social media savvy kid next door. With renewed hope, Benny is able to call in favors from his old pal CLUTCH (40’s), the current manager of the ballclub who himself is being forced out.

With the clock ticking and a tiny team in place, Benny finds a way back into the game to thwart the Zepp’s invasion. In so doing, he not only saves the day and sends the evil extraterrestrials packing, but restores purpose and meaning to his life and providing much-needed friendship and adventure for Matias.