Scene 35, the last planned scene of The Residents' unfinished feature film Vileness Fats, was at least partly outlined by the group at the start of production in 1972. Some preliminary footage was shot early in production, before they abandoned film in favor of 1/2" black and white videotape; however, the scene - the climactic sequence which resolves the film's primary plotline - remained mostly unshot (and likely was never completely written) prior to the group's abandonment of the project in 1976.
The "Window of Never" scene would have featured a confrontation between the film's protagonist Saint Steven (portrayed by Jay Clem) and his alternate personality Lonesome Jack (also Jay Clem) at the top of a volcano under the mysterious Window of Never, a large chasm in the sky outside the village of Vileness Flats; the town's villagers, led by Steve's Mother (Marge Howard) and the enchanted Native American priestess Weescoosa (Sally Lewis), rush to the volcano to observe and/or intervene.
History[]
The concluding sequence of Vileness Fats was likely at least loosely outlined in 1972 when the project was first conceived, after The Residents moved from San Mateo into a large studio space on Sycamore Street in San Francisco.
However, as the film's scenes were rarely scripted in detail before they were shot, and as most of the sequence is known to have never been filmed by the group, it is likely that the sequence was never completely written.
At least some preliminary footage of the town's villagers and police running across the Vileness Flats bridge set was shot early in production. Excerpts of this footage from this sequence are seen in material released to promote the 2016 documentary film Theory of Obscurity: A Film About The Residents.
Despite this, the Window of Never/volcano set is not known to have been constructed prior to the film's abandonment, and no designs or sketches of the set as originally envisioned have been released to the public to date; however, in November 2020 Homer Flynn (long-time graphic designer for The Residents and collaborator on Vileness Fats) posted an image to his Instagram profile which he captioned "The Window of Never", alluding to the scene.[1]
The abandonment of Vileness Fats in 1976 left the preceding scene as the last completed scene shot for the film, and scenes 31, 32 and 33 as the last completed sequence relating to the film's primary plotline, focusing on the protagonist Saint Steven and his alter-ego Lonesome Jack (both portrayed by Jay Clem), and their mutual love for the enchanted Native American priestess Weescoosa (Sally Lewis).
Official synopsis[]
"The Window of Never" Instagram photo by Homer Flynn, November 2020
Unexpectedly sucked into a whirlpool of confusion and despair, Steve/Lonesome Jack stands at the edge of a volcano directly below the enigmatic Window of Never.
Mumbling incoherently, the lost leader looks up at the Window, which gazes back at him with seeming indifference. Hearing a noise behind him, the pathetic schizophrenic looks back and sees everyone, his mother, the Bellboys, townspeople, night club patrons and Weescoosa - all hurtling towards him at full speed... and so, seeing no other solution, he jumps.
Without hesitation, and borne by the love that's like no other, his mother immediately follows him, jumping into the volcano and heroically managing to rescue her son with only minor brain damage, which, fortunately, cures his schizophrenia.
Nearly everyone lives happily ever after.
Cast and characters[]
- Saint Steven / Lonesome Jack (Jay Clem)
- Mother (Marge Howard)
- Weescoosa (Sally Lewis)
- Weenie (Danny Williams)
- The Pope
- The Doctor
- Police Officer #1
- Police Officer #2
- Police Officer #3
- General
Image gallery[]
See also[]
External links and references[]
- ↑ Instagram post by Homer Flynn, November 5th 2020
