|
Won't you keep us working? Working down below? This page needs work to reach an encyclopedic standard. If you see something missing, you can help The Mysterious Spanish Ladies by joining the wiki and expanding the article. |
Scene 4 of The Residents' unfinished feature film Vileness Fats was written and shot on open reel videotape in the early 1970s in a small-scale set constructed in the ground floor of the group's Sycamore Street warehouse.
One of the film's most iconic sequences (having been featured on the cover art of the 1984 VHS featurette Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats?, and directly parodied in The Residents' 2022 film Triple Trouble), it is the first completed sequence to feature the film's protagonist Saint Steven (Jay Clem) and his Mother (portrayed by hospital bill collector Marge Howard). During a conversation between the two, Steve (heard but not seen by the audience) transforms into his alter-ego, the antagonist of the film and leader of The Bell Boys, Lonesome Jack.
The scene is featured in both Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats? and the 18 minute Vileness Fats "concentrate" included in the 2001 retrospective DVD collection Icky Flix.
Official synopsis[]
As the scene opens, an older woman (Marge Howard) is stuffing a seemingly endless stream of dirty white clothes into a washing machine. As she works, the woman is speaking to someone, apparently her son, off camera. The voice is recognizable as that of Steve, but as they talk, his personality seems to change, becoming increasingly confident and assertive.
Finally at the end of the scene, the other person is revealed to be Lonesome Jack, the other side of Steve's split personality. Having completed the transformation, he kisses his mother goodbye and leaves.[1]
Screenplay excerpt[]
The below is an excerpt from the original Vileness Fats screenplay, transcribed by noted fan and collector Ima Buddy, and included in his 1992 document Ima Buddy's Totally Impartial Companion to Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated BIG MAMAS.
Minor formatting changes have been made by a Mysterious Spanish Lady to suit the format of this wiki; otherwise the text is presented as it appears in the Totally Impartial Companion. The Ladies extend their thanks to Ima Buddy for graciously allowing us to share these excerpts on the wiki.
Scene 4: First Mother[]
(Mother walks across front room and through door; as soon as she gets through door she screams.)
- Mother:
- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggghh!!! More dirty white clothes! More dirty white clothes! Aaagghh!!! I can't stand it!
- Steve:
- (Pretentiously) Mother! Mother! I don't understand - all my white clothes seem to be dirty. Now surely that can't be so.
- Mother:
- (Mockingly) "Now surely that can't be so... Now surely that can't be so..." Ha! You bet your butt they're dirty, kid! You think all I got to do around here is wash and iron your stupid clothes?
- Steve:
- But Mother, you know I'm an important civic leader... Why, I have to think of my public image.
- Mother:
- Ha! An important civic leader that runs around with a tacky night club singer.
- Steve:
- (Indignant) Why, Mother!
- Mother:
- Oh don't bother to deny it; I hear things, Scooter.
- Steve:
- Mother, I've asked you not to call me that any more!
- Mother:
- Look! As long as you live here, I'll call you anything I please and you'll like it - you hear?
- Steve:
- Yes, Mother, but, but, but...
- Mother:
- Shuddup, kid! You ain't no motorboat, you know! Ha! Ha! Ha!
- Steve:
- (Meekly) Yes, Momma.
- Mother:
- That's better... Well, what are you gonna do now, put on your old kid clothes again? An "important civic leader" can't run around in his birthday suit, you know. Ha! Ha! Ha!
(At this point focus goes to the open door to Steve's room; he starts talking to himself, very meekly at first, then growing forceful; meanwhile his mother continues talking in the background.)
- Lonesome Jack:
- I don't know what else I can do...
- Mother:
- (in background) You know something, Scooter?
- Lonesome Jack:
- Let's see, here's my jeans and boots...
- Mother:
- '(in background) You're weird.
- Lonesome Jack:
- Where's my hat?
- Mother:
- (in background) You're real weird.
- Lonesome Jack:
- Oh, there it is, hmmm...
- Mother:
- (in background) Who ever heard of a grown man who only wears fancy white clothes, or else his old kid play clothes?
- Lonesome Jack:
- It feels pretty good to have these on again; yeah, it feels real good!
- Mother:
- (Focus returns to Mother) It's not natural and I don't like it!
(LJ now appears behind his mother - he's very forceful now.)
- Lonesome Jack:
- Ma!
- Mother:
- (Jerks her head around surprised) Huh?
- Lonesome Jack:
- I'm afraid I have to go now. There are many urgent things for me now, many urgent things.
- Mother:
- (Meekly) But what about dinner?
- Lonesome Jack:
- I'm sorry, Ma, but I just don't have time. There are just too many urgent things. Evergreen, there's always Evergreen, of course, and I may even have to use the Master Plan. I simply must go.
- Mother:
- Well, if that's the way you feel, Scooter.
- Lonesome Jack:
- You're a good mom; I knew you'd understand (Kisses her on the cheek) But I must hurry... Too many things, too many things... (Hurries out)
Photo gallery[]
Photos by Graeme Whifler:
See also[]
- Vileness Fats
- Saint Steven / Lonesome Jack
- Mother
- Mother's House
