Scene 5 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.
In this scene, the enchanted Native American priestess Weescoosa (Sally Lewis) takes refuge in the home of her new friend Ninnie (Danny Williams), after crash-landing her bi-plane in the village of Vileness Flats and apparently being brushed off by the village's spiritual leader Saint Steven (Jay Clem).
Depicting offensive and stereotypical caricatures of people of color, to date the scene has only been publicly released on the 1984 VHS featurette Whatever Happened to Vileness Fats?.
Official synopsis[]
Frustrated and upset, Weescoosa seems to take Steve's casual brushoff much more seriously than the situation warrants, causing confusion in her friend; regardless, little Ninnie knowingly suggests that nothing gets a man's attention better than a nice new dress.
After initially resisting the idea, Weescoosa weakens after seeing the striking sequin covered dress drug out of her new friend's closet.
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 5: Ninnie's House[]
(Scene starts with Ninnie and Weescoosa standing in Ninnie's bedroom; Weescoosa is quietly smoldering having just been rejected by Steve; Ninnie is chattering away.)
- Ninnie:
- And here's my room, Missycoosa, here's my mirror and drawers and there's my bed over there and all my clothes is in my closet here Miscoosa, did you know I keep all my shoes lined up in it closet Miscoosa? Yes'm I sho do. All lined up. You sho is quiet Miscoosa.
- Weescoosa:
- (Slight pause before she lets loose) It's-um him ! It's-um him! Him! Him! Him! Him!
- Ninnie:
- Yes'm. Uh huh. Uh huh. Yes'm Miscoosa it's Marse Steve all right.
- Weescoosa:
- No! No! Ninnie. It-um not Steve. It's all of them.
- Ninnie:
- Yes'm. Uh-Huh. Don't be so upset over Marse Steve, Miscoosa. I gots a boy of my own that'd do you right proud, Miscoosa. See this picture of him - see Miscoosa? (Points at picture - Cut to picture - It's Schwump singing the end of "Mammy") Ain't he handsome Miscoosa? He's such a nice boy! You done got quiet again, Miscoosa.
- Weescoosa:
- Him! Him! Him!
- Ninnie:
- My lawsy, lawsy Miscoosa you sho' is stuck on Marse Steve. Well if you is that sweet on him we just have to get you outa these old nasty clothes and fixed up all pretty. He'll like you then Miscoosa.
- Weescoosa:
- No! I never want to see him again!
- Ninnie:
- Now Miscoosa you shouldn't carry on so. Now my old unca Tom use to say "Don't worry, don't worry. Just sit 'til the sunrise for blue skies and barflies."
- Weescoosa:
- Why did he say that?
- Ninnie:
- (Pause for incredulous stare) Lawsy Miscoosa! I just don't know. My unca Tom use to say the strangest things. Now Miscoosa just let me see what I gots to fix up in. (goes in closet)
- Weescoosa:
- No! Don't want-um fix up.
- Ninnie:
- (Comes back with beautiful dress and hat) See Miscoosa I gots these things that don't fit me so good and... but they's still pretty.
- Weescoosa:
- (Sees clothes and is surprised) Say, not bad. Maybe I could... (Slight pause) No! I won't do it again.[1]
See also[]
- Vileness Fats
- Weescoosa
- Ninnie
- Ninnie's House
