Sweeney Todd
JOHANNA Safe … So we run away and then all our dreams come true?
ANTHONY I hope so…
JOHANNA I have never had dreams. Only nightmares.
ANTHONY Johanna … When we’re free of this place all the ghosts will go away. She looks at him very intensely:
JOHANNA No, Anthony, they never go away. He gently touches her face.
ANTHONY I’ll be right back to you … Half an hour and we’ll be free. He goes. She turns to the window, watches him go. Her expression is sad: he will never fully comprehend her depth. Then she sees the Beggar Woman approaching from across the street… 112
EXT. PIE SHOP — NIGHT
112 The Beggar Woman begins climbing the stairs to the barber shop:
BEGGAR WOMAN Beadle … Beadle … No good hiding, I saw you! Are you in there still? 113
INT. BARBER SHOP — NIGHT
113 Johanna hears the Beggar Woman singing, climbing the stairs.
BEGGAR WOMAN (V.O.) Beadle … Beadle… Johanna looks around urgently, sees the large chest. She quickly climbs into it and shuts the lid as– The Beggar Woman enters.
BEGGAR WOMAN Beadle dear, Beadle… The room has a strange effect on her, as if she were vaguely recalling some distant dream. She intones to pretty lullaby music…
BEGGAR WOMAN Beadle deedle deedle deedle deedle dumpling, Beadle, dumpling, Be-deedle dumpling…
SUDDENLY– Without warning — like a thunderbolt — Todd leaps into the room–
TODD What are you doing here?!
BEGGAR WOMAN Ah, evil is here, sir. The stink of evil — from below — from her! … … Beadle dear, Beadle! He looks anxiously out the window for the Judge:
TODD Be quiet, woman!
BEGGAR WOMAN She’s the Devil’s wife! Oh, beware her, sir. She with no pity … (slowing, looking at him more closely) …in her heart…
TODD Out of here! Now!
BEGGAR WOMAN (really peering at him now) Hey, don’t I know you, mister? Todd suddenly sees — the Judge! — walking toward the shop– Todd has no time–! The music THUNDERS as– In one brutal motion — he swings around and grabs his razor – – fiercely SLASHES her throat — tosses her in the chair — pulls the lever — she slides through the floor– He pulls the chair back to its normal position just as– The Judge enters.
JUDGE Where is she? Where’s the girl?
TODD Below, your Honor. With my neighbor. Thank heavens the sailor did not molest her. Thank heavens, too, she has seen the error of her ways.
JUDGE She has?
TODD Oh yes, sir, your lesson was well learned. She speaks only of you, longing for forgiveness.
JUDGE Then she shall have it. She’ll be here soon, you say? The music builds, the pace increases:
TODD I think I hear her now.
JUDGE Oh, excellent, my friend!
TODD Is that her dainty footstep on the stair?
JUDGE I hear nothing.
TODD Yes, isn’t that her shadow on the wall?
JUDGE Where?
TODD There! Primping, Making herself even prettier than usual–
JUDGE Even prettier…
TODD If possible.
JUDGE Ohhhhhhh, Pretty women!
TODD Pretty women, yes…
JUDGE Quickly, sir, a splash of bay rum!
TODD Sit, sir, sit.
JUDGE (settling into chair, in lecherous rapture) Johanna, Johanna… Todd gets a towel, puts it carefully around the Judge, moves to get a bottle of bay rum–
TODD Pretty women…
JUDGE Hurry, man!
TODD Pretty women Are a wonder…
JUDGE You’re in a merry mood again today, barber.
TODD Pretty women!
JUDGE What we do for They sing simultaneously as Todd smoothes bay rum on the Judge’s face and then reaches for his razor:
JUDGE Pretty women! Blowing out their candles Combing out their hair– Then they leave– Even when they leave you And vanish, they somehow Can still remain There with you there…
TODD Pretty women! Blowing out their candles Or combing out their hair, Even when they leave, They still Are there, They’re there… The music builds dangerously as:
JUDGE How seldom it is one meets a fellow spirit!
TODD With fellow tastes — in women, at least.
JUDGE What? What’s that?
TODD The years no doubt have changed me, sir.
TODD (cont’d) But then, I suppose the face of a barber — the face of a prisoner in the dock — is not particularly memorable.
JUDGE Benjamin Barker!
BENJAMIN BARKER! The factory whistle screams a steady, terrible blast as– Todd brutally SLASHES the Judge’s throat– Severing his jugular– The spray of blood drenches Todd– He pulls the lever and sends the body tumbling out of sight down the chute. The music continues… As Todd stands for a long moment, blood dripping from his face, exalted. Then he sinks to his knees, overcome. The music stops. A long beat of silence. Then Todd looks at his razor deeply:
TODD Rest now, my friend, Rest now forever, Sleep now the untroubled Sleep of the angels. Then silence as he reverently sets the razor on the floor and looks at it. We focus on his face. His quest is completed. His demons silenced. The ghosts are gone.
It’s done. He just kneels there. No reason to move. No purpose in life. Then… A sound from the chest. A slight thump. His eyes dart to the chest. He slowly picks up his razor and moves to the chest. Then suddenly WRENCHES it open and HAULS out Johanna–
TODD Come for a shave, have you, lad?
JOHANNA No — I… He tosses her in the chair, throws back his arm, his razor ready–
TODD Surely, yes! Everyone needs a good shave–! SUDDENLY — A PIERCING SCREAM ECHOES UP FROM THE CHUTE — Mrs. Lovett’s voice — screaming to raise the dead– Todd rivets Johanna, pointing the razor at her, a lethal warning:
TODD Forget my face. He spins and bolts out of the shop, leaving her sitting in the chair– 114
INT. BAKEHOUSE — NIGHT
114 Mrs. Lovett is standing in horror by the mouth of the chute. The Judge, still barely alive, clutches at her skirt– She tries to wrench herself away from his vise-like grip–
MRS. LOVETT Die! Die! God in heaven — die! The Judge’s fingers finally relax their grip; he is dead. Panting, Mrs. Lovett, backs away from him and for the first time notices the body of the Beggar Woman.
MRS. LOVETT You! Can it be? Have all the demons of Hell come to torment me?! She grabs the Beggar Woman and starts dragging her quickly toward the oven as Todd races in:
TODD Why did you scream? Does the Judge live still?
MRS. LOVETT He was clutching, holding on to my dress, but he’s finished now… She continues quickly dragging the Beggar Woman toward the oven.
TODD Leave them to me. Open the doors. He waves her toward the oven–
MRS. LOVETT No! Don’t touch her!
TODD Open the doors! He shoves her toward the oven and leans over to pick up the Beggar Woman’s body–
TODD What’s the matter with you? It’s only a silly old beggar– Then — Mrs. Lovett opens the oven doors– The thundering roar from the oven crashes through the room as the fiery light slashes across the floor– Clearly illuminating the face of the Beggar Woman. A chord of music as Todd realizes who she is. Music continues and builds as:
TODD Oh no! … Oh God … “Don’t I know you?” she said … He looks up to Mrs. Lovett:
TODD You knew she lived. From the moment that I came into your shop you knew my Lucy lived!
MRS. LOVETT I was only thinking of you!
TODD Lucy…
MRS. LOVETT Your Lucy! A crazy hag picking bones and rotten spuds out of alley ashcans! Would you have wanted to know she ended up like that?
TODD You lied to me…
MRS. LOVETT No, no, not lied at all. No, I never lied.
TODD Lucy…
MRS. LOVETT Said she took the poison — she did — Never said that she died — Poor thing, She lived–
TODD I’ve come home again…
MRS. LOVETT But it left her weak in the head, All she did for months was just lie there in bed–
TODD Lucy…
MRS. LOVETT Should’ve been in hospital, Wound up in Bedlam instead, Poor thing!
TODD Oh, my God…
MRS. LOVETT Better you should think she was dead. Yes, I lied ‘cos I love you!
TODD Lucy…
MRS. LOVETT I’d be twice the wife she was! I love you! Could that thing have cared for you Like me?
WHAT HAVE I DONE?! Todd’s eyes suddenly snap up to Mrs. Lovett — as the glorious “Little Priest” waltz theme returns–
TODD Mrs. Lovett, You’re a bloody wonder, Eminently practical and yet Appropriate as always, As you’ve said repeatedly, There’s little point in dwelling on the past. He steps toward her, she steps back, unsure, as they sing simultaneously:
