Sweeney Todd
EXT. PIE SHOP — EVENING
107 From across the street, we see Todd leading the Beadle up the stairs to the barber shop, chatting with him easily. We realize we are seeing the perspective of the Beggar Woman, hunched across the street, watching them closely. 108
INT. BAKEHOUSE — EVENING
108 Toby is eating a pie as he slowly wanders around the bakehouse. He stops to consider the many stained cleavers and bone saws, curious. Then he bites on something hard — stops — he reaches into his mouth and pulls something out. Looks at it: It is a fingernail. To be exact, it is the severed tip of a finger. Toby drops it in horror and starts back– Suddenly, a loud THUMPING and CLANGING makes him spin, alarmed– As — The bloody body of the Beadle EXPLODES SUDDENLY from the mouth of the chute– Toby screams and races to the door– Pulls at it. Locked. No use. He bangs on the heavy iron door wildly:
TOBY MRS. LOVETT! MRS. LOVETT! LET ME OUT!
MRS. LOVETT! The thundering roar from the bake oven seems to rise to match his frenzy as– In panic, Toby races to the sewer grate, yanks it up and disappears down into the sewers as the shrill factory whistle SCREAMS and we cut to– 109
INT. BARBER SHOP — EVENING
109 Todd stands by the chair, his razor high– His eyes blazing– His face covered in a spray of blood– Lost in rapture. Not for long. The Gentleman, the Banker, the General move into the frame with purpose, impatient. The Gentleman flicks out his handkerchief and begins to clean the blood off Todd’s face — he is not gentle, the blood smears–
GENTLEMAN The engine roared, the motor hissed, And who could see how the road would twist…? Meanwhile, the Banker pulls off Todd’s stained barber tunic and hands Todd his jacket–
BANKER In Sweeney’s ledger the entries matched: A Beadle arrived, and a Beadle dispatched… Meanwhile, the General is cleaning up the blood on the barber chair–
GENERAL To satisfy the hungry god Of Sweeney Todd…
GENERAL The Demon Barber of Fleet… SUDDENLY — a sharp cry from across the room — Todd spins–
GENERAL …Street! Todd sees that more and more of the ghastly specters are moving around the room — multiplying exponentially — we see the TOURIST, the STUDENT, the PRIEST and others. They are more intrusive than they have ever been — touching Todd — eagerly preparing him for the finale of his drama —
GHOSTS Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! By now the ghosts are fully Furies, demented and threatening–
GHOSTS Sweeney! Sweeeeeeneeeeey…! The screeching music transforms into a strange symphony of inarticulate moans and howls and chants, taking us to… 110
INT. SEWERS — NIGHT
110
GHOSTS (V.O.) Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeneeeeeeeeeeeey… Sweeneysweeneysweeneysweeney… Todd and Mrs. Lovett are searching for Toby through a horrible catacomb of decaying sewers. Todd carries a razor. Their voices echo bizarrely:
MRS. LOVETT Toby! Where are you, love?
TODD Toby! Where are you, lad?
MRS. LOVETT Nothing’s gonna harm you…
TODD Toby!
MRS. LOVETT Not while I’m around…
TODD Toby!
MRS. LOVETT Nothing’s gonna harm you, Darling…
TODD Nothing to be afraid of boy…
MRS. LOVETT Not while I’m around.
TODD Toby…
MRS. LOVETT Demons are prowling everywhere Nowadays…
TODD Toby… Music takes us to… 111
INT. BARBER SHOP — NIGHT
111 Anthony and Johanna hurry into the barber shop. She is now dressed as a scruffy boy, a cap hiding her hair. She is distracted and disturbed.
ANTHONY Mr. Todd…? No matter. You wait for him here — I’ll return with the coach in less than half an hour… She gently touches Todd’s collection of razors…
ANTHONY Don’t worry, darling, in those clothes, no one will recognize you … You’re safe now.
She picks up the largest razor, looks at it, an eerie echo of her father.
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:
TODD No, come here, my love… Not a thing to fear, My love… What’s dead Is dead.
MRS. LOVETT Do you mean it? Everything I did I swear I thought Was only for the best, Believe me! Can we still be Married? Todd steps toward her darkly.
She knows she is doomed. But steps into his arms anyway for a final, triumphant waltz:
TODD The history of the world, my pet–
MRS. LOVETT Oh, Mr. Todd, Ooh, Mr. Todd, Leave it to me…
TODD Is learn forgiveness and try to forget.
MRS. LOVETT By the sea, Mr. Todd, We’ll be comfy-cozy, By the sea, Mr. Todd, Where there’s no one nosy… He waltzes her toward the roaring oven. She offers no resistance, fully aware of what’s coming. The blazing, thundering inferno of the oven makes it seem they are the damned, dancing through Hell.
TODD And life is for the alive, my dear, So let’s keep living it–!
BOTH Just keep living it, Really living it–! The music reaches a thundering crescendo as– He flings her into the oven and slams the doors– We hear her screaming. And banging on the oven doors. Todd sinks to his knees and covers his ears desperately as the banging and screaming and music finally fade to silence. Then he slowly drags himself across the floor to the Beggar Woman. He cradles her head in his arms.
TODD There was a barber and his wife, And she was beautiful. A foolish barber and his wife, She was his reason and his life. And she was beautiful. And she was virtuous. And he was… Todd folds himself over his dead wife. The only sound his deep, anguished sobs. A long beat. Then he becomes aware of something. He looks over to see…. Toby — staring at him from the open sewer grate. He has seen everything. Todd watches as Toby silently pulls himself up. Todd gently sets Lucy down and then, still kneeling, turns to face Toby. A long beat as they look at each other. Then Toby slowly moves and carefully picks up Todd’s razor. Todd looks at him. Then slowly unbuttons his collar and exposes his neck. He bends his head back, offering his naked throat. Toby slowly goes to him and methodically slits his throat. Todd continues to gaze up at Toby as we hear the lonely sound of wind escaping from his severed wind pipe. Then Toby turns and leaves the bakehouse. Todd leans forward, dying. We cut to his point-of-view: The rough brick floor… From the bottom of the frame… A dark pool of blood slowly begins to spread … moving up the frame … the fiery glow from the bake oven reflected in the blood…
Finally, the pool of blood fills the entire frame. We realize this is the first image we saw in the story. Todd’s perspective. Todd’s blood. As he dies. As before, the Gentleman’s face appears, reflected in the pool of blood…
GENTLEMAN Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd, His skin was pale and his eye was odd. The Banker emerges from the shadows of the bakehouse…
BANKER He shaved the faces of gentlemen Who never thereafter were heard of again. The General emerges … and the Tourist … and the Priest … and the Student…
GHOSTS He trod a path that few have trod, Did Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Then a new ghost … a face we recognize … the Beggar Woman…
BEGGAR WOMAN He kept a shop in London town, Of fancy clients and good renown. She is joined by the Judge…
JUDGE And what if none of their souls were saved? They went to their maker impeccably shaved.
GHOSTS By Sweeney, By Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The Beadle and Pirelli join the ghosts…
BEADLE Swing your razor wide, Sweeney! Hold it to the skies! Freely flows the blood of those Who moralize!
The ghosts move around the bakehouse, considering the meat grinder and stained cleavers and chopping block…
GHOSTS His needs are few, his room is bare. He hardly uses his fancy chair. The more he bleeds, the more he lives. He never forgets and he never forgives. Perhaps today you gave a nod To Sweeney Todd. The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Hunting like predators, we begin to move urgently through the ghosts. Their long shadows tower bizarrely against the walls and ceiling of the bakehouse. The fiery red roar of the bake oven builds in intensity…
GHOSTS Sweeney wishes the world away, Sweeney’s weeping for yesterday, Hugging the blade, waiting the years, Hearing the music that nobody hears. Sweeney waits in the parlor hall, Sweeney leans on the office wall. No one can help, nothing can hide you– Isn’t that Sweeney there beside you? Sweeney wishes the world away, Sweeney’s weeping for yesterday, Is Sweeney! There he is, it’s Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! We tear through them with increasing frenzy — cutting quickly, vertiginous angles — as the music builds–
GHOSTS There! There! There! There! There! There! There! There! They move away– Revealing– Todd and Mrs. Lovett. Facing each other. We circle them:
GHOSTS Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd! He served a dark and a hungry god!
TODD To seek revenge may lead to hell.
MRS. LOVETT But everyone does it, if seldom as well–
MRS. LOVETT –As Sweeney…
GHOSTS As Sweeney Todd… The Demon Barber of Fleet… The ghosts begin to disappear … fading into the shadows of the bakehouse … leaving Todd and Mrs. Lovett alone…
GHOSTS … Street! The febrile music continues as Todd and Mrs. Lovett stand alone, continuing to glare at each other. Finally she gives him a grim little smile and disappears into the darkness. He stands alone. And we cut to– A series of images from earlier in our story, cut to the music — Todd’s life flashing before his eyes — The images building as the music races toward its conclusion– Todd singing — slashing — smiling — striding– The final crash of music at the final image: Todd kneeling, hunched over the pool of blood on the bakehouse floor. He falls… Into the blood. Dead.
Snap to black. The End
