Sweeney Todd
INT. JOHANNA’S ROOM — EVENING
49 Small, white hands … removing some clothes from a drawer … putting them into a portmanteau … locking the case… Johanna, wearing traveling clothes, is packing to leave when a voice surprises her:
JUDGE So it’s true. She turns. The Judge stands in the doorway.
JOHANNA Sir … A gentlemen knocks before entering a lady’s room.
JUDGE Indeed he does … But I see no lady. He enters, dangerously quiet. And terrifically hurt.
JUDGE I told myself the sailor was lying … I told myself this was a cruel fiction … That my Johanna would never betray me. Never hurt me so. He moves toward her. She stands her ground.
JOHANNA Sir … I will leave this place.
JUDGE I think that only appropriate. Since you no longer find my company to your liking, madam, we shall provide you with new lodgings. He stands very close to her. Still she holds her ground.
JUDGE Until this moment I have spared the rod … And the ungrateful child has broken my heart. Now you will learn discipline… The large form of the Beadle fills the doorway. She glances to him, disquieted.
JUDGE When you have learned to appreciate what you have, perhaps we shall meet again. Until then … Think on your sins. He nods to the Beadle — the Beadle surges forward and grabs Johanna brutally– She screams and fights like a tiger — to no avail– The Beadle covers her mouth with one of his huge hands and hauls her out– 50
EXT. TURPIN’S MANSION — EVENING
50 Anthony is racing toward the front of mansion when he sees– A hansom cab is just pulling away — Johanna’s terrified face looking at him through the window–
JOHANNA! Anthony sees the Beadle pulling her away from the window as the carriage clatters off– Judge Turpin stands on the steps of the mansion — Anthony goes to him in a murderous rage:
ANTHONY Where are you taking her?! Tell me or I swear by God–! The Judge spins and roars — a hellish howl that echoes–
JUDGE WOULD YOU KILL ME, BOY?! HERE I STAND! Anthony’s eyes burn into the Judge — but he is no killer. He turns and races after the hansom cab. It rounds a corner and is gone. The Judge watches as Anthony pursues the cab, disappearing around the corner. And we fade to… 51
EXT. FLEET STREET — DAY
51 …The face of the Beggar Woman. She sits, crouched on her haunches, peering up from under her few greasy locks of hair. She is watching something intently. A few pedestrians move quickly down the sidewalk past her, excited. They chatter back and forth eagerly… The Beggar Woman uncoils and follows… And we finally see what the Beggar Woman has been watching so intently… 52
EXT. PIE SHOP — DAY
52 Mrs. Lovett’s wretched establishment has been transformed! She has created a modest outdoor eating garden with tables, surrounded by glowing Chinese lanterns. A fresh coat of paint, a few bushes in pots and birds in cages add to the feeling of upward mobility. A new sign hangs proudly over the entrance to the pie shop: “MRS. LOVETT’S WORLD FAMOUS MEAT PIES!” And then in smaller letters: “LIKE MOTHER USED TO MAKE.” The eating garden is already crowded, the benches at the tables are filled and other customers stand and mill about. All eating, eating, eating… …The most delicious looking meat pies you could ever imagine. Crispy crust. Thick, luxurious gravy. Tart and tangy meat. The customers take great, hungry mouthfuls; the steaming gravy oozing down greedy faces. Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. The Beggar Women stands across the street, ravenously hungry. She finally gets the nerve to approach when– Toby — wearing a spiffy new outfit with apron — bursts from the shop and circulates through the customers:
TOBY Ladies and gentlemen, May I have your attention, perlease? Are your nostrils aquiver and tingling as well At that delicate, luscious ambrosial smell? Yes they are, I can tell… He moves through the greedily eating customers in the outdoor garden and toward the street as:
TOBY Well, ladies and gentlemen, That aroma enriching the breeze Is like nothing compared to its succulent source, As the gourmets among you will tell you, of course. He arrives at the street and drums up some more business:
TOBY Ladies and gentlemen, You can’t imagine the rapture in store– Just inside of this door! There you’ll sample Mrs. Lovett’s meat pies, Savory and sweet pies, As you’ll see. You who eat pies, Mrs. Lovett’s meat pies Conjure up the treat pies Used to be! Just then Mrs. Lovett sweeps from the pie shop with a tray of hot, steaming pies. Like her shop, she has been transformed as well. She wears her somewhat gauche notion of a “fancy dress.” Buckets of decolletage. And her hair has been dyed a rather unique aubergine color.
MRS. LOVETT Toby!
TOBY Coming! ‘Scuse me…
MRS. LOVETT (indicating a beckoning customer) Ale there!
TOBY Right, mum!
MRS. LOVETT Quick, now! The customers suddenly exclaim their joy through awkward mouthfuls of pie:
CUSTOMERS God, that’s good! Toby scurries inside to get a jug of ale, whisks back out and starts filling tankards as Mrs. Lovett circulates grandly. She is a bundle of activity — serving pies, collecting money, giving orders, addressing the patrons individually and with equal buoyant insincerity:
MRS. LOVETT Nice to see you, dearie… How have you been keeping?… Cor, me bones is weary! Toby–! One for the gentleman… Hear the birdies cheeping– Helps to keep it cheery… She spots the Beggar Woman approaching and responds with unusual ferocity:
MRS. LOVETT Toby! Throw the old woman out!
CUSTOMERS God, that’s good! Toby shoos the Beggar Woman away, but she soon comes skulking back.
MRS. LOVETT What’s your pleasure, dearie?… No, we don’t cut slices… Cor, me eyes are bleary!… (As Toby is about to pour for a drunken customer) Toby! None for the gentleman!… I could up me prices– I’m a little leery… Business Couldn’t be better, though–
CUSTOMERS God, that’s good!
MRS. LOVETT Knock on wood. She does. 53
INT. BARBER SHOP — DAY
53 Music continues as Todd works busily. Sawing, drilling, screwing, hammering. Doing something we cannot see to his barber chair. Making adjustments, tinkering, building, feverish. Happy. 54
EXT. PIE SHOP — DAY
54 Mrs. Lovett continues to circulate:
MRS. LOVETT What’s your pleasure, dearie? Oops! I beg your pardon! Just me hands is smeary– (Spotting a freeloader trying to sneak out without paying) Toby! Run for the gentleman! Toby catches him, collects the money, as Mrs. Lovett turns to another customer:
MRS. LOVETT Don’t you love a garden? Always makes me teary… (Looking back at the freeloader) Must be one them foreigners–
CUSTOMERS God, that’s good that is delicious!
MRS. LOVETT What’s my secret? Frankly, dear — forgive my candor– Family secret, All to do with herbs. Things like being Careful with your coriander, That’s what makes the gravy grander–! The customers are getting more rabid now — stuffing in the gorgeous meat pies in great fistfuls–
CUSTOMERS More hot pies! More hot! More pies! 55
INT. BARBER SHOP — DAY
55 Music continues as Todd makes the final adjustments to his chair. He stands back. Seems delighted with the results of his tinkering. The ratty old parlor chair has been transformed into a sleek, Victorian barber chair — with unique refinements. He leaves the barber shop… 56
EXT. PIE SHOP — DAY
56 Todd stands at the top of the stairs, watching the street hungrily. As, below, Mrs. Lovett smiles to another customer:
MRS. LOVETT Incidentally, dearie, You know Mrs. Mooney. Sales’ve been so dreary– (She spots the Beggar Woman again) Toby! (Continuing to the customer, about Mrs. Mooney) –Poor thing is penniless. (Indicating Beggar Woman to Toby) What about that loony? (To the customer as Toby shoos the Beggar Woman away again) Lookin’ sort of beery– Oh, well, got her comeuppance– (Hawklike, to a rising customer) And that’ll be thruppence — and
CUSTOMERS God that’s good that is de have you
MRS. LOVETT So she should.
CUSTOMERS Licious ever tasted smell such Oh my God what more that’s pies good!
TOBY Eat them slow and Feel the crust, how thin I (she) rolled it! Eat them slow, ‘cos Every one’s a prize! Eat them slow, ‘cos That’s the lot and now we’ve sold it! She hangs up a “Sold Out” sign.
TOBY Come again tomorrow–! She spots a man in need of a shave approaching:
MRS. LOVETT Hold it–
CUSTOMERS More hot pies!
MRS. LOVETT Bless my eyes–! She sees the man going up to the barber shop. Todd is still standing at the top of the stairs. He smiles secretly to Mrs. Lovett as he ushers the man in.
MRS. LOVETT Fresh supplies! The man goes into the barber shop as she happily takes down the “Sold Out” sign and turns again to the customers:
MRS. LOVETT How about it, dearie? Be here in a twinkling! Just confirms me theory– Toby–! God watches over us. Didn’t have an inkling… Positively eerie…
TOBY Is that a pie Fit for a king, A wondrous sweet And most delectable Thing? You see, ma’am, why There is no meat pie–
CUSTOMERS Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! Mrs. Lovett then spots the Beggar Woman approaching again, she spins to Toby with truly shocking viciousness:
MRS. LOVETT Toby! Throw the old woman out! Mrs. Lovett watches intently as Toby leads the Beggar Woman away. The Customers, meanwhile, are building to a pure frenzy of mastication — chewing and gulping and snapping at the heavenly pies:
CUSTOMERS God, that’s good that is de have you Licious ever tasted smell such Oh my God what perfect more that’s Pies such flavor God, that’s good!! The music comes to a rousing conclusion as Mrs. Lovett stands at the door to her shop. Triumphant. 57
INT. BARBER SHOP — NIGHT
57 Todd is alone. He sits in the barber chair, smoking a pipe. He is holding an old Daguerreotype; creased, stained and bleached-out. The image shows his wife, Lucy, smiling and holding Baby Johanna. The child’s features are almost completely obscured by a stain on the picture. He looks at it deeply. Then church bells echo in the distance… 58
EXT. MAYFAIR — NIGHT
58 … The church bells continue as we discover Anthony, searching through the streets for Johanna. We see him in long shot as he moves through the contours of the city. He starts his search in a luxurious area of wealth. His journey through the city will take him lower and lower, into the darkest corners of London.
ANTHONY I feel you, Johanna, I feel you. Do they think that walls can hide you? Even now I’m at your window. I am in the dark beside you, Buried sweetly in your yellow hair, Johanna… He continues walking… 59
INT. BARBER SHOP — NIGHT
59 …Todd gazes quietly at the Daguerreotype:
TODD Johanna… And are you beautiful and pale, With yellow hair, like her? I’d want you beautiful and pale, The way I’ve dreamed you were… 60
EXT. DOCKS — NIGHT
60 …We see the figure of Anthony, walking along the docks.
TODD (V.O.) Johanna…
ANTHONY Johanna… 61
INT. BARBER SHOP — DAY
61 …Todd shaves a customer. We recognize the customer instantly: it is the GENTLEMAN. The Daguerreotype now rest on the counter. Todd remains wistful, detached, dream-like.
TODD And if you’re beautiful, what then, With yellow hair, like wheat? I think we shall not meet again– (He quietly slits the Gentleman’s throat) My little dove, my sweet… …We see the figure of Anthony, walking past hanging carcasses of the busy meat market.
TODD (V.O.) Johanna…
ANTHONY I’ll steal you, Johanna… 63
INT. BARBER SHOP — DAY
63 …The dead Gentleman is slumped in the chair.
TODD Goodbye, Johanna, You’re gone, and yet you’re mine. I’m fine, Johanna, I’m fine! He pulls a lever on the newly adjusted chair — the chair becomes a slide — and the Gentleman disappears through a trapdoor in the floor, down a chute — Todd pulls the lever again and the chair returns to its normal position. 64
EXT. SLUM — DAY
64 …We see Anthony moving past a crowded tenement, redolent of cholera.
ANTHONY Johanna… 65
INT. BAKEHOUSE STEPS — DUSK
65 …Music continues as Mrs. Lovett descends a long and very claustrophobic series of steps down to the bakehouse. She unbolts and pulls aside a heavy iron door and enters. We remain outside. A fiery red glow spills out — the roar of the oven within is thundering. 66
EXT. FLEET STREET — DUSK
66 …The Beggar Woman stands on Fleet Street. The hellish metropolis glows, the smoke from a thousand chimneys creating a great pall over the city.
BEGGAR WOMAN Smoke! Smoke! Sign of the devil! Sign of the devil! City on fire! Witch! Witch! Smell it, sir! An evil smell! Every night at the vespers bell– Smoke that comes from the mouth of hell– City on fire! City on fire… (She begins to scuttle off) Mischief! Mischief! Mischief… 67
