Sweeney Todd
90 Back on the beach.
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) By the sea…
TODD (V.O.) Anything you say… Toby pulls Mrs. Lovett over to examine his little sandcastle as:
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) Don’t you love the weather By the sea? We’ll grow old together By the seaside, (Beckons to Todd to join them) Hoo! Hoo! By the beautiful sea! Music continues as Todd joins them. He kneels with Toby to help him work on the sandcastle. Mrs. Lovett stands, watching them, the picture of the doting mother.
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) It’ll be so quiet That who’ll come by it Except a seagull? Hoo! Hoo! We shouldn’t try it, Though, till it’s legal, For two-hoo! 91
INT. SEASIDE CHAPEL — DAY
91 Mrs. Lovett and Todd getting married. This being her fantasy, after all, she wears white. Todd is in a constricting morning coat with a rakish top hat. Toby, the best man, watches proudly.
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) But a seaside wedding Could be devised, Me rumpled bedding Legitimized. They exchange vows and kiss.
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) My eyelids’ll flutter, I’ll turn into butter, The moment I mutter “I do-hoo!” 92
INT. SEASIDE COTTAGE — MORNING
92 Mrs. Lovett is placing a plate of kippers on the table amidst a proper English breakfast. A guest stands, leaning against a wall, waiting to eat.
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) By the sea, in our nest, We could share our kippers With the odd paying guest From the weekend trippers, Have a nice sunny suite For the guest to rest in– A dark shape quickly moves past the guest — Todd — then the guest slides down the wall — a splash of blood on the wallpaper-
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) Now and then, you could do the guest in– 93
EXT. BEACH — SUNSET
93 Back at the beach, Mrs. Lovett, Todd and Toby sit comfortably. Watching an unnaturally gorgeous sunset. A picture postcard of a happy family.
MRS. LOVETT (V.O.) By the sea. Married nice and proper, By the sea– Bring along your chopper To the seaside, Hoo! Hoo! By the beautiful sea! The music concludes as she throws her arms affectionately around her two men. We cut back to– 94
EXT. HAMPSTEAD HEATH — DAY
94 –Mrs. Lovett is sitting in the exact same position with Todd. Silence. Her smiles fades as she considers him. The grim, brooding reality is so clear next to her lovely dream. She watches him in silence as we fade to… 95
INT. BARBER SHOP — MORNING
95 Todd is standing at his usual post, the window, gazing intently down at Fleet Street. Mrs. Lovett enters with a tray of food:
MRS. LOVETT Brought you some breakfast, dear, farm fresh eggs and a dollop of lovely clotted cream, only the best for my… She stops when he realizes he isn’t even listening to her. Her heart sinks seeing him at the window, wearing his obsession like a cloak. A beat as she looks at him.
MRS. LOVETT Mr. T., might I ask you a question?
TODD Mm?
MRS. LOVETT What did your Lucy look like?
MRS. LOVETT You heard me … (a beat) … Can’t really remember can you?
TODD She had yellow hair. He turns back to the window. Mrs. Lovett proceeds with great sincerity:
MRS. LOVETT You’ve got to leave all this behind you now. She’s gone … You keep looking down into the grave, you’re never gonna look up. And life will just pass right by … Life is for the alive, my dear. He does not answer.
MRS. LOVETT We could have a life we two … Maybe not like I dreamed, maybe not like you remember … But we could get by. He does not answer.
MRS. LOVETT Come away from the window. A long beat. He finally turns from the window. Almost as if to leave his demons behind… She smiles quietly and holds out her hand… She begins to cross to him…
SUDDENLY REVEALING– The Gentleman! Standing right behind Mrs. Lovett– He is glaring at Todd, relentless and accusatory– Blood pouring from his throat– A shocking horror movie vision– Then the bell rings outside the shop … Todd turns … the Gentleman is gone … we hear footsteps climbing the stairs… Mrs. Lovett remains standing, her hand out to him, as– Anthony enters, absolutely exhausted.
ANTHONY Mr. Todd … Mrs. Lovett, ma’am … (sinks into a chair) … Seems I’ve not slept in a week — but it’s done–
TODD What is it, Anthony?
ANTHONY He has her locked in a madhouse. Todd’s head snaps to Anthony, riveted:
TODD You’ve found Johanna?
ANTHONY For all the good it’ll do — it’s impossible to get to her. Todd begins pacing, the tiger again, his mind is racing–
TODD A madhouse … A madhouse … Where?
ANTHONY Fogg’s Asylum. But I’ve circled the place a dozen times. There’s no way in. It’s a fortress. Anthony fades to a brooding silence as Todd continues pacing, thinking, thinking. Mrs. Lovett watches him, concerned. Todd suddenly stops… We see him settling into an inspired sort of calm, as if he can finally see the Promised Land.
TODD I’ve got him.
ANTHONY Mr. Todd?
TODD We’ve got her … Where do you suppose all the wigmakers of London go to obtain their human hair? Bedlam. They get their hair from the lunatics at Bedlam–
ANTHONY I don’t understand– Todd suddenly grabs Anthony and hauls him up — holds him close, forehead to forehead — his whispered intensity truly disturbing:
TODD We shall set you up as a wigmaker in search of hair — that will gain you access — then you will take her.
ANTHONY Yes…
TODD You will not be deterred — You will slaughter the world — To bring her here.
ANTHONY Yes. Mrs. Lovett watches, troubled, as Todd embraces Anthony closely. He holds him for a long beat. Then Todd is all action, hurries to get some money and gives it to Anthony, as:
TODD Go and outfit yourself properly — you are to be a gentlemen wigmaker. When you return we shall dispatch a letter to this Mr. Fogg announcing your arrival. Go — quickly now!
ANTHONY Mr. Todd — how can I ever–?
TODD Go! Anthony hurries out. Todd immediately hurls himself into a chair and begins writing a letter, his violent scrawl slashing across the page.
MRS. LOVETT Dear, I wonder if–
TODD Fetch the boy.
MRS. LOVETT Don’t you think it’s time you–
TODD Fetch the boy. Mrs. Lovett goes… 96
EXT. PIE SHOP — MORNING
96 Mrs. Lovett begins going down the stairs outside the barber shop. Then she stops. She stands for a long moment, disturbed that Todd’s demons are again devouring him. She looks down and sees Toby washing the tables in the outdoor garden. Toby is serious about his work, vigorously scrubbing the tables with soap and water. She watches him for a moment and then continues down the steps:
MRS. LOVETT Toby … Mr. Todd requires you.
TOBY Yes’m. He goes up the steps. She just stands, deep in thought. 97
INT. BARBER SHOP — MORNING
97 Todd is finishing the letter as Toby enters:
TOBY Mr. T.?
TODD You know where the Old Bailey is?
TOBY Oh, yes, sir. Not that I ever–
TODD (interrupts, folding up letter) Take this there and seek out a Judge Turpin. Repeat that. Repeat that.
TOBY Go to the Old Bailey. Find Judge Turpin.
TODD Put this into his hands. Only to him. Do you understand?
TOBY Yes, sir, and while I’m out do you mind if I stop by the grocer and pick up the– Todd pounces like a panther– He suddenly leaps up and grabs Toby by the throat with shocking brutality–
TODD DON’T CHATTER, BOY! You are not to stop! You are not to speak! You are to deliver this letter! DO YOU
UNDERSTAND?! Toby is stunned and terrified. It is the first time he has seen this side of his friend, Mr. Todd. Todd releases him. Toby races out. Todd immediately begins pacing like a caged animal, back and forth, back and forth, whispering to himself neurotically, as day becomes evening… 101
EXT. PIE SHOP — EVENING
101 Toby walks back to the pie shop, upset. He stops when he sees Todd at the window above, unblinking, gazing like a falcon into the street. He continues on to Mrs. Lovett, who is clearing up the remains of a meal in the outdoor garden.
MRS. LOVETT Where you been, lad? We had quite the luncheon rush! Me poor bones is ready to drop… (She looks at him, notes his dark expression.) What is it, Toby? He sits. She sits next to him.
TOBY Mr. Todd sent me on an errand … And on the way back I went by the workhouse. And I was thinkin’ … But for you I would be there now. Or someplace worse. A beat.
TOBY Seems like the Good Lord sent you for me.
MRS. LOVETT Oh, love, I feel quite the same way–
TOBY Hear me out, mum … You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Say, if there was someone around — someone bad — only you didn’t know it–
MRS. LOVETT What is this? What are you talking about?
TOBY Nothing’s gonna harm you, Not while I’m around. Nothing gonna harm you, No, sir, Not while I’m around…
MRS. LOVETT What do you mean, “someone bad”?
TOBY Demons are prowling Everywhere Nowadays. I’ll send ’em howling,
I don’t care– I got ways.
MRS. LOVETT Darling, hush now, there’s no need for this…
TOBY No one’s gonna hurt you, No one’s gonna dare. Others can desert you– Not to worry– Whistle, I’ll be there. Demons’ll charm you With a smile For a while, But in time Nothing can harm you, Not while I’m around. Music continues:
MRS. LOVETT What is this foolishness now? What are you talking about?
TOBY Little things wot I been thinking … About Mr. Todd… Not to worry, not to worry, I may not be smart but I ain’t dumb. I can do it, Put me to it, Show me something I can overcome. Not to worry, mum. He leans into her, she puts her arms around him, but her expression is deeply troubled.
TOBY Being close and being clever Ain’t like being true, I don’t need to, I won’t never Hide a thing from you, Like some. Music continues as she nervously comforts him:
MRS. LOVETT Now, Toby dear, haven’t we had enough of this foolish chatter? …
MRS. LOVETT (cont’d) … Here, how about I give you a shiny new penny and you can fetch us some nice toffees–? She pulls Pirelli’s chatelaine purse from her dress–
TOBY That’s Signor Pirelli’s purse!
MRS. LOVETT No, no, love — this is just something Mr. T. give me for my birthday–
TOBY See that proves it — what I been thinkin’– (He stands, urgently pulling her hand) We gotta go, ma’am, right now — we gotta find the Beadle and get the law here– She pulls him down to her again, agitated, her mind racing:
MRS. LOVETT Hush now, Toby, hush … Here, you just sit next to me nice and quiet … … How could you think such a thing of Mr. Todd, who’s been so good to us? He calms down a bit as she holds him. And she comes to a painful, dreadful decision.
