The Demon Barber

Of

Fleet Street

The Ultimate Retelling of Sweeney Todd

Chapter 1

New York City, 1952. The large freighter arrived in the harbor of the great city. On board were many sailors ready to see their families again after spending a long time at sea. As the boat docked sailors rushed off the boat with their belongings. There was one man, though, who was in no hurry. He slowly walked off the ship and onto the dock. He wore a white dress shirt, black slacks, and black dress shoes. His hair seemed slightly frazzled and his face was stern. Slung around his shoulder was a worn duffle bag. He walked down the dock until he reached dry ground. The man sighed heavily as he saw the city ahead of him. "Mr. Todd!" Someone shouted to him. The man turned and looked towards the calling voice. A young lad, probably about 17 or 18, approached him. The man recognized him from the ship. "Mr. Todd you almost forgot this." The boy said. In his hand was a picture of a woman. She had blonde hair and wore a simple white dress. The man quickly grabbed the picture from the boy and put it into his pocket. "Thank you now run along, I'm sure your parents are waiting for you." Mr. Todd said. "No sir, my parents aren't around anymore." The boy said solemnly. "I'm sorry to hear that." Mr. Todd said. "Is she your wife?" The boy asked, gesturing to the picture in his pocket. "Yes, a long time ago." Mr. Todd said as he gazed off towards the sea. "Oh, I see. She left you for another man?" The boy asked. "No, not willingly anyway." Mr. Todd said. "You see there was once a barber and his wife, and she was beautiful. A foolish barber and his wife, she was the reason for his life." Mr. Todd explained. He paused for a moment as the memories filled his brain once again. "Well sir, go on then." The boy said. "There was another man who saw that she was beautiful. "A retched vulture of the law, who, with the gesture of his claw, removed the barber from his plate, then there was nothing but to wait, and she would fall, so soft, so young, so lost and oh so beautiful!" Mr. Todd exclaimed. Other men on the dock had moved closer now to listen in on the story. "The lady sir, did she succumb to the other man?" The boy asked. "Yes, but that was many years ago… I doubt if anyone would know…" Mr. Todd said as he trailed off. The boy looked down at his watch and sighed. "Well I must be going sir or I'll be late." The boy said. He grabbed his suit case from off the dock and said "I never caught your first name Mr. Todd." The boy said. "It's be… Sweeney." Mr. Todd said as he caught himself. "It was good meeting you Mr. Sweeney Todd, hope we meet again soon." The boy said. "Perhaps we will. Look around Fleet Street if you wish to find me." Sweeney said, still gazing out towards the sea. The boy began to walk away when he stopped and turned. "Oh by the way, my names Anthony!" he shouted. He then quickly walked off towards the streets of New York City. Sweeney finally turned back towards the city, His eyes filled with hate. He then began to walk towards the streets muttering "There's a hole in the world like a great black pit and it's filled with people who are filled with shit and the vermin of the world who inhabit it and it goes by the name of New York."