It was all over. Now, once again, my life had no purpose. Only this time, I had brought it upon myself. I saw my Lucy, and despair filled my heart, for I know I shall never see her again.

"The wheel has come a full circle." I took out the razor, and I was disgusted and hopeless by my fit of vengeance.

"This blade has sliced through flesh of my flesh, stained my hands with blood as dear to me as that which is my own."

I hurled the razor away and knelt beside her, cradling her in my arms. A door opened distantly. I heard Tobias sing "simple simon" quietly to himself as he approached.

"The boy. Oh, now I do repent, and I will set him free."

I called for him. "Tobias! Come here to be. Don't be afraid."

Tobias emerged from the cellar, singing in an eerie voice. His hair had turned completely white. He was quite mad.

"Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker man.

Bake me a cake -

No,no,?

Bake me a pie -

To delight my eye,

And I will sigh

If the crust be high ..."

Tobias saw me. "Mr. Todd."

I spoke to him. "Tobias, you are free. I'll not stop you."

Tobias noticed Lucy. "It's the old woman. Ya harmed her too, have ya? Ya shouldn't, ya know. Ya shouldn't harm nobody." Tobias came closer to her. "Ah! I gave her a ha'penny and she told me they weren't tasty." He laughed, and sang.

"Sing a song a ha'penny,

A pocket full of rye,

Four-and-twenty dead men

Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened

The men began to sing-

Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before a boy who never did no-one no harm in all his life."

This boy, oh, he could be saved, somehow, couldn't he? Why won't he leave? I wish I could start again, so this innocence could not be broken so soon, too soon, so wrong, so lost, and so, he must be saved.

I gently replied, "Tobias, you are free."

I looked back to my Lucy. I temporarily forgot that he was there. I would gladly die now, if I can't have her back, but I would more gladly die if I could have her back. I wish we could start again most of all, and we could start again.

Tobias bent to examine the body. I had forgotten him so quickly.

He then said, "Not tasty! Not tasty! Not tasty! Not tasty!"

Tobias then tried to grab her, he ran for her. I, suddenly aware of him, pushed him violently aside. "Leave her in peace. You shall not harm her, no!" I didn't care to hear. I cradled her in my arms again. My Lucy was gone. As Tobias staggered back and recovered his balance, he noticed the razor on the floor, picked it up, examined it, and played with it.

"Razor! Razor! Cut, cut, cut cadougan, watch me grind my corn."

He started to cut at me. I knew what was bound to happen. But I had no desire to fight it. But I wish that he could leave. Send the authorities after me, have them punish me, but this boy, this boy. I couldn't leave Lucy, though. I embraced my Lucy one last time.

"Pat him and prick him and mark him with B, and put him in the oven for baby and me!" Then I felt a sharp pain in my neck. I fell across the body of Lucy. I think I could hear a factory whistle blow. I could hear the sound of people approaching.

"No, no!"

Tobias ran off. Anthony, Johanna and officers of the guard came running on.

Johanna said to the guards, "The scream came from below. This should be the place."

The officers searched the cellars. Seeing the carnage, they all stopped.

Anthony saw me. "Oh, my friend! Who has done this?"

I reached out my hand. "Anthony, forget all of this. I give you and my daughter my blessing, or whatever of a blessing I may have to offer."

Anthony and Johanna's eyes were filled with tears.

I reached for Lucy's hand with my last ounce of strength.

"Johanna, your mother loved you. I loved you too. But I wished the world away, giving up only my hope to get it back. Forgive me, Anthony."

Anthony's eyes were filled with tears. "There's nothing to forgive."

"Farewell, Anthony."

Johanna's eyes were filled with tears too. Anthony continued, "Mr. Todd, before we part-"

"What is it?"

He paused for a bit. Then, he asked me, "Who are you?"

I turned to Johanna. "The judge Turpin never told you what happened to your father."

Johanna replied, "I was told that he was transported, and never returned."

"No. I am your father."

Johanna and Anthony knelt by me.

Johanna, your name is not Johanna Oakley. Your name is Johanna Barker."

Anthony wrapped something from his sleeve around my neck, and Anthony and Johanna got me to my knees.

"Johanna this is your mother. Lucy."

We heard a clash. I told them. " My name is Benjamin Barker."

A officer said, "And here's another. Why it's- judge Turpin!"

Johanna nodded. They looked over at me. "Johanna, I..."

I swooned, almost fainting. Anthony ran to catch my shoulder.

Another clashing noise. Tobias ran back in. Tobias signaled to the guards. "Keep off! They're mine, mine!"

The guard faced him. "What are?"

"The pies, the pies! They're mine!"

The guard stepped forward. "I'll not steal them."

Tobias looked at him. "No! No, for what I have to tell will, I fear, quite spoil your appetite. Mrs. Lovett's pies are made from human flesh." He took a hand from the floor. "Look!" Tobias said, laughing, and started to eat it. I yelled. "Toby!" Everyone turned to me. Toby walked over too me. "Toby..." I reached for him. He pulled the bandage away from my neck. I grabbed at my neck. I grabbed my neck. I felt the pain a little less now.

Anthony turned, "The boy's mad."

The guard replied, "And dangerous, too." The guard beckoned Tobias, "Boy come with us."

Tobias said to the guard, "You will pardon me, gentlemen, but you may not enter here. Oh no! Me mistress don't let no one enter here, for, you see, sirs, there's work to be done, so much work. No, I have work to do. I must mince the meat. " Tobias indicated me and Lucy.

They approached him. While they watch in horror, he moved to the grinding machine and slowly started to turn the handle. "Three times. That's the secret. Three times through for them to be tender and juicy. Three times through the grinder. Smoothly, smoothly ..."

Anthony told the guards, "Take him away!"

The guard replied, "We will, sir. And question him to find the truth."

Johanna gives a little cry. Anthony threw his arm around her. As the group stands watching, still in silence, Tobias continued to grind. Suddenly, the trap door slapped shut; the light brightened abruptly, Tobias stepped back, and looked up. . .

I fell to my knees.

"Anthony. Johanna. Tobias. Come to me."

They came over. I went back and carried Lucy over, cradling her in my arms.

"Lucy, Lucy. Let her have a proper burial, please. The judge is dead, nothing stands between the two of you. Johanna... and you are beautiful and pale, with yellow hair, like her. Good bye, Johanna."

She said, "You're gone, and yet you're mine."

I replied, "I'm fine, Johanna, I'm fine... We learn to say... Goodbye."

"Goodbye, my dad."

I said, "Marry each other, go aboard the ship, and leave this all, far behind you. Let the boy go, they were not his victims. Just take care of my beautiful Lucy. You must understand. 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...

Naive.

Water erupted from my lungs. I was soaked. Everything faded away... I had one last look. Anthony, and another face about the same age. Toby shot them a long, lost, look. He stepped back. Anthony walked over to me. I looked at his face, holding close to me my Johanna. Everything went dark, fading away. Rippling shades of purple and green floated across my eyes. I opened my eyes. I was lying on the wooden deck of a boat, the bright sky above me. Someone had their hands on my shoulders. I looked into the eyes of Anthony Hope. "He's alive!" He said, "I thought he had drowned. Are you feeling okay sir?" This was so bizarre. Was I Dorothy Gale or Ebenezer Scrooge? I knew now what I must do. My what I have gone through, and he was there. He continued "My name is Anthony..." I interrupted him, "My, Anthony, there's no place like London!"