Disclaimer: I don't own Sweeney Todd. I never have... I never will
There was no question about it. Benjamin Barker loved his wife. There was no question about it either. Lucy loved him too. Sometimes however she found him a tad bit irritating.
Oh Benjamin was not like most men. He would never hurt her but sometimes he would shout at her for no reason. He always would apologize later. She would always accept… and she would quickly forgive him. She couldn't deny however that his behavior angered her.
She was never sure about how to handle it until one day she was sitting in her friend's meat shop and saw Nellie come in a bad temper. She slammed the door and shouted at her husband, Albert. She kicked the counter. Her face was as red as blood. Lucie looked on in amazement at how calmly Albert handled it.
"Nellie," he told her, "I love you but I cannot allow you to talk and behave this way"
Lucy's heart broke for her friend. Surely Nellie would find herself in the dunking pool, confined to the house or possibly even strapped. It was common in those days for women… especially lower level women to be punished for they were thought of as foolish children. Albert however didn't act in any such way.
"Now I am going to go upstairs to our bedroom. Come upstairs when you have calmed down and are ready to speak respectfully. After you have calmed yourself we will discuss whatever it is that is bothering you"
Without another word he walked out. ½ an hour later the problem was resolved and they came down hand in hand like two lovers would.
That night when Benjamin came home in a bad mood and started shouting at her she stopped him in his tracks.
"Ben," she told him, "I understand there is a problem but shouting or getting agitated isn't going to resolve it. I am going to go into our bedroom and when you have calmed down we can discuss whatever is bothering you like two mature adults. Whatever must be must be but we are not going to shout it out."
Without another word she walked away.
It was not long after that he had calmed down. He went into their room and they discussed the situation. After the conversation was over nobody felt sore or upset. By handling Nellie in the way Albert did he taught her something. He taught her how to handle a man… her man