Here's chapter three. Unlike chapter two, this chapter is pretty long. Read, review, and enjoy!
Mrs. Lovett unlocked the dusty old door to the apartment above her pie shop with Sweeney Todd directly behind her. She opened up the door and entered the apartment. It, too, had become gloomy like its former master. Sweeney stood in the doorway, transfixed. Mrs. Lovett took notice.
"Come on in, Love. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"…" After some hesitation, Sweeney entered the apartment, heading straight for a dusty crib that once belonged to his daughter, Johanna.
"What became of me daughter?" He whispered.
"…he's got 'er…adopted her as 'is own, he did."
"That pious PIG!" Sweeney Todd growled, slamming his fists on the floor. He collapsed in front of the crib, shaking with fury.
"I've spent fifteen years rotting in Hell, Mrs. Lovett…fifteen years, I've been dreamin' of coming home to a wife and child…! Now, they're lost…" Mrs. Lovett went over to comfort him.
"You haven't lost 'em, Ben--"
"Don't…call me that name…"
"…Mr. Todd, they are not lost," She whispered. Sweeney turned and looked up at the baker straight in the eyes.
"My wife is insane…and me daughter is oblivious to who her true parents are. To top it off, my own flesh and blood is bein' raised by the pig who ruined my life and family!
"So, yes, Mrs. Lovett. They are lost." Sweeney turned back to the crib and buried his face in his hands. Mrs. Lovett felt horrible for him, wanting to comfort him. Suddenly, she remembered why she had brought him up to the apartment in the first place. Mrs. Lovett quickly made her way to the other side of the room, catching Sweeney Todd's attention. He watched her as she removed one of the dusty floor boards, taking something out of its grave. He got up and walked over, bending down in front of Mrs. Lovett as she removed a fancy box out of a pouch.
"When they came for the girl, I hid them," She said as she opened the box to reveal a very expensive set of razors.
"I knew tha' if ye ever returned, ye'd want these back."
"…" Sweeney said nothing as he picked up one of the razors, letting it glisten in the light from the large window.
"…my friend…I've come home…" He whispered. Mrs. Lovett watched him curiously as he brought the razor closer to him, stroking it as if it was alive.
"You'll soon drip precious rubies…"
"Mr. Todd?" Mrs. Lovett spoke timidly. Sweeney looked at her.
"I need your help," He said flatly, putting the razor in his jacket.
"Of course," She answered. He looked out the apartment's big window, fiddling with the box that contained his "friends".
"I am going to challenge the local barber. You are going to take me to him."
"Alright. He'll be th' market this afternoon since today's Thursday."
"Good…" Sweeney whispered. The two stood in silence until Sweeney noticed that Mrs. Lovett was still in the room. He turned his head slightly.
"Leave me," He said softly. Mrs. Lovett turned and left the room. Sweeney looked out the great window again, clutching his concealed razor.
I will make them all pay, Lucy…
The market was busy, as always. Mrs. Lovett guided Sweeney Todd to where Adolfo Pirelli, the local barber, holds his show.
"'E's here every Thursday, he is. Th' little phony is all the rage in London, these days…" Mrs. Lovett muttered when they got to their destination. They were in a big crowd surrounding a small stage. On the stage was a boy who wore ratty clothing. Mrs. Lovett read the signs hung on the stage.
"'Pirelli's Miracle Elixir'? Bloody ridiculous…" She muttered. She turned to say something to Sweeney, but noticed that his attention was intently on someone else in the crowd. The person was Beadle Bamford, a nasty man who was one of the many responsible for the downfall of Benjamin Barker. Sweeney reached inside his jacket for his razor and went to go after the Beadle when Mrs. Lovett grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"You'll get 'im soon enough, just not here," She said softly. Sweeney Todd considered her words and he put his razor back into his coat, not taking his eyes off of the Beadle. Suddenly, the boy on the stage began to beat on a loud drum, catching Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention perlease?" The boy yelled, silencing the crowd.
"Do ye wake every morning in shame and despair to discover your pillow is covered with hair wot ought not to be there?" The boy spoke in rhymes, sounding cheerful but looked far from it. Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett exchanged glances.
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, for now one, you can awaken at ease! You will, never again, have a worry or care. I will show you a miracle marvel that's rare!" The crowd gathered closer, obviously buying the boy's words.
"It's yellow and you're about to see somethin' wot rose from the dead--" The boy removed his hat to reveal a head of long and yellow hair, "On the top of me head!" Again, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett exchanged glances.
"'Twas Pirelli's Miracle Elixir! That's wot did the trick, sir! True, sir, true."
"Was it quick, boy?" One man yelled from the crowd.
"Did it in a tick, sir. Just like an elixir ought to do! How about a bottle, mister? Only cost a penny, guaranteed!" The boy opened up a bottle of the elixir and began to rub its contents on the head of a bald man.
"Rub a minute…stimulatin', isn't it? Soon, you'll have to thin it once a week!" Sweeney Todd glanced at Mrs. Lovett, winking at her.
"Pardon me, ma'am. What's that awful stench?"
"Are we standin' near an open drench?" She answered, playing along.
"Must be standing near an open drench!" Sweeney said rather loudly, catching the crowd's attention.
"Buy Pirelli's Miracle Elixir! Anything more slick, sir? Soon sprouts curls!" The boy yelled out, throwing bottles to the crowd. Sweeney caught one and opened it.
"Try Pirelli's! When they see how thick, sir, you can have your pick off the girls! Wonna buy a bottle mister--"
"What is this?" Sweeney cut in, staring at the bottle in his hand with disgust.
"Wot is that?" Eleanor piped in, taking the bottle from Sweeney.
"Smells like piss."
"Smells like wot??--EW!" The people in the crowd began to sniff their own bottles upon hearing this.
"'E's right! It does smell like piss!" One man yelled.
"Looks like piss. This is piss. Piss with ink," Sweeney Todd stated as others tossed their bottles to the ground in disgust. The boy on the stage began to panic.
"Let Pirelli's activate your roots, sir!"
"Keep it off your boot, sir. Eats right through."
"Yes, buy Pirelli's! Use a bottle of it! Ladies seem to love it!"
"Flies do, too!" Mrs. Lovett yelled, causing the entire crowd to laugh. Even Sweeney managed to give her a small smile. All of the sudden, a man came bursting out from behind a curtain on the stage. It was Pirelli and his face was as red as a tomato.
"I am Adolfo Pirelli! Da king of da barbers!" He roared, silencing the crowd.
"I wish-a to know-a who has-a da nerve-a to say that MY ELIXIR IS PISS! Who says this foolishness?" After a moment, someone broke the silence.
"I do," Sweeney Todd said simply. Pirelli glared at him as he walked forward.
"I'm Mr. Sweeney Todd of Fleet Street. I have opened a bottle of Pirelli's Elixir. And, I say to you, that it is nothing but an arrant fraud concocted from piss and ink." As he said this, the crowd gasped and Pirelli intensified his glare.
"Furthermore, Signor, I have serviced no kings. Yet, I wager, that I can shave a cheek with ten times more dexterity than any street mountebank. You see these razors?" Sweeney faced the crowd, taking out two of his friends.
"I lay them against five pounds. Either accept my challenge," He said as he faced Pirelli again, "Or admit yourself a sham." Pirelli, after getting a good look at the razors, smiled at the crowd.
"You hear this foolish man? Now, please, you will see how he will regret-a his-a folly!" Pirelli dramatically removed his cape.
"Toby!" He barked. Toby scurried onto the stage. Sweeney smiled and faced the crowd.
"Who's for a free shave?" He asked. Two people volunteered. Sweeney spotted the Beadle in the crowd.
"Will Beadle Bamford be the judge?"
"Glad, as always, to oblige my friends and neighbors…" The Beadle sneered as he approached the stage. Sweeney restrained himself from going at the man's throat when he saw Mrs. Lovett staring at him intensely as she handed him his supplies. When the two barbers got their supplies and customers ready, the Beadle blew his whistle to start the contest. As Pirelli boasted, Sweeney Todd took his time on his task. When he finished applying the lather, he studied the face he was about to shave. With mush speed and grace, Sweeney shaved the face in less than ten seconds.
"The winner is Todd!" Beadle Bamford yelled, obviously impressed. Pirelli gaped at Sweeney's work, completely dumfounded. When he regained his composure, he approached Sweeney Todd with the phoniest smile upon his face.
"I bow to skills far superior to my own," He sneered.
"The five pounds," Sweeney said coolly, holding out his hands. Pirelli angrily jammed his hand into his purse and handed Sweeney Todd the money.
"May the good Lord smile upon you…until we meet again," He said through gritted teeth.
"Come, Toby!" Pirelli said, turning and angrily slapping Toby across the face. Toby scurried behind the curtain with an angry Pirelli following him. Mrs. Lovett was visibly upset when she heard Pirelli beating the boy.
"Poor lad…'aving to put up with that," She muttered. Sweeney was about to say something to her when he spotted Beadle Bamford approaching them.
"Sweeney Todd, was it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Where did you say your establishment was, sir?" The Beadle asked in his slimy voice. When Sweeney didn't answer right away, Mrs. Lovett spoke for him.
"He'll be runnin' 'is establishment above me Meat Pie Shoppe in Fleet Street in a few days," She said as she put Sweeney's coat back on him. Sweeney nodded, staring at the Beadle.
"I just moved here today, sir."
"Well, you'll see me before the week is out. So, be sure it's open before then," The Beadle answered, giving Sweeney Todd a toothy smile full of rotting teeth.
"Oh, it will be…oh, and Bamford?"
"Yes?"
"I guarantee that you'll get the closest shave you've ever gotten without a penny's charge…" Sweeney said softly with a hint of a growl in his voice. The Beadle tipped his hat and left.
"Come on, Love," Mrs. Lovett said as she took Sweeney by the sleeve. He continued to stare at the Beadle until he was out of sight. After a minute, Sweeney Todd followed Mrs. Lovett back to Fleet Street to fix up his shop.
Sorry if it was too long. Chapter 4 won't be as long. I hope you all liked it!