Part IX: The death of Pirelli

A few days later, Mrs. Lovett had me help bring up Mr. Lovett's old chair from the parlor to the barbershop. Mr. Todd was to use it as his new chair.

"Not much of a chair, but it'll do. Was me poor Albert's chair. Sit in it all day long he did, when his leg gave out with a gouge." Mrs. Lovett said as she plopped down in the chair after it was up.

Mr. Todd was sharpening his razor with a file.

"Why hasn't the Beadle come yet? Before the week's out. That's what he said." Mr. Todd grumbled.

"And who says the week's out? It's only Tuesday." Mrs. Lovett told him.

He looked at her like she was slow and threw the file across the shop. She looked at me. So I took over.

"Easy now,

Hush, sir, hush

Don't distress yourself

What's your rush

Keep yourself nice and lush

Wait.

Hush, sir, hush.

Think it through

Once it bubbles then what's to do?

Watch it close

Let it brew

Wait.

She's been thinking flowers,

Maybe daisies to brighten up the room

Don't you think some flowers

Pretty daisies, might relieve the gloom

Ah, wait

Sir, Wait." I sang to him.

He walked over to the broken mirror

"And the Judge. When will I get to him?" He asked looking in the mirror with his razor out.

"Can't you think of nothing else? Always brodin' away on your wrongs after who knows what happened how many years ago." Mrs. Lovett said finally getting up from the chair and leading him back to it.

"Slow, love, slow.
Time's so fast.
Now goes quickly, see
Now it's past!
Soon will come,
Soon will last.
Wait.

Don't you know,
Silly man?
Half the fun is to
Plan the plan!
All good things
Come to those who can
Wait.

Gilly flowers, maybe,
'Stead of daisies...
I dunno though...
What do you think?" She sang to him as he looked at his razor with a menacing smile.

Then, the door opened and a young man rushed in.

"Mr. Todd! Umm...?" He said looking at Mrs. Lovett and I.

"Mrs. Lovett, dear." Mrs. Lovett replied.

"Miss Welsh." I followed.

"A pleasure," He said to us then focusing on Mr. Todd, "You have to help me. There's this girl. She's very beautiful!"

"Slow down son." Mr. Todd said sitting him down in the chair.

"Johanna's her name." He said.

Mr. Todd looked at Mrs. Lovett whose eyes were wide. I didn't know what to think.

"And he has her locked up." He continued

"He?" I asked softly

"Yes. Turpin he's some sort of a judge." He said. "But today she threw this down to me," He pulled a key out of his pocket, "I'm going to see if she'll run away with me tonight."

"This is all very romantic." Mrs. Lovett said.

"Yes, but I only just came to London and I have no place to go while we wait for a carriage. So Mr. Todd, can I bring her here for a bit?" He asked.

Mr. Todd just stood there, a blank expression on his face.

"Bring her here love." Mrs. Lovett told him.

"Thank you Ma'am. Is that alright Mr. Todd?" He asked ecstatically.

Mr. Todd only nodded and continued staring into the distance. Then the young man thank them again and ran out the door.

"Looks like the fates are favorin' you Mr. T." Mrs. Lovett told him, "He'll bring her here and since you're up for a little," She imitated a razor going across her throat, "Now that's the throat to slit my dear." She finished.

Mr. Todd was silent and walked over to the window. Mrs. Lovett and I followed him. We could see Pirelli, in his extravagant clothing followed by his boy.

"Wot's he doing here?" Mrs. Lovett asked.

"Keep the boy downstairs. Emily, stay here. It's probably about you. Stay." Mr. Todd said.

Mrs. Lovett went downstairs and soon Pirelli entered.

"Mr. Todd." He said closing the door

I sat in the corner on the cot and watched him.

"Signor Pirelli." Mr. Todd replied.

"It's Davey. Davey Collins, when it's not professional anyway. Mr. Benjamin Barker." He said with a smile.

Mr. Todd's eyes widened, as did mine, and followed him as he sat down by the chair.

"Don't you remember me? You hired me, when I was a little lad, to sweep up hairs. But, oh, do I remember you. I used to sit right here and dream of the day that I would be the greatest barber." He said.

"What do you want?" I asked quietly from the cot.

"I get half his profits from now on. Share and share alike, or should I just run down the street and get my old friend Beadle Branford. What do you say to that, Mr. Benjamin Barker." He laughed.

Then, Mr. Todd grabbed the whistling teapot from off the stove and swung it a Pirelli's head. I let out a gasp as Pirelli fell to the floor and Mr. Todd continued beating him senseless. After about ten minutes of continuous beating, he stopped and panted as he sat in the chair. Then, he turned to me.

"Help me clean this up." He said as he began to drag the body to the trunk.

I nodded and grabbed the mop in the corner and began to work on the pile of bright red blood. Not a moment after I was finished cleaning and enjoying a bit of tea, Toby, the boy came up.

"Signor Pirelli? You have an appointment!" He called as he walked in.

"Signor Pirelli has been called away. You better go after him" Mr. Todd told him pouring a cup of tea for himself.

"No, I best stay here or it'll be a lashin' for me. He's a good on for the lashin' s" He said sitting on the chest Pirelli was in.

Then, I saw Pirelli's fingers peeking out of the box, and twitching. I stood in front of them to block Toby's view.

"So, Mrs. Lovett gave you a pie now did she?" Mr. Todd asked.

"She's a real lady." Toby replied.

"... That she is... But, if I know a growing boy, there's always room for more. So, why don't you run downstairs and they'll be another pie in it for you, I'm sure." He told Toby, leading him to the door.

"But I should really be staying here."

"Tell you what. Tell Mrs. Lovett that I said to give you a nice big tot o' gin."

Toby's eye widened and he ran out the door yelling a thank you and as soon as he was gone, Mr. Todd gently moved me away from the chest and opened it. Pirelli sat up short of breath and Mr. Todd grabbed the razor out of his pocket and slid it across his throat clumsily. The blood splattered on his sleeve and on Pirelli's collar, and a sickening sound came from Pirelli's throat. I watched for a moment, but I couldn't stand it and I fainted as Pirelli was put back in the trunk.

(SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! My mamaw died and then I went on a camping vacation and I'm doing this all completely from memory, so I'm sorry if it's a bit off. Thanks.)