Chapter 10 – She wanders, tormented and drinks, poor thing.

They were interrupted however from discussing the matter further, because the trapdoor in the floor suddenly appeared at that moment.

What do you suppose we need to go down there for?

Mrs. Lovett walked towards the open trapdoor and peered in. Benjamin followed.

Guess we'll have to find out, won't we? Don't suppose it would be more exciting to stay in here.

Benjamin just let her babble as usual, and just nodded in reply.

They walked down into the darkness of the passageway. Mrs. Lovett led the way, but nothing to light the way she had trouble with tripping, and occasionally Benjamin would hear her squeak, and would make a high stepping motion so as to attempt to miss whatever she was tripping on.

It wasn't long before they heard moaning. Someone else was clearly down here.

Hello?

Mrs. Lovett took the initiative.

There was no reply, but the moaning stopped.

Hello?

This time Benjamin called out. They both began to walk closer the small light in the distance.

It soon became clear that the light was coming from a single lantern which showed a figure that was stooped over.

With dread, Benjamin knew whose area they had entered. He stopped walking, and Mrs. Lovett turned to look at him funny. But when in the dim glow of the light, she saw the look on his face; she too realized what was holding him back.

Lucy.

Well, you are going to have to face her sooner or later.

What would I say? Hi, I was so bent on revenge for your supposed death that I failed to verify my sources, and ignored your attempts to reach me, and killed you with the blades you bought me for a wedding gift. That would go over well.

So would saying nothing, or ignoring her. Talk to her, anything.

Suppose she has still lost her mind, what if she babbles, what if she makes no sense.

Then you have lost nothing by talking to her, since it won't register much for her anyway.

Benjamin took a deep breath. He began to walk again, and Mrs. Lovett followed behind him.

Lucy looked exactly as she had when he held her in his arms in the bake house, the blood just drying on her clothes. Only she could look back at him this time. Which she did.

It seemed to Mrs. Lovett to be an eternity before one of them dared to speak. And the first person was not Benjamin.

Took you long enough to get here. State of mind of course, not the place. Funny how I am stuck here in the deep dark tunnels of your insanity, with a single lantern.

Benjamin was confused. This was not what he had expected of her at all. Her appearance had changed that was obvious, but he had not expected… was she being cynical, or not? Her tone wasn't a clear indicator.

You could change this you know. Or this how you really saw me, a far obscure light of an idea in the back of your mind?

Her voice was sad and pleading almost. Benjamin opened his mouth to reply, but he closed it when he realized he had nothing intelligent to say in response.

I was just a good looking idea wasn't I? A pretty woman, who did her womanly duties and doted on you according to expectations.

Mrs. Lovett tried to say something in response to that, but she was cut off.

Did I ask you a question Nellie? Don't you try to defend him either. If I want your opinion I will ask.

Mrs. Lovett hung her head. Benjamin rose to protest such un-Lucy like treatment of anyone. Especially their neighbor, whom she used to talk to all the time holding friendly conversations.

What has come over you, treating her like that?

Lucy laughed a smug sort of laugh.

You are the one to talk. You have been treating her the same way since you came back. Actually you sort of have been treating her the exact same way you always have, just a little less polite, and less cheerful.

This was the sad, honest truth Benjamin realized, so he ignored it, and changed to focus back to Lucy.

It is just so unlike you, Lucy.

What is? How would you even know? You aren't the only person who has changed a great deal around here. Sweeney Todd. Funny. I'm sure your old friends would not appreciate their names being remembered with such a dark legacy.

So I wasn't creative, what does it matter? At least Jack Sweeney is already dead anyway. And Todd, I don't even know where he is living, he could be dead too for all I know.

Here was the longest pause since they had started talking.

But you wouldn't know, because you never searched him out.

That was not what we were here to do.

Sweeney couldn't respond to this because Mrs. Lovett had spoken up.

Couldn't we get out of this tunnel? This place is giving me the creeps and it smells something foul.

It is a long walk. And I have the lantern.

What are you not coming with us?

Benjamin was surprised at this.

I have no reason to.

But you're my wife… and I finally found…

Benjamin was cut off.

See! You said wife, not 'but I love you.'

But…I do love you. I always have. Why do you think I came back?

You came back for revenge. You never really loved me. You loved the idea of me. You came back to hopefully be reunited with the idea of me, and you… killed, for the idea of me. But really it was all about you. It always was.

Benjamin was at a lost to oppose such a statement. So he tried rationalizing.

I killed because I loved you. You deserved to have justice.

Lucy frowned.

How is death justice? It is not how you died that matters, but how you lived. Unfortunately that is why I am here. Because you see, you and I really were more similar then I imagined. What kind of mother tries to end her life, because she feels it should be over? I thought only of myself. If I had been a good mother, I would have thought of Johanna first. She deserved better.

There was a very pregnant pause. The air itched with tension.

Mrs. Lovett felt the need to interrupt.

If you had loved her… not just the idea of her, you would have done anything for her. Everything you did would be in her best interest, she would come before any thought of yourself.

There was a small damp silence. Lucy smiled and nodded.

Benjamin stood stunned that she didn't cut her off this time, but had cut off him.

You seem very knowledgeable on such a subject.

Benjamin spit back acidly.

Mrs. Lovett hung her head again.

Lucy jumped to her defense.

A woman always knows best what she knows she deserved, but never got.

Mrs. Lovett looked up and smiled at Lucy thankfully.

Benjamin tried to remember what little he knew about Mr. Lovett. He sadly admitted to himself in that moment, that he knew as little about Mrs. Lovett's late husband and her past in general, as he did about his wife now.

Lucy. Not wife.

Benjamin mentally corrected himself. All at once, Benjamin sadly came to see the truth in Mrs. Lovett's statement. He was so happy once, he had had a beautiful wife and daughter, and a thriving business.

It really had always been about him. He had failed Lucy as a husband and Johanna as a father, even before he had ever left. Benjamin hung his head in sorrow.

I'm sorry I could never be that kind of husband for you.

Lucy smiled broadly, and her teeth seemed cleaner and straighter, and… yes, she seemed for a moment to look exactly as she had on the day that Benjamin had first met her. Except for the eyes. They still held a lifetime of sadness in them.

I'm sorry too.

And with that the light of the lantern went out for only a moment. But when it flashed back on, they were no longer in the tunnels, but back in the bake house. And the trapdoor was gone. But the door out of the bake house wasn't. In fact it was open.