I do not Own Sweeney Todd. Remember to review! This chapter will be a tad bit longer than the others
The next Morning Ellie was over the moon. She waltzed around the shop tidying up as Sweeney stood brooding at the window. The weather outside was as chilly and gloomy as the man's demeanor. Suddenly, like a ray of spring sun shine, Mrs. Lovett burst into the room merrily, toting a tray of breakfast foods with a pot of tea into the room.
"Brought you some breakfast dear." She said merrily, setting the tray on the trunk surface. "Some farm fresh eggs and some lovely clotted cream, only the best for my two…" she trailed off when she saw the Barber was not listening to a word she said, and was once again wearing his obsession like a sinister black cloak.
"It's lovely, thank you Nellie." Ellie began, but Mrs. Lovett's face was stoney, "Mr. T, may I ask you something…?" she began. The Barber didn't turn, only grunted his permission, "What did your Lucy look like?" she asked.
The sound of the broom's bristled brushing the wood floor stopped instantly, Ellie looked up as the Barber turned around slowly, looking as if he couldn't believe she would even ask such a thing. "You heard me…" the Baker challenged. The room was silent, but Ellie tried to remember her mother, twelve years of life, but she couldn't see her mother's face, of her eyes, or even her smile. The only thing she could see was Johanna, but even now she couldn't see sixteen year old Johanna she saw twelve year old Johanna, with a cloud of blonde waves and bright sparkling blue eyes, no doubt she have changed since Ellie left.
"You don't really remember do you?" Nellie stated more that asked, "Either of you". Sweeney looked at her with a lost expression, "She had yellow hair" he said firmly, and looked back out the window. Nellie looked at his back with deep sympathy. "You've got to leave all this behind my dear, she's gone." The words didn't bother Ellie, she had accepted her mother's death, she was doing this for Johanna.
"You keep looking down into the grave, you ain't never gonna look up, and life will just pass you by." She drew closer to him and pressed a small hand to his shoulder, "Life is for the alive my dear."
He didn't answer, she sighed and looked at the door, "Come away from the window." She said softly. After a long pause he gave in and turned from the glass portal to the outside world, Ellie could almost see a glimmer of reality in his eyes.
As soon as he began to walk toward the Baker, the door swung open, and Anthony the Sailor stormed into the shop looking exhausted. Ellie gripped her broom, ready to drive the boy out once more if need be. "Mr. Todd! Mrs. Lovett!" He gasped as he sunk into a chair, "I've not slept in a week, but It's been done." He slunk down defeated, "What's done son?" Ellie asked.
"He's locked her in a madhouse." The sailor mourned, Sweeney's head snapped up, "You've found Johanna!"
"For all the good it will do, It's impossible to get her out." Ellie knelt before the boy and took his chin in her hands, "Which Madhouse?" she asked slowly, "Fogg's Asylum" he recited, "But I've circled it a thousand time, there's no way to get in! It's a fortress!"
"I've got him" Sweeney whispered, "Mr. Todd?" Anthony looked at him, "We've got her," Ellie corrected, "Where do you suppose all the wig makes in London get their hair?" she asked, Anthony stared at her blankly, she rolled her eyes with a grunt, "Bedlam, they get it from the lunatics at Bedlam!"
"I don't understand…" Ellie jerked him from the seat, "We will set you up as a wig maker's apprentice, and you will go into the Asylum to get some hair, and then you will take her." She instructed Anthony nodded, finally seeing the brilliance in the plan.
"And you will not be deterred." She stated firmly, "You will slaughter the world to bring her here, it that clear?" she asked, Anthony nodded his head furiously.
Ellie was suddenly overcome with happiness, without preamble she embraced the young sailor. Then pushed off of him as quick as she had come, "here" she pulled out her purse and from it the bag of coins the Judge had given her. "Buy yourself some new clothes, you have to pass as a wigmaker remember, when you return we will dispatch a letter to the Asylum to get you entry."
Anthony stared at the money, "Miss. Todd, how could I ever…"
"Just go lad." She urged him out the door. "Alright." She said, suddenly all business, "Father, you'll right the letter for the Asylum, and Mrs. Lovett I will need Toby later."
The baker and the barber looked at her, Sweeney with a proud beam and Mrs. Lovett with slight worry, "Why do you need Toby?" She asked. "I'm going to get the Judge here." The girl embraced the Baker suddenly.
"I told you me getting close to the Judge was a good Idea." She told her father and flitted into her room. She pulled out a piece of fresh paper from the desk, making sure it was un-wrinkled and un-stained. She grabbed a pencil stub but paused. This was a special occasion, she couldn't just a simple pencil.
She pulled a small stationary set from under her bed and from it pulled a long, sleek looking fountain pen. "Perfect." She kissed the black handle, "Now let's see…" she ran her fingers over the bottles of ink she had collected over the years, some half full, and some almost completely empty.
She finally chose the perfect color, deep wine red. She nodded, please with herself and set them on the desk then settled into the chair….
A half an hour later she finished and blew on the ink, willing it to dry quickly. Yes, she though, yes this will do quite nicely. Soon she was able to touch the ink without it staining her fingers. She grabbed a thin black ribbon from her vanity and carefully folded the two papers and tied them tight with it. It was late morning and if she sent Toby now the Judge would get it by afternoon.
"Toby?" she called as she descended the stairs, the boy was scrubbing the outdoor tables furiously. "Toby would you come over here a moment please?" the boy stopped his work and jogged over to the foot of the stairs. Ellie, knelt down a bit to be eye to eye with him.
"Toby? Do you know where the Old Baily is?" she asked, "Oh yes ma'am…" he suddenly blushed, "N-not that I ever…"
Ellie cut him off swiftly, and handed him the letter, "Take this there and seek out a Judge Turpin, repeat that." Toby took the letter, "Go to the Old Baily, find Judge Turpin." He recited. "I want you to put this in his Hands, only to him do you understand?"
"Yes Ma'am" He began to turn, "Do you mind if I stop off at the Grocer to pick up…"
"No side stops." She cut him off again, "Straight there and straight back , and there's an extra quid in it for you if you're quick." Toby nodded at the motivation and shot out of the Shop like a bullet.
It was noon, and they had ten hours until the Judge would come. Around two Anthony returned with his new clothes, he changed in Ellie's room and when he came out he looked like an educated gentleman, "He's perfect." Ellie nodded, "Do you remember what you're to do?" Sweeney asked. "I am to pose as a wig maker, and ask to see the girls with yellow hair…"
"Blonde." Ellie corrected, "You'll never pass for a wigmaker if you call blonde hair yellow."
Anthony nodded, "Right Blonde, and then I will rescue Johanna and bring her here." Ellie nodded, "Exactly and you will hide her in my room in the back, tell her not to come up until you return for her." Anthony nodded and sighed. "I will see you soon my friends. I cannot thank you enough for your help…"
"Yes, yes, alright now get a move on." Sweeney rushed him out the door, "Alright I suppose I should be getting ready." Ellie stood, "Ready for what?" Sweeney looked at her, "We're got a member of the gentry coming don't you know?" she made for her bed room, and the turned and put one hand dramatically in the air and propped the other on her hip, "I have to look my best you know." "By the way." She stopped, "I told the Judge you wouldn't be here when he came, so you'll have to hide out somewhere until I have him where we want him."
Sweeney nodded but he didn't look happy. Ellie entered her room and sighed, soon she would have to do something she had only done in her most horrid nightmares. Earlier that day she had swiped a dress from the Baker's closet, a deep red dress with flimsy straps of crimped lace that hung off the shoulders. Black stripes lined the dress vertically and were met with a red corset bodice. After years of watch strange woman come and go from the Judges House she had determined his type and planned to play on it to the letter.
She pulled off her old dress and tightened her corset strings a bit, pushing her breasts up. She then slipped on the Baker's dress and shuttered, she then sat at the vanity and began to line her eyes with Kohl, and by the time she had finished her face felt at least two pounds heavier. It looked as if it was growing dark outside.
She walked out into the shop and heard Sweeney and Nellie arguing on the stairs. Ellie peaked around, "I don't have time for this, the judge will be here soon!" the Barber roared. Ellie felt a presence behind her and turned, and yelped with shock. The Beadle.
"You gave me a fright sir." She gasped. "I am sorry about that, is the Baker at home?" the Beadle asked, and sniffed into a handkerchief. "Yes, right this way." She pointed down the stair way.
It took some badgering but Sweeney had managed to lure the Beadle away, "Go back to the shop, I have something I need to do." Ellie urged the Baker, Nellie nodded and went back up to the shop. Ellie looked at the door and opened it, she wouldn't let Toby get hurt in all of this, but she had to make sure he didn't discover what was in the pies.
"Toby?" she pushed open the door, Toby stopped cranking the giant grinder. "Toby I need your help with something." She said sweetly, "Yes ma'am?"
She looked around, "I need you to go down to the docks and buy five boat tickets to France, after you do that I need you to meet me at the big white bridge at Briny Beach, do you understand? It is very very important that you do exactly as I tell you." she said firmly.
Toby looked around, "It's pretty late ma'am, are you sure…." Ellie pulled five coins from her pocket, "and when you're done, spend these on whatever you like, anything at all." Toby smiled widely, "Thank you Ma'am, I won't let you down I promise!" he rushed up the stairs and Into the night.
A few minutes later, the Beadle's body came crashing from the chute in the ceiling. Ellie walked up to the Body and sighed, "You poor, sick, twisted bastard." She knelt down and looked at his face she noticed his chest moved slowly, he would be dead in a few moments.
"Can you hear me?" she whispered, "I hope you can, because I want you to hear this. I want you to Picture Little Ellie Barker, Just imagine her in your mind, and know, that all those beatings, every smack, every kick, every single miserable night she ever had in that house, will soon be avenged."
She smirked and spat on the body, Then exited the bake house casually and closed the door. She rushed back up to the Barber shop and found Anthony and Johanna, "Oh good you're here." She clapped, she looked at Johanna and smiled, "Hello Johanna." She beamed.
Johanna looked at her like a ghost, "D-Do I know you?" the teen asked. Ellie nodded, "Yes you do, but Now is not the time. Come with me." She took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom. "Anthony, go fetch a carriage." The sailor nodded and rushed down the stairs.
Ellie marveled at Johanna, "I can't believe it's you." She whispered, close to tears. "How do you know me?" Johanna asked. "You really don't recognize me?" Ellie sighed and picked up a picture frame, it held a picture of Little Johanna and Ellie.
"There you are." She handed her the frame, "and there I am, we used to have so much fun when we could." Ellie sighed. Johanna's mouth dropped, "Ellie?" she gasped, her eyes watered and she covered her mouth. "Ellie is that you?" Ellie embraced Johanna, "It's me Jo, Its really me, And I promise I will never leave you again."
The sisters reunited happily until Ellie froze, "You have to stay in here Jo, no matter what you hear, no matter how much you want to look out. Do not look out side this room, until I come for you. Do you understand?"
Johanna nodded gravely, "I promise." Ellie smiled, "I missed you so much, I am so sorry I left you." Johanna smiled, "It wasn't your fault,"
"No it was, I never should have left you alone with him, and I can't even imagine what he did to you." Johanna stiffened up, "I don't want to talk about it." She whispered. "Okay" Ellie patted her hand, "You don't have to talk about it, not until you want to."
"I have to go" Ellie stood, "Stay here, and lock the door. Promise?" Johanna nodded, Ellie walked out the room and gasped when she saw a strange woman in the shop, "Ma'am?" she said, "Ma'am I'm sorry, but we're closed you can't be here."
The begger looked at her with her dirty face, "Beadle! Beadle, Where are you beadle?" she called, "Here," Ellie stepped forward, "Why don't you come with me and you can wait for the Beadle in the shop down stairs," she took the woman's hand, "Come along, I will get you a nice meat pie to eat."
"Ellie!" Sweeney roared, "What are you doing?" Ellie pressed her finger to her lips, "Come along now deary." The beggar took her hand, "Father, I need you to take this nice lady down to the shop and give her a meat pie, while I wait for you know who." Ellie stressed each word, Sweeney nodded with understanding and smiled at the beggar, "Come along ma'am," The beggar look at Sweeney oddly, "Don't I know you mister?" she cooed.
Ellie looked out the window and saw the Judge, she made a frantic waving motion that said "Go! Go!"
(Meanwhile)
Turpin Looked down at the letter Eileen had sent him with a sick smile,
My dear Judge Turpin,
I am terribly sorry for not writing earlier, but after due consideration I have decided to accept your offer. I was foolish not to accept before and I long to see you once more. I have not told my Father of our meeting, for I fear he will not approve and will move us once again.
Father and Mrs. Lovett will be away from the night, I will be all alone. Meet me in my Father's shop at ten o'clock tonight, I will be waiting for you.
With Love.
Eileen Todd.
With a grin he ascended the Stairs to the Shop.
Ellie heard his footsteps on the stair and Sat on the arm of the barber's chair. She did not look at the door as it opened, the tiny bell jingled merrily as she cast a glance at the doorway. She grinned when she saw the Judge, "Sir Judge." She stood, "I feared you would not come" she approached him shyly.
"You got my Letter?" she looked up at him, the Judge looked her up and down, "I have to say I was surprised to receive your letter, after a week with no word I was beginning to grow…" He grinned, "Restless"
Ellie inwardly gagged but took his large hand in her small one, "Well, I apologize m'lord, But I'm sure I could find some way to make it up to you." She led him to the barber chair "Come, sit."
The Judge followed closely behind her, too closely, "And you're sure your father will not be home?" He asked, taking a seat in the chair. Ellie leaned on the arm, "Oh yes, Him and the Baker won't be home until morning." She hinted.
"A young, unmarried woman, inviting an older man into her home with no one else there." he watched her, "Some might think it improper." Ellie rested one hand on his shoulder and the other on his chest, "Does that bother you?" she asked, moving to be in front of him
"no, but there is one thing I wish to know Miss. Todd…."
"Eileen, please call me Eileen." She smiled, "What do you want to know?"
"Why of all the men in London, you contact one thirty years older than yourself?" Ellie looked down shyly, "men… boys my age, they just don't know how to…." She thought, "Hold my interest." She shrugged and moved closer, "but you, I don't know why but…" She was nose to nose with him, she was still waiting for her father to make his entrance. The judge's hands moved up and down her back.
Franticly thinking of a way to stall him, Ellie swallowed her disgust and leaned in, catching the Judge's eager lips. They were rough and cracked, and moved hungrily from her lips to her neck to her exposed shoulder.
Meanwhile his hands were busy pulling her closer to him, one on her lower back and one snaking up her skirt and around to her rear.
She removed the white scarf around his neck and moved her lips down. Ellie heard the sound of creaks on the stairwell, and moved to the other side of the neck, pecking a line were she imagines Sweeney's knife would slice. The Judge's hands worked away the strings that laced up the back of the dress.
"Sir Judge…" she said between kisses, "There is something you should know"
"And what is that?" he practically panted, She sat up, one leg on either side of his lap, "I have waited for this moment for a long, long time" she grinned, the creaks were growing closer. "I cannot say how many times I have imagines us, just like this…" she fiddled with the tin buttons on his jacket, "Would you like to know what happens next?"
"I'm sure we all would…" Sweeney voice rang from the door way, Ellie sighed with relief and turn her head to face her father, "Took you long enough." She grunted. "Well if you hadn't sent me off on a game of get rid of the Looney." Sweeney pulled his razor from the belt loop. "What's you do with her?" Ellie asked.
"Well this isn't paint on my shirt." Sweeney motioned to the red stains on his sleeve."
"Right well, I am terribly sorry to inform you of this Sir Judge but you see…" Ellie Slid off his lap, "I'm afraid I invited you under false pretenses"
The Judge looked confused and tried to rise from the chair, only to have Sweeney press the blade of the razor to his throat, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He hummed. "You really don't remember me do you?" Ellie almost laughed, "Nor him" she nodded to her father behind the chair.
"Well why would he darling. The years have no doubt changed us" Sweeney played along, "After all, The face of a Barber."
"The face of a burden." Ellie continued, they circled the chair like wolves, "Aren't exactly ones that stick in the mind." The judge looked at both of them over and over, and finally rested his eyes on Ellie's the spark of recognition lit in his eyes, "Elinor?" he leaned forward. Ellie grinned, "But you're supposed to be dead…"
"Sorry to disappoint, but then again I always was the disappointment wasn't I?" she shrugged, "I believe you two are acquainted as well." She pointed at Sweeney. The judge looked at the madman, "Benjamin Barker…" he realized in horror. Sweeney's face contorted in Rage.
"Benjamin Barker!" he roared and rammed the blade of the razor through the Judge's throat. Blood sprayed the room, and splattered the two killers, Ellie's grin never faltered as her father stabbed the man over and over. Ellie waited until he was done, and when he was, pulled the lever that sent the chair back and opened the chute. The Judge's body landed on the stone floor below with a sickening crack.
Her dress was now drenched in blood, as was her face, hands, and hair. Sweeney swayed back and forth, Ellie suddenly felt full and empty at the same time. Sweeney fell to his knees. And stared at his razor. "Rest now my friend, Rest now forever. Sleep now the untroubled sleep of the angels…"
They stayed that way for a while, until the sound of movement came from the back room, Sweeney grabbed his razor. "Father no!" she whispered, "It's…" she couldn't finish, the sound of Nellie below stopped her, the baker was screaming in what sounded like rage or terror.
"Go see her, I'll be down. In a moment" Ellie rushed, She rushed to the back room and stopped before entering, "Johanna?" she knocked, "It's me Ellie, You can come out now but…" she looked at the blood on the floor. "You might be a bit disturbed." The sound of the latch on the other side slid out. Ellie entered the room and Johanna gasped when she saw the blood.
"What did you do?" she sputtered, "Something I should have done a long time ago." Ellie removed her stained dress and pulled on the one she wore earlier that day. Johanna walked out of the room and looked at the splatters of blood. "Whose is it?" she asked, Ellie was surprised she wasn't more disturbed at the sight. "The Judge's" Ellie said bluntly and turned on the tap and splashed water on her face and cleansed her skin of the blood.
"Is he dead?" Johanna asked, Ellie paused, "Yes"
The teen nodded, "I'm glad, I'm glad he's dead." Ellie smiled, and padded a towel over her face, "So am I." she nodded, She walked back to her room and pulled a large Bag out from under the the bed, she had pre-packed it that day, just in case. It was the same with the tickets she sent Toby out for, two for Johanna and Anthony, and four for the family. "Now, stay here and I'll be back soon. If Anthony come back, tell him to wait."
Ellie left and when down to the back house. But paused at the door. "Said she took a poison, she did. Never said that she died. Poor thing…" Ellie slipped in and found her father kneeling over the body of the Beggar woman. And Mrs. Lovett franticly trying to explain herself.
"She live, but it left her week in the head, All she did for months was just lie there in bed. Should have been in a hospital wound up in bedlam instead, poor thing." Ellie walked over to her Father, "Father? Who is that?" she whispered. Sweeney moved slightly and Ellie could seem the woman's face clearly, "Who…" she cut off. She knew that face, but from where.
"Yes I lied cause I love you. I'd be twice the wife she was, I love you!" Nellie wailed. Ellie gasped, It was Lucy, the body was her mother, Ellie had passed the woman every day on the street, everyday for fifteen years she passed the woman on the corner, begging for her bread and water. And never once had she given her a second glance, maybe if she had, she would have seen the woman who cared for her for six years.
"Ellie, Go!" the baker ordered, "take Toby and Johanna and go with out us."
"But…" Ellie looked around pleadingly, the bake house seemed the very vision of Hell. "What about you?" the baker gave her a sad smile, "Theres nothing left for us dear." She took Ellie face in her hands, "You are young" she looked at Sweeney who mourned over his wife's body, "I will take care of him, don't you worry." She looked Ellie in the eyes softly, "Life is for the Alive my dear."
The baker sighed and turned to the Barber, Content with her fate.
Ellie couldn't stand to watch the pitiful scene, it was obvious she wouldn't be able to take the Barber and the Baker with them, so she flung herself out the door and up the stairs. She burst into the barber shop and found Anthony and Johanna waiting for her. "Ellie? What the matter?" Ellie's face was flushed and her breath came in sharp sobbing gasps, "Is the carriage here?" she asked quickly.
"Yes, It's right…"
Ellie stopped him, "We've got to go, right now." She insisted, "Is the Carriage ready?" Anthony nodded. Ellie grabbed the bag she packed, filled with a few dresses, all of her money and what ever else she may need. "I sent Toby to go get five tickets to Paris, but I'm afraid it will be just the four of us."
She rushed the young couple out of the house and into the carriage, telling the driver to take them to Briny Beach, "Eileen, what is…"
"Ellie" she corrected the sailor, "I guess it is time to be honest now."
To be continued soon my dearies! Remember to review. Sorry for killing off Sweeney and Nellie but it's kind of a major plot point.