Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd, or Mrs. Lovett. But Joy, well, she talks to me inside my mind. So does Sweeney and Lovett, but that's a different story altogether…hey, did I really type that?
Many thanks to my reviewers; linalove, MidnaLovesLinktotheendoftime, and SweetySweeney! Thanks for encouraging me to write. And now for your enjoyment (at least I hope so) here is Chapter Four!!!
The next few days passed without incident, Mr. Todd was brooding over some thing or another, and Mrs. Lovett was trying to figure out how to make the shop more presentable.
That Tuesday, Joy was outside in her blue dress, picking flowers. Her hair was tied up, her curls bouncing every time she moved. She felt like singing, oh, but if only she could sing! But I can't, she thought, I'll never be able to. Never. She sighed unhappily and stood up, brushing the dirt off her dress and holding the daisies tightly in her hands. A boy, maybe twenty- one, quite handsome with long hair ran quickly past Joy up the stairs.
Who is he? I could've sworn I've seen him before. Joy thought, but shrugged and walked into the kitchen. She set her daisies down on one of the tables and looked around. Does Eleanor keep anything in here other than pies and piecrusts? Joy crossed her arms and looked around. This place sure could use some tidying up… she thought. Why don't I help Nellie a bit, hmm? Yes, that's just what I'll do. Joy rolled up her sleeves and found a somewhat clean apron and began to dust things off and put other things away. When the kitchen looked a little bit more acceptable she took the daisies and put them in a small vase and went outside to fill it up with water. She turned around and peered into the distance, she enjoyed people watching; it gave her something to do when she wasn't around Mr. Todd or Mrs. Lovett.
Her eyes widened upon seeing Signore Pirelli and the boy (who's name she had heard, but she couldn't quite remember it) walking towards Mrs. Lovett's. She ran up the stairs to find Mr. Todd admiring his razors and Nellie setting up a teapot, talking about something Joy did not understand. She motioned for their attention and pointed out the window. Nellie did not notice, but Sweeney walked over to the window, while Mrs. Lovett mentioned something about "motherly affection". When Sweeney didn't say anything Nellie walked over and joined him at the window. Joy looked around for a place to set her vase and decided upon the large windowsill. The room needed some cheering up. She did not find the boy, but she knew she had seen him go in. Hmm, must've slipped out while I was cleaning… she guessed. She looked over at the window to see Todd and Lovett staring intently out. At first they didn't see anything or anyone, but after a few minutes Sweeney realized there was someone he recognized; Pirelli and the boy.
"'Ello, What's 'e doin' 'ere?" Nellie asked. Mr. Todd looked at her. "Keep the boy downstairs." He said, and then he turned to Joy. "You'll help her?" he asked, nodding his head towards Mrs. Lovett. Joy smiled and nodded, then turned to leave, after Mrs. Lovett.
"And Joy." Mr. Todd exclaimed, quietly. She turned back around to face him.
"Th-," he clenched his fists as if the word was hard to spit out, "Thank you." He said gruffly. By that time, though, Signore Pirelli was at the top of the balcony. Sweeney Todd cursed. "Hide somewhere." He said. Joy looked around quickly and decided upon the washroom. She ran in and quickly closed the door. The walls were paper thin, so she knew she had to be extremely quiet. Mr. Todd walked over to his chair and started brushing it off. There was a rap on the door.
"Come in." Sweeney said quietly. The door opened with a loud creeeak. The two exchanged greetings with a hint of disdain in each of their voices.
"Call me Davy." Pirelli said, suddenly dropping his accent. "Davy Connor's the name when it's not professional." He said something about having a thing back, but Joy couldn't tell what it was that he wanted.
"Why?" Mr. Todd asked.
"Because," Pirelli began, "You entered into our little wager under false pretenses, my friend. So, you might remember to be a bit more forthright in the future." Joy was terribly confused, and through her confusion, she missed the first part of his phrase.
"Share and share alike." He paused. "Mr. Benjamin Barker." He said. From what she could hear, it fell silent, save for Mr. Pirelli walking around the room.
"Yes, this will do nicely." He said. "You don't remember me do you? Why should you? I was just a little nip…" again, his words slurred together and Joy could not figure out anything. The whole thing was getting terribly confusing.
"But I remember these. How could I ever forget you, Mr. Barker? I used to sit…right here. Dreamin' of the day when I could be a proper barber meself. You might say that you was an inspiration to me." It was quiet for a few minutes, and someone walked over to the window.
"So do we got a deal?" Pirelli asked. "Or should I alert on the streets me old pal' Beadle Bamford? What do you say to that now?" Pirelli took up his accent again and said, "Mister Sweeney Todd." He then began to laugh maniacally. Joy could hear the tea-kettle whistling and cursed (silently of course- not like she could any other way) The tea is going to burn! She thought, sadly, but to her relief and astonishment Mr. Todd took the teakettle off of the stovetop, but then she heard the kettle slamming onto something, and Pirelli stopped laughing. She heard him fall to the floor. Mr. Todd kept hitting Pirelli with the teakettle, over and over again, as if in a daze. He stopped, breathing heavily and dropped the teakettle. Joy suddenly came out of the washroom to see a very bloody, unconscious Signore Pirelli and a very dazed, tired and relieved Mr. Todd. She stood there, very alarmed, but then realized it was probably for the best; Mr. Todd, or Benjamin Barker, whichever he was, would've been sent to prison, or fined, for entering into the contest with a false name. And, she had seen Pirelli beating the boy the other day, maybe, if Pirelli didn't survive, the boy could live at Mrs. Lovett's. She finally tapped Mr. Todd on the shoulder. He started, "Oh, Joy, it's you." Joy couldn't help but be a little frightened by Mr. Todd after what he had done. She swallowed.
"You may want to hide him somewhere, incase the boy comes up." She mouthed. Sweeney nodded and picked up Pirelli and walked over to a large chest.
"Open it." He said. Joy ran quickly to the chest and opened the top, watching as Todd threw Pirelli into it. She closed it and ran over to where Sweeney had dropped the teapot, grabbed a cloth and a teacup while he took the teapot back over to the stove. It was perfect timing too, the boy ran in and yelled, "Signore! You got an appointment!" but, to his surprise, there was no Pirelli to be found. He saw Joy on the floor wiping up the remains of the blood and tea, but all he saw was liquid and a teacup next to it; he guessed it was tea. Mr. Todd was pouring tea into his cup.
"Signore Pirelli's been called away, better run after 'im." Mr. Todd said.
"No sir, I should stay 'ere, or it'll be a lashing. 'E's a great one for the lashes." At that moment Joy looked pityingly at the boy and noticed something. She looked at Sweeney to see if he noticed it as well. He had.
"So, Mrs. Lovett gibe you a pie, did she?"
"Ya, she's a real lady."
Todd nodded, "That she is." He kept glancing back at the chest. Joy went over to the teapot, and poured herself a cup of tea.
"But, if I know a growing boy, there's still room for more pie, aye?" Sweeney walked over to the boy.
"Yes, sir."
"Why don't you wait for your master downstairs?" Todd asked. "There'll be another pie for you, I'm sure."
"No, I should stay 'ere." The boy said hesitantly. Joy could tell he was a little bit frightened by Mr. Todd.
"Tell ya' what, why don't you tell Mrs. Lovett that I said to give you a nice big drop o' gin."
"Thank you sir!" he said excitedly. He ran out the door quickly and down to find Mrs. Lovett.
I was so afraid he'd see the hand! Joy said, watching Pirelli's hand twitch. Sweeney Todd walked over to the chest and opened it up. Pirelli crawled out of the chest and leaned over as if he was going to throw up. Sweeney casually took his razor and slid it across Pirelli's neck. Joy closed her eyes; she didn't want to see him kill the man. The deed was done; Signore Pirelli was dead.
Sweeney Todd looked at Joy when he was finished. "You won't tell a soul, Joy will you?" he asked, smiling darkly. She shook her head and put her finger to her lips.