Sweeney froze. He whole room began to spin, only being stopped momentarily by Nellie's whispering into James's ear, "Its Benjamin Barker!"
The smile was instantly wiped from his face as the awkwardness instantly filled the room, so thick, you could cut it with a knife. They all froze where they stood, James and Sweeney stared at each other, their mouths and eyes as big as dinner plates, while Nellie just looked at the floor, face red as a tomato.
Times seemed to stand still, no one making an attempt at movement or words. When the reality finally came back into his mind, The barber let out a yell of rage as he tackled the apothecary to the ground.
James struggled against him, but the years of back breaking labor on Australia had come out with powerful results as Sweeney's blows continued to knock the wind out of him each time.
The baker could do nothing but stand there and watch as her husband turned the pair over and it was now him delivering the punches to the barber.
Finally, gathering her thoughts together, Nellie grabbed James's shoulders and yanked him away before Sweeney could fit in one last whack.
"Enough!" she screamed, holding out her hands to make space between the two once the barber stood. The only damage she could tell was that both had a bloody nose, James had a black eye, a rather large bump on the side of his head, and the side of his cheek looked purple. Sweeney also had a bump on his head, his lower lip was bleeding, and the side of his cheek looked swollen.
"Now the both o' ya need to jus' calm down!" she continued as both men swayed a little, as if the room was spinning and she was the only one not affected.
The only sound in the room were heavy pants as Nellie shot glares at the two.
The barber was the first to say anything, "You bastard." he muttered before fixing his clothes and walking out of the room.
Nellie and James watched he go into the streets and disappear with the crowd. She exploded.
"Wot the bloody 'ell were you thinkin'!" she yelled angrily. James looked dumbstruck. "Me? 'E attacked me!" he argued.
"Wot do ya expect? You sold 'is wife arsenic to kill 'erself with!", "Well, its no' like I knew she was gonna kill 'erself!", "Wot does anybody do with Arsenic! Its bloody poison! If she weren't gonna kill 'erself, she sure was gonna kill somebody!", "Its no' my job to get into me customers personal life.", "Then 'ow the 'ell did ya end up with me?" They both froze.
There was a short silence, then the baker sighed, "James, 'M sorry. Its jus'...I 'aven't seen Ben in so lon', an' 'es changed so much an-", "Its ok, Nellie, I know. I didn't have an inking wot who was talkin' to ya when I go' 'ome." he chuckled.
"Yeah, hes jus' been through so much pain an' sufferin'. I though' I'd ge' a chance to talk to 'im before I told 'im you an' me was married." she huffed, looking away from her husband as she placed a hand on her forehead.
Immediately sensing his wife's distress, James out on a weak smile and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Don' worry, Nellie, I'll bring 'im back."
She turned to face him like he was crazy, "But 'e'll bloody kill you!" the baker said. "Oh, c'mon, You really think 'M I can' take 'im?' he sounding some what offended. "Well, if I don' say so, tha' bloody nose does," she giggled, motioning to his nose.
" 'Ey, I gave 'im one, too! An' a bumped 'ead to boot!" he said proudly. Nellie resisted the urge to inform him about the bum on his head as well.
"look, I appreciate the gesture, I think I should go talk to-", "Don' try to fight me on this, Eleanor, You know when it comes to you, I won' let you lift a finger," he smiled cheerfully, taking her hand and Kissing her knuckles like any other gentleman in the upper class, causing her face to turn a scarlet red.
"Oh, You!" the baker giggled as he left a trail of kisses up her arm. "You know jus' 'ow to work me! Fine," she sighed, kissing him on the cheek. "if yer sure.", "Don' worry, Nellie, I'll be back before you know it." and with that, he walked out the door, shutting it loudly behind him.
Sweeney growled as he stomped into yet another muddy puddle. How can she betray me like this? Betray LUCY like this? He thought as he passed a few more people on the street. He had been walking for what felt like hours, trying to hold his rage inside as to not attack some random bloke. Turning another corner, the barber looked for a place to rest, that James had proven to take and throw a punch or two. Seeing a tavern just a ways up ahead, he let out a quiet sigh and made his way.
Once inside, Sweeney found a seat at the bottom of the counter, away from all the other loud, noisy drunks. The bartender came up in front of him. "Can I ge' ya anything, mate?" he asked, his handle bar mustache twitching with each word. "Just a tall glass of gin." the barber growled, not looking at the man. Sweeney sat there, staring off into oblivion.
"Bloody bastard," James muttered when he hit the streets. He had always known his wife to be the wanted object of many men affection, so he was always up to date with who she was with. He was very protective of his wife, just as her late ex-husband had been.
Even before they had been married, he had always had a suspicion that she fancied her tenant, Mr. Benjamin Barker. He thought that fool was done for when he was sent away, but no, he had to come back. And it seemed even now that she couldn't keep her eyes off him.
James growled as he tried to push this thought back into his mind. Turning around the corner, he saw a small tavern. Maybe I could go for a drink, he thought to himself, he was never really big on alcohol unless it was an emergency-like situation of stress. Now, If coming home to find your wife talking to the man she was completely smitten with, and still may be, and also the husband of the woman you sold poison to kill herself to isn't stressful, then James didn't what stress was.
Making his decision, the apothecary made his way up the road.
Sweeney slammed his now empty glass of gin on the counter. The barber had finished about five of the tallest glasses of gin. Of course he wasn't planning to pay, since the bar was crowded, he thought he'd be able to sneak out with some group of drunks.
Just when he was about to execute said plan, he felt someone sit next to him.
"I'll take a bottle of whiskey, please." he said to the bartender. Sweeney's eyes shot open, he recognized that voice, though hes only heard once before. The barber looked to his side to see his suspicion confirmed: James rested his head in his hand as his elbow rested on the table, his other arm on his side as if in pain.
"You." he whispered ominously. The apothecary whipped his head to see the very last person he wanted to see. James just groaned like he'd been whacked over the head (which he was, and this is what Sweeney had taken the groan for and not the fact that he was just right beside him) and buried his face back in his hand.
"Yes, me, now wot the bloody 'ell do you want?" he asked. Sweeney just looked at him like he was a ghost. There was an awkward silence, the bartender brought out James' s drink, which he took generously.
He sighed with relief after a long drink and the two stared at each other. Finally, James spoke, "Nellie wants you back."
"What?" the barber asked, confused of the statement, James sighed. "She wants you back at the shop, to live in yer old room, free of charge." he said smartly, taking another drink.
Sweeney contemplated, he had nowhere else to go, and he could shave people, if only to get his revenge on Turpin. But first, he needed to know something.
"Why?" he whispered. "Because she feels sorry for you, ya idiot! If I were you, I'd jus' take the bloody-", "No, I mean why did you give her the arsenic." the barber growled angrily.
James froze, he knew who he meant by 'her'. "W-Well, it were m-me job. S-she had t-the money, a-an' who was I t-to refuse?" he stuttered, looking everywhere but his eye.
The barber only growled once more, "It was bloody POISON! IF she weren't gonna kill herself she wouldn't kill someone! Though I know she'd never do such a thing." he whispered the last part.
The apothecary gulped. "T-Times were 'ard. A-an' It weren't me business wot she do with wot she bought."
Sweeney wasn't in the mood for his excuses, but he wasn't in the right mod to argue, he wasn't very good at arguing drunk. It was just senseless violence.
Not wanting to create a scene, the barber growled and looked away. "We will speak nothing of this unless I ask for you to, got it?", "O' course, Mr. Barker-", "Its Sweeney Todd now." he shot James a glare. "Y-Yes, o' course." he replied.
The two finished their drinks and made their way back home. On the way, James asked firmly, "So wot were you an' Eleanor doing?" Sweeney looked at him weirdly. "We were just talking about that pig, judge Turpin and how he took my daughter." he growled.
The apothecary nodded, "Yeah, tha' ol' bastard needs to be taught a lesson, 'e does," they kept walking, "She tell you we were married?" he asked, not looking at him. "I have a feeling she was going to before you came in." replied the barber.
He nodded his head again. They continued their walk in silence.
Fidgeting with her work dress as she paced up and down, Mrs. Eleanor Stewart watched her feet shuffle back and forth as worry began to consume her. Before a few days ago, Nellie had given up on all hopes of her old tenant returning from prison. Her husband nagged her about how he'd never come back, he always dampened her spirits about that.
Come to think of it, she thought to herself. 'E never really liked It when I talked 'bout Ben a'toll. Ignoring this little fact, she continued her pacing. Nellie was sure Sweeney could no doubt knock James out with a second thought, but the man did put up quite a fight, so really they were equally matched.
"Still," the baker thought aloud to herself. "its no' good for either o' 'em to come 'ome with a shiner." Just when she was about to go out looking for them, she heard the chimes of her front door opening in the shop/
She ran out of the parlor to see the two come through the door, side by side, both unscathed except for the damage of before.
Letting out a yelp of joy, Nellie ran, practically tackled, the barber and wrapped her arms around him. Sweeney's eyes widened in alarm as he glanced down at the baker, who buried her face in his chest.
"I'm so glad you're alrigh'," she muttered, her words being muffled. He glanced beside him to see James clenching his fists in anger. Sweeney took Nellie by the shoulders and pulled her back to look her in the eyes.
She paused for a moment, looking up at him in relief, then suddenly the awkwardness of the position had hit her as she shoved herself back away from him. "A-Are you a-alrigh'?" she asked, looking at the ground in embarrassment.
"Yes." they both replied in union. A painfully awkward silence filled the room when Nellie was suddenly hit with a realization. "Oh! Mr. T! I almos' fergo'!" she said excitedly, rushing past the two and out the door.
Half way up the stairs, she stopped and turned to see both men staring at her confusedly. "Well, Come on, then!" she motioned for them to follow her as she continued her way up the stairs.
James and Sweeney turned to face each other and exchange confused expression, then quickly following the baker.