I do not own Sweeney Todd
It had been a week since Ellie's visit to the judge. The next morning, Turpin sent Ellie another letter, saying he was sorry if he frightened her, but he simply wanted to help her. Ellie replied with a short letter assuring him that she would certainly think over his offer.
Over the week Todd's business picked up, he killed strangers, the homeless, people no one would miss, and let a few of his costumers go, so they might spread the news of him fine work. Soon he began to kill them to, and Mrs. Lovett's pies were better than ever, they tested them on Toby.
Soon came the grand re-opening of Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Emporium, Toby worked his hands to the bone readying the shop, since Mrs. Lovett had taken the boy in, he had begun to look at her as a mother figure. The renovated shop was based around Ellie's ideas, a new outdoor eating area, the ceilings decorated with birds in cages and potted plants. The day before the opening, Ellie was up on a step stool feeding the birds, when Beatle Bamford startled her.
"Goodness sir, you gave me quite a fright." She stepped down from the stool, "Not my intention Miss. Todd, but I come with a message from Lord Judge Turpin. He grows impatient, miss." Ellie nodded understandingly, "Tell the judge I am terribly sorry but, I simply could not abandon my father at this time, with business just starting to pick up he will need me more than every sir."
The rodent looking man nodded, "I will deliver your message, have a nice day Miss. Todd."
Ellie nodded and shuttered, she was going to have to start speaking to the judge once more if she was to keep him from growing bored. "What did the Beetle want Miss Ellie?" Toby asked, carrying a heavy looking potted plant, "Nothing Toby, are you excited for tonight?" she asked.
"Yes'm, there should be a big crowd tonight, Mrs. Lovett's pies are the best I ever had." He practically bounced. Ellie smiled, he was such a sweet boy, a tad simple maybe, but kind. However he seemed wary of Sweeney.
Soon night had come and crowds began to gather, and pretty soon, the entire restaurant was packed, people waiting in a line that stretched outside and down the street, people spilling out of the building, and all of them munching and chewing the new and improved meat pies.
They had killed enough to the grand opening, and Sweeney waited patiently for more, Ellie beside him, "Mr. Todd" Toby clobbered up the steps, "It's a mad house down there! Mrs. Lovett says we need to borrow Miss. Ellie for a bit."
Ellie looked at her father who shooed her out of the room, "I can handle it from here." He said as she rushed down the stairs, Mrs. Lovett thrust a crisp white apron in her arms, which Ellie pulled over her Blue dress. "Welcome aboard Lovvie," she said cheerfully and handed the girl a large wooden platter, "Table seven, go!"
Ellie quickly zipped through the crowd, "Toby!" Nellie crowed, "Coming!" the boy called.
"S'cuse me." Ellie slipped between to rather fat men and doled out the pies to the table. "Ale there." Nellie handed them both pitchers of the drink. "Right mum!"
"Quick now!" Nellie smiled and chattered to the guests, "Nice to see you deary, how have you been keeping?" She sighed, "Core, me bones is weary."
"Ellie, one for the gentleman." Ellie passed a hot pie to a sharp dressed man. "Hear the birdies cheeping, helps to keep it cheery." She spotted a pale, ragged woman trying to sneak in, "Toby! Throw the ol' woman out!"
The boy chased to beggar out with a broom, as Ellie indulged the guests, "What's your pleasure dearie? No, we don't cut slices, Lord me eyes in bleary…" she stopped Toby about to pour a drunk man another drink, "Toby! None for the gentleman. We could up our prices, I'm a little leery, Business couldn't be better though."
"God that's good!" the crowd cheered, "Knock on wood." Nellie knocked on the wood table.
"What's my secret? Frankly dear, forgive my candor." Nellie sang, "Family secret, all to do with herbs, things like being careful with your coriander, that's what makes the gravy grander!"
"Eat them slow and feel the crust how thin she rolled it." The two servers sang, "Eat them slow cause everyone's a prize."
Ellie checked the stocks, they were completely out and she informed the baker." Eat them slow cause that's the lot and now we've sold it, come again tomorrow…"
"Hold it!" Nellie spotted a man headed toward Sweeney's shop. "Bless my eyes. Fresh supplies."
"How about it deary be? Be there in a twinkling…"
Ellie and Toby sang in tandem, "Is that pies fit for a king? A wondrous, sweet and most delectable thing? You see mum, why there's no meat pies."
"Toby! Throw the old woman out!"
"Psst." Ellie looked over and saw Westley from before. He made a waving motion at her to come over. Ellie looked over her shoulder and set down her tray then rushed after him out the back door and into the warm night air.
"Feeling better I hope." He smiled, "Much better thank you." Ellie nodded. "Would you like to go for a walk?" he offered his arm. She looked back at the crowded shop, "I… suppose a little break wouldn't hurt." She took his arm happily.
They wandered down the street and chatting, "Where are you from?" he asked, "I was from Antwerp, but my father wanted to move us here since he thought business would be better." Ellie explained. "So, want were you doing at the court house last week? Do you work there?" Ellie asked him. "I'm a clerk, I was just on my way home when I found you."
"Yes, I suppose you want an explanation for that?" she sighed, "Only if you want to." He said, turning a corner. "You look eerily familiar you know that?" he said, "I've been told, maybe I just have that kind of face." Ellie shrugged, "strange thing is, I haven't seen who you remind me of in six years." He mused.
"Who is she?" Ellie asked.
"Well, I was working as a messenger boy uptown, and I was friends with this girl, a ward to Judge Turpin's named Elinor Barker, and one day when I was delivering a message to his house and Elinor slipped me a note saying to meet her behind the kitchens in five minutes. So we met and we ended up kissing, she was fifteen and I was seventeen. And the Judge's friend Beetle Bamford caught us, he chased me off with his cane and dragged Elinor back into the house. I guess the Judge wasn't too happy because the next time I say her was a week later, and she was covered in bruises"
"That's awful" Ellie gasped, but it wasn't a gasp of shock it was a gasp of remembrance, how could she have not remembered her first kiss. "Yes, I was surprised when I found out she had died, but apparently she had run away from home. I guess it's not so shocking when you hear that part" Westley shook his head.
"Maybe she had a good reason…" Ellie said quietly, "Did you say something?" he asked and looked at her. Before she could answer an old woman ran up to them in a panic, "There!" she screamed, "There! Somebody, somebody look up there!" she pointed at the black smoke coming from Mrs. Lovett's chimney, "Didn't I tell you smell that air! City on Fire!"
She grabbed Westley's jacket in a panic, "Quick sir! Run and tell! Warn'em all of the witch's spell! There it is, there it is! The unholy smell! Tell it to the Beetle and Police as well!" Westley and Ellie hurried off down the street, the woman wailing after them, "Tell'em! Tell'em! Help! Fiend! City on Fire!"
Once the woman had gone they turned to face the smoke, "you know…" Westley covered his nose, "It does smell pretty bad."
Ellie suddenly became aware of how dark it was, "What time is it?" she asked, Westley pulled out a silver watch on a chain, "10:25, why?" Ellie frowned, "I have to go, I didn't realized it's been so long!" she hiked up her skirts, "Wait? When can I see you again?" he called after her, Ellie stopped, she realized she did want to see him again, and soon. But the plan… how would this effect the key reason she agreed to this madness?
"Briny Beach Tomorrow at three!" she called back, "Good bye" she rushed off, filled with exhilaration. She reached the shop and burst through the door.
"Ellie?! When have you been, I've been worried sick! You're lucky your father didn't realize you'd gone or e'd…" Ellie didn't hear her as she waltzed through the door and across the wood floor. "Ellie are you even listening to me?"
"huh?" Ellie stopped. "Alright. Who is 'e?" the baker brushed off her flour coated an apron. "Who is who?" Ellie smiled.
"Uh huh… alright" Nellie grinned, "it's late, you should get to bed." The young woman nodded and flitted up the stairs. Toby looked at the baker, "What was that about?"
"Oh don't you worry lad, she just finally being normal."