Sweeney Todd Prologue

Sweeney Todd- Prologue

I lay on my bed in the boat, in a deep slumber. Suddenly, I heard screaming. My door burst open. “Mr. Todd! Mr. Todd! We're here!” Anthony yelled. I got up fast. We were there. In London. After fifteen years of my suffering in prison, we were finally here. Here, In London. I thought to myself. This was surreal. It's 1785, and I am finally here. We got off the ship, me and Anthony, my shipmate, were on the streets of London. We both carried bags with us. I looked around, frightened. “Are you alright, Mr. Todd?” Anthony asked. “Yes, Anthony. This place has too many memories. They started out good, then got worse.” I replied.

“Care to explain?” said Anthony. “I suppose the face of a barber, the face of a prisoner, a dog, is not particularly memorable. It started in 1770, more like ended, in my case. I was a happy man, with a beautiful wife, a beautiful baby daughter, and a great job. I was a barber. All of that was taken away from me. By Roderick Turpin. A Judge. He sentenced me to a false charge, sent me to prison for 15 years. It was hell, prison was.” I explained. “Sir, do you know where your wife and daughter are?” Anthony asked. “No, I do not. I doubt if anyone would know.” I replied. “Will I see you around here, in London?” Anthony asked. “If you want to find me, look for me on Fleet Street. I might have a barber shop, but who really knows. Depends on who I find.” I said, hopeless. “Well, goodbye Mr. Todd.” Anthony replied. “Goodbye, Anthony.”

I walked about a mile to get to Fleet Street. The whole walk, I made up what could have happened to Lucy. She might be living in our old home, with Johanna, who would now be a young woman. She might have fallen in love with Judge Turpin, and be living with him and Johanna. I guess I'll find out when I find someone, if anyone knows. I came upon our old home. Near the roof, it said “Mrs. Lovett's Meat pies”. Well, that was odd. I walked inside, to find a woman with curly red hair out of her face, making pies. She was cutting dough of some kind. “A customer!” She nearly yelled. She walked fast towards me and sat me down. She brought me a meat pie and a drink. I tried the meat pie, it was revolting. The drink tasted sour. “Are you Mrs. Lovett?” I asked. “Yes, Nellie Lovett, the meat pie maker.” She replied. “Do you know Lucy Barker? Or Johanna Barker?” I asked. “Yes, I do. Who are you, sir?” She replied. “I'm Benjamin Barker. Lucy's husband, and Johanna's father. I have changed my name to Sweeney Todd. I've been in prison for fifteen years, can you tell me what has happened to them? Where are they? Where is my wife?” I asked. There was so many questions asked, and so many to be answered in return.

“Oh, this is a long story...” Nellie sighed.