EPIPHANY:

ANTHONY: Mr. TODD!

TODD (Shouting): Out!

MRS. LOVETT: What is it now, dear?

TODD: I had him — and then ...

MRS. LOVETT: ....down the stairs

TODD (Interrupting, sings):

I had him!

His throat was bare

Beneath my hand — !

MRS. LOVETT (Alarmed, pacifying): There, there, dear. Don't fret.

TODD:

No, I had him!

His throat was there,

And he'll never come again!

MRS. LOVETT:

Easy now.

Hush, love, hush.

I keep telling you —

TODD (Violently):

When?

MRS. LOVETT:

What's your rush?

TODD:

Why did I wait?

You told me to wait!

Now he'll never come again!

(Music becomes ferocious. TODD's insanity, always close to the surface, explodes finally)

There's a hole in the world

Like a great black pit

And it's filled with people

Who are filled with shit

And the vermin of the world

Inhabit it —

But not for long!

They all deserve to die!

Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett,

Tell you why:

Because in all of the whole human race, Mrs. Lovett,

There are two kinds of men and only two.

There's the one staying put

In his proper place

And the one with his foot

In the other one's face —

Look at me, Mrs. Lovett,

Look at you!

No, we all deserve to die!

Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett,

Tell you why:

Because the lives of the wicked should be —

(Slashes at the air)

Made brief.

For the rest of us, death

Will be a relief—

We all deserve to die!

(Keening)

And I'll never see Johanna,

No, I'll never hug my girl to me —

Finished!

(Turns on the audience)

All right! You, sir,

How about a shave?

(Slashes twice)

Come and visit

Your good friend Sweeney — !

You, sir, too, sir —

Welcome to the grave!

I will have vengeance,

I will have salvation!

Who, sir? You, sir?

No one's in the chair —

Come on, come on,

Sweeney's waiting!

I want you bleeders!

You, sir — anybody!

Gentlemen, now don't be shy!

Not one man, no,

Nor ten men,

Nor a hundred

Can assuage me —

I will have you!

( To MRS. LOVETT)

And I will get him back

Even as he gloats.

In the meantime I'll practice

On less honorable throats.

(Keening again)

And my Lucy lies in ashes

And I'll never see my girl again,

But the work waits,

I'm alive at last

(Exalted)

And I'm full of joy!

(He drops down into the barber's chair in a sweat, panting)

MRS. LOVETT (Who has been watching him intently): That's all very well, but all that matters now is him! (She points to the chest. TODD still sits motionless. She goes to him, peers at him) Listen! Do you hear me? Can you hear me? Get control of yourself. (She slaps his cheek. After a long pause, TODD, still in a

half-dream, gets to his feet)