An Inspector Calls

Well, a very good dinner, Sibil!

Tell cook from me.

Absolutely first class.

- Arthur, you're not supposed

to say such things!

Come come, I'm treating

Gerald like one of the family.

I'm sure he won't object.

- Go on Gerald, just do object.

No I wouldn't dream of it.

In fact, I insist on being

one of the family now.

I've been trying long enough, haven't I?

Well haven't I? You know I have!

- Of course she does!

Yes, except for all last summer

when you never came near me

and I wondered what had happened to you

And I've told you. I was awfully busy...

- Yes, that's what you say

Now Sheila, stop teasing him

When you're married you'll realize

that men with important work to do

sometimes have to spend all their

time and energy on their business.

You'll get used to it, just as I had to.

I don't believe I will.

So you be careful. - Oh, I will, I will.

I'll never let business

interfere with pleasure.

What's the joke, Eric?

I dunno.

I suddenly felt I had to laugh.

I'm sure you're squiffy.

- I tell you I'm not.

The words you girls pick up these days!

If you think that's the best

she can do, mother...

Don't be a fool, Eric.

- Now stop it, you two.

Arthur, what about that toast of yours?

- Oh, yes, of course

Well, here's wishing the pair of

you best that life can bring

Yes, Gerald

Yes, Sheila darling

Our love, and very best wishes.

Eric!

- Ah? Oh!

Yes, all the best!

She's got a filthy temper sometimes,

but as a sister she's not bad really.

Well I can't drink to this, can I?

When do I drink?

- You can drink to me.

Alright then.

I drink to you, Gerald.

- Thank you.

And I drink to you.

I hope that I can make you

as happy as you deserve.

You be careful or I'll start weeping.

Perhaps this will help you to stop it.

You've got it!

It's the one I wanted!

- Very one.

Steady the buffs!

It's wonderful.

Look mommy, isn't it a beauty?

Now I really feel engaged!

- So you should. It's a beautiful ring.

Take care of it. - I'll never let it

out of my sight for an instant.

And I'll never let you out

either, business or no business.

You know, I'm delighted

about this engagement.

Take my word for it, when you two marry

you'll be marrying at a very good time.

A time of steadily increasing

prosperity and progress.

I believe you're right.

Well what about war?

-War?

Fiddlesticks! The Germans

don't want war, nobody wants war!

There's too much at stake these days.

Everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Yes I know, but still there's...

- I say there isn't a chance of war!

When you're living in 1912,

you've got to think like 1912

Why, the world is developing so

fast it'll make war impossible.

Yes, of course dear.

Now don't keep Gerald in here too long.

Eric, I want you a minute.

Sheila dear, go on

into the drawing room.

I want to have a private word

with Eric. -Alright, mother.

It's about time someone

had a word with him.

Poor old Gerald. If only he knew.

Eric dear, don't mind

what I'm going to say,

But if I were you I shouldn't have

involved a drink tonight.

I'm perfectly alright mother.

Yes of course you are darling,

I'm not saying you aren't

But on a celebration like

this one gets excited.

Sometimes one doesn't notice

how much one is taking.

I only had a couple of glasses, mother.

I dare say! That's quite enough for a

boy of your age, you're not used to it.

Look at your waistcoat,

you've spilled something on it

And be careful - Don't worry, mother

Have a cigar. - No, thank you.

Help yourself. - Thank you.

There's something I'd like to mention,

I've got an idea that your

mother, Lady Croft, well,

she doesn't, er, object to my girl,

feels that you might be doing

better for yourself socially.

Oh no Sir I'm sure you

- Oh no Gerald, that's quite alright.

She comes from an old

county family and it's only natural.

But what I wanted to say is...

There's a fair chance of my

getting into the next honours list.

Oh, I say, congratulations!

It's a bit too early for that yet,

so don't say anything

But I've had a hint or two.

I gather there's a very

good chance of a knighthood.

So long as we behave ourselves...

and don't get into the

police courts, ahahahahaha

What's that about police courts?

- Nothing, just a little joke, hehe!

Doesn't seem very funny to me.

I was just telling Gerald that now

that he and Sheila are engaged,

we must all behave ourselves.

No scandals, no monkey business

You seem a nice, well-behaved

family to me. - We think we are.

Mister Berling.

Yes?

My name's Poole. Inspector Poole.

- What's the meaning of this?

There's a front door, you know!

I want to talk to you Mister Birling,

I thought I'd find you here.

Very bright of you, I'm sure!

People usually are in the

dining room at dinner time!

Oh well, now you're here,

where's the warrant?

Oh there's no warrant, Mister Berling

Well what is it then?

I'd like some information

if you don't mind.

You'd better sit down.

Thank you.

Well?

About two hours ago a young

woman died in the infirmary.

She'd been removed there this

afternoon after taking poison.

It's believed some strong disinfectant

How horrible!

- Yes, it wasn't a pleasant sight.

Suicide? - Well then, of course

we don't know yet, for certain.

They did everything they could

for her in the infirmary, but she died.

But I don't understand why

you've come here, inspector?

Like a lot of young these women

who get into various kinds of trouble,

she used more than one name.

But her original name, her real name

was Eva Smith. - Eva Smith?

- Yes.

Do you remember her,

mister Berling? - NooO

But I seem to remember having

heard that name somewhere.

Eva Smith.

But it doesn't convey anything to me.

I don't see where I

come into this, inspector.

But she was employed in your

works, Mister Birling.

Oooh, that's it! Well, of course.

We've got several hundred young

women there. They keep changing.

Ah, but this young woman Eva Smith

was a bit out of the ordinary.

I found a photograph of

her in the lodgings.

Perhaps, uh, perhaps this

will help you to remember.

Any particular reason

why we shouldn't see this

young woman's photograph, inspector?

There might be.

You recognize her now,

don't you, Mister Berling?

Yees!

I remember her.

She was one of my employees.

It must've been the Autumn of 1910.

About the time we opened

our new machine shop.

Yeah, she was out of the ordinary.

An intelligent, good-looking girl.

If fact, the foreman told

me he was ready to

promote her to what they call a....

a leading operator.

Head of a small group of girls.

See them? Quite a bit of spirit.

I didn't know then that

she was a troublemaker.

It's only the girls in the

lath machine job isn't it?

Not the whole boiling?

-Only the women, sir.

How many of them are coming up?

A deputation of five, sir.

-Right, you'd better show 'em in.

-Right, sir.

I understand you're dissatisfied with

the money you're getting here.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes