An Inspector Calls Page #4

drinking rather a lot, but...

And this is the moment

you choose to tell me?

I've been trying to persuade

Eric to go to bed, but he won't.

Now he says that you told him to wait.

Did you?

- Yes, yes I did. -Why?

I want to talk to him.

Well I suggest you do

it now and get it over

I'm sorry, I can't today.

Now look here inspector...

- He must wait his turn.

I don't like your tone, or the way

you're conducting this inquiry!

I don't propose to give

you much more rope.

You needn't give me

any rope, Mister Birling.

Please father, please be careful!

What is the matter with that girl?

She's overexcited and

behaving most stupidly.

Now come along inspector,

what is it you want to know?

Well Missus Birling, as I told you

Eva Smith had to leave Millwood's

because your daughter compelled him

to discharge her.

After that she stopped being Eva

Smith and became Daisy Renton.

When did you first get

to know her, Mister Croft?

Where did you get the

idea that I did know her?

No, it's no use, Gerald.

- Alright.

I met her first sometime in March

last year at the palace theater.

Sheila, are you sure

you want to hear this?

Why don't you leave us?

- Because I want to understand.

Don't you see how important it is to

both of us that I should understand?

What's the matter, Mister Croft?

Sorry, I suddenly realized...

I'm taking it improperly

that she's dead.

Probably between us we killed her.

Don't talk nonsense!

Go on, Mister Croft. You met her

at the Palace variety theater.

I'd seen the only act I wanted to see,

and that was bad

so I went down to

the bar to get a drink.

The Palace bar has, I understand,

an unsavoury reputation.

Yes, it's the favorite front of uh,

women of a certain sort.

Women of a certain sort?

Here in Bromley?

Yes, Missus Birling. I'm afraid that even

Bromley is not entirely free from...

from that sort of thing.

I think it would be better if Sheila

didn't listen to this at all.

I'm determined to listen to it, mother.

I explained why.

Go on, Gerald.

You went down into the bar...

I take it you're not a friend of Gerald Maggoteth?

- Gerald Maggoteth? - No, obviously not.

That was the amorous gentleman

you were talking to.

He seemed part of a man before me.

He just came and sat down.

How on earth did you

get in such a place?

I came to see the manager to bite a job.

He told me to wait there.

And the manager didn't come?

No. Did you know him?

- Slightly.

Would you like me to

try and find him for you?

Sure, you want the job then?

No, no not in there.

Selling programs or something.

Ah, I see. You stay here and I'll try

and find him for you.

What's the matter?

Nothing. I'm alright.

- Come and sit down.

Are you ill?

- No, I'm alright. It's just...

I think perhaps I may be a tiny bit

faint, and it's been getting to me...

How many meals have you had today?

- Oh, I've had a lot of meals.

What'd you have for lunch?

Dinner? What'd you have for dinner?

I had dinner alright. - What?

WHAT?

Well, I....

- You had no dinner.

Come on now, be honest.

You had no dinner, now did you?

No, I suppose not really.

- And breakfast?

Oh yes, I had breakfast. - What?

I had a cup of tea.

- A cup of tea!?

Here, take my arm.

Oh. Thank you.

Where're you taking me to?

- Come on.

That was wonderful.

- What would you like now?

Nothing, thank you. - A knife?

- No thank you.

Coffee? - No really, I couldn't.

The bill please, waiter.

You know, you must've been

a terribly bad cad

to have to get sacked from

both your jobs so quickly.

Perhaps I was.

No, I don't think I was.

I sure you weren't.

It was just bad luck.

Perhaps it was.

- What'd you do then?

Ooh, nothing very much.

A few odd things, I managed.

Were you born in Bromley?

- No, I was born in the country.

My father worked on a farm.

I lived there 'till I was fifteen.

I loved it there, the country.

Why did you leave?

- I wanted to better myself.

Oh, oh I'm so sorry.

I don't know why I feel so sleepy.

It's horrid of me when you've

been so nice to me.

Not a bit. It's the food and the wine.

I'll see you home. - Oh, no it doesn't

matter though, really. - Oh yes it does!

Wouldn't want any more

Alderman Maggoteths.

Come on.

I've never been in a cab before.

Well, when you're a very old lady

you'll be able to tell your grandchildren.

March the 18th, 1911.

You'll say,

"That's the day I travelled in a cab"

Teehee. With the famous Gerald Croft.

The old Croft of Bromley by then.

This is Osmand Street, sir.

Any particular number?

What number, Daisy?

- Oh, this'll do beautifully.

Good night Gerald, and thank you.

I said I was going to see you to

your front door and I meant it.

Now, which house is it?

- No, don't bother, I'm alright.

I insist on bothering.

I don't leave a lady

standing in the street

in the middle of the night.

Now what is the number?

Well I don't really live on

Osmand street itself, it's

it's just around the corner. Good night.

I said I was gong to

see you to your front door.

Will you wait there, cabbie?

- Bravo, sir.

Is this the corner? - No, the next one.

Gerald, don't come with me!

- But why not?

Well....

Daisy, tell me the truth.

Well I... I don't really exactly

live anywhere at the moment...

I was hoping to stay

with a friend of mine.

I was turned out of my room,

I couldn't pay the rent.

I was hoping to stay with a girl I knew.

It's too late now, I can't wake up

the house at this time of night.

But I'll be perfectly alright.

It'll be getting light soon, and...

I'll just walk around...

Thank you Gerald. Goodbye.

Will you wait a moment please, cabbie?

- Alright, sir.

Now I'll tell you what actually

is going to happen.

We live, my family and I, in

the country about 15 miles out,

so I keep a little flat here in Bromley.

It's yours until you get

fixed up with another place.

When I say yours, I mean yours.

I shan't arrive unless I'm invited.

You really mean that?

- Yes.

What do you say?

Cabbie, will you drive to

7 Arcride Terrace, please?

That, madam, is I think all

I need tell you about this...

desirable residence.

It has of course constant cold water,

and every modern inconvenience.

Ah, here's the keys.

'A' is for this door here,

and 'B' is for the door downstairs.

Here're two sovereigns

for housekeeping money.

Oh, but I couldn't!

The flat must be kept up to its

accustomed style of living, Miss Renton.

Now, go and get 12 hours of sleep.

Look at this, we might consider the

possibility of three square meals a day

not forgetting tea.

hahahahahaha

Would you be coming here tomorrow?

-Yes, we'll have dinner together.

I'll be here a 7 sharp.

Thank you.

Good night.

Good night.

Miss Daisy Renton, I believe? - Quite right.

Would you be Mister Gerald Croft?

Not if I could possibly be anyone else

Can't talk until I get rid of this.

- What is it?

- You'll see.

Chicken, ham, fruit, everything.

And a bottle of wine.

Now, plates.

Hello, what's this?

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