An Inspector Calls Page #5

I thought we'd eat here too.

But this is wonderful!

We'll have two courses, a banquet!

You know what you've forgotten?

Corkscrew.

My hat, look at the time!

I've gotta go.

I shall only just catch that last train!

I have to run for it. Good night, Daisy.

Goodnight.

And so she became your mistress?

I suppose it was inevitable.

Were you in love with her?

I object to my daughter, a

young, unmarried girl,

being drawn into this affair.

Your daughter isn't living on the moon,

mother, she's here in Bromley.

Were you in love with her?

It's hard to say.

I suppose I didn't feel about her

the way she did about me.

Of course not.

You were the wonderful fairy prince.

You must've adored it, Gerald.

- Yes, I admit it.

I did for a time.

Almost any man would've.

That's about the best thing that

anyone's said here tonight.

At least it's honest.

Thank you, Gerald.

Is there anything else you

ought to know, inspector?

I don't think we want to know more

details of this... disgusting affair.

I'm afraid I do, Missus Berling. I'll have to

know the rest of the story, Mister Croft.

I've proceeded, I imagine,

along more or less conventional lines.

- Conventional?

There were no particular incidents.

I supported her,

though she would never

accept much money.

We were never seen together

in Bromley. She insisted on that.

But I saw her pretty

frequently at the flat...

Have you been out somewhere?

- Yes.

Theater.

Was it good?

- It was alright.

What'd you do today?

Daisy, I don't know how to

tell you this, but I...

I've simply got to talk to you.

No, don't you talk.

It's impossible for you,

let me do the talking.

Just tell me if I go wrong.

Daisy, this isn't fair!

- No, leave it to me.

This's got to end.

It's wrong for both of us.

It's better.

You were never really in love with me,

you know, just...

just sorry for me,

and that's not quite the same thing.

And perhaps...

I was never really in love with you.

Just very grateful.

I've always known it would

have to end, so it's no shock.

even when we were happiest

together having fun,

I was always a little unhappy too, it's

because I knew it would have to end.

The only thing I didn't know was when.

Have you found someone else?

Yes.

- Then I must leave tomorrow.

You don't have to go as quickly as-

- No, I'll go tomorrow. She might find

out I was here

I'll pack and go as soon as I

possibly can. - Please stop it, Daisy.

I know you're only trying to make

it easier for me, but it's horrible.

I'll leave some money for you.

- No, no, I don't need any money.

Please take it Daisy,

I couldn't bear it if you didn't.

It's just something to keep you

going until you get a decent job.

Oh, don't worry about me.

I'll get a job.

- You sure?

- Yes, I'm quite sure.

Goodbye Gerald, please go quickly now.

No, no. Please.

I'm afraid that's all I can tell you.

Thank you, Mister Croft.

That's all I want from you.

In that case, if you'll excuse me,

I'd be glad if you'd let me go.

Go where, home? - No, I'd like to walk

around a bit if you don't mind.

Certainly Mister Croft

- Gerald.

I think you'd better take this.

I see.

- Oh, don't misunderstand me.

I don't dislike you as

I did half an hour ago.

In fact in some odd way I rather respect

you more than I've ever done before.

But this has made a difference.

You and I aren't the same people

who sat down to dinner here.

We shall have to get to know

each other all over again.

but you must understand that a lot of

young men... - No father, please.

Gerald knows what I mean.

- Yes, I know what you mean.

But I'm coming back, if I may.

- You may.

Well, let's hope that disposes of the

unfortunate girl.

I'm afraid not quite, Missus Birling.

You never showed that

photograph to Gerald, inspector.

It wasn't necessary.

Is that a photograph of the girl? - Yes.

I think you'd better have a look at her.

You recognize her?

- No, why should I?

You mean you don't choose to?

I meant what I said.

You're not telling me the truth,

Missus Birling. - I beg your pardon!

Now look here, inspector...

I won't have this!

I'm a public man!

I suggest, Mister Birling,

that public men

have responsibilities

as well as priviliges.

Yes, but you weren't told to come here

to talk to me about

my responsibilities.

Let's hope not,

but I'm beginning to wonder.

Does that meaning anything, Sheila?

It means that we've no excuse now

for putting on airs.

Father threw this girl out because

she asked for decent wages.

I did no such thing! I sacked her

because she was a troublemaker!

Well anyways, she was sacked.

I pushed her further out because I was

in a bad temper, and she was pretty

Gerald gives her the earth and then

drops her as soon as it suits him

And now you're pretending you don't

recognize her for herself!

Sheila, how dare do you! - Oh, I admit

I know why you should, but I

do very well know that you did

from the way you look!

Can't you see that

you're just making tours?

It's the door again.

- Gerald must've come back.

Unless your son has just gone out.

- Well I'll go and see.

Missus Birling, you are a member,

a very prominent member of the

Blumley women's charity

organization, aren't you?

Yes, I am. - And it's an organization

to which women

in distress may appeal

for help in various forms?

Yes, we've done a great deal of

work in helping deserving cases.

And there was a meeting of the

interviewing commitee, two weeks ago?

I daresay there was.

You know very well there was,

Missus Birling. You were in the chair!

And if I was?

What business is it of yours?

Was it Eric? - Must've been.

Did you go up to his room?

- Yes. And I called out on both landings.

Must've gone out. - Silly boy,

where could he have gone to? - Can't imagine.

He's in one of his excitable moods.

Anyway, we don't need him here

Oh, but we do need him here.

He's probably gone to cool off.

- I'm sure he'll be back soon.

You're sure? - Reasonably sure.

- He'll be back. - I hope so.

Why should you hope so?

I'll explain that when you've answered

my questions, Missus Birling.

You remember that Mister Croft

told us, quite truthfully I believe,

that he hadn't spoken to or

seen Eva Smith for the last 6 months

But Missus Birling spoke to her

and saw her only two weeks ago.

Mother did?

- Is this true?

Yes, quite true. - She appealed to

your organization for help.

Yes. - Did you give it? - No. - Why?

Why, Missus Birling?

She told me ridiculous,

incredible story.

An obvious lie.

Also, she was grossly impertinent.

Impertinent? - Yes.

That was one of the reasons that

prejudiced me against her case.

You admit being prejudiced against her?

Yes. -Mother, she's just died

a horrible death. -I'm very sorry.

I think she had only herself to blame.

Tell me, was it due to your influence

as the most prominent

member of the committee

that help was refused this girl?

- Possibly.

Come now Missus Birling.

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