An Inspector Calls Page #7

fare or get off my tram.

I am trying to pay my fare,

and you won't let me.

Right, I'm putting you

off the next stop.

Fares, please.

Two tickets please, I'll pay his fare.

You know, that was extraordinarily

kind of you. If I give you this

No, I haven't got 19 and ten pence

change either. It doesn't matter.

Of course it matters. It's just these

little things that do matter.

By the way, where are we?

- Turning into Elmerbridge Road.

This is where I get out.

So do I. I always get out

somewhere on Elmerbridge Road.

That's just silly.

No madam, I insist. This's the only

place open here where I can get change

and pay my debt. And I have no doubt

I have no doubt that we shall find

something very very delicious to eat.

You're hungry, I'm hungry...

And you're hungry? -Yes.

Yes, well there you see,

everybody's hungry! Except him.

Hello my good friend!

Now just a minute, I want to

see if I got this shipping order right.

Now, let's have it again.

????????????????,

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two penny worth of chip four times and

here's your money.

Now, what's yours?

Goodnight, princess.

I shall have 8 penny worth of them both.

That guarantees me the

right kind of change.

'Birling the Businessman', they call me.

Oh, you are Mister Birling?

- Eric, but that too.

I worked there once.

Did you?

I work there now.

Well what happened to you?

- I got the sack.

Hmm, they didn't have a sack for me

where I slept.

And I'm so bored all day that I have to

go out with the boys at night

otherwise I'd go balmy.

Yes of course I am a balmy

I just don't know it.

Here you are.

Ah, your tuppence, thank

you very, very much.

And now with the compliments of the

Birling esquire some delicious chish and fips.

And now, I shall see you home.

I shall see you home!

Good night, monsieur de restauranteur!

Well I'll say you are balmy!

Well, this is it.

Well if you don't mind me saying so,

Now you go home like a good boy.

Good night.

But I'm not a good boy.

I'm a bad boy.

Eric, or little bundle.

Well give me a kiss, then I'll go home.

Alright, then. Just one.

Now off you go, you'll get wet soon.

You know, you've disappointed me.

I'm very, very sad.

You really must go home.

I'll tell you a secret.

I don't go home.

Not yet.

I must sober up first.

I really ought to have something to eat.

Because I'm very hungry, it's cold,

and I'm tired, and...

It's wet.

And a nice girl wouldn't turn a dog

away on a night like this.

Alright then,

but do be good.

Try to be sensible.

I won't breathe.

And so you stayed for a hour or two

- Yes.

And then you met her again. -Yes.

In fact you met her lots of... -Yes!

Until one night she told you

that something had happened.

Yes.

What did she tell you had happened?

Oh for heaven's sake,

leave me alone, all of you!

Oh don't you start on me too!

Eric! - Oh stop it, stop it

I tell you! All of you!

What did she tell you?

Come on boy, out with it!

What is it, Eric?

No, I couldn't be mistaken.

Sorry Eric, but I'm quite sure.

I'm glad you said that.

I was hoping you would.

But I can't marry you Eric,

it wouldn't be right.

You see, you don't love me,

you were lonely.

So was I, that's all

it ever amounted to.

No, I don't know what I'm gonig to do.

But you haven't got any money.

How?

Promise me you won't do anything silly.

I know you don't want

to let me down, but

you mustn't do anything stupid.

Oh, hello boy. Got no work to do?

Yes I have, father... - Well, you'd

better get on with it, haven't you?

I wanted to talk to you

about something though.

I'm very busy just now, can't it wait?

It's rather urgent, I'm afraid.

- Well, well, what is it?

Come to ask you for a rise, father.

A rise? Good heavens boy,

you're getting 30 bob a week!

What more do you want at your age?

- I'm 25.

Other chaps my age get

more than that. Gerald, for instance.

Yes, well Gerald's a good deal older

and a good deal more responsible.

Anyway, I don't like to see young men

having a lot of money to waste.

I can't manage on it, father.

- Can't manage on it?

You've got nothing to spend

it on as far as I can see

you live at home, you've got everything

-I've got debts, father

Debts?

Well let me tell you something. I'm not

going to pay your debts or anybody else's

You can save up and pay your own debts.

Or tell whoever you owe the

money to to whistle and wait for it.

It's a matter of honour, father.

- Oh, so that's it, is it?

A debt of honour? Betting, horses, eh?

Well I'll tell you something else!

I'm not gonna hand

over this firm's money

to a lot of bookmakers and that's flat!

You got into this mess,

and you'll get out of it!

And it'll teach you a good lesson!

We'll talk about that rise when you've

learned a bit of common sense!

Well? Come on, out with it!

I was the father of the child, so

it was up to me to stand by her

as best I could.

What did you do?

I gave her some money,

as I said I would.

How much?

A suppose about 50 pounds, all told.

- 50 pounds!?

Where did you get 50 pounds from!?

- From the office, father.

From my office!?

- Yes.

You stole it!

No, I went around to one or two

of the firm's small debtors and

collected their accounts in cash and

gave them the receipt without

a carbon copy in the book.

Pocketed the money! Pinched it!

- Not really.

I intended to pay it back

- And you will pay it back.

You'll pay it back if you work for

nothing for the rest of your life!

50 pounds! I've a very good

mind to give you in charge!

I'm not sure it rests

with you, Mister Birling.

Your son may have commited

a criminal offense.

Criminal...

You mean...

Police courts? Papers?

No, inspector! No!

That's scarcely your attitude of

a few minutes ago, Missus Birling.

Why didn't you come to me when

you found yourself in this mess?

Because you're the last person in the world

anyone could go to when they're in trouble.

Your trouble is that

you're being spoiled!

You can divide the responsibility

between you after I've gone.

Now, the girl really knew that

the money you were giving her

was stolen, didn't she? -Yes.

Yes, that was the worst part.

She wouldn't take any more

and she didn't want to see me again.

But how did you know

that, did she tell you?

No. No, I never spoke to her.

She told mother.

- Sheila!

Well he has to know.

She told you? When did she come here?

Well don't just stand there, tell me!

Tell me what happened!

I'll tell you.

She applied to your mother's committee for help

and your mother refused that help.

Then you killed her!

She came to you to protect me,

and you turned her away!

You killed her! And the child!

My child!

You killed them both!

Eric, please! I didn't understand.

You don't understand anything.

You never did! - Eric, don't!

Please.

Inspector,

is there bound to be an inquiry?

Or can all this be forgotten?

People have short

memories, Mister Birling.

I'm not likely to forget it.

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