An inspector calls

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Gerald: (lightly) Sure to be. Unless Eric’s been up to something. (nodding confidentially to Birling.) and that would be awkward, wouldn't it? Birling: I'm convinced it is. No police inquiry. No one girl that all this happened to. No scandal.

Mrs Birling: that – I consider – is a trifle impertinent, Inspector. // Sheila gives short hysterical laugh// Now, what is it, Sheila? Gerald: I'm sorry, Sheila. But it was all over and done with, last summer. I hadn't set eyes on the girl for at least six months. I don't come into this suicide business. Gerald: So if that's the only obstacle, sir, I think you might as well accept my congratulations now.Gerald: Yes. I met a police sergeant I know down the road. I asked him about this Inspector Goole and described the chap carefully to him. He swore there wasn't any Inspector Goole or anybody like him on the force here. Sheila: And Eric's absolutely right . And it's the best thing any one of us has said tonight and it makes me feel a bit less ashamed of us. You're just beginning to pretend all over again. Sheila: yes, and it was I who had the girl turned out of her job at Milwards. And I'm supposed to be engaged to Gerald. And I'm not a child , don't forget. I've got a right to know. Were you in love with her, Gerald?

Sheila: That's what I mean, Eric. But if it's any comfort to you – and it wasn't to me – I have an idea – and I had it all alone vaguely – that there was something curious about him. He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector- Inspector: (sternly to them both) You see, we have to share something. If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt. Gerald: (with an effort) Inspector, I think Miss Birling ought to be excused any more of this questioning. She'd nothing more to tell you. She's had a long exciting and tiring day – we were celebrating our engagement, you know – and now she's obviously had about as much as she can stand. You heard her. Inspector: and you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things?Birling: (cutting in) Just a minute, Sheila. Now, Inspector, perhaps you and I had better go and talk this over quietly in a corner-- Birling: ( terrified now) Look, Inspector, you're not trying to tell us that – that my boy – is mixed up in this-? Birling: (angrily) Drop that. There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did – it turned out unfortunately, that's all-- Sheila : ( gaily, possessively ) I should jolly well think not, Gerald , I'd hate you to know all about port – like one of these purple-faced old men. Birling: ( with a marked change of tone) Well, of course, if I’d known that earlier, I wouldn't have called you officious and talked about reporting you. You understand that, don't you, Inspector? I thought that – for some reason best known to yourself – you were making the most of this tiny bit of information I could give you. I'm sorry. This makes a difference. You sure of your facts?

Birling: yes, yes. But I see no point in mentioning the subject – especially - (indicating Sheila.) Sheila: Yes, but it didn't seem to be anything very terrible at the time. Don't you understand? And if I could help her now, I would ---Eric: (shouting) And I say the girl's dead and we all helped to kill her – and that's what matters - Birling: (angrily) Inspector, I've told you before, I don't like the tone nor the way you're handling this inquiry. And I don't propose to give you much rope. Birling: (noticing that his wife has not taken any) Now then, Sybil , you must a take a little tonight . Special occasion, y'know, eh?

Eric: (sitting down) Yes, please. (takes decanter and helps himself.) mother says we mustn't stay too long. But I don't think it matters. I left'em talking about clothes again. You'd think a girl had never any clothes before she gets married. Women are potty about 'em. Birling: (eagerly) Now wait a minute! Let's see how that would work. Now- (hesitates) no, it wouldn't. Sheila: but you're forgetting I'm supposed to be engaged to the hero of it. Go on, Gerald. You went down to the bar, which is a favourite haunt of the women of the town. Gerald: I happened to look in, one night, after a long dull day , and as the show wasn't very bright, I went down to the bar for a drink. It's a favourite haunt of women of the town -- Mrs Birling: I'll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility.

Birling: (angrily) Yes, and you don't realize yet all you've done. Most of this is bound to come out. There'll be a public scandal. Sheila: I've told my father – he didn't seem to think it amounted to much – but I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Did it make much difference to her? Birling: ( rather impatiently ) Yes, yes. Horrid business . But I don't understand why you should come here, Inspector – Inspector: (massively taking charge) allow me, Miss Birling. (to Gerald.) I can tell you why Miss Birling wants to stay on and why she says it might be better for her if she did. A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony – hating life – Birling: No, because by that time you'd admitted you'd been taking money. What chance had I after that? I was a fool not to have insisted upon seeing him alone.