I’m treating Gerald as one of the family, I’m sure he won’t object.
Go on, Gerald - Just you object.
You two have become quite inseparable.
Except for last summer of course when he hardly came near me.
well now, hang on, I had work to do. business is business my darling
You pressure him far too much sheila.
Yes well it’s just something he is going to have to get used to
Ha! Good luck, old boy. What port are we having father?
Ahh yes, it’s quite a nice port tonight, I believe it’s from the same place your
father gets them from Gerald.
Well, I don’t question your judgement on the matter, although I’m not very well acquainted
with the subject.
I should hope not, don’t want you turning into one of those purple faced old men.
Here, I’m not a purple-faced old man.
No, not yet. But then you don’t know all about port - do you?
Come now, Sybil, I think just a little tonight. after all It is a special occasion.
Yes, go on, mama. You must drink our health.
Oh very well, then. Just a little.
(Whispering)
All right, Edna. I’ll ring from the drawing room when we go through.
Yes, ma’am.
Now, Sheila, don’t tease him. You’ll realise once you’re married that men can’t be
distracted from their business. It’s something you will have to get used to.
I don’t believe I will. So you be careful.
Oh I most certainly will (Eric Laughs)
Now - what’s the joke?
I don’t know. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh.
You’re squiffy.
I'm not.
now, really Sheila!, The things you girls pick up these days!
I’d say they pick up a far side more than that.
Don’t be an arse, Eric.
stop it, you two. Arthur, what about this famous toast of yours?
Ah yes. I believe Having a little party, such as this, on such a special occasion, makes
it all the more important.
However it does make giving a speech all that more difficult.
Well. Don’t make one then. We’ll drink to their health and be done with the whole business
No, we won’t. Tonight is one of the happiest nights of my life.
And one day, Eric, maybe you will understand that.
Now Gerald, this engagement to our darling daughter Sheila means a tremendous amount to me.
She’ll make you happy, and I’m sure you’ll do the same for her.
Your father and I have been friendly business competitors
for a number of years
I know crofts limited is an older and bigger firm than Birling and Co.
But you have brought us together,
and I look forward to the day when not as competitors but as allies we work together.
Oh Arthur, really? Not the best time for business talk don’t you think?
Yes, I quite agree with mama on this one.
And I quite agree with you sir, and I dare say my father might agree as well.
Thank you Gerald. I just wanted to mention it in passing.
What I did want to say was - Sheila, you’re a very a lucky girl
and you’ve been very fortunate as well
I should say so, at least this once anyhow.
So here’s to wishing you both all the best in life. To Gerald and sheila
Yes, Gerald. Yes, Sheila darling. congratulations and very best wishes!
Thank you.
Eric!
All the best! She’s got a bit of a temper on her at times and can be quite a handful -
but she’s not too bad really. Good old Sheila!
How charming. I can’t drink to this, can I? When do I drink?
You can drink to me.
All right then. I drink to you,
And I drink to you - and I promise you I will do all I can to make you as happy as you deserve.
you be careful - or I’ll start weeping.
Well then, I can’t imagine this doing much good.
Oh - Gerald - you’ve got it - is it the one you wanted me to have?
Yes this is the one.
Oh - it’s wonderful! Look - mama - isn’t it beautiful? Oh - darling
steady the buffs.
I think it’s perfect. Now I really feel engaged.
And so you should darling. That was very clever of you, Gerald.
Now, Arthur, if you’ve no more to say, I think Sheila and I should withdraw to the
other room and leave you men-
I just want to say this.
Are you listening, Sheila? This concerns you too.
I’m sorry, papa. Actually I was listening.
I couldn’t be happier about this engagement.
And I will be very happy to walk my daughter down the aisle.
I just want to reassure you that with all this talk and concerns from us business owners
with the miners strike and labour troubles - I can safely say you’ve nothing to worry about.
You couldn’t be marrying at a better time.
I believe you’re right, sir.
What about war?
Yes Eric, I was just coming to that.
With all this nonsense being talked about the Kaiser and war,
I think we should just ignore it.
What matters is technology and transport.
With the Titanic set to sail in just five days to New York, That’s progress.
Take it from me, in a few years from now, this nonsense of war will be forgotten about.
Come now, Arthur, that’s quite enough of that talk for one night.
Yes, dear, I know - I’m talking too much. But you just remember what I said.
Quite right, dear. Well don’t keep Gerald in here too long.
Eric - I want you a minute.
Cigar?
No, thanks. Can’t quite enjoy them.
you don’t know what you’re missing. I like a good cigar.
Help yourself.
Don’t mind if I do, would you care for one?
Yes Thank you.
Cheers!
Now Eric, I don’t want you drinking too much tonight.
Are the others going to get this talk as well?
I don’t want you getting all squiffy and spoiling your sisters celebration,
it means a lot to her and to your father,
and nothing is going to ruin it for them.
I don’t suppose you are going to be doing this the rest of my life.
If only I could.
By the way, there’s something I’d like to mention while the women are out of the room.
I have an idea that your mother might have certain doubts towards my daughter
from a social standing point of view.
Oh I can’t imagine-
No, Gerald, I don’t blame her. She’s completely justified.
She comes from an old country family and so forth,
It’s Just that I’m rather hopeful of being included on the next honours list.
A Knighthood of course.
Oh - I say - that is very good news!
Well, it’s early days, But I am hopeful. you remember when I was Lord Mayor?
That Royal Visit? I think I made quite an impression
I dare say you must have, I can’t see those chances slipping away.
No as long as we behave ourselvess and don’t get in any trouble we don’t want a scandal
(Laughing)
Ah Eric, what did your mother want?
Oh nothing too important, I left ’em talking about clothes.
Can’t stand the subject.
I think we’re all with you there. clothes to women is like gold to dragons,
they just can’t get enough of it. (Laughs) -yes, quite right
(Door Bell Rings)
Well that’s enough lecturing for one night, let’s have one more drink and move through
to join the ladies
Sounds like a plan.
Please, sir, an Inspector’s called.
An Inspector? What kind of Inspector?
A police Inspector. He says his name’s Inspector Goole.
I don’t know him. Does he want to see me?
Yes, sir. He says it’s important.
Thank you Edna. Will you show him in here please?
Yes sir.
I’m still on the bench, I think it’s probably a warrant they want signing
Ah yes, nothing too serious I hope.
No I shouldn’t think so, Not at this hour.
Inspector Goole
Mr Birling?
Yes. Would you like a seat, inspector?
I’d rather stand if you don’t mind, Mr Birling.
Some sort of drink? A Port? Or a Whisky?
No, thank you, Mr Birling. I’m on duty.
You’re new, aren’t you?
Yes, sir. recently transferred.
I didn’t think I recognised you. I’ve been an alderman for a number of years
and the Lord Mayor two years ago - I know most of the Brumley policemen pretty well
Quite so.
Well, what can I do for you? Is there a problem with a warrant?
No, I’m afraid not, Mr Birling.
what is it then?
I’d like some information, if you don’t mind, Mr Birling.
Two hours ago a young girl died in the infirmary.
She was taken there this afternoon. Seems she’d drank quite a lot of strong disinfectant.
Burnt her insides out, of course.
My god!
Yes, she was in some agony for some time.
They did all they could for her but, unfortunately, she died.
Horrible business. But I don’t see why you would come here-
I’ve been round to the place that she had, seems she’d left a photo and a sort of diary.
Like a lot of young women who get into various kinds of trouble, she’d used different names.
But her first name - her original name - was Eva Smith.
Eva Smith?
Do you remember her, Mr Birling?
No, I can’t say I do -
Eva Smith sounds familiar. But I still don’t see what I have to do with this business.
She was employed in your works for some time
Ah - that’s the connection, hmm?
Well, we employ a lot of people at that site, a lot of young women
I can’t be expected to remember all of their names inspector
Well this particular young women, was out of the ordinary.
I found a photograph of her in her lodgings. Perhaps it may help to jog your memory.
Do you remember her now, Mr Birling?
I do. She used to be an employee, until I dismissed her.
Any particular reason why we shouldn’t see this photograph, Inspector?
All in good time. I like to take things slowly in my line of work
I find it helps to avoid any kind of muddle
Mr Birling, when exactly did you discharge Miss Eva Smith from your works?
Let me think - it was in the early autumn of 1910.
Yes. The end of September, 1910.
Look here, sir. Wouldn’t you rather that me and Eric were out of this?
You’re ok, Gerald. I’m sure the inspector won’t object either
I should say that this is Gerald Croft. His father is Sir George Croft, you know, of Croft’s Limited.
Mr Gerald Croft, eh?
I’m afraid you’ve caught us at rather an inconvenient time.
We’re having a minor celebration
for Gerald’s engagement to my daughter Sheila.
Well I’m afraid your celebrations are going to have to wait,
and, Mr Croft, if you don’t mind I’d like you to stay on for the time being.
Oh - well, yes. all right then.
Look - there’s nothing mysterious or suspicious about any of this business.
Well not at least as far as I’m concerned.
This happened eighteen months ago, and I don’t see how it affects this wretched girl’s suicide, Inspector.
I’m afraid I can’t agree with you there, Mr Birling
Well why not?
Because what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards,
and what happened to her afterwards may have driven her to her suicide.
Yes well putting it like that, I can see where you’re coming from.
But I can’t accept any responsibility.
If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d ever had anything to do with,
that would be an awkward thing, wouldn’t it?
Very awkward indeed.
Now, to this tiresome business. Eva Smith. I remember she was a lively girl.
Worked in our machine shop for about a year. She was a hard worker. I remember our foreman
was thinking of promoting her.
But we went on holiday, they went on holiday, in that august.
And when they came back they were all rather restless, they wanted a pay rise.
They’d been earning twenty-two and six a week, which is more or less what we pay in this industry
And they wanted it put up to about twenty five shillings a week.
I said no, of course
Why?
Why? Did you say ’why?’?
Yes. Why did you refuse?
Well, Inspector, I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours how I choose to run my business.
Do you?
Well Mr Birling, at this stage I think most things are my concern,
it is my duty to ask questions after all.
Well it’s my duty to keep labour costs down. And if I’d agreed to this rate demand
that would have added about twelve per cent to our costs.
If I had said yes to this one then there would have been a whole queue of them outside my door
asking for all sorts.
Does that satisfy you? So I refused.
We were paying the usual rates and if they didn’t like those rates, they could go somewhere else.
It’s a free country, I told them.
It’s not like you couldn’t spare the money.
Is that so?
Look - just you keep out of this. You hadn’t even started work when this happened.
So they went on strike. It didn’t last long.
Not if it was just after the holidays. They’d all be broke - if I know them.
Right, Gerald. They mostly were. And so was the strike, after a week or two.
Pitiful affair. I let them come back to work, On their original rates. Except for the ring-leaders,
four or five of them,
Eva Smith, being one of them. She had too much to say, so we let her go.
Well that seems very unfair to me. You could have kept them on instead of throwing them out.
I call it tough luck.
Rubbish Eric, you’ve still got a lot to learn about this business.
If you don't come down on these people sharply
they’ll soon be asking for the Earth.
Ah yes, but isn’t it better to ask for the Earth than to take it?
what do you mean by that?
Meaning it wouldn’t hurt to be on the giving end of things for a change now would it father?
I think you have had quite enough to drink.
Yes come on old boy. No need for all that.
If you’d kindly refrain from having your family disputes until after I have gone, I would very much like to move on.
What did you say your name was, Inspector?
Goole. G. Double O-L-E.
I must say you’re being very officious about this matter
Do you know the Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts?
Yes
Then I feel I ought to warn you I know him fairly well,
We play golf together at the West Brumley.
I don’t play golf.
Well, that’s a dam’ shame.
No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith.
Why shouldn’t she try for higher wages? After all, We try for the higher prices.
I Just don’t see why she should have been sacked
just because she’d a bit more spirit than the rest of them.
After all, You said she was a good worker. I’d have kept her on.
Unless you brighten up your ideas, you’re never going to be in a position to let anybody
stay or to tell them to go.
Well, I don’t see the need to keep the Inspector waiting with this
I don’t think we need to keep the Inspector waiting at all. I’ve told him all that I know
I told the girl to leave, and she went. I couldn’t have her disrupting my staff anymore.
I do agree with your father there, Eric.
Girls, like that on the work force do much more harm than good.
You can’t blame the girl for trying. After all, isn’t that what we’re all fighting for?
A chance for a better life?
Oh - sorry. I didn’t realise we had company.
Mother and I were wondering when you were coming through.
We’ll be along in a few minutes. We’re just finishing.
I’m afraid not.
There’s nothing else. I’ve told you that.
What’s going on?
It’s nothing for you need to worry about darling,
just a bit of unfortunate business between one of your father’s old employees.
What business? What’s happened?
I’m a police Inspector, Miss Birling.
This afternoon a young girl drank quite a lot of disinfectant, after several hours of agony,
She died tonight in the infirmary.
That’s horrible! Was it an accident?
No. she wanted to take her own life. She felt she could go on no longer.
I don’t see any reason why my daughter should be involved in this ghastly business.
I think there is every reasoning Mr Birling,
the sooner I finish my enquiry, the faster we can move on.
What enquiries? Will someone please tell me what’s going on.
The Inspector here believes that the reasons for this girl committing suicide
was because father discharged her from the work house.
Thank you Eric!
Did you, father?
Yes I did. She was causing trouble in the works. I was completely justified.
Yes, I‘d say you were too. we would have done the same thing.
Come on Sheila, don’t look like that.
Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about this girl destroying herself so horribly
and I’ve been so happy tonight.
Oh I wish you hadn’t told me. What was she like? Quite young?
Yes. Twenty-four.
Pretty?
She wasn’t this afternoon but she had been, yes - very pretty.
That’s enough.
Yes, quite right. I don’t know where this line of inquiry gets you, Inspector.
But it’s what happened to her after she left Mr Birling’s works that’s important.
Of which we can’t help you because we don’t know.
Are you sure you don’t know?
Are you suggesting that they’re something to do with this girl?
Yes.
So it’s more than just my father you’re here to see?
Yes.
Well, of course, if I’d known this earlier, I wouldn’t have said you were officious
or that I was going to report you. You do understand that, don’t you, Inspector?
This makes the difference. are you sure of your facts?
Some of them - yes.
Then, what more is there to ask us? As far as I’m aware, I've never known an Eva Smith.
Neither have I.
Was that her name? Eva Smith?
Yes it was.
Never heard it before.
So where does that leave you Inspector?
Same place as before, Mr Croft. As I told you -
like many young women these days, some of them change their name.
I think after Mr Birling sacked her she stopped being Eva Smith. I think she felt she’d had enough of it.
Can’t blame her.
I think it was a mean thing to do. Perhaps that spoilt everything for her.
That’s what I said.
Rubbish!
what happened to this girl after she left my works?
Well, she was out of work for another two months.
With both parents dead, she had no home to go back to.
And she hadn’t exactly saved much money working at Birling and company,
with what they were paying her.
And so, being out of work, no money coming in, and still living in lodgings,
I think she was feeling a little desperate.
I should think so. That poor girl.
I’m afraid that poor girl is one of many.
There are too many women living that sort of life in every city and town in the country.
If there weren’t, where would the factories and warehouses get their cheap labour from?
You should ask your father.
these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.
What happened to her then?
Well, as luck would have it, she found a job in a shop - a rather good shop - Milwards.
Milwards! We go there - in fact, I was there this afternoon
for your benefit.
Well yes, she was taken on at the beginning of December that year - 1910
it seems Milwards was short handed. So decided to give her a chance.
she seemed to like working there.
It made a change from working in a factory.
And she must have enjoyed working among the pretty clothes, no doubt.
And she felt like she was making a good fresh start.
And then she got herself into trouble there, I suppose?
She had been working there a couple of months. After having settled into her new job,
she was told that she would have to leave.
Oh that’s terrible, do you know why?
There was nothing wrong with the way she was working. They have admitted that.
There must have been something wrong.
All she knew was - that a customer had complained about her - so she had to go.
When was this?
It was the end of January - last year.
What did this girl look like?
If you’d like to come with me, Miss Birling, I can show you.
I say what is the matter with her?
She recognized the photograph, didn’t she?
Yes.
Why did you have to go upsetting the child like that?
I didn’t do it. She’s upsetting herself.
Well what on earth for?
That I don’t know - yet. But I intend to find out.
No, I’ll find out for myself.
Do you want me to go after her?
No, leave this to me. I must also have a word with my wife -
If it’s alright with the Inspector here.
This was supposed to be such a lovely evening.
One I had been looking forward to for quite some time.
Couldn’t this have waited until the morning Inspector, I hope you don’t mind me saying
that I think you have made rather a nasty mess of this night.
That’s more or less what I was thinking while I was down at the infirmary this evening.
looking down at the remains of Eva Smith.
Such a pretty little life there,
and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it.
I think I’d like to see that photograph now, Inspector.
All in good time.
I can’t see why -
-Mr Croft as I said before,
I like to take it one line of inquiry at a time.
If everybody is talking at once we won’t know where we are.
If you’ve something to say, you’ll have plenty of time to say it later.
I can’t imagine that I would have very much to say to you-
-sorry.
but during our little celebrations - I’ve had quite a lot to drink,
including quite a bit of champagne
so I’ve got quite a headache - and seeing how I’m only in the way here - I think I’ll turn in.
And I’d rather you stay.
Well how about you come get me when it’s my turn, eh?
as long as you don’t mind turning out again.
Getting a bit heavy-handed, are we, Inspector?
Possibly. But you’ll find if you’re easy with me, I’m easy with you.
After all, we are civilised people and not criminals.
Sometimes I find it difficult to distinguish between the two. Often, if it was left to me,
I think I might need help on where to draw the line.
Well, it’s a good thing it isn’t left up to you then, isn’t it?
Well...
Miss Birling?
You knew it was me all along, didn’t you?
I had a good idea that it might be - something the girl herself wrote.
I’ve told father, but he didn’t seem to think it amounted to much -
I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel worse.
Did it make much difference?
I’m afraid it did. It was the last real steady job she had.
When she lost it -
for no reason that she could discover -
she decided to try a different kind of life.
So I’m really responsible?
Now Sheila, let’s not jump to conclusions.
No, not entirely. A great deal happened to her after that. But you’re partly to blame.
Just like your father.
Now steady on Inspector.
No Gerald, darling. It’s quite alright.
what did Sheila do?
I went to the manager at Milwards and I said that if they didn’t get rid of that girl,
I’d never go near the place again
and I’d persuade mother to close our account with them.
And what had brought on this disliking towards her?
I was in a bad temper.
And was it the girls’ fault?
No, not really. It was my fault.
Now Sheila don’t be so hard on yourself, I’m sure it wasn’t entirely your fault.
Don’t try and play it down like that Gerald,
I know what you’re thinking. I’m trying to tell the truth.
I’m sure you have plenty that you’re ashamed of too.
Well, I never said I hadn’t. But I can’t see what that -
Never mind about that now. You can settle that amongst yourselves afterwards.
Then what happened?
I went in to the store to try on something I had in mind.
It was my idea and I was quite excited about it.
Mother had advised me against it but I didn’t listen. Although now I wish I had.
Anyway when the girl brought the dress up, the assistant asked her something.
And to show us what she meant,
she held it in front of her as if she was wearing it, and it just suited her.
I knew then that it was a bad idea, because it was a dress for a pretty girl,
clearly not right for me.
So you might say that you were jealous of this girl and the way she looked.
Yes I suppose so.
When I tried the thing on and looked at myself in the mirror - I knew that it was all wrong.
I caught her smiling at the assistant - as if to say ’doesn’t she look awful’ -
and I was absolutely furious.
I was then very rude to the both of them, so i went to the manager and said the girl had been very impertinent.
How could I have known what would happen afterwards?
Mother was no use at all, putting me down, making me feel bad about myself.
There’s no surprise.
If she’d been some plain little creature, I don’t suppose I would have done it.
But I pressed for the manager and I insisted that she should be let go.
Oh god I feel awful.
So you used your power, as the daughter of a good customer and as a well known respected
man around the town,
to punish the girl simply because she made you feel jealous?
If I had known what she had been through if I had known What would happen afterward-
Yes, but you weren’t to know were you? There’s nothing you can do about that now.
My god, it’s a bit thick, when you think about it-
Oh just shut up, Eric. SHUT UP!
Well, after all she had been through, with no one to turn to, no job. She was scared.
Having very few options left she decided to try something new,
she decided to change her name
What did she change it to?
She changed her name to Daisy Renton.
What?
I said she changed her name to Daisy Renton.
Would you excuse me for a minute. I need to go ask father something.
Do you know this girl, Gerald?
No.
If you have to tell me something, say it now.
Alright fine.
Fine I knew the girl,
but it was all over and done with, last summer. I hadn’t Laid eyes on her for months
Was it after she left Milwards?
Yes.
Sheila, darling-
Don’t.
Look, we can talk about all of this later, but for now let’s not tell this to the Inspector.
About you and the girl?
Yes. We can keep it from him.
And why should I do that for you? He probably already knows.
And how did you come to know this girl, Mr Croft?
You see, I told you so.
Good evening Inspector.
Good evening, Madam.
I’m Mrs Birling. My husband has just been explaining to me the situation.
If there’s anything at all that I can do to-
No. Mother - please!
What ever is the matter?
I know it sounds silly--
I’ve been trying to persuade Eric to go to bed, but he won’t. Apparently you told him to stay up.
Is that right?
Yes, I did.
Why?
Because I shall wish to speak to him, Mr Birling.
I can’t see that you should need to, but if you must, then I suggest you go and do it now.
No, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’m sorry, but he’ll have to wait his turn.
But, Inspector-
I said he will have to wait his turn, Mr Birling
You see?
No, I don’t, Sheila. Please be quiet.
No mother I wont.
You’re looking at this all wrong. And I’m afraid you might say or do something
which you’ll feel sorry for afterwards.
You seem to have made a great impression on this child, Inspector.
Don’t you think it’s time you went to bed dear?
Yes, I agree, Sheila, this is bound to be unpleasant and disturbing.
And you think young women ought to be protected from disturbing and unpleasant things?
If possible - yes.
Well, we know one young woman who wasn’t, don’t we?
I suppose I asked for that.
Be careful you don’t ask for more, Gerald.
I only meant to say to you - why stay when you’ll hate it?
Because it can’t be any worse than it has already been for me. And it might be better.
I see.
What do you see?
You’ve been through it - and now you want to see someone else go through it.
That’s what you think of me? I’m glad I realized it in time, Gerald.
No, no, that’s not what I meant -
Yes, it is.
if you actually loved me, you wouldn’t have said that.
You had a nice story about me.
I got that girl sacked from Milwards.
And now you’ve made up your mind I‘m obviously a selfish, vindictive creature.
You know that’s not what I meant sheila.
I’m not going anywhere until I understand why this girl killed herself.
I don’t suppose we can understand why the girl committed suicide.
Girls of that class-
Mother, please stop. You must not try and build a wall between us and this girl.
The Inspector will only break it down. And it’ll be all the worse when he does.
I don’t understand you.
Do you?
Yes. And she’s right.
And besides, the Inspector hasn’t finished asking questions. Have you?
No.
You see? Then I’m staying.
I just can’t see what you are getting out of this, Sheila.
Allow me, miss Birling.
I can tell you why she would want to stay on and why she would feel much better if she did.
A young girl died this evening. And miss Birling has been made to understand what she did to this girl.
Now she feels responsible. if she were to leave now, and not hear anything else,
then she would feel entirely to blame,
not only for this evening, but for tomorrow evening, and the night after that.
Yes, that’s it. And I know I’m to blame and I’m desperately sorry
but I will not, I will not believe, that it’s simply my fault that she committed suicide.
It would be too horrible.
You see? we all have something to share.
If there’s nothing else, then it may as well be our guilt.
I still don’t understand what blame there is to take on our part.
All in good time Mrs Birling.
Now, where’s this young man Eric?
He's upstairs, refusing to go to bed.
Why? what’s wrong with him?
Eric? I believe he had rather too much to drink tonight.
Is he not used to drinking?
No, of course not. He’s only a boy.
No, he’s a young man. And young men these days drink far too much.
And Eric’s one of them.
Sheila!
I don’t want to put poor Eric into trouble. But we really must stop with these silly pretences.
Now is not the time to pretend that Eric isn’t used to drink. He’s been steadily drinking
too much for the last two years.
It simply isn’t true.
Gerald, You know him, and you’re a man, you must know that isn’t true.
Well, Mr Croft?
Although, I haven’t seen much of Eric outside the house, I am aware that he enjoys the occasional drink
And this is the time you choose to tell me.
Yes, of course it is. This is what I meant by not building up a wall,
it’s bound to be knocked flat.
But it’s you and not the Inspector here that’s doing it--
Yes, but can’t you see? He hasn’t started with you yet.
I shall be glad to answer any questions the Inspector may wish to ask.
Though naturally I don’t know anything about this girl.
We’ll see.
Inspector, I’ve told you before, I don’t like your tone
and I don’t like the way you’re handling this investigation.
I’m not going to give you much more rope.
Can’t you see? he’s the one presenting us with the rope so we may hang ourselves!
What’s the matter with you child?
She’s over-excited. And refuses to go.
Well, come along, Inspector - what is it you wish to know?
At the end of January, last year, this girl Eva Smith had to leave Milwards, because young
Miss Birling here compelled them to discharge her,
It was then that she stopped being Eva Smith, looking for a job, and became Daisy Renton,
with other ideas.
So, Mr Croft, how was it you first came to know her?
What gave you the impression that I did know her?
It’s no use, Gerald. You’re wasting time.
As soon as I mentioned the name Daisy Renton, it was obvious that you knew her.
You gave yourself away immediately.
Of course he did.
When and where did you first meet her, Mr Croft?
All right, all right then fine,
if you must have it.
We met in March of last year, at the stalls bar at the Palace.
The Palace Music Hall here in Brumley-
Well, we didn’t think you meant Buckingham Palace.
Yes, Thanks. I can see You’re going to be a great help.
Now You’ve said your part, and you’re obviously going to hate this
so why on earth don’t you just leave us to it?
Nothing would induce me.
I want to know exactly what happens when a man says he’s so busy at the works
that he hardly has time to see the girl he’s supposed to be in love with.
I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Yes, Mr Croft - in the stalls bar at the Palace Variety Theatre.
I only looked in,
after a long dull day at the office, I went in to see the show and it wasn’t very bright,
So I went downstairs to the bar.
It’s a favourite haunt of...
...women of the town
Women of the town?
Yes, yes. But I see no point in mentioning the subject - especially-
-It is highly inappropriate for sheila to be listening to this story at all.
But you’re forgetting I’m supposed to be engaged to the hero of it.
Go on, Gerald.
You went down into the bar,
which is a favourite haunt of the women of the town.
I’m glad I amuse you-
Come along, Mr Croft. What happened?
I didn’t intend to stay long.
But then I saw this girl there who was quite different from all of the others.
She was very pretty -
she had soft brown hair and big dark eyes -
she was very young and charming and she was obviously not happy about being there.
There was an elder chap, who was half-drunk and goggle-eyed,
he'd wedged her into a corner with that obscene fat carcass of his-
There’s no need to be disgusting.
I think we are quite past the point of disgusting
Sheila, please.
Go on, Mr Croft.
She was obviously in need of rescuing
so I did what any other half decent chap would do.
I went over to the man and I told him that there was a call for him at the front desk.
That got him out of the way.
She then let on that she hadn’t eaten in some time so I insisted on her joining me for dinner.
Where did you go?
to the county hotel down the road, It was there she started to come into herself a little more,
started to relax.
Did she drink much over dinner?
No. She only had a port and lemonade - or some such concoction.
And what did you two talk about?
she told me who she was and where she came from.
She mentioned what had happened in the works that she had a job in, though she didn’t mention where.
She mentioned the shop too,
though she didn’t talk much about that.
I quickly became aware that she was just in desperate need of someone to talk to,
someone to look after her.
And where did it go from there?
She told me that she hadn’t a penny left, and she was about to be thrown out of her lodgings,
a miserable back room that she had.
She was desperate.
Yes.
It Just so happened that a friend of mine had gone abroad for 6 months, and he
had left me the set of keys to some rooms that he had.
So I insisted on her moving into those rooms and I gave her some money to keep her going there.
She was so overwhelmed by the gesture, I just, I felt sorry for her.
And during this time of her staying there, she became your mistress?
Yes.
How disgusting.
No, Mrs Birling, I must protest. It was anything but disgusting, it was quite the opposite,
and I wanted nothing more than to help her.
Were you in love?
That’s just what I was going to ask.
It’s difficult to say.
I didn’t feel the same way that she felt about me.
Of course not. You were the wonderful fairy prince.
Well- -I bet you adored it.
-Yes, All right, I did.
Any man would have done.
That’s about the best thing you’ve said tonight.
At least it’s honest.
Did you see her every night?
No. Not every night. I wasn’t lying When I said I was busy at the works
Well it’s nice to know you don’t lie about everything.
When did the affair end, mr croft?
In the first week of September.
I Was set to go away then on business and by that time
Daisy knew it was coming to an end.
So I broke it off definitely before I went.
How did she take it?
Better than I’d hoped.
She was very gallant about it.
That was nice for you.
No, it wasn’t.
She mentioned that she’d been happier than she’d ever been
but she knew it couldn’t last.
She had to move out of those rooms?
Yes, we’d agreed on that.
She'd saved some money over the summer and I insisted on a parting gift of some money -
though it wasn’t enough to keep her going to the end of the year.
Did she say what she intended to do after she had gone?
No. She didn’t talk much about that.
I get the feeling she intended to leave Brumley.
I just can’t believe that she’s actually dead.
Well I can tell you that she went away for about two months. someplace by the sea.
How do you know that?
As I mentioned before, she left a kind of rough diary.
And in that she said that she needed to go away to be quiet, just to remember
to keep it going just that little bit longer.
I think she realised there would never be anything as good for her again.
I see.
Well, Inspector if there’s nothing more that you need from me.
No, I think that’s all I need from you now.
well then if you don’t mind, I feel I need to be alone.
Of course, I understand.
Gerald.
I don’t dislike you, Gerald.
In fact, in some odd way, I actually respect you more than I ever have before.
And I believed you. How you wanted to help her at first.
It was my fault she was in that mess in the first place.
But this changes things.
You and I are not the same people that sat down to dinner tonight
We’d have to start all over again, getting to know each other--
-Now, Sheila, I’m not defending him- -No, father. Gerald knows what I mean.
yes.
I do.
excuse me.
(Anxious breathing)
(Growls)
(Sobbing)
You know, you never actually showed him that photograph.
No. I didn’t think it was necessary.
You have a photograph of this girl?
Yes. I think I’d like you to see it.
Do you recognise her Mrs Birling?
No. Why should I?
Of course she may have changed lately, but I can’t imagine she’s changed too much.
I don’t understand you, Inspector.
I think you are choosing not to mrs Birling.
I meant what I said.
You’re not telling me the truth.
I beg your pardon!
Now look, Inspector. I’m not going to have this, you’ll apologise at once.
Apologise for what, doing my duty?
No, for being so offensive. I’m a public man-
Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privilege.
That may be so, but you didn’t come here to ask me about my responsibilities.
I hardly think responsibilities has anything to do with it.
Does that mean anything, Sheila?
I mean, mother, that you can’t just hide behind a wall of ignorance simply because
you’re too afraid to face the facts.
I think it’s high time you got off your high horse and stop pretending you don’t
come into this business.
Why can’t you just admit that you recognise the girl in the photograph?
He’s going to get it out of you anyway so there’s no point dragging this out.
Now, Inspector, I don’t see what my wife has got to do with any of this business,
just because she recognised some girl in a photograph-
Mrs Birling,
you’re a prominent member of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation, aren’t you?
Yes, she is. Why?
What does this organisation do exactly?
It’s a charitable organisation to which women in distress can appeal for help in various forms.
We’ve done a great deal of useful work in deserving cases.
Am I right in thinking you sit on the chair of the committee of this organisation?
Yes, I do.
Then you will remember the meeting of the interviewing committee two weeks ago.
Is there a point to any of these questions Inspector?
Yes, and a good one.
Mr Croft told us, quite truthfully and I believe,
that he had neither seen nor heard from Eva Smith since last September.
whereas Mrs Birling not only saw but spoke to her two weeks ago.
There you see, what did I tell you?
Is this true?
Yes, quite true.
She appealed to your organization for help?
Yes. Neither as Eva Smith nor this Daisy Renton.
As what then?
First, she called herself Mrs Birling.
Mrs Birling?
Yes, I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence,
quite deliberate, and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.
And I should think so! Damned impudence!
So You admit to being prejudiced to the case?
Yes.
This girl has just died tonight, mother - don’t forget.
I’m well aware of that Sheila, but I still don’t see what this has to do with me.
Was it owing to your position, as the prominent member of the committee,
that help was refused this girl?
Possibly.
Well, Was it or was it not your influence?
Yes. I found the girl to be quite impertinent. It did not take long for us to find out the
truth about the improper use of our name.
she had no claim to it, was not married and that the story she had come up with about
her husband deserting her was a lie.
Why did she need your help?
You know very well why she wanted help.
Well yes, I know why she needed help, Mrs Birling.
But as I wasn’t there, I have no idea what she was asking of the committee.
I don’t think we need discuss it.
You have no hope of not discussing it, Mrs Birling.
If you think you can bring pressure to bear upon me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken.
This girl came to us with a claim, with which I was not satisfied, so I had it refused.
And despite of what’s happened to the girl since, I consider that I did my duty.
I have nothing to be ashamed of and do not wish to discuss it further
And you have no power to make me change my mind.
Yes I have.
No you haven’t. I’ve done nothing wrong as well you know.
Would you still consider yourself to have done nothing wrong if I told you the girl
was expecting a child?
Did you know this mother?
It was because the girl was expecting a child that she sought
assistance from your mother’s committee.
She was asking for help, at a time when no woman could have needed it more.
Not only did you refuse that help, Mrs Birling. But you saw to it that others refused it too.
She wasn’t just asking for money,
she was asking for advice, sympathy, friendliness.
And you slammed the door in her face.
Mother, I think it was vile and cruel.
I have to say, Sybil, that when this comes out at the inquest, it’s not going to look good for us.
The press are bound to pick it up--
Oh, stop it, the pair of you. And before you Both start accusing me again Let me remind you,
that it was not I who turned her out of her employment, which probably began it all.
Don’t try and turn this on us!
Neither of us would’ve refused a pregnant girl the help she so clearly desperately needed.
In the circumstances I was justified. The girl had begun by telling us a pack of lies.
If she had told us the truth then things might've been different.
And what was the truth Mrs Birling?
I discovered that she knew who the father was, she was quite certain about that,
so I told her it was her business to make him responsible.
And if he refused to marry her, which in my view he ought to be compelled to,
then he should at the very least support her.
Did she say who the father was?
She said he was a youngster - silly and wild and drinking too much.
He gave her money but she did not wish to take any more.
Why didn’t she want any more money from him?
All a lot of nonsense - I didn’t believe a word of it.
I’m not asking you if you believed her, Mrs Birling. I wanted to know what it is she said.
Now why did she not want to take any more money?
some fancy reason. As if a girl in her position would ever refuse money!
Well the position she’s in now is that she’s lying with her insides burnt-out on a slab.
Now Inspector- -Don’t stammer and yammer at me, man. I’m
losing all patience with you people.
Now tell me why she didn’t want to take anymore money?
She discovered that he had stolen the money, so refused to take anymore.
So she came to you for help to protect this youngster from any more trouble
isn’t that so?
Possibly. But it sounded ridiculous to me. So I was perfectly justified in advising my
committee against her claim.
You’re not even sorry now, even though you know what happened to the girl
I’m sorry she should have come to such a horrible end.
But I accept no blame for it at all.
Who is to blame then?
I blame the young man who got her into this mess in the first place.
If he had done the noble thing of marrying her then she would have felt no need to come to us.
So he’s the chief culprit anyhow.
Certainly. And should be made an example of,
and if you’d spent more time trying to find him instead of asking us all these unnecessary questions-
Mother - stop!
No I will not, I will not be held responsible for the actions of some vile creature.
But don’t you see-
See what, Sheila? What are you talking about?
I don’t see what we have to do with this young man who was the father of the child.
If, as she said, he didn’t belong to her class, but was some drunken young idler,
then thats all the more reason why he shouldn’t escape. If the girl’s death is due to anybody,
then its due to him.
So you’re saying he should be made an example of?
Quite right, and I don’t see why you haven’t got onto this sooner.
All in good time Mrs Birling.
Well what are you waiting for?
I’d like to speak to Eric now, if you please.
Eric? well why on Earth would you...
you couldn’t possibly mean...
Mother, I begged you to stop.
You all know, don’t you?
Yes, we know.
Eric, I can’t believe it. There must be some mistake.
You don’t know what we’ve been saying.
It’s a good job he doesn’t know then, isn’t it?
Why?
Because mother here has been blaming everything on the young man that got that girl in trouble.
Sheila, Don’t.
You haven’t made it any easier for me, have you, mother?
But I didn’t know it was you , I never dreamt. Besides, you’re not the type
you’d never get drunk-
Of course he does. I told you he did.
You told her. Why, you little sneak!
No, Eric that’s not fair. I could have told her months ago, but of course I didn’t.
I only told her tonight because I knew everything was coming out-
If you only had a sense of loyalty-
Now now, Mr Birling. I shall still have to hear what Eric has to say
Could I get a drink first?
I think you’ve had quite enough- -Yes
I’m sorry, Mr Birling. I know, he’s your son and this is your house
but I think he needs a drink now just to see him through.
All right. Go on.
Eric, When did you first meet Eva Smith?
One night last November.
Where?
At the Palace Bar. I’d been there an hour or so with two or three friends.
I was a bit squiffy.
What happened then?
I began talking to this girl, stood her a few drinks.
I was a bit far gone by the time we had to go.
Was she drunk too?
She told me afterwards that she was a bit,
chiefly because she’d said that she hadn’t much to eat that night.
Why had she gone there?
She wasn’t the sort. But she told me some woman had-haven her got there.
I couldn’t quite understand why.
You went to her lodgings in the evening?
Yes,
but I insisted, it seems.
She said that she didn’t want me to go in but...
I was in that sort of state, you know, where a chap can easily turn nasty
so I threatened to make a row.
So she let you in?
Yes.
And that’s when 'it' happened.
And I don’t even remember it - that’s the hellish thing.
Oh - Eric!
Sheila, take your mother along to the drawing-room--
But - - You heard what I said. Go on, Sybil.
Come on mama.
When did you next meet her?
About a fortnight afterwards.
Was that by appointment?
No.
I couldn’t remember her name or where she lived.
It was all very vague.
But I happened to run Into her at the Palace Bar.
But more drinking?
Yes, though this time I wasn’t so bad.
But you took her home anyway?
Yes. But this time...
so we talked, we spoke.
She told me a bit about herself and I told her something about myself.
Told her my name and what I did.
And you made love again?
Yes. Although, I wasn’t in love with her, but I liked her
she was pretty and a good sport
So you had to go to bed with her?
I’m old enough to be married, aren’t I? and besides, I hate seeing these fat old tarts
you see around town -
the sort that you see some of your respectable friends with--
I don’t need that from you--
- and I don’t want it either.
Did you arrange to see her again after that?
Yes. Although this time,
this time she told me that she thought
she was going to be having a baby.
What did you suggest you do?
Well, she didn’t want me to marry her. Said I didn’t love her - and all that. In a way…
In a way, she treated me as if I were a child.
Though I was almost as old as she was.
what did you propose?
Well, she hadn’t any money left - nor a job, so I intended to give her some money.
I insisted on it, to keep her going. Until she refused to take anymore.
How much did you give her altogether?
about fifty pounds all told.
Fifty pounds?
After going round the town drinking and going out? Where on earth did you get fifty pounds?
That’s my question also.
I got it… I got it from the office--
- What, my office?
Yes.
You mean you stole the money?
Not really.
What do you mean - not really?
I intended to pay it back.
How? How were you going to pay it back?
I would have managed. I just, I needed to have some money alright?
How did you get it out of the office without anyone noticing?
I went around to some of the small accounts the ones that still needed collecting,
I asked…
I asked that they be paid in cash.
What, gave them a firm’s receipt and put the money in your pocket, eh?
Yes.
You damned fool. You are going to give me a list of all those accounts.
If anybody was to find out about this...
Why didn’t you just come to me?
Because you’re not the type of father a chap can go to when he’s in trouble - that’s why.
This isn’t my fault.
I’m sorry, Arthur, I simply couldn’t stay in there. I have to know what’s happening.
Well, let me tell you what’s happening.
Our spoilt little son here has just admitted for being responsible for the girl’s condition,
and that he stole money from my office to facilitate her.
Eric! You stole money? -Oh Eric-
I’m afraid we don’t have time to go through that again.
The girl discovered that the money you were giving her was stolen, didn’t she?
Yes.
She said she didn’t want to see me again. I don’t know where she went after that.
She went to your mother’s committee for help,
and your mother refused that help.
What?
Eric - I didn’t understand--
No!
That was my child...
My child!..
And you took it away from me!
Eric, don’t - please- -Eric Don’t shout at your mother, not after
what you’ve done!
STOP!!
I do not have the time for this now.
You will have time for that after I am gone but for now, you will listen to me.
Remember what you did Mrs Birling, refusing her even the pitiable little bit of organised
charity you had in your power to grant her.
Eric, using her at the end of a drunken stupid evening as if she was an animal.
You helped too, but you didn’t start it.
Mr Birling was the one who started it.
All she wanted was twenty-five shillings a week instead of twenty-two and sixpence.
you made her pay a heavy price for that.
You will pay a heavier price still.
Inspector - I will give you thousands -
I’m afraid it’s too late.
-Thousands!
You are offering the money at the wrong time.
That young man, Croft, though he showed her some affection and made her happy for a while.
Remember what you did.
No, you wont forget.
She’s gone now, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it.
you can’t even say
I’m sorry, Eva Smith
But just remember this.
One Eva Smith has gone
there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still with us,
Each with their lives, their hopes and fears,
their chances of happiness and suffering,
all intertwined with our lives,
with what we say,
what we think,
And what we do.
We do not live alone.
We are responsible for each other.
And I will tell you that the day will soon come when,
if man has not learnt that lesson,
then he will be taught it in blood, in fire, and in anguish.
Good night!
There’s bound to be a public scandal, I’m going to lose my chance at a knighthood.
Oh - for God’s sake! What does it matter whether you lose your knighthood or not?
Matter? Matter? does anything matter to you?
You’re going to have to repay every single penny you stole from the company. Every single penny!
You think I wasn’t going to?
I may have taken that money without permission but at least I gave it to someone who was
in need of it.
Besides, It wasn’t just me who put her in that mess, now was it?
Well this is all bound to come out, there’ll be a public scandal.
But you don’t seem to care.
And there’ll be no more of this going round town, and picking up women,
and hanging out at the Palace Bar
I should think not. Eric, I’m absolutely ashamed of you.
Oh what a surprise, I suppose you have already forgotten what you’ve done to her haven’t you?
Don’t start that. What your mother and I did was totally acceptable, unfortunate! But
that’s all.
That’s all?
Well, what do you have to say?
Oh there’s quite a lot I’ve got to say.
Well don’t, nobody wants to hear you.
I behaved badly too. I know I did. But now you’re just pretending all over again like
nothing much has happened
Nothing much has happened? Haven’t I already said there’ll be a public scandal.
But I’m not talking about that. I don’t care about that. The point is,
you don’t seem to have learnt anything.
I’ve learnt quite enough from tonight.
Oh I’m sure you have.
Do you remember how you’d always tell us that every man has to look after themselves?
and that we should mind our own business?
and how we shouldn’t listen to these cranks who tell us that
everybody has to look after everybody else?
And then one of these cranks walked in after dinner.
I don’t remember you telling him that it was very man for himself
Is that when the Inspector came, just after dinner?
Yes. What of it?
It’s queer - very queer
Sheila, what exactly do you mean?
Well, I mean I was just thinking - was he really a police Inspector?
Well, if he wasn’t, it makes all the difference.
No, it doesn’t.
Don’t talk rubbish. Of course it does.
Well, it doesn’t to me. And it oughtn’t to you, either.
Don’t you see? it doesn’t matter who it was who made us confess.
We all confessed to something that led to a girl’s death.
That’s what’s important, not whether a man is a police Inspector or not.
He Inspected us all right.
Well, exactly. That’s what I mean, Eric.
But there was something curious about him.
He didn’t seemed like an ordinary police Inspector
You’re right. I noticed it too.
Well, I must say his manner was quite extraordinary for a police Inspector,
so rude and assertive
Yes, they don’t talk like that. And I’ve had dealings with dozens of them.
All right. But it doesn’t make any real difference, y’know.
Of course it does.
No, Sheila’s right. It doesn’t.
That’s comic, coming from you. You’re the only one it makes a difference to.
You’re the only one that’s done something criminal.
He can ruin you, You know?
I don’t care. Not after knowing what happened to her.
Did you notice how we hardly ever said anything that he didn’t already know?
That’s nothing. The fact that remains that if we hadn’t said so much, he’d have nothing
to go on. Why you all had to let it come out like that, beats me.
You confessed too father.
He certainly didn’t make me confess.
I made it quite plain that I felt I had done no more than my duty.
Oh - mother!
(Doorbell rings)
Now who’s this?
Edna will go.
It might be Gerald coming back.
He’d be brave to do so.
It’s Mr Croft.
I hope you don’t mind my coming back?
No, of course not my boy.
When did the Inspector go?
Only a few minutes ago. He put us all through it-
-Sheila!
Gerald might as well know.
Where did you get off to, Gerald?
I actually went to see a police sergeant that I know down the road.
I told him about this Inspector Goole and gave a description of the chap but he could’ve
sworn there was no Inspector Goole
or anybody like him on the force here.
You didn’t tell him-
-No, no. Passed it off as someone having an argument with me. But the point is...
is that this police Sergeant was dead certain that there wasn’t anybody like the inspector here.
By jingo! A fake!
Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say I couldn’t imagine a real police Inspector talking to
us like that?
Well, you were right. There was not such Inspector. We’ve been had.
I’m going to make certain of this.
What are you going to do?
I’m going to call the Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts.
Be Careful what you say, dear.
Of course.
Get me Brumley eight seven five two please.
Colonel Roberts, it’s Arthur Birling Calling…
ah, Roberts - Birling here. I’m very Sorry to disturb your evening,
I wonder if you can tell me...
have you got an Inspector Goole on the force?
Goole. G double O L-E… tall fellow… clean shaven
well,that settles it… No, just a little argument we were having here…
thank you very much, good evening.
There is no Inspector Goole.
That definitely wasn’t an Inspector.
Gerald was completely correct, we’ve been had.
I knew he wasn’t a real Inspector, didn’t look the part at all.
This makes aall the difference. Well done, Gerald.
I had my doubts before I left but I had to make sure.
I suppose we’re all nice people now.
If you’ve nothing sensible to say Sheila, I suggest you keep quiet.
She’s right, though.
And you need to keep quiet. If that had been a real Inspector and you’d confessed -
Arthur, careful!
Yes, yes Sybil. I know. But we were feeling so good about ourselves,
and it had gone so well. It just took me by surprise.
Are you alright?
I just can’t believe it, none of this adds up.
I know, it doesn’t make sense to me either.
I need some air.
Eric, where are you off to?
I just need to clear my head of this business.
Don’t pretend you’re out of the woods just because he wasn’t a real Inspector.
Remember, You still stole from the firm
And I told you I was going to pay you back. I just need some time by myself right now.
If you’re still feeling on edge, then the least you can do is to keep quiet.
It’s our turn now.
Our turn to do - what?
To behave sensibly, Sheila - which is more than you’re doing.
What’s the use of talking about behaving sensibly?
You’re all beginning to behave like nothing’s really happened. And I can’t see it like that!
For all I know this girl’s still dead, and nobody’s brought her back to life, have they?
Whoever that chap was, the fact is that I still did what I did.
mother still did what she did. And the rest of you still did what you did as well.
It’s still the same rotten story whether we told it to a police Inspector or not.
And I ought to feel better about that?
I took some money, Gerald, you might as well know-
-Don't you dare! -I don’t care!
The money’s not the important thing. It’s what we did to the girl that matters.
And I still feel the same about it!
so excuse me if I don’t feel like sitting around and having a nice cosy talk.
Eric’s absolutely right.
And it’s the best thing any one of us has said tonight
and it makes me feel a little less ashamed of us.
You’re just beginning to pretend all over again.
Look - for God’s sake!
Arthur!
I’m sorry my dear. But these two need to understand the difference between
something coming out in a private
and there being a downright public scandal.
Oh public Scandal, a girl has died tonight- and it’s what we did that matters
And I say - stop shouting or get out. Some fathers wouldn’t tolerate this behaviour
Well it’s a good thing you’re not like other fathers then isn’t it!
Eric please, this won’t make anything better will it? Please just come and sit down.
Do we know for certain if a girl has actually died?
Well we have already found out he wasn’t a real Inspector.
Well, he was our inspector all right.
And let’s not start dodging and pretending now. Between us we drove a girl to commit suicide.
Did we?
Who says so?
Because I say there’s no real evidence that we did than that chap was a real police Inspector.
Of course there is.
well think about it. A man comes to the house pretends he's a police officer.
It’s a hoax of some kind. what does he do?
He artfully, plays on the bits of information he has on us and bluffs his way to get us
to confess that we’d all had some sort of involvement with this girl, one way, or another.
And so we have.
We all confessed that we had an involvement with a girl. But who’s to say that it was the same girl?
Gerald, what are you getting at?
The photographs!
do we know that it was the same photograph?
Did you see the photo he showed your father?
No, I didn’t.
did your father see the photograph he showed you?
No, he didn’t. I see what you mean now.
There’s no proof it was the same photo and therefore no proof it was the same girl.
He caught me out by suddenly announcing that she'd changed her name to Daisy Renton,
which of course, gave me away immediately because I...
...Had known a Daisy Renton
But Daisy Renton isn’t necessarily Eva Smith, we only have his word for that.
Thinking about it now, all of the evidence he had against us to do with this girl did
fit rather loosely together.
Exactly, he never showed the photograph to more than one person at any time,
for all we know he could’ve shown each of us a different picture.
It makes no difference to me, my girl’s dead.
Is she? Do we know that there’s actually a dead girl?
We can settle that at once.
How?
By calling the Infirmary. Either there’s a dead girl there or there isn’t.
Won’t that seem a little queer at this time of night?
I don’t mind doing it.
Hello, could you pass me through to Brumley infirmary please?
Good evening, this is mister Gerald Croft, of Croft’s limited.
Yes, we’ve got a bit of concern about one of our employees.
Could you tell me? Has a girl been submitted this afternoon?
committed suicide by drinking a large amount of disinfectant? - or anything like suicide?
Yes, I’ll wait.
Yes?… and you’re quite sure about that?
Right. Well, thank you very much… yes, Good night.
No girl has been submitted to the infirmary.
No one’s dies by drinking disinfectant.
They haven’t had a suicide there for months.
There you are! Proof positive. Would you like a drink?
I think I could go for one right about now.
So could I.
Oh Gerald, you really have argued this very cleverly, and we’re most grateful.
Well, once I’d got out of the house and cleared my head
I was able to think it through a little better.
Yes, he didn’t keep you on the run like he did the rest of us.
I have to say he had me scared for a time.
But then I have special reason for not wanting to get a scandal right now.
(Glasses clinking)
Now sheila, come along, don’t look like that. It’s all over now
I just can’t help but remember what we all said that we had done.
it might not have ended badly but it very well could’ve done.
But the whole thing’s different now. surely you can see that, can’t you?
Going to bed, young lady?
I want out of this. It frightens me the way you all talk.
I agree, it is frightening.
Well why don’t you just go off to bed instead of staying here being hysterical.
They’re over-tired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are.
Yes, come on sheila, it’s all right now.
And what about this?
No. It’s too soon. I need time to think
Now look at them - the famous younger generation
they know it all. And they can’t even take a joke- (laughing)
(Telephone rings)
Yes?… Mr Birling speaking…
What?… Now?
That was the police.
A girl has just died on her way to the Infirmary
after drinking disinfectant.
An Inspector’s on his way here now to question us.