An Inspector Calls (1954) - full transcript

(Arthur) Well, a very good dinner, Sybil!
Tell cook from me.

Absolutely first class.

Arthur, you're not supposed
to say such things!

I'm treating Gerald
like one of the family.

- I'm sure he won't object.
- Go on, Gerald. Just you object.

Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.
I insist on being one of the family now.

I've been trying long enough, haven't I?
Well, haven't I? You know I have!

Of course she does!

Yes, except for all last summer
when you never came near me.

- I've told you. I was awfully busy-
- Yes, that's what you say.

(Sybil) Sheila, stop teasing him.



When you're married, you'll realise
that men with important work to do,

sometimes have to spend all their time
and energy on their business.

You'll get used to it. Just as I had to.

I don't believe I will. So you be careful.

Oh, I will, I will.

I'll never let business
interfere with pleasure.

(Giggles)

- What's the joke, Eric?
- I don't know.

I suddenly felt I had to laugh.

- I'm sure you're squiffy.
- I tell you I'm not.

- The words you girls pick up these days!
- If you think that's the best she can do.

- (Sheila) Don't be a fool, Eric.
- Stop it, you two.

- Arthur, what about that toast?
- (Arthur) Oh, yes.

Well, here's wishing the pair of you
the best that life can bring.



Gerald... Sheila.

Yes, Gerald. Yes, Sheila, darling.

Our love and very best wishes. Eric?

What? Oh... yes, all the best.

She's got a filthy temper sometimes,
but as a sister she's not bad, really.

- Chump!
- Good old Sheila.

(Sheila) I can't drink to this, can I?
When do I drink?

You can drink to me.

All right, then.

I drink to you, Gerald.

Thank you.

And I drink to you

and hope that I can make you
as happy as you deserve.

You be careful or I'll start weeping.

Perhaps this will help you to stop it.

You've got it! Oh, it's the one I wanted!

The very one.

Steady the buffs!

It's wonderful.

Look, Mummy. Isn't it a beauty?
Now I really feel engaged!

So you should. It's a
beautiful ring. Take care of it.

I'll never let it out of
my sight for an instant.

And I'll never let you out either,
business or no business.

You know, I'm delighted
about this engagement.

Take my word for it, when you two marry,
you'll be marrying at a very good time.

A time of steadily increasing
prosperity and progress.

- I believe you're right.
- Well, what about war?

War? Fiddlesticks!

The Germans don't want war!
Nobody wants war!

There's too much at stake these days!
Everything to lose and nothing to gain!

- Yes, I know, but still there's-
- I say there isn't a chance of war!

When you're living in 1912,
you've got to think like 1912.

Why, the world is developing so fast
it'll make war impossible.

Yes, of course, dear.
Now, don't keep Gerald in here too long.

Eric, I want you a minute.

Sheila, dear, go on into the drawing room.
I want a private word with Eric.

All right, Mother. It's about time
someone had a word with him.

Poor old Gerald. If only he knew.

Eric, don't mind what I'm going to say,

but if I were you, I shouldn't have
any more to drink tonight.

I'm perfectly all right, Mother.

Yes, of course.
I'm not saying you aren't.

But on a celebration like this,
one gets excited.

Sometimes one doesn't notice
how much one is taking.

I only had a couple of glasses, Mother.

I dare say! But that's quite enough for
a boy of your age. You're not used to it.

Look at your waistcoat.
You've spilled something on it.

Go upstairs and put on a clean one.

Yes, yes. All right, Mother.

And be careful.

Don't... Don't, don't worry, Mother.

(Laughing)

- Have a cigar.
- No, thank you.

- Oh, well, help yourself.
- Thank you.

There's something I'd like to mention.

I've got an idea that
your mother, Lady Croft,

while she doesn't, er, object to my girl,
feels that you...

well, you might be doing better
for yourself socially.

- Oh, no, sir. I'm sure you'll...
- Oh, no, Gerald. That's quite all right.

She comes of an old county family.
It's only natural.

But what I wanted to say is

there's a fair chance of my getting
into the next honours list.

Oh, I say! Congratulations!

Oh, thanks, but it's a bit too early
for that yet, so don't say anything.

But I've had a hint or two.

I gather there's a very good
chance of a knighthood.

So long as we all behave ourselves

and don't get into the police courts.

(Chuckles)

- What's that about police courts?
- (Arthur) Nothing! Just a little joke!

Doesn't seem very funny to me.

I was just telling Gerald that
now that he and Sheila are engaged,

we must all behave ourselves.

No scandals. No monkey business.

You seem a nice,
well-behaved family to me.

- (Arthur) Well, we think we are.
- Mr. Birling.

Yes?

My name's Poole. Inspector Poole.

What's the meaning of this?
There's a front door, you know!

I wanted to talk to you.
I thought I'd find you here.

Very bright of you! People usually are
in the dining room at dinner time!

Oh, well, now you're here,
where's the warrant?

- Oh, there's no warrant, Mr. Birling.
- Well, what is it, then?

I'd like some information
if you don't mind.

Well, you'd better sit down.

Thank you.

Well?

About two hours ago a young
woman died in the infirmary.

She'd been removed there this
afternoon after taking poison.

It's believed some strong disinfectant.

Oh, how horrible.

- Yes. Yes, it wasn't a pleasant sight.
- Suicide?

Well, that, of course,
we don't know yet, for certain.

They did everything they could
for her in the infirmary, but... she died.

Yes, yes. Horrible. Horrible.

But I don't understand
why you've come here, Inspector?

I've been round to her room.
She left a letter and some sort of diary.

Like a lot of young women
who get into various kinds of trouble,

she'd used more than one name.

But her original name,
her real name, was Eva Smith.

- Eva Smith?
- (Poole) Yes.

- Do you remember her, Mr. Birling?
- No.

But I seem to remember
having heard that name somewhere.

Eva Smith.

But it doesn't convey anything to me.

I don't see where I
come into this, Inspector.

But she was employed
in your works, Mr. Birling.

Oh, that's it! Well, of course!

We've got several hundred young
women there and they keep changing.

Ah, but this young woman, Eva Smith,
was a bit out of the ordinary.

I found a photograph of her
in her lodgings.

Perhaps... perhaps this
will help you to remember.

Any reason why we shouldn't see
this woman's photograph, Inspector?

There might be.

You recognise her now, don't you,
Mr. Birling?

Yes!

I remember her.
She was one of my employees.

- When was this?
- Oh, a couple of years ago.

(Arthur) 'It must have been
the autumn of 1910.

'About the time we opened
our new machine shop.

'Yes, she was out of the ordinary.

'An intelligent, good-looking girl.

'In fact, the foreman told me
he was ready to promote her

'to what they call a leading operator.

'Head of a small group of girls.
She had quite a bit of spirit.'

(Laughs raucously)

(Arthur) 'I didn't know then
that she was a troublemaker.'

It's only the girls
in the light machine shop, isn't it?

- Not the whole boiling?
- Only the women, sir.

- How many are coming up?
- A deputation of five, sir.

- You'd better show 'em in.
- Right, sir.

I understand you're dissatisfied with
the money you're getting here. Is that so?

- Yes, sir.
- How much are they getting?

They're averaging
22 shillings and 6p a week, sir.

That's the usual rate in the industry
at present, isn't it?

Yes, sir.

You see? How much do you think
you ought to get?

- 25 shillings, sir.
- Well, I'm sorry, but it can't be done.

Why can't it be done?

Did you say, "Why can't it be done"?

Yes.

I don't see why I should have
to give you an explanation.

- well, why are you seeing us, then?
- All right, I'll tell you.

If I agreed to your demands,
costs would go up 10%.

And if costs went up 10%,
prices would go up 10%,

and we should be unable to sell
our goods against our competitors.

If that happened, the factor would close
and you'd be out of work. Satisfied?

No.

Well, I'm afraid you'll have
to remain unsatisfied.

I've told you,
we're paying the usual rates.

But what if you can't live on them?

You'll have work somewhere else.
It's a free country, after all.

What's the use of that
if you can't get work somewhere else?

I'm sorry,
but that's no concern of mine.

- There'll be trouble, sir, I'm afraid.
- Oh, you mean they'll strike?

I'm sure of it, sir.

- Just back from their holidays?
- Yes, sir.

Yes, well, it'll soon be over.
They'll all be broke.

As soon as they feel the pinch,
they'll be crying to come back.

- You'll take 'em back, sir?
- Yes, at the old rates.

I won't accept the ringleaders.
That girl, for instance.

She had far too much to say for herself.
Get rid of her.

So Eva Smith, together with four
or five others, was discharged.

- Is that why she killed herself?
- Don't be ridiculous, Eric!

All this happened
before you'd even started in the works.

Nearly two years ago.

It obviously had nothing to do with
the wretched girl's suicide, Inspector.

I didn't say it was suicide.

Er... what are you suggesting?

I'm not suggesting anything, Mr. Birling.

I'm merely trying to trace the facts,
the chain of events

that led to the death of this girl.

But good heavens, man,
I can't accept any responsibility!

If we were all responsible for everything

that happened to people
that we'd had anything to do with...

well, it would be very awkward,
wouldn't it?

Oh, yes. Very awkward.

In any case, I can't see
you could've done anything else, sir.

Yes, he could. He could have kept her on
instead of throwing her out.

- I call it tough luck.
- Rubbish!

If you don't come down sharply on them,
they'll soon be asking for the earth!

Why shouldn't they ask for higher wages?
We try for the highest prices!

I don't see why she was sacked
because she had spirit!

You said she was a good worker.
I'd have let her stay!

Unless you brighten some of your ideas,

you'll never be in a position to let
anybody stay or to tell anybody to go!

Well, Inspector,
there's nothing more I can tell you.

I told the girl to
clear out and she went.
That's the last I heard of her.

Have you got any ideas
what happened to her after that?

Get into trouble? Go on the streets?

No. No, Mr. Birling.
She didn't exactly go on the streets.

Oh, I'm sorry.
I didn't know you
had someone with you.

Well, we'll be along in a minute.
We're finished here.
There's nothing else.

- What's this?
- (Arthur) Nothing, Sheila.

- Wait, please, Miss Birling.
- Now, look here, Inspector!

There's no reason why
my daughter should be dragged

into this unpleasant business.

(Sheila) What business?

I'm a police inspector, Miss Birling.

This afternoon a young
woman drank some poison
and died in the infirmary.

After great suffering, I'm afraid.

- How horrible. Was it an accident?
- That's what we want to find out.

Yes, well, don't tell me
the girl committed suicide

just because I dismissed her from
my employment about two years ago.

- Well, did you?
- Yes I did.

She'd been causing trouble at
the works. I was quite justified.

I think you were.

I wish you hadn't told me.
What was she like?

Yes, what was she like?

(Poole) Quite young. 24.
(Sheila) And pretty?

Not when I saw her today,
Miss Birling, but she'd been
pretty. Very pretty.

I don't see that this inquiry
gets you anywhere, Inspector.

It's what happened to her
since she left Mr. Birling's works.

- Obviously.
- (Gerald) And we can't help you
there because we don't know.

Are you quite sure you don't know?

Are you suggesting that one of them
had something to do with this girl?

Yes.

So you didn't come here
just to see me, then?

No. No, I'm afraid I'll have to ask
you all a few more questions yet.

Well, I've told you all I know,

so I'd be much obliged if you'd ask
your questions and then clear out!

(Arthur) We were having
a nice family celebration
here this evening.

A nastiness you've made
of it, haven't you?

It was not of my making,
I assure you, Mr. Birling.

I don't understand, Inspector.

You talk as if we were responsible
for this poor girl's death.

You seem to forget that we're
respectable citizens and not
criminals, you know.

Well, sometimes there isn't as much
a difference as one would think.

Indeed, if it were left
to me, I wouldn't know
where to draw the line.

Fortunately, it isn't
left to you, is it?

Very fortunately.
I only have to make inquiries.

What happened to this girl
after she left my father's works?

She was out of work
for a couple of months.

As you can imagine,
she had a very distressing time.

Indeed, according to her diary,
she came very near to starvation.

Oh, how terrible.

Then she had a
wonderful stroke of luck.

She was taken on in a shop.
A good shop. Millwood's.

Millwood's? Oh, we go there!

In fact, I was there this
afternoon for your benefit.

She enjoyed working there.
She liked being amongst
pretty clothes.

It seems she felt that
she was making a really fresh start.

But after two months,
they told her she'd have to go.

Not doing her work properly?

There was nothing wrong
about the way she was doing
her work. They admitted it.

Well, there must have been
something wrong.

No. No, no, no.

All she knew was that a customer
had complained about her

and so she had to go.

- When was this?
- The end of January last year.

What was this girl like?

Well, if you'll come over here,
Miss Birling, I'll show you.

What's the matter, Sheila?

You knew it was me
all the time, didn't you?

Well, I had an idea it might be.

Did it make much difference to her?

Yes, I'm afraid it did.
You see, that was the last
really steady job she had.

So I'm really responsible?

No, no, no. I wouldn't go as far as that.
No more than your father, really.

What did you do, Sheila?
What happened?

I was in a filthy temper
that afternoon. I'd been
out shopping with Mother.

She'd insisted on choosing
everything for me as though
I was still a schoolgirl.

But I needed a new hat,
so we went to Millwood's.

I was determined to get
my own way over that hat.

'The fact that I knew that Mother
was right and I was wrong

'made me even more obstinate
and pig-headed.'

- This is the one I like best.
- No, dear. It doesn't suit you at all.

Mother, you always say that
when I choose something.

Surely I'm old enough
to know what I want.

It's quite unsuitable.
The pink one was very much prettier.

It looked quite charming
when the assistant
had it on just now.

Why is it you girls always
like things that are much
too old for you?

You need a hat like that
to suit your baby face.

Still, if you think you know best,
you'll have it, dear.

Only hurry up and make
up your mind. You can meet
me in the tea lounge.

Miss Francis, I know it didn't
look right. I don't think I was
wearing it properly.

- Can you show me, please?
- Yes, Miss Birling.

If I may say so, I think it would
look better like this. Allow me.

No, I might disarrange
your charming coiffure.

Eva, put it on, will you?

Yes, I knew it was all right.
Well, give it to me.

Well, come along!

All right!
I won't have this hat or any other!

- Oh, but Miss Birling...
- I won't try on hats
for your amusement!

That girl was grinning her head off!
Don't you teach them any manners?

- Eva, you weren't...
- No, I wasn't. It isn't my fault.

- I'll report you for impertinence!
- That's unfair!

(Sheila) You know
you were being insolent!

(Eva) I'm sorry if I gave that
impression, but I assure you...

Miss Birling, is there
anything wrong?

Yes.
This girl has been abominably rude!

If she's still here the next
time I come, I'll walk straight out!

And what's more, I'll ask my mother
to close her account with you!

It didn't seem anything
very terrible at the time.

Of course, it wouldn't,
Miss Birling, at the time.

Well, how could I know
what it would lead to?

If she'd been some miserable,
plain little creature,

I don't suppose I would've done it.

She was very pretty
and looked as if she
could take care of herself.

In fact, in kind of a way,
you might be said to have
been jealous of her?

Yes, I suppose I was.

But if I could help her now,
believe me I would.

I'm sure you would, Miss Birling,
but you can't.

It's a great pity. She's dead.

It's a bit sick when you think of it.

Oh, I know, I know!
I never done anything
like that before.

And I'll never do
it again to anybody.

Oh, why had this to happen?

That's what we hope to find out
before I leave here, Miss Birling.

So far, we've discovered
that Eva Smith lost one job

because she was sacked out
of hand by your father.

Then she lost another one because...

well, for reasons, which
you've described, Miss Birling.

Now she had to start again.

She was anxious to dissociate
herself from the past,

so she changed her name
to Daisy Renton.

What?

I said she changed her name
to Daisy Renton.

Well, Gerald?

Well, what, Sheila?

How did you come to know this girl?
Eva Smith.

- I didn't.
- Or Daisy Renton. It's the same thing.

Why should I have known her?

You gave yourself away as soon
as he mentioned her other name.

All right, I knew her.
Let's leave it at that.

- I wish we could.
- But, darling...

No, it's no use! You not
only knew her, you knew
her very well.

Otherwise you wouldn't look
so guilty about it.

When did you first get to know her?

Was it after she left Millwood's?

Were you seeing her last
spring and summer

when you hardly came near me
and said you were busy?

- well, were you?
- I'm sorry, Sheila.

But the whole thing was over
and done with last summer.

I haven't set eyes on the girl
for at least six months.

- We don't come into this business.
- I thought I didn't half an hour ago.

Neither of us does. For heaven's sake,
don't say anything to the inspector.

- About you and this girl?
- Yes.

- He doesn't need to know.
- But he knows. Of course he knows.

And I hate to think how
much he knows that we don't
know yet. For your sake.

(Sybil) Yes, I agree.
It's a very distressing story.

But I must say it seems an
extraordinary coincidence
that my husband

and, as you tell us,
Sheila, should both have
come in contact with this girl.

As you say, Mrs. Birling,
an extraordinary coincidence.

Of course,
now we know why you're here,

we shall only be too glad
to answer any questions we can.

- Thank you.
- The rest of us have never met the girl.

So I doubt if we should be
of any great help to you.

- No, Mother, please.
- Whatever's the matter, Sheila?

I know it sounds silly,
but I feel you're beginning all wrong.

You'll do or say something
you'll be sorry for afterwards.

I don't know what you're talking about.

We all started like that.

So confident, so pleased
with ourselves until he
began asking us questions.

I don't understand about you.

I don't know much about
inspectors, but I never
imagined them like you.

You seem to have made a great
impression on this child, Inspector.

We often do on the young ones.
They're more impressionable.

You're looking tired, dear.
I think you ought to go to bed.

I'm staying here until I know
why that girl killed herself.

Morbid curiosity. I don't
suppose we can understand
why she committed suicide.

Girls of that class!

Mother, for your own sake,
as well as ours, you mustn't...

Mustn't what? Really, Sheila!

You mustn't start building up a
wall between us and that girl.

The inspector will just
break it down. It'll be all
the worse when he does.

I don't understand you. Do you?

Yes. Yes. I'm afraid she's right.

That I consider
a trifle impertinent, Inspector.

I realise that you have to conduct
some sort of inquiry,

but I must say that so far
you seem to be conducting it

in a rather peculiar
and offensive manner.

You realise, of course, that
my husband was Lord Mayor here
only two years ago.

And that he's still a magistrate.

Mrs. Birling, the inspector
knows all that.

As a magistrate, your husband
will want to take a lively
interest in this inquiry.

I'd be grateful for his help.
Will he be returning shortly?

He's just talking to my son Eric,

who seems to be in a silly,
excitable sort of mood.

- What's the matter with him?
- Eric?

Oh, I'm afraid he may have
had rather too much to drink
tonight. We were...

- Isn't he used to drinking?
- Of course not! He's only a boy.

We're all boys to our mothers,
Mrs. Birling. I'd say he's a young man.

And some young men drink
far too much.

Are you insinuating
that Eric is one of them?

Mother, I'm the last person
to say anything to hurt Eric.

But what's the use of blindly
shutting our eyes to the facts?

- But his own sister...
- Eric drinks too much.

It's no help to him
to pretend that he doesn't.

But it isn't true!

Gerald, you know him.
You know it isn't true.

Well, Mr. Croft?

Well, lately he has been 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 do that.
- Now, look here...

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,
Mr. Birling.

(Sheila) Please, Father! 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?

As I told you, Eva Smith
had to leave Millwood's

because your daughter
compelled them to discharge her.

After that, she stopped being
Eva Smith and became Daisy Renton.

When did you first
get to know her, Mr. Croft?

- Where did you get the idea I did?
- No, it's no use, Gerald.

All right. I met her first
sometime in March last year
at the Palace Theatre.

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?

(Clock chimes)

- What's the matter, Mr. Croft?
- I'm sorry.

I suddenly realised...
I'm taking it improperly
that she's dead.

(Sheila) Probably between us,
we killed her.

Don't talk nonsense!

Go on. You met her
at the Palace Varlety Theatre.

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 favourite haunt of...
of women of a certain sort.

"Women of a certain sort"?
Here in Brumley?

Yes, Mrs. Birling.

I'm afraid that even Brumley
is not entirely free

from... from that sort of thing.

It'd be better
if Sheila didn't listen to this.

I'm determined to listen to it, Mother.
I explained why.

Go on, Gerald.
You went down into the bar...

(Chatting)

(Orchestra plays)

(Raucous laughter)

Kiss me.

(Music drowns speech)

(Applause and cheering)

I take it you're not a friend
of Jo Meggarty?

- Jo Meggarty?
- No, obviously not.

That was the amorous gentleman
you were talking to.

He didn't seem a horrible man before.
He just came and sat down.

How on earth
did you get in such a place?

I came to see the manager about a job.
He told me to wait there.

Ah, and the manager didn't come?

- No. Do you know him?
- Slightly.

Would you like me to
try and find him for you?

- Yes, please. would you?
- Are you sure you want a job in there?

No. No, not in there. Selling
programmes or something,
I think it was.

Ah, I see. well, you stay here
and I'll try and find him for you.

What's the matter?

- Nothing. I'm all right.
- Come and sit down.

- Are you ill?
- No, I'm all right. It's just...

I think I may be a tiny bit faint.
I didn't get any tea.

- How many meals have you had today?
- Oh, I've had a lot of meals.

What did you have for lunch?

- What did you have for dinner?
- I had dinner all right.

What? What?

- well, I...
- You had no dinner.

Come on now. Be honest.
You had no dinner, 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 are you taking me to?
- Come on.

That was wonderful.

- What would you like now?
- Nothing, thank you.

- A ice?
- No, thank you.

- Coffee?
- No, I couldn't.

The bill, please, waiter.

You must have been a bad character

to get sacked
from both your jobs so quickly.

Perhaps I was.

No, I don't think I was.

I'm sure you weren't.
It was just bad luck.

- Perhaps it was.
- What did you do, then?

Oh, nothing very much.
A few odd things. I managed.

Were you born in Brumley?

No, I was born in the country.

My father worked on a farm.

I lived there till I was 15.
I loved it there, the country.

- Why did you leave?
- I wanted to better myself.

(Giggling)

(Yawns)

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, it doesn't matter though. Really.
- Oh, yes, it does.

We don't want any more
Alderman Meggartys! 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 18th, 1911.

You'll say, "That's the
day I travelled in a cab."

(Giggles)
With the famous Gerald Croft.

Lord Croft of Brumley by then.

Rosoman Street, sir.
Any particular number?

- What number, Daisy?
- Oh, this'll do beautifully.

Good night, Gerald, and thank you.

I was going to see you to your door
and I meant it. Which house is it?

- Don't bother. I'm all right.
- I insist on bothering.

I don't leave a lady in the street in the
middle of the night. What is the number?

Well, I don't really live
in Rosoman Street itself.

It's just around the corner.
Good night.

I said I was going to see you
to your front door.

- will you wait there, cabbie?
- Right-o, sir.

(Train whistles)

- 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 know.

It's too late now. I can't wake up
the house at this time of night.

But I'll be perfectly all right.
It'll be getting light soon and...

I'll just walk around.

Thank you, Gerald. Goodbye.

- will you wait a moment, please, cabbie?
- Right, sir.

I'll tell you what 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 Brumley.

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, Arkwright Terrace, please?

That, Madam, is,
I think, all I need to tell you

about this... desirable residence.

It has constant cold water
and ever modern inconvenience!

(Giggling)

Ah, yes, the keys.

"A" is for this door here

and "B" is for the door downstairs.

Here are two sovereigns
for housekeeping money.

Oh, but I couldn't.

The flat must be kept up
to its accustomed style of living.

Now, go and get 12 hours' sleep.

You might consider the
possibility of three meals
a day, not forgetting tea!

(Giggling)

But where can I find you?
Will you be coming here tomorrow?

Yes, we'll have dinner together.
I'll be here at seven sharp.

Thank you. Good night.

Good night.

(Knocking on door)

Miss Daisy Renton, I believe?

Quite right.
Would you be Mr. 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.

Oh, and a bottle of wine.

Now, plates.

Hello. What's this?

I thought we'd eat here, too.

But this is wonderful!
We can have two courses! A banquet!

You know what you've forgotten?
Corkscrew.

(Giggles)

(♪ Classical music plays)

(Vinyl crackles)

(Clock pings)

My hat! Look at the time!
I've got to go.

I shall only just
catch that last train.

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

Good night.

And so she became your mistress?

- It was inevitable.
- (Poole) Were you in love with her?

I object to my daughter,
young and unmarried, being
drawn into this affair!

Your daughter isn't living on
the moon, Mother. She's here
in Brumley.

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.

No, of course not.
You were the wonderful fair prince.

You must have adored it, Gerald.

Yes, I admit it.

I did for a time.
Almost any man would have.

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 any
more details of this...
disgusting affair.

I'm afraid I do, Mrs. Birling.
I'll have to know the rest of
the story, Mr. Croft.

It proceeded
along more conventional lines.

"Conventional"?

There were no incidents.
She would never accept much money.

We were never seen together in Brumley.
She insisted on that.

'I saw her pretty frequently
at the flat until the end of
last summer.'

(Keys clinging)

- Have you been out somewhere, darling?
- Yes.

Theatre.

- Was it good?
- It was all right.

What did you do today?

Daisy, I don't know how
to tell you this, but 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 has 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
underneath because I knew it
would have to end.

The only thing I didn't know
was when!

Daisy, I...

Have you found someone else?

- Yes.
- Well, 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 go as soon as I possibly can.
- Please stop it, Daisy.

I know you're only tring
to make it easier for me,
but... it's horrible.

- I'll leave some money for you.
- I don't need any money.

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

It's something to keep you going
until you get a decent job.

Oh, don't worry about me.
I'll get a job.

- Are you sure?
- Yes, I'm quite sure.

Goodbye, Gerald.
Please go quickly now.

No, no. Please.

(Door shuts)

(Sobs)

That's all I can tell you.

Thank you, Mr. Croft.
That's all I want from you.

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.

- Certainly, Mr. 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 have to get
to know each other all over again.

Now, Sheila, I'm not defending him,

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, Mrs. 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.

- Do you recognise her?
- No, why should I?

You mean you don't choose to?

I meant what I said.

Hmm? You're not telling me
the truth, Mrs. Birling.

I beg your pardon!

Now, look here, Inspector.
I won't have this.

I'm a public man.

I suggest that public
men have responsibilities
as well as privileges.

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 mean anything, Shelia?

It means that we've no excuse now
for putting on airs.

Father threw this girl out
because she asked for decent wages.

(Arthur) I did no such thing!
I sacked her because she was
a troublemaker!

(Sheila) I pushed her further
out because I was in a bad
temper and she was pretty.

Gerald gives her the
earth and drops her as
soon as it suits him.

Now you're pretending
you don't recognise her photograph!

Oh, I admit I know why you should,

but I know that you did
from the way you look!

Can't you see you're making it worse?

- That was the door again.
- Gerald must've come back.

- Unless your son has just gone out.
- Well, I'll go and see.

Mrs. Birling, you are a member,
a very prominent member,

of the Brumley Women's
Charity Organisation, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

An organisation to which women
in distress may appeal for help?

Yes, we've done a great deal of work
in helping deserving cases.

There was a meeting of the
Interviewing Committee two
weeks ago?

I daresay there was.

You know very well there was.
You were in the chair.

And if I was?
What business is it of yours?

- Was it Eric?
- It must have been.

- (Sybil) Did you go up to his room?
- Yes, and I called out on both landings.

- He must've gone out.
- Silly boy. Where to?

I can't imagine.
He was in one of his excitable moods.

- Anyway, we don't need him here.
- Oh, but we do need him here.

- well, 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, Mrs. Birling.

Mr. Croft told us,
quite truthfully, I believe,

that he hadn't spoken to or seen
Eva Smith for six months.

But Mrs. Birling spoke to her
and saw her only two weeks ago.

- Mother did?
- Is this true?

Yes, quite true.

- She came to your organisation for help.
- Yes.

- And you gave it?
- No.

Why?

Why, Mrs. Birling?

She told me a ridiculous,
incredible story.

An obvious lie. Also,
she was grossly impertinent.

- (Poole) Impertinent?
- Yes.

That was one of the reasons
that prejudiced me against her case.

- You admit being prejudiced
against her?
- Yes.

Mother, she's died a horrible death.

I'm very sorry.
I think she had only herself to blame.

Was it due to your influence
in the committee that help
was refused this girl?

Possibly.

Come now, Mrs. Birling.
Was it or was it not your influence?

Yes, it was. I didn't like her manner.

- Why did she ask for help?
- You know very well why.

No, I don't.

As I wasn't there, I don't know
why she asked it from your 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
any pressure to bear upon me,
you're very much mistaken!

Unlike the other three, I've
done nothing that I'm ashamed of

or that won't bear investigation.

This girl asked for assistance.

We are required to look carefully
into the claims made upon us.

I wasn't satisfied
with this girl's claim.

It seemed to me that
she was not a good case,

so I used my influence
to have it refused.

In spite of what's
happened since, I still
think that I did my duty.

So if I don't choose
to discuss it any further,

you have no power
to make me change my mind!

I'm afraid I have that power,
Mrs. Birling.

No, you have not! Simply
because I've done nothing
wrong and you know it.

If you've done nothing
wrong, why are you afraid
to discuss it, Mrs. Birling?

How dare you say I'm afraid!

In the circumstances,
I consider I was perfectly justified.

The girl told us a pack of lies.
She made me lose all patience with her.

She claimed elaborate,
fine feelings and scruples

that were simply absurd
in a girl in that position.

She gave herself ridiculous airs!

She'd no ridiculous airs
when I saw her last.

In the infirmary.

Come now, Mrs. Birling.
Let us have some facts. Facts, please!

There was a committee meeting
to which this girl appealed for help.

- Isn't that so?
- Yes.

Under what name? Not as Eva Smith?

- No. Nor as Daisy Renton.
- As what, then?

Mrs. Birling.

- What did you say?
- Pardon?

- You called yourself Mrs. Birling.
- I'm sorry?

That's not your husband's name, is it?

- No.
- But you knew that it is mine?

No!

Did you come here for the purpose
of being impertinent?

No. It was the first name I thought of.

I worked at Birling's once.

What is your husband's name?

I can't say.

You can't say?

In fact, you're not married at all,
are you?

No.

So your whole story about a husband
who deserted you is quite false, isn't it?

Yes.

A tissue of lies.

Have you tried to get work?

- I can't get work.
- (Member) Why not?

I can't say.

If you don't confide in us,
we can't help you, can we?

- Now, why can't you work?
- I'm going to have a baby.

Oh... come along, my dear.

You must sit down.
There are plenty of chairs.

- Sit down now.
- Thank you, ma'am.

There are certain circumstances

in which it is prudent
to be seated as much as possible.

May we now proceed, Mrs. Livson?

Oh, do. Do.

Now, this man.
Why must you lie about him?

- I didn't want to bring him into it.
- (Sybil) Why not?

He didn't mean any harm.
He was just silly and wild.

Sometimes he drank too much.

Why don't you make him marry you?
He should be compelled to marry you.

It isn't that he won't marry me.
We couldn't. We're not of the same class.

This is ridiculous.

A girl in your position can't afford
these fine airs and scruples.

You don't mind
coming begging for charity.

Why not go to this drunken, young idler?
Make him support you.

He did. He gave me money.

And now he won't give you any more?

He would, but I can't take it.

And so this young ne'er-do-well,
because of your highfalutin notions,

is to escape the consequences
of his actions

and shift his responsibility on to
a charitable organisation such as this.

I think the members of this committee
will agree with me

that it would be monstrous to recommend
the expenditure of funds in such a way.

In my opinion,
he should be publicly exposed.

If you want help, young woman,
go to him.

So I think I was justified in advising
my committee not to allow her claim.

And you still think that?

I'm sorry she should have come
to such a horrible end,

but I accept no blame for it at all.

Tell me who... who do you say
is to blame, then?

First, the girl herself.

By letting Father and me
have her chucked out of her jobs?

Secondly, I blame the young man.
He ought to be dealt with very severely.

If the girl's death is due to anybody,
then it's due to him.

- Ah, then he's the chief culprit.
- (Sybil) Certainly.

He's responsible for the whole thing.

The girl's death. Everything.
He ought to be dealt with very severely.

- Mother, please stop!
- You're behaving like a hysterical child.

And if you would find this young man,
make him admit his responsibilities,

instead of asking unnecessary questions,
then you would be doing your duty.

Don't worry, Mrs. Birling.
I'll do my duty.

- Now perhaps you'd like to say goodnight.
- Not yet. I'm waiting.

Waiting? For what?

To do my duty.

Now, Mother, can't you see?

Are you suggesting that... my boy...?

If it was, Mrs. Birling,
we know what to do. You just told us.

Yes, but... look here, Inspector.

Mother, I begged and begged you
to stop.

I don't believe it.

I won't believe it.

- Come in, Mr. Birling.
- What?

- I think I heard your son come in.
- I didn't hear anything.

(Poole) Ah, yes. There he is.

(Sybil) Eric.

- You know, don't you?
- (Sybil) I don't know anything.

Not any more.

Mother's been blaming the young man
who got this girl into trouble.

Saying he shouldn't escape
and should be made an example of.

(Arthur) That's enough.

You haven't made it any easier for me.

You're not like that.

Mother, what's the use of pretending?

- (Arthur) If you had any loyalty...
- Don't talk to Sheila like that.

- Hold your tongue! I've had about enough.
- One moment, please.

You'll have plenty of time to adjust
family relationships after I've gone.

Now, Mr. Birling, I'd like to ask your son
about his association with Eva Smith.

Sheila, take your mother
into the dining room.

- Father, I want to hear...
- You heard what I said. Go on, Sybil.

Could I have a drink first?

- No, you don't!
- Yes.

I know, I know, this is your house
and he's your son, but look at him.

- This is one time he needs a drink.
- All right. Go on.

Now, when did you first meet this girl?

It was one night last winter.

I'd been out with some of the chaps.
I was a bit squiffy. I...

It was late,
but I didn't want to go home.

So for some reason,
I don't know why, I got on a tram.

Never mind about trams! Go on!

Fares, please. Fares, please.

(Tram bell rings)

- Fares, please.
- How much?

- It depends on how far you're going.
- Not too far. We mustn't overdo it.

You're the one that's been overdoing it.
We'll call it tuppence, then.

Yes. Yes, that's very reasonable.

Here you are
and I want 19 and tenpence change.

Well, I haven't got 19 and tenpence.
Stop trying to make a fool of me.

I've had a long day.
Either pay your fare or get off my tram.

I am trying to pay my fare.
You won't let me.

I'm putting you off the next stop.
Fares, please.

Well, I tried to...

Two tuppennies. 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 tenpence
change either. It doesn't matter.

Well, of course it matters.
It's these little things that do matter.

- By the way, where are we?
- Turning into Alma Bridge Road.

This is where I get out.

So do I. I always get out
somewhere on Alma Bridge Road.

That's just silly!

(Giggles)

I insist. This is the only place open and
here I can get change and pay my debt.

And I have no doubt...

I have no doubt that we shall find
something very delicious to eat.

You're hungry, I'm hungry.

- Are you hungry?
- Yes.

Yes, well, everbody's hungry.
Except him.

Hello, my good friend.

I want to see if I got this shipping order
right. Now, let's have it again.

A tall and a middle twice.
Two talls and a middle.

Two pennyworth of chips four times
and here's your money.

Now, what's yours?

Good night, princess.

I shall have eight pennyworth
of them both.

That guarantees me
the right kind of change.

"Birling the businessman,"
they call me.

- Are you one of the Birlings?
- Eric, of that ilk.

- 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.

And I'm so bored all day that I have
to go out with the boys at night,

otherwise I'd go barmy.

Unless I am barmy
and I just don't know it.

(Shop owner) Here you are.

Ah, your tuppence!
Thank you very, very much.

With the compliments of E. Birling Esq.,
some delicious chish and fips!

- And now, I shall see you home.
- No...

I shall see you home!

Good night,
monsieur le restaurateur!

Well, I'd say you are barmy.

Well, this is it.

Well, if you don't mind me saying so,
I don't think much of it.

Neither do I.

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 by little.

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

(Sighs)

All right, then. Just one.

Now, off you go. You'll get wet through.

You know, you've disappointed me.

(Sobs) I'm very, very sad.

You really must go home.

I'll tell you a secret.

I daren't go home.

Not yet.

I must sober up first.

I really ought to have something to eat.

Because I'm very hungry and it's cold
and I'm tired and... it's wet.

A nice girl wouldn't turn a dog away
on a night like this.

All right, then. But do be good.

Try to be sensible.

(Whispers) Shh. I won't breathe.

- And so you stayed for an hour or two?
- Yes.

And then you met her again.
In fact, you met her lots of times!

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!

Eric, what's the matter? Eric!

Oh, don't you start on me, too!

- Eric!
- Oh, stop it! I tell you! All of you!

(Arthur) What did she tell you?

Come on, boy! Out with it!

What is it, Eric?

(Eva) 'No, I couldn't be mistaken.
I'm 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 and so was I.

That's all it ever amounted to.

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

But you haven't got any money. How?

Oh, 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.

(Door creaks open)

- Oh, hello, boy. Got no work to do?
- Yes, I have, Father...

well, you'd better get on with it,
hadn't you?

I wanted to talk to you about something.

I'm very busy just now. Can't it wait?

- It's rather urgent, I'm afraid.
- Well, well, what is it?

I wanted 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.

Gerald's a good deal older
and a good deal more responsible.

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.

- You live at home. You have everything.
- I've got debts.

Debts? Debts?
Well, I'll tell you something.

I'm not going to pay your debts or anybody
else's. 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 going to hand over
this firm's money to a lot of bookmakers!

You've 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.

(Door slams shut)

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.

(Arthur) What did you do?

I gave her some money,
as I said I would.

How much?

I suppose about £50, all told.

- £50? Where did you get £50 from?
- From the office, Father.

- From my office?
- Yes.

You stole it!

No, I collected accounts in cash
without a carbon copy receipt 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! I've a very good mind
to give you in charge!

I'm not sure it rests with you,
Mr. Birling.

Your son may have committed
a criminal offence.

Criminal... You mean...?

Police courts? Papers?

No, Inspector! No!

That's scarcely your attitude
of a few minutes ago, Mrs. Birling.

(Arthur) Why didn't you come to me
when you found yourself in this mess?

You're the last person
anyone could go to in trouble.

Your trouble is that you're being spoiled!

You can divide the responsibility
between you after I've gone.

Now, the girl 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.

- 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?
Well, did she come here?

Don't just stand there. tell me!

I'll tell you.

She applied to your mother's committee
for help. 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!

Oh, Eric, don't!

Please.

Inspector,
is there bound to be an inquiry?

Or... can all this be forgotten?

People have short memories,
Mr. Birling.

I'm not likely to forget it.

No. No, I don't think you will.

You needn't look at me.
I know I shan't. I started it.

Oh, no. No, I don't think we can quite
say that you started it, Miss Birling.

Can we, Mr. Birling?

Inspector, I would...
I'd give thousands. Yes, thousands.

You're offering money
at the wrong time, Father.

It isn't only Eva Smith, Father.
It's all the other Eva Smiths.

The things we do to people
without realising it.

Only for once
we've seen the consequences.

Yes, I was rather hoping one of you
would say something like that.

I suppose if we all knew
the consequences beforehand,

we'd all be a bit more careful,
eh, Mrs. Birling?

But it's a pity that so often
something horrible has to happen

before we see some things at all,
hmm?

Do you know that not one of you
is the same person that you were

when I first came here tonight?

Well, now... I wonder where I left my hat.

I think I saw it
in the dining room, Arthur.

Yes, that's right.

Thank you, Mrs. Birling.

Thank you.

- Eric...
- Sheila, please.

I don't think
I can stand any more tonight.

I only want to say how sorry I am
about you and that girl.

Thank you.

We've never been much
of a brother and sister before, have we?

Things change, I suppose.

I can change.

Stop drinking.

Take my punishment over the money.
Try and pay it back somehow.

Nobody really cares about the money
any more. It's you I'm thinking of.

Don't let it make you feel bitter about
Father and Mother. Don't let it, Eric.

All right. But you mustn't feel like that
about Gerald either.

- I don't any longer. Not really.
- Because he's in love with you.

And you are with him, aren't you?

I was very much, but... after hearing
about him and that girl...

That doesn't matter. Gerald's all right.

I know he puts on
the grand Croft manner sometimes,

but he's all right behind it all.

- You know that, don't you?
- Yes.

(Horses trotting)

Good evening, Mr. Croft.

Oh, it's you, Sergeant. Good evening.

Everything all right, sir?

Yes. Yes, everything's fine.
Taking a stroll before I turn in.

- Looks like a change in the weather, sir.
- Yes. well, I'd better be going.

By the way, Sergeant, what sort
of a fellow is this Inspector Poole?

Poole? Which division, sir?

Well, here in Brumley.

There's no Inspector Poole
in Brumley, sir.

- Are you certain?
- Positive, sir.

You couldn't be mistaken?

There couldn't be a new man transferred
that you didn't know about?

Impossible, sir. I'd have heard of it
down at the station.

No, you can rest assured
there is no Inspector Poole in Brumley.

Thank you, Ransom. Good night.

Good night, sir.

(Knocking on door)

- Is the inspector still here?
- What inspector?

- You don't know, do you?
- They're in the dining room, sir.

Goodbye, Mrs. Birling.

Goodbye, Miss Birling.

- Good night, Mr. Croft.
- Just a moment, Inspector.

Something has happened. I must
speak to Mr. and Mrs. Birling.

Do you mind waiting?

Not at all, Mr. Croft, but it won't
make any difference, you know.

- Where would you like me to wait?
- Wait?

Er... well...

- would you mind waiting in my study?
- Certainly.

(Poole) Thank you, Mr. Birling.

(Arthur) will you take a seat?

I don't think we shall keep you
more than a few moments.

- (Arthur) You know something?
- That man isn't a police officer!

- What?
- Are you certain?

- Absolutely.
- But how did you find out?

I met a policeman I know
and I asked him about the inspector.

He swore there was
no Inspector Poole on the force.

- By jingo! A fake!
- Yes.

I knew a real inspector would never
have spoken to me like that.

Yes. Look at the way he talked to me too,
ordering me about in my own house.

He must've known I was
an ex-Lord Mayor and a magistrate.

I mean, real inspectors
just don't talk like that.

You were right. He wasn't real.

There's no such inspector.
We've been had.

- I just can't believe it.
- (Gerald) There's no doubt about it.

But this makes a difference, you know.

I suppose we're all nice people now?

If you've got nothing more sensible
to say, you'd better keep quiet!

- She's right, though.
- And you'd better keep quiet anyhow!

You'd better know, Gerald,
I stole some money.

(Arthur) And you'll pay it back.

It's what happened to the girl and
what we all did to her that matters!

Eric's right. Just remember
what that inspector said.

- But he's not an inspector!
- Well, he inspected us all right.

What do you make
of this business now?

(Arthur) There are people in this town
who dislike me enough

to arrange a put-up job of this sort.

What on earth are you doing?

- I'm going to phone the police.
- Idiot! Give me that.

If the man's an impostor,
we'd better have him arrested.

You keep out of this.
And keep the police out too.

Anyway, he can't escape
without coming out here.

- The windows?
- (Arthur) Impossible. They're barred.

Just a moment.

I'm sorry, Inspector.
We shan't keep you much longer.

Now, we've got him!

All we have to do is to
settle quietly amongst ourselves

what to do and the
best way to deal with him.

We've established he's an impostor.

It's the same rotten story whether we
told it to an inspector or somebody else!

It makes all the difference
between a lot of stuff like this

coming out in private
and a public scandal!

Scandal? What does a scandal matter?

The girl's dead
and we all helped to kill her.

But did we? Who says so?
There's no real evidence that we did.

- There is!
- No, there isn't.

Just think. A man comes here
pretending to be a police officer.

Now, what does he do?

Very artfully, working on information
he's picked up here and there,

he bluffs us into confessing that
we've been mixed up in this girl's life.

- And so we have.
- But how do we know it's the same girl?

- We all admitted it.
- No, we didn't.

We admitted something to do with a girl,
but how do we know it's the same girl?

By the photograph.

How do we know
it's the same photograph?

He was careful Eric and I shouldn't see
the one he showed to your father.

Now, just think back.

Did any two of us look
at the same photograph at once?

- (Arthur) No.
- Well, no.

- No.
- (Gerald) Precisely.

There's no proof it was the same.
Therefore, no proof it was the same girl.

There isn't the slightest proof that
this Daisy Renton was really Eva Smith.

We've only got his word for it.
He may have been lying all the time.

There were probably
four or five different girls.

That doesn't matter to me.
The one I knew is dead.

- well, we can soon settle that.
- Oh? How?

By ringing the infirmary.

Hello. will you get me the infirmary?
It's urgent. No, I don't know the number.

Either there's a dead girl there
or there isn't.

And if there isn't?

Well... Hello? Is that the infirmary?

Yes, this is Mr Gerald Croft speaking
of Croft's Limited.

We are rather worried
about one of our employees.

Have you had a girl brought in
this afternoon who committed suicide

by drinking disinfectant, or any suicide?

Yes, I'll wait.

Yes?

You're certain of that?

I see. Thank you very much. Goodbye.

No girl has died there today.
They haven't had a suicide in months.

What a relief! Gerald, my boy,
pour us out some drinks at once.

- To think that it's all over.
- Is it?

(Chuckles) well, isn't it?
We've just been had, that's all.

So nothing's really happened?

Just because it didn't end tragically,
there's nothing to be sorry for?

Nothing to learn? We can all
go on behaving just as we did?

Well, why shouldn't we?

We all began to learn something,

but now you're ready
to go on the same old way.

Oh, and you're not, eh?

No.

Because I remember what he said
and how he made me feel.

It frightens me the way you talk.

It frightens me too.

Just look at them!

The famous younger generation
who know it all.

And they can't even take a joke!

I tell you, whoever that inspector is,

as long as I live,
I shall never forget him.

By Jove! I'd forgotten all about him!

Oh, good gracious! Now, Arthur,
what do you think we'd better do?

- We don't want any fuss or scandal.
- (Arthur) Leave it to me.

We'll just give him a fright
and send him away with a flea in his ear.

After all, you know,
we owe him the right.

Now, look here. I want to have
a few straight words with you.

(Phone rings)

One or two facts have come my way,
Mr. So-called Inspector.

It's my turn to ask you a few questions.
I don't think you're going to like them.

Father, you're wanted
on the telephone.

Just a minute.

- Mr. Birling speaking.
- (Man) 'I'm sorry to trouble you.'

Yes, Fletcher?

What?

Here?

That was the police.

A girl has just died
on her way to the infirmary.

After swallowing some disinfectant.

The police inspector is
on his way here

to ask some questions.