An Inspector Calls

Do you believe in God?

Yes.

How can you?

I can't believe in people.

I have to believe in something, or I'd fall.

Fall down through the cracks...

and never stop falling.

Thank you, sir.

Come in.

Hello.

Hello.

Thank you.

Arthur. I don't think that's really appropriate - not with Sheila here.

Nonsense, Mummy. She's heard a lot worse than that.

Have you? You know I have.

An altogether excellent dinner. You must tell cook from me, Sybil.

And you're not supposed to say such things in front of guests.

In trouble again!

Well, it really was first class, Mrs Birling.

Thank you. I don't think of Gerald as a guest, you know.

Not any more.

I don't see how he can be, after tonight.

Oh, do take some, Mummy.

It is a special occasion.

Very well. Just a little.

All right, Edna. I'll ring from the drawing room

when we want coffee. Yes, ma'am.

What's the matter with you?

I don't know. Sorry, I just...

Ah, he's squiffy.

No, I'm not. Sheila.

Now that our glasses are full, I'd like to say a few words

to mark the occasion. Stop it, you two.

Gerald, I don't mind telling you

that your engagement to Sheila...

.means a tremendous amount to me.

You're just the kind of son-in-law I've always wanted.

Your father and I have been rivals in business

for longer than I care to remember,

but you're bringing us together.

Hm.

And perhaps we can look forward to a time when Birling and Company

and Crofts Limited are no longer competing, but working as one.

Hear hear. Lower costs,

higher prices, eh? My father would certainly agree to that.

You're making it sound like a political alliance.

We know there's a lot more to it than that.

And you've chosen the best possible time to be married.

The economy's on the way up at last,

the workers are knuckling under

and realising what's good for them... What about war?

There's not going to be a war, Eric.

The Germans don't want a war

any more than we do. Really?

Because according to the papers... Let's not talk about this now.

I want to wish the pair of you the very best that life can bring.

Yes, Gerald.

Sheila, darling...

our congratulations and very best wishes.

Thank you.

Um... Yes. To both of you.

She's not bad really, Gerald.

Got a bit of a temper - watch out for the right hook.

Chump. Really, I hope you find happiness.

I really do.

Well, I can't drink to this, can I? When do I drink?

You can drink to me.

All right, I will.

I drink to you, Gerald.

And I drink to you.

I hope that I can make you as happy as you deserve to be.

And I would like to begin...

by giving you this.

Oh, Gerald! Is it the one you wanted me to have?

The very one.

Ah, look, Mummy, isn't it a beauty?

It certainly is.

Well done.

Oh, Gerald...

Steady the buffs.

Now I really feel engaged.

Yes, well, I should hope that you do!

Well, now... shall we go through?

Yes, let's.

We won't be long. Don't be.

Eric? May I have a word?

Yes, Mama, of course.

Please don't drink too much port.

I'm not squiffy.

Well, I think you are a little bit... "squiffy".

Why are you drinking so much tonight anyway?

You clearly can't take as much as your father...

or Gerald, if it comes to it.

I expect you'll be saying that when I'm 40.

Well, I may not be here when you're 40, so I'm saying it now.

Don't worry, Mother.

I'm just... Standards, Eric.

They very much wanted to be here, of course,

but they've got into the habit

of taking a short break at this time of year...

What, they leave you in charge of the works?

They do, yes.

Do you hear that, Eric?

Gerald's father leaves him in charge from time to time.

Very impressive.

That'll be you one day...

if you buck your ideas up.

Happy?

Yes.

There was a time when I thought this would never happen.

Well done.

I haven't won a prize.

Well, you have, in a way.

You've secured your whole future.

Don't take this the wrong way, Gerald,

but I've a feeling your mother

thinks you could have done better than my girl -

socially and so on.

I... I really don't think...

Oh, it's quite all right. I don't blame her.

Sybil's parents were just the same when I was courting her.

Were they? Oh, yes.

Now, there's something I'd like you to mention to her...

quietly, if you don't mind.

It seems there's a pretty good chance

that I might find my way on to the next honours list.

A knighthood. Oh, I say!

Congratulations! Thanks.

Well, it's a bit early for that, but I've had one or two hints.

Well, you know I had that spell as Lord Mayor, of course.

And I'm known as a useful party man.

I think I stand a fair chance

as long as we keep out of trouble

for the next few months. Well, if that's the only obstacle...

The family knows, but, um... no-one else does.

I shall mention it to her in confidence.

She'll be delighted. Good.

I've said this to Eric before,

it's not where you start in this life, it's where you finish.

Now, a man can achieve anything he wants to in this country,

if he puts his mind to it.

And that's part of what makes it great.

I couldn't agree with you more. The thing to do

is to keep your head down and concentrate on your own business.

The way these cranks talk now,

you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else,

and we're all mixed up together, like bees in a hive.

"Community"! If I hear that word one more time...

You take it from me -

a man must look after his own affairs.

Look after himself and his family, and then everything else just...

A-hem!

Please, sir, an inspector's called.

What kind of inspector?

A police inspector, sir. He says it's important.

Well, you'd better let him in here then.

Ah, nuisance.

Are you still on the bench, sir?

Yes. It'll be something about a warrant, I bet.

Hm.

Inspector Goole, sir.

Mr Birling?

Yes, Inspector. Sit down if you like.

Thank you, sir.

I hope this won't take too long,

only we're in the middle of a family celebration.

A glass of port? Or we have some whisky.

No, thank you, Mr Birling. I'm on duty.

You're new, aren't you? Yes, sir. Recently transferred.

I thought I'd never seen your face before.

I know all the police round here. Of course.

So, what can I do for you? If it's about a warrant...

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

Oh?

Three hours ago, a young woman died in the Infirmary.

She'd taken steps to end her own life.

The doctors tried to save her, but it was too late.

Good heavens, how dreadful.

And?

Who... Who was she?

And you are?

Um... Eric Birling. My son.

Her name was Eva Smith.

Eva Smith...

Do you remember her, Mr Birling?

The name seems familiar, but, er...

...it doesn't really mean anything to me.

I've just been round to the room she had.

She left a letter and a sort of diary.

Now, it seems that she was employed in your works

at one time. Ah... that's it, is it?

Well, we have several hundred young women working there,

and they keep changing.

Well, this young woman, Eva Smith, she was a bit out of the ordinary.

I found a photograph of her in her lodgings.

Perhaps you'd remember her from that.

May I see it, please?

I'm afraid not.

Why not? I only...

It's the way I work. One line of inquiry at a time.