Eric: (sitting down) Yes, please. (takes decanter and helps himself.) mother says we mustn't stay too long. But I don't think it matters. I left'em talking about clothes again. You'd think a girl had never any clothes before she gets married. Women are potty about 'em. Inspector: (very deliberately) I think you did something terribly wrong – and that you're going to spend the rest of your life regretting it. I wish you'd been with me tonight in the infirmary. You'd have seen- Birling: (slowly) No – I seem to remember hearing that name – Eva Smith – somewhere. But it doesn't convey anything to me. And I don't see where I come into this. Sheila:(urgently) I don't want to get poor Eric into trouble. He's probably in enough trouble already. But we really must stop these silly pretences . This isn't the time to pretend that Eric isn't used to drinking. He's been steadily drinking too much for the last two years. Birling: You! You don't seem to care about anything. But I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List --

Inspector: No, not entirely. A good deal happened to her after that. But you're partly to blame . Just as your father is. Birling: (with hearty approval) You're absolutely right, my dear. Already we've discovered one important fact – that that fellow was a fraud and we've been hoaxed – and that may not be the end of it by any means. Eric: I don't see much nonsense about it when a girl goes and kills herself. You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can't. Nor can mother. We did her in all right. Mrs Birling: Eric? Oh – I'm afraid he may have had rather too much to drink tonight. We were having a little celebration here-- Birling: No, not you, my dear. But these two. That fellow obviously didn't like us. He was prejudiced from the start . Probably a socialist or some sort of crank – he talked like one. And then, instead of standing up to him, you let him bluff you into talking about your private affairs. You ought to have stood up to him.Sheila: No, that's not fair, Eric. 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 – it was simply bound to come out tonight – so I thought she might as well know in advance. Don't forget – I've already been through it. Birling: (eagerly) Now wait a minute! Let's see how that would work. Now- (hesitates) no, it wouldn't. Birling: Perhaps I ought to warn you that he's an old friend of mine and that I see him fairly frequently. We play golf together sometimes up at the west Brumley. Birling: (eagerly) Wait a minute, wait a minute. Don't be in such a hurry to put yourself into court. That interview with your mother could have been just as much a put-up job, like all this police inspector business. The whole damned thing can have been a piece of bluff. Gerald: I'm sorry, Sheila. But it was all over and done with, last summer. I hadn't set eyes on the girl for at least six months. I don't come into this suicide business.

Birling: Well, Inspector, I don't see that it's any concern of yours how I choose to run my business. Is it now?

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Mrs Birling. (rising. The others rise) Yes, of course, dear. Well, don't keep Gerald in here too long. Eric – I want you a minute. Birling: Well, don't tell me that's because I discharged her from my employment nearly two years ago. Gerald: all right, if you must have it. I met her first, sometime in March last year, in the stalls bar at the palace. I mean the palace music hall here in Brumley -

Mrs Birling : Now, Sheila, don't tease him. When you're married you'll realize that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You'll have to get used to that, just as I had. Gerald: (smiling) Wouldn't dream of it. In fact, I insist upon being one of the family now. I've been trying long enough , haven't I ? (as she does not reply , with more in Sheila: (half serious, half playful) Yes – except for all last summer, when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you.Inspector: ( sternly) I warn you, you're making it worse for yourself. What reason did she give for not taking any more money? Inspector: Yes, she was in great agony. They did everything they could for her at the infirmary, but she died. Suicide, of course. Eric: She told me afterward that she was a bit, chiefly because she'd not had much to eat that day. Birling: (angrily) Inspector, I've told you before, I don't like the tone nor the way you're handling this inquiry. And I don't propose to give you much rope.

Sheila: And Eric's absolutely right . And it's the best thing any one of us has said tonight and it makes me feel a bit less ashamed of us. You're just beginning to pretend all over again. Gerald: (cutting in) No, no. passed it off by saying I'd been having an argument with somebody. But the point is – this sergeant was dead certain they hadn't any inspector at all like the chap who came here. Inspector: I’d like some information if you don't mind, Mr Birling. Two hours ago a young woman died in the infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant . Burnt her inside out, of course. Birling: Rubbish! If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth.

Birling: ( rather impatiently ) Yes, yes. Horrid business . But I don't understand why you should come here, Inspector – Sheila: I don't dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I've ever done before. I knew anyhow you were lying about those months last year when you hardly came near me. I knew there was something fishy about that time. And now at least you've been honest. And I believe what you told us about the way you helped her at first. Just out of pity. And it was my fault really that she was so desperate when you first met her. But this has made a difference. You and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner here. We'd have to start all over again, getting to know each other-- Sheila: I behaved badly too. I know I did I'm ashamed of it. But now you're beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened.