SHEILA(to GERALD) You see? (To INSPECTOR.) Then I'm staying.

SHEILABecause I was in a furious temper. When I was looking at myself in the mirror I caught sight of her smiling at the assistant, and I was furious with her. It was my own fault. (Suddenly, to GERALD.) All right, Gerald, you needn't look at me like that. I expect you've done things you're ashamed of, too.

INSPECTORIn fact, in a kind of way, you have been jealous of her.

SHEILAYes, I suppose so.

INSPECTORAnd so you used the power you had to punish the girl just because she made you feel like that?

SHEILAYes, but it didn't seem to be anything very terrible at the time. And if I could help her now, I would —

INSPECTOR(harshly) Yes, but you can't. It's too late. She's dead. Eva Smith had to leave. Now she had to try something else. So first she changed her name to Daisy Renton —

GERALD(startled) What? (pulling himself together) D'you mind if I give myself a drink, Sheila?

EVA Я потеряла работу на фабрике, была вынуждена уйти из отелье, после этого мне ничего не оставалось как попробовать пойти по иной дорожке. И для начала пришлось сменить имя на Дейзи Рентон. Кажется, милый Джеральд не забыл его.

SHEILA merely nods, still staring at him, and he goes across to the tantalus on the sideboard for a whisky.

As ERIC moves, the INSPECTOR looks from SHEILA to GERALD, then goes out with ERIC.

SHEILAWell, Gerald?

GERALD(trying to smile) Well what, Sheila?

SHEILAHow did you come to know this girl — Eva Smith?

GERALDI didn't.

SHEILADaisy Renton then — it's the same thing.

GERALD(approaching her) Now listen, darling —

SHEILANo, that's no use. You not only knew her but you knew her very well. When did you first get to know her?

He does not reply.

Were you seeing her last spring and summer, during that time when you hardly came near me and said you were so busy? Were you?

He does not reply hut looks at her.

Yes, of course you were.

GERALDI'm sorry, Sheila. But it was all over and done with, last summer. I don't come into this suicide business.

SHEILAI thought I didn't half an hour ago.

GERALD. Neither of us does. So for God's sake — don't say anything to the Inspector.

SHEILA(laughs rather hysterically) Why — you fool — he knows.

She looks at him almost in triumph. He looks crushed.

The door slowly opens and the INSPECTOR appears, looking steadily and searchingly at them.

INSPECTORWell?

End of Act One

ACT TWO

[Scene 9]

At rise, scene and situation are exactly as they were at end of Act One. The INSPECTOR remains at the door for a few moments looking at SHEILA and GERALD. Then he comes forward, leaving door open behind him.

INSPECTOR(To GERALD.) Well?

SHEILA(with hysterical laugh, to GERALD) You see?

GERALD(with an effort) Inspector, I think Miss Birling ought to be excused of this questioning.

SHEILAHe means that I'm getting hysterical now.

INSPECTORWell, I don't want to keep you here.

SHEILABut you haven't finished asking questions — have you?

INSPECTORNo.

SHEILA(to GERALD) You see? (To INSPECTOR.) Then I'm staying.

GERALDWhy should you? It's bound to be unpleasant.

INSPECTORAnd you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant things?

GERALDIf possible — yes.

INSPECTORWell, we know one young woman who wasn't, don't we? (pause) I can tell you why Miss Birling wants to stay on. A girl died tonight. A pretty of girl, who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony — hating life —

SHEILA(distressed) Don't please — I know, I know — and I can't stop thinking about it —

INSPECTOR(ignoring this) Now Miss Birling has just been made to understand what she did to this girl. And if she leaves us now, she'll be alone with her responsibility. You see, we have to share something. If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt.

He regards her calmly while she stares at him wonderingly and dubiously.

[Scene 10]

Now MRS BIRLING enters, briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key with the little scene that has just passed. SHEILA feels this at once.

MRS B.(smiling, social) Good evening, Inspector.

INSPECTORGood evening, madam.

MRS B.(same easy tone) I'm Mrs Birling, y'know. I don't think we can help you much.

SHEILANo, Mother — please! We all started like that — so confident until he began asking us questions.

MRS BIRLING looks to SHEILA

MRS B.Dear, I think you ought to go to bed.

SHEILAMother, I couldn't possibly go.

MRS B.Nothing but morbid curiosity.

SHEILANo it isn't.

MRS B.Please don't contradict me like that. And in any case we cannot understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class —

SHEILA(urgently, cutting in) Mother, don't — please don't. You mustn't try to build up a wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the Inspector will just break it down.

MRS B.(To INSPECTOR.) Do you?

INSPECTORYes. And she's right.

MRS B.(haughtily) I beg your pardon!(after pause, recovering herself) I shall be glad to answer any questions the Inspector wishes to ask me, though naturally I don't know anything about this girl.

INSPECTOR(gravely) We'll see, Mrs Birling.

[Scene 11]

Enters BIRLING, who closes door behind him.

BIRLING(rather hot, bothered) I've been trying to persuade Eric to go to bed, but he won't. Now he says you told him to stay up. Did you?

INSPECTORYes, I did.

BIRLINGWhy?

INSPECTORBecause I shall want to talk to him, Mr Birling.

BIRLINGIf you must, then I suggest you do it now. Get it over, then let the lad go.

INSPECTORI'm sorry, but he'll have to wait.

SHEILA(to MRS BIRLING) You see?

MRS B.No, I don't. And please be quiet, Sheila.

BIRLING(angrily) Inspector, I've told you before, I don't like your tone

MRS B. (With sudden anger, to INSPECTOR.) Well, come along — what is it you want to know?

INSPECTOR(coolly) Last year, this girl Eva Smith had to leave Milwards, because Miss Birling compelled them to discharge her, and then she became Daisy Renton. (Sharply turning on him) Mr Croft, when did you first get to know her?

An exclamation of surprise from BIRLING and MRS BIRLING.

GERALDAll right, if you must have it. I met her first, sometime in March last year, in the Palace music hall —

SHEILAWell, we didn't think you meant Buckingham Palace.

GERALD(to Sheila) Thanks. You're going to be a great help, I can see.

INSPECTOR(with authority) Yes, Mr Croft — in the stalls bar at the Palace Variety Theatre —

GERALDThe show was boring, and I went down into the bar for a drink. It's a favourite haunt of women of the town —

MRS В.Women of the town?

BIRLINGYes, yes. But I see no point in mentioning the subject — especially — (indicating SHEILA.)

MRS B.It would be much better if Sheila didn't listen to this story at all.

SHEILABut 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 women of the town.

GERALDI’m glad I amuse you. I didn't propose to stay long down there. But I noticed a girl. She was very pretty — soft blond hair and big blue eyes — (breaks off) My God! (distressed) Sorry, I've suddenly realized that's she's dead —

INSPECTOR(harshly) Yes, she's dead.

SHEILAAnd probably between us we killed her.

MRS B.(sharply) Sheila, don't talk nonsense.

SHEILAYou wait, Mother.

GERALDShe looked charming and altogether out of place there. Old fat man wedged her into a corner.So I went across and told him some nonsense — and then suggested she would leave with me. She agreed.

INSPECTORWhere did you go?

GERALDWe went along to the County Hotel, and we had a drink or two and talked.

INSPECTORDid she drink much at that time?

GERALDNo. Sometime later I asked her questions about herself. Her name was Daisy Renton. Daisy told me that she was tired from work and was desperately hard up. INSPECTORAnd then you decided to keep her — as your mistress?

MRS B.What?

SHEILAOf course, Mother. It was obvious from the start. Go on, Gerald.

GERALD(steadily) When me met again, it… happened that my friend had gone off for six months and gave me the key from his rooms. So I insisted on Daisy moving into these rooms. (Carefully, to the INSPECTOR.) I helped her not because I could make love to her, but because I was sorry for her.

INSPECTORI see.

SHEILAYes, but why are you saying that to him? You should say that to me.

GERALDI suppose I should. I'm sorry, Sheila. Somehow I —

INSPECTORBut she became your mistress?

GERALDI suppose it was inevitable. She was young and pretty. I became the most important person in her life — you understand?

INSPECTORYes. She was a woman. She was lonely. Were you in love with her?

SHEILAJust what I was going to ask!

BIRLING(angrily) I really must protest —

INSPECTOR(turning on him sharply) Why should you? It was you who turned the girl out in the first place.

BIRLING(rather taken aback) What I was going to say was that I protest against the way in which my daughter, a young unmarried girl, is being dragged into this —

SHEILAIt was I who had the girl turned out of her job at Milwards. And I'm supposed to be engaged to Gerald. And I'm not a child, don't forget. Were you in love with her, Gerald?

GERALD(hesitatingly) It's hard to say. I didn't feel about her as she felt about me.

SHEILA(with sharp sarcasm) Of course not. You were the wonderful Fairy Prince. You must have adored it, Gerald.

GERALDAll right — I did for a time. Nearly any man would have done.

SHEILAAt least it's honest. Did you go and see her every night?

GERALDNo. But of course I did see a good deal of her.

MRS B.I don't think we want any further details of this disgusting affair —

SHEILA(cutting in) I do.

GERALDIs there anything else you want to know?

INSPECTORYes. When did this affair end?

GERALDIn the first week of September. By that time Daisy knew it was coming to an end. So I broke it off definitely

INSPECTORHow did she take it?

GERALDBetter than I'd hoped. She didn't blame me at all. I wish to God she had now. Perhaps I'd feel better about it.

INSPECTORDid she tell you what she proposed to do after you'd left her?

GERALDNo. I got the idea, that she thought of leaving Brumley. Did she?

INSPECTORYes. She went away for about two months. To some seaside place. She kept a sort of diary. And she said there that she had to go away and remember just to make it last longer. She felt there'd never be anything as good again for her.

GERALDWell, I'd like to be alone for a while — I'd be glad if you'd let me go.

INSPECTORAll right, Mr Croft.

SHEILABut just in case you forget — or decide not to come back, Gerald, I think you'd better take this with you. (She hands him the ring.)

GERALDI see. Well, I was expecting this.

SHEILAI don't dislike you as I did half an hour ago Gerald. In fact, I rather respect you more than I've ever done before. But this has made a difference. We'd have to start all over again, getting to know each other —

BIRLINGNow, Sheila, you must understand that a lot of young men —

SHEILADon't interfere, please, Father. Gerald knows what I mean.

MRS B.Well, really, I think we've just about come to an end of this wretched business —

GERALDI don't think so. Excuse me.

EVA С Мистером Крофтом мы познакомились в марте прошлого года в баре, он спас меня от приставаний пьяного мужчины. Мы зашли в отель, где долго разговаривали.

Джеральд узнал о том, что меня выселяют и предложил поселиться в квартире своего приятеля, пока тот в отъезде. Мне некуда было пойти, я согласилась. Потом я стала его любовницей…

[Scene 12]

He goes out. They watch him go in silence. We hear, the front, door slam.

MRS B.You have a photograph of this girl?

INSPECTORYes. I think you'd better look at it.

MRS B.I don't see any particular reason why I should —

INSPECTORProbably not. But you'd better look at it.

MRS B.Very well. (He produces the photograph and she looks hard at it.)

INSPECTOR(taking back the photograph) You recognize her?

MRS B.No. Why should I?

INSPECTORMrs Birling, you're a prominent member — of the Brumley Women's Charity Organization, aren't you?

MRS BIRLING does not reply.

SHEILA(To INSPECTOR.) Yes, she is. Why?

INSPECTOR(calmly) It's an organization to which women in distress can appeal for help.

MRS B. (with dignity) Yes. We've done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving cases.

INSPECTORThere was a meeting of the committee two weeks ago?

MRS B.I dare say there was.

INSPECTORYou were in the chair.

MRS B.And if I was, what business is it of yours?

[Scene 13]

Enters BIRLING, looking rather agitated.

BIRLINGWhere is Eric?

SHEILAEric probably just gone to cool off. He'll be back soon.

INSPECTOR(severely) I hope so.

MRS B.And why should you hope so?

INSPECTORI’ll explain why when you've answered my questions, Mrs Birling. Mrs Birling spoke to and saw Eva Smith only two weeks ago.

SHEILA(astonished) Mother!

BIRLINGIs this true?

MRS B.(after a pause) Yes, quite true.

INSPECTORShe appealed to your organization for help?

MRS B.Yes.

INSPECTORNot as Eva Smith?

MRS B.No. Nor as Daisy Renton.

INSPECTORAs what then?

MRS B.First, she called herself Mrs Birling—

BIRLING(astounded) Mrs Birling!

MRS B.Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.

SHEILAMother, she's just died — don't forget.

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

INSPECTORWas it owing to your influence, that help was refused the girl?

MRS B.(stung) Yes, it was. I began questioning her and found out that she wasn't married, and that the story she told at first — about a husband who'd deserted her — was quite false.

INSPECTORWhy did she want help?

MRS B. I wasn't satisfied with the girl's claim — I did my duty. You have no power to make me change my mind.

INSPECTORYes I have. I think you did something terribly wrong — and that you're going to spend the rest of your life regretting it.

SHEILA(bursting in) No, no, please! Not that again. I've — imagined it enough already —

INSPECTOR(very deliberately) Just remember that this girl was going to have a child.

SHEILA(horrified) No! Oh — horrible — horrible! How could she have wanted to kill herself?

INSPECTORBecause she'd been turned out too many times.

BIRLINGLook here, this wasn't Gerald Croft —

INSPECTOR(cutting in, sharply) No, no. Nothing to do with him.

SHEILAThank goodness for that!

MRS B.I’ll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility.

INSPECTORShe came to you for help, at a time when no woman could have needed it more. She was here alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate. And you slammed the door in her face.

EVA Мне пришлось обратиться в благотворительное общество города Брамли, где миссис Берлинг была председателем. Я ждала ребенка. Нет, это не ребёнок Джеральда. Я не случайно представилась именно под фамилией Берлинг. Миссис Берлинг разозлилась и отказала мне в помощи. Она сказала, что мне нужно разыскать отца ребенка и потребовать помощи от него. Если бы она знала, кто отец и как именно он помогает...

SHEILA(with feeling) Mother, I think it was cruel and vile.

MRS B. It was her business to make the father responsible. If he refused to marry her — then he must at least support her.

INSPECTORAnd what did she reply to that?

MRS B.(rather cowed) He had given her money but she didn't want to take any more money from him. I didn't believe a word of it.

INSPECTORI'm not asking you if you believed it. Why didn't she want to take any more money from this boy?

MRS B.Her story was — that it wasn't his money. He'd stolen it.

INSPECTORSo she'd come to you for assistance because she didn't want to take stolen money?

MRS B.It sounded ridiculous to me.

INSPECTORYou're not even sorry now, when you know what happened to the girl?

MRS B.I accept no blame for it at all.

INSPECTORWho is to blame then?

MRS B.The young man who was the father of the child.

SHEILA(with sudden alarm) Mother — stop — stop!

BIRLINGBe quiet, Sheila!

SHEILA begins crying quietly. MRS BIRLING turns to INSPECTOR.

MRS В. And if you'd take some steps to find this young man then you really would be doing your duty.

INSPECTOR(grimly) Don't worry, Mrs Birling. I shall do my duty. (He looks at his watch.) I'm waiting.

MRS B.Waiting for what?

INSPECTORTo do my duty.

SHEILA(distressed) Now, Mother — don't you see?

MRS B.(understanding now) But surely — I mean — it's ridiculous —

She stops, and exchanges a frightened glance with her husband.

BIRLING(terrified now) Look Inspector, you're not trying to tell us that — that my boy — is mixed up in this?

INSPECTOR(sternly) If he is, then we know what to do, don't we? Mrs Birling has just told us.

BIRLING(thunderstruck) My God! But — look here —

MRS B. (agitated) I don't believe it. I won't believe it —

INSPECTOR holds up a hand. We hear the front door. They wait, looking towards door.

ERIC enters, looking extremely pale and distressed. He meets their inquiring stares. Curtain falls quickly.

End of Act Two

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