Act 3 - Mrs. Birling

Yes we know

Eric I can’t believe it there must have beeen some mistake you don’t know what we’ve been saying

You haven’t made it any easier for me have you mother

But I didn’t know it was you I never dreamt it besides you’re not that type you don’t get drunk

So I thought she might as well know I’m advance I’ve already been through it don’t forget

Shelia I simply don’t understand your attitude

That’s the hellish part

Oh Eric how could you

This isn’t my fault

I’m sorry Arthur but I simply couldn’t stay in there I had to know what’s happening

He stole from the office

Eric you stole money

She told mother

Shelia

Damn you

No Eric please I didn’t know I didn’t understand

Women at the palace bar

I should think not Eric I’m absolutely ashamed of you

Just after father said that

Now what’s the matter Shelia

And it oughten be to you either

Don’t be childish Shelia

Didn’t you

Well I must say his manner was quite extraordinary so rude and assertive

It doesn’t make any real difference yknow

Of course it does

But he made us confess

He certainly didn’t make me confess as you call it I told him quite plainly that I thought I had done no more than my duty

Yes bluffed

Now really Arthur

Of course it wouldn’t

Really from the way you children talk you might be wanting to help him instead of us now just be quiet so that your father can decide what we ought to do

Had I better go

No Ednall go I asked her to wait up and make us some tea

He put us all through it

Shelia!

And suspicious manner

The rude way he spoke to me birling and me—it was quite extraordinary! Why?

By jingo! A fake

Didn’t I tell you didn’t I say I couldn’t imagine a real police inspector talking like to us

I’m going to make certain of this

What are you going to do

Colonel Robert’s

Carful what you say dear

We’ve been had

I felt it all the time he never talked like one he never even looked like one

He’d heard you confess

Arthur careful

Naturally it took me by surprise

I wish I’d been here when that man first arrived him to ask us any

It’s alright saying that now

I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him. And now I say we must discuss this business quietly and sensibly and decide if there’s anything to be done about it.

Our turn to do what?

To behave sensibly Shelia which is more than you’re doing

For gods sake

Arthur!

Now what happened after I left?

I was upset because Eric had left the house and this man said if Eric didn’t come back he have to go and find him well that made me feel worse still and his manner was so severe and he seemed so confident then quite suddenly he said I’d seen Eva smith only two weeks ago

Those were his exact words

Yes and like a fool I said yes I had

Did she

No of course she didn’t and I ought to have aaid so but feeling worried when he suddenly turned on me with those questioned or I answered more or less what he wanted me to answer

Did anybody else see that photograph

No he only showed it to me

He had to give an impressive performance

It didn’t deceive me

Who’s been talked about tonight

And if there isn’t

Thanks I think I could just do with one now

And I must say Gerald you e argued this very cleverly and I’m most grateful

We can all go on behaving just as we did

Well why shouldn’t we

Don’t stand there being hysterical

She’s overtired in the morning she’ll be just as amused as we are