Inspector: ( very deliberately) then the next time you imagine it, just remember that this girl was going to have a child.

Birling: (rather heavily) I just want to say this. (noticing that Sheila is still admiring her ring.) are you listening, Sheila? This concerns you too. And after all, I don't often make speeches at you - Birling: I can't see why you should, but if you must, then I suggest you do it now. Have him in and get it over, then let the lad go. Inspector: After about a couple of months, just when she felt she was settling down nicely, they told her she'd have to go.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 . Sheila: (staring at him) yes. That's true. You know. ( she goes close to him, wonderingly .) I don't understand about you.

a b Gardner, Lyn (13 November 2016). "An Inspector Calls review – Stephen Daldry helps make the case for justice". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018 . Retrieved 7 February 2018. Gerald: the girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help . So I went across and told Joe Meggarty some nonsense – that the manager had a message for him or something like that – got him out of the way – and then told the girl that if she didn't want any more of that sort of thing, she'd better let me take her out of there. She agreed at once.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- Sheila: ( gaily ) What's this about streets? (noticing the Inspector.) Oh – sorry. I didn't know. Mummy sent me in to ask you why you didn't come along to the drawing-room. Inspector: (cutting through, massively) I’ve been round to the room she had, and she'd left a letter there and a sort of diary. Like a lot of these 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 . Sheila: (rather distressed) Sorry! It's just that I can't help thinking about this girl – destroying herself so horribly – and I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn't told me. What was she like? Quite young? Inspector: That doesn't make it any the less yours. She came to you for help, at a time when no woman could have needed it more. And you not only refused it yourself but saw to it that the others refused it too . She was here alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate. She needed not only money but advice, sympathy, friendliness. You've had children. You must have known what she was feeling. And you slammed the door in her face.

Birling: Yes, of course. (clears his throat .) Well, Gerald, I know you agreed that we should only have this quiet little family party . It's a pity Sir George and – we – Lady Croft can't be with us, but they're abroad and so it can't be helped. As I told you, they sent me a very nice cable – couldn't be nicer. I'm not sorry that we're celebrating quietly like this- Inspector: (impressively) I'm a police Inspector, Miss Birling. This afternoon a young woman drank some disinfectant, and died, after several hours of agony, tonight in the infirmary.Sheila: (taking out the ring) Oh – it's wonderful ! Look – mummy – isn't it a beauty? Oh – darling - Gerald: (to Sheila) thanks. You're going to be a great help, I can see. You've said your piece, and you're obviously going to hate this, so why on earth don't you leave us to it?