Inspector:(as Well, Mr Croft? Gerald hesitates) Gerald: (apologetically, Mrs Birling) I'm afraid it is, y'know. Actually I've never seen to much of him outside this house but- well, I have gathered that he does drink pretty hard. – Mrs Birling: (bitterly) And this is the time you choose to tell me. Sheila: yes, of course it is. That's what I meant when I talked about building up a wall that's sure to be knocked flat. It makes it all harder to bear. Mrs Birling: But it's you and not the inspector here who's doing it-- – – Sheila: yes, but don't you see? He hasn't started on you yet. Mrs Birling: (after if necessary I shall be glad to answer any a pause, recovering herself) questions the inspector wishes to ask me. Though naturally I don't know anything about this girl. Inspector: (gravely) we'll see, Mrs Birling. //enter birling, who closes door behind him// Birling: (rather I've been trying to persuade Eric to go to bed, but he won't. hot, bothered) Now he says you told him to stay up. Did you? Inspector: Y es, I did. Birling: why? Inspector: because I shall want to talk to him, Mr Birling. 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: no, I can't do that yet. I'm sorry, but he'll have to wait. Birling: now look here, inspector-- inspector: (cutting he must wait his turn. in, with authority) Sheila: (to Mrs Birling) you see? Mrs Birling: no, I don't. And please be quiet, Sheila. 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.
Inspector:(as Gerald hesitates) Well, Mr Croft? Gerald: (apologetically, to Mrs Birling) I'm afraid it is, y'know. Actually I've never seen much of him outside this house – but- well, I have gathered that he does drink pretty hard. Mrs Birling: (bitterly) And this is the time you choose to tell me. Sheila: yes, of course it is. That's what I meant when I talked about building up a wall that's sure to be knocked flat. It makes it all harder to bear. Mrs Birling: But it's you – and not the inspector here – who's doing it-- Sheila: yes, but don't you see? He hasn't started on you yet. Mrs Birling: (after a pause, recovering herself) if necessary 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. //enter 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? Inspector: Y es, I did. Birling: why? Inspector: because I shall want to talk to him, Mr Birling. 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: no, I can't do that yet. I'm sorry, but he'll have to wait. Birling: now look here, inspector-- inspector: (cutting in, with authority) he must wait his turn. Sheila: (to Mrs Birling) you see? Mrs Birling: no, I don't. And please be quiet, Sheila. 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.
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