ERIC: [coughs awkwardly to break the silence] Someone should go after her.
MRS BIRLING: Absolutely not! I will not be associated with such horrific sins.
ERIC: She had a dalliance with a girl, so what?!
MRS BIRLING: Eric! [she looks at him with a horrified expression]
ERIC: Oh come on, Mother. Don't be so foolish to believe that Sheila's secret is the worst one in this room.
MRS BIRLING: What is that su-
ERIC: [interrupting his mother] I'm going to get my sister.
[Eric leaves the room and returns a moment later with Sheila]
MRS BIRLING: There was no need to bring that disgrace back into the room.
SHEILA: Mother, I am only here to help the Inspector with his case. After that I'll go - and you'll never have to see me again.
INSPECTOR: Now that chapter of the family drama has closed, I wish to bring up another topic. Mr Birling. I have some questions for you. Look at this picture.
[The Inspector shows Birling the picture to which Birling nods in recognition]
BIRLING: I know what my connection to this girl was. She worked for me. She started to cause trouble so I sacked her. That's when she went to work a Milwards.
INSPECTOR: I think there is no need to lie about the real reasons Eva Smith was sacked.
BIRLING: You great buffoon, I just told you, she started asking for higher wages. She had to go.
INSPECTOR: Mr Birling, please do not think that I don't believe you sacked her for fighting for wages. However, I do know that there was more to the story.
BIRLING: No. No there is not.
INSPECTOR: Do not hide the truth, sir.
BIRLING: I am not.
GERALD: Just tell them.
[Gerald and Birling exchange a knowing glance before Birling shakes his head in shame]
BIRLING: Oh, alright. While Eva Smith was working for me, I had began my friendship with Gerald. It was innocent. I wanted to make sure that the man my daughter was courting was a good man. Of course, as I got to know him, I realised that I was very impressed by the young man. Too impressed for my own good. I hadn't realised until a few weeks after we first met that I had homosexual feelings for Gerald.
[Mrs Birling gasps and faints]
INSPECTOR: [after a long pause of silence] Isn't anyone going to help her up?
SHEILA: No need, she will wake up in a moment.
[after what seemed like an eternity of an awkward silence, Mrs Birling awakens and takes a seat]
MRS BIRLING: How could you do this to me, Arthur? You are a sinful, disgrace of a man.
BIRLING: Oh shut up woman. Any way, as I was going to say. These feelings were not one sided.
SHEILA: [gasps] What?
GERALD: Oh please. You can't say a word, you little whore.
SHEILA: I wasn't going to. I was simply wondering how it is fair that you shame me for doing the same actions as you. I do not like double standards, Gerald.
GERALD: Oh, well, I apologise then.
SHEILA: Thank you. Please continue, Father.
BIRLING: I confessed my feelings to Gerald and he told me he felt the same. When he said that, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness. I kissed him. That night, he took me home and made love to me. I have never experience anything quite like what Gerald could provide me. I was never left feeling unsatisfied. We continued our affair in secret. One day, we kissed at work and that Eva walked in on us. She was too dangerous to keep. Of course, when she started that protest it gave me an excuse to sack her.
SHEILA: So, not only have you had an affair with my lover, but you have also had an affair with my dad?
GERALD: Yes, that sounds about right.
INSPECTOR: If I could interrupt you for a moment. Mr Birling. You are part of the reason this girl committed suicide. You began the chain of events that led to her death, all because of your selfishness.
BIRLING: She has nothing to do with me. I am not responsible for her actions.
INSPECTOR: That is true, but you are responsible for your own.
MRS BIRLING: When did this affair end, Arthur?
BIRLING: [glaring at Gerald] When he broke my heart.
MRS BIRLING: [lets out a shrill laugh] By sleeping with that commoner?
BILRING: No. By sleeping with my son.
[everyone gasps]
YOU ARE READING
An Inspector Calls: Again
FanfictionWhat happens to the Birlings after the play ends? Who was the Inspector? Did everyone get shown the same photo of Eva? Were the Birlings truthful about their stories with Eva? Well, in the second part of the story all of those questions will be answ...
