SHEILA: You slept with my brother too?
GERALD: [smirking] I wanted to get through the family.
SHEILA: You are a man-slut.
GERALD: I am what I eat. [winks at Eric and Birling]
INSPECTOR: When did this affair occur?
GERALD: Two weeks before I met Eva.
INSPECTOR: Care to explain to us how exactly this occurred?
GERALD: Of course. I went into a gentleman's bar, one that I frequently visit. On that specific day, I walked in to see Eric sitting alone. I wasn't sure whether there were ground rules as to acknowledging someone in a bar like that. Nevertheless, I went up to him anyway. He seemed rather embarrassed that he had been caught. I reassured him that there was nothing wrong with sexuality. He opened up to me about his struggles to find a relationship but he needed one.
ERIC: Gerald! Don't discuss things like that around my family!
GERALD: Calm down. They all already know I have slept with you, there is no need to get embarrassed now. Anyway, as I was saying, I spoke to him about his issues and gave some advice. He seemed not to appreciate my advice, so I gave another suggestion - he let me help with his problem. Of course, he was more than eager. So I took him home and gave him the night of his life.
ERIC: I can assure you this, you did not give me the night of my life. You just wanted to use me.
GERALD: Can't you see, darling? I use everyone in my life.
ERIC: [looking at the Inspector now] He kept up the affair until the summer when he met Eva - or Daisy, whatever she wanted to be called - and spent the summer "working". I thought he loved me.
INSPECTOR: Thank you for that Eric. Gerald, you should be ashamed of yourself. You have broken the hearts of 4 people.
GERALD: It does not matter. It is every man for himself in this cruel world.
SHEILA: Enough! Gerald, stop acting as though you are above everyone because you are upper class. You are one of the most selfish men that I have ever met! And you have seen who my father is!
BIRLING: That is a very good point.
MRS BIRLING: Can we please acknowledge the fact that I am the only straight, moral person in this room?
INSPECTOR: [coughs]
MRS BIRLING: Oh, I apologise for my insinuation, Inspector Cole.
INSPECTOR: That's alright. Now, let's get back onto track with the interrogation. Gerald, you broke Eva's heart, did you not?
GERALD: Yes, that I did.
INSPECTOR: You sent her down a road that led to Eric meeting her.
ERIC: Yes, Inspector, I just want to say I am ashamed of what happened with Eva.
INSPECTOR: Are you referencing that you coerced her into bedding you?
ERIC: Yes. That and trying to steal my father's money so I could provide for her - our baby.
INSPECTOR: You led her on a road to your mother.
MRS BIRLING: I can ensure you, Inspector, I have no hidden secrets. I know what I did to the girl. She came to ask help for her and her child, but she used my name. I believed she was trying to pretend to be me - something that a woman of her kind should never do - so I refused to help. It was only until earlier this very night that I was informed that she was carrying my grandchild. While I do regret my part in the loss of the unborn child, I do not wish to be associated with such scandal that the rest of this family has caused.
INSPECTOR: After you refused to help the girl, she felt as though she had no other option. She killed herself because of everyone here.
[the phone rings and breaks the silence of the room, Birling stands to answer it]
BIRLING: Hello? Yes, this is he. Yes he is. One moment.
[Birling rests the phone on the side and walks up to the Inspector]
BIRLING: It's the police station. They asked for you.
[Inspector goes to pick up the phone]
INSPECTOR: Hello? Yes. Yes, they have been co-operative. Oh? Are you sure? Good heavens. She is? Alright then. Thank you for informing me.
[the Inspector puts the phone down and goes to sit back down]
INSPECTOR: It appears there has been some new information regarding the suicide of Eva Smith that I think you should all be aware of.
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...
