An Inspector Calls Eric x fiancée Reader

Chapter 9

Birling: (angrily to Eric) You're the one I blame for this.

Eric: I'll bet I am.

Birling: (angrily) Yes, and you don't realise yet all you've done. Most of this is bound to come out. There'll be a public scandal. And what of your Fiancee!

Eric: Well, I don't care now.

Birling: You! You don't seem to care about anything. But I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List-

// Eric laughs rather hysterically, pointing at him.//

Eric: (laughing) Oh – for God's sake! What does it matter now weather they give you a knighthood or not?

Birling: (sternly) It doesn't matter to you. Apparently nothing matters to you. But it may interest you to know that until every penny of that money you stole is repaid, you'll work for nothing. And there's going to be no more of this drinking round the town – and picking up women in the palace bar.

Mrs Birling: (coming to life) I should think not. Eric, I'm absolutely ashamed of you. I was shocked when Gerald confessed to adultery but you?

Eric: Well, I don't blame you. But don't forget I'm ashamed of you as well – yes both of you.

Birling: (angrily) Drop that. There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did – it turned out unfortunately, that's all--

Y/N: (scornfully) That's all.

Birling: Well, what have you to say?

Y/N: I don't know where to begin.

Birling: Then don't begin. Nobody wants you to.

Sheila: I behaved badly too. I know I did I'm ashamed of it. But now you're beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened-

Birling: Nothing much has happened! Haven't I already said there'll be a public scandal – unless we're lucky – and who here will suffer from that more than I will?

Sheila: But that's not what I'm talking about. I don't care about that. The point is, you don't seem to have learnt anything.

Birling: Don't I? Well, you're quite wrong there. I've learnt plenty tonight. And you don't want me to tell you what I've learnt, I hope. When I look back on tonight – when I think of what I was feeling when the five of us sat down to dinner at that table

Eric: (cutting in) Yes, and do you remember what you said to Gerald and me after dinner, when you were feeling so pleased with yourself? You told us that a man has to make his own way, look after himself and mind his own business, and that we weren't to take any notice of these cranks who tell us that everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together. Do you remember? Yes – and then one of those cranks walked in – the Inspector. (laughs bitterly.) I didn't notice you told him that it's every man for himself.

Sheila: (sharply attentive) Is that when the Inspector came, just after father had said that?

Eric: Yes. What of it?

Mrs Birling: Now what's the matter, Sheila?

Sheila: (slowly) It's queer – very queer - ( she looks at them reflectively.)

Mrs Birling: (with some excitement) I know what you're going to say. Because I've been wondering myself.

Sheila: It doesn't much matter now, of course – but was he really a police inspector?

Birling: Well, if he wasn't, it matters a devil of a lot. Makes all the difference.

Y/N: No, it doesn't.