“Its one of the happiest nights of my life… your
engagement to Shelia means a tremendous lot to me.”

“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and
Birlings are no longer competing but are working
together – for lower costs and higher prices.”

“Just because the miners came out on strike, there’s a
lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the
future. Don’t worry.”

“We employers are coming together to see that our
interests – and the interests of Capital – are properly
protected.”

“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable.
And to that I say – fiddlesticks!”

“There’s a fair chance that I may find myself into the
next honours list.”

“By the way some of these cranks talk and write now,
you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else,
as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive
– community and all that nonsense.”

“A man has to mind his own business and look after
himself and his own – and –
We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell. Birling
stops to listen.”

“As it happened more than eighteen months ago –
nearly two years ago – obviously it has nothing to do
with the wretched girl’s suicide.”

“I can’t accept any responsibility.”

“ If we were all responsible for everything that
happened to everybody… it would be very awkward
wouldn’t it?”

“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”

“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these
people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”

“Perhaps I ought to warn you that that [the Chief
Constable is] and old friend of mine. We play golf
together.”

“I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re handling this
enquiry.”

“I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can.”

“Why you hysterical young fool – get back – or I’ll – “

“I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the
next honours list.”

“There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I
did.”

“There’ll be a public scandal… and who here will suffer
for that more than I will?”

“(jovially) But the whole thing’s different now