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The inspector devotes his attention first to Arthur Birling.
Birling doesn`t seem to know Eva Smith. But after seeing a photograph he remembers: "She was one of my employees and then I discharged her." Birling admits that she was a good worker, but she was among the ringleaders for a raise. Because he had to keep costs low and prices high, he refused their demands which made the workers go on strike for some time. The ringleaders got discharged.
Birling doesn`t feel any pity for Eva. He explains his act: "The girl had been causing trouble in the works. I was quite justified."
The next person interrogated by the inspector is Sheila Birling. She is responsible that Eva lost her next job in the clothing shop Milwards. Out of jealousy - Eva was very pretty - Sheila used her reputation to order Eva`s dismissal. Differently from her father she reacts quite heavily to the photograph. She looks at it closely, recognised it with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out. When she got back, she feels really guilty about her act ("So I`m really responsible?") and accepts her faults made ("It was my own fault."). Sheila always gets distressed by thinking of Eva`s death and she has a really bad conscience.
The inspector says that Eva changed her name into Daisy Renton after these two discharges. Gerald Croft is very frightened about this name. Now it`s his turn. Gerald met Daisy in a bar among prostitutes and offered her, out of sympathy, to live in the apartment of a friend. First he only wanted to protect her, but it was inevitable to start a love affair with her. "She told me she `d been happier than she `d ever been before." But Gerald left her and gave her enough money to come through for the next time.
Gerald feels bad because he was unfaithful to Sheila and he worries about his reputation. He is confused: "In that case- as I`m rather more - upset - by this business than I probably appear to be - and - well, I`d like to be alone for a little while."
The next person who has a look at the photograph is Sybil Birling. Mrs Birling is a prominent member of the Brumley Women`s Charity Organisation. The pregnant Eva Smith hoped to find help in this organisation. But Mrs Birling refused any assistance because Eva pretended to be a Birling (which isn`t absolutely untrue as we see further on) and told her other lies. Mrs Birling advised her: "Go and look for the father of the child. It`s his responsibility."
Mrs Birling first disputes to know Eva and then she isn`t aware of any mistakes made. "I`ve never done nothing wrong". When Sheila and her husband critise her behaviour, she defends herself: "Please remember before you start accusing me of anything again that it wasn`t I who had her turned out of her employment - which probably began it all.".
Eric Birling knows that now it`s his turn. He is the father of Eva`s unborn child and his mother hasn`t made it any easier on him. It also turns out that he is an alcoholic. Eva didn`t want to marry him and she refused his money because she knew he had stolen it.
Eric has, similarly to Sheila, a really bad conscience. His faults will haunt him for a long time: "I`m not likely to forget."
After the last confession, the inspector leaves this place.
Birling is angry about Eric, who is the one he blames for this situation and he`s worried about a public scandal. Sheila analyses the situation pertinently: "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."
The differences between Sheila and Eric and their parents are obviously in these dialogue:
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 lot. Makes all the difference.
Sheila: No, it doesn`t.
Birling: Dont`t talk rubbish. Of course, it does.
Sheila: Well, it doesn`t to me. And it oughtn`t to you, either.
Mrs Birling: Don`t be childish, Sheila.
[...]
Sheila: But it doesn`t make any real difference, y`know?
Mrs Birling: Of course, it does.
Eric: No, Sheila`s right. It doesn`t.
After the controlling calls to the police and the hospital the parents seem to be "right". But only for a short moment, because the next call follows soon.
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