An Inspector Calls, first produced in 1946 when society was undergoing sweeping transformations, has recently enjoyed an enormously successful revival. While holding its audience with the gripping tension of a detective thriller, it is also a philosophical play about social conscience and the crumbling of middle class values. Time and the Conways and I Have Been Here Before belong to Priestley’s ‘time’plays, in which he explores the idea of precognition and pits fate against free will. The Linden Tree also challenges preconceived ideas of history when Professor Linden comes into conflict with his family about how life should be lived after the war.
SHEILA: How did you come to know this girl, Eva Smith?
GERALD: I didn't
SHEILA: Daisy Renton then - it's the same thing.
GERALD: Why should I have known her?
SHEILA: Oh, don't be stupid. We haven't much time. You gave yourself away as soon as he mentioned her name.
GERALD: All right. I knew her. Let's leave it at that.
SHEILA: We can't leave it at that.
GERALD: [approaching her] Now listen, darling -
SHEILA: No, that's no use. You not only knew her, but you knew her very well. Otherwise, you wouldn't look so guilty about it. When did you first get to know her? [He does not reply.] Was it after she left Milwards? When she changed her name, as he said, and began to live a different sort of life? Were you seeing her last spring and summer, during that time when you hardly came near me and said you were so busy? Were you? [He does not reply but looks at her.] Yes, of course you were.
GERALD: I'm sorry, Sheila. But it was all over and done with last summer. I hadn't set eyes on the girl for at least six months. I don't come into this suicide business.
SHEILA: I thought I didn't, half an hour ago.
GERALD: You don't. Neither of us does. So - for God's sake - don't say anything to the Inspector.
SHEILA: About you and this girl?
GERALD:Yes. We can keep it from him.
SHEILA: [laughs rather hysterically] Why - you fool - he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see. [She looks at him almost in triumph]
[He looks crushed. The door slowly opens and the INSPECTOR appears, looking steadily and searchingly at them.]
INSPECTOR: Well?
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