James Badge Dale credited as playing...
PFC Robert Leckie
- PFC Robert Leckie: [in Leckie's 'library,' he sees Sledge picking up a Bible and chuckles] Now that explains it. You're a believer.
- Eugene B. Sledge: Yes.
- PFC Robert Leckie: OK, question: God created everything, right? The heavens, seven seas, Marine Corps...
- [gestures to the sleeping Runner]
- PFC Robert Leckie: Sleeping Beauty there...
- Eugene B. Sledge: [chuckles] Even him.
- PFC Robert Leckie: Land crabs, rats, mosquitoes...
- Eugene B. Sledge: Mosquito's a little tough to understand, I guess.
- PFC Robert Leckie: God created Japs too, right?
- [Eugene's smile fades]
- PFC Robert Leckie: Yellow slants who've tried to kill me on many occasions. Japs come from the garden of Eden too?
- Eugene B. Sledge: Well, what we do is up to us. He gives us a choice.
- PFC Robert Leckie: Free will, right. 'Cept he's God, of course, so he knows what we're gonna do before we do it.
- Eugene B. Sledge: Predestination.
- PFC Robert Leckie: So the whole game is fixed by the will of Gramps on his throne while we're down here for what? His entertainment? That makes us chumps, or God's a sadist and either way, I got no use for him.
- Eugene B. Sledge: So what do you believe in?
- PFC Robert Leckie: I believe in ammunition.
- [Eugene chuckles]
- PFC Robert Leckie: Tell you what, though - since I'm not on speaking terms anymore, next time you're havin' a chat with the old geezer, can you ask him to sink a few Jap transports and have 'em all fall on their bayonets so I can get the fuck out of here and go home? Sure would appreciate it.
- [Eugene turns to leave and puts the Bible back]
- PFC Robert Leckie: You go ahead and keep it. Don't know what I have it in the first place.
- Eugene B. Sledge: No thanks.
- [goes to the mouth of the tent]
- Eugene B. Sledge: Got my own.
- [holds it up and leaves]
- Eugene B. Sledge: Have you heard the latest about the other war?
- PFC Robert Leckie: There's another war?
- Eugene B. Sledge: We invaded Europe. Landed last month in France.
- PFC Robert Leckie: Well, unless you've got a brother over there, most guys don't give a shit.
- Eugene B. Sledge: My brother landed in Italy, tank battalion.
- PFC Robert Leckie: Well, I guess you get to give a shit.
- [offers Sledge water]
- Eugene B. Sledge: Thanks.
- [picks up a Bible]
- PFC Robert Leckie: Well, that explains it, you're a believer.
- [Sledge nods]
- PFC Robert Leckie: Okay, question: God created everything, right? The heavens, the seven seas, the Marine Corps,
- [points to Runner]
- PFC Robert Leckie: sleeping beauty over there?
- Eugene B. Sledge: [laughs] Even him.
- PFC Robert Leckie: Land crabs, rats, mosquitos?
- Eugene B. Sledge: Mosquitos are a little tough to understand.
- PFC Robert Leckie: [turns serious] God created Japs too, right? The yellow slants who've tried to kill me on many occasions? Japs come from the Garden of Eden too?
- Eugene B. Sledge: Well, what we do is up to us, we're given a choice.
