- Tom Smee: [at the newspaper office] You made quite an entrance, Bob. The whole room is buzzing.
- Robert Leckie: Hope they meet their deadlines.
- Tom Smee: We're all mighty proud of you. Proud of all you soldiers.
- Robert Leckie: [with a slight smile] I was a marine.
- Tom Smee: Proud of all of you.
- [pause]
- Tom Smee: So, now you're back. I'm guessing you're here for a job.
- Robert Leckie: [confidently] That's why they made you the editor. I'll take my former position.
- Tom Smee: You still want to cover local sports?
- Robert Leckie: Yep. To start with.
- [Smee raises his eyebrows]
- Robert Leckie: Here's why: that guy you got writing the column right now... he's got no snap, no style. The prose just lays there like spilled ink on newsprint. You need to send him to obits and give me his desk.
- Tom Smee: I do?
- Robert Leckie: For the sake of the paper.
- Tom Smee: [humoring him somewhat] And when did you see me demoting him and hiring you?
- Robert Leckie: Today's good.
- Tom Smee: Today?
- Robert Leckie: Urban Catholic plays Dombosco Prep this afternoon. Kick-off is at three, so...
- [picks up a pad and pen from the desk]
- Robert Leckie: I'd better get goin'.
- [gets up and goes to the door]
- Tom Smee: Shouldn't we talk about salary?
- Robert Leckie: Ten dollar a week raise'll do it.
- Tom Smee: I will give you seven.
- Robert Leckie: [cockily] I'd have taken five.
- [he leaves]
- R.V. Burgin: [at Burgie's stop, he looks out the window at his family] There's my little brother. No sign of Florence.
- Merriell Shelton: [reassuringly] Melbourne's a hell of a long way, Burgie. It'll take Florence a while to get from Australia to here.
- [Burgie turns to go, Snafu speaks hesitantly]
- Merriell Shelton: Thanks.
- [he turns back]
- Merriell Shelton: For doin' all you did to keep us from gettin' our fool heads shot off.
- R.V. Burgin: You're good marines.
- [they smile at each other and he leaves]
- Edward Sledge: [on a hunting trip with Eugene] Been lookin' forward to this morning for a long time. Just the two of us and a grand morning.
- [Eugene begins to hyperventilate and sits on the ground]
- Edward Sledge: Eugene?
- Eugene B. Sledge: [he begins to sob] I'm sorry. I can't.
- Edward Sledge: [embracing him] It's all right. You don't have to apologize to me, Eugene. I reckon the dove population's gonna be mighty happy this morning.
- [Eugene gives a small laugh]
- Merriell Shelton: [Leering to a pretty girl on the train] How about I take you to the back of the train and show me your caboose?
- [She slaps his face]
- PFC Sidney Phillips: [driving Eugene home from the train station] What d'you remember about Mary Huston?
- Eugene B. Sledge: Mary Huston?
- PFC Sidney Phillips: Yeah.
- Eugene B. Sledge: *The* Mary Huston? Well, like everybody else in Mobile, I was in love with Mary Huston
- PFC Sidney Phillips: Well, that's too bad for you, 'cause she's marryin' me.
- Eugene B. Sledge: [sarcastically] Yeah, sure she will. The minute she goes blind.
- PFC Sidney Phillips: Well, I asked her. She said yes. So you're just gonna have to deal with it, brother.
- Eugene B. Sledge: You're saying that Mary Huston is gonna be Mary Huston Phillips?
- PFC Sidney Phillips: [happily] In the eyes of God and the law.
- Eugene B. Sledge: Well, what am I gonna hear next, that Martians landed downtown, are settin' up a hotel?
- PFC Sidney Phillips: I want you to be my best man.
- Eugene B. Sledge: If you think that I'm gonna stand at the altar and lose Mary Huston to the likes of you...
- [Sidney starts laughing]
- Eugene B. Sledge: well, hell yes!
- [he honks the horn excitedly]