The Best Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 5, Episode 19 Quotes

Capt. Picard: You could use a good herbicide instead of pulling the weeds with your bare hands.
Boothby: M-hm... And you could explore space on a holodeck instead of a starship.

- Yes, his name was Joshua Albert.
- Wesley spoke of him, they were friends.
- Wesley was so excited to make the flight team.
- Of course, I was a little nervous, but I was proud.
- I always knew there was a chance that something like this might...
- Beverly, Wesley's alive and he's well.

- and everybody on the team.
- I realize it was his fault.
- That everybody could have been killed.
- And I wanna say that...
- I wanna say I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry that he let you down.

Capt. Picard: You told the truth up to a point. But a lie of omission is still a lie.

- And even after we graduated, we'd try to get posted on the same duty.
- We were gonna be a team.
- For a long time.
- Josh can't be a part of those plans anymore, but I think he would still want us to be a team.
- What do you think?

- It's one of the most spectacular and difficult demonstrations in precision flying.
- And it hasn't been performed at the academy for over a hundred years.
- Do you know why?
- It was banned by the academy following a training accident, sir.
- An accident in which all five cadets lost their lives.

Wesley: Yesterday I testified that the crash occurred following a Yeager Loop. That is not entirely true. We performed the loop as planned; afterwards, we broke formation and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst. We knew it was prohibited, and we knew it was dangerous, but we wanted to do something spectacular for the commencement demonstration. We pushed Josh into it even though he wasn't ready. We thought we could do it. We thought we could do anything. We were wrong, and Josh died.

Admiral: It has been suggested that we should cancel the graduation ceremonies in the light of what's happened. Commander Albert and I have discussed this and we've agreed that commencement should go forward as planned. The cadets should know that even after a tragedy like this, there are still duties to perform. And life continues.

Wesley: You'd let me do that? You'd let me throw away my career, just to save your neck?
Nicholas: To save the team! That's more important than you. And it's more important than me. And if I were in your place, I'd do it, without hesitation. But that's me.

Capt. Picard: I would never have graduated if you...
Boothby: You made a mistake. There isn't anybody among us who hasn't been young enough to make at least one.
Capt. Picard: Nevertheless...
Boothby: You did what you had to do, what you thought was best. I just made sure that you listened to yourself. You needed to get your bearings; I knew that. The important thing is what you did with your life afterwards; seems you did okay. That's enough thanks for me.

- You can't do that.
- I am not going to let them ruin your career, Wesley.
- You haven't done anything wrong.
- Mom, don't try to protect me.
- Please stay out of this.

Boothby: [on seeing Picard for the first time since his Academy years] What happened to your hair?

- You'd let me throw away my career just to save your neck?
- To save the team.
- That's more important than you.
- And it's more important than me.
- And if I were in your place, I'd do it, without hesitation.
- But that's me.

Wesley: We're Starfleet cadets. We have a duty to the truth.
Nicholas: What about your duty to your friends? I got you on this team. I gave you a chance, when there were upperclassmen waiting in line. I said, "He won't let us down. He was on the Enterprise. He knows what it's like to trust somebody with his life." Well, I guess I was wrong.
Wesley: If we all come forward together and tell Admiral Brand...
Nicholas: We don't wanna come forward! Sito, Jean and me, we don't have a problem with this. But if you do, then resign your appointment to the Academy and walk away. Don't make us pay for your guilty conscience.

- That's a story I'd like to hear.
- Sir, we are being hailed again by the academy.
- It is admiral brand.
- On-screen.
- Sir, she is requesting a private channel.
- In my ready room.

[last lines]
Capt. Picard: It's not gonna be easy... staying here on campus... everyone knowing what you did. You have difficult times ahead.
Wesley: Yes, sir. Thank you, Captain.
Capt. Picard: You knew what you had to do. I just made sure that you listened to yourself. Good bye, Cadet.
Wesley: Good bye, Captain.

- Josh didn't let us down, sir.
- And it wasn't his fault.
- Mr. Locarno, you are the leader of nova squadron.
- Do you have anything to say?
- Mr. Locarno?

- No, thank you.
- I know you're just trying to be helpful, sir, but it seems that's all I've talked about for the last two days.
- And I don't wanna go through it again.
- I understand.
- I just want you to know that I'm available if you change your mind.
- Thank you, sir.

- Is there any other reason for opening the valve?
- Well, it's the first step in purging the plasma exhaust.
- That procedure would be extremely hazardous while the ship was in flight.
- Yeah, the engine would probably ignite the plasma.
- Ignite the plasma.
- That's exactly what they were trying to do.

- that either the data is faulty in some way, or you have lied to us.
- However, suspicion is not proof, and I have no proof that you have lied to this inquiry.
- Therefore, if no further evidence is presented,
- I have no choice but to close this investigation.

- Picard: Space, the final frontier.
- These are the voyages of the starship enterprise.
- Its continuing mission: To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

- when you knew he was having difficulties maintaining formation.
- That demonstrates a serious lack of judgement.
- I am also disturbed by the fact that you did not come forward with this information immediately.
- We should have the first data from
- Mr. Crusher's flight recorder tonight.
- We will reconvene at 1300 hours tomorrow.

- Commander Albert and I have discussed this and we've agreed that commencement should go forward as planned.
- The cadets should know that even after a tragedy like this there are still duties to perform.
- And life continues.
- Thank you all for coming.

- Seems you did okay.
- That's thanks enough for me.
- Did you know the boy from nova squadron who was killed?
- Josh Albert? Yeah.
- Crusher, hajar, sito, locarno.
- I know them all.

Commander William T. Riker: When I was at the Academy, we had a Vulcan superintendent who had memorized the personnel files of every single cadet, knew everything about them. It was like having your parents around all the time.
Capt. Picard: My superintendent was a Betazoid, full telepath. When he sent for you to his office, he didn't have to ask what you'd done.

Capt. Picard: Do you remember the first day you came aboard this ship? Your mother brought you on the bridge.
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Capt. Picard: You even sat in my chair. I was annoyed. Presumptuous child playing on my ship... But I never forgot how you already knew every control, every display... You behaved as though you belonged on the bridge. And then later, when I decided to make you an acting ensign, I was convinced you could be an outstanding officer. And I never questioned that conviction - until now.

- Come.
- Captain.
- Can you tell me what this maneuver is?

- It is the guiding principle on which starfleet is based.
- Now, if you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform.
- I'm gonna make this simple for you, Mr. Crusher.
- Either you come fonnard and tell admiral brand what took place or I will.
- Captain...
- Dismissed.

Capt. Picard: Mister Locarno has been expelled.
Wesley: They should have expelled all of us.
Capt. Picard: So Commander Albert believes. And they very nearly did. Mister Locarno made an impassioned plea for the rest of you. He said that, as squadron leader, he'd convinced you to attempt the Kolvoord maneuver... and then to cover up the truth. He asked to take full responsibility.
Wesley: So Nick did just what he said he'd do... He looked out for the team, made what he felt was the best decision. That's a lot more than I can say for myself.

- Man: Hey. Can't you see that's a flower bed?
- I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
- Well...

Boothby: [on Nova Squadron] To the other cadets, the members of that team are gods; and that's a hard image to live up to. But Nick Locarno, he watches out for them. He keeps them together. Nick is what makes that team special. He's their coach, surrogate father and best friend, all in one - a natural leader. The members of that team love him. If he asks them to do something, they do it - even if it means going right over a cliff.

- Good to meet you, Mr. Locarno.
- You too, sir.
- The inquiry is scheduled for 1500 hours.
- You ready?
- Look, don't worry about it, Wes.
- Everything's gonna be all right, as long as we stick together.

- It's good to see you again, captain.
- I wish it were under better circumstances.
- This is an unhappy way to begin commencement.
- If you require any assistance, then the enterprise is at your disposal.
- I'm sure we'll be able to conduct the investigation.
- But thank you for your offer.

Capt. Picard: The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based. And if you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform!

- Nick is what makes that team special.
- He's their coach, surrogate father and best friend, all in one.
- A natural leader.
- The members of that team love him.
- If he asks them to do something, they do it.
- Even if it means going right over a cliff.

- Admiral brand, what can I do for you?
- Hello, captain.
- [Know you're a close friend of the crusher family.
- I wanted to inform you personally.
- There's been an accident.