The Best Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 7, Episode 10 Quotes

Dr. Juliana Tainer: You were like a baby at first - a one hundred kilogram baby, but still...

- Riker: We 're reading an increase in seismic-stress levels.
- Understood, sir.
- We will attempt to expedite our work.
- There. Now we just have to realign the diverter.
- Riker: Data, are you all right?
- Yes, sir. We'll be returning to the beam-out point shortly.
- That's it. Let's go.

- And I couldn't bear to do that.
- I'm not trying to justify leaving you behind.
- I'm just sorry I did.
- I hope you believe me.
- I do.
- Thank you for making it clear to me.

- Pleased?
- Well, he was worried that the sexuality program he designed for you wouldn't work.
- You misunderstand.
- Counselor troi is a therapist.
- Good night.

- 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.

Lt. Commander Data: [Data has just found out about his early years and - to his surprise - about his "mother"]
Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: I can understand that this might all be a little disconcerting for ya Data... It came out of the blue, and it doesn't fit into your logical processors.
Lt. Commander Data: That is true.
Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: But that's life, Data. Part of being human is learning how to deal with the unexpected - to risk new experiences, even when they don't fit into your preconceptions.
Lt. Commander Data: I admit I am finding it difficult to accept the possibility of a past about which I know nothing. But it is also true, I am curious to learn more about it.

- We've broken through.
- I am detecting no signs of instability.
- Commander, may I suggest we set up the infusion unit in the first magma pocket and give this one a chance to cool?
- Data, Dr. Tainer, we'll meet you in transporter room 2.
- Acknowledged.

- I lied when I said there was no room for you in the escape pod we took from omicron.
- There was.
- I didn't want to bring you with us.
- I was afraid if we reactivated you, you'd turn out like lore.
- I made noonien leave you behind.

- But at the same time, by telling her, you're robbing her of the one thing you've wanted all your life: To be human.
- It's a difficult choice.
- You must do what you think best, data.
- But whatever decision you make, we will support it.

- I have initialized the plasma-induction coils.
- I'll need another minute to align the diverter.

Lt. Commander Data: I would like to get to know you better... Mother.

Dr. Noonien Soong: [to Data] How are you, boy?

- But ordinarily, I don't check somebody's medical status without a good reason.
- Doctor, I would ask that you not require me to be more specific.
- I assure you,
- I have a good reason for asking.
- All right, data.

- I do not believe so.
- He is on the surface monitoring the plasma infusion.
- Probably just as well.
- La forge: Data, come take a look at this.
- Data: It appears to be an information module, with a holographic interface.

- I am certain he was referring to you.
- That's nice to know.
- On atrea there is a saying, that a child born from parents who love each other will have nothing but goodness in his heart.
- I guess that explains you.

- by almost 300 degrees celsius.
- It will be several hours before it cools enough for us to enter.
- Data, do you have any plans right now?
- I do not.
- Maybe we should spend a little time together.
- I'd love to see your quarters.

- There will be more seismic activity.
- We must hurry.

- Data?
- I would like to get to know you better...

Dr. Juliana Tainer: Deanna Troi - is that who you're going to visit?
Lt. Commander Data: Yes.
Dr. Juliana Tainer: Your father would be so pleased.
Lt. Commander Data: Pleased?
Dr. Juliana Tainer: Well, he was worried that the sexuality program he designed for you wouldn't work.

- Part of being human is learning how to deal with the unexpected.
- To risk new experiences, even when they don't fit into your preconceptions.
- I admit I am finding it difficult to accept the possibility of a past about which I know nothing.
- But it is also true I am curious to learn more about it.

- I helped create you.
- And now look at you.
- You were a colleague of Dr. Soong?
- Heh. I most certainly was.
- And I was also his wife.
- In a way, I suppose you could say
- I am your mother.

[Dr. Tainer has praised Data's violin play]
Dr. Juliana Tainer: And considering that giving you a creative aspect was my idea. Oh, your father didn't really see the point. He thought that since you didn't have emotions, there would be no real need for you to express yourself. Somehow, I had the feeling the opposite would be true.
Lt. Commander Data: I do not know for certain. But I believe it is during my creative endeavors that I come closest to experiencing what it must be like to be human.
Dr. Juliana Tainer: Well... I'm glad I insisted.

Dr. Juliana Tainer: [after learning from Data her ex-husband and Data's creator Dr Soong died a few years ago] He's dead? I had no idea it would hit me this hard.

- The positronic matrix
- I designed for her was unstable.
- She only lived a short time.
- I see.
- In a sense, you were her grandmother.
- Would you like to practice now?
- Yes. Yes, of course.

- If you don't do it now, commander, it may take months to find another suitable site.
- The core may solidify by then.
- She's right. We have to act now.
- Riker: All right, but I want you in and out of there as quickly as possible.
- Acknowledged.
- You're hurt. I'll go.

Dr. Juliana Tainer: [about her mother] She thought that Noonien was an eccentric scientist who was far too old for me. We decided to marry secretly to give her a chance to get used to our being together. We slipped away to Mavala IV and got married there. A Klingon and a Corvallen trader were our witnesses. It wasn't exactly the wedding I had hoped for, but... somehow Noonien had a way of making even the oddest thing seem romantic.

Dr. Juliana Tainer: [answering an earlier question from Data] No, I wouldn't have left you behind if you'd been my biological child.
Lt. Commander Data: Hm... Is that because you place more value on biological life than artificial life?
Dr. Juliana Tainer: Absolutely not! I cherished every android your father and I created as if it *were* my child, even Lore - despite the fact that he turned on us, despite the dreadful things he did. Dismantling him was the most difficult thing I ever had to do. I was afraid that if you turned out like him, I would have to dismantle you too... And I couldn't bear to do that. I'm not trying to justify leaving you behind. I'm just sorry I did.

Lt. Commander Data: [to Dr. Tainer] There is something I think you should know. My father told me... that he had only one great love in his life; and that he regretted never telling her how much he cared for her. I am certain he was referring to you.

- No. We are too far below the surface.
- How are we going to get down there?
- There are no handholds in the rock face.
- Data: We are going to have to jump.
- No, it's too far. I won't make it.
- You will.

- The important thing is that we're here now together.
- And I do want to get to know you.
- This has been an interesting encounter.
- And an altogether unexpected one.
- I would like to corroborate your story before we proceed further.
- Excuse me, doctor.

[Dr. Soong's hologram has asked Data not to reveal to Dr. Tainer that she is an android]
Lt. Commander Data: Then you do not believe she should know the truth?
Dr. Noonien Soong: The truth? Truth is - in every way that matters - she *is* Juliana Soong. I programmed her to terminate after a long life. Let her live out her days - and die, believing she was human.

Dr. Juliana Tainer: On Atrea, there is a saying - that a child born from parents who love each other will have nothing but goodness in his heart. I guess that explains you.