Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)
The Child (1988)
Brent Spiner: Lieutenant Commander Data
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Quotes
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Dr. Kate Pulaski : Dah-ta, look at this.
Lt. Commander Data : [looking slightly confused] 'Day-ta'.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : What?
Lt. Commander Data : My name. It is pronounced 'Day-ta'.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Oh?
Lt. Commander Data : You called me "Dah-ta".
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [laughing] What's the difference?
Lt. Commander Data : One is my name. The other is not.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Is this possible?
[stands up and begins to run a scan on Data]
Dr. Kate Pulaski : With all of your neuro nets and heuristics? Is there some combination of circuits that make up a network for bruised feelings? Possible?
Lt. Commander Data : [Data smiles at the idea]
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Lt. Commander Data : [on Troi's delivery of Ian] Thank you for allowing me to participate. It was remarkable.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [Commander Riker approaches, smiling, Troi looks to him] Were you here all along?
Commander William T. Riker : Yes. He's beautiful, Deanna. Just like his mother.
[grins, leans in and kisses Deanna's cheek]
Dr. Kate Pulaski : How do you feel?
Counselor Deanna Troi : Fine. Wonderful.
[looks to the baby in her arms, then back to Pulaski]
Counselor Deanna Troi : Thank you, Doctor, for everything.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Amazing.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [Deanna looks back to the baby again, smiling. A tear of happiness and joy rolls down her cheek, as she sighs a deep breath]
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Counselor Deanna Troi : [right before giving birth] You don't have to do anything, Data. Just be with me.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : There's nothing to be nervous about.
Lt. Commander Data : Nervous? I find this very interesting.
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Dr. Kate Pulaski : [to herself, analyzing a deadly virus] Some eager beaver at play.
Lt. Commander Data : Query - "Eager beaver"?
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Well, in this case, 'eager beaver' refers to some overachieving genetic engineer who - probably because of lack of anything better to do - has forced this strain of virus to mutate, just so he can see how bad bad can get.
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Commander William T. Riker : I don't mean to be indelicate,
[turns to Troi]
Commander William T. Riker : but who's the father?
Counselor Deanna Troi : Last night, *while I slept*, something, that I can only describe as a presence, entered my body.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : A life form of unknown origin and intent, is *breeding*, right now, inside of Counselor Troi. Our purpose here today is determine what course of action we need to take.
Lieutenant Worf : The decision is clear. The pregnancy must be terminated to protect the ship.
Commander William T. Riker : [as the bridge crew is discussing the issue, Troi hears a heartbeat within her mind, and looks down at her stomach, then back up to the conference room screen which shows a gestating fetus. The crew's voices are muffled, but can still be clearly heard as Troi is focusing on the baby growing inside her] This situation presents a danger to us and the counselor. It's an invasion, of what, I don't know.
Lt. Commander Data : Captain, this is a life form. Denying it the right to survive, takes away our opportunity to study it.
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Counselor Deanna Troi : [Data encounters Counselor Troi in the corridor, breathing heavily and holding her stomach] Data? Would you help me to Sickbay?
[Data acknowledges and takes Deanna by the arm, helping her]
Counselor Deanna Troi : [the doors open to Sickbay, Data and Deanna enter] It's time!
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [runs up] Oh, you bet it is! Let's get you to maternity!
[takes Deanna by the arm]
Lt. Commander Data : [clicks his combadge] Security team to sickbay.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Is that really necessary?
Lt. Commander Data : Yes, Doctor. Captain's orders.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : I don't see the need for *armed guards* in the delivery room.
[shakes her head]
Dr. Kate Pulaski : . This way.
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Dr. Kate Pulaski : [Pulaski rushes in and begins to examine Ian] What happened? Did he eat anything, did he fall?
Counselor Deanna Troi : [shakes her head] No!
Lt. Commander Data : [reads the readout on his tricorder] Commander, the child is the source of the unusual radiation.
Counselor Deanna Troi : Ian said he was the reason the ship was in danger.
Lt. Commander Data : That analysis is correct.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [continues to try to bring Ian around] I'm losing life signs.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [holds Ian's lifeless hand] You must save him!
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [Pulaski continues to work, but to no success. She runs her scanner over Ian again, then bows her head] I'm sorry.
[Troi kneels down and begins to weep over the loss of her son. Suddenly, Ian's body disappears and becomes a small, radiant star of energy. The energy star floats into Troi's open hands and Deanna cups her hands around it. Her weeping slowly subsides, then she smiles. Finally, like releasing a dove, she opens her hands and the energy star floats up and through the bulkhead into space]
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [Riker's combadge beeps]
Lieutenant Geordi La Forge : Commander, the containment field has... stabilized!
Commander William T. Riker : Thank you, Lieutenant.
Counselor Deanna Troi : Then Ian was right. He was the cause.
Commander William T. Riker : Apparently so.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [Deanna shakes her head and looks down for a moment, then looks back up at everyone] He is a life force entity. When we passed each other in space, he was curious about us, so he thought the best way to learn, was to go through the process. To be born, to live as one of us, and in that way, to understand us. He never meant any harm.
Commander William T. Riker : There was a moment, when you smiled.
Counselor Deanna Troi : He said "Thank you". I told him, we will miss him.
[looks down again]
Counselor Deanna Troi : And, I will.
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[Dr. Pulaski mentions that in her experience, the fathers were almost always present during their babies' delivery]
Counselor Deanna Troi : Difficult under the circumstances.
Lt. Commander Data : Perhaps *I* could serve in that capacity.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Counselor Troi is going to need the comfort of a human touch and not the cold hand of technology.
Counselor Deanna Troi : Doctor, I think Commander Data will do very nicely.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Your choice.
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Lt. Commander Data : [to Counselor Troi] Although I know, in technical terms, how life is formed. There are several things about the process that alludes me. The child inside you, Are you able to access his thoughts? Does he have thoughts? You are aware of him, Is he aware of you? When does that awareness begint?
Counselor Deanna Troi : [starting to give birth] It's happening...
Lt. Commander Data : [thinking she is connecting with her unborn child's thoughts] How does it feel?
Counselor Deanna Troi : Data!
Lt. Commander Data : Yes?
Counselor Deanna Troi : NOW!
Lt. Commander Data : [realizing what Troi has been trying to tell him] Now? Now? Now! Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [coming over to assist Troi's delivery] This is an impatient baby! He's very eager to make his appearance.