- [La Forge and Data are in a shuttle preparing to go through the wormhole]
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: You know, if this doesn't work, the thought of spending the rest of my life in here is none too appealing.
- Lt. Commander Data: There is a bright side, Geordi. You will have me to talk to.
- Devinoni Ral: [of Troi] She's a remarkable woman. Brilliant, lovely... very passionate. And she could've been yours, Will. But you just didn't do enough to keep her. And now, well... I'm here. And I'm gonna take her, too.
- Commander William T. Riker: [smiles sardonically] That's the first bad play I've seen you make. If you can bring happiness into Deanna's life, nothing would please me more. You know, you're really not such a bad sort, Ral. Except you don't have any values - beyond the value of today's bid, that is. Deanna is just the woman to bring some meaning to your sorry existence, if you're smart enough to take it. I doubt that you are. To the last mile.
- Lieutenant Worf: Captain, DaiMon Goss is demanding to know where his men are.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Advise him to set his coordinates for the Delta Quadrant. He may run into them in... 80 years or so.
- [DaiMon Goss has announced that he would send an own manned probe through the wormhole]
- DaiMon Goss: And I should strongly suggest that you stay out of our way!
- [the Ferengi leave]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [to Riker] Tell Data and La Forge to do themselves a favor, and stay out of their way.
- [Troi is arguing with Ral about the unethical use of his empathic powers to gain an advantage over his rivals]
- Devinoni Ral: Do you tell the Romulan that's about to attack that you sense that he may be bluffing? Or do you just tell it to your Captain?
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [ponders this for a moment] That's different. That's a matter of protection.
- Devinoni Ral: Yes, protection - your protection, your Captain, your crew, your edge. Yes. Now, it's a matter of life and death when you take the advantage; me... I deal in property. Exchanges. Nobody gets hurt. So, you tell me - which one of us would you say has more of a problem with ethics?
- [last lines]
- Devinoni Ral: I'm very grateful for what you did, in a way. It's made me take a hard look at who I am. I don't like what I see. I once asked you to run away with me; and now I'm asking again. I need you. You could help me change, you could... you could be my conscience.
- [he kisses her]
- Counselor Deanna Troi: I already have a job as counselor.
- DaiMon Goss: My name's DaiMon Goss, and these are my counsels Kol and Doctor Arridor. We'll need chairs.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I'm Captain Picard of the Enterprise; I am serving as host for these proceedings.
- DaiMon Goss: Good. Then see to it we get some chairs.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Let me explain...
- DaiMon Goss: Fine, fine, just have your Klingon servant get us some chairs!
- Lieutenant Worf: I'm in charge of security!
- DaiMon Goss: Then who gets the chairs?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: DaiMon, due to the delicate nature of these negotiations, all parties have agreed that one representative will suffice. Now, I will be happy to provide your consuls with accommodations, and you... may have *my* chair.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: It's ridiculous, and wonderful. I feel completely out of control - happy, terrified... But there's nothing rational about this.
- Doctor Beverly Crusher: Who needs rational when your toes curl up?
- Premier Bhavani: There it is, ladies and gentlemen - the first and only stable wormhole known to exist. It's yours - for the right price.
- [the crew and Mendoza are assessing their rivals at the negotiations]
- Commander William T. Riker: I think that Devinoni is the one that we need to watch out for.
- Seth Mendoza: An accurate observation. How did you recognize that?
- Commander William T. Riker: Well, he was the most comfortable one in the group.
- Seth Mendoza: You must play poker, Commander.
- Commander William T. Riker: [feigning ignorance] Poker - is that a game of some sort?
- Devinoni Ral: Commander, I realize what a difficult position this must be for you. If you don't understand something, I hope you won't be too embarrassed to ask me.
- Commander William T. Riker: I think I have an idea what the rules are.
- Devinoni Ral: Well, that's what makes it so interesting. The rules of the game change to fit the moment.
- Commander William T. Riker: Not unlike commanding a starship, Mr. Ral.
- Devinoni Ral: I had to do it, Troi. Bhavani was ready to go with the Federation. I sensed it. I'd used up every card in the deck. I needed to change the rules.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: You must have known I couldn't allow you to do that.
- Devinoni Ral: My Human physical response must have been blocking my Betazoid senses.
- Dr. Arridor: You understand this will not be lethal?
- DaiMon Goss: Doctor you surprise me, I have no wish to kill anyone.A short term crippling will suffice.
- [Picard asks Riker to replace Mendoza as Federation representative at the negotiations]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You're the next likely choice. And Mr. Mendoza will certainly agree. He's quite impressed by your natural instincts.
- Commander William T. Riker: Excuse me, sir, but those weren't natural instincts; those were poker instincts. A card game doesn't exactly prepare me for this.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Yes, the stakes are higher. But then, isn't that when the game gets interesting, Commander?
- Devinoni Ral: [to Troi] At the negotiating table... it can be fatal to have a heart. But I never realized how much I needed mine - until I looked at you.
- Devinoni Ral: [about negotiating] You know, you're very good at this - very good. Much better than you realize.
- Commander William T. Riker: Well, I hope I'm better than *you* realize.
- Devinoni Ral: [to Riker] The last mile of the marathon is always the toughest. That's when the winners are willing to take the big risks. You willing to do that?
- Counselor Deanna Troi: I haven't been able to stop thinking about you all day.
- [they kiss]
- Devinoni Ral: You must have had a nice day.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Computer, dispatches.
- Enterprise Computer: A research inquiry from the Manitoba Journal of Interplanetary Psychology and three communiques from your mother.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [sighs] Transfer the letters from my mother to the viewscreen. And computer, I would like a real chocolate sundae.
- Enterprise Computer: Define real in context, please.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Real. Not one of your perfectly synthesised, ingeniously enhanced imitations. I would like real chocolate ice cream, real whipped cream...
- Enterprise Computer: This unit is programmed to provide sources of acceptable nutritional value. Your request does not fall within current guidelines. Please indicate whether you wish to override the specified program.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [annoyed] Listen...
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [over comm] Picard to Counselor Troi.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [sighs] Now what?
- [taps badge]
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Yes, Captain?
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The pleasure of your company is requested, Counselor. We're having a little impromptu reception for the arriving delegates.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: I'm not really dressed for a reception.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, Counselor! Just throw on any old thing. We're about to get our first look at the wormhole.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Of course, Captain. I'm on my way.
- [taps badge]
- Counselor Deanna Troi: God forbid I should miss my first look at the wormhole.
- Devinoni Ral: The point of negotiating is to take advantage, Deanna. I don't know what the other side is offering, and they don't know what I'm offering. So we dance around each other until someone wins. And I never cry foul when I lose.