Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The First Duty (1992)

Wil Wheaton: Wesley Crusher

Photos 

Quotes 

• Capt. Picard : Do you remember the first day you came aboard this ship? Your mother brought you on the bridge.

  Wesley Crusher : 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.

• [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 Crusher : 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 Crusher : Good bye, Captain.

• Wesley Crusher : 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.

• Capt. Picard : Mister Locarno has been expelled.

  Wesley Crusher : 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 Crusher : 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.

• Wesley Crusher : You'd let me do that? You'd let me throw away my career, just to save your neck?

  Nicholas Locarno : 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 Crusher : We're Starfleet cadets. We have a duty to the truth.

  Nicholas Locarno : 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 Crusher : If we all come forward together and tell Admiral Brand...

  Nicholas Locarno : 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.