- [Wesley has asked Picard about the initials 'AF' carved into an elm tree]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Wesley, if you meet someone, whose initials you might want to carve into that elm tree, don't let it interfere with your studies. I failed organic chemistry because of AF.
- Commander William T. Riker: [to Troi and her chocolate ice cream] Would you like me to leave you two alone?
- Ensign Lefler: [about her childhood] I spent all of my time around technical equipment. My first friend was a tricorder.
- Wesley Crusher: Really? My very first friend was a warp coil.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Personal logs... diagnostics... duty logs, they all appear normal; there's no evidence of anything that could lead to Data's shutdown.
- Commander William T. Riker: Maybe we should ask his cat.
- Wesley Crusher: Maybe there's more going on here than we thought. What if someone's trying to use the game for some purpose other than pleasure?
- Ensign Lefler: Then Data would be a threat to that plan. And only with Data out of the way would everyone become addicted.
- Wesley Crusher: And everyone has... except us.
- Commander William T. Riker: Chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge and chocolate chips... You're not depressed, are you?
- Lt. Commander Data: Geordi, a conflict has arisen between the planetary evolution team and the stellar physicists. Each wishes to be the first to use the thermal imaging array.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Well, tell 'em to flip a coin. We've got to work together on this mission, otherwise we're never gonna get it done.
- Lt. Commander Data: A coin? Very good. I will replicate one immediately.
- [Troi eats a spoonful of ice cream]
- Commander William T. Riker: Doesn't it taste good?
- Counselor Troi: Mm, of course it does, but... it's not just a matter of taste. It's the whole experience. First of all, you have to spoon the fudge around the rim, leaving only the ice cream in the middle. Then, you gently spoon the ice cream around the sides, like you're sculpting it. Relish every bite. Make every one an event. And then, with the last spoonful, close your eyes...
- [eats another spoonful with her eyes closed and smiles]
- Commander William T. Riker: I had no idea it was such a ritual.
- Commander William T. Riker: What is this?
- Etana Jol: It's a game. Everyone here's playing it. It's fun!
- Etana Jol: [addressing the Bridge crew of the Enterprise on the viewscreen of her ship] The Expansion will proceed as follows - Commander Riker, you will pilot a shuttlecraft to the Cleon System where you will rendezvous with the Starship Endeavour. Proceed with distributing the device to that vessel. Commander LaForge, Counsellor Troi. Take a shuttle to Starbase 67. Distribute the device to all starships currently docked there.
- [the crew respond to this proposed takeover of Starfleet as if it were just another day at the office]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [although under the influence of the game, Picard's neutrality can't conceal his enthusiasm] We also have an opportunity to introduce the game to Starfleet Academy.
- Etana Jol: [impressed] Excellent. See to it. The Ktarians commend your efforts, Picard. Once the Expansion is complete, you and your crew will be rewarded.
- Wesley Crusher: [Beverly is in her quarters playing the Ktarian game, gasping in pleasure as she clears each level, totally oblivious to Wesley's entrance] Mom?
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [surprised] Wesley!
- [she deactivates the game and removes her headset, still momentarily reeling from the game's effects]
- Wesley Crusher: What are you doing?
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [still euphoric] I'm er... embarrassed to say... this was meant for you. But it was so much fun I couldn't resist.
- Wesley Crusher: What is it?
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: It's a game.
- [rises from her chair]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Riker brought it back from Risa. Everybody's playing it.
- [holds it out to him]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Wanna try?
- Wesley Crusher: Maybe later. How's Data?
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [not a topic she's interested in] Geordi is still working on him. He's going to be fine.
- Wesley Crusher: I think I should go give him a hand.
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [puts her hands around his neck suddenly] No!
- [in a softer voice]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Wesley, you are on vacation. You have done enough already.
- Wesley Crusher: Yeah, maybe you're right.
- [Wesley walks off to an adjoining room, Beverly follows while still holding the game]
- Wesley Crusher: Computer, increase light level.
- [the room brightens up]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Are you in a hurry?
- Wesley Crusher: Yeah, I'm late for a dinner date.
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Really? With who?
- Wesley Crusher: Robin Lefler from Engineering.
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [thinking things over] Why don't you invite her here? We can all play the game together. I can replicate a couple more.
- Wesley Crusher: [frowning] Mom!
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Sorry. It's just that... I want to spend some time together while you're here.
- Wesley Crusher: We'll have time together. I promise.
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [disappointed] Ok.
- Wesley Crusher: Ok.
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [tries one last time] Just one game.
- [she even tries hooking it around his ears]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Come on, try it on...
- Wesley Crusher: [stays her hand] Mom! I really need to get ready.
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [concedes defeat... for now] Have a good time.
- Wesley Crusher: Thanks. I will.
- [she walks off but not before leaving the game in the room with him on a desk. Wesley grabs some clothes from the closet, still vaguely troubled by Beverly's odd behaviour]
- Commander William T. Riker: [Riker is vacationing on Risa with Etana Jol, a beautiful alien. While lying on the bed in Riker's hotel room, she produces some sort of headset and places it over Riker's ears] What is this?
- Etana Jol: It's a game. Everyone here's playing it, it's fun!
- Commander William T. Riker: Do I keep my eyes opened or closed?
- Etana Jol: Open.
- Commander William T. Riker: [Etana activates a switch on the device and two red beams are projected into Riker's eyes] What am I seeing?
- Etana Jol: The playing field.
- [a red grid overlayed against Riker's vision appears and a blue cone with a red floating disc both emerge from it]
- Commander William T. Riker: Now what?
- Etana Jol: [laughing softly, her voice becomes more seductive] You see the disc and the cone?
- Commander William T. Riker: Yeah.
- Etana Jol: Concentrate. Make the disc go into the cone.
- Commander William T. Riker: [unsure how to react] How do I do that?
- Etana Jol: [amused] Just let go. Relax. You'll do it.
- Commander William T. Riker: [Riker tries to will the disc into the cone and misses, but when he tries a second time, the disc goes in, the cone returns to the grid and Riker suddenly comes over all funny, but in a good way. Riker looks over at Etana's pleased expression] What was that?
- Etana Jol: [Etana's now grinning like a Cheshire Cat] Your reward... for clearing the first level.
- Commander William T. Riker: [Riker's feeling pretty good] How far does this game go?
- Etana Jol: As far as you can take it. Would you like to go for Level 2?
- [Riker just smiles and focuses all his attention on the two discs and two cones that have appeared. This time the discs go in with ease and Riker experiences an even greater sensation of pleasure. Etana's smile becomes more knowing as she continues to watch Riker's reactions to the game]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: [the Bridge crew have forced Wesley into playing the addictive Ktarian game. He tries to resist but eventually the game disc is enveloped by a cone on the board and a sensation of pleasure goes through him] That's right, Wesley.
- [gently]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Just let it go.
- [when two cones appear, this time Wesley wills the discs into them without hesitation]
- Dr. Beverly Crusher: Yes. Just let yourself go. Relax.
- [Wesley is fully immersed in the game now, just as addicted as everyone else]