Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The Offspring (1990)

Brent Spiner: Lieutenant Commander Data

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lt. Cmdr. Data : Lal. I am unable to correct the malfunction.

  Lal : I know, Father.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : We must say goodbye now.

  Lal : I feel...

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : What do you feel, Lal?

  Lal : ...I love you, Father.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : [after a pause]  I wish I could feel it with you.

  Lal : I will feel it for both of us. Thank you for my life. Flirting... Laughter... Painting, family... Female... Human.

  [she dies] 

• Lt. Cmdr. Data : Admiral. When I created Lal, it was in the hope that someday, she would choose to enter the Academy and become a member of Starfleet. I wanted to give something back, in return for all that Starfleet has given me. I still do. But Lal is my child. You ask that I volunteer to give her up. I cannot. It would violate every lesson I have learned about human parenting. I have brought a new life into this world. And it is my duty - not Starfleet's - to guide her through these difficult steps to maturity. To support her as she learns. To prepare her to be a contributing member of society. No one can relieve me from that obligation. And I cannot ignore it. I am... her father.

• Lal : I watch them, and I can do the things they do, but I will never feel the emotions. I'll never know love.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : It is a limitation we must learn to accept, Lal.

  Lal : Then why do you still try to emulate humans? What purpose does it serve except to remind you that you are incomplete?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : I have asked myself that many times, as I have struggled to be more human. Until I realized, it is the struggle itself that is most important. We must strive to be more than we are, Lal. It does not matter that we will never reach our ultimate goal. The effort yields its own rewards.

  Lal : You are wise, Father.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : It is the difference between knowledge and experience.

• [Lt. Cmdr. Data walks in on Lal kissing Cmdr. Riker] 

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : Commander - what are your intentions toward my daughter?

  Commander William T. Riker : [baffled]  Your daughter?

  Commander William T. Riker : [to Lal, flustered]  Nice to meet you!

  [storms out] 

• Lt. Cmdr. Data : Admiral, when I created Lal, it was in the hope that someday she would choose to enter the Academy and become a member of Starfleet. I wanted to give something back in return for all Starfleet has given me. I still do. But Lal is my child. You ask that I volunteer to give her up. I cannot. It would violate every lesson I have learned about human parenting. I have brought a new life into this world, and it is my duty, not Starfleet's, to guide her through these first difficult steps to maturity, to support her as she learns, to prepare her to be a contributing member of society. No one can relieve me from that obligation. And I cannot ignore it. I am her father.

  Admiral Anthony Haftel : Then I regret that I must order you to transport Lal aboard my ship.

  [Data begins to rise] 

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Belay that order, Mister Data.

  Admiral Anthony Haftel : I beg your pardon?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I will take this to Starfleet myself.

  Admiral Anthony Haftel : I am Starfleet, Captain! Proceed, Commander.

  [Data again begins to rise] 

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Hold your ground, Mister Data.

  Admiral Anthony Haftel : Captain, you are jeopardizing your command and your career.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders. You acknowledge their sentience, but you ignore their personal liberties and freedom. Order a man to hand his child over to the state? Not while I am his captain.

• [Data has asked Dr. Crusher for advice in parenting] 

  Doctor Beverly Crusher : Just help her realize she's not alone. And... be there to nurture her when she needs love and attention.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : I can give her attention, Doctor. But I am incapable of giving her love.

  [he leaves sickbay] 

  Doctor Beverly Crusher : Now, why do I find that so hard to believe?

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : The Admiral is taking the position that Lal's development should be overseen by the most experienced personnel.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : Then he is questioning my ability as a parent?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : In a manner of speaking.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : Does the Admiral have children?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Yes, I believe he does, Data. Why?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : I am forced to wonder how much experience he had as a parent when his first child was born.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [after learning from Data's creation of a new android]  Data... I would like to have been consulted.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : I have not observed anyone else on board consulting you about their procreation, Captain.

• Lt. Cmdr. Data : I have observed that in most species, there is a primal instinct to perpetuate themselves. Until now, I have been the last of my kind. If I were to be damaged or destroyed, I would be lost forever. But if I am successful with the creation of Lal, my continuance is assured.

• Lal : Father - what is the significance of laughter?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : It is a human physiological response to humor.

  Lal : Then, judging from their laughter, the children at school found my remarks humorous. So without understanding humor, I have somehow mastered it.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : [...]  Lal.

  Lal : Yes, Father?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : The children were not laughing with you, they were laughing *at* you.

  Lal : Explain.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : One is meant kindly, the other is not.

  Lal : Why would they wish to be unkind?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : Because you are different. Differences sometimes scare people. I have learned that some of them use humor to hide their fear.

  Lal : I do not wish to be different.

• Lal : Father - what is my purpose?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : Purpose?

  Lal : My function. My reason for being.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : That is a complex question, Lal. I can only begin to answer by telling you that our function is to contribute in a positive way to the world in which we live.

• [Lal is to decide what physical form to take on] 

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : We are taking you to the holodeck to show you several thousand composites I have programed. You may choose from them.

  Counselor Deanna Troi : [incredulous]  Several thousand?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : This is a big decision.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [Data has created an android offspring]  What you have done will have serious ramifications. I am truly dismayed that you told no-one of what you were doing.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : I am sorry, Captain. I did not anticipate your objections. Do you wish me to deactivate Lal?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [flabbergasted]  Its a life Data! It can't be activated and deactivated simply.

• Wesley Crusher : Have you considered sending her to school?

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : She already has access to the sum of human knowledge from me.

  Wesley Crusher : Data, she could learn a lot by being with children her own age.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : She is only two weeks old.

• Lt. Cmdr. Data : In any meaningful evaluation of Lal, you would require a model for a basis of comparison. I am the only model available, Admiral.

• Capt. Picard : It would seem you've actually improved upon yourself, Data.

  Lt. Cmdr. Data : Is that not the goal of every parent, sir?