Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 3, Episode 16 - The Offspring - full transcript

PICARD:
Captain's log, stardate 43657.0.

While Commander Riker
is away on personal leave,

the Enterprise has traveled
to Sector 396

to begin charting
the Selini asteroid belt.

- He sent for you too?
- Yes. He was very mysterious.

Do you have any idea
what this is about?

Something happened
at that cybernetics conference.

Since he's come back, he's spent
every off-duty minute in that lab.

- It's not like Data to be so secretive.
- And cautious.

He's kept that lab locked
every minute.

Now, how would you know that?



- Uh-huh.
TROI: Heh.

Oh. You are early.
One moment, please.

You may enter now.

Come on, Data. What is this?

Yeah, Data, what's going on?

DATA: I have invited you here
to meet someone.

This is Lal.

Lal,

say hello to Counselor Deanna Troi.

Hello, Counselor Deanna Troi.

How do you do, Lal?

I am functioning
within normal parameters.

DATA:
Lal,

this is Geordi La Forge.



Purpose for exterior drapings,
Father?

[MOUTHS]
Father?

It is an accepted custom
that we wear clothing.

Data,

it called you "Father."

Yes, Wesley.

Lal is my child.

PICARD:
Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission:
to explore strange new worlds,

to seek out new life
and new civilizations,

to boldly go where no one
has gone before.

PICARD: Captain's log, supplemental.
I have been advised

of a highly unusual project
undertaken by Commander Data.

Lal has a positronic brain,
one very similar to my own.

I began programming it
at the cybernetics conference.

LA FORGE:
But nobody's ever been able to do that.

At least not since
you were programmed.

DATA: True, but there was a new
submicron matrix-transfer technology

introduced at the conference,
which I discovered could be used

to lay down
complex neural net pathways.

So you did a transfer
from your brain into Lal's?

DATA:
Exactly, Wesley.

I realized for the first time

that it was possible to continue
Dr. Soong's work.

My initial transfers produced
very encouraging results,

- so I brought Lal's brain back with me.
PICARD: Data?

I would like to have been consulted.

I have not observed anyone else
onboard consulting you

about their procreation, captain.

[SIGHS]

Why didn't you give it
a more human look, Data?

I have decided to allow my child
to choose its own sex and appearance.

Commander Data,
at your convenience,

I would like to talk with you
in my Ready Room. Counselor.

I insist we do whatever we can

to discourage the perception
of this new android as a child.

It is not a child!

It is an invention,
albeit an extraordinary one.

Why should biology
rather than technology

determine whether it's a child?

Data has created an offspring,

a new life out of his own being.
To me, that suggests a child.

If he wishes to call Lal his child,
then who are we to argue?

Well, if he must.

But I fail to understand
how a 5-foot android

with heuristic learning systems

and the strength of ten men
can be called a child.

You've never been a parent.

What you have done
will have serious ramifications.

And I'm truly dismayed

that you told no one
of what you were doing.

I am sorry, captain.

I did not anticipate your objections.

Do you wish me to deactivate Lal?

It's a life, Data.

It can't be activated
and deactivated simply.

This is a most
stupendous undertaking.

Have you any idea what will happen
when Starfleet learns about this?

I have followed
all of Starfleet's regulations

to the best of my ability.

I expected they would be pleased.

[SIGHS]

Well,

you have taken on
quite a responsibility, Data.

To prepare, I have scanned
all available literature on parenting.

There seems to be much confusion
on this issue.

One traditional doctrine insists,
"Spare the rod and spoil the child,"

suggesting a punitive approach,

while another more liberal attitude

would allow the child
enormous freedom.

- Data--
- And what Klingons do

- to their children--
- Data, I am not talking

about parenting! I am talking about
the extraordinary consequences

of creating a new life!

Does that not describe
becoming a parent, sir?

Data, you are seeking to achieve

what only your own creator
has been able to achieve.

To make another functioning,
sentient android.

To make another Data.

That is why I must attempt this, sir.

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.

I understand the risks, sir,

and I am prepared to accept
the responsibility.

- Gender female.
- That's right. Just like me.

- Gender male.
- Correct.

And I am gender neuter.
Inadequate.

That is why you must choose
a gender, Lal.

To complete your appearance.

What are criteria?

Access your data bank
on sexuality, level two.

That will define the parameters.

Whatever you decide will be yours
for your lifetime.

It's a decision that will affect
how people interrelate with you.

I choose your sex and appearance.

No, Lal. That would be confusing.

We are taking you to the holodeck

to show you several thousand
composites I have programmed.

You may choose from them.

Several thousand?

This is a big decision.

DATA:
Counselor.

Lal has narrowed the choices
to four.

- Would you like to see?
- Yes. Yes, of course, Data.

Computer, Lal gender
sequence finalists.

Begin.

An Andorian female.

Interesting.

You'll be the only one onboard
the Enterprise, Lal.

Hmm. That could make socialization
more difficult.

- A human male.
- Very attractive.

There's no problem
with socialization here.

- A human female.
- I like her.

A Klingon male.

A friend for Worf.

They're all very interesting.
Do you have a favorite?

Yes. I have chosen.

I have completed assembly
of the replicated anatomy.

I was able to provide Lal

with more realistic skin and eye color
than my own.

Congratulations, Data. It's a girl.

- This is home, Lal.
- Home.

Place of residence.

Social unit formed
by a family living together.

Yes.

We are a family, Lal.

Chair.

To sit in.

Sit.

Good.

Painting.

Painting.

Colors produced on a surface
by applying a pigment.

Yes.

I will teach you to recognize
the artistry in paintings.

- Soft.
- Yes.

Very good, Lal.

You have correctly processed
the sense of touch.

There are many fascinating
experiences I wish to share with you.

- Painting.
- No.

That is a flower, Lal.

Inhale.

[DATA SNIFFS]

[LAL SNIFFS]

- Smell.
- Yes.

Show me more, Father.

DATA: Second officer,
science log supplemental.

Training and social skills

at the most elementary level
has begun.

Lal is progressing very slowly
but is not deterred by early setbacks.

While motor coordination
has improved 12 percent,

reflexes still need to develop.

Visual comprehension
is especially difficult for Lal.

Translating her vast data banks
into recognizable applications

may improve
with additional transfers.

She is also learning to supplement
her innate android behavior

with simulated human responses.

And it is interesting to note

that as I observe Lal
learning about her world,

I share in her experience,

almost as though
I am learning things over again.

DATA:
The transfer itself is fairly simple.

Each neural pathway in my brain
is duplicated precisely in hers.

Theoretically, the duplicate brain
should be able to store

and process the same information,

but until all of the transfers
are complete,

we will not know for certain.

What does Lal do
when you're on duty?

She studies in our quarters.
She requires very little supervision.

Lal is quite self-sufficient.

Have you considered
sending her to school?

She already has access to the sum
of human knowledge from me.

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

She is only 2 weeks old.

Okay, close to her own age.

CRUSHER [OVER COM]:
Dr. Crusher to Ensign Crusher.

Aren't you supposed
to be getting a haircut, Wesley?

I'm on my way.

Parents.

Nothing personal.

Lal,

the third crosslink
transfer series is complete.

Father, what is my purpose?

- Purpose?
- My function. My reason for being.

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.

Why am I me
instead of someone else?

Because you are my child.

Where did I come from?

These questions...
These questions suggest

that we have made
a successful transfer

of the heuristic
associative pathways.

You will now begin
to process information

on logic, aesthetics,
metaphysics and epistemology.

You are truly
becoming sentient, Lal.

How?

By developing the awareness

to question and examine
your perceptions.

Why do we have two hands?

- Uh--
- Why not three or four?

Why is the sky black? Why do...?

Tomorrow will be your first day
of school, Lal.

I assure you, admiral,

there is no better guide
into this life for Lal than Data.

He's doing an excellent job.

We all have enormous admiration

for what Commander Data
has already achieved.

But we have superior facilities
and personnel here at Galor IV.

A starship is hardly
the proper setting for--

The starship's mission
is to seek out new life,

and that is exactly
what Commander Data is doing,

under my guidance.

We all want what's best
for the new android.

As do I.

[SIGHS]

I would be willing to consider
releasing Lal and Data to you

so that he may continue
his work with her.

His presence would undoubtedly
retard the new android's progress.

Admiral, to you,
Lal is a new android.

But to Data,

she's his child.

His child?

Yes, admiral, it may not be easy
for you and I

to see her that way, but he does.

And I respect that.

They will remain here for now.

Starfleet's policy
on research is clear.

You're making a stand
on very uncertain ground.

I do hope it doesn't fall out
from under you.

Haftel out.

[SIGHS]

She achieved a very high score
on a test of academic achievement.

- A perfect score.
- Yes.

Which is why we started her out
with the older children.

But Lal couldn't understand
the nuances

of how they related to each other.

I see.

We decided the best thing to do

would be to put her
with younger children.

That would seem to be reasonable.

It isn't working out that way.

The children are afraid of her.

Father,

what is the significance of laughter?

It is a human physiological response
to humor.

Then judging from their laughter,

the children at school
found my remarks humorous.

So without understanding humor,

I have somehow mastered it.

Deck 15.

Lal.

Yes, Father?

The children were not laughing
with you.

They were laughing at you.

Explain.

One is meant kindly.
The other is not.

- Why would they wish to be unkind?
- Because you are different.

Differences sometimes
scare people.

I have learned that some of them
use humor to hide their fear.

I do not wish to be different.

DATA:
Doctor,

I require your advice,
as a successful parent.

[CHUCKLES]

Well-- Well, thank you, Data.

I'd like to think I was.

Well, please sit down.

How's Lal?

Lal is realizing
she is not the same as other children.

Is it lonely for her?

She does not feel
the emotion of loneliness,

but she can observe
how isolated she is from the others.

She wishes to be more like them.

I do not know how to help her.

Lal is passing into sentience.

It is perhaps the most difficult stage
of her development.

When...

When Wesley was growing up,

he was an extraordinarily bright boy.

But he had a hard time
making friends.

I think the other children
were a little intimidated by him.

That is precisely what happened
to Lal in school.

How did you help him?

Well,

first I went back
to my own childhood

and remembered
how painful it was for me,

because I remember a time
when I wasn't very popular either.

And when I told that to Wesley,
it made him feel a little better.

He knew I understood
what he was going through.

I have not told Lal how difficult it was
for me to assimilate.

I did not wish to discourage her.

Perhaps that was an error
in judgment.

You didn't have anyone
with experience

to help you through sentience.

She at least has you.

Just help her realize she's not alone.

And be there to nurture her
when she needs love and attention.

I can give her attention, doctor,

but I am incapable of giving her love.

[DOOR OPENS THEN CLOSES]

Now, why do I find that
so hard to believe?

[COM BEEPING]

WORF [OVER COM]:
Captain, incoming signal.

Starfleet priority one.

Admiral Haftel.

On my monitor, lieutenant.

Admiral.

HAFTEL [ON-SCREEN]:
Captain Picard,

I hope I didn't disturb you.

Not at all.

I have discussed my concerns
with Starfleet Command.

You are to hold your position
until I join you.

And I shall personally review
the android's development.

Understood.

I should advise you, captain,

that if I'm not satisfied
with what I see,

I am empowered
to take the android back with me.

Haftel out.

PICARD:
Captain's log, supplemental.

We are holding position
pending the arrival of Admiral Haftel

from Starfleet Research.

Commander Data is completing
his final neural transfers

to the android he has named Lal,
which I have learned

in the language Hindi
means "beloved."

[ALL CHATTERING]

GUINAN: Hello, Data.
- Guinan.

Lal, how are you?

I am functioning within normal...

- I am fine, thank you.
GUINAN: Good.

Guinan, Lal needs
to observe human behavior.

Well, she's in the right place for it.

And for this opportunity,

she is willing to provide services
to assist you.

Ah.

Father says
I would learn a great deal

from working
with someone as old as you.

You're hired.

The most important part
about working someplace like this

is the art of listening.

I have some expertise,
so I shall teach you.

That would be most beneficial.

I've been programmed with a listing
of 1,412 known beverages.

What did you say?

I've been programmed
with a listing of 1,400--

"I've"?

- You have used a verbal contraction.
- You said "I've" instead of "I have."

It is a skill my program
has never mastered.

- Then I will desist.
- No. You have exceeded my abilities.

I do not object, but...

I do not understand
how this has occurred.

PICARD [OVER COM]:
Picard to Commander Data.

Please report to my Ready Room.

Aye, sir.

I am certain the admiral
is anxious to meet Lal.

I have been sending him
regular status reports

on her development.

His visit is not just an inspection
of Lal's progress.

He has expressed a concern
for her environment.

Her environment, sir?

He believes the Daystrom annex
on Galor IV would be more suitable.

Then he wishes to relocate us?

Not you, Data.

Just her.

I would not be in favor of that, sir.

There are many things
that she can learn only from me.

My lifetime of experiences.

The mistakes I have made
and what I have learned from them.

WORF [OVER COM]:
Captain, Commander Riker's shuttle

has just returned.

Acknowledged, lieutenant.

Will you advise Commander Riker
I will meet with him in one hour?

Picard out.

The admiral is taking the position

that Lal's development
should be overseen

by the most experienced personnel.

Then he is questioning
my ability as a parent.

In a manner of speaking.

Does the admiral have children?

Yes, I believe he does, Data. Why?

I am forced to wonder how much
experience he had as a parent

when his first child was born.

[PATRONS CHATTERING]

GUINAN:
You see?

LAL: What are they doing?
GUINAN: It's called flirting.

They seem to be
communicating telepathically.

They're both thinking the same thing,
if that's what you mean.

Guinan, is the joining of hands
a symbolic act for humans?

It shows affection.

Humans like to touch each other.

They start with the hands
and go from there.

- He's biting that female!
- No, he's not biting her.

They're pressing lips.
It's called kissing.

Why are they leaving?

Lal, there are some things
your father's just gonna have

to explain to you
when he thinks you're ready.

- You're new around here, aren't you?
- Yes.

GUINAN:
Lal. Lal! Put him down.

DATA:
Commander,

what are your intentions
toward my daughter?

Your daughter?

Nice to meet you.

I watch them,
and I can do the things they do,

but I will never feel the emotions.

I'll never know love.

It is a limitation
we must learn to accept, Lal.

Then why do you still try
to emulate humans?

What purpose does it serve

except to remind you
that you are incomplete?

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.

You are wise, Father.

It is the difference
between knowledge and experience.

I learned today
that humans like to hold hands.

It is a symbolic gesture of affection.

No objective viewpoint
could see it any other way.

Forgive me, admiral.

I thought you were sent here
to form an opinion,

not to justify one.

Captain, let's not make this
any more difficult than it needs to be.

I see no need for it to be difficult at all.
I understand your concerns.

What I'm asking for is time,
patience.

If you have an open mind,
I am sure you will see

that it is imperative that Data and Lal
be kept together

during the formative stages
of her development.

After that, I have no doubt
Commander Data will be delighted

to deliver her to Starfleet Research.

Well, that's not satisfactory.

If mistakes are made, the damage
that's done might be irreparable.

I'm convinced the damage
will be irreparable if they're separated.

Captain,

are we talking
about breaking up a family?

Isn't that rather a sentimental attitude
about androids?

They are living, sentient beings.

Their rights and privileges
in our society have been defined.

- I helped define them.
- Yes, captain.

And I am more than willing
to acknowledge that.

What you must acknowledge

is that Lal may be
a technological step forward

in the development
of artificial intelligence.

- A most significant step.
- Yes.

And work like this demands to be done
with controlled procedures.

Which Commander Data
is following.

In effective isolation.

And that is what Starfleet Research
finds unacceptable.

So Lal now possesses
the sum of my programming.

Her neural nets are laid down
identically to yours?

There do seem to be some variations
on the quantum level.

She can use contractions. I cannot.

An aberration.
What have you done about this?

I have maintained records
on positronic matrix activity,

behavioral norms,
and all verbal patterns.

I have seen no other evidence
of aberrations.

It would seem you have actually
improved upon yourself, Data.

Is that not the goal
of every parent, sir?

But as a good father,

don't you think it would be better,

especially in the light
of this new aberration,

if Lal were close to people trained

in diagnostic
and evaluative procedures?

I am programmed with the procedures
you mentioned, sir.

And in any meaningful
evaluation of Lal,

you would require a model
for a basis of comparison.

I am the only model available,
admiral.

You haven't mastered
human cultural

and behavioral norms yourself yet,
have you?

No, sir.

Where is Lal now?

This is your idea
of appropriate guidance?

It is an opportunity for her
to observe human behavior,

and more importantly,
for her to interact with her crewmates.

[LAL & WOMAN
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

She is capable of running
over 60 trillion calculations a second,

and you have her working
as a cocktail waitress.

Admiral, she is under
the strict guidance of a woman

in whom I have absolute trust.

Ten-Forward is the center
of the ship's social activity.

Everyone onboard comes here.

I'm not convinced the sort of behavior
she observes here

will be a positive influence.

Well, most people, when they
come in here, behave themselves,

and when they don't,
I ask them to leave.

Admiral Haftel, Guinan.
She runs Ten-Forward.

How is Lal doing?

Oh, she spills a few drinks
every now and then,

but she's learning.

[WOMAN LAUGHS]

[WOMAN SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY]

I want that android out of here.

Now, admiral, you've been
in one or two bars in your time.

Have her report to me immediately
for an interview.

Well, Lal, I've been looking forward
to meeting you.

LAL:
Why?

You're very important to us
at Starfleet Research.

We have quite a facility
at Galor IV.

I wanna show it to you.

In fact, the admiral is suggesting
you be moved to Galor IV, Lal.

- Have I done something wrong?
HAFTEL: Oh, no, of course not.

We just wanna broaden
your experience.

There's only so much
you can learn on a starship.

- I'm sure you'll agree to that.
LAL: Yes, I'll agree.

Good.

Thus, the natural conclusion
would be

when I have learned
all there is to learn aboard the starship,

I would relocate to Galor IV.

That is not
the natural conclusion here.

I believe itis.

See, Lal, the admiral is concerned
that you need more guidance

than your father can provide
here on the Enterprise.

Yes. Don't misunderstand me,
I have great respect for your father.

You do not speak with respect.

- She seems very adversarial.
- I am merely stating a fact, admiral.

I don't think your father
has taught you selective judgment

in the verbalization
of your own thoughts.

Now, that is a skill
we will help you develop.

My father is already helping me, sir.

The question is,
has he helped you enough?

Are you asking me, sir?

- No. I didn't mean to ask--
- Why don't we, admiral?

In all these discussions,

no one has ever mentioned
her wishes.

She's a free, sentient being.

What are your wishes, Lal?

I wish to remain here,
Captain Picard.

Thank you, Lal. You're excused.

[DOORBELL BEEPS]

TROI:
Come in.

Hello, Lal.

- How are you?
- Troi.

Admiral...

Admiral...

An admiral from Starfleet
has come to take me away, Troi.

I am scared.

You are scared, aren't you?

I feel it.

How is this possible?

I don't know.

This is what it means to feel.

This is what it means...

Feel.

You have Lal off to a wonderful start
in life, commander.

And that's what being a parent
is all about.

However, I have finally decided

that I must ask you
to release her to me.

May I ask why, sir?

All other arguments aside,
there's one that is irrefutable.

There are only two
Soong-type androids in existence.

It would be very dangerous
to have you both in the same place,

especially aboard a starship.

One lucky shot by a Romulan,
we'd lose you both.

Admiral, that is a fine argument.

But it doesn't change my feeling
that the proper place for Lal to develop

is by Data's side.

You're not a parent, captain.

I am.

I have learned, with difficulty,
that there comes a time when...

There comes a time
when all parents

must give up their children
for their own good.

But this is not the time.

Damn it, even I can see, the...

The umbilical cord is virtually uncut.
The child...

The child depends on him.

Mr. Data, it would be better for Lal
if she left knowing

that you had voluntarily decided
that this was the best course of action.

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.

[SIGHS]

Then I regret that I must order you
to transport Lal aboard my ship.

- Belay that order, Mr. Data.
- I beg your pardon?

- I will take this to Starfleet myself.
- I am Starfleet, captain.

- Proceed, commander.
- Hold your ground, Mr. Data.

Captain, you are jeopardizing
your command and your career.

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.

[SIGHS]

Order a man to hand his child
over to the state?

Not while I'm his captain.

If you wish, you can accompany us
to Starfleet, where we shall--

TROI [OVER COM]:
Troi to Commander Data.

Report to your lab at once.

Acknowledged, counselor.
He's on his way.

- Is there a problem?
TROI: Yes, captain.

Something is terribly wrong
with Lal.

TROL:
It lasted barely a moment.

She experienced fear and confusion.

And then, for no apparent reason,
she walked out of my quarters.

She didn't say another word,
she just started walking here,

and each step
became more and more difficult.

Lal is programmed to return to the lab
in the event of a malfunction.

- Father.
- Yes, Lal? I am here.

A malfunction.

Emotional awareness.

It appears to be a symptom
of cascade failure.

It would require initialization
of the base matrix

without wiping out
the higher functions.

I agree.

May I assist?

Thank you, admiral.

If you'll excuse us, Commander Data
and I have much to do.

She-- She won't survive
much longer.

There was nothing anyone
could have done.

We'd repolarize one pathway,
and another would collapse.

And then another.

His hands were moving faster
than I could see,

trying to stay ahead
of each breakdown.

He refused to give up.

He was remarkable.

It just wasn't meant to be.

Lal?

I am unable
to correct the system failure.

I know.

We must say goodbye now.

I feel...

What do you feel, Lal?

I love you, Father.

I wish I could feel it with you.

I will feel it for both of us.

Thank you for my life.

Flirting,

laughter,

painting, family,

female,

human.

Lal suffered complete neural system
failure at 1300 hours.

I have deactivated the unit.

The crew is saddened by your loss,
Mr. Data.

I thank you for your sympathy,

but she is here.

Her presence so enriched my life

that I could not allow her
to pass into oblivion.

So I incorporated her programs
back into my own.

I have transferred
her memories to me.

Mr. Data, will you take your position?

Mr. Crusher,

lay in a course
for the starbase on Otar Il.

WESLEY:
Course is set, sir.

PICARD:
Engage.