"Time's Arrow" Line-by-Line

GUINAN: Do I know you, Mister?



[So this part always bugged me. Did that trip through time damage some of Data's circuits? How does he really think that GUINAN the ship's bartender, a BLACK ALIEN has followed him to 19th century Earth? And is holding a party?]

 

DATA: Data. Yes. We were on a ship together.

[What else would you think? She looks exactly the same as she does in the 24th century. And a black woman hosting a literary reception in 19th century America is not exactly a run of the mill event. In fact, it's so suspicious that it only makes sense that it would be "his" Guinan. Would you have super-smart Data follow this line of thinking: "I just time traveled here. Oh, there's Guinan. But it cannot be Guinan because time travel is impossible!" ???]

 

GUINAN: I do so much traveling. What ship would that be?

 

DATA: The Enterprise.

[I'd think Data would think. "Huh, this is odd. Why would Picard send back the bartender in order to recover me instead of Commander Riker, Geordi, or even himself? And if he DID send back Guinan how did she gain enough notoriety to get such an announcement in the paper with this event? I mean she'd had to have been back here for a few days for that in which time she could have easily have found me by other means. It's not logical for this woman to be the Guinan from my time. Her species IS long-lived, maybe it's possible this is the past version of her. None the less I should go investigate and I should most certainly NOT say things to suggest anything is out of the ordinary like talking about starships in front of 19th century persons.]

 

GUINAN: Is that a clipper ship?

 

DATA: It is a starship.

 

CLEMENS: A starship?! What registry would that be?

 

GUINAN: Of course! Mister Data. Excuse us. We have so much to catch up on. Excuse us. How are you?

[Garden]
GUINAN: What exactly are you?

 

DATA: Android. Artificial lifeform.

 

GUINAN: Ah. Did my father send you here? Because if he did, you must go back and tell him I've not done listening...

 

DATA: I was not sent by your father. Circumstances demand that I take you into my confidence. I require your assistance.

 

(Guinan touches his nose)
GUINAN: Sorry.

 

DATA: I am from the twenty fourth century, where you and I serve aboard a starship.

 

GUINAN: And?

 

DATA: Our ship encountered a species who appears to be threatening 19th century Earth. I investigated, and was inadvertently pulled into their temporal vortex. When I saw your photograph in the newspaper, I assumed you had joined me from the future, from the Enterprise. I knew your species was long-lived, but I did not realise you had visited Earth so long ago.

 

[a whiff of smoke and a subtle cough gives someone away, Guinan and Data stop and turn to see Samuel Clemens standing in a nearby doorway.]

CLEMENS: Eavesdropping is by no means a proper activity for a gentleman. Nonetheless, the deed is done.

 

PICARD: Captain's log, stardate 45965.3. An away team has beamed to the surface with a device which may enable them to phase-shift into the alien world.

 

[Geordi, Tori, Crusher and Worf are in the cavern setting up equipment, Troi is carrying a pattern enhancer.]

LaFORGE: Ok, counselor, right over there.

[Geordi, points to where to put the device, Troi sets it down. struggling with it somewhat.]

 

CRUSHER: The triolic waves end right here.

 

[Riker puts down another pattern enhancer]
RIKER: MR. Worf?

[Worf puts down yet another pattern enhancer. They've encircled the cavern. Picard beams in.]