"The Offspring" Line-by-Line

LAL: Father.

 

DataL Yes, Lal. I am here.

 

PICARD: A malfunction. Emotional awareness.

 

Data: It appears to be a symptom of cascade failure. It would require initialization the base matrix without wiping out the higher functions.

 

HAFTEL: I agree. May I assist?

 

Data: Thank you, Admiral.

 

HAFTEL: If you'll excuse us, Commander Data and I have much to do.
(Data opens the top of Lal's head)

[Corridor]

(Geordi, Troi and Wesley are waiting in the corridor, like relatives during a major operation)
HAFTEL: She won't survive much longer. There was nothing anyone could have done. We'd repolarise 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.

 

Back in the lab, Data stands near Lal, who is not active.

Data: Lal?

Lal activates.

Data: I am unable to correct the system failure.

 

LAL: I know.

 

Data: We must say good-bye now.

 

LAL: I feel...

 

Data: What do you feel?

 

LAL: I love you, Father.

 

Data: 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.

 

On the bridge, Picard, Riker, Troi, La Forge, Worf, Crusher and Wesley are assembled. Data enters from the aft turbolift.

Data: Lal suffered complete neural system failure at 1300 hours. I have deactivated the unit.

 

PICARD: The crew is saddened by your loss, Mister Data.

 

Data: I thank you for your sympathy, but...

Data points to his own head.

Data: ... 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.

 

PICARD: Mister Data, will you take your position? Mister Crusher? Lay in a course for the starbase on Otar Two.

 

Data walks down to his station.

Wesley: Course is set, Sir.