''The High Ground'' - Line-by-Line

ALEXANA: My methods may seem harsh but believe me, they're gentle compared to my predecessors. Suspects would be brought into police headquarters and mysteriously vanish. I put a stop to that.

 

Riker: What happened to your predecessors?

 

Alexana: They were murdered.

 

Riker: Are you going to tell me that little boy's a threat?
(Two boys are being handcuffed)

 

Alexana: It's possible. That shuttlebus I told you about? The bomb was set by a teenager. In a world where children blow up children, everyone's a threat.

 

Infirmary:
(Jerry Se—I mean Finn is sketching while Dr. Crusher is helping her patients with the boy’s help)
Crusher: It's okay. Over there. (Dr. Crusher sees what he's drawing - her hand holding another hand) You should be drawing, not killing people.

 

FINN: I can do both.

 

Crusher: How can you have such a casual attitude toward killing?

 

FINN: I take my killing very seriously, Doctor. You are an idealist.

 

Crusher: I live in an ideal culture. There's no need for your kind of violence. We've proven that.

 

Finn: Your origins on Earth are from the American continent, are they not?

 

CRUSHER: North America.

 

Finn: Yes, I've read your history books. This is a war for independence, and I am no different than your own George Washington.

 

Crusher: Washington was a military general, not a terrorist.

 

Finn: The difference between generals and terrorists, Doctor, is only the difference between winners and losers. You win, you're called a general. You lose…

 

Crusher: You are killing innocent people! Can't you see the immorality of what you're doing or have you killed so much you've become blind to it?

 

Finn: How much innocent blood has been spilled for the cause of freedom in the history of your Federation, Doctor? How many good and noble societies have bombed civilians in war? Have wiped out whole cities? And now that you enjoy the comfort that has come from their battles, their killing, you frown on my “immorality?” I am willing to die for my freedom, Doctor. And in the finest tradition of your own great civilization, I'm willing to kill for it too.

 

[Alexana's office]

Alexana: All right. You can go.

(The suspect glares at Riker and is escorted out of the room)

 

Policeman: Next man.

 

Alexana: If you want, I could become more persuasive.