Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)
The Child (1988)
Jonathan Frakes: Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
Photos
Quotes
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Lt. Commander Data : [on Troi's delivery of Ian] Thank you for allowing me to participate. It was remarkable.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [Commander Riker approaches, smiling, Troi looks to him] Were you here all along?
Commander William T. Riker : Yes. He's beautiful, Deanna. Just like his mother.
[grins, leans in and kisses Deanna's cheek]
Dr. Kate Pulaski : How do you feel?
Counselor Deanna Troi : Fine. Wonderful.
[looks to the baby in her arms, then back to Pulaski]
Counselor Deanna Troi : Thank you, Doctor, for everything.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : Amazing.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [Deanna looks back to the baby again, smiling. A tear of happiness and joy rolls down her cheek, as she sighs a deep breath]
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Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher has expressed his desire to remain on the Enterprise.
Commander William T. Riker : I see. And, how did you respond?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I haven't yet, Number One, I didn't feel it was my decision alone. His remaining, will have effects on all of us.
Commander William T. Riker : Good point, with his mother gone, who will see to his studies?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : That's true. Of course, that responsibility would fall to Commander Data.
Commander William T. Riker : And, who will tuck him in at night?
Wesley Crusher : [embarrassed] Come on, Commander!
Lieutenant Worf : [somewhat reluctant] I will accept that responsibility.
Counselor Deanna Troi : Well, we know he'll get his sleep
[looks to Worf and smiles]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [looks to Riker, put his hand on his chin in thought] You know, Number One? It seems to me that you would be best suited for these responsibilities. Are you willing to serve?
Commander William T. Riker : Difficult decision.
[Riker looks to Wesley, who looks back in quiet anticipation. Riker grins]
Commander William T. Riker : Yes, I can do that.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [looks to Wesley] Very well, Mr. Crusher, contact your mother at Starfleet Medical, give her my regards, and tell her that you have my permission to remain on the Enterprise. But
[points to Wesley]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I will abide by her wishes.
Wesley Crusher : [grins] Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir! I know she'll agree!
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Now, do you have course and speed laid in?
Wesley Crusher : Yes Sir, they are!
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Very well, Mr. Crusher. Engage.
[Wesley grins, and sets the Enterprise's next course]
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Commander William T. Riker : I don't mean to be indelicate,
[turns to Troi]
Commander William T. Riker : but who's the father?
Counselor Deanna Troi : Last night, *while I slept*, something, that I can only describe as a presence, entered my body.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : A life form of unknown origin and intent, is *breeding*, right now, inside of Counselor Troi. Our purpose here today is determine what course of action we need to take.
Lieutenant Worf : The decision is clear. The pregnancy must be terminated to protect the ship.
Commander William T. Riker : [as the bridge crew is discussing the issue, Troi hears a heartbeat within her mind, and looks down at her stomach, then back up to the conference room screen which shows a gestating fetus. The crew's voices are muffled, but can still be clearly heard as Troi is focusing on the baby growing inside her] This situation presents a danger to us and the counselor. It's an invasion, of what, I don't know.
Lt. Commander Data : Captain, this is a life form. Denying it the right to survive, takes away our opportunity to study it.
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Dr. Kate Pulaski : [Pulaski rushes in and begins to examine Ian] What happened? Did he eat anything, did he fall?
Counselor Deanna Troi : [shakes her head] No!
Lt. Commander Data : [reads the readout on his tricorder] Commander, the child is the source of the unusual radiation.
Counselor Deanna Troi : Ian said he was the reason the ship was in danger.
Lt. Commander Data : That analysis is correct.
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [continues to try to bring Ian around] I'm losing life signs.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [holds Ian's lifeless hand] You must save him!
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [Pulaski continues to work, but to no success. She runs her scanner over Ian again, then bows her head] I'm sorry.
[Troi kneels down and begins to weep over the loss of her son. Suddenly, Ian's body disappears and becomes a small, radiant star of energy. The energy star floats into Troi's open hands and Deanna cups her hands around it. Her weeping slowly subsides, then she smiles. Finally, like releasing a dove, she opens her hands and the energy star floats up and through the bulkhead into space]
Dr. Kate Pulaski : [Riker's combadge beeps]
Lieutenant Geordi La Forge : Commander, the containment field has... stabilized!
Commander William T. Riker : Thank you, Lieutenant.
Counselor Deanna Troi : Then Ian was right. He was the cause.
Commander William T. Riker : Apparently so.
Counselor Deanna Troi : [Deanna shakes her head and looks down for a moment, then looks back up at everyone] He is a life force entity. When we passed each other in space, he was curious about us, so he thought the best way to learn, was to go through the process. To be born, to live as one of us, and in that way, to understand us. He never meant any harm.
Commander William T. Riker : There was a moment, when you smiled.
Counselor Deanna Troi : He said "Thank you". I told him, we will miss him.
[looks down again]
Counselor Deanna Troi : And, I will.
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Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Counselor Deanna Troi is pregnant. She... she is going to have a baby.
Commander William T. Riker : Baby?
[everyone looks at Deanna]
Commander William T. Riker : This is a surprise.
Counselor Deanna Troi : More so for me.
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[first lines]
Enterprise Computer : Repulse shuttle has cleared Docking Bay 3.
Commander Riker : Open hailing frequencies.
Lieutenant Worf : Hailing frequencies open.
Commander Riker : Repulse, this is the Enterprise. We are getting underway.
Repulse Officer : [over communicator] Acknowledged, Enterprise. Transfer complete. Good luck on your mission.
Commander Riker : And to you.
Repulse Officer : [over communicator] Give my regards to your captain. Repulse out.
Wesley Crusher : Shuttlebay is secure, sir.
Commander Riker : Thank you, Mr Crusher. Make all preparations to get underway.