Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)
A Matter of Honor (1989)
Jonathan Frakes: Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
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Quotes
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Tactics Officer : [about the two female Klingons on board the Pagh] They are inquisitive. They would like to know how you would endure.
Commander William T. Riker : Endure what?
Lt. Klag : Them.
Commander William T. Riker : [looks at the women] One or both?
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[Riker is caught off guard when offered with a dish of live gagh]
Lt. Klag : Would you like something easier?
Commander William T. Riker : Easier?
Lt. Klag : Yes. If Klingon food is too strong for you, perhaps we could get one of the females to... breast-feed you.
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Commander William T. Riker : It's been my understanding that one of the duties of the first officer of the Klingon vessel is to assassinate his captain?
Lieutenant Worf : Yes, sir.
Commander William T. Riker : Wouldn't that bring about chaos?
Lieutenant Worf : Of course not. See, when and if the captain becomes weak or unable to perform, it is expected that his honorable retirement should be assisted by his First. Your second officer will assassinate you for the same reasons.
Commander William T. Riker : That method of attrition must take a little getting used to.
Lieutenant Worf : The Klingon system has operated successfully for centuries.
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[Captain Kargan has demanded from Riker to reveal the secrets of the Enterprise to him, which Riker refuses]
Commander William T. Riker : I will obey your orders, I will serve this ship as First Officer, and, in an attack against the Enterprise, I will die with this crew, but I will not break my oath of loyalty to Starfleet.
Captain Kargan : If you had told those secrets about the Enterprise, I would have labeled you a traitor and killed you where you stood, but instead you will die with us. You'll die like a Klingon.
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[Picard and Riker discuss the possibility of sending a Starfleet officer on temporary assignment to a Klingon vessel]
Commander William T. Riker : I wouldn't mind the assignment, sir.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Any particular reason?
Commander William T. Riker : Because nobody's ever done it before.
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[after questioning Riker's status as his commanding officer, Lieutenant Klag gets a thrashing from the former]
Commander William T. Riker : My oath is between Captain Kargan and myself. Your only concern is with how you obey my orders. Or do you prefer the rank of prisoner to that of lieutenant?
Lt. Klag : [subdued] I will take your orders.
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Lt. Klag : Klingons do not express feeling the way you do.
Commander William T. Riker : Perhaps you should.
Lt. Klag : We would not know how.
Commander William T. Riker : Yesterday I did not know how to eat gagh.
[he takes a mouthful of that dish]
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[Captain Kargan intends to attack the Enterprise]
Commander William T. Riker : I recommend you don't fire until you're within 40,000 kilometers.
Lt. Klag : Why?
Commander William T. Riker : It will cut down their response time.
Lt. Klag : You are honoring your promise to serve us?
Commander William T. Riker : Would you do less?
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Captain Kargan : You should have killed me.
Commander William T. Riker : I don't want your command.
Captain Kargan : But you tricked me to get it.
Commander William T. Riker : Either way you can have it back.
Captain Kargan : ...Then return to your station.
[Riker glances a Klag and stays where he is. Kargan hits him. Klag checks on Riker]
Captain Kargan : Get him off my ship!
Lt. Klag : Yes, Captain.
[to Riker]
Lt. Klag : You understand the Klingons better than I thought, Commander.
Commander William T. Riker : Thank you, my friend.
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Lt. Klag : My father was captured in battle by Romulans and not allowed to die. He eventually escaped.
Commander William T. Riker : Where is he now?
Lt. Klag : He is on our planet. He waits.
[Riker looks quizzically at the Tactics Officer]
Tactics Officer : He waits for his death.
Lt. Klag : He will eventually fade of a natural illness and die, weakened and useless. Honorless. I will not see him.
Commander William T. Riker : He's your father!
Lt. Klag : A Klingon is his work, not his family. That is the way of things.
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[Riker has returned from the Pagh]
Commander William T. Riker : That might've been one of the shortest assignments in the history of Starfleet.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Wrong, Number One. It was almost the longest. Well done.
Commander William T. Riker : Thank you. Actually, I learned quite a bit.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [referring to Riker's battered face] Apparently not when to duck.
Commander William T. Riker : When *not* to duck would be more accurate.
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Commander William T. Riker : [presenting himself to Captain Kargan] Commander William Riker of the Starship Enterprise.
Captain Kargan : That is incorrect.
Commander William T. Riker : I don't understand.
Captain Kargan : You are Commander William Riker, First Officer of the Klingon cruiser the Pagh.
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Commander William T. Riker : It is different.
Lieutenant Worf : Many things will be different.
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Doctor Pulaski : I've never heard of a Klingon starving to death on his own vessel, but you might.
Commander William T. Riker : Not if I weaken first.
Doctor Pulaski : I know all about that. Their beliefs are rather brutal, but usually, what kills us kills them.
Commander William T. Riker : Well, that's certainly good to know.
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Captain Kargan : Exactly where are your loyalties, Commander?
Commander William T. Riker : I'm afraid I still don't understand, sir.
Captain Kargan : This ship is equipped with our best weapons and our finest warriors. Although we're on a peaceful mission, we're ready to go into battle instantly. I know I can count on every Klingon warrior in this crew to serve and die in that battle. So I ask you again, Commander Riker: where are your loyalties?
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[Riker is in the Klingon Mess Hall, eating with about a dozen Klingons]
Tactics Officer : Commander, you're not eating very much.
Cmdr. William Riker : I'm not that hungry.
Second Officer Klag : Is the food all right, Commander?
Cmdr. William Riker : It's delicious. The pipius claw was excellent. I also enjoyed this bregitlung.
Vekma : And the rokeg blood pie?
Cmdr. William Riker : Delicious.
Second Officer Klag : Good. Then you'll also enjoy this.
[Klag passes Riker a bowl of live worms]
Cmdr. William Riker : Isn't that gagh?
Second Officer Klag : Very good. You did some research on our nutritional choices.
Cmdr. William Riker : Yes, but...
[Riker looks at the moving worms]
Cmdr. William Riker : *sigh* it's still moving.
Second Officer Klag : [incredulous] Gagh is always best when served live.
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Commander William T. Riker : After this tour, I may have some worthy questions.
Lt. Klag : Questions about what? About our future? Our future is honor. Our present is serving this ship.
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[last lines]
Commander William T. Riker : You come from a very brave and unique people. I'm glad you're with us on the Enterprise.
Lieutenant Worf : Thank you, Commander. And... welcome home.
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Cmdr. William Riker : Enterprise, this is Captain William Riker of the Klingon ship Pagh. I order you to lower your shields and surrender.