- Commander William T. Riker: My mother died when I was a baby. All I had was pictures and the stories that my father used to tell me about her. I begged him to tell those stories over and over. When I was five and I went to school, I started to tell my new friends those same stories, pretending that she was alive. Then I started believing that she was alive, that she had just gone away, but that she was coming back. The teacher got wind of this. She and my father had this talk with me. They told me it was important to accept the fact that my mother was dead and that she wasn't coming back and all the hoping in the world wouldn't make it so. In my mind, that was the day that my mother actually died. I cried all that night, but after that, it started feeling better.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: I was just passing by. I was wondering what you were up to.
- Lt. Commander Data: [sitting in front of a screen] I am using the time to catch up on my study of poetry.
- [La Forge walks round to take a look]
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Data, there's nothing on the screen.
- Lt. Commander Data: That is not entirely correct. While it is true the display is currently blank, this... emptiness has a poetic meaning. Therefore, it cannot be considered 'nothing' as such.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Says who?
- Lt. Commander Data: The ancient Doosodarians. Much of their poetry contains such lacunae or empty spaces. Often, these pauses measured several days in length, during which poet and audience were encouraged to fully acknowledge the emptiness of the experience.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: I remember a few lectures from Starfleet Academy that seemed that way.
- [last lines]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Geordi... I'm very sorry that you didn't find your mother.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Thank you, sir. You know, it's funny. When I was down there... it was so real. I felt like I had a chance to say goodbye.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: I'm seeing my reflection in a panel. Forgot what a handsome guy I am.
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: The Hera is missing. That's all. Until I hear something different, my mother just might as well have taken the crew on an unscheduled holiday.
- [first lines]
- Commander William T. Riker: [unseen] Geordi, have you found it yet?
- Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge: Not yet. I'm starting to get some fumes. Ammonia, chlorine, potassium chloride.