Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The Measure of a Man (1989)

Amanda McBroom: JAG Capt. Phillipa Louvois

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Quotes 

• Captain Phillipa Louvois : It sits there looking at me; and I don't know what it is. This case has dealt with metaphysics - with questions best left to saints and philosophers. I am neither competent nor qualified to answer those. But I've got to make a ruling, to try to speak to the future. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have all been dancing around the basic issue: does Data have a soul? I don't know that he has. I don't know that I have. But I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lieutenant Commander Data has the freedom to choose.

• Capt. Picard : Phillipa Louvois. And back in uniform. It's been ten years, but seeing you again like this makes it seem like fifty. If we weren't around all these people, do you know what I would like to do?

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : Bust a chair across my teeth.

  Capt. Picard : After that.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : Oh, ain't love wonderful?

• Captain Phillipa Louvois : [to Picard]  You know, I never thought I would say this - but it's good to see you again. It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass... And a damned sexy man.

• Captain Phillipa Louvois : Overt sentimentality is not one of Captain Picard's failings. Trust me, I know.

• Capt. Picard : I need your help.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : An historic moment.

• Captain Phillipa Louvois : I'm glad you felt you could... well, come to me.

  Capt. Picard : The word 'trust' just isn't in your vocabulary, is it? Good try, nine out of ten for effort!

• Commander Bruce Maddox : [of Data]  He is remarkable.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : You didn't call him 'it'.

• Captain Phillipa Louvois : I can use serving officers as legal counsel. You, as the senior officer, would defend.

  Capt. Picard : Very good.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : And the unenviable task of prosecuting this case would fall on you, Commander, as the next most senior officer of the defendant's ship.

  Commander William T. Riker : I can't. I won't. Data's my comrade. We have served together. I not only respect him, I consider him my friend.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : When people of good conscience have an honest dispute, we must still sometimes resort to this kind of adversarial system.

  Commander William T. Riker : You just want me to prove that Data is a mere machine. I can't do that, because I don't believe it. I happen to know better, so I am neither qualified nor willing. You're going to have to find someone else.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : Then I will rule summarily based on my findings. Data is a toaster. Have him report immediately to Commander Maddox for experimental refit.

• [Riker has reluctantly agreed to function as prosecutor] 

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : And I expect you to do your duty in that courtroom. If I find for one minute that you are not doing your best, I will end this then and there!

  Capt. Picard : You don't have to remind us of our duty. You just... just remember yours.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : I have never forgotten it - not then, and certainly not now.

• Capt. Picard : Captain's Log, Supplemental: Commander Bruce Maddox, having been thwarted by Data's abrupt resignation, is now seeking a legal remedy for his woes. Captain Louvois has requested my presence at those discussions.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [the tone of his voice is heightened with disgust and anger]  Your response is emotional and irrational.

  Capt. Picard : [Seething with anger and hostility]  Irrational?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : You are endowing Data with human characteristics because it looks human, but it is not. If if it were a box on wheels, I would not be facing this opposition.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : [Immediately amused by Maddox's analogy of Data]  Overt sentimentality is not one of Captain Picard's failings. Trust me, I know.

  Capt. Picard : [Looks at Captain Louvois with a gaze of disappointment and disapproval and then turns his eyes back to Maddox]  I will tell you again. Data is a valued member of my crew. He's an outstanding Bridge Officer.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [speaks to Picard with a slight ease]  If I am permitted to make this experiment, the horizons for human achievement become boundless.

  [Walks to Captain Louvois] 

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Consider, every ship in Starfleet with a Data on board. Utilizing its extraordinary capabilities, acting as our hands and eyes in dangerous situations.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : Look, you're preaching to the choir here. Why don't you get to the point?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Data must not be permitted to resign.

  Capt. Picard : [a fuming Picard walks over to Maddox and close to Louvois]  Data is a Starfleet Officer. He still has certain rights.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Rights, rights! I'm sick to death of hearing about rights! What about my right not to have my work subverted by blind ignorance?

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : We have rule of law in this Federation. You cannot seize people and experiment with them to prove your pet theories.

  Capt. Picard : [Relieved that she said that]  Thank you.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [Anger now directed at Louvois]  Now you're doing it. Data is an extraordinary piece of engineering but it is a machine.

  [Sees Louvois sighing with disgust] 

  Commander Bruce Maddox : If you permit it to resign it will destroy years of work in robotics. Starfleet does not have to allow the resignation.

  Capt. Picard : [Has just lost all patience with Maddox]  Commander, who do you think you're working for? Starfleet is not an organization that ignores its own regulations when they become inconvenient. Whether you like it or not Data does have rights.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [speaks calmly]  Let me put it another way. Would you permit the computer of the Enterprise to refuse a refit?

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : [Walks toward her desk, mulling over his logical statement]  That's an interesting point. But the Enterprise computer is property. Is Data?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Of course.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : [sighing]  There may be law to support this position.

  Capt. Picard : [Walks to Louvois, keeping his eyes locked on hers]  Then find it. A ruling with such broad-ranging implications must be supported. Phillipa... I hope you will use the same zeal that you did in the Stargazer court-martial.

  [a silent Captain Phillipa Louvois' eyes are locked with Picard's]