Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The Outcast (1992)

Jonathan Frakes: Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

Photos 

Quotes 

• Soren : My parents were pilots. I was flying with them before I could walk. As soon as I was old enough, I entered flight school. Krite was my instructor.

  Commander William T. Riker : He had a good student.

  Soren : "He"? Commander, there are no he's or she's in a species without gender.

  Commander William T. Riker : Okay. For two days, I've been trying to construct sentences without personal pronouns. Now I give up. What should I use, 'it'? To us, that's rude.

• Commander William T. Riker : [about split pea soup]  It's very healthy. Helps to keep you warm on cold Alaskan nights.

  Soren : We prefer to stay warm by sleeping with a friend.

  Commander William T. Riker : I see...

  Soren : Not to mate. Just to sleep together - for warmth.

  Commander William T. Riker : It still sounds better than pea soup.

• [Soren has asked what kind of women Human males prefer] 

  Commander William T. Riker : Some like quiet, demure women; others prefer a lot of energy. Some only respond to... physical attractiveness; others couldn't care less. There're no rules.

  Soren : You make it sound very complex.

  Commander William T. Riker : Believe me, it is.

  Soren : Well, perhaps it is that complexity... which makes the differences in the sexes so... interesting.

• Soren : The idea of gender - it is offensive to my people. You see, long ago, we had two sexes, as you do. But we evolved into a higher form. I don't mean to sound insulting; but on my planet, we have been taught that gender is... primitive.

  Commander William T. Riker : "Primitive"?

  Soren : Less evolved.

  Commander William T. Riker : Maybe so. But sometimes, there's a lot to be said for an experience that's "primitive".

• Soren : Tell me about males. What is it makes you different from females?

  [Riker ponders on this] 

  Commander William T. Riker : Snips and snails and puppy dog tails...

  Soren : You have a dog's tail?

• [Riker is protesting against the psychotectic therapy Soren is to undergo] 

  Commander William T. Riker : Did it occur to you that she might like to stay the way she is?

  Noor : No, you don't understand. We have a very high success rate in treating deviants like this, and, without exception, they become happier people after their treatment, and grateful - that we care enough to cure them. You see, Commander, on this world, everyone *wants* to be normal.

  Commander William T. Riker : She is!

• [Troi is looking at some old photos and other things of one of her father's ancestors] 

  Counselor Deanna Troi : I look at these faces and... I wonder who they are and if they could be related to me.

  Commander William T. Riker : [holds up a teddy bear]  This one looks like you.

• Commander William T. Riker : Soren... I love you.

  Soren : I'm sorry.