Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)
Tin Man (1990)
Harry Groener: Tam Elbrun
Photos
Quotes
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Lt. Commander Data : You said in the transporter room that you could not read my mind.
Tam Elbrun : True enough. But I think I understand you pretty well. It worries you that I can't read your mind?
Lt. Commander Data : Perhaps there is nothing to read - nothing more than mechanisms and algorithmic responses.
Tam Elbrun : Perhaps you're just different. It's not a sin, you know. Though you may have heard otherwise.
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Tam Elbrun : Beautiful creatures, the Chandrans. Their minds are glacial. They have a lovely three-day ritual for saying 'hello'.
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Tam Elbrun : Having to get to know someone - just once - has its appeal.
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Tam Elbrun : All my life I have waited for this - a chance to find peace. Finally all the voices are silent. Only Tin Man speaks to me now. Don't you see, Data? This... is where I belong.
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Tam Elbrun : All right, all right! I should've... brought up the Romulans earlier, but I was... distracted.
Tam Elbrun : [suddenly, to Riker] And no, Billy-boy, I wasn't distracted on Ghorusda. If Darson had listened to me, no one would have died!
[he is about to leave, but turns around to Riker once more]
Tam Elbrun : No? Well, I don't care whether you believe that or not!
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Tam Elbrun : [looking around Data's quarters as Data works] You do a lot of your work here?
Data : Yes. I have configured these instruments to display information with greater speed and efficiency than stations used by the others.
Tam Elbrun : Nice...
[Tam strolls through a doorway, out of sight. Data pauses to look in his general direction. Tam peeks around the jamb]
Tam Elbrun : A little Spartan.
Data : "Spartan"?
Tam Elbrun : Lots of work space; not much room to live. I don't guess you sleep.
Data : I have tried it from time to time, but you are correct, I do not require rest.
Tam Elbrun : But you paint!
[Tam lifts the tarp from a painting of a wormhole and admires it. Data briefly reacts with a hint of modest embarrassment before proceeding]
Data : The creature's anatomy appears... most peculiar.
Tam Elbrun : [pauses, as if to filter out more voices] In what way?
Data : It is indeed laid out as a vessel with what appear to be chambers and corridors. An internal environment suitable for carbon-based lifeforms is being maintained, yet there is no evidence of a crew aboard. Tin Man is a living being which has been bred, or has adapted itself to serve a purpose. I find that interesting.
Tam Elbrun : Why? Must living beings have a purpose? Or do we exist for no reason but to exist?
Data : [overwhelmed take] I do not believe I am qualified to express an opinion.
Tam Elbrun : Oh, Data, you are uniquely qualified! You think a great deal about humanity. And, you're an honest researcher. You don't treat anything as trivial or irrelevant. You want to try it all.
Data : [scrutinizing] You said in the transporter room that you could not read my mind.
Tam Elbrun : True enough, but I think I understand you pretty well.
[pause]
Tam Elbrun : It worries you that I can't read your mind?
Data : [turns attention to his displays again] Perhaps there is nothing to read. Nothing more than mechanisms and algorithmic responses.
Tam Elbrun : Perhaps... you're just different. It's not a sin, you know; though you may have heard otherwise.
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Tam Elbrun : [first meeting Data; startled] Who... What are you?
Lt. Cmdr. Data : I am Data. I am an android.
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Counselor Troi : You want them to dislike you. Why?
Tam Elbrun : Because I'm not a nice man.