884 – Pocket Full of Stuffing

EPISODE 883 – Bore via Datalore – Snore Trek TNG

 

[START OF RECORDING]

SCOOTER: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and friends beyond the binary, and my patron peeps, it’s time to sleep.  Thanks for making it possible, my patron peeps.

 

Hey everybody, it’s Scoots.  A lot of these episodes were recorded a few months ago, so before we get to the Sleepy Supporter Zone, I just wanted to check in with you and let you know the podcast is gonna be here twice a week for you on a regular Sunday – Wednesday schedule.  Daytime or nighttime, whenever you need it, you could call it up if you need a break or you need some rest.  But you might be out there and you might need something more so I’m gonna have links to support and I’m gonna be collecting new links and stuff.  Right now, I’m gonna put ‘em in the show notes so if you find that you need to reach out somewhere for help, I’ll have links to different places you could do that.  As I hear about more and more resources, I’ll try to build a page or something for that but for now, they’ll be in the show notes ‘cause the podcast is here for you to…to support you and take your mind off of stuff but if you need more support, it’s out there for you.  So please, please reach out and use those links if you need them.  If you know of any other resources, let me know.  Thanks so much.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing, trouble getting to sleep?  Trouble staying asleep?  Well, welcome.  This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep.  We do it with a bedtime story.  Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press play.  I’m gonna do the rest.  What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake, whether that’s thoughts, things you’re thinking about, things on your mind about the past, the present, or the future, or just…you say, just thoughts coming up.  Could be deep thoughts or shallow thoughts.  I don’t know if I’ve ever talked about deep or shallow thoughts.  Sorry thoughts; I didn’t mean to call you shallow, though I love…by the way, I love shallow water.  So, thoughts, physical sensations, so anything coming up for you physically or feelings, anything emotionally coming up for you that might be getting in the way of sleep.

 

It could be something else or, no offense, but somebody else who’s snoring or tossing and turning or messing with the temperature in your room or home.  Now we’re rolling our eyes and sighing at them.  Maybe you’re looking at them in a way that’s both loving and in a way that’s…well, I’m here to help with that.  But it could be travel, temperature, changes in routine.  Holy, changes in routine.  I don’t know, maybe I wouldn’t…shouldn’t say holy changes in routine ‘cause you’d say is that where your beliefs…I say no, I wish my belief system said well, let’s celebrate these changes in routine.  They offer us a learning opportunity for…I’d say well, you know what caused…you know what keeps me up tossing and turning?  Learning opportunities and growth opportunities.  I’d say Carol Dweck…could I…they say no coffee after noon, or 1:00 p.m. or whatever.  I’d say no Carol Dweck after 2:00 p.m.  I’d like to put a stop to my growth mindset about 2:00 p.m. if at all…I’d like to…I move into a fixed mindset around 4:00 p.m. and hopefully I’m fixing…first, I’m fixing my dinner, then I’m fixing to relax, and then I’m fixing to get some sleep.

 

But you might be wondering what am I talking about?  Well yeah, I’m here to take your mind off of that.  What I’m gonna do is, I’m trying to create a safe place, a little bit of a ridiculous place where you could set aside that stuff, like I said.  I’ll send my voice across the deep, dark night.  I’ll use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless…those are creaky, dulcet tones like a creaky door mixed with something sweet.  Like, if your favorite door was creaky and it was always creaky, it would be…that’s a creaky, dulcet door.  That was also a clone, the creaky, dulcet door collection by Dior.  No one ordered that so it did not work out for me or, you know, Dior.  That was Christina Dior, not Christian.  But we’re no longer in business together ‘cause they said I knew that was bad.  I said well, you didn’t think a creaky…this seasonally…I smell like the seasonal scent of a creaky, dulcet door.  Oh, what was I talking about, though?  Oh, send my voice across the deep, dark night, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders; you already got a few.

 

Superfluous tangents, extra words, a lot of nonsense.  If you’re new, I want to give you some information right away ‘cause I always forget and then I go off-topic and I’m…but so, if you’re new, I’m glad you’re here.  If you’re skeptical or doubtful, you’re probably…I agree with you ‘cause I would be skeptical or doubtful or confused or off-put or maybe a little bit flustered.  Those are all natural reactions to this podcast, so I want to acknowledge that, as most…that’s how most people feel when they first start listening.  A couple things to know; one, kind of see how it goes.  Most listeners, it takes two or three tries to get used to the podcast if they stick around.  But it does work for a lot of people, so see how it goes.  But before you say well, I’m not so sure about that, I say okay, totally understand that; you’re not ready to see how it goes.  Let me give you information on starting out.  If you’re gonna listen to this podcast, just barely listen to it.  You might say what do you mean?

 

I say well, kind of don’t pay super-close attention.  You can, but if you’re trying to figure out when am I gonna put you to sleep or how I’m gonna do it or when I’m gonna get started doing it, I already got…here’s a hint; I already got started doing it ‘cause I’m more here to take your mind off stuff and keep you company than to put you to sleep.  But also, I found that when people try to look at the podcast, they’re looking for something that makes sense.  Oh boy, the only sense I make are ones that don’t…that Christina Dior tried to sell and didn’t work out.  There won’t be a lot of making sense here.  There’ll be making up sense but it’s mostly nonsense, as I already said.  Try to approach the podcast in a loose way.  You don’t have to approach it in a friendly way, like a loose friendly way.  You could say well, like I said, keep me at a safe distance and see how it goes.  One, this is a podcast you don’t really need to pay attention to and you don’t need to listen to.

 

The other thing is, there’s no pressure to fall asleep.  These shows are about an hour, so you have plenty of time to fall asleep.  I’m more…keep you company as you drift off than put you to sleep.  If you can’t sleep, you’re very important to me.  If you’re awake or if you need the show or you need eight episodes tonight, I’m here for you.  That’s why I make the show, to keep you company.  If you can’t sleep, I’m here, but also in the sense that that works if you’re asleep, I’m still here for you even though you’re asleep.  That’s great for both of us because I get to be here doing my job and keeping you company while you drift off.  Okay, so those are two things to know.  Oh, then structurally, that’s the other thing that throws new listeners off.  The only kind of thing I can do is give you a heads up.  It still might throw you off and this is a podcast…you don’t have to like it.  It’s optional.  I hope it works for you but even for the people it works for, some of those people, they still don’t exactly like the podcast.  But I hope it works for you and I hope you kind of enjoy it.

 

I forgot what my point was.  Oh, structurally, oh, so this can throw people off.  So, the show…this is the structure of the show and then I’ll go into some specifics.  The show starts off with business.  The show starts off with a teaser, a greeting, then business.  The business and then an intro, then business, and then I’ll talk about Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Doesn’t matter if you…well, I’ll go into the details, and then some thank yous.  The reason the podcast is structured that way is there’s business at the beginning.  That helps us keep the podcast free for everybody.  So, not super important if you’re new.  Then there’s business between the intro and the episode because that’s just…some people like their business there.  Because you say well, why would it be after the intro?  I say well…and then some people say okay, tell me about the intro.  I say well, the intro’s around twelve to fourteen to sixteen to eighteen to nineteen to seventeen, fifteen, thirteen…occasionally eleven minutes of me introducing the podcast.

 

If you’re thinking about it logically, you say wait a second, it takes you eleven to thirteen to twelve to fourteen to fifteen or seventeen or sixteen or eighteen or nineteen minutes to introduce a sleep podcast?  Shouldn’t you just say Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep?  Tonight, we’re talking about Star Trek and the move on?  To put me to sleep?  I’d say well, that’s a legitimate thing.  I do really wish that it worked that well, that I could just do a one-minute intro and then talk about Star Trek: The Next Generation.  For about 2% of listeners, it does work that well.  They [00:10:00] skip ahead and they start the show at about twenty minutes but for most listeners and for myself, I need a bedtime routine and a wind-down routine.  The intro, it serves two purposes; it introduces the new listeners to the show and for the regular listeners, it’s new every time and it becomes part of their wind-down routine.  It gives you time to ease into bedtime.

 

Some listeners may fall asleep but most listeners are either getting ready for bed, they started playing before they get in bed, or they’re get…they just got in bed and they’re getting comfortable.  They’ve been in there, whatever, six or seven minutes now; what up?  The bed’s starting to get warm finally, huh?  The intro is…you could say it’s long and drawn out and I would say well, more like long and scribbled out, but yeah, it’s just…the whole purpose is to ease you into bedtime.  I don’t know…’cause that…the intro’s one of the things people feel strong…that the podcast doesn’t work for, feels strongest about.  That and the business, and the business is kind of unavoidable ‘cause I want the podcast to be free, but then the intro, it does serve a purpose for most listeners and then it’s easy to skip, or patrons just listen…some patrons just listen to story-only episodes.  But really, if you become a regular listener, the most listeners are fans of the intro because they…that’s the part of the show they hear which I guess is ironic because I put way more work into the story portion of the show.

 

But I think the work I put in the show is what enables you not to have to listen to it.  That’ll be the intro, then there’s business, then I’ll talk about Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Now, a couple things; if you don’t watch the show, don’t worry.  It’ll be soothing and sleepy like a bedtime story.  If you’re a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, you don’t necessarily need to worry about it either ‘cause it won’t make…you’ll say I don’t think that was an episode, Scoots.  I don’t remember any of that happening.  I say well, it’s my interpretation of it.  Either way, you’re covered.  You say well, one day I’m gonna watch all…I say well, again…you say, I thought Scoots talked about this episode.  I don’t remember any balloon animals.  That’s the structure of the show.  Those are the things, if you’re new, that you’d need most…that I…I don’t know, that I want you to know about.  Then I was thinking at the beginning, I was talking about shallow thoughts and deep thoughts, right?

 

I just thought of this ‘cause I said wait a second; okay, so not many times you say…that deep thoughts have a negative connotation, unless it’s like you’re…I don’t know how many people have kids in their lives but children from the age of like, ten to forty-five, they’ve been known to do some deep thinking in a room where you might want to also use it to go to the restroom.  Then you might say can you finish up with those deep thoughts in there, please?  I gotta get in there and…that’s the only time that deep…people say wow, you and your deep thinking.  Or they say what are you doing, sitting around there thinking about deep space, or…?  There’s not many times people say that, but shallow thoughts, they really…you say, a shallow thought; you’d say well, how’s my hair?  You say oh boy, you and your shallow thoughts.  I’d say wait a second, you can read my mind?  You knew I was thinking about my hair?  They’d say well, ‘cause your thoughts were so shallow, your mind’s easy to read with those shallow thoughts.

 

But how come shallow…here’s the…’cause I said it, I said…I thought it.  When you think about shallow water, it’s almost like the opposite.  Like, deep water, you associate it with being cold, maybe having too many fish.  But shallow water, I’ll tell you what; put me in some shallow water at a beach where I could see my…put my feet in and see my feet, maybe one or two minnows, and it’s warm.  Holy shallow water.  Sometimes shallow thoughts, you really need ‘em.  You say well, they don’t evolve any deep stuff.  They don’t have to be narcissistic.  Or, you don’t have to use that word, right?  You say well, I was just thinking about bubblegum.  I guess that’s a shallow thought, chewing it.  I don’t know what other shallow thoughts…’cause I don’t want to say something’s a shallow thought; it might be a deep thought.  One person’s shallow thought is another person’s think-piece.  But I think we could all agree…I’m just trying to think of who would object to shallow water.

 

Obviously, a ship, big ships, I’d say well, we can’t even get in there.  Or sea beings that need deep water.  You say well, shallow water, it’s good for your ankles, sometimes it’s good to sit down in.  I’m talking about Hollywood water, by the way, not normal, everyday water.  You might say well Scoots, I’m picturing…I say no, no, this is only Hollywood water.  The Hollywood is…I’m leaning into the Hollywoodization of shallow water.  Yeah, the one with the sunlight filtering through, sandy bottom, the…holy cow.  I mean yeah, if you have shallow water with M-U-C-K on the bottom, that’s a different story.  But I’m here to glorify the…what’s already been glorified in a…’cause I’m just here to be shallow.  I’m talking shallow…Shallow Cast, we’re talking shallow…the shallow water cast.  The Shallow episode.  Just talking to you about how great it is, how pretty it is, but those are deep things at the same time.  But not in this case, you say.  I mean, to the minnow in there, they say well this…what do you mean this is shallow water?

 

It’s the perfect temperature, this is my home until I go over there, and then that’s my home.  Then you don’t even see me after dark.  You don’t know where I am.  But really, I’m still in the shallow water, cruising around.  Where do you sleep?  In the shallow water somewhere.  Okay, well, that’s good to know.  I don’t know, that was just something I was thinking about.  One of my shallow thoughts; I said how come shallow water does not get the credit…well, I guess it’s not transferable.  You say well, shallow thoughts…Scoots, I don’t know if you know this, but different words have different meaning.  I say whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone.  Does this mean everything I learned with Latin prefixes and those kind of things, should I throw all that out the window?  Well Scoots, shallow is actually a word; it’s not a prefix.  Are those called prefixes or is somebody gonna e-mail me and they no, no, that’s not what it’s called.  I don’t know ‘cause I’m within your brain.

 

But I’m just telling you shallow water and shallow thoughts; those are two different things.  Kind of, though, but isn’t…can you agree with me that shallow water’s pretty darn great?  So why wouldn’t shallow thoughts at least be pretty okay?  Can you give me an example, Scoots?  Okay, let’s say you look at the blue sky.  You don’t…and you’re like me, you know nothing…you’ve learned about clouds and blue…that there’s water vapor or something or it’s that you can’t see space ‘cause of whatever.  But you really don’t know anything.  You say darn, that sky looks good.  It’s pretty, pretty blue except for the wispy clouds.  Oh boy, that’s nice.  Isn’t that a good, shallow thought to have?  Or what about the wind?  You say oof, that wind, it’s a little chilly but it feels…okay, I know I have to work on expanding my vocabulary but you say oh boy, this feels nice.  Oshkosh b’gosh, that wind in my hair.  That’s a summer breeze even though it’s spring, you know what I’m saying?  Yeah, I guess so.

 

Alright, well, good talking to you.  Yeah, great talking to you.  I’ll see you in a…right in your brain right now.  Alright, go ahead, go up there; I gotta finish this intro.  I think that’s it, whether you have…like, I’m here to take your mind off of any thoughts or feelings or physical sensations.  I’m here to keep you company.  I make this show because I’ve been there and I know how it feels waking up early, tossing and turning, mind racing, trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep; I’ve had it all.  I think it’s important.  I don’t think, I know you deserve a good night’s sleep and I’m here to try to help if I can.  I really appreciate you checking this show out, giving me your time.  I work very hard; I yearn and I strive to help you fall asleep and here’s a couple ways we’re able to keep the show free for you and everybody else listening.  Thanks.

 

Alright, hey everybody, it’s Scooter here and we’re talking about sleeping with TNG, season one, Episode 12, Datalore.  Now, this is the first Lore episode on TNG; it was my second Lore episode.  I’m not sure if the first Lore episode came out or it’s recorded and it hasn’t come out and I’ll switch the order, so I don’t know what order you’ll be hearing this in, but get a little bit…actually, a lot of Data backstory.  You do have to remember that this is season one, so there is a lot of [00:20:00] exposition.  It’s cool for me to go back to it ‘cause there’s so many…I’ve seen so many…this is my first time seeing the episode…the first time I watched it.  I mean, now I’ve seen it like, six times.  But it was…what was I trying to say?  I have no idea now.  Oh, it was just fun to see all the stuff about Noonian Soong that was fresh information to the audience and the Enterprise crew that I had already known.  I don’t know, it’s fun to consume exposition out of order.  It’s very expository and informed and fun.

 

I don’t know, as a person that makes stuff…I don’t know how many other shows are…you could just watch totally out of order in the random way I’ve been watching TNG.  I started my TNG consumption with Max from Cards, his blog post.  This episode and another episode, my friend Lauren from This is Love podcast and another podcast that rhymes with minimal, with Phoebe, she was re-watching season one of TNG and kind of giving me some reports.  I watched Episode 12.  At first, I watched Episode…I can’t remember the other one I watched.  Anyway, that’s where we’re at, is Datalore which…it’s one word, Datalore.  It opens captain log 41242.4; last assignment, we’re going into Omicron Theta star system, home of android crew member Lieutenant Commander Data, doing our next assignment.  But I wanted to stop and see Data’s home planet.  Why?  For a few hours in the hopes of unraveling some of the mysteries of his beginnings.

 

That doesn’t really give us…what drives the mystery?  Oh, I guess their mission, yeah.  That does make sense.  I didn’t realize…I didn’t read that until now, but it does subtextually kind of guide the theme of the episode.  Wesley is on the bridge and so, he’s already progressed to bridge.  But I said what’s with his uniform?  Then Picard says yo, where’s Data at?  We’re getting ready to go to his house, we’ll be there in twenty minutes, shorty says; twenty minutes out.  Coming out of warp, standard parking orbit.  Oh, Riker’s one…Picard says yeah, Data wanted to be alone with his thoughts.  Maybe it’s a big moment for him.  Then we go back to Data.  We see he has triangle sideburns which later in the episode, I realized that Riker also…I don’t know…I don’t think that was a thing at the time.  You say, that’s pointed, the thing you’re doing with your sideburns.  But Data’s practicing sneezing in a very a-choo thing.  Also, a question came up for me that I don’t think I’ll research the answer; why does Data have a mirror?

 

Again, when you think about this thematically, who would be more concerned with their image, right, of their appearance?  What is that ever called when you think about your appearance, but not…I don’t know.  Would it be Data or Lore?  ‘Cause I mean, I guess you have…when…if Data’s an android, wouldn’t he be able to just do a scan and be like, shirt’s tucked in.  I don’t think he has to check his nose for anything.  I don’t know if he…I don’t think he gets food on his face.  But it just made me think of it ‘cause he’s practicing in a mirror.  But of course, for this episode, mirror images are important.  I don’t know.  Also, the word agog gets used.  Wesley comes, doesn’t ring the doorbell.  Come on, Wesley…or knock.  You could see how much Wesley loves Data, like really.  Let’s see, you get a couple of glimpses of Data’s room.  I don’t know if this is his office, though.  But Wesley says what are you doing?  Data says, practicing sneezing, what does it look like I’m doing?

 

Oh, they talk about colds which was in the past; no longer.  ‘Cause Data says well, people still sneeze for other reasons other than things we’ve gotten rid of.  Wesley says why are you practicing that now?  We’re going to your planet.  Are you worried or something?  He goes no, I’m fascinated, interested, agog.  That’s when agog gets used.  But I also find sneezing interesting.  Again, Spiner really gets to ham it up on this episode in a good way.  Captain wants you at the bridge.  Tasha Yar’s on the bridge.  She says, no vegetation; nothing on this planet.  You get a lot of soaring music.  They say Data, you want to take it into orbit?  He goes nah, no thank you, when he comes onto the bridge with Wesley.  Then Data looks at the planet.  At first, he kind of seems stunned.  This is around two minutes into the episode, and then he kind of seems unsure.  There’s a lot on his face.  I’m watching it now.  He kind of looks awkward, then everybody looks at him.  Great acting; they get into orbit.

 

Riker really stares Data down.  Then there’s a lot of exposition about memories; sweet memories, home sweet home.  Do you have any memories of home, Data?  Riker asks.  Well, kind of.  I had science memories.  Picard says how can you hold the memories of 411 people all…and things, and every moment of their lives?  Data goes, that’s not how it works.  I only have their accumulated knowledge.  I’m deficient in basic human information, like sneezing.  That cracks Riker up.  Then they say alright, get parking.  Riker, get ready for your away team.  Riker starts pointing at people.  Won’t be the last time in this episode he points at people.  Say jeez, too bad I can’t come with me, Picard.  But he says well, Number One’s gotta be responsible.  Then Picard says Mr. Data, welcome home.  Data just nods.  The away crew’s Geordi, Yar, Riker, and Worf.  Then we open, then we got the first officer’s log which kind of is out of order because they haven’t landed yet.

 

But the first officer’s log says yeah, nothing here, not even vegetation, nothing.  Not even soil stuff.  What could have happened?  A desert planet, almost.  They all phase in, then they run the scans so that we knew okay, once again, nothing’s living here.  Once a farmland, now a dust bowl.  They say Data, is this the right place?  He says topographically, contour-wise, this is the area.  Then they say jeesh…do a little exposition.  Geordi says this happened like, twenty, thirty years ago.  Data says well, I got found twenty-six years ago.  Geordi says this must have started right around the time they found you.  Data goes, let’s go twenty meters that way.  They see the stairs…season one, I think particularly features this very…this music I enjoy.  Slightly distracting; I don’t know if that’s just the mix or the elements of it but I do enjoy it.  Some wind chimes mixed in with the music.  They get down to Data’s stone…concrete bed.  It’s out in the open.

 

Data says yeah, I was covered in a layer of dust when they found me.  I think that’s what he says.  Something about a layer of dust.  Oh yeah, Tasha says you were just out here in the open, like nothing?  He says yep, only a layer of dust.  What’s the first thing you remember, Data?  Opening my eyes to the triple-E landing party.  They said there’s some signal device that saw…that sensed him nearby and turned me on.  Tasha loves it; she goes, this is the spot of your birthplace.  Then Geordi’s sleuthing around.  Somehow, he figures out there’s a secret door.  I mean, I said holy Watson.  Watson’s pulling a Holmes, here.  He did use some deduction ‘cause…saying well, this is…I think this is…was their intent.  He opens the door, more music.  They go into a cave.  Then it’s a complete base in there.  Also, Data talks about jeez, the humans were probably storing info in me.  No readings…there’s a long hall.  There’s like, good lighting.  I said well, is this the imitation of natural light or natural light?

 

I mean, it makes the cast looks good but I said if you lived in the base, this would be good.  Then they go through a circle door…open, they go into a lab.  There’s this Indiana Jones music now, really re-listened to it.  It’s just like if Indiana Jones was discovering some treasures.  They say oh, this is treasure-discovering music.  We see neon tubes.  This is a well-equipped lab.  I gotta pause it coming up here ‘cause there’s some kids’ pictures I wanted to pause it on.  What else do we need to know while this is going?  Oh, this episode came out in 1987 which is quite a long time ago.  Some might even say [00:30:00] twenty, thirty…thirty-something…thirty-three years or something.  Yeah, we see the lab, everybody walks in.  I guess with the scanners, you say what are they doing?  But I guess ‘cause they have the scanners, they know everything’s fine.  ‘Cause I wouldn’t just be walking into…I guess I’ve watched one too many movies, myself.

 

Data remembers some of his functions being tested in the lab.  Okay, here’s the kids’ pictures.  Let’s wait for the zoom.  Posted by proud parents…nine minutes…four kids’ pictures of a crystal thing.  Oh boy, they actually…9:35 is a closeup.  There’s different versions of it but the one on the top-right is my favorite by far, but I guess it’s the most well-drawn.  It’s different than the other three.  The other three are very similar, though the top-left one also has some good details.  But Riker clearly likes the bottom-right one.  That’s the only one that’s signed by Josh M.  Yeah, you want more details?  The bottom two by Josh M. and another child that didn’t put their name on their paper, probably ‘cause they were just doing it for fun, those are on a light…a mint green-colored paper.  Both of them are…have the crystalline entity.  They have the land…like, ground, and then the crystal entity in the sky.  Then people running around saying oh, are there crystals?

 

Never seen a crystal before, a giant crystal in the sky.  The one on the left does not feature very much color; kind of done in a brown.  It might have some blues.  Then the one by Josh M. is mostly brown.  It has some stars either in the sky or coming off the crystal entity, some rock details on the ground, and then two red people and a blue person running, saying oh boy, look at that crystal entity.  Then on the top-left is a picture done on sky blue paper.  That one has ground, also has a couple rocks.  It has some stars or some crystals…oh no wait, that one is done by somebody.  Can I zoom in?  No.  That’s also by…maybe Josh’s brother.  Looks like Jeff or Jaff M. or J, J-A-E-M, I think.  Or hi, I guess you’d say.  But that one is…has a lot of people jumping for joy and saying oh, looks like you jump up to the crystal.  Then the crystal has some blues and some yellows and some browns, but mostly they’re drawn in brown.  Then the top-right one is a white piece of paper.  Oh no, that one’s by John B.

 

I guess I was wrong; most of the kids did label their work.  I apologize.  But John B., white piece of paper, a lot of detail, a lot of detail.  Not a crystal entity but more of the light coming from one which includes yellow and white light.  It’s a evening blue horizon sky done with details.  Then the people are done with a lot of details that are dealing with the crystal entity.  Like, even facial expressions and even reaction lines.  Very, very good detail by John B.  Let me just see if I hit play, what happens with this other one, if it has…I think it does have a name but I can’t see it because of…I needed a closed-captioning so I could look at the…what do you call that?  What is that called?  The dialogue.  Then Data says jeez, I don’t even know what that represents.  Kids’ pictures, an expression…oh, let’s see here.  I think an impression of this Noonian Soong’s world starter-like video gave more exposition backstory…Data says I have no idea what the pictures represent but I recognize this workstation.

 

It’s Noonian Soong’s.  Oh, it’s from video games.  If you ever played a video game, particularly currently Outer Worlds, it’s like the engineering stations you’d play a video game at, or a bench; a workbench.  Exactly like that.  Interesting influence.  Okay, then we get some Noonian Soong…oh, it’s Dr. Soong’s work area, Data says.  Then they say who?  They said Noonian Soong?  Then Data says yeah, but he had a different name when he got here.  They say Noonian Soong was Earth’s foremost robot scientist until he tried to make Asimov’s positronic brain.  He promised too much and then he didn’t deliver, and so he had to disappear.  No one knows where he went but maybe he tried a second try.  Then Riker says let’s split up, look around.  I think I just saw another kid’s picture behind Tasha Yar.  Let me see this, here.  He says go…Yar, Worf, reconnoiter.  Huh, gonna rewind it again.  This is around ten minutes into the episode.  Let’s see, pause it…Tasha Yar…no, more of a…well, it could be a kid’s picture or it’s a label of some sort on the wall, not…it’s really symbolic.

 

Let’s see, then they find this capsule that has some molds for Data.  Data puts the one on.  It kind of looks like the outline like something from the movie Metropolis, I think.  Then there’s a room full of steam which they say…without Riker’s permission, Data opens the door even though they were interested.  Looks like a storage room and all the steam pours out, or smoke.  I said well, that doesn’t seem like a good idea.  There’s multiple WTFs in this episode.  That wasn’t even…didn’t even get a WTF on my notes.  But there’s sound effects.  I noticed…definitely worth watching ‘cause there’s Data’s butt on the bottom left.  I didn’t notice it the first time I watched it, but it’s…I’ll pause it to let you know the timestamp just in case you say well, I gotta see Data’s butt.  Technically Lore’s rear end, not Data’s butt.  Okay, door opens, there’s a lot of steam, everybody’s looking.  Steam clears out and…what time?  Yeah, if you wanna see, it’s 11:47.  Let’s see, sound effects, butt on the left.  Yeah.

 

Data starts looking at the head which has a wig on it.  Is this another me?  Let’s see, commander…yeah, can this be another me?  Data’s kind of…or, my brother, he says.  Looks over at them and they say well, we don’t know, Data.  Data says can I put this thing together?  Riker says well, we don’t know if this thing can actually work, come alive.  Data says well, it’s important for me to find out, sir.  I never dreamed it was possible that I might find some link with a form of my own.  I mean, this is a little bit dry; emotionally, we’ll get closer to Data as the seasons wear on.  We’ll get a more sense of the profound loneliness of being Data.  It’s nice for me to go back to this ‘cause I can relate.  I say well, I understand Data’s profound loneliness in the universe.  I mean, in a multitude of ways.  Sometimes it’s good to watch these old episodes again.  Riker says don’t worry, we’ll take it back to the ship.  We go back to the…I think there’s an ad break, then we go back.  Captain’s log 41242.45.

 

They say yeah, we checked out Data’s planet, discovered something, put it in blue liquid.  We get a bunch of Data’s parts in blue liquid.  Then we get this…this is like, if you’ve ever been on a ride at Epcot Center, there’s a short montage with music and it looks like you’re going by workers at the…if Epcot Center had an android lab or a fake display of robot…what do you call that?  Animatronic figures working on a android, this would be it ‘cause it has that music and everybody’s just kind of working for a little while, collaborating.  Data’s watching.  Then Beverly Crusher shows up, Dr. Beverly Crusher, of course.  She says they need you on the bridge.  Data says well, I’m anxious, here.  Mr. Argyle’s the chief engineer at this point.  Never heard of him; I’m not kidding.  I said are you related to the Argyle from that movie with Bruce Willis who’s…Data says do you think you could get this thing working?  They say well, we don’t understand how you work, Data.

 

I said what do you mean, you never looked inside Data yet?  Let’s see, and then they say well…oh, before Data leaves, they go well, maybe we could compare your body with your double’s body to see.  Are you okay with that?  Beverly says [00:40:00] let’s get back to work, Data.  They’re working on it.  Then Data walks into a meeting about Data which is awkward.  Riker and Geordi share a look and then Riker says…I’ll do more of the dialogue.  He goes, all your parts?  Underscore, underscore.  Hardy-har-har.  They go, the part we heard about?  Yeah.  He says, all your parts?  He almost starts laughing.  Data says, completely.  Then they say well, are we gonna know how to turn it on?  They say, what part are you talking about?  They say jeez, this is…Picard has to talk about the situation.  He says this is uncomfortable for everybody, right?  We’re being awkward.  He goes, it’s awkward.  You might be…it’s hard to say that Data’s a machine but he goes, we’re organic machines.

 

So, let’s just acknowledge the feeling in the room.  It’s okay to feel your feelings; move forward.  That’s why he’s the leader, right?  They say Data, what do you think?  He says well, why am I a human form?  Geordi says well, you’re relatable.  Data says well, or is it some other reason?  They say well, maybe it’s performance; you operate as well as we do, better in some ways, or Data says.  Then Riker says well, how about this picture this kid drew, or something.  I don’t know.  Picard goes, are there any other writing?  He goes, I like this one by Josh M. even though now it’s read.  Before it was not read, maybe.  Then instantly they call Data back down even though he was only gone for a few minutes.  They say Data, we need your help down here.  Geordi rubs his hands.  Data shows Beverly how he has an off-switch hidden in his hip.  He makes a joke about a android alarm clock that falls flat.  She goes, are you sure?  He goes, just keep this our secret.

 

I was like, they never looked at this…then they start opening Data and comparing them side-by-side.  I was surprised that they never looked…I don’t know.  They really practice what they preach in this new world; dignity and respect for all beings.  But he says let’s keep the switch on the down-low.  Beverly agrees.  Then we get the side-by-side of the Datas.  Then they say let’s connect Data B or whatever.  Close it up.  Then Picard comes in.  He’s all smiles as they go back in with Riker behind him.  Riker’s smiling.  He says jeez, it hasn’t…looks good but no consciousness yet.  Picard gets close; he says huh, interesting.  He stares at it for a while, while Data talks.  Looks the same.  Do you think it is the same?  Don’t know.  Which one was made first, do you think?  Then Lore comes to life.  He says, he was.  He goes, but he…they found him to be imperfect.  I was made to replace him.  Then he looks at Data and kind of winks or something and goes back to sleep.  He goes, you can call me Lore.

 

His eyebrows are up; he’s grinning.  Data’s totally stunned.  We go to an ad, then we have Picard and Data talking about Lore.  Picard says why does he call you imperfect?  Data goes, I don’t know, human language…maybe he’s better at language than I am?  Picard goes, well what…the whole point of…he goes, if you have the same capabilities…Data goes, by the way, you’re calling Lore ‘it’.  He goes, does that mean I’m an it, a thing?  Picard goes oh, my apologies.  I’m sorry.  Which again, man, Picard’s good.  Data says by the way, Lore has syntax and grammar.  He probably has human memories similar to my own.  Picard goes, you think you’re equal?  Data goes, I think so.  Then Picard said I got another question; since the two of you are the same…Data goes, don’t worry about it.  I’m loyal to you and Starfleet, completely.  Picard goes, okay, I thought so.  Then we get Geordi…WTF again.  I’ve seen this in other episodes; they’re letting Lore…Lore’s like, learning how to fly the ship on the bridge.

 

Data walks up.  He’s shocked.  Everybody’s like…I mean, I guess they said wow, we got somebody new to hang with.  But Worf does not…Worf kind of glares at Riker but then he says okay, so I could do this or travel the ship in all three dimensions.  Then Picard goes…in the square of a hypotenuse to a…what does Picard say?  He just throws my question…the square of a hypotenuse to the right triangle is the sum of the…equal to the square to the other two parts, Lore says.  Oh no, and then he forgets…he says I don’t understand.  Then Lore says by the…Data says you’re not approved to be on the bridge, dude.  Then Wesley goes yeah, there’s rules on starships.  Lore goes well, I guess I got duties to perform.  Lore goes Data, you’re never this anxious to please.  He goes yeah, Lore’s a better people-pleaser.  Lore says I enjoy pleasing people.  He goes, my sibling, and then Geordi says oh, I love that, this sibling love.  Lore says isn’t it important to keep everybody happy?

 

Data says well, there’s many things that are important, not just one thing.  Then Worf and Riker are kind of glaring.  Data gives one look back as they get on the turbo lift and then Riker and Worf share another look.  Data goes, the hypotenuse question was a trick, by the way.  He goes, Riker’s smart.  Worf goes, I guess I underestimated him.  He goes, by the way, Wesley is, too.  He’s not a child.  He just has a child’s body, so much more than that.  Lore goes, thanks for that information.  You really do care about me, brother.  I hope I’m worthy of you but don’t be jealous of me, either; my good looks and all that.  Data’s kind of speechless as Lore walks off.  Then we go into Data’s bedroom.  Worf’s also in kind of like a robe outfit.  Data sits down, Data goes by the way, I’m gonna bring…I’m gonna give you full access to the computers, all the information about the ship and Noonian Soong.  Lore jokes about often-wrong Soong which…’cause he was a genius by human standards but humans, you know, weren’t nice to him.

 

You can see Lore’s got beef.  He goes, he ended up being right, superior to humans.  He goes…taps his head with a great sound effect.  Our beloved father.  He goes, when am I gonna have a uniform like you?  Data says well, four years in the academy, three years as an ensign, then ten or twelve years on different ships.  Lore goes, I don’t have time for that.  That’s for humans with limited abilities.  You’re starting to be like a human.  He goes, you and I are superior.  We’re different from them.  He goes, you just want these memories you just have, when you could have a hundred colonists.  Why not have everything; thousands, millions?  All the knowledge in the world, all the lifeforms of every kind.  Then he has a little glitch-up and he goes, we’ll learn about this more in time.  Data goes okay, well, I’ll just give you…he goes well, I’m gonna give you full access to the computer.  Data says well, who was first?  Lore goes, I’m not gonna estimate you.  He stands in front of the mirror.  He goes, you were made first.

 

He goes, but not really.  I was made perfect.  He goes, but I was so perfect that the humans got envious of me when I lived with the colonists.  Made them uncomfortable.  He had to make a more comfortable, less-perfect android; you.  A little bit less human or something.  He goes, ‘cause I can use contractions and handle human speech easier.  Can’t…or isn’t, which you can’t do.  Cannot, is not.  He [00:50:00] makes fun of Data, then he jokes about it.  He gets to ham up again, potato, potato.  He goes, you can’t make jokes either very well.  Data goes yeah, quite true.  I keep trying to be more human and I keep failing, which is the most human thing.  Lore says do you realize, brother?  I can make you more human.  I can give you whatever you want.  Data goes, do you realize, Lore, I have to tell on you now, ‘cause of your disrespect for humans?  Lore goes well, I knew it.  I knew you’d do that.  There’s a lot of foreshadowing in there, yeah, and the mirror-image stuff.  He goes, well…he goes, I want you to write a…Data says I want you to write a report on all the bad stuff you’re up to.

 

With full access to…on this computer that you have access to the…everything.  You do that; I gotta get back to work, so behave.  Lore goes, no problem.  Then he goes, unless you need anything else.  Lore goes, I have more than I possibly have ever dreamed of, my brother.  I put ‘Lore’s a riot.’  Then he downloads everything.  I put ‘hack city.’  The workstations 40271, I think that’s on the top-right of the workstation.  Then I think we go to an ad.  Yeah, then it’s captain’s log again; 41242.5.  Now Lore told us what happened to the colonists; the crystalline entity that was in the…we built a picture from Josh’s picture.  Great crystalline entity, feeds…takes the life force and makes a desert.  It’s a desert-producing crystal.  Tasha says well, how’d they get outta there?  They go well, neither one of them was alive.  Data wasn’t turned on, Lore was disassembled.  That’s why it didn’t turn them into a desert.  There’s a little more back story.  They say well, this experiment didn’t really work.

 

Riker says I don’t believe any of this.  Picard goes well, we don’t know everything, Riker.  It’s possible.  Then they say…Yar says Data, where’s Lore?  Is he just cruising around the ship?  Then they go oh yeah, he was on Deck 4.  Worf gave him a bunch of tools.  Worf goes oh, totally; I gave him some tools for quadranium.  Data goes oh, that’s not suspicious at all.  He’s probably making an ointment for his elbow balm.  But I’ll go check down on him…I’m gonna go check on him.  Then everybody kind of shames Data.  This was a weird scene.  Beverly says why are you gonna spy on your brother?  Picard goes, that’s what Starfleet officers do; they follow orders.  Data nods, walks off.  But I said what the heck is with the security on this ship?  Yeah, they’re like Data, you gotta be more kind to him.  Then they get off the ship and this is another good scene, twenty-eight minutes in.  Tasha goes, speaking as a security officer, I guess ‘cause Worf isn’t there yet, clearly…she goes, can we trust Data, basically?

 

Everybody gives her a double-take.  Picard goes…look at…Wesley looks, Geordi looks; what, what?  Then Picard goes, that’s a necessary and legitimate question by a security officer.  I like it.  Yar beams at that but he goes no, no worries.  Then Lore’s making champagne for him and Data in the room, but a sleepy champagne with a caviar kiss for Data to put him right to sleep.  I tried to look up the name of the champagne.  It’s like, really long; something Premier Guard…Premier.  They have a bottle of champagne kisses and Lore says let’s do a toast, man, to me and you.  Before Data toasts, and he holds up his glass, he makes one of those pucker faces.  They say ‘to caviar dreams’ and then Lore says by the way, Data, have you ever watched…are you familiar with the thing of the great pumpkin?  Data goes, no.  Then he scans his…he goes, is it from a Charlie…then Lore goes, it is.  Then Lore goes to me, the great crystal entity is the great pumpkin; they’re one in the same.

 

I’m expecting the great crystal entity any…to come, just like the great pumpkin, and bring us gifts.  Then he gives Data a champagne kiss which makes Data fall asleep.  I don’t know how that works but it just does.  Data says I have to lie down.  I guess he’s like, this is real android champagne, like double-proof or something.  Then Data has to sleep.  Lore says while you sleep, I’ll await the arrival of the great crystal pumpkin entity.  Then what’s gonna happen is, I’m gonna down…we’re gonna download every memory, me and the great pumpkin, and I’ll ride the great pumpkin off into the sky.  First, I’m gonna go down, though, as you.  Right now, Lore hams it up for a while, talking about Soong.  Yeah, he had to disassemble me ‘cause the colonists didn’t like me.  He goes, but then I told the crystal entity everything.  Then we go back to the ship.  Data’s sending out messages, sub-space, Worf says.  Riker says oh, he’s doing research; that totally makes sense.  He’s downloading something.

 

They say, just in case, Wesley, could you go check on him?  Wesley stands up.  This is another one worth pausing; thirty minutes…thirty-one minutes into the show.  Wesley walks off.  The crew’s like, laughing at his enthusiasm.  Then Lore’s dressed as Data.  He says, crystal entity, I’ll call myself Data when you call in.  He glitches.  Wesley rings the doorbell this time and Lore says hey, what’s up, kid?  He goes, by the way, Lore’s sleeping.  He had too much champagne.  He likes to sleep on…Wesley goes, what do you mean?  I thought we only had synthehol.  He says oh no, don’t worry.  He’s just sleeping on the floor because it’s more comfortable for him.  It’s not because he drank too much non-synthevol.  Then Wesley’s kind of suspicious but Lore’s kind of trying to play Wesley with his non-contractions.  He goes, go tell the captain that I’m coming up to the bridge.  Wesley’s not sure of things.  He walks off but Lore thinks he has him, except for his tic ‘cause Lore said well, I’m just pretending to be Lore, as Data.

 

Lore fixes his tic.  Nothing discrete about him.  Is that what something says?  I don’t know.  But oh yeah, I think…oh, that’s what I said; go down there and find out discreetly what Lore is up to, and I put nothing discrete about him, about Wesley.  Wesley’s a little…he fixes the tic, I think that’s when we go to an ad, maybe.  Oh no, not yet.  A little bit more.  Fix that tic…he puts the tic on Data so Data’s as Lore.  Then we have…the ship is coming in.  Beverly says Wesley, what…why was…how much did Lore…Data say Lore had to drink?  He says well, he turned him…he said he just shut him down after he said he had to go take a nappy-poo.  Beverly says well, there’s something not right.  But again, everybody’s kind of like, not seeing the truth, either.  Beverly’s more like, I thought I had a secret.  She goes Data, how come…I thought you told me we had a secret about your off switch.  Datalore says I’m gonna…I changed my mind.  I trust you.  Then Geordi says, we got a bogey at five o’clock.  No ID.

 

Put it on the main viewer to send it a friendly message, Picard says.  We see it’s the crystal entity moving fast.  Data says holy cow, that’s beautiful…Datalore says that.  Wesley says oh boy, that’s not good.  Riker says that’s the crystalline entity from Josh M.’s picture.  Everyone was like, what in the heck?  A little bit stunned.  Lore’s kind of…then we see the ship again, crystalline entity in pursuit.  We go to commercial.  Then they’re face-to-face, the ship.  They say, we can’t communicate with it.  No answer.  Geordi says it’s like a giant snowflake but I don’t…but also more complex and I don’t understand it.  Some electromagnetic stuff, maybe.  But really, I don’t know anything.  Then Riker says okay.  Then Picard says why don’t you go ask [01:00:00] Lore if he knows anything more, Data?  Then Wesley goes, I don’t trust this person.  Lore says, that’s totally normal.  Wesley’s like, just trying to…he goes, we should encourage him to be suspicious.  He goes, you could come watch me.

 

Wesley goes, no thank you.  Picard gets really bent and then Riker goes yeah, you gotta show Data some respect.  Maybe I’ll accompany you.  I couldn’t tell if this was a ruse or not.  Riker points…I guess ‘cause it’s season one, maybe it’s not.  But Riker points sternly at Wesley, follows him down to Lore’s room.  They stare at the crystal entity.  Then they go into Lore’s room, or Data and Lore’s room.  They go look, we had a thoughtful Picard face first, then they go into the room.  Datalore says look, he’s twitching, so it’s totally Lore.  Riker goes, you’re right; it’s totally Lore.  Then he goes look at…he’s like, he won’t wake up.  He goes, come on, Data…or come on, Lore, wake up.  It’s Data.  Sober up for a second so we could find out about this crystal entity.  He goes, maybe you should leave me alone with him because he could say something not nice.  He goes, I’ll totally record everything.  Then they leave and Lore goes what suckers these humans are.  Lore just kind of laughs at the humans’ naivety.

 

We get a lot of close-ups like something out of a movie.  Riker storms onto the bridge with Wesley.  Goes, it was totally Lore; facial twitch and everything, captain.  He was sleeping, sleeping it off.  But Lore said…and then Data goes it was…then Wesley goes nope, it was Lore faking to be Data, dude.  This is a famous scene, I think.  Everybody tells Wesley to shut up, over and over again.  It’s definitely a meme ‘cause Wesley goes no…I think this is when it happens.  Yeah, he goes ensign Crusher, you’re out of order.  That’s what Picard says.  Then Geordi goes, the crystal entity is getting closer to us and touching our shields.  Picard goes, get ready to do something; red alert.  That’s when Datalore comes on the bridge.  I don’t think the shut-up part happened yet.  Oh yeah, then Datalore says I can talk to it.  Picard goes, really?  Whoa.  He goes, do it.  Then Loredata calls; he says hey, this is Data.  These humans are really powerful, so don’t mess with them.  Stop attacking, please.

 

Everyone’s so impressed.  They say wow, you’re really…Geordi goes wow, that’s a way to communicate, Data.  That’s some communication.  Lore goes, I got a plan; let’s transport a large ship into space, or a large tree into space and that’ll show ‘em how strong we are.  We’re gonna show him how powerful we are with our phasers by blasting an imitation tree.  Then we have another hint that they don’t catch ‘cause Picard says make it so, and Lore does not understand what that means.  He goes, what?  Picard goes, get it done, dude; go do it, right now.  Tasha stares.  Picard has a questioning look on his face but Wesley stands up.  Sir, I don’t care if I get fired.  That’s when he says shut up, Wesley.  Wesley sits back down for a second, then they go, follow Data.  Then Beverly says shut up, Wesley.  I can’t believe you’re saying that to my son.  He goes, this is a starship.  Then Wesley stands up again and says you know what?  I don’t care; fire me.  I’m the one that’s right.

 

Then Beverly tells him to shut up twice, I think.  She says shut up, then he stands up; he goes, if I was an adult, you would be listening to me.  He goes, I want to go back to my room.  Then Picard goes, you go with him.  Dr. Crusher goes, this is ridiculous.  She goes, this is very patriarchal.  But again, I didn’t know if this is a ruse.  I don’t think it is.  Then Worf goes to follow Datalore and Datalore does some smooth moves on…and puts Worf to sleepy-poo by petting his head.  Yeah, Lore has a convoluted plan to blast a giant tree.  Oh, all the Wesley shut-up stuff’s at 38:37.  Lore wears his thing, then they go back to Data’s room with Wesley and Beverly.  Wesley goes, I heard you that you know how to turn him on.  She goes, Data?  He goes, no, no, no, turn him on.  She goes oh.  She goes, you’re not being very fair.  They turn Data on and then they go Data, that crystal thing’s right outside the ship and Lore’s running around.  Are you okay?  He goes, I function…I’m functioning sufficiently to stop Lore.

 

We go down to one of the transporter storage rooms and Lore’s making a speech.  Crystal entity, great pumpkin, this is your friend Lore.  Let’s wrap this up.  Data, Wesley, and Beverly try to sneak onto the thing.  Lore’s letting out his plan about putting the deflector shields down so they can take over.  Data comes out, says Lore, I got the drop on you.  It’s too bad; you make me wish I was an only child.  Lore smiles; he’s like, let’s dance, buddy.  He sees Wesley spying on him.  He goes oh, you gave me a gift of this kid, too.  Troublesome little man-child.  Now meanwhile, Beverly’s trying to sneak up on them and Lore goes, you’re in a lot of trouble, kid.  Then Beverly says you’re in trouble, Lore, dressed as Data.  Lore does the old throw-Data-into-Beverly thing and he says hit the road.  Just leave me with your son and Data for some strange reason.  He goes, see, Data?  This is the advantage of being human.  I can trick them with kindness and stuff.  He goes, I suckered them.  Then he goes, hit the road, doctor.

 

I’m gonna count you down right now, let everybody know they’re toast.  He counts one, two, three, four.  Then he does more ham…really good hamming stuff.  He shakes her off, then he goes thank you, Dr. Soong, for my human qualities.  Really great acting.  Then he goes oh, something for your son’s misdeeds, which gives Data an opening.  Wesley and Data do a dance-off with Lore, then they do some barrel-tossing which was like, I don’t know.  I’ve seen that in games before.  But Data says don’t worry, Wesley, I got a plan; get the transporter ready.  Lore makes one bad move and Data and Wesley work together as collaborators and send Lore somewhere into the crystal entity?  I don’t know; they transport him off.  Lore’s gone, then everybody shows up on there.  Then Wesley says Lore’s gone permanently, sir.  Beverly runs, says nice job, Wesley.  Then Picard starts…he goes, Wesley, Beverly, go to Sickbay.  Then the crystal entity starts a retreat, I guess ‘cause they showed they were effective.

 

Oh, Beverly and Wesley hug.  Crystal’s out, Data’s quiet.  Picard goes, are you okay?  Data goes, I’m fine.  He has a twitch.  Then Picard goes, get rid of that twitch and put on a uniform, then.  He goes yeah, and then Picard goes Wesley, get back to work if you can.  No apology, but he says let everybody know it’s okay.  Picard kind of looks at the crystal entity.  Riker says it’s gone.  Without Lore, it couldn’t get here.  Picard goes, it’s time for a computer refit.  Better get to that.  Then they walk off together, two of them.  Says, have you ever considered that whether Data’s more human or less human than we want?  Riker says I only wish we were all as well-balanced, sir.  Picard goes, agreed.  Then they head off into the hallway and we see the Enterprise head off into the stars and into Dreamland.  Goodnight.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

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