Fabula
S2E19 · Manhunt
S2E19
· Manhunt

Momentary Refuge, Undone by Data

Just outside Counselor Troi's quarters, a visibly relieved Captain Picard exhales and offers Commander Data a heartfelt, private thanks for acting as his conversational shield against Lwaxana's relentless advances. The beat underlines Picard's desperate need for small mercies and the comic pathos of relying on an earnest android for social rescue. Data's literal, eager reply — offering more 'interesting anecdotes' — punctures Picard's respite and reminds the audience that even brief escapes carry their own awkward consequences. Functionally, this is a quiet character moment and a callback payoff that humanizes Picard while reinforcing Data's role as both confidant and comic foil.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Walking together, Picard exhales and tells Data he owes him for that, gratitude cutting through the lingering strain.

tension to relief

Data, earnest, offers more "interesting anecdotes," inadvertently threatening to extend the tactic and puncturing Picard’s brief relief.

relief to apprehension

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain
 primary

Relieved and quietly grateful; his formal composure relaxes briefly to expose fatigue and the emotional cost of ongoing diplomatic labor.

Captain Jean‑Luc Picard is walking with Data outside Mrs. Troi's quarters, exhales audibly, and offers a private, heartfelt thanks — a relief-filled acknowledgement of Data's social intervention moments earlier.

Goals in this moment
  • • To acknowledge and repay a social favor that protected him from Lwaxana Troi's pressure.
  • • To reclaim a small measure of private composure after a trying personal interaction.
Active beliefs
  • • Proper decorum should be preserved even when socially exhausted.
  • • Crew members who assist in delicate matters deserve private recognition and gratitude.
Character traits
reserved gracious weary diplomatic under strain
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey
Data
Second Officer
 primary

Polite and mildly enthusiastic; no social embarrassment, displaying steady willingness to continue assisting the captain.

Data walks alongside Picard and responds with literal, eager politeness, offering additional 'interesting anecdotes' — simultaneously supportive and comically oblivious to Picard's desire for genuine respite.

Goals in this moment
  • • To continue providing conversational support and companionship to Picard.
  • • To be useful by offering conversational material that can deflect awkward social interactions in the future.
Active beliefs
  • • Sharing anecdotes and information is an effective way to assist with social situations.
  • • Captain Picard values and appreciates Data's efforts and will accept further help if offered.
Character traits
earnest literal-minded helpful socially procedural
Follow Data's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Troi's Quarters

The corridor immediately outside Mrs. Troi's quarters serves as the physical threshold where Picard transitions from a pressured social encounter to a private, quieter moment. It functions practically as a place to step aside and exchange a confidential, humanizing word between colleagues.

Atmosphere Quiet, slightly intimate — a soft afterglow of tension giving way to relief and muted …
Function A brief refuge and meeting place for a private exchange; the corridor offers distance from …
Symbolism Represents the threshold between public duty and private feeling; a liminal space where formality slips …
Access A starship crew corridor adjacent to private quarters — generally accessible to crew but functionally …
Ambient corridor lighting that diffuses tension rather than spotlighting it Nearness to Mrs. Troi's door implies recent social pressure and motivates the characters' need to step aside Relative quiet — no crowd, allowing a private exchange

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 2
Callback medium

"After enlisting Data as a conversational shield, Picard later thanks him for the assist in the corridor."

Candlelit Ambush — Lwaxana's Betazoid Advance
S2E19 · Manhunt
Callback medium

"After enlisting Data as a conversational shield, Picard later thanks him for the assist in the corridor."

Deploying Data: A Diplomatic Diversion
S2E19 · Manhunt

Key Dialogue

"Picard: "Data, you'll never know just how much I owe you for that.""
"Data: "Indeed, Captain? I know many more interesting anecdotes as well.""