Deploying Data: A Diplomatic Diversion
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Picard pivots hard into anthropology, hailing Data to flood the room with ritual trivia and inviting him for dessert to build a conversational shield.
Data confirms he’s on his way; Mrs. Troi bristles at sharing their "special time" with a robot, and Picard doubles down, selling Data’s legendary after‑dinner talk as cover.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Surface composure masking growing embarrassment and anxious urgency; determined to avoid rudeness while maneuvering for a safe exit.
Seated at the small table opposite Mrs. Troi, Picard tolerates flirtation and mounting intimacy while deliberately converting the situation into a professional inquiry by tapping the cabin communicator and summoning Data as conversational cover.
- • Defuse escalating sexual/romantic tension without causing offense to Mrs. Troi.
- • Preserve shipboard decorum and his own professional reputation.
- • Maintain control of the social situation and protect mission focus.
- • Open refusal or blunt honesty would cause diplomatic or personal damage.
- • Commander Data's presence and encyclopedic chat can function as socially acceptable interruption.
- • Maintaining pleasant civility is worth short-term subterfuge.
Pleased and dutiful; neutral in affect but satisfied to contribute useful information and to comply with the captain's request.
Responds promptly from Science One when summoned, supplies comparative cultural anecdotes about ritual dining, states inability to eat, and accepts the invitation to 'join' the after-dinner conversation, thereby providing Picard the requested diversion.
- • Support the captain's conversational needs by supplying factual cultural context.
- • Be socially present and helpful, even without consuming food.
- • Fulfill duty by responding quickly and accurately to orders.
- • Providing information calms and structures social interactions.
- • Obliging the captain is an appropriate use of his capabilities.
- • Participation in social rituals can be achieved through conversation rather than eating.
Impassive and focused on service; emotionally neutral but intensely attentive to timing and ritual.
Stands dutifully near the wall with a drink, precisely performs the ritual strike on the large circular chime when Mrs. Troi takes a bite, and otherwise maintains silent ceremonial presence that punctuates the dinner.
- • Perform Mistress Troi's dining rituals correctly and unobtrusively.
- • Support the ambiance and formalities of the dinner through precise action.
- • Avoid drawing attention to himself beyond necessary ceremonial cues.
- • Obedience and ritual observance maintain social order in the quarters.
- • Physical cues (the chime strike) are important signals to assembled participants.
- • Silence and deference are the correct stance for a valet in this context.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Betazoid salad is ceremonially presented and consumed by Mrs. Troi; her taking a bite triggers the ritual cue (the chime strike) that heightens the intimacy and provides Picard an opening to comment and then summon Data. The salad functions as both food and a staged prop for ritualized interaction.
Although the candlelit dessert drink is not yet consumed in this beat, its presence beside the low table reinforces the intimacy of the setting and acts as a tactile anchor that emphasizes ritual and expectation during the after-dinner invitation to Data.
The expensive-looking stemmed glasses are used to formalize the opening toast and to give the characters a tactile focal point; Picard clinks and sips from his glass while attempting to maintain composure, and the glasses anchor the intimate, candlelit mood.
The quarters-mounted communicator is actively used by Picard to contact Commander Data on Science One. It functions as the structural pivot of the scene — transforming private intimacy into shipboard procedure and enabling the diversion that relieves Picard's immediate social pressure.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Lwaxana asserts a Betazoid dinner of greeting, leading to the intimate, candlelit dinner."
"After enlisting Data as a conversational shield, Picard later thanks him for the assist in the corridor."
"Picard summons Data as conversational cover; Data arrives and drones through technical anecdotes."
Key Dialogue
"PICARD: "Data, if your duties permit, why don't you join us for dessert?""
"DATA: "The use of the chime is unique, but not at all dissimilar to the Ooolans of Marejaretus Six, who use two large stones which are continuously struck during the meal. Those at the dinner must eat until the stones are broken. Or, the oligarchy on Atifs Four, which require a young male to...""
"MRS. TROI: "How could you possibly think I'd want to share our special time together, with that robot of yours?""