Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

Yesterday's Enterprise (1990)

Patrick Stewart: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

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Quotes 

• Capt. Picard : Let's make sure history never forgets... the name..."Enterprise"!

• Capt. Picard : Attention all hands. As you know, we could outrun the Klingon vessels. But we must protect the Enterprise-C until she enters the temporal rift. And we must succeed. Let's make sure history never forgets... the name... 'Enterprise'. Picard out.

• Capt. Picard : One more ship will make no difference in the here and now. But 22 years ago, one ship could have stopped this war before it started.

• Capt. Picard : Who is to say that this history is any less proper than the other?

  Guinan : I suppose I am.

  Capt. Picard : Not good enough, damn it, not good enough! I will not ask them to die!

  Guinan : Forty billion people have already died! This war's not supposed to be happening! You've got to send those people back to correct this.

  Capt. Picard : And what is to guarantee that if they go back they will succeed? Every instinct is telling me this is wrong, it is dangerous, it is futile!

  Guinan : We've known each other a long time. You have never known me to impose myself on anyone, or take a stance based on trivial or whimsical perceptions. This timeline must not be allowed to continue. Now, I've told you what you must do. You have only your trust in me to help you decide to do it.

• Klingon Captain : Federation ship Enterprise. Surrender and prepare to be boarded.

  Capt. Picard : That will be the day!

• [Tasha Yar has requested to be transferred to the Enterprise-C] 

  Capt. Picard : The Enterprise-C will be destroyed.

  Natasha Yar : But Captain, at least, with someone at Tactical, they will have a chance to defend themselves well. It may be a matter of seconds or minutes, but those could be the minutes that change history. Guinan says I died a senseless death in the other timeline. I didn't like the sound of that, Captain. I've always known the risks that come with a Starfleet uniform. If I'm to die in one... I'd like my death to count for something.

  Capt. Picard : Lieutenant. Permission granted.

• Capt. Picard : The war is going very badly for the Federation, far worse than is generally known. Starfleet Command believes that defeat is inevitable. Within six months, we may have no choice but to surrender.

  Capt. Rachel Garrett : Are you saying that all this may be a result of our arrival here?

  Capt. Picard : One more ship will make no difference in the here and now, but twenty-two years ago, one ship could have stopped this war before it started.

• Capt. Picard : You must have some idea how things have changed.

  Guinan : I look at things, I look at people, and... they just don't feel right.

  Capt. Picard : What things? What people?

  Guinan : You. Your uniform, the bridge...

  Capt. Picard : What's the matter with the bridge?

  Guinan : It's not right!

  Capt. Picard : It's the same bridge. Nothing has changed.

  Guinan : I know that. I also know it's wrong.

  Capt. Picard : [sighs]  What else?

  Guinan : Families. There should be children on this ship.

  Capt. Picard : What? Children on the Enterprise? Guinan, we're at war!

  Guinan : No we're not! At least we're not... supposed to be. This is not a ship of war. This is a ship of peace.

  Capt. Picard : [ponders this]  What you're suggesting...

  Guinan : I'm not suggesting. That ship from the past is not supposed to be here. It's got to go back.

• Lt. Commander Data : There is a high degree of probability that the temporal rift is symmetrical, Captain.

  Capt. Picard : Then what would happen if the Enterprise-C were to fly back through it?

  Lt. Commander Data : Back, sir? The Enterprise-C would emerge in her own time, at almost the same instant she left.

  Capt. Picard : Right in the middle of the battle with the Romulans.

  Lt. Commander Data : Yes, sir.

  Capt. Picard : Is there any possibility she could survive?

  Lt. Commander Data : None, sir.

  Capt. Picard : Then sending them back would be a death sentence.

• Guinan : [over intercom]  Captain, this is Guinan. Is everything all right up there?

  Capt. Picard : [to Riker, surprised]  Guinan?

  Capt. Picard : [to Guinan]  Yes, everything's fine. Is something wrong?

  Guinan : No. No, everything's fine. Sorry to bother you.

• Klingon Commander : Federation ship Enterprise, surrender and prepare to be boarded.

  Capt. Picard : [indignantly, under his breath]  That'll be the day!

• Capt. Picard : It is regrettable that you did not succeed. A Federation starship rescuing a Klingon outpost might have averted 20 years of war.