Later, the waiter comes over to their table, bearing a tray on which are two plates, each containing a whole cooked lobster.
He places one plate in front of Seven who looks at it uneasily.
Chapman: "Problem?"
Seven: "This creature has an exoskeleton."
Chapman, as the waiter places his plate and leaves: "It's a lobster. They're a delicacy on Earth. Try it." He cracks a claw and picks up his lobster knife.
Seven looks over at the Doctor for help as she feels adrift in this situation. The Doctor mimes how to crack open the lobster.
She picks up her lobster, raises it high and firmly cracks it.
The lobster bursts open, showering Chapman with bits.
Seven, dismayed: "I will replicate you a new garment."
Chapman, wiping his sleeve with his napkin: "I'm fine, fine." Picking off a piece of lobster off his left cheek, "It's just a little bit of exoskeleton."
He gives an overlarge smile.
Chapman: "Maybe we should order dessert."
Seven surmises: "You wish to accelerate our social encounter."
Chapman, who does wish to, protests: "No, no, I didn't say that." Putting on another large smile: "Just, er, I'm having a very....." he searches for the most diplomatic word, "interesting evening."
He notices the couple dancing. Perhaps an activity would lessen the feeling of awkwardness. "Would you like to dance?"
Seven: "That activity is covered in Lesson Thirty-five. I haven't reached it yet."
Chapman, a bundle of nerves: "I'm not much of a dancer myself, but it might be fun."
Seven, clearly not enjoying herself: "As you wish." She gets up and walks onto the dance floor.
Chapman sighs and looks down......
......but, determined, he looks up with a forced smile, gets up and goes onto the dance floor as well.
He puts out his arms for her to take up the dancing position with him.
She is unsure how to respond and so takes his hands - his left with her right and his right with her left. He gives a little laugh and puts her right.
Reassuringly: "Relax. Try to relax."
As they tentatively dance together, with Seven looking down at her feet all the time, he says: "You seem a little tense."
Seven: "Relaxation would disrupt my chronographic sequencer. It allows me to maintain synchronous movement with the music."
Chapman: "That's handy but maybe you could ignore your chronographic sequencer and, er, let me lead."
They manage passably. He starts to relax. "That's better."
Seven starts to relax too and feel more confident. She notices the dancing couple execute a neat move with the holo-man lifting his arm so that the holo-woman can pass beneath. Seven decides to do this with Chapman but does not warn him. She lifts her arm and swings him underneath.
He is not expecting it and suddenly collapses in pain. "Ow!!!"
The Doctor looks up, horrified.
Seven looks on, concerned: "You are damaged."
The Doctor hurries over, medical tricorder in hand.
Chapman, protesting gamely: "No, I'll be alright."
The Doctor closes his tricorder and reports the diagnosis to Chapman: "You've torn a ligament. I'm afraid you'll have to report to Sickbay."
He helps Chapman up. "Mr Paris will treat you; no need to mention how this happened."
Chapman turns to Seven and tells her politely through his pain: "I had a great time, Seven. Let's do this again, someday."
He turns and makes his way slowly and painfully out of the holoprogram.
Seven, despondently: "I have failed."
Doctor: "Nonsense. Even Romeo and Juliet hit a few snags at first. Besides, Lieutenant Chapman's not the only lobster in the sea."
Seven: "I wish to terminate our social lessons."
She starts to leave but the Doctor puts a gentle hand on her shoulder and so she does not.
Doctor: "Just because you didn't achieve perfection your first time out, doesn't mean you should give up."
They sit on stools at the bar.
Seven: "Dating is a poor means of interaction. There is far more efficiency in the way you and I communicate. We say what we mean, simply and directly."
Doctor: "You and I do have a rapport, but we're colleagues. We're not pursuing romance."
Seven: "No."
The Doctor is disappointed but moves on: "I'm certain you'll be able to master these basic skills in short order."
Seven: "My first date was certainly short."
Doctor, hopefully: "Was that a joke?"
Seven: "Lesson Six: Beguiling Banter."
Doctor: "Now you're getting the hang of it. Perhaps this evening doesn't have to end so abruptly. This may be a good time to cover Lesson Thirty five: Shall We Dance?"
They get up and go back to the dance floor. "Computer, play Someone To Watch Over Me, instrumental only." The music starts. "We'll begin with some simple steps. Place your left hand on my shoulder and your right hand in my left." She does so. "Now follow me, one step at a time. Don't worry, I don't have any ligaments to tear."
This time the dancing is a success. The Doctor enjoys these long moments of closeness with Seven in his arms.
It is Thursday evening and the Kadi Ambassador is in the Chez Sandrine holoprogram. As with the Messhall, he has been thoroughly exploring the hedonistic delights of, well, exclusively synthehol and it is having the same effect on him as too much alcohol. He has two attractive holographic women in his arms.
Tomin calls out drunkenly to the holographic barman: "Another drink!"
Neelix rushes in and sees him. "Ambassador!"
Hurriedly he approaches Tomin.
Tomin: "Neelix! My friend! My host! My saviour. Neelix, I want you to meet," here Tomin starts to indicate the women on his left but then turns to the other, a Bolian, "Alandra, ahaa!" and then indicates the other, "and Tria!"
Neelix: "What are you doing?"
Tomin: "I'm sampling yet another entreé on the menu of pleasure that you have opened up for me."
Neelix: "I checked today's menu, and they're not on it." To the holo-barman: "Coffee, black."
Tomin: "Neelix, I decided to go exploring and I found your holodecks, where I discovered this little gem still simmering in the memory buffer," and chuckles inanely, "ah ha ha ha."
Neelix: "You can explore it later. Right now, we've got to get you to your reception."
Tomin takes a drink of coffee. "Mmm. Pungent taste. What is it?"
Neelix: "Coffee, and there's plenty more where we're going."
He hauls Tomin away.
Tomin: "No coffee on our colony, nothing to tempt the appetite of even the most weak-willed novitiate." For a moment managing to elude Neelix's clutch: "Neelix! A confession! I am thinking of leaving the colony, joining Voyager. I want to throw off my vows and immerse myself in your wonderful culture."
Neelix: "That's just the synthehol talking."
Tomin: "No, no. I've never been more clear-headed about anything, and I have you to thank."
Neelix bundles him over to the exit.
Neelix: "That's right. Up. There we go."
Tomin, rambling drunkenly: "It's all you, here...."
The Doctor enters the Astrometrics Lab.
Seven crosses from working at a wall workstation to the main console.
Doctor: "Hard at work?"
Seven: "Our lessons have disrupted my duties."
Doctor: "Then I suppose you're too busy to attend the Ambassador's reception."
Seven: "My presence is not required."
Doctor: "True, but it might be an opportunity for you to apply your newfound social skills."
Seven surmises: "Lesson Eleven: Life of the Party."
Doctor: "Exactly. Join me?"
Seven: "Are you asking me on a date?"
Doctor: "I suppose I am."
Seven: "Then I accept. Is my appearance sufficient?"
Doctor: "You look perfect."
