Helen, Daria and others in “Unfinished Business”

Helen

Science is fascinating. Tell me all about it, honey.

Daria

I can't. I signed a confidentiality paper. The other scientists would be mad.

Helen

[groans] Oh, forget it, Daria. Quinn, how was your day?

Quinn

It sucked. First my teacher gave my paper on Cleopatra's makeup don'ts an "F" -- like he would know. Then my heel broke. Then, like, the day was almost over and only two guys had asked me out. Luckily, just before...

Helen

[pleading] Daria, please tell me about the project.

Daria

[sighs] It's about how behavior is affected by positive or negative reinforcement.

Helen

Sounds super.

Daria

Like... say, you have a friend who responds to everything you say with, "That's great!" This insincere reply is the same whether you saved a life or killed a bug, and thus becomes "negative reinforcement," causing you to withdraw from that person or persons.

Helen

Wow. That's fantastic!