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Love

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Simon: The word LOVE encompasses so many things, it's hard to COMMUNICATE with it. Like on TV, telling a partner you love them is a pivotal moment that could either strengthen or destroy the relationship. But what if they have different ideas of what love is? Maybe to one person it's a strong attraction, and to the other it's a lifetime commitment.
Lily: The problem is, people use ONE WORD to gauge whether they're on the same page about their relationship. When I say I love someone, I don't CARE whether we mean the same thing. It's not about communicating - it's about emphasizing the value of our connection.
Simon: That's a nice way to think about it. Although some people say "I love you" and they mean "I won't stop chasing you until you're locked in the cage in my basement."
Lily: Yeeaaah.

Valence Electrons

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(In the classroom, Claire has a name tag that says fluorine and is holding 7 balls, Amanda has a name tag that says lithium and is holding one ball)
Simon: So lithium, you can give your one valence electon to flourine.
(Amanda hands her ball to Claire and then pouts empty-handed)
Simon: And now they're both happy, because they each have... Lithium, you're BETTER OFF this way!
Simon: You still have a full shell, just like helium. Here you go.
(Simon hands Amanda two more balls, she looks enviously at the 8 balls Claire has)

Skepticism

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Maya: Mr. Elliott, how do we know that what you're teaching us is true, if people keep finding out that science was wrong before?
Simon: That's a good question, Maya. This class is about our current understanding of chemistry, and the fundamentals have been pretty well-established for the past century. But why should you believe ME? Teachers aren't always right. You don't have to blindly agree with us. If you're skeptical, you're thinking like a scientist. Some the greatest science was done by people who questioned what they were told to believe. If you're curious, you can read books, read scientific journals, and do your own experiments safely, with adequate supervision. And come to your own conclusions about whether it all holds up.
(Simon gets out the book History of Chemistry)
Maya: Okay, I'm good. I believe you.

Sexual Tension

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Lily: Simon, did you read Sasha's Star Trek fanfic?
Simon: Yeah. You're right, it IS good.
Sasha: Hey, don't put him on the spot. Now he HAS to say he liked it.
Simon: Sasha, I think we've established that insults are on the table.
Sasha: I didn't MEAN to call you an idiot!
Simon: Anyway, the tension is GREAT. Picard and Worf are trying SO HARD to remain poised and professional.
(scene with Worf and Picard, Worf says "Captain, this chemical is not dangerous. It just... dissolves clothing." Worf's uniform is dissolving)
Simon: You're a good writer, Sasha. I bet you could write a novel that sells.
Lily: That's what I keep saying.
Sasha: Or I could change all the names and settings in my fanfic. I'll call it "Twenty Shades of Loophole Plagiarism."

Fifty Shades of Grey

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Lily: I liked Fifty Shades of Grey.
Simon: I've heard it romanticizes abuse.
Lily: It does. That's the beauty of it.
Simon: But the author denies that, and some readers emulate the book and end up in toxic relationships BECAUSE of it.
Lily: I think a story is just a story. Some people take it the wrong way, but most people can tell fantasy from reality.
Simon: It's not about FANTASY and REALITY, it's about existing in a culture that NORMALIZES this stuff so people don't RECOGNIZE when they're being ABUSED. And it kind of sounds like you're BLAMING them for it.
Lily: I would never blame ANYONE for that. But I don't blame the BOOK for it either, and I don't think LIKING it makes me a monster.
Simon: There's nothing wrong with LIKING it. I'm just saying a lot of people would be better off if it didn't exist.
Lily: Okay, yeah. And some people are better off BECAUSE of it too.

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