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Synopsis:
While traveling through the Omega Sagitta system, the U.S.S. Enterprise aids a disabled cargo ship and plays host to its sole occupant, Captain Okona.
Once on board the Enterprise, the handsome, roguish Okona charms the crew — particularly the women — with his quick wit and mischievous manner. Data, however, is unable to understand Okona's jokes and looks to Guinan and the holodeck for lessons in human humor.
Meanwhile, two small interplanetary vessels lock their lasers on the U.S.S. Enterprise, demanding Okona's surrender. First, Debin accuses Okona of getting his daughter, Yanar, pregnant; then Kushell, with his son Benzan at his side, charges the dashing Captain with stealing his nation's prized Jewel of Thesia.
Knowing that releasing Okona to either Debin or Kushell would cause a war between their respective homelands, Picard agrees to help Okona make a fast getaway. However, a discussion with Wesley convinces Okona to change his mind and turn himself in.
When all of the parties are beamed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise to discuss the matter, Okona proposes to Yanar, which prompts an outburst from Benzan, who confesses that he fathered Yanar's child and took the jewel to present to the girl as his pledge of marriage. Okona also admits that he's been acting as a go-between for the couple, whose families have been feuding for years. Once everything is out in the open, Yanar agrees to marry her beloved Benzan.
The ordeal resolved, Data returns to the Holodeck to try out some jokes he's learned in front of an audience. After a disappointing attempt, Data reaches the sad conclusion that he is incapable of being funny. But as the crew bids good-bye to Okona, Data is caught off guard by a question from Okona and delivers a response that leaves everyone on the bridge laughing.
| Cast: |
| Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard |
| Jonathan Frakes as William Thomas Riker |
| LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge |
| Michael Dorn as Worf |
| Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi |
| Brent Spiner as Data |
| Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher |
| Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan |
| Diana Muldaur as Katherine "Kate" Pulaski |
| Guest Cast: |
| William O. Campbell as Okona |
| Joe Piscopo as Comic |
| Douglas Rowe as Debin |
| Albert Stratton as Kushell |
| Rosalind Ingledew as Yanar |
| Kieran Mulroney as Benzan |
| Creative staff: |
| Director: Robert Becker |
| Story By: Les Menchen, Lance Dickson and David Landsberg |
| Teleplay By: Burton Armus |
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