- The Enterprise rescues the captain of a broken-down freighter, only to become involved in a dispute between feuding worlds--each demanding custody of their guest. Data seeks help from Guinan in understanding humor.
- The Enterprise comes to the assistance of Captain Thadiun Okona when his ship malfunctions. Okona is a quick-witted and charming rogue who entertains everyone with his humor and is vastly popular with the ladies. While the Enterprise crew rebuilds the parts he needs to continue his journey, they are approached by the leaders of two planets accusing Okona of being a thief, or worse, and demanding that Picard turn him over to them. One is particularly incensed as he has accused Okona of impregnating his daughter. Not all is as it seems however. Data meanwhile tries to better understand humor. He seeks advice from Guinan and on the holodeck also gets advice from a stand up comic.—garykmcd
- The Enterprise takes aboard, while his rackety freight ship is being repaired, rogue shuttle-trader Okona, who quickly seduces several crew females. Soon after arrive ships from the rival planets he trades between, each claiming his extradition for trial. Picard is under no legal obligation and Okuna denies either having stolen Kushell's planet's diamond insignia jewel, reserved for his son Benzan, or knocked up Debin's daughter Yanar, yet offers to leave and let the spaceships chase him. The plan clearly renders the planetary leaders' heirs most uneasy.—KGF Vissers
- The Enterprise comes to the assistance of Captain Thadiun Okona (Billy Campbell) when his ship malfunctions. Okona is a quick-witted and charming rogue who entertains everyone with his humor and is vastly popular with the ladies. Enterprise was traversing space which had the twin planet system of Madena, which was colonized 200 years ago by a species of humanoids, and now coexist under a precarious treaty.
Okona was travelling in a cargo ship but had no cargo. Deanna confirms that Okona is a rogue, but she senses no malevolence or ill-will. Picard gives permission for Okona to be transported aboard the Enterprise, while the Engineering team fixes his ship. Okona makes friends with Wesley. Okona makes jokes with Data, which only makes Data realize that he does not have the ability to understand or appreciate jokes.
While the Enterprise crew rebuilds the parts, he needs to continue his journey (he had a malfunctioning guidance system), they are approached by the leaders of two planets. Debin (Douglas Rowe) of planet Atlec & Kushell (Albert Stratton) of Planet Straleb, arrive near the Enterprise accusing Okona of being a thief, or worse, and demanding that Picard turn him over to them. Debin and Kushell have obsolete star ships with lasers, which cannot even penetrate the Enterprise's navigation shields. Yet, Picard listens to them patiently. Debin is particularly incensed as he has accused Okona of impregnating his daughter Yanar (Rosalind Allen). Debin says that Okona dishonored his daughter, and then ran away leaving her with his illegitimate child. Kushell accuses Okona of stealing the Jewel of Thesia, their national heritage. Kushell says his son Benzan was used by Okona to steal the jewel from his planet.
Picard summons Okona to the bridge to settle the matter. Okona tells Picard that he is not sorry for his way of life, but he did not steal anything from anyone. He tells Picard to just fix his ship and let him leave. Since both Debin and Kushell have faster ships, they would capture him anyways, but that won't be Picard's issue. Picard agrees.
Wesley talks to Okona about how Okona just keeps running away from his life. Okona understands and decides to surrender. Picard calls Debin and Kushell to The Enterprise. Kushell brings his son Benzan (Kieran Mulroney). Debin brings his daughter Yanar.
Okona decides to surrender to Debin and take Yanar as his wife. Benzan protests. It turns out Benzan stole the jewel to give to Yanar as a marriage proposal and he was the one who got her preggers. Okona was simply supposed to deliver the jewel to Yanar on behalf of Benzan, but he never got the chance to do so. Yanar is embarrassed by the whole episode and refuses to marry anyone. Okona sits Yanar down and makes her realize that she loves Benzan. They have been covertly sending messages to each other via Okona for more than 6 months. Yanar agrees to marry Benzan.
Not all is as it seems, however. Data meanwhile tries to better understand humor. He seeks advice from Guinan (who tells Data to seek guidance on humor from a more powerful computer) and on the Holodeck. Guinan says that she had never seen Data laugh. He goes to the Holodeck to see stand-up comics in action & also gets advice from a stand-up comic. The comic tries to teach Data that whatever makes you laugh is funny, but Data says he cannot laugh. He doesn't understand why Jerry Lewis is considered funny.
Data learns all the jokes from the stand-up comic and goes to test his newly acquired knowledge on Guinan. Despite anything he does, Data simply can't tell jokes properly.
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