“Darmok” is episode two of season five of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is heading to the El-Adrel system, which is near the territory of the species called the Children of Tama. Captain Picard is filling in the senior staff; the Tamarians have been broadcasting and Starfleet believes they are attempting to communicate. According to Data, the Tamarians have been encountered seven times previously, but relations haven’t been established because communications were not possible. The Tamarians are described as being incomprehensible. Worf is concerned but Troi says they could be peaceful. That’s where they’re going to start, according to the captain.
When the Tamarians are contacted, they are speaking in phrases filled with proper nouns. Everyone on the bridge looks baffled, but Troi senses nothing but good intentions. The captain attempts to reply, speaking slowly and loudly. Now the Tamarians look baffled. What might be the first officer laughs at something until his captain tells him off.
The Tamarian captain and his first officer appear to start arguing over something, mentioning ‘Darmok’ a lot. The captain seems to win the argument and takes a knife from his officer and states ‘Darmok and Jalad ant Tanagra.’ Then he and Captain Picard are beamed off their bridges. The Tamarians have created a scattering field that prevents transporters from working. Captain Picard sees the Tamarian captain, who raises both knives.
The Enterprise can’t communicate with Captain Picard either, but sensors are still working. Riker asks Worf what he thinks is going on. Worf thinks it’s a contest of champions. On the surface, the captain thinks the Tamarian captain wants to fight. The other throws him a knife. Picard throws it back. The other captain collects it, sheathes his own and walks off.
Riker contacts the Tamarian ship and gets nowhere again. Data thinks further study might help. Riker orders Worf to assemble a security team and take a shuttle down. Riker is aware the Tamarians could stop it, but thinks they won’t escalate.
The Tamarian captain has made a fire. The captain is trying, and failing, to make his own. They also try talking to each other. That isn’t going so well either. The Tamarian, after performing what looked like some sort of ritual, takes a knife in his hand and lays down to sleep. However, as Captain Picard is wandering around, clearly cold, he gets up again and throws him a brand. ‘Temba, his arms wide.’ Picard starts theorising that this means giving, or taking, and takes the brand. Communication. Well, sort of.
The Tamarian ship fires on Worf’s shuttle as it leaves, rendering one nacelle inoperable. They could land, but not take off. Precise shooting; enough to make them turn back, but not enough to kill.
Geordi thinks he can punch through the field, but it will take a day. Troi fears the captain may be dead by then. Worf does not; he has confidence in the captain’s ability as a warrior. He will be victorious. Troi points out that they still don’t know this is a challenge ritual. Riker asks for suggestions. Worf suggests attacking the ship. It would end the stalemate. Of course, it might start a war. Riker wants Troi and Data to work on the language.
The captain wakes and finds the Tamarian gone. He enters the other’s camp and studies the items left.
Data and Troi are discussing the Tamarian language. Troi asks the computer to search for Darmok. There are 47 different meanings in this sector. Both say that, with all their technology, all their experience, all the species they’ve spoken to, and they can’t say hello. A single wrong word could end in tragedy. Data instructs the computer to search for Tanagra. One of the answers overlaps with one of the meanings for Darmok. Slight progress.
The captain is reading the other’s log when the Tamarian runs up, worried. He wants Picard to take a knife. The captain isn’t going to find him. There’s a roar. The Tamarian doesn’t want Captain Picard to fight him; he wants to help fight whatever made that sound.
The Enterprise is making scant progress with the language. Captain Picard, however, is making more. He does have an invisible energy monster to provide motivation for learning how to understand the Tamarian, though.