STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Darmok"
#40275-202
Written by
Joe Menosky
Directed by
Rick Kolbe
THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED
FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING
WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
Copyright 1991 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights
Reserved. This script is not for publication or
reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If
lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department.
FINAL DRAFT
JULY 8, 1991
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - REV. 7/17/91 - CAST
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Darmok"
CAST
PICARD CAPTAIN DATHON
RIKER TAMARIAN FIRST OFFICER
DATA
BEVERLY
TROI
GEORDI
WORF
Non-Speaking
O'BRIEN TAMARIAN OFFICERS
ALIEN CREATURE
ENSIGN LEFLER
COMPUTER VOICE
Non-Speaking
SUPERNUMERARIES
N.D. FEMALE SECURITY OFFICER
SHUTTLE CO-PILOT
N.D. MALE OFFICE
SHUTTLE PASSENGER
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - 7/8/91 - SETS
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Darmok"
SETS
INTERIORS EXTERIORS
USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE
MAIN BRIDGE
CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM TAMARIAN STARSHIP
OBSERVATION LOUNGE
ENGINEERING PLANET EL-ADREL
TRANSPORTER ROOM PLANET SURFACE
SHUTTLE
TAMARIAN BRIDGE
(ON VIEWSCREEN)
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - 7/8/91 - PRONUNCIATION
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Darmok"
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
ANNULAR ann-YOU-ler
ANZO AHN-zoe
BAHAR buh-HAHR
BAKOR bah-CORE
CALLIMAS kah-lee-MAHS
CHENZA CHEN-zuh
DARMOK dahr-MOCK
DATHON DAY-thahn
EL-ADREL el-AH-drel
GALLOS GAHL-ohs
JIRI JEE-ree
JALAD juh-LAHD
KADIR kuh-DEER
KANDA KAHN-duh
KANZA KAHN-zuh
KITEO key-TAY-oh
KITUAY KI-too-AY
LASHMIR lahsh-MEER
LERISHI LEHR-ish-ee
LOWANI low-AH-nee
LUNGHA LOON-guh
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - REV. 7/17/91 - PRONUNCIATION
CONTINUED:
MALINDI muh-LIN-dee
MIRAB mee-RAHB
MO MOTEH moe-moe-TAY
RAI RIE
RAZNA RAHZ-nuh
SHAKA SHAH-kah
SHANTIL SHAHN-till
SHIKU MARU SHEE-koo mah-ROO
SOKATH soh-KAHTH
TAMA TAH-mah
TAMARIAN tah-MAH-rian
TANAGRA tuh-NAH-gruh
TEMARC teh-MARK
TEMBA TEM-buh
UBAYA oo-BUY-uh
UZANI oo-ZAH-nee
ZIMA ZEE-mah
ZINDA ZIN-dah
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - REV. 7/16/91 - TEASER 1.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
"Darmok"
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
Travelling at warp speed.
PICARD (V.O.)
Captain's log, stardate 45047.2.
The Enterprise is en route to an
uninhabited planet in the El-Adrel
system. The location is mid-way
between Federation space and the
territory occupied by an enigmatic
race known as "The Children of
Tama."
2 INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE (OPTICAL)
PICARD, RIKER, TROI, DATA and WORF. The Enterprise is
at warp. A schematic of a Tamarian spacecraft is
displayed at Data's end of the table.
PICARD
The Tamarians apparently arrived
at El-Adrel Four nearly three
weeks ago. They've been
transmitting a subspace signal
toward Federation space ever
since.
DATA
The signal is a standard
mathematical progression. It does
not carry a specific message.
RIKER
But they want us to know they're
there.
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - 7/8/91 - TEASER 1A.
2 CONTINUED:
PICARD
Apparently so. Starfleet
believes their presence is an
attempt to start a dialogue.
(to Data)
Commander.
Data indicates the graphic display -- the ship is
formidable looking, covered with alien lettering.
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - REV. 7/10/91 - TEASER 2.
2 CONTINUED: (2)
DATA
Federation vessels have
encountered Tamarian ships seven
times over the past one hundred
years. Each meeting was without
incident, but formal relations
were never established because
communication was not possible.
RIKER
Why?
DATA
The Children of Tama were called
"incomprehensible" by Captain
Silvestri of the Shiku Maru.
Other accounts are comparable.
WORF
A cause for concern. For all
we know, they are threatening
our border.
TROI
Everything in the previous
encounters suggests a peaceable
race. We have to start from
there.
PICARD
Agreed. I appreciate your
prudence, Lieutenant Worf. But
given the evidence, Starfleet has
arrived at a reasonable
conclusion. The Tamarians have
extended a hand -- we must do the
same.
A beat as Worf lets it go for now. Riker turns to the
graphic display.
RIKER
The "Children of Tama." I've
heard rumors about them for years.
PICARD
As have I, Number One.
Picard glances at the graphic of the Tamarian ship.
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - REV. 7/16/91 - TEASER 3.
2 CONTINUED: (3)
PICARD
(continuing)
Are they truly "incomprehensible"?
In my experience, communication
is a function of patience and
imagination. I'd like to think
we have both qualities in
sufficient measure.
3 ANGLE ON THE TAMARIAN GRAPHIC
A beat on the mysterious, powerful-looking vessel.
4 EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL)
The Enterprise and a Tamarian starship, as formidable
as the graphic, slightly more robust than our own
craft. The ships are facing each other, in orbit above
a reddish planet.
5 INT. BRIDGE - THE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
displays a TAMARIAN -- CAPTAIN DATHON -- flanked by
his FIRST OFFICER, and TWO OTHER OFFICERS. Their
uniforms are rich with insignia -- and each wears a
small ceremonial dagger across his or her chest. But
all look the very embodiment of "well-meaning."
DATHON
... Rai and Jiri at Lungha. Rai
of Lowani. Lowani under two
moons. Jiri of Ubaya. Ubaya of
crossed roads. At Lungha.
Lungha. Her sky grey.
He smiles in all friendliness, as if waiting for a
response.
6 THE BRIDGE (OPTICAL)
Picard, Riker, Troi, Worf. All are staring at the
viewscreen, a stupefied expression on each face. Data
cocks his head in the android equivalent.
STAR TREK: "Darmok" - REV. 7/10/91 - TEASER 4.
6 CONTINUED:
DATHON
(continuing;
re-emphasizing)
Rai and Jiri. At Lungha...
A beat. Picard glances at Troi.
PICARD
Counselor...
TROI
I'm picking up nothing but good
intentions, Captain.
PICARD
Data?
DATA
The Tamarian seems to be stating
the proper names of individuals
and locations.
PICARD
But what does it all mean?
DATA
I am at a loss, sir.
Picard faces the alien on the viewscreen.
PICARD
(to screen)
Captain, I invite you to consider
the creation of a mutual
non-aggression pact between our
two peoples. Possibly leading
to a trade agreement and cultural
interchange. Does this sound like
a reasonable course of action?
7 INCLUDE THE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
Now it's the Tamarians' turn to stare open-mouthed.
They haven't a clue...
