Data's Unintentionally Perfect Punchline
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Okona prompts Data to say goodbye; Data, caught off guard, repeats 'Good-bye Data,' triggering a ripple of laughter across the bridge and marking an unexpected emotional victory in Data's study of humor.
Picard smiles and nods as Data seeks validation; Okona gives a thumbs-up on the Main Viewer, Data attempts another joke, and the Enterprise warps away—laughter and relief releasing tension and closing the act on a light, reconciled note.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Relieved and amused by the resolution
Riker remains professionally focused on the separation procedures but later contributes to the lighthearted mood by prompting Okona's warp speed departure.
- • To safely oversee Okona's departure
- • To maintain bridge decorum while allowing crew bonding
- • That positive crew morale enhances performance
- • That professional standards should be balanced with human connection
Grateful and playful, enjoying the crew's camaraderie
Okona prompts Data to say goodbye, then gives him a thumbs-up when Data's accidental humor succeeds. He remains playful and engaged with the Enterprise crew during his departure.
- • To connect with the Enterprise crew before departing
- • To leave on positive terms with his new acquaintances
- • That spontaneous humor creates bonds between people
- • That shared laughter dissolves formal barriers
Focused on duties but enjoying the crew's camaraderie
Wesley confirms the technical separation of Okona's craft, maintaining his professional duties amidst the lighthearted moment.
- • To execute his duties precisely
- • To contribute to successful mission completion
- • That technical precision ensures operational safety
- • That crew cohesion enhances mission success
Amused and proud of Data's spontaneous moment of humor
Picard smiles and nods approvingly at Data's accidental humor, showing paternal pride in Data's social progress. He maintains command decorum while enjoying the lighthearted moment.
- • To acknowledge Data's social progress
- • To maintain a positive sendoff for Okona
- • That Data's development is important for crew cohesion
- • That moments of levity strengthen team bonds
Pleased and surprised by the unexpected positive reaction to his statement
Data responds literally to Okona's prompt by saying 'Good-bye Data,' unintentionally creating humor. He looks around the bridge in pleased surprise at the crew's laughter and seeks validation from Picard.
- • To participate appropriately in the farewell ritual
- • To understand and replicate human social behaviors, particularly humor
- • That humans value correct social participation
- • That humor contains logical patterns he can decode
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Main Viewer displays Okona's image during the farewell, serving as both communication device and visual focal point for the bridge crew's interactions with him, including Okona's thumbs-up gesture to Data.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Main Bridge serves as the stage for both the formal departure procedures and the spontaneous moment of crew bonding through laughter at Data's accidental humor.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Data's Holodeck experiment with an audience teaches him the importance of response/timing, which contributes to his accidental comedic success on the bridge when he elicits genuine laughter."
"Data's Holodeck experiment with an audience teaches him the importance of response/timing, which contributes to his accidental comedic success on the bridge when he elicits genuine laughter."
"Data's Holodeck experiment with an audience teaches him the importance of response/timing, which contributes to his accidental comedic success on the bridge when he elicits genuine laughter."
"The early beat of Data's confusion about jokes echoes forward into the resolution where Data, having pursued understanding, finally provokes laughter—completing his mini-arc."
"The early beat of Data's confusion about jokes echoes forward into the resolution where Data, having pursued understanding, finally provokes laughter—completing his mini-arc."
"The early beat of Data's confusion about jokes echoes forward into the resolution where Data, having pursued understanding, finally provokes laughter—completing his mini-arc."
"The early beat of Data's confusion about jokes echoes forward into the resolution where Data, having pursued understanding, finally provokes laughter—completing his mini-arc."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"OKONA: What about you Data? You can say good-bye, Data."
"DATA: Good-bye Data."
"DATA: Was I funny?"