Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

Darmok (1991)

Patrick Stewart: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Photos 

Quotes 

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Gilgamesh, a king. Gilgamesh, a king. At Uruk. He tormented his subjects. He made them angry. They cried out aloud, "Send us a companion for our king! Spare us from his madness!" Enkidu, a wild man... from the forest, entered the city. They fought in the temple. They fought in the streets. Gilgamesh defeated Enkidu. They became great friends. Gilgamesh and Enkidu at Uruk.

  Captain Dathon : [faintly]  At Uruk.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : The... the new friends went out into the desert together, where the Great Bull of Heaven was killing men by the hundreds. Enkidu caught the Bull by the tail. Gilgamesh struck him with his sword.

  Captain Dathon : [laughing]  Gilgamesh.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : They were... victorious. But... Enkidu fell to the ground, struck down by the gods. And Gilgamesh... wept bitter tears, saying, "He who was my companion, through adventure and hardship, is gone forever."

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : The Tamarian was willing to risk all of us, just for the hope of communication. Connection. Now the door is open between our peoples. That commitment meant more to him than his own life.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [presenting Dathon's dagger to the Tamarian First Officer]  Temba - his arms open.

  ['Take it'] 

  Tamarian First Officer : Temba - at rest.

  ['Keep it'] 

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Thank you.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [interpreting Dathon's tale of Darmok and Jalad]  They arrive separately. They... They struggle together against a common foe, the Beast at Tanagra. "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra!"

  Captain Dathon : Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [translating]  They left together. "Darmok and Jalad on the ocean."

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : But are they truly incomprehensible? In my experience, communication is a matter of patience, imagination. I would like to believe that these are qualities that we have in sufficient measure.

• Capt. Picard : Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra!

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : You hoped that something like this would happen, didn't you? You knew there was a dangerous creature on this planet, and you knew from the tale of Darmok that a danger shared might sometimes bring two people together. Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra. You and me, here, at El-Adrel.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : [to the fallen Dathon]  I understand your sacrifice, Captain. Unfortunately, if our friend out there has its way, no one will ever know what you tried to do.

• [first lines] 

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Captain's log, stardate 45047.2 - The Enterprise is en route to the uninhabited El-Adrel system. Its location is near the territory occupied by an enigmatic race known as "The Children of Tama."

• Commander William T. Riker : New friends, Captain?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I can't say, Number One. But at least they're not new enemies.

• Tamarian First Officer : Darmok?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : And Jalad at Tanagra. Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

  Tamarian First Officer : Sokath, his eyes open!

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : The beast of Tanagra. Uzani, his army. Shaka when the walls fell.

  Tamarian First Officer : Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel. Mirab, with sails unfurled.