Plot summary
As the Federation starship Enterprise, under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, passes through the Coalition of Madena, it detects a small cargo ship, under manual control by its occupant. The crew makes contact with the pilot, Captain Thadiun Okona (William O. Campbell), who requests help to repair a part on his ship. Captain Picard agrees and the Enterprise tows Okona's ship while Okona is brought on board. The crew soon finds that Okona has taken a keen interest in the women on the ship, beginning with Transporter Chief Robinson (Teri Hatcher in an uncredited role) and is in no rush to effect repairs.
Continuing through the sector, the Enterprise is set upon by ships from two planets, each of which locks its weapons upon the Enterprise, though both are vastly outclassed. Debin (Douglas Rowe), from the planet Atlec, accuses Okona of impregnating his daughter Yanar (Rosalind Ingledew), while Kushell (Albert Stratton) from the planet Straleb asserts that Okona has stolen a state treasure, the Jewel of Thesia. The two leaders clearly know each other and both demand that their claim on Okona takes precedence. Okona denies both allegations but offers nothing to defend himself with. Picard offers to arbitrate the dispute and brings Debin, Yanar, Kushell, and Benzan (Kieran Mulroney), Kushell's son, aboard the Enterprise. Okona sits and quietly listens to both Debin and Kushell's arguments but does not offer any evidence to defend himself from both allegations.
After much more arguing amongst the two leaders, Okona then declares that he is the father of Yanar's child and offers to marry her. Benzan then declares that the Jewel of Thesia hasn't been stolen: it is revealed that Okona has been acting as a go-between for Yanar and Benzan, who are in love with each other, and that Yanar is pregnant with Benzan's child; Benzan has offered to marry Yanar, intending to present the Jewel of Thesia, which he asserts is rightly his, as a courting gift. Okona was carrying the jewel between the two planets when he suffered engine trouble and he falsely claimed to be the father to force the two lovers to reveal the truth.
Embarrassed and frustrated with how her relationship with Benzan has caused Okona to get into trouble and the quarreling of their parents, especially her father's pressuring her to marry to preserve her family's honor, an exasperated Yanar declares that she is not marrying Benzan or Okona. Okona has a heart-to-heart conversation with Yanar about how she cannot throw away her relationship simply because their parents cannot "behave themselves". Yanar takes heed to Okona's advice. She and Benzan profess their love to each other in front of Debin and Kushell, who finally realize how happy their children are with each other.
Picard cannot get involved in the internal political disputes between the two planets and allows Okona to go on his way once his ship is repaired; Debin and Kushell are left to argue (in a friendly manner) about wedding details.
Lt. Commander Data is motivated to explore the concept of humor after meeting Okona. Prompted by Guinan, Data uses the holodeck to generate a comedy club setting and stand-up comic (played by Joe Piscopo) as his adviser but when he performs in front of the holographic audience, he is dismayed to find that they laugh at anything he says or does. Guinan cheers Data up by explaining that being able to laugh or make people laugh is not the final result of becoming human. As the Enterprise parts with Okona, Data is able to unintentionally make the crew laugh but does not at first understand the joke.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, The Outrageous Okona. Paragraphs and formatting adjusted; illustrations, reference markers, block quotations and non-story material omitted.