STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Nagus" (fka "Friends & Foes") #40511-411 Story by Zek himself appears only once in a while. And speaking of Zek Pechetti and Calandra. ROGA DANAR LETHEAN Non-Speaking CREWMEMBERS TRANSPORTER CHIEF Voice-Over COMPUTER VOICE STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Visitor" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE TRANSPORTER ROOM SICKBAY TURBOLIFT CORRIDOR K'EHLEYR'S QUARTERS K'MPEC'S QUARTERS ALEXANA'S QUARTERS CARDASSIAN WARSHIP QUARTERS RUNABOUT J'DDAN'S QUARTERS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Visitor" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE K'EHLEYR KEW-rah MENADY MEN-duh KEVIN KEV-in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Visitor" TEASER FADE IN: EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) traveling at warp speed. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 47831.2. For some weeks we have had a Klingon vessel on the outer edge of the Neutral Zone. This vessel has generated a storm front so overwhelming that it has to be bailed out of the docking ring. INT. MAIN BRIDGE PICARD and RIKER are in the Command Area, WORF at Tactical, WESLEY at the Conn position. DATA is at Ops. RIKER Just what the hell is this thing? DATA Sensors have detected a massive earthquake on the surface. RIKER That's the opposite of what I meant... WESLEY You mean a forcefield that's surrounded the ship suddenly abnormal readings have been made by our own sensors. RIKER Data -- what the hell's happening to us? WESLEY I don't know, Commander. It just didn't happen. Did the sensors show anything, Forcefields, or indications of matter or energy absent? DATA We should proceed to the next open channel, Mister Worf. Riker reacts as he activates the new combadge. RIKER (to com) Riker to WESLEY. Greenpoint Three. GREENBOND'S COM VOICE Lieutenant Worf, Ambassador Wesley Crusher here. RIKER Entry restricted. Picard steps in quickly, and Wesley hesitates. RIKER We're in the middle of a great moment. Perhaps you can -- PICARD It's all right, Wesley. I... (interrupting, to Wesley) Good chase, Mister Crusher. WESLEY (to com) We were about to go out to the previous entrant and they refused to grant us access. So I had to board their vessel. RIKER'S COM VOICE That sounds like a good way of running interference on our transponder, Mister Worf. We hear the SOUND of TRANSPORTER SOUND. Wesley suddenly sees something on his console. WESLEY (continuing, to com) Transporter Room Four. We've caught up with Captain Picard. Riker and Picard exchange looks. RIKER Some kind of protective mask... DATA Perhaps they are attempting to cover up something, sir. PICARD Protecting themselves? DATA The term is Greek, Captain. I would have to agree. They must have had white clothing. RIKER Captain, what do you make of this? PICARD I'm not sure, Number One. It doesn't say what the device attributes to the wearer. RIKER Then we're going to have to define that office. TROI I'm also not sure, Captain. But basically what happened is this... Troi trails her thought-provoking statement with a sharp glance down the corridor. TROI (continuing) ... what do we do, exactly? How do we separate ourselves from the others? PICARD And what if the environment we leave is difficult, even difficult to adjust to? Are you prepared for the consequences of that? TROI I have spent my entire life ascending princes' paths. I cope with the demands of command. Now and then I am tempted to think I can control the crew. We are pleased when we are not. (beat) But every time I am tempted to abandon my command and take the opportunity to enjoy commandership... there is a restraining factor. PICARD Did you experience the "bad leg" first? TROI No, Captain. It was a weak side. RIKER The artificial "arm" you left them with realigned the transporter system. Riker moves closer to Data, who stares at the floor. Suddenly he turns toward the others. RIKER What is it you want from me? DATA I would like...] for you to try an experiment. BEVERLY How would that help Carlota? TROI We have not fully explored other possibilities. If we had only a little time to investigate... GEORDI (interrupting) How much time? Picard and the others look at him. GEORDI We don't have that much time. PICARD Please -- RIKER This is not a joking matter. We have to consider what is best for the Enterprise. PICARD Agreed. What do you suggest? GEORDI We should abandon the old strategy and look again at alternatives. A background SOUND suddenly BLOODS the room. The others stare at the smoke and hear the NOISE. DATA It seems you have made a good decision, sir. PICARD (to Riker) It won't work, Will. RIKER You don't understand, sir. I won't turn you over to the Security people. I will pass along this message. The STATIC CRIES, then a LOUD RUMBLING SOUND. PICARD (interrupting) That doesn't pass. The STATIC CRIES again, followed by the HIGH-PITCHED SOUND of a PHASER BEAM. PICARD (continuing) We are going to conduct a search for Doctor Quaice. �� CUT TO: THE MEDICAL SHIP - ANOTHER ANGLE - THE PHASER BEAM (OPTICAL) which is whistling past the hull. RESUME - BRIDGE WORF Shields holding. GEORDI I am reading aft EM sensor signatures... they think we've found him... RIKER Let's do it. The medical ship moves away from the starboard nacelle and touches the command position. WORF Three more approaching. GEORDI Ready to engage... targets set. The ship goes to RED ALERT. EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The ship at warp. INT. BRIDGE Riker, Picard, Data, and Worf at their stations. DATA Target set. RIKER Broad swat again. WORF Down to three and running. DATA Down to two and running, sir. PICARD Let's do it. � CUT TO: EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) The ship at full stop. INT. JEFFERIES TUBE Riker and Worf are climbing along the narrow tube. RIKER You have no idea of the difficulty already? WORF We are being scanned... RIKER Affirmative... down to eight kilometers... scanners are being used... WORF We are being scanned... RIKER Isn't it just Fox News all right? WORF More than pleasant. RIKER Are the results reflective of their own space program? WORF Curious. Their own space procedure seems to be... probed. RIKER (unconvinced) We'll see. Let's see what "probed" them into believing. They exit the Jefferies Tube. INT. BRIDGE Riker and Worf come about to Riker's station. WORF We are being scanned, sir. RIKER Should be some kind of long range sensor. WORF I cannot get a clear scan, sir. The BRIDGE SOUNDS. DATA We are being scanned, sir. WORF I cannot confirm that... Another SURGE SHIFT. Riker looks up at the viewscreen. RIKER Worf, dive back to a higher level. WORF Root cause - unknown. Shields down. RIKER Advise Starfleet -- do not wait here. (to comm) Mister Worf, proceed. He leaves his station. Worf has a look of alarm on his face. He quickly moves to a science station which is basically a room-temperature replicator. He is very preoccupied with what he is doing. WORF (to himself) What a waste of time that was. INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE SISKO is sitting at his desk. MARTOK comes over to his station. MARTOK (with venom) Commander. Commander. SISKO I certainly can't claim to having had all the answers, but I can assure you that we found the root cause... MARTOK (he can't help the words but to link them together) ... of the civil war that sought to end this century. SISKO Yes, we found a common enemy also. MARTOK That's right. SISKO We also discovered that their common enemy is the Cardassian occupation. Which, by resequencing all weapons, has resulted in a near-invulnerability to even the most brutal counterinsurgencies. So I'm proposing a proposal. If each side's forces are reduced to weapons, then the other's side will have an overwhelming advantage. Peace must be rebuilt. MARTOK Not by firing on other side's forces, which would only leave them more vulnerable... SISKO But by uprooting your own force, you would deprive the Cardassians of their next target. MARTOK (harsh) No! By choosing to side with the Federation against the Cardassians -- SISKO -- you've made a terrible, profitable decision. Millions of Federation lives could be at stake... MARTOK If a peace treaty is signed, Starfleet will have to abandon its troops along the border. The Cardassians will be forced to retreat to their belongings... our ships and power will be their next battlefield. And they'll have the advantage... SISKO You're picking the side, aren't you? MARTOK (sharp) Captain, you must confront the Cardassians. You must put your personal feelings aside. It's you, Benjamin, and now more than anything else, that will hold the Cardassians. SISKO I've got a better idea. (to Martok) Try to convince Congress that a treaty is the best way to stop the Dominion. MARTOK I can't do that. No one on Cardassia wants a treaty. SISKO Then get your people to agree to it. Tell them it's time to leave. MARTOK A wise course. But even if it succeeded, there are still three more months before the Cardassians realize they can't survive on this planet. SISKO That still allows them to deliver their message. If they can't, then they'll have to head for the wormhole... (beat) Our station could be their next target. MARTOK And what of your subordinates? Are you prepared to launch a full-scale attack soon? SISKO We're prepared to do that when the time comes. MARTOK If that's what it takes -- so be it. Martok looks at Sisko with growing satisfaction. That's exactly what he was hoping for. CUT TO: INT. WARDROOM Dukat and Weyoun are looking over the PADD that's on the table. DUKAT (pointing to the PADD) There is the information you wanted. WEYOUN Our information is identical. We're trying to determine what happened -- or at least, what was done by Damar. DUKAT You saw only one Cardassian settlement destroyed... Do you remember that the Cardassian colonists in this sector had been terrorists before they was taken away? (beat) Dukat -- you betrayed your father to your government. WEYOUN I don't know what bothers me more -- the fact that he was a good boy... or that he let these people suffer so he could get away from me. Dukat looks at the PADD for a long moment, as if trying to grapple with a painful memory. DUKAT (continuing, struggling) I don't want to feel as guilty as you are... but it seems like I've been... given a second thought. (beat) It was Damar who ordered me to leave, wasn't it? WEYOUN I don't know. But since you're still a Cardassian... there's no reason for you to stop fighting for your freedom. (beat) You're still a member of the Dominion. If Damar wants to hold onto power, he'll have to destroy the Federation fleet... or give it to his presence. The choice is yours. A long beat. Dukat looks down at the PADD. DUKAT Most of all, Damar... freedom. CLOSE ON DUKAT as he looks back out the window and we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. CARDASSIAN WAR ROOM (OPTICAL) Everyone in the War Room is looking at the Viewscreen -- which shows a Cardassian Defender darting toward the Enterprise. GUL DUKAT MSK-one-four-five -- a bird of prey. (beat) And I have no intention of permitting any further destruction. There is a tense beat in the War Room. GUL DUKAT It's clear we have no choice. Open a channel. Gul Shinath of the Cardassian Council of Ministers speaks from his chime-controlled office. GUL SHINAD This is Gul Shinath of the Cardassian Central Command. Requests for airspace at zero-zero-five mark zero-four-seven. GUL DUKAT I'll take it in the interest of diplomacy. (checks his own PADD) The USS Defiant is approaching this sector. GUL SHINAD I'm not familiar with it. GUL DUKAT (smiles) It's no secret that we class as non-Cardassians. Our culture is still rooted in the Alpha Quadrant. (MORE) GUL DUKAT (Cont'd) So what gives you an edge when you're a Cardassian? Your sideburns, your beards, your daggerteeth. Sure, you look Cardassian, but you're actually a Vulcan. And a very good one. KALITA I look around me and I see a Vulcan too. GUL DUKAT loopholed in half. And as Dukat laughs, we... CUT TO: INT. CAPTAIN'S OFFICE Sisko is at his desk awaiting Dax's completion of testing the bio-beds. She stands already at her station, finishing working on her PADD. SISKO Are you done? DAX Not quite, I'm still working on the photon torpedo. SISKO Just make sure you keep your tricorder straight out. DAX You sighted that artifact? SISKO I was looking at the screen of it's orbit. You should be able to see it now. DAX I doubt it was ever in your possession before today. SISKO That's what I was just thinking. DAX What if tomorrow you happen to collapse? SISKO (defensive) What makes you say that? DAX I do. Sisko shakes off his attack. SISKO I see. Well, then tomorrow you might as well give up the stranger. DAX If you need painkillers, I'll put them in your bag. Dax EXITS. SISKO Let's see how this works... INT. DEFIANT - CORRIDOR Kira emerges from the medical bay and heads down the rack, lost in thought playing on her adrenaline. Odo, running the other way, arrives alongside, hurrying to catch up. Kira hits her combadge. KIRA Kira to Ops. An urgent message from the Bajoran Central Command... ODO Not now, Major! I'm busy. KIRA But, Odo -- He sighs, catches up to her, puts his hand on her shoulder -- KIRA Take care of yourself. I'll keep you out of trouble for a while. Odo nods, almost relieved that he can help. A beat, then Kira nods, almost relieved that he's happy for her. KIRA I've managed to get my hand on the damaged runabout. But they won't be arriving for a few more days. ODO That's fortunate for you. KIRA (re: the runabout) I hope they made a stop at the Darwin colony... there's some worrying about a lot of what happened down there. Odo nods, and Kira and Odo head for the door. INT. READY ROOM Where Odo and Kira are. KIRA The runabout was this way, back when you and Dax were still kissing. ODO Since when? KIRA Since I stopped taking Kukalaka so long ago. Odo wonders what this is all about. KIRA (continuing) I was headed for the Kriosian monastery on the fringes of the Cardassian border. I stopped outside Odo's quarters on the way. Before I knew it, I'd already been joined by a different CARDASSIAN SOLDIER. KIRA (surprised) A new one? ODO (feigning surprise) Ezri? KIRA Who? ODO Kira. KIRA Ezri was Joining the Central Command as our intendant. ODO Does she look anything like Curzon Dax? KIRA (nodding) She's the same age. And they're heads are swimming. Odo looks puzzled. KIRA I'd like to talk to her, but I have duty to attend to some things. ODO There's nothing to discuss. KIRA That's fine with me. (a beat) Odo, do you believe in God? ODO No. KIRA That's not a bad start. ODO I'd rather believe. KIRA We both have room for flaws. Don't make me start already? ODO If I find some way to prove I'm not Curzon, my mission will be authorized. All right? KIRA Whatever you say. KIRA LEAVES the room as Odo smiles sweetly to himself. JAKE'S COM VOICE Nitrome(urgent) Jake to Major Kira! KIRA (to com, sweet as smell) Kira here. JAKE'S COM VOICE Nerys said she'd be here, and she is. Kira is crestfallen, but tries not to let it show. KIRA Thanks for coming. JAKE'S COM VOICE Good luck, dad. Kira's thoughts just after he's gone. INT. WARDROOM Kira and Odo on the stand, facing Vinor. ODO This is your chance to prove I'm not Curzon. KIRA You're trying to make me fall in love with you by offering me something I can't have. ODO What you're offering isn't something I can give up. KIRA What it is you want, what you intend to give up, I don't know. But I do know this. When the Time of Reckoning comes, you'll be an old man. ODO What? KIRA The evil Grilka will walk the path of the righteous. When she dies, Dukat will have no men left to oppose him. ODO (not realizing they've changed) The prophecy comes first. KIRA (smiles) I exaggerate. But even Jadzia couldn't have done what you intentionally did -- get you involved with someone you never wanted to. That's why the Time of Reckoning is so important. It's the first step toward cleaning the slate clean... the first step toward making the Klingons love each other. A beat as they stare at each other. ODO It seems that this war is between two incompatible spirits. KIRA I wouldn't know. They were just telling their stories to someone else. And even then they sometimes go back to the same place over and over again in their epics. ODO It's either that, or your stories are half-baked shibboleths from the malcontents of Klingon folklore. Kira smiles stubbornly. KIRA It's my stuff, Odo. And this is how I've managed to keep it myself together. ODO It's an intriguing premise... but I'm afraid it ignores the fact that the original Ossan poet was murdered by a competing spiritual, a "Klingon spiritual leader." KIRA You don't know that. ODO (as if trying to) The only one who did was Gul Dukat. KIRA But you didn't kill the spiritual leader... ODO No. But I did hear a prerecorded message coming from the spirit leader's computer. He was calling for me. KIRA What did you hear? ODO He was very vague about what happened. He didn't explain how he got hold of the codename, said that he was an experienced Starfleet officer... But Odo's story has finally reached the ears of Odo's mother, FINN ELBRUN. FINN ELBRUN My son, when the fighting first began, I begged you to join me. That we would defend our homes again. KIRA Why did you kill the spirit leader? FINN ELBRUN That's a good question. KIRA What do you mean? FINN ELBRUN The question is why? I don't know. I never met him before now. (beat) I love him, Nerys. I adore him. And as he moves away, Kira watches with anguish as her son shivers under the chin of our new alien. CLOSE ON KIRA & ODO ODO's eyes meet. He reaches out and takes her hand. Their eyes close. Their faces move closer. OMITTED THE BLACK SCREEN - CLOSE UP OF KIRA'S HAND and the hand of a young Trill named LEETA FALA EVEK is sitting in front of her. WIDEN to see Winn's features soften and become curious. Just then, in the background, Kira and Odo's eyes meet. They exchange a surprised look. ODO You're... Leeta. WINN That's right, my dear. ODO I'm Constable Odo of the Bajoran station Cardassian Zone. WINN A pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you. KIRA It's not every day I meet a Bajoran. WINN Not even a Cardassian. This is a knock on the door. The silence is broken by the EXITING Cardassian LEETA, carrying a tray of food. LEETA (to Kira) Nerys, I've prepared a small replicator on the Promenade. She heads for the replicator. KIRA (to Winn) I'll see you at the dinner. WINN I look forward to it. THE TABLE Kira and Odo are struck by the food at the table. KIRA You're out of this part of the world so easily. ODO It's not easy to walk away. KIRA It's not easy for me to let go of the life I've chosen. There's so much I want to do, so much I want to show the Emissary what I have to do. KIRA But you have the right to stay here. ODO The point is, there's no great advocate here to oppose me. The likes of Rugal and the others... they're nobody but commands. KIRA Who's in command of the station? ODO The mole, Governor. Kira shakes her head. KIRA The likes of Rugal and the others don't constitute a threat to us. Who's the commander of this station? ODO It's Lieutenant Commander Worf. (beat) And he's only one man. Introduced him as "Commander" to the entire room, he swiftly and painstakingly picked seven "brands" of Riker's to replace those which we no longer need. Even our Vulcan sensors aren't immune to his punctuation. Kira can't help but sneer at this point. O'BRIEN And you're saying the same thing's not true -- that a group of people are running this place, while others are passing it off as a bar. KIRA If you're questioning my loyalty, you don't belong here. ODO It's not that simple. KIRA I'm asking. I'm not a Jem'Hadar, I'm a Starfleet officer. I don't serve brands... I'm a man with a mission. And I have to follow orders, not because I want to. ODO You're an officer in Starfleet. That doesn't make you a Starfleet agent. KIRA What Starfleet orders you to do? At that moment, a Crewmember in a Starfleet uniform opens the door to admit Two N.D. Starfleet officers who have been working in concert. SISKO (re: Rugal) Damar worked with them for a long time. He knows them... ODO (knowing the drill) It starts with an "O" being checked and... ends with a resulting check... SISKO (seeing for themselves) But... ODO But what? SISKO (asking the audience question) Damar says he's innocent -- there's no proof he harmed Riaya. KIRA Of course he's innocent. There's no proof he murdered anyone. SISKO Of course he's innocent. Damar has been accused of covering up the murder of a Cardassian citizen... KIRA That's nonsense. SISKO The only Cardassian citizen who had a directorship at the Starfleet installation was Gul Darhe'el. ODO Who was Gul Darhe'el? SISKO He was the Head of Starfleet Intelligence in charge of Bajor during the occupation. He's regarded by the Cardassians as too loyal to the Federation. Interestingly, he died of "natural illness" a week after the end of the Occupation. KIRA He died of "natural illness." ODO (nods) The sad truth is that Cardassians don't usually kill people who they suspect of being patriots. Speculation? SISKO Just speculation, Mister Odo. The fact is that Gul Dukat is no ordinary Cardassian. He's managed to turn him into a national political figure. KIRA (with an edge) And without the vote of the Bajoran people... he's heading for the Majestic Galleries. ODO I thought you believed in me, Major. KIRA I don't know what I believe in and what I don't... at the moment, I'm not even sure I know what I'm supposed to do. She looks at him, pleading his existence. KIRA You're supposed to do what? ODO Finish this prisoner. KIRA I can't just sit here and do nothing. ODO You can't just sit here and do nothing when all your efforts have failed. You have to try. There's no other option. KIRA What do you want me to do? ODO Finish the prisoner. KIRA What makes you think I'm going to help you? ODO You don't have to help a Cardassian prisoner. Just show him I'm assigned to that prisoner. KIRA I can't do that. That prisoner is dead. There's a warrant out for his arrest. His case is going to be read. ODO You'll get another opportunity. They'll give you a new witness. (looks at the monitor) Then -- if all goes well... if the situation calls for it... I'll deal with the prisoner in the Briefing Room. If not... then I'll deal with Shakaar directly. Kira considers for a beat, then bits out a response that isn't nearly as forceful as what he wants. KIRA That's not good enough. It's not good, but she knows it and she knows Odo's gotta do something -- KIRA (continuing, quiet) I can't let you handle this, Odo. It won't change anything unless you start asking these kinds of questions. Odo looks at her for a moment, then nods, dismissing her opinion completely. ODO Alright. (beat) I'll go back to the monitor. And as he ends his search -- INT. PROMENADE Kira moves down the thoroughfare toward her quarters. As she passes Quark's, we see Quark stop at the kiosk and hand a coin over to a Bajoran vendor. INT. ANOTHER AIRLOCK As KIRA arrives, a Bajoran vendor approaches her. VENDOR You're late. KIRA Sorry. He hangs up the coin. KIRA I've got a favor to ask. Quark's very unhappy with the direction of the moment. QUARK (gloomy) Forget it. I have other plans. And by the time they get here, I wish they'd already known about the one in the Infirmary. He walks off down the Promenade. KIRA What's wrong with you? Quark walks up to her, placed on the Antica couch. QUARK Little lady... I've asked you to do something for me... KIRA What's that? QUARK Endowment. Do you know Commander Sisko? Kira's on the hunt for something. KIRA I assume you mean Tobin, my nephew? QUARK (what other words do he need?) Doctor Bashir. Lieutenant, do you have a moment? KIRA Time for one last visit from your beloved. During this, a more sullen looking VEDEK walks up to the steps of the ANTASSIAN CLIENT squadron. ZEK Somehow, I thought you would be interested in learning about my fellow Ferengi, Commander Sisko. SISKO (O.S.) You didn't sound very enthused when you heard I was: ZEK Looking for some excuse to leave before the Convention. I thought you might be interested in seeing Worf again. SISKO One more time, if you insist. The door to the Promenade has now come to a close. Quark trudges away, leaving Maihar'du to trail behind. QUARK Not today. Not after my wife's family comes to see me. And with that, Quark turns and heads back down the Promenade. Just when he's halfway down the stairs, Odo steps up to him. ODO Maybe you should change your attitude. QUARK I don't think it's the prerogative to dictate to an Energy Conservator. ODO What do you mean, "I think it's the prerogative"? Quark realizes he's just busted a perfectly legitimate family member off the Proxima family for the first time. QUARK Oh, now that you know about it, I'm a very special person indeed. Now let's go... And with that, Quark and Odo EXIT. INT. PROMENADE - CONTINUOUS As Quark and Odo ENTER from the Security Office. The store front is deserted. They round the corner and come upon a sight: ODO'S TABLE Sitting at a table, a Starfleet Reserve Officer sitting at the end of a meal. Quark looks outraged. QUARK Look who's here! The waiter stands and moves to bring the dispensing officer over to his table. QUARK AQUINO! Quark approaches the officer to apologize for his outburst, though he's not quite sure why. QUARK This is Lieutenant Commander Aaron "Aquino" Aquino. (to waiter) You've got to be joking. You couldn't possibly live here. That place is being used as a human burial place. The waiter turns back to the officer. QUARK Don't be ridiculous. This is my favorite spot on the ship. Besides... it's a very good resting area. The waiter gives the officer a backward look as his mouth hangs open. QUARK �(to Aquino) You treat everyone exactly like they're members of the crew. That way everyone wins. In fact, I usually make the crew aware that we're members of the crew. Aquino In that case, maybe we can find a few members of the crew who would be willing to be your partners. QUARK Not everybody. Aquino looks around and sees that a lot of the people looking at him are Nausicaans. AQUIEL (looking around) I wonder who owns this bar? QUARK (to Nausicaans) We do. NAUSICAAN #1 Who would want to kill you, Quark? QUARK (to Nausicaans) Our bodies can be anywhere. And if we're discovered, anyone within range of a plasma range weapon will be killed. Aquiel's features soften. She's not as naive as Quark seems to think. AQUIEL (softly) I see your point. QUARK The problem is, I can't see you. NAUSICAAN #1 The problem is... I don't have the eyes. HAIN (nodding) Those eyes should be used for scanners, not for killing. QUARK Foraging for food... gathering information... (a beat) I could imagine that'd be a big problem for a Klingon warrior. The other Nausicaans exchange worried looks. NAUSICAAN #1 What about his eyes? HAIN They're little more than curiosities. And besides... Quark makes a face -- he's not an easy man to get with. QUARK You've given up a good life of yours for short-changing your well being. HAIN What I have is a future that's much more exciting... QUARK I'll get on that panel and start making plans. Everyone turns to him. QUARK (to the others) Now remember -- you're all witnesses. Anything you say could be used against me... NAUSICAAN #1 As witnesses. Hain activates a portable viewscreen. From her expression, she's confident the others will follow after him. HAIN Quark -- I'd like to see the plan for your peg. QUARK (to the others) That's asking a lot. And off their REACTIONS, we: FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. QUARK'S (OPTICAL) CLOSE ON Brunt's request document. BRUNT Brunt -- you must return to the station. Now. Nitrome QUARK What for? BRUNT I need to see a response. QUARK You mean threatening one of your members? I hope not. HAIN This is serious business. BRUNT I have never lied to you, or my wife. QUARK We're not talking about someone who can blow up a shipport, Amanda... we're talking about a lifer. BRUNT Either you or Nagus Mizriel first. We can exchange places for fifteen minutes. Quark is starting to catch on why they're here. QUARK That happens seven days in a month... BRUNT You can't just sit back and do nothing. The Nagus is very important to me. I want to know everything there is to know about him. Brunt's anger boils to the surface. BRUNT I've done nothing. And if we don't comply, when will you offer any resistance? Quark is already facing maddening consequences. QUARK Then you will die. Soon. BRUNT You are a moron, Quark. Nothing but ruin for all of us. Brunt shudders, unable to take the slightest bit of aliasion. BRUNT (quiet) I... still can't believe this is happening. HAIN Coming from a man who was glad to deliver the discharge, you must think he'll have no regrets. QUARK He might. I don't know. BRUNT It has to be humiliating for him. A terrible mistake has been hystericalized. He must erase the record. QUARK (angry) What? Nagus, I have no intention of doing that. HAIN After you revise it every year, he'll never have any trouble believing you're innocent. DEEP SPACE NINE: "Badda-bing... " - REV. 01/13/99 - ACT FOUR 41. QUARK What? Hain flips his hair clockwise -- HAIN Spoken like a true Ferengi. QUARK I am? HAIN You baffle me. QUARK I am? HAIN You're just like Diek, aren't you? QUARK What's your problem? HAIN You're no fan of the Ferengi They're mean and arrogant. QUARK And you're a liar. But I can't tell which one is worse -- your lack of self respect, or yours? Quark doesn't get the chance to respond to Haenor's validation... his brain's already made that one. QUARK Well, when it comes to self-respect, you have it. Your superior intimidation, Haenor... (patting himself) I can see why you're still in the "Hunger Camp." The Arch Nagus speaks to him normally... but in this instance, the image of the arch Nagus has regained its vividness. ZEK And you're still looking out for yourself. Quark gets to his feet, trying to put on an educational show for his son. QUARK We were all lost, and you're almost there. What do you say we take the encyclopedia back to the Ferengi homeworld, sail ourselves up and bring it with us? Maybe we can all use the pocketful of books the Nagus thinks he's wasting. ROM The Nagus might still have them still... QUARK What he's thinking is that we don't have the encyclopedia, that we don't have time to go through it... and that he's right. ZEK Why should he be right? Have you ever been right? ROM NO! QUARK You're running out of time, Rom. The Nagus wants the book. ZEK I know -- you just spent hours vaporizing itself in a futile effort to save your Nagus. QUARK It's not over. I keep thinking of it... ZEK Perhaps it is under these circumstances that you should hold off on such trivial things as which nobleman or woman should receive the Nagus's desk. QUARK It's not about that. ZEK It is if you want the Nagus to get a taste of your new life. You're an independent man -- there are other opportunities out there. QUARK I'm not so sure that's true. RandomRedditor ZEK Think about it. Other people are doing things that you're doing now -- things that no one else will see. Where will you be when the Nagus gets bored of hearing about your life? When you're old and grey? When you die? QUARK I see no point in stating a certain... future. I've already decided to remain, that's all I need to make it. ZEK Not your life. QUARK I thought I'd never leave the Ferengi world... I thought I'd die trying to escape. Turns out the odds were against me. ZEK Quite right. But you did it. And you should thank the Northern Group for helping you through that. QUARK I'm very thankful. The others look at him. QUARK And I'm very sorry. He pats his chest. QUARK (continuing) Now we're all friends. And he's gone. ON ZEK weighing his odds. ZEK It would've been a shame to waste our good name. (a beat) So where's my beautiful young earring? CUT TO: EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) With the Enterprise. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END