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DS9 12x11 – "Death of a Salesman"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
Meanwhile...

TNG 17x11 – “I’M NO ANGEL”

The crew of a Luna-class ship, Rhea, is exploring an unusual star cluster when the Borg-controlled starship Einstein arrives. The crew are helpless as the Rhea is assimilated, but before she can be taken as well, Lt T’Ryssa Chen is inexplicably whisked away. Enterpriseis assigned to chase down Einstein – the last loose end from the super-cube crisis – with extreme prejudice. T’Lana has taken leave, concluding that she is no longer mentally fit to serve. Picard agrees to take Chen as an adviser instead – she contacted entities on the planet, and calls them ‘Noh-Angels’ after the Japanese art form. She believes that the entire star cluster is sentient, and saved her. Enterprise also finds Rhea, frozen in time – the entity’s attempt to protect it as well. Analysis suggests that Chen was moved by some kind of naturally occurring slipstream. If Einstein manages to assimilate that, they will be unstoppable.

TTN 1x11 – “SWORD OF DAMOCLES”

Dark days on Titan – while they explore a region heavy with dark matter, the crew are all on edge. Science officer Jaza has nightmares of dying in a shuttle crash. Riker and Troi are barely talking. Chief engineer Ra-Havreii is hiding in his quarters and interfering in other people’s projects. Christine Vale worries that the Luna experiment is failing. Tempers are short and arguments are everywhere. They receive a distress call from deeper inside the dark matter region. As they approach, Titan is knocked out of warp by subspace waves from the planet Orisha, an insectoid society whose warp-fold experiments are causing the spatial disruptions. Vale leads an away team of Troi, Jaza, Ra-Havreii, Keru and Y’Lira, but a massive energy tesseract in orbit causes the shuttle to crash – just like Jaza predicted. As they go down, they witness what appears to be Titan being destroyed by the same phenomenon...

VOY 10x11 – “POST MORTEM”

Chakotay is in Venice, waiting to meet Janeway as they agreed. Her ex-boyfriend Mark turns up instead, and breaks the bad news. A memorial is erected and a grand state funeral held. Everyone is there – Chakotay, Seven, the Doctor, Tom, Harry, Kaz, the various admirals and Janeway’s family. On Titan, Troi breaks the news to Tuvok, and his grief overwhelms her senses. On her tiny slipstream shuttle somewhere in the Beta Quadrant, B’Elanna receives the report, and roars that a warrior is coming to Sto’Vo’Kor. Kathryn’s sister Phoebe exhorts Starfleet to revenge against the ones who took Janeway from them. A broken Chakotay promises that she will get it. Flashbacks reveal their last dinner together, just before Voyager left for the Yaris Nebula. It was the night they finally admitted their feelings for each other, and agreed that when he came back, if nothing had changed, then they would meet in Venice.
 
TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 INT. FEDERATION PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - DAY


A padd is SLAMMED onto the desk in a fury. President BACCO is on her feet, looming across her desk and staring daggers into her closest advisor, Esperanza PIÑIERO.


BACCO
Esperanza, what the hell is this?

PIÑIERO
I’m sorry ma’am, I left my psychic
powers in my other pants...

BACCO
Nobody likes a wise-ass. Why
the hell are we renewing a trade
agreement with Aligar?

PIÑIERO
(it’s obvious)
We’ve been trading with them
for kellinite. We had to, during
the war, the way we were going
through ships...​


Bacco harrumphs back into her seat, casting the padd aside.


BACCO
That’s nice. Do you know how they
mine the kellinite?

PIÑIERO
I assume with the usual mining
equipment -

BACCO
Slaves, Esperanza. They use slaves.

PIÑIERO
I... didn’t know...

BACCO
Well, I did know. You know how I
know? They tried to peddle that
crap to Cestus. I was all ready
to sign, and then we did a little
research. They oppress ninety
percent of their society. That’s
not a typo - ninety percent. Nine
out of every ten people is owned
by the other one. Why the hell are
we involved with these people?

PIÑIERO
It was war, ma’am, we -

BACCO
Oh for the love of everything,
Esperanza. I know there was a war
on, I was there. Desperate times,
strange bedfellows, whatever damn
other wartime cliché you want to
throw at me. But the war’s been
over for four years. Is there any
compelling reason we should be
setting our principles aside now?
Or has it just become habit?

PIÑIERO
No, ma’am. And I think you should
make that argument tomorrow. But,
there’s something else, ma’am...

BACCO
(rubs forehead)
Esperanza, I’m already cleaning up
the mess from the bloody slaughter
of thousands by the Borg, trying
to prepare for my summit with
Martok and Tal’Aura, working on
a really good level-six headache...

PIÑIERO
I’m sorry, ma’am. But this could
be big. It’s about the Ferengi...​


That takes Bacco aback. She wasn’t expecting that.


2 EST. DEEP SPACE NINE


Bringing us home to the station...


3 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


A padd is SLAMMED onto the bar in a fury. QUARK is on his feet, looming across his bar and staring daggers into his best dabo girl (and assistant manager) TREIR.


QUARK
Treir, what the frinx is this?​


Treir doesn’t even look up from her own padd, where she is leisurely scrolling through the news bulletins, as she sits on a bar stool with legs crossed and swinging.


TREIR
What is it now, Quark?

QUARK
You renewed the trade agreement
with Balancar? Are you crazy?

TREIR
(long-suffering)
We need syrup of squill, Quark.
Morn gets through a crate of the
stuff by himself every month.

QUARK
Balancar is notorious for over-
charging for squill - faking a
drought, raising their taxes,
whatever other trick I’ve probably
pulled myself. I was just waiting
for the contract to expire so I
didn’t have to pay the early
termination fee, and then I
was gonna drop their frunks.

TREIR
Well, maybe if you’d told me that
before you gave me responsibility
for the contract renewals...

QUARK
Oh for the love of Gint. That’s
exactly the kind of thing you’re
supposed to check for, Treir,
it’s a basic part of the job.

TREIR
(looks up;
genuinely)
Okay - I’m sorry. I didn’t check
what I should have checked.
It won’t happen again, Quark.

QUARK
(totally wrong-footed)
What? Oh. Well. Yeah. You
should be. So... just think on.​


Treir returns to her news scrolling, while Quark looks at her with suspicion, not quite sure what just happened. Then Treir begins to CHUCKLE at something on her padd. Quark bitterly assumes he’s the target of a joke.


QUARK
What?

TREIR
Oh, don’t worry. You’ll like it.​


The COMM SCREEN behind the bar suddenly burbles with an incoming message. Quark looks back and forth between the screen and Treir, not sure who he should pay attention to.


TREIR
You should get that.​


Quark is still suspicious, but he does turn towards the panel. He works the controls, and the screen shows... ISHKA, Quark’s elderly mother, sniffling in tears.


QUARK
Moogie? Is that you?

ISHKA (screen)
Quaaaaaarrrrk...​


Confused, Quark looks back and forth between the sniffling, hitching Ishka on the screen and the smirking, chuckling Treir sat at the bar watching them both.


QUARK
Moogie, what is it? What’s wrong?

ISHKA (screen)
Oh, Quark! It’s terrible!

QUARK
Take a deep breath and tell me
what happened.

ISHKA (screen)
It’s Zekkie. He’s... he’s...

QUARK
He’s what?

ISHKA (screen)
He’s diiiieeeed!​


She bursts into messy sobbing tears. Quark is momentarily appalled and sad for his mother, until a new idea occurs and he shares a grin with Treir, who got there long before.


QUARK
I get to throw the funeral.​


With his mother heartbroken on the screen behind him, Quark’s head is filled with dreams of profit...


FADE OUT


END OF TEASER​
[/center]
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN


5 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE


Commander RO LAREN crosses her arms and looks askance at Quark, who stands before her as she leans against her desk.


RO
How exactly do you get to throw
the funeral?

QUARK
Why shouldn’t I? I’m an important
officer of the Ferengi government,
I’m a renowned proprietor and host,
and the Nagus was obviously a
close friend of the family.

RO
The former Nagus. Anyway, what I
mean is, why aren’t they doing it
on Risa, where he lived? Or, oh I
don’t know, on Ferenginar itself?

QUARK
I’m sure there’ll be all sorts of
overblown, undignified spectacles
all across the planet. But there’s
only one man who gets to perform
the Ceremony of Divestiture to
desiccate the body, and create the
official Seal of Dismemberment.

RO
So basically, you exploited your
mother’s misery and heartbreak
for a chance to get attention
and profit for yourself.

QUARK
Obviously. Sixth rule, hundred-
and-eleventh rule...

RO
(sigh)
Fine. What do I need to know?

QUARK
(hands her a padd)
The ships of every important
Daimon or private businessman in
the Alliance will be coming here
over the next few days. They’ll
all need VIP accommodations and
security. I’ll be adding extra
security to the bar myself.

RO
How magnanimous. Look, Quark...
I’m sorry for your loss. I know
Zek meant a lot to you.

QUARK
(sneer)
He used to. He used to be a symbol
for all Ferengi - of the power of
profit, the glory of greed. Then
my mother got her teeth into
him, and he became a pitiful
shell. Now... he’s just a way
for me to make more profit.

RO
Why do you lie like that?

QUARK
(wrong-footed again)
What? What do you - I’m not lying.

RO
Okay, Quark. Whatever you say.
(re padd)
I’ll take care of this. I’m sure
you’ve got a lot to take care
of... Mister Ambassador.​


Slightly upset at apparently now being on bad terms with Ro, Quark nods his acknowledgement and turns to leave.


6 EXT. FERENGINAR - SACRED MARKETPLACE - DAY


A view of the TOWER OF COMMERCE against the usual drizzly, cloudy, lightning-strewn sky of FERENGINAR. The tower shines with more LIGHTS than normal, beams that shine out into the rainy atmosphere, reflecting off the water.

TILT DOWN until we see a crowd of FERENGI all standing in the Sacred Marketplace below the Tower. They are all CRYING, wailing in the rain, throwing their hands in the air, beating themselves about the head in their anguish.

Finally we PAN ACROSS to a Ferengi reporter SPODE, who stands with a microphone, looking directly INTO CAMERA as the rain and wind lashes his face. He too is crying, but battling through it for the sake of this important story.


SPODE
And here in the Sacred Marketplace
beneath the Tower of Commerce, the
grief that has gripped Ferenginar
in the wake of the beloved former
Nagus’s passing is very clear.
(in tears)
Now back to the studiooooo!​


CUT TO:


7 INT. NEWS STUDIO


...where a Ferengi newsreader also looks INTO CAMERA, the tears threatening to derail his report. While he speaks, the whole right third of the screen, and a scrolling feed along the bottom, continue to present breaking news from the financial markets in shifting FERENGI ORTHOGRAPHICS.


FLODGE
(through tears)
Thanks, Spode. Meanwhile, the
Congress of Economic Advisors has
declared today a day of mourning,
while the current Nagus, Rom, has
left home for the Bajoran system,
where his brother, Ambassador
Quark, will perform the blessed
Ceremony of Divestiture.​


Flodge wipes tears away onto his sleeve with a SNORT and a HONK, then turns to the side...


FLODGE
And now for the weather. Nimba?​


CUT TO:


NIMBA, the female Ferengi weather reporter, with her tight fitting dress showing maximum leg and cleavage, standing before a WEATHER MAP showing nothing but clouds and rain.


NIMBA
It gon’ rain!​


CUT TO Flodge at his desk:


FLODGE
Thanks, Nimba.​


CUT TO:


8 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR / PROMENADE


Quark STABS the controls of his comm screen with a finger, turning away in disgust. Arrayed before him are his staff, including TREIR, HETIK, PIF and the Ferengi waiters.


QUARK
See? So undignified. We’ll show
them. We’ll do this right. Those
ships will be arriving later today,
so I need you to be on your best
behaviour, wearing your best
suits - thongs, collars, whatever
- and show all these powerful
businessmen just why Quark’s Bar,
Grill, Embassy, Gaming Hall and
Holosuite Arcade deserves to
host such a solemn occasion.​


They all nod their understanding and move away to their tasks. Quark straightens his jacket and heads towards the door of the bar. There, NOG is busy attaching LATINUM SLOTS to both sides of the doorway, inside and out.

Quark stands admiring Nog’s work, while Security Chief EVIK strolls towards them both from the security office. Quark remains inside the door, while Evik remains outside.


EVIK
What are these, Quark?

QUARK
Fram slots. If they want to come
in to celebrate the life of the
greatest Nagus that ever lived -​


Nog gives him a glower; Quark ignores it.


QUARK (cont)
- at the only official event, and
be seen doing it, then they’ll
have to pay for the privilege.

EVIK
Makes sense. But why are you
having them fixed to both the
inside and the outside? They
have to pay to get out as well?

NOG
That only makes sense too, doesn’t
it? No-one wants to be forced to
pay for leaving the greatest party
of the year. So they’ll stay.

QUARK
And while they do, they’ll spend
more at the bar.

EVIK
You’ve thought of everything.

QUARK
I try.

NOG
Okay uncle - I think these are
good to go now. Activate?​


Quark nods grandly. Nog flicks a switch, and a FORCEFIELD snaps into place across the doorway.

Quark smiles proudly, then pulls a SLIP of latinum from his jacket. He DROPS the slip into one of Nog’s new slots, and then with a slight hesitation, walks into the forcefield...

...and passes right THROUGH it. Now standing outside on the Promenade with Evik, he smiles with satisfaction.


EVIK
How did you do that?

QUARK
The slots are keyed to allow one
person - and one person only -
through at a time, and only in
response to getting a slip of
latinum. Here, you try it.​


Quark pulls out another slip of latinum, hands it to Evik. The security chief shrugs, drops the slip into the slot...

...and BOUNCES right off the forcefield with an OOF. Quark and Nog chuckle as Evik attempts to regain dignity.


QUARK
The final test! That was a fake
slip I gave you. The slots can
tell the difference. Don’t want
just anyone getting in here.

EVIK
It must have taken some serious
investment for that kind of tech.

QUARK
He’s worth it.
(catches himself)
The party is worth it. I’ll make the
money back, don’t worry about
that. Nog, make sure you do the
doors on the upper levels as well.

NOG
Yes, uncle.​


Before anyone can question him further, Quark pulls out a third slip, drops it into the slot, and passes through the forcefield into his bar, where he can get on with his work.


9 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


An entire fleet of Ferengi SHIPS of various classes - the heavy D’Kora-class cruisers (as in TNG “The Last Outpost”), the tiny Na’Far-class shuttles (as in DS9 “Little Green Men”), the mid-size Ulis-class (as in ENT “Acquisition”).

All of these surround the station, waiting their turns to settle onto the limited number of docking airlocks.


10 INT. DS9 - DOCKING RING CORRIDOR


Ro, now in her Starfleet DRESS WHITES, stands with Evik, Nog and BASHIR all in their likewise, and Quark in his best suit. They wait solemnly for the airlock to roll open...

...revealing ROM in his grand Nagal regalia, with LEETA following close behind, tiny baby girl BENA holding her hand and stepping carefully over the lip of the airlock.


RO
Grand Nagus. Welcome back to
Deep Space Nine.

ROM
Thanks, Commander. Hello brother.

QUARK
Rom, you idiot. Get over here.​


Quark and Rom both grin, knowing this is just Quark playing it up. They grab each other into a warm brotherly hug. Ro and Nog both half-hug Leeta in greeting, and Bashir gives her a peck on the cheek.


RO
Leeta, great to see you again.

BASHIR
You look wonderful.

LEETA
You too. I was sorry to miss you
both last time we were here.

BASHIR
Yeah, sorry. We were off saving
the galaxy, you know how it is.​


Bena has been half-hiding behind Leeta’s leg, unsure of so many strangers. Leeta gently beckons her out of hiding.


LEETA
Bena, sweetie? This is Nog, do you
remember? He’s your half-brother.

ROM
She’s shy around strangers.

LEETA
And I’m quite happy about it.

NOG
Don’t worry. We have plenty of
time to get to know each other.

RO
If you’ll join me, Grand Nagus,
your mother’s transport from
Risa should be docking just
along here any minute now.

ROM
Thanks, Commander.​


The group moves on down the corridor...

They turn a corner and approach another airlock, gathering in front of it while it cycles open. It does...

...revealing Ishka, wearing her large, expansive and garish caftan with elaborate earrings, just barely controlling her sniffles. At the sight of her family, she BURSTS into new floods of tears and throws herself on Quark and Rom.


ISHKA
Quaaaaaarrrrk...

ROM
Moooogieeeee...​


But instead of joining the hug, Nog GASPS out loud. As they all turn to see what he is gasping at, they see who else is in the airlock, stepping cautiously along the short corridor and looking very nervous...

...PRINADORA. Rom’s first wife, and Nog’s mother. Quite pretty for a Ferengi, slim and delicate, and unaccustomed to the simple travelling dress she is wearing. (Last seen DS9 9x12 “Satisfaction Is Not Guaranteed”). Nog stares at her, surprised and unsure how to react...


NOG
Moogie...?​


Off their mutual awkwardness...


FADE OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN


11 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


Former Grand Nagus ZEK lies in state on a plinth of purest gold-pressed latinum, in the centre of the bar. No expense has been spared in extravagance and garishness.

Around him in a circle, unfamiliar FERENGI EXTRAS wail and howl and weep and yank on their lobes, making a performance of their grief. One reaches out a tentative, pleading hand, only for it to BUZZ against a forcefield surrounding the body, at which he pulls the hand back with a yelp.

Quark himself stands back, watching as he leans against the bar. The room is packed with Ferengi, mostly male but some female too, all bawling their eyes out, wailing in anguish. Senior officers mingle among them, trying to make polite conversation. Quark watches it all dispassionately.

Bashir sidles up to Quark, speaks gently.


BASHIR
How are you holding up, Quark?

QUARK
I’m fine, Doctor, thank you.

BASHIR
I do wish you had let me do an
autopsy, or at least a scan. We
don’t know what he died of.
It could be contagious.

QUARK
Absolutely not. Nobody is allowed
to touch the body before the
Ceremony of Divestiture. Any
contamination would bring down
the price. Besides, he was old. His
health had been deteriorating for
a while. And he’s in a stasis field.
You’re in no danger.

BASHIR
Very well. If you’re sure.
(beat)
Haven’t you paid your respects?

QUARK
I’m the host. I’m not going to
debase myself with fake mourning.

BASHIR
Fake?

QUARK
You think all these people really
felt so strongly about the Nagus?

BASHIR
The former Nagus.

QUARK
They’re just performing. It’s what
you do at funerals. You put on a
big show so everyone can see how
devastated you are. Thirty-third
Rule - you still suck up to the
boss, even when he’s dead.​


A loud SHRIEK catches Quark and Bashir’s attention. They look over to the door, where a well-dressed Ferengi businessman - ZOID (seen DS9 9x11 “Sale of the Century”) - cowers and stares in horror down at the floor, because...

...PIF, the green-furred doglike Aarruri maitre d’, sits grinning up at him, tail wagging happily.


PIF
Welcome to Quark’s!

ZOID
W... w... what is that?

QUARK
(hurries over)
Zoid! I see you’ve met my very
best maitre d’, Pifko Gaber.

ZOID
This thing works for you? Are
you insane, Ambassador?

QUARK
Far from it, Zoid. But neither am
I afraid of animals like some kind
of simpering child.

ZOID
(terrified)
Well... no, of course! Neither am
I! I’m not afraid!

PIF
Let me show you to your seat.
Come on, follow me!​


Pif trots off quite happily. Still vibrating in horror, Zoid staggers off after him. Quark turns to the bar.


QUARK
Broik! Get me a drink. Now!​


The Ferengi bartender quickly pours a blue liquor, which Quark knocks back at top speed, shuddering.


12 INT. DS9 - TURBOLIFT


Nog is in his dress whites, with CANDLEWOOD and TENMEI likewise. Nog is clearly tense as the floors zoom by.


CANDLEWOOD
Nog? Are you alright? You’ve been
very quiet.

TENMEI
John, his grandfather in all but
name has just died.

NOG
It’s not that. It’s just... my
moogie is going to be there
too. My real moogie.

CANDLEWOOD
Okay. Why is that bad?

NOG
We barely know each other. I was
so young when we left home. I
have no idea what to say to her.

TENMEI
I’m sure she still cares about you,
Nog. You’re her son.

NOG
I’m not so sure. The last time we
met, she didn’t even recognise me.​


The turbolift comes to a halt, and the doors open onto...


13 INT. DS9 - PROMENADE


The Promenade is packed with even more FERENGI EXTRAS, all surging back and forth, unable to afford or fit into the bar so doing whatever they can to get as close as possible. Every one of them is wailing, crying, hitting themselves. Nog looks at this nervously, while Candlewood and Tenmei are just bemused at the spectacle. Nog takes a deep breath.


NOG
Right. Let’s do this.​


And he launches into his own well-practised SCREECHES and WAILS and florid displays of grief, pushing into the crowd. Candlewood and Tenmei share a look of shock and horror, before shrugging and deciding they might as well join in. They WAIL in play-grief, flailing their arms and pushing out of the turbolift into the crowd.

They force their way through until they stand in front of the forcefield-blocked doorway. Nog digs out three slips of latinum and hands two to his friends. As the other Ferengi who cannot enter look on in envy, Nog drops his slip into the slot by the door, and walks THROUGH the forcefield. Tenmei and Candlewood follow his example...


14 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR (CONTINUOUS)


Now inside, Prynn spots Pif and reaches down to scritch behind his ears. Pif’s leg pounds against the deck in joy.


TENMEI
Hi, Pif. How’s it going?

PIF
I’m enjoying myself, actually. All
these Ferengi are terrified of me.

CANDLEWOOD
Why would that make you happy?

PIF
Hey, you get your entertainment
wherever you can.​


Off-screen somewhere in the bar, there is the sound of another SHRIEK followed by the SMASH of a dropped glass.


PIF
That’ll be little Tiffo. I’m so proud!​


Chuckling, Candlewood and Tenmei follow Nog into the crowd.

At one of the quieter tables under the stairs, Ishka, Rom, Leeta, Bena and Prinadora all sit. Young Bena, about three years old, has one of Pif’s PUPPIES in her lap, happily tickling its belly. The other Ferengi are horrified.


ISHKA
How can she do that?

LEETA
It must be the Bajoran half of her.
She’s fearless!

NOG (o.s.)
Hi, Dad. Grand-Moogie.​


They look up and see that Nog has joined them, standing to the side and still awkward.


ISHKA
Noggles! My, do you clean up well
in that uniform.

ROM
That’s my handsome boy.​


Prinadora looks at him, knowing this is her boy as well, but not sure how she feels about that. Ishka notices the tension, and gets to her feet.


ISHKA
Rom! You’re the Nagus, you can buy
me a drink.​


Rom is confused, but Leeta has picked it up as well. She ushers Rom along, pulling Bena and her puppy with them.


LEETA
Rom, sweetie, let’s leave Nog and
his mother to talk, okay?

ROM
Oh. Right. Okay.​


And they wander off. Still unsure, Nog sits down at the table opposite Prinadora. They sit silently for a moment. She is sweet, guileless, but very simple and uneducated.


NOG
Hello, moogie.

PRINADORA
Hello. It’s Nog, right? That’s a
nice name. We met a couple of
years ago, I think.

NOG
Moogie... I’m your son.

PRINADORA
I know. Ishka told me. She’s told
me a lot of things since my father
went to prison.

NOG
I’m sorry about that.

PRINADORA
It’s okay. He was plotting against
the Nagus, and apparently that’s
bad. So he should be in prison.
I’m lucky Ishka took me in.​


Off-screen, another SHRIEK of fear followed by the SMASH of glass. Clearly, Pif has claimed another victim. A whirl of emotions, Nog tries to gather himself, takes another tack.


NOG
How are you enjoying living on
Risa? It must be very different
from what you’re used to.

PRINADORA
Everything’s different from what
I’m used to. Like this dress - I
wish I could take it off. It just
feels wrong wearing clothes
in front of all these males.
(beat)
Ishka tells me I should love you
too - since you’re my son and all.

NOG
That’s okay. You don’t have to.

PRINADORA
No, I’d like to. It sounds nice,
to love somebody. Ishka loves Zek.
Rom loves Leeta. They both seem
happy. I think it would be nice.

NOG
It does sound nice. And it’s not
your fault that you don’t love me.
That was the world you grew up
in. It’s going to take time.

PRINADORA
Maybe one day I will.​


Nog and Prinadora smile tentatively at each other. Then there is another off-screen SHRIEK and SMASH, and they both giggle together at the broken tension.

At the bar, Quark knocks back another drink. Then his notice is drawn by a familiar voice from outside the bar:


BRUNT (o.s.)
Brunt! F-C-A!​


Horrified, Quark turns to see his old nemesis, BRUNT, stood just outside the forcefield, smiling insincerely at Quark. Two NAUSICAAN THUGS stand behind him.

Quark steps towards the door. Rom, Leeta and Ishka are soon there to back him up. They do not open the forcefield.


QUARK
You’re not welcome here, Brunt.
And you’re not F-C-A anymore.

BRUNT
How could I not be here, Quark?
I had to pay my respects. No-one
loved the old man as much as me.

ISHKA
You spent your life trying to ruin
him and my entire family.

LEETA
And look where it got you.

QUARK
She’s right, Brunt. Last I heard,
you were destitute. And this party
is for paying customers only.​


Sneering with barely suppressed glee, Brunt pulls out a small bag and shakes it, JINGLING with slips of latinum.


BRUNT
You’d be amazed how much people
will pay for a man with a former
F-C-A Liquidator’s skills.

ROM
Brother, you can’t let him in here.
He’s evil.

BRUNT
Oh, but Quark can’t possibly turn
down a paying customer, can he?
Greed is eternal, after all.

QUARK
Fine. But just you. Not your...
associates.​


Smiling, Brunt makes a big meal of reaching into his bag of money, fishing out one slip at a time, and handing them to both of his ‘associates’, all while Quark grits his teeth. That done, Brunt deposits his slip in the slot, and passes THROUGH the forcefield. The Nausicaan thugs do the same. Once they are all through, Brunt looks down at Pif, who is sitting nearby and growling under his breath at the thugs. Brunt shudders in disgust before turning back to Quark.


BRUNT
Now the party can really get
started. I’m especially looking
forward to the auction. I wonder
how many pieces of Zek I’ll be
able to afford to buy?​


He JINGLES his bag of money again, taunting Quark and his entire family, before sweeping into the crowd and beginning the traditional WAILS of grief. Quark glowers in a fury after him...


FADE OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN


15 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - NIGHT


Back on Earth...


16 INT. PALAIS - MONET ROOM - NIGHT


Not the large semi-circular office, but the smaller room used by Jaresh-Inyo, as seen in DS9 4x11 “Homefront”. It now serves as a general meeting room with conference table.

Bacco looks along the table, at the councillors sat down both sides. Vulcan T’LATREK, Tellarite GLEER, Bajoran KRIM, Andorian ZH’FAILA, human MAZIBUKO, Centauri HUANG. Upon the walls are portraits of former presidents including Bolian ZIFE, Efrosian RA-GHORATREII, and Grazerite JARESH-INYO.

At last the final councillor arrives, looking around rather nervously at the august company. This is the TRIEXIAN representative, ARTRIN. He ambles in with his three legs and three arms, and takes the seat at the opposite end.


BACCO
Thank you all for coming at this
late hour. I apologise for being
cryptic, but it was necessary.

T’LATREK
Madam President, should not this
meeting be held in open council?

BACCO
It may come to that, but I want
to keep this off the record for as
long as possible. I’m going to
tell you something my staff just
told me, and then I want Artrin
to tell his side of the story.​


They all look at Artrin, who is as surprised by this as they are. On the wall behind him hangs the reason for this room’s name - Monet’s “Bridge Over a Pool of Water Lilies”.


ARTRIN
My side of what story, ma’am?

BACCO
On Five Torus, in the year of the
Fortril on Triex, you rendered a
judgement in your capacity as SMA
to imprison a Federation citizen
named Wusekl, without a trial.

T’LATREK
There is no record of Councillor
Artrin rendering any judgements
as Supreme Magisterial Authority.

ARTRIN
It was classified. Fortril was eight
years ago. Antwerp had just been
bombed by the Dominion.

MAZIBUKO
And the paranoia over changeling
infiltration was at its height.

ZH’FAILA
What was this Wusekl accused of?

BACCO
Funny you should ask - being a
changeling infiltrator.

GLEER
Was he?

ARTRIN
He was witnessed changing shape.

BACCO
Hardly surprising, since Wusekl is
a Chameloid. The Founders aren’t
the only shape-shifters out there.

ARTRIN
We couldn’t be sure it wasn’t a
Founder posing as a Chameloid.

BACCO
So you opened an investigation,
did a full medical, got testimony
from friends and family...

ARTRIN
That would not have been prudent.

HUANG
You feared a public outcry.

ARTRIN
Exactly. Madam President, I do not
see the issue. We were at war -

BACCO
Nobody say that to me again. EVER.​


Bacco’s coldly furious outburst quiets the room. A pause...


T’LATREK
Regardless, that is not correct,
Councillor. War was not declared
for one year and seven months
after Five Torus Fortril.

ARTRIN
That’s not the point. My actions
were wholly within Triexian law.

KRIM
Your actions were wholly in
conflict with Federation law, sir.
More to the point, they were in
conflict with natural law.

ARTRIN
My people were scared. When Wusekl
changed shape, he was almost lynched.
Yes, we could have done a medical
exam to prove he was not a changeling,
but it wouldn’t have mattered. The
people were calling for his blood.
What I did was for his safety,
as well as my people.

BACCO
For the safety of your political
career - not to mention mine -
you’re going to go into Jorel’s
press room tomorrow morning
and announce your resignation.
And you’re going to tell them why.
I want to send the message out far
and wide that we are not this. We
do not trade with slavers, and we
do not imprison innocent people.
And the first sign that this is so
will be your resignation tomorrow.
Is that understood, Councillor?​


The room goes quiet. Artrin still doesn’t believe he did anything wrong, or at least not excusable. But no-one else at the table seems to feel the same. Finally, he relents.


ARTRIN
Very well, Madam President. I will
resign first thing in the morning.

BACCO
Wrong. You’ll come to my office
first thing in the morning, and
we’ll go over your resignation
speech together. That’ll be all.

ARTRIN
Thank you, Madam President.​


He stands on three legs, and leaves the room. Bacco sags.


BACCO
Thank you all for your support.
I’ll see you tomorrow.​


All but T’Latrek get to their feet with a quick chorus of “Thank you, Madam President”, and leave the room as well.


T’LATREK
May I stay a moment, ma’am?

BACCO
Of course. What can I do for you?

T’LATREK
I have served under almost every
president on those walls. I was
there when Ra-Ghoratreii signed
the first Khitomer Accords. What
is not widely known, however, is
that he thought the Accords were
a terrible idea. That the Klingons
would use them only to distract
us while they rebuilt their forces,
and then they would attack. But he
also knew that he could not turn
his back on the opportunity, so
he signed the Accords anyway.

BACCO
But he was wrong. Aside from that
one blip, the Klingons have been
our staunchest allies for decades.
I’m about to meet Martok tomorrow
and make sure it stays that way.

T’LATREK
People in your position often make
mistakes, Madam President. What
matters is how those mistakes
are dealt with afterwards.

BACCO
I sometimes feel like taking this
job was one big mistake.

T’LATREK
That too is the nature of your
position, Madam President. One
of many reasons I have never
sought the position myself.

BACCO
You’re a smarter woman than me.

T’LATREK
That goes without saying, ma’am.​


T’Latrek’s eyes twinkle with amusement. Bacco chuckles.


17 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


Quark stands beside the golden plinth which carries Zek. This is a dignified moment, one that must be observed with solemnity. But it is also a personal moment for Quark.

The room around him is mostly quiet except for the sniffles and whimpers of overwhelmed Ferengi supplicators. Rom and Leeta stand at the front with Bena. Ishka and Prinadora. Nog, Candlewood and Tenmei. Ro and Bashir. Plus Brunt and his sneering thugs. Quark looks around at them all. Finally he looks back down at Zek... and speaks.


QUARK
No-one in this room would argue
that Zek was a great man. A beacon
for prosperity. Both a paragon of
traditional Ferengi values, and
able to see new paths to profit,
at home and across the galaxy.
We will never see a Nagus like
him again in our lifetimes.

ISHKA
(muttered warning)
Quaaarrrrk...

ROM
That’s okay, moogie. He’s right.

QUARK
We gather today to send Grand
Nagus Zek on his final journey
across the Great Material
Continuum to the latinum-lined
vaults of the Divine Treasury,
where the wealth he accumulated
in life will purchase the greatest
afterlife any Ferengi has ever
known. We will not forget -

BRUNT
Oh, get on with it!​


The entire Family Quark, plus all the Starfleet officers present, all glare at Brunt with undisguised hatred. He doesn’t care - he is here precisely to wind them up.

Quark turns back to Zek’s body, and takes a last look at his old, lined, lifeless face. Then Quark reaches down and presses a BUTTON on the side of the plinth... and the forcefield surrounding the body turns OPAQUE with golden glitter. The entire room is silent, watching the sacred ceremony. Then a big KER-THUNK...

...and a palm-sized disc DROPS out from under the plinth into a hanging wire-frame tube. This is the Memorial Disc, carrying a portion of Zek’s desiccated remains. The top of the disc gleams with an iridescent Seal of Dismemberment.

Then KER-THUNK - another disc drops on top of it. KER-THUNK - another. Then another. Gradually speeding up, the discs drop into the tube, as everyone in the bar watches. As one tube fills up with discs, the next tube takes its place.


QUARK
Exactly two-hundred-and-eighty-
five discs, one for every Rule of
Acquisition Zek dedicated his life
to upholding. The Sacred Auction
will begin as soon as all discs
have been produced. Thank you.​


SHRIEK. SMASH. Quark grits his teeth as somewhere in the bar, a tiny puppy goes YIP YIP YIPping away.

The crowd mills away for a moment, waiting for the auction to begin. Ro steps up to Quark, speaks quietly.


RO
That was very touching, Quark. I’m
sure he would have appreciated it.

QUARK
I don’t care what he would have
appreciated. I just care how much
money I’m going to make once I’ve
sold off every piece of his dead
body. House always takes a cut.​


He walks away. Ro watches him go, sad for him. Instead she spots Ishka and Prinadora in the crowd, and goes over.


RO
Ishka. I just wanted to say again
how sorry I am for your loss.

ISHKA
Thank you, Commander, that’s
very kind of you.

PRINADORA
But he’s not really dead.

ISHKA
(jumping in)
She means as long as we remember
him, he’ll always be alive, isn’t that
right? Now come along, dear.​


Ishka drags Prinadora away by the arm, leaving Ro to wonder what that was all about.

DING. The production of the discs is complete. Quark returns to the funeral plinth, and everyone gathers around. Nog stands by his side, with a padd to record the bids.


QUARK
Everyone, the Memorial Discs are
ready. Please prepare your wallets
- the auction will now begin.

BASHIR
(hand up)
Quark... you said two-hundred-
and-eighty-five discs, right?

QUARK
That’s right, one for every Rule.

BASHIR
But there are only two-hundred-
and-eighty-four.​


GASPS go around the room. Brunt crows with delight.


BRUNT
He’s trying to cheat us!

QUARK
Don’t be ridiculous! I’m sure the
Doctor is mistaken.

BASHIR
I’m sorry, Quark. There are only
two-hundred-and-eighty-four
discs. One is definitely missing.
(taps head)
Believe me, I’ve counted.​


SHRIEK. SMASH. YIP YIP YIP. Quark grits his teeth again.


ROM
Uhh... brother?

QUARK
Not now, Rom.

ROM
But... did that furry thing buy
a piece of Zek already?

QUARK
Of course not!​


Rom points... and there across the bar, its little claws skittering over the deckplates, one of Pif’s puppies has got one of Zek’s Memorial Discs in its mouth and is making a run for it. Every Ferengi in the room GASPS in horror...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN


18 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR


The puppy SKITTERS away, the disc clamped in its mouth...


QUARK
After it!​


But everywhere the puppy runs, Ferengi JUMP out of the way, terrified of the thing, especially now it seems everywhere.

One Ferengi CRASHES into a table, sending drinks flying.

Brunt SHRIEKS and dives behind the bar.

The whole room is in an uproar and a panic.


PIF
Fett! Put that thing down at once!
I’m sorry everyone, she’s such a
trouble maker...​


A third Ferengi runs SCREAMING for the door, only to BOUNCE off the forcefield and slump to the floor with an OOF.

A fourth Ferengi crouches in a ball in a corner as a puppy jumps all over him and licks his face.


FERENGI
AAAH! Get it off me!​


Grand Nagus Rom stands with legs and arms wide, the puppy running right towards him...


ROM
I’ve got it, I’ve got it...​


Except that as the puppy RUNS on past, Rom cringes away, eyes closed in terror and whimpering...


ROM
I don’t got it!​


Brunt cowers behind the bar, until he looks up and sees TIFF the puppy standing on the bar and grinning at him.


TIFF
Hi!

BRUNT
Aaaaah!​


Brunt skitters away behind the bar, only to bump off another body. He looks up - TREIR glares down at him.


TREIR
You’re pathetic.​


Brunt struggles to his feet, desperately trying to reclaim some kind of dignity in front of this female...

...except that he slips on spilled liquor and goes CRASHing back to the floor. Treir walks away, shaking her head.

Out on the floor, Quark steps up to Ro, who is chuckling.


QUARK
A little help, please?

RO
Why? This is hilarious.

QUARK
(harrumph)
I have to do everything myself.​


He turns back to the room, locates the puppy by following the sound of SHRIEKs and SMASHes and Ferengi leaping out of the way in terror. Determined, he strides into the fray.


QUARK
Hey! Furball! Get back here now,
or your father is fired!​


Pif GULPS.

Quark calculates where the puppy is running to, and strides purposefully to cut it off at the pass.

The tiny, adorable puppy skitters towards him, spines erect and tail wagging happily, memorial disc in its mouth...


ZOID
Ambassador! Save yourself! That
thing will savage you!​


Quark stands his ground. The puppy gets closer, closer...

...and Quark reaches down, grabs the puppy around the belly, raises it up and holds it in front of his face. He reaches out, PLUCKS the disc from the puppy’s mouth...


QUARK
Thank you.​


...and puts the puppy down again, where it skitters off none the wiser.

Every Ferengi in the room looks at him in astonishment.


ZOID
Ambassador...

ROM
My brother, everyone!​


Suddenly every Ferengi (except Brunt) surges forward in awe of Quark, wanting to meet the brave man who faced down the vicious furry monster. Quark accepts all the adoration.


QUARK
Thank you, thank you. Now can we
please get back to the auction?​


The crowd parts for him to return to the funeral plinth. As he goes, he realises with disgust that the disc he is holding is covered in puppy slobber. Ro is waiting...


RO
I’ll buy that one.

QUARK
(throws it at her)
Sold.​


At the door, Pif calls out loud...


PIF
Puppies, in a line, please!​


From all over the bar, the six puppies come running, and join their father at the door. As everyone breathes a sigh of relief, Quark turns back to his adoring audience, who are all now basically worshipping him, and orates.


QUARK
Everyone here knows how valuable
these Memorial Discs are. I would
say they were priceless - except
that if you want to be able to say
you own a piece of Zek himself,
you’d damn well better come
up with a price.
(crowd chuckles)
Nog, get your padd ready - I am
now opening the bidding! What
am I bid for the first piece of Zek?​


Brunt steps out from behind the bar where he has been cowering, trying to look powerful and intimidating. The liquor stains all over his suit do not help in that regard.


BRUNT
I’ll pay one thousand bricks of
gold-pressed latinum for exclusive
rights to every last piece.​


The room GASPS. Quark remains calm.


QUARK
I’m afraid that won’t be possible.

BRUNT
No-one in this room can pay more,
Quark. And that’s my final offer.
So why don’t you put an end to
this farce and hand them over.
And I will own... the ‘great’ Zek.​


Quark smiles, takes a moment to enjoy this.


QUARK
The thing is, Brunt not-F-C-A,
you’re banned from the auction.
You are not permitted to bid on
any of it, much less all of it.
That’s by order of the widow.​


Brunt looks in horror at Ishka, who is looking back at him smugly, surrounded by Rom, Leeta, Bena and Prinadora.


BRUNT
That’s ridiculous. Females have no
say in where the husbands’ wealth
goes. Especially not the proceeds
from their death auction.

QUARK
Aww, you don’t know the new rules?
It is now very much legal for a
widow to say where her husband’s
money ends up after death. And in
this case, it’s going to a variety
of funds, including charitable
societies dedicated to promoting
women’s rights.​


Females around the bar, including Ro, Tenmei, Leeta and Treir all WHOOP with delight. Brunt is appalled.


QUARK
So why don’t you just put an end
to this farce... and leave. But
thanks for the three entry fees.​


Barely controlling his fury, Brunt turns on his heel...


BRUNT
Boys...​


...and stomps to the door, his thugs joining him.

Except that Pif and his line of six puppies are blocking the door. Brunt is on the verge of exploding in horror.


TIFF
Hi!​


Brunt has to hold back the vomit. Taking their time, the Aarruri slowly step aside and clear the path to the door...

...where Brunt is confronted by the forcefield, forced to dig into his bag of jingling latinum, grudgingly handing out slips to his thugs just to get out. The indignity!

Finally Brunt and his Nausicaan thugs are gone. Pif looks down to his puppies, beaming with pride.


PIF
Puppies, you all get extra treats
tonight.​


All six puppies YIP in delight.


QUARK
Alright! Enough entertainment -
let’s all get down to business,
shall we?​


As Quark launches into his auction spiel...


19 MONTAGE


-- Quark holds up discs in turn, and takes excited pledges from Ferengi all over the room.

-- Nog records the bids in his padd, his fingers flying at warp speed to keep up with it all.

-- Ro bounces the disc she owns in her hand, considering it, watching Quark do his thing like a born showman.

-- Ferengi fall over each other to top bids, hands flying up to try and catch Quark’s attention.

-- Prinadora watches the whole thing with bemusement, not sure what is going on but caught up in the excitement.

-- Ishka watches with wobbling lip as her beloved Zekkie is cut up and sold off, to profit causes she believes in.

-- Ro smiles, finally coming to a decision for herself.


20 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - NIGHT


Bringing us back to the centre of Federation government...


21 INT. PALAIS - MONET ROOM - NIGHT


It is the absolute death of night, but President Bacco is still sat at the end of the large table, working through a pile of papers and jotting notes on each before flipping to the next. She is exhausted but refusing to give in.

The door opens and Esperanza Piñiero pokes her head in.


PIÑIERO
Ma’am?

BACCO
Crying out loud, Esperanza, go
home already! It’s after midnight.

PIÑIERO
I’ve told you before, I leave when
you leave. Not a moment sooner.

BACCO
(re papers)
Well, I’ll be here a while yet.
This here is Bill Ross’s latest
suggestions for the summit. Hey,
did you send the message to
Ambassador Derro’s office?

PIÑIERO
Yes, ma’am. The Federation has
offered its official condolences on
the death of the former Grand
Nagus. But I’m afraid he’s not
the only one who’s died...

BACCO
I may look like a corpse, but I
bet I’ll surprise you yet.

PIÑIERO
No, ma’am. What I mean is... the
former president passed away.

BACCO
(sags in seat;
sad nod)
Ah, damn. Well, I suppose
Thelian was bound to -

PIÑIERO
No, ma’am. Not Thelian. It was
President Jaresh-Inyo.​


Shocked, Bacco looks up to the portrait of the Grazerite former president on the wall.


BACCO
Damn it. Was it the Borg attack?

PIÑIERO
Oh no, no. He died in his sleep
in his home on Mars.

BACCO
I’ll have to talk to his wife.
When’s the funeral?

PIÑIERO
That’s the problem. Jaresh-Inyo
was apparently a follower of
the semtir tradition.

BACCO
Not familiar.

PIÑIERO
A Grazerite philosophical custom.
The traditional death watch calls
for the body to be completely
destroyed in front of friends and
family... and it has to be done
immediately, within one Grazerite
day of the death.

BACCO
The funeral’s tomorrow? Damn it,
Esperanza, I have the summit, I
have this nonsense with Artrin...

PIÑIERO
I know. But you really can’t not
attend. On the plus side, because
it has to be so soon, we won’t
have to go all the way to Grazer.
They’re going to do it on Mars.

BACCO
Well, small blessings I guess. Get
Fred working on the speech as soon
as he wakes up. See if you can get
hold of Thelian, Amitra and Zife as
well. Do we know where Zife is?

PIÑIERO
I’ll find out.

BACCO
Good. Thanks, Esperanza.

PIÑIERO
Thank you, Madam President.​


Piñiero ducks back out of the room. Bacco stares again at the portrait of Jaresh-Inyo on the wall.


BACCO
Damn.​


Leaving Bacco alone in the Monet room, surrounded by the ghosts of her predecessors...


FADE OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN


22 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S QUARTERS


The window out onto the stars. Then PAN across until we find the Family Quark - Rom, Leeta, Bena, Nog, Ishka and Prinadora, sat companionably together in the social area.


ROM
And then he kicked Quark out of
his own quarters, and he had to
come and live with me!

ISHKA
You two could never share so much
as a tooth sharpener, much less a
room. How soon was there blood?

NOG
When I got back to the station, I
had to clean up the mess. I needed
another vacation after that.​


They all chuckle. Prinadora wriggles in her pretty dress.


PRINADORA
Can I take this thing off now?
It’s so itchy.

ISHKA
Okay, fine, you can take it off.​


Prinadora eagerly whips the dress off over her head, leaving her sitting there naked and much more relaxed. (Obviously tastefully positioned so as not to show.) Almost against his own will, Rom’s head slowly turns to look... Leeta gently grasps him by the lobe and steers his eyes back away from his naked ex-wife, changing the topic.


LEETA
So who do you think that last
mysterious anonymous bidder was?

NOG
It had to be Brunt. He was so mad
at Uncle Quark for banning him from
the auction. I bet he set up an
anonymous account the moment
he left the bar.

ISHKA
That filthy slug. Always trying to
get his slimy little hands on my
Zekkie’s money.

ROM
He must be really rich now. Those
last seven memorial discs were the
most expensive of the lot. I’m not
sure I could have afforded them.​


Quark sits slightly separate from the others, watching his family with a small wistful smile - this is nice.

The door bell CHIMES. Quietly, not wanting to disturb the pleasant party, Quark gets up and goes to answer it. The door opens... and there is Ro.


RO
Hi, Quark. Hi everyb - oh!​


She averts her eyes from Prinadora’s nudity. Quark smirks.


ISHKA
Commander Ro - come on in!

RO
Oh no, I don’t want to intrude. I
just wanted to give Quark a gift.

QUARK
A gift? Of what?​


She pulls out the one disc he sold to her.


RO
Here. I wanted you to have this,
to remember Zek by. Don’t worry,
I dried it off first.​


Quark takes the disc, looks down at it with a small smile.


QUARK
Thanks, Laren. Really. But you
should keep this.​


He hands it back. Ro rolls her eyes, exasperated.


RO
Quark, are you still trying to
convince me you didn’t care about
Zek? You should know I know you
better than that by now.

QUARK
That’s not it. I don’t need that
disc... because I already have
seven of my own.​


Quark walks over to a cabinet, opens up a small section... and pulls out the seven final discs of Zek.


QUARK
I set up an anonymous account...
and I bought the last seven discs
of Zek. To remember him by.

ROM
Brother! That must have cost you
a fortune - all your auction fees!

QUARK
Oh, I’ve got enough left over to
still turn a tidy profit.

RO
That’s very sweet, Quark. And also
very selfish. Seven discs, all for
yourself?

QUARK
They’re not all for me.​


He walks over to his family, and gradually hands out six of the discs to them one by one. They are all touched.


QUARK
Zek was a good man. He did a lot
for me and my family.
(to Rom)
He made my idiot brother the most
powerful Ferengi in the galaxy.
(to Leeta)
He welcomed an alien female onto
the throne of his homeworld.
(to Bena)
He made sure this precious little
girl will never want for anything.
(to Nog)
He helped turn my nephew into
a pioneer for all Ferengi.
(to Prinadora)
He saved an innocent woman from
being a slave to her father.
(to Ishka)
He looked after my mother, gave
her the best years of her life.​


Quark crouches down with his mother, the final disc held between them. They are both on the verge of tears.


QUARK
I know you were lonely, moogie,
after father died, and Rom and I
left home. I’m glad you found some-
one, and you were able to make
each other happy, even if only for
a short while. We’ll all miss him.

ISHKA
You’re a good boy, Quark.​


Mother and son hug each other tight. After a moment, Rom and Nog join the hug too. Ro watches from afar, touched. Eventually the hug separates. Quark comes back to Ro.


RO
That’s why you arranged to have
the funeral here, isn’t it? So you
could bring your family together.

QUARK
Tell no-one. Will you stay?
(re the disc
in Ro’s hand)
You’re basically part of the
family now.​


Smiling warmly, amazed at how nice Quark can be sometimes, Ro takes his hand and they walk back over to join the group. She settles in next to him, and they all start sharing MOS stories about Zek.


23 EST. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - DAY


Now focusing on the lower levels of the building...


24 INT. PALAIS – PRESS ROOM


The next morning. As seen in DS9 12x02 “Read All About It” - a podium with the Federation seal behind it, journalists from all over the galaxy sat in rows to fill the rest of the room. Many of these faces were also seen in the previous episode.

The President’s acerbic Bajoran press liaison, KANT JOREL, lurks at the side of the stage. But the podium is currently occupied by the harried Triexian councillor, Artrin, who is taking pointed questions from the press corps.


EDMUND
So why talk about it now?

ARTRIN
My superior, the President of the
Federation, ordered me to do so.
Let me repeat that I deeply regret
the decision that I made, and the
damage it did to Wusekl’s life.
What I do today is all I can offer
him in recompense. But he is the
damaged party here - not the
people of Triex, not the people
of the Federation, not my fellow
councillors, and not President
Bacco. I owe them no apologies.

MARIA
Where is Wusekl now?

ARTRIN
I honestly don’t know. He was
granted his freedom six years
ago and left Triex.

MARIA
So you never kept up with him?
Checked to see how he was doing?

ARTRIN
To do so would have violated the
same law that prevented me from
discussing the matter before now.

EDMUND
Do you know who’ll be replacing
you as Triex’s councillor?

ARTRIN
The Triexian Curia will vote on a
replacement to serve out my term.
Thank you, that is all for now.​


Ignoring the barrage of questions being thrown at him, Artrin scuttles off the stage as quickly as a three-legged man can. Jorel steps up to take his place.


JOREL
Alright, now before you pester me
with questions, I have just one
announcement. By now you’ll have
heard of the sad loss of former
president Jaresh-Inyo. The death
watch will be taking place today,
at the Squires Amphitheatre in
Endurance, on Mars. Perhaps you
might drag yourselves to attend.

MARIA
That’s where Jaresh-Inyo retired
to after leaving the presidency,
isn’t it, Jorel?

JOREL
Your powers of deduction remain
ordinary, Maria. That’s all for
now. I’ll have another briefing
this afternoon.​


They all start to clamour with questions again, but Jorel presses the button on his podium... and all the journalists DISSOLVE into nothing, their holographic forms dissipating into the transmitters placed equally around the room. Jorel turns away, satisfied.


JOREL
(to self)
I must say, I do love being able
to turn them all off like that.

OZLA (o.s.)
We all figured that out a long
time ago, Jorel.​


Jorel turns back in shock, and sees that one journalist did not disappear, because she is really here - OZLA GRANIV.


JOREL
Ozla...​


As Ozla stands from her seat, Jorel runs down from the podium and grabs her into a firm hug. He actually cares.


JOREL
Oh, thank the Prophets. You’re
safe. I was sure we’d lost another
one to that hell hole Tezwa.

OZLA
(pushing him away)
I wasn’t on Tezwa - at least not at
the end. I was on Deneva, being
held by the Orion Syndicate.

JOREL
The Orion Syndicate?! But -

OZLA
Luckily for me, I have a friend in
Starfleet who was able to get me
out and back here in one piece.
Now listen, Jorel. I need to speak
to the president, and I need to
speak to her now.

JOREL
Ozla, you know journalists don’t
get access to the president just
like that. Otherwise my life would
be even more meaningless than
it already is.

OZLA
I’m not talking about an inter-
view, Jorel! I know things.​


Jorel takes a step back, looks at Ozla properly. The young Trill journalist looks thinner than before, more intense, balancing on a knife’s edge. She has clearly been through some stuff. Jorel is genuinely worried for her.


JOREL
What do you know?

OZLA
I know the reason Zife resigned.

JOREL
We all know the reason.

OZLA
We all know the reason he told us.
But I know the real reason. And
unless you get me in a room with
President Bacco right now, I’ll
print it in the Seeker for the
entire Federation to see. Then
billions of people will know what
really goes on in that nice big
office on the fifteenth floor.

JOREL
What are you talking about, Ozla?

OZLA
I’m talking about the news that’s
going to shake Nanietta Bacco’s
presidency to its foundations. And
believe me, Jorel, this will make
my Gavlin award-winning exposé
on the Orion Syndicate look like
a high school term paper. If she
thought trading with slavers or
imprisoning a man without trial
were scandals... oh, she has no
idea what I could do to her.

JOREL
Ozla... what has happened to you?
Why would you do such a thing?

OZLA
Because the people deserve to know
the truth, damn it! Because that’s
my job. I don’t actually want to
bring down the entire Federation.
But if you don’t get me face to
face with Bacco by the end of the
day... I’ll do it, Jorel. May the
gods forgive me, but I’ll do it.​


BLACK OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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