Favorite scene or exchange unique to DS9's storytelling format.

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Alright I confess. I posted this scene just now in a thread in the General category, but I love it so much! I thought all of you in the DS9 forum would appreciate looking at it again, because it is the kind of scene that works only on DS9... not only is it wonderfully written from a character point of view, from a drama point of view as well, but, for a series accused by some of being claustrophobic ("They don't go anywhere!" Waah) it, in my mind, single handedly expanded the canvas of the entire Trek universe. No other series could quite top it, and Voyager couldn't ever had a scene that came close to the level of intrigue shown here.

I'm posting it again because even thinking about it, the music, and the content of it, I get goosebumps.
The lighting is DIM. He looks around as
if searching for someone... after a few beats, he hears a
voice.

INFORMANT'S VOICE
Stop there.

Odo stops, unsure from which direction the voice came from.

ODO
Where are you?

INFORMANT'S VOICE
Nearby. I've changed my appearance
since we last saw each other... I
don't want you to see me.

By now, Odo has tracked the direction of the voice. In one
of the recesses of the cavern we can barely make out the
outlines of a Cardassian figure, obscured in shadow.

ODO
I need some information.

INFORMANT
Is this about the tailor's shop?

ODO
Yes...

INFORMANT
I didn't do it.

ODO
I wasn't going to ask that..
I think the Romulans tried to kill
Garak.


INFORMANT
Very good, Odo. I see working for
the Bajorans hasn't entirely dulled
your instincts.

ODO
My question is why.

INFORMANT
You'd have to ask the Romulans. But
I do know that you're investigating
a very insignificant piece of a much
larger puzzle.

ODO
What do you mean?

INFORMANT
There's been a great deal of unusual
Romulan activity in the last few
weeks. Cloaked ships believed to be
warbirds have been detected near the
Cardassian border... troop
movements... communications
activity...

ODO
Sounds like they're preparing for an
invasion.

INFORMANT
It has occurred to us. And we're ready
for it if it should happen. But it doesn't
make any sense.

ODO
Does war ever make sense?

INFORMANT
Still the wry observer of humanoid
folly... tell me, do you still do
the Cardassian neck trick?

ODO
(with an edge)
No... I don't.

INFORMANT
Pity... you were so good at it.
(beat)
Garak isn't the only former operative
in the Order who had an "unfortunate
incident" yesterday. But he was the
luckiest. The other five didn't
survive.


ODO
Five operatives were killed yesterday?

INFORMANT
Killed? No... Three died of "natural
causes"... the other two perished
in "accidents."

ODO
Quite a coincidence.

INFORMANT
If you believe in coincidence.

ODO
So you think the Romulans had
something to do with their deaths.

INFORMANT
There were certain... indications...of
their involvement.

ODO
That still leaves us with the question
of why?

He tosses a Cardassian PADD and Odo catches it and looks at it.

INFORMANT
Here. Those are the names of the five dead
operatives. I suggest you show that
to Garak and then ask him that question.

ODO
I'll do that.

INFORMANT
I trust you agree that this
information satisfies my debt to
you.

ODO
Agreed.

INFORMANT
However... if you should learn something
from your tailor and you wish to...
share it with me... I'd be indebted
to you again.

ODO
I'll consider it.

The Informant moves back into the shadows until we can't see
him anymore...


So what about you guys..what exchange is so awesome, so "DS9" for you?

 

[MyCylon]

^
That's a great scene indeed. And I agree that DS9 had a lot of terrific exchanges that wouldn't have worked on any of the other Treks.

Here's the first one I thought of (a lot shorter than the above quote but very sweet IMHO). There's two parts to it really.
The first one is where Weyoun and Damar go into the prison cell to Worf and Ezri. At some point, Worf just suddenly snaps Damar's neck.
Damar bends down to Weyoun's corpse and just starts laughing out loud and then says:
"Overconfidence, the hallmark of the Weyoun's. Maybe the Founders should eliminate that from your recipe next time."

In a later scene, we see Damar sitting in the control room, drinking what's presumably Cannar. A new Weyoun walks in.
Damar: "Well, hello!" *laughs*
Weyoun: "I'm glad to see you find the death of my predecessor so amusing."
Damar: "Oh, you misjudge me. I miss him deeply. Here *grabs bottle* let's drink to Weyoun 7."
Weyoun: "When will the prisoners be executed?"
Damar: "When the trial is completed. Legal protocol must be observed."
Weyoun: "When?"
Damar: "The execution is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, 14 hundred hours."
Weyoun: "Have the agreed to cooperate?"
Damar: "No....maybe you should talk to Worf again..." *laughs*

I love that kind of, shall we say, uneasy type of relationship and (black) humor that was unique to DS9 IMHO.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

^awesome


I would also take any scene from ITPM and Necessary Evil

and this:

Dukat is pouring two glasses of kanar. Weyoun stands
nearby.

DUKAT
War is such thirsty work. Don't
you agree?

WEYOUN
Perhaps if you didn't talk so
much, your throat wouldn't get so
dry.

DUKAT
Cardassians do like to talk. I
suppose it can be a failing... at
times.
(holding up a glass for
Weyoun to take)
To the conquerors of the
Federation.

Weyoun doesn't reach for the glass.

WEYOUN
Aren't you being a bit premature?

DUKAT
I don't think so. Not with twenty-
eight hundred Dominion ships about
to come through the wormhole.

WEYOUN
Those ships won't be here for
another five hours. And need I
remind you, a lot can happen in
that time.

Dukat puts Weyoun's glass on the desk.

DUKAT
Tell me, Weyoun, have you ever
been diagnosed as anhedonic?



WEYOUN
You think I'm incapable of
experiencing joy just because I'm
cautious?

Dukat drains his glass.

DUKAT
We didn't defeat the Federation
by being cautious.

WEYOUN
We haven't defeated them yet. And
even if we do, that's only the
beginning. Holding on to a prize
as vast as the Federation isn't
going to be easy. It's going to
require an enormous number of
ships, a massive occupation
army... and constant vigilance.

Dukat picks up Sisko's baseball and starts twirling it.

DUKAT
I look forward to it.



WEYOUN
I'm sure you also looked forward
to occupying Bajor... and we all
know what a disappointment that
was.

DUKAT
(defensive)
On Bajor, I merely implemented
policy. I didn't make it. If I
had, things would've turned out
quite differently.

Weyoun gives Dukat a half-smile, then turns to a wall
monitor with a graphic of Federation space.

WEYOUN
If you ask me, the key to holding
the Federation is Earth. If
there's going to be an organized
resistance against us... its
birthplace will be there.

DUKAT
You could be right.

WEYOUN
Then our first step will be to
eradicate its population.
(convinced)
It's the only way.

This comment surprises Dukat, and he doesn't like the
idea.


DUKAT
You can't do that.

WEYOUN
Why not?

DUKAT
Because a true victory is to make
your enemy see that they were
wrong to oppose you in the first
place. To force them to
acknowledge your greatness.


WEYOUN
(trying to understand)
Then you kill them?

DUKAT
Only if necessary.

Weyoun doesn't really buy any of this, but wants to see
where it plays out.

WEYOUN
I had no idea...

DUKAT
(half to himself)
Perhaps the biggest disappointment
in my life is that the Bajoran
people still refuse to appreciate
how lucky they were to have me as
their liberator. I protected them
in so many ways... cared for them
as if they were my own children.
(a beat)
But to this day, is there a single -
statue - of me on Bajor?

WEYOUN
I would guess not.

DUKAT
And you'd be right.

Dukat looks down at the baseball in his hand.

DUKAT
Take Captain Sisko -- an otherwise
intelligent and perceptive man --
even he refuses to grant me the
respect I deserve.

Vastly entertained, Weyoun smiles.

DUKAT
You find that amusing.

WEYOUN
Not at all. I find it
fascinating.



DUKAT
Laugh all you want. History will
prove me right.

 

[Navaros]

I'd say the entirety of the ITPM episode is the epitome of scenes and exchanges unique to DS9's storytelling. That episode wouldn't have been anywhere near so powerful without the years-long build-up to it backing up the plot and characters participating in it.

That Dukat/Weyoun scene is also awesome - it's a bonafide tragedy that amazing scenes like that get butchered out of the show in reruns on TV, thus many DS9 fans probably have no idea that scenes like that even exist.

 

[Sisko4Life]

Ha, just watched that Dukat / Weyoun scene yesterday. Even my girlfriend chuckled and shes never seen DS9 before!

 

[SoM]

All of the Kira/Marizza scenes in Duet, with the progression Kira shows from anger to horror to disgust to acceptance to sorrow through them stick hard in the memory.

*links rather than quoting the whole thing*

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

There were a few in Ties of Blood and Water that really got me...one comedic and one that actually had me bawling.

The one with Dukat, Sisko, Weyoun, and a bottle of kanar, for starters...

But the scene at the end where Kira tells what she saw...

I just LOST it at that point.

I've seen places where apparently some fans complained about it being too long, etc., but I felt like it was very necessary. And in some ways, to not watch Ghemor's final agony, but to hear about it, filtered through Kira's emotions, was just heartbreaking.

 

[Marie1]

I'd be impossible for me to pick my fav. scenes and not end up with a book... Maybe... if I can restrain myself...
[Dax is trying to work, but Virak'kara, a Jem'Hadar, is staring at her]
Jadzia Dax: Am I really that interesting? You've been standing there staring at me for the last two hours.
Virak'kara: You are part of my combat team. I must learn to understand your behaviour - anticipate your actions.
Jadzia Dax: There must be something you'd rather do. Maybe get some sleep?
Virak'kara: We don't sleep.
Jadzia Dax: How about getting something to eat?
Virak'kara: The white is the only thing we need.
Jadzia Dax: Don't sleep... don't eat... What do you do for relaxation?
Virak'kara: Relaxation would only make us weak.
Jadzia Dax: You people are no fun at all - I'm glad I'm not a Jem'Hadar woman.
Virak'kara: There are no Jem'Hadar women.
Jadzia Dax: So what do you do? Lay eggs?
Virak'kara: [proudly] Jem'Hadar are bred in birthing chambers. We are able to fight within three days of our emergence.
Jadzia Dax: Lucky you. So let me get this straight: no sleep - no food - no women. No wonder you're so angry. After thirty or forty years of that I'd be angry too.
Virak'kara: No Jem'Hadar has ever lived thirty years.
Jadzia Dax:How old are you?
Virak'kara: I am eight.
Jadzia Dax: I would have guessed at least fifteen.
Virak'kara: Few Jem'Hadar live that long. If we reach twenty, we're considered honored elders. [leans in] How old are you?
Jadzia Dax: I stopped counting at three hundred.
Virak'kara: [amazed] You don't look it.
Jadzia Dax: Thank you.

--To the Death