ACT THREE

FADE IN:

9 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR

Commander Ro strolls along the corridor, nodding polite hellos to passers-by. She turns a corner into an empty section of corridor... and stops dead.

Because curled up in a doorway, pressed tight into the alcove and shivering in fear, is the puppy Tiff. The poor thing is scared and alone and sniffling in tears.

Ro's face drops, and she crouches gently down towards the puppy. Not too close, don't want to scare him even more.

RO
Tiff? What are you doing here?

The puppy looks up tearfully, recognising Ro with relief.

RO
Are you okay? What happened?

TIFF
I ran away. And then I got lost.

RO
Where's your father?

TIFF
Don't know. Don't know anybody...

RO
Why did you run away?

TIFF
Uncle Quark said mean things.

Ro has to cover her reaction for the puppy's sake. But she knows exactly what must have happened, and she is pissed.

RO
Well... I'm sure he didn't mean
it. Come with me, and we'll find
your father together.

Sniffling, Tiff crawls forward and allows Ro to pick him up. He clings to her chest, tucking his face into the crook of her neck. She cuddles him close, comforting him.

She stands and carries on, her face like thunder.

RO
We'll find your father...
(grits teeth)
...and Quark.

10 INT. DS9 – SECURITY OFFICE

The door opens, and Ro walks in with Tiff still clutched to her breast. When the tiny puppy sees his father sat in the guest chair, he yips with happiness.

RO
Pif, I found something of yours.

PIF
Tiffo? What's going on?

Tiff jumps down from Ro and cuddles up to his father. Meanwhile, Major Cenn is sat in the security chief chair.

RO
He got lost. And scared. But he'll
be fine.

PIF
(gently)
What's going on with you today?
Why do people keep having to find
you and bring you back? That's not
like you, Tiffo.

TIFF
I'm sorry, daddy.

RO
It wasn't his fault. He overheard
somebody say something, and
he got upset.

PIF
Who?

RO
Don't worry about that. I'll take
care of it.
(to Cenn)
So what's going on here?

TIFF
Are you in trouble, daddy?

CENN
No, little guy, your daddy's not
in trouble. We just came to the
"mutual agreement" that security
isn't the best fit for him.

RO
Why, what happened?

CENN
I'll tell you later.

RO
I look forward to it. Come on,
you two. Let's go.

Pif jumps down off the seat, Tiff follows him. They and Ro all turn and exit the security office out to the Promenade.

11 INT. DS9 – QUARK'S BAR

They enter the bar, quieter now. Pif is still downcast after his mistake in the cargo bay, but he fakes a big smile and calls out loud.

PIF
Puppies, in a line please!

Tiff is already there, but the others appear from all over the bar and rush over to their father.

Standing and watching this, Ro forces a happy smile on her face. She tenses when Quark wanders over, watching Pif and the line of puppies leave the bar in single file.

QUARK
I don't know what you said to
them, but thanks for getting
them out of here.

Ro holds her tongue until the Aarruri are all gone. Then she grabs Quark's ear, TWISTS it in a fury, and drags him by it over to a dark corner, him SQUEALing all the way.

RO
What the hell is wrong with you?

QUARK
What did I do?

RO
You actually called the puppies
disgusting?!

QUARK
Well, they are.

RO
Tiff heard you! He was hiding
under the table. And then he ran
away. He could have gotten hurt
because you couldn't keep your
damned mouth shut.

QUARK
(sulky)
I didn't know he was there.

RO
Does that matter?! You couldn't
stop yourself, could you? You just
couldn't help being... you.

QUARK
I am me. That's a surprise to you?

RO
I guess it shouldn't be. But stupid
me, somehow I always fool myself
into thinking this time, you won't
disappoint me.

QUARK
Hey, don't blame me if you don't
know exactly who I am by now.

RO
I can live with you having a
problem with furry things. I don't
like pulakoos, I get it. I can handle
you swindling every person who
walks through that door, or
checking out Treir's behind when
you think I'm not looking. But
calling somebody else's babies
"disgusting"... Babies, Quark! Is
that something I'm supposed to
be okay with?

That finally seems to get through. Quark pauses.

QUARK
Fine. I'm sorry. Are you happy?

RO
Let me show you how happy I
am, Quark.

She reaches threateningly for his ear again. He squeals.

QUARK
Alright, alright! What do you want
me to do?

RO
Well, let me think about that for a
moment. I know! Vaughn assigned
Pif to work the night shift in the
Infirmary tomorrow.

QUARK
So?

RO
So, I already said I'd babysit
the puppies for him. I think you
should join me. And you will
apologise to them.

Her tone makes it clear this is not an option. Quark is simply horrified, voice shaking at the mere thought.

QUARK
What if I don't want to?

RO
Then I will never forgive you.

With that, Ro turns on her heel and stalks away, leaving Quark to think about what she's said.

12 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

The usual establishing shot, just enough to indicate some time passing.

13 INT. DS9 – INFIRMARY

The lights are dimmer than usual, indicating night shift.

PIF
And I know I should have held my
temper; frankly I didn't even know
I had a temper. I just hate when
people dismiss me like that.

BASHIR is moving around the Infirmary, carrying equipment here and there, checking this screen or that screen. Pif follows him everywhere he goes, motor-mouthing all the way.

PIF
Did you know I used to not even
like to wag my tail in public?
People always called me cute when
I did, and I hated that. I'm an
adult, I'm not cute. So I'd sit on
it, make sure it couldn't wag. But
then I thought, why should I let
other people change who I am?
If they don't take me seriously,
that's their problem, not mine.

BASHIR
I agree entirely.

Bashir continues to move around – Pif continues to follow.

PIF
I think having a family had a lot
to do with it. How could I expect
the puppies to grow up into strong,
proud Aarruri if I couldn't teach
by example?

BASHIR
That's very true.

PIF
And they are growing up. Fett's
a real troublemaker, though.
Fighting, disobeying the rules,
stealing toys from her siblings.
Don't know where she gets it.

BASHIR
Lots of kids go through a phase
like that, I wouldn't worry.

PIF
I guess. I do worry about Tiff
though. He's so quiet and shy.
Doesn't really engage with his
siblings. The one thing he seemed
to be interested in was the bar,
following Quark wherever he went.

BASHIR
I'm sure that went down well.

PIF
It's quite sweet, actually. I was
glad to see he had an interest.
Maybe he wants to go into sales
or hospitality. I'd like him to be
a runner, of course. I'd like them
all to be runners. It's the best
thing an Aarruri can be! But as
long as he's happy...

Leaving on Bashir's please-get-me-out-of-here expression...

14 INT. DS9 – PIF’S FAMILY QUARTERS

Quark stands in the doorway, looking about as reluctant as a person can. He pokes his head across the threshold, grimacing at the fur-covered doghouses and the fur-covered dogs clambering all over them.

Ro is out of uniform, standing and holding a puppy.

RO
Quark! I'm glad you came. Come
on in.

QUARK
Into the pulakoo’s nest.

Quark steps into the room like he's stepping into hell, skin crawling, face frozen in horror. Ro smiles soothingly.

RO
It's okay. They're not going to
hurt you.

QUARK
We don't know that.

RO
Come on. It's the best way to get
you used to them.

QUARK
Why should I get used to them?

RO
Because you have no other choice.
They're not going anywhere, Quark.
And familiarity breeds acceptance.
(beat)
Now, before we settle in, is there
anything you want to say?

Quark grimaces, knowing what Ro is referring to. It's the last thing he wants to do. He takes a deep breath.

QUARK
Okay. Puppies... I apologise for
anything I may have said –

RO
May have?

QUARK
Fine. I apologise for what I said
the other day. I didn't mean to
hurt your feelings.

That was completely insincere, and everyone knows it. But Ro knows this is only the start of the evening.

RO
I guess that'll do. For now.
(holds out puppy)
Do you want to hold one?

QUARK
(flinch)
Let's build up to that, shall we?

Ro turns and carries the puppy she's holding back towards his brothers and sisters. Ending on Quark's expression...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE