ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

28 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM

A SERVANT carries a tray of drinks into the room and passes them out to the four figures present.

RO - businesslike, here to work. QUARK - pacing the room. LEETA - curled up comfortably. ROM - perched nervously.

RO
Thanks. I’m not sure I’d ever get
used to having servants.

LEETA
It’s no different to what I used
to do in the bar. I presume you
left Treir in charge?

QUARK
And if we don’t figure out who’s
trying to frame me for fraud,
she’ll be running it permanently.
Where did moogie vanish to again?

ROM
She’s... ah... fixing a problem
with the cellar damp-proofing.

QUARK
The kitchen, the bedsheets, the
cellar - I thought that was why
you had servants.

As Quark knocks back his drink, Rom smiles tensely...

29 INT. FERENGI SUPERMARKET

The door slams open and ISHKA dashes in, sodden from the unending rain...

ISHKA
Maihar’du! He’s in here!

The huge silent manservant also dashes in, equally sodden. The SHOPKEEPER yells...

SHOPKEEPER
You again! Don’t you dare get my
floors wet!

ISHKA
(bigger things
to worry about)
Maihar’du, give him some money.

Maihar’du goes to the counter, pulls out a BAR of LATINUM and hands it to the shopkeeper, who snatches it up fast.

Zek spots Ishka coming after him, and runs down the aisle, cackling all the way. Ishka follows, Zek dodges - it’s a game of hide and seek around the supermarket aisles.

On Maihar’du and the shopkeeper as they HEAR the sounds of Zek giggling and Ishka chasing him. Something SMASHES - the shopkeeper glowers, Maihar’du sighs, hands him more money.

30 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM

Handed another drink by a servant, Quark knocks it back.

RO
Quark, slow down.

QUARK
(spins on Rom)
Why aren’t you more worried? Your
reputation will be ruined just as
much as mine.

ROM
I... I... I...

RO
Of course he’s worried, Quark. But
turning on each other won’t help.

LEETA
And keep your voice down - Bena’s
in bed.

The servant dashes back in again, whispers in Rom’s ear.

ROM
There’s a call from DS-Nine.

Off Quark’s dawning hope...

31 INT. FERENGI SUPERMARKET

Zek dashes between the supermarket aisles like he did the corridors in the house, too excited by the chase to spot...

...the PUDDLE of rainwater on the floor. He runs right into it and goes FLYING...

Maihar’du and the Shopkeeper cringe with every subsequent off-screen SMASH, CLANG, POP, OOF and WHIZZBANG...

The Shopkeeper holds out his hand - Maihar’du resignedly places another bar of latinum into it.

32 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM

The screen shows BASHIR and EVIK in the security office on DS9, the Promenade behind them. Ro listens to the report.

EVIK (screen)
Good news, Commander. All the
data records check out - there is no
evidence of any attempt at fraud
on the Ambassador’s part.

BASHIR (screen)
The same for the memorial disc.
It’s hard to be a hundred percent
because we’re dealing with vacuum
desiccated remains rather than a
fresh body. But all indications are
that that was definitely Zek in
that stasis unit.

Unseen behind them, Leeta grips Rom’s hand in comfort - see, told you it would be alright.

RO
Thank you both, that’s great work.
Could you forward me your results?
In case I need to convince anyone.

EVIK (screen)
(works panels)
Of course, Commander, on their
way to you now.

A BEEP at Ro’s end of the signal...

RO
Received. Thanks again - I’m sure
we’ll be back on the station soon.

EVIK (screen)
Safe journey, Commander.

BASHIR (screen)
(waves)
Nice to see you, Leeta!

LEETA
(waves back)
You too, Julian! Bye!

And the signal drops. Ro turns to Quark...

RO
There - that must make you feel
better, surely?

ROM
Yes, definitely.

They all turn to Rom - she wasn’t talking to him.

ROM
I think...?

33 INT. FERENGI SUPERMARKET

Zek sits on the supermarket floor, surrounded by smashed debris of bottles and jars, his rain-soaked pyjamas now also streaked with spillage. And he is CRYING.

Ishka steps closer, overcome with sadness and pity for him. She crouches down and sits beside him in the mess.

ISHKA
Are you okay?

ZEK
No! I hurt my leg, and I wanted
beetle snuff, and you won’t let
me get it! You just keep locking
me in rooms. It’s not fair!

ISHKA
I know, Zekkie. I know. None of
what’s happened is fair. We were
supposed to be living out our days
in luxury and privacy, but those
forever-frinxed Borg ruined it.

ZEK
I mean it’s not fair that I used to
be the Grand Nagus and people
stared in awe wherever I went.
Now they stare like I’m a monster.

ISHKA
You’re not a monster, Zekkie.
You’re just... confused.

ZEK
Sometimes I look at you... and I
can’t even remember your name.
Sometimes I know exactly who
you are but I can’t find you, and
I get so worried that you’re lost.

ISHKA
I’m never far away from you. If
you can’t remember anything
else, remember that. I love you.

ZEK
I love you too, Ishka. See? I
remembered your name.

ISHKA
Sure did. And I promise we’ll go
out together as often as you want
once we find a new place to live.

ZEK
But I live here. That’s my house.

ISHKA
Not anymore, Zek. I’m sorry.

Ishka gets to her feet, helps Zek up as well...

Maihar’du pulls out a full BRICK of latinum, doesn’t hand it over yet. He points up into the corner of the store, at a security CAMERA. His intentions are clear.

The Shopkeeper sighs, goes to a machine, ejects the TAPE and hands it to Maihar’du, who nods and hands over the brick of latinum. The huge gentle manservant then CRUSHES the tape in his fist. The Shopkeeper GULPS.

Ishka leads the downcast and limping Zek back out into the unending rain. Maihar’du goes to follow them, but at the door, he turns back, dark and threatening...

...and does the “I’m watching you” gesture, fingers and eyes, then leaves. The Shopkeeper gulps again...

34 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM

Quark CLINKS another refilled glass together with those of Ro, Rom and Leeta, and knocks it back - in celebration now.

QUARK
Proof that Zek really is dead.
If we give that to stupid FCN,
they’ll have to leave me alone.
My business is saved!

LEETA
And Rom’s Nagushood.

QUARK
Yeah, sure, that too.

RO
We’ll contact them first thing
in the morning.

Messenger servant is back to whisper in Rom’s ear again. He looks terrified...

ROM
Um... I gotta go.

Rom dashes off screen...

QUARK
What was that about?

LEETA
Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing.

QUARK
It’s never nothing with Rom.

Quark heads out of the room...

LEETA
Quark, don’t -

RO
Leeta... let him go.

Leeta looks back to Ro, strangely calm. Does she know?

35 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – HALLWAY

At the far end of the hallway, Rom is just helping Ishka and Maihar’du to manhandle Zek in through the back door.

ISHKA
Quick, let’s get back to the east
wing before they see us.

QUARK (o.s.)
Before we see what?

Rom and Ishka MEEP again, and quickly step in front of Zek to block Quark’s view. Quark eyes them suspiciously...

RO (o.s.)
Isn’t it obvious, Quark?

Ro has followed him, with Leeta behind her. They can all see the same desperate cluster of people by the door...

RO
(continuing)
Before you see that Zek really is
still alive after all.

QUARK
Are you drunk? You just got the
proof that he’s dead.

LEETA
Rom, sweetie - just let it go.
She already knows.

Rom, Ishka and Maihar’du look back and forth - should we? With a sigh they step aside...

...and reveal ZEK in his wet, stained pyjamas.

ZEK
Quark!

Quark gapes in amazement...

...then falls over backwards with a THUD.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR