ACT THREE
FADE IN:
14 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT
A runabout flies through space at warp...
15 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT
QUARK picks up a fancy, colourful drink from the replicator at the back, and comes back to the front seats, where RO is driving the ship. She glances at the drink...
RO
A Samarian Sunset? A bit strong for
this time of the morning, isn’t it?
QUARK
I’ll need fortification before I meet
my mother - and my brother.
RO
As long as you don’t spill it
on the console.
QUARK
Won’t last long enough for that.
Quark knocks back the entire drink in one, gasps as it goes down. Ro just shakes her head in amusement.
RO
Quark... why did you want me to
come with you for this? Surely a
Ferengi investigator would be more
appropriate than a Starfleet one.
QUARK
I trust you more. You uncovered
the conspiracy against Rom so the
Economic Congress will respect you
even though you’re a female, and
you’re a neutral party.
RO
I’m not that neutral, Quark...
QUARK
(firm)
Right now you are. No offence,
Laren, but at this moment I don’t
want any preferential treatment
because of our relationship. I
want you to save my business.
RO
(quietly relieved)
I can do that. Assuming you are
actually innocent, of course.
He looks askance at her - she grins back.
RO
So let’s start at the top. Why
would anyone start this rumour?
QUARK
To discredit me. What I don’t get
is why anyone believes it.
RO
(shrug)
It happens sometimes. Some people
find it easier to believe in wild
conspiracy theories that their
hero is still out there than to
accept he died before his time.
QUARK
Before his time?! He was over
a hundred.
RO
It’s a strange time, Quark. People
have just been through the most
devastating event of their lives.
They’re looking for comfort.
Quark looks askance at Ro again - something about the way she said that makes him curious.
QUARK
Are we talking about Ferengi...
or you?
(no reply)
I did notice you don’t wear your
earring anymore. I assumed you’d
tell me why when you wanted to.
RO
(deep breath)
I’ve been thinking about some
things, yeah. Since the invasion.
Not sure I’m really ready to talk
about it yet.
QUARK
Okay. Well, if and when you are...
RO
Thanks, Quark.
They go back to watching the stars as they fly...
16 EXT. FERENGINAR – NAGAL RESIDENCE
A large, fanciful building that shines like gold in the constant rain, as seen in 9x11 “Sale of the Century”.
17 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – HALLWAY
In the background, half a dozen Ferengi SERVANTS rush about straightening portraits, dusting knick-knacks, generally bustling around preparing for their visitors. Meanwhile ROM comes bumbling down the corridor, a-flap with worry.
ROM
They’ll be here any minute!
LEETA takes hold of him, steadies him...
LEETA
Rom - calm down. Your mother’s
settling him into the east wing
of the house right now.
ROM
Right, right... but what if Quark
and Ro go looking?
LEETA
It’s a huge house. You’ve lived
here for years and you still get
lost. We’ll be fine.
ISHKA enters from a side corridor, big and blowsy as ever.
ISHKA
She’s right, Rom. Zekkie’s got his
financial market updates and his
Marauder Mo serials, and Maihar’du
is keeping an eye on him.
Rom tries to believe her. A servant steps up and whispers in Rom’s ear...
ROM
Their car just pulled up.
Deep breaths all round, game faces on.
18 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – ENTRY HALL
The big round main front door opens, revealing Quark and Ro shaking the rain off them. Ro ducks through the low door...
ROM
(nervous)
Brother! It’s good to see you!
QUARK
All I can see is rain...
A servant quickly offers towels - they pat themselves down.
QUARK
That’s better. Well, come on -
gimme the waivers and let’s
get the formalities over with...
The servant takes the towels and hands them padds instead. Ro and Quark thumb them and hand them back. Over this:
ROM
My house is my house...
QUARK
As are its contents, yeah yeah.
ISHKA
You’re as cheerful as ever, Quark.
QUARK
Moogie - it’s probably your fault
I’m here at all. I’m not quite sure
how yet, but give me time.
Ro rolls her eyes, steps forward...
RO
Grand Nagus Rom, Leeta, thank you
for taking us into your home.
LEETA
You’re welcome, Commander. Come
on in and dry off.
They move into the house, Quark muttering, Rom glancing around nervously...
19 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – BEDROOM
A FLUSH off-screen, and Maihar’du emerges from the bathroom back into the bedroom. He stops, jaw drops in horror...
...the bed is empty, the TV still playing, the door open. But Zek is nowhere to be seen. Oh no...
20 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – CORRIDOR
ZEK creeps down the corridor in his own pyjamas, GIGGLING at the excitement of escape. He reaches an intersection, peeks around it...
Rom, Leeta and Ishka are just guiding their guests through another intersection further down. They don’t see him.
Zek creeps on, giggling...
On ROM as he looks around nervously, just missing Zek...
ROM
You didn’t bring Nog?
RO
That’s my fault - sorry, Rom. The
station’s power distribution took
a battering from all the refugees,
and I needed him to focus on that.
ROM
(proudly)
My son, the chief engineer.
MAIHAR’DU runs down the corridor, hunting for Zek...
Back to Quark etc, none the wiser...
RO
What about Prinadora? I thought
she came back with you...
ISHKA
I sent her out to look for new
houses for me and Z- ... for me
and her.
QUARK
I thought she could barely read?
ISHKA
Just because she’s uneducated
doesn’t mean she’s stupid, Quark.
Give a female a chance, and she’s
just as capable as any male.
RO
Almost sounds like there’s a lesson
there. Eh, Quark?
Ishka chuckles. But then Maihar’du is there, worried and urgent. Ishka smoothly manoeuvres him out of sight so that Rom can lead the others on. Once they are out of earshot...
ISHKA
What, what is it?
Maihar’du gestures wildly, in a panic, trying to explain.
ISHKA
Wha - I... Show me.
21 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – BEDROOM
Maihar’du opens the door, to show Ishka the empty room. She realises the problem.
ISHKA
Oh, f-
22 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – CORRIDOR
Quark et al...
QUARK
That must be fun for you, Rom -
the current wife and the ex wife
under the same roof...?
LEETA
(pointed)
Prinadora and I get on perfectly
well. She’s been helping me with
my charity work. Once I explained
what charity actually was, anyway.
ROM
(tight smile)
Yes. It’s great. We’re all one big
happy family, brother.
As they pass another intersection, Ishka and Maihar’du dash unseen across the next intersection down, both in a flap...
23 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – HALLWAY
Zek cackles his way towards the back door - freedom! But moments before he reaches it, Ishka and Maihar’du catch up, grab hold of him, pull him away.
ZEK
No, I wanna go outside!
ISHKA
You can’t, Zekkie, you have to go
back to your room. I’ll take you
out tomorrow.
ZEK
But I wanna go now, and I’m the
Grand Nagus!
ISHKA
Maihar’du, take him back -
Too late - Rom, Leeta, Quark and Ro cross the corridor at another intersection further down.
MEEPing in fright, Ishka and Maihar’du quickly jump in front of Zek, Ishka pulling out her big dress as wide as it will go to hide him...
Rom glances their way, frowns...
Ishka smiles back, teeth showing in a desperate grin...
Then they’ve gone. Ishka sighs - got away with it, for now.
ISHKA
No way to get back to the east
wing now without them seeing
us. Follow me...
She leads on - Maihar’du drags the grumbling Zek along...
24 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – CORRIDOR
Quark et al...
RO
I forgot how big this place is.
LEETA
Seems like you can walk forever
down these corridors, doesn’t it?
25 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – BEDROOM
Rom and Leeta guide Quark and Ro into another bedroom.
ROM
This is one of our finest guest
suites. I’m sure you’ll be very
comfortable here, brother.
QUARK
It’ll do.
LEETA
(awkward question)
We weren’t sure if you would be
sharing a room...
QUARK
No, we’re not.
RO
I’ll stay here, then. Thank you.
QUARK
Fine. I preferred the room I
stayed in last time anyway.
Quark heads back out into the corridor. Ro offers a wince of apology for Quark being such an ass...
RO
I’m sorry - he’s just distracted
by this Zek business.
Rom and Leeta both chuckle nervously - what ever could she be talking about?
26 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – CORRIDOR
Ishka and Maihar’du SHOVE Zek into another room, and quickly SLAM the door, locking him inside. They both breathe a sigh of relief, then turn and MEEP...
...because Quark is striding down the corridor towards them, with Ro, Rom and Leeta in his wake.
QUARK
Where did you two get to?
ISHKA
Oh you know, just a problem with
the kitchen. Nothing to worry
about. How’s your room?
QUARK
I want this one instead.
He points to the same door they just locked Zek behind. Ishka immediately moves to block it.
ISHKA
You can’t go in there.
QUARK
Why not?
ISHKA
(winging it)
The sheets haven’t been changed.
Isn’t that right, Rom?
ROM
Uh, I don’t think so...
ISHKA
(grits teeth)
Yes, it is, Rom.
QUARK
Well I want that room anyway. It
has a better view over the city.
Quark pushes past his mother, opens the door...
ISHKA
No, Quark, don’t -
27 INT. NAGAL RESIDENCE – BEDROOM
...But the room is perfectly normal. Quark bustles in, none the wiser.
Unnoticed by the others, Ishka and Maihar’du share a look of confused horror - Zek is not in the room.
Quark moves to sniff the bedsheets...
QUARK
Hmm - these do smell a bit musty.
I guess that’s why you left the
window open.
Realising with horror what must have happened, Ishka and Maihar’du run to the open window, while Quark sets up the room, and the others watch from the door.
QUARK
See? Told you - much better view.
Ishka and Maihar’du look out of the window at the view of the rainy city in the middle distance, the expansive swampy grounds between the house and there...
...and no sign of Zek.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT THREE