ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

18 EST. SISKO’S RESTAURANT - NIGHT

As before...

GARAK (v.o.)
It is rather a shame...

19 INT. SISKO’S RESTAURANT - PATIO - NIGHT

The next night, the next evening dinner crowd. GARAK sits at one table, gazing at JOSEPH’S MEMORIAL, while opposite him, Quark eats his dinner with annoyed distraction.

QUARK
What is?

GARAK
That I never found the time to
visit this marvellous establish-
ment while its original owner was
still with us. I understand that it
was quite a popular haunt with
some of my fellow diplomats.

QUARK
(doesn’t care)
Really...

Garak can see that Quark has other things on his mind. He chooses to continue with an air of practised nonchalance...

GARAK
Oh yes. Races from across the
Federation and beyond have heard
of Captain Sisko, of course. War
hero, Emissary of the Prophets...
they all want to see the house
where the great man was raised.

QUARK
Good for them.

GARAK
(pushes a
little more)
Of course it also means that this
restaurant has become quite the
melting pot itself over the years
- people of all shapes, sizes and
colours breaking bread together.
At least, that’s what I hear.

QUARK
(finally looks up)
You never came yourself?

GARAK
Well, it’s a long journey. I did
consider coming for the funeral,
but that was really for friends
and family, and I couldn’t quite
flatter myself that I was either.

Quark points with his fork to Garak’s half-eaten dinner.

QUARK
You seemed to know what to order.

GARAK
One does one’s research. In a way,
this place reminds me of your own
bar back on Deep Space Nine.

QUARK
Except nobody pays for anything.

GARAK
(shrug)
When on Ferenginar, do as the
Ferengi do. When on Earth...

Quark looks up, triggered - just as Garak intended. The Cardassian ambassador merely smiles back innocently...

QUARK
I never wanted to be on Earth
at all. It’s all Derro’s fault.

GARAK
Well, I for one am certainly glad
you are here. After all, how often
does one get to catch up with
such an old and valued friend?

Quark looks at Garak askance - he’s being weird - then returns to his food. Garak continues to watch...

GARAK
Why are you on Earth, if I may
ask? I doubt it’s simply to catch
up with your nephew. You don’t
strike me as the sentimental type.

QUARK
I’m surprised you haven’t heard
all about it.

GARAK
Oh, Ferengi hearing is far more
sensitive than a Cardassian’s...

QUARK
I’m here because President Bacco
wants the Ferengi Alliance to join
the Khitomer Accords.

GARAK
I see. I’ve met Ambassador Derro,
of course. I can see why he might
have felt he needed your help in
striking such an important deal.

QUARK
You don’t think he’s any good?

GARAK
It’s really not for me to say. But
having worked alongside your
good self for so many years, I
think I can safely say which of
us is the superior negotiator.

QUARK
Thank you.

Garak smiles enigmatically - he never said it was Quark.

GARAK
President Bacco made a similar
proposal to me. She would quite
like the Cardassian Union to join
the Accords as well.
(sly smile)
Things must be in a worse state
than I realised.

QUARK
Is it going to happen?

GARAK
Ah, that’s the question, isn’t it?
There’s no greater admirer of the
Federation than I, as you know...

This time, Quark shares Garak’s amused smile...

GARAK
(continuing)
...but sadly, many of my people,
including the Castellan herself,
remain rather... cautious about
getting too close. It was, after
all, only a few years ago that
Starfleet was dedicated to
defeating us at any cost.
(sigh)
At least your people never had
that to contend with.

QUARK
(thoughtful)
I guess. So what are you going
to do about it?

GARAK
My dear Quark, what can I do? I am
merely an agent of my government,
here to represent their wishes, not
my own. What my people want...
I must accomplish on their behalf.

As Quark considers Garak’s words, RENA arrives with a glass filled with a frothy brown drink, places it on the table.

RENA
Here’s your drink, Ambassador.
My apologies for the delay.

GARAK
You are entirely forgiven, young
lady. Most kind.

Rena walks away, back to the kitchen. Garak picks up his drink, takes a healthy sip, sighs with satisfaction.

QUARK
What are you drinking, anyway?

GARAK
(simply)
Root beer.

Quark gets the reference, absorbs the implication...

Following RENA back to the kitchen...

20 INT. SISKO’S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN (CONTINUOUS)

She enters, joining Jake as he makes sure the plates and utensils are restocked, staying out of the chefs’ way. He has been keeping an eye on their guests from afar, wary that they might cause trouble...

JAKE
Everything okay?

RENA
It’s fine, Jake. Garak booked his
usual table, the same one he has
every week. Quark was too busy
eating to even question it.

JAKE
Do you think he’ll be able to
persuade him?

RENA
From what you’ve told me, Elim
Garak could talk the vedeks into
praying to him if he wanted. If
anyone can change Quark’s mind...

JAKE
I hope you’re right. For our sake,
for Nog’s... and for Quark’s.

As they continue to watch from afar...

21 EST. PARIS - PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - DAY

The following morning...

22 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

Agent Wexler OPENS the doors again, allowing a confident Quark and a nervous Derro to enter side by side. Wexler CLOSES the doors on a peeking Nog...

Bacco is behind her desk, polite but unexpressive, while K’mtok lurks to the side growling. Everyone stays standing.

QUARK
Thank you for seeing us at such
short notice, Madam President.

BACCO
Mister Ambassador. I’m told it was
you who requested this meeting -
I must say I’m surprised, given
how things went yesterday.

QUARK
That’s true, Madam President.
And the first thing I would like to
do is to apologise - to you, to the
Ambassador from Qo’noS, and to
my colleague Ambassador Derro. My
behaviour yesterday was undeserved
and unprofessional. I’m sorry.

Bacco blinks, taken aback. That was not what she expected.

BACCO
I appreciate that, Ambassador -
it’s not something I hear very
often in this job. Thank you.

QUARK
It’s not something I say very
often, so perhaps we should
both savour the moment.

Quark chuckles, and Bacco actually chuckles along with him. K’mtok just gives a toothy smile, full of fangs.

QUARK
I was being a bad representative
of my people - I am here for them,
not for myself. And the Ferengi
people want to be a part of
your Khitomer Accords.

Bacco sighs with huge relief. K’mtok growls approvingly.

BACCO
That’s wonderful news, Ambassador.
I can have documents drawn up -

QUARK
Please, Madam President... I’m
not finished.

Quark has his hand up to stop her. She does not like being interrupted, and K’mtok expects she will explode. But she is surprised all over again, and lets him continue...

BACCO
Very well... go on.

QUARK
Before anything is signed, I need
you to understand some things. My
issue with the extradition clause
of Article Five still stands. And I
know that you need us more than
we need you. We’ve lasted this
long without you, and we’re not
the ones being threatened now.

K’mtok growls again, but Quark still isn’t finished...

QUARK
An unscrupulous businessman might
use that as an excuse to see how
far he could push you, to get you
to agree to terms more favourable
to us. But I believe in Rule of
Acquisition number twenty-four:
“The best deal is the one that
makes everyone equally unhappy.”

BACCO
(cooling)
What is your proposal?

QUARK
The Ferengi Alliance will agree to
join the Khitomer Accords... but
only if Article Five is rewritten to
clarify the situation regarding
criminal activity.

BACCO
Rewritten how?

QUARK
The act in question must qualify
as a crime in both parties’ legal
systems, not just the victim’s.

K’MTOK
This is outrageous!

QUARK
I don’t think it’s outrageous at
all. I can’t go back to my people
with nothing to show for it - if I
don’t get some kind of concession
out of you, that’s no negotiation,
it’s just capitulation.

DERRO
(trying to help)
That’s true...

QUARK
And we’re taking a risk here too.
(re K’mtok)
If some Klingon decides to declare
blood vengeance against a Ferengi,
in a way that’s totally legal by
your system, we’d have no more
recourse than you would if some
Ferengi cheated you at tongo.

DERRO
That’s true...

QUARK
The fact is, Madam President, that
the Khitomer Accords were written
ninety years ago between you and
the Klingons. If you want anyone
but you to join up, it only makes
sense to rewrite them to fit.

BACCO
(grudging)
That... is also true.

QUARK
And it won’t be the last time -
not if you want the Cardassians as
well, or the Talarians, or whoever
else. The Federation is going to
have to get used to doing things
slightly differently from now on.

Bacco takes a deep breath, considering everything.

BACCO
Thank you, Mister Ambassador. You
have made some interesting points.

QUARK
You’re welcome. I suggest Derro
and I leave now, so you two can
decide amongst yourselves if you
can agree to my terms or not.

BACCO
Agreed. We’ll let you know what we
decide. Thank you, Ambassadors.

DERRO
(formality)
Thank you, Madam President.

QUARK
(genuinely)
Thank you, Madam President.

Quark and Derro half-bow using the traditional Ferengi wrists-together gesture, and turn to leave the room.

Bacco and K’mtok watch them leave...

As Wexler opens the door for them, Quark strides out with his head high, trying to maintain his confidence...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT FOUR