The House of Quark
"The House of Quark" is the 49th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the third episode of the third season.
Plot
Quark's bar is receiving very little business and indeed the only customer in the bar is a Klingon named Kozak. Kozak has run out of money and wants to start a line of credit at the bar. Quark accepts, but the Klingon is too drunk to understand and pulls his knife on Quark. After a short struggle, Kozak dies by his own blade. Quark sees it as a business opportunity embellish the description of the fight. Quark gets a great deal of notoriety from this - particularly from D'Ghor, a Klingon who claims to be Kozak's brother. D'Ghor asks how Kozak died; Quark attempts to explain that it was an accident, but D'Ghor clearly wants to hear otherwise. So Quark lies to D'Ghor, claiming Kozak died in battle.
After Kozak's widow, Grilka, arrives, she has Quark knocked out and taken back to Qo'noS, the Klingon homeworld. Since women are normally forbidden from leading a Klingon house, Quark is forced to marry Grilka, allowing her to protect her property long enough for Gowron to let her inherit it due to extenuating circumstances (if Quark really had killed Kozak in honorable combat, Grilka would have lost all claims to her House). Quark has to confront Grilka's enemies, leading the temporary "House of Quark". Instead of fighting D'Ghor (who is not Kozak's brother after all), Quark checks the house's books, which prove that D'Ghor has taken money from Grilka's house for years. However, trying to prove it before the High Council only leads to D'Ghor claiming Quark's accusations dishonor him, and leading Gowron to call for a duel of honor. When the time comes for battle, Quark tosses aside his weapon and mocks D'Ghor's efforts, noting that if D'Ghor goes ahead with the battle (which Quark obviously can't win) and claim all of Grilka's property, it will be over the body of an unarmed Ferengi. When D'Ghor happily agrees and tries to kill Quark anyway, he reveals his greed and dishonor to the Council and Gowron discommendates and banishes him while commending the Ferengi for his bravery. Realizing the "unusual circumstances" underlying the matter, Gowron agrees to let Grilka become head of her House. Grilka is grateful to Quark for his efforts, and he asks for a divorce, which she happily grants in customary Klingon fashion.
Arc significance
- Due to the Dominion threat, all Bajoran families aboard the station relocate to Bajor. With only two students left, Keiko decides to close the school.
- O'Brien convinces Keiko to go on a six-month expedition to Bajor as the chief botanist.
Notes
- This is the only Star Trek television episode in which Gowron appears that does not feature Worf.
- This episode is the only mention of the non-official "286th Rule of Acquisition", made up by Quark, which states "When Morn leaves, it's all over."
External links
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