 In Quark's, an agent named Brunt
from the Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA) — their version of the
IRS — serves Quark with a Writ of Accountability for improper
supervision of a family member. Quark and Rom's mother, Ishka,
is charged with earning a profit — an illegal activity for
Ferengi women. As the family's eldest male, Quark is held
responsible. He and Rom return to their homeworld, Ferenginar,
where Quark must convince Ishka to confess, as required by
Ferengi law.
The brothers arrive at their
childhood home with Brunt, but Quark is not comfortable with
seeing his mother again. They are surprised to find Ishka
wearing clothes, which is also illegal for Ferengi women. Brunt
tells Quark he has three days to get his mother to sign a
confession, then leaves. Later, Ishka confirms over dinner that
she broke Ferengi law by investing a portion of her monthly
stipend from Quark, earning a meager three bars of latinum in
the process. Still, she refuses to confess, which angers her
oldest son.
In her room, Ishka reveals to Rom that she will not admit to
being wrong — this is a matter of pride, and proof that she is
just as capable of earning profit as a man. But Quark discovers
that Ishka has actually been conducting business transactions
under dozens of aliases all over the Ferengi Alliance, making
much more than just three bars of latinum. Even if Quark sells
everything he owns, he will be unable to pay back what his
mother has earned. Quite simply, he's ruined.
Quark confronts Ishka, who accuses him of being jealous of her
financial acumen — just like his deceased father. With that, an
infuriated Quark decides to turn in Ishka to the FCA. Rom tries
to stop him, but the conversation deteriorates into a brawl,
after which Ishka declares that if Quark insists on reporting
her secret transactions, then she won't stand in his way.
In the Tower of Commerce, Quark waits outside Brunt's office
when Rom suddenly rushes in with the news that Ishka will split
her profits with Quark, fifty-fifty. Seeing the entire affair in
a different light, Quark hurries home to accept Ishka's offer.
But when he arrives, Quark learns Rom made up the story, lying
to both of them to force a conversation between the two. Alone
with Quark Ishka tells him that, since he is her son, she will
sign the confession and give back the money. Later, she pays her
reparations to Brunt, and a relieved Quark says his good-byes
and leaves. Now alone with Rom, Ishka reveals that she
outsmarted Quark and the Ferengi government yet again — by
giving up only a third of her profits.
See Also: Image Captures |
