Prophet Motive (20 Feb. 1995)

Grand Nagus Zek is acting bizarre by giving away money and rewriting the Rules of Acquisition. Quark attempts to get the old Nagus back.

Director:

Rene Auberjonois

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Rick Berman (creator),

Stars:

Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Avery Brooks	...	Commander Sisko
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir (as Siddig El Fadil)
Terry Farrell	...	Lieutenant Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko (credit only)
Colm Meaney	...	Chief O'Brien
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira
Wallace Shawn	...	Zek
Max Grodénchik	...	Rom
Juliana Donald	...	Emi
Tiny Ron	...	Maihar'du
Bennet Guillory	...	Medical Big Shot

Storyline

Quark and Rom get a visit from a rather strange acting Grand Nagus Zek. He shows them a book with the rewritten Rules of Acquisition to include rules like 'If they want their money back, give it to them' and 'Latinum tarnishes, but family is forever' isn't concerned anymore about profit and devotes his life to charity. Quark is worried and tries to find out what is wrong with the Grand Nagus, especially since he suspects Zek will be thrown of the Tower of Commerce and he and Rom with him when he presents the new rules. Meanwhile Bashir is nominated for the prestigious medical Carrington Award. Bashir thinks he's too young to be a serious contender and tries not to pay too much attention to it. To his dismay the subject is constantly brought up however.

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Plot Keywords:

24th century | philanthropy | directed by star

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1995 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Quark: [10th Rule of Acquisition] Greed is eternal.

User Reviews

"Maihar'Du" Speaks!

Quark is receiving Ooomoks from an attractive young alien woman, to whom he is selling a large amount of Self-Sealing Stembolts, when he is interrupted by Rom and— The Grand Nagus! (And Maihar'Du.)

The Grand Nagus is behaving oddly, acting uncharacteristically benevolent, and he was re-written the entire Ferengi Rules of Acquisition!

Meanwhile Dr Bashir is up for a medical life-achievement award, one which is normally endowed to a Federation Doctor at the end of a long career. Bashir, outwardly rejecting the possibility of getting this award, is secretly writing an acceptance speech!

Quark desperately tries to figure out why Grand Nagus Zek is acting like a "Hooman"— He even has Dr Bashir try to find out if he has some disease. But there is nothing physically wrong with Zek.

After Zek ruins Quark's chances with the young, wealthy alien girl, who Zek sold Stembolts to for Wholesale, Quark and Rom are highly motivated to find out why Zek is acting crazy— That's when they discover, that Zek had procured a Bajoran Orb and was going to GIVE it to The Bajorans. After accidentally opening the Orb, Quark realizes that the best people to talk to about Zek are the Prophets themselves.

So he brings Grand Nagus Zek to the Celestial Temple, where he convinces The prophets (Including one of them who has taken Maihar'Du's form and is actually SPEAKING) to return Zek to his normal, beloved, and Greedy state.

The Prophets argue among themselves about De-evolving Quark as well, who quickly promises that they will never meet any more Ferengi, but if they were to change him as well as Zek, many more Ferengi would pounce upon the Celestial Temple like a pack of... Ferengi.

And so they change Zek back to Zek and he tosses the "new" Rules of Acquisition "out the nearest Airlock." But not before Rom embezzles a lot of Latinum from "The Ferengi Benevolent Fund" which had Zek's personal fortune backing it up.

"If Never keep Profit, a good smile: Honesty!"

Meanwhile, Bashir watches the Award ceremony with the rest of the Ops crew: Fortunately for us, he does not win.

And so, just another day in the life of Deep Space Nine passes, a galactic threat is thwarted, and The Prophets (And The Ferengi) are left "In Piece, Er, Peace." Besides, can anyone imagine if Bashir HAD won that award? He would have been smug, snobbish and imperious for another year of DS9! Thank The Prophets for THAT.