History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS01E11TheNagus

%%* SpitTake: Quark, when Rom says he wants to take over the bar.

** It's also hard to imagine the Rom of later seasons repeatedly attempting to murder his own brother.

* ShoutOut: [[http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060507193602/memoryalpha/en/images/2/27/Quark_Corleone.jpg One scene]] of a Ferengi coming to Quark for help is shot exactly like the opening scene of ''{{The Godfather}}''.

** The first and ''only'' time Morn is heard making a vocal noise of any kind. In this one-time instance, a [[http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/en/images/0/0d/Morn_laughing.ogg laugh.]]

%%* DirtyOldMan: Grand Nagus Zek is a pervy old bastard.

* KlingonPromotion: Quark isn't Nagus for a day before someone attempts to assassinate him and assume his position.

* CoolOldGuy: Grand Nagus Zek. Don't even try to deny it.
* DirtyOldMan: Grand Nagus Zek is a pervy old bastard.
* ADogAteMyHomework: Or, as Nog tries saying, a Vulcan stole his homework pad.

* NonPromotion: Rom gets one, but he seems happy with it.

* SpitTake: Quark, when Rom says he wants to take over the bar.

After striking his first deal with a Ferengi named Nava, Quark heads off for a little rest. Leaving Rom and Krax to opine that killing such a benevolent Nagus would be suspicious. They need a new plan.

* DirtyOldMan: Grand Nagus Zek is a pervy old bastard.

The Grand Nagus is aboard [=DS9=]. The head honcho of the Ferengi Alliance is there to examine the possible business opportunities that the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant can provide.

With every greedy and backstabbing Ferengi of note gathered at Quarks for a conference, Zek announces he won't be the Ferengi overseeing the new business chances the wormhole can provide. He plans to retire, and name a successor as Nagus. And much to the anger of his son and the other visiting Ferengi, he chooses ''Quark''.

Quark is as surprised as anyone else there, but more than relishes the new found promotion...until a Ferengi named Gral approaches him and makes a thinly veiled threat against him if he doesn't give Gral a good cut of the Gamma Quadrant business. Naturally freaked out, Quark seeks advice from Zek.

Zek tells him being the Nagus comes with people threatening your life. The secret is to surround himself with loyal(But not too loyal) men and be utterly ruthless. A few seconds later, Zek keels over dead.

Turns out it's Zek! Who was never dead to start with. He'd entered a sleeping trance(Taught by his loyal servant) to test his son. And he failed. As Zek puts it:

Krax was supposed to subtlety seize control of Quarks from the shadows, eventually leaving him in control of a valuable hub of information. With his test over, Zek resumes his position as Nagus, and departs the station.

Back at Quarks, Rom cowers when his brother confronts him over his attempted assassination attempt...but Quark is proud! So proud, he promotes Rom to Assistant Manager for Policy and Clientele...a position he made up on the spot.

* TheDogBitesBack: Rom uses Quarks temporary promotion to Nagus to try and off his brother. Turns out Quark is actually proud of such attempted treachery.

* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Quark constantly threatens his incompetent brother with this. Which comes back to bite him when Rom and Krax attempt to toss ''him'' out of one.

** Zek says that Quark had the "ears," rather than "lobes."

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first and ''only'' time Morn is heard making a vocal noise of any kind. In this one-time instance, a [[http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/en/images/0/0d/Morn_laughing.ogg laugh.]]

* ShoutOut: One scene of a Ferengi coming to Quark for help is shot exactly like the opening scene of ''{{The Godfather}}''.

* AbsenceOfEvidence: One of the things that tips Odo off that Zek is not dead is the absence of Mairhar'du at his funeral.