History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E03TheHouseOfQuark

* PragmaticVillainy: D'ghor has shades of this, favoring financial schemeing as oppossed to the more traditional Klingon method of RaidLootAndPillage due to the fact that, as Quark notes, it runs the risk of detroying the very lands and property he seeks to claim.

** Not just D'Ghor- Gowron and the High Council are perfectly willing to let D'Ghor steal Grilka's house, despite Grilka and Quark exposing the plot- as long as the letter of the law is followed. Quark is calling them out by removing any pretenses of honor.

--->'''Quark''': Go ahead, kill me. That's why I'm here, isn't it, to be killed? Well, here I am, so go ahead and do it. You all want me to pick up that sword and fight him, don't you? But I don't have a chance and you know it. You only want me to put up a fight so that your precious honour will be satisfied. Well, I'm not going to make it so easy for you. Having me fight D'Ghor is nothing more than an execution, so, if that's what you want, that's what you'll get. An execution. No honour, no glory. And when you tell your children and your grandchildren the glorious story of how you rose to power and took Grilka's House from her, I hope you remember to tell them how you heroically killed an unarmed Ferengi... ''half your size''.

--> '''Quark:''' ''quietly to Grilka'' The only other person who was there was--\\

'''Rom:''' Hello, brother.

** It's also made VERY clear that Klingon honor [[DeliberateValuesDissonance is not like what the modern viewer thinks of as honor]]. It's very much in the medieval knight/Samurai vein of reputation and MightMakesRight, with no value placed on fairness or good sportsmanship. Thus the fact that another house challenged D'Ghor's honor with its accusations is what mattered, not whether the evidence Quark provided is ''true''.

** It can be argued that Gowron did the diplomatic equivalent when he declared there was unusual enough for special dispensation.

Life returns to normal for Quark and Rom as business hits another slump. While Quark would prefer to have some more latinum, Rom assures him that at the very least, he has respect - ''genuine'' respect from the Klingon High Council and Grilka. Afterwards, at Rom's request, Quark regales his brother with a (heavily embellished) retelling of his adventures on Qo'nos.

* BookDumb: Judging from the reactions to Quark's explanation, a knowledge of mathematics and economics is ''not'' one of the requirements for serving on the Klingon High Council. Subverted by Gowron, who either does understand what Quark is explaining or is at least willing to accept that Quark wouldn't be going to all the effort if his claims about D'Ghor weren't true.
* CallBack: The Klingon High Council turn their backs on D'Ghor [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E17SinsOfTheFather just like they did to Worf]].

* PlanetOfHats: Very interesting subversion/deconstruction. Quark (a Ferengi) and D'Ghor (a Klingon) both take off their race's hat. D'Ghor acts like a typical Ferengi (using MONEY to try to bring down a Klingon house), while Quark shows Klingon honor and stands up to a challenge with a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech that is so good even Gowron (the Klingon chancellor) commends him. "A brave Ferengi, who would have thought that possible?"
* [[PutOnABus Put On A Runabout]]: Keiko is forced to close the school as all the other families have relocated to Bajor due to the Dominion threat. O'Brien is able to pull strings to get her assigned to an agrobiology expedition.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Gowron shows his good side by listening to Quark's claim, seeing D'Ghor's murder of a defenseless man for the cowardice it is, and will grant Grilka the special dispensation she sought. His facial expression also suggests even ''he'' knows this whole incident is ''crazy'' and best left hand-waved off.

* SoProudOfYou:
** Grilka says this about Quark before the duel begins.
** Hell, even '''''Gowron''''' basically says this to Quark, a Ferengi, while summarily dismissing a fellow Klingon.

It's a slow night at Quark's, and a drunken Klingon who is close to passing out is making matters worse by not paying for his drinks. When Quark tries to talk to the Klingon about his tab, the mean drunk suddenly draws his dagger and lunges at him, only to fall over and stab himself by accident.\\
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The Klingon's death draws a large crowd to the bar, people curious as to what exactly happened. Seeing an opportunity to drum up business, Quark weaves an elaborate lie of how he fought the Klingon and killed him in self-defense. It's enough to get the bar buzzing with customers once more. Odo warns Quark, however, that it wasn't just any Klingon who died in his bar, but Kozak, a Klingon of considerable power and influence. Quark, however, sticks to his story. When Rom asks why he would continue to commit to the falsehood after turning a profit, Quark explains that it's no longer just about making money, but having respect and prestige as a Ferengi who managed to slay a Klingon in mortal combat.\\
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Later on, however, Quark finds himself confronted by another Klingon: D'Ghor, who claims that Kozak was his brother. He is enraged that Kozak was dead and demands to know the circumstances behind his death. Fearful, Quark tells the truth. D'Ghor expresses further rage at the idea of Kozak dying in a drunken accident, as there was no honor in such a death...but if he had died in combat, it ''would'' be honorable, and he could accept that. Quark recommits to his lie and claims once more to have defeated Kozak in battle, placating D'Ghor.\\
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Later in the evening, while Quark is counting his earnings, he is approached by another Klingon: Grilka, Kozak's widow. When she draws her dagger, Quark instinctively runs for cover. Grilka is displeased to learn that the man who allegedly killed her husband in battle was a cowardly Ferengi with a gift for lying...but that gift would be a great boon to her. Thus, she sedates and abducts Quark.\\
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Quark awakens on the Klingon homeworld of Qo'nos in the company of Tumek, Grilka's advisor. Tumek explains that D'Ghor was no brother of Kozak, but a hated enemy who had long sought to conquer the House of Kozak and seize its power and property. D'Ghor had gained considerable influence over the years, and with Kozak dying without a male heir, the house was doomed to being taken over by D'Ghor. Had Kozak died in an accident, the Klingon High Council might have seen fit to grant special dispensation to Grilka and grant her control of the house, even though she would normally not have that right under Klingon tradition. Grilka, however, has a contingency plan: she forces Quark to wear a ceremonial robe and recite Klingonese chants, then very reluctantly kisses him. A very confused Quark learns that he and Grilka are now officially wed!\\
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When D'Ghor makes his petition to take over the House of Kozak, Grilka interrupts the meeting to announce that she had completed the ''brek'tal'' ritual, wherein a warrior who slays the leader of a house is granted the right to marry the widow. Because D'Ghor claimed Kozak died in honorable combat, he had opened the door for the ritual to be conducted. The council, and D'Ghor in particular, are shocked to find that this warrior is actually a Ferengi. Chancellor Gowron, in particular, is flabbergasted by these developments and announces that he would need time to consider how to proceed. For the time being, the House of Kozak would be rechristened as the House of Quark.\\
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Things are not panning out quite the way that Grilka hoped. When Grilka admits that she hadn't planned this far ahead, Quark asks what exactly was happening. Grilka explains that D'Ghor is seeking to claim a position in the High Council, increasing his influence and political clout at the expense of Kozak's. Intrigued, Quark proposes a new strategy: look through the financial records of the house for evidence of D'Ghor's acts of financial sabotage. Grilka is less than pleased with looking through some "filthy ledgers", but at a loss of any other recourse, agrees to Quark's proposal.\\
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Quark's idea bears fruit as a look through the ledgers reveals over five years of plots and schemes to devalue the House of Kozak's property and take on Kozak's debts for his own. Grilka is outraged: D'Ghor was sabotaging her house ''like a Ferengi'', instead of challenging her for the house's property. Quark thinks the idea ingenious, however: challenging Grilka would risk destroying the prize that he sought. With this evidence, Quark convenes with the High Council. When Gowron demands D'Ghor answer for these allegations, D'Ghor counters that Quark is lying, explaining that Kozak died in an accident and having an eyewitness to verify this: Quark's bumbling brother, Rom. Claiming his honor was insulted by Quark's "lies", D'Ghor challenges Quark to a duel.\\
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With everything unraveling, Quark and Rom prepare to make a hasty escape. They are confronted by Grilka, who demands Quark answer D'Ghor's challenge, as it was the honorable thing to do. Quark shirks at accepting the duel, disgusting Grilka with his cowardice. She dismisses him, granting Quark an opportunity to escape...\\
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As Gowron prepares to rule in favor of D'Ghor and permit him to take over the fallen House of Kozak, Quark suddenly returns to accept D'Ghor's challenge. The two take up a ''bat'leth'' and prepare to fight, but then suddenly, Quark throws his blade aside and launches into an impassioned speech about how this duel was a sham. He never had any hope of winning against D'Ghor, and forcing him to fight was nothing more than an execution. As such, he would not participate in this farce, and would leave himself to D'Ghor's mercy, daring him to kill an unarmed Ferengi who couldn't fight back. D'Ghor happily accepts Quark's offer, but Gowron stops him: disgusted at D'Ghor's willingness to kill a weak and unarmed Ferengi and realizing how truly cowardly he was, Gowron announces that D'Ghor has no honor and no place in the High Council. He crosses his arms across his chest and turns his back, the other Klingons in the High Council following suit: D'Ghor is summarily discommendated and ejected from the premises.\\
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Impressed at Quark's bravery and recognizing that the circumstances are indeed peculiar, Gowron rules that special dispensation would be granted to Grilka, allowing her to lead her own house. Grilka, genuinely grateful to Quark, asks if there is anything she could do for him. When Quark suggests a divorce, Grilka grants it, slapping him across the face and loudly declaring their marriage dissolved in Klingonese. Afterwards, she gives Quark a kiss as thanks for his invaluable help.\\
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* RealityEnsues:
** The fear of the Dominion has frightened many of the families away from the [=DS9=].
** Quark is a known conman from a race of people who specialize in financial and economic crimes and exploitation. When Gowron hears his petition of D'Ghor's crimes are backed up with only a complicated financial summaries and paperwork that Gowron can barely follow, he is smart to not trust Quark's papers alone. This is the exact type of con a Ferengi might pull. So, Gowron moves the case to the Klingon Justice System for resolution: prove the validity of one's claim by combat.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: A fairly meta one. Coming off three episodes where the Dominion showed their clear military superiority, Quark's comment about D'Ghor wanting Kozak's land and property [[ValuesResonance without destroying it in combat serves as a hint as to the Dominion's first choice of how to get the Alpha Quadrant]], which will be how they get their foothold in season 5.

* TheComicallySerious: The Klingon High Council trying to wrap their heads around Quark's explination about how D'hor had been trying to bring down the House of Kozak. Gowron quickly decides he's heard enough, walks up to D'Ghor and delivers this gem;

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Neither Odo nor anyone else on Deep Space Nine seems to notice that Quark and Rom are abducted and taken to Kronos.

* [[EveryoneHasStandards Even Klingons Have Standards]]: Dueling is perfectly fine, but using ''money'' to achieve one's aims is a step too far for the Klingons.

--> '''Gowron:''' D'Ghor, what are you doing? I did not want to believe the things he said about you yesterday, but if you can stand here and murder this pathetic little man, then you have no honor… and you have no place in this hall!
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: More like "D'Ghor was so busy acting like a Ferengi he forgot about Klingon codes of honor."

--> '''Quark:''' The only other person who was there was--\\

* GoodWithNumbers: Quark's business mind is able to piece together how D'Ghor has been attacking Grilka's lands by financial means.

* HonorBeforeReason: Played VERY straight with Klingon Honor this episode. Any like minded Ferengi would have pulled ScrewThisImOuttaHere And Quark nearly did so.

* IAmXSonOfY: "I am Quark, son of Keldar and I am come to answer the challenge of D'Ghor, son of...whatever."
* {{Irony}}: Quark - A Ferengi - outwits and bests D'Ghor - A Klingon who had become as Greedy [[PlanetOfHats as Ferengis are known to be]] - by being ''better'' at having a Klingon sense of Honor.

* RealityEnsues: The fear of the Dominion has frightened many of the families away from the [=DS9=].

* SoProudOfYou: Grilka says this about Quark before the duel begins.

Life returns to normal for Quark and Rom as business hits another slump. While Quark would prefer to have some more latinum, Rom assures him that at the very least, he has respect - ''genuine'' respect from the Klingon High Council and Grilka. Afterwards, at Rom's request, Quark regails his brother with a (heavily embellished) retelling of his adventures on Qo'nos.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Standing up to a drunken Klingon and telling him to leave was ''not'' a smart move, Quark.

* DirtyCoward: D'Ghor. No respectable Klingon uses ''money'' to defeat his opponents. And no respectable Klingon would be so eager to perform an execution of an unarmed Ferengi in what was supposed to be an honorable duel.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Rom and Quark attempt this after D'Ghor's challenge but Grilka initially stops them both and chews them out for trying to do so. This leads Quark to his BatmanGambit.

* BatmanGambit: How Quark gets out of having to fight a duel with D'Ghor. Instead of attempting to put up a fight, he throws away his weapon, pointing out that him against D'Ghor is basically [[CurbStompBattle an execution anyway]]. By refusing to fight, he removes all pretense of D'Ghor defeating him in 'honorable combat'. When D'Ghor attempts to kill him anyways, Gowron summarily rules against him.

* BookDumb: Judging from the reactions to Quark's explanation, a knowledge of mathematics and economics is ''not'' one of the requirements for serving on the Klingon High Council. Subverted by Gowron, who seems to understand enough to realize Quark is telling the truth about D'Ghor.

* OutGambitted: D'Ghor plots to use Quark's embellished tale of Kozak's death as justification he died in honorable combat. This would deny Grilka's claim for special dispensation that would allow her to rule the house despite being a woman. Grilka then uses that fact to marry Quark under a ritual that would keep her house from becoming dead.
-->'''Grilka:''' All I have done is follow the brek'tal ritual. If the leader of a House is slain in honourable combat, the victor may be invited to take his place and his wife. You're the one who made this possible, D'Ghor. You certified before the Council that Kozak died an honourable death at the hands of this man. I am simply exercising my rights as an honoured widow.
** D'Ghor later suffers from this again at the hands of Quark when the latter throws the fight to show there is no honor in what the former is doing.

* RightForTheWrongReasons: Quark hopes he can show the fight to be a cowardly action and disgust the Klingons into siding against D'Ghor for killing an unarmed man. That isn't what moves them to intervene. Instead, his actions reflect the highest levels of honor and righteousness in the eyes of many Klingons. Quark doesn't hold a physical weapon but still refuses to yield his claim against D'Ghor and D'Ghor's family's honor. That claim is a weapon of words which go for the jugular and must be defended against. Not even the fear of certain death will make him reconsider. This is a courageous act and the Klingons recognize it. Had D'Ghor acknowledged his courage and asked if he would retract the claim, and when Quark refuses, D'Ghor proclaims that Quark's very words are a weapon he must defend against and so will kill Quark reluctantly to defend his family's honor, then he might have saved himself from dishonor as Quark's actions and refusal to yield leave him little choice. Instead, his greed blinds him to what Gowron and the others see in Quark's noble action. So, when D'Ghor does move to kill Quark, he disgusts High Council with his lack of honor and respect to this brave foe.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Gowron shows his good side by listening to Quark's claim, seeing D'Ghor's murder of a defenseless man for the cowardice it is, and will grant Grilka the special dispensation she sought.
** His facial expression also suggests even ''he'' knows this whole incident is ''crazy'' and best left hand-waved off.

-->'''Grilka''': I thought you were different. I thought you had something in here (points to chest). But all you have in there is a piece of Latinum. And it is a pretty small piece at that.

-->'''Quark''': Go ahead, kill me. That's why I'm here, isn't it, to be killed? Well, here I am, so go ahead and do it. You all want me to pick up that sword and fight him, don't you? But I don't have a chance and you know it. You only want me to put up a fight so that your precious honour will be satisfied. Well, I'm not going to make it so easy for you. Having me fight D'Ghor is nothing more than an execution, so, if that's what you want, that's what you'll get. An execution. No honour, no glory. And when you tell your children and your grandchildren the glorious story of how you rose to power and took Grilka's House from her, I hope you remember to tell them how you heroically killed an unarmed Ferengi... ''half your size''.

* YouGotGuts:

A drunken Klingon attacks Quark but is accidentally killed with his own knife. Quark plays up the story to imply that he defeated the Klingon in battle, but when members of the Klingon's family show up, he finds himself abducted and married to the man's widow.