History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E23ProfitAndLace

* AcceptableProfessionalTargets: The scene with Quark, Rom, and Nog contacting all of Grand Nagus Zek's associates is essentially a spoof on telemarketing.

* HollywoodHeartAttack: Ishka suddenly stops talked and pitches backward like a falling tree when she has a heart attack.

* FunnyBackgroundMoment: Brunt and Zek's Hupyrian servants square off with each other in the background when Brunt first confronts Zek.

Quark is sexually harassing his newest dabo girl, Aluura, when Rom rushes in announcing that Ferenginar has gone completely silent, suggesting that it's been invaded. But their fears are assuaged when Grand Nagus Zek and Ishka arrive on a shuttle to reveal a completely different problem: Zek has granted civil rights to female Ferengi and promptly got deposed by Brunt. They have only three days to prevent Brunt from being confirmed as Nagus.

Bashir gives Quark a sex-change operation so that he can pass himself off as Ishka. Quark has become sensitive over his appearance and receives pointers on how to act more feminine. Nilva arrives early, and Nog tries to stall him to give Quark more time to prepare, but he's fascinated by the prospect of meeting a clothed female businesswoman and won't be deterred. Brunt lets slip that Ishka is in the hospital, so our heroes claim that Nilva will be meeting another Ferengi businesswoman: Lumba.

Afterward, Quark has been restored to his manhood and reconciles with his mother, but the lingering feminine hormones have made him sentimental toward Nilva, and he cries on Odo's shoulder. When Aluura returns to Quark, having learned how to do oo-mox at his demand, he guiltily tells her he was wrong to make such demands and gives her a raise. When Aluura seems disappointed, Quark still sends her away, but after a moment of contemplation, he rushes off after her.

* AesopAmnesia: Despite spending much of the episode as a woman, Quark doesn't seem to be enlightened by the experience. This was a huge part of why Creator/ArminShimerman hated this episode.

* HollywoodHeartAttack: Ishka collapses while arguing with Quark.

* ContinuityNod: The events of several previous Ferengi episodes are mentioned.

Quark sexually harassing his newest dabo girl, Aluura, when Rom rushes in announcing that Ferenginar has gone completely silent, suggesting that it's been invaded. But their fears are assuaged when Grand Nagus Zek and Ishka arrive on a shuttle to reveal a completely different problem: Zek has granted civil rights to female Ferengi and promptly got deposed by Brunt. They have only three days to prevent Brunt from being confirmed as Nagus.

In spite of his misgivings over women's rights, Quark joins the others in inviting powerful Ferengi to visit the station and hear Ishka's pitch. All except one refuse: Nilva, a beverage magnate and highly influential commissioner. Celebrations are short, as in walks Acting Nagus Brunt himself, ready to sabotage Ishka's efforts with Nilva. Stressed out, Quark has it out with his mother, accusing him of manipulating Zek since they first met. When Ishka starts berating Quark, she has a heart attack and collapses. She receives a new heart from Dr. Bashir but is in no state to meet Nilva. Zek decides that Quark will take her place.

Bashir gives Quark a sex-change operation so that he can pass himself off as Ishka. Quark has become sensitive over his appearance and receives pointers on how to act more feminine. Nilva arrives early, and Nog tries to stall him to give Quark more time to prepare, but he's fascinated by the prospect of meeting a clothed female businesswoman and won't be deterred. Brunt lets slip that Ishka is in the hospital, so our heroes claim that he'll be meeting another female businessman: Lumba.

"Lumba" and Nilva meet, and Quark gives his pitch that women entering the workforce will mean twice as much production and consumption, doubling Ferenginar's business opportunities at once. Nilva is impressed as well as titillated by Quark's presentation. He drags Quark back to his quarters and chases after him as the barkeep desperately tries to beg off. Brunt finally bursts in an announces that Quark is actually a man. Quark proves his femininity by flashing them both and then kissing Nilva. Smitten, Nilva decides to side with Zek because "it's what Lumba wants."

Afterward, Quark has been restored to his manhood and reconciles with his mother, but the lingering feminine hormones have made him sentimental toward Nilva, and he cries on Odo's shoulder. When Aluura returns to Quark, having learned how to do oo-mox at his demand, he guiltily tells her he was wrong to make such demands and gives her a raise. When Aluura seems disappointed, still Quark sends her away, but after a moment of contemplation, rushes off after her.

Afterward, Quark has been restores to his manhood, but the lingering feminine hormones have made him sentimental toward Nilva, and he cries on Odo's shoulder. When Aluura returns to Quark, having learned how to do oo-mox at his demand, he guiltily tells her he was wrong to make such demands and gives her a raise. When Aluura seems disappointed, still Quark sends her away, but after a moment of contemplation, rushes off after her.

* BrandX: Slug-o-Cola, the slimiest cola in the galaxy.

-->'''Quark''': That "''female''" happens to be '''''my mother'''''!

* IdiotBall:
** Worf. As Strategic Operations Officer, he should have appreciated the consequences if the Dominion invaded Ferenginar. Seizing an economic powerhouse would likely help the Dominion rebuild their forces or buy peace. Instead, he brushes it off as unimportant, though this is likely due to irritation at Quark and Rom and/or RuleOfFunny.
** Quark gets his own turn at the beginning, when he attempts to extort the Ferengi equivalent of a handjob from an employee under threat of firing her, after making it clear that said employee is a significant asset to Quark's business - she gets along with the other staff, likes her job and is popular with the customers. Usually Quark is a lot better at thinking with the correct head. Doesn't hurt that Sisko explicitly forbade him from doing ''exactly this'' back in season one...

* ParentalFavoritism: Ishka prefers Rom to Quark.
-->'''Rom:''' Moogie! I was so worried.
-->'''Ishka:''' You're a good son.
-->'''Quark:''' I was worried too.
-->'''Ishka:''' And you're a good liar.

* RealMenWearPink: Rom has apparently put some thought into how a Ferengi man should walk while imitating a woman. This comes completely out of left field for him; even Leeta seems kind of weirded out by it.

* SeriesContinuityError: Ben Sisko flatly banned Quark from using SexualExtortion on his female employees way back in season one. Though it's possible the employee in that episode was the only one brave enough to complain.
* SexualExtortion: Quark suggests Aluura should should read ''[[FictionalDocument Oo-mox for Fun and Profit]]'' if she wants to keep her job.
* [[UngratefulBastard Ungrateful Bitch]]: Ishka. Barely half a season ago, Quark risked his life to rescue her from the Dominion. Now, she's gone back to chastising him.

After adding a new amendment that permits females to wear clothes, Zek is deposed as Nagus and replaced by Brunt. And he and Quark devise a plan to sway a powerful Ferengi businessman: Quark's mother, Ishka, will prove to him that females can be just as shrewd as males, and thus giving them equal rights will be good for the economy. Too bad Ishka has a heart attack while getting into a screaming argument with Quark, forcing them to find a new, very offensive plan involving Quark, a dress, and radical surgery.

* [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas Even Quark Loves His Moogie]]: He takes great offense to one person's comments while trying to find allies for Zek.

* ContinuitySnarl: When Quark first confronts Brunt, Brunt shrugs off the threats, saying "I'm going to make you a pauper." [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS04E25BodyParts Didn't he already do that, before]]?

* AesopAmnesia: Despite spending much of the episode as a woman, Quark doesn't seem to be enlightened by the experience. This was a huge part of why [[OldShame Armin Shimerman hated this episode]].

* [[UngratefulBastard Ungrateful Bitch]]: Ishka. Barely half a season ago, Quark risked his life to rescue her from the Dominion. Now, she's gone back to chastising him.

* MandatoryLine: The scene where Quark and Rom speak to the [=DS9=] crew at Ops is done solely to provide the non-Ferengi characters their screentime. Dr. Bashir gets his mandatory line after operating on Ishka, since Alexander Siddig was directing the episode, too.

* OverusedRunningGag: "''Acting'' Grand Nagus!"

* CardCarryingVillain: Brunt spends the episode gloating to Quark and company on Deep Space Nine, even though he should be on Ferenginar, because he's expected to become Nagus in ''less than two days'''.

** Worf. As Strategic Operations Officer, he should have appreciated the consequences if the Dominion invaded Ferenginar. Seizing an economic powerhouse would likely help the Dominion rebuild their forces or buy peace. Instead, he brushes it off as unimportant.

* BrandX: Slug-o-Cola