27. Rules of Acquisition

Summary

A new Ferengi waiter, Pel, impresses Quark with his lobes for business...a fact that Quark takes advantage of when the Nagus puts him in charge of some new negotiations with the Dosi, a race from the Gamma Quadrant, to purchase 10,000 vats of tulaberry wine. What Quark doesn't realize is that Pel is in fact a female, who is passing herself off as male so she can earn profit...Ferengi females aren't allowed to wear clothes, leave the house or earn profit in any way. Dax guesses the truth about Pel, who admits to her that she came here for profit but didn't expect that she'd fall in love with Quark. The Dosi are reluctant to sell the Ferengi 10,000 vats and when the Nagus increases his demand to 100,000 vats they leave. Upon Pel's urging, Quark takes the Nagus' ship through the wormhole to the Dosi homeworld and tries to impress upon them his urgency, even though both he and Pel are aware that the Nagus is up to something. The Dosi can't sell them 100,000 vats, but one of their negotiators tells Quark secretly that if he wants that much, he'll have to do business with the Dominion. Elated, Quark realizes that's what the Nagus was really after...contact with the mysterious and seemingly all-powerful Dominion. They head back to DS9, trying to forget an incident that occurred on the Dosi homeworld in which Pel kissed Quark in a moment of weakness, and when they arrive the Nagus is thrilled that Quark made a contact in the Dominion and offers him a share of all future Gamma quadrant profits. Rom, who's found out about Pel, informs Quark, who demands that the secret be kept...he claims it's so no one will find out that he took business advice from a female but it's clear that his feelings are also involved. He give Pel 10 bars of latinum to leave the station, not denying that he has feelings for her but aware that the situation is untenable. Later, Pel bursts in as Quark and Rom dine with the Nagus and reveals her gender to Zek, who is outraged and threatens to send her to prison. Quark intervenes and threatens to tell everyone that Zek sent a female to negotiate for him. Zek agrees to keep Pel's secret, but at a price...Quark's Gamma quadrant profits. Pel and Quark share one tender moment before she leaves the station and though Quark tries to go on as if nothing had happened, Dax can see that he's upset.

Analysis

This, I think, is my second-favorite Ferengi episode after The House of Quark. I much prefer the mostly-serious Ferengi episodes over the ones that make an attempt at broad comedy. This one examines some real issues about Ferengi gender roles, roles that would start to change very soon, while being a nice love story as well as containing a very vital plot element...it was the first-ever mention of the Dominion on DS9, and we know where that led. Pel is an interesting character, a Ferengi Yentl who wanted only to prove her worth and her business acumen but found that she could not sacrifice her heart in the attempt. The episode also did a lot for Quark's character by revealing that center of nobility that lurks under his profiteer's heart. Quark does have feelings, and he's a lot less like the typical ruthless Ferengi than he would have you believe. He sacrificed a huge amount of profit to keep Pel safe, and he did develop feelings for her in spite of himself. The fact that he couldn't let go of traditional Ferengi roles enough to be with her is too bad, but can't really be held against him at this point in his development...one does not change overnight. The episode is interesting and does a lot to further the Ferengi as a whole as they're seen on DS9.

Rating: 7.5

Memorable Quote:

Pel: I love you Quark! And I know you care for me, too.
Quark: What difference does it make if I do? You'd never be happy in the role of Ferengi wife.
Pel: Then come with me to the Gamma quadrant! No one there cares if I wear clothes or not.
Quark: I'd care.

Classic Scene:

Pel's rather abrupt revelation to Zek really took some lobes. Too bad she had to take them off to prove she had them.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"You still want it, don't you?" --Quark, to Rom...please, let's not go there.

The O/K Status Report

The big goose-egg.

Special Alerts

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