Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series)

Profit and Loss (1994)

Armin Shimerman: Quark

Photos 

Quotes 

• Odo : I heard an interesting rumour today.

  Quark : Only one? I started at least twelve.

• [last lines] 

  Quark : You have to tell me: why'd you do it - shoot Toran?

  Elim Garak : Why did you let Professor Lang go?

  Quark : I've no choice; I love her.

  Elim Garak : And I love Cardassia. Which is why I had to do what I did.

  Quark : I don't understand.

  Elim Garak : That's the thing about love - no one really understands it, do they?

• Odo : I'll free them, Quark, but only in the name of justice.

  Quark : Justice? That was gonna be my next suggestion!

• Quark : I never told you this, Odo, but I consider you as dear to me as my brother.

  Odo : [laughs contemptuously]  I've seen how well you treat him.

• [Quark has just been slapped in the face by Natima] 

  Odo : Are you all right?

  Quark : All right? This is the happiest day of my life!

• Quark : You've done enough for the movement. You lit the match; let them carry the torch.

• Elim Garak : Mr. Quark, might I offer you some free advice?

  Quark : As long as I'm under no obligation to follow it.

• Quark : It'll be like old times.

  Natima Lang : It'll never be like old times.

  Quark : You're right. It'll be better.

• Quark : You know, you're as beautiful as ever.

  Natima Lang : And you're as big a liar as ever.

  Quark : You see, just like old times!

• [Natima has accidentally shot Quark] 

  Natima Lang : It hurts?

  Quark : Oh, she wants to know if it hurts. Of course it hurts, it's supposed to hurt, it's a phaser!

• Elim Garak : I've been in this business a long time, and I know there's nothing worse than following the wrong trend. Now, you're a smart fellow, with your own inimitable sense of style. Perhaps... you should mention this to your lady friend. I'd hate to see her fall victim to fashion.

  Quark : Would you like to explain that?

  Elim Garak : She's chosen to associate herself with some rather flamboyant companions. It would be a tragedy if she got in the way, when her friends go out of fashion.

• Quark : [about Natima]  What was I supposed to say? That I love her? That I would do anything for her? That without her, my life would be meaningless? Sure, I could say those things, but what good would it do? How can I expect you to understand? You've never had those feelings. You don't know what it means to really care about another person. You've never been in love; you've got all the emotions of a stone! - No offense.

• [Quark and Natima are indulging in reminiscences] 

  Natima Lang : ...You painted my face with honey.

  Quark : And a Mordian butterfly landed on your nose.

  Natima Lang : And a Mordian butterfly got *stuck* on my nose.

  Quark : His wings were beating as fast as my heart.

• Quark : Consider the cloaking device a... a gift.

  Rekelen : I'm surprised. Ferengis aren't known for their generosity.

  Quark : Oh, we're a deeply misunderstood race.

• Odo : So, which is it - dislike or hate?

  Quark : It's none of your business. But if you have to know, I was the love of her life.

  Odo : [scoffs]  Must have been some life.

• Quark : If anyone tries to harm her, they're gonna have to deal with me!

  Elim Garak : And what are you going to do? Short-change them at the dabo table?

• [Quark has beseeched Odo to set Natima and her students free] 

  Quark : Listen to me, Odo. You do this for me, and I promise you, there'll be no more secrets between us. I'll tell you about every underhanded deal, every lying scheme, every dirty trick... my brother Rom's involved in.

  Odo : Well - since you put it that way... I'm not interested.

• Quark : Don't allow my greed to keep you from doing the right thing.

• Quark : I'm gonna see to it that every Ferengi on the station shops in your store.

  Elim Garak : Ah, that alone makes it all worthwhile!

• Natima Lang : Quark, I've got to say goodbye.

  Quark : [thinking she is talking about her students]  Just let them go. It'll be less painful that way.

  Natima Lang : No, You don't understand. I have to say goodbye to you. I'm going with them.

  [Quark's face falls] 

  Quark : But we made a deal.

  Natima Lang : I can't stay here. Maybe one day, I can come back, and we'll be together again. But... not until my work is done.

  Quark : So... all I have to do to get you back is... wait until Cardassia becomes a free and democratic society?

  Natima Lang : [stroking Quark's lobes, who heaves a sigh of exhilaration and relaxation]  I promise, I'll make it worth the wait.

  [They kiss] 

  Quark : [tenderly]  I don't suppose I could come with you?

  Natima Lang : [sadly]  No, it is not your fight. Besides, I could never live with myself if something happened to you. I need to know that you're here, safe. That way a part of me will always be safe too.

  [pause; Quark sadly understands] 

  Natima Lang : I love you, Quark. I always will.

  [She leaves. Quark sadly watches her go] 

  Quark : I love you, too.

• [Natima has accidentally shot Quark when he tries to lower her phaser] 

  Natima Lang : [rushing over to the sprawled Quark's side; worried]  Quark! Quark, are you alright?

  Quark : [weakly]  You shot me.

  Natima Lang : I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I never fired a phaser before. I barely touched the trigger...

  Quark : [taking the phaser out of her hand]  Careful...

  [Quark struggles to sit up; he groans in pain] 

  Natima Lang : It hurts?

  Quark : [snappishly]  Oh-ho, She wants to know it hurts? Of course, it hurts. It's supposed to hurt. It's a phaser!

  Natima Lang : I made sure that it was on the first setting!

  Quark : [sarcastically]  How considerate of you.

  Natima Lang : Should I get a doctor?

  Quark : [shakes his head, gently, while clutching his chest]  It's okay. Maybe if you rub it a little...

  [Natima massages Quark's chest where the phaser blast hit him] 

  Natima Lang : [genuinely contrite]  Oh, Quark... I'm sorry.

  Quark : Really?

  Natima Lang : Yes! For everything. For all those horrible things I said.

  Quark : [lifts his head up; hopeful]  You didn't really mean them?

  Natima Lang : I love you, Quark. I've always loved you. Even when I hated you.

  [Quark and Natima kiss passionately] 

• Quark : [to Natima]  But are dreams enough? Can dreams make you laugh? Can dreams hold you close at night?

• [Natima has confessed to Quark that she still loves him. The two are recalling warm memories] 

  Quark : Remember the day I installed my first holosuite?

  Natima Lang : [smiles]  I'd never been in one before.

  Quark : [smiles; nostalgically]  I still have that program... the picnic on Rhymus Major? Two suns in the sky...

  Natima Lang : The sound of the waterfalls... .

  Quark : ....The whisper of flitter bird wings over our heads...

  Natima Lang : [caressing Quark's face with her fingertips]  You painted my face with honey...

  Quark : [touching noses with Natima]  ... And a Mordian butterfly landed on your nose.

  Natima Lang : [correcting with a smile on her face; exchanging the nose kiss with Quark]  A Mordian butterfly got *stuck* on my nose.

  Quark : [tenderly]  His wings were beating almost as fast as my heart.

• Quark : [Quark has managed to persuade Odo to release the love of his life, Natima and her students]  So, uh... you're not doing this for me?

  Odo : That's right.

  Quark : [smiles]  Then I don't owe you a thing!

  [Quark jumps up and throws his arms around Odo, hugging him; joyfully] 

  Quark : Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!

  Odo : [rolls his eyes]  Let Go.

• Natima Lang : [to Quark]  What is it you want from me?

  Quark : I know you're in trouble, I want to help you.

  Natima Lang : I don't want your help.

  Quark : But I owe you. You saved my life. If I had turned me over to the authorities I would be executed.

  Natima Lang : [smiling a little]  I admired your courage. It was a brave thing selling food to the Bajorans.

  [a hint of disappointment in her voice] 

  Natima Lang : I thought you were a man of honor.

  Quark : I'm a Ferengi. You should've known better.

  Natima Lang : You're right. I should've. Instead...

  [Natima pauses and looks down at the floor; lost in thought] 

  Quark : Can't you even say it?

  Natima Lang : I can't even think it.

  Quark : [gently]  Okay... I'll say it for you. We fell in love. And that month we spent together was the best time of our lives... and you know it.

  Natima Lang : [coolly]  I think you are confusing lust with love.

  Quark : I'm capable of that, but not this time. I loved you, Natima.

  Natima Lang : [aggrieved]  Then how come you have betrayed me?

  Quark : [quietly and gently]  I didn't betray you.

  Natima Lang : Don't lie to me, Quark. I know better. You used my personal access codes to authorize payments that you never provided.

  Quark : So I took a little money from the Cardassian Communication Service... they could afford it.

  Natima Lang : [bitterly]  You *stole* that money.

  Quark : I saw a chance for profit and I took. Maybe that was wrong, I don't know. But what I really regret was betraying your trust. That was the worst mistake of my life.

  Natima Lang : And you'd do it again in a second. I believed in you, Quark. But you were using me... like you use everyone. For profit!

  Quark : Then let me make it up to you! Let me help you. I ask for nothing in return.

  Natima Lang : [incredulous]  Nothing?

  Quark : Except that you'll stay with me forever?

  Natima Lang : [exasperated scoff]  I can't stay here. My students need me.

  Quark : [ardently]  Listen to me, Natima. You can't leave me. Not now. If you don't stay with me, I'll follow you. And I will... until you agree to take me back.

  Natima Lang : You don't even know who I am anymore. I am part of the Cardassian underground. Following me will only get you killed.

  Quark : [brave yet desperate]  I'll take that chance.

  Natima Lang : [eying him coolly]  What about the bar?

  Quark : I don't care about the bar. I'll turn it over to Rom. he'll turn it into the ground in a month, but that doesn't matter. I *have* to be with you.

  Natima Lang : [starting to smile at his determination to be with her]  It won't work Quark. You say you'd do anything for me. Maybe right now, you even believe it.

  [she frowns as she realizes she is being tempted] 

  Natima Lang : But I know better... In the end, you only care about yourself.

  Quark : [with wide, soulful eyes; in a quiet honest voice]  But I love you.

  Natima Lang : I don't love you.

  Quark : Uh-huh... Now which of us is lying?

  Natima Lang : [with a pained look in her eyes]  You better go.

  Quark : All right. But if there is anything you need, anything at all... I'll be waiting.

  Natima Lang : It'll be a long wait.

  [There is a pause. Quark sadly leaves the room, as Natima looks on with what looks like regret in her eyes] 

• Natima Lang : Quark, you say you love me... then, give me that cloaking device and let me be on my way.

  Quark : And disappear out of my life again?

  [shakes his head no] 

  Natima Lang : [pulling away from him]  I'm not part of your life!

  Quark : [baring his soul]  But you are! You've always been. Don't you understand... since you left me, not a day goes by that I regret what I did. And now, you're asking me to lose you again!

  Natima Lang : You lost me a long time ago.

  Quark : [a challenge]  Alright, then say it... let me hear you say there isn't a spark of love left in you!

  Natima Lang : [stiffly]  There isn't a spark... of love left in me.

  Quark : [claps his hands together; triumphant]  I HEARD THAT!

  Natima Lang : What?

  Quark : You hesitated! Admit it, you still care.

  Natima Lang : [exasperated]  Quark, I don't have time for this! GIVE ME THAT CLOAKING DEVICE.

  Quark : [ardently]  I CAN'T!

  [He walks over to the table where he placed the cloaking device] 

  Quark : I *won't* let you go!

  [At this point, Natima pulls out something from a drawer - a Cardassian phaser. She hides the phaser behind her back as she calls to him] 

  Natima Lang : Quark!

  [Quark stops and turns to face her] 

  Natima Lang : [steely; as she brings out the phaser and points it at him]  I didn't want to get it this way, but I need that device. Give it to me. Now.

  Quark : [slowly walking over to her with the cloaking device in his hands]  Or what? You'll shoot me?

  Natima Lang : [uncertain; her tone betrays her]  If I have to.

  Quark : Then go ahead and shoot.

  [Quark slowly and gently reaches out to lower Natima's phaser arm. The phaser discharges, a blast hits Quark square in the chest. With a cry of pain, Quark falls over the bed and collapses to the ground, stunned. Natima stares in shock and horror at what she has just done] 

• Natima Lang : I'm not the same person I was seven years ago. I have responsibilites.

  Quark : I'll share them with you.

  Natima Lang : The movement is my life now. I have no time for anything else.

  Quark : We'll make the time.

  [Quark gently runs his fingers up and down the side of Natima's neck. She tilts her head back, relaxed] 

  Quark : You're a woman, Natima. Believe me, I know. It's not right for you to be alone.

  Natima Lang : [as she gently strokes Quark's lobes]  I'm not alone, I- I have my students... My dreams for a better Cardassia.

  Quark : But are dreams enough? Can dreams make you laugh? Can dreams hold you close at night?

  Natima Lang : No! But my life demands I make certain sacrifices.

  Quark : And you've *made* them. That doesn't mean you can't be happy.

• Quark : [Quark is refilling a customer's glass when he sees Natima and her students on the Promenade. Quark stops what he is doing and bolts out of bar, bumping into a waiter and several patrons]  Excuse me! Excuse me! Out of my way, excuse me!

  [he rushes to Natima] 

  Quark : Natima!

  Natima Lang : [recognizing him]  Quark?

  Quark : I knew you'd come...

  [Before he can finish, Natima slaps him across the face in a back hand fashion] 

  Natima Lang : [snarls]  *I* told you *NEVER* to speak to me again!

  [Natima storms off, her students follow her, looking slightly alarmed by their teacher's outburst. Quark stands there rubbing his nose where Lang slapped him. He removes his hand from his face to reveal a love-stricken smile on his face. He pants faintly as he strokes the place on his jaw where she slapped him, as though it were a kiss than a slap. Odo approaches him] 

  Odo : Are you all right?

  Quark : All right?

  [over the moon] 

  Quark : This is the happiest day of my life!

  [Quark hands Odo the bottle he had been holding all along and rushes after Natima like a lovestruck puppy dog. Odo looks on, completely flummoxed]