Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series)

The Homecoming (1993)

Richard Beymer: Li Nalas

Quotes 

• Commander Sisko : I saw you, in front of the crowd on the promenade. They look at you, and they see strength, and honor, and decency. They look at you and they see the best in themselves.

  Li Nalas : But it's all based on a lie.

  Commander Sisko : No - it's based on a legend. And legends are as powerful as any truth.

• [Li Nalas tells Sisko the story about how he came to fame] 

  Li Nalas : ...We made our way to a ridge overlooking a small lake. As I was the only one still carrying a phaser, I went on ahead to scout for the enemy. Halfway down the embankment, I slipped, went sprawling on my back down to the edge of the lake, just as a huge Cardassian emerged from the water. He must have just finished bathing. He stood there, frozen in surprise, dressed only in his underwear, shivering in the cold. I lay there, looking up at him, too stunned to even move, and it was only when he reached for a phaser rifle that was lying across his clothes on a nearby rock, that I realized that I was still holding my own phaser, and I shot him. His body fell on top of me, and that's how my companions found us a moment later.

• Li Nalas : ...Soon every victory won by the resistance was attributed to my leadership. Stories of my brilliance, my daring, my courage, grew more and more unbelievable; yet the people insisted on believing them. My reputation even followed me into the labor camp, where my mere presence seemed to inspire my fellow prisoners. And I had done nothing... but shoot an unarmed Cardassian in his underwear! I'll never forget the look on his face when he died . He was so... embarrassed.