Family Business (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
"Family Business" is the 69th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 23rd episode of the third season. It marks the first appearances of three recurring characters: Quark's mother Ishka, Captain Kasidy Yates, and Liquidator Brunt, FCA.
| "Family Business" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 23 |
| Directed by | René Auberjonois |
| Written by | |
| Featured music | Jay Chattaway |
| Production code | 469 |
| Original air date | May 15, 1995 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
The fictional homeworld of the Star Trek franchise Ferengi aliens, Ferenginar, is introduced in this episode where Quark's childhood home and his mother reside.[1] Ferenginar is very swampy with near constant raining.[2]
"Family Business" had Nielsen ratings of 6.9 points when it was first broadcast.[3]
Plot
Brunt, an agent of the Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA), serves Quark with a Writ of Accountability for improper supervision of a family member. Quark's mother, Ishka, is charged with earning profit – an illegal activity for Ferengi women. As the family's eldest male, Quark is held responsible. He and his brother Rom return to their homeworld, Ferenginar, where Quark must convince Ishka to confess, as required by Ferengi law. Arriving at their childhood home, they are surprised to find Ishka wearing clothes, which is also illegal for Ferengi women. Brunt tells Quark he has three days to get his mother to sign a confession.
Later, Ishka confirms that she broke Ferengi law by investing a portion of her monthly stipend from Quark, earning a meager three bars of latinum in the process. Still, she refuses to confess, which angers Quark. Ishka tells Rom that this is a matter of pride, and proof that she is just as capable of earning profit as a man. Quark discovers that Ishka has actually been conducting business transactions under dozens of aliases all over the Ferengi Alliance, making much more than just three bars of latinum. Even if Quark sells everything he owns, he will be unable to pay back what his mother has earned.
Quark confronts Ishka, who accuses him of being jealous of her financial acumen – just like his deceased father. With that, an infuriated Quark decides to turn in Ishka to the FCA. Rom tries to stop him, but the conversation deteriorates into a brawl. Ishka interrupts the fight and allows Quark to leave to report her transactions.
In the Tower of Commerce, Quark waits outside Brunt's office when Rom suddenly rushes in with the news that Ishka will split her profits with Quark, fifty-fifty. Quark hurries home to accept Ishka's offer, but when he arrives, Quark learns Rom made up the story, to force a conversation between him and his mother. Ishka tells Quark that, since he is her son, she will sign the confession and give back the money. Later, she pays her reparations to Brunt, and a relieved Quark says his goodbyes and leaves. Now alone with Rom, Ishka reveals that she has outsmarted Quark and the Ferengi government yet again – by giving up only a third of her profits.
In a side plot, Commander Sisko's son Jake sets him up on a date with freighter captain Kasidy Yates.