Profit and Loss
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 21 March 1994
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- None given
- DIRECTED BY
- Robert Wiemer
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 438
WRITTEN BYWritten by Flip Kobler & Cindy Marcus
A damaged Cardassian shuttle brings Quark's old flame to the station, along with two students who are far more than they seem, and old feelings collide with dangerous politics.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
A crippled Cardassian shuttle arrives at Deep Space Nine carrying Professor Natima Lang and her students Hogue and Rekelen. Quark is overjoyed: Natima is the former lover he has never forgotten. Garak quickly recognises the trio as leaders of a dissident movement working to reform Cardassia. Gul Toran arrives demanding their return, and the Bajoran government agrees to hand them over in exchange for Bajoran prisoners. Quark offers to find them a cloaking device so they can slip away, hoping Natima will stay with him, and she admits she still loves him. Toran, meanwhile, tempts Garak with the promise of an end to his exile if he helps eliminate the dissidents. Instead Garak shoots Toran and lets the fugitives go. Natima chooses her cause over Quark and leaves, and Quark and Garak are left to reflect on what each of them gave up for love.
- 01The story was inspired by “Casablanca”. Its original title, “Here's Looking at You”, was changed for legal reasons.
- 02A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Los Angeles on 17 January 1994 during production. Armin Shimerman and Edward Wiley drove home through the city in full alien makeup.
- 03Mary Crosby is Bing Crosby's daughter and the aunt of Denise Crosby, who played Tasha Yar on The Next Generation.