It seems that Quark and Rom's mother has been caught earning a profit, which is a crime in the patriarchal Ferengi society. Quark is on the hook to convince her to confess and pay back whatever she earned out of his own profits or else he'll lose his bar. The brothers make the trip back to the Ferengi homeworld and visit their childhood home. To their horror, they discover that their mother, Ishka, is wearing clothing and speaking to men outside of her family. It seems their "moogie" has been up to quite a lot while they were away.
Ishka is defiant and insists that the laws limiting women from business and public lives are immoral. She criticizes their late father for never accepting the business advice she gave him. Quark tries to take a firm hand and recalls their late father's many tribulations with such a willful "female" as a wife. For his part, Rom can't help but feel proud of his moogie's accomplishments even though he acknowledges what a pickle it puts the family in. He takes a sweeter approach to convince his mother to back down, but she assures him that Quark's profits will hardly be affected by her crimes.
Meanwhile, everyone on the station is abuzz about the charms of Kasidy Yates and her inevitable meeting with Sisko. The commander, however, is in no rush to be set up and gets annoyed with everyone meddling into his business. Finally he relents and visits the docking bay where Yates is. Sisko gives her some advice about transporters and apologizes for Jake's intrusions. Sparks aren't exactly flying, but they agree to meet for coffee after Yates is finished with her work.
Quark discovers that his moogie hasn't just been making a few investments in her spare time. She's built a financial empire. If it ever comes to light, Quark could never hope to pay it back. Ishka remains defiant and accuses Quark of being jealous that she has better lobes for business than him or his father. Quark threatens to turn her in to the FCA, and Rom brawls with him to prevent it, but Ishka breaks it up and allows Quark to leave.
Sisko and Yates have coffee, and Sisko is regaling her about New Orleans. Yates acts a little distracted and confesses that she'd forgotten about her promise to listen to her brother's subspace communication when it arrives in a few minutes. She explains that he'd recently injured himself "sliding into second." Shocked, Sisko asks if he's a baseball player, and Yates confirms that she and her brother are fans. In fact, his subspace communication will be the broadcast of a league game he plays in. She invites him to listen to it with her, and he eagerly agrees. As they walk away joking and laughing, Jake looks on approvingly.
Rom intercepts Quark at the FCA to say that Ishka has offered half her hidden profits to Quark to buy his silence, and Quark eagerly accepts the proposition. When he returns home, however, it becomes clear that Rom lied to both of them to get them talking again. Taking an uncharacteristically firm tone, he insists that Quark and Ishka work it out. Stunned, the two finally have a heart-to-heart, and Ishka admits that she and Quark are a lot alike, just like the sweet and dim Rom is like Quark's father. She agrees to confess to her profits to get Quark out of trouble, and Quark professes his love for his mother.
Ishka makes her confession but doesn't stop wearing clothes around the house. Quark decides that it's not hurting anyone and leaves on good terms. Before Rom departs, Ishka confides in him that the FCA only found a third of her fortune, and she has no plans to stop earning more.
Tropes
- Awful Truth: In his final scene, Brunt accepts a Comically Small Bribe to keep Ishka's case a secret. As Quark points out, publicizing the fact that a female earned so much profit would shake Ferengi society and force it to question the "self-evident" rightness of its misogynist laws.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Near the end, Quark and Ishka admit that, for all their bickering, they do still both care for the other. Ishka even agrees to stamp the confession and return her profits for Quark's sake... although it turns out that she has a lot more that she didn't tell him or the FCA about.
- Continuity Nod: A couple TOS references when Kasidy mentions her brother plays baseball for the Pike City Pioneers on Cestus III.
- Characterization Marches On: Brunt is much more of a Punch-Clock Villain in this episode, and is mostly shown as just an officious bureaucrat who's not really any more corrupt or obnoxious than most other Ferengi seen on the show. In his following appearances, he becomes a petty, power-hungry schemer who's out to become Grand Nagus, ideally while ruining Quark and his family in the process.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Played for Laughs with the Ferengi's treatment of women and particularly Quark's treatment of his mother. Ishka regularly engages in scandalous behavior such as freely talking to people outside her family, wearing clothes, and not pre-chewing her children's food. Because such behaviors are culturally inappropriate among the Ferengi, Quark cannot stand his mother and talks at great length as how "unacceptable" her behavior is and how tough he had it as a kid with such an Amazingly Embarrassing Parent.
- The Dutiful Son: Rom stayed at home for ten years after Quark left, and even now, he's far more sympathetic and loyal toward his mother than Quark is.
- Game of Nerds: Sisko, naturally, gets excited when Kasidy mentions that her brother plays baseball and starts asking questions about the league on Cestus III.
- Got Me Doing It: After Rom calls Ishka "Moogie" a few times, Quark says it before correcting himself.
- Grew a Spine: Rom is unusually assertive for once. Calling out his late father for being an incompetent fool, and openly defying Quark.
- Hypocritical Humor: Rom ends his instructions to Ishka and Quark by telling them "... and NO... SHOUTING!"
- Intimidating Revenue Service: If you thought the real IRS was bad, just wait until you meet the hypercapitalist Ferengi society's equivalent.
- It's All About Me: Quark, naturally, regarding his mother. He recalls how, as a boy, she would frequently violate Ferengi convention by refusing to chew their food and talking to strangers, but apparently thinks she did it solely to embarrass her family. When he learns about her business dealings, all he thinks about is how it affects him, and calls her selfish for not considering that. The idea that a "female" might actually have pride, and wish to be her own person, simply doesn't cross his mind.
- Like Father, Like Son: Turns out Rom is this. Quark actually gets his business acumen from his mother.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Quark and Rom become terrified the moment Brunt introduces himself as being from the FCA, and are on the verge of panic when Brunt posts a writ of accountability.
- Quark when he realizes just how extensive his mother's secret business deals have been.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Rom snaps after dealing with his mother and Quark arguing the entire episode, lures them into a meeting, and lays into them about how stupid they're acting. Rom suddenly having a spine is enough to shock his mother and brother into properly dealing with their issues.
- Open Secret: Word spreads fast on a space station. Hence everyone knowing about Kasidy before Sisko even meets her.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Brunt. Eff. See. Eh.
- Tranquil Fury: Quark, when he figures out just how to solve the problem with his mother.Rom: Brother? ...is everything alright?
Quark: (looking oddly tranquil) Mh-hmm.
Rom: I'm so proud of you, Quark! I mean, other people in this situation might overreact and lose their temper, make a bad situation worse... but not my brother! You're too smart for that! You're gonna sit there and study the problem, and then come up with a clear, simple solution!
Quark: (smiles at Rom) I already have.
Rom: Oooh, you see?! I told you! What is it?
Quark: I'm going to kill her.
Rom: ...MOOGIE!!! - What the Hell, Hero?: Rom finally gets tired of Quark and Ishka fighting and tears them both a new one.Rom: That's enough bickering! You're both acting like children! I will not stand by and let this family fall apart! Quark, you should be ashamed of yourself! I've seen you treat Cardassians with more respect than you show your own mother! And Moogie, if Quark can uncover your hidden investments, eventually the FCA will too! And then all that profit will be lost! Think about that for a moment! Now, neither of you is going to leave this room until you've settled things! Is that clear? AND NO SHOUTING! (Beat) I'm going to take a nap. (leaves)
