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INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
Martok and Nog are sitting by a roaring fire in a cozy
darkened home. Martok sips on blood wine, and plays with a
small golden ring. In glimmers in the light of the fire and
catches Nog's eye.
NOG
Where did you find that ring?
MARTOK
That is a good story. Once, Enabran
Tain, the head of the Obsidian
Order had three servants. One was a
Gul, another a humble soldier. The
last and most loyal was a spy. And
not only a spy but Tain's
illegitimate son, who loved him and
wanted to be loved as a son. Tain's
wife had died long ago and he was
alone. After so many years of
loneliness he made a proclamation.
INT. OBSIDIAN ORDER HQ
Dark, warm, high Cardassian architecture. The room is crowded
with people. Tain stands before them.
ENABRAN TAIN
Whoever the ring will fit shall
marry me and share the leadership
of the Obsidian Order
As Tain leaves the room he is approached by Gul Dukat.
GUL DUKAT
Sir, you don't need a new wife. You
have us loyal servants. There is no
need to bother with a wife.
Tain waves him off, but Gul Dukat continues pander
GUL DUKAT
We are loyal to you, there is no
need for anyone else, why put
yourself into a compromising
position.
ENABRAN TAIN
Compromising position?
GUL DUKAT
I am only looking out for your
welfare, perhaps someone of a
suspicious nature may take
advantage of your goodwill. And
then suddenly we'll have a new head
of the order.
ENABRAN TAIN
Do you take me for a fool?
GUL DUKAT
Never. I did not mean any offence.
I only wish to serve you and
express my concern for your well
being.
CUT TO:
INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
NOG
He's not concerned! He's up to
something.
MARTOK
Power is attractive, and Gul Dukat
cannot resist power. It enslaves
him. An idea slithers into his
head. If Enabran Tain will marry
whoever the ring fits, then why
should he not try to put on the
ring?
NOG
He wouldn't... would he?
INT. RING ROOM
The ring is unguarded on a lush pillow on a podium in the
center of the room. Gul Dukat tries hard to get the ring on.
Damar watches him quizzically, sipping kanar.
DAMAR
If you get the ring on
GUL DUKAT
Yes, if I get the ring on then I
will be the new head of the
Obsidian Order.
DAMAR
No, you would be Tain's wife.
GUL DUKAT
For awhile, I would be a wonderful
and loving wife. He would be lucky
to have me. But Tain is rather old,
and frail for someone his age. What
if he were to get sick? Something
terrible might happen to him. I as
a good wife, will be there to
handle it.
Gul Dukat continues to fight with the ring, as he struggles
Garak enters the ring room.
GUL DUKAT
Damar. Help me, it's stuck.
Damar holds back a laugh, and looks for a place for his
Kanar.
GARAK
What are you doing?
Gul Dukat pulls the ring off, and slips out of his hand and
drops to the floor. As it bounces to Garak's feet as Tain
enters.
ENABRAN TAIN
What are you doing with my ring?
GUL DUKAT
It was Garak, he was playing with
the ring
GARAK
I was not.
Damar enjoys his drink while watching the scene. Tain shoots
him a look, and Damar chokes on the drink.
MARTOK (V.O.)
And Garak makes a decision he will
regret for the rest of his days. He
picks up the ring, and the damn
fool out of out of habit or
accident slips it on his finger for
safe keeping.
Tain sees the empty pillow, the ring gone.
ENABRAN TAIN
Where is my beloved's ring!? Show
me your hands.
Gul Dukat shows his
GUL DUKAT
I would never lie to you. It is my
duty to serve you. I came to
protect the ring from those who
conspire against you.
Damar show his hands, switching the kanar back and forth, he
doesn't have the ring. Garak shows his hands. The ring fits
perfectly on his ring finger.
ENABRAN TAIN
It fits..
GUL DUKAT
(angrily)It fits...
ENABRAN TAIN
Why would you do such a foolish
thing? Why would you betray me like
this?
MARTOK (V.O.)
The proclamation is law. Whoever
the ring fits must become the wife
to the head of the Obsidian order.
Garak tries to take off the ring
GARAK
It was not my intention
ENABRAN TAIN
Away with your intentions. We must
marry.
NOG (V.O.)
You cannot marry your father!
GUL DUKAT
Surely not, you can't really
marry... him.
ENBRAIN TAIN
The proclamation is law, and it
cannot be broken. We must marry.
GARAK
I see...
MARTOK(V.O.)
But you cannot marry your father!
GARAK
Then I will make a request.
ENABRAN TAIN
Once I follow your request, you
will marry me?
MARTOK (V.O.)
Garak chooses his words carefully.
The wedding will happen, but at the
ceremony only death awaits him.
GARAK
Of course, but I cannot be married
in this. None of my clothes are
appropriate for such an honoured
position. I require a new suit.
Pale silk, radiant like a new born
nebula that drifts like water in
the air.
ENABRAN TAIN
It shall be done.
MARTOK (V.O.)
And Garak retires to his room. It
will take time to find a suit of
that description. He keeps himself
locked away working a way, day and
night on a daring plan to escape
this terrible fate. Until there is
a knock at his door. He opens it a
peek.
ENABRAN TAIN
I have arrived with a suit made of
pale silk like a nebula, that moves
like water in the air. We shall
marry tomorrow.
GARAK
Yes, the suit is lovely, but I
require another one. One red and
orange as the Cardassian sun, for
the wedding feast. If I am to rule
with you then I must show respect
for our culture.
MARTOK (V.O.)
Garak shuts the door and continues
weaving his plan. Working night
into day, and day into night. Using
his bought time wisely, for no one
has ever escaped the Obsidian
Order.
INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
NOG
Can't he say he's his son? No one
is going to make a child marry
their parent. Wouldn't that end of
it?
MARTOK
No, Enabran Tain is proud, and his
pride and shame refuse to let him
accept his son. Even though the boy
is loyal, Tain is certain his
enemies would use his infidelity to
attack him. He will never accept
the boy.
NOG
This is foolish.
MARTOK
Yes. And if he was a wiser man,
he'd choose differently. (Martok
takes a drink of blood wine) Tain
knocks on the door and Garak opens
it a crack.
INT. OBSIDIAN ORDER HQ
ENABRAN TAIN
I have brought a suit made to look
like the Cardassian sun. This is
sufficient. We will marry tomorrow.
GARAK
It is a sight. Red as the sunlight.
Gorgeous... but I require one more
garment. The first is for the
procession, the second for the
feast, but this one I need for the
church. It must sparkle like the
stars, bring me this last garment
and I will marry you.
MARTOK (V.O.)
Garak closes the door, and
continues to work. Time is running
out, and he must escape this fate.
For he cannot not marry his father.
Garak is cunning, his plan almost
ready and then a knock on the door.
ENABRAN TAIN
I have bought you the last suit you
requested.
GARAK
Yes, this is perfect. I will honor
our traditions. We shall marry
tomorrow
ENABRAN TAIN
Yes, we shall marry...
INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
MARTOK
Garak closes the door. In morning,
they knock on his door and he does
not answer. The room is empty.
Time has come, and he made his
escape.
NOG
But how did he escape?
MARTOK
I'm not a master spy, I do not know
what he did other than it was
glorious.
NOG
Through a jeffries tube? Did he
steal a ship? Used a hologram to
hide himself? Personal cloaking
device?
MARTOK
It is not important to the story,
and he is a Cardassian what ever he
told us would be a lie.
NOG
Then what about this story?
Martok waves off Nog, and encourages him to enjoy the drink.
MARTOK
Two years pass. There are few
places for a Cardassian master spy
to hide from the Obsidian Order.
But Garak is devious and sly. He
chose to hide in plain sight. In
the repurposed Cardassian Space
Station, Empok Nor, renamed Deep
Space Nine. Hiding with the enemies
of the Cardassians, the Bajorians
and hated by both. While it
certainly made his life difficult,
it was better than the fate that
awaited him on Cardassia Prime. He
opened a humble tailor shop and
blended in to his surrounding as a
simple tailor..
INT. GARAK'S TAILOR SHOP
Garak is kneeling while hemming Quark's pants.
QUARK
These pants are far too short.
GARAK
I hadn't expected you to wear
significantly different shoes that
changes the measurements.
QUARK
Rudeness will get you nowhere.
GARAK
I was merely stating a fact.
QUARK
I want these pants ready for
tomorrow. I need to look good for
all these Federation officers and
their wallets.
MARTOK (V.O.)
The Ferengi....
NOG (V.O.)
Quark.
MARTOK (V.O.)
What?
NOG (V.O.)
My uncle Quark, not the Ferengi.
MARTOK (V.O.)
Quark parts ways with the tailor.
Soon the tailor grows hungry and
leaves his shop to go to the
Replimat. Garak is stuck by a
beautiful young man. Garak
considers himself lucky, how could
no one be sitting with such a
beauty? He looks around as he
approaches the young man, still in
utter disbelief. The young beauty
is Doctor Julian Bashir.
GARAK
Ah you know of me
MARTOK (V.O.)
The young man is awkward. And
already thinks Garak is a spy. The
doctor doesn't know how to handle
himself, and it's all very strange.
And the two part ways. Word comes
to Garak of a ball at Quark's Bar.
And Garak hatches a new plan. The
party is full of laughing and
drinks, and young doctor is bored.
His advances on an 'old man' get
him no where, and he wonders what
went wrong. When suddenly, the
crowd parts revealing a beautiful
Cardassian in a suit pale like a
new born nebula. The doctor is
enchanted. He awkwardly presents
himself to the beauty. They dance.
They dance the night away until a
bell rings
QUARK
Last Call!
MARTOK (V.O.)
Garak slips away from the enchanted
the doctor and runs away into the
night. He thinks over the night of
dancing, and continues to work in
his shop. The next morning the
Doctor shows up at the shop and
does not recognize Garak as the
beauty from the previous evening.
BASHIR
Ah, Garak. I require a new suit for
the evening.
GARAK
What is the occasion?
BASHIR
A ball.
GARAK
Really? Another one?
BASHIR
Yes, and I need it very soon. Can
you have this one altered by this
evening.
GARAK
Of course. Anyone special?
BASHIR
Well yes, but no one of concern to
you.
GARAK
Ah, yes. I see. I am only a humble
tailor.
INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
MARTOK
The doctor is a foolish man to
scorn his beauty, he does not see
the man in front of him.
NOG
How? It's the same person but in a
different outfit.
MARTOK
People are very good at hiding in
plain sight. Even the smallest
changes can make a person become
unrecognizable to those that are
shallow.
NOG
Doctor Bashir is shallow?
MARTOK
Was shallow, he does get better.
It's hard not to be shallow when
you are so young. The ball starts
and the doctor finds himself
searching, looking for the man he
danced with the previous night, and
as his hope fades, there in the dim
smoky light of Quark's bar, stands
the beauty dressed in a suit red
and orange as the Cardassian sun.
And they dance, and dance. Until
once again, the beauty leaves
suddenly. Doctor is enchanted and
bewildered. But he does not give up
easily and once again goes to the
tailor shop. He searches though the
rack looking for something
appropriate for the next night.
Garak works in the shop a lighter
on his feet, as though he was still
dancing.
GARAK
Another ball?
BASHIR
I have to look perfect.
GARAK
You look fine as you are.
BASHIR
These things don't make sense to
someone like you. It would like if
Klingons took up dancing, and
Cardassians ran out of things to
say.
GARAK
You are right, maybe I don't
understand these things. They seem
slightly out of your reach.
BASHIR
You shouldn't speak to an officer
like that.
GARAK
I'm not part of the Federation. I
see no badge, and we are only
talking. Or do you expect me to bow
to you?
BASHIR
I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Where
are my manners.
GARAK
Clearly back on Earth.
BASHIR
I'm sorry. You seemed so happy when
I walked in here. And I, I... I
wasn't thinking. I suppose you and
I are afflicted by the same thing.
GARAK
And what is that?
BASHIR
Love.
GARAK
I don't believe I am
BASHIR
Surely you must be, I can see it in
your eyes. The lightness in your
step. I am doctor. Well who is this
special person?
GARAK
If only they knew.
BASHIR
Terrible. How could they not know?
GARAK
I ask myself that frequently.
BASHIR
I'm sure it will all work out in
the end. You need to let them know.
GARAK
Believe me, I've tried.
BASHIR
Perhaps, they are a little dense?
GARAK
I have begun to wonder.
There is a moment of tension between them.
BASHIR
Sorry, to take up your time. I
believe this suit will do.
GARAK
Oh that suit?
BASHIR
Yes, why... is something wrong with
it.
GARAK
Oh no, nothing wrong with it. But I
thought perhaps this one would work
better. Brings out the colour in
your eyes.
BASHIR
You are right. Fantastic job.
MARTOK (V.O.)
And the Doctor attends another
party at Quark's hoping that the
man of his dreams will arrive
again. The night goes on and on,
and the beauty has not shown up.
The barkeep closes the bar. The
doctor is the last leave walks
outside, and there in suit that
sparkles like the stars in the
beauty and they dance, and dance,
until the Constable tells them to
go home. And the beauty runs off.
BASHIR
Where can I find you?
GARAK
Where Klingons teach people to
dance, and Cardassians run out of
things to say!
MARTOK (V.O.)
The Doctor is confused by the
words, but notices that the
mysterious beauty left a single
slipper behind. He picks up and
makes an unbreakable vow.
BASHIR
I will find him and I will marry
him. Even if everyone on the
station has to try on this shoe.
MARTOK (V.O.)
The next morning Bashir confides
his plan to his best friend Chief
O'Brian.
INT. OPS
Chief O'Brian is fixing a console while Bashir drinks a tea
and socializes.
O'BRIAN
Do you have any idea how flipping
mad you sound?
BASHIR
It was meant to be. I have to find
him.
O'BRIAN
We can't make everyone in the
station try on the shoe. It's not
like shoes are unique. I'm sure
there will be others that the shoe
fits.
BASHIR
We will find this man, and I will
marry him.
O'BRIAN
Julian. This is crazy. You ought to
get checked out by someone who
isn't you.
MARTOK (V.O.)
And despite the Chief's protests,
Bashir makes decree was made that
all could try on the shoe, and
whoever it fit would have the
Doctor's hand in marriage.
JADZIA
No. I'm not trying the shoe on
Julian.
KIRA
No.
ODO
Hmmph. I can change into any form,
do you really think the shoe
wouldn't fit me?
Worf stares at Bashir until he goes away. Sisko doesn't leave
his office and refuses to engage in this nonsense.
INT. QUARK'S BAR
MARTOK (V.O.)
While this did not charm the
officers others came to try it.
QUARK
Did you hear about the Doctor and
the shoe?
GARAK
I did.
QUARK
If he made a bit more I'd be
attempted it to try it on myself.
GARAK
Looking for that life of luxury?
QUARK
Federation doctor's salary won't
get me what I want and the humans
don't value money. What about you?
GARAK
Oh me? I am considering my options,
but I am only a simple tailor.
MARTOK (V.O.)
Word had spread much further than
anyone had expected. And soon two
faces that Garak hadn't seen in
many years come aboard DS9.
GUL DUKAT
Such a shame what the humans have
done to this station. It was much
more tasteful when I was
protectorate of Bajor. Damar, don't
dawdle we are here on important
business. Where can I find Doctor
Bashir. I'm here to try on the
slipper.
MARTOK (V.O.)
And Gul Dukat and Damar are lead to
try on the slipper.
INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
NOG
But the station logs would clearly
indicate they were not aboard the
station when the slipper was lost.
MARTOK
Yes, but Doctor Bashir was not
specific on who could try on the
slipper.
NOG
You must be joking.
ROM
I don't think Gul Dukat would be a
very good wife.
Both Nog and Martok are shocked to see that Rom has joined
them.
NOG
When did you get here?
ROM
The fire is so cozy and warm. And
and Martok tells such good stories.
I couldn't help but listen. But I
didn't want to interrupt. So I
didn't ask, but I was quiet... I
don't have to leave, do I?
Martok punch him on the arm joyously and spills both of their
drinks at little.
MARTOK
Stay! It would be a glorious
ending! Where was I... Ah yes, Gul
Dukat tries on the slipper
INT. MEDICAL BAY.
Gul Dukat's foot is crammed into the slipper.
GUL DUKAT
See it fits.
ROM (V.O.)
No!
NOG (V.O.)
He's obviously lying!
MARTOK (V.O.)
Quiet!
DAMAR
??
O'BRIAN
Julian you don't need to do this.
Talk to Sisko and get the entire
thing annulled.
GUL DUKAT
A vow cannot be broken.
BASHIR
...I must be true to my word.
ENSIGN
Hear this, the Doctor Bashir and
Gul Dukat shall be married on the
morrow!
GUL DUKAT
Wonderful, now if you'll excuse me,
my feet are tired and I'd like to
take this shoe off.
BASHIR
Oh? Doesn't it fit?
GUL DUKAT
Of course it fits, but I've had a
long day and my feet are starting
to swell. Damar, Da-mar.
Damars sips his Kanar and tries to not laugh. While this is
going on Garak silently enters.
BASHIR
The shoe doesn't fit?
GUL DUKAT
It's on my foot, really Doctor, you
can see it right here. But it is
such a lovely shoe, it must be
reserved for special occasions.
Damar!
Gul Dukat is clawing at his foot to get it off. Damar keeps
drinking kanar. Bashir watches him incredulously. Gul Dukat
begins to scream in pain and then throws off the shoe.
GUL DUKAT
The shoe is rigged! I demand
another shoe. You intentionally
used the wrong shoe.
GARAK
May I have a try?
GUL DUKAT
Garak! You'd let this low life try
on the shoe?
BASHIR
Of course. I said everyone.
MARTOK (V.O.)
And Garak slips on the shoe. What
is true of the finger, is also true
of the foot?
GUL DUKAT
It fits?!!
GARAK
Will you honour your vow?
GUL DUKAT
Surely he won't, not to you.
BASHIR
Of course.
There is a moment between Garak and Bashir
INT. STORYTELLER'S HOME
MARTOK
And for the first time, Bashir sees
the man in front of him. Tailor,
Master spy and mysterious beauty.
And they talk for hours and days,
laughing and learning about each
other.
ROM
That's so sweet. I was really
worried for a minute there.
NOG
But you know Doctor Bashir and
Garak are together.
ROM
BUT it really scary once Gul Dukat
was there.
MARTOK
Enough, if we keep up all this
chatter we'll be late for the
wedding!