Who Mourns for Morn?

"Who Mourns for Morn?" is the 136th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the 12th episode of the sixth season.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on the space station Deep Space Nine near the planet Bajor. This episode is centered on the character Quark, who manages a bar on Deep Space Nine, and the unexpected death of Morn, one of his regular customers.

Plot[]

The shocking news arrives that Morn has been killed in an ion storm. Captain Sisko interrupts the memorial service with surprising news — Morn left Quark his entire estate.

Inspecting Morn's quarters, Quark finds Morn's ex-wife, Larell, who tells Quark about Morn's hidden retirement fund of a thousand bricks of latinum—a valuable liquid pressed into bricks of gold to make it easier to handle. Quark offers Larell ten percent to keep her out of his hair, but he is unable to find the loot.

Back at his quarters, Quark is confronted by two brothers, Krit and Nahsk. Claiming to be Morn's business associates, they tell Quark that Morn owes them all of the latinum. To intimidate him, Nahsk smashes one of Morn's paintings over Quark's head. The two parties finally agree to a figure of fifty percent, and the brothers leave. Quark discovers a storage locker claim slip woven into what's left of the painting.

In the locker, Quark finds one brick of latinum inscribed with a message that the rest is in the Bank of Bolias. He hurries home to send for the rest of his inheritance, but another stranger, Hain, emerges from the shadows. Claiming to be a security officer from Morn's home planet, Hain explains that Morn is a prince, and that his latinum is the property of the royal family. When he learns Larell is on the station, he offers Quark a reward for her capture.

Later, Larell, Krit, Nahsk, and Hain all converge at Quark's quarters. Quark learns that their stories are all lies — the money is the proceeds of a bank robbery the four of them and Morn committed. With the statute of limitations now expired, they have come to collect their share. Quark persuades them to split the money five ways.

When the money arrives, the "partners" try to double cross each other. A shootout ensues, and Quark runs for cover until Odo arrives to arrest the four thieves. Quark excitedly examines the gold bricks, only to discover all the latinum has been extracted; the gold itself is worthless.

Resigned to his fate, Quark returns to the bar to find Morn, alive and well. He faked his own death, leaving Quark to get the others out of the way. Morn reveals where he really hid the latinum — in his second stomach. He regurgitates a few milliliters (100 bricks' worth) as a reward for Quark, making the whole experience a worthwhile one after all.

Production[]

Morn, played by Mark Allen Shepherd, is a recurring extra on the series; the character has no lines, but frequently appears sitting at Quark's bar. As an extra, Shepherd received no on-screen credit for the role. Morn's presentation as an alien involved Shepherd wearing a thick costume mask and suit;^[1] but in this episode, Shepherd also makes an appearance (still uncredited) as a Bajoran mourner at Morn’s memorial service who is invited to sit in Morn's chair, revealing the actor’s normal appearance.^[2][3][4]

Reception[]

Keith R. A. DeCandido of Tor.com gave it 4 out of 10.^[5]

References[]

External links[]

• Who Mourns for Morn? at IMDb
• Who Mourns for Morn? at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• Who Mourns for Morn? at StarTrek.com