Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series)

Improbable Cause (1995)

Andrew Robinson: Garak

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Bashir tells Garak the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf] 

  Dr. Julian Bashir : It's a children's story, about a young shepherd boy who gets lonely while tending his flock. So he cries out to the villagers that a wolf is attacking the sheep. The people come running, but of course there's no wolf. He claims that it's run away and the villagers praise him for his vigilance.

  Elim Garak : Clever lad. Charming story.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : I'm not finished. The next day, the boy does it again, and the next too. And on the fourth day a wolf really comes. The boy cries out at the top of his lungs, but the villagers ignore him, and the boy, and his flock, are gobbled up.

  Elim Garak : Well, that's a little graphic for children, wouldn't you say?

  Dr. Julian Bashir : But the point is, if you lie all the time, nobody's going to believe you, even when you're telling the truth.

  Elim Garak : Are you sure that's the point, Doctor?

  Dr. Julian Bashir : Of course. What else could it be?

  Elim Garak : That you should never tell the same lie twice.

• Elim Garak : The truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination.

• [first lines] 

  Elim Garak : I'm sorry, Doctor, I just don't see the value of this man's work.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : But Garak, Shakespeare is one of the giants of Human literature.

  Elim Garak : I knew Brutus was going to kill Caesar in the first act; but Caesar didn't figure it out until the knife was in his back.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : But that's what makes it a tragedy. Caesar couldn't conceive that his best friend would plot to kill him.

  Elim Garak : Tragedy is not the word I'd use. Farce would be more appropriate.

• Dr. Julian Bashir : Is there anything you need me to do while you're gone?

  Elim Garak : Like what?

  Dr. Julian Bashir : I don't know. Any unfinished business?

  Elim Garak : Actually, Doctor, there is something.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : What?

  Elim Garak : If you go into my quarters and examine the bulkhead next to the replicator, you'll notice there's a false panel. Behind that panel is a compartment containing an isolinear rod. If I'm not back within 78 hours, I want you to take that rod... and eat it.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : Eat it?

  Elim Garak : [affirmatively]  Mm.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : You're joking.

  Elim Garak : Yes doctor, I am.

• Garak : Never tell the same lie twice.

• Commander Sisko : Someone tried to kill you, Garak. Whoever it was may try again, so if I were you, I would give this matter some serious thought.

  Elim Garak : Well, let me see. I mean, there's the Nausicaan whose wedding suit I misplaced; and the Yridian I owe money to; and of course, there's always Major Kira.

  Dr. Julian Bashir : This is serious, Garak.

  Elim Garak : I'm being serious. I don't think she likes me.

  Odo : She doesn't. But if she wanted you dead, you would be.

  Elim Garak : You do have a point.

• [Garak is going through passenger lists in Odo's office] 

  Elim Garak : Don't worry about me, Constable. I can manage on my own.

  Odo : I'm not about to leave you alone in here so you can look through my security files.

  Elim Garak : What makes you think I haven't already looked through them?

  [Odo reacts alarmed] 

  Elim Garak : I'm joking, of course.

  Odo : [less than convinced]  Of course...

• Elim Garak : It's been my observation... that you always act from a sense of justice, or at least what you consider justice. There's no feeling behind what you do, no emotion beyond a certain distaste for loose ends and disorder. You don't know what it means to care about someone, do you? People are just interesting creatures to be studied and analyzed.

  Odo : Is there any point to this?

  Elim Garak : Only that... I find it interesting that you ascribe feelings and motivations to me that you know nothing about. Or am I wrong? Tell me - is there one person in this universe you do care for? One person who's more than just an interesting puzzle to be solved? Is there, Odo? Anyone?

  Odo : If there were, I certainly wouldn't tell you.

  Elim Garak : [smiles]  And that would be a wise decision.

• [last lines] 

  [Tain has offered Garak to join the Order again and take his place by Tain's side] 

  Odo : Garak, this is the man who put you into exile, this is the man who just two days ago tried to have you killed.

  Elim Garak : Yes, he is. But it doesn't matter.

  [he walks over to Tain and clasps his arm] 

  Elim Garak : I'm back.

• Elim Garak : You wanted to see me.

  Odo : I have bad news for you. Major Kira has an airtight alibi.

• Commander Sisko : Could this attempt on your life have anything to do with the reason you were exiled from Cardassia?

  Elim Garak : I seriously doubt the Finance Ministry would try to have me killed for failure to pay my taxes.

• Odo : I think you secretly enjoyed destroying your own shop.

  Elim Garak : Well, I admit watching it burn wasn't exactly tragic.

• Elim Garak : Head for the Cardassian border. We're going to the third planet of the Unefra system.

  Odo : How do you know that's where Tain has gone?

  Elim Garak : I don't. But he has a safe house there that no one's supposed to know about, especially me.

• [Garak is putting in a transmission code] 

  Odo : That's an interesting way of scrambling a signal.

  Elim Garak : Yes, I thought you might appreciate it on an esthetic level.

• Elim Garak : The Flaxian left two minutes ago. If we're going to follow him we'd better get moving.

  Odo : What makes you think I'm going to follow him?

  Elim Garak : I happen to know that you're too dogged an investigator to allow the only witness in this case to simply disappear.

  Odo : Oh, congratulations, your powers of deduction are truly astonishing. Now, if you will kindly disembark, I will get on with my "dogged" investigation.

• Elim Garak : Why do you think I'm here? I came because I thought the Romulans were trying to kill you. I came here to save you.

  Enabran Tain : I never thought I'd hear myself say this, Garak... but I believe you.