A Listener is on-board. Martus, who seems to be sympathetic and comforting to those with personal sorrows, is actually constantly scheming to gain from his victims. When he convinces a rich woman to open a joint venture right across from Quark's bar, his luck seems to have no bounds and patrons crowd his successful establishment.

Chief O'Brien's rivalry with Julian in raquetball is all on his side, since the younger doctor beats him by an embarassing margin every time. The doctor is very concerned that the chief will pass out during the strenuous games and tries to pacify the stubborn man by throwing matches, but O'Brien would not have any of his patronizing. With no other way out of the situation and not wanting to continue embarassing the chief, Julian excuses himself from future matches, saying he is no longer as interested in raquetball as he once did.

His self-repect bruised, O'Brien grumbles at Quark's bar about his losses and keeps repeating how he needed just one more match. Quark, whose usual patrons are heading for Martus's club, gets an idea about matching up Bashir and O'Brien. Of course on the pretense of a benefit to buy blankets for Bajoran war orphans, but in the end it really is to draw crowds to his bar. The pair of rivalries are only put to stop when awareness that probability has been greatly affected by the gambling machines in Martus's club. Martus's luck ran out and the Listener is gotten rid of by Quark, who gave him enough money to catch a ride off the station.

Credits:Teleplay by Michael Piller & Jim Trombetta Story by Joe Menosky Directed by David Livingston Music by Jay Chattaway

Guest stars: Chris Sarandon (Martus), Lawrence Monoson (Hovath), Rosalind Chao (Keiko), Barbara Bosson (Roana), K. Callan (Alsia), Max Grodenchik (Rom), Albert Henderson (Cos)