Star Trek The Next Generation
S3E17
· Sins of the Father

Duras' Bribe — Kurn's Refusal and the Tunnel Ambush

In a quiet pedestrian tunnel Duras coldly exposes Kurn's true lineage and offers him safety, rank, and a command if he renounces Worf — a calculated bribe to buy silence. Kurn's instant, visceral refusal (he will not betray his brother) reveals the moral fault line between family loyalty and political survival. As Duras storms away enraged, two assassins strike from behind, brutally wounding Kurn and removing a crucial ally. The scene functions as a sharp turning point: the conspiracy escalates from political warfare to attempted murder, raising personal stakes and urgency for Worf and Picard's investigation.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

4

Duras confronts Kurn in the tunnel, revealing he knows Kurn's true lineage and attempts to coerce him into betraying Worf.

defiance to confrontation ['pedestrian tunnel']

Duras offers Kurn immunity and power in exchange for abandoning Worf, testing Kurn's loyalty to his brother.

temptation to resolve ['pedestrian tunnel']

Kurn refuses Duras's offer, declaring his unwavering loyalty to Worf despite the personal cost.

defiance to resolution ['pedestrian tunnel']

Duras, enraged by Kurn's defiance, leaves but orders Kurn assassinated for his loyalty.

rage to menace ['pedestrian tunnel']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Kurn
Commander
 primary
Character traits
partial/favoring toward select crew authoritative abrasive ceremonially disciplined
Follow Kurn's journey
Worf
Lieutenant, Chief of Security / Tactical Officer
 primary
Character traits
duty-driven duty-bound prideful determined stoic hawkish alert controlled-anger vigilant politically vulnerable decisive martial disgraced procedural guarded combative disciplined tactical honor-bound polarizing resolute ancestrally significant absent protective
Follow Worf's journey

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 1
Causal

"Duras's confrontation with Kurn in the tunnel, where he reveals knowledge of Kurn's lineage, directly leads to the assassination attempt on Kurn."

Tunnel Ambush — Kurn Stabbed for Loyalty
S3E17 · Sins of the Father
What this causes 1
Causal

"Duras's confrontation with Kurn in the tunnel, where he reveals knowledge of Kurn's lineage, directly leads to the assassination attempt on Kurn."

Tunnel Ambush — Kurn Stabbed for Loyalty
S3E17 · Sins of the Father

Part of Larger Arcs

Kurn's risk and assault arc: Kurn's loyalty to Worf, his refusal of bribes/coercion, and the violent attempt on his life that concretely demonstrates the lethal stakes of the political conspiracy.

Key Dialogue

"KURN: "I should have known... come then Duras. Worf was right... it is a good day to die.""
"DURAS: "It does not have to come for many turns. I know who you are, Kurn... son of Mogh.""
"KURN: "He is my brother. I will not betray him!""