After only four days of fair[ ish] wind, the St Andrews Agreement hit turbulence. The problem was, depending on the party source, "a shambles", "a chasm", "a hiccup", or "panic politics".
But Northern secretary Peter Hain was having none of it.
Crisis? What crisis? It was a foreseeable "glitch" and nothing more. With a little effort all would be well in time. You'll see.
But if the parties chose otherwise, then he would close Stormont and that would be the end of it.
His balming words were delivered in the tone of a weary parent telling children they had better agree on the programme or the TV would be turned off.
Speaking on the steps of the Northern Ireland Office at Stormont, Mr Hain cut a somewhat lofty figure.
But for the Rev Ian Paisley, the boot was clearly on the other foot, and it was the octogenarian who was issuing the threats.
His voice echoing around the pillars of the Great Hall, he warned the perfidious British government to stick to its commitments.
If it wavered, then Her Majesty's potentially duplicitous ministers would have their written pledges "stuck down their throats, publicly".
It was a classic Paisley performance, complete with biblical overtones and delivered before a posse of camera crews the size of which had not been witnessed at Stormont since George Best's funeral.
Peter Robinson, Sammy Wilson. et al did little other than stand by him and smile as they do when there isn't a need for anything to be added or qualified.
No spin doctor required.
Sir Reg Empey seemed positively to revel in the occasion of the DUP's difficulties in dealing with the Shinners and the government.
It's a pity Schadenfreude is such a mouthful - the word was presumably invented by the Germans to describe his half smile.
Gerry Adams countered the Paisley bluster with a calm tone and a little wry humour.
"A good start is half the work," he suggested . . . in Irish.
It's unlikely, though, that Dr Paisley will respond to Sir Reg's taunts in German or in anything other than plain "Ulster".
As for Mr Adams's cúpla focail - he may have to wait a little longer before he gets a reply in kind.
The rest of us will have to wait too before we get a Paisley-Adams handshake - let alone a government.