It was a sleepy Monday morning and Parliament House heaved a sigh of relief.
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The silliness of the previous sitting period (and that all-night Senate session) was now but a fading memory. And a long weekend loomed at the end of the week.
Then, at 10.17am, an email alert landed in Canberra inboxes, disturbing the peace with an almighty thud.
"The Prime Minister will hold a press conference ... TODAY, 10:30am."
Tantalisingly, no information was given about the subject matter.
But there were three signs the presser was not going to be about trivial matters such as new appointees to some government board no one had heard of.
1) The press conference was in a non-sitting week (what is so important that could bring the Prime Minister to Canberra?);
2) There was only 13 minutes' warning (so no one had time to speculate); and
3) The Prime Minister's press office was not answering any calls (a clear warning something big was waiting in the wings).
Turnbull arrived in the prime ministerial courtyard on time and on message.
He launched straight into a wide-ranging operetta about all the fabulous things the Coalition was doing for the economy, jobs and electoral reform.
He also talked about how "unlawful conduct" in the construction industry was holding back the all-important economy. And how the Coalition had bills (that were blocked in the Senate) that would address this.
The phrase "my government" was emphasised.
So even before the Prime Minister got to the punchline, the election light was flashing bright red.
But the finale, with its three-part kicker, was no anti-climax.
Turnbull announced the budget would be brought forward to May 3 (despite Treasurer Scott Morrison insisting about an hour before that it would be on May 10).
He also revealed he had been to see the Governor-General and had Sir Peter's OK to recall the Parliament to try (again) to pass the Registered Organisations and Australian Building and Construction Commission Bills.
The Senate would be given three whole weeks to play ball. And if it didn't, there would be a double dissolution election on July 2.
"The time for playing games is over," Turnbull said, his bravado guns blazing.
Parliament House spat out its espresso.
Au contraire.
As we prepare for three weeks of bonus Senate time and stare down the barrel of a 15 -week election campaign, the games have only just begun.
