Saturday had been billed as the grand finale. The word was Senator George Mitchell wanted to go home and deal or no deal he intended to disentangle himself from the review negotiations and fly back to his family in upstate New York before the weekend was out.
But after 11 hours of talks with the political parties and a briefing with officials from the two governments over the weekend, Senator Mitchell's feet are still firmly on Northern Irish soil and talks resume today at Stormont involving all the pro-agreement parties as the review enters its ninth week.
It was clear by lunchtime on Saturday that the stage was not set for a dramatic breakthrough, a catastrophic collapse or the subtle retreat expected from the review chairman.
Sir Reg Empey, of the UUP, stressed that patience was needed and the parties would have to continue to work at the current negotiations aimed at overcoming the impasse over arms and the formation of an executive.
"I think it is an honourable endeavour to keep trying at it. The alternatives, whatever they may be, don't spring readily to mind and we consider that the work we are currently engaged in has the potential to bring success to us, but there are no guarantees."
He acknowledged that disarmament was a "huge" and "very difficult" issue for republicans. But the UUP's "no guns - no government" policy remained.
Sinn Fein's Mr Martin McGuinness described the talks as very serious and detailed. "We have achieved a cordial atmosphere in the building and I believe we have a greater understanding of each other's positions. However, we have to achieve agreement.
"This process is coming under increasing attack from elements within the loyalist death squads who appear intent on continuing to kill Catholics, and of course there are the No people within unionist political parties who are dead set on destroying the Good Friday agreement.
"The way to defeat these people is by the pro-agreement parties doing what they were elected to do, which is implement the Good Friday agreement as a matter of urgency."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, struck a conciliatory note when he told the Belfast Telegraph his party wished to forge a partnership with unionism for the 21st century.
"We want to work with unionists in sorting out those vexed and difficult issues that continue to divide, and confuse, and separate us," he said.
The SDLP delegation left Castle Buildings by mid-afternoon, with the party's senior negotiator, Mr Sean Farren, outlining its frustration and wish for the senator to table his "best guess" on how to break the logjam.
"We have urged that, before we reach the end of the process, some set of proposals or proposition needs to be put. How else can we move forward unless the parties themselves are to come spontaneously to an agreement, and the prospect of that is very slim."
Mr Farren added if the UUP and Sinn Fein failed to find it in themselves to make the necessary compromise "it would be a great and serious matter of irresponsibility" in the face of their obligations under the Belfast Agreement.
Leaving Stormont, Sinn Fein's Mr Pat Doherty said there was still hope, "and while that hope continues we will most certainly continue to do our best".
According to the saying, hope springs eternal, a frightening prospect for Senator Mitchell.