THE DUP is licking its wounds after its second time as part of a public spectacle that exposed the divisions within unionism to the outside world.
The first time around it was the provocateur, a party on the rise with a unity of purpose that was to sweep all before it - beginning with the next election cycle.
The 2003 so-called `fuss at the bus', saw the late Ian Paisley lead that year's election fight to the door of its rival UUP, unveiling a billboard outside the other party's headquarters.
Then UUP leader David Trimble emerged from Cunningham House with his senior team to confront them and became embroiled in a public row with DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson and, among others, his wife Iris Robinson, then Strangford MP.
Then it was DUP members shouting: "Where is Jeffrey?" in reference to rebel UUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson.
Eighteen years later it was Mr Paisley's son and newly elected DUP leader Edwin Poots who were fielding the same questions, this time from reporters.
And this time the DUP's battle is with itself.
It is a new experience for a party which has managed to present a united front since its inception 50 years ago, transitioning from the role of disruptor to leadership with ease if not necessarily grace.
Perhaps because it has been unused to managing discord, as Thursday night's `drama at the Plaza' revealed all too publicly, it fell at its first such hurdle.
The ratification of Mr Poots as DUP leader was `supposed to be' a set piece moment of triumph. Instead it was an embarrassing fiasco.
In truth all the elements for political disaster were there from the beginning, as MP after MLA followed each other into the Crowne Plaza Hotel in south Belfast.
As has been clear since 2016, any vote which results in a 52 per cent to 47/48 per cent split has already set the scene for bitter and long-lasting division.
Add to that a sizeable faction who think the ousted leader was "stabbed in the back" and the son of a former leader who believes the loss of that position "killed my father".
Rumours quickly began leaking out to the assembled media of the suppression of a call for a `secret ballot' by party officers, before Mr Poots was reportedly ratified by a show of hands.
He then took to the stage for the only public part of proceedings, a speech bursting with the magnanimous conciliation of the victor.
His opponents treated it with the respect they felt it deserved and one by one had pointedly quit the hall before it began.
Outgoing leader, First Minister Arlene Foster, clad in chic black trousers, matching blouse and a fiery red jacket made an imperious exit with her aides, flashing the waiting cameras a defiant `v' sign, leaving others to decide whether it signified peace or victory.
While Mr Poots was paying her the backhanded compliment to party members that "history will ultimately be kind to her in its final analysis", former chairman of her Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency association Paul Bell was publicly resigning in the car park.
East Derry MP Gregory Campbell and the East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson also left, as did Nigel Dodds who had to navigate his way around a guest clad in a white towelling bathrobe and black sliders as he did so.
The early departure of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who had challenged for the leadership, saw him miss hearing how Mr Poots "never had a cross word in the constituency" - which in fairness leaves great swathes of Northern Ireland available for any fights, past or future.
This time it was an Ian Paisley of the DUP who could not answer to the whereabouts of `Jeffrey' when asked, suggesting perhaps "he might have had to go home?"
It was not clear whether it was just his house Sir Jeffrey was returning to or his original political home where a number of DUP councillors are reportedly seeking sanctuary.
With Paul Bell warnings the party could stand to lose "thousands of votes" at the next election, it remains to be seen how the party will emerge from the next election cycle.
