The stage is set in Washington for Donald Trump's inauguration as America's 45th President.
The big moment happens at midday on Friday Washington-time, and the world will witness the formal handover of power between Barack Obama and Mr. Trump.
He'll be entering the White House with lower approval ratings than any of the men who have sat in the Oval Office before him.
And as our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks tells us in his "Washington Notebook", that may be evident by the tone of the inauguration itself.
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I don't know what the phrase "softly sensuous" means to you….and perhaps that conversation is best left off the air.
But "softly sensuous" is apparently going to be the order of the day here in Washington on Friday.
That's the way - honestly - in which Donald Trump's transition team is characterizing his inauguration.
It will be a "softly sensuous" occasion….unlike, they suggest, the kind of earth-shaking, high-octane, celebrity-driven events that we're used to seeing every 4 years in January.
What they really mean is that the President-elect has had a terrible time trying to persuade A-list talent to join him here in Washington.
Over the last couple of days a variety of entertainers have been dropping out….including one group that was booked to cover the hits of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The Trump transition team couldn't book the originals, who threw their weight behind Hillary Clinton last November…..but it couldn't manage to keep the cover band either.
And so when he takes the oath of office just before high noon on Friday…and then makes his big inaugural address to the nation….the talent that will be appearing alongside Donald Trump includes country music singer Toby Keith…reliably Republican actor Jon Voight…a group called "The Piano Guys" whose next gig - their website tells me - will be in that cultural mecca of Cedar City in Utah….and someone by the name of Ravi Drums.
At least I think that's his name, as opposed to a description of what he does.
Anyway, after the soft sensuality comes to an end….the business of governing will begin.
And in some ways it's already started.
Republicans have laid the groundwork on Capitol Hill for the of process of repealing Obamacare….the health care reforms that 20 million Americans rely on in the event that they become ill.
The President-elect says he also wants quick action on the construction of that wall along the US border with Mexico.
He says there's no need to wait for negotiations with Mexico to be finalized….the US should simply start building it, and worry about billing the costs back to its southern neighbor later.
Anyway all that work, Donald Trump says, will get underway Monday.
He wants the weekend to be filled with celebration.
He may not get his wish.
On Saturday the streets of Washington and New York will be filled with demonstrators as the Million Women March snakes its way through both cities….its participants utterly rejecting the Trump Presidency.
And even Friday could be a challenge: touts say they're taking a bath on their investment in tickets to Donald Trump's big day.
"Nobody wants to buy them" one desparate black marketeer told the New York Daily News.
So if you feel like making a last minute appearance at Donald Trump's softly sensuous inauguration…surf over to his Facebook page where the tickets are now being given away.
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