The Australian Parliament continues to sit in a surreal session in which policy still takes second place to a leadership spill that no one claims is happening and in which both key players refuse to take up their gloves.
While Prime Minister Julia Gillard tries to focus attention on her proposed overhaul of the nation's education system it is her future that absorbs Australia.
Kevin Rudd, the leader Gillard ousted three years ago, bobs on a sea of public adulation and polls predicting that his return would restore Labor's fortunes, but only repeats his promise that he will not challenge.
Despite strong public backing from senior ministers, Rudd's supporters claim to have now won a majority of votes in caucus.
But that remains uncertain and - even if true - Rudd's troops appear to be divided between those who want an early showdown and others who accept Rudd's refusal to seek leadership unless he can carry sufficient senior ministers as well as a majority of backbenchers.