Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have gone head-to-head in an extraordinary second presidential debate.
The United States - and indeed the whole world - was watching to see how Mr Trump would handle questions over his lewd comments about women.
Just hours before the debate, something we found in the Newshub archive provided new insight into the Republican candidate's views - prophetic comments he made about women during a visit to New Zealand 23 years ago.
The debate itself was a nasty one. Even the most competitive opponents in boxing shake hands before a fight, but after old comments Mr Trump made about groping women surfaced at the weekend, it appears Ms Clinton didn't want to go there.
The PR advice was clear for both of them - stay cool and calm, even when asked about that recording from 2005.
"You described kissing women without consent, grabbing their genitals," said debate moderator, journalist Anderson Cooper. "That is sexual assault. You bragged that you have sexually assaulted women. Do you understand that?"
"No, I didn't say that at all. I don't think you understood what was said. This is locker room talk. I'm not proud of it. I apologised to my family, apologised to American people."
At first Ms Clinton sat back, appearing to let him tie his own noose - but eventually she pounced.
"He has said that the video doesn't represent who he is, but I think it's clear to anyone who heard it, it represents exactly who he is."
The campaign has become dominated by the tapes, the moderators saying it's been the single most talked-about issue.
But Mr Trump wasn't taking the fall without trying to drag Bill Clinton down with him.
Melania Trump meets Bill Clinton (Reuters)
Melania Trump must have known this when she shook hands with the former President before the debate began. The awkward silence that followed resembled a man in a dentist's waiting room waiting for a root canal - and then came the drill.
"Bill Clinton was abusive to women, and Hillary Clinton attacked those same women, and attacked them viciously - four of them here tonight."
Ms Clinton brushed that off without responding, and Mr Trump claimed the moderators were ganging up on him.
"I'd like to know why aren't you bringing up emails," he said.
"We brought up the emails," replied Mr Cooper.
"It's one on three," retorted Mr Trump.
MsClinton did eventually rise to accusations about the deleted emails on a private server.
"It was a mistake and I am very sorry about that."
By this time Mr Trump had begun pacing.
"I'll tell you what - I didn't think I'd say this, but I'm going to say it and I hate to say it, but if I win, I am going to instruct my Attorney-General to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, because there has never been so many lies."
"It's just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of law in our country," responded Ms Clinton.
"Because you'd be in jail," retorted Mr Trump.
Donald Trump talks at Hillary Clinton (Reuters)
But threatening to send his opponent to jail wasn't as bruising as what he did to his own running mate. When told Mike Pence said the US should be prepared to strike Syrian military targets under President Assad's control, he said: "He and I haven't spoken and I disagree. We have to knock out ISIS (Islamic State)."
The time count was Mr Trump 40 minutes speaking and Ms Clinton 39, but it was a contentious point throughout.
"She went a minute over and you don't stop her," said Mr Trump. "When I go a second over - you stop me. It's really very interesting."
And when they were both forced to actually be gentlemanly and ladylike, Ms Clinton said she respected Mr Trump's children, and Mr Trump in turn called her a "fighter".
There was a handshake to end, but neither looked each other in the eye.
Newshub.
