RE:Old movie quoteThis trope describes any moment in a narrative where the action has hit a low point when anyone who's paying attention would notice that a sudden change could appear at any instant. Even the general markets are looking for moves upwards as the bottoming process seems in place.
And because the action is expected, but no one knows exactly who will be the provocateur (as in will it be Big Pharma Roche, or Pfizer or MerckKGaA or some other Big Pharma company) .... closer and closer to a then sudden offer ... which may be much closer than some are possibly anticipating.
Only to have the inerim quietness broken by the barking dogs