Treaty should pluck as many apples from the branches as they can

Some match previews contain a twist in the tale, a dash of legerdemain, a final-paragraph dice roll that is at variance with the tone and tenor of the preceding paragraphs. Yes, X are expected to win, for all the following, entirely sensible, reasons — but here’s why Y will win.

As this preview is not such an exercise in smoke and mirrors, we’ll avoid teasing the reader and cut to the concluding scene of the movie here and now.