Henry Smithson, present at the time of llhaesa’s metamorphosis, remained silent in the aftermath of the incident, but grew increasingly restless with the government’s inappropriate conduct toward llhaesa and the Salston family.

On Sunday, as Ronnie and Jahrae dined and discussed, Henry contacted Jamila, sharing that he still had the original tapes, both digital and analogue. Over the past few months, Henry requested review of the original copies for evidence of alteration or fabrication, and as he expected, they came back certified as original and clean of tampering.

Henry gave copies to the government, and he was uncertain how the government would react to his having possession of the original copies. Now, as he explained to Jamila, he wished to release the tapes for public viewing, in order that people know the truth. Perhaps, he felt, the truth would motivate people to help free llhaesa by pressuring their legislative leaders.

Jamila, torn between waiting until Wednesday and the extended live broadcast, or airing immediately, decided to show the recordings immediately. The airing was simply too important to wait. The broadcast was set for Monday, again broadcast live, but only for a ninety-minute slot.

Syndicate stations were happy to oblige the live broadcasts and expanded time, as the programmes were advertising dollar gold mines.

Jamila asked Henry to fly in to Chicago and be on the programme, where he could narrate what viewers were watching, and then take questions subsequent to the showing. The recordings would air twice during the broadcast, in case viewers were late tuning in.

After the broadcast ended, news programmes would receive permission to air the video to their audiences.

Henry landed in Chicago at nine Monday morning, and immediately headed for Jamila’s offices. He played the recordings for Jamila simultaneously and side by side. The tapes were not long at just over 12 minutes, but what was in the twelve minutes still stunned, even though Jamila knew the overall story and the result.

By ten am, syndicate stations were informing viewers of an important live Jamila broadcast that day, this broadcast an important element leading into the longer, telethon-like broadcast of Wednesday. The programme would air beginning at 2 pm eastern time.

In Washington, reactionary elements of Acting President Bill Green’s staff grew apprehensive, knowing Jamila’s connection to the Salstons, and knowing her view of the matter. They rightly feared a backlash from the general populace from her efforts, given Jamila’s level of popularity with people, and their trust in her advocacy. While they tried to find ways to prevent the broadcast from airing, there was the administration could do but watch and react after the fact.

The audience for the programme filled the studio by one hour before the broadcast, and Jamila took the unusual step of coming out and chatting with the audience for that entire hour. Taped, this interaction might air later or in short segments during the telethon broadcast.

The programme went live at precisely 2 pm, a curious and sizeable audience tuned in to watch, both in the US and via satellite around the world.

“Good afternoon, America, and hello to the world!

I requested live broadcast time today, as I have for Wednesday, in order to air special recordings brought to us today. These recordings also involve llhaesa t’yaeli, and it is vital – vital – that people see for themselves what happened with llhaesa that sparked this whole story four months ago.

As you know, we will delve into her detention and mistreatment on Wednesday, as well as into the landing in Henna last Friday. Today, I would like people to see what started all of this, see the angst of before with the joy of after, and picture how you would feel in that moment if you were the one disconnected from who you are.

With me today is Henry Smithson-“ Jamila stopped as the audience applauded upon hearing Henry’s name. As the applause faded, Jamila continued, “Henry Smithson was present at and recorded this incident in northern New Hampshire, and he is with us to explain what is on the tapes.

Before we bring out Henry and view the tapes – which are ten minutes long, by the way – I have a few words to say on this matter, a prelude to what I will share on Wednesday.

I spent time with llhaesa t’yaeli, Ronnie Salston, and their children, and it sickens me that people think her some heinous monster hell bent to destroy our way of life.

What I see is us hell bent on destroying llhaesa, Ronnie, and their children. If you saw them up close, if you chatted with them, you would see wonderful people who care about each other, who care about our world, who wish to make it a better place.

Two thousand years ago, some disliked another who tried to make a difference. Ask yourselves – are we destined to repeat the mistakes of that time?

On Wednesday, we will replay some of the original interview with llhaesa. We will have various guests stop in to share their thoughts, and ask each of you to take the time to sign a statement asking for llhaesa’s release, and for proper treatment befitting a guest to our world.

You will be able to sign on the internet, or verbally by phone. The numbers and internet address will post to our website on 8 am on Wednesday morning.

I mentioned guests would stop in. Expect to see the unexpected, expect that anyone you can think of might show up on this stage. All are invited, and the only prerequisite is that they be an enthusiastic llhaesa supporter.

Thank you. We will be right back.” Television audiences watched a cut away to a commercial break, while Jamila checked her notes, talked to her producer, and readied for the next segment. After three minutes, she was again live on the air.

“Welcome back. As mentioned, our guest today is Henry Smithson. Henry is a four time Orville Award winner for Best Documentary. His latest project began earlier this year, a documentary on the plight of transgendered folk in our society.

As part of his research, Henry asked if he could film clients meeting and interacting with their therapist. Dolores O’Brien, a therapist in northern New Hampshire and renowned in New England for her work, graciously agreed, and three clients signed waivers allowing their sessions to be taped.

The first scheduled for taping was Tim Salston, of Henna New Hampshire. Tim increasingly struggled with gender issues, and at one point, trying to escape the pain, drank at a local bar, drove, and hit another vehicle, injuring the driver. The injured driver became a friend to Tim, and taught ways to deal with the struggles within.

On a damp and raw day in May of this year, Tim drove an hour north to see Dolores, to meet for one hour. Henry’s crew, to film this interaction, brought Tim to her office. With that background, I would like to invite our guest out here to share what happened after. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Henry Smithson!”

Henry walked out confidently; you could tell he was comfortable in front of a crowd. Upon reaching Jamila, he gave her a hug, and then turned and nodded to the audience, all smiles.

The applause died away, and Jamila moved into the substance of her programme. “Henry, you were there to witness the incident in northern New Hampshire. Can you give us some background on what unfolded?”

“Sure, Jamila, I can do that. Let me say first it is a pleasure to be on this programme, and you are performing a wonderful service in trying to help llhaesa!

Now, moving into your question, we had our equipment set up, two cameras on each of three tripods. One camera was for digital footage, the other old-fashioned analogue footage. The cameras were set together in order to provide contrast from the same angle.

Tim came in and Dolores greeted him, and they moved to set down, Tim on a sofa, Dolores on an overstuffed chair.

Dolores began by asking about Tim’s dreams, one of which involved a rape. She also asked about a song Tim felt compelled to write. As the conversation moves along, Dolores pushes Tim on the song and the rape, culminating in Tim playing the written and assembled music, and singing with the music.”

Jamila took this as her cue, and simply called out, “play the tapes.” After a moment she added, “what you will see is a split screen, one of analogue footage, one of digital footage, this from camera number one.”

They stood silently as the tape began. When Tim began to sing, you could hear a pin drop in an audience. As his voice began to change, a slight murmur rippled through, and when the first flash of light appeared, the audience gasped.

The film is nearing the end, the audience sees Dolores rise out of her seat, while the cameraperson behind her stands with his mouth open. Tim rises up, bright light emanating from Tim’s body and engulfing Tim. The singing voice is now feminine and professional, and far more powerful than the weak, off key, warbling at the beginning.

Tim stumbles, knocking over a table and lamp, chair, and camera, while something gains leverage through the falling, spins forward and flies up into the window, shattering it.

The tape stops, and the audience is buzzing, astounded by what they have witnessed.

Jamila called out for the crowd to quiet, and once they complied, turns to Henry to ask, “You had the films checked for authenticity and verification.”

“Yes I did, Jamila. I knew people would be inclined not to believe what they witnessed, given special effects and all, so before a mass audience saw it, I moved to have its authenticity certified.”

“You had this done through Sorensen Labs, right?”

“Yes, Jamila.”

“For those of you who do not know, Sorensen is the most prestigious organisation I can think of when it comes to certifying authenticity of film. They have exposed a number of fraudulent videos over the last ten years.

Just then, doors behind the audience flew open, and a dozen agents moved briskly down the aisles, and up on stage. Jamila was shocked, but had the presence of mind to call out, “We are going to take a short break, and when we come back, we will look at the second camera angle. Don’t go away!”

One of the agents demanded the video, and Jamila refused. She ordered her camera crew to keep taping, and would rebroadcast this incident later.

“You have produced no warrant to invade this space and take private property. I ask you to leave!”

The audience, pissed at the heavy handed effort of the government, started throwing things at the agents, prompting Jamila to turn and ask them to stop, which they did after her words settled in.

“Please! Please leave before you have a riot to contend with, as the people will not tolerate your conduct. Tell your bosses that this is the land of the free, and that we believe in civil rights and equal rights. Now get the hell out of my studio!”

The audience rose to its feet and cheered, the cheers continuing for minutes, and grew louder as the agents left the studio. Jamila had forgotten the taping, and realised they were long since back on the air.

Quickly calming into her usual television persona, she remarked, “Can you believe that just happened? OK, we should continue before our oppressors return for keeps this time!

Let’s return to the programme subject, the second camera angle. Please roll this footage.”

The audience watched the second angle, and then the third – until knocked over by Tim at the end.

As the programme wound down, Jamila knew her intuition was on the mark. The audience accepted what happened, sympathised with llhaesa, and by extension, deplored the government’s current conduct – its conduct with llhaesa and in her studio on this day. She sensed Wednesday would prove a pivotal day – and she was right.