Can you do that for me?” She clutched at my forearm with both hands.

“Isabel, please,” she begged, “please don’t go out there.

You don’t know what he’s like when he’s like this.” I crouched down so that we were eye to eye, and I took both of her hands in mine and held them still.

“Mom,” I said.

“Look at me.

I am not going to do anything foolish.

I am not going to start anything.

I am only going to stand between him and this door, and I am going to let him make his own choices in front of the cameras.