diff --git a/scripts/ops/hermes_code_demo.sh b/scripts/ops/hermes_code_demo.sh
index 7fdb94663..d5131e8f3 100755
--- a/scripts/ops/hermes_code_demo.sh
+++ b/scripts/ops/hermes_code_demo.sh
@@ -156,8 +156,20 @@ if old not in s:
     raise SystemExit("defect already present or file changed; run reset first")
 p.write_text(s.replace(old, new))
 PY
+  )
+
+  # Shown before the push, not after: the audience should watch the defect go
+  # in rather than take on trust that the later diagnosis matched it. It is
+  # also the only moment in the whole demo where a human changes any code.
+  say "The change about to be pushed"
+  note "$ git diff -- src/discount.py"
+  ( cd "$CODE_REPO_DIR" && git --no-pager diff --unified=2 -- src/discount.py ) |
+    sed 's/^/        /'
+
+  ( cd "$CODE_REPO_DIR" &&
     git commit -qam "refactor: simplify discount percentage math" && git push -q origin master )
-  note "pushed: a plausible-looking change that breaks three regression tests"
+  note "pushed $(cd "$CODE_REPO_DIR" && git rev-parse --short HEAD) to master"
+  note "a plausible-looking change that breaks three regression tests"
 
   say "Running the test gate -> build #$next_num"
   note "HTTP $(jenkins_post "/job/$CODE_JOB/build")"