diff --git a/vacation.p8 b/vacation.p8
index f095baf..07bb499 100644
--- a/vacation.p8
+++ b/vacation.p8
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ function cminskycirc(r,c)
 end
 
 obvious_breather=split"2,3,4,3,2"
-bg_breather=split"1,2,4,2,1"
+bg_breather=split"1,2,3,2,1"
 breather = {
  colors = obvious_breather,
  sep = 8,
@@ -619,9 +619,18 @@ function breather:update()
  local f = self.f + 1
  if (not self.on) f = 0
  if (f >= self.speed) f = -self.speed
- if f == 0 and self.nextspeed then
-  self.speed = self.nextspeed
-  self.nextspeed = nil
+ if f == 0 or f == -self.speed then
+  if self.nextspeed then
+   self.speed = self.nextspeed
+   self.nextspeed = nil
+  end
+  if self.off_soon then
+   self.on = false
+   f=0
+  end
+  if self.nextcolors then
+   self.colors=self.nextcolors
+  end
  end
  self.f = f
 end
@@ -663,16 +672,16 @@ function breather:starting_reverse()
 end
 
 function breather:starting_forward()
- return self.f < self.sep * #self.colors
+ return self.f > 0 and self.f < self.sep * #self.colors
 end
 
 def_z_pal = {
  [0]=0,129,1,2,4,5,6,7,1,5,6,140,2,13,7,7
 }
-def_14_fade = split"0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,128,129,133,141,13,6,15,7"
-def_15_fade = split"0,0,0,0,0,0,128,129,133,141,13,13,6,6,15,15,7"
-def_13_fade = split"0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,128,129,133,141,140,140,13,12"
-def_shd_fade = split"0,0,0,0,0,128,130,141,2"
+def_14_fade = split"0,0,0,0,0,128,129,133,141,13,6,15,7"
+def_15_fade = split"0,0,128,129,133,141,13,13,6,6,15,15,7"
+def_13_fade = split"0,0,0,0,0,128,129,133,141,140,140,13,12"
+def_shd_fade = split"0,0,0,128,130,141,2"
 
 -- frames per character to wait
 -- during zonk text display.
@@ -680,7 +689,7 @@ fchr=2
 
 zonk_mode = {
  files={},
- lnh = 8,
+ lnh = 9,
  --space width
  spc_w = 2,
  --text mode
@@ -691,6 +700,8 @@ zonk_mode = {
  txf=20,
  --exit frames
  exf=60,
+ --exit magnitude
+ exmg=16,
  --character wait multiplier
  cmul=1,
  p=def_z_pal,
@@ -712,6 +723,7 @@ mknew(zonk_mode, function(self)
 end)
 
 function zonk_mode:set(_, field,value)
+ pukeboard{field=field, value=value}
  self[field]=value
 end
 function zonk_mode:g(_, fn, ...)
@@ -721,10 +733,23 @@ function zonk_mode:at(_, x, y)
  self.txt_frame=scootbox.new{
   x=x,
   from=y,
+  to=y-self.exmg,
   frames=self.exf,
  }
 end
-
+function zonk_mode:bon()
+ self.brth.on=true
+ self.brth.off_soon=false
+end
+function zonk_mode:boff()
+ self.brth.off_soon=true
+end
+function zonk_mode:bspd(_, spd)
+ self.brth.nextspeed=spd
+end
+function zonk_mode:bpal(_, p)
+ self.brth.nextcolors= p == 1 and obvious_breather or bg_breather
+end
 function zonk_mode:activate()
  clear_alt_pal_bits()
  pal()
@@ -747,10 +772,13 @@ function zonk_mode:next_item()
   if (not self.file or #self.file == 0) return
   if self.expect_cfg_line then
    self.expect_cfg_line = false
-   local cfg_line = split(deli(self.file, 1), " ")
-   for i,cmd in ipairs(cfg_line) do
-    local frags = split(cmd,":")
-    self[frags[1]](self, unpack(frags))
+   local cfg_line = deli(self.file, 1)
+   for i,cmd in ipairs(split(cfg_line, " ")) do
+    if #cmd > 0 then
+     local frags = split(cmd,":")
+     assert(type(self[frags[1]])=="function", tostr(i).." - "..cfg_line)
+     self[frags[1]](self, unpack(frags))
+    end
    end
    return self:next_item()
   end
@@ -771,7 +799,12 @@ function zonk_mode:next_item()
   return self:next_item()
  end
  -- parse token
- local token = tostr(deli(self.line, 1))
+ local token = tostr(del(self.line, 1))
+ while #token == 0 and #self.line > 0 do
+  -- emit extra spaces
+  self.cx += 1 + self.spc_w
+  token = tostr(deli(self.line, 1))
+ end
  local pp,cmult=nrm_txt_pal,1
  if (token[1]=="$") token,cmult=sub(token,2),2
  if (token[1]=="^") token,cmult=sub(token,2),0.5
@@ -831,12 +864,14 @@ function zonk_mode:update()
   if self.fpfrm > 0 then
    self.fpfrm -= 1
   elseif self:empty() then
+   self.txt_frame=blank
    self.d = ditherer.new{di=0.5}
   else
    self.nextpage = false
    self.confirmed=false
    self.txt_frame=blank
    self.playing_text=true
+   self.fpfrm=nil
   end
  end
  self.stripes:update()
@@ -1509,14 +1544,14 @@ end
 
 function start_game()
  seq = sequencer.new{
---  {
---   f = arcade_level.new,
---   params = {{
---    max_score=2,
---   }}
---  },
   {
-   f =  zonk_mode.new,
+   f = arcade_level.new,
+   params = {{
+    max_score=5,
+   }}
+  },
+  {
+   f = zonk_mode.new,
    params={{
     file=[[at:15:15
 ZONK TEXT TEST
@@ -1524,6 +1559,17 @@ ZONK TEXT TEST
 $ZONK $TEXT $TEST
 !ZONK !TEXT !TEST
 ^ZONK ^TEXT ^TEST
+-----
+at:30:60 bon bpal:1 set:confirmed:true set:bwt:1 set:txf:2 set:txd:0 set:exd:0 set:exf:10
+bREATHE IN...
+-----
+at:28:60 set:confirmed:true set:bwt:2 bpal:2
+bREATHE OUT...
+-----
+set:bwt:0 set:txd:16 set:txf:20 set:exf:60 at:1:55
+gREAT! iT'S LIKE YOU'VE
+  BEEN DOING THIS YOUR
+         ENTIRE LIFE.
     ]],
    }},
   },