diff --git a/vacation.p8 b/vacation.p8
index 6179abf..f095baf 100644
--- a/vacation.p8
+++ b/vacation.p8
@@ -650,17 +650,29 @@ function breather:draw()
  end
 end
 
+function breather:matches(x)
+ if (not x or not self.on) return true
+ if (x==1) return self:starting_reverse()
+ if (x==2) return self:starting_forward()
+ if (x==3) return self:starting_reverse() or self:starting_forward()
+ return true
+end
+
 function breather:starting_reverse()
  return self.f + self.speed < self.sep * #self.colors
 end
 
+function breather:starting_forward()
+ return 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"0,128,129,133,141,13,6,15,135,7"
-def_15_fade = split"0,128,129,133,141,13,13,6,6,15,15,136,135,7"
-def_13_fade = split"0,128,129,133,141,140,140,13,13,12"
-def_shd_fade = split"0,128,130,141,2"
+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"
 
 -- frames per character to wait
 -- during zonk text display.
@@ -677,7 +689,15 @@ zonk_mode = {
  txd=10,
  --text spring-in frames
  txf=20,
+ --exit frames
+ exf=60,
+ --character wait multiplier
+ cmul=1,
  p=def_z_pal,
+ fd13 = def_13_fade,
+ fd14 = def_14_fade,
+ fd15 = def_15_fade,
+ fd12 = def_shd_fade,
 
  twt=60,
  expect_cfg_line=true,
@@ -689,8 +709,6 @@ zonk_mode = {
 mknew(zonk_mode, function(self)
  self.stripes=fuzzy_stripey.new{}
  self.brth=breather.new{}
- -- test renderer
- self.brth.on = true
 end)
 
 function zonk_mode:set(_, field,value)
@@ -703,13 +721,13 @@ function zonk_mode:at(_, x, y)
  self.txt_frame=scootbox.new{
   x=x,
   from=y,
+  frames=self.exf,
  }
 end
 
 function zonk_mode:activate()
  clear_alt_pal_bits()
  pal()
- pal(self.p, 1)
  if (type(self.file) == "string") self.file = split(self.file, "\n")
  if (not self.file) self:next_file()
  assert(self.file)
@@ -764,6 +782,15 @@ function zonk_mode:next_item()
  return #token,ret
 end
 
+function zonk_mode:empty()
+ if (self.file and #self.file > 0) return false
+ return #self.files == 0
+end
+
+function fadetbl(col, tbl, frac)
+ pal(col,tbl[1+(frac*#tbl)&0x7fff],1)
+end
+
 function zonk_mode:update()
  if self.playing_text then
   self.twt -= 1
@@ -775,7 +802,7 @@ function zonk_mode:update()
    elseif cn < 0 then
     self.twt = -cn
    else
-    self.twt = cn*fchr
+    self.twt = cn*fchr*self.cmul
    end
    if item then
     self.txt_frame:push(item)
@@ -783,17 +810,65 @@ function zonk_mode:update()
     self.playing_text=false
    end
   end
+ else
+  --waiting to advance or exit
+  if self.wtmr then
+   self.twt += self.wait_more
+   self.wtmr = nil
+  end
+  if self.twt <= 0 then
+   if (btnp(1)) self.confirmed=true
+   if not self.nextpage and self.confirmed and self.brth:matches(self.bwt) then
+    self.nextpage = true
+    self.txt_frame.go = true
+    self.fpfrm = self.exf
+   end
+  else
+   self.twt -= 1
+  end
+ end
+ if self.nextpage and not self.d then
+  if self.fpfrm > 0 then
+   self.fpfrm -= 1
+  elseif self:empty() then
+   self.d = ditherer.new{di=0.5}
+  else
+   self.nextpage = false
+   self.confirmed=false
+   self.txt_frame=blank
+   self.playing_text=true
+  end
  end
  self.stripes:update()
  self.brth:update()
  self.txt_frame:update()
+ if (self.d and self.d:update()) seq:next()
 end
 
 function zonk_mode:draw()
  cls(0)
+ pal(self.p, 1)
  self.stripes:draw()
  self.brth:draw()
- self.txt_frame:draw()
+ if self.fpfrm then
+  local ffrac = self.fpfrm/self.exf
+  fadetbl(12, self.fd12, ffrac)
+  fadetbl(13, self.fd13, ffrac)
+  fadetbl(14, self.fd14, ffrac)
+  fadetbl(15, self.fd15, ffrac)
+ end
+  self.txt_frame:draw()
+ -- TODO: draw throbber
+ if not self.playing_text and not self.confirmed and self.twt <= 0 then
+  print("➡️",121,121,12)
+  print("➡️",120,120,self:throbber_color())
+ end
+ if(self.d) self.d:draw()
+end
+
+function zonk_mode:throbber_color()
+ if (not self.bwt) return ((t()<<1)&0x1 < 1) and 7 or 6
+ return self.brth:matches(self.bwt) and 7 or 6
 end
 
 -->8