diff --git a/cmd/signup/main.go b/cmd/signup/main.go
index 1c66a3c..20f8c8b 100644
--- a/cmd/signup/main.go
+++ b/cmd/signup/main.go
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ func cli(s *streams) error {
 	mainFlex := tview.NewFlex()
 	innerFlex := tview.NewFlex()
 	input := tview.NewTextArea()
+	input.SetBorder(true).SetBorderColor(tcell.ColorPaleTurquoise)
+	input.SetTitle("press ctrl+d to send")
 
 	title := tview.NewTextView()
 	title.SetDynamicColors(true)
@@ -54,10 +56,14 @@ func cli(s *streams) error {
 
 	msgScroll := tview.NewTextView()
 	msgScroll.SetDynamicColors(true)
+	msgScroll.SetBackgroundColor(tcell.ColorBlack)
+	msgScroll.SetTextColor(tcell.ColorWhite)
 
 	sidebar := tview.NewTextView()
 	sidebar.SetBorder(true)
 	sidebar.SetDynamicColors(true)
+	sidebar.SetBackgroundColor(tcell.ColorBlack)
+	sidebar.SetTextColor(tcell.ColorGray)
 	sidebar.SetText(heredoc.Doc(`
 		[-:-:b]hey here are some hints[-:-:-]
 
@@ -68,12 +74,12 @@ func cli(s *streams) error {
 
 		try a [-:-:b]verb[-:-:-] using [-:-:b]/[-:-:-] like:
 
-		[-:-:b]/go north[-:-:-]
+		[-:-:b]/nod[-:-:-]
 
 	`))
 
 	innerFlex.SetDirection(tview.FlexColumn)
-	innerFlex.AddItem(msgScroll, 0, 2, false)
+	innerFlex.AddItem(msgScroll, 0, 3, false)
 	innerFlex.AddItem(sidebar, 0, 1, false)
 
 	mainFlex.SetDirection(tview.FlexRow)
@@ -88,9 +94,146 @@ func cli(s *streams) error {
 
 	player := newCharacter("you", "TODO")
 
+	currentScreen := "start"
+
+	sceneTransition := func(text string) {
+		fmt.Fprintln(msgScroll, heredoc.Doc(`
+
+			[purple]----------[-:-:-]
+			
+		`))
+		fmt.Fprintln(msgScroll, text)
+	}
+
+	scenes := map[string]func(){
+		"start": func() {
+			fmt.Fprintln(msgScroll, heredoc.Doc(`
+				You open your eyes.
+
+				You're in some kind of workshop. 
+				Wires and computers in various state of disrepair are strewn across
+				tables and shelves. It smells faintly of burnt cedar.
+
+				The wires and components before you slowly drag 
+				themselves into the shape of a small humanoid.
+
+				[-:-:b]wire guy says:[-:-:-]
+					hello, welcome to the application for membership in tilde town.
+					first, please let me know what a good [-:-:b]email address[-:-:-] is for you?
+					just say it out loud. as many times as you need. to get it right.
+					when you're ready to move on, [-:-:b]/nod[-:-:-]
+			`))
+		},
+		"nodded": func() {
+			sceneTransition(heredoc.Doc(`
+				The workshop fades away. You hear the sound of a dial up modem 
+				in the distance.
+
+				Trees spring up out of the ground around you: birches, oaks, maples,
+				firs, yews, pines, cypresses complete with tiny swamps around their trunks,
+				junipers, redwoods, cedars, towering palms waving gently in a breeze, eucalyptus, 
+				banyan. the smell is riotous like a canvas with all the colors splashed on. birds 
+				start to sing.
+
+				a shrike alights on a branch in front of you.
+
+				[-:-:b]the shrike says:[-:-:-]
+					phweeturpff. how did you find out about the town? did anyone refer you?
+
+					just say your answer out loud. when you've said what you want, [-:-:b]/lean[-:-:-]
+					against a tree.
+			`))
+		},
+		"leaned": func() {
+			sceneTransition(heredoc.Doc(`
+				You sink backwards into the forest. You find yourself floating in darkness.
+
+				At the far reaches of your vision you can make out a faint neon grid. Around you
+				float pieces of consumer electronic appliances from 1980s Earth. A VCR approaches
+				you and speaks, flapping its tape slot cover with each word.
+
+				[-:-:b]the vcr says:[-:-:-]
+					welcome! thank you for coming this far. just two questions left. what about
+					tilde town interests you? what kind of stuff might you want to get up to here?
+
+					as usual, just say your answer. when you're satisfied, please [-:-:b]/spin[-:-:-]
+					around in this void.
+			`))
+		},
+		"spun": func() {
+			sceneTransition(heredoc.Doc(`
+				You realize your eyes have been shut. You open them and, in an instant,
+				the neon grid and polygons are gone. You're in a convenience store. Outside
+				it's dark besides a single pool of light coming from a street lamp. it's illuminating
+				some litter and a rusty, blue 1994 pontiac grand am.
+
+				The shelves around you are stocked with products you've never heard of before like
+				Visible Pants, Petty Burgers, Gentle Rice, Boo Sponge, Power Banjo, Superware, Kneephones,
+				and Diet Coagulator. A mop is mopping the floor and turns to you.
+
+				[-:-:b]the mop says:[-:-:-]
+					swishy slop. last question. where online can we get to know you? do you have a personal 
+					website or social media presence? we'll take whatever.
+
+					say some links and words out loud, you know the drill.
+
+					when you're happy you can submit this whole experience by leaving the
+					store. just [-:-:b]/open[-:-:-] the door.
+			`))
+		},
+		"done": func() {
+			sceneTransition(heredoc.Doc(`
+				thank you for applying to tilde.town! 
+
+				please be on the look out for an email from [-:-:b]root@tilde.town[-:-:-]
+
+				you can [-:-:b]/quit[-:-:-] now
+
+				ok bye have a good one~
+			`))
+		},
+	}
+
 	handleInput := func(msg string) {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(msg, "/") {
-			// TODO handle command
+		trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(msg)
+		if trimmed == "" {
+			return
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "/") {
+			split := strings.Split(trimmed, " ")
+			if len(split) > 0 {
+				trimmed = split[0]
+			}
+			switch strings.TrimPrefix(trimmed, "/") {
+			case "quit":
+				os.Exit(0)
+			// TODO refactor into a state machine
+			case "nod":
+				if currentScreen != "start" {
+					return
+				}
+				currentScreen = "nodded"
+				scenes[currentScreen]()
+			case "lean":
+				if currentScreen != "nodded" {
+					return
+				}
+				currentScreen = "leaned"
+				scenes[currentScreen]()
+			case "spin":
+				if currentScreen != "leaned" {
+					return
+				}
+				currentScreen = "spun"
+				scenes[currentScreen]()
+			case "open":
+				if currentScreen != "spun" {
+					return
+				}
+				currentScreen = "done"
+				scenes[currentScreen]()
+			}
+			return
 		}
 		fmt.Fprintln(msgScroll, player.Say(msg))
 	}
@@ -106,9 +249,78 @@ func cli(s *streams) error {
 		return event
 	})
 
+	app.SetAfterDrawFunc(func(_ tcell.Screen) {
+		scenes[currentScreen]()
+		app.SetAfterDrawFunc(nil)
+	})
+
 	return app.Run()
 }
 
+/*
+
+I need a script for how this interaction should go. It should feel more organic and fluid than just filling out a form. It shouldn't, however, take more than 10 minutes to get through stuff. The end result is to collect:
+
+- an email address
+- how a user found out about the town
+- if they have a referral from an existing member
+- what interests them about the town
+- any links to personal websites or social media
+
+A given is that the applicant is interacting with a "host" that guides them through the process. Should there be more than one host?
+
+How many rooms should there be? 1? more?
+
+in terms of data collection, I intend to just save the transcript of their interaction instead of more structured data. The only real structured data are email and referral.
+
+another idea/thought/dream:
+
+the whole point of this is to spatialize a form. it's a form! a set of questions and corresponding textarea elements. but in order to trigger self reflection -- as well as a feeling of being seen by another (in a good way) -- i want to turn the form into a shape. i'm thinking about this like the room in Eclipse Penumbra:
+
+(For the Hollow Head was drug paraphenalia you could walk into. The building itself was the syringe, or the hookah, or the sniff-tube)
+
+so, spatialized, every room is a question. the rooms take shape as a linear script the user moves through by:
+
+1. answering a question
+2. executing a verb
+
+and finally at the end, a verb to confirm submission.
+
+one idea but i'm scratchin:
+
+opening:
+
+It's dark. Before you a button appears. It's a pink circle with a ~ at the center. It looks like a button. You could press it.
+
+
+/press button
+
+A thin seam splits the darkness from the top and buttom of the button. The darkness splits apart and you're standing in a forest clearing. Birds are singing in strange octaves.
+
+A cube is here, floating.
+
+cube: hello! how are you? you can respond to me by typing anything and pressing "ctrl+d"
+
+<input>
+
+cube: thank you for telling me. i'm just a program so i can't really understand. i hope you forgive me.
+
+cube: i'm here to help you apply for a homestead over there in tilde town.
+
+the cube inclines in the direction of what looks like a far off town.
+
+cube: first, what is an email address we can use to contact you?
+
+<input>
+
+cube: cool, thank you. that's <email> right? if so, you can /nod to confirm. otherwise just tell me again what your email is.
+
+<nod>
+
+cube: excellent. next, you'll talk to
+
+*/
+
 type character struct {
 	Name        string
 	Description string
@@ -145,6 +357,16 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+
+From the start point the player advances the "form" by performing a tactile action. for now it's a button press but it could be something more interesting later. Keeping this as a one room, limited-verb thing is good for accessibility.
+
+so the script is a list of strings that advance by tactility...is it dialogue? or scene description? i think i should fake dialogue /as/ scene description.
+
+You open your eyes. You're standing in a small room. It's dim, lit softly by a mix of candles and electro-luminescent wire. Computers.
+
+*/
+
 /*
 type answers struct {
 	username string