diff --git a/server/cmd/main.go b/server/cmd/main.go
index da6d3f8..a60ce7f 100644
--- a/server/cmd/main.go
+++ b/server/cmd/main.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func (s *gameWorldServer) verbHandler(verb, rest string, sender, target db.Objec
 	sid, _ := s.db.SessionIDForAvatar(target)
 	serverAPI := witch.ServerAPI{
 		Show: func(_ int, _ string) {},
-		Tell: func(_ int, _ string) {},
+		Tell: func(_ int, _ string) { log.Println("stub tell called") },
 		DB: func() db.DB {
 			return s.db
 		},
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ func (s *gameWorldServer) verbHandler(verb, rest string, sender, target db.Objec
 			send(&cm)
 		}
 		serverAPI.Tell = func(senderID int, msg string) {
+			log.Printf("Tell %s %d %s", sid, senderID, msg)
 			cm := proto.ClientMessage{
 				Type:    proto.ClientMessage_OVERHEARD,
 				Text:    msg,
@@ -239,6 +240,10 @@ func (s *gameWorldServer) Commands(stream proto.GameWorld_CommandsServer) error
 			return s.HandleError(send, err)
 		}
 
+		for _, obj := range affected {
+			log.Printf("%s heard %s from %d", obj.Data["name"], cmd.Verb, avatar.ID)
+		}
+
 		for _, o = range affected {
 			if err = s.verbHandler(cmd.Verb, cmd.Rest, *avatar, o); err != nil {
 				log.Printf("error handling verb %s for object %d: %s", cmd.Verb, o.ID, err)
diff --git a/server/db/db.go b/server/db/db.go
index a2b4e65..717e1e9 100644
--- a/server/db/db.go
+++ b/server/db/db.go
@@ -113,9 +113,11 @@ func (db *pgDB) Ensure() error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// TODO for some reason, when the seen() callback runs for foyer we're calling the stub Tell instead of the sid-closured Tell. figure out why.
+
 	roomScript := `
 		seen(function()
-			tellSender(my("description"))
+			tellMe(my("description"))
 		end)
 	`
 
@@ -426,7 +428,8 @@ func (db *pgDB) Earshot(obj Object) ([]Object, error) {
 	WHERE id IN (
 		SELECT contained FROM contains
 		WHERE container = (
-			SELECT container FROM contains WHERE contained = $1 LIMIT 1))`
+				SELECT container FROM contains WHERE contained = $1 LIMIT 1))
+		OR id = (SELECT container FROM contains WHERE contained = $1 LIMIT 1)`
 	rows, err := db.pool.Query(context.Background(), stmt, obj.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/server/witch/header.go b/server/witch/header.go
index 14e40ce..39eef16 100644
--- a/server/witch/header.go
+++ b/server/witch/header.go
@@ -12,18 +12,18 @@ func witchHas(l *lua.LState) int {
 // TODO provides
 
 func witchHears(l *lua.LState) int {
-	return addHandler(l, "say")
+	return addPatternHandler(l, "say")
 }
 
 func witchSees(l *lua.LState) int {
-	return addHandler(l, "emote")
+	return addPatternHandler(l, "emote")
 }
 
 func witchGo(l *lua.LState) int {
 	// TODO get the handler map
 	// - check if handler map has a Go handler already, exit early if so
 	// TODO register this object as an exit in DB
-	return addHandler(l, "go")
+	return addPatternHandler(l, "go")
 }
 
 func witchSeen(l *lua.LState) int {
@@ -45,8 +45,29 @@ func witchDoes(ls *lua.LState) int {
 }
 
 func addHandler(l *lua.LState, verb string) int {
-	pattern := l.ToString(1)
-	cb := l.ToFunction(2)
+	pattern := ".*"
+	cb := l.ToFunction(1)
+
+	//log.Printf("adding handler: %s %s %#v", verb, pattern, cb)
+
+	handlers := l.GetGlobal("_handlers").(*lua.LTable)
+
+	verbHandlers, ok := handlers.RawGetString(verb).(*lua.LTable)
+	if !ok {
+		verbHandlers = l.NewTable()
+		handlers.RawSetString(verb, verbHandlers)
+	}
+
+	verbHandlers.RawSetString(pattern, cb)
+
+	return 0
+}
+
+func addPatternHandler(l *lua.LState, verb string) int {
+	pattern := l.ToString(1)
+	cb := l.ToFunction(2)
+
+	//log.Printf("adding handler: %s %s %#v", verb, string(pattern), cb)
 
 	handlers := l.GetGlobal("_handlers").(*lua.LTable)
 
diff --git a/server/witch/witch.go b/server/witch/witch.go
index cf99b82..28f1534 100644
--- a/server/witch/witch.go
+++ b/server/witch/witch.go
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ func NewScriptContext(sAPI ServerAPI) (*ScriptContext, error) {
 			l.SetGlobal("tellMe", l.NewFunction(func(l *lua.LState) int {
 				sender := l.GetGlobal("sender").(*lua.LTable)
 				senderID := int(lua.LVAsNumber(sender.RawGetString("ID")))
+				log.Printf("tellMe: %d %s", senderID, l.ToString(1))
 				sc.serverAPI.Tell(senderID, l.ToString(1))
 				return 0
 			}))
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ func NewScriptContext(sAPI ServerAPI) (*ScriptContext, error) {
 			}))
 
 			// TODO check execute permission and bail out potentially
-			log.Printf("%#v", vc)
+			//log.Printf("%#v", vc)
 
 			senderT := l.NewTable()
 			senderT.RawSetString("name", lua.LString(vc.Sender.Data["name"]))