diff --git a/game/bosskey.fnl b/game/bosskey.fnl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7888076
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/bosskey.fnl
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+(local util (require :lib.util))
+(local {: vm : prg : astr : style} (util.require :game.defs))
+(vm:word :boss-key :textmode :page2 (vm:until :read-key) :hires :page1)
+
+; if we upload to page 2 we don't have to worry about clobbering screen holes
+(local textorg (prg:org 0x0800))
+
+(fn padding [s w style]
+  (string.rep (astr " " style) (- w (length s))))
+(fn pad [s w style]
+  (.. s (padding s w style)))
+(fn rpad [s w style]
+  (.. (padding s w style) s))
+(fn cellpad [s ?style]
+  (local textstyle (or ?style style.normal))
+  (match (type s)
+    :nil (pad "" 9 textstyle)
+    :string (pad (astr s textstyle) 9 textstyle)
+    :number (rpad (astr (.. s " ") textstyle) 9 textstyle)
+    :table (cellpad (. s 1) (. s 2))))
+(fn cells [r a b c d]
+  (.. (rpad (.. r "") 3 style.inverse)
+      (cellpad a) (cellpad b) (cellpad c) (cellpad d)))
+
+(fn generate-boss-screen-lines []
+  [(-> (astr "A16  (L) TOTAL" style.inverse)
+       (pad 38 style.inverse)
+       (.. (astr "C!" style.inverse)))
+   (.. (pad "" 38 style.inverse) (astr "24"))
+   ""
+   (cells "" ["    A" style.inverse] ["    B" style.inverse] ["    C" style.inverse] ["    D" style.inverse])
+   (cells 1 "DEFINITEL" "Y REAL WO" "RK" "")
+   (cells 2 "(NOT PLAY" "ING COMPU" "TER GAMES" ")")
+   (cells 3)
+   (cells 4 "" "HAMMERS" "BILLS" "SANDWICH")
+   (cells 5 "JANUARY" 23 "$1" "CLUB")
+   (cells 6 "FEBRUARY" 121 "$2" "REUBEN")
+   (cells 7 "MARCH" 38 "$5" "BLT")
+   (cells 8 "SMARCH" 97 "$10" "HOT DOG")
+   (cells 9 "APRIL" 555 "$20" "I SAID IT")
+   (cells 10 "WEDNESDAY" 246 "$50" "EGG SALAD")
+   (cells 11 "KEYCODE" 1337 2757 9876)
+   (cells 12 "NUMBERS" 12345 "$100" "IF I HAD")
+   (cells 13 "LETTERS" "MARMOTS" "BENJAMIN" "100 I'D")
+   (cells 14 "SYMBOLS" "^!@#%&?" "$$$$$" "EAT THEM")
+   (cells 15)
+   (cells 16 ["TOTAL" style.inverse] "TOO MANY" ["* MAGIC *" style.flashing] "ALL@ONCE")
+   (cells 17) (cells 18) (cells 19) (cells 20)])
+
+(fn splice [bytes offset str]
+  (.. (bytes:sub 1 offset)
+      str
+      (bytes:sub (+ (length str) offset 1))))
+
+(fn bytes-from-lines [lines]
+  (var bytes (string.rep (astr " ") 0x400))
+  (each [y line (ipairs lines)]
+    (local offset (+ (* (math.floor (/ (- y 1) 8)) 0x28)
+                     (* (% (- y 1) 8) 0x80)))
+    (set bytes (splice bytes offset line)))
+  bytes)
+
+(textorg:append [:bytes (bytes-from-lines (generate-boss-screen-lines))])
+
diff --git a/game/defs.fnl b/game/defs.fnl
index 0caac57..5e862a6 100644
--- a/game/defs.fnl
+++ b/game/defs.fnl
@@ -34,11 +34,17 @@
   :count 5
 })
 
-(fn achar [c] (bit.bor (string.byte c) 0x80))
-(fn astr [s]
+(local style {
+  :normal 0x80
+  :inverse 0x00
+  :flashing 0x40
+})
+(fn str-with-style [s stylebits]
   (-> [(string.byte s 1 -1)]
-    (lume.map #(bit.bor $1 0x80))
-    (-> (table.unpack) (string.char))))
+      (lume.map #(bit.bor (bit.band $1 0x3f) stylebits))
+      (-> (table.unpack) (string.char))))
+(fn achar [c] (bit.bor (string.byte c) style.normal))
+(fn astr [s ?style] (str-with-style s (or ?style style.normal)))
 
 (fn rot8l [n] ; clears carry
   (local block [:block [:clc]])
@@ -118,5 +124,5 @@
   (let [tilelist (tiles.loadgfx tiles.fn-tiles)]
     (fn [label] (tiles.find-itile tilelist label))))
 
-{: vm : prg : mapw : maph : mon : org : achar : astr : rot8l : deflevel : say : say-runon : itile : controlstate}
+{: vm : prg : mapw : maph : mon : org : achar : astr : style : rot8l : deflevel : say : say-runon : itile : controlstate}
 
diff --git a/game/gfx.fnl b/game/gfx.fnl
index f2f8116..3af7556 100644
--- a/game/gfx.fnl
+++ b/game/gfx.fnl
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
   [:sta :0xc052])
 
 (vm:def :mixed [:sta :0xc053])
+(vm:def :textmode [:sta :0xc051])
+(vm:def :page1 [:sta :0xc054])
+(vm:def :page2 [:sta :0xc055])
 
 ; starting address:
 ; 0x2000 + (x*2) + (y%4 * 0x100) + ((y/4) * 0x28)
diff --git a/game/init.fnl b/game/init.fnl
index 22aabf6..eb0c0a8 100644
--- a/game/init.fnl
+++ b/game/init.fnl
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 (util.reload :game.map)
 (util.reload :game.entity)
 (util.reload :game.player)
+(util.reload :game.bosskey)
 
 (tile.appendtiles org.tiles)
 (tile.appendgfx org.font (tile.loadgfx tile.fn-font))
diff --git a/game/player.fnl b/game/player.fnl
index 928356a..3c1d120 100644
--- a/game/player.fnl
+++ b/game/player.fnl
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@
   (vm:ifchain
     [:dup (string.byte " ") :=] [:drop :toggle-player]
     [:dup (string.byte "Z") :=] [:drop :trigger-sidekick]
+    [:dup 2 :=] [:drop :boss-key]
     [:movement-dir :dup]
     [:player-yx :get :swap ; oldyx dir
      :try-move-player