diff --git a/scripting.py b/scripting.py
index d1a1dbe..d18f614 100644
--- a/scripting.py
+++ b/scripting.py
@@ -489,6 +489,49 @@ class SyntPrint(SyntDesc):
     def Eval(self, env):
         env.GlobalMsg(self.expr.Eval(env))
 
+class SyntDialogBlock(SyntBlock):
+    def StypeForChild(self, syntChild):
+        return StypeDialogElement()
+
+    def Eval(self, env):
+        rgmi = []
+        for synt in self.rgsynt:
+            rgmiChild = synt.Eval(env)
+            if rgmiChild != None:
+                rgmi += rgmiChild
+            else:
+                rgmi.append(None)
+        return rgmi
+
+class SyntDialogIf(SyntIf):
+    desc = [["If"], " ", RtypeFlag(), " is ", (StypeFlagTest(), SyntIsFlagSet), ", then:", SyntDialogBlock, "or else:", SyntDialogBlock]
+
+class SyntDialogText(SyntDesc):
+    desc = [["Text"], ": \"", SyntText, "\""]
+    text = SyntDesc.DefProp(0)
+    def StButtonText(self, env):
+        return self.text.Eval(env)
+    def Eval(self, env):
+        return [MiDgText(Partial(self.StButtonText, env))]
+
+class SyntDialogOption(SyntDesc):
+    desc = [["Option"], " \"", SyntText, "\" is selected:", SyntBlock]
+    text = SyntDesc.DefProp(0)
+    exprOnSelect = SyntDesc.DefProp(1)
+    def Eval(self, env):
+        return [MiButton(self.text.Eval(env), Partial(env.OnDialogOptionSelected, self.exprOnSelect))]
+
+class StypeDialogElement(StypeEnum):
+    rgclsSynt = [SyntDialogText, SyntDialogOption, SyntDialogIf]
+
+@RegStmt
+class SyntDialog(SyntDesc):
+    desc = [["Show dialog"], ":", SyntDialogBlock]
+    dialog = SyntDesc.DefProp(0)
+    def Eval(self, env):
+        rgmi = self.dialog.Eval(env)
+        env.ShowDialog(MiMenu([None] + rgmi + [None]))
+
 class Fail(TPrs):
     """
     Failure object.  Our scripting language has no exceptions; instead, if a failure object is involved in a calculation, 
diff --git a/world.py b/world.py
index 8395c74..4b911d4 100644
--- a/world.py
+++ b/world.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import ansi_cython as ansi
 from tpers import TPrs, Partial
 from scripting import Vm
 from basetoken import AutoJoiner, AutoKiller, MsgScroller, Mi, MiButton, MiTypein, MiMenu, OvPopup
-from basetoken import LeaveJoinToken, Selor
+from basetoken import LeaveJoinToken, Selor, OvMenu
 from util import RgstWrapped
 from engine import Game, Token, TokenClient, Event
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -212,9 +212,6 @@ class Joiner(LeaveJoinToken):
         self.msgScroller.evPost.fire(client.cld.user + " has left! :(")
         self.game.Chat().Add(ChlSys(client, "has left"))
 
-## TODO:
-## - fix lobby numbering (clients either editing or playing a game)
-
 class Player(TokenClient):
     def InitPersistent(self, owner, client):
         TokenClient.InitPersistent(self, owner, client, "drawable", "player")
@@ -224,6 +221,8 @@ class Player(TokenClient):
         miQuit = MiButton("Leave Game", self.client.leaveGame)
         self.mi = MiMenu([None, MiChat(self.client, 13, chat), MiTypein(Partial(chat.SendMsg, self.client)), None, miQuit, None])
         self.ovPopup = OvPopup(self, self.client, self.mi)
+        self.ovDialog = None
+        self.evDialogDismiss = Event(self.game)
     
     def die(self):
         self.vm.RemovePlayer(self.rbot)
@@ -264,8 +263,27 @@ class Player(TokenClient):
     def GlobalMsg(self, stMsg):
         self.game.rgtoken("msgscroller")[0].evPost.fire(stMsg)
     
-# idea: synchronous event pair to implement "show message" w/ blocking
+    def OnDialogOptionSelected(self, synt):
+        self.evDialogDismiss.fire(synt)
+        return True
 
+    def DismissDialog(self):
+        if self.ovDialog:
+            self.ovDialog.die()
+            self.ovDialog = None
+
+    def ShowDialog(self, mi):
+        self.DismissDialog()
+        self.ovDialog = OvMenu(self, self.client, mi, OvMenu.MIDDLE)
+        while self.ovDialog:
+            ev, val = Event.select(self, self.evDialogDismiss, self.EvKey())
+            if ev == self.evDialogDismiss:
+                self.DismissDialog()
+                val.Eval(self)
+                break
+            elif val == ansi.K_TAB:
+                self.DismissDialog()
+        
 class GameWorld(Game):
     def InitPersistent(self, board):
         Game.InitPersistent(self)