diff --git a/src/story-mode.ts b/src/story-mode.ts
index 7231d59d..8e3bda81 100644
--- a/src/story-mode.ts
+++ b/src/story-mode.ts
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ export function exactDuration(ms: number): string {
   if (s < 60) return `${s} s`;
   const m = Math.floor(s / 60);
   if (m < 60) return `${m} min ${s % 60} s`;
-  return `${Math.floor(m / 60)} h ${m % 60} min`;
+  return `${Math.floor(m / 60)} h ${m % 60} min ${s % 60} s`;
 }
 
 const fmtCounts = (added: number, removed: number): string =>
@@ -984,7 +984,10 @@ export function createStoryReducer({ sidechain = false }: { sidechain?: boolean
     const local = /^\s*<local-command-(stdout|stderr)>([\s\S]*?)<\/local-command-\1>/.exec(blockText(content));
     if (local) {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-control-regex
-      const text = local[2].replace(/\x1b\[[0-9;]*[A-Za-z]/g, '').trim();
+      const text = local[2]
+        .replace(/\x1b\[[0-9;]*[A-Za-z]/g, '')
+        .replace(/`([^`\n]+)`/g, '$1')
+        .trim();
       return [{ k: 'local', at, text: clip(text, 2000) }];
     }
     const prompt = readPrompt(blockText(content));
@@ -1546,6 +1549,8 @@ export function buildStoryTurns(entries: StoryEntry[]): StoryTurn[] {
       }
     }
   }
+  // A compaction after the last turn (no turn came after it to take it) closes that turn.
+  if (pendingCompact && turns.length) turns[turns.length - 1].events.push(pendingCompact);
   return turns;
 }
 
@@ -1915,7 +1920,8 @@ function decorate(draft: DraftPanel, events: StoryEvent[], turn: StoryTurn, inde
             : `Claude calls in ${plural(helpers.length, 'helper')}.`
         : 'Claude sends a message to another session.';
       const inside = evs.reduce((n, e) => n + (e.helper?.toolUses ?? 0), 0);
-      director = `${tools}${helpers.length ? ` · ${unique(helpers.map((h) => h.type)).join(' + ')}` : ''}${inside ? ` · ${plural(inside, 'call')} inside` : ''}`;
+      const types = unique(helpers.map((h) => h.type).filter((t) => t !== 'advisor'));
+      director = `${tools}${advisor ? ' · a second opinion' : ''}${types.length ? ` · ${types.join(' + ')}` : ''}${inside ? ` · ${plural(inside, 'call')} inside` : ''}`;
       break;
     }
     case 'fix':
@@ -1930,12 +1936,16 @@ function decorate(draft: DraftPanel, events: StoryEvent[], turn: StoryTurn, inde
       panel.removed = edits.reduce((n, e) => n + e.removed, 0);
       if (draft.kind === 'fix') {
         const created = unique(edits.filter((e) => e.created).map((e) => e.file)).length;
+        const whole =
+          edits.length > 0 && edits.every((d) => d.created || d.hunks.every((h) => !h.oldStart && !h.oldLines));
         story =
           created && created === files.length
             ? `Claude writes ${plural(created, 'new file')}.`
-            : files.length
-              ? `Claude changes ${plural(files.length, 'file')}.`
-              : 'Claude changes a file.';
+            : whole && files.length
+              ? `Claude writes ${plural(files.length, 'file')}.`
+              : files.length
+                ? `Claude changes ${plural(files.length, 'file')}.`
+                : 'Claude changes a file.';
         const perFile = files.slice(0, 3).map((f) => {
           const mine = edits.filter((e) => e.file === f);
           return `${basename(f)} ${fmtCounts(
@@ -2100,8 +2110,18 @@ function completePanel(turn: StoryTurn, page: Omit<StoryPage, 'panels'>, trailin
   ]
     .filter(Boolean)
     .join(' · ');
-  const panel: StoryPanel = { kind: 'complete', events: [], caption: { story, director } };
+  const panel: StoryPanel = {
+    kind: 'complete',
+    events: [],
+    caption: {
+      story: turn.durationMs !== undefined && turn.durationMs < 1000 && story === done ? 'Done.' : story,
+      director,
+    },
+  };
+  // A local command answers itself: its own first line is the last word.
+  const said = turn.endedBy === 'local command' ? turn.events[0]?.output?.split('\n')[0] : undefined;
   if (trailingSay) panel.balloon = { who: 'claude', text: trailingSay };
+  else if (said) panel.balloon = { who: 'claude', text: clip(said, 160) };
   if (page.filesChanged) {
     panel.added = page.added;
     panel.removed = page.removed;
diff --git a/src/types/story.ts b/src/types/story.ts
index e97e814d..b2b644ff 100644
--- a/src/types/story.ts
+++ b/src/types/story.ts
@@ -203,4 +203,10 @@ export type StoryHelperResponse =
 
 export type StoryResponse =
   | { supported: false; reason: string }
-  | { supported: true; turns: StoryTurnSummary[]; page: StoryPage | null };
+  | {
+      supported: true;
+      turns: StoryTurnSummary[];
+      page: StoryPage | null;
+      /** The transcript is longer than the part that was read: older turns are not listed. */
+      older?: boolean;
+    };
diff --git a/src/web/public/story-mode.js b/src/web/public/story-mode.js
index 8e9bd75a..42726173 100644
--- a/src/web/public/story-mode.js
+++ b/src/web/public/story-mode.js
@@ -45,6 +45,15 @@ const STORY_STAGE_MAX = 680;
  * panel at display rate cost ~80% of a core with five panels on a 2x screen).
  */
 const STORY_FPS_INTRO = 30;
+/** Panel backgrounds kept for reuse (kind × size × palette). */
+const STORY_BG_CACHE = 32;
+/** Horizontal bands a new background is built in, one per frame. */
+const STORY_BG_BANDS = 4;
+const storyBgCache = new Map();
+/** Milliseconds of drawing per frame; panels past it wait for the next frame (no long tasks). */
+const STORY_FRAME_BUDGET_MS = 10;
+/** Panels drawn per frame at most: the raster cost lands at paint time, where the JS budget cannot see it. */
+const STORY_DRAWS_PER_FRAME = 2;
 const STORY_FPS_LIVE = 15;
 const STORY_FPS_SETTLED = 6;
 /** A settled panel animates this long, then holds still until the pointer wakes it again. */
@@ -123,6 +132,16 @@ const StoryArt = (() => {
     ctx.fillStyle = C.panel;
     ctx.fillRect(0, 0, W, H);
   }
+  /** While a background is built in bands (one per frame), the band being drawn: dots outside it are skipped. */
+  let band = null;
+  function inBand(top, bottom, fn) {
+    band = { top, bottom };
+    try {
+      fn();
+    } finally {
+      band = null;
+    }
+  }
   function halftone(ctx, W, H, color, fx, fy, { cell = 9, rmax = 3.6, reach = 1, alpha = 1 } = {}) {
     const diag = Math.hypot(W, H) * reach;
     const R = Math.hypot(W, H) / 2 + cell;
@@ -136,6 +155,7 @@ const StoryArt = (() => {
         const ux = gx * k - gy * k + W / 2;
         const uy = gx * k + gy * k + H / 2;
         if (ux < -cell || uy < -cell || ux > W + cell || uy > H + cell) continue;
+        if (band && (uy < band.top - cell || uy > band.bottom + cell)) continue;
         const r = rmax * (1 - Math.hypot(ux - fx, uy - fy) / diag);
         if (r < 0.4) continue;
         ctx.moveTo(ux + r, uy);
@@ -1418,7 +1438,7 @@ const StoryArt = (() => {
     },
   };
 
-  return { FPS, HERO, VH, C, readColors, spring, SCENES, takeSpeaker, editsOf };
+  return { FPS, HERO, VH, C, readColors, spring, SCENES, takeSpeaker, editsOf, inBand };
 })();
 
 /** Panel kinds as the wire's group headings name them. */
@@ -1846,10 +1866,25 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       if (!st.open) return;
       const dt = last ? Math.min(100, t - last) : 16;
       last = t;
-      if (!reduced.matches && !document.hidden) {
-        for (const rt of st.panels) {
+      if (!document.hidden) {
+        // Clocks run for every panel; drawing is rationed per frame, because a canvas rasterizes what
+        // was drawn when the frame is painted (12 panels redrawn in one frame made 50-80 ms tasks that
+        // the JS time alone never showed). The panel served first rotates, so none starves.
+        if (!reduced.matches) for (const rt of st.panels) if (rt.visible) rt.clock += (dt / 1000) * StoryArt.FPS;
+        const start = performance.now();
+        const n = st.panels.length;
+        let drawn = 0;
+        for (let j = 0; j < n; j++) {
+          if (drawn >= STORY_DRAWS_PER_FRAME || performance.now() - start > STORY_FRAME_BUDGET_MS) break;
+          const rt = st.panels[((st.drawCursor || 0) + j) % n];
           if (!rt.visible) continue;
-          rt.clock += (dt / 1000) * StoryArt.FPS;
+          if (rt.pending) {
+            rt.pending = false;
+            this._storyDrawPanel(rt);
+            drawn++;
+            continue;
+          }
+          if (reduced.matches) continue;
           const intro = rt.clock < StoryArt.HERO;
           const fps = intro ? STORY_FPS_INTRO : rt.panel?.live ? STORY_FPS_LIVE : STORY_FPS_SETTLED;
           if (!intro && !rt.panel?.live) {
@@ -1859,7 +1894,9 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
           if (t < (rt.nextDrawAt || 0)) continue;
           rt.nextDrawAt = t + 1000 / fps - 4;
           this._storyDrawPanel(rt);
+          drawn++;
         }
+        st.drawCursor = n ? ((st.drawCursor || 0) + 1) % n : 0;
       }
       st.raf = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
     };
@@ -1982,6 +2019,13 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
         return o;
       })
     );
+    if (data?.older) {
+      const o = document.createElement('option');
+      o.disabled = true;
+      o.value = '';
+      o.textContent = '… older turns are not loaded';
+      sel.prepend(o);
+    }
     if (page) sel.value = page.id;
     sel.disabled = turns.length < 2;
     const idx = page ? turns.findIndex((t) => t.id === page.id) : -1;
@@ -2019,12 +2063,12 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     const key = `${page.id}|${done}`;
     if (st.announced === key) return;
     const first = st.announced === undefined;
+    const newTurn = !first && !st.announced.startsWith(`${page.id}|`);
     st.announced = key;
     if (first) return;
     const last = page.panels[page.panels.length - 1];
-    box.textContent = done
-      ? `Turn finished. ${last?.caption.story || ''}`.trim()
-      : `New turn: ${page.prompt.slice(0, 140)}`;
+    const finished = `${done ? `Turn finished. ${last?.caption.story || ''}` : ''}`.trim();
+    box.textContent = newTurn ? `New turn: ${page.prompt.slice(0, 140)}${finished ? `. ${finished}` : ''}` : finished;
   },
 
   _storyRenderPanels(page) {
@@ -2067,7 +2111,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
       rt.el.style.setProperty('--story-span6', String(spans6[i]));
       rt.el.style.setProperty('--story-span2', String(spans2[i]));
       this._storyFillPanelText(rt, page, i);
-      this._storyDrawPanel(rt);
+      this._storyQueueDraw(rt);
     });
     for (const rt of st.panels.splice(want.length)) this._storyDropPanel(rt);
 
@@ -2093,6 +2137,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     if (focusAt >= 0 && !document.contains(focused)) {
       const rt = st.panels[Math.min(focusAt, st.panels.length - 1)];
       if (rt && !rt.w) this._storySizePanel(rt);
+      if (rt) this._storyQueueDraw(rt, true); // its click regions must exist to take focus
       const target = rt && ((focusHit && rt.hitEls.get(focusHit)) || rt.hitEls.values().next().value);
       if (target) target.focus({ preventScroll: true });
       else {
@@ -2263,7 +2308,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     const s = Math.round(ms / 1000);
     if (s < 60) return `${s} s`;
     const m = Math.floor(s / 60);
-    return m < 60 ? `${m} min ${s % 60} s` : `${Math.floor(m / 60)} h ${m % 60} min`;
+    return m < 60 ? `${m} min ${s % 60} s` : `${Math.floor(m / 60)} h ${m % 60} min ${s % 60} s`;
   },
 
   _storySizePanel(rt) {
@@ -2277,7 +2322,13 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     rt.canvas.width = Math.max(1, Math.round(w * dpr));
     rt.canvas.height = Math.max(1, Math.round(h * dpr));
     rt.bgKey = '';
-    this._storyDrawPanel(rt);
+    this._storyQueueDraw(rt);
+  },
+
+  /** Draws on the next frame, within its budget (now, when the frame loop is not running). */
+  _storyQueueDraw(rt, now = false) {
+    if (now || !this._story?.raf) this._storyDrawPanel(rt);
+    else rt.pending = true;
   },
 
   _storyDrawPanel(rt) {
@@ -2288,21 +2339,48 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     const s = rt.h / StoryArt.VH;
     const W = rt.w / s;
     const k = rt.dpr * s;
-    const key = `${rt.canvas.width}x${rt.canvas.height}|${StoryArt.C.key}`;
+    const key = `${rt.kind}|${rt.canvas.width}x${rt.canvas.height}|${StoryArt.C.key}`;
     if (rt.bgKey !== key) {
-      rt.bg ??= document.createElement('canvas');
-      rt.bg.width = rt.canvas.width;
-      rt.bg.height = rt.canvas.height;
-      const b = rt.bg.getContext('2d');
-      b.setTransform(k, 0, 0, k, 0, 0);
-      scene.bg(b, W, StoryArt.VH);
+      // A background depends only on the kind, the size and the palette: shared between panels and
+      // turns, so stepping through turns draws no halftone twice. A new one is built in horizontal
+      // bands, one per frame (a wide halftone at 2x is ~35 ms in one go, a long task that made the
+      // app drop its WebGL terminal renderer); the panel shows it as it fills in.
+      let job = storyBgCache.get(key);
+      if (!job) {
+        const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+        canvas.width = rt.canvas.width;
+        canvas.height = rt.canvas.height;
+        job = { canvas, next: 0, total: STORY_BG_BANDS };
+        storyBgCache.set(key, job);
+        if (storyBgCache.size > STORY_BG_CACHE) storyBgCache.delete(storyBgCache.keys().next().value);
+      }
+      rt.bg = job;
       rt.bgKey = key;
     }
+    const job = rt.bg;
+    if (job.next < job.total) {
+      const b = job.canvas.getContext('2d');
+      // Without a frame loop (tests, a browser that never paints) the whole background at once.
+      const steps = st?.raf ? 1 : job.total - job.next;
+      for (let i = 0; i < steps && b; i++, job.next++) {
+        const top = (StoryArt.VH / job.total) * job.next;
+        const bottom = top + StoryArt.VH / job.total;
+        b.save();
+        b.setTransform(k, 0, 0, k, 0, 0);
+        b.beginPath();
+        b.rect(0, top, W, bottom - top);
+        b.clip();
+        StoryArt.inBand(top, bottom, () => scene.bg(b, W, StoryArt.VH));
+        b.restore();
+      }
+      if (!b) job.next = job.total;
+      if (job.next < job.total) rt.pending = true;
+    }
     const ctx = rt.ctx;
     if (!ctx) return; // no 2D context (a browser out of canvas memory): the captions still read
     ctx.setTransform(1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0);
     ctx.clearRect(0, 0, rt.canvas.width, rt.canvas.height);
-    ctx.drawImage(rt.bg, 0, 0);
+    ctx.drawImage(job.canvas, 0, 0);
     const stageW = scene.fullWidth ? W : Math.min(W, STORY_STAGE_MAX);
     const ox = (W - stageW) / 2;
     ctx.setTransform(k, 0, 0, k, ox * k, 0);
diff --git a/src/web/routes/story-routes.ts b/src/web/routes/story-routes.ts
index 038decf8..bc77c8d4 100644
--- a/src/web/routes/story-routes.ts
+++ b/src/web/routes/story-routes.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,12 @@ export function registerStoryRoutes(app: FastifyInstance, ctx: SessionPort & Con
     const wanted = turnKey ? turns.find((t) => t.id === turnKey) : turns[turns.length - 1];
     return {
       success: true,
-      data: { supported: true, turns: summarizeTurns(turns), page: wanted ? buildStoryPage(wanted) : null },
+      data: {
+        supported: true,
+        turns: summarizeTurns(turns),
+        page: wanted ? buildStoryPage(wanted) : null,
+        ...(read.partial ? { older: true } : {}),
+      },
     };
   });
 
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/bash-script-background-helper.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/bash-script-background-helper.expected.json
index 52bcf2ad..559705b4 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/bash-script-background-helper.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/bash-script-background-helper.expected.json
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude calls in 2 helpers.",
-        "director": "Advisor · Agent · advisor + general-purpose · 6 calls inside",
+        "director": "Advisor · Agent · a second opinion · general-purpose · 6 calls inside",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 2
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/compact-then-plan-mode.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/compact-then-plan-mode.expected.json
index c71a6b21..6a42f30d 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/compact-then-plan-mode.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/compact-then-plan-mode.expected.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Done in 24 seconds.",
         "director": "local command · 24 s · 0 tool calls",
-        "balloon": null,
+        "balloon": "Compacted",
         "tests": null,
         "events": 0
       }
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/failing-test-on-purpose.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/failing-test-on-purpose.expected.json
index f804ebcd..d4c872e2 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/failing-test-on-purpose.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/failing-test-on-purpose.expected.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/long-turn-prompt-added.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/long-turn-prompt-added.expected.json
index 47d4e1ed..6f68eb95 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/long-turn-prompt-added.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/long-turn-prompt-added.expected.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
       {
         "kind": "fix",
         "ok": null,
-        "story": "Claude changes 3 files.",
+        "story": "Claude writes 3 files.",
         "director": "Bash · pyproject.toml +11 · .gitignore +11 · __init__.py +3",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/python-cli-fix-loop.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/python-cli-fix-loop.expected.json
index bcf9e5a8..ddd800ac 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/python-cli-fix-loop.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/python-cli-fix-loop.expected.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/question-tests-first-push.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/question-tests-first-push.expected.json
index b55afe74..2c3cc233 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/question-tests-first-push.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/question-tests-first-push.expected.json
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/teammates-then-interrupt.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/teammates-then-interrupt.expected.json
index c898f58b..539925da 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/teammates-then-interrupt.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/teammates-then-interrupt.expected.json
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/text-plan-dry-run-helper.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/text-plan-dry-run-helper.expected.json
index 13e93b69..2e78b336 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/text-plan-dry-run-helper.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/text-plan-dry-run-helper.expected.json
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/web-page-node-test.expected.json b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/web-page-node-test.expected.json
index d0f4b93d..a6c6d851 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/story-corpus/web-page-node-test.expected.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/story-corpus/web-page-node-test.expected.json
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
         "kind": "backup",
         "ok": null,
         "story": "Claude asks the advisor for a second opinion.",
-        "director": "Advisor · advisor",
+        "director": "Advisor · a second opinion",
         "balloon": null,
         "tests": null,
         "events": 1
diff --git a/test/routes/story-routes.test.ts b/test/routes/story-routes.test.ts
index b6f95916..c74cadec 100644
--- a/test/routes/story-routes.test.ts
+++ b/test/routes/story-routes.test.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,22 @@ describe('GET /api/sessions/:id/story', () => {
     expect(page.panels[0].kind).toBe('mission');
   });
 
+  it('says when older turns were not read', async () => {
+    const big = 'x'.repeat(100_000);
+    const lines: unknown[] = [prompt('an old turn')];
+    for (let i = 0; i < 90; i++) lines.push(...bash(`b${i}`, `cat big${i}.txt`, `Show file ${i}`, big));
+    lines.push(end(60_000), prompt('the newest turn'), ...bash('n1', 'ls', 'List', 'a'), end(1000));
+    writeFileSync(transcript, jsonl(lines));
+    const { app } = await setup();
+    const data = (await app.inject({ method: 'GET', url: URL })).json().data;
+    expect(data.page.prompt).toBe('the newest turn');
+    expect(data.older).toBe(true);
+
+    writeFileSync(transcript, jsonl([prompt('one'), end(1000)]));
+    const small = (await app.inject({ method: 'GET', url: URL })).json().data;
+    expect(small.older).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
   it('a live turn grows as the transcript grows', async () => {
     writeFileSync(transcript, jsonl([prompt('go'), ...read('r1', '/w/a.ts')]));
     const { app } = await setup();
diff --git a/test/story-mode.test.ts b/test/story-mode.test.ts
index a29aa1de..77b6c633 100644
--- a/test/story-mode.test.ts
+++ b/test/story-mode.test.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ describe('text helpers', () => {
     expect(exactDuration(432_000)).toBe('7 min 12 s');
     expect(roughDuration(4_000)).toBe('4 seconds');
     expect(roughDuration(3_900_000)).toBe('1 h 5 min');
+    // Past an hour the exact one keeps its seconds, so the two never disagree on the minute.
+    expect(roughDuration(4_179_269)).toBe('1 h 10 min');
+    expect(exactDuration(4_179_269)).toBe('1 h 9 min 39 s');
   });
 });
 
@@ -683,6 +686,22 @@ describe('buildStoryTurns', () => {
     expect(page.panels.some((p) => /you add \d+ things?/.test(p.caption.story))).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it('an automatic compaction after the last turn closes that turn', () => {
+    const [turn] = buildStoryTurns(
+      entriesOf([
+        prompt('one'),
+        end(1000),
+        {
+          type: 'system',
+          subtype: 'compact_boundary',
+          timestamp: '2026-10-18T10:00:00.000Z',
+          compactMetadata: { trigger: 'auto' },
+        },
+      ])
+    );
+    expect(turn.events.map((e) => e.intent)).toEqual(['prompt', 'compact']);
+  });
+
   it('an interrupt ends the turn', () => {
     const turns = buildStoryTurns(
       entriesOf([prompt('go'), ...bash('b', 'ls', 'List', 'a'), prompt('[Request interrupted by user]')])