diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h
index b0dae769..7c379dee 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h
@@ -100,13 +100,14 @@ typedef struct cutscene_s {
 
 // Shows a modal with option buttons and immediately continues on, same
 // as CUTSCENE_MODAL - it does not block waiting for a selection.
-// CALLBACK fires with the selected option index (or UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE
-// if backed out of) once the dialog closes. Option labels are passed as
-// trailing arguments, e.g. CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS(title, message,
-// callback, "Retry", "Cancel") - their strings are not copied by this
-// item, so they must stay valid until the modal opens (string literals
-// are fine). Like TITLE and MESSAGE, each option is translated if it
-// matches a locale message ID.
+// Back/cancel input is disabled while it's open (see
+// uiMenuSetDisableBack), so it must be dismissed by picking one; CALLBACK
+// then fires with the selected option index once the dialog closes.
+// Option labels are passed as trailing arguments, e.g.
+// CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS(title, message, callback, "Retry", "Cancel") -
+// their strings are not copied by this item, so they must stay valid
+// until the modal opens (string literals are fine). Like TITLE and
+// MESSAGE, each option is translated if it matches a locale message ID.
 #define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS(TITLE, MESSAGE, CALLBACK, ...) \
   { \
     .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL, \
@@ -121,10 +122,9 @@ typedef struct cutscene_s {
   }
 
 // Same as CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS, but fixed to exactly one option and
-// MARKER1 to jump straight to via cutsceneGoTo once it's selected (or
-// the dialog is backed out of) - no callback function to write. Does
-// not fall through to whatever follows this item, so MARKER1 must be
-// scripted elsewhere in the same cutscene.
+// MARKER1 to jump straight to via cutsceneGoTo once it's selected - no
+// callback function to write. Does not fall through to whatever follows
+// this item, so MARKER1 must be scripted elsewhere in the same cutscene.
 #define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_ONE(TITLE, MESSAGE, OPTION1, MARKER1) \
   { \
     .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS, \
@@ -139,10 +139,8 @@ typedef struct cutscene_s {
 // Same as CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS, but fixed to exactly two options,
 // jumping straight to OPTION1_MARKER or OPTION2_MARKER via cutsceneGoTo
 // once the corresponding option is selected - no callback function to
-// write. Backing out without selecting (UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE) is
-// treated the same as selecting option 2. Does not fall through to
-// whatever follows this item, so both markers must be scripted
-// elsewhere in the same cutscene.
+// write. Does not fall through to whatever follows this item, so both
+// markers must be scripted elsewhere in the same cutscene.
 #define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_TWO( \
   TITLE, MESSAGE, OPTION1, OPTION1_MARKER, OPTION2, OPTION2_MARKER \
 ) \
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c
index 35438df9..800cce4a 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c
@@ -17,11 +17,7 @@ void cutsceneSystemInit() {
   memoryZero(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM, sizeof(cutscenesystem_t));
 }
 
-void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene) {
-  cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
+void cutsceneSystemPrepare(
   const cutscene_t *cutscene,
   entity_t *interact,
   entity_t *interacted
@@ -40,9 +36,29 @@ void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;// Set to 0xFF so Next wraps to 0.
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene) {
+  cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
+  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+) {
+  cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, interact, interacted);
   cutsceneSystemNext();
 }
 
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
+  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  const char_t *marker
+) {
+  cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
+  cutsceneGoTo(marker);
+}
+
 void cutsceneRestart(void) {
   assertNotNull(
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneRestart called with no cutscene running"
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h
index 75d75d07..2e04c1e9 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h
@@ -67,6 +67,21 @@ void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
   entity_t *interacted
 );
 
+/**
+ * Starts a cutscene with no bound entities, jumping straight to the
+ * CUTSCENE_MARKER item with the given name instead of running from the
+ * first item - as if cutsceneGoTo(marker) had been called immediately
+ * after cutsceneSystemStartCutscene. Asserts if no marker with that
+ * name exists in the cutscene.
+ *
+ * @param cutscene Pointer to the cutscene to start.
+ * @param marker Marker name to jump to, matched with stringEquals.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
+  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  const char_t *marker
+);
+
 /**
  * Restarts the currently running cutscene from its first item,
  * preserving whatever interact/interacted entities triggered it.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h
index 7d843e41..fd7207ef 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ typedef union cutsceneitemdata_u cutsceneitemdata_t;
 
 /**
  * Callback invoked with the selected option once a cutscene modal
- * item's dialog closes.
+ * item's dialog closes. Back/cancel input is disabled while it's open
+ * (see uiMenuSetDisableBack), so it must be dismissed by picking one.
  *
- * @param optionIndex Index into the options array that was selected,
- * or UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE if backed out of without selecting one.
+ * @param optionIndex Index into the options array that was selected.
  * @param userData CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.userData for the running cutscene.
  */
 typedef void (*cutscenemodaloptioncallback_t)(
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
index db31da53..0611a15c 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersCallback(
   const cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers_t *options =
     &cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem()->modalOptionsMarkers;
 
-  // A backed-out-of dialog (UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE) falls back to the
-  // last option's marker, same as a hand-written two-option callback
-  // (e.g. sceneInitialSaveDeviceRetryCallback) treating "backed out" as
-  // the safe/continue choice rather than the destructive one.
+  // uiModalOpen disables back/cancel for a dialog with options, so
+  // UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE can't reach here via input - this fallback to
+  // the last option's marker only matters if something ever force-closes
+  // the modal directly (uiModalClose) before an option is picked.
   const uint8_t index =
     optionIndex < options->optionCount ? optionIndex : options->optionCount - 1;
   cutsceneGoTo(options->markers[index]);
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h
index f096f4ea..15c60178 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h
@@ -42,9 +42,10 @@ void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersStart(
 
 /**
  * Updates a modal-options-markers item. Never completes on its own -
- * the cutscene blocks here indefinitely. Once an option is selected (or
- * the dialog is backed out of, which is treated as selecting the last
- * option), it jumps straight to that option's marker via cutsceneGoTo.
+ * the cutscene blocks here indefinitely. Back/cancel input is disabled
+ * while it's open (see uiMenuSetDisableBack), so it must be dismissed
+ * by picking an option, which jumps straight to that option's marker
+ * via cutsceneGoTo.
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/scene/initial/sceneinitial.c b/src/dusk/scene/initial/sceneinitial.c
index 9b01a53e..3b619615 100644
--- a/src/dusk/scene/initial/sceneinitial.c
+++ b/src/dusk/scene/initial/sceneinitial.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ CUTSCENE(INITIAL, 0, DEFAULT,
   CUTSCENE_MODAL(
     "initial.checking_save.title", "initial.checking_save.message"
   ),
-  CUTSCENE_WAIT(1.0f),
+  CUTSCENE_WAIT(0.2f),
   CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK("CONTINUE", "NO_DEVICE"),
 
   CUTSCENE_MARKER("NO_DEVICE"),
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/uiconfirm.h b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/uiconfirm.h
index 398aff14..3b76ac59 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/uiconfirm.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/uiconfirm.h
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@
 #include "error/error.h"
 
 /**
- * Callback invoked once a confirm dialog is dismissed.
+ * Callback invoked once a confirm dialog is dismissed. Back/cancel
+ * input is disabled while it's open, so the dialog can only be
+ * dismissed by picking Confirm or Cancel.
  *
  * @param result True if Confirm was selected, false if Cancel was
- * selected or the dialog was backed out of.
+ * selected.
  * @param user Arbitrary pointer passed to uiConfirmOpen.
  */
 typedef void (*uiconfirmcallback_t)(const bool_t result, void *user);
@@ -48,8 +50,7 @@ bool_t uiConfirmGetResult(void);
 /**
  * Opens a confirm dialog, backed by the shared uimodal_t, with the given
  * question text and Confirm/Cancel buttons. callback is invoked exactly
- * once with the result, whether the dialog was dismissed by selecting a
- * button or by pressing cancel/back.
+ * once with the result once a button is selected.
  *
  * @param question Display text, or a locale message ID; copied
  * internally by uimodal, safe to be transient.
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c b/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c
index 6ca946dc..31e9f4c0 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void uiFocusUpdate(void) {
   }
 
   if(inputPressed(INPUT_ACTION_CANCEL)) {
-    uiFocusPop();
+    if(!item->disableBack) uiFocusPop();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocusitem.h b/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocusitem.h
index 413e89ee..081de0df 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocusitem.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocusitem.h
@@ -54,4 +54,9 @@ struct uifocusitem_s {
   uifocusitemcallback_t closed;
   uifocusitemdirectioncallback_t direction;
   void *user;
+
+  // When true, INPUT_ACTION_CANCEL is ignored while this item is the
+  // topmost focus item - it does not pop. Does not affect a
+  // programmatic uiFocusPop()/uiFocusPopItem() call.
+  bool_t disableBack;
 };
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
index 6b4771af..4a74c033 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ CUTSCENE(MAIN_MENU_START_GAME, 0, DEFAULT,
     "main_menu.checking_save.title",
     "main_menu.checking_save.message"
   ),
-  CUTSCENE_WAIT(1.0f),
+  CUTSCENE_WAIT(0.2f),
   CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK("CONTINUE", "NO_DEVICE"),
 
   CUTSCENE_MARKER("NO_DEVICE"),
@@ -90,15 +90,6 @@ void uiMainMenuOpenSelectSave(void *userData) {
   );
 }
 
-void uiMainMenuClosed(const uimenu_t *menu) {
-  if(UI_MAIN_MENU.suppressClosedSceneChange) {
-    UI_MAIN_MENU.suppressClosedSceneChange = false;
-    return;
-  }
-
-  sceneSet(SCENE_TYPE_INITIAL);
-}
-
 void uiMainMenuSelected(
   const uimenu_t *menu,
   const uint8_t index,
@@ -107,7 +98,6 @@ void uiMainMenuSelected(
 
   switch(index) {
     case UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_START_GAME:
-      UI_MAIN_MENU.suppressClosedSceneChange = true;
       uiMenuClose(&UI_MAIN_MENU.menu);
       cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(&CUTSCENE_MAIN_MENU_START_GAME);
       break;
@@ -151,14 +141,17 @@ errorret_t uiMainMenuInit(void) {
   ));
 
   MENU_BEGIN(
-    &UI_MAIN_MENU.menu, UI_MAIN_MENU.items, uiMainMenuSelected,
-    uiMainMenuClosed, NULL
+    &UI_MAIN_MENU.menu, UI_MAIN_MENU.items, uiMainMenuSelected, NULL, NULL
   );
   MENU_BUTTON(UI_MAIN_MENU.startGameLabel);
   MENU_BUTTON(UI_MAIN_MENU.optionsLabel);
   MENU_BUTTON(UI_MAIN_MENU.quitLabel);
   MENU_END(UI_MAIN_MENU.items, 1);
 
+  // The main menu is the root screen once past the initial boot check -
+  // there's nothing to back out to, so back/cancel does nothing here.
+  uiMenuSetDisableBack(&UI_MAIN_MENU.menu, true);
+
   errorOk();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.h b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.h
index ce06ae3f..3a53c9ee 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.h
@@ -20,12 +20,6 @@ typedef struct {
   char_t startGameLabel[UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX];
   char_t optionsLabel[UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX];
   char_t quitLabel[UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX];
-
-  // Set right before a uiMenuClose() call that hands off to something
-  // else (e.g. starting the start-game cutscene) rather than backing
-  // all the way out, so the menu's closed handler knows to skip
-  // returning to the initial scene for that one close.
-  bool_t suppressClosedSceneChange;
 } uimainmenu_t;
 
 extern uimainmenu_t UI_MAIN_MENU;
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c
index 56ec65d3..8c736f2f 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ void uiMenuOpen(uimenu_t *menu) {
     uiMenuFocusDirection,
     menu
   );
+  menu->focusItem->disableBack = menu->disableBack;
 }
 
 void uiMenuClose(uimenu_t *menu) {
@@ -76,6 +77,12 @@ void uiMenuClose(uimenu_t *menu) {
   menu->focusItem = NULL;
 }
 
+void uiMenuSetDisableBack(uimenu_t *menu, const bool_t disableBack) {
+  assertNotNull(menu, "Menu cannot be NULL");
+  menu->disableBack = disableBack;
+  if(menu->focusItem != NULL) menu->focusItem->disableBack = disableBack;
+}
+
 bool_t uiMenuIsActive(const uimenu_t *menu) {
   assertNotNull(menu, "Menu cannot be NULL");
   return menu->focusItem != NULL;
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h
index 870ed130..8fbb7ec3 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ typedef struct uimenu_s {
   uimenuchangedcallback_t changed;
 
   void *user;
+
+  // See uiMenuSetDisableBack.
+  bool_t disableBack;
 } uimenu_t;
 
 /**
@@ -119,11 +122,22 @@ void uiMenuOpen(uimenu_t *menu);
 
 /**
  * Pops a menu from the UI focus stack, removing it from the active menu.
- * 
+ *
  * @param menu The menu to pop.
  */
 void uiMenuClose(uimenu_t *menu);
 
+/**
+ * Sets whether pressing back/cancel is ignored while this menu is the
+ * topmost focus item - it simply does nothing, rather than closing the
+ * menu. Does not affect a deliberate uiMenuClose() call. Safe to call
+ * before or after uiMenuOpen().
+ *
+ * @param menu The menu to update.
+ * @param disableBack True to ignore back/cancel input for this menu.
+ */
+void uiMenuSetDisableBack(uimenu_t *menu, const bool_t disableBack);
+
 /**
  * Returns whether the menu is currently active (on the UI focus stack).
  *
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c
index 97a1c62c..f248db0c 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ void uiModalOpen(
     }
     MENU_END(UI_MODAL.options, menuIndex);
 
+    // A dialog with options must be dismissed by picking one, not by
+    // backing out of it - see uiMenuSetDisableBack.
+    uiMenuSetDisableBack(&UI_MODAL.menu, true);
     uiMenuOpen(&UI_MODAL.menu);
   } else {
     uiMenuInit(&UI_MODAL.menu, uiModalSelected, uiModalClosed, NULL);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h
index 0434ac86..66ebe222 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@
  * Callback invoked once a modal is dismissed.
  *
  * @param optionIndex Index into the options array passed to uiModalOpen
- * that was selected, or UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE if backed out of without
- * selecting an option.
+ * that was selected. A dialog with options ignores back/cancel input
+ * (see uiMenuSetDisableBack) and must be dismissed by picking one, so
+ * UI_MODAL_RESULT_NONE only reaches here via a direct uiModalClose()
+ * call made before any option was picked.
  * @param user Arbitrary pointer passed to uiModalOpen.
  */
 typedef void (*uimodaloptioncallback_t)(const uint8_t optionIndex, void *user);
@@ -103,8 +105,9 @@ uint8_t uiModalGetResult(void);
 
 /**
  * Opens the modal dialog with the given title, message, and options.
- * callback is invoked exactly once with the result, whether the dialog
- * was dismissed by selecting an option or by pressing cancel/back.
+ * callback is invoked exactly once with the selected option. A dialog
+ * with options > 0 disables back/cancel (see uiMenuSetDisableBack), so
+ * it must be dismissed by picking one.
  *
  * title, message, and each option are treated as locale message IDs
  * first: if one matches an entry in the active locale file its