diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/CMakeLists.txt b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/CMakeLists.txt
index a7ced42c..f285af87 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
     cutscene.c
+    cutscenerefs.c
     cutscenesystem.c
 )
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.c
index 7e5c16bf..293caee5 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.c
@@ -148,26 +148,6 @@ void cutsceneAppendNext(
   cutsceneAppendAt(scene, (uint8_t)(currentIndex + 1), items, count);
 }
 
-void cutsceneRemoveFront(
-  cutscene_t *scene,
-  const uint8_t count
-) {
-  assertNotNull(scene, "Scene cannot be NULL");
-  assertTrue(count <= scene->itemCount, "count exceeds itemCount");
-
-  const size_t tailCount = (size_t)scene->itemCount - count;
-  // count == 0 has nothing to shift (and would pass dest == src into
-  // memoryMove, which asserts against that as a no-op call).
-  if(count > 0 && tailCount > 0) {
-    memoryMove(
-      &scene->items[0],
-      &scene->items[count],
-      tailCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t)
-    );
-  }
-  scene->itemCount -= count;
-}
-
 errorret_t cutsceneLoadParse(
   const char_t *path,
   cutscene_t *scene,
@@ -189,7 +169,9 @@ errorret_t cutsceneLoadParse(
   // cutsceneitem_t field that could reference it owns its string data by
   // value, so nothing needs to survive past this call and the entry can
   // just be unlocked like any other asset once parsing finishes.
-  errorret_t parseResult = cutsceneParseDoc(entry->data.json, scene, items, itemsMax);
+  errorret_t parseResult = cutsceneParseDoc(
+    entry->data.json, scene, items, itemsMax
+  );
   assetUnlockEntry(entry);
   errorChain(parseResult);
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h
index b6263a9d..07939299 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h
@@ -128,30 +128,13 @@ void cutsceneAppendNext(
   const uint8_t count
 );
 
-/**
- * Removes count items from the front of scene->items, shifting the
- * remainder down to index 0 and shrinking scene->itemCount to match. Used
- * by cutsceneSystemNext/cutsceneGoTo to reclaim already-run items' slots
- * instead of leaving them as dead weight forever - see
- * CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem's doc comment, since the currently-running
- * item is always scene->items[0] once a cutscene has started.
- *
- * @param scene Cutscene to remove from.
- * @param count Number of items to remove from the front - must be
- * <= scene->itemCount.
- */
-void cutsceneRemoveFront(
-  cutscene_t *scene,
-  const uint8_t count
-);
-
 /**
  * Loads a cutscene JSON asset by path and parses it into scene/items (see
  * cutsceneParseDoc) - the common "lock the asset, require it loaded,
  * parse its 'items' array, unlock it again" sequence shared by every
  * place that resolves a cutscene by file path (cutsceneSystemLoad,
  * cutsceneCutsceneResolve, cutsceneInsertResolveAndSplice,
- * battleStateExecutingInit, cutsceneGoTo's reload). Purely propagates the
+ * battleStateExecutingInit, cutsceneSystemGoTo's reload). Purely propagates the
  * error on failure (like cutsceneParseDoc) - this is core cutscene logic,
  * not UI, so it doesn't reach for uiFatalErrorOpen itself; each caller
  * decides how to surface the failure (typically errorCatch(errorPrint())
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenerefs.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenerefs.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ebae33bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenerefs.c
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "cutscenerefs.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+
+void cutsceneRefsReset(
+  cutscenesystemrefs_t *refs,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+) {
+  assertNotNull(refs, "Refs cannot be null");
+
+  refs->entityInteract = interact;
+  refs->entityInteracted = interacted;
+  refs->entityLastCreated = NULL;
+  refs->entityLastRef = NULL;
+  refs->areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
+  refs->textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
+}
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenerefs.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenerefs.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..86cafe1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenerefs.h
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct entity_s entity_t;
+
+#define CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFF)
+#define CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFA)
+
+/**
+ * Common cutscene references that should survive a cutsceneRestart -
+ * grouped into one struct (rather than loose fields on cutscenesystem_t)
+ * so cutsceneRestart can snapshot/restore all of them in one copy instead
+ * of field-by-field, and so anything added here later comes along for the
+ * ride automatically.
+ */
+typedef struct {
+  entity_t *entityInteract;
+  entity_t *entityInteracted;
+  entity_t *entityLastCreated;
+  entity_t *entityLastRef;
+  uint8_t areaLastCreated;
+  uint8_t textMiniLastCreated;
+} cutscenesystemrefs_t;
+
+/**
+ * Resets refs to a fresh state: interact/interacted set to the given
+ * entities, everything else (last-created entity, last-referenced entity,
+ * last-created map area, last-created mini textbox) cleared back to its
+ * "nothing yet" sentinel.
+ *
+ * @param refs Refs to reset.
+ * @param interact The entity that initiated the interaction, or NULL.
+ * @param interacted The entity being interacted with, or NULL.
+ */
+void cutsceneRefsReset(
+  cutscenesystemrefs_t *refs,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+);
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c
index 8bd18a4d..2470bef0 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c
@@ -21,16 +21,18 @@ void cutsceneSystemInit() {
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene.itemsMax = CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX;
 }
 
+void cutsceneSystemUpdate() {
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return;
+
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
+  if(cutsceneItemUpdate(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data)) cutsceneSystemNext();
+}
+
 void cutsceneSystemDispose() {
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE;
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
+  cutsceneRefsReset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs, NULL, NULL);
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] = '\0';
@@ -45,25 +47,14 @@ void cutsceneSystemPrepare(
 
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = cutscene;
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = cutscene->pause;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = interact;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = interacted;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
+  cutsceneRefsReset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs, interact, interacted);
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;// Set to 0xFF so Next wraps to 0.
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
 
-  // Only invalidate the known source file when switching away from
-  // loadedScene entirely. Starting loadedScene itself means
-  // cutsceneSystemLoad/cutsceneCutsceneResolve just populated it - for
-  // cutsceneCutsceneResolve (see cutsceneCutsceneStart), that already
-  // happened before this call, so clearing loadedFile here would
-  // immediately undo it. cutsceneGoTo needs loadedFile intact to reload
-  // a marker behind the current position; cutsceneSystemLoad re-stamps
-  // it itself right after this call anyway, so it's unaffected either
-  // way.
+  // cutsceneNext will cause overflow to index 0 (intentional).
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE;
+
+  // Clear loaded file if cutscene not running from file.
   if(cutscene != &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene) {
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] = '\0';
   }
@@ -84,9 +75,9 @@ void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
     "Cutscene itemCount exceeds itemsMax"
   );
 
+  // Prep cutscene, save it to the save slot, and advance, aka overflow to 0.
   cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, interact, interacted);
   saveSlotSetCurrentCutscene(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile);
-
   cutsceneSystemNext();
 }
 
@@ -96,8 +87,9 @@ void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
 ) {
   assertNotNull(marker, "Marker cannot be NULL");
 
+  // Restarts the cutscene
   cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
-  cutsceneGoTo(marker);
+  cutsceneSystemGoTo(marker);
 }
 
 void cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(
@@ -109,7 +101,6 @@ void cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene,
     "cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext called with no cutscene running"
   );
-
   cutsceneAppendNext(
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem, items, itemCount
   );
@@ -128,31 +119,27 @@ void cutsceneSystemInsertCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene) {
   cutsceneSystemInsertItems(cutscene->items, cutscene->itemCount);
 }
 
-void cutsceneSystemDiscardQueued(void) {
+void cutsceneSystemClearAfter(const uint8_t index) {
   assertNotNull(
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene,
-    "cutsceneSystemDiscardQueued called with no cutscene running"
+    "cutsceneSystemClearAfter called with no cutscene running"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    index < CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount,
+    "cutsceneSystemClearAfter index out of range"
   );
 
-  // currentItem is always 0 once a cutscene has started (see its doc
-  // comment) - keep just that one item, drop everything queued after it.
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount = 1;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount = index + 1;
 }
 
 void cutsceneSystemLoad(const char_t *file) {
   assertNotNull(file, "File cannot be NULL");
 
-  // Copy file out before it can be invalidated - every caller today
-  // passes a string literal, but file could in principle point into
-  // CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems (a running item's own name field, if the
-  // running cutscene is loadedScene), which both cutsceneLoadParse and
-  // cutsceneSystemStartCutscene below overwrite/re-enter (see
-  // cutsceneCutsceneResolve's matching comment for the exact bug this
-  // guards against - initial.jsonc's closing CUTSCENE item into
-  // main_menu.jsonc hit it there).
+  // Take a copy of file, as it may be a part of the cutscene itself.
   char_t fileCopy[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
   stringCopy(fileCopy, file, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1);
 
+  // Load the cutscene asset, parse it, and start it.
   errorret_t result = cutsceneLoadParse(
     fileCopy, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene, CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems,
     CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX
@@ -162,13 +149,8 @@ void cutsceneSystemLoad(const char_t *file) {
     uiFatalErrorOpen(NULL);
     return;
   }
-
-  // Stamped before starting (not after) - cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith
-  // reads loadedFile to persist the in-progress cutscene to the save (see
-  // saveSlotSetCurrentCutscene), so it must already be correct by then.
-  // Safe: cutsceneSystemPrepare (called from within Start) only clears
-  // loadedFile when switching away from loadedScene entirely, which this
-  // isn't.
+  
+  // Store the loaded file so we can restart if needed.
   stringCopy(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile, fileCopy, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1);
   cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene);
 }
@@ -177,10 +159,14 @@ void cutsceneRestart(void) {
   assertNotNull(
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneRestart called with no cutscene running"
   );
-
+  
+  // Snapshotted as one struct (rather than field-by-field) so anything
+  // added to cutscenesystemrefs_t later - entities, map areas, mini
+  // textboxes, etc - survives a restart automatically instead of needing
+  // its own line here. cutsceneSystemPrepare (called from within both
+  // branches below) resets refs to a fresh state, so it's restored after.
   cutscenecallback_t onComplete = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete;
-  entity_t *entityInteract = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract;
-  entity_t *entityInteracted = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted;
+  cutscenesystemrefs_t refs = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs;
 
   if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] != '\0') {
     char_t file[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
@@ -188,13 +174,12 @@ void cutsceneRestart(void) {
     cutsceneSystemLoad(file);
   } else {
     cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, entityInteract, entityInteracted
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, refs.entityInteract, refs.entityInteracted
     );
   }
 
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = onComplete;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = entityInteract;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = entityInteracted;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs = refs;
 }
 
 void cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(cutscenecallback_t onComplete) {
@@ -210,28 +195,28 @@ entity_t * cutsceneSystemGetEntity(const uint8_t entityIndex) {
 
   if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT used but no interact entity is set"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract;
   } else if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED used but no interacted entity is set"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted;
   } else if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastCreated,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED used but no entity has been created"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastCreated;
   } else if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF used but no entity has been referenced"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef;
   } else {
     assertTrue(
       entityIndex < ENTITY_COUNT,
@@ -240,17 +225,17 @@ entity_t * cutsceneSystemGetEntity(const uint8_t entityIndex) {
     entity = &ENTITIES[entityIndex];
   }
 
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = entity;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef = entity;
   return entity;
 }
 
 uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(const uint8_t areaId) {
   if(areaId == CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED) {
     assertTrue(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated != CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated != CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED,
       "CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED used but no map area has been created"
     );
-    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated;
+    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated;
   }
   return areaId;
 }
@@ -258,11 +243,12 @@ uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(const uint8_t areaId) {
 uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(const uint8_t index) {
   if(index == CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED) {
     assertTrue(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated != CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated !=
+        CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED,
       "CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED used but no mini textbox has been "
       "shown"
     );
-    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated;
+    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated;
   }
   return index;
 }
@@ -282,68 +268,49 @@ void cutsceneSystemSetTextCache(const char_t *text) {
 void cutsceneSystemNext() {
   if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return;
 
-  // Pop the just-finished item off the front rather than advancing an
-  // index further into the array - see CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem's doc
-  // comment. The very first call (currentItem still 0xFF) has nothing to
-  // pop yet; it just marks the cutscene as started.
-  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem == 0xFF) {
+  // Pop the just-finished item off the front.
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem == CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE) {
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0;
   } else {
-    cutsceneRemoveFront(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, 1);
+    cutscene_t *scene = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene;
+    const size_t tailCount = (size_t)scene->itemCount - 1;
+    if(tailCount > 0) {
+      memoryMove(
+        &scene->items[0], &scene->items[1], tailCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t)
+      );
+    }
+    scene->itemCount--;
   }
 
-  // End of the cutscene? Note that a CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_INSERT item's
-  // spliced-in items are physically part of this same array (see
-  // cutsceneSystemInsertCutscene), so there's no separate "parent scene"
-  // to fall back into here - itemCount already accounts for them.
+  // End of the cutscene?
   if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount == 0) {
-    // Saved and cleared before firing so a callback that immediately
-    // starts another cutscene (or sets its own onComplete) isn't clobbered
-    // by this function's own cleanup running after it - same reentrancy
-    // hazard as uiFocusPop, see src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c.
     cutscenecallback_t onComplete = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete;
 
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
 
     if(onComplete != NULL) onComplete(NULL);
     return;
   }
 
-  // Start item.
+  // Start next (now current) item
   const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
   memset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data, 0, sizeof(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data));
   cutsceneItemStart(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data);
 }
 
-void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name) {
+void cutsceneSystemGoTo(const char_t *name) {
   assertNotNull(name, "Name cannot be NULL");
   assertNotNull(
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneGoTo called with no cutscene running"
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneSystemGoTo called with no cutscene running"
   );
-  // A marker behind the current position can't be found in the live
-  // queue - already-run items are evicted from its front as the
-  // cutscene advances (see cutsceneSystemNext/cutsceneRemoveFront), so
-  // the untouched original has to be re-parsed from source instead. Only
-  // supported when the running cutscene is the one cutsceneSystemLoad/
-  // cutsceneCutsceneResolve populated - a C-authored cutscene_t, or
-  // content spliced in via INSERT/battleStateExecutingInit, has no
-  // source to reload from, so a backward jump into those isn't supported
-  // yet.
   assertTrue(
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene &&
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] != '\0',
-    "cutsceneGoTo requires the running cutscene to have come from "
-    "cutsceneSystemLoad/cutsceneCutsceneResolve"
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene,
+    "cutsceneSystemGoTo requires the running cutscene file reference (1)"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] != '\0',
+    "cutsceneSystemGoTo requires the running cutscene file reference (2)"
   );
 
   cutscene_t freshScene = { .items = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.gotoScratchItems };
@@ -357,6 +324,7 @@ void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name) {
     return;
   }
 
+  // Search for the marker with the given name...
   for(uint8_t i = 0; i < freshScene.itemCount; i++) {
     const cutsceneitem_t *item = &freshScene.items[i];
     if(
@@ -364,10 +332,8 @@ void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name) {
       !stringEquals(item->marker.name, name)
     ) continue;
 
-    // Commit: replace the live queue outright with marker-onward from
-    // the fresh parse. Nothing before the marker (including whatever was
-    // running) gets Started - only the marker item itself does, same as
-    // the old in-place jump's semantics.
+    // Found, so splice the cutscene at that point and start it, the remaining
+    // items being the rest of the cutscene after the marker.
     const uint8_t remaining = freshScene.itemCount - i;
     memoryCopy(
       CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems, &freshScene.items[i],
@@ -383,19 +349,10 @@ void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name) {
     return;
   }
 
-  assertTrue(false, "cutsceneGoTo: no marker found with that name");
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemUpdate() {
-  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return;
-
-  const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
-  if(cutsceneItemUpdate(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data)) cutsceneSystemNext();
+  assertTrue(false, "cutsceneSystemGoTo: no marker found with that name");
 }
 
 const cutsceneitem_t * cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem() {
   if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return NULL;
-
-  // Always index 0 - see CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem's doc comment.
   return &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->items[0];
 }
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h
index 8fbe0e04..cf1d87ad 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h
@@ -7,15 +7,13 @@
 
 #pragma once
 #include "cutscene.h"
-
-typedef struct entity_s entity_t;
+#include "cutscenerefs.h"
 
 #define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT ((uint8_t)0xFE)
 #define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED ((uint8_t)0xFD)
 #define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFC)
 #define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF ((uint8_t)0xFB)
-#define CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFF)
-#define CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFA)
+#define CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE ((uint8_t)0xFF)
 
 #define CUTSCENE_TEXT_CACHE_MAX 64
 #define CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX 128
@@ -23,21 +21,10 @@ typedef struct entity_s entity_t;
 
 typedef struct {
   cutscene_t *scene;
-
-  // 0xFF if nothing has started running yet, otherwise always 0 - the
-  // currently-running item is always scene->items[0]; cutsceneSystemNext
-  // removes it from the front (see cutsceneRemoveFront) rather than
-  // advancing an index further into the array, so an item's slot is
-  // reclaimed the moment it finishes instead of sitting there as dead
-  // weight for the rest of the cutscene's run.
   uint8_t currentItem;
   cutscenepause_t pause;
-  entity_t *entityInteract;
-  entity_t *entityInteracted;
-  entity_t *entityLastCreated;
-  entity_t *entityLastRef;
-  uint8_t areaLastCreated;
-  uint8_t textMiniLastCreated;
+
+  cutscenesystemrefs_t refs;
 
   // Free-form text cache for the running cutscene - see
   // cutsceneSystemGetTextCache/cutsceneSystemSetTextCache.
@@ -49,17 +36,12 @@ typedef struct {
   // See cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete.
   cutscenecallback_t onComplete;
 
+  // Cache and storage used for the dynamically loaded cutscenes.
   cutsceneitem_t loadedItems[CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX];
   cutscene_t loadedScene;
-
-  // Filename last passed to cutsceneSystemLoad - see cutsceneRestart.
   char_t loadedFile[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
-
-  // Scratch space for cutsceneGoTo's re-parse of loadedFile - a fixed,
-  // persistent buffer rather than a local one since cutsceneitem_t is
-  // large (e.g. cutscenemodal_t alone carries a 256-byte message buffer),
-  // making a CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX-sized array too big to put on the
-  // stack on constrained platforms (PSP/GameCube/Wii).
+  
+  // Cutscene items scratch, mostly used for CUTSCENE_INSERT items.
   cutsceneitem_t gotoScratchItems[CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX];
 } cutscenesystem_t;
 
@@ -157,15 +139,19 @@ void cutsceneSystemInsertItems(
 void cutsceneSystemInsertCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene);
 
 /**
- * Discards every item still queued behind the currently-running one,
- * without disturbing that item's own progress - e.g. so a callback that
+ * Discards every item queued after index (e.g. index 0 keeps only the
+ * currently-running item and drops everything spliced in behind it),
+ * without disturbing index's own progress - e.g. so a callback that
  * decides the rest of a batch-spliced sequence is now moot (a battle
  * ending mid-round, with other fighters' still-queued move cutscenes and
  * the round's trailing state transition left behind) can drop it before
  * splicing in its own follow-up items, instead of leaving it to run
  * afterward against torn-down state.
+ *
+ * @param index Index to keep - everything after it is discarded. Must be
+ * < the running cutscene's current item count.
  */
-void cutsceneSystemDiscardQueued(void);
+void cutsceneSystemClearAfter(const uint8_t index);
 
 /**
  * Loads and immediately starts a cutscene asset by file name.
@@ -235,25 +221,12 @@ void cutsceneSystemSetTextCache(const char_t *text);
 void cutsceneSystemNext();
 
 /**
- * Jumps the running cutscene directly to the marker with the given name
- * and starts it immediately. Re-parses the cutscene fresh from its
- * source file (see cutsceneLoadParse) and replaces the live queue with
- * marker-onward from that fresh parse - items already run may have been
- * evicted from the front of the live queue (see
- * cutsceneSystemNext/cutsceneRemoveFront), so a marker behind the
- * current position can only be found in the untouched original. Nothing
- * before the marker gets Started, only the marker item itself.
- *
- * Requires the running cutscene to be the one cutsceneSystemLoad/
- * cutsceneCutsceneResolve populated (i.e. CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene ==
- * &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene) - asserts otherwise. A C-authored
- * cutscene_t, or content spliced in via INSERT/battleStateExecutingInit,
- * has no source file to reload from, so backward jumps into those
- * aren't supported yet.
+ * Jumps to a cutscene marker directly. If the cutscene is a loaded cutscene,
+ * this will result in it being reloaded (due to unshift nature of cutscenes).
  *
  * @param name Marker name to search for.
  */
-void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name);
+void cutsceneSystemGoTo(const char_t *name);
 
 /**
  * Update the cutscene system for one frame.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlepostmove.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlepostmove.c
index 965369c3..ba7e1b26 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlepostmove.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlepostmove.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void cutsceneBattlePostMoveStart(
   // still-pending move cutscenes, the trailing BATTLE_SET_STATE(PRE_ROUND) -
   // see battleStateExecutingInit) - the battle is over, so none of that
   // should run against the WON/LOST/ENDING transition about to replace it.
-  cutsceneSystemDiscardQueued();
+  cutsceneSystemClearAfter(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem);
 
   const cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
     {
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutsceneidle.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutsceneidle.h
index d819084e..b230e186 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutsceneidle.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutsceneidle.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 /**
  * Updates an idle item. Never completes on its own - the cutscene blocks
  * here indefinitely until something external (e.g. a UI callback) calls
- * cutsceneGoTo to jump elsewhere.
+ * cutsceneSystemGoTo to jump elsewhere.
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenemarker.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenemarker.h
index 8da1dc9b..0dc10e16 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenemarker.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenemarker.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 /**
  * Starts a marker item. A marker does nothing on its own - it exists
- * purely as a named position for cutsceneGoTo to jump to.
+ * purely as a named position for cutsceneSystemGoTo to jump to.
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c
index 123c7357..558b810a 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c
@@ -481,9 +481,9 @@ cutscene_t * cutsceneCutsceneResolve(const char_t *name) {
   }
 
   // Shares loadedScene/loadedItems with cutsceneSystemLoad, so track the
-  // source the same way it does - cutsceneGoTo needs this to reload the
+  // source the same way it does - cutsceneSystemGoTo needs this to reload the
   // untouched original when jumping to a marker behind the current
-  // position (see cutsceneGoTo's doc comment).
+  // position (see cutsceneSystemGoTo's doc comment).
   stringCopy(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile, nameCopy, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1);
 
   return &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene;
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/entity/cutsceneentityadd.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/entity/cutsceneentityadd.c
index 75992fe6..af8cca35 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/entity/cutsceneentityadd.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/entity/cutsceneentityadd.c
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ void cutsceneEntityAddStart(
   entityInit(entity, item->entityAdd.entityType);
   entityPositionSet(entity, item->entityAdd.position);// Also assigns chunk.
 
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = entity;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = entity;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastCreated = entity;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef = entity;
 }
 
 bool_t cutsceneEntityAddUpdate(
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.c
index 7cbd2f19..8b408a0b 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ void cutsceneMapAreaAddStart(
   const cutsceneitem_t *item,
   cutsceneitemdata_t *data
 ) {
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = mapAreaAdd(
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated = mapAreaAdd(
     item->mapAreaAdd.min,
     item->mapAreaAdd.max,
     item->mapAreaAdd.callback,
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.h
index f100051f..b4135a65 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/maparea/cutscenemapareaadd.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 /**
  * Starts a map area add step (adds the area immediately, storing its ID
- * in CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated).
+ * in CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated).
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.c
index 9d6e4813..76d3a3fa 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 void cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckCallback(savedevice_t *device, void *user) {
   const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
-  cutsceneGoTo(
+  cutsceneSystemGoTo(
     device != NULL ?
       item->saveDeviceCheck.successMarker :
       item->saveDeviceCheck.failureMarker
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.h
index 7bd0f1cd..3998dd4c 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesavedevicecheck.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ void cutsceneSaveDeviceCheckStart(
  * Updates a save-device-check item. Like a CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS item,
  * this never completes on its own - once saveFindAvailableDevice's
  * callback fires, it jumps straight to the item's successMarker or
- * failureMarker via cutsceneGoTo.
+ * failureMarker via cutsceneSystemGoTo.
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.c
index 06745331..1b368723 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.c
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ void cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsStart(
   errorret_t result = saveLoadAllSlots();
   if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
     errorCatch(errorPrint(result));
-    cutsceneGoTo(item->saveLoadAllSlots.failureMarker);
+    cutsceneSystemGoTo(item->saveLoadAllSlots.failureMarker);
     return;
   }
 
-  cutsceneGoTo(item->saveLoadAllSlots.successMarker);
+  cutsceneSystemGoTo(item->saveLoadAllSlots.successMarker);
 }
 
 bool_t cutsceneSaveLoadAllSlotsUpdate(
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.h
index fc237b47..18b32b9d 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/save/cutscenesaveloadallslots.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ typedef struct {
 /**
  * Starts a save-load-all-slots item: calls saveLoadAllSlots() and jumps
  * straight to the item's successMarker or failureMarker via
- * cutsceneGoTo, depending on the result.
+ * cutsceneSystemGoTo, depending on the result.
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h
index d7f74c19..78df7bc6 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodal.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void cutsceneModalStart(
  * CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS) always blocks regardless of the blocking
  * field - it's dismissed by the player picking one of them, and the
  * option callback is responsible for moving the cutscene on from there
- * (typically via cutsceneGoTo or cutsceneRestart).
+ * (typically via cutsceneSystemGoTo or cutsceneRestart).
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
index 37961926..f0390a92 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersCallback(
   // the modal directly (uiModalClose) before an option is picked.
   const uint8_t index =
     optionIndex < options->optionCount ? optionIndex : options->optionCount - 1;
-  cutsceneGoTo(options->markers[index]);
+  cutsceneSystemGoTo(options->markers[index]);
 }
 
 void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersStart(
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h
index bfdc7813..9a46f178 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ typedef struct {
   char_t message[CUTSCENE_MODAL_MESSAGE_MAX_CHARS];
 
   // Each option's display text/locale message ID, and the marker to
-  // cutsceneGoTo when that option is selected. Copied by value at parse
+  // cutsceneSystemGoTo when that option is selected. Copied by value at parse
   // time (see cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersLoad), so they stay valid
   // regardless of the backing JSON doc's lifetime.
   char_t options[CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS_MAX][UI_MODAL_OPTION_TEXT_MAX];
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ void cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersStart(
  * 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.
+ * via cutsceneSystemGoTo.
  *
  * @param item The cutscene item.
  * @param data Runtime data storage.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenetextmini.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenetextmini.c
index 53e511b4..08bd27e9 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenetextmini.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenetextmini.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void cutsceneTextMiniStart(
     NULL,
     NULL
   );
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = index;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated = index;
 }
 
 bool_t cutsceneTextMiniUpdate(
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
index 2e5b972d..168a1d63 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void uiMainMenuStartGame(void) {
     if(cutscene == NULL) return;
     cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(cutscene, "NEW_GAME");
   } else {
-    cutsceneGoTo("NEW_GAME");
+    cutsceneSystemGoTo("NEW_GAME");
   }
 
   cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(uiMainMenuOpenSelectSave);
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ void uiMainMenuOptions(void) {
     if(cutscene == NULL) return;
     cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(cutscene, "OPTIONS");
   } else {
-    cutsceneGoTo("OPTIONS");
+    cutsceneSystemGoTo("OPTIONS");
   }
 }
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void uiMainMenuQuit(void) {
     if(cutscene == NULL) return;
     cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(cutscene, "QUIT");
   } else {
-    cutsceneGoTo("QUIT");
+    cutsceneSystemGoTo("QUIT");
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/rpg/cutscene/test_cutscenesystem.c b/test/rpg/cutscene/test_cutscenesystem.c
index c8dbf5ea..6b15d80a 100644
--- a/test/rpg/cutscene/test_cutscenesystem.c
+++ b/test/rpg/cutscene/test_cutscenesystem.c
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ static void test_cutsceneSystemStartWithSetsInteractEntities(void **state) {
     &CUTSCENE_TEST_SINGLE_WAIT, &ENTITIES[0], &ENTITIES[1]
   );
 
-  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract, &ENTITIES[0]);
-  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted, &ENTITIES[1]);
+  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract, &ENTITIES[0]);
+  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted, &ENTITIES[1]);
   assert_ptr_equal(
     cutsceneSystemGetEntity(CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT), &ENTITIES[0]
   );
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ static void test_cutsceneSystemStartWithSetsInteractEntities(void **state) {
 
   TIME.delta = 2.0f;
   cutsceneSystemUpdate();// ends the cutscene
-  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract);// reset on end
-  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted);
+  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract);// reset on end
+  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted);
 }
 
 static void test_cutsceneSystemGetEntitySentinelsRequireBeingSet(
@@ -158,26 +158,26 @@ static void test_cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(void **state) {
   cutsceneSystemInit();
   // cutsceneSystemInit() zero-inits the field -- only actually starting a
   // cutscene sets it to the "nothing created yet" sentinel.
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
 
   expect_assert_failure(cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED));
   assert_int_equal(cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(5), 5);// direct IDs pass through
 
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = 3;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated = 3;
   assert_int_equal(cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED), 3);
 }
 
 static void test_cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(void **state) {
 
   cutsceneSystemInit();
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
 
   expect_assert_failure(
     cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED)
   );
   assert_int_equal(cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(4), 4);
 
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = 1;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated = 1;
   assert_int_equal(
     cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED), 1
   );
@@ -195,15 +195,15 @@ static void test_cutsceneSystemDisposeResetsState(void **state) {
   assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene);
   assert_int_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem, 0xFF);
   assert_int_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause, CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE);
-  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract);
-  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted);
+  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract);
+  assert_null(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted);
 }
 
 // --- loadedFile survival across cutsceneSystemPrepare -------------------
 //
 // cutsceneCutsceneResolve (and cutsceneSystemLoad) stamp
 // CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile with what they just parsed loadedScene from
-// - cutsceneGoTo needs that to survive so it can reload the same source
+// - cutsceneSystemGoTo needs that to survive so it can reload the same source
 // later. cutsceneCutsceneResolve's caller stamps it BEFORE calling
 // cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene), so
 // cutsceneSystemPrepare must not blindly clear loadedFile on every
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ static void test_cutsceneSystemDisposeResetsState(void **state) {
 // regression-tests the exact bug hit via initial.jsonc's CUTSCENE item
 // into main_menu.jsonc: cutsceneCutsceneResolve stamped loadedFile, then
 // the immediately following cutsceneSystemStartCutscene call wiped it
-// straight back out, so a later cutsceneGoTo on the still-running
+// straight back out, so a later cutsceneSystemGoTo on the still-running
 // cutscene had nothing to reload from.
 static void test_cutsceneSystemPrepareKeepsLoadedFileWhenReenteringLoadedScene(
   void **state
@@ -551,8 +551,8 @@ static void test_cutsceneInsertDoesNotResetPauseOrInteractEntities(
   // been popped off the front, only the snippet's one item is left.
   assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, &CUTSCENE_TEST_INSERT_PERSIST_OUTER);
   assert_int_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount, 1);
-  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract, &ENTITIES[3]);
-  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted, &ENTITIES[4]);
+  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract, &ENTITIES[3]);
+  assert_ptr_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted, &ENTITIES[4]);
   // The snippet declares ALL, but INSERT doesn't apply it -- the outer
   // cutscene's NPC pause, already in effect, stands.
   assert_int_equal(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause, CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NPC);