diff --git a/events.hpp b/events.hpp
index 5ac0289..032025e 100644
--- a/events.hpp
+++ b/events.hpp
@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 namespace Events {
   enum GUI {
-    START, COMBAT, LOOT
+    START, COMBAT, LOOT, DEATH
   };
 
   struct Combat {
     int player_did;
     int enemy_did;
   };
+
+  struct Death {
+    int placeholder = 0;
+  };
 }
diff --git a/gui.cpp b/gui.cpp
index 3985df3..eabd269 100644
--- a/gui.cpp
+++ b/gui.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ using namespace std::chrono_literals;
 using namespace ftxui;
 using namespace components;
 
+void DeathUI::create_render() {
+  has_border = true;
+  $exit_button = Button("EXIT", []{ std::exit(0); });
+
+  $render = Renderer([&] {
+    return vflow({
+        paragraph($quip) | border,
+        $exit_button->Render()
+      }) | flex;
+  });
+
+  set_renderer($render);
+  add($exit_button);
+}
+
 void InventoryUI::create_render() {
   has_border = true;
   MenuOption option;
@@ -196,9 +211,9 @@ void GUI::create_renderer() {
   $map_view.create_render();
   $status_ui.create_render();
   $inventory_ui.create_render();
-  // don't activate this one
+  $death_ui.create_render();
 
-  $panels = {&$map_view, &$status_ui};
+  $active_panels = {&$map_view, &$status_ui};
 }
 
 void GUI::handle_world_events() {
@@ -227,6 +242,15 @@ void GUI::handle_world_events() {
             $sounds.play("combat_miss");
             $status_ui.log("You MISSED the enemy.");
           }
+      }
+      case eGUI::DEATH: {
+          // auto &dead_data = std::any_cast<Events::Death&>(data);
+          println("PLAYER DEAD!");
+          auto player_combat = $world.get<Combat>(entity);
+          if(player_combat.dead) {
+            toggle_modal(&$death_ui, $player_died);
+            println("PLAYER DEAD show UI, after is {}", $player_died);
+          }
         } break;
       case eGUI::LOOT: {
           auto &item = std::any_cast<InventoryItem&>(data);
@@ -279,15 +303,7 @@ bool GUI::handle_ui_events() {
         auto &debug = $world.get_the<Debug>();
         debug.LIGHT = !debug.LIGHT;
       } else if(KB::isKeyPressed(KB::I)) {
-        // yes, using an if to avoid double grabbing screen
-        if($show_modal) {
-          $panels = {&$map_view, &$status_ui};
-          $show_modal = false;
-        } else {
-          pause_screen();
-          $panels = {&$inventory_ui};
-          $show_modal = true;
-        }
+        toggle_modal(&$inventory_ui, $inventory_open);
       } else if(KB::isKeyPressed(KB::P)) {
         auto &debug = $world.get_the<Debug>();
         debug.PATHS = !debug.PATHS;
@@ -299,7 +315,7 @@ bool GUI::handle_ui_events() {
         $status_ui.key_press(Event::Return);
       }
     } else {
-      for(Panel *panel : $panels) {
+      for(Panel *panel : $active_panels) {
         if($renderer.mouse_position(*panel, pos)) {
           if(MOUSE::isButtonPressed(MOUSE::Left)) {
             panel->mouse_click(Mouse::Button::Left, pos);
@@ -355,13 +371,28 @@ void GUI::shake() {
   }
 }
 
+void GUI::toggle_modal(Panel *panel, bool &is_open_out) {
+  if(is_open_out) {
+    $active_panels = {&$map_view, &$status_ui};
+    is_open_out = false;
+  } else {
+    pause_screen();
+    $active_panels = {panel};
+    is_open_out = true;
+  }
+}
+
 void GUI::render_scene() {
   $renderer.clear();
 
-  if($show_modal) {
+  if($inventory_open) {
     draw_paused();
     $inventory_ui.render();
     $renderer.draw($inventory_ui);
+  } else if($player_died) {
+    draw_paused();
+    $death_ui.render();
+    $renderer.draw($death_ui);
   } else {
     $map_view.render();
     $renderer.draw($map_view);
diff --git a/gui.hpp b/gui.hpp
index 9a727fd..da161b8 100644
--- a/gui.hpp
+++ b/gui.hpp
@@ -47,6 +47,17 @@ struct UnDumbTSS {
   }
 };
 
+class DeathUI : public Panel {
+  public:
+  Component $render = nullptr;
+  Component $exit_button = nullptr;
+  std::string $quip = "You died like a dog.";
+
+  DeathUI() :
+    Panel(INVENTORY_PIXEL_X, INVENTORY_PIXEL_Y, INVENTORY_WIDTH, INVENTORY_HEIGHT) {}
+
+  void create_render();
+};
 
 class InventoryUI : public Panel {
   public:
@@ -105,13 +116,15 @@ class GUI {
   LightRender $lights;
   MapViewUI $map_view;
   InventoryUI $inventory_ui;
+  DeathUI $death_ui;
   Canvas $canvas;
-  bool $show_modal = false;
+  bool $inventory_open = false;
+  bool $player_died = false;
   Component $test_button;
   SoundManager $sounds;
   SFMLRender $renderer;
   UnDumbTSS $paused;
-  std::vector<Panel*> $panels;
+  std::vector<Panel*> $active_panels;
 
 public:
   GUI(DinkyECS::World& world, Map& game_map);
@@ -133,4 +146,5 @@ public:
   void pause_screen();
   void draw_paused();
   void init_shaders();
+  void toggle_modal(Panel *panel, bool &is_open_out);
 };
diff --git a/systems.cpp b/systems.cpp
index 39e9fd9..803d2c8 100644
--- a/systems.cpp
+++ b/systems.cpp
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ void System::death(DinkyECS::World &world) {
   // BUG: maybe that can be allowed and looting just shows
   // BUG: all dead things there?
   auto &collider = world.get_the<SpatialMap>();
+  auto player = world.get_the<Player>();
 
   world.query<Position, Combat>([&](const auto &ent, auto &position, auto &combat) {
     // bring out yer dead
@@ -107,8 +108,12 @@ void System::death(DinkyECS::World &world) {
       // take them out of collision map
       collider.remove(position.location);
 
-      // remove their motion so they're dead
-      world.remove<Motion>(ent);
+      if(ent == player.entity) {
+        world.send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::DEATH, ent, {});
+      } else {
+        // remove their motion so they're dead
+        world.remove<Motion>(ent);
+      }
     }
   });
 }
diff --git a/worldbuilder.cpp b/worldbuilder.cpp
index 377f374..85eb40e 100644
--- a/worldbuilder.cpp
+++ b/worldbuilder.cpp
@@ -215,7 +215,6 @@ void WorldBuilder::place_entities(DinkyECS::World &world) {
   // configure player in the world
   Player player{player_ent};
   world.set_the<Player>(player);
-  world.set<Combat>(player.entity, {100, 10});
   world.set<LightSource>(player.entity, {50,1.0});
   world.set<Inventory>(player.entity, {5});