diff --git a/scripts/sloth.in b/scripts/sloth.in
index d94e19e..225cef5 100644
--- a/scripts/sloth.in
+++ b/scripts/sloth.in
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
    (arguments
 	(list
 	 (argument (name 'file)
-			   (test file-exists?)
+			   (default "")
+			   (test string?)
 			   (synopsis "The file to open")
 			   (example "./file.txt"))))
    (directory (in-home ".config/"))
@@ -44,27 +45,7 @@
   "(Listof String) -> Int
 program entrypoint; handle commandline args and call appropriate procedures"
   (define options (getopt-config-auto args %configuration))
-  (display (full-command options))
-  (newline)
-  (init-screen)
-  (let test-loop ()
-    (let ((ch (getch screen))
-	  (yx (getyx screen)))
-      (cond
-       ((eq? #\backspace ch) (begin
-			       (delch screen)))
-       ((eq? KEY_LEFT ch) (move screen (car yx) (- (cadr yx) 1)))
-       ((eq? KEY_RIGHT ch) (move screen (car yx) (+ (cadr yx) 1)))
-       ((eq? KEY_UP ch) (move screen (- (car yx) 1) (cadr yx)))
-       ((eq? KEY_DOWN ch) (move screen (+ (car yx) 1) (cadr yx)))
-       ((char? ch) (insert-char ch))))
-    (test-loop))
-  #;
-  (match (full-command options)			;
-  ((_ file)								;
-  (open file))							;
-  ((_)									;
-  (new-instance))))
+  (core-loop))
 
 ;;; Local Variables:
 ;;; mode: scheme
diff --git a/sloth/editor.scm b/sloth/editor.scm
index 24e69c3..b890f79 100644
--- a/sloth/editor.scm
+++ b/sloth/editor.scm
@@ -1,9 +1,28 @@
 (define-module (sloth editor)
+  #:use-module (sloth interface)
   #:use-module (ncurses curses)
   #:use-module (ts)
-  #:use-module (sloth interface)
-  #:export (insert-char))
+  #:export (core-loop))
 
-(define (insert-char c)
-  (addch screen (normal c))
-  (refresh screen))
+(define* (core-loop #:optional (win (init-win)))
+  (define y (getcury win))
+  (define x (getcurx win))
+  (define ch (getch win))
+  (cond
+   ((eqv? ch KEY_BACKSPACE)
+	(delch win #:y y #:x (- x 1)))
+   ((eqv? ch KEY_DC)
+	(delch win))
+   ((eqv? ch KEY_LEFT)
+	(move win y (- x 1)))
+   ((eqv? ch KEY_RIGHT)
+	(move win y (+ x 1)))
+   ((eqv? ch KEY_UP)
+	(move win (- y 1) x))
+   ((eqv? ch KEY_DOWN)
+	(move win (+ y 1) x))
+   ((eqv? ch #\q)
+	(endwin)
+	(quit))
+   (else (echochar win (normal ch))))
+  (core-loop win))
diff --git a/sloth/interface.scm b/sloth/interface.scm
index 9d43e6a..8590b90 100644
--- a/sloth/interface.scm
+++ b/sloth/interface.scm
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 (define-module (sloth interface)
   #:use-module (ncurses curses)
-  #:export (screen
-	    init-screen))
+  #:export (init-win))
 
-(define screen '())
-
-(define (init-screen)
-  (set! screen (initscr))
+(define (init-win)
+  (define win (initscr))
   (raw!)
   (noecho!)
-  (keypad! screen #t))
+  (keypad! win #t)
+  win)