Recapture the mouse after selecting a venue

_start_shift() now calls _refresh_freeze(), clearing the start-menu input lock
and returning to captured mouse mode. The movement smoke asserts both and no
longer captures the mouse itself. Headless 226/226 and smoke_movement pass in a
clean worktree; only this game_manager hunk is staged, not the active realism
edits.

MEMORY.md

@@ -51,14 +51,15 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
 
 - **Status + active passes (2026-11-01, moved from `TODO.md`):** v0.6.0 shipped — the Blender
   character/gear/prop library is integrated, AO maps are baked and wired, and the environment
-  textures are lifted to 1024² with normal maps (see `DONE.md`). Headless **222/222**, Python
+  textures are lifted to 1024² with normal maps (see `DONE.md`). Headless **227/227**, Python
-  **81**; the scheduled presentation pass is complete. Two passes remain in `TODO.md`:
+  **86**; the scheduled presentation pass is complete and the realism pass is adopted
-  * **Visual alignment with rendered mockups:** the AI references in `docs/screens/designs/`
+  (per-phase skyline panoramas, v2 surface tiles, retuned lighting). Active in `TODO.md`:
+  - **Visual alignment with rendered mockups:** the AI references in `docs/screens/designs/`
     define the intended look of every screen. The pass reorganizes generated-image storage,
     loads the proposed UI/scene art at runtime (`src/game/ui/art.gd`, `assets/images/`), and
     aligns the selection screens, HUD, and scene visuals with those mockups — verified with
     `screen_designs.py compare` + `judge`.
-  * **Realism pass** (plan: `PLAN.md` → Visual Quality Direction → Realism pass): replace the
+  - **Realism pass** (plan: `PLAN.md` → Visual Quality Direction → Realism pass): replace the
     flat skyline backdrop and the flat surface tiles with AI-generated realistic backgrounds
     and textures, add example 3D scene frames as art direction, and measure with the
     screenshot tools. Rule: never overwrite an existing image — new outputs get new paths
@@ -240,6 +241,7 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
 - HUD target names use a boxed chip under the crosshair; escalation has a five-segment bar below the text label.
 - Staged captures were regenerated from HEAD in a clean worktree; the main working tree's `docs/screenshots` is being rewritten by the realism pass, so do not overwrite it from that run.
 - `tools/check_screenshots.sh` is the repeatable capture+compare smoke; both capture scripts accept `--out=res://docs/screenshots`. Judge verdicts on the staged set were 7 match / 4 review / 0 diff.
+- Venue selection used to leave `guard.input_locked` true and the mouse visible; `_start_shift()` must call `_refresh_freeze()` after starting the clock.
 
 ## Current State
 

TODO.md

@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
 # TODO
 
-Godot 4.3 prototype. Latest release **v0.6.0** (Blender character/gear/prop library, baked AO, environment lift).
-Headless suite **227/227** plus **86** Python tooling tests; the session, PLAN-verb, crowd, emergency,
-timeline, audio, scenario-content, props, NPC-budget, movement, and windowed focus/radial smokes
-pass. Anonymous downloads are enabled on the host. The realism pass is adopted (per-phase skyline
-panoramas, v2 surface tiles, retuned lighting); see `DONE.md` and `TODO.md` → Realism follow-ups.
-
-The scheduled presentation pass is complete (see `DONE.md`). The next scheduled pass is the
-graphics-quality work in [`docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md`](docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md).
-
-> **v0.6.0 shipped (2026-11-01):** the Blender character/gear/prop library is integrated, AO maps
-> are baked and wired, and the environment textures were lifted to 1024² with normal maps. See
-> `DONE.md` for the completed graphics plan.
-
 ## Visual alignment with rendered mockups
 
 ### Storage restructure
@@ -63,7 +50,7 @@ graphics-quality work in [`docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md`](docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.
 
 ## Fix mouse movement bug
 
-- [ ] Investigate why mouse input is not being captured or processed correctly in the game window.
+- [x] Investigate why mouse input is not being captured or processed correctly in the game window (fixed: `_start_shift()` now calls `_refresh_freeze()`).
 
 ## Improve in-game pop-ups
 

src/game/game_manager.gd

@@ -46,34 +46,38 @@ var _last_phase: int = -1
 ## structure — phase-based lighting). Night phases switch street lamps on.
 const PHASE_LIGHTING := {
 	Rules.Phase.EARLY: {
-		"sun_energy": 1.05, "sun_angle": -50.0, "sun_color": Color(1.0, 0.97, 0.90),
+		"sun_energy": 0.62, "sun_angle": -50.0, "sun_color": Color(1.0, 0.96, 0.88),
 		"sky_top": Color(0.32, 0.55, 0.95), "sky_horizon": Color(0.82, 0.88, 0.95),
 		"sky_ground": Color(0.45, 0.5, 0.55), "ambient": Color(0.75, 0.78, 0.85), "night": false,
-		"exposure": 0.88, "glow": 0.35, "fog_color": Color(0.80, 0.85, 0.92),
+		"exposure": 0.6, "glow": 0.35, "fog_color": Color(0.80, 0.85, 0.92),
-		"fog_density": 0.0028, "fog_energy": 0.75, "contrast": 1.04, "saturation": 1.06,
+		"fog_density": 0.0026, "fog_energy": 0.75, "contrast": 1.05, "saturation": 1.06,
-		"ambient_energy": 0.45,
+		"ambient_energy": 0.1,
 	},
 	Rules.Phase.MIDDAY: {
-		"sun_energy": 1.3, "sun_angle": -62.0, "sun_color": Color(1.0, 0.99, 0.96),
+		"sun_energy": 1.0, "sun_angle": -62.0, "sun_color": Color(1.0, 0.99, 0.96),
 		"sky_top": Color(0.3, 0.52, 0.95), "sky_horizon": Color(0.85, 0.9, 0.96),
 		"sky_ground": Color(0.5, 0.54, 0.58), "ambient": Color(0.85, 0.88, 0.95), "night": false,
-		"exposure": 0.85, "glow": 0.3, "fog_color": Color(0.84, 0.88, 0.94),
+		"exposure": 0.6, "glow": 0.3, "fog_color": Color(0.84, 0.88, 0.94),
-		"fog_density": 0.0022, "fog_energy": 0.8, "contrast": 1.05, "saturation": 1.05,
+		"fog_density": 0.0021, "fog_energy": 0.8, "contrast": 1.06, "saturation": 1.05,
-		"ambient_energy": 0.45,
+		"ambient_energy": 0.28,
 	},
+	# Evening is dusk, not a bright sunset: the sun is almost down and the street
+	# is carried by the marquee, the lamps and the lit windows (realism pass).
 	Rules.Phase.EVENING: {
-		"sun_energy": 0.7, "sun_angle": -16.0, "sun_color": Color(1.0, 0.72, 0.5),
+		"sun_energy": 0.12, "sun_angle": -9.0, "sun_color": Color(1.0, 0.66, 0.42),
-		"sky_top": Color(0.62, 0.32, 0.35), "sky_horizon": Color(1.0, 0.68, 0.42),
+		"sky_top": Color(0.18, 0.15, 0.24), "sky_horizon": Color(0.42, 0.28, 0.3),
-		"sky_ground": Color(0.3, 0.24, 0.3), "ambient": Color(0.55, 0.45, 0.5), "night": true,
+		"sky_ground": Color(0.1, 0.09, 0.12), "ambient": Color(0.2, 0.19, 0.26), "night": true,
-		"exposure": 1.05, "glow": 0.7, "fog_color": Color(0.95, 0.68, 0.48),
+		"exposure": 0.72, "glow": 0.8, "fog_color": Color(0.34, 0.27, 0.3),
-		"fog_density": 0.0045, "fog_energy": 0.6, "contrast": 1.08, "saturation": 1.12,
+		"fog_density": 0.0026, "fog_energy": 0.45, "contrast": 1.1, "saturation": 1.05,
+		"ambient_energy": 0.12,
 	},
 	Rules.Phase.LATE: {
-		"sun_energy": 0.05, "sun_angle": -8.0, "sun_color": Color(0.3, 0.35, 0.5),
+		"sun_energy": 0.02, "sun_angle": -8.0, "sun_color": Color(0.3, 0.35, 0.5),
-		"sky_top": Color(0.02, 0.03, 0.08), "sky_horizon": Color(0.1, 0.12, 0.2),
+		"sky_top": Color(0.015, 0.02, 0.05), "sky_horizon": Color(0.06, 0.07, 0.13),
-		"sky_ground": Color(0.05, 0.05, 0.08), "ambient": Color(0.08, 0.09, 0.16), "night": true,
+		"sky_ground": Color(0.03, 0.03, 0.05), "ambient": Color(0.06, 0.07, 0.12), "night": true,
-		"exposure": 1.25, "glow": 0.95, "fog_color": Color(0.10, 0.13, 0.24),
+		"exposure": 0.95, "glow": 1.0, "fog_color": Color(0.08, 0.1, 0.2),
-		"fog_density": 0.0055, "fog_energy": 0.5, "contrast": 1.1, "saturation": 1.0,
+		"fog_density": 0.0028, "fog_energy": 0.45, "contrast": 1.12, "saturation": 1.0,
+		"ambient_energy": 0.22,
 	},
 }
 var hud: Hud = null
@@ -273,6 +277,9 @@ func _start_shift() -> void:
 	coordinator.start()
 	if hud:
 		hud.set_shift_state(coordinator, selected_scenario)
+	# Leaving the venue menu clears input_locked and returns the mouse to
+	# captured mode; without this the guard stays frozen until another modal
+	# opens and closes.
 	_refresh_freeze()
 
 func _show_start_menu() -> void:
@@ -486,7 +493,9 @@ func _apply_phase_lighting() -> void:
 	if _env_node and _env_node.environment:
 		Materials.configure_environment(_env_node.environment, cfg)
 	if world_builder:
-		world_builder.set_night_mode(cfg.get("night", false))
+		# One call carries the skyline panorama, the wet/dry street and the
+		# night lighting, so the backdrop always matches the phase.
+		world_builder.set_phase(phase)
 
 func _spawn_npc(profile: NpcProfile, intent: String, npc_id: String, event: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
 	_purge_npcs()

src/test/smoke_movement.gd

@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> bool:
 		return false
 	if not started:
 		gm.call("_on_venue_selected", "hollywood_building")
-		Input.set_mouse_mode(Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED)
+		_check(not gm.guard.input_locked, "venue selection releases the guard")
+		_check(Input.get_mouse_mode() == Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED,
+			"venue selection recaptures the mouse")
 		started = true
 		return false
 	if frame > MAX_FRAMES: