16 files changed, 379 insertions, 230 deletions

diff --git a/engines/parallaction/dialogue.cpp b/engines/parallaction/dialogue.cpp
index 721d43fa19..7539d89368 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/dialogue.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/dialogue.cpp
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ class DialogueManager {
 	bool 			_askPassword;
 
 	bool 			isNpc;
-	Cnv				*_questioner;
-	Cnv				*_answerer;
+	Frames			*_questioner;
+	Frames			*_answerer;
 
 	Question		*_q;
 
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/disk.h b/engines/parallaction/disk.h
index d58d85e15c..6adab69f51 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/disk.h
+++ b/engines/parallaction/disk.h
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ class Gfx;
 class Script;
 class Font;
 
+struct Frames;
 struct Cnv;
+struct Sprites;
 struct BackgroundInfo;
 
 class Disk {
@@ -52,13 +54,13 @@ public:
 
 	virtual Script* loadLocation(const char *name) = 0;
 	virtual Script* loadScript(const char* name) = 0;
-	virtual Cnv* loadTalk(const char *name) = 0;
-	virtual Cnv* loadObjects(const char *name) = 0;
+	virtual Frames* loadTalk(const char *name) = 0;
+	virtual Frames* loadObjects(const char *name) = 0;
 	virtual Graphics::Surface* loadPointer(const char *name) = 0;
 	virtual Graphics::Surface* loadHead(const char* name) = 0;
 	virtual Font* loadFont(const char* name) = 0;
 	virtual Graphics::Surface* loadStatic(const char* name) = 0;
-	virtual Cnv* loadFrames(const char* name) = 0;
+	virtual Frames* loadFrames(const char* name) = 0;
 	virtual void loadSlide(BackgroundInfo& info, const char *filename) = 0;
 	virtual void loadScenery(BackgroundInfo& info, const char* background, const char* mask, const char* path) = 0;
 	virtual Table* loadTable(const char* name) = 0;
@@ -144,13 +146,13 @@ public:
 
 	Script* loadLocation(const char *name);
 	Script* loadScript(const char* name);
-	Cnv* loadTalk(const char *name);
-	Cnv* loadObjects(const char *name);
+	Frames* loadTalk(const char *name);
+	Frames* loadObjects(const char *name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadPointer(const char *name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadHead(const char* name);
 	Font* loadFont(const char* name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadStatic(const char* name);
-	Cnv* loadFrames(const char* name);
+	Frames* loadFrames(const char* name);
 	void loadSlide(BackgroundInfo& info, const char *filename);
 	void loadScenery(BackgroundInfo& info, const char* background, const char* mask, const char* path);
 	Table* loadTable(const char* name);
@@ -178,13 +180,13 @@ public:
 
 	Script* loadLocation(const char *name);
 	Script* loadScript(const char* name);
-	Cnv* loadTalk(const char *name);
-	Cnv* loadObjects(const char *name);
+	Frames* loadTalk(const char *name);
+	Frames* loadObjects(const char *name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadPointer(const char *name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadHead(const char* name);
 	Font* loadFont(const char* name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadStatic(const char* name);
-	Cnv* loadFrames(const char* name);
+	Frames* loadFrames(const char* name);
 	void loadSlide(BackgroundInfo& info, const char *filename);
 	void loadScenery(BackgroundInfo& info, const char* background, const char* mask, const char* path);
 	Table* loadTable(const char* name);
@@ -206,6 +208,7 @@ protected:
 protected:
 	void errorFileNotFound(const char *s);
 	Font *createFont(const char *name, Common::ReadStream &stream);
+	Sprites*	createSprites(const char *name);
 
 public:
 	DosDisk_br(Parallaction *vm);
@@ -215,13 +218,13 @@ public:
 	void setLanguage(uint16 language);
 	Script* loadLocation(const char *name);
 	Script* loadScript(const char* name);
-	Cnv* loadTalk(const char *name);
-	Cnv* loadObjects(const char *name);
+	Frames* loadTalk(const char *name);
+	Frames* loadObjects(const char *name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadPointer(const char *name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadHead(const char* name);
 	Font* loadFont(const char* name);
 	Graphics::Surface* loadStatic(const char* name);
-	Cnv* loadFrames(const char* name);
+	Frames* loadFrames(const char* name);
 	void loadSlide(BackgroundInfo& info, const char *filename);
 	void loadScenery(BackgroundInfo& info, const char* background, const char* mask, const char* path);
 	Table* loadTable(const char* name);
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/disk_br.cpp b/engines/parallaction/disk_br.cpp
index 4853a9fb1a..64eb6b533d 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/disk_br.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/disk_br.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,57 @@
 namespace Parallaction {
 
 
+struct Sprite {
+	uint16	size;
+	uint16	x;
+	uint16	y;
+	uint16	w;
+	uint16	h;
+
+	byte *packedData;
+
+	Sprite() : size(0), x(0), y(0), w(0), h(0), packedData(0) {
+	}
+
+	~Sprite() {
+		if (packedData)
+			free(packedData);
+	}
+};
+
+struct Sprites : public Frames {
+	uint16		_num;
+	Sprite*		_sprites;
+
+	Sprites(uint num) {
+		_num = num;
+		_sprites = new Sprite[_num];
+	}
+
+	~Sprites() {
+		delete _sprites;
+	}
+
+	uint16 getNum() {
+		return _num;
+	}
+
+	byte* getData(uint16 index) {
+		assert(index < _num);
+		return _sprites[index].packedData;
+	}
+
+	void getRect(uint16 index, Common::Rect &r) {
+		assert(index < _num);
+		r.setWidth(_sprites[index].w);
+		r.setHeight(_sprites[index].h);
+		r.moveTo(_sprites[index].x, _sprites[index].y);
+}
+
+};
+
+
+
 void DosDisk_br::errorFileNotFound(const char *s) {
 	error("File '%s' not found", s);
 }
@@ -78,10 +129,13 @@ DosDisk_br::DosDisk_br(Parallaction* vm) : _vm(vm) {
 DosDisk_br::~DosDisk_br() {
 }
 
-Cnv* DosDisk_br::loadTalk(const char *name) {
+Frames* DosDisk_br::loadTalk(const char *name) {
 	debugC(5, kDebugDisk, "DosDisk_br::loadTalk");
 
-	return 0;
+	char path[PATH_LEN];
+	sprintf(path, "%s/tal/%s.tal", _partPath, name);
+
+	return createSprites(path);
 }
 
 Script* DosDisk_br::loadLocation(const char *name) {
@@ -159,7 +213,7 @@ Font* DosDisk_br::loadFont(const char* name) {
 }
 
 
-Cnv* DosDisk_br::loadObjects(const char *name) {
+Frames* DosDisk_br::loadObjects(const char *name) {
 	debugC(5, kDebugDisk, "DosDisk_br::loadObjects");
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -173,9 +227,39 @@ Graphics::Surface* DosDisk_br::loadStatic(const char* name) {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-Cnv* DosDisk_br::loadFrames(const char* name) {
+Sprites* DosDisk_br::createSprites(const char *path) {
+
+	Common::File	stream;
+	if (!stream.open(path)) {
+		errorFileNotFound(path);
+	}
+
+	uint16 num = stream.readUint16LE();
+
+	Sprites *sprites = new Sprites(num);
+
+	for (uint i = 0; i < num; i++) {
+		Sprite *spr = &sprites->_sprites[i];
+		spr->size = stream.readUint16LE();
+		spr->x = stream.readUint16LE();
+		spr->y = stream.readUint16LE();
+		spr->w = stream.readUint16LE();
+		spr->h = stream.readUint16LE();
+
+		spr->packedData = (byte*)malloc(spr->size);
+		stream.read(spr->packedData, spr->size);
+	}
+
+	return sprites;
+}
+
+Frames* DosDisk_br::loadFrames(const char* name) {
 	debugC(5, kDebugDisk, "DosDisk_br::loadFrames");
-	return 0;
+
+	char path[PATH_LEN];
+	sprintf(path, "%s/ani/%s.ani", _partPath, name);
+
+	return createSprites(path);
 }
 
 // Slides in Nippon Safes are basically screen-sized pictures with valid
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/disk_ns.cpp b/engines/parallaction/disk_ns.cpp
index 8e71e4a6b7..cb224b713b 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/disk_ns.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/disk_ns.cpp
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ Cnv* DosDisk_ns::loadCnv(const char *filename) {
 	return new Cnv(numFrames, width, height, data);
 }
 
-Cnv* DosDisk_ns::loadTalk(const char *name) {
+Frames* DosDisk_ns::loadTalk(const char *name) {
 
 	const char *ext = strstr(name, ".talk");
 	if (ext != NULL) {
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ Font* DosDisk_ns::loadFont(const char* name) {
 }
 
 
-Cnv* DosDisk_ns::loadObjects(const char *name) {
+Frames* DosDisk_ns::loadObjects(const char *name) {
 
 	if (IS_MINI_CHARACTER(name)) {
 		name += 4;
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ Graphics::Surface* DosDisk_ns::loadStatic(const char* name) {
 	return cnv;
 }
 
-Cnv* DosDisk_ns::loadFrames(const char* name) {
+Frames* DosDisk_ns::loadFrames(const char* name) {
 	return loadCnv(name);
 }
 
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ void AmigaDisk_ns::loadSlide(BackgroundInfo& info, const char *name) {
 	return;
 }
 
-Cnv* AmigaDisk_ns::loadFrames(const char* name) {
+Frames* AmigaDisk_ns::loadFrames(const char* name) {
 	debugC(1, kDebugDisk, "AmigaDisk_ns::loadFrames '%s'", name);
 
 	Common::SeekableReadStream *s;
@@ -1338,7 +1338,7 @@ Graphics::Surface* AmigaDisk_ns::loadHead(const char* name) {
 }
 
 
-Cnv* AmigaDisk_ns::loadObjects(const char *name) {
+Frames* AmigaDisk_ns::loadObjects(const char *name) {
 	debugC(1, kDebugDisk, "AmigaDisk_ns::loadObjects");
 
 	char path[PATH_LEN];
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@ Cnv* AmigaDisk_ns::loadObjects(const char *name) {
 }
 
 
-Cnv* AmigaDisk_ns::loadTalk(const char *name) {
+Frames* AmigaDisk_ns::loadTalk(const char *name) {
 	debugC(1, kDebugDisk, "AmigaDisk_ns::loadTalk '%s'", name);
 
 	Common::SeekableReadStream *s;
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/exec_ns.cpp b/engines/parallaction/exec_ns.cpp
index 1df78da9c4..641a23b772 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/exec_ns.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/exec_ns.cpp
@@ -622,10 +622,12 @@ void jobToggleDoor(void *parm, Job *j) {
 	Zone *z = (Zone*)parm;
 
 	if (z->u.door->_cnv) {
-		Common::Rect r(z->_left, z->_top, z->_left+z->u.door->_cnv->_width, z->_top+z->u.door->_cnv->_height);
+		Common::Rect r;
+		z->u.door->_cnv->getRect(0, r);
+		r.moveTo(z->_left, z->_top);
 
 		uint16 _ax = (z->_flags & kFlagsClosed ? 1 : 0);
-		_vm->_gfx->restoreDoorBackground(r, z->u.door->_cnv->getFramePtr(_ax), z->u.door->_background);
+		_vm->_gfx->restoreDoorBackground(r, z->u.door->_cnv->getData(_ax), z->u.door->_background);
 
 		_ax = (z->_flags & kFlagsClosed ? 0 : 1);
 		_vm->_gfx->flatBlitCnv(z->u.door->_cnv, _ax, z->_left, z->_top, Gfx::kBitBack);
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/graphics.cpp b/engines/parallaction/graphics.cpp
index c142779167..1cf5216963 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/graphics.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/graphics.cpp
@@ -463,13 +463,16 @@ void jobEraseLabel(void *parm, Job *j) {
 //
 //	Cnv management
 //
-void Gfx::flatBlitCnv(Cnv *cnv, uint16 frame, int16 x, int16 y, Gfx::Buffers buffer) {
+void Gfx::flatBlitCnv(Frames *cnv, uint16 frame, int16 x, int16 y, Gfx::Buffers buffer) {
 
 	Graphics::Surface scnv;
+	Common::Rect r;
 
-	scnv.w = cnv->_width;
-	scnv.h = cnv->_height;
-	scnv.pixels = cnv->getFramePtr(frame);
+	cnv->getRect(frame, r);
+
+	scnv.w = r.width();
+	scnv.h = r.height();
+	scnv.pixels = cnv->getData(frame);
 
 	flatBlitCnv(&scnv, x, y, buffer);
 }
@@ -493,7 +496,9 @@ void Gfx::blitCnv(Graphics::Surface *cnv, int16 x, int16 y, uint16 z, Gfx::Buffe
 
 void Gfx::backupDoorBackground(DoorData *data, int16 x, int16 y) {
 	byte *s = (byte*)_buffers[kBit2]->getBasePtr(x, y);
-	copyRect(data->_cnv->_width, data->_cnv->_height, data->_background, data->_cnv->_width, s,_backgroundWidth);
+	Common::Rect r;
+	data->_cnv->getRect(0, r);
+	copyRect(r.width(), r.height(), data->_background, r.width(), s,_backgroundWidth);
 	return;
 }
 
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/graphics.h b/engines/parallaction/graphics.h
index 6082f78343..3913eebbdf 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/graphics.h
+++ b/engines/parallaction/graphics.h
@@ -72,7 +72,19 @@ public:
 
 };
 
-struct Cnv {
+
+struct Frames {
+
+	virtual uint16	getNum() = 0;
+	virtual byte*	getData(uint16 index) = 0;
+	virtual void	getRect(uint16 index, Common::Rect &r) = 0;
+
+	virtual ~Frames() { }
+
+};
+
+
+struct Cnv : public Frames {
 	uint16	_count; 	// # of frames
 	uint16	_width; 	//
 	uint16	_height;	//
@@ -99,6 +111,21 @@ public:
 			return NULL;
 		return &_data[index * _width * _height];
 	}
+
+	uint16	getNum() {
+		return _count;
+	}
+
+	byte	*getData(uint16 index) {
+		return getFramePtr(index);
+	}
+
+	void getRect(uint16 index, Common::Rect &r) {
+		r.left = 0;
+		r.top = 0;
+		r.setWidth(_width);
+		r.setHeight(_height);
+	}
 };
 
 
@@ -194,7 +221,7 @@ public:
 
 	// cut/paste
 	void flatBlitCnv(Graphics::Surface *cnv, int16 x, int16 y, Gfx::Buffers buffer);
-	void flatBlitCnv(Cnv *cnv, uint16 frame, int16 x, int16 y, Gfx::Buffers buffer);
+	void flatBlitCnv(Frames *cnv, uint16 frame, int16 x, int16 y, Gfx::Buffers buffer);
 	void blitCnv(Graphics::Surface *cnv, int16 x, int16 y, uint16 z, Gfx::Buffers buffer);
 	void restoreBackground(const Common::Rect& r);
 	void backupDoorBackground(DoorData *data, int16 x, int16 y);
@@ -268,3 +295,4 @@ protected:
 
 
 
+
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/inventory.cpp b/engines/parallaction/inventory.cpp
index 2804578c84..0a286e4204 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/inventory.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/inventory.cpp
@@ -117,9 +117,12 @@ void drawInventoryItem(uint16 pos, InventoryItem *item) {
 	uint16 line = pos / INVENTORY_ITEMS_PER_LINE;
 	uint16 col = pos % INVENTORY_ITEMS_PER_LINE;
 
+	Common::Rect r;
+	_vm->_char._objs->getRect(0, r);
+
 	// FIXME: this will end up in a general blit function
-	byte* s = _vm->_char._objs->getFramePtr(item->_index);
-	byte* d = _buffer + col * INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH + line * _vm->_char._objs->_height * INVENTORY_WIDTH;
+	byte* s = _vm->_char._objs->getData(item->_index);
+	byte* d = _buffer + col * INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH + line * r.height() * INVENTORY_WIDTH;
 	for (uint32 i = 0; i < INVENTORYITEM_HEIGHT; i++) {
 		memcpy(d, s, INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH);
 
@@ -210,8 +213,10 @@ void highlightInventoryItem(int16 pos, byte color) {
 	uint16 line = pos / INVENTORY_ITEMS_PER_LINE;
 	uint16 col = pos % INVENTORY_ITEMS_PER_LINE;
 
-	Common::Rect r(INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH, _vm->_char._objs->_height);
-	r.moveTo(col * INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH, line * _vm->_char._objs->_height);
+	Common::Rect r;
+	_vm->_char._objs->getRect(0, r);
+	r.setWidth(INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH);
+	r.moveTo(col * INVENTORYITEM_WIDTH, line * r.height());
 
 	drawBorder(r, _buffer, color);
 
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/inventory.h b/engines/parallaction/inventory.h
index 4a3e07cc97..2ca3559b8f 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/inventory.h
+++ b/engines/parallaction/inventory.h
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@
 namespace Parallaction {
 
 
-struct Cnv;
-
 struct InventoryItem {
 	uint32		_id;            // object name (lowest 16 bits are always zero)
 	uint16		_index;			// index to frame in objs file
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/objects.cpp b/engines/parallaction/objects.cpp
index add2f87b5e..195d814265 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/objects.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/objects.cpp
@@ -62,22 +62,26 @@ Animation::~Animation() {
 
 uint16 Animation::width() const {
 	if (!_cnv) return 0;
-	return _cnv->_width;
+	Common::Rect r;
+	_cnv->getRect(0, r);
+	return r.width();
 }
 
 uint16 Animation::height() const {
 	if (!_cnv) return 0;
-	return _cnv->_height;
+	Common::Rect r;
+	_cnv->getRect(0, r);
+	return r.height();
 }
 
 uint16 Animation::getFrameNum() const {
 	if (!_cnv) return 0;
-	return _cnv->_count;
+	return _cnv->getNum();
 }
 
 byte* Animation::getFrameData(uint32 index) const {
 	if (!_cnv) return NULL;
-	return _cnv->getFramePtr(index);
+	return _cnv->getData(index);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/objects.h b/engines/parallaction/objects.h
index 26c841b285..9ec906f458 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/objects.h
+++ b/engines/parallaction/objects.h
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ struct ExamineData {	// size = 28
 };
 struct DoorData {	// size = 28
 	char*	_location;
-	Cnv 	*_cnv;
+	Frames 	*_cnv;
 	byte*	_background;
 	Common::Point	_startPos;
 	uint16	_startFrame;
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ struct Animation : public Zone  {
 
 	Common::Point	_oldPos;
 	Program 	*_program;
-	Cnv 		*_cnv;
+	Frames 		*_cnv;
 	char		*_scriptName;
 	int16		_frame;
 	uint16		field_50;		// unused
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/parallaction.cpp b/engines/parallaction/parallaction.cpp
index 4a93ee968b..7d150e8813 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/parallaction.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/parallaction.cpp
@@ -89,9 +89,6 @@ uint16		_introSarcData2 = 1;
 // private stuff
 
 static Job	   *_jDrawInventory = NULL;
-Job	   *_jDrawLabel = NULL;
-Job	   *_jEraseLabel = NULL;
-Zone    *_hoverZone = NULL;
 static Job	   *_jRunScripts = NULL;
 
 
@@ -177,6 +174,10 @@ int Parallaction::init() {
 
 	initInventory();	// needs to be pushed into subclass
 
+	_jDrawLabel = NULL;
+	_jEraseLabel = NULL;
+	_hoverZone = NULL;
+
 	_animations.push_front(&_char._ani);
 	_gfx = new Gfx(this);
 
@@ -664,55 +665,7 @@ void Parallaction::freeCharacter() {
 	return;
 }
 
-void Parallaction::changeCharacter(const char *name) {
-	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeCharacter(%s)", name);
-
-	char baseName[20];
-	if (IS_MINI_CHARACTER(name)) {
-		strcpy(baseName, name+4);
-	} else {
-		strcpy(baseName, name);
-	}
-
-	char fullName[20];
-	strcpy(fullName, name);
-	if (_engineFlags & kEngineTransformedDonna)
-		strcat(fullName, "tras");
-
-	if (scumm_stricmp(fullName, _characterName1)) {
-
-		// freeCharacter takes responsibility for checking
-		// character for sanity before memory is freed
-		freeCharacter();
-
-		Common::String oldArchive = _disk->selectArchive((getFeatures() & GF_LANG_MULT) ? "disk1" : "disk0");
-		_char._ani._cnv = _disk->loadFrames(fullName);
-
-		if (!IS_DUMMY_CHARACTER(name)) {
-			if (getPlatform() == Common::kPlatformAmiga && (getFeatures() & GF_LANG_MULT))
-				_disk->selectArchive("disk0");
 
-			_char._head = _disk->loadHead(baseName);
-			_char._talk = _disk->loadTalk(baseName);
-			_char._objs = _disk->loadObjects(baseName);
-			_objectsNames = _disk->loadTable(baseName);
-
-			_soundMan->playCharacterMusic(name);
-
-			if (!(getFeatures() & GF_DEMO))
-				parseLocation("common");
-		}
-
-		if (!oldArchive.empty())
-			_disk->selectArchive(oldArchive);
-	}
-
-	strcpy(_characterName1, fullName);
-
-	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeCharacter() done");
-
-	return;
-}
 
 /*
 	helper function to provide *descending* ordering of the job list
@@ -1036,9 +989,6 @@ void Parallaction::switchBackground(const char* background, const char* mask) {
 	return;
 }
 
-extern Zone     *_hoverZone;
-extern Job     *_jDrawLabel;
-extern Job     *_jEraseLabel;
 
 void Parallaction::showSlide(const char *name) {
 
@@ -1061,131 +1011,7 @@ void Parallaction::showSlide(const char *name) {
 	return;
 }
 
-/*
-	changeLocation handles transitions between locations, and is able to display slides
-	between one and the other. The input parameter 'location' exists in some flavours:
-
-    1 - [S].slide.[L]{.[C]}
-	2 - [L]{.[C]}
-
-    where:
-
-	[S] is the slide to be shown
-    [L] is the location to switch to (immediately in case 2, or right after slide [S] in case 1)
-    [C] is the character to be selected, and is optional
-
-    The routine tells one form from the other by searching for the '.slide.'
-
-    NOTE: there exists one script in which [L] is not used in the case 1, but its use
-		  is commented out, and would definitely crash the current implementation.
-*/
-void Parallaction::changeLocation(char *location) {
-	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeLocation(%s)", location);
-
-	_soundMan->playLocationMusic(location);
-
-	// WORKAROUND: this if-statement has been added to avoid crashes caused by
-	// execution of label jobs after a location switch. The other workaround in
-	// Parallaction::runGame should have been rendered useless by this one.
-	if (_jDrawLabel != NULL) {
-		removeJob(_jDrawLabel);
-		removeJob(_jEraseLabel);
-		_jDrawLabel = NULL;
-		_jEraseLabel = NULL;
-	}
-
-
-	_hoverZone = NULL;
-	if (_engineFlags & kEngineBlockInput) {
-		changeCursor( kCursorArrow );
-	}
-
-	_animations.remove(&_char._ani);
-
-	freeLocation();
-	char buf[100];
-	strcpy(buf, location);
-
-	Common::StringList list;
-	char *tok = strtok(location, ".");
-	while (tok) {
-		list.push_back(tok);
-		tok = strtok(NULL, ".");
-	}
-
-	if (list.size() < 1 || list.size() > 4)
-		error("changeLocation: ill-formed location string '%s'", location);
-
-	if (list.size() > 1) {
-		if (list[1] == "slide") {
-			showSlide(list[0].c_str());
-			_gfx->setFont(_menuFont);
-			_gfx->displayCenteredString(14, _slideText[0]); // displays text on screen
-			_gfx->updateScreen();
-			waitUntilLeftClick();
-
-			list.remove_at(0);		// removes slide name
-			list.remove_at(0);		// removes 'slide'
-		}
-
-		// list is now only [L].{[C]} (see above comment)
-		if (list.size() == 2) {
-			changeCharacter(list[1].c_str());
-			strcpy(_characterName, list[1].c_str());
-		}
-	}
-
-	_animations.push_front(&_char._ani);
-
-	strcpy(_saveData1, list[0].c_str());
-	parseLocation(list[0].c_str());
-
-	_char._ani._oldPos.x = -1000;
-	_char._ani._oldPos.y = -1000;
-
-	_char._ani.field_50 = 0;
-	if (_location._startPosition.x != -1000) {
-		_char._ani._left = _location._startPosition.x;
-		_char._ani._top = _location._startPosition.y;
-		_char._ani._frame = _location._startFrame;
-		_location._startPosition.y = -1000;
-		_location._startPosition.x = -1000;
-	}
-
-
-	_gfx->copyScreen(Gfx::kBitBack, Gfx::kBitFront);
-	_gfx->copyScreen(Gfx::kBitBack, Gfx::kBit2);
-	_gfx->setBlackPalette();
-	_gfx->updateScreen();
-
-	if (_location._commands.size() > 0) {
-		runCommands(_location._commands);
-		runJobs();
-		_gfx->swapBuffers();
-		runJobs();
-		_gfx->swapBuffers();
-	}
-
-	if (_location._comment) {
-		doLocationEnterTransition();
-	}
-
-	runJobs();
-	_gfx->swapBuffers();
 
-	_gfx->setPalette(_gfx->_palette);
-	if (_location._aCommands.size() > 0) {
-		runCommands(_location._aCommands);
-	}
-
-	if (_hasLocationSound)
-		_soundMan->playSfx(_locationSound, 0, true);
-
-	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeLocation() done");
-
-	return;
-
-}
 
 //	displays transition before a new location
 //
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/parallaction.h b/engines/parallaction/parallaction.h
index 1fbdcd6237..4fc9f64537 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/parallaction.h
+++ b/engines/parallaction/parallaction.h
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@ struct Location {
 struct Character {
 	Animation		_ani;
 	Graphics::Surface		*_head;
-	Cnv		    	*_talk;
-	Cnv 			*_objs;
+	Frames		    *_talk;
+	Frames 			*_objs;
 	PathBuilder		_builder;
 
 	Character() : _builder(&_ani) {
@@ -381,7 +381,6 @@ public:
 
 	void 		changeCursor(int32 index);
 	void		showCursor(bool visible);
-	void 		changeCharacter(const char *name);
 
 
 	Job 		*addJob(JobFn fn, void *parm, uint16 tag);
@@ -501,6 +500,9 @@ protected:		// data
 
 	BackgroundInfo	*_backgroundInfo;
 
+	Job	   *_jDrawLabel;
+	Job	   *_jEraseLabel;
+	Zone    *_hoverZone;
 
 protected:		// members
 	bool detectGame(void);
@@ -519,7 +521,8 @@ protected:		// members
 	void		doSaveGame(uint16 slot, const char* name);
 
 	void		doLocationEnterTransition();
-	void		changeLocation(char *location);
+	virtual void changeLocation(char *location) = 0;
+	virtual void changeCharacter(const char *name) = 0;
 	void		allocateLocationSlot(const char *name);
 	void 		finalizeLocationParsing();
 	void 		switchBackground(const char* background, const char* mask);
@@ -580,6 +583,9 @@ private:
 	void freeFonts();
 
 private:
+	void changeLocation(char *location);
+	void changeCharacter(const char *name);
+
 	void initResources();
 	void initCursors();
 
@@ -833,6 +839,8 @@ private:
 	void 		initOpcodes();
 	void 		initParsers();
 
+	void 		changeLocation(char *location);
+	void		changeCharacter(const char *name);
 
 	void		initPart();
 	void		freePart();
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/parallaction_br.cpp b/engines/parallaction/parallaction_br.cpp
index 3fd56b80aa..31b2793090 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/parallaction_br.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/parallaction_br.cpp
@@ -349,5 +349,13 @@ void Parallaction_br::startPart() {
 
 }
 
+void Parallaction_br::changeLocation(char *location) {
+
+}
+
+void Parallaction_br::changeCharacter(const char *name) {
+
+}
+
 
 } // namespace Parallaction
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/parallaction_ns.cpp b/engines/parallaction/parallaction_ns.cpp
index 2a82002f24..db0cdf84e7 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/parallaction_ns.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/parallaction_ns.cpp
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ void Parallaction_ns::setMousePointer(int16 index) {
 		byte *v8 = (byte*)_mouseComposedArrow->pixels;
 
 		// FIXME: destination offseting is not clear
-		byte* s = _char._objs->getFramePtr(getInventoryItemIndex(index));
+		byte* s = _char._objs->getData(getInventoryItemIndex(index));
 		byte* d = v8 + 7 + MOUSECOMBO_WIDTH * 7;
 
 		for (uint i = 0; i < INVENTORYITEM_HEIGHT; i++) {
@@ -208,5 +208,180 @@ int Parallaction_ns::go() {
 }
 
 
+/*
+	changeLocation handles transitions between locations, and is able to display slides
+	between one and the other. The input parameter 'location' exists in some flavours:
+
+    1 - [S].slide.[L]{.[C]}
+	2 - [L]{.[C]}
+
+    where:
+
+	[S] is the slide to be shown
+    [L] is the location to switch to (immediately in case 2, or right after slide [S] in case 1)
+    [C] is the character to be selected, and is optional
+
+    The routine tells one form from the other by searching for the '.slide.'
+
+    NOTE: there exists one script in which [L] is not used in the case 1, but its use
+		  is commented out, and would definitely crash the current implementation.
+*/
+void Parallaction_ns::changeLocation(char *location) {
+	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeLocation(%s)", location);
+
+	_soundMan->playLocationMusic(location);
+
+	// WORKAROUND: this if-statement has been added to avoid crashes caused by
+	// execution of label jobs after a location switch. The other workaround in
+	// Parallaction::runGame should have been rendered useless by this one.
+	if (_jDrawLabel != NULL) {
+		removeJob(_jDrawLabel);
+		removeJob(_jEraseLabel);
+		_jDrawLabel = NULL;
+		_jEraseLabel = NULL;
+	}
+
+
+	_hoverZone = NULL;
+	if (_engineFlags & kEngineBlockInput) {
+		changeCursor( kCursorArrow );
+	}
+
+	_animations.remove(&_char._ani);
+
+	freeLocation();
+	char buf[100];
+	strcpy(buf, location);
+
+	Common::StringList list;
+	char *tok = strtok(location, ".");
+	while (tok) {
+		list.push_back(tok);
+		tok = strtok(NULL, ".");
+	}
+
+	if (list.size() < 1 || list.size() > 4)
+		error("changeLocation: ill-formed location string '%s'", location);
+
+	if (list.size() > 1) {
+		if (list[1] == "slide") {
+			showSlide(list[0].c_str());
+			_gfx->setFont(_menuFont);
+			_gfx->displayCenteredString(14, _slideText[0]); // displays text on screen
+			_gfx->updateScreen();
+			waitUntilLeftClick();
+
+			list.remove_at(0);		// removes slide name
+			list.remove_at(0);		// removes 'slide'
+		}
+
+		// list is now only [L].{[C]} (see above comment)
+		if (list.size() == 2) {
+			changeCharacter(list[1].c_str());
+			strcpy(_characterName, list[1].c_str());
+		}
+	}
+
+	_animations.push_front(&_char._ani);
+
+	strcpy(_saveData1, list[0].c_str());
+	parseLocation(list[0].c_str());
+
+	_char._ani._oldPos.x = -1000;
+	_char._ani._oldPos.y = -1000;
+
+	_char._ani.field_50 = 0;
+	if (_location._startPosition.x != -1000) {
+		_char._ani._left = _location._startPosition.x;
+		_char._ani._top = _location._startPosition.y;
+		_char._ani._frame = _location._startFrame;
+		_location._startPosition.y = -1000;
+		_location._startPosition.x = -1000;
+	}
+
+
+	_gfx->copyScreen(Gfx::kBitBack, Gfx::kBitFront);
+	_gfx->copyScreen(Gfx::kBitBack, Gfx::kBit2);
+	_gfx->setBlackPalette();
+	_gfx->updateScreen();
+
+	if (_location._commands.size() > 0) {
+		runCommands(_location._commands);
+		runJobs();
+		_gfx->swapBuffers();
+		runJobs();
+		_gfx->swapBuffers();
+	}
+
+	if (_location._comment) {
+		doLocationEnterTransition();
+	}
+
+	runJobs();
+	_gfx->swapBuffers();
+
+	_gfx->setPalette(_gfx->_palette);
+	if (_location._aCommands.size() > 0) {
+		runCommands(_location._aCommands);
+	}
+
+	if (_hasLocationSound)
+		_soundMan->playSfx(_locationSound, 0, true);
+
+	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeLocation() done");
+
+	return;
+
+}
+
+void Parallaction_ns::changeCharacter(const char *name) {
+	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeCharacter(%s)", name);
+
+	char baseName[20];
+	if (IS_MINI_CHARACTER(name)) {
+		strcpy(baseName, name+4);
+	} else {
+		strcpy(baseName, name);
+	}
+
+	char fullName[20];
+	strcpy(fullName, name);
+	if (_engineFlags & kEngineTransformedDonna)
+		strcat(fullName, "tras");
+
+	if (scumm_stricmp(fullName, _characterName1)) {
+
+		// freeCharacter takes responsibility for checking
+		// character for sanity before memory is freed
+		freeCharacter();
+
+		Common::String oldArchive = _disk->selectArchive((getFeatures() & GF_LANG_MULT) ? "disk1" : "disk0");
+		_char._ani._cnv = _disk->loadFrames(fullName);
+
+		if (!IS_DUMMY_CHARACTER(name)) {
+			if (getPlatform() == Common::kPlatformAmiga && (getFeatures() & GF_LANG_MULT))
+				_disk->selectArchive("disk0");
+
+			_char._head = _disk->loadHead(baseName);
+			_char._talk = _disk->loadTalk(baseName);
+			_char._objs = _disk->loadObjects(baseName);
+			_objectsNames = _disk->loadTable(baseName);
+
+			_soundMan->playCharacterMusic(name);
+
+			if (!(getFeatures() & GF_DEMO))
+				parseLocation("common");
+		}
+
+		if (!oldArchive.empty())
+			_disk->selectArchive(oldArchive);
+	}
+
+	strcpy(_characterName1, fullName);
+
+	debugC(1, kDebugLocation, "changeCharacter() done");
+
+	return;
+}
 
 } // namespace Parallaction
diff --git a/engines/parallaction/parser_ns.cpp b/engines/parallaction/parser_ns.cpp
index 1956e7cb03..e3ee3157fb 100644
--- a/engines/parallaction/parser_ns.cpp
+++ b/engines/parallaction/parser_ns.cpp
@@ -1234,7 +1234,10 @@ void Parallaction_ns::parseZoneTypeBlock(Script &script, Zone *z) {
 				u->door->_cnv = _disk->loadFrames(vC8);
 				uint16 _ax = (z->_flags & kFlagsClosed ? 0 : 1);
 
-				u->door->_background = (byte*)malloc(u->door->_cnv->_width * u->door->_cnv->_height);
+				Common::Rect r;
+				u->door->_cnv->getRect(0, r);
+
+				u->door->_background = (byte*)malloc(r.width() * r.height());
 				_gfx->backupDoorBackground(u->door, z->_left, z->_top);
 
 				_gfx->flatBlitCnv(u->door->_cnv, _ax, z->_left, z->_top, Gfx::kBitBack);