diff --git a/src/game/game.ts b/src/game/game.ts
index 2509745..01ce12b 100644
--- a/src/game/game.ts
+++ b/src/game/game.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ interface Save {
   daily?: Record<string, number>;
   /** The regulars remember: per-customer visit count and how last time went. */
   customers?: Record<string, { visits: number; last: Grade; best: number }>;
+  /** Days S-graded under the Inspector's Shadow — no words, face and sound only. */
+  shadowed?: Record<string, boolean>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -90,6 +92,8 @@ export class Game {
   private dailyDate: string | null = null;
   /** A demonstration is playing — the judge performs, nothing counts. */
   private demoMode = false;
+  /** The Inspector's Shadow: the kitchen's words go dark; you cook by eye and ear. */
+  private shadowMode = false;
   private demoSnapshot: string | null = null;
   private rng = new Rng(20260716);
   private order!: Order;
@@ -230,8 +234,9 @@ export class Game {
     this.kitchen.root.visible = false;
     this.ticket.hide();
     eye.hide(); // he doesn't watch you read the menu
-    new Title(this.save, (day) => {
+    new Title(this.save, (day, shadow) => {
       audio.resume();
+      this.shadowMode = !!shadow;
       if (day === 'daily') {
         this.startDaily();
         return;
@@ -617,6 +622,7 @@ export class Game {
 
   beginDay(): void {
     eye.show(); // he watches you cook
+    document.body.classList.toggle('shadow', this.shadowMode);
     const day = this.save.day;
     // Procedural days are seeded BY the day, not by a running stream: a reload
     // re-deals the identical order (no reroll-scumming), and the harness can
@@ -1009,6 +1015,10 @@ export class Game {
     c.last = v.grade;
     c.best = Math.max(c.best, v.total);
     book[who] = c;
+    if (this.shadowMode && v.grade === 'S') {
+      (this.save.shadowed ??= {})[`day${this.order.day}`] = true;
+      extras.push('In the silence, too. I have nothing left to teach you. \u2605');
+    }
     if (this.dailyDate) {
       const d = (this.save.daily ??= {});
       d[this.dailyDate] = Math.max(d[this.dailyDate] ?? 0, v.total);
@@ -1154,7 +1164,7 @@ function loadSave(): Save {
     if (raw) {
       const s = JSON.parse(raw) as Partial<Save>;
       if (typeof s.day === 'number' && s.day >= 1) {
-        return { day: s.day, maxDay: Math.max(s.day, s.maxDay ?? s.day), total: s.total ?? 0, best: s.best ?? {}, fridge: s.fridge, streak: s.streak ?? 0, customers: s.customers ?? {}, daily: s.daily ?? {} };
+        return { day: s.day, maxDay: Math.max(s.day, s.maxDay ?? s.day), total: s.total ?? 0, best: s.best ?? {}, fridge: s.fridge, streak: s.streak ?? 0, customers: s.customers ?? {}, daily: s.daily ?? {}, shadowed: s.shadowed ?? {} };
       }
     }
   } catch {
diff --git a/src/style.css b/src/style.css
index c7bc2fe..1bb96ae 100644
--- a/src/style.css
+++ b/src/style.css
@@ -718,3 +718,17 @@ canvas#c {
   color: #6d4a1c;
   font-weight: 700;
 }
+
+/* THE INSPECTOR'S SHADOW: the kitchen's words go dark. The ticket (the ask)
+   and the controls hint survive - but no state words, no wobble words, no
+   gauges. The face in the corner and the sound are the whole read. */
+body.shadow .slicer-thick,
+body.shadow .slicer-wobble,
+body.shadow .gauge,
+body.shadow .load {
+  visibility: hidden;
+}
+.shadow-btn.on {
+  border-color: #b98f4e;
+  color: #e8c98a;
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/title.ts b/src/ui/title.ts
index 48f7c6f..5cc8e33 100644
--- a/src/ui/title.ts
+++ b/src/ui/title.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ export class Title {
   private panel: Panel;
 
   constructor(
-    save: { day: number; maxDay: number; best: Record<string, number> },
-    onStart: (day?: number | 'daily') => void,
+    save: { day: number; maxDay: number; best: Record<string, number>; shadowed?: Record<string, boolean> },
+    onStart: (day?: number | 'daily', shadow?: boolean) => void,
   ) {
     this.panel = new Panel('title');
     const wrap = el('div', 'title-wrap', this.panel.root);
@@ -24,9 +24,10 @@ export class Title {
     el('h1', undefined, txt, 'TOASTSIM');
     el('p', 'title-sub', txt, 'Bread goes in. You are judged.');
     const btn = el('button', 'btn', txt, save.day > 1 ? `RESUME — DAY ${save.day}` : 'START DAY 1');
+    let shadow = false;
     const go = (day?: number | 'daily') => {
       this.panel.dispose();
-      onStart(day);
+      onStart(day, shadow);
     };
     btn.addEventListener('click', () => go());
     const today = new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10);
@@ -34,6 +35,17 @@ export class Title {
     const daily = el('button', 'btn ghost daily-btn', txt, dailyBest !== undefined ? `THE DAILY ✓ ${dailyBest.toFixed(1)}` : 'THE DAILY — same deal for everyone');
     daily.addEventListener('click', () => go('daily'));
 
+    // Hard mode, earned: once you've pulled an S he offers to stop talking.
+    // No words on the bench — you cook by the face, the sound, the food.
+    if (Object.values(save.best).some((b) => gradeOf(b) === 'S')) {
+      const sh = el('button', 'btn ghost shadow-btn', txt, "THE INSPECTOR'S SHADOW — he says nothing");
+      sh.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        shadow = !shadow;
+        sh.classList.toggle('on', shadow);
+        sh.textContent = shadow ? "THE INSPECTOR'S SHADOW — armed. no words today" : "THE INSPECTOR'S SHADOW — he says nothing";
+      });
+    }
+
     // The day ledger: one chip per reached day, best grade underneath. Click to
     // replay it (progress never regresses — maxDay remembers how far you got).
     if (save.maxDay > 1) {
@@ -44,7 +56,8 @@ export class Title {
         el('span', 'day-num', chip, String(d));
         const bestScore = save.best[`day${d}`];
         const grade = bestScore !== undefined ? gradeOf(bestScore) : null;
-        const g = el('span', `day-grade${grade ? ` grade-${grade}` : ''}`, chip, grade ?? '·');
+        const star = save.shadowed?.[`day${d}`] ? '★' : '';
+        const g = el('span', `day-grade${grade ? ` grade-${grade}` : ''}`, chip, (grade ?? '·') + star);
         void g;
         chip.title = bestScore !== undefined ? `day ${d} — best ${bestScore.toFixed(1)}/10` : `day ${d} — not judged yet`;
         chip.addEventListener('click', () => go(d));