diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index d9c148058..00228be82 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ repos:
       args: ['--fix=lf']
     - id: trailing-whitespace
 - repo: https://github.com/python-jsonschema/check-jsonschema
-  rev: 0.26.3
+  rev: 0.27.0
   hooks:
     - id: check-github-workflows
 - repo: https://github.com/Lucas-C/pre-commit-hooks
diff --git a/ci/test.lua b/ci/test.lua
index 372d8f262..9a7c0d345 100644
--- a/ci/test.lua
+++ b/ci/test.lua
@@ -222,9 +222,6 @@ local function click_top_title_button(scr)
         df.global.gps.mouse_y = (sh // 2) + 3
     end
     df.global.gps.precise_mouse_y = df.global.gps.mouse_y * df.global.gps.tile_pixel_y
-    df.global.enabler.tracking_on = 1
-    df.global.enabler.mouse_lbut = 1
-    df.global.enabler.mouse_lbut_down = 1
     gui.simulateInput(scr, '_MOUSE_L')
 end
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 3c6cc2e73..ee608652c 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 # Future
 
 ## New Tools
+- `spectate`: automatically follow productive dwarves (returned to availability)
 - `preserve-tombs`: tracks tomb assignments to living units and ensures that the tomb stays assigned to them when they die.
 
 ## New Features
diff --git a/docs/dev/Lua API.rst b/docs/dev/Lua API.rst
index 6eeb2dbe7..49f0b3633 100644
--- a/docs/dev/Lua API.rst	
+++ b/docs/dev/Lua API.rst	
@@ -3952,6 +3952,14 @@ Misc
   of keycodes to *true* or *false*. For instance, it is possible to use the
   table passed as argument to ``onInput``.
 
+  You can send mouse clicks as will by setting the ``_MOUSE_L`` key or other
+  mouse-related pseudo-keys documented with the ``screen:onInput(keys)``
+  function above. Note that if you are simulating a click at a specific spot on
+  the screen, you must set ``df.global.gps.mouse_x`` and
+  ``df.global.gps.mouse_y`` if you are clicking on the interface layer or
+  ``df.global.gps.precise_mouse_x`` and ``df.global.gps.precise_mouse_y`` if
+  you are clicking on the map.
+
 * ``mkdims_xy(x1,y1,x2,y2)``
 
   Returns a table containing the arguments as fields, and also ``width`` and
diff --git a/docs/plugins/spectate.rst b/docs/plugins/spectate.rst
index 95ce852ae..f54d68142 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/spectate.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/spectate.rst
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ spectate
 
 .. dfhack-tool::
     :summary: Automatically follow productive dwarves.
-    :tags: unavailable fort interface
+    :tags: fort interface
 
 Usage
 -----
diff --git a/library/include/modules/Screen.h b/library/include/modules/Screen.h
index 681398f89..96f1f6642 100644
--- a/library/include/modules/Screen.h
+++ b/library/include/modules/Screen.h
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ namespace DFHack
         virtual ~dfhack_lua_viewscreen();
 
         static df::viewscreen *get_pointer(lua_State *L, int idx, bool make);
+        static void markInputAsHandled();
 
         virtual bool is_lua_screen() { return true; }
         virtual bool isFocused() { return !defocused; }
diff --git a/library/lua/gui.lua b/library/lua/gui.lua
index ba49e0cdc..bb29124a5 100644
--- a/library/lua/gui.lua
+++ b/library/lua/gui.lua
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ TRANSPARENT_PEN = to_pen{tile=0, ch=0}
 KEEP_LOWER_PEN = to_pen{ch=32, fg=0, bg=0, keep_lower=true}
 
 local MOUSE_KEYS = {
-    _MOUSE_L = true,
-    _MOUSE_R = true,
+    _MOUSE_L = function(is_set) df.global.enabler.mouse_lbut = is_set and 1 or 0 end,
+    _MOUSE_R = function(is_set) df.global.enabler.mouse_rbut = is_set and 1 or 0 end,
     _MOUSE_M = true,
     _MOUSE_L_DOWN = true,
     _MOUSE_R_DOWN = true,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ local FAKE_INPUT_KEYS = copyall(MOUSE_KEYS)
 FAKE_INPUT_KEYS._STRING = true
 
 function simulateInput(screen,...)
-    local keys = {}
+    local keys, enabled_mouse_keys = {}, {}
     local function push_key(arg)
         local kv = arg
         if type(arg) == 'string' then
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ function simulateInput(screen,...)
             if kv == nil and not FAKE_INPUT_KEYS[arg] then
                 error('Invalid keycode: '..arg)
             end
+            if MOUSE_KEYS[arg] then
+                df.global.enabler.tracking_on = 1
+                enabled_mouse_keys[arg] = true
+            end
         end
         if type(kv) == 'number' then
             keys[#keys+1] = kv
@@ -57,6 +61,11 @@ function simulateInput(screen,...)
             end
         end
     end
+    for mk, fn in pairs(MOUSE_KEYS) do
+        if type(fn) == 'function' then
+            fn(enabled_mouse_keys[mk])
+        end
+    end
     dscreen._doSimulateInput(screen, keys)
 end
 
@@ -696,17 +705,6 @@ end
 
 DEFAULT_INITIAL_PAUSE = true
 
--- ensure underlying DF screens don't also react to handled clicks
-function markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
-    if keys._MOUSE_L then
-        df.global.enabler.mouse_lbut = 0
-    end
-    if keys._MOUSE_R then
-        df.global.enabler.mouse_rbut_down = 0
-        df.global.enabler.mouse_rbut = 0
-    end
-end
-
 ZScreen = defclass(ZScreen, Screen)
 ZScreen.ATTRS{
     defocusable=true,
@@ -791,23 +789,17 @@ function ZScreen:onInput(keys)
             self:raise()
         else
             self:sendInputToParent(keys)
-            return
+            return true
         end
     end
 
     if ZScreen.super.onInput(self, keys) then
-        markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
-        return
-    end
-
-    if self.pass_mouse_clicks and keys._MOUSE_L and not has_mouse then
+        -- noop
+    elseif self.pass_mouse_clicks and keys._MOUSE_L and not has_mouse then
         self.defocused = self.defocusable
         self:sendInputToParent(keys)
-        return
     elseif keys.LEAVESCREEN or keys._MOUSE_R then
         self:dismiss()
-        markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
-        return
     else
         local passit = self.pass_pause and keys.D_PAUSE
         if not passit and self.pass_mouse_clicks then
@@ -829,8 +821,8 @@ function ZScreen:onInput(keys)
         if passit then
             self:sendInputToParent(keys)
         end
-        return
     end
+    return true
 end
 
 function ZScreen:raise()
diff --git a/library/lua/gui/dialogs.lua b/library/lua/gui/dialogs.lua
index 5778cc767..7a0f86b3f 100644
--- a/library/lua/gui/dialogs.lua
+++ b/library/lua/gui/dialogs.lua
@@ -64,13 +64,9 @@ function MessageBox:onInput(keys)
         elseif (keys.LEAVESCREEN or keys._MOUSE_R) and self.on_cancel then
             self.on_cancel()
         end
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
-        return true
-    end
-    if self:inputToSubviews(keys) then
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
         return true
     end
+    return self:inputToSubviews(keys)
 end
 
 function showMessage(title, text, tcolor, on_close)
@@ -137,13 +133,9 @@ function InputBox:onInput(keys)
         if self.on_cancel then
             self.on_cancel()
         end
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
-        return true
-    end
-    if self:inputToSubviews(keys) then
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
         return true
     end
+    return self:inputToSubviews(keys)
 end
 
 function showInputPrompt(title, text, tcolor, input, on_input, on_cancel, min_width)
@@ -242,13 +234,9 @@ function ListBox:onInput(keys)
         if self.on_cancel then
             self.on_cancel()
         end
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
-        return true
-    end
-    if self:inputToSubviews(keys) then
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
         return true
     end
+    return self:inputToSubviews(keys)
 end
 
 function showListPrompt(title, text, tcolor, choices, on_select, on_cancel, min_width, filter)
diff --git a/library/modules/Screen.cpp b/library/modules/Screen.cpp
index a5b347493..dee7e2b75 100644
--- a/library/modules/Screen.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Screen.cpp
@@ -956,6 +956,18 @@ int dfhack_lua_viewscreen::do_notify(lua_State *L)
     return 1;
 }
 
+void dfhack_lua_viewscreen::markInputAsHandled() {
+    if (!enabler)
+        return;
+
+    // clear text buffer
+    enabler->last_text_input[0] = '\0';
+
+    // mark clicked mouse buttons as handled
+    enabler->mouse_lbut = 0;
+    enabler->mouse_rbut = 0;
+}
+
 int dfhack_lua_viewscreen::do_input(lua_State *L)
 {
     auto self = get_self(L);
@@ -977,7 +989,11 @@ int dfhack_lua_viewscreen::do_input(lua_State *L)
     lua_pushvalue(L, -2);
     Lua::PushInterfaceKeys(L, Screen::normalize_text_keys(*keys));
 
-    lua_call(L, 2, 0);
+    lua_call(L, 2, 1);
+    if (lua_toboolean(L, -1))
+        markInputAsHandled();
+    lua_pop(L, 1);
+
     self->update_focus(L, -1);
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/library/xml b/library/xml
index f38f3c495..aeab463a0 160000
--- a/library/xml
+++ b/library/xml
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit f38f3c4955d604f2b5a8e0d952e676a0ab05c053
+Subproject commit aeab463a0d35ac9ff896db840735cabfa12df712
diff --git a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index 80a7d9f35..be690edf1 100644
--- a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ if(BUILD_SUPPORTED)
     #dfhack_plugin(siege-engine siege-engine.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     dfhack_plugin(sort sort.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     #dfhack_plugin(steam-engine steam-engine.cpp)
-    #add_subdirectory(spectate)
+    add_subdirectory(spectate)
     #dfhack_plugin(stockflow stockflow.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     add_subdirectory(stockpiles)
     #dfhack_plugin(stocks stocks.cpp)
diff --git a/plugins/lua/hotkeys.lua b/plugins/lua/hotkeys.lua
index 6335de5e5..4c33f93ca 100644
--- a/plugins/lua/hotkeys.lua
+++ b/plugins/lua/hotkeys.lua
@@ -280,14 +280,12 @@ function Menu:onInput(keys)
         local x = list:getMousePos()
         if x == 0 then -- clicked on icon
             self:onSubmit2(list:getSelected())
-            gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
             return true
         end
         if not self:getMouseFramePos() then
             self.parent_view:dismiss()
             return true
         end
-        gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
     end
     self:inputToSubviews(keys)
     return true -- we're modal
diff --git a/plugins/lua/overlay.lua b/plugins/lua/overlay.lua
index cd5286d0d..9751561a8 100644
--- a/plugins/lua/overlay.lua
+++ b/plugins/lua/overlay.lua
@@ -506,7 +506,6 @@ function feed_viewscreen_widgets(vs_name, vs, keys)
             not _feed_viewscreen_widgets('all', nil, keys) then
         return false
     end
-    gui.markMouseClicksHandled(keys)
     return true
 end
 
diff --git a/plugins/overlay.cpp b/plugins/overlay.cpp
index 3fec6091b..c94397956 100644
--- a/plugins/overlay.cpp
+++ b/plugins/overlay.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ struct viewscreen_overlay : T {
         if (!input_is_handled)
             INTERPOSE_NEXT(feed)(input);
         else
-            enabler->last_text_input[0] = '\0';
+            dfhack_lua_viewscreen::markInputAsHandled();
     }
     DEFINE_VMETHOD_INTERPOSE(void, render, ()) {
         INTERPOSE_NEXT(render)();
diff --git a/scripts b/scripts
index d2ad86165..28bcd6e31 160000
--- a/scripts
+++ b/scripts
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit d2ad86165e89dc3b0f262eea00db8e2347cc4421
+Subproject commit 28bcd6e313ea6f87ffd805c8cf40360da5f21509