diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx
index 7da8ae3538..b54f20cdfc 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ void GuiBackground::set_priority(GuiItem* it, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
   _item->set_priority(it, p);
   if (p == P_Highest)
     _bg->set_priority(_bg, GuiLabel::P_HIGHEST);
+  else if (p == P_Lowest)
+    _bg->set_priority(_bg, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
   else 
     it->set_priority(_bg, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
   GuiItem::set_priority(it, p);
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx
index d6dd47bf26..bd51450885 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx
@@ -523,6 +523,15 @@ void GuiButton::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
       _down_rollover->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_HIGHEST);
     if (_inactive != (GuiLabel*)0L)
       _inactive->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_HIGHEST);
+  } else if (p == P_Lowest) {
+    _up->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
+    _down->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
+    if (_up_rollover != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+      _up_rollover->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
+    if (_down_rollover != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+      _down_rollover->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
+    if (_inactive != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+      _inactive->set_priority(_up, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
   } else {
     i->set_priority(_up, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
     i->set_priority(_down, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.I b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.I
index 5271e3d9a0..cf6843405b 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.I
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.I
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 
 INLINE GuiChooser::GuiChooser(void) {}
 
+INLINE int GuiChooser::get_curr_item(void) const {
+  return _curr;
+}
+
 INLINE void GuiChooser::set_loop(bool b) {
   _loop = b;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx
index 9b8f8eab47..55beb31968 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx
@@ -92,9 +92,10 @@ void GuiChooser::move_prev(void) {
   if (_mgr != (GuiManager*)0L) {
     _items[_curr]->unmanage();
     _items[tmp]->manage(_mgr, *_eh);
-    if (tmp == 0)
+    if (tmp == 0) {
+      _prev_button->exit();
       _prev_button->inactive();
-    else {
+    } else {
       _prev_button->up();
       if (_behavior_running) {
 	_prev_button->start_behavior();
@@ -102,9 +103,10 @@ void GuiChooser::move_prev(void) {
       }
     }
     int foo = _items.size() - 1;
-    if (tmp == foo)
+    if (tmp == foo) {
+      _next_button->exit();
       _next_button->inactive();
-    else {
+    } else {
       _next_button->up();
       if (_behavior_running) {
 	_next_button->start_behavior();
@@ -131,9 +133,10 @@ void GuiChooser::move_next(void) {
   if (_mgr != (GuiManager*)0L) {
     _items[_curr]->unmanage();
     _items[tmp]->manage(_mgr, *_eh);
-    if (tmp == 0)
+    if (tmp == 0) {
+      _prev_button->exit();
       _prev_button->inactive();
-    else {
+    } else {
       _prev_button->up();
       if (_behavior_running) {
 	_prev_button->start_behavior();
@@ -141,9 +144,10 @@ void GuiChooser::move_next(void) {
       }
     }
     int foo = _items.size() - 1;
-    if (tmp == foo)
+    if (tmp == foo) {
+      _next_button->exit();
       _next_button->inactive();
-    else {
+    } else {
       _next_button->up();
       if (_behavior_running) {
 	_next_button->start_behavior();
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h
index 1e19953824..b0a1f3f7d5 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
   void move_next(void);
   void add_item(GuiItem*);
 
+  INLINE int get_curr_item(void) const;
+
   virtual int freeze(void);
   virtual int thaw(void);
 
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h
index 45700a5565..49cbf80955 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 class EXPCL_PANDA GuiItem : public TypedReferenceCount, public Namable {
 PUBLISHED:
-  enum Priority { P_Low, P_Normal, P_High, P_Highest };
+  enum Priority { P_Lowest, P_Low, P_Normal, P_High, P_Highest };
 
 protected:
   bool _added_hooks;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I
index f9018d9409..e37ab142b6 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ INLINE GuiLabel::GuiLabel(void) : _type(GuiLabel::NONE),
 				  _have_width(false), _width(0.),
 				  _have_height(false), _height(0.),
 				  _mirror_x(false), _mirror_y(false),
-				  _hard_pri(0), _highest_pri(false) {
+				  _hard_pri(0), _highest_pri(false),
+				  _lowest_pri(false) {
 }
 
 INLINE Node* GuiLabel::get_geometry(void) const {
@@ -115,6 +116,10 @@ INLINE Colorf GuiLabel::get_background_color(void) const {
   return _background;
 }
 
+INLINE void GuiLabel::set_shadow_color(float r, float g, float b, float a) {
+  this->set_shadow_color(Colorf(r, g, b, a));
+}
+
 INLINE void GuiLabel::recompute(void) {
   this->recompute_transform();
 }
@@ -122,6 +127,8 @@ INLINE void GuiLabel::recompute(void) {
 INLINE void GuiLabel::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, const PriorityType t) {
   if (t == P_HIGHEST)
     _highest_pri = true;
+  else if (t == P_LOWEST)
+    _lowest_pri = true;
   else
     this->_priorities[l] = t;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx
index 6147b8a538..6b361c14bb 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ void GuiLabel::recompute_transform(void) {
     break;
   case SIMPLE_TEXTURE:
   case SIMPLE_CARD:
+  case L_NULL:
     {
       LMatrix4f mat = LMatrix4f::scale_mat(_scale) *
 	LMatrix4f::scale_mat(LVector3f::rfu((_mirror_x?-1.:1.), 1.,
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ void GuiLabel::set_properties(void) {
     break;
   case SIMPLE_TEXTURE:
   case MODEL:
+  case L_NULL:
     _internal->set_transition(new ColorTransition(_foreground));
     break;
   case SIMPLE_CARD:
@@ -232,6 +234,17 @@ GuiLabel* GuiLabel::make_simple_card_label(void) {
   return ret;
 }
 
+GuiLabel* GuiLabel::make_null_label(void) {
+  GuiLabel* ret = new GuiLabel();
+  ret->_type = L_NULL;
+  ret->_geom = new NamedNode("GUI label");
+  NamedNode* n2 = new NamedNode("dummy");
+  ret->_internal = new RenderRelation(ret->_geom, n2);
+  ret->_internal->set_transition(
+				new ColorTransition(Colorf(ret->_foreground)));
+  return ret;
+}
+
 GuiLabel* GuiLabel::make_model_label(Node* geom, float w, float h) {
   GuiLabel* ret = new GuiLabel();
   ret->_type = MODEL;
@@ -345,6 +358,20 @@ void GuiLabel::get_extents(float& l, float& r, float& b, float& t) {
       t += y;
     }
     break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    {
+      float x = _pos.dot(LVector3f::rfu(1., 0., 0.));
+      float y = _pos.dot(LVector3f::rfu(0., 0., 1.));
+      l = _have_width?-(_width*0.5):-0.000005;
+      r = _have_width?(_width*0.5):0.000005;
+      l += x;
+      r += x;
+      b = _have_height?-(_height*0.5):-0.000005;
+      t = _have_height?(_height*0.5):0.000005;
+      b += y;
+      t += y;
+    }
+    break;
   case MODEL:
     {
       float x = _pos.dot(LVector3f::rfu(1., 0., 0.));
@@ -390,6 +417,9 @@ float GuiLabel::get_width(void) {
   case MODEL:
     w = _have_width?(_width*_model_width):_model_width;
     break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    w = _have_width?_width:0.00001;
+    break;
   default:
     gui_cat->warning()
       << "trying to get width from something I don't know how to" << endl;
@@ -421,6 +451,9 @@ float GuiLabel::get_height(void) {
   case MODEL:
     h = _have_height?(_height*_model_height):_model_height;
     break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    h = _have_height?_height:0.00001;
+    break;
   default:
     gui_cat->warning()
       << "trying to get height from something I don't know how to" << endl;
@@ -459,6 +492,9 @@ void GuiLabel::set_text(const string& val) {
   case MODEL:
     gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set text on a model label" << endl;
     break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set text on a null label" << endl;
+    break;
   default:
     gui_cat->warning() << "trying to set text on an unknown label type ("
 		       << (int)_type << ")" << endl;
@@ -466,11 +502,98 @@ void GuiLabel::set_text(const string& val) {
   recompute();
 }
 
+void GuiLabel::set_shadow_color(const Colorf& c) {
+  switch (_type) {
+  case SIMPLE_TEXT:
+    {
+      TextNode* n = DCAST(TextNode, _geom);
+      n->set_shadow_color(c);
+    }
+    break;
+  case SIMPLE_TEXTURE:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow color on a texture label"
+		       << endl;
+    break;
+  case SIMPLE_CARD:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow color on a card label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case MODEL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow color on a model label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow color on a null label" << endl;
+    break;
+  default:
+    gui_cat->warning()
+      << "trying to set shadow color on an unknown label type (" << (int)_type
+      << ")" << endl;
+  }
+  recompute();
+}
+
+void GuiLabel::set_shadow(float x, float y) {
+  switch (_type) {
+  case SIMPLE_TEXT:
+    {
+      TextNode* n = DCAST(TextNode, _geom);
+      n->set_shadow(x, y);
+    }
+    break;
+  case SIMPLE_TEXTURE:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow on a texture label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case SIMPLE_CARD:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow on a card label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case MODEL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow on a model label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set shadow on a null label" << endl;
+    break;
+  default:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "trying to set shadow on an unknown label type ("
+		       << (int)_type << ")" << endl;
+  }
+  recompute();
+}
+
+void GuiLabel::set_align(int a) {
+  switch (_type) {
+  case SIMPLE_TEXT:
+    {
+      TextNode* n = DCAST(TextNode, _geom);
+      n->set_align(a);
+    }
+    break;
+  case SIMPLE_TEXTURE:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set align on a texture label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case SIMPLE_CARD:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set align on a card label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case MODEL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set align on a model label" << endl;
+    break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "tried to set align on a null label" << endl;
+    break;
+  default:
+    gui_cat->warning() << "trying to set align on an unknown label type ("
+		       << (int)_type << ")" << endl;
+  }
+  recompute();
+}
+
 bool GuiLabel::operator<(const GuiLabel& c) const {
   if (_highest_pri)
     return false;
   if (c._highest_pri)
     return true;
+  if (_lowest_pri)
+    return true;
+  if (c._lowest_pri)
+    return false;
   PriorityMap::const_iterator pi;
   pi = _priorities.find((GuiLabel*)(&c));
   if (pi != _priorities.end()) {
@@ -506,6 +629,7 @@ int GuiLabel::set_draw_order(int order) {
     break;
   case SIMPLE_TEXTURE:
   case SIMPLE_CARD:
+  case L_NULL:
   case MODEL:
     _arc->set_transition(new GeomBinTransition("fixed", order));
     break;
@@ -537,6 +661,9 @@ void GuiLabel::write(ostream& os) const {
   case MODEL:
     os << "MODEL";
     break;
+  case L_NULL:
+    os << "NULL";
+    break;
   default:
     os << "bad";
   }
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h
index ed3b26bb75..53f621f7c0 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ class GuiManager;
 
 class EXPCL_PANDA GuiLabel : public TypedReferenceCount {
 PUBLISHED:
-  enum PriorityType { P_NONE, P_LOWER, P_HIGHER, P_HIGHEST };
+  enum PriorityType { P_NONE, P_LOWEST, P_LOWER, P_HIGHER, P_HIGHEST };
 private:
   typedef map<GuiLabel*, PriorityType> PriorityMap;
-  enum LabelType { NONE, SIMPLE_TEXTURE, SIMPLE_TEXT, SIMPLE_CARD, MODEL };
+  enum LabelType { NONE, L_NULL, SIMPLE_TEXTURE, SIMPLE_TEXT, SIMPLE_CARD, MODEL };
 
   LabelType _type;
   PT_Node _geom;
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ private:
   PriorityMap _priorities;
   int _hard_pri;
   bool _highest_pri;
+  bool _lowest_pri;
 
   INLINE Node* get_geometry(void) const;
   INLINE void set_arc(RenderRelation*);
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   static GuiLabel* make_simple_text_label(const string&, Node*,
 					  Texture* = (Texture*)0L);
   static GuiLabel* make_simple_card_label(void);
+  static GuiLabel* make_null_label(void);
   static GuiLabel* make_model_label(Node*, float, float);
 
   int freeze();
@@ -100,6 +102,10 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE Colorf get_background_color(void) const;
 
   void set_text(const string&);
+  INLINE void set_shadow_color(float, float, float, float);
+  void set_shadow_color(const Colorf&);
+  void set_shadow(float, float);
+  void set_align(int);
 
   INLINE void recompute(void);
 
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.I b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.I
index 014009a94f..c91142ea97 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.I
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.I
@@ -3,6 +3,21 @@
 // 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-INLINE GuiManager::GuiManager(MouseWatcher* w, Node* n) : _root(n),
+INLINE GuiManager::GuiManager(MouseWatcher* w, Node* n) : _next_draw_order(0),
+							  _root(n),
 							  _watcher(w) {
 }
+
+INLINE int GuiManager::get_next_draw_order(void) const {
+  return _next_draw_order;
+}
+
+INLINE void GuiManager::set_next_draw_order(int v) {
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+  if (v < _next_draw_order)
+    gui_cat->warning() << "GuiManager::set_next_draw_order(" << v
+		       << ") is < existing (" << _next_draw_order << ")"
+		       << endl;
+#endif /* NDEBUG */
+  this->_next_draw_order = v;
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx
index 3c952f9675..d71aaba0a1 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx
@@ -185,4 +185,5 @@ void GuiManager::recompute_priorities(void) {
   for (SortSet::iterator j=_sorts.begin(); j!=_sorts.end(); ++j) {
     p = (*j)->set_draw_order(p);
   }
+  _next_draw_order = p;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h
index fa68b10035..70ca13915b 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ private:
   typedef set<GuiLabel*, SortComp> SortSet;
   SortSet _sorts;
 
+  int _next_draw_order;
+
   Node* _root;
   MouseWatcher* _watcher;
 
@@ -48,6 +50,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
   void remove_label(GuiLabel*);
 
   void recompute_priorities(void);
+
+  INLINE int get_next_draw_order(void) const;
+  INLINE void set_next_draw_order(int);
 };
 
 #include "guiManager.I"
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx
index 0976b74419..4bcb7bdc1a 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx
@@ -148,6 +148,9 @@ void GuiRollover::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
   if (p == P_Highest) {
     _off->set_priority(_off, GuiLabel::P_HIGHEST);
     _on->set_priority(_on, GuiLabel::P_HIGHEST);
+  } else if (p == P_Lowest) {
+    _off->set_priority(_off, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
+    _on->set_priority(_on, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
   } else {
     i->set_priority(_off, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
     i->set_priority(_on, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx
index 6c9c9b966d..d41719d15f 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ void GuiSign::set_pos(const LVector3f& p) {
 void GuiSign::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
   if (p == P_Highest)
     _sign->set_priority(_sign, GuiLabel::P_HIGHEST);
+  else if (p == P_Lowest)
+    _sign->set_priority(_sign, GuiLabel::P_LOWEST);
   else
     i->set_priority(_sign, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
   GuiItem::set_priority(i, p);