diff --git a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
index 5553ad3..eee9aa4 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
@@ -1885,11 +1885,17 @@ public static class AgentHarness
             {
                 float ago = ParseFloat(cmd.value, 1f);
                 InterestDirector.HarnessMarkInactive(ago);
+                // Rebuild dossier so orange reason clears under quiet_grace / inactive dwell.
+                if (MoveCamera.hasFocusUnit() && MoveCamera._focus_unit != null)
+                {
+                    WatchCaption.SetFromActor(MoveCamera._focus_unit);
+                }
+
                 _cmdOk++;
                 Emit(
                     cmd,
                     ok: true,
-                    detail: $"inactive_for={ago:0.##}s active={InterestDirector.CurrentIsActive} key={InterestDirector.CurrentKey}");
+                    detail: $"inactive_for={ago:0.##}s active={InterestDirector.CurrentIsActive} key={InterestDirector.CurrentKey} reason='{WatchCaption.Current?.ReasonLine}'");
                 break;
             }
 
@@ -3665,43 +3671,44 @@ public static class AgentHarness
             }
             case "reason_owns_focus":
             {
-                // Reason must not name a different live unit than the scene subject/related.
+                // Reason must not name a different live unit than the owned active candidate.
                 UnitDossier dossier = WatchCaption.Current;
                 string reason = dossier?.ReasonLine ?? "";
-                InterestCandidate scene = InterestDirector.CurrentCandidate;
                 Actor focus = MoveCamera.hasFocusUnit() ? MoveCamera._focus_unit : null;
+                InterestCandidate owned = focus != null
+                    ? InterestDirector.TryGetOwnedReasonCandidate(focus)
+                    : null;
                 if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(reason))
                 {
                     pass = true;
-                    detail = "empty_reason_ok";
+                    detail = "empty_reason_ok active=" + InterestDirector.CurrentIsActive;
                     break;
                 }
 
-                if (scene == null || focus == null)
-                {
-                    pass = string.IsNullOrEmpty(reason);
-                    detail = $"scene={(scene != null)} focus={(focus != null)} reason='{reason}'";
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                bool sceneOwnsFocus = scene.FollowUnit == focus
-                                      || scene.RelatedUnit == focus
-                                      || (scene.SubjectId != 0 && scene.SubjectId == EventFeedUtil.SafeId(focus))
-                                      || (scene.RelatedId != 0 && scene.RelatedId == EventFeedUtil.SafeId(focus));
-                if (!sceneOwnsFocus)
+                if (owned == null || focus == null)
                 {
                     pass = false;
-                    detail = "reason_present_but_scene_does_not_own_focus reason='" + reason + "'";
+                    detail = $"reason_without_owned_active focus={(focus != null)} active={InterestDirector.CurrentIsActive} reason='{reason}'";
                     break;
                 }
 
-                string stranger = FindStrangerNamedInReason(reason, scene);
+                string stranger = FindStrangerNamedInReason(reason, owned);
                 pass = string.IsNullOrEmpty(stranger);
                 detail = pass
                     ? $"owned reason='{reason}'"
                     : $"stranger_in_reason='{stranger}' reason='{reason}'";
                 break;
             }
+            case "reason_empty":
+            {
+                UnitDossier dossier = WatchCaption.Current;
+                string reason = dossier?.ReasonLine ?? "";
+                bool wantEmpty = string.IsNullOrEmpty(cmd.value) || ParseBool(cmd.value, true);
+                bool isEmpty = string.IsNullOrEmpty(reason);
+                pass = isEmpty == wantEmpty;
+                detail = $"reason='{reason}' empty={isEmpty} wantEmpty={wantEmpty} active={InterestDirector.CurrentIsActive} quiet={InterestDirector.InQuietGrace}";
+                break;
+            }
             case "dossier_task_refresh":
             {
                 // Stale focus snapshot must recover: blank dossier TaskText, then sync from live AI.
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
index e4312f9..68e77fd 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
@@ -938,9 +938,9 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
             Step("wr65", "assert", expect: "reason_owns_focus"),
             Step("wr66", "wait", wait: 0.35f),
 
-            // Mass fight inject → Clash / Fighting scale beat.
+            // Label-sourced clash (not inventing Clash from fighter counts).
             Step("wr50", "interest_expire_pending", value: ""),
-            Step("wr51", "interest_inject", asset: "human", label: "MassClash", tier: "Action", expect: "mass_clash",
+            Step("wr51", "interest_inject", asset: "human", label: "Clash · 8 fighting", tier: "Action", expect: "mass_clash",
                 value: "lead=event;evt=90;char=5;fighters=8;notables=0;force=true"),
             Step("wr52", "age_current", wait: 0.8f),
             Step("wr53", "director_run", wait: 1.2f),
@@ -950,6 +950,14 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
             Step("wr57", "screenshot", value: "hud-watch-reason-clash.png"),
             Step("wr58", "wait", wait: 0.55f),
 
+            // After active dwell ends, orange reason clears even if focus remains.
+            Step("wr70", "interest_force_session", asset: "human",
+                label: "War: Essionan vs North", tier: "Epic", expect: "dwell_end_war"),
+            Step("wr71", "assert", expect: "dossier_contains", value: "War"),
+            Step("wr72", "interest_mark_inactive", value: "1.0"),
+            Step("wr73", "assert", expect: "reason_empty", value: "true"),
+            Step("wr74", "assert", expect: "reason_owns_focus"),
+
             // Cold-boot / force-session focus gaps are unrelated to caption clarity.
             Step("wr89", "reset_counters"),
             Step("wr90", "assert", expect: "no_bad"),
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs b/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs
index 42d7045..8b54b98 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs
@@ -74,6 +74,67 @@ public static class InterestDirector
 
     public static InterestCandidate CurrentCandidate => _current;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// True while the current scene is past completion but still held through quiet_grace
+    /// (camera may remain; orange reason must be empty).
+    /// </summary>
+    public static bool InQuietGrace
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            if (_current == null || CurrentIsActive)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return _inactiveSince >= 0f;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Candidate that may drive the orange dossier reason: owns <paramref name="unit"/>
+    /// and the director session is still in its active dwell (not quiet_grace).
+    /// </summary>
+    public static InterestCandidate TryGetOwnedReasonCandidate(Actor unit)
+    {
+        if (unit == null || _current == null || !CurrentIsActive || InQuietGrace)
+        {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        long unitId = 0;
+        try
+        {
+            unitId = unit.getID();
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            unitId = 0;
+        }
+
+        if (_current.FollowUnit == unit)
+        {
+            return _current;
+        }
+
+        if (_current.SubjectId != 0 && unitId != 0 && _current.SubjectId == unitId)
+        {
+            return _current;
+        }
+
+        if (_current.RelatedUnit == unit)
+        {
+            return _current;
+        }
+
+        if (_current.RelatedId != 0 && unitId != 0 && _current.RelatedId == unitId)
+        {
+            return _current;
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     public static string InterruptedKey =>
         _interrupted == null ? "" : (_interrupted.Key ?? "");
 
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs b/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs
index 1fe858e..ce61bba 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs
@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ public sealed class UnitDossier
     }
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Story beat for the dossier reason row: owned only by the matched current candidate.
-    /// Empty reason beats a wrong line - no watchLabel / spectacle / activity fallbacks.
+    /// Orange dossier reason: tracked event that earned this shot.
+    /// Empty when no owned active candidate (never invent from live fighting/job).
     /// </summary>
     private static string BuildStoryBeat(UnitDossier d, string watchLabel, Actor actor)
     {
@@ -222,143 +222,51 @@ public sealed class UnitDossier
             return HarnessReasonOverride.Trim();
         }
 
-        InterestCandidate scene = MatchingScene(actor, d);
+        return OwnedEventReason(actor, d);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Public so caption can refresh reason when the director leaves active dwell
+    /// (quiet_grace) without rebuilding the whole dossier.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static string OwnedEventReason(Actor actor, UnitDossier dossier = null)
+    {
+        if (actor == null || !actor.isAlive())
+        {
+            return "";
+        }
+
+        InterestCandidate scene = InterestDirector.TryGetOwnedReasonCandidate(actor);
         if (scene == null)
         {
             return "";
         }
 
-        string combat = CombatBeat(d, scene);
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(combat))
-        {
-            return combat;
-        }
-
-        string griefOrLife = HappinessBeat(scene, d);
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(griefOrLife))
-        {
-            return griefOrLife;
-        }
-
-        // Ambient filler: no story beat - hide the reason row.
+        // Character-fill ambient: hide reason (task chip already shows live activity).
         if (InterestScoring.IsFillScore(scene.TotalScore) && !InterestScoring.IsCombatAction(scene))
         {
             return "";
         }
 
+        UnitDossier d = dossier;
+        if (d == null)
+        {
+            d = new UnitDossier();
+            try
+            {
+                d.UnitId = actor.getID();
+                d.Name = SafeName(actor);
+                d.SpeciesId = actor.asset != null ? actor.asset.id : "";
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // ignore
+            }
+        }
+
         return SceneLabelBeat(scene, d) ?? "";
     }
 
-    private static InterestCandidate MatchingScene(Actor actor, UnitDossier d)
-    {
-        InterestCandidate scene = InterestDirector.CurrentCandidate;
-        if (scene == null || actor == null)
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        if (scene.FollowUnit == actor)
-        {
-            return scene;
-        }
-
-        if (scene.SubjectId != 0 && scene.SubjectId == d.UnitId)
-        {
-            return scene;
-        }
-
-        if (scene.RelatedUnit == actor)
-        {
-            return scene;
-        }
-
-        if (scene.RelatedId != 0 && scene.RelatedId == d.UnitId)
-        {
-            return scene;
-        }
-
-        return null;
-    }
-
-    private static string CombatBeat(UnitDossier d, InterestCandidate scene)
-    {
-        bool fighting = d.IsFighting
-                        || (scene != null && InterestScoring.IsCombatAction(scene));
-        if (!fighting)
-        {
-            return "";
-        }
-
-        int fighters = scene != null ? scene.ParticipantCount : 0;
-        int notables = scene != null ? scene.NotableParticipantCount : 0;
-        if (fighters <= 0 && d.IsFighting)
-        {
-            fighters = 1;
-            notables = (d.IsKing || d.IsFavorite || d.IsCityLeader) ? 1 : 0;
-        }
-
-        if (fighters <= 2 && notables >= 2)
-        {
-            return "King duel";
-        }
-
-        if (fighters >= 4)
-        {
-            return "Clash · " + fighters + " fighting";
-        }
-
-        if (fighters >= 2)
-        {
-            return "Fighting · " + fighters;
-        }
-
-        return "Fighting";
-    }
-
-    private static string HappinessBeat(InterestCandidate scene, UnitDossier d)
-    {
-        if (scene == null)
-        {
-            return "";
-        }
-
-        string label = scene.Label ?? "";
-        if (label.StartsWith("Slain here", System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
-        {
-            return CleanBeat(label);
-        }
-
-        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(scene.HappinessEffectId))
-        {
-            return "";
-        }
-
-        string id = scene.HappinessEffectId;
-        if (id.StartsWith("death_", System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
-        {
-            string grief = EventLabelBeat(label, d);
-            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(grief))
-            {
-                return grief;
-            }
-
-            if (id.IndexOf("child", System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) >= 0)
-            {
-                return "Mourning a child";
-            }
-
-            if (id.IndexOf("lover", System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) >= 0)
-            {
-                return "Mourning a lover";
-            }
-
-            return "Grief";
-        }
-
-        string happy = EventLabelBeat(label, d);
-        return happy ?? "";
-    }
-
     private static string SceneLabelBeat(InterestCandidate scene, UnitDossier d)
     {
         if (scene == null || string.IsNullOrEmpty(scene.Label))
@@ -593,23 +501,6 @@ public sealed class UnitDossier
         return shortened;
     }
 
-    private static string ActivityBeat(Actor actor)
-    {
-        if (actor == null)
-        {
-            return "";
-        }
-
-        // Task/job already live on the nametag; only surface hot action here.
-        ActivityBand band = ActivityInterestTable.Classify(actor);
-        if (band == ActivityBand.Hot)
-        {
-            return "In action";
-        }
-
-        return "";
-    }
-
     private static bool IsWeakFlavorBeat(string text, UnitDossier d)
     {
         if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
index 88d9019..7ceca8c 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
@@ -435,8 +435,8 @@ public static class WatchCaption
             return;
         }
 
-        // Reason ownership comes from InterestDirector.CurrentCandidate via MatchingScene,
-        // not from a sticky InterestEvent.Label / LastWatchLabel.
+        // Reason ownership comes from InterestDirector.TryGetOwnedReasonCandidate
+        // (active dwell + owned unit), not from a sticky InterestEvent.Label.
         SetFromActor(unit, label: null);
     }
 
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
 
                 RefreshLivePortrait();
                 RefreshLiveTask();
+                RefreshOwnedReason();
                 RefreshHistoryIfChanged();
                 return;
             }
@@ -561,6 +562,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
 
         RefreshLivePortrait();
         RefreshLiveTask();
+        RefreshOwnedReason();
         RefreshHistoryIfChanged();
     }
 
@@ -629,6 +631,77 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         BringHeaderFront();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Keep orange reason in sync with director active dwell (clears in quiet_grace).
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void RefreshOwnedReason()
+    {
+        if (!_visible || _current == null || HasStatusBanner())
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Actor actor = ResolveBoundLiveActor();
+        if (actor == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        string next = UnitDossier.OwnedEventReason(actor, _current);
+        string prev = _current.ReasonLine ?? "";
+        if (next == prev)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _current.ReasonLine = next;
+        LastDetail = _current.DetailLine ?? "";
+        LastCaptionText = JoinCaptionLines(_current.Headline, next, _current.DetailLine);
+
+        bool hasReason = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(next);
+        if (_reasonText != null)
+        {
+            _reasonText.text = hasReason ? next : "";
+            _reasonText.gameObject.SetActive(hasReason);
+        }
+
+        bool hasTask = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_current.TaskText);
+        int traits = _current.TopTraits != null ? _current.TopTraits.Count : 0;
+        int hist = CountActiveHistorySlots();
+        Relayout(_current.UnitId != 0, traits, hasTask, hasReason, hist);
+    }
+
+    private static string JoinCaptionLines(string headline, string reason, string detail)
+    {
+        var sb = new System.Text.StringBuilder();
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(headline))
+        {
+            sb.Append(headline);
+        }
+
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(reason))
+        {
+            if (sb.Length > 0)
+            {
+                sb.Append('\n');
+            }
+
+            sb.Append(reason);
+        }
+
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(detail))
+        {
+            if (sb.Length > 0)
+            {
+                sb.Append('\n');
+            }
+
+            sb.Append(detail);
+        }
+
+        return sb.ToString();
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Keep the nametag task chip in sync with live AI (focus snapshot can miss brief no-task gaps).
     /// Never clears the chip on empty AI gaps - only replaces text when a new task is present.
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/mod.json b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
index 0beeba2..aab4cf8 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/mod.json
+++ b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "IdleSpectator",
   "author": "dazed",
-  "version": "0.18.1",
+  "version": "0.18.2",
   "description": "AFK Idle Spectator (I) + Lore (L). Event-centered scene director + happiness Activity/Life logging.",
   "GUID": "com.dazed.idlespectator"
 }