diff --git a/scripts/__pycache__/ui_driver.cpython-313.pyc b/scripts/__pycache__/ui_driver.cpython-313.pyc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbda2ea
Binary files /dev/null and b/scripts/__pycache__/ui_driver.cpython-313.pyc differ
diff --git a/scripts/ui_driver.py b/scripts/ui_driver.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a0da35d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ui_driver.py
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import pty
+import os
+import sys
+import time
+import select
+import re
+
+class VirtualTerminal:
+    def __init__(self, rows=24, cols=80):
+        self.rows = rows
+        self.cols = cols
+        self.buffer = [[' ' for _ in range(cols)] for _ in range(rows)]
+        self.cursor_y = 0
+        self.cursor_x = 0
+        
+    def _strip_ansi(self, text):
+        # Very basic ANSI parser for cursor moves and clears
+        # CSI n ; m H  (cursor move)
+        # CSI J        (clear screen)
+        # CSI K        (clear line)
+        
+        # This is a simplified state machine
+        parts = re.split(r'(\x1b\[[0-9;?]*[a-zA-Z])', text)
+        for part in parts:
+            if part.startswith('\x1b['):
+                cmd = part[-1]
+                params = part[2:-1].split(';')
+                if cmd == 'H' or cmd == 'f': # Move cursor
+                    self.cursor_y = int(params[0]) - 1 if params[0] else 0
+                    self.cursor_x = int(params[1]) - 1 if (len(params) > 1 and params[1]) else 0
+                elif cmd == 'J': # Clear
+                    mode = int(params[0]) if params[0] else 0
+                    if mode == 2: # Full clear
+                        self.buffer = [[' ' for _ in range(self.cols)] for _ in range(self.rows)]
+                elif cmd == 'm': # Attributes - ignore for now
+                    pass
+            else:
+                for char in part:
+                    if char == '\n':
+                        self.cursor_y += 1
+                        self.cursor_x = 0
+                    elif char == '\r':
+                        self.cursor_x = 0
+                    elif 0 <= self.cursor_y < self.rows and 0 <= self.cursor_x < self.cols:
+                        self.buffer[self.cursor_y][self.cursor_x] = char
+                        self.cursor_x += 1
+
+    def get_screen(self):
+        return "\n".join(["".join(row) for row in self.buffer])
+
+def run_test(command, input_sequence, wait_time=5):
+    pid, fd = pty.fork()
+    if pid == 0:
+        os.environ["TERM"] = "xterm"
+        os.environ["COLUMNS"] = "80"
+        os.environ["LINES"] = "24"
+        os.execvp(command[0], command)
+    else:
+        vt = VirtualTerminal()
+        start_time = time.time()
+        input_sent = False
+        
+        while time.time() - start_time < wait_time:
+            r, w, e = select.select([fd], [], [], 0.1)
+            if fd in r:
+                try:
+                    data = os.read(fd, 8192).decode(errors='ignore')
+                    vt._strip_ansi(data)
+                except OSError:
+                    break
+            
+            if not input_sent and time.time() - start_time > 2:
+                os.write(fd, input_sequence.encode())
+                input_sent = True
+        
+        os.kill(pid, 9)
+        os.waitpid(pid, 0)
+        return vt
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # Example usage: python3 ui_driver.py sbcl --eval ...
+    vt = run_test(sys.argv[1:], "Hi\r", wait_time=10)
+    print("--- VIRTUAL SCREEN SNAPSHOT ---")
+    print(vt.get_screen())
+    print(f"--- CURSOR POSITION: ({vt.cursor_y}, {vt.cursor_x}) ---")
diff --git a/tests/ui_tui_test.py b/tests/ui_tui_test.py
index 2bdb320..a705066 100644
--- a/tests/ui_tui_test.py
+++ b/tests/ui_tui_test.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ def wait_for_brain():
         if os.path.exists('brain.log'):
             with open('brain.log', 'r') as f:
                 if 'Boot Complete' in f.read():
-                    print("[UI TEST] Brain is Green.")
+                    print("[UI TEST] Brain is Green. Waiting for TCP listener...")
+                    time.sleep(5)
                     return True
         time.sleep(2)
     return False
@@ -26,7 +27,14 @@ def test_tui_boot_and_input():
     print("[UI TEST] Launching TUI and sending 'Hi'...")
     
     # We run the TUI script via bash
-    command = ["bash", "opencortex.sh", "tui"]
+    
+    # Direct SBCL launch to bypass shell script noise
+    command = ["sbcl", "--disable-debugger", 
+               "--eval", "(load (merge-pathnames \"quicklisp/setup.lisp\" (user-homedir-pathname)))",
+               "--eval", "(push (truename \"\") asdf:*central-registry*)",
+               "--eval", "(ql:quickload :opencortex/tui)",
+               "--eval", "(opencortex.tui:main)"]
+
     vt = run_test(command, "Hi\r", wait_time=15)
     
     screen = vt.get_screen()