diff --git a/pilot/arc.tpl.html b/pilot/arc.tpl.html
index 0bae5e5..8354c00 100644
--- a/pilot/arc.tpl.html
+++ b/pilot/arc.tpl.html
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@
         </div>
       </figure>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <p>An image got <b>built</b> - of what, exactly? <b>Pushed</b> - to where, and what travelled?
@@ -94,7 +93,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>A stack of diffs wearing a name</h3>
@@ -141,7 +139,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>Desired against actual, forever</h3>
@@ -186,7 +183,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>One component starts containers. One.</h3>
@@ -226,7 +222,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>The jacket, not the container</h3>
@@ -269,7 +264,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>The stable name in front of the churn</h3>
@@ -308,7 +302,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>The doorman interviews every pod</h3>
@@ -353,7 +346,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>The loop you already know, one level up</h3>
@@ -423,7 +415,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>Say the name properly</h3>
@@ -489,7 +480,6 @@
       </figure>
       <ol class="legend"></ol>
     </div>
-    <div class="bench"></div>
   </div>
   <div class="prose">
     <h3>It's Go under the braces</h3>
@@ -733,9 +723,6 @@ body.fx .crt .line{opacity:0;transform:translateY(4px);transition:opacity .3s ea
 body.fx .crt .line.on{opacity:1;transform:none}
 @media (max-width:700px){.crt{inset:16% 12%}}
 
-.bench{width:min(720px,100%);margin:16px auto 0;text-align:center}
-.bench input{width:100%;accent-color:var(--cyan)}
-.bench .hud{font-family:var(--mono);font-size:.66rem;letter-spacing:.06em;color:var(--dim);margin:.45rem 0 0}
 
 .prose{max-width:66ch;margin:0 auto;padding:5vh 24px 9vh}
 .prose h3{font-size:1.18rem;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin:2.6rem 0 .8rem;color:var(--ink)}
@@ -773,7 +760,6 @@ body.fx .crt .line.on{opacity:1;transform:none}
   .masthead{padding:9vh 22px 6vh}
 }
 body:not(.fx) .slab{display:none}
-body:not(.fx) .bench{display:none}
 </style>
 
 <script>
@@ -828,25 +814,12 @@ body:not(.fx) .bench{display:none}
       // the side list lights in reading order, top to bottom, as the scrub advances
       lis.forEach((li, i) => li.classList.toggle("lit", t >= 0.9 * ((i + 0.5) / n)));
     };
-    // bench: hand scrub + HUD (pilot instrument - strip for the site ship)
-    const bench = u.sec.querySelector(".bench");
-    bench.innerHTML = '<input type="range" min="0" max="1000" value="0" aria-label="scrub the teardown">' +
-                      '<p class="hud">boot</p>';
-    u.hud = bench.querySelector(".hud");
-    u.slider = bench.querySelector("input");
-    u.show = v => {
-      u.hud.textContent = u.mode + " · " + innerWidth + "x" + innerHeight +
-        " · scroll " + Math.round(scrollY) + " · t=" + v.toFixed(2);
-      u.slider.value = String(Math.round(v * 1000));
-    };
-    u.drive = v => { u.apply(v); u.show(v); };
-    u.slider.addEventListener("input", () => u.drive(+u.slider.value / 1000));
   });
 
   const boot = () => {
     const scrollable = document.documentElement.scrollHeight - innerHeight > 200;
     units.forEach(u => {
-      if (RM) { u.mode = "reduced-motion"; u.drive(1); return; }
+      if (RM) { u.mode = "reduced-motion"; u.apply(1); return; }
       if (scrollable && matchMedia("(min-width: 901px)").matches) {
         u.mode = "pin+scrub";
         ScrollTrigger.create({
@@ -855,19 +828,19 @@ body:not(.fx) .bench{display:none}
           end: "+=1800",
           pin: true,
           scrub: 0.6,
-          onUpdate: self => u.drive(self.progress),
+          onUpdate: self => u.apply(self.progress),
           onRefreshInit: () => u.apply(0)
         });
-        u.drive(0);
+        u.apply(0);
       } else {
         u.mode = "assemble";
         u.sec.querySelector(".pin").style.minHeight = "0";
-        u.drive(0);
+        u.apply(0);
         const io = new IntersectionObserver(es => {
           if (!es.some(e => e.isIntersecting)) return;
           io.disconnect();
           gsap.to({ v: 0 }, { v: 1, duration: 1.6, ease: "power3.out",
-            onUpdate: function () { u.drive(this.targets()[0].v); } });
+            onUpdate: function () { u.apply(this.targets()[0].v); } });
         }, { threshold: 0.2 });
         io.observe(u.scene);
       }