diff --git a/rc.c b/rc.c
index 83b95eb..afaedda 100644
--- a/rc.c
+++ b/rc.c
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 			 */
 
 			// player netting
-			if ((levelcomplete != LV_DOPOKER) && (levelcomplete != LV_HELPFREEZE)) {
+			if (levelcomplete != LV_DOPOKER) {
 				drawnetting(player);
 			}
 
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 					
 
 			// draw sprites
-			if ((levelcomplete != LV_DOPOKER) && (levelcomplete != LV_HELPFREEZE)) {
+			if (levelcomplete != LV_DOPOKER) {
 				drawallsprites();
 			}
 
@@ -493,13 +493,19 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 				}
 			} else if (levelcomplete == LV_HELPFREEZE) {
 				SDL_Rect area;
+				SDL_Surface *blackbox;
+				blackbox = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(SDL_SWSURFACE,
+					screen->w,
+					screen->h,
+					screen->format->BitsPerPixel, screen->format->Rmask,
+					screen->format->Gmask,screen->format->Bmask, 0);
+				SDL_FillRect(blackbox, &area, SDL_MapRGB(screen->format,black.r,black.g,black.b));
+				SDL_SetAlpha(blackbox, SDL_SRCALPHA, 175);
 
-				area.x = 0;
-				area.y = 0;
-				area.w = 640;
-				area.h = 480;
 				// clear screen
-				SDL_FillRect(screen, &area, SDL_MapRGB(screen->format,black.r,black.g,black.b));
+				SDL_BlitSurface(blackbox,NULL,screen,NULL);
+				SDL_FreeSurface(blackbox);
+
 			}
 
 			// draw text
@@ -3672,7 +3678,9 @@ void drawnetting(sprite_t *s) {
 			}
 			// add sparkle 
 			xx = s->x + s->netdir*s->netlen;
-			addsprite(P_SPARKLE, xx + (rand() % 14) - 7, yy + (rand() % 8) - 4, "sparkle");
+			if  (levelcomplete != LV_HELPFREEZE) {
+				addsprite(P_SPARKLE, xx + (rand() % 14) - 7, yy + (rand() % 8) - 4, "sparkle");
+			}
 		}
 
 		//drawline16(screen,sx,s->nety,s->x + s->netdir*s->netlen,s->nety-3,white);