diff --git a/marbelous/marbelous.py b/marbelous/marbelous.py
index 7aec95c..647f96f 100755
--- a/marbelous/marbelous.py
+++ b/marbelous/marbelous.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 except ImportError:
     from queue import Queue, Empty  # python 3.x
 
+import time     # for pausing momentarily between frames with watch mode
 
 
 oct_digits = '01234567'
@@ -33,6 +34,11 @@
 parser.add_argument('-m', metavar='W', dest='memoize_width', action='store', type=int, default=2,
                     help='maximum function width to memoize')
 
+#TODO add argument specifying speed
+parser.add_argument('-w', '-watch', dest='watch', action='store_true',
+                    help='watch the execution of the program' \
+                                ' (requires that there is no verbosity)')
+
 options = vars(parser.parse_args())
 
 verbose_stream = sys.stderr if options['stderr'] else sys.stdout
@@ -127,7 +133,7 @@ def printr(self, s):
     def write_stdout(self,stdout_str):
         # print "write_stdout", self
         if stdout_str:
-            if options['verbose'] > 0:
+            if options['verbose'] > 0 or options['watch']:
                 self.print_out += stdout_str
             if options['verbose'] > 1:
                 self.printr("write_stdout STDOUT: " + ' '.join(["0x" + hex(ord(char))[2:].upper().zfill(2) + \
@@ -502,6 +508,35 @@ def put(y, x, m):
         self.marbles = nmb
         return True
 
+
+    def to_string(self):
+        out = ""
+
+        if self.function_queue:
+            board, coordinates = self.function_queue[0]
+            out += board.to_string()
+
+        out += ':' + self.name + " tick " + str(self.tick_count) + '\n'
+        for y in range(self.board_h):
+            line = ''
+            for x in range(self.board_w):
+                line += (format_cell(self.marbles[y][x]) if self.marbles[y][x] is not None else format_cell(self.devices[y][x])) + ' '
+            out += line + '\n'
+        return out +'\n'
+
+
+    def display_frame(self):
+        time.sleep(.5)
+        self.printr( '\n'*70 )
+        self.printr( self.to_string() )
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
 # the boards array contains pristine instances of boards from the source
 boards = {}
 files_included = set()
@@ -564,10 +599,22 @@ def load_mbl_file(filename,ignore_main=True):
     board.display_tick()
 
 total_ticks = 1
+
+
+# display the initial state
+if options['watch']:
+    board.display_frame()
+
+previous_iteration = ""
+
 while board.tick():# and board.tick_count < 10000:
+    processed_boards = []
     total_ticks += 1
-    if options['verbose'] > 2:
+    if options['verbose'] > 2:         
         board.display_tick()
+    if options['watch']:
+        board.display_frame()
+
 
 if options['verbose'] > 1:
     board.printr("Total ticks across all boards: " + str(total_ticks))
@@ -576,6 +623,8 @@ def load_mbl_file(filename,ignore_main=True):
     board.printr("Combined STDOUT: " + ' '.join(["0x" + hex(ord(v))[2:].upper().zfill(2) + \
                 '/"' + (v if ord(v) > 31 else '?') + '"' \
                 for v in board.print_out]))
+if options['watch']:
+    board.printr("Final STDOUT:\n\n"+board.print_out)
 
 outputs = board.get_output_values()
 if options['verbose'] > 0:
@@ -595,4 +644,10 @@ def load_mbl_file(filename,ignore_main=True):
             exit_code = 0
         exit(exit_code)
 
-print
\ No newline at end of file
+print
+
+
+
+
+
+