diff --git a/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt b/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt
index 2810ab3..b49b9cc 100644
--- a/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt
+++ b/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-Have you heard of the tragedy of
-Darth Charlie the Wise?
\ No newline at end of file
+$Empty
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/LevelManager.java b/src/LevelManager.java
index 8c1cf00..24c397d 100644
--- a/src/LevelManager.java
+++ b/src/LevelManager.java
@@ -43,20 +43,20 @@ public class LevelManager implements Serializable {
         try {
             MapReader.inputMap(filePath);
             if (!hasDied) {
-                GameFrame.game.dialogueArray = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(MapReader.inputDialogue(filePath)));
-                if (GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.get(0).contains("$Villain")) {
-                    GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.remove(0);
-                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.isNarrator = false;
-                    // TODO: move img path to GamePanel
-                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.PORTRAIT = new BufferedImageWrapper("img\\dialogue\\Bouncer.png");
+                if (!(MapReader.inputDialogue(filePath)[0].equals("$Empty"))) {
+                    GameFrame.game.dialogueArray = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(MapReader.inputDialogue(filePath)));
+                    if (GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.get(0).contains("$Villain")) {
+                        GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.remove(0);
+                        GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.isNarrator = false;
+                        // TODO: move img path to GamePanel
+                        GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.PORTRAIT = new BufferedImageWrapper("img\\dialogue\\Bouncer.png");
+                    }
+                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.currentFrame = 0;
+                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.frameCounter = 0;
+                    GameFrame.game.isDialogue = true;
                 }
-                GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.currentFrame = 0;
-                GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.frameCounter = 0;
-                GameFrame.game.isDialogue = true;
             }
             // reset signs
-            GameFrame.game.tutorialSign = new ArrayList<WallSign>();
-            GameFrame.game.loreSign = new ArrayList<WallSign>();
             GameFrame.game.tutorialSign.clear();
             GameFrame.game.loreSign.clear();
             // temporary boolean, so only declared here