diff --git a/bin/hawkgo.go b/bin/hawkgo.go
index d9488f18..0e96d956 100644
--- a/bin/hawkgo.go
+++ b/bin/hawkgo.go
@@ -8,10 +8,16 @@ import "os"
 import "path/filepath"
 import "runtime"
 import "runtime/debug"
+import "strings"
 //import "time"
 
+type Assign struct {
+	idx int
+	value string
+}
+
 type Config struct {
-	assign string
+	assigns map[string]Assign
 	call string
 	fs string
 	show_extra_info bool
@@ -31,10 +37,16 @@ func parse_args_to_config(cfg *Config) bool {
 	var flgs *FlagSet
 	var err error
 
+	cfg.assigns = make(map[string]Assign)
+
 	//flgs = flag.NewFlagSet("", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	flgs = NewFlagSet("", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	flgs.Func("assign", "set a global variable with a value", func(v string) error {
-		cfg.assign = v
+		var kv []string
+		var vv string
+		kv = strings.SplitN(v, "=", 2)
+		if len(kv) >= 2 { vv = kv[1] }
+		cfg.assigns[kv[0]] = Assign{idx: -1, value: vv}
 		return nil
 	})
 	flgs.Func("call", "call a function instead of the pattern-action block)", func(v string) error {
@@ -58,7 +70,6 @@ func parse_args_to_config(cfg *Config) bool {
 	flgs.Alias("v", "assign")
 
 	flgs.SetOutput(io.Discard) // prevent usage output
-	//err = flgs.Parse(os.Args[1:])
 	err = flgs.Parse(os.Args[1:])
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: %s\n", err.Error())
@@ -81,37 +92,49 @@ wrong_usage:
 	return false
 }
 
-func make_hawk(script string) (*hawk.Hawk, error) {
-	var h *hawk.Hawk
-	var err error
-
-	h, err = hawk.New()
-	if err != nil { return nil, err }
-
-	err = h.ParseText(script)
-	if err != nil {
-		h.Close()
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return h, nil
-}
-
 func main() {
 	var h *hawk.Hawk
 	var rtx *hawk.Rtx
 	var cfg Config
+	var fs_idx int = -1
 	var err error
 
 	debug.SetGCPercent(100) // enable normal GC
 
 	if parse_args_to_config(&cfg) == false { os.Exit(99) }
-fmt.Printf("config [%+v]\n", cfg)
 
 	h, err = hawk.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to make hawk - %s\n", err.Error())
-		return
+		goto oops
+	}
+
+	if len(cfg.assigns) > 0 {
+		var k string
+		var v Assign
+		var idx int
+		for k, v = range cfg.assigns {
+			idx, err = h.FindGlobal(k, true)
+			if err == nil {
+				// existing variable found
+				v.idx = idx
+			} else {
+				v.idx, err = h.AddGlobal(k)
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to add global variable '%s' - %s\n", k, err.Error())
+					goto oops
+				}
+			}
+			cfg.assigns[k] = v
+		}
+	}
+
+	if cfg.fs != "" {
+		fs_idx, err = h.FindGlobal("FS", true)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to find global variable 'FS' - %s\n", err.Error())
+			goto oops
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (len(cfg.srcfiles) > 0) {
@@ -121,33 +144,101 @@ fmt.Printf("config [%+v]\n", cfg)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to make hawk - %s\n", err.Error())
-		h.Close()
-		return
+		goto oops
 	}
 
 	rtx, err = h.NewRtx(filepath.Base(os.Args[0]), cfg.datfiles)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to make rtx - %s\n", err.Error())
+		goto oops
 	} else  {
-		var v *hawk.Val
+		var k string
+		var v Assign
+		var retv *hawk.Val
+
+		for k, v = range cfg.assigns {
+			if v.idx >= 0  {
+				var vv *hawk.Val
+				vv, err = rtx.NewNumOrStrVal(v.value)
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to convert value '%s' for global variable '%s' - %s\n", v.value, k, err.Error())
+					goto oops
+				}
+
+				err = rtx.SetGlobal(v.idx, vv)
+				vv.Close()
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to set global variable '%s' - %s\n", k, err.Error())
+					goto oops
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		if fs_idx >= 0 {
+			var vv *hawk.Val
+			vv, err = rtx.NewStrVal(cfg.fs)
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to convert field separator '%s' - %s\n", cfg.fs, err.Error())
+				goto oops
+			}
+
+			rtx.SetGlobal(fs_idx, vv)
+			vv.Close()
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to set field separator to '%s' - %s\n", cfg.fs, err.Error())
+				goto oops
+			}
+		}
+
 		if cfg.call != "" {
-			v, err = rtx.Call(cfg.call/*, cfg.datfiles*/) // TODO: pass arguments.
+			var idx int
+			var count int
+			var args []*hawk.Val
+
+			count = len(cfg.datfiles)
+			args = make([]*hawk.Val, count)
+			for idx = 0; idx < count; idx++ {
+				args[idx], err = rtx.NewStrVal(cfg.datfiles[idx])
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to convert argument [%s] to value - %s\n", cfg.datfiles[idx], err.Error())
+					goto oops
+				}
+			}
+			retv, err = rtx.Call(cfg.call, args...)
+			for idx = 0; idx < count; idx++ {
+				// it's ok not to call Close() on args as rtx.Close() closes them automatically.
+				// if args are re-created repeatedly, Close() on them is always needed not to
+				// accumulate too many allocated values.
+				args[idx].Close()
+			}
 		} else {
 			//v, err = rtx.Loop()
-			v, err = rtx.Exec(cfg.datfiles)
+			retv, err = rtx.Exec(cfg.datfiles)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: failed to run rtx - %s\n", err.Error())
-		} else if cfg.show_extra_info {
-			fmt.Printf("[RETURN] - [%v]\n", v.String())
+			goto oops
+		}
+
+		if cfg.show_extra_info {
+			fmt.Printf("[RETURN] - [%v]\n", retv.String())
 			// TODO: print global variables and values
 		}
 	}
 
-	h.Close()
+	// let's not care about closing args or return values
+	// because rtx.Close() will close them automatically
+	if rtx != nil { rtx.Close() }
+	if h != nil { h.Close() }
 
 	runtime.GC()
 	runtime.Gosched()
 //	time.Sleep(1000 * time.Millisecond) // give finalizer time to print
+	return
+
+oops:
+	if rtx != nil { rtx.Close() }
+	if h != nil { h.Close() }
+	os.Exit(255)
 }
 
diff --git a/hawk.go b/hawk.go
index 7775435e..943d7edc 100644
--- a/hawk.go
+++ b/hawk.go
@@ -305,14 +305,27 @@ func (hawk *Hawk) SetLogMask(log_mask BitMask) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (hawk *Hawk) AddGlobal(name string) error {
+func (hawk *Hawk) FindGlobal(name string, inc_builtins bool) (int, error) {
+	var x C.int
+	var cname *C.hawk_bch_t
+	var cinc C.int
+
+	cname = C.CString(name)
+	if inc_builtins { cinc = 1 }
+	x = C.hawk_findgblwithbcstr(hawk.c, cname, cinc)
+	C.free(unsafe.Pointer(cname))
+	if x <= -1 { return -1, hawk.make_errinfo() }
+	return int(x), nil
+}
+
+func (hawk *Hawk) AddGlobal(name string) (int, error) {
 	var x C.int
 	var cname *C.hawk_bch_t
 	cname = C.CString(name)
 	x = C.hawk_addgblwithbcstr(hawk.c, cname)
 	C.free(unsafe.Pointer(cname))
-	if x <= -1 { return hawk.make_errinfo() }
-	return nil
+	if x <= -1 { return -1, hawk.make_errinfo() }
+	return int(x), nil
 }
 
 //export hawk_go_fnc_handler
@@ -383,6 +396,7 @@ func (hawk *Hawk) ParseFiles(files []string) error {
 
 	count = len(files)
 	in = make([]C.hawk_parsestd_t, count + 1)
+	cfiles = make([]*C.hawk_bch_t, count)
 	for idx = 0; idx < count; idx++ {
 		cfiles[idx] = C.CString(files[idx])
 		C.init_parsestd_for_file_in(&in[idx], cfiles[idx])
@@ -547,6 +561,13 @@ func (rtx *Rtx) make_errinfo() *Err {
 	return &err
 }
 
+func (rtx *Rtx) SetGlobal(idx int, val *Val) error {
+	if C.hawk_rtx_setgbl(rtx.c, C.int(idx), val.c) <= -1 {
+		return rtx.make_errinfo()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (rtx *Rtx) Exec(args []string) (*Val, error) {
 	var val *C.hawk_val_t
 	var cargs []*C.hawk_bch_t
@@ -702,13 +723,13 @@ func (rtx *Rtx) NewVal(v interface{}) (*Val, error) {
 	_type = reflect.TypeOf(v)
 	switch _type.Kind() {
 		case reflect.Int:
-			return rtx.NewValFromInt(v.(int))
+			return rtx.NewIntVal(v.(int))
 		case reflect.Float32:
-			return rtx.NewValFromFlt(float64(v.(float32)))
+			return rtx.NewFltVal(float64(v.(float32)))
 		case reflect.Float64:
-			return rtx.NewValFromFlt(v.(float64))
+			return rtx.NewFltVal(v.(float64))
 		case reflect.String:
-			return rtx.NewValFromStr(v.(string))
+			return rtx.NewStrVal(v.(string))
 
 		case reflect.Array:
 			fallthrough
@@ -716,7 +737,7 @@ func (rtx *Rtx) NewVal(v interface{}) (*Val, error) {
 			var _kind reflect.Kind
 			_kind = _type.Elem().Kind()
 			if _kind == reflect.Uint8 {
-				return rtx.NewValFromByteArr(v.([]byte))
+				return rtx.NewByteArrVal(v.([]byte))
 			}
 			fallthrough
 
@@ -738,31 +759,31 @@ func (rtx* Rtx) make_val(vmaker func() *C.hawk_val_t) (*Val, error) {
 	return vv, nil
 }
 
-func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromByte(v byte) (*Val, error) {
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewByteVal(v byte) (*Val, error) {
 	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
 		return C.hawk_rtx_makebchrval(rtx.c, C.hawk_bch_t(v))
 	})
 }
 
-func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromRune(v rune) (*Val, error) {
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewCharVal(v rune) (*Val, error) {
 	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
 		return C.hawk_rtx_makecharval(rtx.c, C.hawk_ooch_t(v))
 	})
 }
 
-func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromInt(v int) (*Val, error) {
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewIntVal(v int) (*Val, error) {
 	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
 		return C.hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx.c, C.hawk_int_t(v))
 	})
 }
 
-func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromFlt(v float64) (*Val, error) {
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewFltVal(v float64) (*Val, error) {
 	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
 		return C.make_flt_val(rtx.c, C.double(v))
 	})
 }
 
-func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromStr(v string) (*Val, error) {
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewStrVal(v string) (*Val, error) {
 	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
 		var vv *C.hawk_val_t
 		var cv *C.hawk_bch_t
@@ -773,7 +794,18 @@ func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromStr(v string) (*Val, error) {
 	})
 }
 
-func (rtx *Rtx) NewValFromByteArr(v []byte) (*Val, error) {
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewNumOrStrVal(v string) (*Val, error) {
+	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
+		var vv *C.hawk_val_t
+		var cv *C.hawk_bch_t
+		cv = C.CString(v)
+		vv = C.hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithbchars(rtx.c, cv, C.hawk_oow_t(len(v)))
+		C.free(unsafe.Pointer(cv))
+		return vv
+	})
+}
+
+func (rtx *Rtx) NewByteArrVal(v []byte) (*Val, error) {
 	return rtx.make_val(func() *C.hawk_val_t {
 		return C.hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars(rtx.c, (*C.hawk_bch_t)(unsafe.Pointer(&v[0])), C.hawk_oow_t(len(v)))
 	})
diff --git a/hawk_test.go b/hawk_test.go
index 5e793bd9..fb12c28f 100644
--- a/hawk_test.go
+++ b/hawk_test.go
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ func enbase64(rtx *hawk.Rtx) error {
 	var a2 *hawk.Val = hawk.Must(rtx.GetFuncArg(2))
 
 	fmt.Printf("[%s] [%s] [%s]\n", a0.String(), a1.String(), a2.String())
-	rtx.SetFuncRet(hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("ENBASE64-OUTPUT")))
+	rtx.SetFuncRet(hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("ENBASE64-OUTPUT")))
 	return nil
 }
 
 func debase64(rtx *hawk.Rtx) error {
 	fmt.Printf("****DEBASE64 [%d]\n", rtx.GetFuncArgCount())
-	rtx.SetFuncRet(hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromFlt(-999.1111)))
+	rtx.SetFuncRet(hawk.Must(rtx.NewFltVal(-999.1111)))
 	return nil
 //return fmt.Errorf("what the hell.....")
 }
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ return x;
 	} else  {
 		var v *hawk.Val
 
-		v, err = rtx.Call("get_map", hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("hawk flies")))
+		v, err = rtx.Call("get_map", hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("hawk flies")))
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("failed to call get_map - %s", err.Error())
 		} else {
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@ return x;
 				}
 
 				fmt.Printf("== CHANGING MAP ==\n")
-				v.MapSetField("666.666", hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromFlt(66666.66666)))
-				v.MapSetField("hello", hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("all stars")))
+				v.MapSetField("666.666", hawk.Must(rtx.NewFltVal(66666.66666)))
+				v.MapSetField("hello", hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("all stars")))
 
 				fmt.Printf("== DUMPING MAP ==\n")
 				kk, vv = v.MapFirstField(&itr)
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ return x;
 			}
 		}
 
-		v, err = rtx.Call("get_arr", hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("hawk flies")))
+		v, err = rtx.Call("get_arr", hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("hawk flies")))
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("failed to call get_arr - %s", err.Error())
 		} else {
@@ -270,8 +270,8 @@ return x;
 					}
 					*/
 					fmt.Printf("== CHANGING ARRAY ==\n")
-					v.ArraySetField(88, hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("eighty eight")))
-					v.ArraySetField(77, hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("seventy seventy")))
+					v.ArraySetField(88, hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("eighty eight")))
+					v.ArraySetField(77, hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("seventy seventy")))
 					fmt.Printf("== DUMPING ARRAY ==\n")
 					i, ff = v.ArrayFirstField(&itr)
 					for ff != nil {
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ return x
 	} else  {
 		var v *hawk.Val
 
-		v, err = rtx.Call("main", hawk.Must(rtx.NewValFromStr("this is a test3 string")))
+		v, err = rtx.Call("main", hawk.Must(rtx.NewStrVal("this is a test3 string")))
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("failed to call main - %s", err.Error())
 		} else {