diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/dukvid.c b/sc2/src/libs/video/dukvid.c
index 48db6cd78..7d727d0c8 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/dukvid.c
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/dukvid.c
@@ -615,8 +615,7 @@ dukv_Open (THIS_PTR, uio_DirHandle *dir, const char *filename)
 
 	This->length = (float) dukv->cframes / DUCK_GENERAL_FPS;
 	This->frame_count = dukv->cframes;
-	This->max_frame_wait =
-			(uint32) (1000.0f / DUCK_GENERAL_FPS * 1.1);
+	This->interframe_wait = (uint32) (1000.0 / DUCK_GENERAL_FPS);
 
 	dukv->inbuf = HMalloc (DUCK_MAX_FRAME_SIZE);
 	dukv->decbuf = HMalloc (
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/legacyplayer.c b/sc2/src/libs/video/legacyplayer.c
index 2e4986ef5..5dfddad10 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/legacyplayer.c
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/legacyplayer.c
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ StopLegacyVideo (LEGACY_VIDEO_REF ref)
 {
 	if (!ref)
 		return;
-	if (TFB_VideoPlaying (ref->vidref))
-		VidStop ();
+	VidStop ();
 
 	DestroyVideo (ref->vidref);
 	if (ref->speechref)
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/video.c b/sc2/src/libs/video/video.c
index a6f860275..8080592ae 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/video.c
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/video.c
@@ -74,6 +74,14 @@ VidPlaying (void)
 	return NULL_VIDEO_REF;
 }
 
+BOOLEAN
+VidProcessFrame (void)
+{
+	if (!_cur_video)
+		return FALSE;
+	return TFB_ProcessVideoFrame (_cur_video);
+}
+
 // return current video position in milliseconds
 DWORD
 VidGetPosition (void)
@@ -173,6 +181,9 @@ DestroyVideo (VIDEO_REF vid)
 	if (!vid)
 		return FALSE;
 
+	// just some armouring; should already be stopped
+	TFB_StopVideo (vid);
+
 	VideoDecoder_Free (vid->decoder);
 	DestroyMutex (vid->guard);
 	HFree (vid);
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/video.h b/sc2/src/libs/video/video.h
index bd652d697..928c120ac 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/video.h
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/video.h
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include "types.h"
 #include "videodec.h"
 #include "libs/sound/sound.h"
-#include "libs/tasklib.h"
 
 
 typedef struct tfb_videoclip
@@ -36,11 +35,9 @@ typedef struct tfb_videoclip
 	RECT dst_rect;     // destination screen rect
 	RECT src_rect;     // source rect
 	MUSIC_REF hAudio;
-	Task play_task;
 	uint32 frame_time; // time when next frame should be rendered
 	TFB_Image* frame;  // frame preped and optimized for rendering
 	uint32 cur_frame;  // index of frame currently displayed
-	uint32 max_frame_wait;
 	bool playing;
 	bool own_audio;
 	uint32 loop_frame; // frame index to loop from
@@ -48,6 +45,7 @@ typedef struct tfb_videoclip
 
 	Mutex guard;
 	uint32 want_frame; // audio-signaled desired frame index
+	int lag_cnt;       // N of frames video is behind or ahead of audio
 
 	void* data; // user-defined data
 
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/videodec.h b/sc2/src/libs/video/videodec.h
index 9f2c741ac..a645f06e7 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/videodec.h
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/videodec.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ struct tfb_videodecoder
 	uint32 w, h;
 	float length; // total length in seconds
 	uint32 frame_count;
-	uint32 max_frame_wait; // maximum interframe delay in msecs
+	uint32 interframe_wait; // nominal interframe delay in msecs
 	bool audio_synced;
 	// decoder callbacks
 	TFB_VideoCallbacks callbacks;
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.c b/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.c
index ade2820dc..cf9773228 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.c
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.c
@@ -55,163 +55,130 @@ static const TFB_SoundCallbacks vp_AudioCBs =
 	vp_QueueBuffer
 };
 
-// inter-thread param guarded by mutex
-static Semaphore vp_interthread_lock = 0;
-static void* vp_interthread_clip = NULL;
 
 bool
 TFB_InitVideoPlayer (void)
 {
-	// creation probably needs better handling
-	vp_interthread_lock = CreateSemaphore (1, "inter-thread param lock",
-			SYNC_CLASS_VIDEO);
-	return vp_interthread_lock != 0;
+	// now just a stub
+	return true;
 }
 
 void
 TFB_UninitVideoPlayer (void)
 {
-	DestroySemaphore (vp_interthread_lock);
+	// now just a stub
 }
 
-// audio-synced video playback task
-// the frame rate and timing is dictated by the audio
-static int
-as_video_play_task (void *data)
+static inline sint32
+msecToTimeCount (sint32 msec)
 {
-	Task task = (Task) data;
-	volatile TFB_VideoClip* vid;
+	return msec * ONE_SECOND / 1000;
+}
+
+// audio-synced video playback frame function
+// the frame rate and timing is dictated by the audio
+static bool
+processAudioSyncedFrame (VIDEO_REF vid)
+{
+#define MAX_FRAME_LAG  8
+#define LAG_FRACTION   6
+#define SYNC_BIAS      1 / 3
 	int ret;
 	uint32 want_frame;
-	TimeCount TimeOut;
-	int bTerm;
-	uint32 clagged;
+	uint32 prev_want_frame;
+	sint32 wait_msec;
+	CONTEXT oldContext;
+	TimeCount Now = GetTimeCounter ();
 
-	// snatch the clip pointer and release
-	vid = vp_interthread_clip;
-	vp_interthread_clip = NULL;
-	ClearSemaphore (vp_interthread_lock);
+	if (!vid->playing)
+		return false;
+
+	if (Now < vid->frame_time)
+		return true; // not time yet
 
 	LockMutex (vid->guard);
 	want_frame = vid->want_frame;
-	if (vid->hAudio)
-		PLRPlaySong (vid->hAudio, FALSE, 1);
 	UnlockMutex (vid->guard);
 
-	clagged = 0;
+	if (want_frame >= vid->decoder->frame_count)
+	{
+		vid->playing = false;
+		return false;
+	}
 
 	// this works like so (audio-synced):
 	//  1. you call VideoDecoder_Seek() [when necessary] and
 	//     VideoDecoder_Decode()
-	//  2. wait till the audio signals it's time for this frame
-	//     or the maximum inter-frame timeout elapses; the timeout
-	//     is necessary because the audio signaling is not precise
-	//	   (see vp_AudioStart, vp_AudioEnd, vp_BufferTag)
-	//  3. output the frame; if the timeout elapsed, increment the
-	//     the lag counter
-	//  4. set the next frame timeout; lag counter increases the
-	//     timeout to allow audio to catch up
+	//  2. wait till it's time for this frame to be drawn
+	//     the timeout is necessary because the audio signaling is not
+	//     precise (see vp_AudioStart, vp_AudioEnd, vp_BufferTag)
+	//  3. output the frame; if the audio is behind, the lag counter
+	//     goes up; if the video is behind, the lag counter goes down
+	//  4. set the next frame timeout; lag counter increases or
+	//     decreases the timeout to allow audio or video to catch up
 	//  5. on a seek operation, the audio stream is moved to the
 	//     correct position and then the audio signals the frame
 	//     that should be rendered
 	//  The system of timeouts and lag counts should make the video
 	//  *relatively* smooth
 	//
-	ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
-	TimeOut = GetTimeCounter () + vid->decoder->max_frame_wait *
-			ONE_SECOND / 1000;
-
-	while (!(bTerm = Task_ReadState (task, TASK_EXIT)) && ret > 0)
+	prev_want_frame = vid->cur_frame - vid->lag_cnt;
+	if (want_frame > prev_want_frame - MAX_FRAME_LAG
+			&& want_frame <= prev_want_frame + MAX_FRAME_LAG)
 	{
-		// wait till its time to render next frame
-		while (!(bTerm = Task_ReadState (task, TASK_EXIT))
-				&& want_frame == vid->cur_frame - clagged
-				&& TimeOut > GetTimeCounter ())
-		{
-			TaskSwitch ();
-			LockMutex (vid->guard);
-			want_frame = vid->want_frame;
-			UnlockMutex (vid->guard);
-		}
-
-		if (bTerm)
-			break;
-		
-		if (want_frame == vid->cur_frame - clagged)
-		{	// timed out - draw the next frame
-			++clagged;
-		}
-		else if (want_frame > vid->cur_frame - clagged
-				&& want_frame <= vid->cur_frame)
-		{
-			// catching up
-			clagged = vid->cur_frame - want_frame;
-			// try again
-			continue;
-		}
-		else if (want_frame != vid->cur_frame + 1)
-		{	// out of sequence frame, let's get it
-			vid->cur_frame = VideoDecoder_SeekFrame (
-					vid->decoder, want_frame);
-			ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
-			clagged = 0;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			clagged = 0;
-		}
-		vid->cur_frame = vid->decoder->cur_frame;
-
-		// draw the frame
-		if (ret > 0)
-		{
-			CONTEXT oldContext;
-			
-			LockMutex (GraphicsLock);
-			// We have the cliprect precalculated and don't need the rest
-			oldContext = SetContext (NULL);
-			TFB_DrawScreen_Image (vid->frame,
-					vid->dst_rect.corner.x, vid->dst_rect.corner.y,
-					GSCALE_IDENTITY, NULL, TFB_SCREEN_MAIN);
-			SetContext (oldContext);
-			UnlockMutex (GraphicsLock);
-			FlushGraphics (); // needed to prevent half-frame updates
-		}
-
-		// increase timeout with lag-count to allow audio to catch up
-		TimeOut = GetTimeCounter () + vid->decoder->max_frame_wait *
-				ONE_SECOND / 1000 + clagged * ONE_SECOND / 100;
-
-		ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
+		// we will draw the next frame right now, thus +1
+		vid->lag_cnt = vid->cur_frame + 1 - want_frame;
 	}
-	if (vid->hAudio)
-		PLRStop (vid->hAudio);
-	vid->playing = false;
+	else
+	{	// out of sequence frame, let's get it
+		vid->lag_cnt = 0;
+		vid->cur_frame = VideoDecoder_SeekFrame (vid->decoder, want_frame);
+		ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
+		if (ret < 0)
+		{	// decoder returned a failure
+			vid->playing = false;
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+	vid->cur_frame = vid->decoder->cur_frame;
 
-	FinishTask (task);
+	// draw the frame
+	LockMutex (GraphicsLock);
+	// We have the cliprect precalculated and don't need the rest
+	oldContext = SetContext (NULL);
+	TFB_DrawScreen_Image (vid->frame,
+			vid->dst_rect.corner.x, vid->dst_rect.corner.y,
+			GSCALE_IDENTITY, NULL, TFB_SCREEN_MAIN);
+	SetContext (oldContext);
+	UnlockMutex (GraphicsLock);
+	FlushGraphics (); // needed to prevent half-frame updates
 
-	return 0;
+	// increase interframe with positive lag-count to allow audio to catch up
+	// decrease interframe with negative lag-count to allow video to catch up
+	wait_msec = vid->decoder->interframe_wait
+			- (int)vid->decoder->interframe_wait * SYNC_BIAS
+			+ (int)vid->decoder->interframe_wait * vid->lag_cnt / LAG_FRACTION;
+	vid->frame_time = Now + msecToTimeCount (wait_msec);
+
+	ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
+	if (ret < 0)
+	{
+		// TODO: decide what to do on error
+	}
+
+	return vid->playing;
 }
 
-// audio-independent video playback task
+// audio-independent video playback frame function
 // the frame rate and timing is dictated by the video decoder
-static int
-video_play_task (void *data)
+static bool
+processMuteFrame (VIDEO_REF vid)
 {
-	Task task = (Task) data;
-	TFB_VideoClip* vid;
 	int ret;
+	TimeCount Now = GetTimeCounter ();
 
-	// snatch the clip pointer and release
-	vid = vp_interthread_clip;
-	vp_interthread_clip = NULL;
-	ClearSemaphore (vp_interthread_lock);
-
-	LockMutex (vid->guard);
-	if (vid->hAudio)
-		PLRPlaySong (vid->hAudio, (vid->loop_frame != VID_NO_LOOP), 1);
-
-	UnlockMutex (vid->guard);
+	if (!vid->playing)
+		return false;
 
 	// this works like so:
 	//  1. you call VideoDecoder_Seek() [when necessary] and
@@ -222,14 +189,10 @@ video_play_task (void *data)
 	//  On a seek operation, the decoder should reset its internal
 	//  clock and call vp_GetTicks() again
 	//
-	ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
-
-	while (!Task_ReadState (task, TASK_EXIT) && ret > 0)
+	if (Now >= vid->frame_time)
 	{
 		CONTEXT oldContext;
 		
-		// wait till its time to render next frame
-		SleepThreadUntil (vid->frame_time);
 		vid->cur_frame = vid->decoder->cur_frame;
 
 		LockMutex (GraphicsLock);
@@ -246,14 +209,11 @@ video_play_task (void *data)
 			VideoDecoder_SeekFrame (vid->decoder, vid->loop_to);
 
 		ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
+		if (ret <= 0)
+			vid->playing = false;
 	}
-	vid->playing = false;
-	if (vid->hAudio)
-		PLRStop (vid->hAudio);
 
-	FinishTask (task);
-
-	return 0;
+	return vid->playing;
 }
 
 bool
@@ -264,6 +224,8 @@ TFB_PlayVideo (VIDEO_REF vid, uint32 x, uint32 y)
 	RECT vid_r = {{0, 0}, {ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight}};
 	RECT dr = {{x, y}, {vid->w, vid->h}};
 	RECT sr;
+	bool loop_music = false;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!vid)
 		return false;
@@ -318,24 +280,21 @@ TFB_PlayVideo (VIDEO_REF vid, uint32 x, uint32 y)
 		TFB_SetSoundSampleData (*vid->hAudio, (intptr_t)vid);
 	}
 
-	SetSemaphore (vp_interthread_lock);
-	vp_interthread_clip = vid;
+	// get the first frame
+	ret = VideoDecoder_Decode (vid->decoder);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return false;
 
 	vid->playing = true;
+	
+	loop_music = !vid->decoder->audio_synced && vid->loop_frame != VID_NO_LOOP;
+	if (vid->hAudio)
+		PLRPlaySong (vid->hAudio, loop_music, 1);
+
 	if (vid->decoder->audio_synced)
-		vid->play_task = AssignTask (
-				as_video_play_task, 4096, "a/s video player");
-	else
-		vid->play_task = AssignTask (
-				video_play_task, 4096, "video player");
-
-	if (!vid->play_task)
 	{
-		vid->playing = false;
-		ClearSemaphore (vp_interthread_lock);
-		TFB_StopVideo (vid);
-
-		return false;
+		// draw the first frame now
+		vid->frame_time = GetTimeCounter ();
 	}
 
 	return true;
@@ -348,8 +307,6 @@ TFB_StopVideo (VIDEO_REF vid)
 		return;
 
 	vid->playing = false;
-	if (vid->play_task)
-		ConcludeTask (vid->play_task);
 	
 	if (vid->hAudio)
 	{
@@ -377,6 +334,18 @@ TFB_VideoPlaying (VIDEO_REF vid)
 	return vid->playing;
 }
 
+bool
+TFB_ProcessVideoFrame (VIDEO_REF vid)
+{
+	if (!vid)
+		return false;
+
+	if (vid->decoder->audio_synced)
+		return processAudioSyncedFrame (vid);
+	else
+		return processMuteFrame (vid);
+}
+
 uint32
 TFB_GetVideoPosition (VIDEO_REF vid)
 {
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.h b/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.h
index 6e9846fe9..354e38ec2 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.h
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/video/vidplayer.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ extern void TFB_UninitVideoPlayer (void);
 extern bool TFB_PlayVideo (VIDEO_REF VidRef, uint32 x, uint32 y);
 extern void TFB_StopVideo (VIDEO_REF VidRef);
 extern bool TFB_VideoPlaying (VIDEO_REF VidRef);
+extern bool TFB_ProcessVideoFrame (VIDEO_REF vid);
 extern uint32 TFB_GetVideoPosition (VIDEO_REF VidRef);
 extern bool TFB_SeekVideo (VIDEO_REF VidRef, uint32 pos);
 
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/vidlib.h b/sc2/src/libs/vidlib.h
index bdab2765e..786470814 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/vidlib.h
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/vidlib.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ extern VIDEO_TYPE VidPlayEx (VIDEO_REF VidRef, MUSIC_REF AudRef,
 #define VID_NO_LOOP (0U-1)
 extern void VidStop (void);
 extern VIDEO_REF VidPlaying (void);
+extern BOOLEAN VidProcessFrame (void);
 extern DWORD VidGetPosition (void);  // position in milliseconds
 extern BOOLEAN VidSeek (DWORD pos); // position in milliseconds
 
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/intro.c b/sc2/src/uqm/intro.c
index 118fadb3c..99a0ed67d 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/intro.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/intro.c
@@ -822,8 +822,6 @@ DoVideoInput (void *pIS)
 
 	if (!PlayingLegacyVideo (pVIS->CurVideo))
 	{	// Video probably finished
-		// Have to call VidStop anyway to cleanup
-		VidStop ();
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 
@@ -832,7 +830,6 @@ DoVideoInput (void *pIS)
 			|| PulsedInputState.menu[KEY_MENU_SPECIAL]
 			|| (GLOBAL (CurrentActivity) & CHECK_ABORT))
 	{	// abort movie
-		VidStop ();
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 	else if (PulsedInputState.menu[KEY_MENU_LEFT]
@@ -850,7 +847,10 @@ DoVideoInput (void *pIS)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		SleepThread (ONE_SECOND / 30);
+		if (!VidProcessFrame ())
+			return FALSE;
+
+		SleepThread (ONE_SECOND / 40);
 	}
 
 	return TRUE;