diff --git a/components/reasoning-workspace.jsx b/components/reasoning-workspace.jsx
index fbd2d41..05e5003 100644
--- a/components/reasoning-workspace.jsx
+++ b/components/reasoning-workspace.jsx
@@ -1981,6 +1981,7 @@ export default function ReasoningWorkspace({
                                     onClick={() => {
                                       const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, node.id);
                                       onSituationGraphChange(nextGraph);
+                                      setDoneForNowIds((prev) => prev.filter((id) => id !== node.id));
                                     }}
                                     style={{ cursor: "pointer" }}
                                     className="text-[10px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wider text-amber-600 hover:text-amber-700 underline transition"
@@ -2256,8 +2257,12 @@ export default function ReasoningWorkspace({
                               if (currentGraph) {
                                 const resolvedIds = new Set(currentGraph.resolvedNodeIds || []);
                                 resolvedIds.add(focusedPresentationItemId);
+                                const nextNodes = (currentGraph.nodes || []).map((n) =>
+                                  n.id === focusedPresentationItemId ? { ...n, status: "resolved" } : n,
+                                );
                                 onImmediateGraphChange({
                                   ...currentGraph,
+                                  nodes: nextNodes,
                                   resolvedNodeIds: Array.from(resolvedIds),
                                 });
                               }
diff --git a/components/scenario-form.jsx b/components/scenario-form.jsx
index 82751f7..9a95be8 100644
--- a/components/scenario-form.jsx
+++ b/components/scenario-form.jsx
@@ -359,7 +359,14 @@ export default function ScenarioForm() {
    * activity boundary. Delegates to the exported executeEpisodeDone pipeline.
    */
   async function handleDoneForNowPromotion(targetNodeId, onImmediateGraphUpdate) {
-    if (!targetNodeId || !findings?.length) return;
+    if (!targetNodeId) return;
+
+    // Gate: only invoke episode processing when the active target has focused contributions.
+    // Scenario-wide findings no longer determine whether an empty target enters episode processing.
+    const hasActiveTargetContent = (focusedContributions ?? []).some(
+      (c) => c.targetNodeId === targetNodeId || c.originatingTargetNodeId === targetNodeId,
+    );
+    if (!hasActiveTargetContent) return;
 
     // In-flight guard: exactly-once enforcement
     if (doneInProgressRef.current) return;
diff --git a/docs/current-handoff.md b/docs/current-handoff.md
index b739f5f..4d1dc04 100644
--- a/docs/current-handoff.md
+++ b/docs/current-handoff.md
@@ -313,9 +313,33 @@ A fresh unanswered Question B displayed stale focused-investigation content from
 - Claude Playwright was not used for final verification because the canonical dev server was unavailable at that point
 - Full Vitest suite was not re-run in this session (only targeted regression test)
 
+### v0.53 — Empty Done parked-state coherence + Re-open local cleanup
+
+**Problem:** empty Done left node in `status: "unknown"` even though its ID was added to `resolvedNodeIds` and `doneForNowIds`, producing a non-coherent canonical parked state. Populated Done produced `status: "resolved"` (via server graph response), so empty and populated Done diverged locally. Additionally, the clarified-question Re-open handler called `reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, node.id)` but did not remove the target from `doneForNowIds`, leaving it hidden from Open Questions filtering.
+
+**Correction A — immediate Done state coherence (`components/reasoning-workspace.jsx`):**
+- The `onImmediateGraphChange` callback (line ~2254) now also sets the target node's `status: "resolved"` alongside adding its ID to `resolvedNodeIds`
+- Empty Done and populated Done now share the same resolved state shape: `{ status: "resolved", resolvedNodeIds includes id, doneForNowIds includes id }`
+- No server API call is added — empty Done still skips episode processing via the active-target content guard in `scenario-form.jsx`
+
+**Correction B — clarified-question Re-open local cleanup (`components/reasoning-workspace.jsx`):**
+- The clarified-question Re-open button (line ~1982) now calls `setDoneForNowIds(prev => prev.filter(id => id !== node.id))` after installing the reopened graph
+- The node visibly returns to Open Questions because both filtering sets (`resolvedNodeIds` and `doneForNowIds`) no longer contain the target ID
+
+**Verification:**
+- Targeted Vitest (`tests/empty-done-orchestration.test.jsx`) — 23 tests pass (original 14 gate tests + 9 new coherence/reopen/history tests)
+- `npm run build` — compiles successfully
+- Playwright live verification: NOT RUN (no existing investigation with parked questions available on the persisted dev server state at http://localhost:3000)
+
+**Preservation guarantees:**
+- Empty Done still skips completed-episode API call when active target has no episode content (active-target guard in scenario-form.jsx unchanged)
+- Server `no_episodic_content` guard remains unchanged
+- Contributions and Findings remain untouched by both corrections (graph-only mutations)
+- Reasoning, prompts, providers, episode preparation unchanged
+- Zero-Open-Questions milestone and focused-presentation ownership (v0.52) remain unchanged
+
 ### Open defects
 
-- **Focused-investigation state bleed**: Resolved by v0.52 correction above (scoped presentation derivation). Verified by targeted Vitest, build, and Rob manual visual verification.
-- Empty Done `no_episodic_content`: choosing Done without episodic content can produce `{ success: false, stage: "preparation", error: "no_episodic_content" }` — separate future increment
+- Empty Done `no_episodic_content`: choosing Done without episodic content can produce `{ success: false, stage: "preparation", error: "no_episodic_content" }` — separate future increment (empty-Done orchestration guard now prevents the 400 in practice by skipping episode processing entirely)
 
 **Next restart point:** The empty-Done `no_episodic_content` 400. Implement and verify that a Done action taken when no episodic evidence exists produces the same user-facing state (CU refresh with appropriate messaging) without a 400 error.
diff --git a/tests/empty-done-orchestration.test.jsx b/tests/empty-done-orchestration.test.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..edd145f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/empty-done-orchestration.test.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+/**
+ * v0.53 - Empty Done Orchestration Regression Test
+ *
+ * Proves that handleDoneForNowPromotion's gate is based on active-target
+ * focused contributions, NOT on scenario-wide findings.
+ *
+ * Deterministic: exercises the exact ownership condition logic extracted
+ * from the component boundary. No rendering, no fetch.
+ */
+
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { reopenResolvedUnknown } from "@/lib/graph/reopen-resolved-unknown.js";
+
+/* - Extracted gate logic (mirrors scenario-form.jsx line ~362) -- */
+
+function shouldEnterEpisodePath(targetNodeId, focusedContributions) {
+  if (!targetNodeId) return false;
+  const hasActiveTargetContent = (focusedContributions ?? []).some(
+    (c) => c.targetNodeId === targetNodeId || c.originatingTargetNodeId === targetNodeId,
+  );
+  return hasActiveTargetContent;
+}
+
+/* - Case A - empty active target -- */
+
+describe("empty active target", () => {
+  it("returns false when focusedContributions contains no contribution owned by the target", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath(
+      "node-B",
+      [
+        { id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-A" },
+        { id: "contrib-0002", targetNodeId: "node-A", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-A" },
+      ],
+    );
+    expect(result).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false when focusedContributions is empty array", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath("node-B", []);
+    expect(result).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false when focusedContributions is undefined/null", () => {
+    expect(shouldEnterEpisodePath("node-B", undefined)).toBe(false);
+    expect(shouldEnterEpisodePath("node-B", null)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false when targetNodeId is empty string", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath("", [{ id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A" }]);
+    expect(result).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false when targetNodeId is null", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath(null, [{ id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A" }]);
+    expect(result).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("originatingTargetNodeId ownership also gates correctly - mismatched origin", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath(
+      "node-B",
+      [{ id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-C" }],
+    );
+    expect(result).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+/* - Case A2 — immediate Done produces canonical parked state (graph coherence) -- */
+
+function simulateImmediateDone(graph, nodeId) {
+  /* Mirrors the onImmediateGraphChange logic in FocusedWorkspaceNavigation */
+  const resolvedIds = new Set(graph.resolvedNodeIds || []);
+  resolvedIds.add(nodeId);
+  const nextNodes = (graph.nodes || []).map((n) =>
+    n.id === nodeId ? { ...n, status: "resolved" } : n,
+  );
+  return {
+    ...graph,
+    nodes: nextNodes,
+    resolvedNodeIds: Array.from(resolvedIds),
+  };
+}
+
+describe("immediate Done produces canonical parked state", () => {
+  it("sets node.status to resolved and adds ID to resolvedNodeIds for empty-Done target", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [{ id: "node-empty", kind: "unknown", status: "unknown" }],
+      resolvedNodeIds: [],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = simulateImmediateDone(graph, "node-empty");
+
+    const targetNode = nextGraph.nodes.find((n) => n.id === "node-empty");
+    expect(targetNode.status).toBe("resolved");
+    expect(nextGraph.resolvedNodeIds).toContain("node-empty");
+  });
+
+  it("preserves other nodes unchanged", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [
+        { id: "node-A", kind: "unknown", status: "unknown" },
+        { id: "node-B", kind: "unknown", status: "unknown" },
+      ],
+      resolvedNodeIds: [],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = simulateImmediateDone(graph, "node-B");
+
+    const nodeA = nextGraph.nodes.find((n) => n.id === "node-A");
+    expect(nodeA.status).toBe("unknown");
+  });
+
+  it("is idempotent for resolvedNodeIds — duplicate add does not create duplicates", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [{ id: "node-X", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" }],
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-X"],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = simulateImmediateDone(graph, "node-X");
+
+    expect(nextGraph.resolvedNodeIds.filter((id) => id === "node-X").length).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
+
+/* - Case B - populated active target (regression guard) -- */
+
+describe("populated active target", () => {
+  it("returns true when a contribution's targetNodeId matches", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath(
+      "node-B",
+      [
+        { id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A" },
+        { id: "contrib-0002", targetNodeId: "node-B" },
+      ],
+    );
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("returns true when a contribution's originatingTargetNodeId matches", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath(
+      "node-B",
+      [
+        { id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A" },
+        { id: "contrib-0002", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-B", targetNodeId: "node-B" },
+      ],
+    );
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("returns true with a single contribution owned by the target", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath("node-B", [
+      { id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-B" },
+    ]);
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("returns true when contributions exist for the target even if others are also present", () => {
+    const result = shouldEnterEpisodePath(
+      "node-B",
+      [
+        { id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A" },
+        { id: "contrib-0002", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-B" },
+        { id: "contrib-0003", targetNodeId: "node-C" },
+      ],
+    );
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+/* - Integration: scenario-wide findings must not leak through -- */
+
+describe("scenario-wide evidence does not influence gate", () => {
+  it("findings for other questions do not cause empty target to enter episode path", () => {
+    // Even if there are many findings elsewhere, the empty target (node-B)
+    // must NOT enter episode processing.
+    const focusedContributions = [
+      { id: "contrib-0001", targetNodeId: "node-A", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-A" },
+      { id: "contrib-0002", targetNodeId: "node-A", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-A" },
+      { id: "contrib-0003", targetNodeId: "node-A", originatingTargetNodeId: "node-A" },
+    ];
+
+    // node-B has zero focused contributions - should NOT enter episode path
+    expect(shouldEnterEpisodePath("node-B", focusedContributions)).toBe(false);
+
+    // node-A has contributions - should enter episode path (existing behavior preserved)
+    expect(shouldEnterEpisodePath("node-A", focusedContributions)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+/* - Case B2 — Re-open reverses canonical + local parking state -- */
+
+describe("Re-open reverses canonical graph state", () => {
+  it("changes node.status from resolved back to unknown", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [
+        { id: "node-parked", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" },
+        { id: "node-other", kind: "unknown", status: "unknown" },
+      ],
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-parked"],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-parked");
+
+    const targetNode = nextGraph.nodes.find((n) => n.id === "node-parked");
+    expect(targetNode.status).toBe("unknown");
+  });
+
+  it("removes target from resolvedNodeIds", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [{ id: "node-parked", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" }],
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-parked"],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-parked");
+
+    expect(nextGraph.resolvedNodeIds).not.toContain("node-parked");
+  });
+
+  it("preserves other resolved nodes", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [
+        { id: "node-A", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" },
+        { id: "node-B", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" },
+        { id: "node-C", kind: "unknown", status: "unknown" },
+      ],
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-A", "node-B"],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-A");
+
+    expect(nextGraph.resolvedNodeIds).toContain("node-B");
+    expect(nextGraph.resolvedNodeIds).not.toContain("node-A");
+  });
+
+  it("returns original graph when node is not a resolved unknown", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [{ id: "node-unknown", kind: "unknown", status: "unknown" }],
+      resolvedNodeIds: [],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-unknown");
+
+    expect(nextGraph).toBe(graph);
+  });
+
+  it("returns original graph when node is not an unknown kind", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [{ id: "node-assumption", kind: "assumption", status: "resolved" }],
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-assumption"],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-assumption");
+
+    expect(nextGraph).toBe(graph);
+  });
+
+  it("local setDoneForNowIds cleanup removes only the reopened target", () => {
+    const prevDoneIds = ["node-A", "node-parked", "node-C"];
+    const nextDoneIds = prevDoneIds.filter((id) => id !== "node-parked");
+    expect(nextDoneIds).toContain("node-A");
+    expect(nextDoneIds).toContain("node-C");
+    expect(nextDoneIds).not.toContain("node-parked");
+  });
+
+  it("local setDoneForNowIds is no-op when target not in array", () => {
+    const prevDoneIds = ["node-A", "node-B"];
+    const nextDoneIds = prevDoneIds.filter((id) => id !== "node-parked");
+    expect(nextDoneIds).toEqual(prevDoneIds);
+  });
+});
+
+/* - Case C — history preservation (graph structure invariance) -- */
+
+describe("Re-open preserves contributions and findings", () => {
+  it("does not create or delete nodes", () => {
+    const originalNodes = [
+      { id: "node-parked", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" },
+      { id: "node-A", kind: "assumption", status: "resolved" },
+    ];
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: originalNodes,
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-parked"],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-parked");
+
+    expect(nextGraph.nodes.length).toBe(originalNodes.length);
+  });
+
+  it("does not create or delete edges", () => {
+    const graph = {
+      nodes: [{ id: "node-parked", kind: "unknown", status: "resolved" }],
+      resolvedNodeIds: ["node-parked"],
+      edges: [
+        { from: "node-parked", to: "node-A", type: "supports" },
+        { from: "node-B", to: "node-parked", type: "refutes" },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    const nextGraph = reopenResolvedUnknown(graph, "node-parked");
+
+    expect(nextGraph.edges.length).toBe(2);
+  });
+});