diff --git a/scripts/dream.py b/scripts/dream.py
index 41a78a5..0234e10 100644
--- a/scripts/dream.py
+++ b/scripts/dream.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ MODE_RANGES = {
     "late-rem":  (0.22, 0.42),
     "lucid":     (0.32, 0.72),
 }
+DREAMER_VERSION = "1.1"  # 1.0=original exclusion logic; 1.1=score-band exclusion
 
 # ─── Prompt versioning ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Bump the relevant constant manually when changing a prompt.
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ def retrieve(mode, task=None, n_results=8, excluded_sources=None):
                 "source": source or "unknown",
                 "content": doc,
                 "relevance": similarity,
+                "similarity": similarity,
             })
             seen_sources.add(source)
             if len(chunks) >= n_results:
@@ -366,6 +368,7 @@ def write_manifest(date_str, stage_data, corpus_data):
     manifest = {
         "date": date_str,
         "prompt_sig": prompt_signature(),
+        "dreamer_version": DREAMER_VERSION,
         "prompt_hash": prompt_hash([
             synthesize_nrem.__doc__ or "",
             synthesize_early_rem.__doc__ or "",
@@ -406,6 +409,8 @@ def dream_pipeline():
     print("\n[NREM] Retrieving...")
     nrem_chunks = retrieve("nrem", excluded_sources=previously_retrieved | session_retrieved)
     session_retrieved.update(c["source"] for c in nrem_chunks)
+    # Track sources that scored above Early REM ceiling — these are the only ones Early REM should exclude
+    nrem_high_sources = {c["source"] for c in nrem_chunks if c["similarity"] > 0.55}
     if not nrem_chunks:
         print("[NREM] No suitable chunks — aborting pipeline")
         return None
@@ -431,7 +436,9 @@ def dream_pipeline():
 
     # ── Stage 2: Early REM — informed by NREM ──────────────────────────────
     print("\n[Early REM] Retrieving...")
-    early_chunks = retrieve("early-rem", excluded_sources=previously_retrieved | session_retrieved)
+    # Early REM excludes previously retrieved + NREM high-scorers only (not full session_retrieved)
+    # Sources that scored in Early REM band during NREM remain available
+    early_chunks = retrieve("early-rem", excluded_sources=previously_retrieved | nrem_high_sources)
     session_retrieved.update(c["source"] for c in early_chunks)
     if not early_chunks:
         print("[Early REM] No suitable chunks — skipping")