diff --git a/integration_tests/types_test.ucg b/integration_tests/types_test.ucg
index 6317b62..bf774fd 100644
--- a/integration_tests/types_test.ucg
+++ b/integration_tests/types_test.ucg
@@ -69,4 +69,15 @@ let name = "foo";
 assert t.ok{
     test = (name) in {foo="foo"},
     desc = "bareword collisions with field names still works for `in` operator",
+};
+
+assert t.ok{
+    test = "foo" in ["foo"],
+    desc = "List presence checks work",
+};
+
+let foo_string = "foo";
+assert t.ok{
+    test = foo_string in ["foo"],
+    desc = "List presence checks work",
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/build/mod.rs b/src/build/mod.rs
index 7249790..4a572f7 100644
--- a/src/build/mod.rs
+++ b/src/build/mod.rs
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ where
     pub fn eval_stmts(&mut self, ast: Vec<Statement>) -> BuildResult {
         // We should probably stash this in an op_cache somewhere?
         let ops = translate::AST::translate(ast, &self.working_dir);
-        let mut vm = VM::new(Rc::new(ops), self.environment.clone());
+        let mut vm = VM::new(Rc::new(ops), self.environment.clone(), &self.working_dir);
         if self.validate_mode {
             vm.enable_validate_mode();
         }
@@ -227,7 +227,11 @@ where
             &mut ops_map,
             &self.working_dir,
         );
-        let mut vm = VM::new(Rc::new(ops_map), self.environment.clone());
+        let mut vm = VM::new(
+            Rc::new(ops_map),
+            self.environment.clone(),
+            &self.working_dir,
+        );
         if self.validate_mode {
             vm.enable_validate_mode();
         }
diff --git a/src/build/opcode/cache.rs b/src/build/opcode/cache.rs
index 5dad8de..604027b 100644
--- a/src/build/opcode/cache.rs
+++ b/src/build/opcode/cache.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use super::OpPointer;
 
 /// A Cache of Op codes.
 pub struct Ops {
-    ops: BTreeMap<String, Rc<PositionMap>>,
+    ops: BTreeMap<PathBuf, Rc<PositionMap>>,
 }
 
 impl Ops {
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ impl Ops {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn entry<'a, S: Into<String>>(&'a mut self, path: S) -> Entry<'a> {
+    pub fn entry<'a, P: Into<PathBuf>>(&'a mut self, path: P) -> Entry<'a> {
         Entry(self.ops.entry(path.into()))
     }
 }
 
-pub struct Entry<'a>(btree_map::Entry<'a, String, Rc<PositionMap>>);
+pub struct Entry<'a>(btree_map::Entry<'a, PathBuf, Rc<PositionMap>>);
 
 impl<'a> Entry<'a> {
     pub fn get_pointer_or_else<F: FnOnce() -> Result<PositionMap, Error>, P: Into<PathBuf>>(
diff --git a/src/build/opcode/environment.rs b/src/build/opcode/environment.rs
index 08df900..189aded 100644
--- a/src/build/opcode/environment.rs
+++ b/src/build/opcode/environment.rs
@@ -70,14 +70,18 @@ impl<Stdout: Write, Stderr: Write> Environment<Stdout, Stderr> {
         self.val_cache.insert(path.clone(), val);
     }
 
-    pub fn get_ops_for_path(&mut self, path: &String) -> Result<OpPointer, Error> {
-        self.op_cache.entry(path).get_pointer_or_else(
+    pub fn get_ops_for_path<P>(&mut self, path: P) -> Result<OpPointer, Error>
+    where
+        P: Into<PathBuf> + Clone,
+    {
+        let path_copy = path.clone();
+        self.op_cache.entry(path.clone()).get_pointer_or_else(
             || {
                 // FIXME(jwall): We need to do proper error handling here.
-                let p = PathBuf::from(&path);
+                let p = path.into();
                 let root = p.parent().unwrap();
                 // first we read in the file
-                let mut f = File::open(&path)?;
+                let mut f = File::open(&p)?;
                 // then we parse it
                 let mut contents = String::new();
                 f.read_to_string(&mut contents)?;
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ impl<Stdout: Write, Stderr: Write> Environment<Stdout, Stderr> {
                 let ops = super::translate::AST::translate(stmts, &root);
                 Ok(ops)
             },
-            &path,
+            path_copy,
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/build/opcode/error.rs b/src/build/opcode/error.rs
index 2d573bf..1473bf2 100644
--- a/src/build/opcode/error.rs
+++ b/src/build/opcode/error.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ macro_rules! decorate_call {
         match $result {
             Ok(v) => Ok(v),
             Err(mut e) => {
-                dbg!(&$pos);
                 e.push_call_stack($pos.clone());
                 Err(e)
             }
diff --git a/src/build/opcode/runtime.rs b/src/build/opcode/runtime.rs
index bb8e3ea..524feb6 100644
--- a/src/build/opcode/runtime.rs
+++ b/src/build/opcode/runtime.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use std::fs::File;
 use std::io::Read;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::rc::Rc;
+use std::fmt::Debug;
 
 use regex::Regex;
 
@@ -29,7 +30,6 @@ use Composite::{List, Tuple};
 use Primitive::{Bool, Empty, Int, Str};
 
 pub struct Builtins {
-    working_dir: PathBuf,
     import_path: Vec<PathBuf>,
     validate_mode: bool,
 }
@@ -37,12 +37,7 @@ pub struct Builtins {
 impl Builtins {
     pub fn new() -> Self {
         // FIXME(jwall): This should probably be injected in.
-        Self::with_working_dir(std::env::current_dir().unwrap())
-    }
-
-    pub fn with_working_dir<P: Into<PathBuf>>(path: P) -> Self {
         Self {
-            working_dir: path.into(),
             import_path: Vec::new(),
             validate_mode: false,
         }
@@ -50,7 +45,6 @@ impl Builtins {
 
     pub fn clone(&self) -> Self {
         Self {
-            working_dir: self.working_dir.clone(),
             import_path: self.import_path.clone(),
             validate_mode: self.validate_mode,
         }
@@ -60,22 +54,25 @@ impl Builtins {
         self.validate_mode = true;
     }
 
-    pub fn handle<P: AsRef<Path>, O, E>(
+    pub fn handle<P, WP, O, E>(
         &mut self,
         path: Option<P>,
         h: Hook,
         stack: &mut Vec<(Rc<Value>, Position)>,
         env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>,
         import_stack: &mut Vec<String>,
+        working_dir: WP,
         pos: Position,
     ) -> Result<(), Error>
     where
+        P: AsRef<Path>,
+        WP: Into<PathBuf> + Clone + Debug,
         O: std::io::Write,
         E: std::io::Write,
     {
         match h {
-            Hook::Import => self.import(stack, env, import_stack, pos),
-            Hook::Include => self.include(stack, env, pos),
+            Hook::Import => self.import(working_dir, stack, env, import_stack, pos),
+            Hook::Include => self.include(working_dir, stack, env, pos),
             Hook::Assert => self.assert(stack, env),
             Hook::Convert => self.convert(stack, env, pos),
             Hook::Out => self.out(path, stack, env, pos),
@@ -88,15 +85,23 @@ impl Builtins {
         }
     }
 
-    fn find_file<P: Into<PathBuf>>(
+    fn normalize_path<P, BP>(
         &self,
-        path: P,
+        base_path: BP,
         use_import_path: bool,
-        pos: Position,
-    ) -> Result<PathBuf, Error> {
+        path: P,
+    ) -> Result<PathBuf, Error>
+    where
+        BP: Into<PathBuf>,
+        P: Into<PathBuf>,
+    {
         // Try a relative path first.
         let path = path.into();
-        let mut normalized = self.working_dir.clone();
+        // stdlib paths are special
+        if path.starts_with("std/") {
+            return Ok(path);
+        }
+        let mut normalized = base_path.into();
         if path.is_relative() {
             normalized.push(&path);
             // First see if the normalized file exists or not.
@@ -115,6 +120,23 @@ impl Builtins {
         } else {
             normalized = path;
         }
+        Ok(normalized.canonicalize()?)
+    }
+
+    fn find_file<P, BP>(
+        &self,
+        base_path: BP,
+        path: P,
+        use_import_path: bool,
+        pos: Position,
+    ) -> Result<PathBuf, Error>
+    where
+        P: Into<PathBuf>,
+        BP: Into<PathBuf>,
+    {
+        // Try a relative path first.
+        // FIXME(jwall): Use import paths if desired.
+        let normalized = self.normalize_path(base_path, use_import_path, path)?;
         match normalized.canonicalize() {
             Ok(p) => Ok(p),
             Err(_e) => Err(Error::new(
@@ -124,10 +146,11 @@ impl Builtins {
         }
     }
 
-    fn get_file_as_string(&self, path: &str, pos: Position) -> Result<String, Error> {
+    fn get_file_as_string<P: Into<PathBuf>>(&self, base_path: P, path: &str, pos: Position) -> Result<String, Error> {
         let sep = format!("{}", std::path::MAIN_SEPARATOR);
         let raw_path = path.replace("/", &sep);
-        let normalized = self.find_file(raw_path, false, pos)?;
+        // FIXME(jwall): import paths?
+        let normalized = self.find_file(base_path, raw_path, false, pos)?;
         // TODO(jwall): Proper error here
         let mut f = File::open(normalized)?;
         let mut contents = String::new();
@@ -136,8 +159,9 @@ impl Builtins {
         Ok(contents)
     }
 
-    fn import<O, E>(
+    fn import<P, O, E>(
         &mut self,
+        base_path: P,
         stack: &mut Vec<(Rc<Value>, Position)>,
         env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>,
         import_stack: &mut Vec<String>,
@@ -146,31 +170,37 @@ impl Builtins {
     where
         O: std::io::Write,
         E: std::io::Write,
+        P: Into<PathBuf> + Clone + Debug, 
     {
         let path = stack.pop();
         if let Some((val, path_pos)) = path {
             if let &Value::P(Str(ref path)) = val.as_ref() {
+                // TODO(jwall): A bit hacky we should probably change import stacks to be pathbufs.
+                let normalized = decorate_error!(path_pos => self.normalize_path(base_path, false, path))?;
+                let path = normalized.to_string_lossy().to_string();
                 if import_stack
                    .iter()
-                   .find(|p| *p == path)
+                   .find(|p| *p == &path)
                    .is_some() {
                        return Err(Error::new(
-                           format!("You can only have one output per file"),
+                           format!("Import cycle detected: {} in {:?}", path, import_stack),
                            pos));
                 }
-                import_stack.push(path.clone());
-                let mut borrowed_env = env.borrow_mut();
-                match borrowed_env.get_cached_path_val(path) {
+                let val = {
+                    env.borrow_mut().get_cached_path_val(&path)
+                };
+                match val {
                     Some(v) => {
                         stack.push((v, path_pos));
                     }
                     None => {
                         let op_pointer =
-                            decorate_error!(path_pos => borrowed_env.get_ops_for_path(path))?;
-                        let mut vm = VM::with_pointer(op_pointer, env.clone());
+                            decorate_error!(path_pos => env.borrow_mut().get_ops_for_path(&normalized))?;
+                        // TODO(jwall): What if we don't have a base path?
+                        let mut vm = VM::with_pointer(op_pointer, env.clone(), normalized.parent().unwrap());
                         vm.run()?;
                         let result = Rc::new(vm.symbols_to_tuple(true));
-                        borrowed_env.update_path_val(&path, result.clone());
+                        env.borrow_mut().update_path_val(&path, result.clone());
                         stack.push((result, pos));
                     }
                 }
@@ -181,8 +211,9 @@ impl Builtins {
         unreachable!();
     }
 
-    fn include<O, E>(
+    fn include<P, O, E>(
         &self,
+        base_path: P,
         stack: &mut Vec<(Rc<Value>, Position)>,
         env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>,
         pos: Position,
@@ -190,6 +221,7 @@ impl Builtins {
     where
         O: std::io::Write,
         E: std::io::Write,
+        P: Into<PathBuf> + Clone + Debug,
     {
         let path = stack.pop();
         let typ = stack.pop();
@@ -216,14 +248,14 @@ impl Builtins {
         };
         if typ == "str" {
             stack.push((
-                Rc::new(P(Str(self.get_file_as_string(&path, pos.clone())?))),
+                Rc::new(P(Str(self.get_file_as_string(base_path, &path, pos.clone())?))),
                 pos.clone(),
             ));
         } else {
             stack.push((
                 Rc::new(match env.borrow().importer_registry.get_importer(&typ) {
                     Some(importer) => {
-                        let contents = self.get_file_as_string(&path, pos.clone())?;
+                        let contents = self.get_file_as_string(base_path, &path, pos.clone())?;
                         if contents.len() == 0 {
                             eprintln!("including an empty file. Use NULL as the result");
                             P(Empty)
diff --git a/src/build/opcode/translate.rs b/src/build/opcode/translate.rs
index 608d956..296d823 100644
--- a/src/build/opcode/translate.rs
+++ b/src/build/opcode/translate.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@
 // limitations under the License.
 use std::path::Path;
 
-use crate::ast::{BinaryExprType, Expression, FormatArgs, Position, Statement, Token, Value};
+use crate::ast::{
+    BinaryExprType, BinaryOpDef, Expression, FormatArgs, Position, PositionedItem, SelectDef,
+    Statement, Token, TokenType, Value,
+};
 use crate::ast::{FuncOpDef, TemplatePart};
 use crate::build::format::{ExpressionTemplate, SimpleTemplate, TemplateParser};
 use crate::build::opcode::Primitive;
@@ -186,18 +189,38 @@ impl AST {
                         ops.push(Op::Mod, def.pos);
                     }
                     BinaryExprType::IN => {
-                        // Dot expressions expect the left side to be pushed first
-                        Self::translate_expr(*def.right, &mut ops, root);
+                        // Dot expressions expect the right side to be pushed first
+                        Self::translate_expr(*def.right.clone(), &mut ops, root);
                         // Symbols on the left side should be converted to strings to satisfy
                         // the Index operation contract.
-                        // FIXME(jwall): List checks.
-                        match *def.left {
+                        // FIXME(jwall): List checks should not use symbol translation.
+                        match *def.left.clone() {
                             Expression::Simple(Value::Symbol(name)) => {
-                                Self::translate_expr(
-                                    Expression::Simple(Value::Str(name)),
-                                    &mut ops,
-                                    root,
-                                );
+                                // We really just want an expression that turns a symbol
+                                // into a name if the subject is a tuple and doesn't
+                                // otherwise
+                                let new_expr = Expression::Select(SelectDef {
+                                    val: Box::new(Expression::Binary(BinaryOpDef {
+                                        kind: BinaryExprType::IS,
+                                        right: Box::new(Expression::Simple(Value::Str(
+                                            PositionedItem::new(
+                                                "tuple".to_owned(),
+                                                def.left.pos().clone(),
+                                            ),
+                                        ))),
+                                        left: def.right.clone(),
+                                        pos: def.left.pos().clone(),
+                                    })),
+                                    default: Some(Box::new(Expression::Simple(Value::Symbol(
+                                        name.clone(),
+                                    )))),
+                                    tuple: vec![(
+                                        Token::new("true", TokenType::BAREWORD, def.right.pos()),
+                                        Expression::Simple(Value::Str(name)),
+                                    )],
+                                    pos: def.left.pos().clone(),
+                                });
+                                Self::translate_expr(new_expr, &mut ops, root);
                             }
                             expr => {
                                 Self::translate_expr(expr, &mut ops, root);
diff --git a/src/build/opcode/vm.rs b/src/build/opcode/vm.rs
index 03d2e86..c96c551 100644
--- a/src/build/opcode/vm.rs
+++ b/src/build/opcode/vm.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 // limitations under the License.
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 
 use crate::ast::Position;
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ where
     O: std::io::Write,
     E: std::io::Write,
 {
+    working_dir: PathBuf,
     stack: Vec<(Rc<Value>, Position)>,
     symbols: Stack,
     import_stack: Vec<String>,
@@ -54,7 +56,6 @@ where
     pub last: Option<(Rc<Value>, Position)>,
     self_stack: Vec<(Rc<Value>, Position)>,
     reserved_words: BTreeSet<&'static str>,
-    out_lock: bool,
 }
 
 impl<'a, O, E> VM<O, E>
@@ -62,12 +63,21 @@ where
     O: std::io::Write,
     E: std::io::Write,
 {
-    pub fn new(ops: Rc<PositionMap>, env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>) -> Self {
-        Self::with_pointer(OpPointer::new(ops), env)
+    pub fn new<P: Into<PathBuf>>(
+        ops: Rc<PositionMap>,
+        env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>,
+        working_dir: P,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self::with_pointer(OpPointer::new(ops), env, working_dir)
     }
 
-    pub fn with_pointer(ops: OpPointer, env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>) -> Self {
+    pub fn with_pointer<P: Into<PathBuf>>(
+        ops: OpPointer,
+        env: Rc<RefCell<Environment<O, E>>>,
+        working_dir: P,
+    ) -> Self {
         Self {
+            working_dir: working_dir.into(),
             stack: Vec::new(),
             symbols: Stack::new(),
             import_stack: Vec::new(),
@@ -77,9 +87,14 @@ where
             last: None,
             self_stack: Vec::new(),
             reserved_words: construct_reserved_word_set(),
-            out_lock: false,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn to_new_pointer(mut self, ops: OpPointer) -> Self {
+        self.ops = ops;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn with_import_stack(mut self, imports: Vec<String>) -> Self {
         self.import_stack = imports;
         self
@@ -89,21 +104,26 @@ where
         self.runtime.enable_validate_mode();
     }
 
-    pub fn to_scoped(self, symbols: Stack) -> Self {
+    pub fn clean_copy(&self) -> Self {
         Self {
+            working_dir: self.working_dir.clone(),
             stack: Vec::new(),
-            symbols: symbols,
-            import_stack: self.import_stack.clone(),
+            symbols: Stack::new(),
+            import_stack: Vec::new(),
             runtime: self.runtime.clone(),
             ops: self.ops.clone(),
             env: self.env.clone(),
-            last: self.last,
-            self_stack: self.self_stack,
-            reserved_words: self.reserved_words,
-            out_lock: self.out_lock,
+            last: None,
+            self_stack: self.self_stack.clone(),
+            reserved_words: self.reserved_words.clone(),
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn to_scoped(mut self, symbols: Stack) -> Self {
+        self.symbols = symbols;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn symbols_to_tuple(&self, include_mod: bool) -> Value {
         let mut flds = Vec::new();
         let mut pos_list = Vec::new();
@@ -183,6 +203,9 @@ where
                 Op::PopSelf => self.op_pop_self()?,
             };
         }
+        if let Some(p) = self.ops.path.as_ref() {
+            self.import_stack.push(p.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+        }
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -425,7 +448,7 @@ where
             ref snapshot,
         } = f;
         // use the captured scope snapshot for the function.
-        let mut vm = Self::with_pointer(ptr.clone(), env)
+        let mut vm = Self::with_pointer(ptr.clone(), env, std::env::current_dir()?)
             .to_scoped(snapshot.clone())
             .with_import_stack(import_stack.clone());
         for nm in bindings.iter() {
@@ -442,7 +465,9 @@ where
 
     fn op_new_scope(&mut self, jp: i32, ptr: OpPointer) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let scope_snapshot = self.symbols.snapshot();
-        let mut vm = Self::with_pointer(ptr, self.env.clone())
+        let mut vm = self
+            .clean_copy()
+            .to_new_pointer(ptr)
             .to_scoped(scope_snapshot)
             .with_import_stack(self.import_stack.clone());
         vm.run()?;
@@ -809,7 +834,7 @@ where
             }
             &C(List(ref elems, _)) => {
                 for e in elems {
-                    if e == &right {
+                    if dbg!(e) == dbg!(&right) {
                         self.push(Rc::new(P(Bool(true))), pos)?;
                         return Ok(());
                     }
@@ -905,7 +930,9 @@ where
                     &val_pos,
                 )?;
                 if let Some(ptr) = pkg_ptr {
-                    let mut pkg_vm = Self::with_pointer(ptr.clone(), self.env.clone())
+                    let mut pkg_vm = self
+                        .clean_copy()
+                        .to_new_pointer(ptr.clone())
                         .with_import_stack(self.import_stack.clone());
                     pkg_vm.run()?;
                     let (pkg_func, val_pos) = pkg_vm.pop()?;
@@ -919,8 +946,9 @@ where
                     )?;
                 }
 
-                // TODO(jwall): We should have a notion of a call stack here.
-                let mut vm = Self::with_pointer(ptr.clone(), self.env.clone())
+                let mut vm = self
+                    .clean_copy()
+                    .to_new_pointer(ptr.clone())
                     .with_import_stack(self.import_stack.clone());
                 vm.push(Rc::new(S("mod".to_owned())), pos.clone())?;
                 vm.push(Rc::new(C(Tuple(flds, flds_pos_list))), pos.clone())?;
@@ -1137,6 +1165,7 @@ where
             &mut self.stack,
             self.env.clone(),
             &mut self.import_stack,
+            &self.working_dir,
             pos,
         )
     }
diff --git a/std/tests/tuples_test.ucg b/std/tests/tuples_test.ucg
index ae3e759..9bd710c 100644
--- a/std/tests/tuples_test.ucg
+++ b/std/tests/tuples_test.ucg
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ assert t.equal{
 
 assert t.ok{
     test = tpl.has_fields{tpl={foo=1, bar=2}, fields=["foo", "bar"]},
-    desc = "tuple has fields has foo and bar fields",
+    desc = "tuple has foo and bar fields",
 };
 
 assert t.not_ok{