diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs
index 3471b0412..54804b76f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/syntax_highlight.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ impl Highlighter for NuHighlighter {
                 .to_string();
             match shape.1 {
                 FlatShape::External => output.push((Style::new().bold(), next_token)),
+                FlatShape::ExternalArg => output.push((Style::new().bold(), next_token)),
                 FlatShape::Garbage => output.push((
                     Style::new()
                         .fg(nu_ansi_term::Color::White)
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/flatten.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/flatten.rs
index 1f9279454..17bc3178c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/flatten.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/flatten.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub enum FlatShape {
     Range,
     InternalCall,
     External,
+    ExternalArg,
     Literal,
     Operator,
     Signature,
@@ -55,8 +56,14 @@ pub fn flatten_expression(
             }
             output
         }
-        Expr::ExternalCall(..) => {
-            vec![(expr.span, FlatShape::External)]
+        Expr::ExternalCall(name, args) => {
+            let mut output = vec![(*name, FlatShape::External)];
+
+            for arg in args {
+                output.push((*arg, FlatShape::ExternalArg));
+            }
+
+            output
         }
         Expr::Garbage => {
             vec![(expr.span, FlatShape::Garbage)]
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
index 0bea2fe27..cb68e00ec 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@ fn check_call(command: Span, sig: &Signature, call: &Call) -> Option<ParseError>
 }
 
 pub fn parse_external_call(
-    working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet,
+    _working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet,
     spans: &[Span],
 ) -> (Expression, Option<ParseError>) {
     // TODO: add external parsing
     let mut args = vec![];
-    let name = working_set.get_span_contents(spans[0]).to_vec();
+    let name = spans[0];
     for span in &spans[1..] {
-        args.push(working_set.get_span_contents(*span).to_vec());
+        args.push(*span);
     }
     (
         Expression {
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/ast/expr.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/ast/expr.rs
index 5a873631e..f26673f2a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/ast/expr.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/ast/expr.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ pub enum Expr {
     ),
     Var(VarId),
     Call(Box<Call>),
-    ExternalCall(Vec<u8>, Vec<Vec<u8>>),
+    ExternalCall(Span, Vec<Span>),
     Operator(Operator),
     RowCondition(VarId, Box<Expression>),
     BinaryOp(Box<Expression>, Box<Expression>, Box<Expression>), //lhs, op, rhs
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs b/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
index 817c59ef9..3110e2751 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
@@ -685,6 +685,7 @@ impl WrappedTable {
                         );
                     }
                 }
+                output.push('\n');
             }
             SeparatorPosition::Middle => {
                 for column in self.column_widths.iter().enumerate() {
@@ -728,6 +729,7 @@ impl WrappedTable {
                             .push_str(&sep_color.paint(&self.theme.center.to_string()).to_string());
                     }
                 }
+                output.push('\n');
             }
             SeparatorPosition::Bottom => {
                 for column in self.column_widths.iter().enumerate() {
@@ -774,7 +776,6 @@ impl WrappedTable {
                 }
             }
         }
-        output.push('\n');
         output
     }