LinuxQuestions.org - interactive telnet/netcat script help

I am wondering if it is possible to write an interactive script to run telnet or nc. I want to write a graphical front end with menus (default selections and such) for point and click... a telnet server is on the other end.

The issue I have is that the connection can't be broken once started. I can't have a program flow like this:

Code:

first:

 (item 1 selected)

  telnet << item1script

  (connection broken)

then:

 (item 3 selected)

  telnet << item3script

  (connection broken)

The script has to flow like this:

Code:

start_telnet

 (item 1 selected)

  send_command_1

  receive_data

  display_data

 (item 4 selected)

  send_command_4

  receive_data

  display_data

 (item 1 selected)

  send_command_1

  receive_data

  display_data

 (quit selected)

  connection_broken_and_quit

Is this at all possible? Maybe someone already has this capability written? I have been on google for hours... Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.