gnuplot development

Hello,
I am using gnuplot 4.2 PL0 on an ubuntu-computer.

I have a graph with a key, label and a grid (and some more, of course).
Now I  would like to have the grid disappear behind the label-area, just
as it does behind the key.

"h label" does not suggest any possibility for a color-filled
background, which could do the trick.

Is there a way to do this?

Thanks,

Stephan