Martha Speaks

	"Martha Speaks"
	Season 1, Episode 1a
Production code:	101a
Original Airdate:	September 1, 2008
Vocabulary Words:	express, discuss, mumble, exclaim, shout, speak, jabber, talk, whisper, communicate
	Credits
Written by:	Ken Scarborough (head)
	Episodes
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Martha Speaks is the first book of the Martha Speaks book series and the first half of the first episode of Season 1.

Summary[]

When Martha eats alphabet soup, the letters go to her brain instead of her stomach, and thus she develops the ability to talk.

Plot[]

It begins with a scientist greets the viewers, and tells them they will see something inexpiable: (A talking dog). He explains that the viewers' friends might think a talking dog might express her thought similar to a pounding grand piano. In his lab, he sees children frustrated pounding their fingers with great difficulty.) The scientist then says that the Host, talking is impossible however is a first. This episode features related words about speaking.

Helen is in the kitchen, making alphabet soup, with her dog Martha watching nearby. Truman enters, asking how she knew it was him, and not the cat burglar. Martha growls and Helen says that Martha is okay and says to Truman that maybe Martha reckons the burglar is a cat. Truman says that a burglar has been reported in the neighbourhood, and that the reason why they are called "cat" burglars is because they sneak around like cats. He demonstrates sneaking, and shouts "You're next!" while jumping out at Helen, who is carrying two bowls of alphabet soup, and one bowl of dog food. She jumps in shock, and tells him not to shout. Truman doesn't think he ever shouted, and demonstrates actual shouting, surprising Martha. Helen, who has accidentally given herself some dog food, asks Truman why he doesn't eat at home. He explains that the babies in his house are being too loud. Both start eating, and Truman says that Helen should be glad he's there since she's so scared of the cat burglar. Helen claims not to be scared, but Truman insists she is. Helen insists she isn't, but then Truman points out that she's eating dog food. Helen spits out her mouthful, and replaces the dog food for the alphabet soup, which she accidentally gave to Martha. Helen then asks Truman why he's going on about burglars, and he says that he is expressing his thoughts. Helen asks if that mean his mouth goes on without stopping like an express bus, but he says no and explains what "express" means, and teases her for being afraid of burglars, however he gets scared when someone knocks on the door, and hides under the table, thinking it's the burglar. It turns out to only be T.D. Helen wants to go out and play with T.D., but her mother Mariella Lorraine says for her to finish her lunch first. Helen is in too much of a hurry, and offers her soup to Truman, but he has filled up on his own soup. She then feeds it to Martha and goes out to play, while Martha eats.

That evening, Mariella is talking on the phone, about the best way to communicate sales, while taking notes, and Martha asks (in English) if it's time for dinner. Mariella dismisses Martha and continues speaking on the phone, asking for the cost of something. Martha walks off into the kitchen, where Daniel Lorraine (the father) is feeding baby Jake while listening to the radio, a station about the cat burglar. Martha tells Daniel she's hungry, but he tells her to wait and continues feeding Jake, who wants to play. Martha then enters Helen's bedroom, where she finds Helen who is painting a picture of a dog. Martha asks for dinner and Helen asks her to wait, however she then realises with surprise that it was Martha who spoke to her. Martha is trying to get the dog food package to open, and all the Lorraines enter the kitchen in surprise because Martha spoke. Martha asks for dinner again and Helen, tongue-tied, asks Martha how she learned to talk. All the Lorraines second Helen's question, but in the hubbub, Martha can't make out what they're saying, and shouts at them to be quiet. When they comply, she says she will tell them everything after dinner.

After dinner, the Lorraines talk to Martha. Daniel asks if she's always understood English, and Martha replies yes. Mariella asks if dogs dream and Martha says yes, in fact that morning she dreamt about a giant meatloaf. Helen asks how Martha can talk. Martha replies that it must be the alphabet soup. (At this point the scientist explains that it was the alphabet soup. When Martha ate the soup, the letters (or at least the understanding of them) somehow, unexplainably got transmitted to her brain, giving her the ability to talk. He then explains that it only works on Martha, and unless your dog is a cartoon, feeding soup to your dog won't work.)

The next day, while on a walk, Martha asks Rinty if he still has fleas.

Later that day, Helen shows Martha to Ronald Boxwood who doesn't believe that dogs can talk, and "proves" his point when Martha barks when asked to talk. However, he gets a shock when she does talk.

The next day, Martha, after eating her soup, hears Mariella talking to Mariel on the phone, ordering pizza and at dinner time, gives the pizza delivery box-dropping woman another shock by talking. She then eats a slice.

The day after that, she orders barbecued meat over the phone. After this, they tie up the phone, so Martha can't make any more phone calls.

The next day, Martha eats her soup, and then goes into the living room, and shocks Mariella by saying to Helen's grandma Lucille, that even though Mariella mentioned that Lucille's fruitcake was not fit for a dog, she (Martha) thought it was delicious.

The next day, Martha eats more soup, then annoys the family by giving away a spoiler to a TV show they were watching. She then eats more soup.

That night, she annoys Helen by asking to visit Cisco while she's trying to sleep.

The next day, Martha annoys the family by telling them about her puppyhood, understanding of cat-speak, and being mistaken for a boy-dog. She continues talking, until the Lorraines, blocking their ears, yell at her to be quiet. She asks why, and Daniel and Mariella complain that Martha talks too much. Martha doesn't mind this, but she does mind when Helen says, "Sometimes, I wish you never learned to speak". Martha walks off, being upset.

The next day, the Lorraines are eating breakfast, while Martha takes a nap. Daniel enjoys how quiet the house is, but Helen feels guilty.

At school, Helen says to T.D., that it's great that Martha can speak, but she talks too much and interrupts, and the interrupting makes her speech not a discussion, because when you discuss someone you don't interrupt. Mrs. Clusky then gets mad at Helen for talking in class.

That evening, Martha doesn't want her soup.

The next day, Helen and Jake are playing ball in the garden, and Martha walks past without saying anything.

Later, Carolina comes over. Helen whispers that she's worried about Martha. Carolina asks why Helen is whispering, and Helen says it's so she doesn't hear them. Carolina doesn't get the point. That evening, Helen asks Martha why she didn't eat her soup. Martha doesn't reply. Mariella unties the phone, and wonders if Martha is sick. Daniel calls the vet, but she doesn't believe him when he says his dog won't say a word. Danny then decides they should all go to the movies to cheer them up, and Truman's mother could take Jake. Helen tells Martha goodbye and tips out the alphabet soup. The family then leave, and Martha takes a nap. She is woken by the cat burglar breaking in. He goes to steal some of the Lorraines' silverware. Martha calls the police but she's forgotten how to talk. She barks at the cat burglar, who thinks she's a guard dog, and feeds her alphabet soup.

The Lorraines then go home, talking about the movie and find the police, arresting the cat burglar, who the cops explain was caught in their (the Lorraine family's) house, but they got a call from "some lady named Martha". The family call Martha a good dog, and Helen apologizes for wishing Martha couldn't speak. Martha forgives Helen, and they all go for a walk.

Characters[]

Major[]

Minor[]

Ronald Boxwood (debut)
Carolina (debut)
Lucy Lorraine (debut, cameo)
T.D. (debut)
Cat Burglar
Mariel
Police
Scientist

Cameo[]

Rinty (debut)
Mrs. Clusky (debut)
Alice Boxwood (debut)

Trivia[]

This is the first episode of Martha Speaks.
This is the first episode that features Martha and Skits.
The picture for the title card in this episode is reused in all the episodes of Season 5.
The book's title, the first episode's title, and the television program's title all have the same name.
The first episode's title is based on the book with the same title.
Helen and her family said "Martha, be quiet!" to Martha, in the series rather than "Shut up!", used in the book, it might to avoid teaching rude phrases to young viewers, because while "shut up" isn't swearing, it is rude. However, that doesn't stop rudeness (especially from Ronald) from showing up later in the series.
Like Arthur’s Eyes the book was read on Reading Rainbow (another PBS series), 13 years before the show premiered.
This episode is watched by the scientist.

Vocabulary Words[]

Today's vocabulary words are express, discuss, mumble, exclaim, shout, speak, jabber, talk, whisper and communicate.