MAN:
* Martha was an average dog
* She went... and... and...
(barking, growls)
* When she ate
some alphabet soup *
* Then what happened
was bizarre. *
On the way to Martha's stomach,
the letters lost their way.
They traveled to her brain,
and now...
* She's got a lot to say
* Now she speaks...
How now, brown cow?
* Martha speaks
* Yeah, she speaks
and speaks and speaks *
* And speaks and speaks.
What's a caboose?
When are we eating again?
* Martha speaks...
Hey, Joe, what do you know?
My name's not Joe.
* She's not always right,
but still that Martha speaks. *
Hi, there.
* She's got a voice,
she's ready to shout *
* Martha will tell you
what it's all about *
* Sometimes wrong,
but seldom in doubt *
* Martha will tell you
what it's all about *
* That dog's unique...
Testing, one, two.
* Hear her speak
* Martha speaks and speaks
and speaks and speaks and... *
* Communicates, enumerates
* Elucidates, exaggerates
* Indicates and explicates
* Bloviates and overstates
and... *
(panting)
* ...hyperventilates!
* Martha, to reiterate
Martha speaks!
* Martha speaks.
(quietly):
Hi. Today's show is about things
that are quiet and serene.
We'll be using words
like "soothing" and...
(barks loudly)
MARTHA:
Skits!
I'm introducing
the show here.
(quietly):
We also have words
like "cozy" and "comfortable."
(yells):
Skits!
This is really
irritating.
Stop disturbing me!
(barks)
"Irritate," "disturb"
and "provoke"
are also words
from the show?
Oh. Well, listen
for those words
and we'll see you
after the show.
JUDGE:
And now, for the Wagstaff City
Spelling Bee Championship,
please spell the word "anxious."
TRUMAN:
Um... anxious?
Anxious...
(coughs)
(microphone feedback)
Could I have a definition,
please?
JUDGE:
Anxious-- someone who is anxious
is worried about something.
(inhales deeply)
Anxious.
"A"...
"N"...
"X"...
"I"...
...did it! Yes!
(sings melody
of Pachelbel's Canon)
In your face, English language!
You don't scare me.
'Cause I am the winner!
I am the winner!
HELEN:
That's amazing, Truman.
What's that?
The other prize.
It's a talking
pocket dictionary.
It defines
words for you.
Watch.
Serene.
(computer voice):
Serene means calm or quiet.
And I was extremely serene
as I calmly spelled
the word "anxious."
Anxious.
Someone who is
anxious is...
I wonder how
you turn it off.
...experiencing
worry, unease...
I think your
dictionary is stuck.
Aw, rats.
Rats--
An animal
that...
Ugh.
We're meeting TD at the park.
Want to come?
Maybe later.
I want to show
this to my mom first.
Bye!
See you
later!
...a large mouse.
Disturb.
DICTIONARY:
Disturb.
If you disturb
someone or something,
you interrupt them when they are
trying to do something else.
TRUMAN:
Bother.
DICTIONARY:
Bother. If you bother someone...
(growls)
...you make
them mad.
TRUMAN:
Danger.
DICTIONARY:
Danger is a situation
where someone
might get hurt.
(barks)
TRUMAN:
Peril.
DICTIONARY:
Someone who is
in peril is in danger.
(Bob growling)
(growls)
(screams)
(screams)
(barks)
Hey! An Einstein
coloring book.
(screams)
(barking)
(Truman screams)
(barking)
(screams)
Shh!
Escape from Mars,
Escape from Monkeys,
Escape from Monsters...
Hey! Who checked out
Escape from Mean Dogs?
(growling)
(barking)
(whispered screams, growls)
That's better.
(panting)
Aha!
(sniffing)
TRUMAN (muffled):
Whew!
DICTIONARY (loudly):
Whew-- an expression of relief.
Shh!
Shh-- a command
to stop talking.
Shh!
(growls)
(screams)
(barks)
ALICE:
Ready?
TD & HELEN:
Mine!
Got it!
I called it.
Let go.
(cell phone rings)
Hello?
Hang on, I'll check.
TD, it's Truman's mom.
Did you see Truman
on the way here?
Truman? No.
He was just at the yogurt stand,
Mrs. Oatley.
He's got to be nearby.
We'll look for him.
Truman!
Truman!
Truman!
Truman!
Truman!
ALL:
Shhh!
Sorry.
Truman!
Truman!
TRUMAN:
Helen?
Over here.
What are you
doing up...
(barks)
Yikes!
(barking)
What happened?
What's wrong
with Bob?
I don't know.
He broke off his chain
and just went nuts.
Nuts-- the shelled fruit
of a tree or bush.
Well, did you...
Also, a small
piece of metal
with a threaded
hole in it.
Did he...
DICTIONARY:
Also, an expression
of dismay, as in:
"Aw, nuts, I struck out.
There goes the ballgame."
Also...
Sorry, I'll keep my
hand over it.
Bob, dinner!
Bob! Dinner!
Uh-oh.
Did you
find him?
Not yet.
HELEN:
You guys!
Watch out for Bob!
Bob?
HELEN & TRUMAN:
Bob!
Bob!
(barks)
Bob!
That way!
Hey, Bob, bet you can't get me.
Bet you can,
bet you can!
(barking)
(pants)
(barks)
This way!
!
TD!
Don't look back!
Ay-yi-yi!
(yells)
!
Take my hand.
Well, that was fun.
I wonder what it was
that provoked Bob.
I bet...
Provoke-- if something provokes
you, it makes you mad.
Why don't you get rid
of that thing?
(gasps):
My prize?
Sorry. Sorry.
I bet he's got
an itch that's
bothering him.
Itchy, Bob?
Are you itchy, Bob?
He's not trying to scratch.
What makes you think he's itchy?
Nothing.
I just like saying itchybob.
Itchybob! Itchybob!
(laughs)
What? It is a good word.
BOB'S OWNER:
Bob?
Where are you, boy?
(barking in distance)
Aha!
Hey, look,
it's Bob's owner.
(sighs):
At last.
Bob, what do you think
you're doing here?
(growls)
(barks)
Where did
Bob's owner go?
I'm up here.
Something really must have
provoked Bob.
Usually he's so calm and quiet.
Bob! Relax!
Settle down!
(barks)
Okay, time
to get serious.
(cell phone rings)
Animal Rescue,
this is Officer Kazuo.
Angry dog on the loose?
Remain calm, ma'am,
and I'll be there shortly.
That is one
angry pup.
BOB'S OWNER:
Anyone hungry?
I'm ordering a pizza.
Me.
I am.
Maybe we should call the vet.
Or that mutt murmurer guy.
Or the zoo.
Actually, there is one
person who can handle this job.
Only...
ALL:
Only?
She's not a person.
Me? Talk to Bob?
Are you sure?
We need someone
who can speak dog
to find out
what's bothering him.
Martha?
Hurry!
No problem.
Stay calm, I'm on my way.
(snarling and growling)
I really should be
getting back to work soon.
I'd wait for Bob
to settle down.
Have a slice.
You think
Martha is really
going to be able
to figure out
what's wrong
with Bob?
If she can't,
we're going
to have
a whole lot
of pizza guys
up here.
(growls, barks)
Okay, Martha, there's Bob.
Nothing to worry about, girl.
He's just a big, scary,
irritated dog, that's all.
(inhales deeply)
Yikes.
No, no, someone has
to help Bob settle down.
Okay, here goes.
Hey, it's
Martha!
Here she
comes!
Martha,
over here!
I'm coming.
(growls)
(high-pitched noise)
Yow! What is that?
(high-pitched noise stops)
That's weird.
Where did she go?
I guess she got
scared of Bob.
(cell phone rings)
Hello?
MARTHA (on phone):
I know what's bothering Bob.
It's Martha.
She knows what's
bothering Bob.
She does?
What's bothering Bob?
What's bothering Bob?
Yeah, what's bothering Bob?
There's something
making a really awful
squealing sound.
Um, are you sure?
What is it?
She says there's an
awful squealing sound.
There is?
We don't hear
anything.
It's really high.
Too high for
people to hear.
But dogs can.
And trust me,
it's really disturbing.
That must be
what's provoked Bob.
What on earth
could be giving off
a disturbing sound?
Disturbing--
something that
disturbs you makes you
upset or worried.
You don't
think...
It couldn't be...
Only one way
to find out.
Take the battery out.
Out-- out means...
(stops barking)
Martha, you did it!
(all cheering)
(sighing)
That's better.
That is one serene
little puppy.
(baby talk):
Baby had an awful day.
(murmurs)
TD:
It's weird.
I didn't
hear a thing.
It seemed nice
and quiet to me.
Dogs have really
sensitive ears.
We can hear
things you can't.
Sort of like
those silent dog
whistles, right?
Silent to you, maybe.
Maybe they'll let
you trade that
for one that doesn't make
a disturbing noise.
Yeah. I'm just wondering
if maybe the battery
was just in wrong.
Wrong.
(growls)
(screaming)
(barking)
TD:
Take the battery out, Truman!
Take the battery out!
A dog's life is full of things
to do.
So before I start my day, I like
to have a little quiet time.
(phone rings)
It's important to find a quiet,
serene place to relax
before you take on your tasks.
(snoring)
Then a nice healthy breakfast.
Then settling down
to a relaxing nap.
Some play to keep healthy.
(pants)
(barks)
Protecting the home front...
(snores)
And a nap.
After that, dinner,
followed by...
A relaxing nap.
And then, time for bed.
Whew! What a day.
(sighs)
MARTHA:
I'm hot.
Hot.
It's so hot, it's beyond hot.
Yeah. It's sweltering.
Sweltering?
What does that mean?
Sweltering means
it's super-duper hot.
Like miserable hot.
Like melting hot.
Like sticky,
sweaty,
can't move,
broiling furnace...
(vibrating):
Hot.
Whoa!
Did you
hear that?
(vibrating):
Why does my voice do this?
I don't know,
but it's neat.
(vibrating):
Hello, Martha.
(vibrating):
Hello, TD.
(TD, Skits and Martha
talk into fan)
You guys are really irritating.
Does irritating
mean fun?
No. Irritating means
something bugs you.
(Jake crying)
Sounds like something's
irritating Jakey.
HELEN:
What's wrong, Jake?
He's too hot.
Look!
His skin is
all bumpy.
It looks like a rash.
Aw, he must have
a heat rash.
(giggles)
Poor Jakey.
I can't do anything
to cool you down,
but maybe if
I tell you a story
it'll take your mind off
how sweltering hot it is.
(claps, giggles)
Once upon a time,
there was a cozy little house
deep in the cool, breezy woods.
(birds chirping)
And in that house
there were three bears:
a mama bear,
a papa bear
and a Jakey bear.
The bears were going for a walk
because Mama Bear had ordered
a nice, tasty pizza.
HELEN:
Wait!
The three bears
eat porridge,
not pizza.
Porridge?
Who wants hot, lumpy porridge
when it's sweltering out?
I don't want hot, lumpy porridge
even when it's cool out.
(Jakey babbles)
Jakey doesn't want hot,
lumpy porridge either,
do you, Jakey?
Uh, uh.
May I finish my story
without any more
irritating interruptions?
Mmm-hmm.
So, the bears ordered pizza
and went for a walk.
Suddenly, there was a knock
at the door.
Hello.
MARTHA:
It was Goldi-Martha...
(stomach growling)
And boy, was she hungry.
Poor tummy.
You'd be so much more
comfortable
if you had something to eat.
(stomach growling)
What does comfortable mean?
(growling)
Well, comfortable
means you feel good.
(loud clanking)
A knight in
shining armor!
And he's brought
me a pizza!
Just put it
on the floor.
And could you kindly open it,
because I have no hands.
That slice is too hot.
That slice is too hot.
They're all too hot,
but I ate them anyway.
Whoa, okay, I ate too much.
I need a nap.
This cushion is too lumpy bumpy.
This cushion is
too cushy squishy.
But this cushion is just right.
(screams)
MARTHA:
But Goldi-Martha had eaten
so much pizza,
she fell right through her
comfortable chair
and into another chair.
Hey, this isn't
my comfortable chair.
This chair is scratchy.
And it's covered
in little bumps.
CRABBY:
Dog!
There's a dog in my...
(sneezes)
Fetch! My favorite!
Here you are.
(laughs)
You're getting dog slobber
on my crown.
Guard!
Off with her fur!
Great burbling vats
of flea dip!
A vacuum cleaner!
Hey, thanks.
That wig was really scratchy.
(vacuum whirrs on)
I gotta get out
of here, but how?
It's the Skits Hatter!
I'll follow him.
That was a close one.
Sorry.
No, it's my fault.
I should watch
where I'm going.
I'm Little Red
Riding Helen.
Do I smell fried chicken,
lumpy mashed potatoes,
crispy green beans,
two buttered dinner rolls
and a hot slice of apple pie?
My, what a good nose you have.
The better to mooch
your food with.
Hopping sure works
up an appetite.
Uh, that's for Grandma.
Ah, I feel much
more comfortable.
I don't.
Why?
Because...
Now I don't have anything
for the big bad wolf.
Big bad wolf?
What big bad wolf?
That big bad wolf.
(barks)
(gasps)
Oh, I know how
to deal with him.
How?
Run!
(barking)
That is one
irritated wolf.
We need something to soothe him.
Smooth him?
No, soothe him.
When you soothe someone,
it means you calm them down
and make them feel better.
TD:
I've got something soothing!
Where did you
come from?
The fairytale next door.
I planted this beanstalk.
You say you've
got something that
will soothe a wolf?
Yup.
The duck that lays
the golden bone.
(quacks)
Isn't it
supposed to be
the goose that laid
the golden egg?
(barks)
You think an egg is
going to soothe him?
Trust me, you're
better off with the bone.
Watch.
(quacks)
(sniffs)
(all sigh in relief)
Gotta run.
Why? The wolf
is soothed.
Yeah, but the guys I stole
the duck from
are still pretty irritated.
MARTHA:
They look steamed, all right.
Forget the duck.
Get that talking dog!
(gasps)
Quick, run for the castle!
(loud banging)
Well, isn't this cozy?
You mean creepy?
Well, at least
it's nice and cool.
This castle
smells like soup.
(sniffing)
When do we eat?
How can you be
hungry again?
I'm a dog.
It's always meal time.
(loud snore)
What was that?
(loud snore)
A fire-breathing dragon?
An ogre?
I think it was her.
(loud snoring)
Can you imagine
a sleepover here?
(snoring)
(yawns)
Man, what a soothing nap.
But boy, is this
cushion bumpy!
Whoa!
Are you
Sleeping Beauty?
I think that's her cousin,
Sleeping Clumsy.
Boy, am I glad to see you guys!
I haven't had a play date
in years!
Whoa!
Uh-oh, we've
got company.
So?
It's not like
they can get in.
(everyone taunting the giants)
You can't get us!
(screaming)
This way!
Ahh!
WEASELGRAFT:
Ow!
(whimpers)
ALICE:
We can get out through there.
Whoops,
I forgot.
Forgot what?
My parents got
this thing to
guard the castle
and protect me.
What is it?
You'll see.
It's just a little kitty cat.
(laughing)
A cat?
How's a cat
going to protect you?
Like that.
Run!
I could have told them
cats were bad news.
(screaming)
There's that hairy cur!
We've got to
get these guys
off our tails.
(footsteps thundering)
MARTHA:
Hey!
If that kid would take
his finger out of the hole
in that water tower, water would
gush out and wash them all away.
He'll never do it.
He's stubborn.
Oh, yeah?
Watch this.
MARTHA:
Hey, kid, there's a bug
on your head!
(screams)
(growls)
Oh!
Whoa!
Uh... sorry.
(cheering)
We did it!
Let's eat.
Yeah,
I could really
go for a pizza.
A pizza?
Where are we going to get
a pizza around here?
This is great.
Thanks, Mama Bear.
You're welcome,
Red Riding Helen.
Yeah, sorry about
eating your first pizza.
And they all lived happily,
non-scratchily...
comfortably cool and full,
ever after.
Did you like that story, Jake?
Aww, they
look so cozy.
Maybe I'll take
a little nap myself.
(thunderclap)
You know, sometimes when
I'm feeling uncomfortable,
I curl up in a nice, cozy spot
and I feel better.
(gasps)
When something is cozy,
it means it's warm and safe
and it makes you feel good.
(thunderclap)
Thunder is not cozy.
Some clothing is cozy,
like sweaters.
And blankets are cozy.
But of all the cozy spots,
this is my favorite.
(gasps)
Do I have
to get down?
It's really cozy here.
Come here.
(thunderclap)
(Skits barks)
(sighs)
Yup, we're
one cozy family.
Did you hear all
the words about things
that are irritating and...
Skits!
I can't hear
myself think!
Let's see some of
those words again.
DICTIONARY:
Bother.
If you bother someone,
you make them mad.
Irritating means
something bugs you.
DICTIONARY:
Provoke.
If something provokes you,
it makes you mad.
(barks)
Skits says "bye."
See you next time.
Come on, let's swim!
(barks)
To dig up some more fun words
and games, visit pbskids.org
or check out your local library
for the "Martha Speaks" books.
Skits, when I said "dig,"
I didn't mean in the yard!
01x08 - What's Bothering Bob? / Martha Spins a Tale
Watch/Buy Amazon Merchandise
A family dog gains the power of speech after the letters in some alphabet soup wind up misrouted to her brain instead of her stomach in this whimsical animated series adapted from books by Susan Meddaugh.
A family dog gains the power of speech after the letters in some alphabet soup wind up misrouted to her brain instead of her stomach in this whimsical animated series adapted from books by Susan Meddaugh.