She went... and... and...

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 overtakes and... ...hyperventilates!

Martha, to reiterate... Martha speaks!

Martha speaks.

Greetings.

You are about to see something unexplainable-- a talking dog.

Your friends may tell you that a talking dog is as likely as a worm lifting a piano.

Ha-ha!

Your friends are wrong!

Today's episode features words about speaking-- words like... : "shout"!

and : "whisper."

See if you can spot them all.

Come in, Truman.

How'd you know it was me?

What if I was the cat burglar?

It's okay, Martha.

She thinks you're saying a cat is coming over.

No, no, no.

A cat burglar!

There's one that's been reported in our town.

They call them cat burglars because they slip into your house and creep around, quiet as a cat.

You're next!

Don't shout.

I didn't shout.

: This is shouting!

Why don't you have lunch at home?

It's too loud.

My house is all filled with screaming babies.

It's always filled with babies.

Your mom runs a daycare center.

Well, you should be glad I'm here, since you're so scared of the cat burglar.

I'm not scared of the burglar.

Are too.

Am not.

Are too.

Am not.

Then why are you eating dog food?

Dog food!

Yuck!

Sorry about that, Martha.

Why do you have to jabber on about burglars, anyway?

I'm just expressing my thoughts.

Expressing?

You mean your mouth is like the express bus-- it hardly ever stops?

No.

When you express an idea, you say or show what you think.

Anyway, it's not my fault you're terrified of burglars.

Ah!

The burglar!

It's just T.D.

Mom, I'm going out to play with T.D.!

MOM: Finish your lunch first.

I'm full.

There you go, Martha.

Eat up.

See you later!

MOM: I just want to let people know the shop's having a really big sale.

Uh-huh.

But what's the best way to communicate that?

A sign, a mailing?

Is it time for dinner yet?

Un momento, cariño.

Uh-huh, yeah.

How much would that cost?

RADIO ANNOUNCER: Tonight, the cat burglar remains at large.

The identity of this larcenous lightfoot?

No one can say.

I'm hungry.

Just wait till I'm finished here.

Come on, Jake, eat up.

You can play when you've finished eating, Jake.

Now, come on.

Isn't it time for dinner yet?

Soon as I'm done, Martha.

: Martha?!

Did you hear... Did she... Did Martha just... ALL: Speak?!

Can you help me get dinner?

You... uh...

But how did you learn to talk?

What happened?

Qué pasó?

Did this just happen today, or have you always been able to speak?

HELEN: What happened?

Quiet!

I'll tell you everything-- after dinner.

DAD: Have you always understood what we people were saying?

You bet.

And what dogs are saying, too.

Do dogs dream?

Day and night.

This morning, I dreamed I was being chased by a giant meatloaf.

How come you can suddenly speak?

Hmm.

Must be the alphabet soup.

Indeed, it was the alphabet soup.

You see, alphabet soup is full of the letters of the alphabet.

The letters go together to make up words, words like "grsnkngg"... as well as other words, like "express."

When Martha ate her alphabet soup, something very mysterious occurred.

Instead of going to her stomach, the letters in the soup went to Martha's brain.

That's why Martha is the only dog who can communicate using words.

So don't try feeding soup to your dog-- it won't work, unless your dog is a cartoon.

And now back to the program.

I said, back to the program!

Ah.

Oh.

Yo, Rinty!

Good dog.

How's that flea problem?

There's no such thing as a talking dog!

Speak, Martha.

See?

Just kidding.

I'd be glad to express myself in human speech.

What would you like me to say?

MOM: Hello, Mario?

I would like to order some pizza.

MARTHA: Hi there.

What do I owe you?

Hello.

I'd like to make an order.

Meat delivery.

But I didn't order any barbecue.

Mom mentioned that the fruitcake you sent wasn't fit for a dog, but I thought it was delicious.

MARTHA: I've seen this program.

A giant reptile did it!

There's a poodle over on Circuit Street I'd really like to play with.

He's small, but what a dog!

I'm sure you'recurious about the early days of my life.

Let me tell you something about it.

I was born in a back alley.

I understand cat, but I can't speak it.

It's a nasal language, lot of... Mama would tell us, "You're dogs, not cats."

Kibble-- I really...

I prefer... Like, "Here, boy," and I'm like, "Hello, I'm a girl dog."

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... Martha, be quiet!

What's wrong?

You talk too much.

You never stop jabbering.

Sometimes I wish you never learned to speak.

Wha...?!

Ah, a nice, quiet morning at home.

Oh, Martha.

It's great she can speak, but there's speaking and there's speaking and speaking.

: Helen...

It's great she can communicate, but does she have to communicate so much?

It's like she has to discuss and discuss... Helen... And it's not even a discussion, because when you discuss, the other person gets to express their opinion too.

You know what I'm saying?

I think you...

It's like she's giving a lecture.

Doesn't she know how annoying it is to just hear someone jabber on and on and... Oops.

Class started five minutes ago.

What is it, Jake?

Oh, hi, Martha.

: I'd like to go, Carolina, but I'm kind of worried about Martha.

Ah, está bien.

Why are we whispering?

We're talking quietly so she doesn't hear us.

: You're whispering so your dog doesn't hear you?

Shh!

Not so loud.

Whisper!

We are so getting you out of the house this weekend.

You didn't eat your soup again.

What's the matter, Martha?

Guess we don't need this anymore.

Do you think she could be sick?

Maybe we should call the vet.

Hello?

Your dog won't say a word?

Ah!

Kids!

Ooh, I've got an idea.

Why don't we all go out and see a movie?

Wouldn't you like to do that, Helen?

I guess.

I think it's a great idea.

We could all use some cheering up.

I'll call Truman's mom and see if she'll take Jake for a couple hours.

Martha, we're going out.

We'll be back later.

Oh, Helen...

Cheer up.

This will be fun.

Hmm?!

Aha.

Emergency operator.

OPERATOR: What is this, some kind of joke?

Nice.

Huh!

Guard dog, eh?

You know what I do to guard dogs?

I give them something to eat.

Dumb dog.

Lucky for me you like alphabet soup.

What a great movie.

Oh, it was.

Can you believe what happened in the middle?

What?

Got you at last.

DAD: What happened?

We caught the cat burglar in your house.

Our house?

That's right.

Luckily, we got a call.

Some lady named Martha.

Well, good night, folks.

MOM: You mean... Martha is the one who... Good dog, Martha!

ALL: Good dog!

You're so right.

I'm sorry I said I wished you couldn't speak.

It's okay, I forgive you.

Now, how about a nice long walk?

Did I ever tell you about the time I chewed up that rubber ball?

Let me tell you, it was something else.

I thought...

Okay, you know your line?

Yeah.

I say, "I did it."

That's right, only maybe exclaim it more.

Exclaim?

It means you speak suddenly and loudly-- "You're on my foot!"

Oh, I am?

No.

I was just exclaiming.

Okay.

So, exclaim it.

I did it!

Maybe it would be better if you mumble.

Mumble?

You mean, : I did it?

That's whispering.

Mumbling's more like you don't open your mouth too much.

: I did it.

Perfect!

Ready?

On with the show.

Mrs. Cluskey, remember I told you a dog ate my homework?

I did it.

It was delicious!

And informative.

Hello?

Is she okay?

She'll be fine.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org