rtha 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.

♪ (panting) (whimpers) I know, it's not ice anymore.

Now it's just dirt.

Too hot!

And now for the local weather forecast, I've got some good news for those of you who are wondering if this heat wave will ever end.

(grunts hopefully) Because we're going to have some rainfall.

We have a major storm heading our way.

(groans) That's right, a storm.

Which means it's going to be raining very hard.

As the rainfall gets closer, we'll be seeing lots of wind, lots of lightning and lots of thunder... (echoing) (gulps) (thunder rumbling, wind whistling) (barks) Oh, I used to be afraid of storms, too.

But don't worry.

You'll get used to the thunder and the lightning and realize that storms aren't scary at all.

(thunder crashes, Martha gasps) (yelping) (whimpering, curious bark) I was just looking for my... shoebox.

(barks curiously) Yeah, that's my favorite shoebox.

(whimpers) Oh, I'm not scared.

(thunder crashes, Martha yelps) (chuckles nervously) And what better place to spend time with my shoebox than right here?

(whimpers) (chuckles): Of course not.

Why would I be afraid of a little thunder?

Thunder's just a loud noise that happens during a storm.

It can't hurt you.

(thunder crashes, Skits yelps) Where are you going?

(barks) But how are you going to get away from the thunder?

It's everywhere.

(barks) Well, good luck.

Let me know if you find someplace where there's no thunder.

(barks) I'll stay right here, thank you, but not because I'm scared!

(sighs) Those bright flashes of light in the sky are called "lightning."

Lightning is a big spark of electricity during a storm, and thunder is the sound that the lightning makes.

Doggy!

No, that's not a doggy.

That's a... Oh, it is a doggy.

Skits!

Hey, Skits!

What's wrong?

You're not planning on chewing all my slippers, are you?

(whimpers, thunder rumbles) Oh, I get it.

You want to get away from the sound of the thunder.

Is that it, boy?

(barks) Well, I know where we can go that's not so scary.

Thanks for bringing him home.

No problem.

I figured he'd be less scared if he was here during the storm.

(barks) I think I felt a raindrop.

I'd better get home before the drizzle turns into a downpour.

I hate getting wet.

(thunder crashes) Come on, Skits.

Skits?

Gee, I guess he couldn't wait to get under the bed.

(thunder cracks) (grunts) James, hold still for just one second.

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!!

Mom!

(thunder crashes) (baby laughing) (baby laughing) It looks like we're going to have some pretty heavy rainfall, so be sure to bring along your umbrella if you don't want to get caught in the downpour.

Oh, I forgot the umbrella.

(babbling) (thunder rumbles) (gasps) (gasps) Thanks for bringing him home.

Thank goodness he had tags.

Still, I can't figure out how he got into our car.

I guess the thunder just makes him want to hide.

But you'll feel safer here, right, Skits?

(whimpers) (thunder cracks, barks) (all exclaim) (thunder crashes) (barks) (sniffs) Ew!

Smells like wet dog.

(whimpering) No dogs allowed.

(phone rings) Animal Rescue, this is Officer Kazuo.

Where's the purported dog, sir?

All right, sir, remain calm.

Animal Rescue is on the way.

(loud rock music plays) REPORTER: As you can see, high winds are pushing the storm clouds into the Wagstaff City area.

We better get home before it really hits.

Well, well, well.

What are you doing out in this weather, buddy?

You don't really want to stay out here in this downpour, do you?

Okay, let's see.

"Skits."

Okay, Skits, let's say we take you someplace dry, hey?

(thunder crashes) Dang thunder.

The storm will break, but we'll be seeing continued wet weather with light showers and drizzle continuing on into the evening.

Oh!

Uh, go ahead.

(thunder crashes, Skits barks) (panting) No time.

Sorry, pal, you might be able to outrun the storm, but you can never outrun Kazuo.

One thing I know, your average canis domesticus-- a dog, in other words-- hates thunder.

Well, the best cure for that is for you to sit back, relax and listen to some music.

(loud rock music plays) (whimpering) (knocking) Skits!

Oh, it's you.

Is this Martha's house?

That's right.

Skits is our other... (crash) KAZUO: Uh-oh.

Wind trouble.

Oh, no.

(thunder cracks, Skits whimpers) Well, hello, young skipper.

While you're crawling around there, maybe you could keep a weather eye out for me glasses, hmm?

They seem to have gone astray again.

(sighs) I just love being in a shower.

I mean, a rain shower.

A shower's just a bit of rain that falls for a little while.

(Skits moans inquisitively) What's that you say?

Reminds you of the sea?

Me, too.

The raindrops hitting your face like the spray from a beluga's blowhole, the thunder like the crashing of waves.

(sniffs, sighs) And there's nothing like the smell of wetness in the air.

Oh, I think I see me bus.

Well, indeed, there she is.

(Skits barks) Enjoy the rainfall.

(Skits barking, panting) (thunder crashes, Skits yelps) (bowling pins crash, Skits yelps) (thunder crashes, Skits yelps) (crashing) (moans thoughtfully) (crashing) (crashing) (whimpers, barks) Rocky Road?

This bus isn't supposed to stop at Rocky Road.

I need to go to the marina.

(Skits whimpering) Well, thank you, young man.

But you should be standing up straight and tall, not crawling around like a scallywag.

Skits?

What are you doing out here?

(barking) Well, climb aboard, and let's get you home.

You're not going to Rocky Road, are ye?

(chuckling) No, captain, just the usual route.

Tack to starboard, trim the mizzen mast and sail the leeward wind to port, making all the local stops.

(chuckles) (laughing): Very good.

(whispering): Can ye tell me what the heck he's talking about?

(Skits whimpers) So long now, laddie.

Get home safe.

There he is.

He was at a bus stop outside of town.

Can you believe it?

Right in the middle of a storm.

Skits must like thunderstorms.

He was out running around and having a great time while Martha was hiding under the bed.

Hey, I wasn't hiding.

I was just spending time with my shoebox and... (Skits grunts) Eh, it's a long story.

Well, I better get going.

Got a schedule to keep.

Come on, Skits, admit it.

You weren't out having a great time.

You were scared of the thunder.

(barking) Oh, come on.

How could you discover anything about thunder?

(barking) Bowling?

What does bowling have to do with it?

WINDY MCCLOUD (on TV): Well, now that the rainfall is over, you can expect sunny skies for the rest of the day.

However, tomorrow, there is a 90% chance of hail.

(Skits moans fearfully) Hail?

(whimpering) And that's the weather.

Have a pleasant afternoon.

To dig up some more fun words and games, visit pbskids.org or check out your local library for the "Martha Speaks" books.

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