Trying Mashed Potatoes (transcript)

Trying Mashed Potatoes is the fourth episode of the show "My Better Autistic Life".
Trying Mashed Potatoes
Episode # 	Series 12, Season 1, Episode 4
Previous Episode 	Sharing 
Next Episode  	Patience 
==Transcript==
(The episode starts by taking place in Maraya's grandma's house, and it also takes place in the kitchen, where Maraya and her family are about to eat dinner together. For dinner, they are all having meat and mashed potatoes. Maraya is shown walking to the table and sitting down in her chair)
Maraya: Man, I love to eat dinner!
(Then she talks to herself about what she's eating for dinner. When she gets to the part of eating the mashed potatoes, she gets shocked and screams)
Maraya (to herself): Today for dinner, I'm having meat and - aaah! Mashed potatoes?!! I hate mashed potatoes!
Debbie: Maraya, stop freaking out about it and say the blessing, please.
Maraya: Okay, okay, I will say the blessing!
(Then she tunes herself down as she is looking down at her bowl of mashed potatoes)
Maraya (to herself, softly): Geez, if I will only stop worrying about those mashed potatoes. Well, maybe I will say the blessing to make me think about God, not my food.
(She closes her eyes, puts her hands together, and bows her own head to say the blessing. And while she's saying it, a picture of God appears in the bubble)
Maraya (softly): God is good, God is great. Let us thank for our food, amen!
(Then the bubble pops away while her grandma is talking to her)
Debbie (not seen): Thank you, Maraya. Now let's eat!
(As the family begins eating, Maraya gets her knife and fork and cuts her meat up into bite size pieces. While she does it, she puts one piece in her mouth and chews it)
Maraya (happy): Mmmm! I love dinner! (laughing)
(Again, she puts another piece of meat in her mouth and chews it. She eats all of it until it was all gone. The scene changes where Maraya is done with her first big piece of meat. She tries to get more, but her grandma, Debbie, stops her from getting another piece because she isn't completely done with her dinner. Maraya suddenly looks up at her grandma, shocked. Then Maraya gets frustrated because she is stuck on the food that she doesn't like, which was mashed potatoes. So she sits at the table and waits for everyone else to be completely done with their dinner because they like it and she doesn't)
Maraya: Now that I'm done with the first piece of meat, I can get up and get more. (looks up, shocked) Uh oh! My grandma doesn't look very happy!
Debbie (mad): Maraya, you're not completely done with your dinner yet! You still have to eat your mashed potatoes if you want another piece of meat.
Maraya (worried): But, grandma. I don't like mashed potatoes.
Debbie (mad): Too bad, you have to eat them if you want another piece of meat.
Maraya (praising): But, grandma -
Debbie (mad): No buts, Maraya. Now, eat them or you won't have any dessert tonight.
Maraya (shocked): Oh no! No dessert tonight?!! But, grandma, for the third time, I said I don't like mashed potatoes!
Debbie (not seen, mad): Alright, then no dessert tonight until you eat those mashed potatoes!
Maraya (frustrated): Ugh!
(Once again, she waits for her grandma to become done eating so she can do it alone. The scene changes when Maraya is aware if her grandma is here with her or not. She looks around, and doesn't see any sign for her grandma anymore)
Maraya (becoming aware): Is grandma gone? (looks around the kitchen and sees no wise of her) Good, she is. Now I can try the mashed potatoes alone.
(She tries to put a spoonful in her mouth, but is unfortunately afraid to try them)
Maraya (frustrated): Ugh! I'm afraid of trying these mashed potatoes. (Then she thinks about a second of who she should get for help) Now, I need someone who can help me try them, and that person isn't definitely grandma! I need a person who's very helpful and can help me with anything. Anything in the world. Even my problems! (Then she thinks about it for another second as she is talking) Now, who is a person who's very helpful?
(After thinking about it for a second, she figures out that she'll get Ruff to help her try them)
Maraya (surprised): I know! I'll get Ruff to help me! He can help me with any problem i have! (Then she calls on her computer to come down here) 🎵Oh computer!🎵
(When she called on her computer, it flies downstairs to the kitchen where Maraya is sitting, looking at her bowl of mashed potatoes)
Maraya: Computer, there you are! Can you go to Ruff's program so I can do my magic spell?
(The computer nods as it gets its arms, turns it on, and goes to Ruff's program, which is on her browser. Then she runs to grab the computer and put it on a flat surface)
Maraya: Oh, thanks computer! Now we need to say the magic spell in order for Ruff to come to life!
(She walks over with her computer and puts it on a flat surface. Then she looks at the camera and tells them to say the magic spell with her)
Maraya (looking at camera): To make Ruff come to life, we have to say the magic spell. Say the magic spell with me.
(Then she looks down at her computer as she says the magic spell to make Ruff come to life)
Maraya: Computer, computer,
Let me see Ruff
Let me see Ruff 
So life won't be tough!
(Then she runs back to her chair as quickly as possible before Ruff catches her. While she's not seen, some purple magic dust comes out of the computer and out of it came Ruff, who needed to help her with her problem. After it was over, Ruff walks over to Maraya, who is just staring at her bowl of mashed potatoes)
Ruff: Hi, Maraya. What do you want me to help you with today?
Maraya: Ruff, I have an extremely big problem. My grandma forced me to try mashed potatoes, which is another one of my foods I dislike.
Ruff: But, Maraya, have you at least tried them?
(Maraya thinks about it for a second)
Maraya: No.
Ruff: Then how do you know you don't like them if you haven't at least tried them?
Maraya: Because, they look gross.
Ruff: No, Maraya. They are not gross, they are good. (grabs Maraya's bowl of mashed potatoes and spoon off the table) Here, I'll feed it to you. But first thing you need is a bib.
(He ties the bib around Maraya's neck so she won't get messy. Then he grabs the bowl of mashed potatoes and the spoon off the table)
Ruff: There you go. Are you ready? Open wide.
Maraya (turning her head): Mm-mm!
Ruff (walking over to the other side): Please?
Maraya (turns her head again): Mm-mm!
Ruff (walks over to the other side again): Please, Maraya? It's good!
Maraya (turns her head again): Mmmm!
(The camera points over to Ruff, who feels bad for Maraya)
Ruff: Okay, you don't want to try it my forceful way, don't you?
(Maraya shakes her head hard at Ruff)
Ruff: Well, I got another idea. How about if I can give you some of my handy-dandy tips?
Maraya (gasping surprisingly): Yeah!
Ruff: Okay! I'll give you some handy-dandy tips so you'll like them, Maraya. Now, let's sing my handy-dandy tips song!
Maraya: Okay!
(The scene changes again where Maraya and Ruff are together somewhere else in her grandma's kitchen so she can sing the "handy-dandy tips song". When rap music starts playing in the background, Maraya flies higher with her sunglasses and hat on and begins rapping)
Maraya (rapping): 🎵Whenever I have trouble,
Trying a new food,
Here are some tips that might help you
Put syrup on French toast,
Add cinnamon in oatmeal
Whatever it is, it's Ruff's handy-dandy tips!🎵
(Then the music ends as Maraya asks Ruff what his handy-dandy tips are)
Maraya: So, Ruff, what tips do you have to help me today?
(Ruff grabs Maraya's hand as he took her to the table)
Ruff: Come to the table, and I'll tell you the handy-dandy tips I have so you'll like them.
Maraya: So, Ruff, tell me. What are your tips for me to like mashed potatoes?
Ruff: Well, actually, I have two tips for you.
Maraya (surprised): Really? What are they, Ruff?
Ruff: First tip I got is that you can add flavoring, like salt and pepper. The second tip I have is going to lead you to answer a question, but have you had brown gravy?
Maraya: Ruff, what's gravy?
(As Ruff tells her what it is, a picture of brown gravy pops up in his head)
Ruff: Gravy is a sauce that you can add on certain things. It can be brown or white. But since you're having mashed potatoes, it has to be brown.
Maraya: But, Ruff, there is no brown gravy. All there is is a big pot, full of mashed potatoes.
(As Ruff tells Maraya not to worry, he puts Maraya's bib around her neck)
Ruff: Don't worry; I'll make some brown gravy.
(While Ruff continues talking, Maraya's computer flies beside him as he hops back into it so he can make her some brown gravy)
Ruff: Maraya, I gotta go back in my kitchen so I can make you some brown gravy to try. 
(After Ruff says that to her, Maraya gets sad)
Ruff: Don't worry; it'll not take that long. I'll let you know when it's ready for you, but I have to go to my kitchen to make it first. And remember, I'll let you know when it's ready for you.
(Ruff hops back into the computer to make her some brown gravy, and after it happened, Maraya's computer stops flying and falls in a chair next to her. Then Maraya's grandma walks in, checking to see if she's eaten her mashed potatoes yet)
Debbie: Oh, Maraya, you hadn't eaten your mashed potatoes yet? Oh, Maraya, I don't think you're going to have dessert tonight. 
(Then she walks away from her as Maraya's computer flies out of the chair beside her. After, he asks Ruff if he is done making the brown gravy yet. Ruff, who is on Maraya's computer, doesn't answer her until after she asks him the question)
Maraya: Hey, Ruff! Are you done making the gravy yet?
(While she was waiting for Ruff to answer her question, she finds him, humming a tune to himself when she mistakenly thought that her computer was humming)
Ruff (not seen): Not yet, Maraya. Remember what I said? I said that I'll let you know when it's ready for you, okay?
Maraya (sighs): Okay.
(Meanwhile, Maraya was waiting and waiting for Ruff to be done, until the scene changes, when some magic dust comes out of her computer and Ruff is back to life with a pot of brown gravy)
Ruff: Hi, Maraya. Thank you for waiting. Now, are you totally ready to try some mashed potatoes with brown gravy?
Maraya (surprised): Yeah!
Ruff (not seen): Okay! Then let's do it! But first, I got to put some brown gravy on your mashed potatoes before you add your flavoring.
(After he puts the brown gravy on her mashed potatoes, the camera switches over to Maraya, who's really ready to try it)
Ruff (not seen): Okay, now I got to add the flavoring and then we have to stir it around.
(After he does all those things, he puts the bowl of mashed potatoes down and gets Maraya's spoon as he puts it in the palm of her hand)
Ruff: Okay, now try it to see if my tips worked!
(Maraya grabs a spoonful of mashed potatoes with her spoon and puts it in her mouth as Ruff asks her a question)
Ruff (not seen): You like it?
Maraya (thinking): I - I like it!
Ruff (applauding): Yay! You liked it, Maraya, you liked it! (Then he looks at the camera) And also, my tips worked, so now she likes it!
(While Maraya continued eating her mashed potatoes, Ruff grabs her plate and asks her if she wanted another piece of meat)
Ruff: Hey, Maraya. Earlier you said that you wanted another piece of meat, so do you still want your second piece of meat?
Maraya: No, right now, I'm focused on mashed potatoes.
Ruff (laughing): Okay. Man, you sure love those mashed potatoes. You are just eating them up!
Maraya: I sure am!
(After that, Ruff walks away with Maraya's empty plate. And then, the scene changes where Maraya's eaten up her first bowl of mashed potatoes)
Ruff: Wow, that was good, wasn't it Maraya?
Maraya (holding up her spoon): Yeah!
Ruff (laughing): You want some more, Maraya?
Maraya: Yeah!
Ruff (walking away): Okay.
(As Ruff walks away to get Maraya more, she is pleased. Then like last time, he adds the brown gravy on top, adds the flavoring, and stirs it all together)
Ruff (handing her the bowl): Here you go, Maraya. Enjoy!
(As Maraya puts the first spoonful in her mouth, Debbie walks in the kitchen, surprised)
Debbie: Maraya! You're - you're eating mashed potatoes! (Then she gives her a big hug) Great job! I knew you were going to do it! (Then she talks to Ruff) Ruff, did you help her?
Ruff: Yes! I did!
Debbie: Great job, Ruff! Thank you for helping my autistic daughter, Maraya, try mashed potatoes!
(The camera points over to Maraya, who is eating her second bowl of mashed potatoes as Ruff continues talking to Debbie)
Ruff (not seen): You're welcome, Debbie.
Debbie: So tell me, Ruff. How did you make her like the mashed potatoes?
Ruff: Well, I gave her some handy-dandy tips for liking mashed potatoes.
Debbie: And what tips did you give her?
Ruff: Well, what I did was that I made some brown gravy and added flavoring in her mashed potatoes. And actually, she loves it so much that she wants to eat it everyday!
Debbie: Everyday? Well, since it's healthy, we can do that for her!
Ruff: Alright! And remember, make the brown gravy so she can eat it, because that's the only way we'll get her to eat it!
Debbie: Okay, but no one else likes the brown gravy, except for Maraya, who has autism.
Ruff: What? Nobody else likes brown gravy, except for Maraya? Well, I'm going to make you all try it like i did with Maraya!
Debbie: Oh yeah, Ruff. Have I told you that I bought a chocolate cake for dessert tonight?
Ruff: Chocolate cake? Mmmm, that actually sounds delicious! (Then he pauses for a second sadly as he forgot that he was a dog) Except, that I'm a dog, and dogs can't have chocolate!
Debbie: I tried making Maraya eat the mashed potatoes at dinner earlier, but she didn't want to. But thank goodness you helped her, Ruff, because now, she can have chocolate cake, her favorite dessert! So, ask her if she wants any dessert.
(As the camera zooms into Ruff, he starts walking over to Maraya and asks her if she wants any dessert)
Ruff (walking over to Maraya): Hey, Maraya. Since you've finished your mashed potatoes, do you want any dessert?
(Maraya looks up at Ruff)
Ruff: It's chocolate cake, your favorite.
Maraya (thinking): Nah, I don't want any dessert right now.
Ruff: What? You don't want any dessert tonight? But Maraya, you love chocolate cake! Why don't you want any tonight?
Maraya: Because, I love mashed potatoes now!
(Ruff and Debbie laughing at Maraya, just for fun)
Ruff: Oh, Maraya. You are such a comedian!
Debbie: I agree!
(Then they all continued laughing until the scene changes to where Ruff is wiping her mouth)
Ruff: Maraya, I'm so glad I helped you try something tonight!
Maraya: Me too!
Ruff (laughing): I know you're glad, too, but I got to go!
Maraya: You got to go?! Oh, no Ruff! I don't want you to go!
Ruff: Don't worry; you'll see me again when you have another problem, and remember, whenever you have a problem, say the magic spell to make me come to life, and I'll help you right away.
Maraya: Okay!
(As Ruff is about to go, Maraya's computer flies to him as Ruff hops back into it!
Ruff: Bye, Maraya! See you soon!
Maraya (waving happily): Bye, Ruff! See you soon too! And thanks for helping me tonight! I couldn't have done it without you! (looks at camera) And I couldn't have done it without you too! You are great viewers, and I hope that Ruff will continue to help me have a better, autistic life.
(Then the episode ends, with the scene fading out after the whole episode ends)
==Characters==
*Maraya 
*Maraya's Computer 
*Ruff
*Haley (non-speaking)
*Debbie 
*Steve (non-speaking)
==Trivia ==
*This is the first episode where Maraya wears a bib around her neck while she's eating.
*This is another episode where Haley and Steve don't talk at all.
*This is the second episode where Ruff makes her try a new food (with the help of his handy-dandy tips).
*This is the first episode where Maraya uses her sing-song voice to call her computer to fly where she's at.
*This is the first episode where Ruff actually comes to life on his own without Maraya having to say the magic spell.
*Skill(s) that Ruff helps Maraya with: trying mashed potatoes for the first time (he did this by giving Maraya some handy-dandy tips).
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Category:My Better Autistic Life (Season 1)