it also had jean stapleton in it. I still forget the name though…

Aw, nuts. I remember that movie fondly, and have actually been thinking about it a bit lately, but I figured that when I got curious enough it would be in the IMDB for me to rehash old memories.

What I do remember: the dolphin tried to convince Stapleton to take it to an estuary, and she heard “Esther worry” at first. And it sang the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” — which might have been the title, in retrospect. Oh, and the last line: “You can get a rug!”

From Google: http://www.bruceedwardhall.com/cv.htm

“Let Me Hear Your Whisper,” A&E Network, 1990, starring Jean Stapleton and Rue McClanahan

I remember Jean and dolphins and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and I, too, have been thinking about it. It was on TV, probably PBS, Jean was the cleaning lady, who always sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” while cleaning the lab. The lab contained a small tank with a dolphin in it. The “scientists” were trying to teach the dolphin to speak. They deemed the experiment a failure, as the dolphin did not speak, even after extensive “training.” They made the decision to terminate the dolphin the next day, and that night, the dolphin sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” as Jean was cleaning up. I seem to remember that she didn’t know what they were doing with the dolphin, so she didn’t know that this was a fantastic scientific world event.