diff --git a/scripts/import-file-into-markov_chain.py b/scripts/import-file-into-markov_chain.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9657222
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/import-file-into-markov_chain.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""
+import-file-into-markov_chain.py
+Copyright (C) 2011  Brian S. Stephan
+
+This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+"""
+
+import fileinput
+import os
+import sqlite3
+import sys
+
+db = sqlite3.connect('dr.botzo.data')
+db.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+
+cur = db.cursor()
+statement = 'INSERT INTO markov_chain (k1, k2, v) VALUES (?, ?, ?)'
+for line in fileinput.input():
+    # set up the head of the chain
+    w1 = '__start1'
+    w2 = '__start2'
+
+    # for each word pair, add the next word to the dictionary
+    for word in line.split():
+        try:
+            cur.execute(statement, (w1.decode('utf-8', 'replace').lower(), w2.decode('utf-8', 'replace').lower(), word.decode('utf-8', 'replace').lower()))
+        except sqlite3.Error as e:
+            db.rollback()
+            print("sqlite error: " + str(e))
+            raise
+
+        w1, w2 = w2, word
+
+    try:
+        cur.execute(statement, (w1.decode('utf-8', 'replace').lower(), w2.decode('utf-8', 'replace').lower(), '__stop'))
+        db.commit()
+    except sqlite3.Error as e:
+        db.rollback()
+        print("sqlite error: " + str(e))
+        raise
+
+# vi:tabstop=4:expandtab:autoindent