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.

♪ MRS. CLUSKY: Now, class, I want you to be on your best behavior.

It isn't every day we have a ballet company come and visit.

This is so exciting.

I've never seen a real, live ballet before.

I saw my cousin D.D.

's recital at the Twinkle Toes Academy of Dance, but I'm not sure that counts.

That looks more like a counting horse.

A counting horse.

I wish.

What is the square root of four?

Uh... (clops twice) Two!

TD, no horses in the classroom.

Hasta la vista, gang!

I wish I had a horse to get me out of this ballet.

Yawn city.

Oh, I think you'll love the ballet, Alice.

It's an extremely difficult sport.

How is dancing a sport?

It's very athletic.

And it takes a lot of coordination.

Coordination?

Yes.

When you're able to move different parts of your body together in a smooth way, it's called coordination.

Does ballet have any tackling or field goals?

Ah, no.

I rest my case.

(music plays) I still don't see how you can call ballet a sport.

That's like calling school summer vacation.

I saw a show on TV where they proved a ballet dancer was just as fit as a linebacker.

No way.

Really.

And it said lots of athletes, like football players or baseball players, take ballet to improve their balance.

Really?

(grunts, groans) I'm athletic, but next to Alice, I'm a klutz.

Alice?

Are you okay?

Me?

Sure.

Why?

You're popping up and down like a jack in the box.

Oh.

Uh...

I'm trying to get that thing on the top shelf.

I can't quite reach it.

Swimming goggles?

What do you need those for?

I have sensitive eyes.

Uh, see ya.

How can she see in those things?

Whoa!

Ugh!

(groans) Why am I such a klutz?

MRS. BOXWOOD: So, how was the ballet?

Did you like it?

It was okay.

The dancers were really graceful.

Not as graceful as professional wrestlers, but close.

(laughs) Alice went gaga for it.

She was all "Yaaaaaaaaay."

I did not go "gaga."

Did so.

Did not.

Well, that's good.

'Cause dancers have to be coordinated.

If you danced, you'd be all... La, la, la... Ooh!

Sorry.

Oh!

Excuse me.

Ooh!

Sorry.

Whoa...!

I can be coordinated when I want to be.

Just watch me.

Whoa...!

(thuds) (laughing) Here come the dancers.

Just because I liked the ballet, doesn't mean I want to do it.

Ugh!

Ow!

(sighs) You should've seen it, Nelson.

They were so beautiful.

It was like watching a dream.

(yawns): I wish I could be graceful like that.

(piano plays) (alarm rings) Aah!

Oh, who am I kidding?

Even in my dreams, I'm a klutz.

I'll never be a dancer.

I cannot get that ballet out of my head.

Me neither.

Last night, I danced my way through all my chores.

♪ Da, duh-duh-duh-duh, da, duh, da ♪ Whoa!

Whoa!

♪ Da, duh-da-da-da duh-da-da... ♪ Dad!

Whoa...!

Alice, you do it.

Yeah, you're so athletic.

You have much better balance on skates than I do.

Balance?

I don't have balance.

"Balance" means you can stay on your feet and not wobble or fall down.

I'm a klutz.

Aah...!

Only when you're on your feet.

What TD means is, you're really graceful on the ice.

Yeah, it's kind of the opposite of everybody else.

Come on, try it.

Whoa!

(laughing) Here come the dancers.

CAROLINA: I was such a klutz today.

If ballet works for football players and for baseball players, maybe it works for hockey players, too.

Hey, maybe we should all take a ballet class together?

I'm game, if Alice is.

Alice...?

(piano plays) Plié, relevé, plié, relevé and pas de bourrée... again.

Plié, relevé, plié, relevé and pas de bourrée.

Come on, try it, Alice.

It's fun.

Oh.

Uh...

I can't.

I've got a Charlie horse in my leg.

(gasps): You have a horse named Charlie in there?

How?

Alice doesn't really have a horse in her leg.

It's an expression.

It just means she's got a muscle cramp.

I got to go.

See you later.

Huh.

(humming ballet music) Ugh!

I wish I could quit thinking about ballet.

(ballet music playing) Are you watching ballet?

No.

You were so.

I heard it.

How do you know?

Have you memorized all the ballet music in the world?

No, I just know what boring sounds like.

(gasps) Beautiful.

Oh, look at you.

I bet you're quite the dancer.

Well, I, uh... (giggles) Oh.

Stand back.

My sister is a little clumsy.

This girl is not clumsy.

"Clumsy" means someone falls down a lot or stumbles into things.

She is the opposite of clumsy.

I mean she moves so smoothly.

And she's so beautiful to watch.

Oh...!

Oh, my goodness.

May I help you?

Uh...

Okay.

Why don't you try them out?

Hmm.

What do you know?

Aren't they beautiful?

(meows) Okay.

First position.

Second position.

This is easy!

Third position.

Fourth position.

This can't be right.

It feels really awkward.

Does it look awkward?

Oh!

(meows) Why am I asking you?

You probably don't even know what "awkward" means.

(meows) Awkward is when you do something, and it looks goofy and feels even worse.

"Keep your bottom tucked under, your chest lifted, and your knees straight."

They've got to be kidding!

Hey, look, Nelson!

I'm doing it.

Whoa!

Hey, Alice.

And this is really awkward.

Why do you have to be sneaky?

If you like ballet, you like ballet.

I'm sure your mom would let you take classes.

If I took a ballet class, Ronald would never let me live it down.

Alice Boxwood.

(audience applauding) (screams) Here come the dancers!

Whoa!

Here come the dancers!

Oh!

Here come the dancers!

Everybody's awkward when they first start something.

That's why you take classes.

To get better.

Yeah.

If you want something, I think you should just go for it.

As TD says, "You can't let a little thing "like total public humiliation stand between you and a good time."

(all laughing) Mom, I've been thinking, and I don't care what Ronald says, but I wish he wouldn't say anything because I already feel like a jerk, but even if he does say something, I want to take ballet classes.

And I know what you're thinking.

It's hopeless, and I'm a klutz, and I'm awkward, and I'll never be able to keep my balance, and I'll stumble all over the place, but I want to try.

Ronald thought you'd say that.

He did?

He said he thought you really wanted to take ballet classes, and he made me get you this.

Mom!

Thank you!

Oh, it's so beautiful!

I got you a leotard, too.

I had it made special.

You're a pretty good athlete when you practice.

I figure you'll get the hang of dancing eventually.

But, in the meantime...

Thanks.

Here come the dancers!

(crowd cheering) MARTHA: Jumping.

Boring!

Running.

Boring!

Balancing.

Boring!

Grr!

Why isn't there anything good on?

It's some international sports games thing.

None of the usual shows are running.

Oh!

I don't like sports shows!

SINGERS ON TV: ♪ Sporty animals, animals doing sports ♪ ♪Sporty animals ♪ Now that's more like it!

♪ Animals doing sports!

♪ Wow!

You just said you didn't like sports shows.

That was people.

This is dogs!

Dogs make everything fun to watch.

Flippin' fajitas!

What is that?

What you're seeing now is an agility course.

Agility course?

What's that?

Beats me.

You may ask yourself, "What is an agility course?"

"Agility" means moving quickly and easily.

And "course" means a place where you play a sport.

Like playing golf on a golf course, or racing cars on a racecourse.

Now let's watch while our nimble friend, Rudy, speeds through the agility course.

He quickly jumps through the hoop.

He easily clears that hurdle.

That takes real flexibility, folks.

Uh... What?

I was going to ask what flexibility meant, but he'll probably explain it.

"Flexibility" is a fancy way of saying you can bend easily, like this straw.

This show is so informative.

Martha's putting on speed!

What flexibility, folks!

Balancing like that takes real skill!

(crowd applauding, whistling and cheering) Zowie!

Where do I sign up?

Why not?

Because.

Because why?

Because I don't think you'd like it.

Why not?

Because you're not exactly the most athletic dog in town.

Helen, being an agility dog is my lifelong dream.

I thought your lifelong dream was to be a firehouse dog.

Dog dreams are like cable TV-- there's always more than one thing on.

Oh, all right.

I'll ask Mrs. Clusky.

Maybe she knows where there's an agility course.

As a matter of fact, I've got one in my yard.

You do?

Mm-hmm.

I had it custom-made especially for Francois.

You're welcome to try it if you like.

Speed is important, but you also must be nimble.

And flexible.

Good boy, Francois.

It's very challenging.

Challenging?

"Challenging" means something is hard and takes a lot of work.

What's challenging about running in a circle and jumping over rails?

Oh, there's more to it than that.

Oh, right.

It's also a lot of fun!

Okay, Helen, I'm ready!

Let's go!

Promise you won't be upset if you don't move as smoothly as Francois.

I mean, it is your first time.

Smooth?

Oh, I'm smooth.

What makes you think I won't be smooth?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's... Argh!

(gasping) Argh!

(barking) Argh!

No reason.

See?

I'm smooth.

I'm speedy.

Watch out!

Argh!

I'm okay!

Whoops!

Huh?

What?

Huh?

Ooh!

Argh!

Whoo... whoo... Argh!

Ow!

Oh!

Argh!

(yipping) (grunting) Ow!

(grunting) (goofy grunting) (yapping) Clumsy sausage?

Who are you calling a clumsy sausage?

(yapping) At least she didn't fall down again.

There you are!

Feel better now?

Oh, the indignity.

(Martha whining) (continues whining) (wind whistling) (wood creaking) (pounding steps) Huh?

(pounding footsteps continue) (gasps) ♪ ♪ (gasps) (gasping) (whimpering) (yelling) (grunts) (gasps) ♪ ♪ (gasps) (laughing yaps) (laughing) (all laughing) HELEN: Martha!

Martha!

Hey.

(relieved sigh) Chasing rabbits?

Just being clumsy.

Re ally clumsy.

Were you dreaming about the agility course again?

Yuh-huh.

Francois was right there, laughing at me.

I bet all dogs fall down on the first time.

You just need practice.

No.

Francois is right.

I'm a clumsy sausage.

I'm never going to move in public ever again.

Ever?

(panting) Sure is a nice day for a walk, isn't it, Martha?

(whimpers) Come and get it!

(barking) (groans) (grunting, panting) (soft grunt) (frustrated sigh) So, why isn't Martha moving?

She fell down in front of another dog, and he made fun of her.

If I refused to move just 'cause I fell down in front of someone, I'd have stopped trying when I was about six months old.

Once I fell down just standing still in an empty room.

(grunts) At least the room was empty.

There wasn't anyone around to call you a... clumsy sausage.

You fell down-- it's not a big deal.

Not everyone is naturally nimble.

Nimble?

Yeah.

It's like "agile."

It means you move easily and quickly.

Whoa!

Hey!

I didn't fall!

That was pretty nimble of me.

Maybe ballet classes are paying off.

Uh, Alice... (grunts) I'm okay.

(barking) Sure you don't want to dive in, Martha?

Sausages don't swim.

I'm really worried about Martha.

I'm sure she's not really that clumsy.

Agility stuff is just challenging.

Yeah, like learning to ride a bike.

(groans): Oh, remember how quickly TD learned to ride?

I know-- I felt like such a klutz.

It took me forever to get rid of my training wheels.

(sighs): I wish I could get rid of mine.

You've still got them?

Uh-huh.

All this time, I thought there was something wrong with me, but then I realized my bike is too tall.

Too tall?

Yeah.

When I'm standing still, my feet can't touch the ground.

It feels really awkward.

My parents are trading it in for a smaller one.

Hey!

Maybe that's Martha's problem!

She... needs a smaller bike?

No.

She needs a bigger agility course!

Francois' course was custom-made to fit him.

He's much smaller than Martha.

That's probably why she got stuck in the tunnel.

She's not uncoordinated, she's just too big.

Exactly!

If we make an agility course that fits her, she should be able to move through it more smoothly.

♪ ♪ HELEN: Keep your eyes closed, Martha.

We've got a surprise for you.

Okay, you can open your eyes now.

MARTHA & ALICE: Ta-da!

(gasps) Isn't it great?

It's your very own customized agility course.

We figured you couldn't move smoothly on Francois' course because it didn't fit you right.

I bet you'll be very agile on this course.

Well, aren't you going to try it out?

I bet you'll be much more coordinated on this one.

I can't-- I'd only fall down and embarrass myself.

Take it from a klutz like me-- you can't worry about what other people think of you.

Like TD always says...

BOTH: "You can't let a little thing like total humiliation stand between you and a good time."

Come on, Martha, try it.

Nope.

(barking) You want to try, Skits?

(Skits barking) Why not?

Maybe I'll try it, too.

ALICE: Yeah.

Maybe I will, too.

(gasping) (grunting) (laughing) (panting, barking) (grunting) (both laughing) (barking) You guys make messing up look fun.

It is!

Come on, try it!

(barks twice) Ooh... make way!

MARTHA: Clumsy sausage coming through!

(both laughing) (Skits barking) (Skits whining) (chuckles) BH access.wgbh.org