MAN: ♫Martha 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 the 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.♫ (horns honking) Dad, don't you know any shortcuts?

DAD: I do, honey, but I can't get to them.

This traffic isn't moving.

Since when does Wagstaff City have traffic jams?

It's because of the snow.

TD: We're going be late.

We're going to be late.

We're going to be late.

Stop saying that.

I can't.

We're going to be late.

I'm always late.

I've never been on time for anything in my life.

Your big mistake was probably giving me a ride in the first place.

(groans) I know!

We finally get to play the Fearsome Falcons and we forfeit the game.

Relax, you're not going to forfeit.

I am an expert at deliveries.

I'll get you there on schedule.

What's a schedule?

Is it another kind of car?

No.

A schedule is a list of things you're going to do at a certain time.

If you're on schedule, it means you did something or got somewhere right when you were supposed to.

So what makes you an expert?

Must be because he drives a bus for a living.

Nope.

Because you know a super-secret shortcut no one else knows about?

Nope.

Because this car transforms into a helicopter and can fly over traffic?

Yep.

Really?

Dad... Yep, here goes.

Hang on, everybody!

DAD: Hmm, guess I forgot to get the transformer serviced.

Dad... You never think you'll need it, but then when you do... Dang!

Dad!

What, sweetie?

BOTH: Why are you an expert on deliveries?

Ah, good question!

It just so happens that I'm an expert with deliveries because of Jake.

Ah!

What?

I learned about all kinds of transportation on the day he was born.

(sighing): I remember it like it was yesterday.

This happened before Martha could speak.

Right, Martha?

Just because I couldn't speak doesn't mean I don't remember.

TD was at his uncle's farm.

Helen had been visiting.

That's right.

See you later!

Bye!

Thanks for coming!

(Martha barks) (laughs) So I guess this means you missed me, huh?

(barks) Are you sure it's okay for you to be this far from home?

Uh-huh.

I'm not scheduled to deliver for another two weeks.

Deliver?

Are we bringing something to someone?

(laughter) Well, yes.

Deliver does mean you bring something to people, like the postman delivers the mail or the pizza boy delivers pizza.

But it can mean something else, too.

You know how we talked about something special that's going to happen to your mom?

I know, she's having a baby.

I just didn't know the word "deliver" meant have a baby.

Oh, uh, yeah,it does.

But hoy, no, I'm not doing that today.

The only delivery I'm making is bringing you back home.

Even if the baby showed up early, tenemos transporte-- we've got transportation-- we could still get to the hospital on time.

(loud pop, gasping) BOTH: Uh-oh.

I'll have this changed in a jiffy.

Uh, where's the spare?

Yay!

Is that really a good idea?

Why not?

It'll make a great sled.

Huh.

Okay, so I forgot to put the spare tire back.

But don't worry, I'll think of something.

(gasps) Uh-oh.

Remember what I said about our little delivery not being due yet?

Mmm-hmm.

I think it may be arriving early.

Oh!

Oh!

Oh no!

(barks) Martha, shh!

Martha, quiet!

I'm trying to think.

(whimpers) (yips) Ah, you think Dad should flag someone down.

(loudly): Dad, I think maybe Martha's trying to say... Just a second, sweetie, I'm trying to think.

But maybe you should...

Wait a second, I've got it!

I'll flag someone down.

How can I flag someone down when there's no one in sight?

Why don't you use this?

(panicked gasps) I meant to call a tow truck.

Oh!

Yes!

Tow truck!

Good thinking!

Only there's no signal.

Now what are we going to do?

(barks) (everyone yelling at Martha) (relieved sighs) Muchas gracias!

It's so nice of you to give us a lift.

Ooh!

Mom, are you okay?

Oh, yes.

Estoy muy bien.

Nice and toasty.

DAD: That was very bad, Martha!

Running in the road is very, very dangerous.

(whines) At least one good thing came out of it-- we got a lift to Wagstaff City.

(brakes squeal, horns honk) Oh!

The radio says there's a two-hour delay because of all the snow.

Highway's backed up all the way to Wagstaff City.

What about the backroads?

They're closed because of ice.

Ugh!

Ooh, they're coming faster.

I don't think we're going to make it to the hospital on time.

You just had to come early, didn't you?

(barks) Martha!

Where are you going?

Come back!

(barks) Is that a garbage barge?

(sighs) Martha!

Now is no time to be looking for garbage!

(barks) DAD: Stop that barge!

Stop!

Stop!

Thanks for the lift.

I don't know what we would've done without you.

DAD (shivering): I can't believe you, chasing after garbage at a time like this.

(whimpers) Well, at least we got another lift to Wagstaff City.

(sneezes) Ugh!

P.U.!

Oh no, Martha, I'm... (sighs) Fine.

Thanks.

Thanks for the lift.

I don't usually get to haul such beautiful cargo.

Look!

A taxi!

Maybe she can take us to the hospital.

Whoa!

Ow.

Hey!

Wait!

(barks) Martha!

TAXI DRIVER: You talkin' to me?

What?

She says her cab won't make it over the hill to the hospital.

The roads are too icy.

She wouldn't even try?

Uh, well, there was another problem.

She said Martha and I were too stinky to ride in her cab.

But there's a funicular around the corner.

The driver said she thinks it's still running.

Come here honey, I'll help you.

(holding nose): Oh no, I'm uncomfortable enough as it is.

(sniffing): I must be getting used to this garbage smell.

What's a funicular?

A funicular is like a train or trolley car that goes up a really steep hill.

Like that.

DAD (laughing): I love funiculars.

♫Funiculee, funicular, funiculee, funicula♫ Ooh!

Oh, hold on.

We're almost there.

This way, this way.

The hospital is only two blocks downhill from the funicular.

Ooh.

Another contraction?

Yes.

(breathes rapidly) A big one?

Uh-huh.

We need more transportation.

What's transportation?

I'll help find some.

It's a way to get somewhere, like a car or a boat or a plane or a... (bicycle bell chimes) !

Bike!

Hey!

Hey, kid!

(loud music playing on headphones) No, no, Martha, don't scare him!

(barks) That was amazing.

It's almost like she was flagging him down for us.

Hey, kid, I need to borrow your bike.

I've got a delivery.

I've got a delivery, too, and mine can't wait.

(Mom breathes rapidly) Just keep breathing, honey.

(imitates breathing): Hoo hoo ha!

Hoo hoo ha!

Hop in.

I'm never going to fit in there.

Nine months ago, maybe, but not now.

Martha!

!

(barks) Wait, maybe she's found another means of transportation.

(barks) That is one good dog.

Hey!

Hey, kids!

We need to borrow your sled.

Maybe we should just walk.

No, honey, not in your condition.

This will work.

Trust me.

See?

Nothing to it.

Danny?

Danny?

Danny!

Mariella!

(barks) Ahh!

Ahh!

!

(barks) (everyone cheers) HELEN: Way to go, Martha!

Right on time.

Of course, I didn't know it at the time, but the real transportation expert was Martha.

Yeah.

You flagged all those people down, and got us all those lifts.

Well, if you've got it, you've got it.

That is one incredible story.

And I am one incredible driver.

HELEN: Dad!

You did it!

You got us here on time!

Uh-huh, two minutes early by my watch.

TD: Hey, if we get stuck in traffic on the way home, will you us tell that story again?

(laughing): You bet.

Hey, kids, you forgot your bags!

(sighs) (grunts) I guess I need to do another delivery.

WOMAN ON TV: ♫Possum on a Stick, Possum on a Stick♫ ♫Run right out and get yours quick.♫ I think I'll name mine Nick.

Ick!

♫Possum on a Stick, Possum on a Stick♫ ♫That crazy wacky Possum on a Stick.♫ That has got to be the worst toy ever.

Whose lame-brained idea was that?

Possum on a Stick!

Whoa!

(chittering) Whose lame-brained idea was this?

Well, yours, Otis.

(grunting) (boxes crashing) Ohh!

How much money is in the till?

I'll check.

We're down to our last quarter.

(yells) (chittering) Strike that.

We're broke.

We need another moneymaking scheme.

What brilliant ideas do we have on the drawing board?

Hmm... (chuckling) Uh, nothing.

(growling) Now, now, Otis.

Don't be angry.

I know where we can get some money.

(grunting) Eureka!

(grunting) Two cents?!

Every little bit helps.

(snap) HELEN: One yogurt sundae, please.

(sniffs) Finished.

You were really obsessed with that book.

You never put it down.

I couldn't.

It was too exciting.

You'd like this book, too.

Really?

What is it about?

It's a true story about a dog.

Wow.

Fascinating.

Tell me more.

His name was Balto.

TRUMAN: It was winter, and a bunch of people in Alaska got really sick.

They needed serum fast.

MARTHA: Serum?

What's serum?

Sounds like syrup.

Mmm... Serum is a kind of medicine.

They give it to you in a shot.

Ick.

I'll take my pancakes without.

(whimpers) Anyway, they needed this serum, but the delivery airplane's engine was frozen, so it couldn't fly.

They had to deliver the serum by sled.

Weeeeeeee!

TRUMAN: Only it wasn't the kind of sled kids play with.

Huh?

TRUMAN: It was a dogsled.

(barks)Weeee!

TRUMAN: No, no, no!

A dogsled is a sled that's hauled or pulled by dogs.

People in places like Alaska use sleds to travel over snow and ice.

Oh... TRUMAN: Balto was a sled dog.

No one thought Balto was any good.

But when the sled got caught in a deadly blizzard, Balto was the only dog able to stay on the trail.

(dogs barking excitedly) (barking) TRUMAN: Balto hauled the serum, and the people were saved.

(everyone cheers) Wow.

I wish I could be a sled dog.

That's my dream job.

That's what you said about being a firehouse dog.

And being an agility dog.

(barks) What can I say?

I'm a dog of many dreams.

Let's move to Alaska.

You steer the sled and I'll haul it!

You can come, too, Truman.

Alaska's perfect for you.

There are probably no bugs because it's so cold.

Alaska is loaded with bugs.

Really?

How do you know?

I looked it up.

There's an article called "How to Survive a Ferocious Swarm of Mosquitoes."

I'm never going to Alaska.

I don't like mosquitoes,either.

Neither do I.

Rats.

I sure would have liked to be a sled dog.

(gasping): That's it!

That's how we'll catch that cur.

How?

Quiet, you nincompoop!

I'm thinking up an evil plan-- a plan for catching a sled dog.

(laughs evilly) (stifling a laugh) Well?

I got nothin'.

What's your plan?

Uh, in keeping with the Alaskan theme, I've created three sled-dog- catching possibilities.

First, the finish-line tape.

The sled dog glides through the finish line and... Presto!

Hoisted hound.

Next.

PABLUM: Woof, woof, woof!

You put this medal on the sled dog and... it shoots out a sleeping gas.

Uh, Otis?

(snoring) Oh, dear.

(growling) I do have one last invention.

I haven't quite worked out all the kinks yet, but... (chittering) A sled?

This is your big invention?

With this remote control you can steer, accelerate, brake and make the sled transform into different vehicles.

Different vehicles?

Yes.

A vehicle is a thing that takes you from place to place.

A sled, a car, a boat, a...

I know what "vehicle" means, you nitwit!

What vehicle does it transform into?

Oh.

Well... A wagon... (beeps) (engine starts) A go-cart... A raft... Or a helicopter.

(laughs weakly) Sort of.

Ooh!

That one!

That one!

Let's use that.

I bet I could deliver serum even faster than Balto.

I'd lead the team and sing inspirational songs to keep them going.

HELEN: We'll never get the serum through this blizzard.

Hitch me to the lead!

I'll haul that serum there in no time.

But Martha!

Uh-uh.

Malto!

Sorry?

I'm Malto, on account of I'm an Alaskan dog now.

Oh.

Right.

You can be Halto.

Okay.

You were saying, Halto?

Oh right.

Malto?

How can you deliver the serum?

You can't see your hand in front of your face.

That's okay.

I don't have hands; I have paws.

I can still see them okay.

Whoa!

No.

"Can't see your hand in front of your face" is an expression.

It just means you can't see very far.

Doesn't matter.

I don't need to see the trail.

I'll sniff it out.

Hitch me up and let's get a-goin'.

Come on, team!

Let's make tracks.

(dogs all barking) HELEN: ♫Keep running, doggies♫ ♫Put on the speed♫ ♫We've got the medicine the people need!♫ Mush!

Mush!

Doggies!

HELEN: Martha?

Martha, we're going to the park.

You're sure you don't want to come with us?

Are you delivering serum?

No.

Then I'm staying put.

You know, the chances of anyone in Wagstaff City needing a serum delivery are really slim.

You are way too skeptical for a person your age.

(sighs) Okay.

See ya!

(sighs) If only someone needed a serum delivery.

(knocking at door) We need a serum delivery.

Do you know where we could find a sled dog?

Do I?!

You stay here, Skits.

I'm going to deliver serum.

(panting excitedly) Okay, I'm ready!

Where's the sled?

Hitch me up!

Right over there.

Hmm?

That doesn't look like the sled in the book.

That was a snow sled.

This sled is built to glide on dry land.

Oh.

Okay.

Let's get hitched.

Hmm?

(whimpering) (Martha groaning) I thought you said this thing glides.

(softly): Transform into a wagon.

(beeps) What did you say?

I said, who put this bag on?

(Skits barking) Try now.

(creaking, Martha groaning) Oh, much better.

(softly): Now, accelerate and steer us into that van.

Accelerate?

You mean go faster?

Exactly.

Run faster, sled dog!

I don't want the dog to accelerate!

I want the vehicle to accelerate.

Start the engine.

(beeps) (engine coughs) (sputtering) (coughing) Excuse me.

Bad cough.

(Skits barking) Hey!

I'm really getting the hang of this.

Look at me glide!

Whoa!

This isn't how it's supposed to work.

(gasps) You guys again!

Quick!

Steer us into the van!

(beeps) Whoa!

Good catch, Skits.

Now stop this crazy thing!

(barking) (tires squeal) (Skits barking) (beeps) MARTHA: Help!

(horns honk) (steam hissing) What did I miss?

(yelling) (gasps) Skits!

Find the brakes!

Find the brakes!

(beeps) (beeps) Oh, no!

Not the lake!

What's wrong with that?

It's probably the only way to put the brakes on this thing.

We can't swim!

We can't swim!

(beeps) We're saved!

(yelling) This is where I get off!

Thanks, Salto.

(barks questioningly) That's your Alaskan name.

You may not be a sled dog like me, but you're definitelya hero.

(yelling) Those guys never learn.

Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org