Be the Turtle

**Be the Turtle** is the third episode in Season 1 of *I ♥ Arlo*.

## Synopsis

Arlo gives Alia an important job. But the others aren't convinced that the easily distracted tiger can find her focus.

## Plot

One day, Arlo is overseeing the boardwalk undergoing preparations thanks to his friends' hard work: Furlecia cleans the fountain, Bertie repairs the holes in the boardwalk, Marcellus mops (which he comes back to), and Teeny Tiny Tony is making lunch. He then announces he has a job for Alia whom he cannot find, which Tony is against as Alia never gets her jobs done because she is always easily distracted. Sure enough, Alia comes over and hears Bertie and Tony complain about their favors which she never bothered to finish, which hurts her feelings. Despite their complaints, Arlo has the utmost confidence in her and presents her job: She has to go to Sign King on the other side of the boardwalk to pick up the foundation sign for the fountain and bring it right back. Alia is soon lulled by all the various distractions around her, but nevertheless is determined to get it done. After she leaves, Tony offers to call his Aunt Guy to get the sign for them in case.

Alia starts off for the store, but as expected, she begins getting distracted. First, she zips right into Tony's to get herself a snack, then goes off to get Bertie's advice to remove a sauce stain only to attend a vegan rally with her. When she gets back, she decides to take a quick nap before heading to the store, but sleeps too long and realizes it's late. She then gets lulled off by a seagull, then stops to use a box as a mobile home before rejecting it. After hearing the windchimes of Sam's Music, she begins doing a flute harmony with Sam until realizing she's completely off track. She then spots Gordy doing graffiti murals and joins him, being inspired to make greeting cards all night.

The following day, Arlo realizes Alia never came back and Tony vows to get Aunt Guy, but Arlo refuses and still trusts in her. He gets a call from Alia, who has once again been distracted by giving water taxi shifts, and she failed to get the sign and needs help that instant. She tells Arlo her failure to get the sign and worries she'll never be able to get it, and no matter how hard she tries to focus, she ends up far away from where she needs to go, and feels Tony is right about her. Arlo reassures her, claiming despite her disability, it doesn't mean she can't do it, and reveals to her she hasn't found a way that works for her yet. While taking a walk on the beach, Alia admits she can somehow see and hear everything, leading to her distractions. To Arlo's surprise, she is able to see things that he can't, smell even the slightest of scents, and even hear the tiniest sounds from miles away, which he and others completely lack. While Arlo appreciates her ability, she feels sorry for it as it leads to her distractions.

Arlo then comes to the conclusion trying hard to focus is not the best choice for Alia, similar to how he learned to swim with just his arms and legs until he learned to use his tail, and she just has to learn what works best for her. Sure enough, Alia is distracted again, this time by the sounds of baby turtles hatching, and feels sorry for herself. Arlo suggests instead of punishing herself, then maybe she should just let herself be herself indeed. By watching the turtles, Alia realizes they're experiencing the same thing she's doing: They have a long way to get to the water, and encounter a lot of obstacles in their path, but they take their time to get there, and if they get off track, they refocus and try again. Inspired by Arlo's advice to "be the turtle", Alia begins singing about the importance of focus and makes it to Sign King without any trouble. Using her inspiration from the turtles, she manages to resist her distractions, focus herself, and reaches the foundation sign and successfully grabs it.

Back at the fountain, Tony is beginning to complain that Alia is still not back yet and is calling Aunt Guy just in case. Sure enough, Alia arrives with the foundation, and makes it back to the fountain all by herself. Her friends congratulate her as Bertie catches the foundation and places it on the fountain, and Arlo congratulates her as Tony reveals he believed in her as well. Aunt Guy then shows up with her version of the foundation, but he shoos her away. Everyone joins Alia for a friendly splash in the fountain as a turtle swims away underwater.

## Cast

* Michael J. Woodard as Arlo Beauregard
* Mary Lambert as Bertie
* Jonathan Van Ness as Furlecia
* Haley Tju as Alia
* Brett Gelman as Marcellus
* Tony Hale as Teeny Tiny Tony
* Maria Bamford as Aunt Guy
* Michelle McMillan as Walla
* Mark Whitten as Walla

## Trivia

* This episode appears to take place the day after the previous episode, given that the "coming soon" signs are still left up.
* This episode marks several firsts for Alia:
	+ The first episode where Alia has the main role.
	+ Alia sings for the first time this episode.
	+ The first time Alia is seen without her hoodie.
	+ The first time Alia's ears were seen.
* This episode reveals that Alia has heightened senses, and Arlo can use his tail as a third leg.