Air date: 9/16/84

In Chicago, 8-year-old Penelope "Punky" Brewster and her dog Brandon are found living in an empty apartment by the apartment building's grouchy manager, 60-year-old Henry Warnimont, who owns a photography studio. Henry invites Punky to his apartment for dinner. In Henry's apartment, Punky tells Henry that it all started when her father walked out on her and her mother Susan Brewster, and then a couple of weeks ago, Susan said they were going on a trip. Susan, Punky, and Brandon piled up in their car and drove to a shopping center in Chicago, where Susan abandoned Punky and Brandon. Punky and Brandon have been homeless ever since. In the vacant apartment, Punky always had food that she could share with Brandon, because 8-year-old Cherie Johnson, who lives upstairs from Henry with her grandmother Betty Johnson, always brought food to Punky.

When Henry's search for Punky's mother is interrupted by a visit to his studio from Punky, Cherie, and Cherie's grandmother Betty, Henry takes some memorable pictures of Punky, Cherie, Betty, Brandon, and himself at his photography studio, and Henry has his hands full with a customer named Agnes, who has fallen for him. Later, Punky decides to clean Henry's apartment while he's out, but when Henry gets home, he's furious, because he liked everything the way it was before Punky cleaned the place. Henry is especially furious that Punky has put his late wife Claudia's picture out on the table in the living room, because years ago, Claudia died shortly after getting married to Henry, and it still hurts Henry too much to look at that picture. After Henry's done yelling, he calms down and tells Punky that he's going to turn her over to the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Punky decides to leave, thinking that she's a horrible person and that wherever she goes, no one wants her around. Henry spends 3 and a half hours looking for Punky, and when he returns to the apartment, he finds Punky in his apartment. She says she wasn't going anywhere, because it was raining outside, and she has decided to give Henry another chance to not be grouchy. Henry decides to let Punky spend the night in his apartment.

Punky Finds a Home – Part 2

Air date: 9/23/84

On the next day, Henry tells Punky that he has called the DCFS, but Punky tells Henry that she doesn't want to go to an orphanage, so Henry promises Punky that she won't have to go to an orphanage. The DCFS sends inexperienced case worker Miranda "Randi" Mitchell, who takes Punky to Fenster Hall, a home for kids who are up for adoption. Randi later returns to Henry's apartment, and tells Henry that there hasn't been much progress in finding Punky's mother Susan, who may not want to be found. Randi also says that in 72 hours, the DCFS will have a hearing to decide who gets custody of Punky, and Punky said she'd like for it to be Henry. Henry has shed a lot of his grouchiness, and he is now beginning to love Punky, and he would like to have custody of her. But Randi thinks Punky would be better off with someone else. At Fenster Hall, Punky is introduced to her two roommates – Lisa is an older girl who acts tough, and Mary is a younger girl who never talks. Punky wants to escape from Fenster Hall and go back to Henry's apartment, but Lisa tells Punky that no one has ever gotten past Mr. Tyler, Fenster Hall's security guard. Punky and Lisa get Mary to talk, and Lisa and Mary trick Mr. Tyler into going out onto a window ledge, while Punky escapes.

Punky Finds a Home – Part 3

Air date: 9/30/84

An incredulous Henry demands to know one reason why Randi doesn't think he should be Punky's foster father, but Randi gives him three reasons -- he's never raised a kid, he's not married, and he's too old. Henry tells Randi that he only asked for one reason. Punky shows up at Henry's apartment while Randi is still there, and Henry yells at Randi, demanding to know why Fenster Hall is so irresponsible. Randi counters that Fenster Hall is a modern and enlightened facility, and that they don't put locks on the doors. Randi lets Punky talk to Henry. Punky tells Henry that she wants to live with Henry, so Henry vows to get custody of Punky at the hearing. Randi has a look on her face that makes her look like she doesn't like that idea. Randi takes Punky back to Fenster Hall, and Randi introduces Punky to the Petersons, a childless couple. The Petersons are interested in becoming Punky's foster parents, but Punky introduces the Petersons to Mary, and convinces the Petersons to take Mary in as their foster daughter. Randi seems disappointed that Punky thwarted her attempt to place Punky with the Petersons. Later, Randi has a change of heart, and she represents Henry and Punky at the custody hearing. They're up against an annoying attorney named Lois Dent, who represents the state, and Dent says that the State has objections to Henry getting custody of Punky. Judge William J. Murphy agrees, and then Randi unexpectedly but respectfully asks him to take back that verdict. Punky reads aloud a letter that she originally wrote to Henry in case she wasn't going to be allowed to stay with him, and Murphy awards Henry custody of Punky, making Henry her foster father.

Lost and Found

Air date: 10/7/84

One morning at breakfast, Punky discovers that there is no milk, so she convinces Henry to go to the supermarket. While Punky and Henry are at the supermarket, Punky is getting pizza samples from the sample lady, and Henry sees an old friend named Bud. Henry and Bud, who now works at the store, go to the store's back room. When Punky can't find Henry, she panics. Punky searches the store frantically. When she doesn't find Henry, she assumes that Henry has ditched her at a shopping center, just like her mother Susan did. When a frantic Henry arrives home, he finds Punky packing. Punky explains to Henry how she thought he ditched her, and Henry explains to Punky that he didn't ditch her, and that he was worried sick when he couldn't find her, and he says that he'll never leave her.

Punky Gets Her Own Room

Air date: 10/7/84

Punky and Cherie agree that Punky needs a bedroom instead of sleeping on the couch every night. Henry, however, is reluctant to give up the only available room; his study. All he'll give is a maybe, citing the time and money it takes. With the help of Cherie and building superintendent Eddie Malvin, Punky changes Henry's study into what Henry describes as a room so colorful, "it could blind a smurf." Henry accepts the new room, because he understands that Punky needs something to call her own.

Walk Pool

Air date: 10/14/84

Punky and her energetic friends are running circles around Betty every morning when she walks them to school. Scotty Lotabucci, the terror of the group, even leaves a "kick me" sign on Betty's lower back. On a bet with Betty that Henry can handle the kids better than Betty can, Henry ends up with the job of walking the kids to and from school for one day, and Henry regrets it. Needless to say, he doesn't do much better than Betty did...although the kids seem to like him enough.

Gone Fishing

Air date: 10/14/84

A bored Punky interrupts Henry's attempt at a quiet weekend afternoon, so, after telling Punky about a fish called "Big Al," Henry decides to introduce Punky and her friends to the joys of fishing. They're not exactly thrilled, but Punky's glad for the attempt, and a lucky streak at the end provides some fun anyway.