Penelope Punky Brewster is an abandoned 8-year-old who wanders into an empty apartment in Chicago. The manager of the building is a 60-year-old curmudgeon named Henry Warnimont, who begrudgingly agrees to let her sleep on his couch until more suitable arrangements can be made. Written by Attmay

Henry fails to stop a social worker from putting Punky in an orphanage.

Henry goes to court to get custody of Punky.

In the first segment, Punky and her friends convert Henry's study room into her bedroom without asking him first. In the second segment, Henry takes Punky shopping and she wanders off.

In the first segment, Mrs. Johnson finds the task of walking the children to school to be too exasperating, so she turns it over to Henry, who attempts to instill a sense of discipline into them. In the second segment, Henry tries to introduce Punky and her friends to the joys of fishing. Written by Attmay

As the Chicago Cubs play in their first post-season championship since 1945, proud Cubs fan Henry tries to get tickets for Punky and himself.

As the school's parent-teacher night approaches, Punky is upset by Margaux's insensitive comments about foster parents and foster children.

In the first segment, Henry gives Punky a lucky nickel to keep with her while she goes for a booster shot. In the second segment, Punky can't sleep, so Henry agrees to let her stay up and watch the opera with him on TV.

Punky, Cherie, and Margaux compete in a beauty pageant hosted by pop singer Andy Gibb.

Punky and Cherie start a dog grooming business so that they can help make ends meet in their respective homes.

Henry throws out Punky's worn-out old doll after the children's attempt to repair it fails. This upsets Punky, so Henry searches throughout the city to find it.

Christmas is approaching, and the only thing Punky wants is to find her mother.

Punky helps her piano teacher get into the music business.

Henry is reunited with a woman he planned to marry in 1941; when Pearl Harbor was attacked, he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and did not see her again until now.

Punky runs away when he learns that when Henry and Maggie are to be married, she'll be sent to boarding school in Europe.

After getting in trouble for slugging a boy at school, Punky dreams of life 80 years into the future where everyone has found love except for her.

Henry scolds Brandon for eating several valuable stamps. After that, Punky takes him on a walk, where he is hit by a car. He is rushed to the veterinary hospital, where his prognosis is grim.

Henry purchases a video camera for his photo studio and firmly warns Punky that she is not to touch it under any circumstances. However, while he's away, she and her friends make an exercise tape and think he won't know it - until the camera breaks. Written by Attmay

Punky, Cherie, and Margaux all want a highly sought-after doll, but Henry can only find one of them at the toy store.

Punky catches a boy breaking into her room and stealing from her. Henry takes the boy to Fenster Hall where Mike Fulton, one of the workers there, tries to bond with him.