Original subtitles

Maybe the world is blind or just a little unkind.

Don't know.

Seems you can't be sure.

Where's your mother?

Mom parked the car at a shopping center and went in.

Yes? She never came back.

You'll stay here tonight, and then tomorrow morning I'll take you down to

Department of Children and Family Services.

What'll happen to me there?

They'll find your foster home.

I don't even know the fosters.

Punky, while we're looking for your mom, I'd like you to come with me to a place

called Fenster Hall.

So they took me away from Henry.

At Fenster Hall I met Lisa and Mary.

I hate to tell you this, kid, but you're never going to get to see that old guy

again.

Suppose I were willing to take custody of Punky, what would you say?

I'd have to say that, in my opinion, Punky would be better off with someone

else. I've got to bust out of here.

Punky finds a home.

I don't understand. Why can't I be Punky's foster parent?

Give me one good reason.

You've never raised a child, you're not married, and you're too old.

I only asked for one.

Obviously, Mr. Warnemont.

We both want what is best for Punky.

And through the DCFS, I can provide her a place in the family with a father and

a mother.

Yeah, well, mothers aren't everything. I know. I had one.

Look, considering the trauma Punky has already experienced, wouldn't you want

see her in a family where she has a fighting chance to grow up like any

little girl?

Yes, Ro... I never thought of it quite that way.

I guess you're right.

Punky would be better off without me.

Hi, Henry!

Punky!

Brandon, am I glad to see you.

Punky, what are you doing here?

I went over the wall, Henry!

Why would I like to see Randy's face when she finds out?

It might look something like that.

Honky, you shouldn't have left the center.

What kind of irresponsible place allows children to run wild in the street, huh?

Answer me.

Mr. Warnemont, Fenster Hall is a modern and enlightened facility. We do not put

locks on the doors. It's not a prison.

Yes, it is, Henry.

They chained us up and put us in a dungeon with mice and dragons.

Honky. They made us eat spiders for lunch.

Now, Honky.

That's not true, and you know it.

Okay, they gave us milk and a sandwich for lunch.

The spiders were for dessert.

What was that?

Sounded like it came from the basement.

Gangway!

I'm okay.

No problem.

Don't worry, I'll live.

What's the good news?

Well, the good news is I've been making some headway with your dryer.

But first I had to find out if it was electric or gas.

It's gas.

Do me a favor. Find him a foster home.

Well, it's obvious Eddie means well.

And it's obvious you're angry I said that.

So, I'll just...

Go into the kitchen where I'll be a little less... obvious.

Well, as long as I'm home, I guess I'll unpack my stuff.

Now, what did you want to talk about, Henry?

I wanted to talk to you about your home.

Miss Mitchell and I were trying to decide where the best possible home for

would be.

That's easy with you.

But I've never raised a child before.

So? Neither have I.

We'll figure it out together.

Yes. But there's also my age to consider.

I'm getting along in years.

But that's good. The older you get, the wiser you get.

You must be the wisest man in the whole world.

Believe it or not, I was actually born in this century.

Look, I think you're a wonderful, remarkable, sweet little girl.

And I want to do what's right for you.

That's why I think you'd be better off with younger, more experienced parents.

You understand what I'm saying?

Yeah, I understand.

You don't want me.

That's not what I'm saying.

answer me something?

Sure.

Why doesn't anyone want me? What's wrong with me?

Nothing's wrong with you.

But you don't want me, neither did my mom.

That's why she ditched me.

Punky, you yourself said she forgot.

It's been a long time.

She'll remember by now.

Unless... She didn't want to remember.

Punky, don't say that.

We don't know what happened to your mother.

I think we should wait till we find her, and then we'll ask her to tell us what

happened, okay?

Okay. Good.

Does that mean I can stay here until I find my mother?

I'm sorry, honey.

I'm not your foster parent, and it doesn't look like they're going to let

Whoever gets you is a very lucky person. I know because you changed my life.

Before I met you, I was asleep inside.

You woke me up.

You made me feel happy.

And...

Funky wants to be with me. I want to be with Funky. I'm going to court to get

custody.

I'm not going to give up without a fight.

Way to go, Henry!

You should have never gone back to that old guy.

You were free.

You could have gone over the border and to Canada.

Are you crazy?

Mounties up there.

They always get their kid.

You guys, I'm happy I went back to Henry.

Found out that he really does want me.

Nothing's going to stop us from being together.

Honky, there's some people here who want to meet you.

Who?

Petersons. They want to be your foster parents.

Jim and Joyce Peterson, this is Punky Brewster.

Hi, Punky. Hi.

We're very happy to meet you.

I don't think you'll be like me.

Well, why, Punky?

Well, you see, I'm at the age where I'm starting to lose my teeth.

Milk dribbles down my mouth and across my chin. It's grosser real.

I don't think we would buy that. No, of course not. The same thing happens to

Joyce from time to time.

dogs. I have one. We love dogs.

I have a snake, too.

Snake.

Great big one.

And it hasn't eaten in over a year.

She doesn't have a snake.

Bunky, stop this. You're not giving the Petersons a chance.

I gotta be honest with you. I've already got somebody that wants me.

Her name's Henry.

I see.

But there's lots of other people here, like Mary.

Oh, yeah, we know about Mary.

She's the one that doesn't talk.

Oh, she talks, all right. Come on, I'll show you.

Mary, these are the Petersons. You want to say hi?

Hi, Mary.

Once she gets going, you can't shut her up.

Mary! The Petersons say that that's the prettiest doll they've ever seen.

Her name's Gretchen.

Really?

She's pretty.

You're pretty, too.

You know, Mary, I have a pretty doll like that at home.

Would you like to see it?

I sure would.

Well, why don't we go into my office?

Bye, Punky.

Thanks.

Piece of cake.

Punky, we'll talk about this later.

kid.

That was pretty slick.

Lisa, maybe if they try to set me with somebody else, I'll try to get them to

take you.

Forget it.

The odds of somebody wanting a kid as old as me are a million to one.

Well, maybe someday you'll beat them.

Face it, kid.

They'll never find me foster parent.

And we'll never let you live with old...

Picklepuss. Picklepuss.

Be seated.

All rise.

This court is now in session.

The Honorable William J. Murphy presiding.

Case number 1143J. The temporary custody hearing of Penelope Brewster.

Excuse me, sir.

Who said that?

I did.

Can I come a little closer?

Bayless.

Is that why they call him Bay -lift?

Anyway, Your Honor, about the name Penelope.

Oh, what about it? I hate it.

I'd like to be called Punky.

Very well.

The court shall refer to you as Punky.

Hey, you're good.

The state may begin.

Your Honor, this child was left in a shopping center by her mother, who never

returned. The child then found a vacant apartment where she lived until she was

discovered by the manager, Henry Warnemort.

Warn me not, ma.

Warnemont. Mr.

Warnemont now seeks temporary custody.

Where is the guy over there? He looks like he can make a great father.

Miss Randy Mitchell has been handling this case for the Department of Children

and Family Services and will now give her report.

Your Honor, a diligent search has been made for Punky's mother with no success.

We tried to find emergency foster parents for her, but that didn't work

In any event, she has repeatedly said that she would prefer to be with Mr.

Warnemont, and he has said that he would be willing to accept guardianship. So

it is the opinion of the DCFS that the child would be better served under him

than remain in a county facility.

I see.

Miss Mitchell, isn't Mr. Warnham a single, childless, elderly man?

Hey, I'm right here. Why don't you ask me?

Well, now that I'm looking at you, all I have to ask is, are you single and

childless?

Yes, I am.

But, as the French say, les vins les meilleurs sont les vins les plus vieux.

What does that mean?

The best wines are the wines that are aged.

Mr. Warnemont, I think we'd all be interested to know just how old you are.

Isn't it in the report?

Yes. But tell us. Tell the court.

The court can't read.

Is this belligerence I'm hearing, Mr. Warnemont?

Maybe, Henry.

Love your robe.

Nice fabric.

I'm 60 years old.

60 years old.

And how would you describe your health?

Excellent.

In fact, at the last checkup, my doctor said that I had the body of a 40 -year

-old. And when was your last checkup?

20 years ago.

I've never been sick a day in my life I'm as healthy as a horse.

Show me a horse that's 60 years old and I'll show you glue.

Now let's move on.

To living space.

Your apartment.

Not exactly the size of Buckingham Palace, is it? No. But then I didn't

down here to take custody of Prince Andrew.

I would like the record to show that that was said in a sarcastic manner.

Let me address a more important issue.

Mr. Wanamon, how long have you known this child?

Three days.

Three days, Your Honor?

Three days!

How could he have formed a close bond with her in just three days?

Your Honor, I can assure the state that a strong relationship has developed

between them.

Miss Mitchell, how long have you worked for the DCFS?

Well, um... Three months.

Three months, Your Honor.

How could we trust the judgment of a woman who's been with the department for

only three months?

You know something, lady?

You've managed to get on my nerves in just three minutes.

Let the record show that that was said in a threatening manner.

Miss Mitchell?

I think you've made a very serious mistake here.

You do?

Yes. It's obvious that you've become emotionally involved in this case.

Your job is to look at the overall picture, but you have flagrantly ignored

standard regulations and guidelines established for the selection of

foster parents.

Well, I think flagrantly is rather harsh.

Your Honor, I think we've gone over this enough.

Normally, the state will go along with recommendations made by the DCFS, but in

this case, we have severe objections.

I'm afraid I'm inclined to agree, so... Wait a minute.

Don't you care what I think?

Of course we are.

But there are certain considerations in this case that are too complicated for

you to understand right now.

Miss Mitchell.

Because so many of the guidelines we follow are not being met, I'm going to

that she be returned to the DCFS until an adequate home can be found for her.

Your Honor, I respectfully request that you take back your judgment.

Take back my judgment?

But nobody takes back their judgment.

Not even umpires.

His decision has been made. And you are wasting more of our valuable time.

Oh, put a lid on it, Lois.

Your Honor, I have evidence that I think has a bearing on this case.

It's a letter Punky gave me to give to Mr. Warnemont in case he was denied

custody.

And with the court's indulgence, I... I'd like her to read it now.

Okay, go ahead.

Randy, but it's private.

Yes, I know, but this is important.

Dear Henry,

if you read this, it's because they wouldn't let me stay with you. I was

that maybe after a while you might forget what I look like.

So I drew you a picture of me.

This is what I look like from the back.

I want to thank you for being so nice to me.

I was thinking, isn't it kind of weird that you were all alone and I was all

alone and now this whole big city we found each other?

Well, I want you to know that I'll never, ever, ever, ever forget you.

I love you.

You know, you were right before when you said I was emotionally involved.

But aren't emotions important?

And we're not here to put two inanimate objects together. This isn't to decide

whether an end table goes with a couch. These are real people.

And I feel that it is part of my job to see that people who want to be together

get to be together. And frankly, I think Punky Brewster and Henry Warnemeyer

should be together.

Now, Miss Mitchell, your argument is persuasive.

Still, the guidelines are not being met.

This is a highly unusual case.

Mr. Warnemont, are you prepared to go through the licensing procedures to

a foster parent?

Yes, I am.

I'm hereby remand in custody of Prunkey Brewster and Mr. Henry Warnemont.

This dog's eating me out of house and furniture.

I was thinking, now that we're going to be staying together, there's some things

we're going to need.

Oh? Yeah, Brandon needs a new ball, and I need some new toys and a swing set.

A swing set?

Oh, don't worry. I won't hog it all. You can use it, too.

You'll work it out.