Punky Brewster (1984) s02e15 Episode Script

Maybe the world is blind or just a little unkind, don't know.
Seems you can't be sure of anything anymore, although-- you may be lonely and then one day you're smiling again.
Every time I turn around, I see the girl who turns my world around standing there.
Every time I turn around, her spirit's lifting me right off the ground.
What's gonna be? Guess we'll just wait and see.
-Girls, when we sew all these granny squares together, we'll have a beautiful afghan.
Let's see how you're doing.
-I've got a lopsided granny.
-My granny's got no middle.
-Don't worry, girls.
They'll make good pot holders.
-But what about the afghan? -We'll buy an electric blanket.
-Good evening, ladies.
- Girls.
Quick! Run for cover! We're having a buffalo stampede! -I don't see the humor here.
This hat represents 15 years of loyal membership in the Benevolent Order of Buffalo.
I'm proud to be a BOB.
It's a dignified and responsible organization.
-It's certainly responsible for the biggest belly laugh I've ever had.
-Let's leave your big belly out of this.
Tell me, Punky, do you think I look ridiculous? - Do I have to tell the truth or can I fib? -Let me put it this way-- do you want this package I picked up for you or shall I return it to the post office? -Henry, I love that hat.
What package? -This one.
It's from Sandy's Hobby and Game Shop.
Seems you won a prize.
-Remember, Cherie? We put our names in the fishbowl.
-It's the tea set, Punky.
You've won the tea set.
-Yay! -Calm down, you monkey.
-Wait till you see it, Grandma.
-It's so beautiful.
It's got flowers and butterflies and-- mag wheels? No, it's a radio-controlled car.
-Now, why would they send a racing car to a nine-year-old girl? "Congratulations, your name has been selected from hundreds of other boys.
" Aha, evidently they thought Punky was a boy's name.
Don't open it.
If you do, they won't take it back.
-But how will I know if I want to keep it or not? -Punky, you don't want to keep it.
It's for boys.
-Why? It doesn't say "boys only" on the box.
-This car has to be assembled.
There are more than 100 pieces in there.
You'd never be able to put it together.
-You mean because I'm a girl? -Well, yes, in a manner of speaking.
-Buffalo bull.
This is Punky's car.
Let her build it.
-Thanks, Mrs.
Johnson.
I don't know why, but I really feel like I can build this car.
-That may be, but as we say to every brand new BOB, "It's a wise buffalo who walks cautiously in unknown pastures.
" -Hello, Mr.
Warnimont.
Where's Punky? -Probably in her room, working on that model car.
She's been at it for days.
I'm just hoping that she'll emerge before it's too late for her to find a husband.
-I offered to build it for her, but she said it wouldn't be the same.
-Course it wouldn't.
If I built it, it would run.
-Hi.
I finally finished it.
What do you think? -I think I can't believe it.
It runs.
-Why, Punky, it does run.
Look, Allen-- it runs.
-Of course it runs, Henry.
That's what it's supposed to do.
-This is extraordinary, Punky.
I'm very proud of you.
I've got to get my camera.
I must have a picture of my little grease monkey.
-Man, compared to this, my car looks like a tin can on retreads.
Great job, Punky.
-Thanks, Allen.
-I bet this baby would burn rubber on a regulation track.
Hey, can I borrow this to race at Mr.
Matzie's? -Who's Mr.
Matzie? -He's Richmond's dad.
Built a great track for the guys.
They've got a mud jump and a sand pit and hairpin curves.
-Wow, sounds awesome.
-It is.
Can I borrow your car? -No way.
I want to race it myself.
-Sorry, Punky.
No girls allowed.
Track's just for us guys.
-Just for guys? Wait a minute, I'm a girl and I built this car with girl hands and a girl brain.
So kick it in gear, Allen.
We're going to that track right now.
-Women.
-Behind the corner.
-Come on.
Nobody can beat Richmond! All right.
-Come on, keep the throttle steady, Richmond.
Close him out.
No way, come on.
Close him out! All right! All right! -All right.
-You did that on purpose.
-Yeah, and I always win on purpose.
-Hey, hey, hey.
Fellas, fellas, it's a race.
Somebody wins and somebody loses.
Rememeber, Bobby, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
-Bok! Bok bok bok bok bok bok! - Some guys can't take the heat, you know? Great race, son.
-Thanks, dad.
-Hi.
-Hi, guy.
-Hey there, Allen.
-Everybody, I want you to meet Punky Brewster.
Punky, this is Mr.
Matzie and the guys.
-Hi, guys.
-Well, hello, little lady.
What you got there, a, sewing kit? -No, this is my car.
I built it myself and I'd like to race it.
-That's real nice, honey, and I'm sure it's a monster machine, but we don't have any powderpuff events here.
-Allen, are you nuts, bringing her here? Can't you go anywhere without your little girlfriends? - I didn't want her to come, but you know women.
Nag, nag, nag.
-Yeah? Well, this ain't no tea party, so get her out of here before she hurts herself.
-She just wanted to show you her car.
You ought to see it.
It really cooks.
-So does Betty Crocker, but you don't see her here.
-Listen, if you just give me a chance-- -Nothing personal, honey, but maybe you should go home and play with your dolls.
-Yeah, right.
Come on, guys.
Let's go.
-Allen, can't you do something? -Yeah, loan me your car and I could win the race.
-Allen.
-What? -Eat my dust.
And then he told me to go home and play with my dolls.
He wouldn't even look at my car.
Not a very diplomatic approach.
-That's what I say.
So let's go.
-Go? Where? -Back to the track.
You are gonna stand up for me, right? -Punky, sit down.
Did I ever tell you the Minerva Underwood story? -No, but you can tell me about it on the way to Mr.
Matzie's.
-Minerva Underwood was the first, last, and only female ever admitted into my lodge.
- It's a Buffalo story.
-We bison tried to explain-- no cows allowed.
Minerva was determined.
She wrote letters, she got up a petition, threatened a lawsuit.
Finally, we settled out of court and let her join.
-What a neat story.
Let's go.
-Buffalo life wasn't easy on Minerva.
Poor Minerva turned in her tail at the second meeting and we never saw her again.
I understood what she was trying to do, but she only ended up hurting herself.
-Gee, that's too bad.
Now will you take me to the track? -The point is, Punky, you can drive that internal car anywhere.
Why must you go to the one place where you're not wanted? -Because it's wrong of them to keep me out, and I want you to tell them that.
-I can't tell them that, Punky.
I think they're right.
Come on in, it's open.
-Hi, Henry.
Hi, Mike.
- Something smells good.
-We're having spaghetti bow ties, Punky's favorite.
-Great.
Hey, I brought dessert.
-Thanks.
-Where's Punky? -She's busy sulking in her room.
- She's still upset about that car business? A matter of fact, she asked me to speak to you about that.
-That child to be so stubborn.
Typical female.
-Really? I didn't know that there was such a thing.
-She cannot resist a challenge.
She only wants to be there because she can't.
-She put a lot of hard work into making that car.
She just wants to race it on a regulation track.
-That's not the point.
She's a little girl.
I don't want her hanging out with a bunch of ruffians at a racetrack.
-These are boys her own age, Henry, not the Hell's Angels.
-Believe it or not, I was a nine-year-old boy once.
I know what they're like.
-Yeah, but that's been a while.
Boys don't wear knickers and garters anymore.
-And that's another thing.
Punky's looked like a tomboy long enough.
It's high time she dressed and acted like a girl.
-Now hold on, Henry.
Hold on.
What if Sally Ride's father felt the same way? There would be no women in space.
Or what about Joan of Arc's dad? No women in the army.
Or Jane Goodall's father? No women in the jungle-- and that's the one that keeps me awake all night.
Henry, without women like that, this world would be a very place for us guys.
-Mike, I have the highest respect for Sally, Joan, and Jane.
However, it's Punky I'm trying to raise.
-And you're doing a commendable job, but you must admit that Punky's being unfairly discriminated against.
-Come on, Mike.
She'll forget about the whole thing in a week or two.
-I don't think so, Henry.
She wants you to stand up for her rights.
-And I happen to believe that it's a boy's right to pursue his activities without girls.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Now, now, now back up for a second, Henry.
Back up.
Are you saying if Punky was a boy and built that same car, that you'd stand up for her? -But she's not a boy and she's not going to hang around a racetrack, and that's final.
Now sit down and let's enjoy this delicious dinner.
-Gee, it doesn't seem fair having this much fun without Punky.
Punky! Punky! -Hi, Mike.
How'd it go? -Well, I got some good news and I got bad news.
-What's the good news? -Well, the good news is that we're having spaghetti bow ties for dinner and fudge brownies for dessert.
-Don't tell me-- the bad news is we're eating with a buffalo that won't take me to the racetrack.
-I'm sorry, Punky, but I tried to change his mind, but he's convinced that this racing stuff is only for boys Now wash up and let's go chew some bow ties.
Brandon.
Brandon, don't chew on Punky's sock.
Here, chew on Henry's.
-Richmond, tighten up that resistor plate.
And get it right this time? -Sure, dad.
Hey, no borrowing tools.
Give it back.
Punky, are you sure this is gonna work? No, but it's worth a shot.
Just remember, act like a boy, OK? OK.
-Hey guys, what's happening? This track doesn't looks so hot.
We'll blow their doors off and be home in time to catch the hockey game.
-Yeah, man.
-Hey, guys.
What can we do for ya? -I'm Bucky Warnimont and this is Charlie Johnson.
We want to race.
-Pleased to meet ya, Bucky.
Charlie.
-Yeah, man.
- So, how'd you boys hear about us? -I don't know.
Maybe in the locker room or the pool hall or one of those guy places we hang out.
Right, Chuck? -Yeah, Buck.
-Welcome aboard, fellas.
Hey guys, say hello to Bucky and Charlie.
-Hey, Bucky.
-Hey, Charlie.
-Hey, Charlie.
-Hey there, Bucky.
Nice car.
-Thanks.
-OK, speed demons.
Your attention please.
Here it is.
This is what it's all about, boys-- the thrill of victory.
-Hi, guys.
-And here comes the agony of defeat.
-Sorry I'm late.
Hey Richmond, don't put your name on the trophy yet.
This could be the day I cream you.
-Take it easy, Allen.
You're scaring the new kids.
Allen, meet, - what are you names again? Chucky and Ducky? -It's Bucky and Charlie.
You got a problem with that, Richmond? -No, just asking.
Say, Bucky, you look kind of familiar.
Don't I k-know you from somewhere? -You ever fight in the Golden Gloves? -No.
-Your little league make it to the state finals? -No.
-Into karate? -No.
-Then ya don't know me.
-Hey, Bucky, you ready to race? -Sure I am.
-Come on, guys.
Get set up for the main event.
Let's go.
-Hey, let me see that car.
Punky! -Shh.
If Mr.
Matzie finds out, he's gonna blow a gasket.
-Be cool.
Just think of this as one small step for racing and one giant joke on Richmond when I win.
-Hey fella, you know you're hanging around with a girl? -Attention drivers, 20 seconds to start.
-20 seconds? -Hey Allen, you think that Mickey Mouse job of yours will even finish one lap? -Don't worry about me, big shot.
Just try playing by the rules this time.
-Aw, rules are for checkers.
No guts, no glory.
That's my motto.
-Drivers ready? Aw, come on.
-Allen! -Get with it, Allen, OK? Come on.
-What's the matter, you nervous? -Aw, shut up and get ready.
-I was born ready.
-It's another girl.
Hey dad, we're being invaded by women.
-No, I just want a chance, that's all.
-No kidding.
Well, you're quite a gutsy little lady.
Too bad you're disqualified.
-And why, may I ask, is she disqualified? -Henry, you came after all.
-Say, who are you? Her old lady in disguise? -I, sir, am her father.
-Well then, you know why she doesn't qualify.
She's a girl.
-Buffalo bull.
-What? -I'm ashamed to admit it, but I used to be just as big a jerk as you.
-Hey.
-I used to think that there were girl activities and boy activities.
Now I realize how important this is to Punky and I don't want my daughter to grow up thinking there are certain things she cannot do because of her sex.
Now, she built this car, it qualifies, and I'm here to stand up for her right to race it.
-All right, Henry.
You've come a long way, baby.
-Disqualify her, dad.
Those are the rules.
-What's the matter, Richmond? Scared you'll be beat by a girl? -Bok bok bok bok bok bok, bok bok bok bok bok bok.
-I'll show you who's scared.
Count 'em down, Dad.
-All right.
-That's more like it.
-Gentlemen-- and lady, get ready, get set, go! They're off! Super Jam takes lead over the jump.
Hornet end-overs, but recovers nicely.
Jockey for first position.
Fast Attack coming up.
Nice cornering.
Punky takes the lead.
One lap down.
Richmond takes the lead-- surprise, surprise.
Punky's coming up fast.
It's a wide open race.
Get with it, Richmond.
Here she comes.
Punky takes the lead on the jump.
Open her up, Richmond.
Not too wide.
All right.
Hey, nice move.
Richmond's in the lead.
Full throttle, Richmond.
You're almost home.
Whoa! Tough luck for the Fast Attack.
Better luck next time.
The Bread Box is out.
Nice wheelie, Allen.
Watch out on the wall.
Too late.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Last lap.
And Richmond still holds the lead, thank god.
But Punky's closing in.
Coming over the bumps, it's a very close race.
And Richmond loses! -Nice going, lug nut.
-Henry, I won! I did it! - You certainly did, Punky.
I'm proud of you, young lady.
-Thanks for being here to stick up for me, Henry.
-Here you go, kid.
You ran a tight race, so, I guess this is yours.
-Thanks.
This'll look great on the shelf right next to my dolls.