02x09 - The Search

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

♪ Maybe the world is blind

♪ Or just a little unkind

♪ Don't know

♪ Seems you can't be sure

♪ Of anything anymore

♪ Although

♪ You maybe 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 ♪♪

[school bell rings]

Hey, hold on there.

Sorry, Mrs. Rutledge.
I'm late for class.

- What's you name?
- Punky Brewster.

Punky Brewster?

Strange name.

Okay, g*ng,
take out your health books

and turn to page .

Look, Mike!

There's a kangaroo
sitting on top of the flagpole.

No, I don't see any kangaroo.

Just Punky sneakin' in late.

Okay, now that
we're all here...

let's get to work.

The subject for today is health.

Cherie, would you please
read out loud

the top of page .

"Your family and you.

"Have you ever thought
about the people

who are related to you?

The study of the history
of the family

is called Gene...

Gena... Genalola..."

No. Genealogy.

Who can tell me
what a relative is?

People in your family.

Your parents, and brothers,
and sisters...

- Right, now--
- Aunts and uncles.

- Nieces, nephews.
- Right--

Grandparents, great
grandparents, great, great...

Shh. That's enough, Margaux.

Thank you.

How many of you
have a lot of relatives?

Okay! Now who can tell me
what this is?

- A family tree!
- Exactly.

And with a family tree,
you can trace your heritage.

I know all about my heritage.

We Kramers are
thecreme de la creme

of Chicago society.

[all booing]

Peasants.

How many of you have been
to a family reunion?

Jason?

We had a family reunion
in Japan.

We Kramers gather every summer

at the Hotel De Paris
in Monaco.

We Andersons go
to Bernie's Bowling Alley

in Peoria.

My grandpa
is the original Bernie.

My grandma and I go to
a family barbeque every year.

I like to watch my Uncle Eddie
open pop bottles with his teeth.

Now, that's what I call
family entertainment.

Class, your homework assignment
for tonight

is to draw
your own family tree.

In fact, make it
a family project

and get your mother
and father to help.

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

Brandon, I've been looking
for one stupid piece

of this stupid puzzle for...

almost an hour now.

The only possible explanation
is that it's missing.

[comical music]

Alright.
Who's in there?

[sighs]

Punky... you okay?

I'm fine.

Are you sure?
Nothing wrong?

You didn't eat
your chocolate pudding tonight.

You just drew monkey faces in it
with your spoon.

I like to draw
monkey pudding faces.

Come on. Let's talk.

What's bugging you?

I miss my mom.

[mellow music]

Punky...

it's natural for you
to miss your mom.

You love your mother.

And she's not with you.

[sighs]

Right now, I miss her
an extra lot.

Maybe it would help
if you thought of all

the nice memories
you have of her.

Memories aren't enough, Henry.

You can't touch a memory.

Can't hug or kiss a memory.

Can't sit on a memory's lap.

Memories don't even have laps.

I know I sound like
a little baby, Henry...

but I want my mommy.

Oh, I know you do, honey.
I know...

[sniffles]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

Hello, up there.

[imitating echoes]
There, there, there, there...

- Hi, Mike!
- You want some company?

- Sure, come on up.
- Alright.

- Just watch out for the...
- Argh!

Loose board.

[panting]

Is the password
still chicken guts?

No, this week, it's hairball.

What're you doing here, Mike?

Well, Henry called me over.
He's worried about you.

He's always worried
about something.

I think the worry part
of his brain is over developed.

Well, he says that you've been
feeling depressed.

Not really.

Then give me a great big smile.

Tsk.

Maybe I am
a little bit depressed.

Punky...

did I hurt your feelings
when I was talking about

families in school?

Did it make you dwell
on the fact

that you were abandoned
by your mother?

It's not your fault, Mike.

It just hurts me 'cause

everybody has a family
except me.

I know what that feels like.

- You do?
- Yeah.

I was put up for adoption

when I was
only a few days old.

You were?

Yeah.

This note was pinned
to my clothes.

"The hot tub club --"

Uh, wrong note.
[chuckles]

Uh...

Here-- here's the right note.

"Dear Sirs, this is my son,
Michael Fulton.

I'd like to keep him,
but I just can't.

Please find him
a good home."

[mellow music]

She didn't sign it.

Right.

I don't even know
what my mother looks like.

I've pictured her
in my mind, though.

She's a dead ringer
for Lena Horne.

That's where
I get my good looks.

My mom was real beautiful too.

She had long brown hair.

And sometimes,
she'd let me brush it.

Punky, I asked Henry
if he would mind

if you and I worked
on a project together.

He thought it was a great idea.

In fact, he even agreed to help.

Really?
What is it?

What if you and I...

tried to find our moms?

- Do you really think we could?
- We could try.

- Hey, let's go for it.
- Alright.

[instrumental music]

Hey, Brandon!
Guess what?

Mike and I are gonna
try to find our moms.

[barks]

You know, Henry, I thought
we could find our moms

if we advertise.

Newspapers, billboards,
sky writing... And get this.

We hire the Goodyear Blimp
to flyover The Super Bowl.

Punky, it's not gonna be
that easy.

Or that expensive.

Then how are we gonna
find our moms?

Well, it'll be like
piecing together

parts of a puzzle.

[Brandon barks]

We'll just have to make a list
of all the facts

that we know about our mothers.

Right.

Each one of those facts
is a potential clue.

And we're gonna search
for those clues

in all kinds of records.

I've started a list here.

- Could I see it?
- Wipe you hands first.

"Birth records, marriage
records, hospital records..."

Boy, we've really got
our work cut out for us.

Yeah, but it's a special type
of work.

- Team work!
- That's right.

We're all in this together.

All for one...

and one for all.

Hey!

Punky, do we have anymore
of that pizza?

Yeah, right there.
Under the death records.

[sighs]

Where?
I don't see it.

It was there last night.

Ah, forget it.

When Mike gets here,
we'll take a break

and go out to eat.

Mike's not coming tonight.

- He's at a faculty meeting.
- Hmm...

Say, we're doing pretty good,
aren't we?

Not bad for six weeks of work.

Yeah. So far, I know all
the places my mom doesn't work.

All the cities
she doesn't live in.

All the properties
she doesn't own.

Are you getting discouraged?

No, because I also know all the
hospitals where she isn't sick.

Hmm.

Who are you calling?

Well, I've located a woman
who gave birth

the night Mike was born
at the same hospital.

I'm hoping she can give me
some information

about the other mothers
who were

in the maternity ward
that night.

Alright, lady,
give us a clue.

Hello, is this
Louis Collins?

My name is Henry Warnimont.

I was wondering if you could
answer a few questions.

Uh, was your maiden name Baker?

It was?

And did you give birth
to a baby boy

on November rd,

at County General Hospital?

Oh, ma'am. Oh, please,
don't get upset.

No... No, uh, this has nothing
to do with blackmail.

I'm just trying to help a friend
locate his natural mother.

His name is Mike Fulton.

[intense music]

What?
I had no idea, when I--

Oh, please, ma'am,
if you'll hear me out.

No, I'm, I'm terribly sorry,
but if you're...

If you'll just...

What happened?

I found Mike's mother.

You have?

She refuses to see him.

[music continues]

How do I tell Mike...

that I've ruined his only chance
to speak to his mother?

You let me tell him.

Why, Punky?

Because the same thing
could happen to me.

And I think I know exactly
what Mike would do.

[music continues]

[bell rings]

Good afternoon, ma'am.

I'm Punky Brewster
and I'm selling delicious candy

for my school band.

Are you?
Well, come on in dear.

I'll get my pocket book.

My daughter was in the band
when she was in school.

Daughter? Uh,
you have a daughter?

Mm-hmm. She's grown up now.

But she used to sell candy
just like you.

Y-- you have a son too?

Mm-hmm. Tell me...

What instrument
do you play?

The piano.

In the band?

Did I say piano?
I meant tuba.

I'm getting them confused
all the time.

Tuba, yeah, I play the tuba.

You don't seem big enough
to carry a tuba.

Well, I don't
actually carry it.

They sort of get rolling
down the field

I jump inside,
hang on and blow.

[whistles]

Oh, really?

Yes, it's very exciting.

You should see it sometime.

Say, this is a real
nice place you've got.

Punky, I'm not going
to give you any money.

Good, I couldn't take it.

I don't have any candy
to sell.

Child, what are you up to?

I'm here to talk to you
about Mike Fulton.

What?

He's your son
that's not on the mantle.

I don't know
what you're talking about

and I think
it's time for you to go.

Please. All he wants
to do is see you.

Don't you wanna see him too?
He's real cute.

They promised me they'd keep
those records confidential.

Why did he send you here?

He doesn't know I'm here.

He doesn't even know
you're here.

It was my foster dad, Henry,
that you talked to.

He's helping Mike and me
find our moms.

Who is Mike to you?

He's my fourth grade teacher.

And my friend.

Well, Punky,
I'm very busy right now.

I'm afraid
you're going to have to go.

He's a teacher?

Yeah, the best
in the whole school.

You'd really be
proud of him...

if you just went to see him.

Oh. Well, I can't.

Oh, my husband doesn't know
I had a child before we met.

Neither do my children.

I bet they'd be real happy
to have a new relative.

Oh, I can't tell them
after all these years.

Oh, look, you don't understand
how I feel.

But I understand
how Mike feels.

I don't know
where my mom is either.

Really?

I wish with all my heart
that I could see my mom again.

If I could just see her
one more time...

I'd make that moment
last for ever.

[instrumental music]

Hi. Can I help you, ma'am?

I was looking for a teacher.

Well, uh, what teacher
are you looking for?

Michael Fulton.

Well, you're in luck,
'cause you found him.

So I have.

Um, what can I do for you?

I'm here about my son.

Oh, i-- is, is he in this class?

Yes, he is.

And I have something rather
startling to tell him

that I don't know
how to go about it.

[chuckles]

Well, you know,
children can be a lot more

understanding than we think.

I suggest that you tell him as
simply and honestly as possible.

Now, what's your
little boy's name?

Michael Fulton.

[instrumental music]

My name is Louis Collins.

I'm your mother.

[sighs]

Wow!

Gee.
[chuckles]

You know what?
It's-- it's nice to meet you.

Wow.

You know, I've-- I've been
looking all over for you.

And here you are.

Wow!

How did you find me?

You can thank your
little friend, Punky Brewster.

Punky?

Wow. Isn't she something else?

She certainly thinks
the world of you.

- Let me look at you.
- Oh, yeah. Sure.

You're so handsome.

And so tall.

Especially when you
stand up straight.

I was always tall.

I've been this tall
since I was twelve.

The guys at Finster, they used
to call me Too-Tall-Fulton.

Those guys.
[chuckles]

- Finster?
- Yeah.

Finster Hall.

That's the orphanage
where I grew up.

Michael...

I was years old
when you were born.

I wasn't married.

And your father split the minute
he found out I was pregnant.

I couldn't
raise a child.

- I--
- Hey!

You're here now.

And that's all that matters.

It all seems so long ago.

I'm married now.

And I have a family.

Really?

And you have
a half brother and sister.

- I do?
- Mm-hmm.

Alison is-- is
a computer analyst.

And David is the PE coach
at Central High School.

N-- no, kidding. Y-- you mean
that we both became teachers?

And you both have
your grandfather's eyes.

[instrumental music]

I got a family.

I actually got a family.

Mom?

I've been waiting to say
that all my life.

[music continues]

Henry: Punky, lights out.
It's bed time.

Okay, Henry.
Let me just say my prayers.

Hi, God.
It's me, Punky.

Thanks for getting Mike
and his mom back together.

Did you know
he's having dinner with her

and his new family tonight?

Please don't let
anything burn.

And if you're not too busy,
could you help me find my mom?

She's been gone so long.

I think she really needs your
help to find her way back to me.

[instrumental music]

You know, in school we learnt

that a family is someone
that you love

and share your life with.

Thanks for sending me Henry.

He's the best family
I ever had.

[barks]

[theme music]