"Norky's Upbringing," also known as "Bringing Up Norky," marks the nineteenth installment in the second season of the animated series Ewoks. This episode, penned by Bob Carrau and Earl Kress and brought to life under the direction of Dale Schott, was initially broadcasted on ABC on November 22 of 1986.
The story commences with a glimpse of two rodent gliders soaring above Bright Tree Village. Norky's mother and father express their gratitude to Shodu Warrick for her willingness to supervise their son, Norky, during their absence. Shodu responds that she is always happy to help. However, Wicket is displeased, as Norky's presence invariably leads to mischief. Norky attempts to endear himself to Shodu by presenting her with flowers.
Before Norky's parents depart, Wicket informs his mother, Shodu, that they are down to their last cookies. Shodu permits them to each have one but cautions them to reserve the remaining cookies for dinner. Norky's father urges his son to behave himself. Norky pledges to do so. Even before his parents had left, he set up Wicket and Teebo by making it appear as if they had consumed all the cookies, when, in reality, he had concealed them within his pouch.
As a consequence, Shodu instructed Wicket to request acorn paste from Kneesaa so they could bake more cookies. Teebo acknowledges that Wicket's concerns were valid. Later on, Norky accompanies Wicket on his visit to Kneesaa, who is in the process of grooming the bordok named Baga. Kneesaa grants them permission to borrow acorn paste but advises them to maintain silence due to a warrior council meeting taking place at the Royal Hut. Wicket instructs Norky to remain put, but Norky entices Baga into the Royal Hut with a cookie. Baga causes chaos, and Wicket finds himself in a wagon filled with hay. Chief Chirpa scolds his daughter for allowing Baga to disrupt the meeting. Norky attempts to gain Chirpa's favor by offering to care for the bordok.
Subsequently, Norky deceives Latara into falling into a mud puddle by suggesting that he assist her in crossing it. Shortly thereafter, Shodu arrives with Kneesaa and Teebo. Norky informs Shodu that Latara was not paying attention and stumbled into the mud puddle. Shodu directs Latara to clean herself up. Norky endears himself to Shodu and inquires if he can extend his stay. Due to Norky's antics, Wicket and his companions resolve to take action against him.
Within Logray's dwelling, the quartet amused themselves with the shaman's globe, causing it to inflate and roll around the space. Following their brief escapade, the four Ewoks deliberated on where to send Norky. Latara suggested the Lightning Forest, where he would be burned, while Teebo proposed the Molten Mountains. Kneesaa emphasized that their intention was not to harm Norky but rather to teach him a lesson. She proposed the Vacant Valley, which was nearby. Later, Latara complained about having to use her hang glider to trick Norky. They created a fake "treasure" map. Overhearing their conversation, Norky decided to seize the map and the hang glider. Norky took the bait and flew off.
As time went on, Kneesaa began to feel remorseful about their plan. Wicket reassured Kneesaa that Norky would not be in any genuine danger. However, Master Logray informed Teebo that he had misplaced his map of the Vacant Valley. Logray explained that, every hundred seasons, large holes materialized in the valley, drawing everything underground. Logray expressed his desire to observe this phenomenon. Teebo claimed to know the map's location, but Wicket insisted that he and his friends would have to retrieve it.
Meanwhile, Norky landed his hang glider in the Vacant Valley. While searching for treasure, his glider disappeared into a sinkhole. More sinkholes started to emerge. Wicket and his friends journeyed to the Vacant Valley in two hang gliders. Latara realized that the sinking had already commenced when her hang glider started sinking into the ground. Taking charge, Wicket instructed Kneesaa and Latara to conduct a search from the air while he and Teebo proceeded on foot. Teebo transformed several vines into magic shoes to aid them in avoiding being sucked underground.
As the Ewoks searched both on the ground and in the air, Teebo questioned whether they would ever locate Norky. They eventually found Norky, but he remained determined to find the treasure. After retrieving Norky, Wicket had to convince the boy that there was no treasure and that they had attempted to get rid of him because he was driving them crazy and causing them trouble. When Norky inquired why they had come after him, Wicket explained that they never intended for any harm to befall him because he was still their friend. Norky expressed his belief that he did not have any friends.
The three boys nearly perished when they fell into a large sinkhole. Teebo almost fell, but Norky assisted him. Shortly thereafter, Kneesaa and Latara arrived with their hang gliders. The trio lost their grip, but Kneesa and Latara tied their hang gliders together and then dropped a long rope to Wicket, Teebo, and Norky. Norky managed to use his tail to hold on to the rope while he pulled Wicket and Teebo to safety, ensuring that everyone escaped unharmed.
Upon returning to Bright Tree Village, Norky apologized to Wicket for being a "lerdo." Wicket invited the newly humbled Norky to return in the future. When Norky's parents arrived, Norky's mother inquired of Shodu whether he had caused any trouble. Shodu assured her that Norky had been a delight. Wicket and Norky shared a hearty laugh, much to the confusion of the adults.
A continuity error is present in the episode; While Princess Kneesaa and Latara were aboard their hang gliders, most of the scenes depict the pair wearing their glider's belts, but some scenes show Kneesaa without her belt, or possibly wearing a hidden one.