Bagpuss

Emily brings in a bottle containing pieces of wood. Professor Yaffle says that it is a ship in a bottle, Bagpuss wonders where such a ship would sail. Bagpuss then tells a story about mermaids which magically repairs the ship.

Emily brings a very dirty old rag into the shop which Professor Yaffle can see no value to. The mice clean it and reveal a picture of an owl with the word Athens beneath it. Madeline tells the story of The Owls of Athens.

Emily brings into the shop a collection of ornamental enamel pieces. The toys think these are a cat, a mouse and a bird at first. Gabriel decides they are the necklace of a frog princess who didn't like any prince so kissed a frog.

Emily brings Bagpuss and friends a single ballet shoe. After Yaffle wonders what use it could be, the mice demonstrate it makes a nice boat.

Emily's thing is said by Bagpuss to be a Hamish, a small soft Scottish animal with a voice like Bagpipes. Yaffle and the Mice believe it to be a porcupine without quills and sing to it to encourage it to grow quills. Finally, Madeleine reveals that it is actually a pin cushion.

Bagpuss and his friends learn of a Chinese wise man, his friends the turtles and his love of solitude.