Stephanie Falls, age eight, spends a weekend with her doting grandparents along with her Aunt Helen, who is recovering from a nervous breakdown after dropping out of economics graduate school. Trapped in a mansion full of creepy artifacts and unappreciated Native American art with a depressed aunt, Stephanie plays with everything she sees, breaking and mutilating quite a few objects. An excursion to march in a mountain man parade ends badly for Grandpa Drummond when Stephanie torments an important parade organizer. Despite her appalling behavior, Stephanie's antics inspire Aunt Helen to begin life anew with zeal and confidence.