1. Pilot  

First aired: 9/13/1979    Production Code: 001

Benson Dubois, the butler of Soap's Jessica Tate becomes aid to her cousin, Governor Gene Gatling. Benson develops a compromise between bridge construction and the preservation of beavers. His success lands him a trial offer as the governor's aide.

2. Trust Me  

First aired: 9/20/1979    Production Code: 004

Katie sneaks away to a rock concert over her father's objections, and Benson was assigned to enforce the prohibition. Benson, fearful of his failure, prepares to resign his position.

3. The President's Double  

First aired: 9/27/1979    Production Code: 006

Governor Gatling plans a reception dinner for African president Ukassi. An attempt on the President's life creates a strategic need for someone to impersonate him at the dinner. Benson is selected for the part.

4. Benson in Love  

First aired: 10/4/1979    Production Code: 005

Benson meets the attractive Francine Wade in the waiting room of the mansion. He asks her out, not knowing she is a State Senator.

5. Conflict of Interest  

First aired: 10/18/1979    Production Code: 009

The Governor faces a conflict between his duties as a father and his duties as a governor. An important investigation hearing comes up the same night that Gatling had promised Katie he would attend her school play. The Governor decides he has to attend the political meeting and has Benson attend the play.

6. The Layoff  

First aired: 10/25/1979    Production Code: 003

After Governor Gatling embarks on a budget-cutting campaign, he advises his staff that he will also reduce his own costs. Benson must decide which staff members to lay off. Katie resents Benson when he selects the sweet woman who lightens up everyone's day.

7. Snowbound  

First aired: 11/1/1979    Production Code: 010

Governor Gatling wants the staff to join him on his retreat to a snow cottage. Benson agrees when he learns that Kraus will not attend. Later Kraus changes her mind and Benson has to live with it. To make matters worse, the staff gets snowed in.

8. Jessica  

First aired: 11/8/1979    Production Code: 011

Jessica Tate visits and falls in love with the French Baron d'Arvenaux. A potential scandal arises when the Baron dies in his hotel room. Benson and Jessica team up to avert a scandal by relocating the Baron's body back to the mansion.

9. Don't Quote Me  

First aired: 11/22/1979    Production Code: 002

A bad remark about a senator gets aired and governor's administration is in trouble. A search ensues for the source of the leak.

10. War Stories  

First aired: 11/29/1979    Production Code: 008

Benson's old army buddy Eddie visits. Benson, unaware that Eddie is married, introduces him to single Marcy.

11. Ghost Story  

First aired: 12/6/1979    Production Code: 012

Very mysterious things happen in the Governor's mansion. Kraus panics concluding that the house is haunted. A seance reveals that the ghost was a 19th century governor who was murdered. The reason he has returned is to prevent Governor Gatling from naming a memorial street to honor the murderer.

12. Taylor's Bid  

First aired: 12/13/1979    Production Code: 013

Taylor decides to his position as advisor in order to run for a public office. The Governor then discovers his dependence on Taylor.

13. One Strike, You're Out  

First aired: 12/27/1979    Production Code: 007

The domestic workers demand more money and Benson promises to oblige. But Governor Gatling declines Benson's intervention. So a strike ensues, threatening a high-level dinner. Benson creatively manages the dinner so as to reveal what disaster would arise without the help.

14. Just Friends  

First aired: 1/3/1980    Production Code: 014

Governor Gatling works to persuade Howard Walker, the entrepreneur, to settle his new factory in his State. Benson subconsciously opposes this because he and Howard's wife had a love affair years ago.

15. Chain of Command  

First aired: 1/10/1980    Production Code: 015

The Governor gets sick and has to stay in bed. Ed Sherman, the Lieutenant Governor, plays the opportunist in order to advance the bill that Gatlling opposes, and eventually to become permanent Governor. Benson catches this and stops it.

16. Bugging the Governor  

First aired: 1/24/1980    Production Code: 016

Benson traps someone who is bugging the mansion. The culprit turns out to be Taylor's lover.

17. Kraus Affair  

First aired: 1/31/1980    Production Code: 017

Kraus falls for the butcher, but she lacks the self-confidence to ask him out.

18. Checkmate  

First aired: 2/7/1980    Production Code: 018

An 11-year-old Soviet is brought to the mansion for a professional chess tournament. The boy is homesick and wants to be out of the public eye. He sees Katie, who hides him in her room. A scandal erupts when the Soviets can't find him and accuse the US staff of kidnapping him. The Soviets then threaten war if the boy is not returned.

19. Cold Storage  

First aired: 2/28/1980    Production Code: 019

Benson and Kraus get locked in the basement together.

20. Old Man Gatlin'  

First aired: 3/6/1980    Production Code: 020

The Governor's loudmouth father comes to visit and wreaks havoc among the staff. Benson then gets so fed up with the arrogance and the idea of the father breathing down his son's back that he traps him in the kitchen. Benson supervises him until the Governor's speech is over.

21. Power Play  

First aired: 3/20/1980    Production Code: 021

A load of dead fish and sludge is delivered to the mansion by El Gato, a conservationist.

22. Takin' It to the Streets  

First aired: 3/27/1980    Production Code: 022

Wanting to know how the "little people" really feel about politics and their real needs, Governor Gatling and Benson visit a mangy bar to talk to the constituents but land in trouble when a man picks a fight with Gatling at the bar, not knowing who he is.

23. The Army Wants You  

First aired: 5/1/1980    Production Code: 023

Benson becomes suspicious during an evaluation. A confusion about records from the Korean War leads to concerns about Benson's loyalties.

24. Marcy's Vacation  

First aired: 5/8/1980    Production Code: 024

Marcy is going on vacation and she gets worried that Lorraine, her replacement, may do a better job than she does and retain the position permanently.