Little House on the Prairie Television Series
Season Four (1977-1978)

69. MY ELLEN
September 26, 1977

One hot day after school, Laura and Mary invite one of their friends, Ellen, to go swimming. While playing hide and seek from the boys, Ellen is swept under the water by the current, and she drowns. Laura feels very guilty, so one afternoon, she decides to take flowers to Ellen's mother Eloise. Eloise has been in denial about the whole death and she thinks that Laura is Ellen, so she takes her in and locks her in the basement for days, pretending that Laura is Ellen, such as making her call her "ma". It is not until Eloise goes to the store to buy a birthday present for "Ellen" that Laura is found, and Eloise starts to realize the death.