Soldier’s Return – Little House on the Prairie TV Episode

44. SOLDIER’S RETURN
March 24, 1976

Ganville Whipple, the son of Mrs. Whipple, the town seamstress, returns home to Walnut Grove after serving in the Civil War. He is still haunted by memories of the war. His best friend, Roy, died when Ganville ran away and hid instead of fighting with the rest of the troops. When his best friends son, Roy Jr. sees him, he begins asking questions, which brings back haunting memories of leaving Roy Sr. on his deathbed. He begins giving music lessons, and gives Mary free lessons on his toy piano in exchange for her writing out music sheets for him. When Ganville later needs morphine, which he began taking in the war, Doc Baker refuses. Later that night he goes back and steals it. When he relives the experience of leaving Roy Sr., he overdoses on morphine.