by Hal Erickson
synopsis
The title character in the May 13, 1962 Bonanza episode "The Mountain Girl" is Trudy Harker, played by Nina Shipman. Raised in the hills by her reclusive grandfather Seth (Will Wright), Trudy is left in Joe Cartwright's care when Seth dies. Honoring a promise to the girl's late grandfather, Joe is determined to transform the hoydenish Trudy into a "lady", so that she can move into the San Francisco mansion of her other grandfather, wealthy Josiah Harker (Carl Benton Reid). Others in the cast include Warren Oates as Paul and Nancy Hadley as Stephanie. Originally shown on May 13, 1962, "The Mountain Girl" was written by John Furia Jr..
