asks Selma to leave with him, but she turns him down. In Chicago, James Claffin's daughter Ginny (Mary Astor) is visiting after finishing school back East and meets Orin Jr. They marry in 1879. When her father dies in 1881, Ginny is distraught to see that everyone at the funeral is from the stockyard business, with no other friends or family present. Other Cattle Businessmen are complaining that Orin Nordholm is too ruthless of a businessman as he is always experimenting and making money every way possible. They pressure Orin Jr.'s lender not to renew his note. Orin Jr. tells the bank to invest in the invention rather than renew note. Nordholm Co is working on invention to move frozen beef. Rather than having to always transport live cattle. Orin Jr. spent all his money into trying to make the invention. In a throwaway line, Fred - the secretary says, "If only we could put ice boxes on wheels." Orin later has an epiphany, repeating the phrase "ice boxes on wheels". 1893 Nordhold now lives in a palatial estate with Ginny and their children. At dinner, Orin Jr. is upset that his mother sent a letter that she will not visit. He laments that his mother lives all alone on a farm in South Dakota. Orin and Ginny get into fight. First about his mother, but subsequently make up, only to then get into fight about their children visiting stockyards. Ginny has a breakdown about meat and the stock yards. A distraught Orin chases after Ginny who locks herself in their bedroom, before spotting his sons exchanging money with their butler. 1904 Ginny is excited the Randolph Clintons from New York will be visiting (one of the oldest families from the East). Orin Jr. is ornery that they are trying to take his company away. He also does not want to spend money on a lavish party. Richard and John are now grown, and Ginny wants Richard to marry Jennifer Clinton. John speaks with English accent after attending Oxford and begs everyone for money. Ginny makes huge announcement at party. She claims her husband Orin Nordholm is retiring and establishing an art gallery. Businessmen begin dumping shares in Nordholm and Co. Chicago. An upset Orin Rages against Wall Street and wants the family to stay in Chicago in a speech akin to his mother's. Virginia goes unconscious. Orin is informed