a rib roast since 1948–Opie starts to rethink his attitude toward teachers. When Connie tells Opie that Joe will stay if he gets the promotion, Opie lies to the Dean, telling him his son plans to leave at end of term. The promotion goes to another man, who calls Joe to share the news. It looks as if Opie has won, but Spangenberg storms in, begging Opie to make up the losses of the other butchers. Joe is angry, but Connie defends Opie for putting meat on their table. They agree to go to the ranch, The next morning a group of students comes with a going away present. One of them, a football player, gives an eloquent speech thanking Joe, who is touched—and puzzled. They just decided. The students tell how they went to the Dean, to complain. He told them he would have given the job to Joe, but Opie said his son was leaving. Joe tells his students that he and Connie will be there until they are retired. Opie packs to leave. At a special meeting, the Dean announces a generous anonymous endowment that will fund $1,000 a year in raises for all the teachers. Joe is furious. He knows Opie is behind it. The Dean tries to calm him, speaking seriously about the difference that $1,000 ($10,000 today) can make in the life of a family: “the difference between living in dignity and living on the ragged edge…It can turn a man sour. It can make him small, and petty, and mean. I know.” Joe arrives at the train station, ready for a fight, as Opie's train is boarding. Opie tells Joe that he set up the endowment after seeing what happened during the meat price war. He was horrified that people as important as teachers were treating meat like pure gold. Yes, he has changed. It took some time. The train leaves. Cut to the ranch. Opie goes to welcome Joe, Connie and his grandson, Opie T. (for, T-bone.) Bedloe, here for their regular summer vacation at the ranch. “I came along just in time,” Opie says. “Your name might have been Sardine.” Cast Van Johnson as Joe Bedloe Janet Leigh as Connie Bedloe Louis Calhern as Opie Bedloe Walter Slezak as Emil Spangenberg, Butcher Gene Lockhart as Dean Edward E. Magruder Marilyn Erskine as Phyllis Archibald Hayden Rorke as Prof. Simmonds Robert Burton