PW-1. Spencer Scarcello
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we started with the actual planting, which took only a few minutes.
Misty and the crew, Don and Skip, knew they were in on what could be the greatest story in modern history, and the excitement was palpable. As the plants continued to grow, Skip and Don ― the cameraman and the sound engineer ― began telling us stories of events they had covered in the past. They were both seasoned professionals in the news game, and the stories they told were both heartbreaking and amusing. They finished up around 3:00 a.m. and headed back to the studio. My wife and I had very much enjoyed their company and couldn’t believe it was so late.
About 9:00 a.m. we were awakened by a phone call from Robert Ulson, who said the story was ready to air and wanted to touch base with me first. They had shot my in profile in the dark to hide my identity as requested, and they also disguised my voice. He said it would be the lead story on the News at Noon. My wife and I anxiously waited as the time drew near: Misty came across as a real professional. We were getting very attached to her as all our kids were in their forties and fifties and had long since moved away. She was like a recently discovered relative, and we were very proud of her.
The story was on nearly every station and channel within minutes. It had gone worldwide by early evening. The next morning I received another call from Ulson who said, “The station manager wants to talk to you. Her name is Alex Thorne. Thank you again for letting us break the story.”
And with that he put me through to Alex, who said: “Hello, Mister Diamond. This is Alex. Our phones here have practically been smoking. We have received 129 calls from chemical companies around the world wanting to manufacture your formula. To show our appreciation for letting us break the story, I would like to offer you the services of our legal department. With your permission, we will act as a liaison between yourself and them. We can weed through all the legal stuff and narrow the field down to just a few for you to choose from.”
“Thank you, that’s very kind,” I said. “I’ll call you in a few days, and bring you up to speed on where we are.” Then she hung up.
Three days later Alex called as promised, informing me, “We have been working on this around the clock since I last spoke with you. We have received all sorts of offers, but one stands out over all the rest. The Able Chemical Company, the largest in the U.S., has offered to patent the formula in your name. They have worldwide distribution capabilities, and they are offering you a two hundred fifty thousand dollar signing bonus. That money is yours no matter what happens with the formula. You also will get a fifteen percent royalty on every drop sold. . . . That is a fantastic offer,” she asserted.
“Sounds great to me. What do we do next?” I asked.
“I will have the contracts drawn up, and we will submit them to Able and yourself; if all approve, we’ll have a signing party and celebrate.”
A few days later, my wife and I went to the station to seal the deal. After the signing, no one was sure exactly how long it would be before the formula hit the market. It had to be patented, extensively tested, and the FDA would probably have to approve it.
As this process continued, Misty was doing updates nearly on a daily basis due to the extreme interest in the story. I give her a lot of credit; she had stories such as how this formula would produce as much food in a one-acre warehouse per month as a hundred-acre farm would produce in a full growing season. It would also be able to produce year-round and use one thousand times less water. She did all the research herself and was turning into quite a reporter.
Able Chemical had purchased a large manufacturing plant and began renovations. They wanted to be as prepared as possible when final approval comes. The process dragged on for months, despite the “rush” status given it by everyone including the President of the United States Clayton James. Four and a half months later I received a call from Alex Thorne.
“Carol Avery, the executive producer of Hard Facts, called me this morning,” she said. “She would like you to call her as soon as possible.”
Hard Facts is the most popular TV magazine show in the world. “Do you know what she wants?” I asked.
“No,” came the reply, “but I think you should call her.”
“Thank you. I certainly will.”
When I reached Carol, she informed me that the Food Formula had finally been approved. Able Chemical is expected to begin production in about two weeks, and it should hit the world market within a month.
“Fantastic!” I shouted. “This is wonderful.”
“Hard Facts would like to do a one-hour special on you and the formula,” said Carol. “We have been researching the story from its beginning and have about forty-five minutes of air already taped. Of course we want the story to include the man behind it all. We are offering you one million dollars for your exclusive interview, but you will have to reveal your identity. Do we have a deal?” she asked.
“The story you want to do is only a tiny part of a much larger one,” I said.
“You’re kidding; what is that?” she asked.
“I’m afraid that is something I can’t discuss over the phone.”
“Please give me your address and phone number, Ral. I’ll be on the next flight out of JFK and call you when I get to California.”
Carol called around 3:00 p.m. the next day and said, “Hi, Ral. I’m here and at the same motel where Misty stayed. Would you and your wife please come join me for a drink? As you know there is a great watering hole right next door.”
We met her around 3:30 p.m., and after getting to know each other for a while, she asked where we lived and if she could come over the next morning at about 8:00 a.m.
“That would be fine,” I said.
CHAPTER 2
THE AMAZING STORY
As my wife and I drove home, we were discussing how Carol didn’t seem to fit our stereotype of a corporate executive. She was a smaller woman, soft spoken, and extremely polite; we were pleasantly surprised. The next morning Carol arrived right on time, as expected. We met her in the driveway and invited her in. After sharing some coffee and small talk, she said, “Well, let’s get down to brass tacks ― shall we? What’s this incredible story you have to tell?”
I showed her some pictures I had taken and began to tell and show her all about my amazing experience. I don’t think her mouth closed once during the entire three and a half hours.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “That is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. If you could please give me a few minutes, I have some phone calls to make.”
“Tina and I will be out on the gazebo,” I said. “Please come join us when you’re finished.”
After about twenty-five minutes, Carol came out. “I spoke with the folks at headquarters, and here’s what we’ve come up with. We want to do two specials, each two hours long. The first hour of the first show will deal with the Food Formula, and then we will introduce you as the person behind it all. We will begin the second hour with you telling ‘the rest of the story,’ as they say. Headquarters wants to send out one of the corporate jets to pick up you, Tina, and myself the day after tomorrow. We will fly directly to New York, and we will set you up at a nice hotel for a week,” she continued. “We are prepared to pay you two million dollars per two-hour show. Now all of this is tentative; it depends on scheduling, and so on. What do you guys think?”
“Sounds good to me,” I said. Turning toward my wife, I asked, “What do you think, honey?” We both agreed.
Carol then said, “Great, I’ll be in touch,” and with that she left.
My wife and I sat back down in the gazebo and began discussing the whole thing; we were both very excited.
Carol called the next day and said everything was a go. “We leave from Lakeview Airport at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. I will drive us all to