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It's April, 1980.

Coca-Cola company Chief Paul Austin, who has run the company for nearly two decades, wants to step down and he wants to crown his own successor.

He summons Roberto Guesweta to his office.

Guesweta runs Koch's technical department and he's in charge of Coca-Cola's secret formula.

He's a contender for the top job, but he's not Austin's choice. Good morning, Mr. Austin. I understand you wanted to see me?

Yes, yes. Update me on the status of the Diet Coke project.

Guesweta smiles. He's pleased Austin's interested in his pet project.

You see the Coca-Cola company hates the idea of Diet Coke.

When Diet soda first became a thing in the early 60s, there was talk of a low calorie Coke.

Coke's lawyers muttered about trademark problems and lawsuits for modelers,

marketing fredded that drinkers would ditch Coke for Diet Coke.

So instead, Coke gave the world a Diet Coke in a pink can called Tab.

Guesweta thinks that was a stupid decision.

So he's been using his position to create Diet Coke despite his colleagues' opposition to the idea.

We're making great progress. The recipe is almost perfect. We've also been doing market research tests.

And Guesweta keeps talking, but Austin's not really listening.

He's waiting for Guesweta to finish, waiting so that he can yank the rug out from under this

upstart Cuban Coke executive. We've been doing lots of testing as we go along,

and our recipe for new Coke is definitely outperforming Tab and Diet Pepsi in taste tests.

As Guesweta wraps up, he's not sure what to make of the pinched expression on Austin's face.

Yeah, that's great, just great. I'm shutting the project down.

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