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It's the fall of 1998 at Walmart's World Headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

David Glass, who succeeded Sam Walton as Walmart CEO a decade ago, paces angrily in his office.

In his hand, David holds yet another resignation letter.

It's the latest in a string of departures by many of Walmart's top distribution executives,

all of whom are being lured away by a new internet company on the west coast called Amazon.com.

David grabs the phone on his desk and dials Lee Scott, president of Walmart's US division.

Hello, Lee Scott. Hey, Lee, we need to talk.

David, can't wait, I'm tight up over here.

No, you can't wait.

All right, on my way.

David hangs up the phone and resumes pacing.

Under Sam Walton's direction, David and Lee helped create Walmart's distribution system,

a critical part of Walmart's success for decades.

But now that system is being threatened by Amazon.com's poaching,

and David blames Lee for not doing more to stop this mass exodus.

When Lee steps inside the office,

David thrusts the most recent resignation letter into his hands.

Now, Lee, I told you to do whatever it takes to stop our guys from leaving.

I'm trying, David. You need to try harder.

Frustrated, David plops down in his desk chair. Lee takes a seat across from him.

I'm sorry, David. I'm doing everything I can, truly.

...