Date: 1620. Scene: London.

Prospectus: Mayflower -- A Pilgrim Enterprise

Business plan: Cross the ocean in a small, economical vessel. Establish an agricultural-industrial settlement in North America. Develop industrial component for local trade. Use base to develop raw material harvesting and collection for trade overseas.

"I dunno, John, sounds kind of iffy to me," grumbles Jonas I.N. Vestor, the senior partner of Ye Olde Venture Cap, a boutique investment house in London.

"Jonas, baby, it's a winner," grins John Alden. "Think about it. It's an untapped resource market over there. All that land. We go in, set up the operation, start bringing in timber and furs in the first, second year. Producing low grade industrial goods in the third and fourth. The payback period is five years, max."

"Ah, the competition factor ... there's already one colony ...," says the money man.

"There's plenty of room for another operation."

"Yeah, but it takes a while to establish volume for a raw goods business. What does the operation do in the meantime? I mean, quarterly results are what we're going to need to convince the Street. Especially if you want to go public."

"There's a local market there! ... The natives probably haven't seen much of the stuff we have. They're sure to want something. So we bring some extras to trade and bingo, enough high grade fur to make the numbers." John bends down low to Jonas' ear. "And if we use Holland prices instead of London prices the profit looks even better ... Maybe it'll get a little more investor interest down the road?"

"Hey, hey," objects Jonas. "No playing with the books! The king just chopped one guy's head off ... and he was just tax dodging. None of that ... you're making me wonder about your numbers now."

"Okay, okay," says Alden, shrugging. "My numbers are fine. I'm just saying there's plenty of ways to produce in the short term while the long term agricultural operation gets established. Hey, we've got the London Company on board. They gave us a charter for a settlement. I just thought I'd spin a little bit of this venture your way. And we have 102 people lined up -- folks with vision and drive."

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard all that 'cutting edge thinking' stuff before. I don't care about high ideals, I just want profit. What with the plague and the Thirty Years War and all, my coffers are feeling a little light." Jonas taps his fingers on the table. "You sure payback is in five years?"

"At the most," Alden grins.

"I don't want any of that 'disappearing colony' stuff. Remember Roanoke."

More ramblings. Click above.

"Not a prob, Jonas," says Alden. "It'll be the greatest colony venture ever. Heck, it'll probably change the world."

"All right, I'm in. But I want some guarantees that I'll get the payback within five years. You see," Jonas leans forward and lowers his voice, "tulips are getting more popular everyday in Holland. I'm going to wait just a little longer and get in to ride a nice little surge in the market."

Alden stands up and sticks out his hand. "You'll get your profit, Jonas, and I'm thankful."

Business creates and history repeats. Happy Thanksgiving.  

Allen Wastler is Managing Editor of CNN/Money and a commentator on CNNfn. He can be emailed here.