Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - Burn It Down - full transcript
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪ LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW
♪ WHAT I SAY
♪ I'M A-GONNA HEAD OUT WEST
ONE DAY ♪
♪ I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪
♪ AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪
♪ GOLD
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
THAT'S WHY WE COME TO NOME
RIGHT THERE.
THE DREAMERS LEAVE
AND THE REAL MEN STAY.
LATE IN MARCH,
THE WINTER MINING SEASON
IS KICKING INTO HIGH GEAR.
WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL
FOR A 300-OUNCE SEASON HERE,
AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M SHOOTING FOR.
I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
Shawn: PUT A LOT OF GOLD IN THE
BOX IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME,
AND WE JUST KEEP MOVING TOWARDS
WHERE WE SEE MORE AND MORE GOLD,
AND HOPEFULLY, WE FIND THAT
BIG-ASS PUDDLE DOWN THERE.
Narrator: CREWS ARE FIGHTING IT
OUT FOR THE BEST GROUNDS...
THE KELLYS --
PRACTICALLY RIGHT ON TOP OF US.
LET THEM GO FIND THEIR OWN AREA.
Narrator:
...AND FIGHTING JUST TO KEEP
THEIR DREDGES UP AND RUNNING.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE ALREADY
BLOWN AN INSANE AMOUNT
OF MONEY ON THIS PROJECT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
YOUR PREPARATION.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS.
NOME IS NOME, AND NOME IS WHERE
CHAOS IS BREWED AND DISTRIBUTED.
Narrator:
WITH SPRING ONLY A MONTH AWAY,
IT'S A SCRAMBLE TO GET THE GOLD
WHILE THE GETTING STAYS GOOD.
Glen: WE'RE DOING
THE BEST WE CAN HERE.
IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME BECAUSE
THE SHEET'S GONNA GO OUT,
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN.
Narrator: SEVEN MILES WEST
OF TOWN ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
MY GOAL IS TO KICK EVERYBODY'S
ASS AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
I'M GONNA STACK AS MUCH GOLD UP
AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: FOUR DAYS AGO...
WHOO!
Narrator:
MR. GOLD, SHAWN POMRENKE'S
FIRST CLEAN-UP OF THE WINTER...
30.95 OUNCES.
...WORTH OVER $40,000
PUT HIM IN SECOND PLACE
ON THE LEADER BOARD.
I HATE GETTING SECOND PLACE.
I DON'T LIKE SECOND PLACE.
MY GOAL IS 150.
WE'RE AT, LIKE, 30,
BUT I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT
BECAUSE I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE
A PILE OF GOLD AT THE END OF IT,
AND WE'RE GONNA BE WEIGHING
STUFF IN POUNDS AND NOT OUNCES.
Narrator:
NEXT UP TO HEAD UNDER THE ICE...
YEAH, RIGHT.
WILL IT FIT?
...VETERAN DIVER CODY MOEN.
HOLY [BLEEP]
CODY, YOU PUT ON
MORE THAN FIVE POUNDS.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHOULDERS BACK.
SHAWN'S, SHALL WE SAY...
ATTABOY!
...A HEAVY HITTER.
[ Scottish accent ]
I'M SO SEXY! GET IN MY BELLY!
YEAH, CODY ATE WELL THIS WINTER.
SO HE'S WORKING THAT OFF NOW.
[ GRUNTS ]
UH-OH.
IS THAT A NEW STRAP?
DID I GET THAT FAT?
[ LAUGHS ]
I THINK
IT GOT SHORTENED UP.
Shawn: [ Normal voice ]
YOU NEED AN EXTENSION?
JUST PUT THAT [BLEEP]
AROUND YOUR ANKLE.
CODY, YOU'LL NEVER GET THIS
[BLEEP] BACK ON.
HOLY [BLEEP]
JUST DON'T LET IT OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
[BLEEP]
I'M GONNA HAVE TO SET UP
A WEIGHT BELT JUST FOR CODY.
[ GRUNTS ]
OH [BLEEP]
I'M BARELY ABLE TO SINK HERE.
HOW YOU FEELING?
[ Laughs ]
Narrator:
AFTER AN EXTENDED DESCENT, CODY
FINALLY GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Cody:
I'M GONNA HEAD OVER TO WHERE
SHAWN WAS KIND OF WORKING LAST.
SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING.
Shawn: I WAS SEEING REALLY GOOD
GOLD AT THE END OF THE HOSE.
SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE
ABOUT 50 FEET.
NOW WE'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF IT,
AND THEN WE FOLLOW IT
FROM THERE,
BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET CODY
IN A BIG [BLEEP] PILE OF GOLD.
Cody: FEELS KIND OF COBBLE-Y
OVER HERE TO THE EAST END.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY COLOR YET.
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO KIND OF START TELLING
HOW WE WERE WORKING
BY THE CUT.
YEAH.
IT'S JUST NOTHING.
THERE'S NO GOLD ANYWHERE HERE.
NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
[ GRUNTS ]
I LOST MY WEIGHT BELT, MAN.
I'M FLOATING.
OH.
I'M STUCK UP ON THE ICE.
I'M LITERALLY
[BLEEP] UPSIDE DOWN.
Narrator: THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE
OF CODY'S EXTRA POUNDS?
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator: BUOYANCY.
Cody: [ CHUCKLES ]
TRY TO GRAB A ROCK
OR SOMETHING
AND GET YOUR ASS BACK
TO THE HOLE.
OH [BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT,
I GOT THE WEIGHT BELT --
JUST BARELY GOT IT
IN MY HAND.
GONNA TRY TO GET
TO THE LADDER HERE.
OH [BLEEP]
OH, YEAH,
FEELS LIKE I GOT A BIG ONE!
I GOT A [BLEEP] BIG ONE!
UH-OH.
THAT WAS FUNNY.
YOU SEE ME FLOATING THERE?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE STRAP DON'T QUITE FIT
INTO THE CLIP HERE
ON THE WEIGHT BELT.
THAT SUCKED.
Narrator:
THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN BEING
TOO HEAVY FOR YOUR DIVE BELT --
COMING UP LIGHT ON GOLD.
Cody:
CHECKED A LOT OF GROUND.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF,
BUT NOTHING
EVEN WORTH TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, WE PUT A COUPLE OUNCES
IN THE BOX, ANYWAY, SO...
EVERYBODY'S RUNNING RAGGED
AROUND HERE.
THIS MOVING'S HARD ON A GUY.
THEN TRYING TO DIVE, MOVE,
DIVE, MOVE, DIVE --
IT'S REALLY HARD ON A GUY.
Narrator: WITH ANOTHER DIVE HOLE
TURNING OUT A BUST,
MR. GOLD MUST PLOT
HIS NEXT MOVE.
BACK ON CLAIM 14...
AT THE EROICA.
Emily:
PUMPS ARE RUNNING.
ALL WE CAN DO IS GET THE DIVER
IN THE WATER,
AND THEN WE'LL BE SEEING
IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY PROGRESS
WITH THE DRAGON SLAYER.
Narrator: EMILY RIEDEL HAS
HER PROTOTYPE UNDERWATER DREDGE,
THE DRAGON SLAYER,
BACK UP AND RUNNING.
THE SYSTEM
IS STILL GETTING DIALED IN.
IT'S PRETTY NEW TO US.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF BAD DAYS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
ABOUT THIS ICE SEASON.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AGO...
...THE DRAGON SLAYER'S FIRST RUN
WAS CUT SHORT
DUE TO A LACK OF SUCTION.
AFTER DROPPING ANOTHER 1,000
BUCKS ON A STRONGER PUMP ENGINE,
IT'S TIME FOR ROUND TWO.
THE FAILURE THAT IS INEVITABLE
WITH THE PURSUIT OF MINING,
YOUR EQUIPMENT NOT WORKING,
IT CAN EITHER TURN YOU
INTO A MONSTER
OR IT CAN TURN YOU INTO
A HIGHLY MOTIVATED HUMAN BEING
JUST, LIKE, PRESSING ON
TO TRY TO FIND GOLD.
TIME TO GET TO WORK, BROTHER.
IT'S SHOWTIME.
Narrator:
TESTING OUT THE NEW SYSTEM...
IT'S TONY'S FIRST DIVE
UNDER THE ICE.
...ROOKIE ICE DIVER
TONY MANN.
LOWER
YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
YEAH, JUST [BLEEP]
JUST BREATHE AND CALM DOWN,
ALL RIGHT?
YOU KNOW,
IT'S [BLEEP] GOLD MINING.
IT'S NOT
[BLEEP] LIFE AND DEATH.
I'M STILL GREEN. I'M GREEN
AS A FREAKING CUCUMBER.
I SEE THAT ICE HOLE, THE ANXIETY
KIND OF GOES OFF A LITTLE BIT.
BREATHE DEEP.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
IT'S CAVE DIVING. SO, I
MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
WHAT YOU'RE DOING --
ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT.
PUT YOUR CHIN UP.
GO SUCK SOME GOLD.
OH.
IT'S [BLEEP] UNSETTLING
DIVING UNDER THE ICE
FOR YOUR FIRST TIME.
IT'S DANGEROUS
FOR THE DIVER DOWN THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXTRA LINES
AND HOSES.
[ GRUNTS ]
ON BOTTOM.
EM, THIS IS CRAZY.
WOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF BEING UNDER THE ICE, TONES?
SO, HOW'S THE SUCTION?
ALL RIGHT.
I'M MAKING MY WAY TO THE NOZZLE.
Narrator: WITH THE CLOCK TICKING
ON THE WINTER SEASON,
EMILY NEEDS THE NEW PUMP
TO DELIVER.
Tony: THIS DRAGON SLAYER
SUCKS PRETTY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
Emily: YEAH, BOY!
OUR MAIN PUMP ENGINE'S WORKING.
WE GOT ENOUGH SUCTION, FINALLY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
SOME GOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Tony: SO FAR, SO GOOD.
WE JUST GOT TO SEE
WHAT'S UNDER THESE ROCKS.
[ GRUNTS ]
AH, LOOKY THERE.
ARE YOU SEEING
SOME GOLD?
YEAH.
WHOO-HOO!
OH!
I NEVER HAD A DOUBT
IN MY MIND
THAT YOU'D [BLEEP] GET OVER
WHATEVER NERVOUSNESS YOU HAD.
HERE'S MY
"I JUST SAW A BIG NUGGET" FACE.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE LOOKING FOR IT, TONY.
Emily:
JUST CHECKING OUT THE BOX,
SEEING HOW THE MATERIAL
IS GOING THROUGH IT.
HEY!
[ Chuckling ] OH.
THAT'S GOLD.
[ STUTTERED BREATHING ]
Tony: HANG ON A BIT. FEELS LIKE
IT'S [BLEEP] STARTING TO GO.
HOLD ON.
[ BREATHING SHARPLY ]
YEP.
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
UP!
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
PULL ME UP!
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME
AT THE EROICA...
HANG ON A BIT. FEELS LIKE
IT'S [BLEEP] STARTING TO GO.
HOLD ON.
[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]
YEP.
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
UP!
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
Narrator:
IN THE 25-DEGREE WATER,
DIVER TONY MANN'S REGULATOR
HAS FROZEN,
LEAVING HIM
WITH ONLY SECONDS OF AIR.
PULL ME UP!
PULL ME UP!
COMING UP.
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
[ GRUNTS ]
Emily: COME ON, NOW.
GET UP.
ALL RIGHT. YOU GOOD?
YOU'RE GOOD, MAN.
YOU'RE UP.
MY [BLEEP] REGULATOR
FROZE.
Tony: I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH
THE BREATH, AND IT WENT.
BEFORE I KNEW IT, DARYL STARTED
[BLEEP] PULLING ME OUT.
I HAD ABOUT TWO BREATHS
BEFORE THE SURFACE,
AND ON THAT LAST BREATH,
IT COMPLETELY SUCKED MY FACE.
Emily: THERE'S NO FEELING
MORE TERRIFYING.
REGULATOR FREEZES.
YOU THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE THEM
AND EXACERBATE THEM,
AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO GET BACK.
Narrator: ALREADY DEEP IN DEBT
ON EQUIPMENT,
EMILY IS FACING
YET ANOTHER SETBACK.
I DON'T THINK
WE'RE GETTING WATER.
THIS WATER LINE MIGHT BE
STARTING TO FREEZE, YOU GUYS.
I'M FEELING
A LOT OF PRESSURE.
LIKE, IT MIGHT BE TRYING
TO PUSH UP ICE OR SOMETHING.
THE PROBLEM THIS TIME --
NO, IT'S CLOGGED COMPLETELY
WITH ICE.
...A BUILDUP OF ICE
IN THE LINE CARRYING HOT WATER
TO THE REGULATOR.
SO, WE GOT TO PULL THE PUMP
BACK OUT NOW
AND GET THIS WARMED UP.
GOD!
IT'S OKAY, EM.
WE'LL GET IT.
Emily: AND I JUST DROPPED
50 GRAND ON AN OPERATION
THAT IS NOT REMOTELY CLOSE
TO PAYING FOR IT, SO...
Narrator: AS EMILY'S OPERATION
CONTINUES TO FALTER,
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CLAIM 14
AT THE MISS NOMER...
.68.
NOT EVEN THREE-QUARTERS.
OH, DUDE.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE, FOR SURE.
...AFTER PULLING 16 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $21,000,
FROM THEIR FIRST SPOT...
WE'VE DONE WELL HERE. WE CAN'T
COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW WE'VE DONE.
IT'S BEEN GOOD TO US,
BUT IT'S DWINDLING.
...GLEN LeBARON
AND PARTNER ZEKE TENHOFF
ARE IN NEED
OF SOME FRESH GROUND.
REMEMBER LAST FALL WHEN WE WENT
OUT IN THOSE NASTY STORMS?
LIKE, I PUT MY FACE DOWN
TO THE BOTTOM,
AND THERE'S GOLD JUST,
LIKE, EXPOSED ON THE CLAIM.
MM-HMM. YEP.
YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S ABOUT TIME WE MOVED TO 12.
THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
LET'S PACK UP
AND GET OUT OF HERE.
ZEKE AND I, WE DREDGED 14.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD
SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WE WANT TO PUT AS MUCH GOLD
IN THE BOX AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator:
THE PLAN -- A HALF-MILE MOVE
FROM CLAIM 14 TO CLAIM 12,
A SPOT THEY'VE ATTEMPTED TO WORK
JUST ONCE BEFORE.
Zeke:
THE OPERATION GLEN AND I HAVE
RIGHT NOW, IT'S HIGHLY MOBILE.
WE BOTH KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING,
WE KNOW WHAT GOOD GOLD
LOOKS LIKE,
AND WE CAN MOVE AROUND QUICKLY.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT TO
KIND OF A MORE UNEXPLORED AREA
AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME NEW
CHALLENGES AT THIS NEW LOCATION
BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE
A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL,
HAVE MORE SAFETY HOLES.
Narrator: WITH THE NEW CLAIM
COMES A NEW DANGER.
Zeke: WE WEREN'T VERY DEEP
OVER THERE ON OUR LAST SPOT.
I THINK WE WERE ONLY
LIKE 15, 16 FEET.
THIS IS ABOUT 30.
SO, WE'RE IN DANGER OF BUILDING
UP A LOT OF NITROGEN,
AND THERE'S NO DECOMPRESSION
CHAMBERS IN NOME.
Zeke:
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT IDEAL,
BUT FOR THE GOLD, I THINK
IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
Narrator:
WHILE GLEN AND ZEKE RUSH
TO GET BACK IN THE WATER...
EIGHT MILES TO THE WEST
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
THE GARBAGE TIN CAN
BLEW A COMPRESSOR.
...THE KELLY FAMILY
IS WORKING TO GET THEIR
AIR COMPRESSOR BACK ONLINE.
WHAT HAPPENED
WAS IT SHEARED OFF A PIN
ON THE INSIDE OF THE PISTON.
SO IT'S ONLY TURNING
ON ONE SIDE.
CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T WIN
FOR LOSING.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AGO...
NOW!
...OWNER BRAD KELLY'S
CHEAP EQUIPMENT
NEARLY COST HIM
HIS SECOND-BORN SON.
HEY!
READY TO GO.
I'M GONNA PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
Narrator: BRAD'S SOLUTIONS --
MORE USED PARTS.
OKAY, WE'RE ALL READY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
OUR OPERATION RUNS
FOR ABOUT LESS THAN $100 A DAY.
PROFIT-WISE, IT'S THE BEST
IT'S EVER BEEN FOR ME.
MY DAD DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND
ANY MONEY ON ANYTHING --
NO PROSPECTING, NO UPGRADES,
ANYTHING,
BECAUSE DAD'S GOT
HIS NEW FAMILY.
Narrator: FOR THE BOYS,
THE ONLY THING WORSE
THAN DAD HOARDING THE PROFITS
IS WHO HE'S
BEEN SPENDING THEM ON.
THERE'S THE LITTLE WOMAN
RIGHT THERE --
THE NEW ADDITION
TO THE FAMILY -- COURTNEY.
Kris: WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS
TALK FOR A COUPLE SECONDS
ABOUT HOW THE GOLD
IS BEING DISTRIBUTED.
WE NEED TO START PUTTING IT
INTO THE DREDGE.
I KNOW HOW WE CAN TAKE CARE
OF THIS PROBLEM.
YOU DIVE
FOUR MORE HOURS A DAY,
AND THAT'LL PICK UP
THE SLACK.
HOW ABOUT YOU STOP BUYING
YOUR NEW KIDS ALL KINDS OF TOYS,
YOUR NEW FAMILY ALL KINDS OF --
LITTLE KIDS NEED TOYS.
I DIDN'T NEED THEM
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.
STOP [BLEEP] OUR DREDGING MONEY
AWAY ON YOUR NEW FAMILY.
I'M NOT PISSING MONEY AWAY.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND.
NO, IT ISN'T IN MY MIND.
I CAN SEE IT.
YOU'RE SPENDING OUR DREDGING
MONEY ON YOUR NEW FAMILY.
AND THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW,
IT'S STILL A LOT OF ANIMOSITY.
I MET A NEW WOMAN IN NOME, WAS A
WAITRESS. AND WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
I TOLD MY WIFE TO COME
HERE IN THE BEGINNING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
NOW I BET SHE WISHED
SHE WOULD'VE COME.
COURTNEY'S CLOSET'S FULL OF
[BLEEP] THAT YOU BOUGHT HER NEW.
LIKE WHAT?
JACKETS, SHOES, MAKEUP.
THAT'S HOW YOU GOT TO KEEP
YOUR GIRL HAPPY.
WELL, YOU NEED TO STOP
BUYING HER [BLEEP]
LOOKIT! ARE WE READY TO GO?
ARE WE READY TO SHUT UP?
OKAY, I GOT TO --
YOU KNOW, IT'S CONSTANT ARGUING.
THESE [BLEEP] SNIVELER WHINERS.
KRIS, HE WAKES UP WITH
A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS
THAT SHOULD BE ON MEDS 24/7 --
SOMETHING REAL POWERFUL FOR
NUT JOBS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Kris: MY DAD'S STARTING
THIS NEW FAMILY.
HE COMES TO NOME AND
RUINS EVERYONE'S LIFE OVER IT.
HE WANTS TO TAKE
NO RESPONSIBILITY
FOR ANYTHING HE'S DOING
WHATSOEVER.
JUST DO IT.
LET'S GO.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME, ALASKA...
ON CLAIM 12...
REALLY, EVERYTHING'S PUT
TOGETHER, IT'S READY TO RUN,
AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY
TO DIVE.
FIRST DIVE HOLE OF OUR NEW SPOT.
Narrator:
...ZEKE AND GLEN ARE READY
TO EXPLORE THE NEW GROUNDS.
I'M JUST MEASURING OUT 30 FEET
ON THIS PIECE OF STRING,
AND I'M GONNA DROP IT DOWN
IN THE HOLE
AND SEE WHAT KIND OF DEPTH
WE'RE ACTUALLY IN.
Narrator:
TO FIND THEIR FORTUNE, THEY'LL
HAVE TO GO DEEPER UNDER THE ICE.
WE'RE KIND OF IN THE GRAY AREA
OF GETTING THE BENDS.
YOU KNOW, THE BENDS IS WHERE
YOU GET SO MUCH NITROGEN
IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM,
YOU CAN'T JUST ASCEND
AS FAST AS YOU WANT
BECAUSE
THE NITROGEN BUBBLES EXPAND
AND WILL ACTUALLY BLOCK OFF
YOUR BLOODSTREAM,
AND IT COULD KILL YOU.
Zeke: WELL, THIS IS 30 FEET
RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT 2 FEET.
SO WE'RE AT ABOUT 28 FEET.
Glen: SO, IT'S A REAL DEAL.
WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
PRETTY SPOOKY
DIVING THIS DEEP.
IT'D TAKE A LOT LONGER
TO GET THE HELL OUT OF
THERE IF YOU NEED TO.
BE SAFE. I'LL GO LISTEN TO YOU
ON THE COMM.
OKAY.
Narrator: FIRST TO TAKE
THE PLUNGE -- GLEN LeBARON,
THE SELF-PROCLAIMED
BEST DREDGER IN NOME.
AT 28 FEET BELOW THE ICE,
THE PRESSURE PER SQUARE INCH IS
NEARLY DOUBLE THAT AT SEA LEVEL.
THE LONGER GLEN DIVES AT DEPTH,
THE MORE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN
WILL BUILD UP
IN HIS BLOODSTREAM
AND THE GREATER THE RISK
OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.
Glen: THIS IS DEFINITELY
THE DIVE OF RECKONING.
I'VE GOT TO SEE AT LEAST
A HALF OUNCE AN HOUR TO
CONTINUE DREDGING DOWN HERE.
IT'S JUST TOO RISKY.
SO, IS THERE ANY HARDPAN LAYER
WHERE YOU'RE WORKING?
THERE IS.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART
OF THE REASON
THESE GRAVELS ARE SO RICH.
SEVERAL LAYERS OF GRAVEL HERE.
THERE'S A GRAY LAYER
AND THERE'S THIS RUSTY...
OH, WOW.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS GRAVEL'S JUST ABSOLUTELY
SATURATED WITH GOLD.
AWESOME.
I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR
THAT WE'RE BACK ON IT
AND WE'RE SEEING GOOD GOLD.
YEAH.
I'M GLAD THAT --
I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE.
Narrator:
AS THE MOVE TO CLAIM 12 STARTS
PAYING OFF FOR THE MISS NOMER,
BACK IN TOWN...
AT VERNON ADKINSON'S TRAILER...
FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED
AND KNOCKING ON WOOD.
Narrator:
...THE WILD RANGER OWNER
IS PANNING OUT HIS
SECOND CLEAN-OUT OF THE YEAR.
THAT LOOKED PRETTY DAMN GOOD
TO ME.
SO FAR THIS SEASON, VERNON'S
FIRST HAUL NETTED $42,000
AND PUT HIM AT THE TOP
OF THE GOLD COUNT.
32.6.
RIGHT.
Narrator: HIS ONLY PROBLEM...
NO, HE'S CHALLENGING ME
AT EVERY MOMENT.
JUST QUIT BEING SO DAMN
SENSITIVE, FOR GOD SAKES!
...THE ENORMOUS EGO
OF CREW CHIEF JASON WALKER.
I PROBABLY DID THE BEST
ON THIS BOX.
THIS SPLIT'S GONNA BE BASED
ON HOURS.
I THINK IF YOU GO BY HOURS,
IT WOULD PROBABLY CREATE
A MORE TEAM-LIKE ATMOSPHERE.
WELL, I DO BETTER
WITH LESS HOURS, OKAY?
I DO BETTER THAN EVERYBODY
SO FAR WITH LESS HOURS,
AND I'M NOT TAKING A CUT
FROM THAT, OKAY?
I'M NOT GONNA TRY
TO GO DOWN THERE
AND COMPETE WITH THEIR SIX HOURS
WHEN I CAN DO MORE IN FOUR.
THEY CAN'T COMPETE
WITH ME.
IT'S JUST A LACK
OF EXPERIENCE.
WHO ON THIS TEAM
HAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE?
ARE YOU SAYING YOU
MIGHT HAVE A LACK OF
EXPERIENCE? I'M NOT SURE.
ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
NO, I'M NOT TRYING
TO CALL YOU OUT.
I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE,
WHO HAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE HERE?
I THINK WE ALL ARE PRETTY MUCH
ON THE SAME LEVEL.
THINK WE CAN MOVE
SOME [BLEEP] GROUND.
YOU'RE THE MANAGER.
BE MANAGERIAL.
WHY'S EVERYONE
SECOND-GUESSING ME, THEN?
BECAUSE YOU KNOW --
IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN.
WHY DON'T YOU STEP UP
AND SAY
THAT WE ALREADY PROVED THAT
JASON DOES MORE IN LESS TIME?
SAY IT,
AND THAT'LL BE THE END OF IT.
DON'T TELL ME
WHAT TO [BLEEP] SAY!
LISTEN, JUST CALM DOWN!
JUST CALM DOWN.
JUST BEAR WITH ME
FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
20-SOMETHINGS, AND...
JASON, PLEASE,
JUST BEAR WITH ME.
I'M GETTING
A LITTLE FRUSTRATED
AND I NEED --
I NEED A BREAK.
I'LL STILL OUT-PRODUCE
HIM, TOO.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THE [BLEEP]
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
TO PLEASE THAT GUY.
Jason: THAT'S JUST INSANE.
THAT'S INSANE
TO WANT TO SHARE A BOX
WITH SOME LAGGING-BEHIND DIVERS.
Vernon:
WE'LL PAY EVERYBODY BY THE HOUR,
AND I'LL REACH
SOME ACCOMMODATION WITH HIM.
TRYING TO MAKE IT
SO THAT IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
Narrator: THE BEST REMEDY
FOR AN ANGRY CREW?
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
SEE WHAT ALL THIS HARD WORK
PAID OFF TO BE.
GOLD ON THE SCALE.
Vernon: COME ON, BABY.
PRETTY NICE
LITTLE PILE OF GOLD.
Narrator: 28 OUNCES OF GOLD.
THAT'S $36,000.
WELL, GOOD.
BIG OL' SMILES ON OUR FACES.
THE GOLD IS SO GOOD.
BUT THE CREW MAY LEAVE ME
BECAUSE OF JASON,
AND I MADE UP MY MIND
A WHILE BACK.
BEFORE THAT WOULD HAPPEN,
I'D GET RID OF JASON.
Narrator: SEVEN MILES WEST
OF NOME HARBOR...
AT THE REAPER...
HEY, KRIS.
HOW'S THE GOLD GOING?
WITH A JURY-RIGGED
AIR COMPRESSOR,
BRAD KELLY'S DIME-STORE DREDGE
IS BACK IN BUSINESS,
AND HIS SON, KRIS,
IS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.
I GOT A FEELING THIS IS THE ONE
THAT'S GONNA PAY OFF FOR US.
Narrator: AS DIVER, KRIS TAKES
A HEALTHY CUT OF THE DAY'S GOLD.
I KNOW.
BUT HIS FATHER, BRAD, HE WANTS
A BIGGER PIECE OF THE ACTION.
DAD'S GETTING READY
TO GO DOWN.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: BRAD'S OWNER'S SHARE
IS ALREADY HALF OF THE GOLD.
ADDING A DIVER'S CUT GIVES HIM
THE LION'S SHARE.
MY FIRST DIVE UNDER THE ICE.
GOOD GOLD. I WANT TO GET
A PIECE OF THIS PIE.
♪ DA-DA-DA-DA-DAA
I'M READY.
KRIS THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA HAVE
A GOOD DAY,
BUT I'M GONNA GO DOWN AND STIR
UP HIS [BLEEP] GOLD FOR HIM.
SHOW THESE YOUNG GUYS
HOW IT'S REALLY DONE.
THIS ISN'T MY FIRST RODEO.
WHEN YOU GO ON YOUR WAY UP
TO THE TOP,
DOES IT MATTER ALL
THE LITTLE PEOPLE YOU GOT
TO STEP ON TO GET THERE
[Laughing]
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, DUDE?
I HOPE YOU'RE GONNA BE
DOWN THERE DOING SOME WORK
AND NOT JUST [BLEEP] TRYING
TO TAKE
A BIGGER PERCENTAGE
OF MY GOLD.
Kris: MY DAD'S GONNA PRETEND
TO DO SOME DREDGING,
MAYBE STAND ON THE HOSE
AND MOVE IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT
JUST TO GET MORE GOLD
FROM ME.
YOU KNOW, HE [BLEEP]
CAN'T LET ME GET ANYTHING.
EVERY LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?
Kris:
ANDY, GO LOOK AT THE BOX
AND SEE IF HE'S EVEN [BLEEP]
PUTTING ANY MATERIAL THROUGH IT.
I DON'T EVEN HEAR ANY ROCKS
COMING UP.
YEAH.
[BLEEP] HIM.
ARE YOU STILL WORKING?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY MATERIAL
COME UP YET.
THERE IS NO MATERIAL COMING UP
THIS [BLEEP] SLUICE BOX AT ALL.
THERE'S NOT EVEN SAND.
LOOK AT THAT [BLEEP]
HE'S SITTING
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE.
I'M NOT
[BLEEP] PULLING YOU UP.
PULL ME UP,
YOU [BLEEP] LAZY BASTARDS.
I'M NOT PULLING HIM UP!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
OH, HE'S ON HIS WAY UP.
OH, WHATEVER.
Andy: YOU KNOW, IT WAS
KIND OF [BLEEP] UP, REALLY.
HE GETS SUITED UP, DIPS IN THE
WATER, AND COMES RIGHT BACK UP.
WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.
MY DAD,
HE JUST WANTS TO MESS AROUND.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO DIVE,
HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO BE
OUT THERE WITH US,
BUT HE WANTS HIS GOLD.
HERE HE IS --
THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND!
YEAH, I CALLED THAT [BLEEP]
10 MINUTES.
Narrator: BRAD RESURFACES
AFTER AN EXHAUSTING 10 MINUTES.
NOT ENOUGH TO ADD
TO THE BOX...
...BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GIVE
HIM A DIVER'S CUT FOR THE DAY.
Brad: READY TO ROLL.
I GOT TO GO AND TAKE CARE
OF THIS -- THIS PRENATAL [BLEEP]
I'LL BE BACK.
Kris: THAT'S BULL[BLEEP]
LOOK AT THIS JACKASS.
THAT'S IT. TOOK OFF.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT.
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH, GO TEAM.
Narrator: WHILE BAD BRAD
HEADS BACK TO TOWN...
...EIGHT MILES TO THE EAST...
...ON CLAIM 12...
Zeke:
IF THE GOLD IS GOOD,
I THINK WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY OUT HERE.
AND GLEN'S BEEN AT IT ALL DAY.
IT'S GONNA STACK UP FAST.
Narrator:
...ZEKE TENHOFF CAREFULLY
MONITORS DIVER GLEN LeBARON,
DREDGING 28 FEET UNDER THE ICE.
Zeke: HOW'S IT GOING?
Glen: KEEPING TRACK
OF MY NITROGEN.
WE CAN'T MESS AROUND
AT THIS DEPTH.
WE'RE DEFINITELY IN THE GRAY
ZONE OF WHAT WE CAN DO SAFELY.
OKAY, I'M COMING UP
RIGHT NOW, ZEKE.
YEAH. WE SHOULD TAKE
A COUPLE MINUTES
JUST, AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
GO VERY, VERY SLOW.
YEP.
Narrator: AFTER SIX HOURS
DREDGING AT DEPTH,
GLEN'S RETURN TO THE SURFACE
MUST BE CAREFULLY EXECUTED
TO AVOID POTENTIALLY FATAL
DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.
Glen: OF COURSE,
I WANT TO TAKE MY TIME.
I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE
AT LEAST SIX HOURS TODAY.
I GOT TO GO EXTRA SLOW.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M AT 20 FEET.
I'M GONNA STAY HERE AT 20 FEET
FOR A FEW BREATHS
TO MAKE SURE...
I DON'T GET
A CARBONATED BLOODSTREAM.
Narrator: SAFETY STOPS RELIEVE
THE BODY OF DEADLY NITROGEN GAS.
Glen: ALL RIGHT.
GOING UP SLOWLY.
I'M GONNA STOP AT 10 FEET.
JUST GONNA HANG OUT HERE
FOR A FEW BREATHS.
OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA BE SEEING ME
AT THE SURFACE HERE
IN ABOUT THREE SECONDS.
WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
AN EASY SCENARIO.
WE'RE 30 FEET DOWN HERE.
WE CAN'T SEE HARDLY
IN FRONT OF OUR FACE,
BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF GOLD.
EVERY TIME I WALK ANYWHERE,
THERE'S SOMEBODY CALLING ME
MR. GOLD.
MY DREDGING NICKNAME
IS TENACIOUS G.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE PRICK.
THE GOLD HOUND, 'CAUSE
I CAN SMELL IT. [ SNIFFS ]
[ HOWLS ]
GOLD DADDY.
I'VE NEVER BEEN A PERSON
TO TAKE NICKNAMES -- EVER.
MR. NICE GUY.
LAZY [BLEEP]
THE PIRATE, 'CAUSE
I'M A SHADY [BLEEP] DUDE.
I THINK IT'S WELL ESTABLISHED
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE
YOURSELF A NICKNAME.
Narrator: IN NOME...
AFTER ANOTHER FIVE DAYS OF TOIL,
MINERS HAVE EARNED THE CHANCE
TO TALLY UP THEIR GOLD TAKES.
DUDE, I'D TAKE 1/10 OF
AN OUNCE AN HOUR [BLEEP]
RIGHT NOW OVER NOTHING.
Narrator:
THAT IS, IF THEY'VE MANAGED
TO RECOVER ANY GOLD AT ALL.
Emily: I'M SO [BLEEP] SICK
OF THIS [BLEEP]
Narrator: EMILY RIEDEL WILL
HAVE TO THAW HER WATER LINES
BEFORE DREDGING
CAN SAFELY RESUME.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE.
GONNA HAVE TO START DOING THIS
EVERY DAY.
BRINGING THE HOT-WATER HEATER
OFF THE ICE,
STORING IT IN A HEATED PLACE,
AND THEN BRING IT BACK OUT,
AND I [BLEEP] HOPE IT DOESN'T
RE-FREEZE ON THE WAY OUT.
SHOULDN'T.
Daryl: IT WON'T.
BUT GIVEN OUR LUCK,
YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS?
ACROSS TOWN
AT THE KELLY HOUSE...
THE BOND BETWEEN A FATHER
AND THE SON IS THICK.
...AFTER THEIR DAD DOVE
FOR 10 MINUTES
JUST TO TAKE GOLD
FROM THEIR POCKETS...
...KRIS AND ANDY HAVE CALLED IN
THE BIG GUN.
HELLO?
HI, DEE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
MOM.
DEE, WHY ARE YOU
SO HOSTILE?
DON'T BE SO HATEFUL.
NO, SHE'S NOT
RIGHT HERE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON
IN MY LIFE IS MY MOTHER.
WE'RE LIKE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
SO I DESPISE MY FATHER BECAUSE
OF WHAT HE DID TO MY MOTHER.
DID YOU WANT ME TO SEND YOU
MONEY?
HOW MUCH? A HONDO?
WILL THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?
OH, MY GOD.
DID YOU SAY 5 BUCKS?
DEE, I CAN'T DO THAT.
I CAN'T [BLEEP] DO THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, THE BANK'S CLOSED.
IT'S 4:00 HERE.
BANK'S OPEN TILL WHAT,
6:00?
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART,
DEE. COME ON.
WELL...
YOU CAN BE A LITTLE NICER.
AND YOU GOT TO QUIT
TALKING BAD ABOUT ME.
IF I SEND MONEY,
YOU GOT TO TALK --
LET ME HEAR YOU SAY SOMETHING
NICE TO ME RIGHT NOW.
DEE:
[Bleep] you.
[ SNICKERS ]
THANKS.
I AM SCARED OF MY FATHER.
I REALLY AM.
MY DAD'S DEVIOUS,
GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO HURT
PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE HIM WRONG.
MM...
[ SIGHS ]
OKAY, HONEST TO GOD, THE TRUTH?
Man: YEAH.
MY DAD HAS NOBODY ELSE
IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
HE'S [BLEEP] HAD US
SINCE HE'S BEEN 16 YEARS OLD.
HE'S KEPT US CLOSE GUARDED
HIS ENTIRE LIFE,
NEVER LET US STAY
AT ANYONE'S HOUSE.
[BLEEP] ALWAYS MOVED AROUND.
WE'VE BEEN STUCK WITH HIM
90% OF OUR LIFE.
DON'T ASK ME WHY.
WE'RE WEIRDO PEOPLE.
WE STICK WITH OUR
[BLEEP] WEIRDO FAMILY,
AND WE ALL SEEM TO GO DOWN
IN THE SAME SHIP TOGETHER.
Narrator:
OUT ON CLAIM 12...
Glen: ALL RIGHT, I'M JUST ABOUT
TO DROP OUT THE NUGGET SECTION.
Narrator: ...GLEN LeBARON
HAS RETURNED TO THE DEEP
TO CLEAN OUT THE DRAGON
AND CHECK THE YIELD.
Glen:
LET'S SEE WHAT'S IN HERE.
Narrator: THE DRAGON'S
TWO-STAGE RECOVERY SYSTEM
MEANS THERE'S ONE SLUICE BOX FOR
COARSE GOLD AND ONE FOR FINE.
Glen: ONLY TIME YOU SEE
A LOT OF GOLD ON TOP OF THE MAT
IS WHEN YOU'RE IN A COARSE AREA.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A FINE AREA.
Narrator: NO NUGGETS, BUT GLEN
STILL HAS THE FINE-GOLD SLUICE.
Glen: OH, YEAH.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SHOWING.
JUST PUDDLES OF FINE GOLD
RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, THE CLEAN-UP'S LOOKING
REALLY GOOD DOWN HERE, ZEKE.
YEAH!
THIS GOLD IS AWESOME!
Zeke: [ LAUGHS ]
SOLID GOLD, BABY.
ALL RIGHT, FANTASTIC.
OKAY, THE BUCKET'S READY.
ALL READY
FOR ANOTHER PILE OF GOLD.
Narrator: IT'S TIME TO SEE
JUST HOW BIG THE MOVE
TO CLAIM 12 WILL PAY OFF.
Zeke: YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
BIG MONEY REAL FAST --
IT'S 'CAUSE YOU MOVED
AROUND A WHOLE BUNCH
AND FOUND A HOT SPOT.
IF WE BOTH GET TO WORK, I THINK
THAT WE CAN GET A LOT OF GOLD
AND I THINK WE CAN GET THE JUMP
ON EVERYONE ELSE.
HOW'S IT LOOKING?
Glen: THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOME COLOR IN HERE.
I HAVE TO SELL IT TO KENNY
BY 3:00 BECAUSE HE NEEDS
TO GET IT IN THE MAIL
IN ORDER TO CAPTURE
TODAY'S PRICES.
Narrator:
GOLD ASSAYER KENNY HUGHES
PAYS A VISIT TO THE MISS NOMER.
HEY, KENNY.
HOW'S IT GOING?
[ SCALE BEEPS ]
OKAY.
OKAY, FIRE AT WILL.
10.32.
Glen: WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
10.32 OUNCES IS WORTH $13,500.
Kenny: SO, THE ADVANCE TODAY
IS $8,000.
SOUNDS GREAT.
EXCELLENT.
NOT TOO BAD.
YEAH. WE'RE DOING GOOD.
YEAH. KEEP IT UP.
ZEKE AND I BOTH HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO WORK THIS ONE GENERAL AREA
FOR SO LONG.
WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW
WE'RE DOING IN THIS SPOT,
AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC
THAT IT'S GONNA KEEP UP.
WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT MORE
FOR YOU HERE.
Narrator:
A 28-OUNCE WILD RANGER CLEANUP
HELPS VERNON EXTEND HIS LEAD
ON THE PACK,
WHILE EMILY RIEDEL
AND THE EROICA
ARE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
Man: WHOO, BABY!
HERE WE GO.
YEAH!
I'M HERE TO GOLD MINE.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
IS SHE DIES DOWN THERE
AND WE GOT TO DRAG HER ASS OUT.
YOU PISS OFF EVERYBODY
IN THE [BLEEP]DAMN CREW!
ANYBODY CAN GO DOWN THERE
AND [BLEEP] PULL SOME GOLD
AFTER I LED THEM HERE!
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪ LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW
♪ WHAT I SAY
♪ I'M A-GONNA HEAD OUT WEST
ONE DAY ♪
♪ I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪
♪ AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪
♪ GOLD
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
THAT'S WHY WE COME TO NOME
RIGHT THERE.
THE DREAMERS LEAVE
AND THE REAL MEN STAY.
LATE IN MARCH,
THE WINTER MINING SEASON
IS KICKING INTO HIGH GEAR.
WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL
FOR A 300-OUNCE SEASON HERE,
AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M SHOOTING FOR.
I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
Shawn: PUT A LOT OF GOLD IN THE
BOX IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME,
AND WE JUST KEEP MOVING TOWARDS
WHERE WE SEE MORE AND MORE GOLD,
AND HOPEFULLY, WE FIND THAT
BIG-ASS PUDDLE DOWN THERE.
Narrator: CREWS ARE FIGHTING IT
OUT FOR THE BEST GROUNDS...
THE KELLYS --
PRACTICALLY RIGHT ON TOP OF US.
LET THEM GO FIND THEIR OWN AREA.
Narrator:
...AND FIGHTING JUST TO KEEP
THEIR DREDGES UP AND RUNNING.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE ALREADY
BLOWN AN INSANE AMOUNT
OF MONEY ON THIS PROJECT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
YOUR PREPARATION.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS.
NOME IS NOME, AND NOME IS WHERE
CHAOS IS BREWED AND DISTRIBUTED.
Narrator:
WITH SPRING ONLY A MONTH AWAY,
IT'S A SCRAMBLE TO GET THE GOLD
WHILE THE GETTING STAYS GOOD.
Glen: WE'RE DOING
THE BEST WE CAN HERE.
IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME BECAUSE
THE SHEET'S GONNA GO OUT,
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN.
Narrator: SEVEN MILES WEST
OF TOWN ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
MY GOAL IS TO KICK EVERYBODY'S
ASS AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
I'M GONNA STACK AS MUCH GOLD UP
AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: FOUR DAYS AGO...
WHOO!
Narrator:
MR. GOLD, SHAWN POMRENKE'S
FIRST CLEAN-UP OF THE WINTER...
30.95 OUNCES.
...WORTH OVER $40,000
PUT HIM IN SECOND PLACE
ON THE LEADER BOARD.
I HATE GETTING SECOND PLACE.
I DON'T LIKE SECOND PLACE.
MY GOAL IS 150.
WE'RE AT, LIKE, 30,
BUT I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT
BECAUSE I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE
A PILE OF GOLD AT THE END OF IT,
AND WE'RE GONNA BE WEIGHING
STUFF IN POUNDS AND NOT OUNCES.
Narrator:
NEXT UP TO HEAD UNDER THE ICE...
YEAH, RIGHT.
WILL IT FIT?
...VETERAN DIVER CODY MOEN.
HOLY [BLEEP]
CODY, YOU PUT ON
MORE THAN FIVE POUNDS.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHOULDERS BACK.
SHAWN'S, SHALL WE SAY...
ATTABOY!
...A HEAVY HITTER.
[ Scottish accent ]
I'M SO SEXY! GET IN MY BELLY!
YEAH, CODY ATE WELL THIS WINTER.
SO HE'S WORKING THAT OFF NOW.
[ GRUNTS ]
UH-OH.
IS THAT A NEW STRAP?
DID I GET THAT FAT?
[ LAUGHS ]
I THINK
IT GOT SHORTENED UP.
Shawn: [ Normal voice ]
YOU NEED AN EXTENSION?
JUST PUT THAT [BLEEP]
AROUND YOUR ANKLE.
CODY, YOU'LL NEVER GET THIS
[BLEEP] BACK ON.
HOLY [BLEEP]
JUST DON'T LET IT OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
[BLEEP]
I'M GONNA HAVE TO SET UP
A WEIGHT BELT JUST FOR CODY.
[ GRUNTS ]
OH [BLEEP]
I'M BARELY ABLE TO SINK HERE.
HOW YOU FEELING?
[ Laughs ]
Narrator:
AFTER AN EXTENDED DESCENT, CODY
FINALLY GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Cody:
I'M GONNA HEAD OVER TO WHERE
SHAWN WAS KIND OF WORKING LAST.
SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING.
Shawn: I WAS SEEING REALLY GOOD
GOLD AT THE END OF THE HOSE.
SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE
ABOUT 50 FEET.
NOW WE'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF IT,
AND THEN WE FOLLOW IT
FROM THERE,
BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET CODY
IN A BIG [BLEEP] PILE OF GOLD.
Cody: FEELS KIND OF COBBLE-Y
OVER HERE TO THE EAST END.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY COLOR YET.
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO KIND OF START TELLING
HOW WE WERE WORKING
BY THE CUT.
YEAH.
IT'S JUST NOTHING.
THERE'S NO GOLD ANYWHERE HERE.
NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
[ GRUNTS ]
I LOST MY WEIGHT BELT, MAN.
I'M FLOATING.
OH.
I'M STUCK UP ON THE ICE.
I'M LITERALLY
[BLEEP] UPSIDE DOWN.
Narrator: THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE
OF CODY'S EXTRA POUNDS?
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator: BUOYANCY.
Cody: [ CHUCKLES ]
TRY TO GRAB A ROCK
OR SOMETHING
AND GET YOUR ASS BACK
TO THE HOLE.
OH [BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT,
I GOT THE WEIGHT BELT --
JUST BARELY GOT IT
IN MY HAND.
GONNA TRY TO GET
TO THE LADDER HERE.
OH [BLEEP]
OH, YEAH,
FEELS LIKE I GOT A BIG ONE!
I GOT A [BLEEP] BIG ONE!
UH-OH.
THAT WAS FUNNY.
YOU SEE ME FLOATING THERE?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE STRAP DON'T QUITE FIT
INTO THE CLIP HERE
ON THE WEIGHT BELT.
THAT SUCKED.
Narrator:
THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN BEING
TOO HEAVY FOR YOUR DIVE BELT --
COMING UP LIGHT ON GOLD.
Cody:
CHECKED A LOT OF GROUND.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF,
BUT NOTHING
EVEN WORTH TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, WE PUT A COUPLE OUNCES
IN THE BOX, ANYWAY, SO...
EVERYBODY'S RUNNING RAGGED
AROUND HERE.
THIS MOVING'S HARD ON A GUY.
THEN TRYING TO DIVE, MOVE,
DIVE, MOVE, DIVE --
IT'S REALLY HARD ON A GUY.
Narrator: WITH ANOTHER DIVE HOLE
TURNING OUT A BUST,
MR. GOLD MUST PLOT
HIS NEXT MOVE.
BACK ON CLAIM 14...
AT THE EROICA.
Emily:
PUMPS ARE RUNNING.
ALL WE CAN DO IS GET THE DIVER
IN THE WATER,
AND THEN WE'LL BE SEEING
IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY PROGRESS
WITH THE DRAGON SLAYER.
Narrator: EMILY RIEDEL HAS
HER PROTOTYPE UNDERWATER DREDGE,
THE DRAGON SLAYER,
BACK UP AND RUNNING.
THE SYSTEM
IS STILL GETTING DIALED IN.
IT'S PRETTY NEW TO US.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF BAD DAYS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
ABOUT THIS ICE SEASON.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AGO...
...THE DRAGON SLAYER'S FIRST RUN
WAS CUT SHORT
DUE TO A LACK OF SUCTION.
AFTER DROPPING ANOTHER 1,000
BUCKS ON A STRONGER PUMP ENGINE,
IT'S TIME FOR ROUND TWO.
THE FAILURE THAT IS INEVITABLE
WITH THE PURSUIT OF MINING,
YOUR EQUIPMENT NOT WORKING,
IT CAN EITHER TURN YOU
INTO A MONSTER
OR IT CAN TURN YOU INTO
A HIGHLY MOTIVATED HUMAN BEING
JUST, LIKE, PRESSING ON
TO TRY TO FIND GOLD.
TIME TO GET TO WORK, BROTHER.
IT'S SHOWTIME.
Narrator:
TESTING OUT THE NEW SYSTEM...
IT'S TONY'S FIRST DIVE
UNDER THE ICE.
...ROOKIE ICE DIVER
TONY MANN.
LOWER
YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
YEAH, JUST [BLEEP]
JUST BREATHE AND CALM DOWN,
ALL RIGHT?
YOU KNOW,
IT'S [BLEEP] GOLD MINING.
IT'S NOT
[BLEEP] LIFE AND DEATH.
I'M STILL GREEN. I'M GREEN
AS A FREAKING CUCUMBER.
I SEE THAT ICE HOLE, THE ANXIETY
KIND OF GOES OFF A LITTLE BIT.
BREATHE DEEP.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
IT'S CAVE DIVING. SO, I
MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
WHAT YOU'RE DOING --
ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT.
PUT YOUR CHIN UP.
GO SUCK SOME GOLD.
OH.
IT'S [BLEEP] UNSETTLING
DIVING UNDER THE ICE
FOR YOUR FIRST TIME.
IT'S DANGEROUS
FOR THE DIVER DOWN THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXTRA LINES
AND HOSES.
[ GRUNTS ]
ON BOTTOM.
EM, THIS IS CRAZY.
WOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF BEING UNDER THE ICE, TONES?
SO, HOW'S THE SUCTION?
ALL RIGHT.
I'M MAKING MY WAY TO THE NOZZLE.
Narrator: WITH THE CLOCK TICKING
ON THE WINTER SEASON,
EMILY NEEDS THE NEW PUMP
TO DELIVER.
Tony: THIS DRAGON SLAYER
SUCKS PRETTY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
Emily: YEAH, BOY!
OUR MAIN PUMP ENGINE'S WORKING.
WE GOT ENOUGH SUCTION, FINALLY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
SOME GOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Tony: SO FAR, SO GOOD.
WE JUST GOT TO SEE
WHAT'S UNDER THESE ROCKS.
[ GRUNTS ]
AH, LOOKY THERE.
ARE YOU SEEING
SOME GOLD?
YEAH.
WHOO-HOO!
OH!
I NEVER HAD A DOUBT
IN MY MIND
THAT YOU'D [BLEEP] GET OVER
WHATEVER NERVOUSNESS YOU HAD.
HERE'S MY
"I JUST SAW A BIG NUGGET" FACE.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE LOOKING FOR IT, TONY.
Emily:
JUST CHECKING OUT THE BOX,
SEEING HOW THE MATERIAL
IS GOING THROUGH IT.
HEY!
[ Chuckling ] OH.
THAT'S GOLD.
[ STUTTERED BREATHING ]
Tony: HANG ON A BIT. FEELS LIKE
IT'S [BLEEP] STARTING TO GO.
HOLD ON.
[ BREATHING SHARPLY ]
YEP.
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
UP!
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
PULL ME UP!
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME
AT THE EROICA...
HANG ON A BIT. FEELS LIKE
IT'S [BLEEP] STARTING TO GO.
HOLD ON.
[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]
YEP.
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
UP!
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
Narrator:
IN THE 25-DEGREE WATER,
DIVER TONY MANN'S REGULATOR
HAS FROZEN,
LEAVING HIM
WITH ONLY SECONDS OF AIR.
PULL ME UP!
PULL ME UP!
COMING UP.
DARYL, PULL ME UP!
[ GRUNTS ]
Emily: COME ON, NOW.
GET UP.
ALL RIGHT. YOU GOOD?
YOU'RE GOOD, MAN.
YOU'RE UP.
MY [BLEEP] REGULATOR
FROZE.
Tony: I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH
THE BREATH, AND IT WENT.
BEFORE I KNEW IT, DARYL STARTED
[BLEEP] PULLING ME OUT.
I HAD ABOUT TWO BREATHS
BEFORE THE SURFACE,
AND ON THAT LAST BREATH,
IT COMPLETELY SUCKED MY FACE.
Emily: THERE'S NO FEELING
MORE TERRIFYING.
REGULATOR FREEZES.
YOU THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE THEM
AND EXACERBATE THEM,
AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO GET BACK.
Narrator: ALREADY DEEP IN DEBT
ON EQUIPMENT,
EMILY IS FACING
YET ANOTHER SETBACK.
I DON'T THINK
WE'RE GETTING WATER.
THIS WATER LINE MIGHT BE
STARTING TO FREEZE, YOU GUYS.
I'M FEELING
A LOT OF PRESSURE.
LIKE, IT MIGHT BE TRYING
TO PUSH UP ICE OR SOMETHING.
THE PROBLEM THIS TIME --
NO, IT'S CLOGGED COMPLETELY
WITH ICE.
...A BUILDUP OF ICE
IN THE LINE CARRYING HOT WATER
TO THE REGULATOR.
SO, WE GOT TO PULL THE PUMP
BACK OUT NOW
AND GET THIS WARMED UP.
GOD!
IT'S OKAY, EM.
WE'LL GET IT.
Emily: AND I JUST DROPPED
50 GRAND ON AN OPERATION
THAT IS NOT REMOTELY CLOSE
TO PAYING FOR IT, SO...
Narrator: AS EMILY'S OPERATION
CONTINUES TO FALTER,
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CLAIM 14
AT THE MISS NOMER...
.68.
NOT EVEN THREE-QUARTERS.
OH, DUDE.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE, FOR SURE.
...AFTER PULLING 16 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $21,000,
FROM THEIR FIRST SPOT...
WE'VE DONE WELL HERE. WE CAN'T
COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW WE'VE DONE.
IT'S BEEN GOOD TO US,
BUT IT'S DWINDLING.
...GLEN LeBARON
AND PARTNER ZEKE TENHOFF
ARE IN NEED
OF SOME FRESH GROUND.
REMEMBER LAST FALL WHEN WE WENT
OUT IN THOSE NASTY STORMS?
LIKE, I PUT MY FACE DOWN
TO THE BOTTOM,
AND THERE'S GOLD JUST,
LIKE, EXPOSED ON THE CLAIM.
MM-HMM. YEP.
YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S ABOUT TIME WE MOVED TO 12.
THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
LET'S PACK UP
AND GET OUT OF HERE.
ZEKE AND I, WE DREDGED 14.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD
SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WE WANT TO PUT AS MUCH GOLD
IN THE BOX AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator:
THE PLAN -- A HALF-MILE MOVE
FROM CLAIM 14 TO CLAIM 12,
A SPOT THEY'VE ATTEMPTED TO WORK
JUST ONCE BEFORE.
Zeke:
THE OPERATION GLEN AND I HAVE
RIGHT NOW, IT'S HIGHLY MOBILE.
WE BOTH KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING,
WE KNOW WHAT GOOD GOLD
LOOKS LIKE,
AND WE CAN MOVE AROUND QUICKLY.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT TO
KIND OF A MORE UNEXPLORED AREA
AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME NEW
CHALLENGES AT THIS NEW LOCATION
BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE
A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL,
HAVE MORE SAFETY HOLES.
Narrator: WITH THE NEW CLAIM
COMES A NEW DANGER.
Zeke: WE WEREN'T VERY DEEP
OVER THERE ON OUR LAST SPOT.
I THINK WE WERE ONLY
LIKE 15, 16 FEET.
THIS IS ABOUT 30.
SO, WE'RE IN DANGER OF BUILDING
UP A LOT OF NITROGEN,
AND THERE'S NO DECOMPRESSION
CHAMBERS IN NOME.
Zeke:
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT IDEAL,
BUT FOR THE GOLD, I THINK
IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
Narrator:
WHILE GLEN AND ZEKE RUSH
TO GET BACK IN THE WATER...
EIGHT MILES TO THE WEST
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
THE GARBAGE TIN CAN
BLEW A COMPRESSOR.
...THE KELLY FAMILY
IS WORKING TO GET THEIR
AIR COMPRESSOR BACK ONLINE.
WHAT HAPPENED
WAS IT SHEARED OFF A PIN
ON THE INSIDE OF THE PISTON.
SO IT'S ONLY TURNING
ON ONE SIDE.
CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T WIN
FOR LOSING.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AGO...
NOW!
...OWNER BRAD KELLY'S
CHEAP EQUIPMENT
NEARLY COST HIM
HIS SECOND-BORN SON.
HEY!
READY TO GO.
I'M GONNA PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
Narrator: BRAD'S SOLUTIONS --
MORE USED PARTS.
OKAY, WE'RE ALL READY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
OUR OPERATION RUNS
FOR ABOUT LESS THAN $100 A DAY.
PROFIT-WISE, IT'S THE BEST
IT'S EVER BEEN FOR ME.
MY DAD DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND
ANY MONEY ON ANYTHING --
NO PROSPECTING, NO UPGRADES,
ANYTHING,
BECAUSE DAD'S GOT
HIS NEW FAMILY.
Narrator: FOR THE BOYS,
THE ONLY THING WORSE
THAN DAD HOARDING THE PROFITS
IS WHO HE'S
BEEN SPENDING THEM ON.
THERE'S THE LITTLE WOMAN
RIGHT THERE --
THE NEW ADDITION
TO THE FAMILY -- COURTNEY.
Kris: WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS
TALK FOR A COUPLE SECONDS
ABOUT HOW THE GOLD
IS BEING DISTRIBUTED.
WE NEED TO START PUTTING IT
INTO THE DREDGE.
I KNOW HOW WE CAN TAKE CARE
OF THIS PROBLEM.
YOU DIVE
FOUR MORE HOURS A DAY,
AND THAT'LL PICK UP
THE SLACK.
HOW ABOUT YOU STOP BUYING
YOUR NEW KIDS ALL KINDS OF TOYS,
YOUR NEW FAMILY ALL KINDS OF --
LITTLE KIDS NEED TOYS.
I DIDN'T NEED THEM
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.
STOP [BLEEP] OUR DREDGING MONEY
AWAY ON YOUR NEW FAMILY.
I'M NOT PISSING MONEY AWAY.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND.
NO, IT ISN'T IN MY MIND.
I CAN SEE IT.
YOU'RE SPENDING OUR DREDGING
MONEY ON YOUR NEW FAMILY.
AND THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW,
IT'S STILL A LOT OF ANIMOSITY.
I MET A NEW WOMAN IN NOME, WAS A
WAITRESS. AND WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
I TOLD MY WIFE TO COME
HERE IN THE BEGINNING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
NOW I BET SHE WISHED
SHE WOULD'VE COME.
COURTNEY'S CLOSET'S FULL OF
[BLEEP] THAT YOU BOUGHT HER NEW.
LIKE WHAT?
JACKETS, SHOES, MAKEUP.
THAT'S HOW YOU GOT TO KEEP
YOUR GIRL HAPPY.
WELL, YOU NEED TO STOP
BUYING HER [BLEEP]
LOOKIT! ARE WE READY TO GO?
ARE WE READY TO SHUT UP?
OKAY, I GOT TO --
YOU KNOW, IT'S CONSTANT ARGUING.
THESE [BLEEP] SNIVELER WHINERS.
KRIS, HE WAKES UP WITH
A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS
THAT SHOULD BE ON MEDS 24/7 --
SOMETHING REAL POWERFUL FOR
NUT JOBS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Kris: MY DAD'S STARTING
THIS NEW FAMILY.
HE COMES TO NOME AND
RUINS EVERYONE'S LIFE OVER IT.
HE WANTS TO TAKE
NO RESPONSIBILITY
FOR ANYTHING HE'S DOING
WHATSOEVER.
JUST DO IT.
LET'S GO.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME, ALASKA...
ON CLAIM 12...
REALLY, EVERYTHING'S PUT
TOGETHER, IT'S READY TO RUN,
AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY
TO DIVE.
FIRST DIVE HOLE OF OUR NEW SPOT.
Narrator:
...ZEKE AND GLEN ARE READY
TO EXPLORE THE NEW GROUNDS.
I'M JUST MEASURING OUT 30 FEET
ON THIS PIECE OF STRING,
AND I'M GONNA DROP IT DOWN
IN THE HOLE
AND SEE WHAT KIND OF DEPTH
WE'RE ACTUALLY IN.
Narrator:
TO FIND THEIR FORTUNE, THEY'LL
HAVE TO GO DEEPER UNDER THE ICE.
WE'RE KIND OF IN THE GRAY AREA
OF GETTING THE BENDS.
YOU KNOW, THE BENDS IS WHERE
YOU GET SO MUCH NITROGEN
IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM,
YOU CAN'T JUST ASCEND
AS FAST AS YOU WANT
BECAUSE
THE NITROGEN BUBBLES EXPAND
AND WILL ACTUALLY BLOCK OFF
YOUR BLOODSTREAM,
AND IT COULD KILL YOU.
Zeke: WELL, THIS IS 30 FEET
RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT 2 FEET.
SO WE'RE AT ABOUT 28 FEET.
Glen: SO, IT'S A REAL DEAL.
WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
PRETTY SPOOKY
DIVING THIS DEEP.
IT'D TAKE A LOT LONGER
TO GET THE HELL OUT OF
THERE IF YOU NEED TO.
BE SAFE. I'LL GO LISTEN TO YOU
ON THE COMM.
OKAY.
Narrator: FIRST TO TAKE
THE PLUNGE -- GLEN LeBARON,
THE SELF-PROCLAIMED
BEST DREDGER IN NOME.
AT 28 FEET BELOW THE ICE,
THE PRESSURE PER SQUARE INCH IS
NEARLY DOUBLE THAT AT SEA LEVEL.
THE LONGER GLEN DIVES AT DEPTH,
THE MORE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN
WILL BUILD UP
IN HIS BLOODSTREAM
AND THE GREATER THE RISK
OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.
Glen: THIS IS DEFINITELY
THE DIVE OF RECKONING.
I'VE GOT TO SEE AT LEAST
A HALF OUNCE AN HOUR TO
CONTINUE DREDGING DOWN HERE.
IT'S JUST TOO RISKY.
SO, IS THERE ANY HARDPAN LAYER
WHERE YOU'RE WORKING?
THERE IS.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART
OF THE REASON
THESE GRAVELS ARE SO RICH.
SEVERAL LAYERS OF GRAVEL HERE.
THERE'S A GRAY LAYER
AND THERE'S THIS RUSTY...
OH, WOW.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS GRAVEL'S JUST ABSOLUTELY
SATURATED WITH GOLD.
AWESOME.
I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR
THAT WE'RE BACK ON IT
AND WE'RE SEEING GOOD GOLD.
YEAH.
I'M GLAD THAT --
I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE.
Narrator:
AS THE MOVE TO CLAIM 12 STARTS
PAYING OFF FOR THE MISS NOMER,
BACK IN TOWN...
AT VERNON ADKINSON'S TRAILER...
FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED
AND KNOCKING ON WOOD.
Narrator:
...THE WILD RANGER OWNER
IS PANNING OUT HIS
SECOND CLEAN-OUT OF THE YEAR.
THAT LOOKED PRETTY DAMN GOOD
TO ME.
SO FAR THIS SEASON, VERNON'S
FIRST HAUL NETTED $42,000
AND PUT HIM AT THE TOP
OF THE GOLD COUNT.
32.6.
RIGHT.
Narrator: HIS ONLY PROBLEM...
NO, HE'S CHALLENGING ME
AT EVERY MOMENT.
JUST QUIT BEING SO DAMN
SENSITIVE, FOR GOD SAKES!
...THE ENORMOUS EGO
OF CREW CHIEF JASON WALKER.
I PROBABLY DID THE BEST
ON THIS BOX.
THIS SPLIT'S GONNA BE BASED
ON HOURS.
I THINK IF YOU GO BY HOURS,
IT WOULD PROBABLY CREATE
A MORE TEAM-LIKE ATMOSPHERE.
WELL, I DO BETTER
WITH LESS HOURS, OKAY?
I DO BETTER THAN EVERYBODY
SO FAR WITH LESS HOURS,
AND I'M NOT TAKING A CUT
FROM THAT, OKAY?
I'M NOT GONNA TRY
TO GO DOWN THERE
AND COMPETE WITH THEIR SIX HOURS
WHEN I CAN DO MORE IN FOUR.
THEY CAN'T COMPETE
WITH ME.
IT'S JUST A LACK
OF EXPERIENCE.
WHO ON THIS TEAM
HAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE?
ARE YOU SAYING YOU
MIGHT HAVE A LACK OF
EXPERIENCE? I'M NOT SURE.
ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
NO, I'M NOT TRYING
TO CALL YOU OUT.
I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE,
WHO HAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE HERE?
I THINK WE ALL ARE PRETTY MUCH
ON THE SAME LEVEL.
THINK WE CAN MOVE
SOME [BLEEP] GROUND.
YOU'RE THE MANAGER.
BE MANAGERIAL.
WHY'S EVERYONE
SECOND-GUESSING ME, THEN?
BECAUSE YOU KNOW --
IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN.
WHY DON'T YOU STEP UP
AND SAY
THAT WE ALREADY PROVED THAT
JASON DOES MORE IN LESS TIME?
SAY IT,
AND THAT'LL BE THE END OF IT.
DON'T TELL ME
WHAT TO [BLEEP] SAY!
LISTEN, JUST CALM DOWN!
JUST CALM DOWN.
JUST BEAR WITH ME
FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
20-SOMETHINGS, AND...
JASON, PLEASE,
JUST BEAR WITH ME.
I'M GETTING
A LITTLE FRUSTRATED
AND I NEED --
I NEED A BREAK.
I'LL STILL OUT-PRODUCE
HIM, TOO.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THE [BLEEP]
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
TO PLEASE THAT GUY.
Jason: THAT'S JUST INSANE.
THAT'S INSANE
TO WANT TO SHARE A BOX
WITH SOME LAGGING-BEHIND DIVERS.
Vernon:
WE'LL PAY EVERYBODY BY THE HOUR,
AND I'LL REACH
SOME ACCOMMODATION WITH HIM.
TRYING TO MAKE IT
SO THAT IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
Narrator: THE BEST REMEDY
FOR AN ANGRY CREW?
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
SEE WHAT ALL THIS HARD WORK
PAID OFF TO BE.
GOLD ON THE SCALE.
Vernon: COME ON, BABY.
PRETTY NICE
LITTLE PILE OF GOLD.
Narrator: 28 OUNCES OF GOLD.
THAT'S $36,000.
WELL, GOOD.
BIG OL' SMILES ON OUR FACES.
THE GOLD IS SO GOOD.
BUT THE CREW MAY LEAVE ME
BECAUSE OF JASON,
AND I MADE UP MY MIND
A WHILE BACK.
BEFORE THAT WOULD HAPPEN,
I'D GET RID OF JASON.
Narrator: SEVEN MILES WEST
OF NOME HARBOR...
AT THE REAPER...
HEY, KRIS.
HOW'S THE GOLD GOING?
WITH A JURY-RIGGED
AIR COMPRESSOR,
BRAD KELLY'S DIME-STORE DREDGE
IS BACK IN BUSINESS,
AND HIS SON, KRIS,
IS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.
I GOT A FEELING THIS IS THE ONE
THAT'S GONNA PAY OFF FOR US.
Narrator: AS DIVER, KRIS TAKES
A HEALTHY CUT OF THE DAY'S GOLD.
I KNOW.
BUT HIS FATHER, BRAD, HE WANTS
A BIGGER PIECE OF THE ACTION.
DAD'S GETTING READY
TO GO DOWN.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: BRAD'S OWNER'S SHARE
IS ALREADY HALF OF THE GOLD.
ADDING A DIVER'S CUT GIVES HIM
THE LION'S SHARE.
MY FIRST DIVE UNDER THE ICE.
GOOD GOLD. I WANT TO GET
A PIECE OF THIS PIE.
♪ DA-DA-DA-DA-DAA
I'M READY.
KRIS THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA HAVE
A GOOD DAY,
BUT I'M GONNA GO DOWN AND STIR
UP HIS [BLEEP] GOLD FOR HIM.
SHOW THESE YOUNG GUYS
HOW IT'S REALLY DONE.
THIS ISN'T MY FIRST RODEO.
WHEN YOU GO ON YOUR WAY UP
TO THE TOP,
DOES IT MATTER ALL
THE LITTLE PEOPLE YOU GOT
TO STEP ON TO GET THERE
[Laughing]
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, DUDE?
I HOPE YOU'RE GONNA BE
DOWN THERE DOING SOME WORK
AND NOT JUST [BLEEP] TRYING
TO TAKE
A BIGGER PERCENTAGE
OF MY GOLD.
Kris: MY DAD'S GONNA PRETEND
TO DO SOME DREDGING,
MAYBE STAND ON THE HOSE
AND MOVE IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT
JUST TO GET MORE GOLD
FROM ME.
YOU KNOW, HE [BLEEP]
CAN'T LET ME GET ANYTHING.
EVERY LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?
Kris:
ANDY, GO LOOK AT THE BOX
AND SEE IF HE'S EVEN [BLEEP]
PUTTING ANY MATERIAL THROUGH IT.
I DON'T EVEN HEAR ANY ROCKS
COMING UP.
YEAH.
[BLEEP] HIM.
ARE YOU STILL WORKING?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY MATERIAL
COME UP YET.
THERE IS NO MATERIAL COMING UP
THIS [BLEEP] SLUICE BOX AT ALL.
THERE'S NOT EVEN SAND.
LOOK AT THAT [BLEEP]
HE'S SITTING
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE.
I'M NOT
[BLEEP] PULLING YOU UP.
PULL ME UP,
YOU [BLEEP] LAZY BASTARDS.
I'M NOT PULLING HIM UP!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
OH, HE'S ON HIS WAY UP.
OH, WHATEVER.
Andy: YOU KNOW, IT WAS
KIND OF [BLEEP] UP, REALLY.
HE GETS SUITED UP, DIPS IN THE
WATER, AND COMES RIGHT BACK UP.
WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.
MY DAD,
HE JUST WANTS TO MESS AROUND.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO DIVE,
HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO BE
OUT THERE WITH US,
BUT HE WANTS HIS GOLD.
HERE HE IS --
THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND!
YEAH, I CALLED THAT [BLEEP]
10 MINUTES.
Narrator: BRAD RESURFACES
AFTER AN EXHAUSTING 10 MINUTES.
NOT ENOUGH TO ADD
TO THE BOX...
...BUT MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GIVE
HIM A DIVER'S CUT FOR THE DAY.
Brad: READY TO ROLL.
I GOT TO GO AND TAKE CARE
OF THIS -- THIS PRENATAL [BLEEP]
I'LL BE BACK.
Kris: THAT'S BULL[BLEEP]
LOOK AT THIS JACKASS.
THAT'S IT. TOOK OFF.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT.
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH, GO TEAM.
Narrator: WHILE BAD BRAD
HEADS BACK TO TOWN...
...EIGHT MILES TO THE EAST...
...ON CLAIM 12...
Zeke:
IF THE GOLD IS GOOD,
I THINK WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY OUT HERE.
AND GLEN'S BEEN AT IT ALL DAY.
IT'S GONNA STACK UP FAST.
Narrator:
...ZEKE TENHOFF CAREFULLY
MONITORS DIVER GLEN LeBARON,
DREDGING 28 FEET UNDER THE ICE.
Zeke: HOW'S IT GOING?
Glen: KEEPING TRACK
OF MY NITROGEN.
WE CAN'T MESS AROUND
AT THIS DEPTH.
WE'RE DEFINITELY IN THE GRAY
ZONE OF WHAT WE CAN DO SAFELY.
OKAY, I'M COMING UP
RIGHT NOW, ZEKE.
YEAH. WE SHOULD TAKE
A COUPLE MINUTES
JUST, AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
GO VERY, VERY SLOW.
YEP.
Narrator: AFTER SIX HOURS
DREDGING AT DEPTH,
GLEN'S RETURN TO THE SURFACE
MUST BE CAREFULLY EXECUTED
TO AVOID POTENTIALLY FATAL
DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.
Glen: OF COURSE,
I WANT TO TAKE MY TIME.
I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE
AT LEAST SIX HOURS TODAY.
I GOT TO GO EXTRA SLOW.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M AT 20 FEET.
I'M GONNA STAY HERE AT 20 FEET
FOR A FEW BREATHS
TO MAKE SURE...
I DON'T GET
A CARBONATED BLOODSTREAM.
Narrator: SAFETY STOPS RELIEVE
THE BODY OF DEADLY NITROGEN GAS.
Glen: ALL RIGHT.
GOING UP SLOWLY.
I'M GONNA STOP AT 10 FEET.
JUST GONNA HANG OUT HERE
FOR A FEW BREATHS.
OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA BE SEEING ME
AT THE SURFACE HERE
IN ABOUT THREE SECONDS.
WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
AN EASY SCENARIO.
WE'RE 30 FEET DOWN HERE.
WE CAN'T SEE HARDLY
IN FRONT OF OUR FACE,
BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF GOLD.
EVERY TIME I WALK ANYWHERE,
THERE'S SOMEBODY CALLING ME
MR. GOLD.
MY DREDGING NICKNAME
IS TENACIOUS G.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE PRICK.
THE GOLD HOUND, 'CAUSE
I CAN SMELL IT. [ SNIFFS ]
[ HOWLS ]
GOLD DADDY.
I'VE NEVER BEEN A PERSON
TO TAKE NICKNAMES -- EVER.
MR. NICE GUY.
LAZY [BLEEP]
THE PIRATE, 'CAUSE
I'M A SHADY [BLEEP] DUDE.
I THINK IT'S WELL ESTABLISHED
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE
YOURSELF A NICKNAME.
Narrator: IN NOME...
AFTER ANOTHER FIVE DAYS OF TOIL,
MINERS HAVE EARNED THE CHANCE
TO TALLY UP THEIR GOLD TAKES.
DUDE, I'D TAKE 1/10 OF
AN OUNCE AN HOUR [BLEEP]
RIGHT NOW OVER NOTHING.
Narrator:
THAT IS, IF THEY'VE MANAGED
TO RECOVER ANY GOLD AT ALL.
Emily: I'M SO [BLEEP] SICK
OF THIS [BLEEP]
Narrator: EMILY RIEDEL WILL
HAVE TO THAW HER WATER LINES
BEFORE DREDGING
CAN SAFELY RESUME.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE.
GONNA HAVE TO START DOING THIS
EVERY DAY.
BRINGING THE HOT-WATER HEATER
OFF THE ICE,
STORING IT IN A HEATED PLACE,
AND THEN BRING IT BACK OUT,
AND I [BLEEP] HOPE IT DOESN'T
RE-FREEZE ON THE WAY OUT.
SHOULDN'T.
Daryl: IT WON'T.
BUT GIVEN OUR LUCK,
YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS?
ACROSS TOWN
AT THE KELLY HOUSE...
THE BOND BETWEEN A FATHER
AND THE SON IS THICK.
...AFTER THEIR DAD DOVE
FOR 10 MINUTES
JUST TO TAKE GOLD
FROM THEIR POCKETS...
...KRIS AND ANDY HAVE CALLED IN
THE BIG GUN.
HELLO?
HI, DEE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
MOM.
DEE, WHY ARE YOU
SO HOSTILE?
DON'T BE SO HATEFUL.
NO, SHE'S NOT
RIGHT HERE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON
IN MY LIFE IS MY MOTHER.
WE'RE LIKE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
SO I DESPISE MY FATHER BECAUSE
OF WHAT HE DID TO MY MOTHER.
DID YOU WANT ME TO SEND YOU
MONEY?
HOW MUCH? A HONDO?
WILL THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?
OH, MY GOD.
DID YOU SAY 5 BUCKS?
DEE, I CAN'T DO THAT.
I CAN'T [BLEEP] DO THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, THE BANK'S CLOSED.
IT'S 4:00 HERE.
BANK'S OPEN TILL WHAT,
6:00?
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART,
DEE. COME ON.
WELL...
YOU CAN BE A LITTLE NICER.
AND YOU GOT TO QUIT
TALKING BAD ABOUT ME.
IF I SEND MONEY,
YOU GOT TO TALK --
LET ME HEAR YOU SAY SOMETHING
NICE TO ME RIGHT NOW.
DEE:
[Bleep] you.
[ SNICKERS ]
THANKS.
I AM SCARED OF MY FATHER.
I REALLY AM.
MY DAD'S DEVIOUS,
GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO HURT
PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE HIM WRONG.
MM...
[ SIGHS ]
OKAY, HONEST TO GOD, THE TRUTH?
Man: YEAH.
MY DAD HAS NOBODY ELSE
IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
HE'S [BLEEP] HAD US
SINCE HE'S BEEN 16 YEARS OLD.
HE'S KEPT US CLOSE GUARDED
HIS ENTIRE LIFE,
NEVER LET US STAY
AT ANYONE'S HOUSE.
[BLEEP] ALWAYS MOVED AROUND.
WE'VE BEEN STUCK WITH HIM
90% OF OUR LIFE.
DON'T ASK ME WHY.
WE'RE WEIRDO PEOPLE.
WE STICK WITH OUR
[BLEEP] WEIRDO FAMILY,
AND WE ALL SEEM TO GO DOWN
IN THE SAME SHIP TOGETHER.
Narrator:
OUT ON CLAIM 12...
Glen: ALL RIGHT, I'M JUST ABOUT
TO DROP OUT THE NUGGET SECTION.
Narrator: ...GLEN LeBARON
HAS RETURNED TO THE DEEP
TO CLEAN OUT THE DRAGON
AND CHECK THE YIELD.
Glen:
LET'S SEE WHAT'S IN HERE.
Narrator: THE DRAGON'S
TWO-STAGE RECOVERY SYSTEM
MEANS THERE'S ONE SLUICE BOX FOR
COARSE GOLD AND ONE FOR FINE.
Glen: ONLY TIME YOU SEE
A LOT OF GOLD ON TOP OF THE MAT
IS WHEN YOU'RE IN A COARSE AREA.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A FINE AREA.
Narrator: NO NUGGETS, BUT GLEN
STILL HAS THE FINE-GOLD SLUICE.
Glen: OH, YEAH.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SHOWING.
JUST PUDDLES OF FINE GOLD
RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, THE CLEAN-UP'S LOOKING
REALLY GOOD DOWN HERE, ZEKE.
YEAH!
THIS GOLD IS AWESOME!
Zeke: [ LAUGHS ]
SOLID GOLD, BABY.
ALL RIGHT, FANTASTIC.
OKAY, THE BUCKET'S READY.
ALL READY
FOR ANOTHER PILE OF GOLD.
Narrator: IT'S TIME TO SEE
JUST HOW BIG THE MOVE
TO CLAIM 12 WILL PAY OFF.
Zeke: YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
BIG MONEY REAL FAST --
IT'S 'CAUSE YOU MOVED
AROUND A WHOLE BUNCH
AND FOUND A HOT SPOT.
IF WE BOTH GET TO WORK, I THINK
THAT WE CAN GET A LOT OF GOLD
AND I THINK WE CAN GET THE JUMP
ON EVERYONE ELSE.
HOW'S IT LOOKING?
Glen: THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOME COLOR IN HERE.
I HAVE TO SELL IT TO KENNY
BY 3:00 BECAUSE HE NEEDS
TO GET IT IN THE MAIL
IN ORDER TO CAPTURE
TODAY'S PRICES.
Narrator:
GOLD ASSAYER KENNY HUGHES
PAYS A VISIT TO THE MISS NOMER.
HEY, KENNY.
HOW'S IT GOING?
[ SCALE BEEPS ]
OKAY.
OKAY, FIRE AT WILL.
10.32.
Glen: WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
10.32 OUNCES IS WORTH $13,500.
Kenny: SO, THE ADVANCE TODAY
IS $8,000.
SOUNDS GREAT.
EXCELLENT.
NOT TOO BAD.
YEAH. WE'RE DOING GOOD.
YEAH. KEEP IT UP.
ZEKE AND I BOTH HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO WORK THIS ONE GENERAL AREA
FOR SO LONG.
WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW
WE'RE DOING IN THIS SPOT,
AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC
THAT IT'S GONNA KEEP UP.
WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT MORE
FOR YOU HERE.
Narrator:
A 28-OUNCE WILD RANGER CLEANUP
HELPS VERNON EXTEND HIS LEAD
ON THE PACK,
WHILE EMILY RIEDEL
AND THE EROICA
ARE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
Man: WHOO, BABY!
HERE WE GO.
YEAH!
I'M HERE TO GOLD MINE.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
IS SHE DIES DOWN THERE
AND WE GOT TO DRAG HER ASS OUT.
YOU PISS OFF EVERYBODY
IN THE [BLEEP]DAMN CREW!
ANYBODY CAN GO DOWN THERE
AND [BLEEP] PULL SOME GOLD
AFTER I LED THEM HERE!