Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 6 - 10 Lbs. Of Gold - full transcript
Shawn: THE COMPETITION
IS GETTING STIFF.
Vernon: WE'RE GETTING MEGA,
MEGA GOLD THIS SEASON.
Shawn: I'M "MR. GOLD."
IF I'M ON THE GOLD,
I'M GONNA FOLLOW IT.
IF IT BRINGS ME RIGHT NEXT
TO ONE OF THESE OTHER DREDGES,
THEN I'LL MINE RIGHT UP
NEXT TO THEM.
Vernon:
THAT'S THE FRIGGIN' SHAMROCK.
THEY MOVED RIGHT UP THERE
IN OUR BACKYARD, MAN.
THEY'RE SPITTING DISTANCE
FROM US.
Shawn:
GOLD MAKES GUYS DO CRAZY THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM A RUN
FOR HIS MONEY.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE.
AAH!
Vernon: WE DROPPED DOWN
RIGHT ON TOP OF THE GOLD,
AND THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
HERE COMES ALL THESE OTHER GUYS.
LET THE GOLD WARS BEGIN.
♪ 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 ♪
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
APRIL. NOME, ALASKA.
JUST GOT TO LOOK FORWARD.
WE GOT TO FOCUS ON GETTING
AS MUCH TIME ON THE BOTTOM
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
Narrator: AS THE WINTER MINING
SEASON NEARS THE HOMESTRETCH...
Emily: THE SNOW'S MELTING.
THE ICE IS MELTING.
IT'S TIME TO DO SOME MINING.
Narrator:
...TEMPERATURES ARE ON THE RISE.
ANYBODY COMES NEAR THIS SPOT
ANYWHERE OVER HERE --
[BLEEP] IT -- THE WAR'S GONNA BE
ON THIS TIME.
Narrator: ACROSS THE FLEET,
COMPETITION IS BUILDING.
Shawn:
I COME AND FOUND THE SPOT.
NOW HE'S JUST OUT HERE LEECHING
OFF ALL MY HARD WORK.
I'M THINKING I WANT TO MOVE IN
OVER HERE AND CUT HIM OFF.
Narrator: AND NOW...
IT'S DOG-EAT-DOG.
[ DOGS HOWLING ]
7 MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR...
AT THE REAPER.
Kris:
LET'S GET GOING HERE.
DIVER DOWN IN 10 MINUTES --
5 MINUTES.
I NEED THE HOOD.
Narrator:
WITH JUST OVER 13 OUNCES,
WORTH 17 GRAND,
COLLECTED THIS WINTER...
Brad: WE CALL THIS SPOT
"THE BONEYARD"
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S FULL
OF ICEBERGS.
EVERYBODY'S WORKED ALL AROUND
IT, BUT NOT THIS SPOT.
Narrator: ...THE FIGHTIN' KELLYS
ARE GUNNING FOR A BIG PAYDAY.
JASON WAS QUITTING.
VERN TOLD ME TO GET OVER HERE.
SO WE TOOK THE ADVANTAGE.
WE CAME OVER HERE.
WE'RE THE LITTLE GUY.
WE NEED ALL THE ADVANTAGES
WE CAN GET.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AGO...
Man: AND THAT'S WHERE
YOU WANT TO BE.
YOU WANT TO GO FROM HERE
SOUTHWEST.
Narrator:
...THE KELLYS WERE TIPPED OFF
TO A POTENTIAL HOT SPOT...
STOP! STOP!
...AND NEARLY DESTROYED
THEIR RIG TRYING TO GET THERE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
JUST HAPPENED?!
NOW, WITH TIME RUNNING OUT
AND THEIR DREDGE IN TATTERS...
NO, NO. [BLEEP] "SOMETHING,"
YOU KNOW?
WE WERE GETTING AN OUNCE A DAY.
WE NEED 3 OUNCE A DAY NOW.
...THIS HOLE WILL HAVE
TO SAVE THEIR SEASON.
THANK GOD HE'S DOWN THERE.
HE'S A PAIN IN THE ASS.
HEY, WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE
DOWN THERE?
[ MAN LAUGHS ]
EVERYONE'S
A [BLEEP] COMEDIAN.
WELL, HIT IT HARD, ANDY.
WE NEED 70 OUNCES TO MAKE
THIS WORTHWHILE THIS WINTER.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DO THIS
FOR FREE.
YEAH?
WELL, I WISH YOU'D PUT
SOME GOLD IN THE BOX,
AND THEN WE'D DO GOOD.
DID YOU SAY "IDLE UP"?
YEP.
OKAY.
WE IDLED IT UP.
MAKE ME PROUD.
Kris: I'M KIND OF
REAL EXCITED TODAY.
I HOPE WE GET 5 OUNCES.
THAT'S WHAT I CAME
TO ALASKA FOR.
I DON'T WANT TO [BLEEP]
LIVE HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY
AND GO THE [BLEEP] HOME.
Narrator: 8 MILES UP THE COAST,
JUST OFF EAST BEACH...
TODAY, I WANT TO GET THIS
SLUICE-BOX SLED COMPLETED.
PROGRESS EVERY DAY.
Narrator: ...DIVER ZEKE TENHOFF
IS STARTING OVER.
Zeke: WORKING WITH GLEN
WAS JUST LIKE,
"MAN, IS THIS WHAT MINING'S
ALL ABOUT FOR ME?
"BECAUSE IF THIS IS
WHAT MINING'S ALL ABOUT
"AND IT'S NOT ANY FUN,
THEN I JUST DON'T EVEN REALLY
LIKE IT THAT MUCH ANYMORE."
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
Man:
GOT 14.95 OUNCES.
...DESPITE A STRONG BEGINNING...
SAFETY IS OVERRATED, RIGHT?
HEY [BLEEP] YOUR [BLEEP] SMIRK,
YOU [BLEEP] PUNK.
Narrator: ...ZEKE'S PARTNERSHIP
WITH GLEN LeBARON
CRASHED AND BURNED
IN A BATTLE OF EGOS.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKING WITH YOU.
I DON'T EVEN REALLY CARE
IF WE'RE DOING THAT, DUDE.
YOU WON'T EVEN SHAKE MY HAND,
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY REASON
TO SPEAK TO YOU ANYMORE.
NOW ZEKE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
SARAH DUNN,
ARE SETTING OUT ON THEIR OWN.
YOU KNOW, JUST, LIKE,
HAVING "THE CLARK"
PAINTED ON SOMETHING --
IT FEELS GOOD.
YET AGAIN, I'M MORE OR LESS
STARTING FROM SCRATCH,
PUTTING TOGETHER ANOTHER
ICE-MINING OPERATION.
I'M GETTING BACK TO, LIKE,
WHAT'S --
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S FUN
AND EXCITING ABOUT THIS.
Narrator: LATE IN THE SEASON
AND WITHOUT A DREDGE,
GETTING ANY MORE GOLD
WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION AT ALL
THAT BREAKING UP WITH GLEN
IS THE RIGHT DECISION.
IT'S A LOSS
'CAUSE I INVESTED A LOT
IN TRYING TO MAKE
THAT PARTNERSHIP WORK.
YOU KNOW, I WANT ALL THAT FOOD
BACK THAT I MADE FOR HIM.
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT I HAVE, LIKE,
A LOT OF MORAL SUPPORT.
I'VE GOT A GREAT GIRLFRIEND.
YOU KNOW,
I'M IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING
I'M GONNA LET GET ME DOWN.
YEAH, I'M REALLY NOT VERY FAR
AWAY FROM WHERE GLEN IS WORKING.
HE'S JUST RIGHT OUT THERE.
I DON'T HEAR
THE ENGINE RUNNING.
I DON'T THINK HE'S DREDGING.
Narrator:
JUST 800 YARDS OUT TO SEA...
YOU KNOW, ZEKE AND I --
WE HAD A FALLING-OUT.
THE LAST THING OF ZEKE'S
THAT'S OVER HERE
AT THE MISS NOMER OPERATION
IS THIS FOOT VALVE.
SO, I'M GONNA GO RETURN ZEKE
HIS FOOT VALVE,
AND THEN WE'RE
OFFICIALLY SEPARATE.
Narrator: ...GLEN LeBARON
IS RIDDING HIMSELF
OF THE REMAINING SCRAPS
OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
Glen:
ZEKE IS IMMATURE.
HE'S FOUR YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME,
BUT IN MINING,
HE IS FAR MORE THAN THAT,
AND AS A PERSON, HE IS JUST
A SELFISH [BLEEP] CHILD.
GLEN IS JUST SO OBVIOUS.
[ LAUGHS ]
"I AM GOLD-DREDGING JESUS,
"AND YOU HAVE TO WORSHIP ME
IF YOU'RE GONNA EVEN
BE IN MY PRESENCE."
[ LAUGHS ]
POOR JASMIN, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, JASMIN,
WE'RE GONNA BE USING THIS LINE
QUITE A BIT MORE,
SO WHILE I'M GONE,
MAYBE YOU CAN UNTANGLE THIS.
I'LL BE BACK
IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
[ DOG BARKS ]
BARK AT HIM, CHARLIE.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
I JUST CAME OVER TO RETURN
THIS FOOT VALVE.
YEAH, WHEREVER.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
OH, JUST THROWING STUFF
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
YEAH, FOR THE MOST PART,
I'M READY TO GET BACK TO WORK.
COOL.
I'M GONNA STAY OUT THERE IN THAT
DEEP STUFF AS LONG AS I CAN.
ALL RIGHT.
UH-HUH.
COOL.
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
OKAY, MAN.
Zeke: GLEN.
[ LAUGHS ]
THERE'S JUST NOTHING
LEFT TO SAY.
Narrator:
8 MILES DOWN THE COAST...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Vernon: YEAH, THE SEASON --
WE'RE FINALLY ON THE GOLD.
SO I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
WE JUST GOT TO GET ROLLING TODAY
AND HAMMER IT.
Narrator: HEADING TO WORK,
THIS WINTER'S BREAKAWAY
GOLD-COUNT LEADER,
WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON.
Vernon: RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE
116 OUNCES FOR THE SEASON.
FIRST HOLE, WE DROPPED DOWN
RIGHT ON TOP OF THE GOLD.
MOVED ON TO THE NEXT HOLE,
DROPPED DOWN ON MORE GOLD.
AND THAT'S BEEN THE STORY.
I REALLY THINK WE GOT A CHANCE
OF PUTTING ANOTHER DAMN
150 OUNCES IN THAT BOX.
THAT WOULD REALLY RING MY BELL.
Narrator: SO FAR,
VERNON AND HIS CREW
HAVE BROUGHT IN A MASSIVE
$151,000 IN GOLD.
DAMN.
THAT'S THE FRIGGIN' SHAMROCK.
Narrator:
BUT WITH SUCCESS...
TEE-HEE-HEE.
FIRST ONE HERE WINS.
Narrator:
...COMES COMPETITION.
LET HER MOVE.
HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE SPOT.
I MEAN, I DOUBT
THEY'RE GONNA END UP
WITH ENOUGH GOLD TO FILL
THEIR ROTTEN TEETH WITH.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO COME OVER HERE
AND MOVE RIGHT IN ON TOP OF US
LIKE THAT.
I MEAN,
WHAT'S THE FRIGGIN' POINT?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S [BLEEP] DAMN
WIDE-OPEN SPACES OUT THERE.
Narrator: SETTING UP STAKES JUST
A FEW FEET FROM THE WILD RANGER
IS MR. GOLD HIMSELF,
SHAWN POMRENKE,
AND THE SHAMROCK.
GPS IS SAYING RIGHT THERE
IS A GOOD SPOT,
SO OUR DIVE HOLE'S GONNA BE
RIGHT THERE.
SO WE CAN JUST REACH OVER
AND GET IT.
Vernon:
THEY'RE GONNA COME OVER THERE
AND TRY TO CLEAN OUT
UNDER MY BUTT.
HE'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
FOLLOWING HIM.
THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.
NOW THEY'RE FOLLOWING US.
Shawn: WELL, WE GOT
A 30-OUNCE CLEAN-UP,
BUT WE WANT A BIG PROFIT LINE.
THAT WAY, WE GOT BIG WAGES
FOR EVERYBODY.
Narrator:
SO FAR THIS WINTER...
MR. GOLD CAN'T FIND NO GOLD!
Narrator: ...SHAWN HAS BOUNCED
FROM HOLE...
WE'RE GONNA DO LITTLE, SHORT
MOVES AND STAY ON THE GOLD.
Narrator: ...TO HOLE,
LOOKING FOR THE MOTHER LODE...
Man: SO, A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF
FOR NOTHING.
IT AIN'T EVEN WORTH
TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, WE PUT A COUPLE OUNCES
IN THE BOX, ANYWAYS, SO...
Narrator: ...BUT HAS COLLECTED
ONLY 30 OUNCES,
WORTH JUST 42 GRAND --
FAR SHORT OF HIS 150-OUNCE GOAL.
Shawn: SO, HOPEFULLY WE'RE
ON THE GOLD ON THIS SPOT.
I MEAN, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
VERN'S DIVERS AND OUR DIVERS
MIGHT BE GOING AT IT
TO GET THE GOLD FIRST.
WE'LL SEE.
Narrator: NOW THE GLOVES
ARE COMING OFF.
YEAH, I GUESS IT'S TURNING
INTO A TURF WAR.
I'LL GO OVER THERE
AND TALK TO SHAWN,
PRETTY MUCH TO JUST LET HIM KNOW
I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THAT'S BAD FORM.
HOWDY.
YEAH, SO, PROBABLY GONNA BE
NOZZLE-TO-NOZZLE.
HOW LONG OF A HOSE
Y'ALL GOT?
ABOUT 70, 60 FEET --
70 FEET.
YEP.
SO I GUESS WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
DOWN THERE.
WELL,
I GUESS THE RACE IS ON.
OKAY.
Narrator: AFTER GIVING SHAWN
A REAL PIECE OF HIS MIND,
VERNON HEADS BACK
TO RALLY HIS TROOPS.
Vernon: YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S
JUST EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.
Shawn: I DON'T REALLY GIVE
A [BLEEP] WHAT VERNON THINKS.
NO, WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE
WHERE WE WANT TO MOVE
AND START SUCKING UP SOME GOLD.
Vernon:
I RESENT THE FACT
THAT THEY HAD TO COME CROWD IN
ON US LIKE THAT.
BUT AS IT IS NOW,
WE GOT TO GET OVER THERE
AND GET THAT PIECE OF GROUND
BETWEEN THE TWO DREDGES
BEFORE THEY DO.
SO IT'S PUT SOME HEAT
IN THE GAME.
Narrator:
THE BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN.
NOW IT'S AN ALL-OUT RACE
FOR THE GOLD.
Man:
ABOUT TO PULL THESE BLOCKS
AND MOVE THE DREDGE OVER
AND START DIVING.
LOOK HOW FAT CODY IS.
I TOLD YOU HE'S GETTING FAT.
LOOK AT HIM. YOU THINK WE NEED
TO WORRY ABOUT THAT?
LOOK AT THAT [BLEEP] CRACK
HANGING OUT.
CODY, GET YOU A PAIR
OF DRAWERS, BOY!
AND THE GOLD WAR HAS BEGUN.
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
HEY [BLEEP] YOU.
YEAH, THEY WERE TALKING [BLEEP]
OVER THERE,
VERN'S GUYS,
SO I JUST WENT AND SET
AN ICE BLOCK
RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE PLANNING
ON MINING,
SLOWING THEIR [BLEEP] PROGRESS
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT HE DON'T UNDERSTAND
IS THAT I'M PUTTING
THAT ICE BLOCK
BACK WHERE
IT [BLEEP] CAME FROM.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE KILLER WHALE PUT AN ICE
BLOCK RIGHT ON OUR [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
[ TIRES SKIDDING ]
[ Laughing ] SMASH!
THEY THINK THEY'RE GONNA MOVE
A 5,000-POUND ICE BLOCK
WITH A VAN.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
[ LAUGHS ]
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE ABLE
TO MOVE IT.
Vernon:
LET THE GOLD WARS BEGIN.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME...
AT THE EROICA...
HOW ARE THINGS
GOING DOWN THERE, BUDDY?
I THINK THIS IS THE BEST DIVE
I'VE EVER BEEN ON,
AND THAT'S INCLUDING
LAST SUMMER.
...DREDGE OWNER EMILY RIEDEL
IS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.
Emily: I GOT TWO GREENHORN
CREW MEMBERS,
AND I'M A GREENHORN CAPTAIN.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
EVER MANAGING
AN ICE-MINING OPERATION.
WE HAD A LOT OF BAD [BLEEP]
HAPPEN TO US
THIS ICE-MINING SEASON,
AND WE'RE STILL [BLEEP] KICKING.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
Narrator:
FOR FIVE WEEKS...
...BREAKDOWN...
WITHOUT HAVING THE SUCTION...
...AFTER BREAKDOWN.
NOW! PULL ME UP!
PULL ME UP!
THE [BLEEP] REGULATOR FROZE.
Narrator: ...HAS KEPT EMILY
FROM PRODUCING ANY GOLD.
I'M HEMORRHAGING MONEY
IN THIS OPERATION.
NOW...
Man: HOW'S THE DRAGON SLAYER
SEEM TO BE WORKING?
SHE SEEMS TO BE WORKING
LIKE A DOLL, BROTHER.
WITH 50 GRAND INVESTED,
HER DREDGE IS FINALLY FIRING
ON ALL CYLINDERS.
COME ON, BABY.
OH, DUDE.
WE NEED TO CLEAN THIS THING
OUT, LIKE, NOW.
WHAT'S THAT?
THE NUGGET TRAP?
Narrator:
NORMALLY, THE SIGHT OF GOLD
IS A MINER'S DREAM COME TRUE.
Emily: THERE SHOULDN'T BE
ANY GOLD THERE.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
IN THIS CASE,
IT'S A POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE.
THE END OF OUR DRAGON SLAYER --
THE SLUICE,
THE NUGGET TRAP IS SUPPOSED TO
JUST TRAP LARGER PIECES OF GOLD
THAT MAKE IT OVER THE GRIZZLY,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TRAPPING
FINER PIECES
THAT AREN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
SO IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN
BLOWING PAST COMPLETELY.
Narrator: THE DRAGON SLAYER
WORKS BY FILTERING THE LIGHTER,
FINE GOLD AND PUMPING IT
TO A TOPSIDE SLUICE BOX.
SEEING FINE GOLD IN THE BACK
OF THE SUBMERSIBLE
MEANS THEY COULD BE BLOWING HALF
THEIR TAKE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.
Man: YOU THINK
WE'RE LOSING THAT MUCH?
DUDE, DUDE,
THERE'S A FLAKE RIGHT HERE
ON THE END OF THE NUGGET TRAP.
LOOK AT THAT -- RIGHT ON
THE EDGE, A PIECE OF GOLD.
Emily: HEY, WE'RE GONNA
SEND YOU DOWN A JUG
TO PUT
THE NUGGET TRAY INTO.
TEN-FOUR.
WE'RE GONNA SEND THIS JUG
DOWN TO TONY.
HE'S GONNA TAKE THE PIECE
OF CARPET OFF
AND SHAKE IT INTO THE JUG.
Narrator:
WITH HER SEASON ON THE LINE,
EMILY ORDERS
AN EMERGENCY CLEAN-UP.
I'M SENDING
THE WHOLE DAMN THING UP.
Emily: WE CAN'T JUST KEEP
WORKING TO KEEP WORKING,
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP ON
MINING ALL THIS AMAZING GOLD
THAT WE'RE SEEING DOWN THERE
AND NOT CATCH IT.
YEAH, THERE'S COLOR IN THERE.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE GETTING THERE.
AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE
GETTING THERE.
DAMN IT.
SOMETHING SCREWED UP.
ICE MINING IS ALL ABOUT
GETTING WHAT YOU CAN
WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD.
ALL I CAN THINK OF IS,
"WE'RE LOSING MOST OF THE GOLD
THAT WE'RE MINING."
WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR
CONCENTRATES BACK TO THE GARAGE
AND SEE HOW MUCH GOLD
WE'RE CATCHING.
WE KNOW WE'RE ON GOOD GOLD,
BUT IT'S A MATTER OF HOW WELL
WE'RE CATCHING IT NOW,
HOW WELL THE SYSTEM WORKS.
Narrator:
LESS THAN A MILE AWAY...
AT THE MISS NOMER.
Glen: SO, I'M JUST GONNA WORK
REAL HARD,
GET AS MANY DIVE HOURS IN
AS POSSIBLE
AND TRY TO GET ALONG
WITH MY "JAZZY BEAR."
I'M GONNA GO INSIDE.
I'M COLD.
OKAY.
I GUESS YOU CAN GO INSIDE.
Narrator: FREE FROM
HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH ZEKE,
GLEN LeBARON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
JASMIN GEORGE,
ARE GETTING BACK TO WORK.
Glen:
IT'S TIME TO SUIT UP.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF DAYLIGHT.
WELL, I'M REALLY EXCITED
BECAUSE MY NEW GOAL
IS TO GET MORE GOLD
THAN ALL THE ICE TEAMS COMBINED
BY MYSELF,
NOT EVEN COUNTING
WHAT ZEKE AND I GOT.
I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I MEAN, I BELIEVE IN YOU
ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK TO YOU
WHEN YOU SAY JOKES LIKE THAT.
OKAY.
WHY DON'T WE JUST NOT
MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THAT,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE LAME.
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY I MADE A JOKE
YOU DIDN'T LIKE.
Glen: I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
THAT HAS A TEMPER.
JASMIN HAS QUITE
A TEMPER HERSELF.
SHE JUST EXPRESSES IT
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SHE JUST SHUTS DOWN
ALL COMMUNICATION
AND JUST GOES SILENT
AND SOMETIMES SHE CRIES,
WHICH JUST MAKES ME
EVEN MORE IRRITATED.
YEAH, I'M CONFIDENT
IN GLEN'S MINING ABILITIES,
AND I KNOW THAT HE'S GONNA FIND
A LOT OF GOLD TODAY.
GOOD LUCK!
GET US SOME GOLD!
HEY, I'M HERE.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK
IN THE WATER?
IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.
YEAH, IT'S KIND OF
AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON
WHEN YOU GO UNDERWATER.
THERE'S USUALLY KIND OF
A SENSE OF SERENITY
AND CALMNESS THAT
OVERCOMES YOU IMMEDIATELY,
AND ALL YOUR WORRIES
KIND OF GO AWAY.
LET ME KNOW
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
OKAY, I WILL.
YEAH, I'M JUST PUNCHING
MY FIRST HOLE.
THE LAST TIME I WAS DOWN HERE,
BEFORE THE FIGHT
THAT ZEKE AND I HAD,
I DID AN OUNCE AND A QUARTER
IN FOUR HOURS.
I FOUND A TRANSITION WHERE
THE SAND MEETS THE HARDPAN,
AND THE GOLD IS LOOKING
REALLY GOOD.
GOLD TOUCHING GOLD.
I EXPECT THAT WE'LL DO
AT LEAST AN OUNCE TODAY.
GOOD LUCK.
I'LL BE UP HERE
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
HEY, JAS, THIS REGULATOR'S
FEELING A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
I SAID THE REGULATOR
FEELS A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.
COULD YOU GO OUTSIDE
AND GIVE ME A PRESSURE CHECK?
YEAH. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[ MACHINERY HUMMING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE ORANGE AND BLUE
AIR BALL VALVE WAS CLOSED,
AND I OPENED IT.
HEY, JAS, MY AIR!
MY AIR, JAS!
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME...
AT THE MISS NOMER...
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE ORANGE AND BLUE
AIR BALL VALVE WAS CLOSED,
AND I OPENED IT.
[BLEEP]
HEY, JAS, MY AIR!
MY AIR, JAS!
Narrator: INSTEAD OF INCREASING
GLEN'S AIR PRESSURE,
JASMIN TRANSFERRED HIS OXYGEN
TO THE DRAGON'S
STABILIZING FLOAT BAG.
THE DRAGON'S FLOATING
TO THE SURFACE.
[BLEEP]
JAS.
[ MACHINERY HUMMING ]
Jasmine:
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
YOU ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR
CATASTROPHE, JAS.
AND IT NEARLY --
IT WAS TAKING MY AIR,
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.
I'M SORRY.
I TOLD YOU I NEEDED AIR!
I'M AT 30 FEET, AND SUDDENLY,
THE DREDGE FLOATS
TO THE SURFACE
AND I'M TANGLED UP IN IT OR...
THAT'S CHAOS!
THAT'S TOTAL [BLEEP] CHAOS.
ARE YOU COMING TO THE TOP?
[ Voice breaking ] I DON'T
EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
I JUST WANT TO TURN
THIS MIKE OFF
AND NOT TALK TO HIM
RIGHT NOW.
Jasmine:
I DIDN'T KILL HIM.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I'M JUST GLAD HE'S NOT
COMING UP RIGHT NOW.
THAT WAS JUST
A REALLY CLOSE CALL.
DON'T YOU EVER OPEN UP
A BALL VALVE
WITHOUT ASKING ME
ABOUT IT FIRST.
DUH!
[BLEEP]HEAD.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT YOU JUST DID.
[ SNIFFLES ]
Narrator:
8 MILES TO THE WEST...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
WE GOT TO MAKE HAY
WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
THE POMRENKES ARE LIKE 120 FEET
FROM US.
OUR HOSE WILL DAMN NEAR
REACH THEIR FRONT PORCH,
AND I KNOW THEIRS
IS JUST AS LONG.
SO, IF WE GET IN EARLY,
LIKE RIGHT NOW,
AS SOON AS WE GET DOWN,
WE'RE GONNA START WORKING
THIS AREA OVER HERE
AND GET THE GOLD BEFORE
THE POMRENKES CAN GET TO IT.
Narrator: ...RACING TO BEAT
THE SHAMROCK TO THE GOLD,
VERNON IS SENDING DOWN
LEAD DIVER JUSTIN COOK.
JUSTIN, MAN -- YOU DON'T WANT
TO PISS HIM OFF.
WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THERE
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM A RUN
FOR HIS MONEY.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE.
I WANT TO SUCK IT UP
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
IT'S KIND OF A RACE
FOR THE ROSES RIGHT NOW,
RACE FOR THE GOLD.
HEY, JUSTIN,
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING UNDER THERE?
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT
A LITTLE CLAY BOTTOM HERE.
LOOKS TO BE REAL PROMISING.
NO POMRENKES DOWN THERE,
HUH?
ALL RIGHT. WELL, SUCK IT ALL UP
BEFORE THEY GET THERE.
Woman:
YEAH, TAKE IT ALL.
Narrator:
OVER ON THE SHAMROCK...
LET'S GET THIS THING FIRED UP,
AND I'LL GO DOWN AND DO A DIVE.
I THINK I SEEN JUSTIN GOING DOWN
OVER THERE.
I'M GONNA SCARE THE CRAP
OUT OF HIM.
GET HER GOING.
Narrator: ...MR. GOLD HAS A FEW
TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE.
GONNA BE A FUN DAY.
PUTTING THESE ICE CLEATS ON HERE
ON SHAWN'S BOOTS
SO HIS CLEATS MIGHT GIVE HIM
SOME TRACTION
UPSIDE DOWN ON THE ICE.
YEAH! LET'S GET 'EM!
Cody: SHAWN JUST PUT AIR
IN THE BUCKET OF HIS REGULATOR
AND MAKE HIMSELF FLOAT
SO HE DON'T GIVE HIMSELF AWAY
ON THE BOTTOM.
Narrator:
OUTFITTED WITH A 5-GALLON BUCKET
AND A PAIR OF ICE CLEATS...
...SHAWN POMRENKE
IS "ICE NINJA."
[ LAUGHS ]
Woman: YOU SEEING
ANY GOLD DOWN THERE?
OH, YEAH.
SEEING SOME GOOD COLOR
RIGHT NOW.
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
PRETTY EASY.
THAT'S WHAT'S UP.
IF WE CAN JUST STAY IN THE
COLOR LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE,
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S THE TRUTH.
SEE OUR NEIGHBOR DOWN THERE,
SHAWN?
Shawn: WHERE IS HE?
WHERE IS HE?
WHERE IS HE?
WHERE IS HE?
OH. THERE HE IS.
Justin: OH, YEAH.
GIVE IT TO ME!
IT'S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO OUNCE,
OUNCE AND A HALF AN HOUR.
JUST GET ON IT AND SUCK IT UP,
AND LEAVE THEM THE TAILINGS.
OVER.
OH, YEAH.
WE HIT THE SPOT RIGHT HERE.
SOME NICE CHUNKY TO IT.
HELL YEAH.
SEND IT ON UP.
OH, YEAH.
AAH!
GUYS!
[ LAUGHS ]
I WANT TO GET
THAT NUGGET FIRST.
THAT'S MY GOLD,
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE,
JUSTIN?
OH, I GOT SHAWN DOWN HERE.
HE THINKS HE'S GONNA STEAL
MY GOLD,
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
KEEP HIM OFF OUR CHEESE.
I JUST THREW A HUGE CLOGGER
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS NOZZLE.
SUCK HIS ASS UP, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S PRETTY CRAZY
THEY'RE BATTLING DOWN THERE.
I WISH I COULD SEE IT, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
SON OF A BITCH.
BOX LOOKS LOW.
YOU BETTER GET THAT PLUGGED.
OH, HE DISAPPEARED.
WHERE'D HE GO?
YOU GOT A DAMN JAM.
UGH.
I'M GONNA LOCATE THE CLOG
AND SEE HOW BAD IT IS.
WHERE'D HE GO?
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, THEY GOT 'EM.
[ LAUGHS ]
Man: I JUST PUT ANOTHER PLUGGER
UP HIS NOZZLE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: FOR SHAWN,
THE FIRST RULE OF A GOLD WAR...
YEAH, I THINK WE GOT A JAM.
[BLEEP] POMRENKES.
...THERE ARE NO RULES.
YEAH! WE GOT 'EM!
Narrator:
7 MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Kris:
ARE YOU SEEING ANY GOLD?
NO.
I DON'T SEE MUCH.
...AFTER 48 HOURS SPENT
PROSPECTING THEIR NEW GROUNDS...
OKAY, FINE.
Narrator: ...HOPES OF HITTING
A GAME-CHANGING PAY STREAK
ARE HANGING BY A THREAD.
Kris:
I HOPE ANDY FINDS GOLD TODAY,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO MOVE TODAY.
WE CAN'T EVEN MOVE TODAY.
WE DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE TO MOVE
EVERYTHING AROUND.
I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
WE JUST CAN'T [BLEEP] WIN,
IT LOOKS LIKE.
OKAY,
I'M SWITCHING SPOTS, MAN.
I'M GONNA WALK OVER HERE.
OKAY. TEN-FOUR.
WHERE'D YOU GO, BY THE WAY?
UH...
10 FEET FROM THE LEFT
OF THE SPOT WHERE I LEFT OFF.
OKAY, GOOD.
[ SIGHS ]
I LOVE BIG ROCKS.
IT KIND OF SUCKS.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE
GONNA COME TODAY
AND GET 3 TO 5 OUNCES APIECE,
THIS HOT SPOT --
I'M STARING AT THIS
REALLY NICE-SIZED ROCK.
SO, I LIKE BIG ROCKS.
AND, REALLY...REALLY,
WE JUST GOT TO WORK HARD
TO MAKE OUR 1 OUNCE RIGHT NOW.
THIS SUCKS.
WELL, I'M GONNA PUMP THE HOLE
REAL FAST
AND SEE WHAT THERE IS HERE
AND SEE HOW DEEP IT IS.
BIG-ASS ROCK.
HEY, IS IT STILL RUNNING
MATERIAL?
THE BOX ISN'T RUNNING VERY GOOD
RIGHT NOW.
TELL YOU WHAT -- IDLE DOWN.
TURN THE IDLE DOWN
FOR TWO MINUTES.
OKAY.
AND THEN IDLE BACK UP.
Narrator: TO CLEAR
THE JAMMED SUCTION HOSE...
HURRY UP.
...KRIS MUST POWER DOWN
THE ENGINE,
ALLOWING HIS BROTHER
TO WORK THE ROCK FREE.
THERE YOU GO.
OH, YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
LOOK AT THAT LITTLE PUDDLE
OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
CAN YOU SEE THAT?
ALL THESE PIECES?
THAT'S A GREAT CONCENTRATION.
OH, THERE'S GOLD ALL THE WAY --
IF WE'RE GETTING GOLD AT
THIS BACK STAGE OF THE BOX,
WE'RE GETTING [BLEEP] GOLD.
Narrator: WHAT ANDY HAS BEEN
REPORTING AS BARELY WORKABLE...
HEY, ANDY -- STUPID!
...MAY TURN OUT TO BE
THEIR HOTTEST SPOT YET.
[ MOTOR REVS ]
THAT'S PERFECT.
[BLEEP] STUPID!
I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOOKING
IN THE BOX LIKE AN IDIOT.
Kris: HEY!
I LOOKED IN THE BOX.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD
IN THE BOX!
[BLEEP]
YEAH, KEEP PUNCHING HOLES.
YOU'LL FIND GOLD.
OKAY.
I'LL JUST TAKE
MY BROTHER'S SHIRT.
I'LL WRAP IT AROUND MY FOOT.
HE WON'T EVEN KNOW.
THIS IS TURNING
FROM THE BONEYARD
TO THE CASH REGISTER.
Narrator: JUST A FEW HUNDRED
YARDS AWAY...
...AT THE WILD RANGER...
Justin: WE GOT A JAM.
YEAH, HE WAS DOWN THERE
HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH SHAWN,
AND THEIR RIG IS 120 FEET
FROM HERE OR 100 FEET FROM HERE.
AND SO THEY WERE, LIKE,
NOSE-TO-NOSE
TRYING TO SCOOP UP
THAT SLIVER OF GOLD.
Narrator: AFTER SHAWN POMRENKE
SABOTAGED HIS SUCTION HOSE,
VERNON ADKISON
IS LOSING PRECIOUS TIME.
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
Narrator:
NOW, WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY...
NOW SHAWN'S DOWN THERE
SUCKING IT UP,
WHICH DOESN'T MAKE US HAPPY.
Narrator:
...MR. GOLD WILL PLAY.
I'M TAKING ALL THE GOLD
OUT OF HIS CUT RIGHT NOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE TOOK IT ALL THE WAY DOWN
RIGHT BEFORE
THE REALLY, REALLY GOOD GOLD.
OH! HOLY CRAP!
THERE'S SOME BIG NUGGETS, BOYS.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT
THESE ONES IN MY GLOVE.
THEY'RE HUGE.
THAT'S LIKE A PIGGY BANK THERE.
Narrator:
IN DOWNTOWN NOME...
Steve: ANY WORK I CAN DO
TO GET THE MINNOW BACK.
I'M DOING DISHES
TO GET HER BACK.
Narrator: ...FORMER DREDGE OWNER
STEVE RIEDEL
IS STILL TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK.
I'LL SELL MY BODY TO THE WOMEN
OF NOME TO GET THE MINNOW BACK.
BUT I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE
ANY TAKERS FOR THAT ONE.
WELL, SANG, I'M DONE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR HELP.
SURE.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
BOY, MEAN STREETS
GETTING THE MINNOW BACK, MAN.
PAY DOING DISHES
IS ONE BUCK AT A TIME.
Narrator:
IN THE CITY OF NOME...
Emily:
ALL I CAN SAY IS --
IT'S GOOD THAT
WE'RE DOING THIS NOW
BECAUSE IF WE'D HAVE
KEPT ON MINING
AND WE WEREN'T AWARE OF
HOW MUCH GOLD WE WERE LOSING,
WE WOULD BE REALLY [BLEEP]
NOW WE'RE JUST KIND OF
SORT OF [BLEEP]
Narrator:
FOR EMILY RIEDEL...
THIS IS WHERE
WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
CATCHING THE MAJORITY
OF THE GOLD.
NOT LOOKING GOOD.
...THIS CLEAN-UP WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER HER $50,000 INVESTMENT
IS ACTUALLY RECOVERING GOLD.
WE GOT 13 HOURS ON THE BOX.
WE'RE HOPING FOR 5 OUNCES
AT LEAST.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO DO
SOMETHING EXPERIMENTAL
AND USE
AN EXPERIMENTAL DREDGE.
I CHOSE THE WRONG TIME
TO TEST OUT THE INVENTION,
DURING ICE MINING.
ALL RIGHT,
WHAT'S THE DAMAGE?
HOW BAD ARE WE?
THERE'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN
AN OUNCE.
I'M GUESSING AROUND
AN OUNCE.
THAT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] SAD.
IT'S PROBABLY THE WORST
CLEAN-OUT I'VE EVER SEEN.
ONE OUNCE OF GOLD IS WORTH
JUST OVER 1,300 BUCKS.
Emily: THAT DOESN'T EVEN COVER
HALF THE GAS FOR THE SEASON.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LOOK, GUYS,
I KNOW THIS CLEAN-OUT
IS DISCOURAGING,
BUT I DON'T WANT YOU
TO BE DISCOURAGED.
WE DID THIS CLEAN-OUT BECAUSE WE
KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,
AND WE FIGURED OUT WHAT IT IS.
WE NEED THAT THING DIALED IN,
WORKING 100%,
ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE ON
SUCH A LIMITED TIME FRAME.
Narrator: THIS LATE INTO APRIL,
EMILY'S ONLY CHOICE...
WE'LL INCREASE THE SUM
TO THE SURFACE,
WE'LL SLOW DOWN THE ROCKS
TUMBLING OVER THE DRAGON SLAYER,
AND THEN THAT'LL INCREASE
OUR GOLD RECOVERY.
Narrator: ...MAKE THE BEST
WITH WHAT SHE'S GOT.
SO, IF WE GOT TO TAKE A DAY
TO DO IT, FINE.
IT'S BETTER THAN RUNNING AROUND
IN CIRCLES.
YEAH.
AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA
TIGHTEN UP EVERYTHING.
Narrator: WHILE EMILY'S SEASON
IS ON THE ROPES...
OUT ON THE ICE...
Jasmin: I JUST STILL FEEL
LIKE [BLEEP]
...WITHOUT GETTING THAT ANGRY.
Narrator:
...GLEN LeBARON'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH JASMIN --
NOT FARING MUCH BETTER.
I TOLD JASMIN I WAS HAVING
SOME TROUBLE BREATHING,
AND SHE JUST OPENED UP
A BALL VALVE
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
WITHOUT REALLY THINKING OF WHAT
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT ARE.
JAS IS PROBABLY REALLY UPSET.
BUT I ASKED HER TO CHECK OUT
MY AIR PRESSURE,
AND NEXT THING I KNOW,
I'M LIKE SECONDS AWAY
FROM A MAJOR FIASCO
WITH, LIKE, THE DRAGON FLYING
TO THE SURFACE UNEXPECTEDLY,
YOU KNOW, AS I'M, LIKE,
GASPING FOR AIR.
IT'S THE LAST THING I NEEDED
TO HAPPEN,
AND SO IT REALLY PISSED ME OFF.
HONEY, I'M SORRY
I GOT UPSET EARLIER.
YOU KNOW,
ALL OF THAT WAS JUST --
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS
DOWN THERE,
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA --
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO
ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
YOU NEED TO TELL ME
AHEAD OF TIME.
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE AIR SYSTEM?
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT GOES TO WHAT?
NO.
I JUST STILL FEEL
LIKE [BLEEP]
WELL, ARE YOU --
THAT WAS HORRIBLE.
WELL, YOU --
YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED.
BUT IT DIDN'T,
AND I'M LEARNING FROM THAT.
YEAH, I'M STILL ALIVE.
I'M STILL ALIVE,
BUT CAN YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY I WAS UPSET?
LIKE, EARLIER, YOU SAID --
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY I WAS UPSET?
YES, I UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU'RE UPSET.
OKAY.
THEN ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M UPSET?
YEAH.
I SHOULDN'T BE UPSET
'CAUSE I'M STILL ALIVE.
WELL,
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
WELL, I'M GONNA HAVE A SNACK
AND I'M GONNA START
MOVING EVERYTHING.
Glen:
SHE'S STILL UPSET.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE HER
SOME MORE TIME TO CALM DOWN.
I THINK, BY THE END OF TODAY,
THINGS WILL BE FINE.
HE APOLOGIZED,
BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE [BLEEP]
LIKE, THAT WAS SO MEAN.
SHE JUST NEEDS SOME MORE TIME
TO GET OVER WHAT HAPPENED,
AND THAT'S FINE.
Narrator:
8 MILES TO THE WEST...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?
YOU WANT TO GO BACK DOWN,
OR WHAT?
GET DOWN THERE
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
...ROUND 1 OF THE GOLD WAR
IS IN THE BOOKS.
IT'S DEFINITELY CRUNCH TIME.
Vernon:
WE'RE SCRAMBLING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE REALLY SCRAMBLING BECAUSE
WE GOT TO BEAT THE POMRENKES.
GOLD, BOYS!
Narrator: NOW VERNON AND HIS
CREW MUST PLAY CATCH-UP...
Man: YEAH!
Vernon: WATCH OUT.
...WHILE JUST 100 FEET AWAY...
I PLUGGED HIS NOZZLE
RIGHT UP.
I KNOW.
HE WAS ALL PISSED OFF.
...WITH THE AID OF
SOME CREATIVE DESTRUCTION...
HOLY NUGGETS!
...MR. GOLD HIT PAY DIRT.
HOLY COW, THOSE ARE NICE.
THAT'S ONLY A COUPLE HOURS.
I'M GONNA TAKE
A LITTLE BREAK,
HAVE A LITTLE
CELEBRATION CIGAR,
AND HEAD BACK DOWN,
SUCK UP SOME MORE.
DESPITE LOSING OUT
TO THE SHAMROCK,
VERNON AND THE WILD RANGER
ARE FAR AHEAD OF THE PACK,
WHILE, SIX WEEKS
INTO THE SEASON,
EMILY'S 1-OUNCE CLEAN-UP
FINALLY PUTS HER ON THE BOARD.
NOW THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS
PART OF THE SEASON.
WE'RE PUSHING IT TO THE WIRE.
AAH!
I MEAN, IT'S BROKEN.
THIS IS WHERE I MINE.
THIS IS MY SPOT.
YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOME!
YOU OUGHT TO LEAVE NOME!
OH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!
IS GETTING STIFF.
Vernon: WE'RE GETTING MEGA,
MEGA GOLD THIS SEASON.
Shawn: I'M "MR. GOLD."
IF I'M ON THE GOLD,
I'M GONNA FOLLOW IT.
IF IT BRINGS ME RIGHT NEXT
TO ONE OF THESE OTHER DREDGES,
THEN I'LL MINE RIGHT UP
NEXT TO THEM.
Vernon:
THAT'S THE FRIGGIN' SHAMROCK.
THEY MOVED RIGHT UP THERE
IN OUR BACKYARD, MAN.
THEY'RE SPITTING DISTANCE
FROM US.
Shawn:
GOLD MAKES GUYS DO CRAZY THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM A RUN
FOR HIS MONEY.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE.
AAH!
Vernon: WE DROPPED DOWN
RIGHT ON TOP OF THE GOLD,
AND THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
HERE COMES ALL THESE OTHER GUYS.
LET THE GOLD WARS BEGIN.
♪ 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 ♪
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
APRIL. NOME, ALASKA.
JUST GOT TO LOOK FORWARD.
WE GOT TO FOCUS ON GETTING
AS MUCH TIME ON THE BOTTOM
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
Narrator: AS THE WINTER MINING
SEASON NEARS THE HOMESTRETCH...
Emily: THE SNOW'S MELTING.
THE ICE IS MELTING.
IT'S TIME TO DO SOME MINING.
Narrator:
...TEMPERATURES ARE ON THE RISE.
ANYBODY COMES NEAR THIS SPOT
ANYWHERE OVER HERE --
[BLEEP] IT -- THE WAR'S GONNA BE
ON THIS TIME.
Narrator: ACROSS THE FLEET,
COMPETITION IS BUILDING.
Shawn:
I COME AND FOUND THE SPOT.
NOW HE'S JUST OUT HERE LEECHING
OFF ALL MY HARD WORK.
I'M THINKING I WANT TO MOVE IN
OVER HERE AND CUT HIM OFF.
Narrator: AND NOW...
IT'S DOG-EAT-DOG.
[ DOGS HOWLING ]
7 MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR...
AT THE REAPER.
Kris:
LET'S GET GOING HERE.
DIVER DOWN IN 10 MINUTES --
5 MINUTES.
I NEED THE HOOD.
Narrator:
WITH JUST OVER 13 OUNCES,
WORTH 17 GRAND,
COLLECTED THIS WINTER...
Brad: WE CALL THIS SPOT
"THE BONEYARD"
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S FULL
OF ICEBERGS.
EVERYBODY'S WORKED ALL AROUND
IT, BUT NOT THIS SPOT.
Narrator: ...THE FIGHTIN' KELLYS
ARE GUNNING FOR A BIG PAYDAY.
JASON WAS QUITTING.
VERN TOLD ME TO GET OVER HERE.
SO WE TOOK THE ADVANTAGE.
WE CAME OVER HERE.
WE'RE THE LITTLE GUY.
WE NEED ALL THE ADVANTAGES
WE CAN GET.
Narrator: THREE DAYS AGO...
Man: AND THAT'S WHERE
YOU WANT TO BE.
YOU WANT TO GO FROM HERE
SOUTHWEST.
Narrator:
...THE KELLYS WERE TIPPED OFF
TO A POTENTIAL HOT SPOT...
STOP! STOP!
...AND NEARLY DESTROYED
THEIR RIG TRYING TO GET THERE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
JUST HAPPENED?!
NOW, WITH TIME RUNNING OUT
AND THEIR DREDGE IN TATTERS...
NO, NO. [BLEEP] "SOMETHING,"
YOU KNOW?
WE WERE GETTING AN OUNCE A DAY.
WE NEED 3 OUNCE A DAY NOW.
...THIS HOLE WILL HAVE
TO SAVE THEIR SEASON.
THANK GOD HE'S DOWN THERE.
HE'S A PAIN IN THE ASS.
HEY, WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE
DOWN THERE?
[ MAN LAUGHS ]
EVERYONE'S
A [BLEEP] COMEDIAN.
WELL, HIT IT HARD, ANDY.
WE NEED 70 OUNCES TO MAKE
THIS WORTHWHILE THIS WINTER.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DO THIS
FOR FREE.
YEAH?
WELL, I WISH YOU'D PUT
SOME GOLD IN THE BOX,
AND THEN WE'D DO GOOD.
DID YOU SAY "IDLE UP"?
YEP.
OKAY.
WE IDLED IT UP.
MAKE ME PROUD.
Kris: I'M KIND OF
REAL EXCITED TODAY.
I HOPE WE GET 5 OUNCES.
THAT'S WHAT I CAME
TO ALASKA FOR.
I DON'T WANT TO [BLEEP]
LIVE HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY
AND GO THE [BLEEP] HOME.
Narrator: 8 MILES UP THE COAST,
JUST OFF EAST BEACH...
TODAY, I WANT TO GET THIS
SLUICE-BOX SLED COMPLETED.
PROGRESS EVERY DAY.
Narrator: ...DIVER ZEKE TENHOFF
IS STARTING OVER.
Zeke: WORKING WITH GLEN
WAS JUST LIKE,
"MAN, IS THIS WHAT MINING'S
ALL ABOUT FOR ME?
"BECAUSE IF THIS IS
WHAT MINING'S ALL ABOUT
"AND IT'S NOT ANY FUN,
THEN I JUST DON'T EVEN REALLY
LIKE IT THAT MUCH ANYMORE."
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
Man:
GOT 14.95 OUNCES.
...DESPITE A STRONG BEGINNING...
SAFETY IS OVERRATED, RIGHT?
HEY [BLEEP] YOUR [BLEEP] SMIRK,
YOU [BLEEP] PUNK.
Narrator: ...ZEKE'S PARTNERSHIP
WITH GLEN LeBARON
CRASHED AND BURNED
IN A BATTLE OF EGOS.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKING WITH YOU.
I DON'T EVEN REALLY CARE
IF WE'RE DOING THAT, DUDE.
YOU WON'T EVEN SHAKE MY HAND,
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY REASON
TO SPEAK TO YOU ANYMORE.
NOW ZEKE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
SARAH DUNN,
ARE SETTING OUT ON THEIR OWN.
YOU KNOW, JUST, LIKE,
HAVING "THE CLARK"
PAINTED ON SOMETHING --
IT FEELS GOOD.
YET AGAIN, I'M MORE OR LESS
STARTING FROM SCRATCH,
PUTTING TOGETHER ANOTHER
ICE-MINING OPERATION.
I'M GETTING BACK TO, LIKE,
WHAT'S --
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S FUN
AND EXCITING ABOUT THIS.
Narrator: LATE IN THE SEASON
AND WITHOUT A DREDGE,
GETTING ANY MORE GOLD
WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION AT ALL
THAT BREAKING UP WITH GLEN
IS THE RIGHT DECISION.
IT'S A LOSS
'CAUSE I INVESTED A LOT
IN TRYING TO MAKE
THAT PARTNERSHIP WORK.
YOU KNOW, I WANT ALL THAT FOOD
BACK THAT I MADE FOR HIM.
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT I HAVE, LIKE,
A LOT OF MORAL SUPPORT.
I'VE GOT A GREAT GIRLFRIEND.
YOU KNOW,
I'M IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING
I'M GONNA LET GET ME DOWN.
YEAH, I'M REALLY NOT VERY FAR
AWAY FROM WHERE GLEN IS WORKING.
HE'S JUST RIGHT OUT THERE.
I DON'T HEAR
THE ENGINE RUNNING.
I DON'T THINK HE'S DREDGING.
Narrator:
JUST 800 YARDS OUT TO SEA...
YOU KNOW, ZEKE AND I --
WE HAD A FALLING-OUT.
THE LAST THING OF ZEKE'S
THAT'S OVER HERE
AT THE MISS NOMER OPERATION
IS THIS FOOT VALVE.
SO, I'M GONNA GO RETURN ZEKE
HIS FOOT VALVE,
AND THEN WE'RE
OFFICIALLY SEPARATE.
Narrator: ...GLEN LeBARON
IS RIDDING HIMSELF
OF THE REMAINING SCRAPS
OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
Glen:
ZEKE IS IMMATURE.
HE'S FOUR YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME,
BUT IN MINING,
HE IS FAR MORE THAN THAT,
AND AS A PERSON, HE IS JUST
A SELFISH [BLEEP] CHILD.
GLEN IS JUST SO OBVIOUS.
[ LAUGHS ]
"I AM GOLD-DREDGING JESUS,
"AND YOU HAVE TO WORSHIP ME
IF YOU'RE GONNA EVEN
BE IN MY PRESENCE."
[ LAUGHS ]
POOR JASMIN, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, JASMIN,
WE'RE GONNA BE USING THIS LINE
QUITE A BIT MORE,
SO WHILE I'M GONE,
MAYBE YOU CAN UNTANGLE THIS.
I'LL BE BACK
IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
[ DOG BARKS ]
BARK AT HIM, CHARLIE.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
I JUST CAME OVER TO RETURN
THIS FOOT VALVE.
YEAH, WHEREVER.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
OH, JUST THROWING STUFF
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
YEAH, FOR THE MOST PART,
I'M READY TO GET BACK TO WORK.
COOL.
I'M GONNA STAY OUT THERE IN THAT
DEEP STUFF AS LONG AS I CAN.
ALL RIGHT.
UH-HUH.
COOL.
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
OKAY, MAN.
Zeke: GLEN.
[ LAUGHS ]
THERE'S JUST NOTHING
LEFT TO SAY.
Narrator:
8 MILES DOWN THE COAST...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Vernon: YEAH, THE SEASON --
WE'RE FINALLY ON THE GOLD.
SO I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
WE JUST GOT TO GET ROLLING TODAY
AND HAMMER IT.
Narrator: HEADING TO WORK,
THIS WINTER'S BREAKAWAY
GOLD-COUNT LEADER,
WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON.
Vernon: RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE
116 OUNCES FOR THE SEASON.
FIRST HOLE, WE DROPPED DOWN
RIGHT ON TOP OF THE GOLD.
MOVED ON TO THE NEXT HOLE,
DROPPED DOWN ON MORE GOLD.
AND THAT'S BEEN THE STORY.
I REALLY THINK WE GOT A CHANCE
OF PUTTING ANOTHER DAMN
150 OUNCES IN THAT BOX.
THAT WOULD REALLY RING MY BELL.
Narrator: SO FAR,
VERNON AND HIS CREW
HAVE BROUGHT IN A MASSIVE
$151,000 IN GOLD.
DAMN.
THAT'S THE FRIGGIN' SHAMROCK.
Narrator:
BUT WITH SUCCESS...
TEE-HEE-HEE.
FIRST ONE HERE WINS.
Narrator:
...COMES COMPETITION.
LET HER MOVE.
HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE SPOT.
I MEAN, I DOUBT
THEY'RE GONNA END UP
WITH ENOUGH GOLD TO FILL
THEIR ROTTEN TEETH WITH.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO COME OVER HERE
AND MOVE RIGHT IN ON TOP OF US
LIKE THAT.
I MEAN,
WHAT'S THE FRIGGIN' POINT?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S [BLEEP] DAMN
WIDE-OPEN SPACES OUT THERE.
Narrator: SETTING UP STAKES JUST
A FEW FEET FROM THE WILD RANGER
IS MR. GOLD HIMSELF,
SHAWN POMRENKE,
AND THE SHAMROCK.
GPS IS SAYING RIGHT THERE
IS A GOOD SPOT,
SO OUR DIVE HOLE'S GONNA BE
RIGHT THERE.
SO WE CAN JUST REACH OVER
AND GET IT.
Vernon:
THEY'RE GONNA COME OVER THERE
AND TRY TO CLEAN OUT
UNDER MY BUTT.
HE'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
FOLLOWING HIM.
THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.
NOW THEY'RE FOLLOWING US.
Shawn: WELL, WE GOT
A 30-OUNCE CLEAN-UP,
BUT WE WANT A BIG PROFIT LINE.
THAT WAY, WE GOT BIG WAGES
FOR EVERYBODY.
Narrator:
SO FAR THIS WINTER...
MR. GOLD CAN'T FIND NO GOLD!
Narrator: ...SHAWN HAS BOUNCED
FROM HOLE...
WE'RE GONNA DO LITTLE, SHORT
MOVES AND STAY ON THE GOLD.
Narrator: ...TO HOLE,
LOOKING FOR THE MOTHER LODE...
Man: SO, A LITTLE BIT OF STUFF
FOR NOTHING.
IT AIN'T EVEN WORTH
TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, WE PUT A COUPLE OUNCES
IN THE BOX, ANYWAYS, SO...
Narrator: ...BUT HAS COLLECTED
ONLY 30 OUNCES,
WORTH JUST 42 GRAND --
FAR SHORT OF HIS 150-OUNCE GOAL.
Shawn: SO, HOPEFULLY WE'RE
ON THE GOLD ON THIS SPOT.
I MEAN, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
VERN'S DIVERS AND OUR DIVERS
MIGHT BE GOING AT IT
TO GET THE GOLD FIRST.
WE'LL SEE.
Narrator: NOW THE GLOVES
ARE COMING OFF.
YEAH, I GUESS IT'S TURNING
INTO A TURF WAR.
I'LL GO OVER THERE
AND TALK TO SHAWN,
PRETTY MUCH TO JUST LET HIM KNOW
I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THAT'S BAD FORM.
HOWDY.
YEAH, SO, PROBABLY GONNA BE
NOZZLE-TO-NOZZLE.
HOW LONG OF A HOSE
Y'ALL GOT?
ABOUT 70, 60 FEET --
70 FEET.
YEP.
SO I GUESS WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
DOWN THERE.
WELL,
I GUESS THE RACE IS ON.
OKAY.
Narrator: AFTER GIVING SHAWN
A REAL PIECE OF HIS MIND,
VERNON HEADS BACK
TO RALLY HIS TROOPS.
Vernon: YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S
JUST EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.
Shawn: I DON'T REALLY GIVE
A [BLEEP] WHAT VERNON THINKS.
NO, WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE
WHERE WE WANT TO MOVE
AND START SUCKING UP SOME GOLD.
Vernon:
I RESENT THE FACT
THAT THEY HAD TO COME CROWD IN
ON US LIKE THAT.
BUT AS IT IS NOW,
WE GOT TO GET OVER THERE
AND GET THAT PIECE OF GROUND
BETWEEN THE TWO DREDGES
BEFORE THEY DO.
SO IT'S PUT SOME HEAT
IN THE GAME.
Narrator:
THE BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN.
NOW IT'S AN ALL-OUT RACE
FOR THE GOLD.
Man:
ABOUT TO PULL THESE BLOCKS
AND MOVE THE DREDGE OVER
AND START DIVING.
LOOK HOW FAT CODY IS.
I TOLD YOU HE'S GETTING FAT.
LOOK AT HIM. YOU THINK WE NEED
TO WORRY ABOUT THAT?
LOOK AT THAT [BLEEP] CRACK
HANGING OUT.
CODY, GET YOU A PAIR
OF DRAWERS, BOY!
AND THE GOLD WAR HAS BEGUN.
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
HEY [BLEEP] YOU.
YEAH, THEY WERE TALKING [BLEEP]
OVER THERE,
VERN'S GUYS,
SO I JUST WENT AND SET
AN ICE BLOCK
RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE PLANNING
ON MINING,
SLOWING THEIR [BLEEP] PROGRESS
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT HE DON'T UNDERSTAND
IS THAT I'M PUTTING
THAT ICE BLOCK
BACK WHERE
IT [BLEEP] CAME FROM.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE KILLER WHALE PUT AN ICE
BLOCK RIGHT ON OUR [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
[ TIRES SKIDDING ]
[ Laughing ] SMASH!
THEY THINK THEY'RE GONNA MOVE
A 5,000-POUND ICE BLOCK
WITH A VAN.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
[ LAUGHS ]
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE ABLE
TO MOVE IT.
Vernon:
LET THE GOLD WARS BEGIN.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME...
AT THE EROICA...
HOW ARE THINGS
GOING DOWN THERE, BUDDY?
I THINK THIS IS THE BEST DIVE
I'VE EVER BEEN ON,
AND THAT'S INCLUDING
LAST SUMMER.
...DREDGE OWNER EMILY RIEDEL
IS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.
Emily: I GOT TWO GREENHORN
CREW MEMBERS,
AND I'M A GREENHORN CAPTAIN.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
EVER MANAGING
AN ICE-MINING OPERATION.
WE HAD A LOT OF BAD [BLEEP]
HAPPEN TO US
THIS ICE-MINING SEASON,
AND WE'RE STILL [BLEEP] KICKING.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
Narrator:
FOR FIVE WEEKS...
...BREAKDOWN...
WITHOUT HAVING THE SUCTION...
...AFTER BREAKDOWN.
NOW! PULL ME UP!
PULL ME UP!
THE [BLEEP] REGULATOR FROZE.
Narrator: ...HAS KEPT EMILY
FROM PRODUCING ANY GOLD.
I'M HEMORRHAGING MONEY
IN THIS OPERATION.
NOW...
Man: HOW'S THE DRAGON SLAYER
SEEM TO BE WORKING?
SHE SEEMS TO BE WORKING
LIKE A DOLL, BROTHER.
WITH 50 GRAND INVESTED,
HER DREDGE IS FINALLY FIRING
ON ALL CYLINDERS.
COME ON, BABY.
OH, DUDE.
WE NEED TO CLEAN THIS THING
OUT, LIKE, NOW.
WHAT'S THAT?
THE NUGGET TRAP?
Narrator:
NORMALLY, THE SIGHT OF GOLD
IS A MINER'S DREAM COME TRUE.
Emily: THERE SHOULDN'T BE
ANY GOLD THERE.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
IN THIS CASE,
IT'S A POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE.
THE END OF OUR DRAGON SLAYER --
THE SLUICE,
THE NUGGET TRAP IS SUPPOSED TO
JUST TRAP LARGER PIECES OF GOLD
THAT MAKE IT OVER THE GRIZZLY,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TRAPPING
FINER PIECES
THAT AREN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
SO IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN
BLOWING PAST COMPLETELY.
Narrator: THE DRAGON SLAYER
WORKS BY FILTERING THE LIGHTER,
FINE GOLD AND PUMPING IT
TO A TOPSIDE SLUICE BOX.
SEEING FINE GOLD IN THE BACK
OF THE SUBMERSIBLE
MEANS THEY COULD BE BLOWING HALF
THEIR TAKE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.
Man: YOU THINK
WE'RE LOSING THAT MUCH?
DUDE, DUDE,
THERE'S A FLAKE RIGHT HERE
ON THE END OF THE NUGGET TRAP.
LOOK AT THAT -- RIGHT ON
THE EDGE, A PIECE OF GOLD.
Emily: HEY, WE'RE GONNA
SEND YOU DOWN A JUG
TO PUT
THE NUGGET TRAY INTO.
TEN-FOUR.
WE'RE GONNA SEND THIS JUG
DOWN TO TONY.
HE'S GONNA TAKE THE PIECE
OF CARPET OFF
AND SHAKE IT INTO THE JUG.
Narrator:
WITH HER SEASON ON THE LINE,
EMILY ORDERS
AN EMERGENCY CLEAN-UP.
I'M SENDING
THE WHOLE DAMN THING UP.
Emily: WE CAN'T JUST KEEP
WORKING TO KEEP WORKING,
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP ON
MINING ALL THIS AMAZING GOLD
THAT WE'RE SEEING DOWN THERE
AND NOT CATCH IT.
YEAH, THERE'S COLOR IN THERE.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE GETTING THERE.
AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE
GETTING THERE.
DAMN IT.
SOMETHING SCREWED UP.
ICE MINING IS ALL ABOUT
GETTING WHAT YOU CAN
WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD.
ALL I CAN THINK OF IS,
"WE'RE LOSING MOST OF THE GOLD
THAT WE'RE MINING."
WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR
CONCENTRATES BACK TO THE GARAGE
AND SEE HOW MUCH GOLD
WE'RE CATCHING.
WE KNOW WE'RE ON GOOD GOLD,
BUT IT'S A MATTER OF HOW WELL
WE'RE CATCHING IT NOW,
HOW WELL THE SYSTEM WORKS.
Narrator:
LESS THAN A MILE AWAY...
AT THE MISS NOMER.
Glen: SO, I'M JUST GONNA WORK
REAL HARD,
GET AS MANY DIVE HOURS IN
AS POSSIBLE
AND TRY TO GET ALONG
WITH MY "JAZZY BEAR."
I'M GONNA GO INSIDE.
I'M COLD.
OKAY.
I GUESS YOU CAN GO INSIDE.
Narrator: FREE FROM
HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH ZEKE,
GLEN LeBARON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
JASMIN GEORGE,
ARE GETTING BACK TO WORK.
Glen:
IT'S TIME TO SUIT UP.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF DAYLIGHT.
WELL, I'M REALLY EXCITED
BECAUSE MY NEW GOAL
IS TO GET MORE GOLD
THAN ALL THE ICE TEAMS COMBINED
BY MYSELF,
NOT EVEN COUNTING
WHAT ZEKE AND I GOT.
I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I MEAN, I BELIEVE IN YOU
ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK TO YOU
WHEN YOU SAY JOKES LIKE THAT.
OKAY.
WHY DON'T WE JUST NOT
MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THAT,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE LAME.
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY I MADE A JOKE
YOU DIDN'T LIKE.
Glen: I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
THAT HAS A TEMPER.
JASMIN HAS QUITE
A TEMPER HERSELF.
SHE JUST EXPRESSES IT
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SHE JUST SHUTS DOWN
ALL COMMUNICATION
AND JUST GOES SILENT
AND SOMETIMES SHE CRIES,
WHICH JUST MAKES ME
EVEN MORE IRRITATED.
YEAH, I'M CONFIDENT
IN GLEN'S MINING ABILITIES,
AND I KNOW THAT HE'S GONNA FIND
A LOT OF GOLD TODAY.
GOOD LUCK!
GET US SOME GOLD!
HEY, I'M HERE.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK
IN THE WATER?
IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.
YEAH, IT'S KIND OF
AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON
WHEN YOU GO UNDERWATER.
THERE'S USUALLY KIND OF
A SENSE OF SERENITY
AND CALMNESS THAT
OVERCOMES YOU IMMEDIATELY,
AND ALL YOUR WORRIES
KIND OF GO AWAY.
LET ME KNOW
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
OKAY, I WILL.
YEAH, I'M JUST PUNCHING
MY FIRST HOLE.
THE LAST TIME I WAS DOWN HERE,
BEFORE THE FIGHT
THAT ZEKE AND I HAD,
I DID AN OUNCE AND A QUARTER
IN FOUR HOURS.
I FOUND A TRANSITION WHERE
THE SAND MEETS THE HARDPAN,
AND THE GOLD IS LOOKING
REALLY GOOD.
GOLD TOUCHING GOLD.
I EXPECT THAT WE'LL DO
AT LEAST AN OUNCE TODAY.
GOOD LUCK.
I'LL BE UP HERE
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
HEY, JAS, THIS REGULATOR'S
FEELING A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
I SAID THE REGULATOR
FEELS A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.
COULD YOU GO OUTSIDE
AND GIVE ME A PRESSURE CHECK?
YEAH. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[ MACHINERY HUMMING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE ORANGE AND BLUE
AIR BALL VALVE WAS CLOSED,
AND I OPENED IT.
HEY, JAS, MY AIR!
MY AIR, JAS!
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME...
AT THE MISS NOMER...
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE ORANGE AND BLUE
AIR BALL VALVE WAS CLOSED,
AND I OPENED IT.
[BLEEP]
HEY, JAS, MY AIR!
MY AIR, JAS!
Narrator: INSTEAD OF INCREASING
GLEN'S AIR PRESSURE,
JASMIN TRANSFERRED HIS OXYGEN
TO THE DRAGON'S
STABILIZING FLOAT BAG.
THE DRAGON'S FLOATING
TO THE SURFACE.
[BLEEP]
JAS.
[ MACHINERY HUMMING ]
Jasmine:
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
YOU ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR
CATASTROPHE, JAS.
AND IT NEARLY --
IT WAS TAKING MY AIR,
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.
I'M SORRY.
I TOLD YOU I NEEDED AIR!
I'M AT 30 FEET, AND SUDDENLY,
THE DREDGE FLOATS
TO THE SURFACE
AND I'M TANGLED UP IN IT OR...
THAT'S CHAOS!
THAT'S TOTAL [BLEEP] CHAOS.
ARE YOU COMING TO THE TOP?
[ Voice breaking ] I DON'T
EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
I JUST WANT TO TURN
THIS MIKE OFF
AND NOT TALK TO HIM
RIGHT NOW.
Jasmine:
I DIDN'T KILL HIM.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I'M JUST GLAD HE'S NOT
COMING UP RIGHT NOW.
THAT WAS JUST
A REALLY CLOSE CALL.
DON'T YOU EVER OPEN UP
A BALL VALVE
WITHOUT ASKING ME
ABOUT IT FIRST.
DUH!
[BLEEP]HEAD.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT YOU JUST DID.
[ SNIFFLES ]
Narrator:
8 MILES TO THE WEST...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
WE GOT TO MAKE HAY
WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
THE POMRENKES ARE LIKE 120 FEET
FROM US.
OUR HOSE WILL DAMN NEAR
REACH THEIR FRONT PORCH,
AND I KNOW THEIRS
IS JUST AS LONG.
SO, IF WE GET IN EARLY,
LIKE RIGHT NOW,
AS SOON AS WE GET DOWN,
WE'RE GONNA START WORKING
THIS AREA OVER HERE
AND GET THE GOLD BEFORE
THE POMRENKES CAN GET TO IT.
Narrator: ...RACING TO BEAT
THE SHAMROCK TO THE GOLD,
VERNON IS SENDING DOWN
LEAD DIVER JUSTIN COOK.
JUSTIN, MAN -- YOU DON'T WANT
TO PISS HIM OFF.
WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THERE
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM A RUN
FOR HIS MONEY.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE.
I WANT TO SUCK IT UP
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
IT'S KIND OF A RACE
FOR THE ROSES RIGHT NOW,
RACE FOR THE GOLD.
HEY, JUSTIN,
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING UNDER THERE?
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT
A LITTLE CLAY BOTTOM HERE.
LOOKS TO BE REAL PROMISING.
NO POMRENKES DOWN THERE,
HUH?
ALL RIGHT. WELL, SUCK IT ALL UP
BEFORE THEY GET THERE.
Woman:
YEAH, TAKE IT ALL.
Narrator:
OVER ON THE SHAMROCK...
LET'S GET THIS THING FIRED UP,
AND I'LL GO DOWN AND DO A DIVE.
I THINK I SEEN JUSTIN GOING DOWN
OVER THERE.
I'M GONNA SCARE THE CRAP
OUT OF HIM.
GET HER GOING.
Narrator: ...MR. GOLD HAS A FEW
TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE.
GONNA BE A FUN DAY.
PUTTING THESE ICE CLEATS ON HERE
ON SHAWN'S BOOTS
SO HIS CLEATS MIGHT GIVE HIM
SOME TRACTION
UPSIDE DOWN ON THE ICE.
YEAH! LET'S GET 'EM!
Cody: SHAWN JUST PUT AIR
IN THE BUCKET OF HIS REGULATOR
AND MAKE HIMSELF FLOAT
SO HE DON'T GIVE HIMSELF AWAY
ON THE BOTTOM.
Narrator:
OUTFITTED WITH A 5-GALLON BUCKET
AND A PAIR OF ICE CLEATS...
...SHAWN POMRENKE
IS "ICE NINJA."
[ LAUGHS ]
Woman: YOU SEEING
ANY GOLD DOWN THERE?
OH, YEAH.
SEEING SOME GOOD COLOR
RIGHT NOW.
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
PRETTY EASY.
THAT'S WHAT'S UP.
IF WE CAN JUST STAY IN THE
COLOR LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE,
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S THE TRUTH.
SEE OUR NEIGHBOR DOWN THERE,
SHAWN?
Shawn: WHERE IS HE?
WHERE IS HE?
WHERE IS HE?
WHERE IS HE?
OH. THERE HE IS.
Justin: OH, YEAH.
GIVE IT TO ME!
IT'S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO OUNCE,
OUNCE AND A HALF AN HOUR.
JUST GET ON IT AND SUCK IT UP,
AND LEAVE THEM THE TAILINGS.
OVER.
OH, YEAH.
WE HIT THE SPOT RIGHT HERE.
SOME NICE CHUNKY TO IT.
HELL YEAH.
SEND IT ON UP.
OH, YEAH.
AAH!
GUYS!
[ LAUGHS ]
I WANT TO GET
THAT NUGGET FIRST.
THAT'S MY GOLD,
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE,
JUSTIN?
OH, I GOT SHAWN DOWN HERE.
HE THINKS HE'S GONNA STEAL
MY GOLD,
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
KEEP HIM OFF OUR CHEESE.
I JUST THREW A HUGE CLOGGER
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS NOZZLE.
SUCK HIS ASS UP, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S PRETTY CRAZY
THEY'RE BATTLING DOWN THERE.
I WISH I COULD SEE IT, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
SON OF A BITCH.
BOX LOOKS LOW.
YOU BETTER GET THAT PLUGGED.
OH, HE DISAPPEARED.
WHERE'D HE GO?
YOU GOT A DAMN JAM.
UGH.
I'M GONNA LOCATE THE CLOG
AND SEE HOW BAD IT IS.
WHERE'D HE GO?
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, THEY GOT 'EM.
[ LAUGHS ]
Man: I JUST PUT ANOTHER PLUGGER
UP HIS NOZZLE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: FOR SHAWN,
THE FIRST RULE OF A GOLD WAR...
YEAH, I THINK WE GOT A JAM.
[BLEEP] POMRENKES.
...THERE ARE NO RULES.
YEAH! WE GOT 'EM!
Narrator:
7 MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Kris:
ARE YOU SEEING ANY GOLD?
NO.
I DON'T SEE MUCH.
...AFTER 48 HOURS SPENT
PROSPECTING THEIR NEW GROUNDS...
OKAY, FINE.
Narrator: ...HOPES OF HITTING
A GAME-CHANGING PAY STREAK
ARE HANGING BY A THREAD.
Kris:
I HOPE ANDY FINDS GOLD TODAY,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO MOVE TODAY.
WE CAN'T EVEN MOVE TODAY.
WE DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE TO MOVE
EVERYTHING AROUND.
I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
WE JUST CAN'T [BLEEP] WIN,
IT LOOKS LIKE.
OKAY,
I'M SWITCHING SPOTS, MAN.
I'M GONNA WALK OVER HERE.
OKAY. TEN-FOUR.
WHERE'D YOU GO, BY THE WAY?
UH...
10 FEET FROM THE LEFT
OF THE SPOT WHERE I LEFT OFF.
OKAY, GOOD.
[ SIGHS ]
I LOVE BIG ROCKS.
IT KIND OF SUCKS.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE
GONNA COME TODAY
AND GET 3 TO 5 OUNCES APIECE,
THIS HOT SPOT --
I'M STARING AT THIS
REALLY NICE-SIZED ROCK.
SO, I LIKE BIG ROCKS.
AND, REALLY...REALLY,
WE JUST GOT TO WORK HARD
TO MAKE OUR 1 OUNCE RIGHT NOW.
THIS SUCKS.
WELL, I'M GONNA PUMP THE HOLE
REAL FAST
AND SEE WHAT THERE IS HERE
AND SEE HOW DEEP IT IS.
BIG-ASS ROCK.
HEY, IS IT STILL RUNNING
MATERIAL?
THE BOX ISN'T RUNNING VERY GOOD
RIGHT NOW.
TELL YOU WHAT -- IDLE DOWN.
TURN THE IDLE DOWN
FOR TWO MINUTES.
OKAY.
AND THEN IDLE BACK UP.
Narrator: TO CLEAR
THE JAMMED SUCTION HOSE...
HURRY UP.
...KRIS MUST POWER DOWN
THE ENGINE,
ALLOWING HIS BROTHER
TO WORK THE ROCK FREE.
THERE YOU GO.
OH, YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
LOOK AT THAT LITTLE PUDDLE
OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
CAN YOU SEE THAT?
ALL THESE PIECES?
THAT'S A GREAT CONCENTRATION.
OH, THERE'S GOLD ALL THE WAY --
IF WE'RE GETTING GOLD AT
THIS BACK STAGE OF THE BOX,
WE'RE GETTING [BLEEP] GOLD.
Narrator: WHAT ANDY HAS BEEN
REPORTING AS BARELY WORKABLE...
HEY, ANDY -- STUPID!
...MAY TURN OUT TO BE
THEIR HOTTEST SPOT YET.
[ MOTOR REVS ]
THAT'S PERFECT.
[BLEEP] STUPID!
I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOOKING
IN THE BOX LIKE AN IDIOT.
Kris: HEY!
I LOOKED IN THE BOX.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD
IN THE BOX!
[BLEEP]
YEAH, KEEP PUNCHING HOLES.
YOU'LL FIND GOLD.
OKAY.
I'LL JUST TAKE
MY BROTHER'S SHIRT.
I'LL WRAP IT AROUND MY FOOT.
HE WON'T EVEN KNOW.
THIS IS TURNING
FROM THE BONEYARD
TO THE CASH REGISTER.
Narrator: JUST A FEW HUNDRED
YARDS AWAY...
...AT THE WILD RANGER...
Justin: WE GOT A JAM.
YEAH, HE WAS DOWN THERE
HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH SHAWN,
AND THEIR RIG IS 120 FEET
FROM HERE OR 100 FEET FROM HERE.
AND SO THEY WERE, LIKE,
NOSE-TO-NOSE
TRYING TO SCOOP UP
THAT SLIVER OF GOLD.
Narrator: AFTER SHAWN POMRENKE
SABOTAGED HIS SUCTION HOSE,
VERNON ADKISON
IS LOSING PRECIOUS TIME.
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
Narrator:
NOW, WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY...
NOW SHAWN'S DOWN THERE
SUCKING IT UP,
WHICH DOESN'T MAKE US HAPPY.
Narrator:
...MR. GOLD WILL PLAY.
I'M TAKING ALL THE GOLD
OUT OF HIS CUT RIGHT NOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE TOOK IT ALL THE WAY DOWN
RIGHT BEFORE
THE REALLY, REALLY GOOD GOLD.
OH! HOLY CRAP!
THERE'S SOME BIG NUGGETS, BOYS.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT
THESE ONES IN MY GLOVE.
THEY'RE HUGE.
THAT'S LIKE A PIGGY BANK THERE.
Narrator:
IN DOWNTOWN NOME...
Steve: ANY WORK I CAN DO
TO GET THE MINNOW BACK.
I'M DOING DISHES
TO GET HER BACK.
Narrator: ...FORMER DREDGE OWNER
STEVE RIEDEL
IS STILL TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK.
I'LL SELL MY BODY TO THE WOMEN
OF NOME TO GET THE MINNOW BACK.
BUT I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE
ANY TAKERS FOR THAT ONE.
WELL, SANG, I'M DONE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR HELP.
SURE.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
BOY, MEAN STREETS
GETTING THE MINNOW BACK, MAN.
PAY DOING DISHES
IS ONE BUCK AT A TIME.
Narrator:
IN THE CITY OF NOME...
Emily:
ALL I CAN SAY IS --
IT'S GOOD THAT
WE'RE DOING THIS NOW
BECAUSE IF WE'D HAVE
KEPT ON MINING
AND WE WEREN'T AWARE OF
HOW MUCH GOLD WE WERE LOSING,
WE WOULD BE REALLY [BLEEP]
NOW WE'RE JUST KIND OF
SORT OF [BLEEP]
Narrator:
FOR EMILY RIEDEL...
THIS IS WHERE
WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
CATCHING THE MAJORITY
OF THE GOLD.
NOT LOOKING GOOD.
...THIS CLEAN-UP WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER HER $50,000 INVESTMENT
IS ACTUALLY RECOVERING GOLD.
WE GOT 13 HOURS ON THE BOX.
WE'RE HOPING FOR 5 OUNCES
AT LEAST.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO DO
SOMETHING EXPERIMENTAL
AND USE
AN EXPERIMENTAL DREDGE.
I CHOSE THE WRONG TIME
TO TEST OUT THE INVENTION,
DURING ICE MINING.
ALL RIGHT,
WHAT'S THE DAMAGE?
HOW BAD ARE WE?
THERE'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN
AN OUNCE.
I'M GUESSING AROUND
AN OUNCE.
THAT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] SAD.
IT'S PROBABLY THE WORST
CLEAN-OUT I'VE EVER SEEN.
ONE OUNCE OF GOLD IS WORTH
JUST OVER 1,300 BUCKS.
Emily: THAT DOESN'T EVEN COVER
HALF THE GAS FOR THE SEASON.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LOOK, GUYS,
I KNOW THIS CLEAN-OUT
IS DISCOURAGING,
BUT I DON'T WANT YOU
TO BE DISCOURAGED.
WE DID THIS CLEAN-OUT BECAUSE WE
KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,
AND WE FIGURED OUT WHAT IT IS.
WE NEED THAT THING DIALED IN,
WORKING 100%,
ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE ON
SUCH A LIMITED TIME FRAME.
Narrator: THIS LATE INTO APRIL,
EMILY'S ONLY CHOICE...
WE'LL INCREASE THE SUM
TO THE SURFACE,
WE'LL SLOW DOWN THE ROCKS
TUMBLING OVER THE DRAGON SLAYER,
AND THEN THAT'LL INCREASE
OUR GOLD RECOVERY.
Narrator: ...MAKE THE BEST
WITH WHAT SHE'S GOT.
SO, IF WE GOT TO TAKE A DAY
TO DO IT, FINE.
IT'S BETTER THAN RUNNING AROUND
IN CIRCLES.
YEAH.
AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA
TIGHTEN UP EVERYTHING.
Narrator: WHILE EMILY'S SEASON
IS ON THE ROPES...
OUT ON THE ICE...
Jasmin: I JUST STILL FEEL
LIKE [BLEEP]
...WITHOUT GETTING THAT ANGRY.
Narrator:
...GLEN LeBARON'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH JASMIN --
NOT FARING MUCH BETTER.
I TOLD JASMIN I WAS HAVING
SOME TROUBLE BREATHING,
AND SHE JUST OPENED UP
A BALL VALVE
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
WITHOUT REALLY THINKING OF WHAT
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT ARE.
JAS IS PROBABLY REALLY UPSET.
BUT I ASKED HER TO CHECK OUT
MY AIR PRESSURE,
AND NEXT THING I KNOW,
I'M LIKE SECONDS AWAY
FROM A MAJOR FIASCO
WITH, LIKE, THE DRAGON FLYING
TO THE SURFACE UNEXPECTEDLY,
YOU KNOW, AS I'M, LIKE,
GASPING FOR AIR.
IT'S THE LAST THING I NEEDED
TO HAPPEN,
AND SO IT REALLY PISSED ME OFF.
HONEY, I'M SORRY
I GOT UPSET EARLIER.
YOU KNOW,
ALL OF THAT WAS JUST --
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS
DOWN THERE,
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA --
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO
ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
YOU NEED TO TELL ME
AHEAD OF TIME.
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE AIR SYSTEM?
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT GOES TO WHAT?
NO.
I JUST STILL FEEL
LIKE [BLEEP]
WELL, ARE YOU --
THAT WAS HORRIBLE.
WELL, YOU --
YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED.
BUT IT DIDN'T,
AND I'M LEARNING FROM THAT.
YEAH, I'M STILL ALIVE.
I'M STILL ALIVE,
BUT CAN YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY I WAS UPSET?
LIKE, EARLIER, YOU SAID --
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY I WAS UPSET?
YES, I UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU'RE UPSET.
OKAY.
THEN ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M UPSET?
YEAH.
I SHOULDN'T BE UPSET
'CAUSE I'M STILL ALIVE.
WELL,
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
WELL, I'M GONNA HAVE A SNACK
AND I'M GONNA START
MOVING EVERYTHING.
Glen:
SHE'S STILL UPSET.
SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE HER
SOME MORE TIME TO CALM DOWN.
I THINK, BY THE END OF TODAY,
THINGS WILL BE FINE.
HE APOLOGIZED,
BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE [BLEEP]
LIKE, THAT WAS SO MEAN.
SHE JUST NEEDS SOME MORE TIME
TO GET OVER WHAT HAPPENED,
AND THAT'S FINE.
Narrator:
8 MILES TO THE WEST...
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?
YOU WANT TO GO BACK DOWN,
OR WHAT?
GET DOWN THERE
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
...ROUND 1 OF THE GOLD WAR
IS IN THE BOOKS.
IT'S DEFINITELY CRUNCH TIME.
Vernon:
WE'RE SCRAMBLING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE REALLY SCRAMBLING BECAUSE
WE GOT TO BEAT THE POMRENKES.
GOLD, BOYS!
Narrator: NOW VERNON AND HIS
CREW MUST PLAY CATCH-UP...
Man: YEAH!
Vernon: WATCH OUT.
...WHILE JUST 100 FEET AWAY...
I PLUGGED HIS NOZZLE
RIGHT UP.
I KNOW.
HE WAS ALL PISSED OFF.
...WITH THE AID OF
SOME CREATIVE DESTRUCTION...
HOLY NUGGETS!
...MR. GOLD HIT PAY DIRT.
HOLY COW, THOSE ARE NICE.
THAT'S ONLY A COUPLE HOURS.
I'M GONNA TAKE
A LITTLE BREAK,
HAVE A LITTLE
CELEBRATION CIGAR,
AND HEAD BACK DOWN,
SUCK UP SOME MORE.
DESPITE LOSING OUT
TO THE SHAMROCK,
VERNON AND THE WILD RANGER
ARE FAR AHEAD OF THE PACK,
WHILE, SIX WEEKS
INTO THE SEASON,
EMILY'S 1-OUNCE CLEAN-UP
FINALLY PUTS HER ON THE BOARD.
NOW THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS
PART OF THE SEASON.
WE'RE PUSHING IT TO THE WIRE.
AAH!
I MEAN, IT'S BROKEN.
THIS IS WHERE I MINE.
THIS IS MY SPOT.
YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOME!
YOU OUGHT TO LEAVE NOME!
OH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!