Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 7 - Backhoe Wars - full transcript
While Hank tests Mother Nature by staying out dredging in the storm, Shawn races to bring his dredge home. Emily and Glen head far inland to river dredge. Her crew sews seeds of mutiny. Kris almost drowns from faulty equipment and Steve R's inattention.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Glen:
A LEAD HAS OPENED,
AND THE MISS NOMER'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
THE MISS NOMER'S
FLOATING OUT TO SEA,
AND WE HAVE TO GO SAVE IT.
SO, THIS IS [BLEEP] CRAZY.
WE'VE GOT A BOAT
WITH A HOLE IN IT,
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ROW
ACROSS THIS HALF-MILE GAP.
Man: GUYS, I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
HERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
WE CAN ALL FIT IN HERE.
NO, WE CAN'T.
WITH THE FRONT DEFLATED, JAS,
I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS.
[BLEEP] WE GOT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE, I'M WAITING
ON SHORE FOR YOU GUYS.
♪ 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:
LATE APRIL IN NOME, ALASKA.
[ SIGHS ]
Man:
OH, THERE'S A BOTTOM.
ABOUT 14 FEET DOWN,
THERE'S A BOTTOM.
THE ONCE FROZEN BERING SEA
IS A WET AND SLUSHY MESS.
THE ICE IS TALKING TO US
AND TELLING US,
"IT'S NOT GONNA BE LONG BEFORE
YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE."
WE'RE READY TO GET WET
AND GO TO BATTLE.
KEEP STRONG, BOYS!
Narrator:
AS TEMPERATURES RISE...
Glen:
IT'S ALMOST 50 DEGREES TODAY.
MOST OF THE ICE IS MELTING.
JAS AND I ARE GONNA DREDGE
AS LATE AS WE HAVE TO,
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
MUCH TIME LEFT.
Narrator:
...THE FLEET IS SCRAMBLING
FOR EVERY LAST OUNCE OF GOLD.
I FEEL LIKE
WE GOT THIS LAST MOVE,
BUT AFTER THIS,
IT MIGHT BE ALL OVER WITH.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S A TON OF GOLD
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HOLE.
Narrator:
SIX MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR...
Zeke: I'M TRYING TO PULL
TOGETHER AN ICE OPERATION
IN A TIME CRUNCH
WITH A LIMITED BUDGET
AND NOT REALLY
ANY CUSHION FINANCIALLY
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
Narrator:
...DIVER ZEKE TENHOFF
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, SARAH DUNN,
ARE BACK ON THE ICE...
Sarah:
VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.
...AND BACK IN BUSINESS.
Zeke: WELL, FOR THE PAST
WEEK AND A HALF,
TWO WEEKS
SINCE GLEN AND I SPLIT UP,
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
ON KIND OF A ROLLER COASTER,
LIKE, KIND OF CONFIDENCE WISE.
EIGHT DAYS AGO...
MY OBSERVATION
IS THERE MUST BE
SOMETHING GOING ON
IN YOUR BRAIN.
HEY [BLEEP] YOUR [BLEEP] SMIRK,
YOU [BLEEP] PUNK.
...ZEKE'S PARTNERSHIP
WITH GLEN LeBARON
ON THE MISS NOMER IMPLODED,
LEAVING THE VETERAN DIVER
WITHOUT A WORKING OPERATION.
Zeke: LIKE, WHAT'S CAUSING ME
CONCERN RIGHT NOW
IS ICE IS GETTING SOFT AND THIN,
AND, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME
TO GET UNDER THERE
AND GET SOME GOLD.
Narrator: UNWILLING
TO CALL IT QUITS ON THE SEASON,
ZEKE HAS SUNK ALL HIS PROFITS
FROM THE MISS NOMER
INTO REBUILDING HIS OLD RIG.
IT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT ENOUGH
TO BE RUNNING AGAIN,
AND I JUST NEED
TO GET DOWN THERE.
I NEED ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, THREE,
FOUR OUNCES JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN
UNDERWATER YET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT
DOWN THERE.
YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY,
THIS SPOT IS GOOD.
THE PLACE I WAS DREDGING
WITH GLEN
I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
INDEPENDENTLY FROM GLEN.
SO, I'M DREDGING IN AN AREA
THAT HASN'T REALLY
BEEN EXPLORED.
IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN PROSPECTED
REALLY BY ANYBODY.
IT'S OVER NEAR TOMCOD.
THERE'S KNOWN
TO BE GOLD IN THE AREA,
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE EXACTLY,
SO IT'S KIND OF A SHOT
IN THE DARK A LITTLE BIT.
Sarah: WE REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY IDEA.
IF HE GETS DOWN THERE
AND WE'RE NOT ON ANYTHING,
IT'S GONNA BE THIS WHOLE
ROLLER COASTER OF "WHAT NEXT?"
BUT MY JOB
IS TO KEEP OPTIMISTIC,
SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK THINGS
ARE GONNA GO JUST SWELL.
MY GIRLFRIEND -- I MEAN,
SHE'S A GREAT PARTNER
IN A LOT OF WAYS.
YOU LOOK LIKE A SUPERHERO.
YEAH! [ LAUGHS ]
SARAH IS AN ENDLESS SOURCE
OF, LIKE,
POSITIVITY AND MOTIVATION
AND MORAL SUPPORT.
GLEN WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU
TO SEE HIS LITTLE INTERMEDIATE
DREDGER DOING SO WELL.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S DICEY. IT'S A GAMBLE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT
IN THE SEASON.
BUT IF I GET OUT THERE AND
I FIND SOME REALLY GOOD GOLD,
THAT'S GONNA GIVE ME JUICE,
IT'S GONNA GIVE ME EXCITEMENT,
AND IT'S GONNA KEEP ME GOING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
Zeke: YEAH,
I CAN HEAR YOU FINE.
VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES TO THE EAST,
AT THE MISS NOMER...
I'M STILL SEEING REALLY, REALLY
AWESOME GOLD EVERYWHERE I LOOK.
THERE'S PUDDLES OF IT TRICKLING
OVER THIS GRAVEL.
Narrator:
...AFTER COLLECTING 31 OUNCES,
WORTH MORE THAN $40,000,
WHILE PARTNERED WITH ZEKE,
GLEN LeBARON
IS BACK ON THE GOLD.
Glen: DREDGING ALONG
THIS DARK, CLAY EDGE
WHERE IT MEETS THE SAND,
I'VE BEEN SEEING THE BEST GOLD.
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT
OF GOLD IN THIS COURSE, TOO,
'CAUSE I JUST SAW A SMALL
NUGGET GO IN THE TRACTION,
THEN I SAW ANOTHER ONE
ABOVE IT LATER.
Narrator:
ON THIN ICE ABOVE...
I'M HERE.
...GLEN'S GIRLFRIEND,
JASMIN GEORGE.
Glen: YEAH, THE GOLD'S
STILL LOOKING REALLY GOOD.
IN FACT, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GETTING EVEN BETTER.
Jasmin: I'M TIRED.
IT CAN GET STRESSFUL,
'CAUSE WE'RE JUST, LIKE,
AT THE END OF THE ICE SEASON,
AND WE'RE ALMOST OVER.
WE'RE AT, LIKE,
THE LAST STRETCH.
Narrator:
SINCE THE BREAKUP WITH ZEKE...
...JASMIN HAS STRUGGLED IN HER
NEW ROLE AS FULL-TIME TENDER...
GET UP THERE
AND [BLEEP] CLOSE THAT.
...TRYING TO APPEASE
THE SELF-PROCLAIMED
"BEST DREDGER IN NOME."
IT'S KIND OF
BLACK AND GRAY,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD
IN THAT LITTLE BIT OF GRAVEL,
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY
DO WELL TODAY.
I THINK THIS WILL BE
THE PERFECT PLACE
TO FINISH OFF THE SEASON.
HELLO?
I'M GLAD WE CHOSE TO DROP OFF
THE DRAGON IN THE PERFECT SPOT.
THAT'S AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SUCH
AN INCONVENIENCE FOR YOU
TO, LIKE,
GO TO THE COM BOX,
MAYBE YOU SHOULD
MOVE IT CLOSER TO YOU.
THEN, I DON'T HAVE TO, LIKE,
FEEL BAD ABOUT TALKING.
WHAT DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO
IN THERE, JAS?
DON'T SAY THAT TO ME.
I DON'T HAVE A LOATHING,
I HAVE TO TALK LOUD
SINCE YOU CAN'T STAND
MY HIGH-PITCHED, FAST VOICE.
I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT
BY GLEN'S [BLEEP] STANDARDS.
HE'S MAKING ME
NOT WANT TO BE HERE.
Narrator: EIGHT MILES WEST,
ON THE TOMCOT CLAIM...
I'M GOING OUT TO THE DREDGE,
AND WE'RE ON A PRETTY GOOD SPOT.
...WITH JUST OVER 13 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST 17 GRAND,
COLLECTED ON THE SEASON,
THE FIGHTING KELLYS
ARE LOOKING TO FINISH STRONG.
IT'S GONNA MAKE
OUR SEASON RIGHT NOW.
Kris:
LOOK. HERE THEY ARE.
BUT OUT AT THE DREDGE...
POMRENKES
ARE OVER AT OUR SPOT.
THIS IS BULL[BLEEP]
...THEY'VE GOT COMPANY --
OH, HERE COME
THE KELLY BOYS.
Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE
AND THE SHAMROCK.
THIS IS OUR AREA.
PLUS, I'M GONNA START
URINATING ALL OVER.
WE'RE ONLY ABOUT 50, 60 YARDS
FROM THEM, SO WHATEVER.
IT'S ALWAYS TURF WARS.
EVERYBODY THINKS
IT'S THEIR SPOT, THEIR HOLE.
Narrator: THIS ISN'T MR. GOLD'S
FIRST RUN-IN ON THE ICE.
THREE DAYS AGO...
AAH!
...HE TOOK ON VERNON ADKISON
IN THE WILD RANGER.
KEEP HIM OFF OUR CHEESE.
Shawn: I'VE BEEN MINING
TOMCOT CLAIM FOR A LONG TIME.
EVERYBODY'S COMING TO THE AREA
WHERE I WAS MINING THE SUMMER.
IT BURNS YOU A LITTLE BIT,
BUT WHAT GOES AROUND
COMES AROUND.
WELL, MAN,
WHAT'S THAT WAY?
I DIDN'T THINK YOU GUYS WOULD
MOVE INTO OUR LITTLE AREA HERE.
Cody: SHAWN FOUND A SPOT
THAT HE LIKED IN THE SUMMER
THAT WE KIND OF LEFT BEHIND,
SO...
Narrator: NOW, WITH TIME
RUNNING OUT ON THE SEASON,
IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.
IT'S LIKE, "SHAWN,
HEY, AREN'T YOU MR. GOLD?
SHOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE
TO [BLEEP] SNAP YOUR FINGERS,
AND YOU GOT GOLD EVERYWHERE?"
HE'S GOT TO COME AND TRY TO GET
OUR LITTLE BITS OF GOLD?
I'VE BEEN OUT HERE IN THIS OCEAN
FOR 15 YEARS NOW.
THESE GUYS SHOW UP
IN THE FIRST YEAR,
AND THEY THINK
THAT THIS IS THEIR SPOT.
HE'S ON MY PROPERTY.
THIS IS WHERE I MINE.
THIS IS MY SPOT.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
LOOK AT ALL
THIS GROUND OUT HERE.
HE'S GOT TO MOVE IN
ON THE LITTLE GOLD GETTER?
THE KELLYS -- THEY'RE BEGINNERS,
SO YOU GOT TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
THEY'RE ALL TRYING.
ANY COMPETITION THERE? NO.
THIS IS GETTING OLD
FROM MR. GOLD.
I DON'T LET
THE SMALL [BLEEP] BOTHER ME.
WE GOT AN EIGHT-INCH HOSE.
THEY ONLY GOT A SIX.
SO WE KNOW
WHO WILL WIN THAT WAR.
NOW IT'S A RACE
TO GO AND GET IT
BEFORE THE POMRENKE
STEALS OUR GOLD.
WHAT ARE YOU
REALLY GONNA DO, MAN?
I THINK THAT EXCAVATOR IS WORTH
MORE THAN OUR WHOLE OPERATION.
Narrator: ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE CLAIM...
WE'RE GETTING RIGHT DOWN
TO THE TAIL END OF THE SEASON
RIGHT NOW,
AND WE KNOW WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
WE GOT TO GET THE GOLD.
Narrator:
...THE GOLD-COUNT LEADER...
[ ENGINE REVS ]
...WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON,
FIRING UP ON HIS SIXTH DIVE HOLE
OF THE WINTER.
RIGHT NOW, THE OBJECTIVE IS
TO GET THE GOLD.
WE JUST GOT TO TRY TO GET IT
WHILE THE GETTING'S GOOD.
IT'S WINTER SEASON.
IT'S BEEN EXCITING,
A LOT OF FUN,
AND WE'RE GETTING GOOD GOLD.
116 OUNCES SO FAR.
Narrator: WITH OVER
$150,000 BANKED ALREADY,
VERNON IS ON A MISSION
TO SCORE 200 OUNCES
BEFORE THE ICE GIVES OUT.
IT'S SUNNY, IT'S WARM --
EVERYTHING WE DON'T WANT.
THERE'S A LOT OF SURFACE WATER
ON TOP OF THE ICE.
WE'VE JUST GOT A FEW DAYS LEFT,
AND WE NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER
REALLY GOOD CLEANUP, MAYBE TWO.
TIME TO GO DOWN
AND MAKE US SOME MONEY.
Narrator:
FIRST DOWN ON THE HOLE,
LEAD DIVER JUSTON COOK.
Vernon: ALL RIGHT.
GET US SOME GOLD.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
HOW DO YOU HEAR ME,
JUSTON?
ALL RIGHT. REAL GOOD.
Juston: GOT ABOUT A GOOD FOOT
OF COBBLE ON TOP,
A NICE, LITTLE LAYER
ABOVE THE HARD PAN.
LET'S GO, BABY.
YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH IT
PRETTY NICE.
SEE WHERE
IT LEADS ME TO.
I'M LOOKING
FOR THAT BIG NUGGET.
IT'S AROUND HERE
SOMEWHERE.
IT'S CALLING MY NAME.
OH, YEAH. GOLD!
DAMN, THIS IS NICE.
TRACKING SOME NICE GOLD.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
KEEP SUCKING IT UP.
DON'T FORGET
HIS LITTLE BROTHERS.
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS CLEANOUT
A BIG ONE.
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD
DOWN HERE.
WHAT A DAMN GOOD GOLD PATCH
RIGHT HERE.
IT'S JUST LOOKING LIKE
THE YELLOW-BRICK ROAD.
HE TAKES BIG BITES
OUT OF THE GOLD.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
THE GUY'S A GOLD-GETTING SHARK.
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR,
AT THE WILD RANGER...
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GROANS ]
DAMN IT.
KIND OF HURTING
A LITTLE BIT.
DAMN IT.
[BLEEP]
Vernon: IS IT BROKEN?
I DON'T THINK IT'S BROKEN.
I THINK IT'S JUST LAID OPEN.
SHARP ROCK DOWN THERE?
HOW'D YOU DO IT?
YES [BLEEP]
I WENT TO GET A JAM
OFF A NOZZLE.
ANOTHER ROCK
COME IN BEHIND IT
AND JUST SLAMMED MY FINGER
UP IN THERE.
OH, MY, I THINK
IT NEEDS A STITCH OR TWO.
I DON'T KNOW.
WE ARE ON THE GOLD.
AND TO GET UP TO 200 OUNCES,
EVERYBODY'S GOT
TO PULL THEIR WEIGHT.
EVERY DAY WE'RE NOT DIVING,
THAT'S GOLD
THAT WE'RE NOT FINDING.
Narrator:
84 OUNCES AWAY FROM HIS GOAL
AND WITH HIS LEAD DIVER
A BLOODY MESS,
VERNON'S HOPE
OF A 200-OUNCE SEASON
IS ON THE ROCKS.
[ GROANS ] DAMN.
EIGHT MILES TO THE EAST,
JUST OFF EAST BEACH...
REALLY?
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
REALLY, SNOW MACHINE?
YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS NOW?
Narrator: ...WITH JUST
ONE OUNCE OF GOLD COLLECTED
FOR THE ENTIRE WINTER...
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR THIS!
Narrator:
...EROICA OWNER EMILY RIEDEL
IS HEADED BACK TO WORK.
[ SIGHS ] IT'S FLOODED.
I FEEL LIKE I MADE
A LOT OF WRONG DECISIONS
FOR THIS ICE-MINING SEASON,
AND I CHOSE
THE WRONG TIME TO EXPERIMENT.
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator:
FOR OVER A MONTH...
Daryl:
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUCTION.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POWER
TO BLOW THE ROCKS OUT.
Narrator:
...EMILY'S $50,000 INVESTMENT
HAS BEEN RIDDLED
WITH PROBLEMS...
Emily: THIS IS WHERE WE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN CATCHING
THE MAJORITY OF THE GOLD.
Daryl:
IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.
...AND IS FAILING
TO RECOVER THE GOLD
HER CREW HAS BEEN MINING.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
IN SPITE OF ALL THE OBSTACLES
AND THE LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS,
I DO HAVE A LOT
OF WILLPOWER TO SUCCEED.
EVERY DAY SEEMS LIKE
THE LAST DAY
WE COULD BE OUT HERE SAFELY.
WE MIGHT LOSE EVERYTHING,
BUT WE'RE GONNA STAY.
THAT IS THE KIND OF DEVOTION
I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO HAVE
IF I'M EVER GONNA
MAKE MONEY UP HERE.
Narrator:
WITH THE ICE QUICKLY MELTING,
HER ONLY CHOICE IS TO DIVE
UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
Emily: I WANT TO SUCCEED.
I WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF GOLD.
AND I'M GONNA CRAWL BACK FROM
THIS TERRIBLE ICE-MINING SEASON.
OH!
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator:
BUT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT
MAY BE COMING
SOONER THAN EXPECTED.
Tony: THE LEAD'S OPENED.
AND SEE HOW THIS [BLEEP] GOING
ALL THE WAY TO THE SHORE
AND ALL THE WAY THAT WAY?
Emily: THIS IS BAD.
THE ICE HAS ROTTED THROUGH.
THIS IS THE FIRST LEAD.
THIS IS ALL GONNA BE GONE.
Narrator: THE FIRST SIGN
OF THE SUMMER MELT ARE LEADS
DIVIDING THE SHORE-FAST ICE
FROM THE LARGER PACK.
ONCE THESE FISSURES APPEAR,
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THE ICE BREAKS LOOSE
AND HEADS OUT TO SEA.
WE PROBABLY NEED
TO PULL THE ICE SHACK
ON THIS SIDE OF THE LEAD
IF WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO STICK AROUND,
'CAUSE THIS WILL
PROBABLY OPEN UP TONIGHT.
SEE IF IT FLOATS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT DECISION
BETWEEN WANTING TO STAY
AND TRY TO SALVAGE THE SEASON
AND WANTING TO GET OFF
SO I CAN SALVAGE MY EQUIPMENT.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE.
I'VE ALREADY LOST SO MUCH
ON THIS ICE OPERATION,
I CAN'T LOSE ANY MORE
BY LOSING MY EQUIPMENT, AS WELL.
AGREED.
THIS IS A MOVE
FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B,"
WHICH IS 200 FEET THAT WAY.
ICE IS GONNA BE
MORE SOLID THERE.
Narrator: TO KEEP WORKING,
EMILY MAKES THE CALL
TO MOVE HER DREDGE
100 FEET NORTH
TO THE SHORE-FAST ICE.
ON A DAILY BASIS,
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
HOWEVER MANY OUNCES WE THINK
WE CAN POSSIBLY ACCUMULATE
BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP ON PERSEVERING
UNTIL WE FIND GOLD.
GOT EVERYTHING PRETTY TIDY
AND READY TO GO.
NOTHING THAT A REDNECK
AND HIS FOUR-WHEELER CAN'T DO.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
GO, GO, GO, GO!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
GO, MAN, GO!
KEEP GOING! DON'T STOP!
YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ]
NOW WE'RE CLEAR.
WELL, WE'RE CLEAR
FROM THE PRESSURE ZONE.
Tony:
BETTER TELL GLEN,
'CAUSE I STILL SEE HIM
OVER THERE, DREDGING AWAY.
YEAH, HE'S ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THE LEAD.
HE'S ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THE LEAD.
YEAH, GO HOLLER AT GLEN.
LET HIM KNOW WHAT'S UP.
AT LEAST HIS DREDGE FLOATS.
Narrator: 200 YARDS SOUTH
OF THE NEWLY FORMED LEAD...
AFTER FOUR HOURS
OF ICY RADIO SILENCE...
HEY, JAS,
ARE YOU THERE?
I'M HERE.
...A TEMPORARY TRUCE
HAS BEEN CALLED.
YEAH, I FORGIVE YOU.
'CAUSE HE WAS JUST SAYING IT
OUT OF ANGER.
HE WAS BEING ANNOYED,
AND HE WAS ANGERED,
AND HE WAS SAYING THINGS
THAT HE WOULDN'T NORMALLY SAY.
SO, WHAT I NEED TO WORK ON
WAS MEMORIZING THINGS BETTER
AND MAKING IT EASIER
FOR HIM BY MEMORIZING
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
AND JUST BEING MORE HELPFUL.
WHERE'S THE COM BOX.
LET GLEN KNOW.
YOU GUYS CAN
COME CHECK IT OUT INSIDE.
Emily: OH, MAN,
NICE HOME YOU HAVE.
HEY, GLEN...
YEAH, YEAH. WHAT UP?
...I'M GIVING YOU
A HEADS-UP.
THERE'S A LEAD OPENING UP
DIRECTLY IN FRONT YOU.
[BLEEP]
I'LL BE UP IN A MINUTE.
SOUNDS GOOD.
IS HE COMING OUT?
YEAH, HE'S COMING OUT.
I'M GONNA CHECK OUT
THE ICE BREAKER WITH TONY.
COME ON, GLEN.
OH [BLEEP]
WHERE'D THAT CRACK
COME FROM? WHOA.
OH, MAN.
IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S [BLEEP] CRACKING
THAT WAY AND THAT WAY?
Glen: WHAT SUCKS
IS I'M ON THE BEST GOLD
I'VE FOUND THIS SEASON.
DON'T GO CHASING ANOTHER DRAGON
AROUND ALL SUMMER.
WELL --
COME ON, NOW. COME ON.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO.
I HATE PUTTING ALL MY EXPENSIVE
EQUIPMENT AT RISK,
BUT THAT'S HOW
I'M GONNA GET THE MOST GOLD.
THAT'S JUST
THE REALITY OF THIS BUSINESS.
I'M GONNA KEEP DREDGING.
I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES
WITH THE ICE.
HEY, DO YOU HAVE A FLARE GUN
THAT YOU CAN SHOOT UP,
JUST IN CASE
THE [BLEEP] HITS THE FAN?
NO, BUT --
"TONY, COME SAVE ME."
PSSH!
NO, BUT I YELL PRETTY LOUD.
OKAY.
BE CAREFUL.
Glen: THE ICE IS BREAKING UP.
IT'S MELTING.
BUT I'M FINDING THE BEST GOLD
THAT I FOUND SO FAR,
AND I'M NOT LEAVING HERE
UNTIL I PUT A LOT OF GOLD
IN THE DRAGON.
Narrator: OFF THE COAST OF NOME,
AT THE CLARK...
HOW IS IT LOOKING
DOWN THERE?
...AFTER DROPPING FOUR GRAND
TO SET OUT ON HIS OWN,
ZEKE TENHOFF'S
FIRST DIVE ON NEW GROUNDS...
Zeke: I KNOW THERE'S GOLD
SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA,
BUT I'M NOT FINDING ANY.
...HAS BEEN
NOTHING BUT FRUSTRATION.
NOBODY EVER SAID
GOLD WAS EASY TO FIND.
I MEAN,
ALL THE CONDITIONS
KIND OF LOOK LIKE
IT SHOULD BE HERE,
BUT I'M JUST NOT SEEING IT
IN THIS SPOT.
IT'S GOT TO BE OUT HERE.
WE JUST HAVE TO FIND IT.
Sarah: ZEKE NEEDS
TO MAKE MONEY THIS ICE SEASON.
HE NEEDS TO PUT TOGETHER
A SUMMER OPERATION.
THE SMALL AMOUNT
THAT HE'S GOTTEN SO FAR,
ZEKE PUT IT BACK
INTO ICE DREDGING,
SO THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE REALLY PUSHING IT.
MY INTUITION TELLS ME
THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GOLD
OFF IN THAT DIRECTION,
BUT YEAH, I DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH HOSE ON THIS THING.
MY REACH ISN'T LONG ENOUGH.
HEY, SARAH,
I'M GONNA WANDER
OVER IN THAT DIRECTION
OVER THERE
WITHOUT THE HOSE
AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
WE'VE GOT TO BE GETTING CLOSE.
WHOA,
LOOK AT THIS [BLEEP]
HEY, THERE'S
A BIG ROCK WALL OVER HERE,
AND I THINK IT'S OVER
BY THE PRESSURE RIDGE.
WHAT?!
THIS ROCK WALL --
IT'S LIKE A REEF,
AND IT'S SHUTTING OUT
SORT OF NORTH/SOUTH.
IT'S LIKE AN OBSTRUCTION.
AND I THINK THIS IS
WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
BECAUSE A LOT OF GOLD
SETTLES AROUND HERE
OVER BY THE PRESSURE RIDGE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE,
ANYTHING THAT'S, LIKE,
MOVING ALONG
THE OCEAN FLOOR,
AND IT'S GONNA GET STUCK
IN THIS ONE PLACE.
ARE WE GONNA BE RICH?
SARAH, THIS COULD BE
OPTIMAL GROUND.
THIS IS REALLY AWESOME.
OH, BABY,
THAT'S AWESOME.
PLACE IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE NEEDED.
I KNOW.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED.
ALL RIGHT, I'M COMING UP.
SOUNDS GOOD, BABY,
I'LL SEE YOU ON TOP.
ZEKE SOUNDS THRILLED.
I TRY NOT TO GET MY HOPES UP
TOO MUCH,
BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT,
I AM PRETTY HOPEFUL.
WE JUST NEED TO GO DOWN
AND GET A LONGER PIECE OF HOSE.
THAT PRESSURE RIDGE
RIGHT THERE --
THAT'S BASICALLY JUST
A [BLEEP] ROCK WALL
THAT GOES THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF THIS LEASE.
AND, THEN, OUT HERE,
THERE'S JUST, LIKE,
SCATTERED ROCKS
AND A LOT OF EXPOSED CLAY
AND JUST A LOT
OF REALLY RICH GOLD.
Zeke: I'M REALLY GLAD THAT I LED
MYSELF OVER INTO THIS AREA,
'CAUSE IT'S THIS LITTLE
TRANSITION AREA
BETWEEN WHATEVER.
IT'S A SAND FIELD
THAT KIND OF BUTTS UP
AGAINST THIS BOULDER WALL.
I THINK THE GOLD'S GONNA BE
REALLY GOOD.
JUST A LITTLE WAYS
OUT OF THE REACH OF MY HOSE.
Narrator:
AS IT'S BEEN FOR EVERY GOLD
MINER IN HISTORY,
THE REALLY GOOD GROUND
IS JUST OUT OF REACH.
RATHER THAN MOVE
HIS ENTIRE OPERATION,
ZEKE'S HEADED FOR TOWN
AND A LONGER SUCTION HOSE.
I'M GONNA WEAR MYSELF
THE HELL OUT
BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN
WE HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ICE,
BECAUSE I NEED THAT GOLD.
ONE MILE TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOT CLAIM...
Brad: THE UNDERDOG --
OUR $2,500 MOTOR
AGAINST THEIR $70,000 MOTOR.
THE RACE IS ON.
...WITH THE BIG, BAD SHAMROCK
CLOSE ENOUGH
TO HIT WITH A SLINGSHOT,
THE KELLYS ARE PLAYING DAVID
TO THE POMRENKE GOLIATH.
I FEEL THAT I'M LOSING OUT
ON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY
BY NOT HAVING THE PROPER SYSTEM
RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
THE AREA THAT WE'RE WORKING --
YOU KNOW,
THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE.
ANYBODY CAN GET GOLD OUT THERE,
EVEN STEVE RIEDEL, IF HE TRIED.
BUT REALLY,
THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE
IS JUST A LACK
OF A GREAT OPERATION.
MY MASK
IS ALREADY FOGGING UP.
[BLEEP]
DON'T BREAK THE [BLEEP] MASK,
YOU [BLEEP] IDIOT.
PUT IT ON,
AND IT'S ALREADY FOGGING UP!
NOTHING, NOTHING.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
Brad:
THE KIDS OFTEN ACCUSE ME
OF RUNNING
WITH SECOND-RATE EQUIPMENT,
BUT IT SAYS BRAD KELLY
ON THE TITLE, NOT KRIS OR ANDY.
EVEN AT THE LITTLE
[BLEEP] OUNCE,
OUNCE AND A QUARTER-OUNCE
AND A HALF CLEANOUT A DAY,
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT DIVING
THAT MUCH,
I'M STILL BANKING
4,200 BUCKS A WEEK.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
IN ESSENCE, THE KIDS DON'T SIT
AROUND AND DO THE MATH.
Narrator: DESPITE
A CHEAPER OPERATION AND GEAR...
...KRIS KELLY
IS FIRST INTO THE WATER.
YOU WANT TO MAKE IT
IN THIS BUSINESS,
WE GOT TO GET A LOT OF GOLD.
WE'RE WORKING AGAINST A LOT
OF BIG-MONEY COMPETITION.
Kris: I'D SAY AT LEAST A THIRD
OF AN OUNCE AN HOUR RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA KEEP
GETTING A LOT OF GOLD
IS JUST CLEARING OUT
MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF AREA.
Narrator:
OVER ON THE SHAMROCK...
...MR. GOLD IS HEADED
FOR THE VERY SAME PASTRY.
THE KELLYS --
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY GOT
A LITTLE TOO MANY FAMILY ISSUES
TO REALLY FOCUS ON MINING.
THEY'RE ALWAYS FIGHTING,
AND YOU SEE THEM OUT ON THE ICE,
YELLING AND SCREAMING,
AND IT'S KIND OF COMICAL.
BETTER THEM THAN ME.
WE WILL ANNIHILATE AN AREA
IN NO TIME.
WE NEED A BIG PATCH WITH LOTS
OF GOLD TO KEEP US GOING.
WHAT WOULD TAKE THESE OTHER
CREWS A WEEK OR ALL SEASON,
WE'LL DO IN A FEW DAYS.
WE'RE WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE
FROM THE KELLY BOYS.
GO, SHAWN, GO.
Narrator: WITH GOLD-RICH GROUND
UP FOR GRABS,
IT'S ANYBODY'S GAME.
KRIS, HOW'S IT GOING?
HALLELUJAH.
WE NEED THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WE GET THREE OUNCES TODAY,
I'LL BE A HAPPY SON OF A GUN.
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GO
AND MAKE FIVE GRAND A DAY
KIND OF SITTING AROUND,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU?
Kris:
BUT I GO LEFT, I GO RIGHT.
EVERY TIME I DO,
I'M MAKING MONEY.
IT'S KA-CHING, KA-CHING!
KA-CHING!
AND THEN YOU GRIND IT ACROSS,
AND YOU FEEL
THAT MONEY AS YOU MAKE IT.
GOING UP, KA-CHING.
GO ALONG, KA-CHING.
HOW ABOUT
A LITTLE UPDATE?
WE'RE ALL HOPING THAT SHAWN
GETS DOWN IN THIS NEW HOLE
AND SEES SOMETHING.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
YEAH!
[ Spanish accent ]
FIRST, YOU GET THE RICHES,
THEN YOU GET THE WOMEN!
Narrator: SEVEN MILES WEST
OF NOME HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOT CLAIM.
Shawn: NOW THAT'S SOME
KA-CHING ACTION RIGHT THERE.
KA-CHING, KA-CHING.
Narrator: THE KELLY BOYS
AND THEIR RINKY-DINK DREDGE
ARE RACING TO KEEP UP
WITH MR. GOLD.
OUR OPERATION -- I MEAN, DUDE,
IT'S LIKE 10 TIMES MORE WORK,
UNLESS WE GO OUT AND SPEND
A HUNDRED GRAND LIKE SHAWN.
Shawn: YEAH! GETTING SOME GOLD,
MAKING SOME MONEY!
Narrator: SHAWN POMRENKE,
WITH A STRONGER PUMP ENGINE
AND LARGER HOSE,
CAN COVER GROUND TWICE AS FAST.
I DON'T HEAR NO MORE "KA-CHING."
WHAT HAPPENED? DID YOU LOSE IT?
Kris: IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE
THERE'S A ROCK JAM.
YEAH,
THERE'S A ROCK JAM.
POKE THE BOX.
Brad: NOPE.
IT'S IN THE HOSE.
IT'S NOT IN THE BOX.
WELL, THIS SUCKS!
GET THE SLEDGEHAMMER.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME LOOK
AND SEE WHERE THIS IS.
THERE'S A FLAT ROCK
RIGHT HERE.
[BLEEP]
DAMN [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
I THINK HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A WOMAN AT BIRTH
AND THE DNA GOT SPLIT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
[BLEEP]
'CAUSE HE SURE COMPLAINS LIKE
A LITTLE GIRL HALF THE TIME.
HE FORGETS WHAT WE'RE HERE
TO DO -- GET GOLD.
AND WHEN I WAS A KID,
I BUSTED MY ASS.
THESE KIDS TODAY --
MAN, THEY'RE LAZY-ASS BASTARDS.
GIVE ME A WHIP
OR CANE OR SOMETHING,
AND LET ME TAKE IT TO THEM.
BECAUSE TODAY, THERE'S SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
ABUSE TO KIDS AND [BLEEP]
THAT'S FOR ALL THESE KIDS
IN AMERICA.
GIVE THEM A GOOD RIGHT HAND
OR A BELT, MAN,
THEY'LL START MOVING
A LITTLE FASTER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
JUST 300 YARDS AWAY,
AT THE WILD RANGER...
Vernon: SO, LET ME SEE
THAT FINGER THERE.
YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THE BEST DOCTORING
IS SELF-DOCTORING.
...PUSHING HARD
FOR A 200-OUNCE SEASON...
WE'LL JUST GET
THE BLEEDING STOPPED,
TRY TO SEAL IT UP
SO I CAN GO DIVING.
...VERNON AND HIS LEAD DIVER
ARE APPLYING AN OLD REMEDY.
I MEAN, KRAZY GLUE WILL PROBABLY
KILL ANY GERM THAT'S IN THERE.
THERE AIN'T MUCH [BLEEP]
THAT HAPPENS OUT HERE
THAT WE CAN'T FIX,
RIGHT?
RIGHT, EVEN OURSELVES.
MAYBE IT WILL HOLD
FOR THE DURATION OF THE DIVE.
IT'S ONLY GOT TO LAST
ABOUT SIX HOURS.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
I THINK IT WILL WORK.
LET'S GO MAKE SOME MONEY.
ALL RIGHT.
GET ON THAT GOLD.
BACK TO MAKING MONEY!
Vernon:
JUSTON IS ONE TOUGH NUT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS
WITH JUSTON, I TELL YOU.
YEAH, WE GLUED IT, SCREWED IT,
AND TAPED IT!
HE OUGHT TO BE GOOD TO GO.
Narrator:
SUPER-GLUED, DUCT-TAPED,
AND READY FOR ACTION,
JUSTON IS GEARED UP
TO PUT GOLD BACK IN THE BOX.
Vernon: GET AFTER
THAT GOLD, BUDDY.
Juston: YEAH!
FINALLY, AFTER THREE
OR FOUR YEARS UP HERE,
I'VE GOTTEN A GOOD TEAM,
PROBABLY THE BEST IN TOWN.
WE'LL GET MORE GOLD THAN ANYBODY
ELSE AROUND HERE THIS WINTER.
Narrator:
ACROSS THE FLEET...
AS LATE AS IT IS IN THE SEASON,
IT STILL DOES NOT MEAN
THAT I CAN'T GET
INTO SOMETHING GOOD.
...THE FINAL PUSH FOR GOLD
IS UNDER WAY.
Sarah:
ALL RIGHT, GOLD HOUNDS.
COULD BE THE LAST DIVE
OF THE SEASON,
SO GO DOWN THERE...
Narrator: AS THE SPRING MELT
STARTS FRACTURING THE ICE,
EVERY DIVE COULD BE THEIR LAST.
FOUND A NICE NUGGET DOWN THERE.
ICE-MINING
IS A RISKY, RISKY BUSINESS.
ONCE THE ICE TURNS BLACK,
GET THE HELL OFF,
BECAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA BE
LONG BEFORE IT'S GONE.
Narrator: BUT FOR ONE MINER,
THE END MAY HAVE ALREADY COME.
JUST OFF EAST BEACH...
Glen: WE DIDN'T THINK
THIS WOULD HAPPEN
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
BUT A LEAD HAS OPENED,
AND THE MISS NOMER'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
THE MISS NOMER'S
FLOATING OUT TO SEA,
AND IT'S DRAGGING THE DRAGON
WITH IT,
AND WE HAVE TO GO SAVE IT.
Narrator: ...AFTER IGNORING
THE WARNING SIGNS,
GLEN LeBARON
IS PAYING THE PRICE.
Glen: WE JUST CROSSED
THIS ABOUT AN HOUR AGO,
AND THERE WAS
NO GAP AN HOUR AGO.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
ALMOST A QUARTER-MILE GAP.
Narrator:
THE LEAD HAS BROKEN WIDE-OPEN,
TAKING THE MISS NOMER PLATFORM
AND THE SHEET OF ICE IT SITS ON
OUT TO SEA.
Glen: THE DRAGON HAS ALREADY
BEEN DRAGGED AT LEAST 200 FEET,
AND THE ONLY THING
THAT'S HOLDING IT IS THE ROPE.
LET'S JUST HOPE THAT THAT ROPE
IS STILL ATTACHED
TO THE MISS NOMER.
Narrator:
MAKING MATTERS WORSE,
GLEN'S UNDERWATER DREDGE,
THE DRAGON,
IS BEING DESTROYED
AS IT'S DRAGGED
ALONG THE ROCKY SEA FLOOR.
Glen:
WE ARE A RESCUE MISSION.
Narrator: TO SAVE IT,
GLEN AND JASMIN PLAN TO TAKE
A TINY, RUBBER RAFT
OUT INTO THE 28-DEGREE WATER.
AND HEADED FOR A SEA
LITTERED WITH JAGGED ICE,
THE BOAT
HAS ALREADY SPRUNG A LEAK.
SO, THIS IS
[BLEEP] CRAZY.
Glen: WE'VE GOT A BOAT
WITH A HOLE IN IT,
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ROW
ACROSS THIS HALF-MILE GAP
AND GET THE DRAGON
OFF THE BOTTOM.
THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF FIGURING OUT
HOW TO GET
THE MISS NOMER TO SHORE.
GUYS, I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
HERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
WE CAN ALL FIT IN HERE.
NO, WE CAN'T.
WITH THE FRONT DEFLATED, JAS,
I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS.
Glen:
[BLEEP] GOT TO GO.
I'M WAITING ON SHORE
FOR YOU GUYS.
OKAY. WE GOT A PHONE.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME IS...
MR. GOLD.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME
IS THE GUY
WHO CAN GET THE MOST GOLD
WITH THE SMALLEST INVESTMENT.
TELL YOU WHO
IT'S NOT IS THE GUYS
WHO PURPORT THEMSELVES TO BE
THE BEST DREDGERS IN NOME.
I MEAN, YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME,
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW
WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME
IS DEFINITELY ME.
GLEN LeBARON, UNDOUBTEDLY.
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SAY IT,
BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE,
HE REALLY IS.
IF YOU'RE WHERE I WAS
AT 10 YEARS AGO,
YOU'RE NOT THE BEST DREDGER.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME
IS THE MOST SILENT.
Narrator:
ON THE COAST OF NOME...
Man: LIKE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE
THE SHORE BROKE OFF RIGHT HERE.
I MEAN,
THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE GAP.
Narrator:
...THE BERING SEA ICE PACK
HAS BEGUN TO BREAK APART.
Man: THIS WAS SOLID ICE
AN HOUR AGO,
AND IT'S JUST CRAZY.
THIS IS THE RISK THESE GUYS TAKE
OUT HERE IN THE BERING SEA.
I MEAN, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
I MEAN, IT SEEMS
LIKE IT'S STABLE GROUND,
BUT YOU JUST HAVE NO CLUE
WHAT'S HAPPENING UNDERNEATH YOU.
Narrator: WITH THEIR OPERATION
FLOATING AWAY ON A SHEET OF ICE,
GLEN AND JASMIN HAVE LEFT THEIR
CAMERAMAN BEHIND
WHILE THEY ROW OUT
TO ATTEMPT A RESCUE.
THIS IS PRETTY CRAZY RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH
AS REAL AS IT GETS.
AND WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIT
OUT HERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
YEAH, THERE'S THE HEADLAMPS
IN THE DISTANCE, WAY OUT THERE.
ARRIVED
AT THE MISS NOMER PLATFORM,
THE TWO BEGIN
TO DOCUMENT THE EVENTS
ON JASMIN'S PERSONAL CAMERA.
ARE YOU GUYS
DRIFTING RIGHT NOW?
Glen: YEAH,
WE'RE DRIFTING FOR SURE.
THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
WHEN WE GOT OUT HERE.
WE WERE WALKING THROUGH
A FROZEN LAKE ON THE ICE,
AND OUR BOOTS
WEREN'T TALL ENOUGH.
SO, YEAH, LET ME GIVE YOU
A REPORT IN FIVE MINUTES.
I JUST WANTED
TO GIVE YOU A REPORT
THAT WE'RE DRIFTING OUT TO SEA
FOR CERTAIN.
AND, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW
IF OUR CELL SIGNAL
IS GONNA LAST LONG,
SO THIS MAY GO
INTO A MORE EXTENSIVE RESCUE,
INCLUDING OURSELVES.
ALL RIGHT,
STAY SAFE OUT THERE.
[ BEEPING ]
Narrator: FOR GLEN,
THE CHIEF CONCERN NOW
IS PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE
TO HIS UNDERWATER DREDGE.
I'M ABOUT TO DIVE DOWN AND FLOAT
THE DRAGON TO THE SURFACE.
AS SOON AS WE DO THAT,
WE'RE RACING BACK TO THE SKIFF,
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE IT
ACROSS THE LEAD
BEFORE IT GETS TOO WIDE.
Narrator: ATTACHED
TO THE DRIFTING MISS NOMER
BY A CONNECTING LINE,
GLEN'S SUBMERSIBLE DREDGE
IS DRAGGING
ACROSS THE ROCKY SEAFLOOR.
TO SAVE IT FROM DAMAGE,
GLEN MUST RAISE THE DRAGON
TO JUST BELOW
THE FLOATING ICE SHEET.
Jasmin:
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DRIFTING NOW.
IT'S PROBABLY LIKE MIDNIGHT
BY NOW,
AND WE JUST WENT IN
A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO.
WE JUST FINISHED OUR SHIFT,
AND WE DIDN'T THINK
THIS WOULD HAPPEN TONIGHT,
BUT IT'S HAPPENING,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS A BIG RISK
THAT WE'RE TAKING,
AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S PART OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator: AFTER 40 MINUTES
ON THE BOTTOM...
IT'S UP.
I JUST PULLED THE DRAGON.
I WENT DOWN THERE
AND EMPTIED OUT ITS BALLAST BAG.
I TOOK ALL OF THE ROCKS
OUT OF THE BALLAST BAG,
FLOATED THE DRAGON UP,
DRAGGED IT BY A ROPE.
IT'S IN THE DIVE HOLE,
AND NOW JAS
AND I JUST HAVE TO RACE BACK.
Man: THEY'RE OUT THERE,
AND THEY'RE DRIFTING.
I JUST HOPE IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
AFTER A THREE-HOUR ORDEAL
AND FIGHTING FROSTBITE,
GLEN, JASMIN,
AND A HALF-SUNKEN RAFT
FINALLY APPROACH THE COASTLINE.
THIS IS FREAKING CRAZY.
Glen:
LET'S GET JAS OFF FIRST.
BY THE TIME WE GOT
TO THE MISS NOMER,
BOTH JAS AND I'S FEET
WERE COMPLETELY FROZEN.
WE HAD JUST ENOUGH FUEL
FOR ME TO DIVE DOWN,
FLOAT THE DRAGON TO THE SURFACE.
YOU KNOW,
IT WAS JUST A REALLY CLOSE CALL,
AND IT'S NOT OVER WITH.
THIS IS LIKE HALF A SUCCESS --
YOU KNOW,
MAYBE NOT EVEN A SUCCESS YET.
THE FACT IS, HOPEFULLY THE TIDE
BRINGS THIS ICE BACK IN
AND WE CAN EASILY GET
THE MISS NOMER OFF TOMORROW.
Narrator:
WITH THE DRAGON SECURED,
GLEN IS COUNTING ON THE TIDE
TO BRING THE ICE SHEET
CLOSER TO SHORE.
ONLY THEN CAN HE DRAG
THE WHOLE OPERATION
ONTO DRY LAND.
THAT WAS LIKE
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
Narrator:
AS THE SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE,
EVERY MOMENT SPENT MINING
IS PRECIOUS.
FOR NOW,
CLEANUPS WILL HAVE TO WAIT.
Man: LAST DIVE
OF THE SEASON, MAN.
OW!
MAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!
YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOME!
YOU OUGHT TO LEAVE NOME!
Daryl: WHOA.
THE BUILDING JUST SHIFTED,
DIDN'T IT?
Shawn: WE'RE ALREADY
ON THIN ICE. NOT GOOD.
OH!
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!
Glen:
A LEAD HAS OPENED,
AND THE MISS NOMER'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
THE MISS NOMER'S
FLOATING OUT TO SEA,
AND WE HAVE TO GO SAVE IT.
SO, THIS IS [BLEEP] CRAZY.
WE'VE GOT A BOAT
WITH A HOLE IN IT,
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ROW
ACROSS THIS HALF-MILE GAP.
Man: GUYS, I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
HERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
WE CAN ALL FIT IN HERE.
NO, WE CAN'T.
WITH THE FRONT DEFLATED, JAS,
I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS.
[BLEEP] WE GOT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE, I'M WAITING
ON SHORE FOR YOU GUYS.
♪ 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:
LATE APRIL IN NOME, ALASKA.
[ SIGHS ]
Man:
OH, THERE'S A BOTTOM.
ABOUT 14 FEET DOWN,
THERE'S A BOTTOM.
THE ONCE FROZEN BERING SEA
IS A WET AND SLUSHY MESS.
THE ICE IS TALKING TO US
AND TELLING US,
"IT'S NOT GONNA BE LONG BEFORE
YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE."
WE'RE READY TO GET WET
AND GO TO BATTLE.
KEEP STRONG, BOYS!
Narrator:
AS TEMPERATURES RISE...
Glen:
IT'S ALMOST 50 DEGREES TODAY.
MOST OF THE ICE IS MELTING.
JAS AND I ARE GONNA DREDGE
AS LATE AS WE HAVE TO,
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
MUCH TIME LEFT.
Narrator:
...THE FLEET IS SCRAMBLING
FOR EVERY LAST OUNCE OF GOLD.
I FEEL LIKE
WE GOT THIS LAST MOVE,
BUT AFTER THIS,
IT MIGHT BE ALL OVER WITH.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S A TON OF GOLD
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HOLE.
Narrator:
SIX MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR...
Zeke: I'M TRYING TO PULL
TOGETHER AN ICE OPERATION
IN A TIME CRUNCH
WITH A LIMITED BUDGET
AND NOT REALLY
ANY CUSHION FINANCIALLY
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
Narrator:
...DIVER ZEKE TENHOFF
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, SARAH DUNN,
ARE BACK ON THE ICE...
Sarah:
VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.
...AND BACK IN BUSINESS.
Zeke: WELL, FOR THE PAST
WEEK AND A HALF,
TWO WEEKS
SINCE GLEN AND I SPLIT UP,
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
ON KIND OF A ROLLER COASTER,
LIKE, KIND OF CONFIDENCE WISE.
EIGHT DAYS AGO...
MY OBSERVATION
IS THERE MUST BE
SOMETHING GOING ON
IN YOUR BRAIN.
HEY [BLEEP] YOUR [BLEEP] SMIRK,
YOU [BLEEP] PUNK.
...ZEKE'S PARTNERSHIP
WITH GLEN LeBARON
ON THE MISS NOMER IMPLODED,
LEAVING THE VETERAN DIVER
WITHOUT A WORKING OPERATION.
Zeke: LIKE, WHAT'S CAUSING ME
CONCERN RIGHT NOW
IS ICE IS GETTING SOFT AND THIN,
AND, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME
TO GET UNDER THERE
AND GET SOME GOLD.
Narrator: UNWILLING
TO CALL IT QUITS ON THE SEASON,
ZEKE HAS SUNK ALL HIS PROFITS
FROM THE MISS NOMER
INTO REBUILDING HIS OLD RIG.
IT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT ENOUGH
TO BE RUNNING AGAIN,
AND I JUST NEED
TO GET DOWN THERE.
I NEED ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, THREE,
FOUR OUNCES JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN
UNDERWATER YET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT
DOWN THERE.
YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY,
THIS SPOT IS GOOD.
THE PLACE I WAS DREDGING
WITH GLEN
I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
INDEPENDENTLY FROM GLEN.
SO, I'M DREDGING IN AN AREA
THAT HASN'T REALLY
BEEN EXPLORED.
IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN PROSPECTED
REALLY BY ANYBODY.
IT'S OVER NEAR TOMCOD.
THERE'S KNOWN
TO BE GOLD IN THE AREA,
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE EXACTLY,
SO IT'S KIND OF A SHOT
IN THE DARK A LITTLE BIT.
Sarah: WE REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY IDEA.
IF HE GETS DOWN THERE
AND WE'RE NOT ON ANYTHING,
IT'S GONNA BE THIS WHOLE
ROLLER COASTER OF "WHAT NEXT?"
BUT MY JOB
IS TO KEEP OPTIMISTIC,
SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK THINGS
ARE GONNA GO JUST SWELL.
MY GIRLFRIEND -- I MEAN,
SHE'S A GREAT PARTNER
IN A LOT OF WAYS.
YOU LOOK LIKE A SUPERHERO.
YEAH! [ LAUGHS ]
SARAH IS AN ENDLESS SOURCE
OF, LIKE,
POSITIVITY AND MOTIVATION
AND MORAL SUPPORT.
GLEN WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU
TO SEE HIS LITTLE INTERMEDIATE
DREDGER DOING SO WELL.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S DICEY. IT'S A GAMBLE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT
IN THE SEASON.
BUT IF I GET OUT THERE AND
I FIND SOME REALLY GOOD GOLD,
THAT'S GONNA GIVE ME JUICE,
IT'S GONNA GIVE ME EXCITEMENT,
AND IT'S GONNA KEEP ME GOING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
Zeke: YEAH,
I CAN HEAR YOU FINE.
VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES TO THE EAST,
AT THE MISS NOMER...
I'M STILL SEEING REALLY, REALLY
AWESOME GOLD EVERYWHERE I LOOK.
THERE'S PUDDLES OF IT TRICKLING
OVER THIS GRAVEL.
Narrator:
...AFTER COLLECTING 31 OUNCES,
WORTH MORE THAN $40,000,
WHILE PARTNERED WITH ZEKE,
GLEN LeBARON
IS BACK ON THE GOLD.
Glen: DREDGING ALONG
THIS DARK, CLAY EDGE
WHERE IT MEETS THE SAND,
I'VE BEEN SEEING THE BEST GOLD.
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT
OF GOLD IN THIS COURSE, TOO,
'CAUSE I JUST SAW A SMALL
NUGGET GO IN THE TRACTION,
THEN I SAW ANOTHER ONE
ABOVE IT LATER.
Narrator:
ON THIN ICE ABOVE...
I'M HERE.
...GLEN'S GIRLFRIEND,
JASMIN GEORGE.
Glen: YEAH, THE GOLD'S
STILL LOOKING REALLY GOOD.
IN FACT, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GETTING EVEN BETTER.
Jasmin: I'M TIRED.
IT CAN GET STRESSFUL,
'CAUSE WE'RE JUST, LIKE,
AT THE END OF THE ICE SEASON,
AND WE'RE ALMOST OVER.
WE'RE AT, LIKE,
THE LAST STRETCH.
Narrator:
SINCE THE BREAKUP WITH ZEKE...
...JASMIN HAS STRUGGLED IN HER
NEW ROLE AS FULL-TIME TENDER...
GET UP THERE
AND [BLEEP] CLOSE THAT.
...TRYING TO APPEASE
THE SELF-PROCLAIMED
"BEST DREDGER IN NOME."
IT'S KIND OF
BLACK AND GRAY,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD
IN THAT LITTLE BIT OF GRAVEL,
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY
DO WELL TODAY.
I THINK THIS WILL BE
THE PERFECT PLACE
TO FINISH OFF THE SEASON.
HELLO?
I'M GLAD WE CHOSE TO DROP OFF
THE DRAGON IN THE PERFECT SPOT.
THAT'S AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SUCH
AN INCONVENIENCE FOR YOU
TO, LIKE,
GO TO THE COM BOX,
MAYBE YOU SHOULD
MOVE IT CLOSER TO YOU.
THEN, I DON'T HAVE TO, LIKE,
FEEL BAD ABOUT TALKING.
WHAT DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO
IN THERE, JAS?
DON'T SAY THAT TO ME.
I DON'T HAVE A LOATHING,
I HAVE TO TALK LOUD
SINCE YOU CAN'T STAND
MY HIGH-PITCHED, FAST VOICE.
I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT
BY GLEN'S [BLEEP] STANDARDS.
HE'S MAKING ME
NOT WANT TO BE HERE.
Narrator: EIGHT MILES WEST,
ON THE TOMCOT CLAIM...
I'M GOING OUT TO THE DREDGE,
AND WE'RE ON A PRETTY GOOD SPOT.
...WITH JUST OVER 13 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST 17 GRAND,
COLLECTED ON THE SEASON,
THE FIGHTING KELLYS
ARE LOOKING TO FINISH STRONG.
IT'S GONNA MAKE
OUR SEASON RIGHT NOW.
Kris:
LOOK. HERE THEY ARE.
BUT OUT AT THE DREDGE...
POMRENKES
ARE OVER AT OUR SPOT.
THIS IS BULL[BLEEP]
...THEY'VE GOT COMPANY --
OH, HERE COME
THE KELLY BOYS.
Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE
AND THE SHAMROCK.
THIS IS OUR AREA.
PLUS, I'M GONNA START
URINATING ALL OVER.
WE'RE ONLY ABOUT 50, 60 YARDS
FROM THEM, SO WHATEVER.
IT'S ALWAYS TURF WARS.
EVERYBODY THINKS
IT'S THEIR SPOT, THEIR HOLE.
Narrator: THIS ISN'T MR. GOLD'S
FIRST RUN-IN ON THE ICE.
THREE DAYS AGO...
AAH!
...HE TOOK ON VERNON ADKISON
IN THE WILD RANGER.
KEEP HIM OFF OUR CHEESE.
Shawn: I'VE BEEN MINING
TOMCOT CLAIM FOR A LONG TIME.
EVERYBODY'S COMING TO THE AREA
WHERE I WAS MINING THE SUMMER.
IT BURNS YOU A LITTLE BIT,
BUT WHAT GOES AROUND
COMES AROUND.
WELL, MAN,
WHAT'S THAT WAY?
I DIDN'T THINK YOU GUYS WOULD
MOVE INTO OUR LITTLE AREA HERE.
Cody: SHAWN FOUND A SPOT
THAT HE LIKED IN THE SUMMER
THAT WE KIND OF LEFT BEHIND,
SO...
Narrator: NOW, WITH TIME
RUNNING OUT ON THE SEASON,
IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.
IT'S LIKE, "SHAWN,
HEY, AREN'T YOU MR. GOLD?
SHOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE
TO [BLEEP] SNAP YOUR FINGERS,
AND YOU GOT GOLD EVERYWHERE?"
HE'S GOT TO COME AND TRY TO GET
OUR LITTLE BITS OF GOLD?
I'VE BEEN OUT HERE IN THIS OCEAN
FOR 15 YEARS NOW.
THESE GUYS SHOW UP
IN THE FIRST YEAR,
AND THEY THINK
THAT THIS IS THEIR SPOT.
HE'S ON MY PROPERTY.
THIS IS WHERE I MINE.
THIS IS MY SPOT.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
LOOK AT ALL
THIS GROUND OUT HERE.
HE'S GOT TO MOVE IN
ON THE LITTLE GOLD GETTER?
THE KELLYS -- THEY'RE BEGINNERS,
SO YOU GOT TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
THEY'RE ALL TRYING.
ANY COMPETITION THERE? NO.
THIS IS GETTING OLD
FROM MR. GOLD.
I DON'T LET
THE SMALL [BLEEP] BOTHER ME.
WE GOT AN EIGHT-INCH HOSE.
THEY ONLY GOT A SIX.
SO WE KNOW
WHO WILL WIN THAT WAR.
NOW IT'S A RACE
TO GO AND GET IT
BEFORE THE POMRENKE
STEALS OUR GOLD.
WHAT ARE YOU
REALLY GONNA DO, MAN?
I THINK THAT EXCAVATOR IS WORTH
MORE THAN OUR WHOLE OPERATION.
Narrator: ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE CLAIM...
WE'RE GETTING RIGHT DOWN
TO THE TAIL END OF THE SEASON
RIGHT NOW,
AND WE KNOW WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
WE GOT TO GET THE GOLD.
Narrator:
...THE GOLD-COUNT LEADER...
[ ENGINE REVS ]
...WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON,
FIRING UP ON HIS SIXTH DIVE HOLE
OF THE WINTER.
RIGHT NOW, THE OBJECTIVE IS
TO GET THE GOLD.
WE JUST GOT TO TRY TO GET IT
WHILE THE GETTING'S GOOD.
IT'S WINTER SEASON.
IT'S BEEN EXCITING,
A LOT OF FUN,
AND WE'RE GETTING GOOD GOLD.
116 OUNCES SO FAR.
Narrator: WITH OVER
$150,000 BANKED ALREADY,
VERNON IS ON A MISSION
TO SCORE 200 OUNCES
BEFORE THE ICE GIVES OUT.
IT'S SUNNY, IT'S WARM --
EVERYTHING WE DON'T WANT.
THERE'S A LOT OF SURFACE WATER
ON TOP OF THE ICE.
WE'VE JUST GOT A FEW DAYS LEFT,
AND WE NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER
REALLY GOOD CLEANUP, MAYBE TWO.
TIME TO GO DOWN
AND MAKE US SOME MONEY.
Narrator:
FIRST DOWN ON THE HOLE,
LEAD DIVER JUSTON COOK.
Vernon: ALL RIGHT.
GET US SOME GOLD.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
HOW DO YOU HEAR ME,
JUSTON?
ALL RIGHT. REAL GOOD.
Juston: GOT ABOUT A GOOD FOOT
OF COBBLE ON TOP,
A NICE, LITTLE LAYER
ABOVE THE HARD PAN.
LET'S GO, BABY.
YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH IT
PRETTY NICE.
SEE WHERE
IT LEADS ME TO.
I'M LOOKING
FOR THAT BIG NUGGET.
IT'S AROUND HERE
SOMEWHERE.
IT'S CALLING MY NAME.
OH, YEAH. GOLD!
DAMN, THIS IS NICE.
TRACKING SOME NICE GOLD.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
KEEP SUCKING IT UP.
DON'T FORGET
HIS LITTLE BROTHERS.
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS CLEANOUT
A BIG ONE.
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD
DOWN HERE.
WHAT A DAMN GOOD GOLD PATCH
RIGHT HERE.
IT'S JUST LOOKING LIKE
THE YELLOW-BRICK ROAD.
HE TAKES BIG BITES
OUT OF THE GOLD.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
THE GUY'S A GOLD-GETTING SHARK.
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR,
AT THE WILD RANGER...
[ SCREAMS ]
[ GROANS ]
DAMN IT.
KIND OF HURTING
A LITTLE BIT.
DAMN IT.
[BLEEP]
Vernon: IS IT BROKEN?
I DON'T THINK IT'S BROKEN.
I THINK IT'S JUST LAID OPEN.
SHARP ROCK DOWN THERE?
HOW'D YOU DO IT?
YES [BLEEP]
I WENT TO GET A JAM
OFF A NOZZLE.
ANOTHER ROCK
COME IN BEHIND IT
AND JUST SLAMMED MY FINGER
UP IN THERE.
OH, MY, I THINK
IT NEEDS A STITCH OR TWO.
I DON'T KNOW.
WE ARE ON THE GOLD.
AND TO GET UP TO 200 OUNCES,
EVERYBODY'S GOT
TO PULL THEIR WEIGHT.
EVERY DAY WE'RE NOT DIVING,
THAT'S GOLD
THAT WE'RE NOT FINDING.
Narrator:
84 OUNCES AWAY FROM HIS GOAL
AND WITH HIS LEAD DIVER
A BLOODY MESS,
VERNON'S HOPE
OF A 200-OUNCE SEASON
IS ON THE ROCKS.
[ GROANS ] DAMN.
EIGHT MILES TO THE EAST,
JUST OFF EAST BEACH...
REALLY?
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
REALLY, SNOW MACHINE?
YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS NOW?
Narrator: ...WITH JUST
ONE OUNCE OF GOLD COLLECTED
FOR THE ENTIRE WINTER...
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR THIS!
Narrator:
...EROICA OWNER EMILY RIEDEL
IS HEADED BACK TO WORK.
[ SIGHS ] IT'S FLOODED.
I FEEL LIKE I MADE
A LOT OF WRONG DECISIONS
FOR THIS ICE-MINING SEASON,
AND I CHOSE
THE WRONG TIME TO EXPERIMENT.
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator:
FOR OVER A MONTH...
Daryl:
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUCTION.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POWER
TO BLOW THE ROCKS OUT.
Narrator:
...EMILY'S $50,000 INVESTMENT
HAS BEEN RIDDLED
WITH PROBLEMS...
Emily: THIS IS WHERE WE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN CATCHING
THE MAJORITY OF THE GOLD.
Daryl:
IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.
...AND IS FAILING
TO RECOVER THE GOLD
HER CREW HAS BEEN MINING.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
IN SPITE OF ALL THE OBSTACLES
AND THE LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS,
I DO HAVE A LOT
OF WILLPOWER TO SUCCEED.
EVERY DAY SEEMS LIKE
THE LAST DAY
WE COULD BE OUT HERE SAFELY.
WE MIGHT LOSE EVERYTHING,
BUT WE'RE GONNA STAY.
THAT IS THE KIND OF DEVOTION
I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO HAVE
IF I'M EVER GONNA
MAKE MONEY UP HERE.
Narrator:
WITH THE ICE QUICKLY MELTING,
HER ONLY CHOICE IS TO DIVE
UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
Emily: I WANT TO SUCCEED.
I WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF GOLD.
AND I'M GONNA CRAWL BACK FROM
THIS TERRIBLE ICE-MINING SEASON.
OH!
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator:
BUT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT
MAY BE COMING
SOONER THAN EXPECTED.
Tony: THE LEAD'S OPENED.
AND SEE HOW THIS [BLEEP] GOING
ALL THE WAY TO THE SHORE
AND ALL THE WAY THAT WAY?
Emily: THIS IS BAD.
THE ICE HAS ROTTED THROUGH.
THIS IS THE FIRST LEAD.
THIS IS ALL GONNA BE GONE.
Narrator: THE FIRST SIGN
OF THE SUMMER MELT ARE LEADS
DIVIDING THE SHORE-FAST ICE
FROM THE LARGER PACK.
ONCE THESE FISSURES APPEAR,
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THE ICE BREAKS LOOSE
AND HEADS OUT TO SEA.
WE PROBABLY NEED
TO PULL THE ICE SHACK
ON THIS SIDE OF THE LEAD
IF WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO STICK AROUND,
'CAUSE THIS WILL
PROBABLY OPEN UP TONIGHT.
SEE IF IT FLOATS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT DECISION
BETWEEN WANTING TO STAY
AND TRY TO SALVAGE THE SEASON
AND WANTING TO GET OFF
SO I CAN SALVAGE MY EQUIPMENT.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE.
I'VE ALREADY LOST SO MUCH
ON THIS ICE OPERATION,
I CAN'T LOSE ANY MORE
BY LOSING MY EQUIPMENT, AS WELL.
AGREED.
THIS IS A MOVE
FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B,"
WHICH IS 200 FEET THAT WAY.
ICE IS GONNA BE
MORE SOLID THERE.
Narrator: TO KEEP WORKING,
EMILY MAKES THE CALL
TO MOVE HER DREDGE
100 FEET NORTH
TO THE SHORE-FAST ICE.
ON A DAILY BASIS,
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
HOWEVER MANY OUNCES WE THINK
WE CAN POSSIBLY ACCUMULATE
BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP ON PERSEVERING
UNTIL WE FIND GOLD.
GOT EVERYTHING PRETTY TIDY
AND READY TO GO.
NOTHING THAT A REDNECK
AND HIS FOUR-WHEELER CAN'T DO.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
GO, GO, GO, GO!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
GO, MAN, GO!
KEEP GOING! DON'T STOP!
YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ]
NOW WE'RE CLEAR.
WELL, WE'RE CLEAR
FROM THE PRESSURE ZONE.
Tony:
BETTER TELL GLEN,
'CAUSE I STILL SEE HIM
OVER THERE, DREDGING AWAY.
YEAH, HE'S ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THE LEAD.
HE'S ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THE LEAD.
YEAH, GO HOLLER AT GLEN.
LET HIM KNOW WHAT'S UP.
AT LEAST HIS DREDGE FLOATS.
Narrator: 200 YARDS SOUTH
OF THE NEWLY FORMED LEAD...
AFTER FOUR HOURS
OF ICY RADIO SILENCE...
HEY, JAS,
ARE YOU THERE?
I'M HERE.
...A TEMPORARY TRUCE
HAS BEEN CALLED.
YEAH, I FORGIVE YOU.
'CAUSE HE WAS JUST SAYING IT
OUT OF ANGER.
HE WAS BEING ANNOYED,
AND HE WAS ANGERED,
AND HE WAS SAYING THINGS
THAT HE WOULDN'T NORMALLY SAY.
SO, WHAT I NEED TO WORK ON
WAS MEMORIZING THINGS BETTER
AND MAKING IT EASIER
FOR HIM BY MEMORIZING
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
AND JUST BEING MORE HELPFUL.
WHERE'S THE COM BOX.
LET GLEN KNOW.
YOU GUYS CAN
COME CHECK IT OUT INSIDE.
Emily: OH, MAN,
NICE HOME YOU HAVE.
HEY, GLEN...
YEAH, YEAH. WHAT UP?
...I'M GIVING YOU
A HEADS-UP.
THERE'S A LEAD OPENING UP
DIRECTLY IN FRONT YOU.
[BLEEP]
I'LL BE UP IN A MINUTE.
SOUNDS GOOD.
IS HE COMING OUT?
YEAH, HE'S COMING OUT.
I'M GONNA CHECK OUT
THE ICE BREAKER WITH TONY.
COME ON, GLEN.
OH [BLEEP]
WHERE'D THAT CRACK
COME FROM? WHOA.
OH, MAN.
IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S [BLEEP] CRACKING
THAT WAY AND THAT WAY?
Glen: WHAT SUCKS
IS I'M ON THE BEST GOLD
I'VE FOUND THIS SEASON.
DON'T GO CHASING ANOTHER DRAGON
AROUND ALL SUMMER.
WELL --
COME ON, NOW. COME ON.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO.
I HATE PUTTING ALL MY EXPENSIVE
EQUIPMENT AT RISK,
BUT THAT'S HOW
I'M GONNA GET THE MOST GOLD.
THAT'S JUST
THE REALITY OF THIS BUSINESS.
I'M GONNA KEEP DREDGING.
I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES
WITH THE ICE.
HEY, DO YOU HAVE A FLARE GUN
THAT YOU CAN SHOOT UP,
JUST IN CASE
THE [BLEEP] HITS THE FAN?
NO, BUT --
"TONY, COME SAVE ME."
PSSH!
NO, BUT I YELL PRETTY LOUD.
OKAY.
BE CAREFUL.
Glen: THE ICE IS BREAKING UP.
IT'S MELTING.
BUT I'M FINDING THE BEST GOLD
THAT I FOUND SO FAR,
AND I'M NOT LEAVING HERE
UNTIL I PUT A LOT OF GOLD
IN THE DRAGON.
Narrator: OFF THE COAST OF NOME,
AT THE CLARK...
HOW IS IT LOOKING
DOWN THERE?
...AFTER DROPPING FOUR GRAND
TO SET OUT ON HIS OWN,
ZEKE TENHOFF'S
FIRST DIVE ON NEW GROUNDS...
Zeke: I KNOW THERE'S GOLD
SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA,
BUT I'M NOT FINDING ANY.
...HAS BEEN
NOTHING BUT FRUSTRATION.
NOBODY EVER SAID
GOLD WAS EASY TO FIND.
I MEAN,
ALL THE CONDITIONS
KIND OF LOOK LIKE
IT SHOULD BE HERE,
BUT I'M JUST NOT SEEING IT
IN THIS SPOT.
IT'S GOT TO BE OUT HERE.
WE JUST HAVE TO FIND IT.
Sarah: ZEKE NEEDS
TO MAKE MONEY THIS ICE SEASON.
HE NEEDS TO PUT TOGETHER
A SUMMER OPERATION.
THE SMALL AMOUNT
THAT HE'S GOTTEN SO FAR,
ZEKE PUT IT BACK
INTO ICE DREDGING,
SO THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE REALLY PUSHING IT.
MY INTUITION TELLS ME
THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GOLD
OFF IN THAT DIRECTION,
BUT YEAH, I DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH HOSE ON THIS THING.
MY REACH ISN'T LONG ENOUGH.
HEY, SARAH,
I'M GONNA WANDER
OVER IN THAT DIRECTION
OVER THERE
WITHOUT THE HOSE
AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
WE'VE GOT TO BE GETTING CLOSE.
WHOA,
LOOK AT THIS [BLEEP]
HEY, THERE'S
A BIG ROCK WALL OVER HERE,
AND I THINK IT'S OVER
BY THE PRESSURE RIDGE.
WHAT?!
THIS ROCK WALL --
IT'S LIKE A REEF,
AND IT'S SHUTTING OUT
SORT OF NORTH/SOUTH.
IT'S LIKE AN OBSTRUCTION.
AND I THINK THIS IS
WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
BECAUSE A LOT OF GOLD
SETTLES AROUND HERE
OVER BY THE PRESSURE RIDGE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE,
ANYTHING THAT'S, LIKE,
MOVING ALONG
THE OCEAN FLOOR,
AND IT'S GONNA GET STUCK
IN THIS ONE PLACE.
ARE WE GONNA BE RICH?
SARAH, THIS COULD BE
OPTIMAL GROUND.
THIS IS REALLY AWESOME.
OH, BABY,
THAT'S AWESOME.
PLACE IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE NEEDED.
I KNOW.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED.
ALL RIGHT, I'M COMING UP.
SOUNDS GOOD, BABY,
I'LL SEE YOU ON TOP.
ZEKE SOUNDS THRILLED.
I TRY NOT TO GET MY HOPES UP
TOO MUCH,
BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT,
I AM PRETTY HOPEFUL.
WE JUST NEED TO GO DOWN
AND GET A LONGER PIECE OF HOSE.
THAT PRESSURE RIDGE
RIGHT THERE --
THAT'S BASICALLY JUST
A [BLEEP] ROCK WALL
THAT GOES THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF THIS LEASE.
AND, THEN, OUT HERE,
THERE'S JUST, LIKE,
SCATTERED ROCKS
AND A LOT OF EXPOSED CLAY
AND JUST A LOT
OF REALLY RICH GOLD.
Zeke: I'M REALLY GLAD THAT I LED
MYSELF OVER INTO THIS AREA,
'CAUSE IT'S THIS LITTLE
TRANSITION AREA
BETWEEN WHATEVER.
IT'S A SAND FIELD
THAT KIND OF BUTTS UP
AGAINST THIS BOULDER WALL.
I THINK THE GOLD'S GONNA BE
REALLY GOOD.
JUST A LITTLE WAYS
OUT OF THE REACH OF MY HOSE.
Narrator:
AS IT'S BEEN FOR EVERY GOLD
MINER IN HISTORY,
THE REALLY GOOD GROUND
IS JUST OUT OF REACH.
RATHER THAN MOVE
HIS ENTIRE OPERATION,
ZEKE'S HEADED FOR TOWN
AND A LONGER SUCTION HOSE.
I'M GONNA WEAR MYSELF
THE HELL OUT
BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN
WE HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ICE,
BECAUSE I NEED THAT GOLD.
ONE MILE TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOT CLAIM...
Brad: THE UNDERDOG --
OUR $2,500 MOTOR
AGAINST THEIR $70,000 MOTOR.
THE RACE IS ON.
...WITH THE BIG, BAD SHAMROCK
CLOSE ENOUGH
TO HIT WITH A SLINGSHOT,
THE KELLYS ARE PLAYING DAVID
TO THE POMRENKE GOLIATH.
I FEEL THAT I'M LOSING OUT
ON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY
BY NOT HAVING THE PROPER SYSTEM
RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
THE AREA THAT WE'RE WORKING --
YOU KNOW,
THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE.
ANYBODY CAN GET GOLD OUT THERE,
EVEN STEVE RIEDEL, IF HE TRIED.
BUT REALLY,
THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE
IS JUST A LACK
OF A GREAT OPERATION.
MY MASK
IS ALREADY FOGGING UP.
[BLEEP]
DON'T BREAK THE [BLEEP] MASK,
YOU [BLEEP] IDIOT.
PUT IT ON,
AND IT'S ALREADY FOGGING UP!
NOTHING, NOTHING.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
Brad:
THE KIDS OFTEN ACCUSE ME
OF RUNNING
WITH SECOND-RATE EQUIPMENT,
BUT IT SAYS BRAD KELLY
ON THE TITLE, NOT KRIS OR ANDY.
EVEN AT THE LITTLE
[BLEEP] OUNCE,
OUNCE AND A QUARTER-OUNCE
AND A HALF CLEANOUT A DAY,
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT DIVING
THAT MUCH,
I'M STILL BANKING
4,200 BUCKS A WEEK.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
IN ESSENCE, THE KIDS DON'T SIT
AROUND AND DO THE MATH.
Narrator: DESPITE
A CHEAPER OPERATION AND GEAR...
...KRIS KELLY
IS FIRST INTO THE WATER.
YOU WANT TO MAKE IT
IN THIS BUSINESS,
WE GOT TO GET A LOT OF GOLD.
WE'RE WORKING AGAINST A LOT
OF BIG-MONEY COMPETITION.
Kris: I'D SAY AT LEAST A THIRD
OF AN OUNCE AN HOUR RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA KEEP
GETTING A LOT OF GOLD
IS JUST CLEARING OUT
MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF AREA.
Narrator:
OVER ON THE SHAMROCK...
...MR. GOLD IS HEADED
FOR THE VERY SAME PASTRY.
THE KELLYS --
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY GOT
A LITTLE TOO MANY FAMILY ISSUES
TO REALLY FOCUS ON MINING.
THEY'RE ALWAYS FIGHTING,
AND YOU SEE THEM OUT ON THE ICE,
YELLING AND SCREAMING,
AND IT'S KIND OF COMICAL.
BETTER THEM THAN ME.
WE WILL ANNIHILATE AN AREA
IN NO TIME.
WE NEED A BIG PATCH WITH LOTS
OF GOLD TO KEEP US GOING.
WHAT WOULD TAKE THESE OTHER
CREWS A WEEK OR ALL SEASON,
WE'LL DO IN A FEW DAYS.
WE'RE WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE
FROM THE KELLY BOYS.
GO, SHAWN, GO.
Narrator: WITH GOLD-RICH GROUND
UP FOR GRABS,
IT'S ANYBODY'S GAME.
KRIS, HOW'S IT GOING?
HALLELUJAH.
WE NEED THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WE GET THREE OUNCES TODAY,
I'LL BE A HAPPY SON OF A GUN.
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GO
AND MAKE FIVE GRAND A DAY
KIND OF SITTING AROUND,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU?
Kris:
BUT I GO LEFT, I GO RIGHT.
EVERY TIME I DO,
I'M MAKING MONEY.
IT'S KA-CHING, KA-CHING!
KA-CHING!
AND THEN YOU GRIND IT ACROSS,
AND YOU FEEL
THAT MONEY AS YOU MAKE IT.
GOING UP, KA-CHING.
GO ALONG, KA-CHING.
HOW ABOUT
A LITTLE UPDATE?
WE'RE ALL HOPING THAT SHAWN
GETS DOWN IN THIS NEW HOLE
AND SEES SOMETHING.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
YEAH!
[ Spanish accent ]
FIRST, YOU GET THE RICHES,
THEN YOU GET THE WOMEN!
Narrator: SEVEN MILES WEST
OF NOME HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOT CLAIM.
Shawn: NOW THAT'S SOME
KA-CHING ACTION RIGHT THERE.
KA-CHING, KA-CHING.
Narrator: THE KELLY BOYS
AND THEIR RINKY-DINK DREDGE
ARE RACING TO KEEP UP
WITH MR. GOLD.
OUR OPERATION -- I MEAN, DUDE,
IT'S LIKE 10 TIMES MORE WORK,
UNLESS WE GO OUT AND SPEND
A HUNDRED GRAND LIKE SHAWN.
Shawn: YEAH! GETTING SOME GOLD,
MAKING SOME MONEY!
Narrator: SHAWN POMRENKE,
WITH A STRONGER PUMP ENGINE
AND LARGER HOSE,
CAN COVER GROUND TWICE AS FAST.
I DON'T HEAR NO MORE "KA-CHING."
WHAT HAPPENED? DID YOU LOSE IT?
Kris: IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE
THERE'S A ROCK JAM.
YEAH,
THERE'S A ROCK JAM.
POKE THE BOX.
Brad: NOPE.
IT'S IN THE HOSE.
IT'S NOT IN THE BOX.
WELL, THIS SUCKS!
GET THE SLEDGEHAMMER.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME LOOK
AND SEE WHERE THIS IS.
THERE'S A FLAT ROCK
RIGHT HERE.
[BLEEP]
DAMN [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
I THINK HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A WOMAN AT BIRTH
AND THE DNA GOT SPLIT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
[BLEEP]
'CAUSE HE SURE COMPLAINS LIKE
A LITTLE GIRL HALF THE TIME.
HE FORGETS WHAT WE'RE HERE
TO DO -- GET GOLD.
AND WHEN I WAS A KID,
I BUSTED MY ASS.
THESE KIDS TODAY --
MAN, THEY'RE LAZY-ASS BASTARDS.
GIVE ME A WHIP
OR CANE OR SOMETHING,
AND LET ME TAKE IT TO THEM.
BECAUSE TODAY, THERE'S SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
ABUSE TO KIDS AND [BLEEP]
THAT'S FOR ALL THESE KIDS
IN AMERICA.
GIVE THEM A GOOD RIGHT HAND
OR A BELT, MAN,
THEY'LL START MOVING
A LITTLE FASTER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
JUST 300 YARDS AWAY,
AT THE WILD RANGER...
Vernon: SO, LET ME SEE
THAT FINGER THERE.
YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THE BEST DOCTORING
IS SELF-DOCTORING.
...PUSHING HARD
FOR A 200-OUNCE SEASON...
WE'LL JUST GET
THE BLEEDING STOPPED,
TRY TO SEAL IT UP
SO I CAN GO DIVING.
...VERNON AND HIS LEAD DIVER
ARE APPLYING AN OLD REMEDY.
I MEAN, KRAZY GLUE WILL PROBABLY
KILL ANY GERM THAT'S IN THERE.
THERE AIN'T MUCH [BLEEP]
THAT HAPPENS OUT HERE
THAT WE CAN'T FIX,
RIGHT?
RIGHT, EVEN OURSELVES.
MAYBE IT WILL HOLD
FOR THE DURATION OF THE DIVE.
IT'S ONLY GOT TO LAST
ABOUT SIX HOURS.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
I THINK IT WILL WORK.
LET'S GO MAKE SOME MONEY.
ALL RIGHT.
GET ON THAT GOLD.
BACK TO MAKING MONEY!
Vernon:
JUSTON IS ONE TOUGH NUT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS
WITH JUSTON, I TELL YOU.
YEAH, WE GLUED IT, SCREWED IT,
AND TAPED IT!
HE OUGHT TO BE GOOD TO GO.
Narrator:
SUPER-GLUED, DUCT-TAPED,
AND READY FOR ACTION,
JUSTON IS GEARED UP
TO PUT GOLD BACK IN THE BOX.
Vernon: GET AFTER
THAT GOLD, BUDDY.
Juston: YEAH!
FINALLY, AFTER THREE
OR FOUR YEARS UP HERE,
I'VE GOTTEN A GOOD TEAM,
PROBABLY THE BEST IN TOWN.
WE'LL GET MORE GOLD THAN ANYBODY
ELSE AROUND HERE THIS WINTER.
Narrator:
ACROSS THE FLEET...
AS LATE AS IT IS IN THE SEASON,
IT STILL DOES NOT MEAN
THAT I CAN'T GET
INTO SOMETHING GOOD.
...THE FINAL PUSH FOR GOLD
IS UNDER WAY.
Sarah:
ALL RIGHT, GOLD HOUNDS.
COULD BE THE LAST DIVE
OF THE SEASON,
SO GO DOWN THERE...
Narrator: AS THE SPRING MELT
STARTS FRACTURING THE ICE,
EVERY DIVE COULD BE THEIR LAST.
FOUND A NICE NUGGET DOWN THERE.
ICE-MINING
IS A RISKY, RISKY BUSINESS.
ONCE THE ICE TURNS BLACK,
GET THE HELL OFF,
BECAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA BE
LONG BEFORE IT'S GONE.
Narrator: BUT FOR ONE MINER,
THE END MAY HAVE ALREADY COME.
JUST OFF EAST BEACH...
Glen: WE DIDN'T THINK
THIS WOULD HAPPEN
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
BUT A LEAD HAS OPENED,
AND THE MISS NOMER'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
THE MISS NOMER'S
FLOATING OUT TO SEA,
AND IT'S DRAGGING THE DRAGON
WITH IT,
AND WE HAVE TO GO SAVE IT.
Narrator: ...AFTER IGNORING
THE WARNING SIGNS,
GLEN LeBARON
IS PAYING THE PRICE.
Glen: WE JUST CROSSED
THIS ABOUT AN HOUR AGO,
AND THERE WAS
NO GAP AN HOUR AGO.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
ALMOST A QUARTER-MILE GAP.
Narrator:
THE LEAD HAS BROKEN WIDE-OPEN,
TAKING THE MISS NOMER PLATFORM
AND THE SHEET OF ICE IT SITS ON
OUT TO SEA.
Glen: THE DRAGON HAS ALREADY
BEEN DRAGGED AT LEAST 200 FEET,
AND THE ONLY THING
THAT'S HOLDING IT IS THE ROPE.
LET'S JUST HOPE THAT THAT ROPE
IS STILL ATTACHED
TO THE MISS NOMER.
Narrator:
MAKING MATTERS WORSE,
GLEN'S UNDERWATER DREDGE,
THE DRAGON,
IS BEING DESTROYED
AS IT'S DRAGGED
ALONG THE ROCKY SEA FLOOR.
Glen:
WE ARE A RESCUE MISSION.
Narrator: TO SAVE IT,
GLEN AND JASMIN PLAN TO TAKE
A TINY, RUBBER RAFT
OUT INTO THE 28-DEGREE WATER.
AND HEADED FOR A SEA
LITTERED WITH JAGGED ICE,
THE BOAT
HAS ALREADY SPRUNG A LEAK.
SO, THIS IS
[BLEEP] CRAZY.
Glen: WE'VE GOT A BOAT
WITH A HOLE IN IT,
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ROW
ACROSS THIS HALF-MILE GAP
AND GET THE DRAGON
OFF THE BOTTOM.
THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF FIGURING OUT
HOW TO GET
THE MISS NOMER TO SHORE.
GUYS, I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
HERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
WE CAN ALL FIT IN HERE.
NO, WE CAN'T.
WITH THE FRONT DEFLATED, JAS,
I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS.
Glen:
[BLEEP] GOT TO GO.
I'M WAITING ON SHORE
FOR YOU GUYS.
OKAY. WE GOT A PHONE.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME IS...
MR. GOLD.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME
IS THE GUY
WHO CAN GET THE MOST GOLD
WITH THE SMALLEST INVESTMENT.
TELL YOU WHO
IT'S NOT IS THE GUYS
WHO PURPORT THEMSELVES TO BE
THE BEST DREDGERS IN NOME.
I MEAN, YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME,
AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW
WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME
IS DEFINITELY ME.
GLEN LeBARON, UNDOUBTEDLY.
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SAY IT,
BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE,
HE REALLY IS.
IF YOU'RE WHERE I WAS
AT 10 YEARS AGO,
YOU'RE NOT THE BEST DREDGER.
THE BEST DREDGER IN NOME
IS THE MOST SILENT.
Narrator:
ON THE COAST OF NOME...
Man: LIKE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE
THE SHORE BROKE OFF RIGHT HERE.
I MEAN,
THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE GAP.
Narrator:
...THE BERING SEA ICE PACK
HAS BEGUN TO BREAK APART.
Man: THIS WAS SOLID ICE
AN HOUR AGO,
AND IT'S JUST CRAZY.
THIS IS THE RISK THESE GUYS TAKE
OUT HERE IN THE BERING SEA.
I MEAN, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
I MEAN, IT SEEMS
LIKE IT'S STABLE GROUND,
BUT YOU JUST HAVE NO CLUE
WHAT'S HAPPENING UNDERNEATH YOU.
Narrator: WITH THEIR OPERATION
FLOATING AWAY ON A SHEET OF ICE,
GLEN AND JASMIN HAVE LEFT THEIR
CAMERAMAN BEHIND
WHILE THEY ROW OUT
TO ATTEMPT A RESCUE.
THIS IS PRETTY CRAZY RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH
AS REAL AS IT GETS.
AND WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIT
OUT HERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
YEAH, THERE'S THE HEADLAMPS
IN THE DISTANCE, WAY OUT THERE.
ARRIVED
AT THE MISS NOMER PLATFORM,
THE TWO BEGIN
TO DOCUMENT THE EVENTS
ON JASMIN'S PERSONAL CAMERA.
ARE YOU GUYS
DRIFTING RIGHT NOW?
Glen: YEAH,
WE'RE DRIFTING FOR SURE.
THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
WHEN WE GOT OUT HERE.
WE WERE WALKING THROUGH
A FROZEN LAKE ON THE ICE,
AND OUR BOOTS
WEREN'T TALL ENOUGH.
SO, YEAH, LET ME GIVE YOU
A REPORT IN FIVE MINUTES.
I JUST WANTED
TO GIVE YOU A REPORT
THAT WE'RE DRIFTING OUT TO SEA
FOR CERTAIN.
AND, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW
IF OUR CELL SIGNAL
IS GONNA LAST LONG,
SO THIS MAY GO
INTO A MORE EXTENSIVE RESCUE,
INCLUDING OURSELVES.
ALL RIGHT,
STAY SAFE OUT THERE.
[ BEEPING ]
Narrator: FOR GLEN,
THE CHIEF CONCERN NOW
IS PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE
TO HIS UNDERWATER DREDGE.
I'M ABOUT TO DIVE DOWN AND FLOAT
THE DRAGON TO THE SURFACE.
AS SOON AS WE DO THAT,
WE'RE RACING BACK TO THE SKIFF,
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE IT
ACROSS THE LEAD
BEFORE IT GETS TOO WIDE.
Narrator: ATTACHED
TO THE DRIFTING MISS NOMER
BY A CONNECTING LINE,
GLEN'S SUBMERSIBLE DREDGE
IS DRAGGING
ACROSS THE ROCKY SEAFLOOR.
TO SAVE IT FROM DAMAGE,
GLEN MUST RAISE THE DRAGON
TO JUST BELOW
THE FLOATING ICE SHEET.
Jasmin:
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DRIFTING NOW.
IT'S PROBABLY LIKE MIDNIGHT
BY NOW,
AND WE JUST WENT IN
A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO.
WE JUST FINISHED OUR SHIFT,
AND WE DIDN'T THINK
THIS WOULD HAPPEN TONIGHT,
BUT IT'S HAPPENING,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS A BIG RISK
THAT WE'RE TAKING,
AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S PART OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator: AFTER 40 MINUTES
ON THE BOTTOM...
IT'S UP.
I JUST PULLED THE DRAGON.
I WENT DOWN THERE
AND EMPTIED OUT ITS BALLAST BAG.
I TOOK ALL OF THE ROCKS
OUT OF THE BALLAST BAG,
FLOATED THE DRAGON UP,
DRAGGED IT BY A ROPE.
IT'S IN THE DIVE HOLE,
AND NOW JAS
AND I JUST HAVE TO RACE BACK.
Man: THEY'RE OUT THERE,
AND THEY'RE DRIFTING.
I JUST HOPE IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
AFTER A THREE-HOUR ORDEAL
AND FIGHTING FROSTBITE,
GLEN, JASMIN,
AND A HALF-SUNKEN RAFT
FINALLY APPROACH THE COASTLINE.
THIS IS FREAKING CRAZY.
Glen:
LET'S GET JAS OFF FIRST.
BY THE TIME WE GOT
TO THE MISS NOMER,
BOTH JAS AND I'S FEET
WERE COMPLETELY FROZEN.
WE HAD JUST ENOUGH FUEL
FOR ME TO DIVE DOWN,
FLOAT THE DRAGON TO THE SURFACE.
YOU KNOW,
IT WAS JUST A REALLY CLOSE CALL,
AND IT'S NOT OVER WITH.
THIS IS LIKE HALF A SUCCESS --
YOU KNOW,
MAYBE NOT EVEN A SUCCESS YET.
THE FACT IS, HOPEFULLY THE TIDE
BRINGS THIS ICE BACK IN
AND WE CAN EASILY GET
THE MISS NOMER OFF TOMORROW.
Narrator:
WITH THE DRAGON SECURED,
GLEN IS COUNTING ON THE TIDE
TO BRING THE ICE SHEET
CLOSER TO SHORE.
ONLY THEN CAN HE DRAG
THE WHOLE OPERATION
ONTO DRY LAND.
THAT WAS LIKE
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
Narrator:
AS THE SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE,
EVERY MOMENT SPENT MINING
IS PRECIOUS.
FOR NOW,
CLEANUPS WILL HAVE TO WAIT.
Man: LAST DIVE
OF THE SEASON, MAN.
OW!
MAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!
YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOME!
YOU OUGHT TO LEAVE NOME!
Daryl: WHOA.
THE BUILDING JUST SHIFTED,
DIDN'T IT?
Shawn: WE'RE ALREADY
ON THIN ICE. NOT GOOD.
OH!
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!