Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 8 - Money Money Money - full transcript

THE ICE IS MELTING
BEFORE OUR EYES.

IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

WORST CASE SCENARIO IS SOMEBODY
GETS HURT OR POSSIBLY KILLED.

OH [BLEEP]

THE SEASON'S ALMOST OVER.

NOW IT'S JUST
EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.

I [BLEEP] WORKED --
[BLEEP] YOU!

WE'RE NOT GONNA PULL THE PLUG
UNTIL THE BITTER END.

YOU DON'T GET ANY GOLD,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET PAID.

NUGGETS!

THAT'S THE YELLOW-BRICK ROAD
RIGHT THERE.



YEAH!
[ LAUGHING ]

WHOO!

GOT TO HAVE SOME BIG BALLS
TO DO WHAT WE DO.

♪ LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW

♪ WHAT I SAY

♪ I'M A-GONNA HEAD OUT WEST
ONE DAY ♪

♪ I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪

♪ AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪

♪ GOLD

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
A NEW DAY DAWNS IN NOME, ALASKA.

FOUR HOURS AGO, THIS WAS CLOSED.

Narrator: OFF THE COAST,

LATE APRIL SUNSHINE
IS BREAKING THE ICE PACK APART.



WATER'S GETTING DEEP.

SOME PLACES, FOOT AND A HALF,

MAYBE EVEN 2 FEET DEEP
IN SOME HOLES.

Narrator: FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE GOLD-MINING FLEET,

IT'S A HIGH-STAKES GAME
OF CHICKEN.

WE REALLY NEED TO GET EVERYTHING
WE CAN BEFORE WE CALL IT DONE.

Narrator: TIME IT RIGHT

AND YOU COULD BANK
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN GOLD.

Man: THIS IS IT.

GET MY ASS DOWN THERE
AND SUCK UP SOME GOLD.

Narrator: TIME IT WRONG,
AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE WORKED FOR

WILL ONCE AGAIN BELONG
TO THE BERING SEA.

YOUR PROFIT MARGIN GOES WAY DOWN

WHEN YOU LOSE
ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT,

BUT SOMETIMES
IT'S WORTH RISKING EVERYTHING

TO GAIN THAT EXTRA
40 OR 50 OUNCES.

Narrator: JUST OFF EAST BEACH...

WE NEED TO GET THE MISS NOMER
AND THE DRAGON

OFF THE ICE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HAVE TO RAISE THE DRAGON,

AND WE HAVE TO START
PULLING THE MISS NOMER

BACK ACROSS THIS LEAD.

Narrator: AS DAY BREAKS,

GLEN LeBARON
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND JASMIN GEORGE

ARE ON A RESCUE MISSION.

LAST NIGHT...

A LEAD HAS OPENED,

AND THE MISS NOMER'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

Narrator: ...GLEN'S OPERATION,
THE MISS NOMER,

ALONG WITH HIS UNDERWATER
DREDGE, THE DRAGON,

BROKE FREE ON AN ICE SHEET
AND BEGAN DRIFTING.

NOW IT'S EITHER
FIND A WAY OFF THE ICE

OR LOSE THE ENTIRE OPERATION

AND ALL THE GOLD WAITING
IN THE SLUICE BOX.

Glen: LAST NIGHT, WE FLOATED
THE DRAGON OFF THE BOTTOM.

NOW I HAVE TO HOIST
THE THING OUT,

CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR STUFF,

AND GET ACROSS THAT SHORT LEAD
BEFORE IT GETS BIG.

IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S STILL ON A PIECE,

BUT IT'S HARD TO TELL.

THAT LOOKS
EXACTLY HOW WE LEFT IT.

IT'S AS IF EVERYTHING
BROKE AROUND IT,

AND IT JUST STAYED
RIGHT ON THAT ICE CAKE.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH
LOSING THE DRAGON ONCE.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE
GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

BUT HERE IT IS.
WE HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME.

WE HAVE TO GET THE DRAGON UP,

AND WE NEED TO START PULLING
THE MISS NOMER ASHORE.

Narrator: THE FIRST STEP --
RIGGING ALL THE GEAR FOR TRAVEL.

WE NEED TO GET INTO SHORE
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AS SOON AS I FINISH LOADING UP
THESE ITEMS,

WE'RE GONNA GO BACK
AND LOOK FOR AN ICE BRIDGE,

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HERE
AND THE JETTY.

WE HAVEN'T MADE IT
TO SAFETY YET.

WE NEED TO GET ACROSS THAT LEAD,
BUT WE'LL FIND A WAY.

Narrator:
PACKED AND READY TO MOVE,

STEP TWO IS FINDING A SPOT

WHERE THE TIDE
HAS FORMED AN ICE BRIDGE

TO TOW IT ALL TO SHORE.

LOOK, THE TWO ICE EDGES
ARE TOUCHING.

IF WE MOVE REAL FAST,
I CAN HOP ON MY SNOW MACHINE,

AND WE CAN PULL THE MISS NOMER
ACROSS RIGHT THERE.

WE'VE GOT TO HURRY.

IF THAT STAYS ATTACHED THERE,
THEN WE CAN --

WE CAN JUST SNOW-MACHINE IT
ACROSS.

Glen:
EVERYTHING'S READY TO TOW.

WE'VE GOT THE ICE LEADS
TOUCHING RIGHT HERE,

SO I'M GONNA RUN AND HOP
ON MY SNOW MACHINE WITH JAS,

AND WE'RE GONNA BLAST ACROSS

AND JUST HOPE THAT THE ICE
CONTINUES TO TOUCH THERE.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA
HAVE A SNOW MACHINE TO
RESCUE, AS WELL.

SO LET'S HURRY, JAS.

Narrator: 8 MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...

Vernon: WATER'S GETTING DEEP.

THIS ICE IS GETTING
PRETTY SKETCHY.

IF THIS ICE BREAKS LOOSE,
THE WIND'LL TAKE IT OUT,

SO WE GOT TO WATCH IT
VERY CAREFULLY.

IT'S LIKE A [BLEEP] LAKE
OUT HERE.

Narrator: ...WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON

IS MAKING HIS LAST STAND
ON MELTING ICE.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN PULL 30 OR 40
OUNCES OUT OF THIS HOLE.

WE JUST GOT TO GET
ANOTHER 30 OR 40.

Narrator:
AFTER THREE YEARS OF FAILURE

AND A MILLION DOLLARS BURNED,
THIS WINTER...

Man:
GRAND TOTAL IS 38.77 OUNCES.

Narrator: ...VERNON HAS HURDLED
TO THE TOP OF THE GOLD COUNT

WITH 116 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER 150 GRAND.

Vernon: THIS IS THE BEST TEAM
I'VE BEEN WITH.

BRING IT IN HERE!
COME ON! COME ON!

Narrator: NOW HE'S GUNNING

FOR THE FLEET'S
FIRST-EVER 200-OUNCE SEASON.

Juston: TEMPERATURE'S COMING UP.

THIS'LL POSSIBLY BE
ONE OF MY LAST DIVES,

SO DEFINITELY GOT TO MAKE
THE BEST OF IT.

Narrator: LEADING THE CHARGE,

VERNON'S ACE IN THE HOLE,
JUSTON COOK.

WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT --
I GOT A TEAM OF SHARKS.

WE JUST GOT TO TRY TO GET IT
WHILE THE GETTING'S GOOD.

THIS HOLE WE'RE WORKING ON
RIGHT NOW,

IT'S LOOKING LIKE
IT MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE.

MY STATED GOAL WAS 200 OUNCES.

THAT ONLY LEAVES 84 TO GO.

YOU OUGHT TO BE
GOOD TO GO.

Juston:
I'M GONNA GO HIT IT UP.

I WILL GET THE GOLD,
COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.

TILL THE LAST
DEAD NUT PIECE OF ICE

DRIFTS OUT TO SEA.

Juston: GETTING 'ER DONE!

Vernon: GET AFTER THAT GOLD,
BUDDY.

JUSTON: Yeah, Roger that.

Oh, yeah.

That's some good color
right there.

[ LAUGHING ]

ALL RIGHT.

We stay on gold like this,

think this is gonna be
the best haul all season.

All right, buddy.

IT'S GONNA BE A BIG PAYDAY --
A HUMONGOUS PAYDAY.

Narrator: AS THE WILD RANGER
RAKES IN MORE GOLD,

JUST 200 YARDS AWAY...

TRY THAT PLACE
BEHIND THE LADDER.

I am behind the ladder.

Narrator: ...THE KELLY FAMILY

HAS COLLECTED 13 OUNCES
THIS WINTER,

WITH MORE WAITING
IN THE SLUICE BOX.

WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE PROBLEM
FINDING WORKABLE GROUND.

I MEAN, HE SEES GOLD,

BUT HE JUST DOESN'T SEE
ENOUGH OF IT.

WE NEED AT LEAST 1/4 OUNCE
AN HOUR TO KEEP RUNNING.

Narrator:
BUT THEIR HONEY HOLE...

...IS RUNNING OUT OF HONEY.

Hey, I know
where I want to move, though.

YEAH? WHERE'S THAT?

Right next to Pomrenke.

YEAH, I KNOW.
HE DID IT TO US FIRST.

Narrator: YESTERDAY...

POMRENKES ARE OVER ON OUR SPOT?

THIS IS [BLEEP]

Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE

AND THE BIGGER,
MORE POWERFUL SHAMROCK

MOVED TO WITHIN 90 FEET
OF THE REAPER.

HE'S GOT TO MOVE IN
ON THE LITTLE GO-GETTER?

NOW THE HOLE THAT WAS ONCE
THEIR MEAL TICKET...

THIS WHOLE [BLEEP] AREA?
GONE.

...HAS BECOME MERELY LEFTOVERS.

THEIR TAILING PILE

IS NOT ACTUALLY TOO FAR AWAY
FROM US.

I ACTUALLY WALKED UP IT.
IT'S ALMOST TO THE ICE.

Kris: SHAWN SUCKS,

AND THAT HOT SPOT HAD
THE POTENTIAL TO BE 60 OUNCES.

WE ONLY HIT HALF THE GROUND.

HEY, YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF GOLD IN HERE.

Narrator:
FOR THE FIGHTING IRISH,

THERE'S NO TIME TO CRY
OVER SPILLED GOLD.

I GOT TO GET DOWN THERE
AND PUT MY TIME IN.

THE HOURS ARE SLIM.

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED WHAT IT
TAKES TO DREDGE GOLD IN NOME?

JUST KEEP WORKING.

JUST WORK HARD,
DON'T COMPLAIN TOO MUCH,

AND JUST ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD.

Narrator:
RATHER THAN MOVE THE DREDGE

OR CALL THE SEASON QUITS,

KRIS KELLY IS HEADED BACK DOWN
TO MOP UP THE SCRAPS.

I'M GONNA TRY TO GET
AS MUCH AS I CAN.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GOLD
DOWN THERE,

BUT YOU ALWAYS
WANT TO TRY TO TAKE

AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH YOU,

BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOURS
UNTIL YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR HAND.

Man: LAST DIVE
OF THE SEASON, MAN.

SUCK UP AS MUCH GOLD
AS YOU CAN.

Narrator: WHILE KRIS WORKS TO
MAKE THE MOST OF THE GROUNDS...

30 YARDS AWAY,
ON THE SHAMROCK...

NOTHING THAT'S WORTH
SITTING DOWN THERE AND...

WASTING ALL MY ENERGY ON.

Narrator: WITH ONLY 30 OUNCES,
WORTH $39,000, COLLECTED SO FAR,

AND $100,000 DREDGE TO PAY FOR,

SHAWN POMRENKE IS NOT INTERESTED
IN SETTLING FOR SCRAPS.

Shawn: WE AIN'T ON AS MUCH GOLD
AS I'D LIKE TO BE.

EVERY YEAR, IT GETS HARDER
AND HARDER TO STAY ON THE GOLD

AND STAY IN THESE AREAS THAT
CAN MAKE FOR THESE GOOD SEASONS.

Narrator:
FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS...

HEE HEE HEE!
FIRST ONE HERE WINS.

Vernon:
THAT'S THE FRIGGIN' SHAMROCK.

THEY'RE SPITTING DISTANCE
FROM US.

Narrator: ...SHAWN
HAS BEEN CUTTING A SWATH

THROUGH THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
SEARCHING FOR BIG GOLD...

OH, HERE COME THE KELLY BOYS.

Narrator: ...NO MATTER
WHOSE FEATHERS GET RUFFLED

WHILE HE DOES IT.

ANOTHER DEAD HOLE.

Narrator: NOW MR. GOLD MAY HAVE
REACHED THE END OF THE ROAD.

THERE WAS THAT HOLE

ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF WHERE WE STARTED OUT HERE.

BUT SHAWN'S NEWEST HIRE,
DECKHAND JACOB MUSICH,

HAS ONE LAST SPOT IN MIND.

IT WAS FURTHER EAST
FROM WHERE WE STARTED.

THE PITCH -- AN AREA JACOB
PROSPECTED WITH ANOTHER CREW

BEFORE HE WAS HIRED
ONTO THE SHAMROCK.

YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE WORTH
GOING BACK OVER THERE.

JACOB JUMPED
FROM THE LAZY GATOR CREW

AND COME OVER TO THE SHAMROCK.

GOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM,

BUT THE ICE IS THIN,
IT'S BEEN MOVING AROUND A LOT.

[BLEEP] IT.

Narrator: WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,
SHAWN IS THROWING A HAIL MARY...

YEAH, WE GOT TO MOVE.
THIS SPOT AIN'T PAYING OUT.

ALL RIGHT, BOYS,
LET'S GET THIS THING MOVED!

Narrator: ...MOVING THE 9-TON
SHAMROCK ACROSS THINNING ICE.

Shawn: IN ONE DAY, YOU CAN
MAKE UP FOR A MONTH AND A HALF

OF WORKING YOUR ASS OFF
AND NOT GETTING [BLEEP]

THIS IS IT.

WE MADE IT.

GETTING THE HOT-WATER HEATER
HOOKED UP,

START CUTTING OUR HOLES.

UH-OH.

HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator: THE SHAMROCK BOYS
AREN'T THE ONLY ONES

LOOKING TO MAKE THIS GROUND
THEIR FINAL SCORE.

JACOB'S FORMER EMPLOYER
HAS THE SAME IDEA.

[ CHUCKLES ]

HERE'S JOE.

WANT TO KEEP
EVERYTHING COOL.

Narrator:
ON THE MELTING BERING SEA...

HERE'S JOE.

TRYING TO KEEP
EVERYTHING COOL.

Narrator:
FOR THE THIRD SPOT IN A ROW,

SHAWN POMRENKE IS IN A BATTLE
OVER MINING GROUNDS.

RELAX, BUDDY.

RELAX.

WHY ARE YOU GUYS
ALL [BLEEP] BENT OUT OF SHAPE?

I MEAN [BLEEP]

WHEN DID YOU TALK ABOUT
COMING BACK?

WHY IN THE [BLEEP]

[BLEEP] WORK OVER THERE!
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!

YOU GUYS ALL [BLEEP] COME BACK
ALL [BLEEP] HUFFY AND PUFFY,

THEN GO [BLEEP]
SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[BLEEP] MOTHER [BLEEP]
I [BLEEP] WORKED --

[BLEEP] YOU!

OKAY. [BLEEP] ME, THEN.
[BLEEP] YOU.

[BLEEP] ME, THEN.

Narrator: BUT OUT HERE,
IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

Shawn: IT'S A MINING CLAIM,

AND I HAVE PERMISSION
TO BE OUT HERE.

BOB'S LYING.

I'VE PAID A LOT OF MONEY IN
ROYALTIES TO WORK THAT GROUND,

AND I JUST FOLLOW THE GOLD.

HE WAS ALL BENT OUT OF SHAPE,

BUT IT WAS LIKE,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

YOU WANT ME TO QUIT?"

SHOULD WE JUST STOP MINING?
HELL NO.

FIND SOME GOLD.

COLD GOLD.

I MEAN, TO MAKE THIS WHOLE
OPERATION PAY FOR ITSELF,

I NEED TO GET 150 OUNCES.

OTHERWISE, I JUST BLEW
ANOTHER $100,000.

AND I HAD TWO YEARS
OF BEING CLOSE TO $250,000 --

QUARTER-MILLION DOLLARS.

FWT!

Narrator:
AFTER FIGHTING ANOTHER TURF WAR,

THE ONLY QUESTION REMAINING --

IS THE DIRT WORTH THE HURT?

See what's at the end
of this hose.

HOW'S IT LOOKING?

Working down
through some cobble.

Down to...

looks like sand.

No, I'm gonna
keep punching holes here

and see what I can find.

WE WORKED THIS AREA
EARLIER THIS YEAR,

AND THIS IS WHERE I FOUND THESE.

YOU KNOW?
SO THAT'S WHY WE CAME BACK.

Let's see what's at the bottom
of this little hole here.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Here we go.

Oh-ho.

Whoa-ho.

Oh, there's some easy picking
material right here.

That looks beautiful.

This bottom's loaded.

We're in the gold now, boys.

It looks like 2 ounce an hour,
if not better.

Hell yeah.

[ LAUGHING ]

The gold is flowing
like a fine wine.

Narrator: WHILE SHAWN
IS LOOKING TO FINISH STRONG...

8 MILES TO THE EAST,
EMILY RIEDEL AND THE EROICA...

EASY! GO SLOW!

...ARE JUST PLAIN FINISHED.

WATCH OUT.
DON'T GO IN THE HOLE.

THE LAST DREDGE ON THE ICE
THIS WINTER

IS NOW AIMING TO BE
THE FIRST ONE OFF.

WE'RE OUT.

AND THE DRAIN CLEARS UP.

AFTER ESCAPING THE BREAKING ICE
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME,

EMILY IS NOW SCRAMBLING

TO GET HER RIG
ALL THE WAY BACK TO SHORE.

WE HAVE TO MOVE.
THIS IS --

IT'S TOO DANGEROUS
FOR US TO BE HERE.

IT'S KIND OF THE ESSENCE
OF OUR ICE-MINING SEASON.

WE'VE BEEN ON GREAT GOLD
THE ENTIRE TIME,

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT
TO MINE IT.

Narrator: FOR EMILY...

WE'RE CALLING IT
THE DRAGON SLAYER.

...A $50,000 GAMBLE ON
NEW EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN A BUST.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUCTION.

Narrator: SHE'S PRODUCED
JUST ONE OUNCE OF GOLD,

WORTH 1,300 BUCKS,
FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.

Emily:
WORST CLAIM THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.

I'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
WORTH OF EQUIPMENT ON THE ICE,

AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS THE CREW OF THE EROICA
SIGNING OFF FOR ICE SEASON.

Emily: IT WAS MY FIRST SEASON
AS AN ICE CAPTAIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF DECISIONS
I COULD'VE MADE

THAT WOULD'VE MADE ICE BETTER.

I BELIEVE IN REINVENTING
WHAT WE DO UP HERE,

BUT I CHOSE THE WRONG TIME
TO EXPERIMENT.

THERE YOU GO.

AH, HEY!

THE SEASON PRETTY MUCH ENDED
THE WAY IT STARTED.

BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END,
IT'S ALL THE SAME --

BROKEN AND DYSFUNCTIONAL.

Narrator: WHILE THE EROICA
IS SECURELY ON THE BEACH...

JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS
OUT TO SEA...

OKAY, UH...

THINK WE CAN MAKE IT?

YOU WORRIED?
YOU WANT TO GET OFF?

WE SHOULD LOOK
ON THE OTHER SIDE, TOO.
MAYBE IT'S CONNECTED.

I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT
RIGHT ACROSS HERE.

ALL RIGHT, JAS,
I'M GOING.

Narrator:
WITH A NARROW ICE BRIDGE

HOLDING IN PLACE FOR NOW,

GLEN AND JASMINE MUST ACT FAST

TO TOW THE MISS NOMER AND
ALL THEIR GOLD ONTO DRY LAND.

Glen: YEAH, WE JUST PULLED OUT
WITH A SNOW MACHINE,

AND WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO SHORE,
HOPEFULLY.

HOPEFULLY OUR BRIDGE
IS STILL THERE.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Narrator:
APPROACHING THE CROSSING,

THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION --

FLOOR IT
AND HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

Glen: WHOO!

Narrator: THE MISS NOMER IS
FINALLY SAFELY ACROSS THE LEAD.

FOR GLEN AND JASMINE,

WINTER DREDGING
IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

I CONSIDER THIS MINING SEASON
A SUCCESS.

I DIDN'T GET AS MUCH GOLD
AS I EXPECTED,

BUT I REKINDLED MY PASSION
FOR MINING.

AND JAS AND I, BY SOME MIRACLE,
ARE STILL TOGETHER.

Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME, ALASKA...

Woman:
HOW'S IT LOOKING DOWN THERE?

WHAT?

[ LAUGHING ]

ZEKE: I know.
It's pretty nuts.

Narrator:
AFTER A ROCKY WINTER SEASON,

DIVER ZEKE TENHOFF
HAS FINALLY HIT PAY DIRT.

Let's see if I can count
the pieces

in just this little
Dinner-plate-sized area.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9 --

Can't even count them.

You know, it's pretty insane

that, like, yes,
at the 11th hour, I'm on it.

Yeah, this is good.
What I'm looking at is good.

I want to beat Glen.

[ Laughing ]

Narrator: THIS WINTER...

I DON'T REALLY EVEN --

I DON'T EVEN REALLY CARE
IF WE'RE DOING THAT.

...AFTER HIS PARTNERSHIP
WITH GLEN LeBARON BLEW UP...

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO
[BLEEP] TALKING TO YOU.

[BLEEP] OFF.

HAVING "THE CLARK"
PAINTED ON SOMETHING,

IT FEELS GOOD.

Narrator:
...ZEKE REFUSED TO QUIT,

STARTING HIS OWN OPERATION.

ZEKE: All right.

Narrator: NOW, DAYS
OF PROSPECTING AND HARD WORK

ARE FINALLY PAYING OFF.

This is fantastic.

I JUST HOPE WE HAVE GROUND
TO STAND ON. THAT'S ALL.

I'M JUST GETTING NERVOUS
'CAUSE THE ICE IS LIKE --

I STEP OUT OF THE SHACK,
AND IT'S JUST SLUSH.

Ice is only a foot deep.

Narrator: BUT IN GOLD MINING,
TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

THE SHACK,
IT'S JUST BORING THROUGH IT.

WITH JUST 10 HOURS OF DREDGING
ON HIS NEW HOT SPOT...

ROGER.

...ZEKE HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO PULL THE PLUG.

Zeke: WE GOT HOLES
IN THE PRESSER RIDGE,

PUDDLES THAT ARE FEET THICK

THAT ARE MELTING THROUGH
THE SURFACE

OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS
THICK ICE.

AT A CERTAIN POINT,

YOU JUST GOT TO, LIKE,
HANG IT UP

AND NOT PUT YOURSELF
IN ANY FURTHER DANGER.

Woman: TIME TO CALL IT QUITS.

Narrator: 2 MILES TO THE WEST...

[ SHAWN LAUGHING ]

Whoo!
Look at that chunk of gold.

That's like a piggy bank there.

Narrator: SO FAR,

SHAWN POMRENKE'S GAMBLE
TO MOVE THE SHAMROCK

HAS BEEN A SUCCESS.

Feels good to finally see
this 2-ounce-an-hour material.

There's gonna be some pickers
in the box.

I guarantee it.

ALL RIGHT.

EVER SINCE YOU'VE BEEN DOWN,
THE ICE IS MELTING A LOT WORSE.

THE TAILING HOLE
IS GETTING HUGE.

Yeah. I think it's time
to pull this dredge off

and get the hell out of here.

ROGER THAT.
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

HEY, JACOB,
COME CHECK THIS OUT.

NUGGETS!
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO END IT.

[ LAUGHS ]

HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator:
AFTER FIGHTING OFF ANOTHER CREW,

MR. GOLD MANAGED TO PUT ANOTHER
EIGHT HOURS WORTH OF PAY DIRT

THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX.

YOU GOT TO GO
WHERE THE GOLD'S AT.

IF THERE AIN'T NO GOLD
ON A CLAIM,

THERE AIN'T NO REASON
BEING THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST GIVE UP.
THEY QUIT.

NOT MY STYLE.

CHRISTINE ROSE
WILL ANNIHILATE THIS.

Narrator: ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE CLAIM...

WHOLE LINE OF IT,

ALL THE WAY
ACROSS THE WHOLE BOX.

Narrator: AFTER DREDGING UP
EVERY LAST FLAKE OF GOLD

FROM THEIR SPOT...

LOOK AT ALL THE GOLD
UP IN HERE.

...THE KELLY BOYS CHECK OUT
THEIR FINAL HAUL OF THE SEASON.

THERE'S A NICE PIECE
RIGHT THERE.

Man: PEACE AND QUIET
AND LOTS OF GOLD.

DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE,
WE ALL WANT THAT.

Narrator:
WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

WAITING IN THEIR SLUICE BOXES...

AND THE ICE SPLINTERING
BENEATH THEM...

THIS ICE
IS GETTING SCARY AS HELL.

LOOK AT THESE BIG CRACKS
ONSHORE.

Narrator: ...IT'S AN ALL-OUT
RACE BACK TO LAND.

LET'S GET TO WORK,
AND LET'S GET THIS [BLEEP] DONE.

GOT THE...HOOKED TO THE DOZER,
THE DOZER HOOKED TO THE DREDGE,

AND 6 MILES OF ROTTEN ICE
TO GO ACROSS.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

GETTING CLOSER TO SHORE.

OFF THE ICE, ONTO DRY LAND.

YEAH!

Narrator: AS THE ICE BREAKS UP
BY THE MINUTE,

EVERY CREW IS BACK ON THE BEACH.

EVERY CREW BUT ONE.

JUSTON: It is raining gold
down here, boys.

It's ridiculous.

RIDICULOUS GOLD --
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.

It's got to be close
to an ounce an hour.

So we're gonna suck
the life out of it.

Narrator: FOR WILD RANGER
OWNER VERNON ADKISON,

THE BEST SEASON OF HIS LIFE
ISN'T OVER

UNTIL HE SAYS IT'S OVER.

Vernon: THIS IS THE BEST HOLE
YET, BY FAR AND AWAY.

FOUND PROBABLY MORE GOLD
THAN ANYBODY ELSE HAS EVER FOUND

OUT HERE IN THE WINTER.

WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT
IN PULLING OUT NOW?

Whoo!

WE'RE GONNA STAY HERE TILL THAT
SON OF A BITCH SINKS, MAN.

Narrator: IN THE MELTING PORT
OF NOME, ALASKA...

Kris: WE GOT TO GET GOING.

FINAL CLEANOUT OF THE YEAR.
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY BIG.

ALL RIGHT, WE GOT FIVE BUCKETS
TO SCOOP LIKE THIS,

ONE SCOOP AT A TIME.

Narrator: AT THE END OF
A GRUELING ICE-MINING SEASON,

FINAL CLEANUPS ARE UNDER WAY.

DO YOU SEE HOW THICK IT IS, DAD?
IT'S PRETTY THICK.

SWEET! WHOO!

WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS MUCH GOLD
IN ANY CLEANUP WE'VE EVER DONE.

Narrator: ALL ACROSS TOWN...

Emily: WE NEED TO HAVE
SOME KIND OF PAYOUT.

'CAUSE I SPENT
WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS.

Narrator: ...A BONE-TIRED FLEET

LOOKS TO CASH IN
FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE LAST PLACE.

WHAT YOU GOT IS WHAT YOU GOT.

WHOA.

THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THERE.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF GOLD.

LOOK AT THAT!

HOLY [BLEEP]

THAT'S THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
RIGHT THERE.

WHOO!

Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME
TO FIND OUT WHO STRUCK GOLD...

Shawn:
WE GOT SOME WORK TO DO NOW.

Narrator:
...AND WHO STRUCK OUT.

AT EMILY RIEDEL'S APARTMENT...

Emily: GOLD SCRAMBLE.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE OMELET
IN THE WORLD, RIGHT?

Narrator:
...THE ROOKIE ICE SKIPPER
SET A GOAL OF 60 OUNCES.

ALL RIGHT, DUDES, LET'S, UH --
LET'S GO AHEAD AND WEIGH IT.

Narrator: AND THE MOMENT
OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED.

3.18 OUNCES.

SO...

ALL RIGHT, WELL,
THAT'S, UM...AWESOME.

Narrator: 3.18 OUNCES IS WORTH
A MEASLY 4,100 BUCKS.

THIS TIME, WE USED
A TOTAL EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM.

AT THE END,
IT AT LEAST GOT US SOME GOLD,

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT
POSITIVE.

OH, I'M [BLEEP] OUT

I'M GONNA GO FOR A DRIVE.

ALL RIGHT.
[BLEEP] OUT.

THIS ICE-MINING SEASON,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT
IT, BUT IT WAS AGAINST US.

WE HAD -- WE HAD
TOO MANY ODDS AGAINST US.

Narrator: ACROSS TOWN...

LET'S GO TO POTTER'S.

YOU CAN SELL THIS GOLD
AND GET THAT MONEY

AND GET ANDY ON A PLANE
BACK TO HAWAII.

...BRAD AND KRIS ARE HEADED TO
A LOCAL GOLD BUYER TO CASH OUT.

ANDY REALLY JUST NEEDS

A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK
HERE IN NOME, YOU KNOW?

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN TAKE
THIS KIND OF LIFESTYLE.

NOTICEABLY ABSENT --

THE YOUNGEST KELLY, ANDY,
SHUT DOWN WITH THE FLU.

Brad: ANDY'S BEEN SICK,
BUT HE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, HE'LL GET OVER IT.
HE'S A GROWN MAN.

HE'S NOT 10 YEARS OLD.

ONCE HE GETS PAID, ONCE WE GIVE
HIM HIS LITTLE BIT OF MONEY,

HE'LL BE HAPPY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU'RE GONNA WEIGH
THAT ONE FIRST.

Narrator: IN THEIR FIRST SEASON
ON THE ICE,

THE FIGHTIN' KELLYS
HAVE BROUGHT IN 13 OUNCES.

TO TURN A PROFIT WITH
THEIR BARGAIN-BASEMENT DREDGE,

THEY'LL NEED
AT LEAST ANOTHER 10.

SCALE THAT.

YOU TALK ABOUT CLOSE TO 20.
YOU GOT 20.09.

HOLY [BLEEP]

KIND OF BREATHTAKING.

I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE
GONNA GET ANYWHERE NEAR THAT.

Narrator: 20.09 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $26,000.

AND THERE'S THE PARTS
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

YEAH, THAT'S THE REAL DEAL.
THAT'LL TAKE ME HOME.

KRIS, THANKS FOR DIVING.

[ CHUCKLES ]
DON'T PLAY AROUND.

Narrator: FOR THE KELLYS,

IT'S THE BIGGEST SCORE
THEY'VE EVER HAD.

SO, UM...

YOU KNOW,
DIVIDED BY THREE...

IS...

NO, IT ISN'T 50/50.

WHY NOT?

UH, BECAUSE
THERE'S THREE OF US.

Narrator: NATURALLY, BRAD HAS
A PAYMENT STRUCTURE IN MIND.

ANDY'S ON THE INVESTMENT PLAN,
OKAY?

AS HIS FATHER,

I'M TRYING TO INVEST HIS MONEY
ON WHAT I THINK HE SHOULD DO.

SO I'M TAKING A LITTLE
BIT OF HIS MONEY AND
INVESTING IT FOR HIM.

THERE'S NOTHING
HE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
HE'S GONNA LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.

IT'S LIKE THE ASSOCIATE PLAN.

YOU PUT IN THE ASSOCIATE FEES,

AND WHEN HE'S READY TO LEAVE,
I'LL GIVE HIM ASSOCIATE BUYOUT.

MINUS WEAR AND TEAR, OKAY?

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: OVER AT
THE POMRENKE CLEANUP SHACK...

Shawn:
LAST CLEANUP WAS A DOOZY.

SHAWN'S WINTER GOAL --
150 OUNCES.

TO GET THERE, HE'LL NEED
A MASSIVE 120 MORE.

Shawn:
WE'RE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.

11...

16.

[BLEEP]

YES, THERE IS.

34.

CLOSE, HUH?

37.85.

HELL YEAH.

NICE JOB, PHIL.

Narrator: 37.85 OUNCES
MEANS A $49,000 PAYDAY.

THAT'S PRETTY.
WISH WE WOULD'VE FILLED IT UP.

AIN'T CHRISTINE ROSE
JAR OF GOLD,

BUT THAT'S A GOOD PAYCHECK.

Narrator:
MR. GOLD'S FINAL TALLY --

67 OUNCES, WORTH $87,000 --

SHORT OF HIS GOAL
AND ON THE CURRENT LEADERBOARD,

ONLY GOOD ENOUGH
FOR RUNNER-UP.

THAT'S A JAR OF GOLD THERE.

WE GOT SOME GOLD.

AT LEAST IT WASN'T
LIKE LAST YEAR

WHERE WE COULDN'T GET
ON THE GOLD AT ALL.

67 OUNCES.

I'M READY TO TAKE A BREAK.
IT'S BEEN A LONG MINING SEASON.

Narrator: WHILE SHAWN
MUST SETTLE FOR SECOND PLACE...

BACK ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...

THE MAN SITTING IN FIRST PLACE,

WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON,

CHOSE TO STAY OUT ON THE ICE...

Vernon: HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator: ...A DECISION PROVING
COSTLY FOR HIS LEAD DIVER.

I SUNK MY TRUCK.

10 FEET FROM THE DAMN BEACH.

Juston: I WAS SLOWLY CREEPING
ONTO THE BEACH,

AND IT JUST SUDDENLY BROKE OUT
FROM UNDER ME.

AND, HELL, I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW FAR IT WAS GONNA KEEP GOING.

Narrator: WITH THE ICE BUCKLING
UNDERNEATH IT,

THE CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT
ON THE 2-TON TRUCK.

Juston: NOW GIVE ME A GOOD JERK!

YOU TRY AND JERK THE [BLEEP] OUT
OF IT ONE MORE TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

OH [BLEEP]

Shawn: HERE WE GO, BOYS.

5 1/2 OUNCES PER GUY.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

[ CHUCKLING ]

THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.
NOT BAD AT ALL.

MM. EASY, MR. GOLD.

5 1/2.

THAT'S NOT
A BAD PAYCHECK.

DAMN STRAIGHT.

WELL, WE GOT AN EXTRA .25 HERE.
I GUESS THAT'S DAD'S CUT HERE.

THERE YOU GO,
STEVE POMRENKE.

Narrator: OUT ON THE FORMERLY
FROZEN BERING SEA...

YOU TRY AND JERK THE [BLEEP] OUT
OF IT ONE MORE TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: ...VERNON ADKISON
AND HIS LEAD DIVER

ARE PAYING THE PRICE
FOR STAYING OUT TOO LONG.

OH [BLEEP]

[BLEEP] DAMN IT!

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

DAMN!

I HOOKED ONTO HIM
AND WAS TRYING TO PULL HIM OUT,

AND THEN THAT PIECE OF ICE
JUST BROKE OFF

AND SUNK THE TRUCK UP
TO THE WINDSHIELD ON BOTH ENDS.

AND THAT WAS
THE END OF THAT TRUCK.

Juston:
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN YOU WAIT A LITTLE TOO LATE
TO COME OFF THE ICE.

HARD LESSON LEARNED RIGHT HERE,
DAMN IT.

WE'RE GONNA CALL IT.
THAT'S IT.

THAT'S THE END
OF THE SEASON.

Narrator:
WITH ONE TRUCK ALREADY SUNK,

VERNON CAN'T AFFORD
TO ROLL THE DICE WITH HIS GOLD.

Vernon: IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK
FOR MOVING THE GEAR OFF THE ICE.

WE'RE CALLING IT QUITS
AND PACKING THINGS UP.

SHUTTING THIS BITCH DOWN.

HERE WE GO.

Vernon:
THE ICE WAS DETERIORATING.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO,
IT'S TIME TO GO.

SO WE LEFT GOLD IN THAT HOLE.

BUT I GOT THE GPS POSITION.

I'LL GO BACK AND GET IT,
COME SUMMERTIME.

Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE
THE NOME CITY LIMITS...

Zeke: CHECK IT OUT.

OH, NICE.
IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO SHABBY.

NO.
THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THERE.

THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THERE.
I LIKE IT.

...AFTER A TURBULENT WINTER,

ZEKE TENHOFF IS CLEANING UP
HIS VERY OWN GOLD.

Zeke:
NO MINING SEASON IS A FAILURE

UNLESS YOU JUST GIVE UP
IN DISGUST.

YOU KNOW, THE SEASON COULD'VE
GONE A LOT OF WAYS, YOU KNOW?

AND IT COULD'VE BEEN
A HIGHLY PROFITABLE SEASON.

HOWEVER, IT KIND OF WENT
A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

WORKING WITH GLEN

DEFINITELY KIND OF DISRUPTED
AND MESSED UP MY WHOLE SEASON.

Narrator: WHILE ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN...

Glen: THIS ACCOUNTS FOR
ALL THE GOLD THAT I GOT

SINCE ZEKE AND I SPLIT.

Narrator:
...ZEKE'S FORMER PARTNER
TURNED RIVAL, GLEN LeBARON,

IS CLEANING UP, AS WELL.

ZEKE'S AN IMPOSTER.

LIKE, HE PORTRAYS HIMSELF
AS BEING A MINER AND, LIKE --

HE'S BEEN DOING THIS
FOR LIKE FOUR YEARS.

GLEN HAS JUST BEEN
A SOUL-CRUSHING NIGHTMARE.

Narrator: THE BIG QUESTION --
WHO GOT MORE?

YO, LEE.
HOW WE DOING?

OKAY.

WE'RE ZEROED OUT.

Zeke: I HOPE WE HAVE
WAY MORE MONEY THAN GLEN.

[ PAN TAPPING ]

OH, YEAH. 5.5.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: ZEKE'S TAKE --
5.5 OUNCES, WORTH OVER $7,000.

OKAY. YOU GOT 7.25.

OKAY.

Narrator: SINCE THE BREAKUP,

GLEN HAS COLLECTED
1.75 OUNCES MORE THAN ZEKE.

YOU CAN FRONT ME, UH...

$6,500.

OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

I'LL HAVE
SOME MORE GOLD SOON.

I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY
OUT THERE IN THE SEA.

I JUST GOT TO GET OUT THERE
AND GET IT THIS SUMMER.

Zeke: IT'S BITTERSWEET,
BUT THAT SAID,

THAT'S NOT BAD
FOR 10 HOURS ON THE BOX.

IF I CAN STAY IN THIS STUFF
ALL SUMMER,

I'M GONNA HAVE THE BEST SEASON
OF MY LIFE.

YEAH.
[ LAUGHING ]

Narrator: ACROSS TOWN,

AT VERNON ADKISON'S
CLEANUP SHACK.

Vernon: IT'S FINAL CLEANUP.

SEE HOW MUCH WE'VE GOT HERE.

I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE
OUR BEST CLEANUP YET.

Narrator: WITH 116 OUNCES
ALREADY IN POCKET,

VERNON IS GUNNING TO SHATTER
THE WINTER-SEASON MARK.

ALL RIGHT, VERN,
YOU LEPRECHAUN.

DO YOU WANT A POT OF GOLD?

OH [BLEEP]

DAMN, THAT IS --
THAT'S HEAVY.

THAT'S LIKE --
ABOUT LIKE A BAG OF SUGAR.

I'LL DO THE POUR.

THERE'S ONE...

10...

20...

30...

THIS IS OUT OF CONTROL.

[ LAUGHS ]
61.705.

WHAT?
[BLEEP]

NICE!

HELL YEAH.

Narrator:
VERNON'S FINAL TOTAL --

177 OUNCES,

WORTH A WHOPPING $230,000,
A NEW WINTER RECORD.

THIS IS $79,000.

[ LAUGHING ]

OH, MAN,
THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.

MY BIGGEST ONE YET.

THERE'S NO OTHER
LOGICAL CAREER CHOICE.

COLLEGE IS NOTHING
BUT A WASTE OF TIME.

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S PRETTY
[BLEEP] DAMN GOOD.

I'D SAY SO, MAN.

I'D SAY SO.

Narrator:
AFTER THREE YEARS OF HARD LUCK,

VERNON ADKISON IS THE UNDISPUTED
KING OF THE ICE...

FOR NOW.

GOOD JOB, DAD.

WHAT'S THAT?

THANK YOU.

WE ALL ENJOYED IT.

[ LAUGHS ]

♪ I'VE COME BACK FROM LOSIN'

♪ THAT'S A GAME I CAN WIN

♪ BUT NOW I'M HEADED

♪ WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN

WE AIN'T BROKE,
SO IT WAS A GOOD YEAR.

♪ OLD MEN GROW WEARY

♪ AND THE LIGHT, IT MAY FADE

♪ BUT I WON'T REST

♪ UNTIL I'M SAVED

Emily: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS
CONSISTENCY IN THIS BUSINESS.

I TOOK A RISK AND TRIED
SOME NEW THINGS OUT WITH ICE,

AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT,
AND THAT'S FINE.

IT JUST HAPPENS IN GOLD MINING.

Zeke: THIS SEASON STEERED ME
INTO FINDING MY AUTONOMY AGAIN,

AND I FOUND REALLY,
REALLY RICH GOLD,

SO THAT'S A GOOD FEELING.

Glen: HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE,

AND I HAVE A SENSE
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT,

BUT I STILL HAVE
A LONG WAYS TO GO

BEFORE I HAVE THE SUCCESS
THAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

DANG. YOU DONE WELL.

♪ UNTIL I'M SAVED

♪ UNTIL I'M SAVED

♪ I WON'T REST UNTIL I'M SAVED

Vernon: IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING
--

ALL THE BREAKDOWNS,
ALL THE CREW PROBLEMS --

WE'RE HAVING
THE TIME OF OUR LIVES.

IN A LOT OF CASES, THIS'LL BE
THE HIGH POINT OF OUR LIVES.

AND I WOULDN'T TRADE IT
FOR ANYTHING.

♪ UNTIL I'M SAVED