Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 1 - Good Morning, Viet-Nome - full transcript
Nome, Alaska. The summer season kicks off as captains race to reclaim the gold the melting ice forced them to leave behind. One miner returns with a dastardly plan, while a rocky father and son relationship turns explosive.
[ WHISTLING
"MY DARLING CLEMENTINE" ]
[ BEEPING ]
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
Steve R.: A-ONE, A-TWO,
A-THREE,
A-GO.
GOOD MORNING, VIET-NOME!
IT'S GOLD-MINING TIME!
GET YOUR DREDGES READY.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
SEXY, SEXY GOLD.
GOLD DADDY.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
ROCK-STAR GOLD.
THIS IS
STEVE RIEDEL,
ENCOURAGING YOU
TO STAY GOLDEN.
♪ HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
♪ TO BE MADE
♪ AND I'M A-GONNA
GET IT NOW ♪
♪ JUST YOU WAIT
♪ GOLD
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
COME ON, LET'S GO!
I GOT A BADASS BARGE
THAT'S READY TO GO MININ'.
Narrator: THE GREAT
AMERICAN BOOMTOWN.
YEAH!
WE'RE IN THE WATER.
HA-HA!
Narrator:
IN THIS REMOTE PORT...
Narrator: THE COMING
OF SUMMER MEANS
THE RETURN OF THE
ALASKAN GOLD-MINING FLEET.
I LOVE GOLD BECAUSE
IT'S HARD TO GET.
THAT'S THE OLDEST STORY
IN THE BOOK --
YOU ALWAYS WANT
WHAT YOU CAN'T HAVE.
NOME WAS ESTABLISHED,
ORIGINALLY,
AS A MINING TOWN.
THERE'S BEEN A CENTURY
OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE
AND BALANCING THEIR HOPES
AND THEIR DREAMS
UPON THAT BEAUTIFUL
YELLOW SUBSTANCE.
Narrator: SINCE 1898,
WHEN THREE SWEDISH PROSPECTORS
STRUCK GOLD
IN THE WATERS
OF ANVIL CREEK,
MINERS HAVE FLOODED IN,
HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH.
OVER A CENTURY LATER,
THEY STILL COME IN DROVES,
FOLLOWING THE GOLD
FROM THE CREEKS
TO THE BEACHES,
NOW...
WHO'LL START ME OFF?
THE BID'S 10 EVEN.
Narrator: TO OFFSHORE
MINING CLAIMS
IN CUSTOM-BUILT DREDGES.
MINING FOR GOLD IN NOME
IS A GRAND ADVENTURE.
Narrator: EVERY JUNE...
I'M GONNA MAKE
SOME DAMN MONEY.
Narrator: MODERN DAY '49ers
SPLASH DOWN AND HEAD OUT
TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNES OFF
THE BOTTOM OF THE BERING SEA.
I'M GONNA STUFF MY POCKETS
FULL OF GOLD THIS YEAR.
Narrator: THIS SUMMER, WHAT WAS
ONCE A CLOSELY KEPT SECRET
HAS BECOME THE ONE WORD
ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
BACK TO THE TOMCOD.
THAT'S THE ONLY GOOD GOLD
AROUND THIS COUNTRY.
Narrator: THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
LOCATED 7 MILES WEST
OF THE HARBOR.
THIS 1,000-ACRE AREA IS NOW
GROUND ZERO FOR THE GOLD RUSH.
THE TOMCOD LEASE.
THERE'S PROBABLY 1, 2,
3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8,
9, 10,
11 BOATS OUT HERE,
I SEE DREDGIN'.
Narrator: WITH MORE DREDGES
THAN EVER
HEADED FOR ONE SMALL LEASE
AND THE PRICE OF GOLD
PLUNGING TO $1,200 AN OUNCE,
THIS SEASON,
THE COMPETITION
WILL BE TOUGHER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
LET'S GO GET 'EM.
LET'S GO GET THAT GOLD.
Narrator: IN THE SMALL
BOAT HARBOR...
HERE WE GO!
THEY GOT THE BOAT
IN THE WATER,
NOW, WE JUST GOTTA GET
ALL THE DOODADS ON HERE.
Narrator:
SUMMER DREDGING'S
UNSTOPPABLE GOLD MACHINE,
THE 80-FOOT, 80-TON
CHRISTINE ROSE.
ALL THE LITTLE,
LAST COUPLE THINGS
DONE HERE, AND THEN,
WE'RE READY TO GO MININ'.
WE HAVE THE BEST DREDGE
OUT THERE.
I JUST LOVE BEIN' A MINER.
MY FAMILY'S BEEN MININ'
FOR 25 YEARS AND THAT'S HOW WE
MAKE OUR LIVIN', IS GOLD MININ'.
Narrator:
FOR SIX SUMMERS...
MR. GOLD SAYS,
"MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!"
Narrator:
THE FATHER-SON TEAM
OF STEVE AND SHAWN POMRENKE
HAVE DOMINATED THE GOLD COUNT...
I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE
TALKING [BLEEP] ABOUT ME
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE YOU GIVE IT
SO MUCH AMMUNITION!
Narrator: DESPITE THEIR
CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP.
Steve P.: IT'S HARD FOR FATHERS
AND SONS TO WORK TOGETHER.
SHAWN REALLY DOES NOT NEED ME
ON THE CHRISTINE ROSE ANYMORE.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OFF
AND DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
HE'S ALL TRAINED. HE KNOWS
EVERY PIECE OF MACHINERY,
HOW IT ACTUALLY
WORKS ON THERE.
GOT THE ANCHORS ON,
SPUD'S IN,
EVERYTHING'S GETTIN'
HOOKED UP.
WE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF WATER PLUMBING TO DO,
LITTLE BIT OF WELDING.
Narrator: FOR 62-YEAR-OLD
STEVE POMRENKE,
THIS SEASON IS ALL ABOUT
AN EXIT STRATEGY.
Steve P.: I'M LOOKIN' TO GO
INLAND MINING.
THAT'S WHAT I FEEL
I'M REALLY GOOD AT
AND THAT'S
WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY.
I'D LIKE TO HAND
THE OCEAN MINING OVER TO HIM
'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO GO
INLAND MINING.
SEE IF THE NEW CONTRAPTION'S
GONNA WORK OR NOT.
WELL, WE KNOW
THE ENGINEER, SO.
IT'LL WORK.
Narrator: PUSHING
FOR A 1,000-OUNCE SUMMER
AND A NEW
INLAND MINING VENTURE...
Steve P.: ALL RIGHT,
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WATCH IT,
WATCH IT, WATCH IT.
Narrator: STEVE HAS ENGINEERED
ONE MASSIVE UPGRADE.
HOLY COW!
Narrator: A NEW 5x12-FOOT
WASH PLANT SLUICE BOX.
Steve P.: THIS ONE'S,
LIKE, 3 TIMES BIGGER
THAN THE OLD WASH PLANT.
I CAN GO THAT WAY
SOME, YET.
MAKIN' HISTORY.
LITTLE MORE!
YEAH!
Narrator: IT'S DESIGNED
TO BE THE BIGGEST
THE BARGE
COULD POSSIBLY HOLD.
JUST, HOPEFULLY, NO BIGGER.
THEY'RE GONNA HIT.
Steve P.: THEY AIN'T
GONNA HIT.
I GUARANTEE YOU.
THEY AIN'T GONNA HIT!
GROWIN' UP
WITH STEVE POMRENKE,
LET ME TELL YA,
IT WAS HELL.
I THINK DAD GREW UP
WITH HIS DAD
NOT ACCEPTING HIM
OR GIVING HIM ANY CREDIT
FOR ANYTHING,
BUT DAD AND I
ARE ACTUALLY GETTING ALONG
PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW LONG IT LASTS.
[chuckle]
WE'RE GOOD, MAN!
YEAH, LOOKS GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA UP
OUR PRODUCTION BY 30%
WITH THIS NEW WASH PLANT,
BE ABLE TO RUN
30% MORE DIRT,
HOPEFULLY, GET 30% MORE GOLD,
AND THAT SHOULD PUT US
OVER OUR 1,000-OUNCE GOAL
FOR THE YEAR.
Narrator: AS FATHER AND SON AIM
FOR ANOTHER WINNING SEASON,
THERE'S ONE RACE
THEY'VE ALREADY LOST.
7 MILES WEST OF THE HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
THE FIRST BIG BARGE TO MAKE IT
TO THE GROUNDS...
RAHH!
BIG ROCKS, HARD DIGGIN'.
Narrator: THE CHRISTINE ROSE's
WOULD-BE RIVAL,
THE 80-FOOT,
96-TON AU GRABBER.
THAT'S THE PAY LAYER,
RIGHT THERE.
THERE SHE BE.
IT'S A GOOD-LOOKING COLOR.
IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH,
EXACTLY, WE'RE GETTING,
BUT, I'M HOPING WE'RE GETTING
AT LEAST AN OUNCE AN HOUR,
IF NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE, SO,
JUST GOTTA KEEP AFTER IT.
WE GOTTA KEEP THIS THING LOADED.
Narrator: AT THE HELM?
OWNER AND 2nd-YEAR MINER
HANK SCHIMSCHAT.
I'VE INVESTED JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING I HAD.
I TOOK MONEY OUT OF
MY RETIREMENT TO DO THIS
AND I NEED GOLD
IN THAT HOPPER.
I'VE DONE THE MATH --
IF I CAN KEEP UP
MY OUNCE AN HOUR,
I THINK I CAN GET 700 OUNCES.
THAT'S WHAT MY GOAL IS
THIS YEAR.
WHOA, BABY!
THAT'S WHAT
THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
Narrator: AFTER DROPPING
NEARLY A MILLION BUCKS
BUILDING HIS OPERATION,
HANK NEEDS HIS SOPHOMORE
SEASON TO HIT BIG.
YEAH, THE CHRISTINE ROSE
IS NOT HERE YET.
I GOT A LITTLE
HEAD START ON 'EM.
I'M HOPIN'
I CAN KEEP UP WITH 'EM,
OR EVEN SURPASSIN' 'EM.
I'M NOT MUCH
OF A SMACK-TALKER.
IT'S NOT REALLY MY STYLE,
BUT SHAWN CALLS ME
THE "ASS" GRABBER,
SO I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING
LIKE CHRISTINE "HOS".
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
CHRISTINE ROSE, CHRISTINE ROSE,
THIS IS THE AU GRABBER.
YOU COPY?
GO AHEAD.
HA-HA HA-HA!
[ LAUGHS ]
NEVER CHEATED LAST YEAR.
YOU GOT YOUR ASS
WHIPPED, BUDDY.
[ LAUGHS ]
I CAN MOVE MORE DIRT
THAN SHAWN, I KNOW,
SO, I WANT EVERY PIECE OF GOLD
I CAN GET, SO HE DOESN'T GET IT.
Narrator: WITH 42 YEARS
BEHIND AN EXCAVATOR,
WORKING CONSTRUCTION,
HANK IS A PRO
AT MOVING DIRT.
HOW WE LOOKIN'?
LOOKIN' GOOD.
Narrator: BUT GOLD MINING IS
ABOUT PAY DIRT.
IS THERE ANY GOLD IN HERE?
OH, YEAH.
YEAH, YOU CAN SEE
A LITTLE GOLD IN HERE.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S JUST PAN IT.
PAN IT?
YEAH.
FIND US SOME GOLD!
Narrator:
CHECKING THE MATERIAL,
HANK'S NEW DECKHAND,
MATT PECKINPAUGH.
WHOA-OA!
WOW!
THAT'S A GOOD PAN.
THAT'S A GOOD PAN.
GOOD GOLD,
NICE, CHUNKY.
THAT'S WHAT WE BEEN IN
ALL DAY, SO.
OH, BABY!
I CAN'T WAIT.
WE'RE GONNA BE DOIN'
REALLY GOOD, SO,
MAY THE BEST MAN WIN.
Narrator: AS HANK
GETS AFTER
THE FIRST GOLD OF THE SEASON,
7 MILES TO THE EAST,
LEAVING NOME HARBOR...
HUNDRED FEET THAT WAY!
Narrator: THE ONLY FEMALE
DREDGE OWNER IN THE FLEET,
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL,
AND THE 40-FOOT EROICA,
HEADED FOR FAMILIAR GROUNDS.
BASICALLY, WE'RE TRYING
TO PUT IT RIGHT ON TOP
OF THE TAILINGS PILE
THAT WE LEFT FOR ICE
WITH THIS GPS.
WE WERE USING A SYSTEM
DURING ICE
THAT ENDED UP REALLY
SCREWING US, IN THE END.
IT DIDN'T PROCESS
GOLD CORRECTLY.
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
WE'RE GONNA BLOW 'EM OUT
OF THE [BLEEP] ICE.
Narrator:
EMILY DROPPED 50 GRAND
ON TOP-OF-THE-LINE
ICE-MINING GEAR
AND A PROTOTYPE
UNDERWATER DREDGE.
Emily: THERE SHOULDN'T BE
ANY GOLD THERE.
Narrator: BUT THE RIG
COULDN'T CAPTURE GOLD
AND ONLY RECOVERED 4 OUNCES,
WORTH JUST OVER
5,000 BUCKS.
WE'RE GETTIN' CLOSER,
WITHIN 67 -- 65.
Narrator: TO KICK OFF SUMMER,
EMILY'S PLANNING TO MOP UP
THE MISSED GOLD FROM
HER WINTER TAILINGS PILE.
DROP ANCHOR NOW, TONY.
AT LEAST 66 POUNDS.
I'M REALLY GLAD
THAT WINTER IS OVER.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY
UP HERE, OF MINERS,
AND MOST OF THEM
EXPECT ME TO FAIL.
AS FAR AS I KNOW,
I'M THE FIRST WOMAN
TO EVER TRY TO COME UP HERE
AND RUN MY OWN DREDGE.
I'M GLAD THE SUMMER IS HERE AND
I'M HOPING TO GET 400 OUNCES.
Narrator: EMILY
HAS SET HER SIGHTS ON BEING
THE FIRST WOMAN TO BREAK
THE 400-OUNCE
GLASS CEILING.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS,
IT'S CHAMPAGNE-SMASHING TIME!
LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.
OH, NO!
YOU GOTTA GO HARD.
OH!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?!
THIS IS [BLEEP].
THIS IS SO [BLEEP].
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
CLOSE YOUR EYES.
[BLEEP].
[ LAUGHTER ]
SERIOUSLY!
IT [BLEEP] BROKE THE CLEAT!
[BLEEP].
RIGHT ON THAT CORNER,
IT'LL BREAK.
ALL RIGHT.
COME --
WHOO!
YA-A-Y!
NOW, I'M GONNA DOWN THERE AND
CUT MY FOOT ON BROKEN GLASS.
WHOO-HOO!
HOLY [BLEEP],
THAT WAS HARD TO BREAK.
FOUND YOUR GLASS!
IT'S IN MY FOOT.
ALL RIGHT, BERING SEA,
BE GOOD TO US THIS YEAR.
DON'T BE A [BLEEP]
EMILY'S A YOUNG CAPTAIN.
NOT SAYING SHE'S NOT
GETTING THERE, BUT,
SOMETIMES, YOU CAN ADMIT THAT
YOU'RE TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES
OR NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR YOUR
BRITCHES, IT'S EITHER WAY.
Narrator: FIRST DOWN
FOR THE SEASON,
2nd-YEAR DIVER TONY MANN,
WITH DARYL VALLE
AND GREENHORN THUNES ROUPE
TOPSIDE.
WE, LIKE THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE,
ARE UNBREAKABLE.
Narrator: CHEAPER, BUT MORE
DANGEROUS THAN EXCAVATOR BARGES,
SUCTION DREDGES
LIKE THE EROICA
RELY ON THEIR DIVERS TO FIND
AND VACUUM UP THE GOLD.
[ BREATHING ]
ALL RIGHT, ON BOTTOM.
ALL RIGHT, 10-4.
YOUR FIRST DIVE
OF THE SEASON!
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING
DOWN THERE?
UH...
YEAH, BUDDY, WHOO!
ARE YOU SURE?
YEP,
I'M RIGHT ON 'EM.
YEAH-EAH! THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.
SUCK IT UP!
GOLD FOR DAYS.
WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME ASS
IN THIS SPOT.
YEAH.
WE WANT TO HAVE
OUR BEST SEASON THIS YEAR
AND EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Narrator: 7 MILES WEST
OF THE CITY OF NOME...
IS THE REIGNING
WINTER GOLD CHAMPION.
I'M FEELING OPTIMISTIC.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT HERE AND,
HOPEFULLY, GET ON FIRST GOLD.
Narrator: WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON,
EN ROUTE TO THE CROWDED
TOMCOD CLAIM.
LIKE, WE GOT GOOD GOLD
IN THE WINTER.
WE GET OUT THERE
AND GET ON THE GROUND
THAT WE KNOW IS GOOD,
I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
Narrator: VERNON
AND HIS CREW BROUGHT IN
177 OUNCES, WORTH 230 GRAND,
FROM THE TOMCOD,
A NEW PERSONAL BEST.
DANG!
WE DONE WELL.
LAST WINTER,
WE GOT ON GOOD GROUND
AND I HAD AN EXCELLENT TEAM.
ALL THAT STUFF IS STILL
IN PLACE.
THIS SUMMER,
TO SHOW A REAL
CLEARCUT PROFIT,
IT'S GONNA TAKE
IN THE RANGE OF 300 OUNCES.
WE GOTTA KEEP THE CABIN
CLEAN AND ORGANIZED.
IT'S SMALL. WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF SPACE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO FIND THINGS.
THINGS NEED TO STAY
ORGANIZED.
DAD!
Narrator:
BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND,
VERNON'S FIRSTBORN
DAUGHTER, ELAINE.
Vernon:
WHEN YOU INJECT FAMILY
INTO A BUSINESS SITUATION,
IT'S REALLY A BAD POLICY.
YOU OUGHT TO STAY FAR AWAY
FROM FAMILY AS YOU CAN.
BUT MY DAUGHTERS, IN PARTICULAR,
I'M TRYIN' TO HELP 'EM OUT.
ALL RIGHT, STAND BY.
Narrator: THIS SUMMER,
ELAINE'S NOT THE ONLY
ADKISON DAUGHTER ONBOARD.
Vernon:
OKAY, LET IT GO.
NOW, THAT'S PROBABLY
GOT ENOUGH LINE.
NOW, MAKE SOME FIGURE-8s
ON THAT.
Narrator:
ALSO JOINING THE CREW,
VERNON'S SECONDBORN,
GREENHORN TENDER YVONNE.
IT COULD GO THIS WAY,
RATHER THAN THIS WAY,
BECAUSE THERE'D BE
A LITTLE GAP RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT?
OKAY?
MM-HMM.
ELAINE REALLY TALKED ME INTO IT
AFTER LAST WINTER.
SHE MADE PRETTY GOOD MONEY,
SO THAT DEFINITELY WAS
A GOOD INCENTIVE
FOR ME TO COME UP.
FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON!
CAN'T WAIT, MAN!
GET SOME GOLD!
Narrator: WITH NEARLY THE
ENTIRE ADKISON CLAN TENDING,
THE FIRST TO HIT THE WATER
IS VETERAN DIVER SHEM FOGELMAN.
AAH!
AH, OKAY.
♪ DO DO-DO DO-DO
ALL RIGHT, BOYS,
I'M GONNA HOOK IN THE NOZZLE.
TRY TO FIND SOME COBBLE,
OR SOMETHIN'.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.
AHH!
OH, HEY, SHEM, WHAT'S IT
LOOK LIKE DOWN THERE?
YOU SEEIN' ANY GOLD
DOWN THERE YET?
NO, NOT SEEING
ANY GOLD YET.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING.
WE'RE PROSPECTING, SO...
I DON'T LIKE PROSPECTING.
I LIKE PRODUCTION.
Narrator: WHILE VERNON LOOKS
TO PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF,
BACK IN NOME,
AT BELMONT BEACH...
HEY, SARAH?
CAN I GET A HAND
WITH THIS?
AND JUST HOLD THIS TUBE
INTO THAT LITTLE
NOZZLE FOR IT.
DUDE, I GOT ALL THE MONEY
THAT I HAVE
SUNK INTO MAKING THIS WORK,
SO I'M REALLY, TOTALLY
GAMBLING ALL OF MY MONEY
AND NEXT MONTH'S BILLS,
AND WHAT HAVE YOU,
ON THERE BEIN' GOLD,
AND GOOD GOLD.
Narrator: 5th-YEAR MINER
ZEKE TENHOFF
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
SARAH DUNN,
ARE PREPPING A NEW AND IMPROVED
VERSION OF ZEKE'S DREDGE,
THE CLARK.
Zeke: I THINK THAT ANYONE
CAN SUCCEED AT DREDGING.
IT'S ALWAYS A GAMBLE, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE YOU COULD GO FIND,
LIKE, A REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY RICH PLACE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK
ON THE BOTTOM
AND GET ON SOME
HOT GOLD AGAIN.
YEAH, WELL, I'M STOKED.
YEAH, NO,
SHE RIDES GREAT.
I THINK SHE'S GONNA
GET A TON OF GOLD.
ESPECIALLY WITH
THIS DIVER, HERE.
I WANT YOU TO BE LIKE
"YEAH!"
THAT'S RIGHT!
EVERYTHING'S RUNNIN'
RIGHT, FOR NOW.
THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS AWESOME.
I LOVED NOME,
'TIL GLEN LeBARON
CAME TO TOWN.
OH, WELL.
DOWN LET HIM RAIN
ON YOUR PARADE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
JUST 20 YARDS AWAY...
YEAH, GET DOWN THERE
AND DO THOSE NUMBERS.
Narrator: ZEKE'S FORMER-PARTNER-
TURNED-NEMESIS, GLEN LeBARON.
HE'S GEARING UP AS WELL,
WITH THE 15-FOOT MISS NOMER.
Glen: AND TODAY WENT
FROM BEING REALLY GOOD
TO BEING NOT SO GOOD.
I CAN'T DREDGE RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE I'M NOT READY,
BUT WE'RE GONNA BE
DREDGING REALLY SOON.
THIS IS THE THIRD SUMMER
GLEN'S BEEN UP HERE.
DUDE, I HAVEN'T LIKE
SEEN LIKE THE PERFORMANCE
ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
Narrator:
OVER THE WINTER...
I THINK YOU'RE
INTERMEDIATE, AT BEST,
MINING EXPERIENCE,
FACT.
Narrator: ZEKE AND GLEN'S
MINING DREAM TEAM?
TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKIN' WITH YA.
I DON'T REALLY EVEN 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.
WHAT'S UP, ZEKE?
HOW'S IT GOIN', GLEN?
GOOD.
HAVE YOU DONE
THE BOUNCE TEST?
YEAH, IT'S REALLY STRONG.
CAN I JUST ABOARD AND
LOOK AT A FEW THINGS?
YEAH, FOR SURE.
WHOA.
BE CAREFUL, THOUGH.
CAN I JUST STUMBLE ABOARD?
LIKE, FOR REALS?
YEAH.
SO YOU GOT YOUR, UM,
YOU GOT YOUR OUTBOARD
AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT?
MM-HMM.
THOSE FRONT OUTRIGGERS,
ARE YOU PRETTY CONFIDENT
IN THOSE?
OH, NO, YOU CAN JACK
THE WHOLE THING UP.
OH, OKAY.
YEAH.
SO I DON'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER ICE, LIKE YOU WENT
YOUR WAY, I WENT MY WAY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DIDN'T
REALLY PRODUCE A LOT OF GOLD,
BUT YOU FOUND
SOME GOOD LOCATIONS.
NO, I FOUND AN AREA THAT
LOOKS PRETTY INTERESTING,
A LOT OF BIG BOULDERS,
THAT KIND OF THING.
MM-HMM, MM-HMM.
BUT I'M REAL HOPEFUL
ABOUT WHERE I'M GOIN'.
BENCHMARK'S 60 OUNCES,
BUT, LIKE, DUDE, THE OCEAN
DOESN'T OWE ME ANYTHING,
YOU KNOW. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
LIKE, MAYBE 80
TO 100 OUNCES.
THAT'S MY GOAL. YOU KNOW,
MAYBE EVEN BETTER.
OKAY.
LATER, MAN.
HE'S SO ADVANCED
IN GOLD MINING,
HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO
DO IT ANYMORE.
PRETTY MUCH.
I REALLY WANT TO GET
MORE GOLD THAN HIM.
GLEN THINKS HE'S
GOLD-DREDGER JESUS,
AND THAT'S FINE,
HE CAN THINK THAT.
I THINK GLEN'S OVERCONFIDENCE
AND GLEN'S EGO
IS DEFINITELY GONNA WORK
TO HIS DISADVANTAGE.
ZEKE'S NUMBER-1 GOAL IS
TO OUTDO ME IN THE GOLD COUNT,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL
BETTER ABOUT BEING A [BLEEP],
JUST A HALF-ASS
[BLEEP] HUMAN BEING.
Narrator:
AS ZEKE AND GLEN'S
SUMMER RIVALRY BEGINS,
ONE MILE EAST
OF THE HARBOR,
ON CLAIM 14...
GET SOME NICE,
CHUNKY GOLD UNDER HERE,
BROTHER,
THE KIND YOU WANT
TO WRITE HOME
TO YOUR MOM ABOUT.
Narrator: CAPTAIN EMILY
AND HER CREW
ARE BACK ON THE GOLD.
Emily: I JUST TURNED 26
AND I'D ALWAYS THOUGHT
THAT I'D BE A MOM BY NOW
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT I AM,
BUT MY CHILDREN, [laughs]
MY CREW, THEY'RE ALL
OLDER THAN ME --
GROWN MEN, TECHNICALLY,
SO I FEEL LIKE A MOM OUT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO!
Narrator: FOR 3 HOURS,
DIVER TONY MANN
HAS BEEN MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME
WITH THE EROICA's
MIGHTY
100-HORSEPOWER ENGINE
AND 10-INCH NOZZLE,
STRONG ENOUGH TO EASILY
PICK UP A 600-POUND BOULDER.
THE WEATHER IS PERFECT.
IS THIS GOING TOO WELL?
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE
REACQUAINTED WITH THAT 10-INCH?
CAN'T LET THAT 10-INCH WORK YOU,
YOU GOTTA OWN THE 10.
[ PROLONGED BEEP ]
TONY, DO YOU COPY?
[ BEEP CONTINUES ]
SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO TONY'S COMM LINE.
WE LOST COMMS.
TONY, TONY, TONY,
COME TO THE SURFACE,
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
COME TO THE SURFACE.
Narrator:
ON A 10-INCH DREDGE,
A DOWNED COMM LINE
AND AN UNRESPONSIVE DIVER
MEANS RED ALERT.
Emily: I TURNED OFF
THE PUMP MOTOR.
HE'LL COME UP.
HE'LL GET COLD.
HE SHOULD BE COMING UP.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME...
HE SHOULD BE COMING UP.
Narrator: CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL
HAS LOST ALL CONTACT
WITH HER DIVER, TONY MANN.
IT'S REALLY COLD.
CAN YOU SEE HIS AIR BUBBLES?
CAN YOU SEE WHERE HE IS?
YEAH, HE'S BREATHING.
TONY, DO YOU COPY?
WE LOST COMMS, AND THEN
WE WERE TUGGING LIKE HELL
ON YOUR UMBILICAL
AND YOU WEREN'T COMING UP.
YEAH, BUT WHEN YOU LOSE
SUCTION LIKE THAT
AND I SHUT OFF
THE PUMP MOTOR,
THAT MEANS COME UP
'CAUSE WE LOST COMMS.
ENH.
ALL RIGHT, GOT COMMS!
HE'S FINE! LET GO
OF THE UMBILICAL. HE'S FINE.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE, IT'S JUST
THAT, IF WE LOSE COMMS,
WE ASSUME THE WORST.
I'LL TURN YOUR HEAT
BACK ON.
HE SAID HE'S FINE?
HE'S FINE. HE'S BEING A LITTLE
[BLEEP] ABOUT IT, THOUGH.
Narrator: STAYING UNDER
WHEN SIGNALED TO COME TOPSIDE
IS A BREACH
OF DIVE PROTOCOL.
TO EMILY, IT'S ALSO
A SIGN OF DISRESPECT.
Emily: DAMN IT, TONY.
TONY.
IF YOU EVER LOSE SUCTION,
YOU COME UP RIGHT AWAY, OKAY?
IF YOUR LIMB GETS SUCKED
IN THERE, YOU'RE DEAD.
THAT'S IT, YOU'RE DEAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS
HIS PROBLEM, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS, LIKE,
SERIOUS [BLEEP],
LIKE, I THOUGHT HE WAS
[BLEEP] DEAD
AND HE'S BEING A LITTLE
[BLEEP] ABOUT IT.
THAT'S REALLY UNPROFESSIONAL
BEHAVIOR FROM A DIVER.
Narrator: WHILE EMILY STRUGGLES
TO KEEP HER BOYS IN LINE,
3 MILES TO THE WEST,
JUST OUT OF PORT...
FORWARD HO!
BEGINNING
OF THE 2014 SEASON,
WE'RE HEADED OUT
TO THE TOMCOD AGAIN.
Narrator: WITH THEIR NEW
$50,000 WASH PLANT ONBOARD...
JUST TRYIN' TO GET EVERYTHING
DIALED BACK IN HERE.
WE'RE HEADED BACK OUT
TO THE DIGGING GROUNDS.
THE CHRISTINE ROSE,
WITH POMRENKE
FATHER AND SON,
BEGINS THE QUEST
FOR 1,000 OUNCES.
I'VE PROSPECTED AROUND THIS AREA
AND, THIS WINTER,
WE WERE SEEING SOME
PRETTY DECENT GOLD OVER,
HEADED IN THIS DIRECTION.
Narrator:
THEIR CHOSEN GROUNDS?
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE'S --
THE TOMCOD CLAIM.
I SEE BUOYS
DROPPED EVERYWHERE.
Narrator:
THE NOME GOLD FLEET'S
VERY OWN
GRAND CENTRAL STATION.
I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT THESE GUYS
OR WHERE THEIR BUOYS ARE AT.
I'M JUST GONNA DIG.
EVERYBODY HAS GOT
AUTHORIZATION TO BE OUT HERE,
SO IT'S JUST A RACE,
WHO GETS THE GOLD FIRST.
WE GOT A LOT BIGGER DREDGES,
A LOT MORE COMPETITION,
THIS YEAR,
AND, EVERY YEAR,
IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER,
BECAUSE ALL THE GOOD SPOTS
ARE GETTIN' DUG UP.
COMIN' BY HANK HERE.
LET'S SEE IF HE'S
UP AND RUNNIN',
OR IF HE'S SCREWIN'
AROUND, LIKE USUAL.
[ HONK-HONK ]
AW, MAN, YEAH, HE'S RIGHT
WHERE I DUG IT ALL OUT.
[ CACKLE ]
I'M DIGGING IN YOUR
TAILINGS, SHAWN, YEAH.
"I'VE ALREADY DUG THERE.
WHAT'S HE DOIN' OVER THERE,
THE DUMBASS?"
Shawn: NO, I JUST WANT
TO GET SET UP
IN AN AREA WHERE I KNOW
THERE MIGHT BE SOME GOLD
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY, I WANT
TO TRY TO THE WASH PLANT OUT.
OKAY, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AND DROP THE SPUD.
Narrator:
TO KEEP THE BARGE IN PLACE
WHILE THEY DIG,
SHAWN LOWERS THE 35-FOOT,
8,000-POUND
STABILIZING SPUD.
I FOUND THIS SPOT
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE COME OUT
AND MARK THEIR SPOT WITH THE GPS
DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THEIRS.
TIME TO DO SOME TEST PANS.
GOOD-LOOKIN' MATERIAL.
I ALWAYS SET THAT
1,000-OUNCE GOAL UP,
BUT I THINK,
THIS YEAR,
WE GOT A FIGHTING CHANCE
TO GET THAT, AND MORE.
THERE'S SOME CHUNKIES
IN THERE.
THERE'S GOLD HERE. LET'S RUN --
I WANT TO SEE THE PLANT GO.
Narrator: WITH GOLD
IN THE TEST PAN...
THIS BABY'S GONNA SIFT
GRAVEL, I GUARANTEE YA.
Narrator: ALL THAT'S LEFT
IS TO FIRE UP
DAD'S NEW WASH PLANT.
BEAUTIFUL!
YEAH!
OH, YEAH, BABY.
Narrator: THE IMPROVED
WASH PLANT HAS A LARGER,
5-FOOT-WIDE SCREEN DECK
TO WASH MORE MATERIAL, FASTER.
AS BIG ROCKS TUMBLE
THROUGH AND OUT,
THE WASHED DIRT ENTERS
A LONGER, 50-FOOT SLUICE BOX
ON A 7° ANGLE,
DESIGNED TO CAPTURE
MORE FINE GOLD.
AS LONG AS THAT
WASH PLANT WORKS,
WE'RE GONNA BE
IN GOOD SHAPE.
YEAH! HERE WE GO!
IF IT FEEDS DIRT
LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO
FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES,
IT'S GONNA WORK
THE REST OF THE YEAR.
NOW, WE GET TO SEE IF ALL THIS
HARD WORK'S GONNA PAY OFF.
HERE'S THE FIRST BUCKET.
THIS PLANT'S GONNA FINALLY
SEE SOME GOLD.
YEAH!
IT EATS UP THE DIRT!
IT'S 10 TIMES FASTER
THAN THE OLD PLANT.
THE OLD WASH PLANT,
YOU HAD TO SIT THERE
AND JUST SPRINKLE IT IN THERE.
NOW, WE'RE JUST MOWIN'.
WASH PLANT'S WORKIN',
SO THAT'S GOOD.
OUR PRODUCTION
IS GOIN' WAY UP.
I'M A HAPPY MAN.
LOOK AT THIS THING.
I LIKE IT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD SEASON
THIS YEAR, I HAVE A FEELING.
Narrator: 7 MILES WEST
OF NOME HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
AGH!
WE'RE IN ABOUT THE SAME KIND
OF MATERIAL AS WE WERE
BEFORE WE SHIFTED AND WE STOPPED
THINKING IT LOOKS GOOD.
Narrator: 5 HOURS
INTO HIS SHIFT,
VERNON'S DIVER HAS YET
TO FIND A PAY STREAK.
KINDA WANNA MOVE
FROM THIS SPOT.
KIND OF [BLEEP].
YOU WANT US TO LET OUT
SOME MORE ANCHOR RIGHT NOW,
OR YOU WANT TO WAIT
A FEW MINUTES, OR WHAT?
I'M ABOUT READY.
OKAY, WE'LL LET OUT
SOME MORE.
SO, JUST A TINY,
LITTLE BIT OF STRAIN ON IT
AND PAY IT OUT GRADUALLY.
Narrator:
TO COVER MORE GROUND,
VERNON ORDERS HIS DAUGHTER
TO GIVE SLACK
ON THE FORWARD ANCHOR.
YVONNE! IS IT STILL
TAKING LINE?
IS IT STILL TAKING LINE?!
WAS THAT A YES?!
YES!
DON'T GET AN ATTITUDE
WITH IT!
THAT'S ENOUGH!
YOU KNOW, JUST FOR TEMPORARY,
YOU JUST THROW A FEW TURNS
ON THERE, IT'S GONNA HOLD.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW IT NOW.
THAT'S WHY
I'M TELLIN' YA NOW.
SO, WE'RE NOT DONE.
PAY IT OUT, PLEASE.
MY DAUGHTERS,
I'M TRYING TO HELP 'EM
GET THEIR FEET UNDER 'EM
FINANCIALLY
AND GIVE 'EM
SOMETHING TO DO
THAT MIGHT SERVE THEM WELL
ON INTO THE FUTURE,
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT --
IT'S DIFFICULT,
IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
YEAH, HEY, SHEM, WHAT'S IT
LOOK LIKE DOWN THERE?
I'M PUNCHIN' A NEW HOLE.
GONNA LOOK FOR SOME
HOT-ASS GOLD.
SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.
OH, LOOK AT THAT
CRUMBLY GARNET.
OH, THERE'S GOLD IN IT!
LOOK AT THAT!
HOLY [BLEEP]!
ARE THOSE HAPPY SOUNDS I HEAR
COMIN' FROM DOWN THERE?
IT'S LOOKIN' REALLY GOOD
DOWN THERE.
SHEM'S EXCITED AND IT TAKES
A DECENT AMOUNT OF GOLD
TO GET HIM GOING, SO,
GOTTA GET THAT,
GOTTA GET THAT GOLD, MAN!
THAT'S THE MOST POSITIVE NEWS
I'VE HEARD, LATELY.
BEING ON GOLD,
EVEN IF IT'S FINE GOLD,
IS A LOT DAMN BETTER
THAN NOT BEING ON GOLD.
Narrator:
7 MILES TO THE EAST,
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME...
HERE WE GO.
Narrator: ONE OF THE LAST
TEAMS TO GET UNDERWAY...
MOVIN' THE REAPER,
FINALLY GETTING INTO THE WATER.
Narrator: BRAD KELLY'S
FAMILY-RUN CHOP-SHOP DREDGE,
THE REAPER.
'CAUSE THE BOAT'S ON THE GROUND,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
LIFT IT OFF THE GROUND
AND TRY AND GET IT
ONTO THE TRAILER
WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE.
Kris: ♪ DO-DO DO-DO
[CHUCKLE] IT'S ALWAYS
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE,
EVERY SINGLE MORNING,
DOING THIS [BLEEP].
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
Narrator: DESPITE
A CHEAP OPERATION...
AAH!
WHAT A PIECE OF [BLEEP].
I TOOK 50% OUT OF
YOU GUYS' 1,500 BUCKS.
Narrator: THEIR FATHER,
CAPTAIN BRAD'S,
STICKY FINGERS...
HERE'S 700.
I DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGE.
STOP [BLEEP] OUR DREDGING MONEY
AWAY ON YOUR NEW FAMILY.
Narrator: AND THE CONSTANT
DISTRACTION OF FAMILY DIVORCE...
YOU DIVE
4 MORE HOURS A DAY,
AND THAT'LL
PICK UP THE SLACK.
Narrator: THE KELLYS
FOUGHT THEIR WAY
TO A 33-OUNCE,
$43,000 SCORE.
AND THERE'S THE PART
YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR.
YEAH, THAT'S
THE REAL DEAL.
Narrator: COME SUMMER,
BRAD NEEDS TO MAKE
MORE GOLD THAN EVER BEFORE.
I MET A NEW WOMAN IN NOME.
THE BABY'S DUE OCTOBER 7th.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE OLD
FAMILY, I'LL TAKE CARE
OF THE NEW FAMILY,
I'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY.
FOR BRAD'S SON KRIS,
DAD'S NEW BUN IN THE OVEN
IS NOT EXACTLY
A BUNDLE OF JOY.
OUR WHOLE FAMILY'S
IN SHAMBLES RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO WORK
WITH EACH OTHER.
MY DAD'S HAVING A NEW KID
WITH A-[BLEEP]-NOTHER LADY.
WORKING WITH MY BROTHER,
YOU KNOW,
EVERY TIME WE GET GOLD MONEY,
WE SEND MY MOM MONEY.
WHOA! THAT'S IT!
IT'S GOOD!
OH, IT'S A SUCCESS.
LET'S GET THIS THING
IN THE WATER.
Narrator: WHILE BRAD AND KRIS
HEAD FOR THE BOAT LAUNCH...
Brad: AND HE NEVER SHOWS UP
WHEN THERE'S WORK, DUDE.
HE'LL GET OUT TO PLAY
WHEN IT'S DONE.
Narrator: 2 MILES AWAY,
IN THE HEART OF NOME...
I JUST HATE
THIS [BLEEP] TOWN.
Narrator: PLEASANT AS EVER,
THE YOUNGEST KELLY, ANDY,
HAS JUST HIT TOWN.
I GOT OFF THE PLANE
THIS MORNING.
I WAS KINDA CONTRADICTING
IF I WAS GONNA COME BACK
FOR THE SEASON, 'CAUSE I'M
PRETTY MUCH SICK OF EVERYTHING.
COME ON!
I GET SCREWED OVER
ON THE MONEY,
I GET SCREWED OVER ON
THE GOLD CLEANOUT.
MY DAD EXPECTS US
TO GET OUT THERE
AND DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN
FOR HIM, TO MAKE HIM MONEY,
AND ALL HE DOES IS JUST SCREW ME
OVER AND I'M TIRED OF IT.
I'M NOT HERE TO MINE
WITH MY BROTHER
AND MY DAD.
I'M GONNA WREAK CHAOS
ON EVERYBODY NOW.
IT'S MY ONE MAIN GOAL
FOR BEING HERE.
Narrator: AFTER WINTER,
GETTING SHORTCHANGED BY HIS DAD,
ANDY IS PLOTTING A COUP.
I KNOW THE GUY
THAT OWNS THE REAPER.
HE WANTS TO BE BOUGHT OUT AND
MY FATHER'S REFUSING TO DO IT,
SO I TALKED TO HIM AND TOLD HIM,
"AH, [BLEEP], I'LL TAKE IT ALL."
HOLD ON. HOLD ON!
Narrator: CONSPIRING WITH
HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS PARTNER,
ANDY IS HOPING
TO BUY THE BOAT
RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER
HIS POPS.
Andy: HE [BLEEP] OVER FAMILY
FOR A NEW FAMILY
AND LEFT MY MOTHER
WITH NOTHING, BUT,
I FIGURE I'M GONNA LEAVE HIM
WITH THE SAME -- NOTHING.
WE'RE GONNA BE POSITIVE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT SEASON.
WE'RE GONNA KICK ASS
THIS SEASON.
TEACH MY DAD A LESSON.
THAT'S MY WHOLE GOAL
FOR THE SEASON.
THERE'S A BIG OLD ROCK FISH.
I'LL FEED HIM, WATCH.
I FOUND HIM A CRAB.
FISHY, FISHY, FISHY, FISHY!
EAT IT.
GOT THAT? I FED 'IM.
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING TO DOWN THERE?
MY FISH BUDDY!
HE'S MY BUDDY.
LOOK AT HIM. HE LIKES ME.
DON'T GET NEAR THAT NOZZLE!
AW, I SCARED 'IM AWAY.
OKAY, BUDDY.
HE'LL COME BACK.
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
I WANTED TO BE IN THE WATER
A WEEK AGO. THIS SUCKS.
I'M DOWN TO MY LAST
COUPLE DOLLARS,
SO WE NEED TO GET SOME GOLD
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: WHILE MUCH
OF THE FLEET
IS EITHER STILL PREPPING
TO LAUNCH...
GOOD-LOOKING GOLD
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: OR MAKING GOLD
WHILE THE SUN SHINES...
LET'S GET US
ON SOME GOLD.
YEAH!
TWO HEAVY-ASS BUCKETS.
Narrator: FOR TWO CREWS,
THE FIRST PAYCHECK OF THE SUMMER
CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH.
TODAY'S A GOOD DAY!
Narrator: AT
VERNON ADKISON'S TRAILER...
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SHOOTIN'
FOR 700 OUNCES THIS SEASON.
WE GOTTA BE OUT THERE,
HAMMERING IT,
EVERY POSSIBLE MOMENT.
Narrator: GUNNING
FOR AN $800,000 SUMMER...
WELL, WHATEVER WE GET TODAY,
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT TIME,
IT OUGHTA BE A LOT BETTER.
Narrator: THE SKIPPER'S
LOOKING TO KEEP
HIS WINTER GOLD STREAK
ALIVE.
I FULLY BELIEVE
WE'RE GONNA TURN
A SIGNIFICANT PROFIT
THIS SUMMER.
WHAT I WANT IS ABOUT
A CONTAINER FULL OF GOLD
AND, THEN, YOU KNOW,
I'LL SIT ON TOP OF IT
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE.
GOTTA LET IT COOL DOWN
A LITTLE BIT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
ALL RIGHT,
HERE WE GO.
HELL, YEAH!
OOP.
ONE OUNCE,
2...3...
4...
DAD, JUST POUR IT
IN THERE!
19.845.
WHOO!
HELL, YEAH.
DAMN NEAR 20.
WHOA!
Narrator: THE FIRST
PAYDAY OF THE SEASON --
NEARLY $24,000.
UP HERE, YOUR CREW
IS LIKE YOUR FAMILY
AND, IN MY CASE,
IT REALLY IS MY FAMILY
AND MAYBE THIS EXPERIENCE
WITH THE DREDGING
COULD END UP BEING
THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED,
IN REGARD
TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
FINE.
ALL RIGHT, BOSS MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: OVER AT THE
POMRENKE CLEANUP SHACK...
YEAH!
FIRST CLEANUP
OF THE SEASON.
NOW, WE'RE GONNA RUN IT.
[ THUD ]
OOH. DAMN,
THAT SOUNDED GOOD.
Narrator: THE TRUE TEST
OF THE NEW WASH PLANT...
WHOA! YOU CAN SEE.
IT'S LOOKIN' PRETTY GOOD.
WE GOT A PILE OF YELLOW
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: COMES WITH THE FIRST
CLEANUP OF THE SEASON.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AND FIRE THIS THING UP.
FIRST SCOOP
OF THE SEASON!
SEE IF MR. GOLD'S
DOIN' HIS JOB RIGHT.
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S 30 OUNCES
IN THIS CLEANUP.
FOR INITIAL RUN
ON A NEW WASH PLANT,
NEW SLUICE BOX,
THAT'D BE PRETTY DAMN GOOD.
Narrator: ALWAYS LOOKING
TO IMPRESS HIS OLD MAN,
SHAWN IS PUSHING HARD
TO MAKE THIS
THE CHRISTINE ROSE's
FIRST-EVER
1,000-OUNCE SUMMER.
IS MY FATHER PROUD OF ME?
THAT'S, UH...
AT TIMES, I THINK HE IS,
BUT I THINK HE HAS
A HARD TIME SHOWIN' IT.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE
SINCE I HELD THIS MUCH GOLD,
SO, IT FEELS GOOD.
♪ GOLD
WELL, PUT YOUR FUNNEL
UP THERE. LET'S SEE.
MM-HMM.
THAT'S SOME
PRETTY GOLD.
20.
BROKE 30!
YEAH!
62.5.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator: 62.5 OUNCES
IS WORTH
$75,000.
THE NEW IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE DEFINITELY IMPROVED
THE QUANTITY OF GOLD.
YOUR PRODUCTION'S UP,
YOU'RE GONNA GET MORE GOLD.
WE'RE MEASURING
IN POUNDS THIS YEAR.
4.3 POUNDS.
WE MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN
THE FIRST ONES OUT,
BUT WE DEFINITELY AIN'T GONNA BE
THE LAST IN THE GOLD COUNT.
THE MIDAS TOUCH!
Narrator: THOUGH SECOND
TO THE GROUNDS,
THE CHRISTINE ROSE IS
IN 1st PLACE
EARLY IN THE SEASON,
WHILE THE WILD RANGER LEADS
THE PACK OF DIVER DREDGES.
MR. GOLD'S GONNA GET
SOME GOLD!
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
AND THE AU GRABBER
ARE ABOUT TO HAVE
A COLLISION.
WATCH OUT!
FULL SPEED AHEAD!
TEACH THESE POMRENKE PRICKS!
YOU CAN RUN IT?!
RUN IT!
YOU'RE [BLEEP]DAMN
RIGHT I CAN.
[crying] THEY MEDEVACed HER
IN ANCHORAGE.
THEY DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S EVEN
GONNA MAKE IT OVERNIGHT.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
"MY DARLING CLEMENTINE" ]
[ BEEPING ]
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
Steve R.: A-ONE, A-TWO,
A-THREE,
A-GO.
GOOD MORNING, VIET-NOME!
IT'S GOLD-MINING TIME!
GET YOUR DREDGES READY.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
SEXY, SEXY GOLD.
GOLD DADDY.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
ROCK-STAR GOLD.
THIS IS
STEVE RIEDEL,
ENCOURAGING YOU
TO STAY GOLDEN.
♪ HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
♪ TO BE MADE
♪ AND I'M A-GONNA
GET IT NOW ♪
♪ JUST YOU WAIT
♪ GOLD
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
COME ON, LET'S GO!
I GOT A BADASS BARGE
THAT'S READY TO GO MININ'.
Narrator: THE GREAT
AMERICAN BOOMTOWN.
YEAH!
WE'RE IN THE WATER.
HA-HA!
Narrator:
IN THIS REMOTE PORT...
Narrator: THE COMING
OF SUMMER MEANS
THE RETURN OF THE
ALASKAN GOLD-MINING FLEET.
I LOVE GOLD BECAUSE
IT'S HARD TO GET.
THAT'S THE OLDEST STORY
IN THE BOOK --
YOU ALWAYS WANT
WHAT YOU CAN'T HAVE.
NOME WAS ESTABLISHED,
ORIGINALLY,
AS A MINING TOWN.
THERE'S BEEN A CENTURY
OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE
AND BALANCING THEIR HOPES
AND THEIR DREAMS
UPON THAT BEAUTIFUL
YELLOW SUBSTANCE.
Narrator: SINCE 1898,
WHEN THREE SWEDISH PROSPECTORS
STRUCK GOLD
IN THE WATERS
OF ANVIL CREEK,
MINERS HAVE FLOODED IN,
HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH.
OVER A CENTURY LATER,
THEY STILL COME IN DROVES,
FOLLOWING THE GOLD
FROM THE CREEKS
TO THE BEACHES,
NOW...
WHO'LL START ME OFF?
THE BID'S 10 EVEN.
Narrator: TO OFFSHORE
MINING CLAIMS
IN CUSTOM-BUILT DREDGES.
MINING FOR GOLD IN NOME
IS A GRAND ADVENTURE.
Narrator: EVERY JUNE...
I'M GONNA MAKE
SOME DAMN MONEY.
Narrator: MODERN DAY '49ers
SPLASH DOWN AND HEAD OUT
TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNES OFF
THE BOTTOM OF THE BERING SEA.
I'M GONNA STUFF MY POCKETS
FULL OF GOLD THIS YEAR.
Narrator: THIS SUMMER, WHAT WAS
ONCE A CLOSELY KEPT SECRET
HAS BECOME THE ONE WORD
ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
BACK TO THE TOMCOD.
THAT'S THE ONLY GOOD GOLD
AROUND THIS COUNTRY.
Narrator: THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
LOCATED 7 MILES WEST
OF THE HARBOR.
THIS 1,000-ACRE AREA IS NOW
GROUND ZERO FOR THE GOLD RUSH.
THE TOMCOD LEASE.
THERE'S PROBABLY 1, 2,
3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8,
9, 10,
11 BOATS OUT HERE,
I SEE DREDGIN'.
Narrator: WITH MORE DREDGES
THAN EVER
HEADED FOR ONE SMALL LEASE
AND THE PRICE OF GOLD
PLUNGING TO $1,200 AN OUNCE,
THIS SEASON,
THE COMPETITION
WILL BE TOUGHER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
LET'S GO GET 'EM.
LET'S GO GET THAT GOLD.
Narrator: IN THE SMALL
BOAT HARBOR...
HERE WE GO!
THEY GOT THE BOAT
IN THE WATER,
NOW, WE JUST GOTTA GET
ALL THE DOODADS ON HERE.
Narrator:
SUMMER DREDGING'S
UNSTOPPABLE GOLD MACHINE,
THE 80-FOOT, 80-TON
CHRISTINE ROSE.
ALL THE LITTLE,
LAST COUPLE THINGS
DONE HERE, AND THEN,
WE'RE READY TO GO MININ'.
WE HAVE THE BEST DREDGE
OUT THERE.
I JUST LOVE BEIN' A MINER.
MY FAMILY'S BEEN MININ'
FOR 25 YEARS AND THAT'S HOW WE
MAKE OUR LIVIN', IS GOLD MININ'.
Narrator:
FOR SIX SUMMERS...
MR. GOLD SAYS,
"MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!"
Narrator:
THE FATHER-SON TEAM
OF STEVE AND SHAWN POMRENKE
HAVE DOMINATED THE GOLD COUNT...
I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE
TALKING [BLEEP] ABOUT ME
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE YOU GIVE IT
SO MUCH AMMUNITION!
Narrator: DESPITE THEIR
CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP.
Steve P.: IT'S HARD FOR FATHERS
AND SONS TO WORK TOGETHER.
SHAWN REALLY DOES NOT NEED ME
ON THE CHRISTINE ROSE ANYMORE.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OFF
AND DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
HE'S ALL TRAINED. HE KNOWS
EVERY PIECE OF MACHINERY,
HOW IT ACTUALLY
WORKS ON THERE.
GOT THE ANCHORS ON,
SPUD'S IN,
EVERYTHING'S GETTIN'
HOOKED UP.
WE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF WATER PLUMBING TO DO,
LITTLE BIT OF WELDING.
Narrator: FOR 62-YEAR-OLD
STEVE POMRENKE,
THIS SEASON IS ALL ABOUT
AN EXIT STRATEGY.
Steve P.: I'M LOOKIN' TO GO
INLAND MINING.
THAT'S WHAT I FEEL
I'M REALLY GOOD AT
AND THAT'S
WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY.
I'D LIKE TO HAND
THE OCEAN MINING OVER TO HIM
'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO GO
INLAND MINING.
SEE IF THE NEW CONTRAPTION'S
GONNA WORK OR NOT.
WELL, WE KNOW
THE ENGINEER, SO.
IT'LL WORK.
Narrator: PUSHING
FOR A 1,000-OUNCE SUMMER
AND A NEW
INLAND MINING VENTURE...
Steve P.: ALL RIGHT,
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WATCH IT,
WATCH IT, WATCH IT.
Narrator: STEVE HAS ENGINEERED
ONE MASSIVE UPGRADE.
HOLY COW!
Narrator: A NEW 5x12-FOOT
WASH PLANT SLUICE BOX.
Steve P.: THIS ONE'S,
LIKE, 3 TIMES BIGGER
THAN THE OLD WASH PLANT.
I CAN GO THAT WAY
SOME, YET.
MAKIN' HISTORY.
LITTLE MORE!
YEAH!
Narrator: IT'S DESIGNED
TO BE THE BIGGEST
THE BARGE
COULD POSSIBLY HOLD.
JUST, HOPEFULLY, NO BIGGER.
THEY'RE GONNA HIT.
Steve P.: THEY AIN'T
GONNA HIT.
I GUARANTEE YOU.
THEY AIN'T GONNA HIT!
GROWIN' UP
WITH STEVE POMRENKE,
LET ME TELL YA,
IT WAS HELL.
I THINK DAD GREW UP
WITH HIS DAD
NOT ACCEPTING HIM
OR GIVING HIM ANY CREDIT
FOR ANYTHING,
BUT DAD AND I
ARE ACTUALLY GETTING ALONG
PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW LONG IT LASTS.
[chuckle]
WE'RE GOOD, MAN!
YEAH, LOOKS GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA UP
OUR PRODUCTION BY 30%
WITH THIS NEW WASH PLANT,
BE ABLE TO RUN
30% MORE DIRT,
HOPEFULLY, GET 30% MORE GOLD,
AND THAT SHOULD PUT US
OVER OUR 1,000-OUNCE GOAL
FOR THE YEAR.
Narrator: AS FATHER AND SON AIM
FOR ANOTHER WINNING SEASON,
THERE'S ONE RACE
THEY'VE ALREADY LOST.
7 MILES WEST OF THE HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
THE FIRST BIG BARGE TO MAKE IT
TO THE GROUNDS...
RAHH!
BIG ROCKS, HARD DIGGIN'.
Narrator: THE CHRISTINE ROSE's
WOULD-BE RIVAL,
THE 80-FOOT,
96-TON AU GRABBER.
THAT'S THE PAY LAYER,
RIGHT THERE.
THERE SHE BE.
IT'S A GOOD-LOOKING COLOR.
IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH,
EXACTLY, WE'RE GETTING,
BUT, I'M HOPING WE'RE GETTING
AT LEAST AN OUNCE AN HOUR,
IF NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE, SO,
JUST GOTTA KEEP AFTER IT.
WE GOTTA KEEP THIS THING LOADED.
Narrator: AT THE HELM?
OWNER AND 2nd-YEAR MINER
HANK SCHIMSCHAT.
I'VE INVESTED JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING I HAD.
I TOOK MONEY OUT OF
MY RETIREMENT TO DO THIS
AND I NEED GOLD
IN THAT HOPPER.
I'VE DONE THE MATH --
IF I CAN KEEP UP
MY OUNCE AN HOUR,
I THINK I CAN GET 700 OUNCES.
THAT'S WHAT MY GOAL IS
THIS YEAR.
WHOA, BABY!
THAT'S WHAT
THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
Narrator: AFTER DROPPING
NEARLY A MILLION BUCKS
BUILDING HIS OPERATION,
HANK NEEDS HIS SOPHOMORE
SEASON TO HIT BIG.
YEAH, THE CHRISTINE ROSE
IS NOT HERE YET.
I GOT A LITTLE
HEAD START ON 'EM.
I'M HOPIN'
I CAN KEEP UP WITH 'EM,
OR EVEN SURPASSIN' 'EM.
I'M NOT MUCH
OF A SMACK-TALKER.
IT'S NOT REALLY MY STYLE,
BUT SHAWN CALLS ME
THE "ASS" GRABBER,
SO I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING
LIKE CHRISTINE "HOS".
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
CHRISTINE ROSE, CHRISTINE ROSE,
THIS IS THE AU GRABBER.
YOU COPY?
GO AHEAD.
HA-HA HA-HA!
[ LAUGHS ]
NEVER CHEATED LAST YEAR.
YOU GOT YOUR ASS
WHIPPED, BUDDY.
[ LAUGHS ]
I CAN MOVE MORE DIRT
THAN SHAWN, I KNOW,
SO, I WANT EVERY PIECE OF GOLD
I CAN GET, SO HE DOESN'T GET IT.
Narrator: WITH 42 YEARS
BEHIND AN EXCAVATOR,
WORKING CONSTRUCTION,
HANK IS A PRO
AT MOVING DIRT.
HOW WE LOOKIN'?
LOOKIN' GOOD.
Narrator: BUT GOLD MINING IS
ABOUT PAY DIRT.
IS THERE ANY GOLD IN HERE?
OH, YEAH.
YEAH, YOU CAN SEE
A LITTLE GOLD IN HERE.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S JUST PAN IT.
PAN IT?
YEAH.
FIND US SOME GOLD!
Narrator:
CHECKING THE MATERIAL,
HANK'S NEW DECKHAND,
MATT PECKINPAUGH.
WHOA-OA!
WOW!
THAT'S A GOOD PAN.
THAT'S A GOOD PAN.
GOOD GOLD,
NICE, CHUNKY.
THAT'S WHAT WE BEEN IN
ALL DAY, SO.
OH, BABY!
I CAN'T WAIT.
WE'RE GONNA BE DOIN'
REALLY GOOD, SO,
MAY THE BEST MAN WIN.
Narrator: AS HANK
GETS AFTER
THE FIRST GOLD OF THE SEASON,
7 MILES TO THE EAST,
LEAVING NOME HARBOR...
HUNDRED FEET THAT WAY!
Narrator: THE ONLY FEMALE
DREDGE OWNER IN THE FLEET,
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL,
AND THE 40-FOOT EROICA,
HEADED FOR FAMILIAR GROUNDS.
BASICALLY, WE'RE TRYING
TO PUT IT RIGHT ON TOP
OF THE TAILINGS PILE
THAT WE LEFT FOR ICE
WITH THIS GPS.
WE WERE USING A SYSTEM
DURING ICE
THAT ENDED UP REALLY
SCREWING US, IN THE END.
IT DIDN'T PROCESS
GOLD CORRECTLY.
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
WE'RE GONNA BLOW 'EM OUT
OF THE [BLEEP] ICE.
Narrator:
EMILY DROPPED 50 GRAND
ON TOP-OF-THE-LINE
ICE-MINING GEAR
AND A PROTOTYPE
UNDERWATER DREDGE.
Emily: THERE SHOULDN'T BE
ANY GOLD THERE.
Narrator: BUT THE RIG
COULDN'T CAPTURE GOLD
AND ONLY RECOVERED 4 OUNCES,
WORTH JUST OVER
5,000 BUCKS.
WE'RE GETTIN' CLOSER,
WITHIN 67 -- 65.
Narrator: TO KICK OFF SUMMER,
EMILY'S PLANNING TO MOP UP
THE MISSED GOLD FROM
HER WINTER TAILINGS PILE.
DROP ANCHOR NOW, TONY.
AT LEAST 66 POUNDS.
I'M REALLY GLAD
THAT WINTER IS OVER.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY
UP HERE, OF MINERS,
AND MOST OF THEM
EXPECT ME TO FAIL.
AS FAR AS I KNOW,
I'M THE FIRST WOMAN
TO EVER TRY TO COME UP HERE
AND RUN MY OWN DREDGE.
I'M GLAD THE SUMMER IS HERE AND
I'M HOPING TO GET 400 OUNCES.
Narrator: EMILY
HAS SET HER SIGHTS ON BEING
THE FIRST WOMAN TO BREAK
THE 400-OUNCE
GLASS CEILING.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS,
IT'S CHAMPAGNE-SMASHING TIME!
LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.
OH, NO!
YOU GOTTA GO HARD.
OH!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?!
THIS IS [BLEEP].
THIS IS SO [BLEEP].
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
CLOSE YOUR EYES.
[BLEEP].
[ LAUGHTER ]
SERIOUSLY!
IT [BLEEP] BROKE THE CLEAT!
[BLEEP].
RIGHT ON THAT CORNER,
IT'LL BREAK.
ALL RIGHT.
COME --
WHOO!
YA-A-Y!
NOW, I'M GONNA DOWN THERE AND
CUT MY FOOT ON BROKEN GLASS.
WHOO-HOO!
HOLY [BLEEP],
THAT WAS HARD TO BREAK.
FOUND YOUR GLASS!
IT'S IN MY FOOT.
ALL RIGHT, BERING SEA,
BE GOOD TO US THIS YEAR.
DON'T BE A [BLEEP]
EMILY'S A YOUNG CAPTAIN.
NOT SAYING SHE'S NOT
GETTING THERE, BUT,
SOMETIMES, YOU CAN ADMIT THAT
YOU'RE TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES
OR NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR YOUR
BRITCHES, IT'S EITHER WAY.
Narrator: FIRST DOWN
FOR THE SEASON,
2nd-YEAR DIVER TONY MANN,
WITH DARYL VALLE
AND GREENHORN THUNES ROUPE
TOPSIDE.
WE, LIKE THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE,
ARE UNBREAKABLE.
Narrator: CHEAPER, BUT MORE
DANGEROUS THAN EXCAVATOR BARGES,
SUCTION DREDGES
LIKE THE EROICA
RELY ON THEIR DIVERS TO FIND
AND VACUUM UP THE GOLD.
[ BREATHING ]
ALL RIGHT, ON BOTTOM.
ALL RIGHT, 10-4.
YOUR FIRST DIVE
OF THE SEASON!
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING
DOWN THERE?
UH...
YEAH, BUDDY, WHOO!
ARE YOU SURE?
YEP,
I'M RIGHT ON 'EM.
YEAH-EAH! THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.
SUCK IT UP!
GOLD FOR DAYS.
WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME ASS
IN THIS SPOT.
YEAH.
WE WANT TO HAVE
OUR BEST SEASON THIS YEAR
AND EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Narrator: 7 MILES WEST
OF THE CITY OF NOME...
IS THE REIGNING
WINTER GOLD CHAMPION.
I'M FEELING OPTIMISTIC.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT HERE AND,
HOPEFULLY, GET ON FIRST GOLD.
Narrator: WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON,
EN ROUTE TO THE CROWDED
TOMCOD CLAIM.
LIKE, WE GOT GOOD GOLD
IN THE WINTER.
WE GET OUT THERE
AND GET ON THE GROUND
THAT WE KNOW IS GOOD,
I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
Narrator: VERNON
AND HIS CREW BROUGHT IN
177 OUNCES, WORTH 230 GRAND,
FROM THE TOMCOD,
A NEW PERSONAL BEST.
DANG!
WE DONE WELL.
LAST WINTER,
WE GOT ON GOOD GROUND
AND I HAD AN EXCELLENT TEAM.
ALL THAT STUFF IS STILL
IN PLACE.
THIS SUMMER,
TO SHOW A REAL
CLEARCUT PROFIT,
IT'S GONNA TAKE
IN THE RANGE OF 300 OUNCES.
WE GOTTA KEEP THE CABIN
CLEAN AND ORGANIZED.
IT'S SMALL. WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF SPACE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO FIND THINGS.
THINGS NEED TO STAY
ORGANIZED.
DAD!
Narrator:
BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND,
VERNON'S FIRSTBORN
DAUGHTER, ELAINE.
Vernon:
WHEN YOU INJECT FAMILY
INTO A BUSINESS SITUATION,
IT'S REALLY A BAD POLICY.
YOU OUGHT TO STAY FAR AWAY
FROM FAMILY AS YOU CAN.
BUT MY DAUGHTERS, IN PARTICULAR,
I'M TRYIN' TO HELP 'EM OUT.
ALL RIGHT, STAND BY.
Narrator: THIS SUMMER,
ELAINE'S NOT THE ONLY
ADKISON DAUGHTER ONBOARD.
Vernon:
OKAY, LET IT GO.
NOW, THAT'S PROBABLY
GOT ENOUGH LINE.
NOW, MAKE SOME FIGURE-8s
ON THAT.
Narrator:
ALSO JOINING THE CREW,
VERNON'S SECONDBORN,
GREENHORN TENDER YVONNE.
IT COULD GO THIS WAY,
RATHER THAN THIS WAY,
BECAUSE THERE'D BE
A LITTLE GAP RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT?
OKAY?
MM-HMM.
ELAINE REALLY TALKED ME INTO IT
AFTER LAST WINTER.
SHE MADE PRETTY GOOD MONEY,
SO THAT DEFINITELY WAS
A GOOD INCENTIVE
FOR ME TO COME UP.
FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON!
CAN'T WAIT, MAN!
GET SOME GOLD!
Narrator: WITH NEARLY THE
ENTIRE ADKISON CLAN TENDING,
THE FIRST TO HIT THE WATER
IS VETERAN DIVER SHEM FOGELMAN.
AAH!
AH, OKAY.
♪ DO DO-DO DO-DO
ALL RIGHT, BOYS,
I'M GONNA HOOK IN THE NOZZLE.
TRY TO FIND SOME COBBLE,
OR SOMETHIN'.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.
AHH!
OH, HEY, SHEM, WHAT'S IT
LOOK LIKE DOWN THERE?
YOU SEEIN' ANY GOLD
DOWN THERE YET?
NO, NOT SEEING
ANY GOLD YET.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING.
WE'RE PROSPECTING, SO...
I DON'T LIKE PROSPECTING.
I LIKE PRODUCTION.
Narrator: WHILE VERNON LOOKS
TO PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF,
BACK IN NOME,
AT BELMONT BEACH...
HEY, SARAH?
CAN I GET A HAND
WITH THIS?
AND JUST HOLD THIS TUBE
INTO THAT LITTLE
NOZZLE FOR IT.
DUDE, I GOT ALL THE MONEY
THAT I HAVE
SUNK INTO MAKING THIS WORK,
SO I'M REALLY, TOTALLY
GAMBLING ALL OF MY MONEY
AND NEXT MONTH'S BILLS,
AND WHAT HAVE YOU,
ON THERE BEIN' GOLD,
AND GOOD GOLD.
Narrator: 5th-YEAR MINER
ZEKE TENHOFF
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
SARAH DUNN,
ARE PREPPING A NEW AND IMPROVED
VERSION OF ZEKE'S DREDGE,
THE CLARK.
Zeke: I THINK THAT ANYONE
CAN SUCCEED AT DREDGING.
IT'S ALWAYS A GAMBLE, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE YOU COULD GO FIND,
LIKE, A REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY RICH PLACE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK
ON THE BOTTOM
AND GET ON SOME
HOT GOLD AGAIN.
YEAH, WELL, I'M STOKED.
YEAH, NO,
SHE RIDES GREAT.
I THINK SHE'S GONNA
GET A TON OF GOLD.
ESPECIALLY WITH
THIS DIVER, HERE.
I WANT YOU TO BE LIKE
"YEAH!"
THAT'S RIGHT!
EVERYTHING'S RUNNIN'
RIGHT, FOR NOW.
THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS AWESOME.
I LOVED NOME,
'TIL GLEN LeBARON
CAME TO TOWN.
OH, WELL.
DOWN LET HIM RAIN
ON YOUR PARADE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
JUST 20 YARDS AWAY...
YEAH, GET DOWN THERE
AND DO THOSE NUMBERS.
Narrator: ZEKE'S FORMER-PARTNER-
TURNED-NEMESIS, GLEN LeBARON.
HE'S GEARING UP AS WELL,
WITH THE 15-FOOT MISS NOMER.
Glen: AND TODAY WENT
FROM BEING REALLY GOOD
TO BEING NOT SO GOOD.
I CAN'T DREDGE RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE I'M NOT READY,
BUT WE'RE GONNA BE
DREDGING REALLY SOON.
THIS IS THE THIRD SUMMER
GLEN'S BEEN UP HERE.
DUDE, I HAVEN'T LIKE
SEEN LIKE THE PERFORMANCE
ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
Narrator:
OVER THE WINTER...
I THINK YOU'RE
INTERMEDIATE, AT BEST,
MINING EXPERIENCE,
FACT.
Narrator: ZEKE AND GLEN'S
MINING DREAM TEAM?
TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKIN' WITH YA.
I DON'T REALLY EVEN 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.
WHAT'S UP, ZEKE?
HOW'S IT GOIN', GLEN?
GOOD.
HAVE YOU DONE
THE BOUNCE TEST?
YEAH, IT'S REALLY STRONG.
CAN I JUST ABOARD AND
LOOK AT A FEW THINGS?
YEAH, FOR SURE.
WHOA.
BE CAREFUL, THOUGH.
CAN I JUST STUMBLE ABOARD?
LIKE, FOR REALS?
YEAH.
SO YOU GOT YOUR, UM,
YOU GOT YOUR OUTBOARD
AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT?
MM-HMM.
THOSE FRONT OUTRIGGERS,
ARE YOU PRETTY CONFIDENT
IN THOSE?
OH, NO, YOU CAN JACK
THE WHOLE THING UP.
OH, OKAY.
YEAH.
SO I DON'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER ICE, LIKE YOU WENT
YOUR WAY, I WENT MY WAY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DIDN'T
REALLY PRODUCE A LOT OF GOLD,
BUT YOU FOUND
SOME GOOD LOCATIONS.
NO, I FOUND AN AREA THAT
LOOKS PRETTY INTERESTING,
A LOT OF BIG BOULDERS,
THAT KIND OF THING.
MM-HMM, MM-HMM.
BUT I'M REAL HOPEFUL
ABOUT WHERE I'M GOIN'.
BENCHMARK'S 60 OUNCES,
BUT, LIKE, DUDE, THE OCEAN
DOESN'T OWE ME ANYTHING,
YOU KNOW. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
LIKE, MAYBE 80
TO 100 OUNCES.
THAT'S MY GOAL. YOU KNOW,
MAYBE EVEN BETTER.
OKAY.
LATER, MAN.
HE'S SO ADVANCED
IN GOLD MINING,
HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO
DO IT ANYMORE.
PRETTY MUCH.
I REALLY WANT TO GET
MORE GOLD THAN HIM.
GLEN THINKS HE'S
GOLD-DREDGER JESUS,
AND THAT'S FINE,
HE CAN THINK THAT.
I THINK GLEN'S OVERCONFIDENCE
AND GLEN'S EGO
IS DEFINITELY GONNA WORK
TO HIS DISADVANTAGE.
ZEKE'S NUMBER-1 GOAL IS
TO OUTDO ME IN THE GOLD COUNT,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL
BETTER ABOUT BEING A [BLEEP],
JUST A HALF-ASS
[BLEEP] HUMAN BEING.
Narrator:
AS ZEKE AND GLEN'S
SUMMER RIVALRY BEGINS,
ONE MILE EAST
OF THE HARBOR,
ON CLAIM 14...
GET SOME NICE,
CHUNKY GOLD UNDER HERE,
BROTHER,
THE KIND YOU WANT
TO WRITE HOME
TO YOUR MOM ABOUT.
Narrator: CAPTAIN EMILY
AND HER CREW
ARE BACK ON THE GOLD.
Emily: I JUST TURNED 26
AND I'D ALWAYS THOUGHT
THAT I'D BE A MOM BY NOW
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT I AM,
BUT MY CHILDREN, [laughs]
MY CREW, THEY'RE ALL
OLDER THAN ME --
GROWN MEN, TECHNICALLY,
SO I FEEL LIKE A MOM OUT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO!
Narrator: FOR 3 HOURS,
DIVER TONY MANN
HAS BEEN MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME
WITH THE EROICA's
MIGHTY
100-HORSEPOWER ENGINE
AND 10-INCH NOZZLE,
STRONG ENOUGH TO EASILY
PICK UP A 600-POUND BOULDER.
THE WEATHER IS PERFECT.
IS THIS GOING TOO WELL?
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE
REACQUAINTED WITH THAT 10-INCH?
CAN'T LET THAT 10-INCH WORK YOU,
YOU GOTTA OWN THE 10.
[ PROLONGED BEEP ]
TONY, DO YOU COPY?
[ BEEP CONTINUES ]
SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO TONY'S COMM LINE.
WE LOST COMMS.
TONY, TONY, TONY,
COME TO THE SURFACE,
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
COME TO THE SURFACE.
Narrator:
ON A 10-INCH DREDGE,
A DOWNED COMM LINE
AND AN UNRESPONSIVE DIVER
MEANS RED ALERT.
Emily: I TURNED OFF
THE PUMP MOTOR.
HE'LL COME UP.
HE'LL GET COLD.
HE SHOULD BE COMING UP.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME...
HE SHOULD BE COMING UP.
Narrator: CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL
HAS LOST ALL CONTACT
WITH HER DIVER, TONY MANN.
IT'S REALLY COLD.
CAN YOU SEE HIS AIR BUBBLES?
CAN YOU SEE WHERE HE IS?
YEAH, HE'S BREATHING.
TONY, DO YOU COPY?
WE LOST COMMS, AND THEN
WE WERE TUGGING LIKE HELL
ON YOUR UMBILICAL
AND YOU WEREN'T COMING UP.
YEAH, BUT WHEN YOU LOSE
SUCTION LIKE THAT
AND I SHUT OFF
THE PUMP MOTOR,
THAT MEANS COME UP
'CAUSE WE LOST COMMS.
ENH.
ALL RIGHT, GOT COMMS!
HE'S FINE! LET GO
OF THE UMBILICAL. HE'S FINE.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE, IT'S JUST
THAT, IF WE LOSE COMMS,
WE ASSUME THE WORST.
I'LL TURN YOUR HEAT
BACK ON.
HE SAID HE'S FINE?
HE'S FINE. HE'S BEING A LITTLE
[BLEEP] ABOUT IT, THOUGH.
Narrator: STAYING UNDER
WHEN SIGNALED TO COME TOPSIDE
IS A BREACH
OF DIVE PROTOCOL.
TO EMILY, IT'S ALSO
A SIGN OF DISRESPECT.
Emily: DAMN IT, TONY.
TONY.
IF YOU EVER LOSE SUCTION,
YOU COME UP RIGHT AWAY, OKAY?
IF YOUR LIMB GETS SUCKED
IN THERE, YOU'RE DEAD.
THAT'S IT, YOU'RE DEAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS
HIS PROBLEM, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS, LIKE,
SERIOUS [BLEEP],
LIKE, I THOUGHT HE WAS
[BLEEP] DEAD
AND HE'S BEING A LITTLE
[BLEEP] ABOUT IT.
THAT'S REALLY UNPROFESSIONAL
BEHAVIOR FROM A DIVER.
Narrator: WHILE EMILY STRUGGLES
TO KEEP HER BOYS IN LINE,
3 MILES TO THE WEST,
JUST OUT OF PORT...
FORWARD HO!
BEGINNING
OF THE 2014 SEASON,
WE'RE HEADED OUT
TO THE TOMCOD AGAIN.
Narrator: WITH THEIR NEW
$50,000 WASH PLANT ONBOARD...
JUST TRYIN' TO GET EVERYTHING
DIALED BACK IN HERE.
WE'RE HEADED BACK OUT
TO THE DIGGING GROUNDS.
THE CHRISTINE ROSE,
WITH POMRENKE
FATHER AND SON,
BEGINS THE QUEST
FOR 1,000 OUNCES.
I'VE PROSPECTED AROUND THIS AREA
AND, THIS WINTER,
WE WERE SEEING SOME
PRETTY DECENT GOLD OVER,
HEADED IN THIS DIRECTION.
Narrator:
THEIR CHOSEN GROUNDS?
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE'S --
THE TOMCOD CLAIM.
I SEE BUOYS
DROPPED EVERYWHERE.
Narrator:
THE NOME GOLD FLEET'S
VERY OWN
GRAND CENTRAL STATION.
I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT THESE GUYS
OR WHERE THEIR BUOYS ARE AT.
I'M JUST GONNA DIG.
EVERYBODY HAS GOT
AUTHORIZATION TO BE OUT HERE,
SO IT'S JUST A RACE,
WHO GETS THE GOLD FIRST.
WE GOT A LOT BIGGER DREDGES,
A LOT MORE COMPETITION,
THIS YEAR,
AND, EVERY YEAR,
IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER,
BECAUSE ALL THE GOOD SPOTS
ARE GETTIN' DUG UP.
COMIN' BY HANK HERE.
LET'S SEE IF HE'S
UP AND RUNNIN',
OR IF HE'S SCREWIN'
AROUND, LIKE USUAL.
[ HONK-HONK ]
AW, MAN, YEAH, HE'S RIGHT
WHERE I DUG IT ALL OUT.
[ CACKLE ]
I'M DIGGING IN YOUR
TAILINGS, SHAWN, YEAH.
"I'VE ALREADY DUG THERE.
WHAT'S HE DOIN' OVER THERE,
THE DUMBASS?"
Shawn: NO, I JUST WANT
TO GET SET UP
IN AN AREA WHERE I KNOW
THERE MIGHT BE SOME GOLD
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY, I WANT
TO TRY TO THE WASH PLANT OUT.
OKAY, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AND DROP THE SPUD.
Narrator:
TO KEEP THE BARGE IN PLACE
WHILE THEY DIG,
SHAWN LOWERS THE 35-FOOT,
8,000-POUND
STABILIZING SPUD.
I FOUND THIS SPOT
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE COME OUT
AND MARK THEIR SPOT WITH THE GPS
DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THEIRS.
TIME TO DO SOME TEST PANS.
GOOD-LOOKIN' MATERIAL.
I ALWAYS SET THAT
1,000-OUNCE GOAL UP,
BUT I THINK,
THIS YEAR,
WE GOT A FIGHTING CHANCE
TO GET THAT, AND MORE.
THERE'S SOME CHUNKIES
IN THERE.
THERE'S GOLD HERE. LET'S RUN --
I WANT TO SEE THE PLANT GO.
Narrator: WITH GOLD
IN THE TEST PAN...
THIS BABY'S GONNA SIFT
GRAVEL, I GUARANTEE YA.
Narrator: ALL THAT'S LEFT
IS TO FIRE UP
DAD'S NEW WASH PLANT.
BEAUTIFUL!
YEAH!
OH, YEAH, BABY.
Narrator: THE IMPROVED
WASH PLANT HAS A LARGER,
5-FOOT-WIDE SCREEN DECK
TO WASH MORE MATERIAL, FASTER.
AS BIG ROCKS TUMBLE
THROUGH AND OUT,
THE WASHED DIRT ENTERS
A LONGER, 50-FOOT SLUICE BOX
ON A 7° ANGLE,
DESIGNED TO CAPTURE
MORE FINE GOLD.
AS LONG AS THAT
WASH PLANT WORKS,
WE'RE GONNA BE
IN GOOD SHAPE.
YEAH! HERE WE GO!
IF IT FEEDS DIRT
LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO
FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES,
IT'S GONNA WORK
THE REST OF THE YEAR.
NOW, WE GET TO SEE IF ALL THIS
HARD WORK'S GONNA PAY OFF.
HERE'S THE FIRST BUCKET.
THIS PLANT'S GONNA FINALLY
SEE SOME GOLD.
YEAH!
IT EATS UP THE DIRT!
IT'S 10 TIMES FASTER
THAN THE OLD PLANT.
THE OLD WASH PLANT,
YOU HAD TO SIT THERE
AND JUST SPRINKLE IT IN THERE.
NOW, WE'RE JUST MOWIN'.
WASH PLANT'S WORKIN',
SO THAT'S GOOD.
OUR PRODUCTION
IS GOIN' WAY UP.
I'M A HAPPY MAN.
LOOK AT THIS THING.
I LIKE IT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD SEASON
THIS YEAR, I HAVE A FEELING.
Narrator: 7 MILES WEST
OF NOME HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
AGH!
WE'RE IN ABOUT THE SAME KIND
OF MATERIAL AS WE WERE
BEFORE WE SHIFTED AND WE STOPPED
THINKING IT LOOKS GOOD.
Narrator: 5 HOURS
INTO HIS SHIFT,
VERNON'S DIVER HAS YET
TO FIND A PAY STREAK.
KINDA WANNA MOVE
FROM THIS SPOT.
KIND OF [BLEEP].
YOU WANT US TO LET OUT
SOME MORE ANCHOR RIGHT NOW,
OR YOU WANT TO WAIT
A FEW MINUTES, OR WHAT?
I'M ABOUT READY.
OKAY, WE'LL LET OUT
SOME MORE.
SO, JUST A TINY,
LITTLE BIT OF STRAIN ON IT
AND PAY IT OUT GRADUALLY.
Narrator:
TO COVER MORE GROUND,
VERNON ORDERS HIS DAUGHTER
TO GIVE SLACK
ON THE FORWARD ANCHOR.
YVONNE! IS IT STILL
TAKING LINE?
IS IT STILL TAKING LINE?!
WAS THAT A YES?!
YES!
DON'T GET AN ATTITUDE
WITH IT!
THAT'S ENOUGH!
YOU KNOW, JUST FOR TEMPORARY,
YOU JUST THROW A FEW TURNS
ON THERE, IT'S GONNA HOLD.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW IT NOW.
THAT'S WHY
I'M TELLIN' YA NOW.
SO, WE'RE NOT DONE.
PAY IT OUT, PLEASE.
MY DAUGHTERS,
I'M TRYING TO HELP 'EM
GET THEIR FEET UNDER 'EM
FINANCIALLY
AND GIVE 'EM
SOMETHING TO DO
THAT MIGHT SERVE THEM WELL
ON INTO THE FUTURE,
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT --
IT'S DIFFICULT,
IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
YEAH, HEY, SHEM, WHAT'S IT
LOOK LIKE DOWN THERE?
I'M PUNCHIN' A NEW HOLE.
GONNA LOOK FOR SOME
HOT-ASS GOLD.
SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.
OH, LOOK AT THAT
CRUMBLY GARNET.
OH, THERE'S GOLD IN IT!
LOOK AT THAT!
HOLY [BLEEP]!
ARE THOSE HAPPY SOUNDS I HEAR
COMIN' FROM DOWN THERE?
IT'S LOOKIN' REALLY GOOD
DOWN THERE.
SHEM'S EXCITED AND IT TAKES
A DECENT AMOUNT OF GOLD
TO GET HIM GOING, SO,
GOTTA GET THAT,
GOTTA GET THAT GOLD, MAN!
THAT'S THE MOST POSITIVE NEWS
I'VE HEARD, LATELY.
BEING ON GOLD,
EVEN IF IT'S FINE GOLD,
IS A LOT DAMN BETTER
THAN NOT BEING ON GOLD.
Narrator:
7 MILES TO THE EAST,
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME...
HERE WE GO.
Narrator: ONE OF THE LAST
TEAMS TO GET UNDERWAY...
MOVIN' THE REAPER,
FINALLY GETTING INTO THE WATER.
Narrator: BRAD KELLY'S
FAMILY-RUN CHOP-SHOP DREDGE,
THE REAPER.
'CAUSE THE BOAT'S ON THE GROUND,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
LIFT IT OFF THE GROUND
AND TRY AND GET IT
ONTO THE TRAILER
WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE.
Kris: ♪ DO-DO DO-DO
[CHUCKLE] IT'S ALWAYS
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE,
EVERY SINGLE MORNING,
DOING THIS [BLEEP].
Narrator: THIS WINTER...
Narrator: DESPITE
A CHEAP OPERATION...
AAH!
WHAT A PIECE OF [BLEEP].
I TOOK 50% OUT OF
YOU GUYS' 1,500 BUCKS.
Narrator: THEIR FATHER,
CAPTAIN BRAD'S,
STICKY FINGERS...
HERE'S 700.
I DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGE.
STOP [BLEEP] OUR DREDGING MONEY
AWAY ON YOUR NEW FAMILY.
Narrator: AND THE CONSTANT
DISTRACTION OF FAMILY DIVORCE...
YOU DIVE
4 MORE HOURS A DAY,
AND THAT'LL
PICK UP THE SLACK.
Narrator: THE KELLYS
FOUGHT THEIR WAY
TO A 33-OUNCE,
$43,000 SCORE.
AND THERE'S THE PART
YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR.
YEAH, THAT'S
THE REAL DEAL.
Narrator: COME SUMMER,
BRAD NEEDS TO MAKE
MORE GOLD THAN EVER BEFORE.
I MET A NEW WOMAN IN NOME.
THE BABY'S DUE OCTOBER 7th.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE OLD
FAMILY, I'LL TAKE CARE
OF THE NEW FAMILY,
I'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY.
FOR BRAD'S SON KRIS,
DAD'S NEW BUN IN THE OVEN
IS NOT EXACTLY
A BUNDLE OF JOY.
OUR WHOLE FAMILY'S
IN SHAMBLES RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO WORK
WITH EACH OTHER.
MY DAD'S HAVING A NEW KID
WITH A-[BLEEP]-NOTHER LADY.
WORKING WITH MY BROTHER,
YOU KNOW,
EVERY TIME WE GET GOLD MONEY,
WE SEND MY MOM MONEY.
WHOA! THAT'S IT!
IT'S GOOD!
OH, IT'S A SUCCESS.
LET'S GET THIS THING
IN THE WATER.
Narrator: WHILE BRAD AND KRIS
HEAD FOR THE BOAT LAUNCH...
Brad: AND HE NEVER SHOWS UP
WHEN THERE'S WORK, DUDE.
HE'LL GET OUT TO PLAY
WHEN IT'S DONE.
Narrator: 2 MILES AWAY,
IN THE HEART OF NOME...
I JUST HATE
THIS [BLEEP] TOWN.
Narrator: PLEASANT AS EVER,
THE YOUNGEST KELLY, ANDY,
HAS JUST HIT TOWN.
I GOT OFF THE PLANE
THIS MORNING.
I WAS KINDA CONTRADICTING
IF I WAS GONNA COME BACK
FOR THE SEASON, 'CAUSE I'M
PRETTY MUCH SICK OF EVERYTHING.
COME ON!
I GET SCREWED OVER
ON THE MONEY,
I GET SCREWED OVER ON
THE GOLD CLEANOUT.
MY DAD EXPECTS US
TO GET OUT THERE
AND DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN
FOR HIM, TO MAKE HIM MONEY,
AND ALL HE DOES IS JUST SCREW ME
OVER AND I'M TIRED OF IT.
I'M NOT HERE TO MINE
WITH MY BROTHER
AND MY DAD.
I'M GONNA WREAK CHAOS
ON EVERYBODY NOW.
IT'S MY ONE MAIN GOAL
FOR BEING HERE.
Narrator: AFTER WINTER,
GETTING SHORTCHANGED BY HIS DAD,
ANDY IS PLOTTING A COUP.
I KNOW THE GUY
THAT OWNS THE REAPER.
HE WANTS TO BE BOUGHT OUT AND
MY FATHER'S REFUSING TO DO IT,
SO I TALKED TO HIM AND TOLD HIM,
"AH, [BLEEP], I'LL TAKE IT ALL."
HOLD ON. HOLD ON!
Narrator: CONSPIRING WITH
HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS PARTNER,
ANDY IS HOPING
TO BUY THE BOAT
RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER
HIS POPS.
Andy: HE [BLEEP] OVER FAMILY
FOR A NEW FAMILY
AND LEFT MY MOTHER
WITH NOTHING, BUT,
I FIGURE I'M GONNA LEAVE HIM
WITH THE SAME -- NOTHING.
WE'RE GONNA BE POSITIVE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT SEASON.
WE'RE GONNA KICK ASS
THIS SEASON.
TEACH MY DAD A LESSON.
THAT'S MY WHOLE GOAL
FOR THE SEASON.
THERE'S A BIG OLD ROCK FISH.
I'LL FEED HIM, WATCH.
I FOUND HIM A CRAB.
FISHY, FISHY, FISHY, FISHY!
EAT IT.
GOT THAT? I FED 'IM.
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING TO DOWN THERE?
MY FISH BUDDY!
HE'S MY BUDDY.
LOOK AT HIM. HE LIKES ME.
DON'T GET NEAR THAT NOZZLE!
AW, I SCARED 'IM AWAY.
OKAY, BUDDY.
HE'LL COME BACK.
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
I WANTED TO BE IN THE WATER
A WEEK AGO. THIS SUCKS.
I'M DOWN TO MY LAST
COUPLE DOLLARS,
SO WE NEED TO GET SOME GOLD
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: WHILE MUCH
OF THE FLEET
IS EITHER STILL PREPPING
TO LAUNCH...
GOOD-LOOKING GOLD
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: OR MAKING GOLD
WHILE THE SUN SHINES...
LET'S GET US
ON SOME GOLD.
YEAH!
TWO HEAVY-ASS BUCKETS.
Narrator: FOR TWO CREWS,
THE FIRST PAYCHECK OF THE SUMMER
CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH.
TODAY'S A GOOD DAY!
Narrator: AT
VERNON ADKISON'S TRAILER...
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SHOOTIN'
FOR 700 OUNCES THIS SEASON.
WE GOTTA BE OUT THERE,
HAMMERING IT,
EVERY POSSIBLE MOMENT.
Narrator: GUNNING
FOR AN $800,000 SUMMER...
WELL, WHATEVER WE GET TODAY,
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT TIME,
IT OUGHTA BE A LOT BETTER.
Narrator: THE SKIPPER'S
LOOKING TO KEEP
HIS WINTER GOLD STREAK
ALIVE.
I FULLY BELIEVE
WE'RE GONNA TURN
A SIGNIFICANT PROFIT
THIS SUMMER.
WHAT I WANT IS ABOUT
A CONTAINER FULL OF GOLD
AND, THEN, YOU KNOW,
I'LL SIT ON TOP OF IT
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE.
GOTTA LET IT COOL DOWN
A LITTLE BIT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
ALL RIGHT,
HERE WE GO.
HELL, YEAH!
OOP.
ONE OUNCE,
2...3...
4...
DAD, JUST POUR IT
IN THERE!
19.845.
WHOO!
HELL, YEAH.
DAMN NEAR 20.
WHOA!
Narrator: THE FIRST
PAYDAY OF THE SEASON --
NEARLY $24,000.
UP HERE, YOUR CREW
IS LIKE YOUR FAMILY
AND, IN MY CASE,
IT REALLY IS MY FAMILY
AND MAYBE THIS EXPERIENCE
WITH THE DREDGING
COULD END UP BEING
THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED,
IN REGARD
TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
FINE.
ALL RIGHT, BOSS MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: OVER AT THE
POMRENKE CLEANUP SHACK...
YEAH!
FIRST CLEANUP
OF THE SEASON.
NOW, WE'RE GONNA RUN IT.
[ THUD ]
OOH. DAMN,
THAT SOUNDED GOOD.
Narrator: THE TRUE TEST
OF THE NEW WASH PLANT...
WHOA! YOU CAN SEE.
IT'S LOOKIN' PRETTY GOOD.
WE GOT A PILE OF YELLOW
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: COMES WITH THE FIRST
CLEANUP OF THE SEASON.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AND FIRE THIS THING UP.
FIRST SCOOP
OF THE SEASON!
SEE IF MR. GOLD'S
DOIN' HIS JOB RIGHT.
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S 30 OUNCES
IN THIS CLEANUP.
FOR INITIAL RUN
ON A NEW WASH PLANT,
NEW SLUICE BOX,
THAT'D BE PRETTY DAMN GOOD.
Narrator: ALWAYS LOOKING
TO IMPRESS HIS OLD MAN,
SHAWN IS PUSHING HARD
TO MAKE THIS
THE CHRISTINE ROSE's
FIRST-EVER
1,000-OUNCE SUMMER.
IS MY FATHER PROUD OF ME?
THAT'S, UH...
AT TIMES, I THINK HE IS,
BUT I THINK HE HAS
A HARD TIME SHOWIN' IT.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE
SINCE I HELD THIS MUCH GOLD,
SO, IT FEELS GOOD.
♪ GOLD
WELL, PUT YOUR FUNNEL
UP THERE. LET'S SEE.
MM-HMM.
THAT'S SOME
PRETTY GOLD.
20.
BROKE 30!
YEAH!
62.5.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator: 62.5 OUNCES
IS WORTH
$75,000.
THE NEW IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE DEFINITELY IMPROVED
THE QUANTITY OF GOLD.
YOUR PRODUCTION'S UP,
YOU'RE GONNA GET MORE GOLD.
WE'RE MEASURING
IN POUNDS THIS YEAR.
4.3 POUNDS.
WE MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN
THE FIRST ONES OUT,
BUT WE DEFINITELY AIN'T GONNA BE
THE LAST IN THE GOLD COUNT.
THE MIDAS TOUCH!
Narrator: THOUGH SECOND
TO THE GROUNDS,
THE CHRISTINE ROSE IS
IN 1st PLACE
EARLY IN THE SEASON,
WHILE THE WILD RANGER LEADS
THE PACK OF DIVER DREDGES.
MR. GOLD'S GONNA GET
SOME GOLD!
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
AND THE AU GRABBER
ARE ABOUT TO HAVE
A COLLISION.
WATCH OUT!
FULL SPEED AHEAD!
TEACH THESE POMRENKE PRICKS!
YOU CAN RUN IT?!
RUN IT!
YOU'RE [BLEEP]DAMN
RIGHT I CAN.
[crying] THEY MEDEVACed HER
IN ANCHORAGE.
THEY DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S EVEN
GONNA MAKE IT OVERNIGHT.
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DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS