Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 2 - Escape Goat - full transcript
Steve: GOLD MINING --
IT'S A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE.
MR. GOLD'S GONNA GET SOME GOLD.
Steve: YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN
YOU'RE GONNA STRIKE IT RICH.
GOT TO GET THAT GOLD!
Steve: YOU WANT TO FIND GOLD
AROUND NOME, ALASKA,
GO TO WHERE THE OLD TIMERS WERE
'CAUSE THERE WERE 45,000 OF THEM
HERE IN THE YEAR OF 1900.
Narrator:
FOR OVER A CENTURY,
GOLD FEVER
HAS BROUGHT FAMILIES TO NOME,
SEEKING FORTUNE AND FAME.
TODAY,
THE FAMILIES HAVE CHANGED.
Man: WATCH OUT!
Narrator:
BUT THE QUEST FOR GOLD REMAINS.
[ LAUGHING ]
♪ 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: NOME, ALASKA.
BAD WEATHER TODAY GOING,
LIKE, 20 KNOTS OUT THERE.
WE GOT 4- OR 5-FOOT SEAS.
Narrator:
THE FIRST STORM OF SUMMER
HAS SNUCK UP
ON THE DREDGING FLEET.
SOUTH WIND BLEW US OFF.
THAT FRONT COME IN,
GOT US OFF THE WATER.
IT COME IN AT, LIKE,
3:00 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator:
HIGH SEAS AND 35-KNOT WINDS
ARE KEEPING FORTUNE HUNTERS
OFF THE GOLD.
IT'S 3- TO 4- TO 5-FOOT ROLLERS
THUMPING INTO THE BEACH.
AND IT JUST GOT THE BOTTOM
ALL TURNED TO HELL AND BACK.
Narrator:
AS MOST CREWS HUNKER DOWN,
TWO MILES EAST OF THE HARBOR...
Emily: HOLD ON, EROICA,
WE'RE COMING.
Narrator: ...SOPHOMORE SKIPPER
EMILY RIEDEL
WAS CAUGHT SLEEPING,
LEAVING HER DREDGE, THE EROICA,
ANCHORED AS THE STORM BLEW IN.
IT'S GONNA BE A FUN,
LITTLE PARK JOB.
Narrator:
WITH OVER $200,000 INVESTED,
EMILY NEEDS
TO GET IT BACK TO SHORE FAST.
COMING IN HOT.
OH [BLEEP]
DAMN IT.
[BLEEP] IT'S [BLEEP] UP
OUR MOTOR.
JUST GET THE ROPE
OFF THAT CLEAT.
AND GET ON BOARD
AND PULL IT FORWARDS.
WHEW.
DAMN, DUDE.
LET'S JUST HOP ON BOARD.
HOP ON BOARD.
WE GOT TO MOVE THE NOZZLE
BEFORE I FIRE IT UP.
WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO HAUL ASS
'CAUSE IT'S
SUPPOSED TO GET WORSE.
FIRST,
I GOT TO GET THE HOSE UP.
THAT WAS
THE LINE IT WAS ON.
THAT IS THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN.
THE NOZZLE LINE ATTACHED
TO OUR DREDGING HOSE IS BROKEN.
THE HOSE DIDN'T BREAK OFF,
DID IT?
NO,
SHE'S STILL THERE.
SHE'S AIMING
TOTALLY THE WRONG WAY.
Narrator:
THE SWELLS HAVE SNAPPED THE LINE
SECURING THE NOZZLE
OF THE SUCTION HOSE,
LEAVING IT
TOSSING IN THE SEA BELOW.
IF IT IS THAT HOSE,
IT'S GONNA BE
A MAJOR CATASTROPHE.
IT MIGHT BE POTENTIALLY BETTER
TO LET HER WEATHER THE STORM.
SORRY, DARYL,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DIVE.
HMM, OKAY.
DESPITE ROUGH CONDITIONS,
EMILY ORDERS DARYL VALLE
INTO THE BERING SEA
TO SECURE THE HOSE
AND RIG THE BOAT FOR TRAVEL.
STAND BY FOR COM CHECK.
COM CHECK,
HOW DO YOU COPY?
I HAVE YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR.
ALL RIGHT, COPY THAT.
YOU'RE TAKING ONE
FOR THE TEAM.
HOW YOU DOING?
THE CURRENT'S PRETTY
RIPPING RIGHT NOW.
WHOA.
WELL, LET'S HOPE I CAN HANG ON
TO THE HOSE.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, THE NOZZLE
SEEMS TO BE BROKEN APART
WHERE THE ROPE
WAS CONNECTED TO IT,
BUT I GOT IT
HOOKED UP NOW.
SO WE CAN HURRY UP
AND PULL IT UP.
ALL RIGHT, YOU WANT ME TO COME
UP ON THE OTHER ROPE NOW?
YES.
OKAY, COPY THAT.
WE JUST --
WE JUST -- WE --
WE JUST GOT THROUGH
ONE MAJOR [BLEEP] CATASTROPHE.
[ GRUNTS ]
YOU GOT IT?
BACK UP.
GET IT AROUND.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
BRING US HOME.
WE'RE IN.
IF THIS HAD HAPPENED
LAST YEAR,
I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD, LIKE,
A MENTAL BREAKDOWN.
YOU'RE DOING WELL
WITH HANDLING IT.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN GO OFF
OR NOTHING.
IT WAS GOOD.
YOU GET BROKEN IN UP HERE
OR YOU GET BROKEN.
WE MUST BE BROKEN IN.
I THINK SO.
BETTER BROKEN
IN THAN BROKEN.
Narrator: AS THE EROICA
FINALLY HEADS FOR PORT,
BACK IN TOWN...
WHO, ANDY?
BRETT: Yes.
REAPER OWNER BRAD KELLY
HAS RECEIVED
AN URGENT PHONE CALL
FROM HIS BUSINESS PARTNER.
THREE DAYS AGO...
I KNOW THE GUY
THAT OWNS THE REAPER.
HE WANTS TO BE BOUGHT OUT,
SO I TALKED TO HIM AND TOLD HIM,
"EH [BLEEP] I'LL TAKE IT ALL."
Narrator: BRAD'S SON, ANDY,
ARRIVED IN TOWN
WITH A PLOT TO BUY THE DREDGE
RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER HIS DAD...
Andy: HE [BLEEP] OVER OUR FAMILY
FOR A NEW FAMILY
AND LEFT MY MOTHER WITH NOTHING.
BUT FIGURE I'M GONNA LEAVE HIM
WITH THE SAME -- NOTHING.
Narrator: ...A PLAN
THAT HAS NOW BEEN EXPOSED
BY ANDY'S CO-CONSPIRATOR.
YEAH, YEAH, NO, I'M GOOD.
I'M GLAD YOU TOLD ME THAT.
I'LL CALL YOU TONIGHT, BRO.
OKAY, BYE.
I GUESS ANDY AND MY WIFE
ARE TRYING TO SCREW ME OVER,
TRYING TO TAKE MY BOAT FROM ME.
THAT'S MAMA'S BOY.
SEE, I LEFT MY WIFE THIS YEAR.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS MARRIED
FOR 37 YEARS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND I'M NOT SAYING --
I'M A CATHOLIC,
THAT I WOULD HAVE STAYED MARRIED
FOR 100 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE SERVING
A PRISON SENTENCE SOMETIMES.
I JUST DON'T WANT
THAT LIFE ANYMORE.
Narrator:
LEAVING HIS FIRST WIFE
AND EXPECTING A CHILD
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND,
BRAD'S NEW LIFE
IS AT ODDS WITH THE OLD ONE.
BRAD, WHEN ARE YOU REALLY GONNA
DRAW THE LINE LIKE YOU SAY?
'CAUSE THEY'RE MY KIDS,
SO I HAVE TO KEEP GIVING THEM
ANOTHER CHANCE.
THEY'RE MY KIDS.
WHEN DO YOU STOP
GIVING YOUR CHILDREN,
YOUR FAMILY,
ANOTHER CHANCE?
WHEN DOES
THAT ACTUALLY COME?
I LIKE TO SAY IT AND PUT
THE FEAR OF GOD INTO THEM
AND THINK
THAT DAD'S SICK OF IT.
THEN THAT PUTS THE WEIGHT
ON YOUR SHOULDERS
AND ALL THE STRESS.
AND THEN, GUESS WHERE THE STRESS
GETS RUBBED OFF ON?
THIS NEW FAMILY HERE.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU
WANT ME TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY'RE MY KIDS, SO I ALWAYS
HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM.
YOU'RE CAPTAIN, OKAY?
I KNOW YOU'RE NEW
TO THIS CAPTAIN AND EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, YOU SAY
YOU'VE OWNED BUSINESSES BEFORE.
HOW DID YOU OPERATE
THOSE BUSINESSES?
I DON'T USE MY FAMILY.
THAT'S HOW.
I COULD TALK THIS [BLEEP]
TO EVERYBODY ELSE,
AND I COULD
MAKE THEM DO IT.
AND IT'S BETTER WHEN YOU WORK
WITH STRANGERS SOMETIMES.
BUT, WITH THE KIDS,
THEY THINK
THEY CAN WALK ALL OVER ME,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO THEN, IT'S UP TO YOU
TO CORRECT THAT.
MY KIDS' ATTITUDES, THEY'RE --
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU,
THEY'RE A LITTLE --
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
HEARTBROKEN OR WHAT THEY ARE.
BUT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
THAT I CAUSE A LOT OF CHAOS
IN THE FAMILY.
ANDY, HE'LL PROBABLY NEVER
GET OVER IT.
YOU KNOW, HE'S STARTED A WAR
WHERE HE'S PUT HIMSELF
IN PRETTY DEEP.
THESE KIDS --
SEE, A LOT OF PARENTS
HAVE [BLEEP] UP KIDS,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THEY'RE NOT REALLY [BLEEP] UP.
THEY COULD BE DRUG ADDICTS.
THEY COULD BE A LOT OF [BLEEP]
THEY'RE JUST MISGUIDED YOUTH,
I GUESS.
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator:
SIX MILES OUTSIDE NOME....
THE OCEAN'S BEEN GREAT TO US
AND EVERYTHING,
BUT I NEED
TO GO INLAND MINING FOR ME.
IT'S WHAT I GREW UP ON.
IT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.
Narrator:
...62-YEAR-OLD CHRISTINE ROSE
CO-OWNER STEVE POMRENKE
IS SCRATCHING AN OLD ITCH.
AND NOW THAT THIS CHRISTINE ROSE
IS ALL UP AND RUNNING
UP TO SNUFF,
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO STEP ASIDE,
LET SHAWN TAKE THAT OVER,
AND MOVE ON
TO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
AND THAT'S INLAND MINING.
ONLY 25 MINUTES LATE.
Narrator: FOR YEARS...
IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
AT 2:00, BE HERE AT 2:00.
OKAY.
OKAY.
...STEVE HAS BEEN
PUSHING HIS SON
TO STEP UP AND TAKE OVER
THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
WELL, THEN,
YOU TAKE CARE ALL
OF THE [BLEEP]
I'M TAKING CARE OF.
I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE TALKING
[BLEEP] ABOUT ME
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE WE CAN TALK [BLEEP]
ABOUT YOU
BECAUSE YOU GIVE US
SO MUCH AMMUNITION.
Steve: 52.3
NOW,
WITH SHAWN AND THE BARGE
CONSISTENTLY PRODUCING
GOLD...
YAY.
...THE OLD MAN IS LOOKING
TO RETURN TO HIS ROOTS.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Steve:
DOWN THE HILL HERE IS ANVIL --
MINED AND MINED AGAIN.
BUT THERE'S STILL
POCKETS OF GOLD OUT THERE
THE OLD TIMERS DIDN'T FIND.
AND WHEN YOU DO FIND THEM,
THEY ARE SUPER RICH.
Narrator:
STEVE IS HEADED TO THE SCENE
OF THE ORIGINAL
NOME GOLD RUSH --
THE TRIBUTARIES OF ANVIL CREEK.
ANVIL CREEK HAS POPPED OUT 12
OF THE BIGGEST NUGGETS
FOUND IN ALASKA --
ALL FROM ANVIL HERE.
THIS PLACE
HAS SUPER GOLD-MINING HISTORY.
I'VE COME
TO GET A SAMPLE, MAN.
I GOT A GOOD SAMPLE
OVER THERE, DUDE.
THAT'S WHERE I WAS HEADED.
I DIDN'T CARE
IF YOU WERE HERE OR NOT.
I WAS GONNA GET
A SAMPLE.
Narrator:
TO HELP HIM FIND GOOD GROUND,
STEVE IS WORKING
WITH LOCAL PROSPECTOR
AUGGIE CRUTCH.
Steve: OLD-TIME MINER HERE --
GOOD OLD FRIEND.
HE'S ENTHUSED ABOUT
FINDING GOLD.
THAT'S AUGGIE.
STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN?
WELL, I'M HITTING IT
RIGHT ON THE BANK THERE.
AND THEN IT JUST DROPS
RIGHT OFF.
STRAIGHT DOWN
AT THIS ANGLE.
YEAH, RIGHT ABOUT THERE'S
WHERE PAY STOPS -- OR STARTS.
AND THEN IT JUST DROPS IN
RIGHT HERE.
THE DREDGE
WENT THROUGH HERE.
BUT IT DIDN'T COME UP,
YOU KNOW?
THERE'S BANKS --
SOME OF THE BANK HERE --
WELL, THIS HERE LOOKS LIKE
DREDGE TAILINGS HERE.
IT DOES, BUT...
THERE'S, UH, THEY LEFT --
IT'S UNTURNED.
SO ANYWAY...
YEAH, YEAH.
THIS PLACE IS
JUST A WONDERLAND FOR GOLD.
Narrator:
FOR MUCH OF THE 20th CENTURY,
MASSIVE LAND DREDGES
TORE THROUGH THESE CREEK BEDS,
PRODUCING MORE
THAN 3 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD.
TODAY...
Steve: OLD GUYS
CAN'T BEND SO EASY.
Narrator: ...THE TRICK IS
TO FIND A PLACE
THE LAND DREDGES MISSED.
HOLY CRAP, MAN.
HOLY CRAP.
THERE'S GOLD
IN THIS PAN, DUDE.
I GET A KICK
OUT OF THIS GROUND.
THIS IS WAY DIFFERENT
THAN THE OCEAN GROUND.
IT PANS WAY DIFFERENT.
THERE'S A HUGE NUGGET
IN HERE FOR PANNING.
THAT'S A LOT OF NICE GOLD
OUT OF ONE PAN OF DIRT.
THAT'S
A ROUGH-LOOKING NUGGET,
BUT THAT'S WHAT
ANVIL'S KNOWN FOR.
THEY'RE ROUGH-LOOKING.
YEAH,
STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
IN THE OCEAN --
BUFFETED IT AROUND,
POLISHED OFF.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL
CAME FROM.
THIS IS WHERE
IT ALL CAME FROM.
YEAH, THIS IS
THE HEADWATERS RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE.
YEP.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT,
AIN'T IT?
HELL YEAH.
YEAH, MAN.
OH, MAN,
LOOK AT THAT CHUNK.
THAT'S
A NICE-SIZED CHUNK.
[ LAUGHING ]
STRIKING GOLD INLAND,
ONLY ONE THING REMAINS
FOR STEVE...
Steve: GOING INLAND
IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING
I REALLY KNOW
HOW TO DO IN MY LIFE.
SHAWN CAN STICK TO THE OCEAN.
THAT'S WHAT HE KNOWS BEST.
Narrator: ...CONVINCING HIS SON
TO BANKROLL THE OPERATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHAWN'S
GONNA TAKE THIS CONVERSATION,
BUT HE'S GONNA HAVE TO ACCEPT IT
BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
I'M THE OLD MAN.
I ALWAYS WIN.
Narrator: IN NOME,
AS THE SUMMER'S FIRST STORM
FADES AWAY...
WEATHER WILLING, HEAD OUT THERE
AND WE'LL START
DOING SOME DIVING.
Narrator: ...THE MINING FLEET
HAS ITS FIRST OPPORTUNITY
IN DAYS TO GET SOME GOLD.
I HOPE THAT IT STAYS
NICE LIKE THIS.
I REALLY DO.
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES WEST OF THE HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
YEAH, FORWARD, FORWARD.
Narrator: ...FIRST ONES BACK
ON THE BERING SEA...
NOBODY ELSE IS OUT HERE
BUT THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE
AND THE 80-FOOT CHRISTINE ROSE,
RISKING THE LINGERING SWELLS
TO GET A JUMP
ON THE COMPETITION.
THE ONLY WAY
WE'RE GONNA GET 1,000 OUNCES
IS IF I KEEP DIRT GOING
THROUGH THAT PLANT.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE MY GOAL
THIS YEAR.
IF I GOT TO PUSH IT
A LITTLE HARDER
THAN ANY OTHER YEAR,
THIS IS THE YEAR
I'M GONNA DO IT.
Narrator:
WITH MORE MINERS THAN EVER
CROWDING THE TOMCOD CLAIM
THIS SEASON,
SHAWN WILL TAKE
ANY ADVANTAGE HE CAN GET.
I DON'T SEE HANK OUT.
MUST BE SLEEPING IN.
HE THINKS
HE'S GONNA KEEP UP WITH ME.
I'M GONNA ANNIHILATE HIM.
I'M GONNA DOUBLE
OR TRIPLE THE GOLD COUNT
ON ALL
THE OTHER DREDGES COMBINED.
Narrator:
SHAWN'S GREATEST WEAPONS?
15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
AND A GPS FILLED WITH HOT SPOTS.
RIGHT NOW,
I'M POSITIONING THE DREDGE
WHERE WE GOT A BUNCH OF NUGGETS.
WE'RE GETTING BACK
INTO THE NUGGET PATCH.
NUGGETS MEANS
A LOT OF FINE GOLD,
A LOT OF FINE GOLD
MEANS A LOT OF MONEY.
YEAH, KEEP GOING.
BACK TO PUTTING DIRT IN THE BOX.
OKAY, LET'S GET
THIS [BLEEP] RUNNING --
$2,000 AN HOUR.
WE'RE DIGGING.
OH, LOOK AT THAT STUFF.
OH, THERE'S BIG ROCKS
ALL THE WAY.
BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD.
I'VE HEARD DAD SAY,
"BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD,"
ALL THE TIME,
SO MAYBE WE'LL FILL THIS BOX UP
WITH A BUNCH OF BIG NUGGETS.
Narrator: A VETERAN MINER,
SHAWN'S STRATEGY
IS TO SET UP THE BARGE
ON AN AREA
WITH PATCHES OF BIG BOULDERS,
AND WORK DOWN
INTO THE HARDPAN CLAY.
THE GOLD LIKES TO HIDE
AROUND THOSE BIG ROCKS.
THOSE BIG ROCKS
DON'T MOVE ANYWHERE
SO IT CREATES A PLACE
FOR THE GOLD TO HIDE.
Shawn: OH, I LIKE THE WAY
THIS STUFF IS SOUNDING.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO SUPPORT
DAD'S MINING ADDICTION.
Narrator: IF HIS OLD MAN'S
INLAND MINING DREAM
IS GOING TO COME TRUE,
THE STARTUP COSTS
WILL HAVE TO COME
FROM SHAWN'S HARD WORK.
PRETTY NERVOUS ABOUT
THE INLAND MINING.
DAD SEEMS TO FORGET
HOW TOUGH TIMES WERE
THE LAST TIME HE INLAND MINED.
HE KEPT DIGGING IN A PIT
THAT NEVER PRODUCED.
THAT'S A SCARY THING.
YOU COULD END UP
BEING A GOLD MINER.
YOU COULD END UP
BEING HOMELESS -- ONE BAD YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY IN THE HELL HE WANTS
TO START
A WHOLE NEW OPERATION FOR
WHEN THIS OPERATION'S WORKING
JUST FINE.
Narrator: WITH SHAWN KEEPING
THE FAMILY BUSINESS ON THE GOLD,
SEVEN MILES TO THE EAST,
IN THE CITY OF NOME...
SHAWN THINKS I DON'T DO NOTHING
WHEN HE'S OUT THERE DIGGING.
ALL DAY TODAY, I'VE BEEN DOING
ALL THE ODDBALL STUFF,
LIKE GETTING THE MECHANIC'S
TRUCK BACK TO THE YARD,
GETTING THE CRANE
BACK TO THE YARD,
GETTING THE PAINTING TRUCK
BACK TO THE YARD,
AND PICKING UP ALL THE GARBAGE,
AND PICKING UP
ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
Narrator: ...SHAWN'S DAD,
STEVE POMRENKE...
Steve: YEAH, I SEE A BUNCH
OF WHITECAPS OUT THERE.
I DON'T SEE
THE CHRISTINE ROSE IN SIGHT,
SO SHE AIN'T COMING BACK IN.
SHE'S OUT THERE.
[ CAR HORN BEEPS ]
HEY.
Narrator:
ALSO STILL IN PORT,
THE POMRENKE FAMILY'S
WOULD-BE RIVAL,
AU GRABBER OWNER
HANK SCHIMSCHAT.
LOOKS LIKE
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
IS GETTING THEIR ASS KICKED
OUT THERE.
THEY ARE NOT.
IT AIN'T THAT BAD.
GO LOOK AT THE ROLLERS.
I'M LOOKING AT THEM.
THEY'RE NOT ROLLING
THAT BAD.
SO YOU WERE GONNA GO OUT,
BUT, NOW, YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND
FOR A LITTLE BIT?
WELL, IT'S BLOWING,
I MEAN, YEAH.
IT'S WHITE CAPPING.
THERE'S SOME
PRETTY GOOD SURF COMING IN.
WHAT?
THAT'S A BIG WORD.
YEAH.
WHEN THEY...
WHEN THEY FORM THAT --
WHEN THEY --
DOES THAT MEAN BAD WIND
FOR DREDGERS?
WINDS ALOFT.
THAT MEANS THE WIND'S BLOWING,
HIGH PRESSURE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
I'VE BEEN BUSIER THAN A CAT
SCRATCHING [BLEEP]
ON A HOT TIN ROOF TODAY.
OKAY, BUDDY,
HAVE A GOOD DAY, MY FRIEND.
Steve: WELL, HANK SAYS
THAT, YEAH, THEY'RE PRETTY BAD,
BUT I DON'T SEE THE BIG ROLLERS.
I JUST SEE A --
IT'S A SMALLER CHOP.
I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT.
Narrator: THE POMRENKES
AREN'T THE ONLY ONES
GAMBLING
THAT THE COAST IS CLEAR.
OVER ON BELMONT BEACH...
Zeke: MAIDEN VOYAGES
ARE ALWAYS TENSE FOR ME.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE
IT'S, LIKE, CHOPPY AS HELL.
BUT I MEAN IF IT'S MANAGEABLE,
THEN GO FOR IT.
Narrator:
THE FIRST DIVER DREDGE
TO PULL THE TRIGGER
AFTER THE STORM,
THE NEWLY-UPGRADED CLARK
WITH OWNERS ZEKE TENHOFF
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
SARAH DUNN.
WE'LL SEE.
I MEAN, WHEN WE GET OUT THERE,
GET ON THE WATER,
REALLY SEE HOW MUCH CHOP
WE CAN HANDLE.
I PUT A LOT OF TIME
AND PRETTY MUCH
ALL THE MONEY THAT I HAD
INTO MAKING MY DREDGE
AS SEAWORTHY AS I COULD
SO THAT I COULD
GO OUT IN ROUGHER WEATHER.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I DID IT.
SO IF I DON'T GO OUT
IN EVERY WEATHER WINDOW I CAN,
IT'S LIKE, "WHAT AM I DOING,
SPINNING MY WHEELS?"
BLOW
THIS POPSICLE STAND.
WHOO!
Zeke:
YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
Narrator: ZEKE IS RETURNING
TO A FAVORED HOT SPOT --
THE ROCKWALL CLAIM.
THIS IS ABOUT
WHERE I LEFT OFF LAST WINTER.
Narrator: THE ROCKWALL CLAIM
IS A 160-ACRE PRIVATE LEASE,
LOCATED FIVE MILES WEST
OF THE CITY OF NOME.
JUST TWO MILES
FROM THE CROWDED TOMCOD CLAIM,
THIS GROUND
IS MOSTLY UNEXPLORED.
TO THE EAST SIDE OF THIS LEASE,
THERE'S A TON OF HUGE ROCKS.
THE BEST GOLD
THAT I'VE SEEN HERE
COLLECTS RIGHT AT THE FOOT
OF THIS ROCK WALL.
Zeke:
BACK IN THE WATER!
WHAT YOU LOOKING AT
DOWN THERE?
I DON'T KNOW.
VISIBILITY
ISN'T ALL THAT GREAT,
SO IT'S DISORIENTING
DOWN HERE.
Narrator:
IN THE WAKE OF A STORM,
BERING SEA SWELLS KICK UP SILT
FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR,
DROPPING VISIBILITY
TO JUST TWO FEET.
WHERE I LEFT OFF
IS ON THE EDGE
OF THIS ROCK WALL.
LUCKY FOR ZEKE...
ACTUALLY, I FOUND THE EDGE
OF THIS BIG ROCK PILE.
VERY GOOD NEWS.
...HE'S LOOKING
FOR A BIG TARGET.
THERE'S, LIKE,
THIS PENINSULA OF BIG ROCKS
THAT GOES STRAIGHT OUT
TO THE SOUTH HERE.
AND, LIKE, SEE,
IT GOES WAY UP.
JUST DIGGING A LITTLE HOLE
RIGHT NOW.
IS ALL THAT GOLD
STILL THERE?
YEAH, I'M SEEING GOLD
UNDER HERE,
RIGHT ON THE EDGE, RIGHT WHERE
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
REALLY?
YEAH, THERE'S GOOD GOLD
OUT HERE.
IT'S HERE, DUDE.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
WHAT A GREAT WAY
TO START, HUH?
THE GOLD'S
REALLY F'ing GOOD.
THERE'S LOTS
OF LITTLE PIECES.
Narrator:
AT BELMONT BEACH...
PREPPING FOR THE FIRST LAUNCH
OF THE SUMMER...
Brad:
WELL, YEAH, YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I HAD A PRIVATE CONVERSATION
WITH MY BUDDY, BRETT.
AND HE JUST SAID THAT ANDY'S OUT
TO TRY AND SCREW ME IN THE BACK.
Narrator:
REAPER OWNER BRAD KELLY,
ALONG WITH HIS SON, KRIS,
HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS
WITH KRIS' BROTHER, ANDY.
Kris: REALLY, YOU WANT TO KNOW
HOW I SEE IT?
BRETT WAS TRYING TO GET ANDY
TO [BLEEP] YOU OVER.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW,
THAT'S WHAT [BLEEP] HAPPENED.
BRETT WAS TRYING
TO HUSTLE ANDY.
ANDY'S NOT SMART ENOUGH
TO DO IT.
[BLEEP] EVERYTHING
WENT DOWN IN FLAMES.
Kris: MY DAD
WAS VERY HARD ON MY BROTHER
WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP
BECAUSE HE'S STUBBORN.
I'VE TAKEN CARE
OF MY BROTHER ALL OF MY LIFE,
SINCE WE'VE BEEN ADULTS.
IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF HIM,
I REALLY THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA WIND UP IN JAIL
DOING SOME STUPID [BLEEP]
HE'S EASILY LED ASTRAY
BY PEOPLE.
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL,
THERE HE IS.
Brad: YOU WERE
ALREADY TRYING TO CONSPIRE
TO TAKE MY BOAT
TWO WEEKS AGO.
NO, ACTUALLY BRETT CAME
AND ASKED ME
IF I WANTED TO BUY IT.
I TOLD YOU THAT'S THE WAY
IT [BLEEP] WAS, TOO.
HE CALLED THIS MORNING.
YEAH?
I TOLD YOU IT WAS BRETT THAT
TRIED TO ORCHESTRATE EVERYTHING.
HE SAID YOU AND MOM
WERE TRYING TO TAKE THE BOAT.
HE CALLED ME
AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED IT
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GIVING HIM
ANY MONEY.
I TOLD YOU
THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
ANDY WOULDN'T TRY TO PUT
TOGETHER THIS WHOLE THING.
YEAH, NO, NO,
I DON'T CARE.
I'M JUST SAYING,
IF YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE,
I CAN'T WORK WITH YOU
THIS YEAR.
I WANT YOU TO COME AND WORK,
AND IT'D BE CLEAN,
JUST LIKE GOING TO WORK
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
TAKE MY ASS HOME.
I'M DONE.
ALL RIGHT.
ARE YOU SURE, BUDDY?
I'M DONE.
YOU CAN GO [BLEEP] YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET
THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLD?
I'M GONNA GET
GOLD MYSELF.
SO TAKE ME THE [BLEEP]
HOME NOW.
BUT I TALKED
WITH BRETT THIS MORNING.
HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO SEE
HOW FAR YOU WERE GONNA GO
TO [BLEEP] YOUR FATHER.
I'M DONE.
WHY? DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT
MONEY AND GOLD?
I'M DONE, MAN.
I'LL GO GET THE GOLD MYSELF.
I AIN'T WORRIED
ABOUT IT.
Andy: I FINALLY WANT TO GET AWAY
FROM UNDER MY FATHER
FOR WHAT HE DID TO MY MOTHER.
HE WAS DATING THIS CHICK
FOR A YEAR
WITHOUT TELLING
MY MOTHER ANYTHING.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE BALLS
TO EXPLAIN IT TO MY MOM,
LIKE, "HEY, I'M DONE WITH YOU.
I GOT A NEW FAMILY GOING ON."
I'M SO [BLEEP] DONE.
THREE YEARS WITH YOU,
YEAH, I'M DONE.
I'VE JUST HAD IT.
Brad:
I HAD MY BOYS AT 17.
I WASN'T REALLY AWARE
OF HOW TO RAISE CHILDREN,
SO I RAISED MY KIDS
LIKE MY FRIENDS KIND OF.
SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
TO WHERE MY KIDS
LOOK AT ME LIKE
I'M THEIR BROTHER SOMETIMES.
AND THEY OVERSTEP
THEIR BOUNDARIES.
THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK
AND GO AND COME BACK.
THEY'VE DONE THIS 100 TIMES.
HE'LL COME CRAWLING
ACROSS THE STREET.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
GOOD.
YEAH.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT MONEY
AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR [BLEEP]
YOU GOT A NEW KID
AND A NEW FAMILY,
SO YOU NEED THE MONEY
FOR THAT [BLEEP]
YEAH, ANY TIME.
[BLEEP] YOU.
GOOD RIDDANCE
TO [BLEEP] BAD NEWS, BRO.
Narrator: WITH THE KELLY FAMILY
FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS,
FIVE MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE ROCKWALL CLAIM...
HEY, BABY,
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Zeke: EVERYTHING'S
FEELING GOOD.
IT'S GETTING
PRETTY ROCKY.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW IT FEELS DOWN THERE.
TOO LEGIT TO QUIT!
Narrator: FOR SEVEN HOURS,
CLARK OWNER ZEKE TENHOFF
HAS BEEN FIGHTING LOW VIS
AND CHOPPY WATER
TO STAY ON THE GOLD.
OOH.
THESE PONTOONS
ARE REALLY --
THAT FRONT OF THE BOAT
IS TAKING A LOT OF FLEXING.
IT'S GETTING ROUGH
UP THERE.
WHOA.
YEAH, WE'RE GETTING
A SET OF SWELLS NOW.
I'M GETTING
JERKED AROUND.
GOT TO GET
AS MUCH WORK DONE AS I CAN
IN BETWEEN
SETS OF SWELLS.
Narrator:
TETHERED TO THE TINY CLARK
BY AN UMBILICAL,
185 POUNDS,
ZEKE IS NO MATCH FOR WAVES.
DUDE, MY HOSE IS GETTING
[BLEEP] YANKED.
AH.
YEAH, IT'S GETTING
ALMOST TOO ROUGH FOR ME
TO BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THE NOZZLE.
WHOA.
YEAH, SARAH.
SARAH, I'M FEELING LIKE --
I DON'T KNOW.
AH.
MY STOMACH
DOESN'T FEEL VERY GOOD.
IT CREEPS UP ON YOU.
IT'S THESE
LONG, SLOW ROLLING SWELLS
THAT ARE REALLY --
THAT ARE THE WORST.
YOU REALLY FEELING
THAT SICK?
THE SWELL
IS REALLY GETTING TO ME.
IT'S REALLY GIVING ME
MOTION SICKNESS.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE
I'M GONNA THROW UP.
ZEKE, YOU WANT TO COME UP?
THAT SOUNDS HORRIBLE,
OKAY?
DOESN'T MATTER HOW SICK
AND TERRIBLE I FEEL.
WHEN I SEE
A REALLY GOOD SPOT
AND I SEE A WHOLE BUNCH
OF PIECES OF GOLD,
I'M LIKE, "OH, YES."
I WANT MY FIRST CLEANUP
TO BE
AS GOOD
AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.
I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT
TO STOP.
[ RETCHING ]
HONEY?
Narrator:
FIVE MILES WEST OF NOME,
AT THE CLARK...
[ RETCHING ]
Sarah: HONEY?
[ RETCHES ]
Narrator: THE ONLY DIVER
BRAVING THE CHOPPY BERING SEA,
ZEKE TENHOFF,
IS GAINING GOLD...
...BUT LOSING HIS LUNCH.
[ RETCHES ]
I'M NOT CLEANING
THE VOMIT OUT OF HIS MASK.
AT THE NOSE AREA,
THERE'S, LIKE,
A ZONE THAT'S SEPARATED
FROM YOUR EYE AREA.
SO THEN YOU JUST GOT TO RINSE
IT OUT AND FLUSH IT OUT.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND
VERY GOOD.
UH...
DAMN IT.
I GOT TO COME UP.
AT THIS POINT,
THIS IS NOT DREDGABLE.
OKAY.
OH, MY.
SORRY.
THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S THESE SETS OF SWELLS
THAT KIND OF COME BY
AND JUST PULL EVERYTHING
BACK AND FORTH.
IT JUST MAKES YOU --
MAKES YOU REAL NAUSEOUS.
I'LL FEEL MUCH HAPPIER
ONCE THE NAUSEA GOES AWAY.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD SIT
OUTSIDE THAT WAY.
IF YOU NEED TO PUKE,
YOU CAN JUST, LIKE,
THROW UP, YOU KNOW?
YEAH, SOME FRESH AIR
WOULD BE NICE.
STARE AT THE HORIZON.
[ RETCHES ]
OKAY.
[ RETCHES ]
Narrator:
AFTER A FULL SHIFT
BEING TOSSED AROUND
BY THE WAVES...
WE JUST GOT TO MOTOR
BACK TO THE SHORE.
...ZEKE FINALLY THROWS
IN THE TOWEL.
[ RETCHES ]
TWO MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
...AFTER 8 HOURS
DIGGING THROUGH THE SWELLS...
Shawn: OH, I CAN SEE THE GOLD
FROM HERE.
Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE
HAS THE CHRISTINE ROSE
SQUARELY ON PAY DIRT.
Shawn: WE'RE GONNA DO A CUT,
MAKE SURE WE'RE LOADED.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA
TURN THE BOX YELLOW.
Man: SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT
SO FAR.
LOOKS LIKE
IT'S RUNNING REALLY GOOD.
HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING
HOLDS TOGETHER,
WE DON'T RIP THE HULL APART
AND SINK
OR BEND THE SPOT
AND GET STUCK OUT HERE.
THIS MATERIAL'S LOOKING AWESOME.
EVERY BUCKET I PUT
IN THIS WASH PLANT'S
PAYING THE BILLS.
WELL, I THINK
IT'D PROBABLY AVERAGE OUT
TO ABOUT $50 A BUCKET.
SO IF WE CAN JUST KEEP
POURING BUCKETS
INTO THIS WASH PLANT,
MAKING GOLD,
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY
IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS JOB,
IT'S A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN.
GOLD MINING --
I LOVE ALL THE HIGHS.
I MEAN, THERE'S THE LOWS
WHEN YOU AIN'T IN THE GOLD.
AND, THEN,
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE GOLD,
IT'S THE HIGHS
AND YOU'RE ALL PUMPED UP.
WE'RE KICKING ASS.
WE'RE IN THE GOLD.
WE'RE MAKING MONEY.
I'M MAKING DAD PROUD.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
WHILE SHAWN IS MAKING MONEY,
SEVEN MILES TO THE EAST...
I'M GOING INLAND MINING.
THAT'S WHERE MY HEART IS.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.
Narrator: ...HIS FATHER, STEVE,
IS ON THE WAY OUT
WITH A PLAN
ON JUST HOW TO SPEND IT.
YEAH, I FEEL A LITTLE BIT GUILTY
ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THE MONEY
THAT THE CHRISTINE ROSE MAKES
TO GO INLAND MINING.
BUT ONCE I GET THAT
INLAND MINING OPERATION SET UP,
IT'S GONNA SUPPORT
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
BECAUSE THERE'S THOUSANDS,
AND THOUSANDS,
AND THOUSANDS OF OUNCES
ON THIS GROUND I'M LOOKING AT.
GOLD MINING IS JUST A BUSINESS.
BUT YOU GET BEYOND
THE BUSINESS POINT OF IT,
AND, BY GOD, IT IS JUST THE --
IT'S A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE.
IT'S A TREASURE HUNT EVERY DAY.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO FIND IN THAT SLUICE BOX.
THAT'S WHY
I WANT TO GO INLAND MINING.
OH, HERE COMES THE OLD MAN.
TIME TO WASH THE BOX.
HOLY CRAP.
THESE ARE BIG SWELLS.
TOO MUCH GOLD IN THERE.
YOU GOT TO WASH IT.
SWELLS ARE BAD.
NEED TO BE MAKING GOLD.
JUST HAUL ASS.
Shawn: I'D LIKE TO HAVE ME
AS A PARTNER.
YOU DO ALL THE WORK,
AND I'LL TAKE ALL THE MONEY.
I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT
AS A PARTNER?
NOW IS THE BEST TIME
TO PICK NUGGETS,
LIKE RIGHT HERE.
KIND OF A DINK,
BUT IT'S A NUGGET.
HOW MANY HOURS ARE ON THAT?
Shawn: 30.
WELL, WE NEED TO KEEP THIS THING
ROCKING AND ROLLING
IF WE'RE GONNA GET SOME
INLAND MINING EQUIPMENT.
THEM MOTORS
ARE A HUNDRED G's.
SO, IT'S, LIKE...
ARE YOU IN
ON THE INLAND MINING OR OUT?
WELL, WHERE ARE WE
GOING MINING?
OH, I GOT IT
ALL FIGURED OUT, KID.
START SAYING THOUSANDS
OF OUNCES,
I'LL TELL YOU
WHEN TO QUIT.
THERE'S SOME GOOD GROUND
THERE.
WELL, THIS GROUND'S
STILL PAYING.
DON'T YOU WORRY.
THEY'LL PAY FOR THEMSELVES.
OH, I AM WORRIED.
I'M LOOKING AT A DOZER NOW,
TOO, YOU KNOW.
WHAT HAPPENED
TO HAVING A HUNDRED GRAND
SITTING IN THE BANK
BEFORE WE START SPENDING?
YEAH, WELL, NOW,
WE NEED TO GO INLAND MINING.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS
TO IT.
Shawn:
HE'S 60-SOMETHING YEARS OLD,
AND HE WANTS TO START
A WHOLE NEW VENTURE.
HE'S LOST A LOT OF MONEY
MINING INLAND,
HOPING TO FIND THAT MOTHER LODE.
AND HE HASN'T QUITE --
HE HASN'T FOUND IT YET.
YOU GOT
THE MOST INTERESTING MINER
IN THE WORLD
ON IT THERE, KID.
BEEN THROUGH
ALL THE HARD KNOCK.
HE AIN'T GONNA DO
THAT AGAIN.
IT'S A BIG
BUSINESS DECISION.
THERE AIN'T NO DOUBT
ABOUT IT.
IT'S A BIG RISK.
THERE AIN'T NO GUARANTEE
TO ANYTHING.
WELL, YEAH,
WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE
A BIGGER TALK ABOUT IT
ONE OF THESE DAYS.
SOON.
WE GOT TO FOCUS
ON GETTING THE GOLD
OFF THE BOTTOM
OF THE BERING SEA RIGHT NOW.
I WAS
ON A 10-INCH SUCTION DREDGE,
AND I WAS DIVING ON GROUND.
AND I COULDN'T GET THE GOLD.
I COULD SEE IT,
BUT THE SUCTION DREDGE
JUST COULDN'T GET IT UP.
SO I WAS LAYING IN BED
THINKING ONE NIGHT.
AND THIS BARGE COME UP FOR SALE,
AND I WAS LIKE,
"DAD, I GOT THIS IDEA.
"IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY,
BUT I BET YOU
WE COULD GET SOME GOLD."
HE WAS LIKE,
"LET'S GO FOR IT!"
AND WE STARTED BUILDING
THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
YOU KNOW, I ENDED UP
BUILDING THE THING.
HE DIDN'T.
Narrator:
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME...
Zeke: THE GOLD JUST,
LIKE, CLIMBS ITS WAY
UP THESE SPIRALS AND THEN DUMPS
OUT THIS LITTLE HOLE.
AND ALL THE LIGHT STUFF
THAT'S NOT GOLD
SPILLS OUT OF HERE.
I'M HOPING THIS IS
AT LEAST 6 OUNCES IN GOLD
FOR 12 HOURS OF DREDGING.
SO THAT WOULD BE
A HALF AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
THAT'LL LOOK GOOD
ON MY GOLD-MINING RéSUMé.
IF YOU'RE DOING
A QUARTER OUNCE AN HOUR
ON A 6-INCH DREDGE,
YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
IF YOU'RE DOING A HALF OUNCE
AN HOUR ON A 6-INCH DREDGE,
THAT'S BANGING.
OKAY, LET'S DO THIS.
6.4.
OVER HALF AN OUNCE AN HOUR --
0.53 OUNCES AN HOUR.
Narrator: 6.4 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $7,600.
YOU KNOW, ONE CLEAN UP,
ONE GOOD CLEAN UP
OF 6 1/2 OUNCES
IS NOT GONNA MAKE MY SEASON.
I MEAN, I GOT TO KEEP THAT UP
LIKE ANOTHER 20 TIMES.
I'M LIKE SO, SO HAPPY.
YEAH.
WELL, I'M GLAD
IT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
HERE YOU GO.
Narrator:
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF NOME...
AT BELMONT BEACH...
Kris: SO, LET HEAR THE PLAN
THAT YOU HAD.
[BLEEP] IF YOU'RE GONNA BE
BITCHING, LET'S GO BACK HOME.
KRIS KELLY IS MAKING
A LAST-DITCH EFFORT
TO TALK HIS BROTHER
OFF THE LEDGE.
YOU REALLY NEED TO STOP
AND THINK ABOUT THIS.
KRIS, I ALREADY THOUGHT
ABOUT IT.
I'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS [BLEEP] KRIS.
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS [BLEEP] FOR TWO YEARS.
FOR TWO YEARS?
NOT WORKING WITH DAD?
YEAH.
THEN WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA DO?
I'M GOING HOME
FOR THIS LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
I'M GONNA GO [BLEEP] WORK
PAINTING FOR A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T NEED DAD.
WHAT FOR?
TO GIVE HIM 50%?
FOR WHAT?
TO PRETEND
TO BE A [BLEEP] TENDER?
NO. BECAUSE HE'S GOT
THE CLAIM.
WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET DOWN
7 MILES -- EVER.
WE ARE GOING TO.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW WE'RE
GONNA FIX UP THE BOAT.
I'M GONNA PROBABLY HAVE
TO PUT MY OWN MONEY INTO IT.
YOU GUYS AREN'T GETTING DOWN
7 MILES. NO.
I CAN SEE THAT RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THE SLIGHTEST
LITTLE BIT OF WAVE,
AND WE GOT TO COME IN.
IT'S ASS-HEAVY.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL
THAT'S HERE AND THERE.
I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE
KIND OF FOOLISH RIGHT NOW
BY LEAVING.
NO, I'M NOT.
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS
FOR A COUPLE MORE SECONDS.
I ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
OKAY. THEN LET'S GO.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH
OF THIS [BLEEP]
Andy: HE HAS HIGH HOPES
FOR MY FATHER.
I DON'T.
I HOPE HE ENJOYS
WORKING WITH MY DAD.
Narrator:
BACK IN THE CITY OF NOME...
Man #1: OOH.
Man #2: OH, WOW.
Emily: THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD
IN THIS CLEANUP.
Narrator:
AFTER A MISERABLE ICE SEASON
AND NEARLY LOSING HER DREDGE
TO THE FIRST STORM
OF THE SUMMER,
EMILY RIEDEL IS IN NEED
OF A MORALE BOOST.
COULD BE 10,000 BUCKS
IN THIS BUCKET.
ICE WAS JUST
SUCH A HELLACIOUS EXPERIENCE.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS,
IT LEAVES YOU
WITH NO CONFIDENCE.
AND I WORRY ABOUT
THAT WITH MY CREW.
I MEAN, SO FAR THEY DEMONSTRATED
A GREAT DEAL OF COMMITMENT.
THEY STUCK AROUND,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THOUGH, TONY,
AND DARYL, AND TUNS,
THEY COULD
ALL WALK AWAY TOMORROW.
Narrator: THE BEST WAY
TO KEEP HER CREW HAPPY?
Emily:
WIN OF 2014 FOR SUMMER.
Narrator: PUTTING A DENT
IN THEIR 400-OUNCE GOAL
AND SOME GOLD IN THEIR POCKETS.
4, 5,
5 1/2, 7...
HOLD ON.
7 1/2 OUNCES?
Daryl V.:
MINUS THE FUNNEL.
7.2.
Narrator: 7.2 OUNCES
IS WORTH LESS THAN $9,000.
JUST 393 OUNCES TO GO.
7 1/2 OUNCES?
MAN, WE CALLED
THAT ONE WRONG.
Emily: WE CALLED THAT ONE
WAY WRONG.
WE DID OUR FIRST CLEANOUT,
AND WE EXPECTED A LOT MORE
AND DIDN'T GET IT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING.
BUT THIS IS A JOB
WHERE YOU HAVE TO HANDLE
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
AND THE FAILURES WITH GRACE
SO YOU CAN JUST KEEP ON WORKING.
SOMETIMES
IT SEEMS LIKE MORE.
AND, THEN,
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE LESS.
YOU NEVER [BLEEP] KNOW.
Narrator: OVER AT THE POMRENKE
CLEANUP SHACK...
GOLD'S FLOWING LIKE FINE WINE.
Narrator: ...WHILE HIS FATHER
IS FIXATED ON HEADING INLAND,
SHAWN IS PROVING JUST HOW MUCH
GOLD IS STILL IN THE BERING SEA.
Shawn:
IT'S GONNA BE A MONSTER CLEANUP.
WHEN WE GET
SOME MORE GOOD WEATHER,
IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST SUMMER
THE CHRISTINE ROSE HAS HAD
SINCE WE PUT IT IN THE WATER.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SCREENING
ALL THE MATERIAL.
THE NEXT STEP,
WE'LL TAKE IT TO THE WHEEL
AND CLEAN IT --
REFINE IT EVEN FURTHER.
OH, AIN'T THAT PRETTY.
KA-CHING!
KA-CHING!
THAT'S A $4,000 OR $5,000
SPOONLOAD RIGHT THERE.
JUST KEEP ADDING AND ADDING.
DAD'S DREAM
IS TO GO INLAND MINING --
ONE LAST SHOT
TO GO SEE IF HE CAN HIT IT BIG.
AND, I MEAN,
WHEN I COME UP WITH THE IDEA
FOR THE CHRISTINE ROSE,
HE WAS LIKE, "I'M IN.
LET'S DO IT.
LET'S BUILD IT."
SO I GOT TO HAVE HIS BACK
ON IT.
THAT'S 10.
50.
60.
70.
80.
90.
92 -- 92 OUNCES.
Narrator: 92 OUNCES
IS A $110,000 PAYDAY.
NICE JOB.
THAT'S $30,000 A DAY.
Steve:
I'M PROUD OF SHAWN.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A GREAT FINDER
OF GOLD AND A GREAT GOLD-GETTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.
YEAH!
GOOD MAN.
GOOD JOB.
Shawn:
JUST $30,000 A DAY.
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
IS PRETTY MUCH
DESTROYING EVERYBODY.
WE'RE IN GOOD GOLD HERE.
YEAH, BABY!
KEEP IT COMING!
GOT TO GET THAT,
GET THAT GOLD!
YOU CAN RUN IT?
YOU'RE [BLEEP] DAMN RIGHT I CAN.
RUN IT!
GET YOUR [BLEEP] DAMN ASS
OFF THIS BOAT.
CAN'T FEEL MY HANDS.
PULL HIM UP!
PULL HIM UP!
Man: WATCH OUT!
IT'S A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE.
MR. GOLD'S GONNA GET SOME GOLD.
Steve: YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN
YOU'RE GONNA STRIKE IT RICH.
GOT TO GET THAT GOLD!
Steve: YOU WANT TO FIND GOLD
AROUND NOME, ALASKA,
GO TO WHERE THE OLD TIMERS WERE
'CAUSE THERE WERE 45,000 OF THEM
HERE IN THE YEAR OF 1900.
Narrator:
FOR OVER A CENTURY,
GOLD FEVER
HAS BROUGHT FAMILIES TO NOME,
SEEKING FORTUNE AND FAME.
TODAY,
THE FAMILIES HAVE CHANGED.
Man: WATCH OUT!
Narrator:
BUT THE QUEST FOR GOLD REMAINS.
[ LAUGHING ]
♪ 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: NOME, ALASKA.
BAD WEATHER TODAY GOING,
LIKE, 20 KNOTS OUT THERE.
WE GOT 4- OR 5-FOOT SEAS.
Narrator:
THE FIRST STORM OF SUMMER
HAS SNUCK UP
ON THE DREDGING FLEET.
SOUTH WIND BLEW US OFF.
THAT FRONT COME IN,
GOT US OFF THE WATER.
IT COME IN AT, LIKE,
3:00 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator:
HIGH SEAS AND 35-KNOT WINDS
ARE KEEPING FORTUNE HUNTERS
OFF THE GOLD.
IT'S 3- TO 4- TO 5-FOOT ROLLERS
THUMPING INTO THE BEACH.
AND IT JUST GOT THE BOTTOM
ALL TURNED TO HELL AND BACK.
Narrator:
AS MOST CREWS HUNKER DOWN,
TWO MILES EAST OF THE HARBOR...
Emily: HOLD ON, EROICA,
WE'RE COMING.
Narrator: ...SOPHOMORE SKIPPER
EMILY RIEDEL
WAS CAUGHT SLEEPING,
LEAVING HER DREDGE, THE EROICA,
ANCHORED AS THE STORM BLEW IN.
IT'S GONNA BE A FUN,
LITTLE PARK JOB.
Narrator:
WITH OVER $200,000 INVESTED,
EMILY NEEDS
TO GET IT BACK TO SHORE FAST.
COMING IN HOT.
OH [BLEEP]
DAMN IT.
[BLEEP] IT'S [BLEEP] UP
OUR MOTOR.
JUST GET THE ROPE
OFF THAT CLEAT.
AND GET ON BOARD
AND PULL IT FORWARDS.
WHEW.
DAMN, DUDE.
LET'S JUST HOP ON BOARD.
HOP ON BOARD.
WE GOT TO MOVE THE NOZZLE
BEFORE I FIRE IT UP.
WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO HAUL ASS
'CAUSE IT'S
SUPPOSED TO GET WORSE.
FIRST,
I GOT TO GET THE HOSE UP.
THAT WAS
THE LINE IT WAS ON.
THAT IS THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN.
THE NOZZLE LINE ATTACHED
TO OUR DREDGING HOSE IS BROKEN.
THE HOSE DIDN'T BREAK OFF,
DID IT?
NO,
SHE'S STILL THERE.
SHE'S AIMING
TOTALLY THE WRONG WAY.
Narrator:
THE SWELLS HAVE SNAPPED THE LINE
SECURING THE NOZZLE
OF THE SUCTION HOSE,
LEAVING IT
TOSSING IN THE SEA BELOW.
IF IT IS THAT HOSE,
IT'S GONNA BE
A MAJOR CATASTROPHE.
IT MIGHT BE POTENTIALLY BETTER
TO LET HER WEATHER THE STORM.
SORRY, DARYL,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DIVE.
HMM, OKAY.
DESPITE ROUGH CONDITIONS,
EMILY ORDERS DARYL VALLE
INTO THE BERING SEA
TO SECURE THE HOSE
AND RIG THE BOAT FOR TRAVEL.
STAND BY FOR COM CHECK.
COM CHECK,
HOW DO YOU COPY?
I HAVE YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR.
ALL RIGHT, COPY THAT.
YOU'RE TAKING ONE
FOR THE TEAM.
HOW YOU DOING?
THE CURRENT'S PRETTY
RIPPING RIGHT NOW.
WHOA.
WELL, LET'S HOPE I CAN HANG ON
TO THE HOSE.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, THE NOZZLE
SEEMS TO BE BROKEN APART
WHERE THE ROPE
WAS CONNECTED TO IT,
BUT I GOT IT
HOOKED UP NOW.
SO WE CAN HURRY UP
AND PULL IT UP.
ALL RIGHT, YOU WANT ME TO COME
UP ON THE OTHER ROPE NOW?
YES.
OKAY, COPY THAT.
WE JUST --
WE JUST -- WE --
WE JUST GOT THROUGH
ONE MAJOR [BLEEP] CATASTROPHE.
[ GRUNTS ]
YOU GOT IT?
BACK UP.
GET IT AROUND.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
BRING US HOME.
WE'RE IN.
IF THIS HAD HAPPENED
LAST YEAR,
I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD, LIKE,
A MENTAL BREAKDOWN.
YOU'RE DOING WELL
WITH HANDLING IT.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN GO OFF
OR NOTHING.
IT WAS GOOD.
YOU GET BROKEN IN UP HERE
OR YOU GET BROKEN.
WE MUST BE BROKEN IN.
I THINK SO.
BETTER BROKEN
IN THAN BROKEN.
Narrator: AS THE EROICA
FINALLY HEADS FOR PORT,
BACK IN TOWN...
WHO, ANDY?
BRETT: Yes.
REAPER OWNER BRAD KELLY
HAS RECEIVED
AN URGENT PHONE CALL
FROM HIS BUSINESS PARTNER.
THREE DAYS AGO...
I KNOW THE GUY
THAT OWNS THE REAPER.
HE WANTS TO BE BOUGHT OUT,
SO I TALKED TO HIM AND TOLD HIM,
"EH [BLEEP] I'LL TAKE IT ALL."
Narrator: BRAD'S SON, ANDY,
ARRIVED IN TOWN
WITH A PLOT TO BUY THE DREDGE
RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER HIS DAD...
Andy: HE [BLEEP] OVER OUR FAMILY
FOR A NEW FAMILY
AND LEFT MY MOTHER WITH NOTHING.
BUT FIGURE I'M GONNA LEAVE HIM
WITH THE SAME -- NOTHING.
Narrator: ...A PLAN
THAT HAS NOW BEEN EXPOSED
BY ANDY'S CO-CONSPIRATOR.
YEAH, YEAH, NO, I'M GOOD.
I'M GLAD YOU TOLD ME THAT.
I'LL CALL YOU TONIGHT, BRO.
OKAY, BYE.
I GUESS ANDY AND MY WIFE
ARE TRYING TO SCREW ME OVER,
TRYING TO TAKE MY BOAT FROM ME.
THAT'S MAMA'S BOY.
SEE, I LEFT MY WIFE THIS YEAR.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS MARRIED
FOR 37 YEARS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND I'M NOT SAYING --
I'M A CATHOLIC,
THAT I WOULD HAVE STAYED MARRIED
FOR 100 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE SERVING
A PRISON SENTENCE SOMETIMES.
I JUST DON'T WANT
THAT LIFE ANYMORE.
Narrator:
LEAVING HIS FIRST WIFE
AND EXPECTING A CHILD
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND,
BRAD'S NEW LIFE
IS AT ODDS WITH THE OLD ONE.
BRAD, WHEN ARE YOU REALLY GONNA
DRAW THE LINE LIKE YOU SAY?
'CAUSE THEY'RE MY KIDS,
SO I HAVE TO KEEP GIVING THEM
ANOTHER CHANCE.
THEY'RE MY KIDS.
WHEN DO YOU STOP
GIVING YOUR CHILDREN,
YOUR FAMILY,
ANOTHER CHANCE?
WHEN DOES
THAT ACTUALLY COME?
I LIKE TO SAY IT AND PUT
THE FEAR OF GOD INTO THEM
AND THINK
THAT DAD'S SICK OF IT.
THEN THAT PUTS THE WEIGHT
ON YOUR SHOULDERS
AND ALL THE STRESS.
AND THEN, GUESS WHERE THE STRESS
GETS RUBBED OFF ON?
THIS NEW FAMILY HERE.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU
WANT ME TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY'RE MY KIDS, SO I ALWAYS
HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM.
YOU'RE CAPTAIN, OKAY?
I KNOW YOU'RE NEW
TO THIS CAPTAIN AND EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, YOU SAY
YOU'VE OWNED BUSINESSES BEFORE.
HOW DID YOU OPERATE
THOSE BUSINESSES?
I DON'T USE MY FAMILY.
THAT'S HOW.
I COULD TALK THIS [BLEEP]
TO EVERYBODY ELSE,
AND I COULD
MAKE THEM DO IT.
AND IT'S BETTER WHEN YOU WORK
WITH STRANGERS SOMETIMES.
BUT, WITH THE KIDS,
THEY THINK
THEY CAN WALK ALL OVER ME,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO THEN, IT'S UP TO YOU
TO CORRECT THAT.
MY KIDS' ATTITUDES, THEY'RE --
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU,
THEY'RE A LITTLE --
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
HEARTBROKEN OR WHAT THEY ARE.
BUT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
THAT I CAUSE A LOT OF CHAOS
IN THE FAMILY.
ANDY, HE'LL PROBABLY NEVER
GET OVER IT.
YOU KNOW, HE'S STARTED A WAR
WHERE HE'S PUT HIMSELF
IN PRETTY DEEP.
THESE KIDS --
SEE, A LOT OF PARENTS
HAVE [BLEEP] UP KIDS,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THEY'RE NOT REALLY [BLEEP] UP.
THEY COULD BE DRUG ADDICTS.
THEY COULD BE A LOT OF [BLEEP]
THEY'RE JUST MISGUIDED YOUTH,
I GUESS.
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator:
SIX MILES OUTSIDE NOME....
THE OCEAN'S BEEN GREAT TO US
AND EVERYTHING,
BUT I NEED
TO GO INLAND MINING FOR ME.
IT'S WHAT I GREW UP ON.
IT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.
Narrator:
...62-YEAR-OLD CHRISTINE ROSE
CO-OWNER STEVE POMRENKE
IS SCRATCHING AN OLD ITCH.
AND NOW THAT THIS CHRISTINE ROSE
IS ALL UP AND RUNNING
UP TO SNUFF,
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO STEP ASIDE,
LET SHAWN TAKE THAT OVER,
AND MOVE ON
TO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
AND THAT'S INLAND MINING.
ONLY 25 MINUTES LATE.
Narrator: FOR YEARS...
IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
AT 2:00, BE HERE AT 2:00.
OKAY.
OKAY.
...STEVE HAS BEEN
PUSHING HIS SON
TO STEP UP AND TAKE OVER
THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
WELL, THEN,
YOU TAKE CARE ALL
OF THE [BLEEP]
I'M TAKING CARE OF.
I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE TALKING
[BLEEP] ABOUT ME
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE WE CAN TALK [BLEEP]
ABOUT YOU
BECAUSE YOU GIVE US
SO MUCH AMMUNITION.
Steve: 52.3
NOW,
WITH SHAWN AND THE BARGE
CONSISTENTLY PRODUCING
GOLD...
YAY.
...THE OLD MAN IS LOOKING
TO RETURN TO HIS ROOTS.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Steve:
DOWN THE HILL HERE IS ANVIL --
MINED AND MINED AGAIN.
BUT THERE'S STILL
POCKETS OF GOLD OUT THERE
THE OLD TIMERS DIDN'T FIND.
AND WHEN YOU DO FIND THEM,
THEY ARE SUPER RICH.
Narrator:
STEVE IS HEADED TO THE SCENE
OF THE ORIGINAL
NOME GOLD RUSH --
THE TRIBUTARIES OF ANVIL CREEK.
ANVIL CREEK HAS POPPED OUT 12
OF THE BIGGEST NUGGETS
FOUND IN ALASKA --
ALL FROM ANVIL HERE.
THIS PLACE
HAS SUPER GOLD-MINING HISTORY.
I'VE COME
TO GET A SAMPLE, MAN.
I GOT A GOOD SAMPLE
OVER THERE, DUDE.
THAT'S WHERE I WAS HEADED.
I DIDN'T CARE
IF YOU WERE HERE OR NOT.
I WAS GONNA GET
A SAMPLE.
Narrator:
TO HELP HIM FIND GOOD GROUND,
STEVE IS WORKING
WITH LOCAL PROSPECTOR
AUGGIE CRUTCH.
Steve: OLD-TIME MINER HERE --
GOOD OLD FRIEND.
HE'S ENTHUSED ABOUT
FINDING GOLD.
THAT'S AUGGIE.
STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN?
WELL, I'M HITTING IT
RIGHT ON THE BANK THERE.
AND THEN IT JUST DROPS
RIGHT OFF.
STRAIGHT DOWN
AT THIS ANGLE.
YEAH, RIGHT ABOUT THERE'S
WHERE PAY STOPS -- OR STARTS.
AND THEN IT JUST DROPS IN
RIGHT HERE.
THE DREDGE
WENT THROUGH HERE.
BUT IT DIDN'T COME UP,
YOU KNOW?
THERE'S BANKS --
SOME OF THE BANK HERE --
WELL, THIS HERE LOOKS LIKE
DREDGE TAILINGS HERE.
IT DOES, BUT...
THERE'S, UH, THEY LEFT --
IT'S UNTURNED.
SO ANYWAY...
YEAH, YEAH.
THIS PLACE IS
JUST A WONDERLAND FOR GOLD.
Narrator:
FOR MUCH OF THE 20th CENTURY,
MASSIVE LAND DREDGES
TORE THROUGH THESE CREEK BEDS,
PRODUCING MORE
THAN 3 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD.
TODAY...
Steve: OLD GUYS
CAN'T BEND SO EASY.
Narrator: ...THE TRICK IS
TO FIND A PLACE
THE LAND DREDGES MISSED.
HOLY CRAP, MAN.
HOLY CRAP.
THERE'S GOLD
IN THIS PAN, DUDE.
I GET A KICK
OUT OF THIS GROUND.
THIS IS WAY DIFFERENT
THAN THE OCEAN GROUND.
IT PANS WAY DIFFERENT.
THERE'S A HUGE NUGGET
IN HERE FOR PANNING.
THAT'S A LOT OF NICE GOLD
OUT OF ONE PAN OF DIRT.
THAT'S
A ROUGH-LOOKING NUGGET,
BUT THAT'S WHAT
ANVIL'S KNOWN FOR.
THEY'RE ROUGH-LOOKING.
YEAH,
STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
IN THE OCEAN --
BUFFETED IT AROUND,
POLISHED OFF.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL
CAME FROM.
THIS IS WHERE
IT ALL CAME FROM.
YEAH, THIS IS
THE HEADWATERS RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE.
YEP.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT,
AIN'T IT?
HELL YEAH.
YEAH, MAN.
OH, MAN,
LOOK AT THAT CHUNK.
THAT'S
A NICE-SIZED CHUNK.
[ LAUGHING ]
STRIKING GOLD INLAND,
ONLY ONE THING REMAINS
FOR STEVE...
Steve: GOING INLAND
IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING
I REALLY KNOW
HOW TO DO IN MY LIFE.
SHAWN CAN STICK TO THE OCEAN.
THAT'S WHAT HE KNOWS BEST.
Narrator: ...CONVINCING HIS SON
TO BANKROLL THE OPERATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHAWN'S
GONNA TAKE THIS CONVERSATION,
BUT HE'S GONNA HAVE TO ACCEPT IT
BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
I'M THE OLD MAN.
I ALWAYS WIN.
Narrator: IN NOME,
AS THE SUMMER'S FIRST STORM
FADES AWAY...
WEATHER WILLING, HEAD OUT THERE
AND WE'LL START
DOING SOME DIVING.
Narrator: ...THE MINING FLEET
HAS ITS FIRST OPPORTUNITY
IN DAYS TO GET SOME GOLD.
I HOPE THAT IT STAYS
NICE LIKE THIS.
I REALLY DO.
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES WEST OF THE HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
YEAH, FORWARD, FORWARD.
Narrator: ...FIRST ONES BACK
ON THE BERING SEA...
NOBODY ELSE IS OUT HERE
BUT THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE
AND THE 80-FOOT CHRISTINE ROSE,
RISKING THE LINGERING SWELLS
TO GET A JUMP
ON THE COMPETITION.
THE ONLY WAY
WE'RE GONNA GET 1,000 OUNCES
IS IF I KEEP DIRT GOING
THROUGH THAT PLANT.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE MY GOAL
THIS YEAR.
IF I GOT TO PUSH IT
A LITTLE HARDER
THAN ANY OTHER YEAR,
THIS IS THE YEAR
I'M GONNA DO IT.
Narrator:
WITH MORE MINERS THAN EVER
CROWDING THE TOMCOD CLAIM
THIS SEASON,
SHAWN WILL TAKE
ANY ADVANTAGE HE CAN GET.
I DON'T SEE HANK OUT.
MUST BE SLEEPING IN.
HE THINKS
HE'S GONNA KEEP UP WITH ME.
I'M GONNA ANNIHILATE HIM.
I'M GONNA DOUBLE
OR TRIPLE THE GOLD COUNT
ON ALL
THE OTHER DREDGES COMBINED.
Narrator:
SHAWN'S GREATEST WEAPONS?
15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
AND A GPS FILLED WITH HOT SPOTS.
RIGHT NOW,
I'M POSITIONING THE DREDGE
WHERE WE GOT A BUNCH OF NUGGETS.
WE'RE GETTING BACK
INTO THE NUGGET PATCH.
NUGGETS MEANS
A LOT OF FINE GOLD,
A LOT OF FINE GOLD
MEANS A LOT OF MONEY.
YEAH, KEEP GOING.
BACK TO PUTTING DIRT IN THE BOX.
OKAY, LET'S GET
THIS [BLEEP] RUNNING --
$2,000 AN HOUR.
WE'RE DIGGING.
OH, LOOK AT THAT STUFF.
OH, THERE'S BIG ROCKS
ALL THE WAY.
BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD.
I'VE HEARD DAD SAY,
"BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD,"
ALL THE TIME,
SO MAYBE WE'LL FILL THIS BOX UP
WITH A BUNCH OF BIG NUGGETS.
Narrator: A VETERAN MINER,
SHAWN'S STRATEGY
IS TO SET UP THE BARGE
ON AN AREA
WITH PATCHES OF BIG BOULDERS,
AND WORK DOWN
INTO THE HARDPAN CLAY.
THE GOLD LIKES TO HIDE
AROUND THOSE BIG ROCKS.
THOSE BIG ROCKS
DON'T MOVE ANYWHERE
SO IT CREATES A PLACE
FOR THE GOLD TO HIDE.
Shawn: OH, I LIKE THE WAY
THIS STUFF IS SOUNDING.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO SUPPORT
DAD'S MINING ADDICTION.
Narrator: IF HIS OLD MAN'S
INLAND MINING DREAM
IS GOING TO COME TRUE,
THE STARTUP COSTS
WILL HAVE TO COME
FROM SHAWN'S HARD WORK.
PRETTY NERVOUS ABOUT
THE INLAND MINING.
DAD SEEMS TO FORGET
HOW TOUGH TIMES WERE
THE LAST TIME HE INLAND MINED.
HE KEPT DIGGING IN A PIT
THAT NEVER PRODUCED.
THAT'S A SCARY THING.
YOU COULD END UP
BEING A GOLD MINER.
YOU COULD END UP
BEING HOMELESS -- ONE BAD YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY IN THE HELL HE WANTS
TO START
A WHOLE NEW OPERATION FOR
WHEN THIS OPERATION'S WORKING
JUST FINE.
Narrator: WITH SHAWN KEEPING
THE FAMILY BUSINESS ON THE GOLD,
SEVEN MILES TO THE EAST,
IN THE CITY OF NOME...
SHAWN THINKS I DON'T DO NOTHING
WHEN HE'S OUT THERE DIGGING.
ALL DAY TODAY, I'VE BEEN DOING
ALL THE ODDBALL STUFF,
LIKE GETTING THE MECHANIC'S
TRUCK BACK TO THE YARD,
GETTING THE CRANE
BACK TO THE YARD,
GETTING THE PAINTING TRUCK
BACK TO THE YARD,
AND PICKING UP ALL THE GARBAGE,
AND PICKING UP
ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
Narrator: ...SHAWN'S DAD,
STEVE POMRENKE...
Steve: YEAH, I SEE A BUNCH
OF WHITECAPS OUT THERE.
I DON'T SEE
THE CHRISTINE ROSE IN SIGHT,
SO SHE AIN'T COMING BACK IN.
SHE'S OUT THERE.
[ CAR HORN BEEPS ]
HEY.
Narrator:
ALSO STILL IN PORT,
THE POMRENKE FAMILY'S
WOULD-BE RIVAL,
AU GRABBER OWNER
HANK SCHIMSCHAT.
LOOKS LIKE
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
IS GETTING THEIR ASS KICKED
OUT THERE.
THEY ARE NOT.
IT AIN'T THAT BAD.
GO LOOK AT THE ROLLERS.
I'M LOOKING AT THEM.
THEY'RE NOT ROLLING
THAT BAD.
SO YOU WERE GONNA GO OUT,
BUT, NOW, YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND
FOR A LITTLE BIT?
WELL, IT'S BLOWING,
I MEAN, YEAH.
IT'S WHITE CAPPING.
THERE'S SOME
PRETTY GOOD SURF COMING IN.
WHAT?
THAT'S A BIG WORD.
YEAH.
WHEN THEY...
WHEN THEY FORM THAT --
WHEN THEY --
DOES THAT MEAN BAD WIND
FOR DREDGERS?
WINDS ALOFT.
THAT MEANS THE WIND'S BLOWING,
HIGH PRESSURE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
I'VE BEEN BUSIER THAN A CAT
SCRATCHING [BLEEP]
ON A HOT TIN ROOF TODAY.
OKAY, BUDDY,
HAVE A GOOD DAY, MY FRIEND.
Steve: WELL, HANK SAYS
THAT, YEAH, THEY'RE PRETTY BAD,
BUT I DON'T SEE THE BIG ROLLERS.
I JUST SEE A --
IT'S A SMALLER CHOP.
I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT.
Narrator: THE POMRENKES
AREN'T THE ONLY ONES
GAMBLING
THAT THE COAST IS CLEAR.
OVER ON BELMONT BEACH...
Zeke: MAIDEN VOYAGES
ARE ALWAYS TENSE FOR ME.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE
IT'S, LIKE, CHOPPY AS HELL.
BUT I MEAN IF IT'S MANAGEABLE,
THEN GO FOR IT.
Narrator:
THE FIRST DIVER DREDGE
TO PULL THE TRIGGER
AFTER THE STORM,
THE NEWLY-UPGRADED CLARK
WITH OWNERS ZEKE TENHOFF
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
SARAH DUNN.
WE'LL SEE.
I MEAN, WHEN WE GET OUT THERE,
GET ON THE WATER,
REALLY SEE HOW MUCH CHOP
WE CAN HANDLE.
I PUT A LOT OF TIME
AND PRETTY MUCH
ALL THE MONEY THAT I HAD
INTO MAKING MY DREDGE
AS SEAWORTHY AS I COULD
SO THAT I COULD
GO OUT IN ROUGHER WEATHER.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I DID IT.
SO IF I DON'T GO OUT
IN EVERY WEATHER WINDOW I CAN,
IT'S LIKE, "WHAT AM I DOING,
SPINNING MY WHEELS?"
BLOW
THIS POPSICLE STAND.
WHOO!
Zeke:
YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
Narrator: ZEKE IS RETURNING
TO A FAVORED HOT SPOT --
THE ROCKWALL CLAIM.
THIS IS ABOUT
WHERE I LEFT OFF LAST WINTER.
Narrator: THE ROCKWALL CLAIM
IS A 160-ACRE PRIVATE LEASE,
LOCATED FIVE MILES WEST
OF THE CITY OF NOME.
JUST TWO MILES
FROM THE CROWDED TOMCOD CLAIM,
THIS GROUND
IS MOSTLY UNEXPLORED.
TO THE EAST SIDE OF THIS LEASE,
THERE'S A TON OF HUGE ROCKS.
THE BEST GOLD
THAT I'VE SEEN HERE
COLLECTS RIGHT AT THE FOOT
OF THIS ROCK WALL.
Zeke:
BACK IN THE WATER!
WHAT YOU LOOKING AT
DOWN THERE?
I DON'T KNOW.
VISIBILITY
ISN'T ALL THAT GREAT,
SO IT'S DISORIENTING
DOWN HERE.
Narrator:
IN THE WAKE OF A STORM,
BERING SEA SWELLS KICK UP SILT
FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR,
DROPPING VISIBILITY
TO JUST TWO FEET.
WHERE I LEFT OFF
IS ON THE EDGE
OF THIS ROCK WALL.
LUCKY FOR ZEKE...
ACTUALLY, I FOUND THE EDGE
OF THIS BIG ROCK PILE.
VERY GOOD NEWS.
...HE'S LOOKING
FOR A BIG TARGET.
THERE'S, LIKE,
THIS PENINSULA OF BIG ROCKS
THAT GOES STRAIGHT OUT
TO THE SOUTH HERE.
AND, LIKE, SEE,
IT GOES WAY UP.
JUST DIGGING A LITTLE HOLE
RIGHT NOW.
IS ALL THAT GOLD
STILL THERE?
YEAH, I'M SEEING GOLD
UNDER HERE,
RIGHT ON THE EDGE, RIGHT WHERE
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
REALLY?
YEAH, THERE'S GOOD GOLD
OUT HERE.
IT'S HERE, DUDE.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
WHAT A GREAT WAY
TO START, HUH?
THE GOLD'S
REALLY F'ing GOOD.
THERE'S LOTS
OF LITTLE PIECES.
Narrator:
AT BELMONT BEACH...
PREPPING FOR THE FIRST LAUNCH
OF THE SUMMER...
Brad:
WELL, YEAH, YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I HAD A PRIVATE CONVERSATION
WITH MY BUDDY, BRETT.
AND HE JUST SAID THAT ANDY'S OUT
TO TRY AND SCREW ME IN THE BACK.
Narrator:
REAPER OWNER BRAD KELLY,
ALONG WITH HIS SON, KRIS,
HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS
WITH KRIS' BROTHER, ANDY.
Kris: REALLY, YOU WANT TO KNOW
HOW I SEE IT?
BRETT WAS TRYING TO GET ANDY
TO [BLEEP] YOU OVER.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW,
THAT'S WHAT [BLEEP] HAPPENED.
BRETT WAS TRYING
TO HUSTLE ANDY.
ANDY'S NOT SMART ENOUGH
TO DO IT.
[BLEEP] EVERYTHING
WENT DOWN IN FLAMES.
Kris: MY DAD
WAS VERY HARD ON MY BROTHER
WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP
BECAUSE HE'S STUBBORN.
I'VE TAKEN CARE
OF MY BROTHER ALL OF MY LIFE,
SINCE WE'VE BEEN ADULTS.
IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF HIM,
I REALLY THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA WIND UP IN JAIL
DOING SOME STUPID [BLEEP]
HE'S EASILY LED ASTRAY
BY PEOPLE.
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL,
THERE HE IS.
Brad: YOU WERE
ALREADY TRYING TO CONSPIRE
TO TAKE MY BOAT
TWO WEEKS AGO.
NO, ACTUALLY BRETT CAME
AND ASKED ME
IF I WANTED TO BUY IT.
I TOLD YOU THAT'S THE WAY
IT [BLEEP] WAS, TOO.
HE CALLED THIS MORNING.
YEAH?
I TOLD YOU IT WAS BRETT THAT
TRIED TO ORCHESTRATE EVERYTHING.
HE SAID YOU AND MOM
WERE TRYING TO TAKE THE BOAT.
HE CALLED ME
AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED IT
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GIVING HIM
ANY MONEY.
I TOLD YOU
THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
ANDY WOULDN'T TRY TO PUT
TOGETHER THIS WHOLE THING.
YEAH, NO, NO,
I DON'T CARE.
I'M JUST SAYING,
IF YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE,
I CAN'T WORK WITH YOU
THIS YEAR.
I WANT YOU TO COME AND WORK,
AND IT'D BE CLEAN,
JUST LIKE GOING TO WORK
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
TAKE MY ASS HOME.
I'M DONE.
ALL RIGHT.
ARE YOU SURE, BUDDY?
I'M DONE.
YOU CAN GO [BLEEP] YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET
THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLD?
I'M GONNA GET
GOLD MYSELF.
SO TAKE ME THE [BLEEP]
HOME NOW.
BUT I TALKED
WITH BRETT THIS MORNING.
HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO SEE
HOW FAR YOU WERE GONNA GO
TO [BLEEP] YOUR FATHER.
I'M DONE.
WHY? DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT
MONEY AND GOLD?
I'M DONE, MAN.
I'LL GO GET THE GOLD MYSELF.
I AIN'T WORRIED
ABOUT IT.
Andy: I FINALLY WANT TO GET AWAY
FROM UNDER MY FATHER
FOR WHAT HE DID TO MY MOTHER.
HE WAS DATING THIS CHICK
FOR A YEAR
WITHOUT TELLING
MY MOTHER ANYTHING.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE BALLS
TO EXPLAIN IT TO MY MOM,
LIKE, "HEY, I'M DONE WITH YOU.
I GOT A NEW FAMILY GOING ON."
I'M SO [BLEEP] DONE.
THREE YEARS WITH YOU,
YEAH, I'M DONE.
I'VE JUST HAD IT.
Brad:
I HAD MY BOYS AT 17.
I WASN'T REALLY AWARE
OF HOW TO RAISE CHILDREN,
SO I RAISED MY KIDS
LIKE MY FRIENDS KIND OF.
SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
TO WHERE MY KIDS
LOOK AT ME LIKE
I'M THEIR BROTHER SOMETIMES.
AND THEY OVERSTEP
THEIR BOUNDARIES.
THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK
AND GO AND COME BACK.
THEY'VE DONE THIS 100 TIMES.
HE'LL COME CRAWLING
ACROSS THE STREET.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
GOOD.
YEAH.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT MONEY
AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR [BLEEP]
YOU GOT A NEW KID
AND A NEW FAMILY,
SO YOU NEED THE MONEY
FOR THAT [BLEEP]
YEAH, ANY TIME.
[BLEEP] YOU.
GOOD RIDDANCE
TO [BLEEP] BAD NEWS, BRO.
Narrator: WITH THE KELLY FAMILY
FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS,
FIVE MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE ROCKWALL CLAIM...
HEY, BABY,
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Zeke: EVERYTHING'S
FEELING GOOD.
IT'S GETTING
PRETTY ROCKY.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW IT FEELS DOWN THERE.
TOO LEGIT TO QUIT!
Narrator: FOR SEVEN HOURS,
CLARK OWNER ZEKE TENHOFF
HAS BEEN FIGHTING LOW VIS
AND CHOPPY WATER
TO STAY ON THE GOLD.
OOH.
THESE PONTOONS
ARE REALLY --
THAT FRONT OF THE BOAT
IS TAKING A LOT OF FLEXING.
IT'S GETTING ROUGH
UP THERE.
WHOA.
YEAH, WE'RE GETTING
A SET OF SWELLS NOW.
I'M GETTING
JERKED AROUND.
GOT TO GET
AS MUCH WORK DONE AS I CAN
IN BETWEEN
SETS OF SWELLS.
Narrator:
TETHERED TO THE TINY CLARK
BY AN UMBILICAL,
185 POUNDS,
ZEKE IS NO MATCH FOR WAVES.
DUDE, MY HOSE IS GETTING
[BLEEP] YANKED.
AH.
YEAH, IT'S GETTING
ALMOST TOO ROUGH FOR ME
TO BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THE NOZZLE.
WHOA.
YEAH, SARAH.
SARAH, I'M FEELING LIKE --
I DON'T KNOW.
AH.
MY STOMACH
DOESN'T FEEL VERY GOOD.
IT CREEPS UP ON YOU.
IT'S THESE
LONG, SLOW ROLLING SWELLS
THAT ARE REALLY --
THAT ARE THE WORST.
YOU REALLY FEELING
THAT SICK?
THE SWELL
IS REALLY GETTING TO ME.
IT'S REALLY GIVING ME
MOTION SICKNESS.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE
I'M GONNA THROW UP.
ZEKE, YOU WANT TO COME UP?
THAT SOUNDS HORRIBLE,
OKAY?
DOESN'T MATTER HOW SICK
AND TERRIBLE I FEEL.
WHEN I SEE
A REALLY GOOD SPOT
AND I SEE A WHOLE BUNCH
OF PIECES OF GOLD,
I'M LIKE, "OH, YES."
I WANT MY FIRST CLEANUP
TO BE
AS GOOD
AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.
I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT
TO STOP.
[ RETCHING ]
HONEY?
Narrator:
FIVE MILES WEST OF NOME,
AT THE CLARK...
[ RETCHING ]
Sarah: HONEY?
[ RETCHES ]
Narrator: THE ONLY DIVER
BRAVING THE CHOPPY BERING SEA,
ZEKE TENHOFF,
IS GAINING GOLD...
...BUT LOSING HIS LUNCH.
[ RETCHES ]
I'M NOT CLEANING
THE VOMIT OUT OF HIS MASK.
AT THE NOSE AREA,
THERE'S, LIKE,
A ZONE THAT'S SEPARATED
FROM YOUR EYE AREA.
SO THEN YOU JUST GOT TO RINSE
IT OUT AND FLUSH IT OUT.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND
VERY GOOD.
UH...
DAMN IT.
I GOT TO COME UP.
AT THIS POINT,
THIS IS NOT DREDGABLE.
OKAY.
OH, MY.
SORRY.
THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S THESE SETS OF SWELLS
THAT KIND OF COME BY
AND JUST PULL EVERYTHING
BACK AND FORTH.
IT JUST MAKES YOU --
MAKES YOU REAL NAUSEOUS.
I'LL FEEL MUCH HAPPIER
ONCE THE NAUSEA GOES AWAY.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD SIT
OUTSIDE THAT WAY.
IF YOU NEED TO PUKE,
YOU CAN JUST, LIKE,
THROW UP, YOU KNOW?
YEAH, SOME FRESH AIR
WOULD BE NICE.
STARE AT THE HORIZON.
[ RETCHES ]
OKAY.
[ RETCHES ]
Narrator:
AFTER A FULL SHIFT
BEING TOSSED AROUND
BY THE WAVES...
WE JUST GOT TO MOTOR
BACK TO THE SHORE.
...ZEKE FINALLY THROWS
IN THE TOWEL.
[ RETCHES ]
TWO MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
...AFTER 8 HOURS
DIGGING THROUGH THE SWELLS...
Shawn: OH, I CAN SEE THE GOLD
FROM HERE.
Narrator: ...SHAWN POMRENKE
HAS THE CHRISTINE ROSE
SQUARELY ON PAY DIRT.
Shawn: WE'RE GONNA DO A CUT,
MAKE SURE WE'RE LOADED.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA
TURN THE BOX YELLOW.
Man: SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT
SO FAR.
LOOKS LIKE
IT'S RUNNING REALLY GOOD.
HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING
HOLDS TOGETHER,
WE DON'T RIP THE HULL APART
AND SINK
OR BEND THE SPOT
AND GET STUCK OUT HERE.
THIS MATERIAL'S LOOKING AWESOME.
EVERY BUCKET I PUT
IN THIS WASH PLANT'S
PAYING THE BILLS.
WELL, I THINK
IT'D PROBABLY AVERAGE OUT
TO ABOUT $50 A BUCKET.
SO IF WE CAN JUST KEEP
POURING BUCKETS
INTO THIS WASH PLANT,
MAKING GOLD,
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY
IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS JOB,
IT'S A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN.
GOLD MINING --
I LOVE ALL THE HIGHS.
I MEAN, THERE'S THE LOWS
WHEN YOU AIN'T IN THE GOLD.
AND, THEN,
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE GOLD,
IT'S THE HIGHS
AND YOU'RE ALL PUMPED UP.
WE'RE KICKING ASS.
WE'RE IN THE GOLD.
WE'RE MAKING MONEY.
I'M MAKING DAD PROUD.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
WHILE SHAWN IS MAKING MONEY,
SEVEN MILES TO THE EAST...
I'M GOING INLAND MINING.
THAT'S WHERE MY HEART IS.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.
Narrator: ...HIS FATHER, STEVE,
IS ON THE WAY OUT
WITH A PLAN
ON JUST HOW TO SPEND IT.
YEAH, I FEEL A LITTLE BIT GUILTY
ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THE MONEY
THAT THE CHRISTINE ROSE MAKES
TO GO INLAND MINING.
BUT ONCE I GET THAT
INLAND MINING OPERATION SET UP,
IT'S GONNA SUPPORT
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
BECAUSE THERE'S THOUSANDS,
AND THOUSANDS,
AND THOUSANDS OF OUNCES
ON THIS GROUND I'M LOOKING AT.
GOLD MINING IS JUST A BUSINESS.
BUT YOU GET BEYOND
THE BUSINESS POINT OF IT,
AND, BY GOD, IT IS JUST THE --
IT'S A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE.
IT'S A TREASURE HUNT EVERY DAY.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO FIND IN THAT SLUICE BOX.
THAT'S WHY
I WANT TO GO INLAND MINING.
OH, HERE COMES THE OLD MAN.
TIME TO WASH THE BOX.
HOLY CRAP.
THESE ARE BIG SWELLS.
TOO MUCH GOLD IN THERE.
YOU GOT TO WASH IT.
SWELLS ARE BAD.
NEED TO BE MAKING GOLD.
JUST HAUL ASS.
Shawn: I'D LIKE TO HAVE ME
AS A PARTNER.
YOU DO ALL THE WORK,
AND I'LL TAKE ALL THE MONEY.
I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT
AS A PARTNER?
NOW IS THE BEST TIME
TO PICK NUGGETS,
LIKE RIGHT HERE.
KIND OF A DINK,
BUT IT'S A NUGGET.
HOW MANY HOURS ARE ON THAT?
Shawn: 30.
WELL, WE NEED TO KEEP THIS THING
ROCKING AND ROLLING
IF WE'RE GONNA GET SOME
INLAND MINING EQUIPMENT.
THEM MOTORS
ARE A HUNDRED G's.
SO, IT'S, LIKE...
ARE YOU IN
ON THE INLAND MINING OR OUT?
WELL, WHERE ARE WE
GOING MINING?
OH, I GOT IT
ALL FIGURED OUT, KID.
START SAYING THOUSANDS
OF OUNCES,
I'LL TELL YOU
WHEN TO QUIT.
THERE'S SOME GOOD GROUND
THERE.
WELL, THIS GROUND'S
STILL PAYING.
DON'T YOU WORRY.
THEY'LL PAY FOR THEMSELVES.
OH, I AM WORRIED.
I'M LOOKING AT A DOZER NOW,
TOO, YOU KNOW.
WHAT HAPPENED
TO HAVING A HUNDRED GRAND
SITTING IN THE BANK
BEFORE WE START SPENDING?
YEAH, WELL, NOW,
WE NEED TO GO INLAND MINING.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS
TO IT.
Shawn:
HE'S 60-SOMETHING YEARS OLD,
AND HE WANTS TO START
A WHOLE NEW VENTURE.
HE'S LOST A LOT OF MONEY
MINING INLAND,
HOPING TO FIND THAT MOTHER LODE.
AND HE HASN'T QUITE --
HE HASN'T FOUND IT YET.
YOU GOT
THE MOST INTERESTING MINER
IN THE WORLD
ON IT THERE, KID.
BEEN THROUGH
ALL THE HARD KNOCK.
HE AIN'T GONNA DO
THAT AGAIN.
IT'S A BIG
BUSINESS DECISION.
THERE AIN'T NO DOUBT
ABOUT IT.
IT'S A BIG RISK.
THERE AIN'T NO GUARANTEE
TO ANYTHING.
WELL, YEAH,
WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE
A BIGGER TALK ABOUT IT
ONE OF THESE DAYS.
SOON.
WE GOT TO FOCUS
ON GETTING THE GOLD
OFF THE BOTTOM
OF THE BERING SEA RIGHT NOW.
I WAS
ON A 10-INCH SUCTION DREDGE,
AND I WAS DIVING ON GROUND.
AND I COULDN'T GET THE GOLD.
I COULD SEE IT,
BUT THE SUCTION DREDGE
JUST COULDN'T GET IT UP.
SO I WAS LAYING IN BED
THINKING ONE NIGHT.
AND THIS BARGE COME UP FOR SALE,
AND I WAS LIKE,
"DAD, I GOT THIS IDEA.
"IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY,
BUT I BET YOU
WE COULD GET SOME GOLD."
HE WAS LIKE,
"LET'S GO FOR IT!"
AND WE STARTED BUILDING
THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
YOU KNOW, I ENDED UP
BUILDING THE THING.
HE DIDN'T.
Narrator:
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME...
Zeke: THE GOLD JUST,
LIKE, CLIMBS ITS WAY
UP THESE SPIRALS AND THEN DUMPS
OUT THIS LITTLE HOLE.
AND ALL THE LIGHT STUFF
THAT'S NOT GOLD
SPILLS OUT OF HERE.
I'M HOPING THIS IS
AT LEAST 6 OUNCES IN GOLD
FOR 12 HOURS OF DREDGING.
SO THAT WOULD BE
A HALF AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
THAT'LL LOOK GOOD
ON MY GOLD-MINING RéSUMé.
IF YOU'RE DOING
A QUARTER OUNCE AN HOUR
ON A 6-INCH DREDGE,
YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
IF YOU'RE DOING A HALF OUNCE
AN HOUR ON A 6-INCH DREDGE,
THAT'S BANGING.
OKAY, LET'S DO THIS.
6.4.
OVER HALF AN OUNCE AN HOUR --
0.53 OUNCES AN HOUR.
Narrator: 6.4 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $7,600.
YOU KNOW, ONE CLEAN UP,
ONE GOOD CLEAN UP
OF 6 1/2 OUNCES
IS NOT GONNA MAKE MY SEASON.
I MEAN, I GOT TO KEEP THAT UP
LIKE ANOTHER 20 TIMES.
I'M LIKE SO, SO HAPPY.
YEAH.
WELL, I'M GLAD
IT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
HERE YOU GO.
Narrator:
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF NOME...
AT BELMONT BEACH...
Kris: SO, LET HEAR THE PLAN
THAT YOU HAD.
[BLEEP] IF YOU'RE GONNA BE
BITCHING, LET'S GO BACK HOME.
KRIS KELLY IS MAKING
A LAST-DITCH EFFORT
TO TALK HIS BROTHER
OFF THE LEDGE.
YOU REALLY NEED TO STOP
AND THINK ABOUT THIS.
KRIS, I ALREADY THOUGHT
ABOUT IT.
I'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS [BLEEP] KRIS.
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS [BLEEP] FOR TWO YEARS.
FOR TWO YEARS?
NOT WORKING WITH DAD?
YEAH.
THEN WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA DO?
I'M GOING HOME
FOR THIS LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
I'M GONNA GO [BLEEP] WORK
PAINTING FOR A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T NEED DAD.
WHAT FOR?
TO GIVE HIM 50%?
FOR WHAT?
TO PRETEND
TO BE A [BLEEP] TENDER?
NO. BECAUSE HE'S GOT
THE CLAIM.
WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET DOWN
7 MILES -- EVER.
WE ARE GOING TO.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW WE'RE
GONNA FIX UP THE BOAT.
I'M GONNA PROBABLY HAVE
TO PUT MY OWN MONEY INTO IT.
YOU GUYS AREN'T GETTING DOWN
7 MILES. NO.
I CAN SEE THAT RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THE SLIGHTEST
LITTLE BIT OF WAVE,
AND WE GOT TO COME IN.
IT'S ASS-HEAVY.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL
THAT'S HERE AND THERE.
I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE
KIND OF FOOLISH RIGHT NOW
BY LEAVING.
NO, I'M NOT.
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS
FOR A COUPLE MORE SECONDS.
I ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
OKAY. THEN LET'S GO.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH
OF THIS [BLEEP]
Andy: HE HAS HIGH HOPES
FOR MY FATHER.
I DON'T.
I HOPE HE ENJOYS
WORKING WITH MY DAD.
Narrator:
BACK IN THE CITY OF NOME...
Man #1: OOH.
Man #2: OH, WOW.
Emily: THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD
IN THIS CLEANUP.
Narrator:
AFTER A MISERABLE ICE SEASON
AND NEARLY LOSING HER DREDGE
TO THE FIRST STORM
OF THE SUMMER,
EMILY RIEDEL IS IN NEED
OF A MORALE BOOST.
COULD BE 10,000 BUCKS
IN THIS BUCKET.
ICE WAS JUST
SUCH A HELLACIOUS EXPERIENCE.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS,
IT LEAVES YOU
WITH NO CONFIDENCE.
AND I WORRY ABOUT
THAT WITH MY CREW.
I MEAN, SO FAR THEY DEMONSTRATED
A GREAT DEAL OF COMMITMENT.
THEY STUCK AROUND,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THOUGH, TONY,
AND DARYL, AND TUNS,
THEY COULD
ALL WALK AWAY TOMORROW.
Narrator: THE BEST WAY
TO KEEP HER CREW HAPPY?
Emily:
WIN OF 2014 FOR SUMMER.
Narrator: PUTTING A DENT
IN THEIR 400-OUNCE GOAL
AND SOME GOLD IN THEIR POCKETS.
4, 5,
5 1/2, 7...
HOLD ON.
7 1/2 OUNCES?
Daryl V.:
MINUS THE FUNNEL.
7.2.
Narrator: 7.2 OUNCES
IS WORTH LESS THAN $9,000.
JUST 393 OUNCES TO GO.
7 1/2 OUNCES?
MAN, WE CALLED
THAT ONE WRONG.
Emily: WE CALLED THAT ONE
WAY WRONG.
WE DID OUR FIRST CLEANOUT,
AND WE EXPECTED A LOT MORE
AND DIDN'T GET IT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING.
BUT THIS IS A JOB
WHERE YOU HAVE TO HANDLE
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
AND THE FAILURES WITH GRACE
SO YOU CAN JUST KEEP ON WORKING.
SOMETIMES
IT SEEMS LIKE MORE.
AND, THEN,
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE LESS.
YOU NEVER [BLEEP] KNOW.
Narrator: OVER AT THE POMRENKE
CLEANUP SHACK...
GOLD'S FLOWING LIKE FINE WINE.
Narrator: ...WHILE HIS FATHER
IS FIXATED ON HEADING INLAND,
SHAWN IS PROVING JUST HOW MUCH
GOLD IS STILL IN THE BERING SEA.
Shawn:
IT'S GONNA BE A MONSTER CLEANUP.
WHEN WE GET
SOME MORE GOOD WEATHER,
IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST SUMMER
THE CHRISTINE ROSE HAS HAD
SINCE WE PUT IT IN THE WATER.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SCREENING
ALL THE MATERIAL.
THE NEXT STEP,
WE'LL TAKE IT TO THE WHEEL
AND CLEAN IT --
REFINE IT EVEN FURTHER.
OH, AIN'T THAT PRETTY.
KA-CHING!
KA-CHING!
THAT'S A $4,000 OR $5,000
SPOONLOAD RIGHT THERE.
JUST KEEP ADDING AND ADDING.
DAD'S DREAM
IS TO GO INLAND MINING --
ONE LAST SHOT
TO GO SEE IF HE CAN HIT IT BIG.
AND, I MEAN,
WHEN I COME UP WITH THE IDEA
FOR THE CHRISTINE ROSE,
HE WAS LIKE, "I'M IN.
LET'S DO IT.
LET'S BUILD IT."
SO I GOT TO HAVE HIS BACK
ON IT.
THAT'S 10.
50.
60.
70.
80.
90.
92 -- 92 OUNCES.
Narrator: 92 OUNCES
IS A $110,000 PAYDAY.
NICE JOB.
THAT'S $30,000 A DAY.
Steve:
I'M PROUD OF SHAWN.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A GREAT FINDER
OF GOLD AND A GREAT GOLD-GETTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.
YEAH!
GOOD MAN.
GOOD JOB.
Shawn:
JUST $30,000 A DAY.
THE CHRISTINE ROSE
IS PRETTY MUCH
DESTROYING EVERYBODY.
WE'RE IN GOOD GOLD HERE.
YEAH, BABY!
KEEP IT COMING!
GOT TO GET THAT,
GET THAT GOLD!
YOU CAN RUN IT?
YOU'RE [BLEEP] DAMN RIGHT I CAN.
RUN IT!
GET YOUR [BLEEP] DAMN ASS
OFF THIS BOAT.
CAN'T FEEL MY HANDS.
PULL HIM UP!
PULL HIM UP!
Man: WATCH OUT!