Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Twist of Fate - full transcript

Narrator: LAST YEAR,

SIX MEN VENTURED
DEEP INTO THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS

TO RISK IT ALL.

Jack:
YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES.

THE ONLY THING IS, YOU'VE GOT TO
GET IT OUT OF THE GROUND.

Narrator:
IN THEIR QUEST FOR GOLD...

HELP HIM!

...THEY PUT THEIR BODIES...

3 MONTHS
WITHOUT ANY GODDAMN MONEY.

...THEIR RELATIONSHIPS...

YOU BETTER LEARN TO SHUT
YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH!



...AND A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS ON THE LINE.

AFTER FIVE BACK-BREAKING MONTHS,
THEY DUG A 75-FOOT HOLE --

THE GLORY HOLE --

BUT JUST FEET
FROM GOLD-RICH BEDROCK,

THE ALASKAN WINTER
FROZE THEM OUT.

THE HOFFMAN CREW LEFT ALASKA

WITH ONLY 14 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH JUST $20,000.

THEIR SECOND GOLD-MINING SEASON
IS MAKE OR BREAK.

WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME BUTT
THIS SUMMER.

Narrator:
NO LONGER ROOKIE MINERS,

THEY'RE BACK
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!

Narrator:
...BIGGER, BETTER...

AND WITH SOME NEW BLOOD.



JACK, HANG ON.

ALL THAT STANDS BETWEEN THE CREW

AND MILLIONS IN BURIED GOLD

IS 60 FEET OF WATER.

IT'S PAYBACK TIME.

DIG!

JUST AS THE CREW GETS
TO THE GOLD IN RECORD TIME...

WE DID IT!
[ LAUGHS ]

OH, YEAH!

...DAKOTA FRED
RETURNS TO PORCUPINE...

I JUST CAME BACK
FROM TALKING WITH EARLE.

...AND DROPS A BOMBSHELL
ON THE HOFFMAN CREW.

THIS IS [BLEEP]
GET GREG OUT OF HERE.

Jack: OKAY, GUYS,
WE'RE GONNA DO IT THIS YEAR.

Narrator: TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN
ARE BACK IN ALASKA.

THEY'RE HEADED
FOR PORCUPINE CREEK,

THE GOLD CLAIM
THEY MINED LAST SEASON...

Jack: I'M BACK.
NOW I GOT TO DO IT, YOU KNOW.

I'VE GOT TO DIG THAT GOLD
OUT OF THERE

'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S THERE.

I'M COMING HOME WITH 500 OUNCES.

MINIMUM.

Narrator:
THE OLD CREW IS BACK.

THEY'VE DECIDED TO PUT
EVERYTHING ON THE LINE AGAIN

TO FIND THEIR FORTUNES IN GOLD.

I NEED 6 FIGURES
OUT OF THIS SEASON.

YOU KNOW,
I LOST MY BUTT LAST YEAR.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE
GONNA FIND GOLD THIS YEAR.

I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH.

IT WAS TOUGH TO SLEEP ALL WINTER
THINKING ABOUT THAT GLORY HOLE

AND WHAT'S REALLY AT THE BOTTOM.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.

HOPEFULLY WE GET A PAYBACK.

Narrator: LAST YEAR,
THE CREW DUG DOWN

IN SEARCH OF A BURIED ANCIENT
WATERFALL KNOWN AS A GLORY HOLE.

THE CREW BELIEVES THAT WHEN
THEY HIT BEDROCK AT THE BOTTOM,

THERE COULD BE $15 MILLION
IN GOLD.

AT THE END OF LAST SEASON,

THEY WERE SURE THEY WERE JUST
FEET FROM STRIKING IT RICH.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE HERE. HUH.
HERE WE ARE, BOYS.

Narrator: AFTER 6 MONTHS OF PREP
OVER THE LONG WINTER,

THEY'RE FINALLY READY
TO CONTINUE THEIR QUEST.

GOOD.
LOOKS LIKE WE SURVIVED.

NOTHING'S TORN APART.

ANTLERS A LITTLE ASKEW.

JUST LOOK AT IT.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL HERE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A GOOD SEASON.

I CAN'T SEE WHY IT WON'T BE.

WE'RE ON THE MINE, BOYS.
PUT YOUR LIDS ON.

Narrator: THIS SEASON, THE CREW
ARRIVES AT PORCUPINE CREEK

JUST AS WINTER RECEDES
OVER THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS.

[ GRUNTS ] OKAY.

THEY ARE HERE ONE WEEK EARLIER
THAN LAST YEAR.

IN ALASKA'S SHORT MINING SEASON,
EVERY DAY COUNTS.

PUT JACK IN THERE.

OKAY.
LET'S BACK THEM IN.

WITH THE GROUND STILL
PARTIALLY FROZEN,

THE MINERS EASILY POSITION
THEIR FOUR MOBILE HOMES.

TODD, RIGHT HERE.

Thurber:
WE DON'T WANT TO RUIN ANYTHING

'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING
OVERANXIOUS,

BUT WE'LL GET MINING HERE
REAL QUICK.

KEEP COMING, DAVE.

Narrator:
WITH THE FULL CREW AT PORCUPINE,

THE MINE COSTS $1,000
A DAY TO RUN.

EVERY DAY TODD'S
NOT FINDING GOLD,

HE GOES DEEPER INTO THE HOLE.

HE IS IN A HURRY TO GET MINING.

WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME BUTT
THIS SUMMER.

YOU'RE GONNA SEE
SOME AMAZING THINGS

IF WE CAN START RIGHT HERE
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.

Narrator:
FIRST ON THEIR LIST...

HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE
OF THE GOLD,

THE GLORY HOLE.

LAST YEAR THEY DUG SO DEEP...

WATER CONTINUALLY SEEPED
INTO THE HOLE.

WATER'S COMING IN ABOUT AS FAST
AS WE'RE PUMPING IT OUT.

Narrator:
THEIR 4- AND 6-INCH PUMPS

DRAINED 1,700 GALLONS
OF WATER A MINUTE.

PUMPOLOGIST CHRIS DOUMITT
RAN THE PUMPS DAY AND NIGHT

TO KEEP THE LEAKS AT BAY.

BAD DAY TO BE A PUMPOLOGIST.

GOOD LORD.

GEEZ.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LAKE PORCUPINE.
YEP.

Narrator: OVER THE WINTER, THE
WATER LEVEL IN THE GLORY HOLE

HAS REACHED AN ALL TIME HIGH --
60 FEET.

THAT'S QUITE A BIT
OF WATER.

TO GET THE GOLD,
THEY'LL NEED TO DRAIN IT.

BUT THIS SEASON, THE HOFFMAN
CREW HAS COME PREPARED.

AFTER LEARNING THE HARD WAY
LAST YEAR,

THE HOFFMANS SECURED
GAME-CHANGING PUMPS.

THERE YOU GO.
I'M SWEATING.

THOSE ARE SOME BADASS PUMPS.

[ HORN HONKS ]

THAT HOLE KICKED MY BUTT
ALL LAST WINTER,

AND IT'S PAYBACK TIME NOW.

[ ENGINE RUMBLES ]

Narrator: THEIR NEW 6-INCH PUMP
WEIGHS IN AT 5,000 POUNDS.

Todd: THE AMOUNT OF WATER
THAT WE CAN MOVE WITH THIS PUMP

PER GALLON IS INCREDIBLE.

Narrator: WITH AN ENGINE
THE SIZE OF A SMALL CAR,

IT SUCKS UP A MASSIVE
2,800 GALLONS A MINUTE.

THAT'S GOOD.

FIRST...

THEY HAVE TO CONNECT
THE 20-FOOT SUCTION HOSE.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

IT'S VERY HEAVY.

AND THE FITTING
HAS TO ALIGN PERFECTLY.

AROUND TOWARDS ME IF YOU CAN
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

[ GRUNTS ]

NO.
IT AIN'T GONNA WORK.

I GOT IT, DAVE.
WE NEED TO CHEAT HER.

ONCE WE START PUMPING HERE,
WE START SEEING THE BOTTOM,

WE CAN START DIGGING.

Narrator: THERE ARE
HALF A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER

BETWEEN THE CREW AND THE GOLD.

THERE IS ONLY ONE PUMP...

ALL WE GOT TO DO
IS GET THIS THING TO LOCK.

...AND IF THEY CAN'T GET IT
TO WORK,

THERE'S NO CHANCE
OF REACHING THE GOLD.

HAPPY DAYS!

WE ARE SO CLOSE.

OKAY,
WE'RE ALL HOOKED UP.

I SAY WE PUT
THE POWER TO IT.

LET'S DO IT.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

HERE IT COMES.

IT'S PAYBACK TIME!

THERE SHE GOES.

Jack: THAT'S SOME FREAKING
SERIOUS WATER.

OH, MY GOSH,
THAT THING IS AWESOME.

WHOO!

THIS IS MORE THAN WHAT BOTH
PUMPS WERE DOING LAST YEAR.

OH, MAN.
I GET TO SLEEP TONIGHT.

Jack: LOOK HOW MUCH
IT'S DROPPED IT ALREADY.

YEAH, IT'S ALREADY GONE DOWN,
WHAT, 4 INCHES?

AT LEAST.

Narrator: THE PUMP
IS DRAINING THE GLORY HOLE

QUICKER THAN EXPECTED.

WE'VE BEEN RUNNING
ABOUT 4 MINUTES,

AND THE SURFACE HAS ALREADY
DROPPED ABOUT 4 INCHES.

IT'S NOT GONNA
TAKE LONG AT ALL.

THE PROBLEM IS,
WITH ONLY 20 FEET OF HOSE,

THE PUMP WILL NEED TO BE LOWERED
TO REACH THE RECEDING WATER.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
GET SET UP AND MOVE THAT.

YEAH.

THEY'LL LIFT IT
WITH THE 400 EXCAVATOR.

BUT JACK'S BELOVED 400
HASN'T STARTED

IN 6 FREEZING COLD MONTHS.

LOOK AT THE 400.
LOOK HOW RUSTY IT GOT.

LOOK UNDER THE PADS
AND THE TRACKS.

IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT,
I THINK.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS MINED FOR
GOLD TILL THE VERY LAST MINUTE

BEFORE ALASKA'S WINTER
SHUT THEM DOWN.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO
WINTERIZE THEIR HEAVY MACHINERY,

AND THAT DECISION
COULD BE COSTLY.

TEMPERATURES AT PORCUPINE
DROPPED TO 25 BELOW.

LET'S ROCK AND ROLL.

DAVE, ARE YOU GONNA
STAY UP THERE

WHILE HE TRIES
TO START IT?

YEAH, I'M GONNA LOOK
FOR FLUID LEAKS.

OKAY, DAD.
OKAY.

DAVE, ARE YOU READY?

YEAH, GO AHEAD, JACK.
CLEAR.

OKAY.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

DUDE! NO WAY.

SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,

THAT'S AMAZING.
DUDE.

TO BE SITTING THAT LONG
AND IT FIRES UP JUST LIKE THAT.

THAT 400's SWEET.

IF THIS OLD 400
HADN'T STARTED UP,

WE WOULDN'T HAVE
A MINING SEASON,

AND SO IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

IT'S A GOOD OMEN.

I BELIEVE THAT.

PULL OUT HERE.
ALL RIGHT.

Narrator:
BEFORE JACK CAN PUT THE 400
TO WORK AT THE GLORY HOLE,

HE HAS TO CLEAR THE COBWEBS.

Doumitt: THE STUFF'S
BEEN SITTING ALL WINTER.

IT'S ALL STIFF AND SORE.

Jack: YEAH, IT'S RUSTY,
BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT.

Todd:
TRY THE BUCKET.

MOVE THE THUMB UP.

MOVE THE THUMB UP.
IT WON'T WORK.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

IT'S NOT WORKING.

SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH IT.

Narrator:
A BUTTON IN THE 400's CAB

IS SUPPOSED TO LIFT THE THUMB
ON THE BUCKET.

NOPE,
THUMB DOESN'T WORK.

AAH.

OKAY, PUT IT DOWN, DAD,
AND SHUT HER OFF.

THE THUMB'S NOT WORKING, AND WE
CAN'T DIG WITHOUT THE THUMB.

IT'S RIGHT IN THE WAY.

NOT ONLY THAT,
WE CAN'T PICK ANY ROCKS.

WE CAN'T PICK
ANY BIG ROCKS OUT, SO...

IT'S ALWAYS
GOT TO BE SOMETHING.

PROBABLY WIRING.

OHH.

FOR TEAM MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS,

THIS IS NOT HOW HE WANTED TO
START THE SEASON.

SOMEWHERE WE HAVE A SHORT,

AND IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE
AS THESE BARE WIRES.

SO I HAVE TO TRACE
FROM HERE TO THE BACK

AND FIGURE OUT WHICH WIRE
HAS THE PROBLEM.

JAMES,
CAN YOU FIX IT OR NOT?

IT'S EITHER LOOSE OR A BAD
CONNECTION SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

I'LL JUST HAVE TO
REWIRE IT.

OKAY.
WELL, LET'S DO IT.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE QUICK.

YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING A DAY,
MAYBE TWO.

OKAY.
IT'S A LOT OF WIRING.

ALL RIGHT.
WELL, GET ON IT.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
A TAXING SUMMER.

I WISH I HAD A LITTLE TIME
TO REST

BEFORE DOING THIS KIND OF STUFF,

BUT I CAN SEE
THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator:
EVERY DAY THE HOFFMAN CREW LOSES

DURING THE SHORT MINING SEASON
WILL COST THEM.

THIS DELAY
COULD SET THEM BACK DAYS.

HEY!
UP AHEAD...

THE CREW BATTLES TO GET THE MINE
UP AND RUNNING.

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

WAIT. WAIT.

THE HOFFMANS FIND GOLD...

THAT PAN THAT JACK HAS,
THAT'S CRAZY.

THERE YOU GO.

Narrator:
...ONLY FOR DAKOTA FRED
TO SHOW UP AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

Hurt: I GOT
A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS,

BUT I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF BAD NEWS, TOO.

...AND BLOW THEIR SEASON APART.

Narrator:
DEEP IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...

...THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DRAINING 60 FEET OF WATER

FROM THE GLORY HOLE.

THAT PUMP IS AWESOME.

I WISH I HAD
HAD THAT LAST YEAR.

Narrator: THEIR NEW PUMP
IS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT,

BUT THEY NEED TO LOWER IT CLOSER
TO THE RECEDING WATER.

THE 400 EXCAVATOR IS THE ONLY
MACHINE THAT CAN LIFT IT,

BUT THE THUMB IS BROKEN.

THIS IS BASICALLY THE TRIGGER.

YOU GOT A SWITCH TO GO UP
AND A SWITCH TO GO DOWN,

JUST RIGHT HERE, AND THAT ALLOWS
IT TO GO THROUGH THESE WIRES

TO THE SWITCH IN THE BACK

AND ALLOWS THE HYDRAULICS
TO FLOW AND OPEN THE THUMB,

AND IT CLOSES THE THUMB.

Narrator:
MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS

DETERMINES THAT THE PROBLEM
IS IN THE ENGINE.

SEE, THESE CONNECTIONS
ARE ALL DIRTY.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM.

BAD CONNECTIONS LIKE THIS
ARE JUST UGLY.

IT GOES
CLEAR BACK THERE, HUH?

YOU GOT ALL THESE CONNECTORS
THAT WE DON'T NEED.

IT JUST FELL OFF.
YEAH.

Narrator: THE QUICK FIX WOULD BE
TO REPLACE THE CONNECTORS,

BUT HARNESS WANTS TO SOLDER
THE WIRES TOGETHER.

I'M GONNA ELIMINATE ALL THAT
AND SOLDER IT.

SOLDERING WILL TAKE MORE TIME,

BUT JAMES THINKS IT WILL
PREVENT PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.

IF THE WIRING IS GOOD,
WE CAN'T BLAME ANYTHING ELSE.

OKAY, MAN, THANKS.

Harness:
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN DOING
THINGS ONCE AND DOING IT RIGHT.

IT'S NICE TO DO IT RIGHT, BUT
RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO GET GOING.

IN ORDER TO GET THE MATERIAL,
THE 400's GOT TO BE GOING.

IF THE 400 ISN'T GOING,
WE AREN'T GETTING ANYTHING.

SO, THAT'S JUST THE LONG
AND THE SHORT OF IT.

HOPE IT WON'T TAKE
TOO LONG.

Narrator:
WITH THE 400 SHUT DOWN,

TODD AND GREG
GO TO VISIT THEIR NEIGHBOR.

HEADING UP TO SCHNABEL'S HERE.
SEE WHAT THEY GOT COOKING.

JOHN SCHNABEL OWNS
THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

JUST ACROSS PORCUPINE CREEK.

HOW YOU DOING, TODD?
MORNING.

MORNING, JOHN.

MORNING TO YOU ALL.

Narrator: JOHN'S WORKED
THIS AREA FOR 25 YEARS,

AND TODD'S LOOKING
FOR SOME INFORMATION

ON A FORMER HOFFMAN CREW MEMBER.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN DAKOTA FRED
UP HERE, HAVE YOU, THIS YEAR?

I'VE ONLY SEEN HIM

WHEN HE CAME IN ON A WEEK AGO
THURSDAY, I GUESS.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT
AND SEE US.

SOMETHING'S UP,
AND IT AIN'T GOOD.

IS HE IN TOWN?

WHAT I HEAR, HE'S IN TOWN.

LAST SEASON,
EXPERIENCED MINER DAKOTA FRED

WAS FORCED ON THE HOFFMANS
BY THE PORCUPINE CLAIM OWNER.

HEY, GUYS, THIS
IS A NEW MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.

FROM THE MOMENT HE ARRIVED,

HE QUESTIONED
THE CREW'S METHODS,

CAUSING TEMPERS TO FLARE.

YOU'RE SITTING THERE
BEATING IT TO THREADS.

DON'T ARGUE WITH ME.
HEY! STOP IT!

DAKOTA FRED SURVIVED
HIS FIRST HOFFMAN MINING SEASON,

BUT IN THE OFF-SEASON,
MADE HIS PLANS VERY CLEAR.

I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO WORK
THE PORCUPINE CLAIM

BY MYSELF
WITH MY OWN CREW.

ME AND FRED, WE GOT
SOME ISSUES TO WORK OUT.

IF YOU SEE HIM,
LET ME KNOW, WILL YOU?

YEAH. YEAH.

TELL HIM TO GET UP HERE
AND LET'S TALK.

YEAH.
TAKE CARE, TODD.

THANKS, JOHN.
THANKS FOR HAVING US OVER.

Narrator: A THOUSAND MILES AWAY
IN ANCHORAGE...

...DAKOTA FRED
IS ON HIS WAY TO A MEETING

WITH THE OWNER OF THE PORCUPINE
CREEK CLAIM, EARLE FOSTER.

Hurt:
LITTLE BIT UP IN THE AIR

AS TO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
THIS YEAR.

I NEED TO GET THINGS
SETTLED UP WITH EARLE...

SO I'LL KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT DIRECTION

I'M GONNA BE TAKING THIS YEAR.

I FULLY EXPECT TO DO SOME MINING
IN PORCUPINE,

BUT AT THIS POINT,
IT'S STILL UP TO EARLE.

Narrator: LAST SEASON,
MINE OWNER EARLE FOSTER

SENT FRED INTO PORCUPINE CREEK
TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE MINE.

WHERE THE HELL
IS EVERYBODY?

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW HAD
FOUND JUST $3,000 OF GOLD

IN THEIR FIRST 3 MONTHS
OF MINING,

AND EARLE WASN'T HAPPY
WITH HIS CUT.

I MIGHT ASK THEM TO LEAVE.

THAT'S ALL A POSSIBILITY.

HELLO, FRED.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

Narrator:
BECAUSE THE HOFFMANS FOUND
ONLY $20,000 IN GOLD LAST YEAR,

EARLE FOSTER GETS TO THE POINT.

IN MY OPINION, THE HOFFMANS
WERE JUST OVERWHELMED

WITH THE MAGNITUDE
OF THE PROJECT.

EVERY DAY WAS A DIFFERENT PLAN,
IT SEEMED LIKE,

AND THEY WEREN'T
GETTING ANYWHERE.

THE FINANCIAL SITUATION WASN'T
GOOD FOR THEM OR MYSELF, EITHER.

WE WERE BOTH LOSING MONEY.

LIKE YOU SAY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
PARTICULARLY A MINING PLAN.

IT'S A GOOD CLAIM.
THERE'S PLENTY OF GOLD THERE.

IT JUST TAKES SOMEONE
WITH EXPERIENCE AND KNOW-HOW

TO GET IT OUT.

FROM MY STANDPOINT,
THAT'S GREAT.

YEP.

WELL, GOOD LUCK, FRED.

ALL RIGHT.

Hurt:
EARLE WAS NOT HAPPY.

APPARENTLY THE HOFFMANS
HAVE DROPPED THE BALL.

PORCUPINE, HERE I COME.

Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS CHECKING ON
THE PROGRESS AT THE GLORY HOLE.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

WOW!

Narrator:
IN NO TIME AT ALL,

THEIR NEW AND IMPROVED PUMP
HAS SUCKED UP 20 FEET OF WATER.

IT NEEDS TO DRAIN
THE REMAINING 40 FEET

FOR THE CREW TO GET
TO THE MILLIONS IN GOLD

THEY BELIEVE IS AT THE BOTTOM
OF THIS HOLE.

[ WATER GURGLING ]
Jack: WE KNOW IT'S THERE.

ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GET IT.

Todd: WE GOT A HOLE HERE
THAT'S 75 FEET DEEP.

BUT WE HAVE OUR PUMP,

AND THE HOSE THAT IT SUCKS THE
WATER FROM IS ONLY 20 FEET LONG.

SO WE HAVE TO MOVE THE PUMP
IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

AS WE MOVE DOWN.

THAT'S CALLED STAGING.

Narrator: THE PUMP'S HOSE CAN
NO LONGER REACH THE WATER.

TODD'S PLAN IS TO DIG SHELVES

ALONG THE SIDES
OF THE GLORY HOLE

SO THE PUMP
CAN BE MOVED DOWN IN STAGES.

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PUMP
FOR ANOTHER 20 FEET

FROM THE NEW SHELF.

THEN THEY REPEAT THE PROCESS
UNTIL THE WATER IS GONE.

THEN JACK CAN ONCE AGAIN
DIG FOR GOLD.

Remsburg: THE QUICKER WE GET
THE WATER OUT OF THE HOLE,

THE QUICKER JACK'S
DIGGING AGAIN,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT --
WE WANT JACK DIGGING.

Narrator:
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING,

MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS

HAS TO GET THE THUMB ON
THE 400 EXCAVATOR WORKING AGAIN.

THESE ARE AWESOME FOR BEING OUT
WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE POWER

BECAUSE THEY OPERATE ON JUST
A LITTLE CIGARETTE LIGHTER

WITHOUT A FLINT IN IT,

AND IT'S THE TIP
THAT MAKES THE HEAT,

AND YOU CAN SOLDER CLEAR UP
TO COPPER PIPE WITH THIS STUFF.

I'M HOPING I CAN CLEAN IT UP
AND MAKE IT WORK.

[ BLOWS ]

[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT! HUH.

THAT'S GOOD!

I GOT IT...I THINK.

OH, YEAH.
THERE YOU GO.

Narrator:
AFTER 6 MONTHS IDLE,

THE 400
IS FINALLY UP AND RUNNING.

BUT THE REAL TEST...

CLEAR.

...WILL BE WHEN JACK
STARTS TO DIG.

HE HEADS TO THE GLORY HOLE

TO BUILD THE FIRST SHELF
FOR THE PUMP.

Harness:
THIS WILL BE THE TEST.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

TIME WILL TELL ON THIS ONE.

Narrator: THE 400's NEWLY FIXED
THUMB IS IMMEDIATELY PUT TO USE.

LITTLE MORE?

YEAH,
A LITTLE BIT MORE.

Narrator: JACK IS IN CHARGE
OF DIGGING AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

BUT IN THE GLORY HOLE
WITH HIM THIS YEAR

IS TODD'S SECRET WEAPON,
DAVE TURIN.

LAST SEASON
DAVE VISITED THE MINE TWICE

TO ADVISE THE HOFFMAN CREW...

YOU PUT AN ANGLE IRON ON HERE,
PUT A FLANGE IN HERE,

AND THEN
YOU'RE READY TO GO.

...AND TO COACH JACK OUT
OF HIS HELTER-SKELTER APPROACH

TO DIGGING.

WHAT IF YOU TOOK THE DOZER
OVER HERE, JACK,

AND JUST GET THIS
ALL LEVELED OUT?

TODD WANTED DAVE

AND HIS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
IN EXCAVATION

AT THE MINE THIS YEAR.

I NEED YOU TO COME WITH ME
FULL TIME.

WOW.

BUT IT WAS
A GUT-WRENCHING DECISION

FOR DAVE TO LEAVE
HIS FAMILY QUARRY BUSINESS.

I'VE WORKED AT ONE JOB
MY WHOLE LIFE,

AND I WANT TO GO
CHASE A DREAM.

HOLD IT. HOLD IT.

JUST GIVE ME
A LEVEL SPOT DOWN THERE.

THAT'S ABOUT
THE RIGHT LEVEL, JACK.

Narrator:
UNDER DAVE'S DIRECTION,

JACK DIGS THE FIRST SHELF
IN NO TIME.

OKAY.

RIGHT HERE.

NEW YEAR, NEW ATTITUDE.

JACK WAS LISTENING.
I LIKE IT.

STAND DOWN.

Narrator: JACK NOW NEEDS TO
REPOSITION THE PUMP.

OKAY, NOW UP.

AND WITH DAVE'S VAST EXPERIENCE
RUNNING CREWS,

HE STEERS JACK
AND THE PUMP INTO PLACE.

I GOT TO GET JUST
A LITTLE BIT MORE OUT, JACK.

A LITTLE MORE OUT, JACK!

OKAY, NOW DOWN.

Todd:
EVERYTHING'S GOING REALLY GOOD.

YOU KNOW, I THINK
OUR MISSING LINK WAS DAVE TURIN.

OKAY, JACK.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA COME
TOGETHER REALLY WELL AS A TEAM.

WE'RE LOOKING
AT A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Narrator:
THE 400's THUMB HAS HELD FIRM.

WITH THE PUMP ON A NEW SHELF,
THEY HOOK UP THE HOSE

TO CONTINUE DRAINING
THE GLORY HOLE.

OKAY, GREG, THAT'S GOOD.

AS THE HOLE BEGINS
TO DRAIN AGAIN,

THE CREW INCHES EVER CLOSER

TO WHAT COULD BE $15 MILLION
IN BURIED GOLD.

AT FIRST LIGHT THE NEXT DAY,
JACK AND CHRIS CHECK PROGRESS.

LOOKS LIKE A HOLE.

OH HO!

OH, MAN!

WE GOT IT DOWN PRETTY FAR.

WE GOT ANOTHER LOOKS LIKE
10, 20 FEET, AND WE'RE THERE.

Narrator:
THEY NEED TO MOVE THE PUMP

TO THE DEEPEST PART
OF THE 75-FOOT HOLE.

Turin:
HANG ON, JACK.

BUT THE ARM OF THE 400 EXCAVATOR
CAN ONLY REACH 40 FEET.

JACK NEEDS TO REPOSITION
THE PUMP IN TWO MOVES.

Todd:
THIS IS KIND OF TRICKY.

WE GOT TO SET THIS PUMP DOWN,

AND THEN HE'S GOT TO COME AROUND
AND RE-GRAB IT

AND THEN STAGE IT DOWN HERE.

THAT'S A $30,000 PUMP.

AND WE WANT TO DO IT SAFE.
THAT'S THE KEY.

BE CAREFUL NOW.

Narrator:
THEY CAN'T AFFORD A MISTAKE.

WITH A GOLD RUSH ON,
PUMPS ARE IN DEMAND.

GETTING ANOTHER ONE
COULD TAKE WEEKS.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME
AND DON'T GET IN A HURRY, OKAY?

BUT JACK IS MOVING THE PUMP
AROUND TOO FAST.

[ WHISTLES ]

JACK!
HEY!

JUST WAIT A SECOND!

Todd: WELL, LET US KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

JUST WAIT A SECOND!

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

Narrator:
IF JACK DROPS THE PUMP,

THEIR CHANCE OF DRAINING
THIS HOLE

AND GETTING TO THE GOLD
WILL BE LOST.

WAIT. WAIT.

YOU GUYS LET HIM KNOW
WHAT YOU WANT.

HEY, LISTEN TO ME!

JACK. JACK.
HANG ON. HANG ON.

Narrator:
ONCE AGAIN, DAVE TAKES CHARGE,

GUIDING THE PUMP
INTO ITS FIRST POSITION.

JACK, OKAY, NOW DOWN.

OKAY, HOLD RIGHT THERE.

TO LIFT THE PUMP
INTO THE SECOND POSITION,

JACK HAS TO DRIVE INTO THE HOLE.

YESTERDAY THIS ACCESS ROAD
WAS UNDERWATER.

WHOA!
LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT.

JACK BATTLES TO GET A GRIP
WITH HIS TRACKS.

HEY.
GET YOUR TRACKS THIS WAY.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL
I WANT YOU TO GO.

YEAH. THAT'S FINE.

LET'S RIG THAT PUMP.

OKAY.

TODD, YOU READY?

GO AHEAD AND SWING IT THAT WAY
TO TODD.

HEY, HANG ON. HOLD ON.
START TO LOWER IT.

JUST A SECOND.
LET ME GET IT OVER GROUND.

START TO LOWER IT.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

Narrator: BUT JACK HAS DRIVEN
THE 400 TOO FAR INTO THE HOLE

TO SET THE PUMP DOWN
IN ITS FINAL POSITION.

CURL YOUR TEETH OUT,
JACK.

Jack:
I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE UP.

THAT'S IT?

HANG ON.
HANG ON.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET OUT.

I CAN'T.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET OUT.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET
AND BRING YOUR ELBOW IN.

NO, NO. YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET
AND BRING YOUR ELBOW IN.

Narrator: ROLLING THE 400's
BUCKET OUT AND BENDING ITS ARM

WILL LOWER THE PUMP,

BUT IT WILL ALSO SWING IT
RIGHT INTO THE WALL.

AAH!

NO.
YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, I DO UNDERSTAND.

Narrator:
THE 400's ARM IS FULLY EXTENDED.

IT CAN'T LOWER THE PUMP
THE REMAINING 2 FEET.

JACK IS STUCK.

Jack:
OKAY, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?

Narrator: DAVE STEPS IN
WITH A SIMPLE SOLUTION.

JUST BACK UP.

BY BACKING UP 6 FEET...

OH!

...THERE IS NOW ENOUGH ROOM
TO LOWER THE PUMP.

SET HER DOWN.

Jack: THERE YOU GO.

Narrator:
THE PUMP IS FINALLY IN PLACE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

[BLEEP]

WHO SAID GOLD MINING
WAS EASY?

Doumitt: THAT WILL GET US
CLEAR TO THE BOTTOM.

WE'LL FINISH
PUMPING OUT THIS HOLE.

AND HOPEFULLY
IN AN HOUR AND A HALF,

JACK WILL BE DIGGING.

IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD FEELING

TO GET THAT DIRT RUNNING
THROUGH THAT PLANT AGAIN.

Narrator:
DEDICATING THE OFF-SEASON

TO ACQUIRING BETTER PEOPLE
AND BETTER GEAR IS PAYING OFF.

THEIR NEW PUMP HAS DRAINED THE
GLORY HOLE IN JUST OVER A DAY.

THAT'S AS DEEP
AS WE CAN PUMP IT, DAVE.

THE WATER'S NOT COMING IN
AS FAST AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A CHANCE AT IT, SO...

DIG!

LAST SEASON,
THE HOFFMANS BEGAN MINING

10 WEEKS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL.

NOW JACK IS DIGGING FOR PAY DIRT
AFTER JUST 3 DAYS.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS ARE BACK
AT PORCUPINE CREEK

FOR THEIR SECOND
GOLD-MINING SEASON.

AFTER JUST 3 DAYS, THE CREW
IS ALREADY STARTING TO MINE.

WE DID IT.
[ LAUGHS ]

HOW'S IT LOOKING?
PRETTY GOOD?

THAT'S WHERE WE GOT MOST
OF THE GOLD LAST YEAR,

AND WE'RE RIGHT THERE NOW,
SO WE'RE GOOD.

Narrator: IN LAST YEAR'S
5-MONTH MINING SEASON,

THEY FOUND JUST 14 OUNCES,
OR $20,000, IN GOLD.

BUT 8 1/2 OF THE 14 OUNCES

CAME IN THE FINAL DAYS
OF JACK DIGGING THE GLORY HOLE.

THAT JUST PROVES

THAT IT'S LAYING DOWN THERE
ON BEDROCK,

AND THERE'S GONNA BE
A LOT OF IT.

NOW JACK DIGS DEEPER
IN SEARCH OF BEDROCK

AND THE ESTIMATED $15 MILLION
OF GOLD

STILL UNDISCOVERED
ON THIS CLAIM.

I'M LOOKING
FOR THAT ELUSIVE NUGGET.

IF I GET ONE OF THOSE,

IT WILL MAKE THIS SEASON
REALLY START OFF WITH A POP.

Narrator: WITH THE SEASON'S
FIRST FRESH DIRT

FROM THE BOTTOM
OF THE GLORY HOLE,

TODD STARTS UP THE WASH PLANT.

FIRE IT UP.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

AH, COME ON BABY.

HERE WE GO.

HEY, NEW SEASON.

LET'S TURN THIS
FULL OF YELLOW.

TRY THE SHAKER.

[ ENGINE RUMBLES ]

Narrator: THE WASH PLANT
SEPARATES GOLD FROM THE DIRT.

THIS IS OUR FIRST SCOOP.
FIRST SCOOP.

Narrator:
THE SHAKER WASHES THE ROCKS...

TRAPPING ANY GOLD
IN A SLUICE BOX BELOW.

THEY'RE COMING CLEAN?
REAL GOOD.

YEAH, GOOD.
WASHING THE ROCKS REAL GOOD.

THEY'RE COMING OFF CLEAN,
DAVE SAID.

LOOKING GOOD.

BENEATH THE SHAKER
IS THE TROMMEL,

WHICH PROCESSES
THE REMAINING DIRT,

THEN CATCHES FINER GOLD
IN A SECOND SLUICE BOX.

I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL YEAR
FOR THIS.

I FEEL AWESOME.

Narrator:
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW,

EVERYTHING THEY HAVE IS INVESTED
IN PORCUPINE CREEK,

ALTHOUGH JUST ONE WEEK AGO,
THEY HAD TWO CLAIMS TO MINE.

OVER WINTER, THE HOFFMANS
VENTURED 600 MILES NORTH

INTO THE KLONDIKE.

WITH GOLD AT RECORD PRICES,
THEY WANTED A SECOND CLAIM.

WHEN THEY FOUND ONE
JUST OUTSIDE OF DAWSON CITY,

THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS
LOOKED GOOD.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS
A DROP-DEAD KILLER CLAIM.

Narrator:
BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE,

THEY LOST THEIR KLONDIKE CLAIM
AFTER A WATER LICENSE MIX-UP.

WITHOUT A WATER LICENSE, YOU'RE
NOT MINING IN THE KLONDIKE.

Narrator:
FINDING GOLD AT PORCUPINE CREEK

IS NOW THEIR ONLY HOPE.

Todd:
I'M READY TO TAKE A LOOK

AND CLEAN OUT AND SHUT IT DOWN
FOR THIS SHIFT.

Narrator:
IF THIS CLEANOUT IS AS GOOD

AS THEIR FINAL CLEANOUT
OF LAST SEASON,

IT COULD YIELD 8 OUNCES,
OR $13,000.

WITH ANOTHER 150 DAYS TO MINE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
MAY JUST STRIKE IT RICH.

BEING OUR FIRST CLEANOUT
OF THE YEAR

AND COMING OFF A HARD WINTER,
WE NEED A GOOD ONE.

GOT IT.

THEY'RE EASIER TO WALK
WITH TWO.

Todd: WE'RE GONNA
GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER

AND SEE IF WE REALLY
HIT SOME GOOD GOLD.

THE FUTURE OF OUR SUMMER
IS RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: 10 MILES AWAY
ON THE DALTON TRAIL,

DAKOTA FRED CLOSES IN
ON PORCUPINE CREEK.

GOT A FEW THINGS TO DISCUSS
WITH THE HOFFMAN CREW.

NOT EVERYBODY WILL AGREE
WITH WHAT I DO OR HOW I DO IT.

I HOPE THEY'LL ACT
LIKE BIG BOYS.

OH!
OH! WHOA!

WHOO!

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S THE MOTHER LODE.

Narrator:
THE CREW PANS THE DIRT

FROM ONE HOUR
OF RUNNING THE WASH PLANT.

THAT'S CHRIS' MOTHER LODE.

Narrator: AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS
BACK AT PORCUPINE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS ON THE GOLD...

THIS IS A GREAT PAN,
YOU KNOW.

FANTASTIC.

IT'S HOT STUFF.
IT'S JUST PLAIN HOT STUFF.

Todd: GOOD START, BOYS.
GOOD START. HEY!

THAT'S RIGHT, BROTHER.

WE'RE SEEING
A LOT OF GOOD GOLD.

LAST YEAR IT TOOK US SO LONG
JUST TO GET TO THIS POINT.

IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH.

THAT LOOKS GOOD, MAN.

THAT'S LIKE A HALF OUNCE,
THREE-QUARTERS?

Narrator:
THREE-QUARTERS OF AN OUNCE,

OR $1,200, IN GOLD
FROM 1 HOUR RUNNING.

THAT PAN THAT JACK HAS,
THAT'S CRAZY.

WE GOT SOME HOT PANS
GOING HERE.

Narrator: IF THE HOFFMANS
RUN DIRT FOR A FULL DAY,

THEY CAN AVERAGE 8 OUNCES,
OR $13,000 DOLLARS.

WE ARE GONNA HAVE AS MUCH
OUT OF THIS ONE CLEANOUT

AS WE HAD ALL SEASON.

PRETTY AWESOME.
THERE YOU GO.

Narrator: AT THIS RATE,
THE CREW CAN PULL IN

OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
IN GOLD,

25 TIMES MORE
THAN THEIR ROOKIE SEASON.

WE INVESTED BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND TEARS LAST YEAR,

AND IT'S OUR TURN.

THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
ALL WINTER LONG.

Todd: WE'RE JUST
GETTING STARTED.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: AS THE CREW CELEBRATES
LONG OVERDUE SUCCESS...

HEY.

...A TRUCK PULLS INTO THE MINE.

FRED HURT.

TODD HOFFMAN.

DOING ALL RIGHT?

YEAH. I'M DOING FINE.

I SEE ALL THE BOYS
ARE HERE.

Harness:
I'M NOT WORKING WITH HIM.

IF HE'S COMING IN HERE,
I'M NOT. I'M LEAVING.

Todd: WELL, CUT TO THE CHASE,
FRED. WHAT'S UP?

WELL, FELLAS, I JUST CAME BACK
FROM TALKING WITH EARLE.

HE'S PUT THE CLAIM
UP FOR SALE.

THE VERY GOOD NEWS IS
I OWN THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.

NO KIDDING?

AND THE BAD NEWS IS I INTEND
TO MINE THAT THING THIS YEAR.

RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE
OF YOUR GLORY HOLE.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS
HAVE JUST FOUND OUT

THAT THE CLAIM
THEY HAVE BEEN LEASING

HAS BEEN SOLD TO RIVAL MINER
DAKOTA FRED.

HEY, GUYS.

TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN
NOW NEED TO TELL THEIR CREW

THAT PORCUPINE CREEK
HAS A NEW OWNER.

COME ON OVER, BUT I WANT YOU
GUYS TO KEEP A COOL HEAD.

REMEMBER WHO WE ARE,
OKAY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WHAT HAPPENED?

JUST LISTEN.

FELLAS...

I BOUGHT THE PORCUPINE CREEK
CLAIM FROM EARLE.

I'M GONNA MINE THIS CLAIM
THIS YEAR.

SO YOU BOUGHT IT
OUT FROM UNDER US?

THAT IS CORRECT.

I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING
FROM UNDER ANYTHING.

I'VE HAD A STANDING OFFER

TO BUY THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM
FOR YEARS.

THAT NULLIFIES OUR LEASE,
DON'T IT?

WELL, THE LEASE, I BELIEVE,
IS TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY.

WELL, I'M PISSED ABOUT IT.

YOU LET US DIG IN
AND DO ALL THE WORK.

NOW YOU'RE GONNA COME IN
AND TAKE OVER.

THAT'S [BLEEP]

WELL, SIR --

WE OPENED OUR ARMS
AND LET YOU IN,

AND THIS IS THE WAY
YOU TREAT US.

FRED, LET'S GO TALK
IN PRIVATE.

Harness: HOLD ON.
HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

IS THAT IT?
THAT'S IT -- YOU BOUGHT IT?

I DO HAVE PAPERWORK
WITH ME.

COME ON, FRED,
LET'S GO TALK.

ALL RIGHT.

DOESN'T HE HAVE TO HONOR THE
LEASE EVEN IF HE TAKES IT OVER?

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE WAY
IT'S WRITTEN,

AND TO TELL YOU
THE HONEST TRUTH,

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE COVERED
OUR BASES THERE.

Narrator:
DURING THE OFF-SEASON,

TODD WAS SO FOCUSED ON GETTING
A SECOND CLAIM

UP AND RUNNING IN THE KLONDIKE

THAT HE FORGOT TO MAKE A LEASE
PAYMENT ON PORCUPINE CREEK.

BECAUSE OF TODD'S MISTAKE,

FRED NO LONGER HAS TO HONOR
THE LEASE.

DUDE, YOU'VE GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME.

NO, THIS IS FOR REAL.

THIS AIN'T A DREAM?

I'LL BRING OUT --

I'LL BRING OUT THE PAPERWORK
IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

WE POURED OUR BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND TEARS INTO THIS DEAL.

WELL --

WE'VE GOT ALL OUR STUFF,
ALL OUR EQUIPMENT.

WE'RE SET UP.
WE'RE RUNNING.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

I'M IN A POSITION
TO MAKE YOU AN OFFER,

IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED,

TO BUY
ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT.

ALL OF IT --
THE 400, THE 270, THE LOADER.

I THINK I-I'M GONNA GO HAVE
A LITTLE CHAT WITH FRED.

NO. COME ON.
HEY, HEY.

Narrator: GREG REMSBURG
IS NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE.

GREG. I'M SERIOUS.

IT AIN'T GONNA DO
ANY GOOD.

HEY. NO, SERIOUS.
RELAX, MAN.

LOOK.

THIS IS [BLEEP] DAVE.

I KNOW IT IS. LOOK.

COME ON, JUST RELAX.

[ DOOR RATTLING ]

COME ON, MAN,
WE GOT TO JUST RELAX.

IT AIN'T GONNA DO ANY GOOD
TO KILL HIM.

DAVE,
GET GREG OUT OF HERE.

WELL, YOU TELL FRED THAT
WE'RE NOT REAL HAPPY WITH HIM.

YOU BETTER KEEP HIM
IN THERE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS!

JUST WALKING AROUND
LIKE THIS MEANS NOTHING.

IT'S EVERYTHING.

STAY IN HERE
AND KEEP THE DOOR LOCKED.

ALL RIGHT.
LAY LOW FOR A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY? I'LL BE BACK.
ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA GO TALK TO JACK.

Turin: DID HE SHOW YOU
ANY PAPERWORK?

ARE WE REALLY
OUT OF HERE?

YEAH.
WE'RE OUT OF HERE, DAVE.

I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE
WILL THINK

THAT I'M A LOWDOWN,
CONNIVING CLAIM JUMPER --

WELL, UH...
CLAIM-JUMPING SCOUNDREL.

BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER
FROM THE TRUTH.

Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS HAVE NO CHOICE

BUT TO LEAVE THE CLAIM THAT HAS
FINALLY STARTED TO PRODUCE.

IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S ALL LEGAL.

WE'RE OUT OF HERE.
WE GOT TO GO.

TODD'S NEW PUMP IS NOT FOR SALE,

BUT FRED WANTS TO BUY
THE REST OF THEIR EQUIPMENT,

INCLUDING JACK'S
PRIZED 400 EXCAVATOR.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

HE'S MADE US AN OFFER ON
THE EQUIPMENT FOR EVERYTHING.

WELL,
I'M NOT SELLING MY 400.

I DON'T GIVE A CRAP.

I KIND OF HAD A FEELING.

HECK WITH HIM.
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE HIM THAT.

I'M SO [BLEEP] OFF AT HIM
IT'S NOT FUNNY.

IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE PROBABLY
SCREWED THIS WHOLE THING UP...

BIG-TIME, SO...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF

IS IF I CAN SELL THE EQUIPMENT
TO FRED,

I COULD PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND
AT LEAST GO UP TO THE KLONDIKE.

I DON'T HAVE
A SOLUTION RIGHT NOW,

BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I COULD
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

Narrator: TODD HAS ALREADY
EXPLORED THE KLONDIKE AREA.

HE SPENT MUCH OF THE WINTER
LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT CLAIM

AND EQUIPMENT TO MINE THERE.

CASH FROM FRED
COULD GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE

AT A CLAIM
IN THE GOLD-RICH NORTH.

FRED!

$80,000. THAT'S IT.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA GET
INTO A BATTLE.

I SUGGEST YOU TAKE IT
AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

THAT IS MORE
THAN WHAT WE WANTED TO PAY.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE CHECK.

LET US COOL OFF.

LET US MOVE OUT.
GIVE US 48 HOURS.

WE'LL BE GONE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

TODD NOW HAS SOME MONEY
FOR THE KLONDIKE,

AND HE'S GOING TO NEED IT.

HE'S JUST SOLD THE HEART
OF HIS MINING OPERATION --

THE WASH PLANT, THE LOADER,
AND THE SMALLER EXCAVATOR.

Hurt: I KNOW THEY HAVE HAD
OPPORTUNITIES

TO FIND SOME OTHER PLACES.

BUT THIS IS GONNA
MAKE UP THEIR MIND.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN "B."

I'VE GOT A PLAN "B."
I ALWAYS HAVE HAD ONE.

THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE
PLAN "A."

Narrator: DAKOTA FRED

IS THE NEW OWNER
OF THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.

HE'S JUST BOUGHT MOST OF
THE HOFFMANS' MINING EQUIPMENT

FOR $80,000.

I KNOW
I'VE BEEN ADVISED TO LEAVE.

I DON'T TAKE ADVICE VERY WELL
LIKE THAT.

THIS IS MY OWN PROPERTY.

IT'S A LEGAL DEAL,

SO IT DOESN'T MEAN
I HAVE TO LIKE IT.

IT JUST MEANS
THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO NOW WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO
IS TELL MY GUYS, NUMBER ONE.

THEN I'VE GOT TO CONVINCE THEM
TO GO NORTH WITH ME.

I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

Narrator:
TODD MAKES SOME CALLS

TO FIND ANOTHER CLAIM
IN THE KLONDIKE.

HI. THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN.
I GOT YOUR NUMBER FROM BOB.

WE'VE GOT ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE READY TO GO, SO...

I DON'T KNOW IF GREG
OR JAMES WILL COME WITH.

I THINK THE OTHER GUYS
WILL, THOUGH.

BUT I'D LIKE TO GO UP THERE
WITH EVERYBODY.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --
I'LL CALL YOU IN A FEW DAYS.

Narrator: TODD HAS LEADS,
BUT NOTHING FIRM YET.

THANKS. SEE YOU.

HE CALLS A HALT TO PACKING UP TO
FILL THE CREW IN ON HIS PLANS.

Todd: OKAY, SO HERE'S
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

IF EVERYBODY JUST STAYS COOL,
WE'LL BE FINE.

LET'S GO TO THE KLONDIKE.
I'LL FIND US A PLACE UP THERE.

OKAY?

I HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT GUYS
THAT ARE CALLING ME BACK.

WE'LL FIND A PLACE.

WE'VE STILL GOT SOME TIME.

IF WE LEAVE AND GET OUT OF HERE,
WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Narrator:
IT WON'T BE EASY.

WITH GOLD PRICES
AT A RECORD HIGH,

THE KLONDIKE IS IN THE MIDDLE
OF ANOTHER GOLD RUSH.

HOME TO SOME OF THE RICHEST
GOLD FIELDS ON EARTH,

CLAIMS ARE HARD TO COME BY,

AND THE MINING SEASON
IS ALREADY A WEEK OLD.

MOVING NORTH ALSO MEANS
ABANDONING PORCUPINE

AND THE GOLD AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE GLORY HOLE.

I BUSTED MY ASS ALL SUMMER
AS A VOLUNTEER.

YOU DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH BLOOD IS ON ALL --

EVERY SINGLE PIECE
OF THIS CRAP.

DUDE, I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I GOT
INTO THIS CRAP. I GET IT.

THERE'S
A LITTLE PIECE OF THIS...

THE KLONDIKE'S GOT WAY BETTER
GOLD THAN THIS FRICKIN' PLACE.

AND YOU'RE GONNA FIND US
THAT PLACE?

I'M GONNA FIND IT.
I'LL GUARANTEE YOU I'LL FIND IT.

IF YOU TRUST ME.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY
GONE WAY OUT ON A LIMB

TO FOLLOW ME AROUND.

YOU DON'T THINK THERE'S
TRUST HERE TO DO THIS?

DUDE, WE'RE GONNA DO BETTER.
WE CAN DO BETTER.

YOU GOT TO TRY HARD
ON THIS ONE, TODD.

WE NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA WORK.

THAT'S GONNA TAKE US
ALL TOGETHER.

DUDE, I WILL FRICKING --
DUDE.

I WILL FIND US
SOMEWHERE.

YOU GUYS ARE WAY
MORE SKILLED THAN ME,

BUT THERE'S ONE THING
I'M GOOD AT,

IS FINDING STUFF
AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER,

AND I'LL GUARANTEE YOU I WILL
FIND US SOMETHING BETTER.

OKAY? I KNOW WE'RE LEAVING
SOME SKIN

AND SOME BLOOD
AND SOME TEARS HERE.

I GET IT.
I'M WITH YOU.

BUT WE STICK,
WE LIVE AND WE DIE AS A TEAM,

AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT
AS A TEAM IF WE STICK TOGETHER.

LET'S THROW IT IN,
YOU GUYS.

LET'S SAY
A LITTLE PRAYER HERE.

LORD, WE KNOW
YOU GOT A PLAN

THAT'S MUCH BETTER
THAN ANYTHING WE GOT.

WE JUST ASK THAT YOU GUIDE
OUR STEPS FROM HERE ON OUT

WHEREVER WE'RE GONNA GO.
AMEN.

AMEN.

Narrator:
THERE IS MORE DOUBT AMONGST
THE CREW THAN EVER BEFORE.

Todd:
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: BUT TODD HAS CONVINCED
THEM TO STAY TOGETHER FOR NOW.

Todd: LET'S LOAD UP!

Thurber: I TRUST HIM.

HE KNOWS WHERE WE'RE ALL AT
FINANCIALLY,

AND I WOULDN'T WANT THAT WEIGHT
ON MY SHOULDERS,

BUT I KNOW TODD CAN HANDLE IT,
SO WE'LL DO GOOD.

IF WE DON'T, I'M DONE.

Turin:
I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN TODD,

BUT AS A BUSINESSMAN,
IT ONLY GOES SO FAR.

I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING, AND
I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING SOON.

HEY, GUYS, LET'S GET
THE FRICK OUT OF HERE.

LET'S JUST GO.

Jack:
YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M GONNA LEAVE HERE
NOT KNOWING

EXACTLY WHAT'S DOWN
IN THAT HOLE,

AND I WISH I DID.

BUT I CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY,
I GUESS.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS WERE OFF
TO A GREAT START

IN THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON.

THEY FOUND GOLD
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE.

BUT NOW, FOR THE SECOND TIME,

THEY HEAD DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE
PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM DEFEATED.

Todd: I'VE GOT ABOUT A WEEK TO
FIND SOMEPLACE IN THE KLONDIKE.

OTHERWISE, IT'S OVER.

WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE 8-BALL
ON THIS.

Narrator:
DAKOTA FRED IS LEFT BEHIND

TO GET THE GOLD
HE KNOWS IS IN THE GROUND HERE.

Hurt:
IF THEY FIND THEM A CLAIM,

AT THE END OF THE SEASON,
THEY'LL COME AND SHOW ME GOLD

AND SHOW ME HOW WRONG
I WAS ABOUT THEM.

I THINK I'LL HAVE TO PULL
MY GOLD OUT AND SHOW THEM

THEY GOT A LONG WAY TO GO

BEFORE THEY CATCH UP
TO THE OLD MAN.