Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 4 - Viking Ship - full transcript
Todd is forced to sell his gold to get the mining equipment he needs, Parker hauls his washplant across the claim and Tony takes to the skies to get from his claim to the gold dredge.
Narrator:
UP IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN IS ATTEMPTING
TO RISE FROM THE ASHES.
I WOULD NEVER SELL GOLD,
BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.
Narrator:
HE'S DESPERATE FOR CASH...
YOU HAVE GOLD FEVER.
...DESPERATE TO KEEP
HIS WASH PLANT RUNNING...
CUT THE WATER.
...AND DESPERATELY IN NEED
OF HIS OLD CREW.
I NEED YOU BACK OVER HERE.
MAN: Can't do it.
I'm committed here.
PARKER SCHNABEL'S 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION SEASON...
Man: UP, UP, UP!
...IS FAST BECOMING
A PIPE DREAM.
YOU CAN SAY GOODBYE TO MAKING
ANY MONEY DOING THAT.
Narrator:
TO SAVE HIS SEASON,
HE REDESIGNS HIS OPERATION.
Man: HOLY CRAP.
A RADICAL DECISION TO MOVE
HIS 7 1/2-TON BIG RED...
WE DROP SOMETHING ON
THAT WASH PLANT, I'M SCREWED.
WHOA! [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...PUTS PARKER AND HIS
FOREMAN, GENE, AT LOGGERHEADS.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH,
THEN MAYBE YOU NEED TO GET
SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
Narrator: AND AS TONY BEETS
FALLS FURTHER BEHIND
BRINGING HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE
BACK TO LIFE...
I CAN'T PULL MONEY
OUT OF MY ASS.
...HIS ONLY HOPE...
...TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME...
...IS TO TAKE TO THE SKIES.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN
HEADS INTO DAWSON CITY
TO SELL EVERY OUNCE OF GOLD
HE'S MINED THIS SEASON.
NORMALLY, I WOULD NEVER SELL
GOLD THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON,
BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.
WE'RE BASICALLY LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK,
AND THIS RIGHT HERE
IS OUR FIRST PAYCHECK.
AND WITH THIS,
I GOT TO GET US RUNNING AGAIN.
THIS RIGHT HERE
REPRESENTS SURVIVAL
OF OUR MINING OPERATION.
I GOT TO GET A LITTLE BIT
NEWER EQUIPMENT,
AT LEAST SOMETHING THAT RUNS.
AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN JUST --
AND KEEP IT ROLLING.
KAY, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
EASY, EASY.
Narrator:
FOR NEARLY A MONTH,
A CREW OF JUST THREE --
TODD, JACK, AND THURBER --
HAVE REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP,
MINING WITH BEAT-UP
OLD MACHINES.
Thurber: GOT A COUPLE OF PIECES
OF EQUIPMENT,
AND THEY WERE NEW
A LONG TIME AGO.
Narrator: WHEN THEIR
20-YEAR-OLD EXCAVATOR
SUDDENLY BIT THE DUST...
Jack: AW, CRAP.
IT SEIZED UP.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
...THEY HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO SHUT DOWN
THEIR OPERATION.
TO STAY IN THE GAME,
TODD HOPES TO SCRAPE
TOGETHER ENOUGH CASH
FROM HIS ONE AND ONLY
GOLD CLEANUP
TO REPLACE HIS EXCAVATOR.
HEY,
HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
GOOD, AND YOU?
I'M DOING GOOD, MAN.
YEAH.
WELL, I GOT A LITTLE GOLD
HERE TO SELL.
OKAY.
SIMON MASON WOOD
BUYS AND SMELTS GOLD.
THERE YOU ARE.
IT'S 34 OUNCES.
OKAY.
SO WE CAN GO PUT IT
ON THE FURNACE.
THIS IS WHERE
YOU SMELT IT, HUH?
YEAH, THIS IS WHERE
IT ALL HAPPENS.
THE VALUE OF TODD'S 34 OUNCES
OF GOLD DUST
WILL DEPEND ON HOW PURE IT IS
ONCE THE SLAG OR IMPURITIES
ARE BURNT OFF.
HOW HOT DO YOU HAVE
TO GET THIS TO,
TO ACTUALLY GET A REALLY GOOD,
PURE GOLD BAR?
THE FURNACE GOES
TO ABOUT 2,000 DEGREES,
AND I WAIT UNTIL EVERYTHING
IS VERY CHERRY RED
BEFORE I'LL, UH,
PULL IT OUT OF THERE.
THAT'S FOR REAL.
[ CREAKS ]
[ SIZZLING ]
ONCE IT COOLS,
SIMON SEPARATES THE SLAG
FROM THE BAR OF PURE GOLD.
I'LL CLEAN IT UP, AND YOU'LL
HAVE A NICE LITTLE BAR.
AND YOU CAN HOLD IT
BEFORE I TAKE IT BACK.
HERE YOU ARE.
A PRETTY COLOR TO IT.
I HATE SELLING GOLD,
BUT I HAVE TO THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE GOLD FEVER, THEN,
I GUESS.
I DO.
HOPEFULLY, I'LL BE BACK
AND SELL YOU A WHOLE BUNCH MORE
OF THAT STUFF.
OKAY.
LET'S GET THE PAPERWORK DONE,
GET YOUR MONEY,
AND AWAY YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT.
TODD NOW FINDS OUT EXACTLY HOW
MUCH OF HIS 34 OUNCES WAS PURE.
YOU HAVE A MELT LOSS, OF COURSE,
SO YOU'LL HAVE 27 OUNCES.
WITH 7 OUNCES LOST
TO IMPURITIES,
TODD'S FIRST CLEANUP
IS WORTH LESS THAN HE HOPED.
FRICK.
SO YOU'LL HAVE
APPROXIMATELY $33,000
GET TRANSFERRED
TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
AND WHEN --
WHEN CAN WE GET A TRANSFER?
IT'LL BE DONE
TOMORROW MORNING.
NO KIDDING, THAT FAST?
YEP.
OKAY. WELL, ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ENOUGH,
BUT 33 GRAND, IT SHOULD KEEP US
IN THE GAME.
I GOT TO GO LEASE
SOME EQUIPMENT,
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN KEEP DIGGING.
AND HOPEFULLY,
WE'LL BE BACK HERE AGAIN.
Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
PARKER HAS BEEN FIRING ON ALL
CYLINDERS FOR WELL OVER A MONTH.
THEIR GOAL FOR THE SEASON
IS 2,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $2.4 MILLION.
BUT SO FAR,
THEY'VE ONLY PRODUCED
171 OUNCES, WORTH $205,000.
THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM:
KEEPING BIG RED, THEIR MASSIVE
WASH PLANT, FED.
THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW
WITH THE HAUL,
THE DISTANCE TO THE HAUL,
THERE'S NO WAY
THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE LEAD
TO A 2,000-OUNCE SEASON,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator:
THEY'RE RUNNING DIRT
FROM THEIR SECOND CUT
OF THE SEASON,
THE SWAMP CUT.
IT'S A HALF-MILE HAUL
BACK TO THE PLANT
FOR EVERY ROCK TRUCK.
HOLY CRAP!
WHERE'D ALL OUR [BLEEP]
FUEL GO?
WITH THOSE TRUCKS
AND THAT LONG OF A HAUL,
WE'RE PROBABLY BURNING
ALMOST $500 OF FUEL
JUST TO GET PAY TO OUR PLANT
AN HOUR.
AND THAT'S OVER 5 GRAND A DAY,
6 GRAND A DAY,
JUST FOR THE TRUCKS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SAY GOODBYE
TO MAKING ANY MONEY DOING THAT.
Narrator: THE 19-YEAR-OLD
MINE BOSS HAS NO CHANCE
OF HITTING MILLIONS IN GOLD
UNLESS HE MAKES
A RADICAL CHANGE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
AH, IT'S GOIN' ALL RIGHT.
DUSTY.
SO, I'M NOT SURE
WHAT TO DO.
WE, UM...
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A LONG WAYS
TO THE PLANT.
YEAH.
WELL, I WAS THINKING ABOUT,
YOU KNOW,
HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
AND I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED
TO MOVE THE PLANT CLOSER
TO THE PAY.
GOD.
THIS IS WHERE THE PAY IS.
THEN IT'S A SHORT HAUL,
AND WE CAN...
YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW HOW BIG
OF A JOB THAT IS?
WELL, IT'S NOT AS BIG A JOB
AS HAULING PAY TO THE PLANT,
KEEPING UP.
YOU MIGHT NOT SLUICE
FOR TWO DAYS,
BUT WE CAN DO IT.
THAT'S A LOT OF TIME SPENT
NOT SLUICING.
WELL,
WHAT'S THE OTHER OPTION?
[ SIGHS ]
THEN LET'S DO IT.
Cheeseman:
IT'S JUST TOO FAR TO HAUL.
IT'S A HELL OF
A LOT MORE EFFICIENT
TO MOVE THE PLANT
CLOSER TO THE PAY
THAN TRUCK THE PAY
TO THE PLANT.
IT'S JUST --
IT'S JUST HOW IT IS.
SIMPLE FACT.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE MOVING
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
OR SOMETHING.
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE-GUY
WASH PLANT.
Parker: GENE SAYS
MOVING THIS WASH PLANT'S
GOING TO TAKE TWO DAYS.
AND IT HAD BETTER TAKE TWO DAYS
'CAUSE, OTHERWISE,
WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator: EVERY DAY PARKER
DOESN'T RUN PAY DIRT,
HE'S LOSING OVER $15,000.
SPEED IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.
YEAH, GENE AND PARKER ARE OVER
THERE LIKE A COUPLE VULTURES
JUST WAITING FOR THESE LAST
COUPLE BUCKETS
TO GO TO THE WASH PLANT.
AND THEN I THINK THEY'RE GOING
TO START TEARING THINGS DOWN.
THAT'S IT.
HOPPER'S EMPTY.
CONVEYOR'S EMPTY.
THAT'S GETTING SHUT DOWN.
WORK OUR WAY THROUGH,
SHUTTIN' THINGS DOWN.
[ MACHINE POWERS DOWN, STOPS ]
Narrator:
GENE'S MADE PARKER A PROMISE.
HE'LL TAKE APART ONE OF
THE BIGGEST WASH PLANTS
IN THE KLONDIKE,
MOVE IT HALF A MILE
AND REASSEMBLE IT,
ALL IN JUST TWO DAYS.
NO MORE WATER!
GO STRAIGHT BACK OUT,
OUT OF THE WAY.
[ REVERSE SIGNAL BEEPING ]
WHOA!
[ CRASHING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Man: WHOA!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
I DON'T NEED TWO PEOPLE
TELLING ME WHAT TO DO
AND HIM HITTING THE THING.
HOLY CRAP!
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
GENE CHEESEMAN RACES TO MOVE
PARKER'S WASH PLANT.
IN THE MAD SCRAMBLE,
HE'S JUST BACKED HIS TRUCK
INTO THE SLUICE BOX.
LUCKILY, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S UNDAMAGED.
THEY CAN NOW MOVE
THE 7 1/2-TON STRUCTURE
PIECE BY PIECE TO ITS NEW HOME
HALF A MILE AWAY.
DO YOU WANT
TO DROP THAT DOWN?
GOOD.
Narrator: GENE PROMISED
TO COMPLETE THE MOVE
IN JUST TWO DAYS.
BY THE END OF DAY ONE,
THE CREW'S ALREADY DRAGGED
BIG RED OVER TO THE SWAMP CUT.
AND IT'S READY FOR REASSEMBLING.
Man:
HOW DID THAT GO, PARKER?
UH, IT ACTUALLY WENT QUITE,
QUITE BEAUTIFULLY.
Doumitt: WELL, EVERYTHING WE'VE
HAD PLANNED IS COMING TOGETHER.
ONCE WE GET THOSE RIFFLES
DIALED IN,
WE'RE GOING TO BE UNSTOPPABLE.
I THINK THIS PLANT'S JUST GOING
TO GO AND GO AND GO.
Narrator: 50 MILES AWAY,
AT CLEAR CREEK...
...TONY BEETS PREPS
FOR THE REMOVAL
OF THE NEXT SECTION
OF HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE.
THE $1 MILLION VESSEL
IS A SELF-CONTAINED
GOLD-MINING MACHINE
DESIGNED TO FLOAT
IN ITS OWN POND,
DIG AND PROCESS PAY DIRT.
TONY AND HIS TWO MACHINISTS,
JERRY AND MIKE,
HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OUT THE WALLS
AND THE STACKER.
IT'S TIME TO REMOVE THE ROOF.
I THINK THAT'D BE
THE BEST THING.
CUT THE HEADS
OF THE BOLTS OFF,
AND THEN THE WOOD'LL COME OFF
IN ONE CHUNK,
INSTEAD OF TEARING
THE [BLEEP] OUT OF IT.
PERFECT.
TAKIN' IT APART BOARD BY BOARD'S
GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
THIS ROOF COMES OFF
IN ONE WHOLE PIECE LIKE THAT,
IT'LL MAKE LIFE
A WHOLE LOT EASIER.
Narrator: TONY'S AMBITIOUS PLAN
IS TO TAKE THE DREDGE APART,
TRUCK IT 150 MILES TO HIS CLAIM,
THEN RESTORE AND REBUILD IT,
SO IT CAN MINE GOLD
BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON.
[ PHONE RINGS ]
HELLO.
MINNIE: Hey, it's me.
Everything is down.
Nothing is working.
We're not sluicing.
Nothing's working.
You have to get back.
Just get your ass
back here.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
Narrator: WHEN HE'S NOT
REBUILDING THE DREDGE,
TONY RUNS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
GOLD MINES IN THE KLONDIKE:
PARADISE HILL.
WITH THAT OPERATION
AT A STANDSTILL,
TONY HAS TO DROP EVERYTHING
AND DRIVE 3 1/2 HOURS
TO PARADISE HILL.
SOUTH AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD, JACK, AND THURBER
HAVE BEEN AT A STANDSTILL
SINCE THEIR OLD EXCAVATOR
UP AND DIED THREE DAYS AGO.
Jack: TODD EITHER COMES UP
WITH SOMETHING,
OR -- OR WE GO HOME, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME.
IT'S ALL KIND OF HANGING
IN THE BALANCE RIGHT NOW.
HE'S STILL GOT HIS SHIRT ON,
SO HE DIDN'T BET THAT.
WELL, HOW'D IT GO?
WELL...
UH-OH.
GET IN THE TRUCK.
I GOT SOMETHING
TO SHOW YOU GUYS.
LOOK AT THIS.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
OH-HO!
HOLY CRAP.
THERE YOU GO.
AH, MAN.
DUDE, LOOK.
DAD, I GOT YOU A 460.
I GOT YOU
A NEW BUCKET ON IT.
ONE-TEN LOADER.
I TOOK THE CLEANUP MONEY,
AND I GOT 'EM RENTED.
DUDE, THAT IS AMAZING.
WE STILL GOT THE OLD LOADER.
NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXCUSE.
YOU HEAR ME?
WE COULD KICK
SOME ASS NOW, THURB.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD JOB.
Jack:
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS,
BUT I'M GOING TO JUMP IN
THIS EXCAVATOR AND GET GOING.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
LET'S GO.
LET'S RUN
SOME FRICKIN' DIRT.
OKAY?
LET'S GO.
DREAM'S STILL ALIVE.
WE'RE STILL GOING.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW MAY
BE A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF,
BUT FATHER, SON,
AND THEIR FAITHFUL FRIEND
ARE ONCE AGAIN RUNNING DIRT.
Thurber: WE FINALLY GOT
SOME GREAT EQUIPMENT.
GOES WITHOUT SAYING,
WE'RE MINING BETTER.
MORE EFFICIENT.
YOU KNOW,
I'M ABLE TO DO TAILINGS.
TODD'S ABLE
TO KEEP JACK IN PAY.
WE'RE KEEPING LITTLE RED
FULL OF PAY.
SO, UH,
IT'S ALL WORKIN' RIGHT.
IT'S WHAT WE CAME HERE TO DO,
SO IT'S A GOOD DAY.
WHOO.
Jack: THIS IS A ROCK-EATIN'
SON OF A GUN, I'LL TELL YA.
HOLY SMOKES.
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
GENE CHEESEMAN
HAS GUARANTEED PARKER
THAT HE'D HAVE THEIR HUGE
WASH PLANT RUNNING
BESIDE THE SWAMP CUT
IN JUST TWO DAYS.
AND HE'S RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.
THE WASH PLANT
IS PRETTY MUCH ASSEMBLED.
THE LAST THING,
THE TAILINGS' CONVEYOR,
WE JUST GOT TO GET THE LEGS
FOR IT LEVELED OUT,
HOOK THE WATER UP, FIRE IT UP.
HEY, GENE.
STUFF WENT PRETTY WELL, HUH?
YEAH, WENT PRETTY GOOD.
I HAVE A BUNCH OF STUFF TO DO
BACK IN HAINES,
A BUNCH OF BILLS TO PAY
AND BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.
SO I'M GOING TO HEAD OUT
FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
IF YOU THINK
THAT'S AN ALL RIGHT TIME.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S FINE.
I THINK EVERYTHING'LL...
EVERYTHING
SHOULD JUST GO FINE.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
I THINK WE CAN HANDLE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE OF THE SANDBOX.
YEP.
SEE YOU IN A COUPLE DAYS.
HAVE FUN.
♪ I HAVEN'T GOT A PICKUP TRUCK
TO TAKE ME INTO TOWN ♪
♪ I DON'T HAVE THE WAYS AND
MEANS TO LAY MY MONEY DOWN ♪
♪ LAY IT DOWN
♪ BUT I GOT GOO-O-OLD
UNDERNEATH THE GROUND ♪
I'M LEAVING IT IN GOOD HANDS.
GENE AND MITCH ARE BOTH ON IT.
THEY SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING
TOMORROW MORNING.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG SUCCESS,
REALLY.
IT'S THE WATER FOR THE PLANT.
WE'RE ALL HOOKED UP,
READY TO GO.
Doumitt: WE'RE GETTING READY
TO FIRE THIS THING OFF,
DO A QUICK SHAKEDOWN.
IF EVERYTHING RUNS FINE,
WE'RE GOING TO BE SLUICING HERE
IN A FEW MINUTES.
ABOUT TIME.
YOU READY, MIKE?
YEAH.
YEAH,
GO AHEAD AND TURN IT ON.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
MAN:
There you go, Gene.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK
RUNNING AGAIN.
IT'S FINE SO FAR.
WE JUST GOT TO GET ALL
THE NOZZLES CLEANED OUT
AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S
RUNNING SMOOTH.
LOOK AT THE FLOW
IN THAT FIRST RUN.
YOU GOT TOO MUCH MATERIAL
ON THIS SIDE,
TOO MUCH WATER ON THAT SIDE.
Narrator:
GENE'S KEEN EYE
SPOTS A WATER-FLOW PROBLEM
IN THE SLUICE BOX.
YOU WANT TO LOOK
AT THAT PREWASH?
MAKE SURE IT'S EVEN UP THERE?
IT'S UNEVEN DOWN HERE.
LOOKS GOOD UP HERE, GENE.
WE JUST HAVE UNEVEN WATER
INTO THE SLUICES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS
RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT TO TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT.
MAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT GENE'S TALKING ABOUT.
IT LOOKS FINE TO ME.
THE WATER LOOKS EVEN.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THIS
'CAUSE THE WATER'S
NOT FLOWING RIGHT.
IT ALL STARTS UP THERE [BLEEP]
IT UP ALL THE WAY TO THE END.
SO, WE GOT TO JUST STOP
AND FIX IT.
[ MACHINE POWERS DOWN ]
DIRT IS ALL BACKED UP
ON THE SIDE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING
SLOWING THE WATER DOWN
INSIDE THERE.
HEY, MITCH.
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THERE?
THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF
THE DISTRIBUTION BOX IS SHOT.
IT'S FULL OF HOLES.
NO WONDER
THE DIRT'S BACKING UP.
Narrator: THREE SEASONS
OF WASHING PAY DIRT
THROUGH BIG RED HAS WORN
HOLES IN THE CHUTE
THAT RUNS INTO THE SLUICE BOX.
WATER THAT SHOULD BE WASHING
PAY DIRT INTO THE SLUICE
IS NOW LEAKING OUT OF THE HOLES.
AND PAY DIRT IS BACKING UP
INTO THE PLANT.
UNFORTUNATELY,
IT'S NOT AN EASY FIX.
[BLEEP]
WE GOT TWO DAYS' WORTH OF
WELDING TO DO ON THE PLANT.
IT'S ALL WORE OUT.
WE HAVE TO CUT IT OUT
AND WELD SOME NEW STUFF IN.
BETTER TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW
THAN TRY AND JUST
BUBBLEGUM IT TOGETHER.
WE GOT THE WHOLE SEASON YET
TO GO.
Narrator:
GENE PROMISED PARKER
HE'D HAVE THE PLANT RUNNING
IN TWO DAYS.
NOW IT'S LOOKING
MORE LIKE FOUR.
EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE.
NOW WE MOVED EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING'S DIFFERENT,
CHANGED STUFF.
IT'S JUST HOW IT GOES
WHEN YOU RE-SET UP.
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA
TO MOVE THE PLANT,
GET IT CLOSER TO PAY,
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO SAVE US
A LOT OF TIME,
BUT NOW WE'RE LOSING TIME
BECAUSE THE THING'S NOT RUNNING.
SO, IS IT GOING TO OFFSET ITSELF
IN THE END?
I SURE HOPE SO 'CAUSE WE GOT
2,000 OUNCES TO FIND.
Narrator: TEN MILES AWAY,
AT McKINNON CREEK,
JACK, TODD, AND THURBER
HAVE BEEN WORKING 16-HOUR DAYS
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
BUT RUNNING A MINE WITH JUST
THREE MEN IS TAKING A TOLL.
Jack:
THIS IS NOT AN EASY GAME,
AND IT'S NOT
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
BUT THIS IS HARD,
DOING THIS BY OURSELVES.
Thurber:
YOU KNOW, WE GET TIRED.
AND LET'S FACE IT,
IT'S HARD WORK.
AFTER 16 HOURS,
WE CAN BARELY THINK RIGHT,
LET ALONE RUN THE PLANT RIGHT.
SO, UH, THIS IS A MACHINE.
IT CAN RUN 24 HOURS A DAY.
IT DOESN'T GET TIRED.
WE DO.
Todd: WHAT THE FRICK?
WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE WASH PLANT?
JACK, THURBER,
GET OVER HERE QUICK.
LET'S SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
YEAH, I'M COMING.
CUT THE WATER.
DAD, CUT THE SHAKER.
CUT THE TROMMEL.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
WHAT THE FRICK?!
THIS WHOLE BOTTOM END
IS JUST CLOGGED WITH DIRT.
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE
IT'S STILL TURNIN'.
WE'RE FEEDING IT TOO FAST.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THIS,
RIGHT HERE, WE GOT GOLD,
AND IT'S COMING RIGHT OUT
OF THE TROMMEL.
Narrator: THEY HAVE NO ONE
TO WATCH THE PLANT,
AND JACK'S BEEN
OVERFEEDING IT.
DAD, WHEN YOU'RE FEEDING,
YOU GOT TO WATCH
SOME OF THIS STUFF, TOO.
THURB, YOU TOO, MAN.
I CAN HEAR SOMETHING
EVERY NOW AND THEN.
WELL, IF YOU'RE HEARIN'
SOMETHING WITH YOUR HEARING,
IT MUST BE PRETTY SERIOUS.
THE THING IS,
WE CAN'T HAVE WATER RUNNING OUT
OF THE END OF THE TROMMEL.
WELL, I'LL CRAWL IN THERE
AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
ALL RIGHT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Narrator: TO GET THE TROMMELS
SPINNING AGAIN,
THURBER CLEARS THE BLOCKAGE.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS TO DO.
YOU KNOW, THURBER'S DOING THIS.
JACK'S FEEDING THE PLANT.
I'M OVER HERE
RUNNING AROUND THE LOADER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER USED
TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM
'CAUSE WE HAD
OUR WHOLE TEAM HERE.
WE WOULD CATCH THINGS EARLY.
HEY, UH, TODD TO JACK.
YEAH, THIS IS JACK.
YOU THINK
IF I CALLED THE GUYS
THAT THEY WOULD, UH,
MAYBE COME ON OUT?
WE'RE IN GOOD GROUND.
JUST TELL 'EM, MAN,
AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'M GONNA GIVE 'EM A CALL.
I WANT TO SEE
SOME CHUNKY GOLD, FRED.
Narrator: AFTER THE HOFFMAN
CREW'S DISASTROUS SEASON
IN THE JUNGLE...
NO WAY.
...DAVE TURIN DECIDED TO MINE
WITH FREDDY DODGE THIS SEASON.
WHOO!
THAT'LL WORK.
Narrator:
THE REST OF TODD'S CREW
FOUND PAYING JOBS
BACK IN OREGON.
[ Ringing ]
TURIN: Hello?
HEY, DAVE.
IT'S TODD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Yeah.
Yeah, I hear you.
How's it going up there?
GOOD. I PULLED 34 OUNCES
OUT OF THE GROUND.
YOU KNOW WHAT, IF WE CAN TAKE
THIS UP ANOTHER LEVEL,
IT'D BE UNBELIEVABLE.
HEY, LISTEN.
I NEED YA.
I NEED YA BACK OVER HERE.
I NEED YA UP HERE
IN DAWSON.
I can't do it, man.
I've committed to Fred.
I've committed to Derek.
You're asking a lot,
and quite honestly,
I'm not interested.
I'm happy here.
YOU SURE?
This is a good fit for me.
I'm finally gold mining,
and we're getting a lot
of gold.
Things are going well.
ALL RIGHT.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
All right.
See you, man.
SEE YA.
THAT'S A DOWNER,
AND A REAL DOWNER.
THIS IS TODD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WE CAN'T DO IT ALL.
WE NEED MORE MEN.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
Narrator: TONY'S DRIVEN
3 1/2 HOURS FROM THE DREDGE
TO HIS MINE TO FIND OUT WHY
THE WASH PLANT ISN'T RUNNING.
HEY, KEVIN!
YO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UP.
CHECKED THE CABLES.
THEY'RE FINE.
GENERATOR'S FINE.
TONY'S WASH PLANT WAS BROUGHT
TO A GRINDING HALT
BY A TINY GLASS FUSE.
HE REPLACES IT IN SECONDS.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
YEAH, SHE'S GOING.
AFTER A THREE-DAY TRIP
TO HAINES,
PARKER IS BACK
AT SCRIBNER CREEK.
LOOKS LIKE THINGS
ARE GOING ALL RIGHT.
I'VE ALSO GOT A NEW MEMBER
OF THE TEAM TO INTRODUCE.
DOZER.
COME ON, BUDDY.
DON'T RUN AWAY.
[ DOG WHINES ]
OH, DO YOU NOT
LIKE GOLD MINING?
COME ON, BUDDY.
COME ON.
THIS IS HOME.
Narrator: HE'S BROUGHT
A 12-WEEK-OLD LABRADOR PUPPY
NAMED DOZER.
Parker: COME ON, BUDDY.
COME ON. [ WHISTLES ]
[ YAPS ]
Narrator:
GENE PROMISED PARKER
HE'D HAVE BIG RED RUNNING
IN JUST TWO DAYS.
IT'S NOW DAY FOUR.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YA.
YEAH.
SO, HOW MANY HOURS
ARE ON THE BOX?
DID WE GET
A COUPLE DAYS RUNNIN'?
WE DIDN'T REALLY GET STARTED
GOING GOOD
TILL TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT TWO HOURS
ON THERE NOW.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE DISTRIBUTION
WAS WORE OUT.
OH, THAT'S ALL
NEW STEEL, HUH?
YEAH, WE HAD TO REPLACE
ALL THAT.
IT'S A COUPLE DAYS
OF WELDING.
THERE WAS NO SENSE IN TRYING
TO GO AND BUBBLEGUM.
A COUPLE DAYS OF WELDING?
THAT'S A LOT OF TIME
TO LOSE.
IT'S NOT GETTING US
WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WE HAD TO DO WHAT WE HAD
TO DO TO FIX IT RIGHT,
OR NO SENSE
BUBBLE-GUMMING IT TOGETHER,
IN MY MIND, AND HAVING
TO REDO IT AGAIN.
YEAH, BUT TWO DAYS?
WELL, I KNOW.
YOU WEREN'T AROUND.
I HAD TO MAKE THE CALL.
DECIDED TO MAKE
SOMETHING HAPPEN.
WELL, I MEAN,
THAT'S JUST...
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
YEAH, I MEAN, WE JUST PAID
$150,000 IN BILLS.
AND IN THAT TIME PERIOD,
WE DIDN'T SLUICE
BUT FOUR HOURS TODAY,
IN FOUR DAYS.
SO IT'S JUST NOT REALLY WORKIN'.
IT TOOK WHAT IT TOOK.
NOBODY WAS SCREWING OFF.
NOBODY WAS NOT SHOWING UP
FOR WORK.
IT TOOK WHAT IT TOOK
TO GET THE PLANT FIXED.
YOU KNOW,
IF IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH,
THEN MAYBE HE CAN
GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: TONY BEETS
IS JUST OUTSIDE DAWSON.
THE SEVEN-HOUR ROUND TRIP
BETWEEN THE DREDGE AND THE MINE
IS PREVENTING HIM FROM WORKING
AT EITHER LOCATION.
HE OWNS A PLANE,
BUT IT'S BEEN GROUNDED
FOR MAINTENANCE.
TONY'S PLANE AND PILOT ARE BASED
AT DAWSON AIRPORT.
NOT GOOD, MAN.
OIL COOLER'S CRACKED,
LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WELL,
WE GOT TO ORDER ONE IN.
AND THE O-RING'S GONE,
AND THE...TOO.
YEAH.
I KNOW.
OKAY.
'KAY.
SEE YA.
Narrator: PAYING FOR REPAIRS
AND A PILOT WON'T BE CHEAP.
TONY NEEDS TO SPEAK
TO HIS BANKER:
HIS WIFE, MINNIE.
HI, MINNIE.
YEAH, WHAT'S UP?
WHERE YOU AT?
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED?
I NEED MONEY.
WE NEED INSURANCE.
WE NEED A PILOT.
WE NEED MAINTENANCE.
YEAH, WELL...
IT'LL COST YOU $10,000
BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT
THE STUPID PLANE IN THE AIR.
WELL, IT'S LIKE I SAID.
I CAN'T PULL MONEY
OUT OF MY ASS, EITHER.
YOU BETTER DO
A CLEANUP FIRST.
BECAUSE I OTHERWISE
CANNOT AFFORD IT.
WELL, ALL RIGHT.
'KAY.
SEE YA.
HE'S PRETTY PISSED OFF,
ACTUALLY,
BECAUSE THE PLANE IS NOT GOING.
SO...
BUT HE'S GOT TO REALIZE
I HAVE BILLS TO PAY.
AND I DON'T HAVE MONEY.
AND YOU NEED MONEY
TO DO THAT STUFF.
OH, NOT TOO BAD.
NICE AND SLOW.
Narrator:
TO GET HIS PLANE BACK IN THE AIR
AND HIS DREDGE PROJECT
BACK ON TRACK,
TONY NEEDS A GOOD GOLD CLEANUP.
THE BEETS' OPERATION
IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
IN THE KLONDIKE.
BUT TONY IS CONVINCED THAT IF
HE CAN GET THE DREDGE RUNNING,
IT CAN BE FAR MORE EFFICIENT
THAN A MODERN MINE.
OH, IT'LL WORK.
THAT MUCH I TRUST.
WE'RE GOING
TO MAKE IT WORK.
ALL RIGHT.
'KAY, LET'S GO.
I DIDN'T.
THAT'S IT?
THAT'S ALL?
OKAY.
YOU GOT YOURSELF A PLANE.
SOUNDS GOOD. BYE.
Narrator:
AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS HAS FINALLY FIXED
HIS RIDE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD.
YOU WANT TO GO
TO THE DREDGE?
SURE. LET'S GO.
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS ARRIVES BY PLANE TO
TAKE THE ROOF OFF HIS DREDGE.
HIS TRIP TO PARADISE HILL
COST HIM PRECIOUS TIME.
Man:
YEAH, IT'S FINE WITH ME.
HE'S BACK TO GET THE ROOF OFF
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
HERE WE GO. HOIST IT UP.
[BLEEP]
KEEP IT UP. KEEP IT UP.
KEEP IT UP. KEEP IT UP.
Narrator:
OVER AT McKINNON CREEK,
JACK, TODD, AND THURBER
ARE STILL PUTTING IN LONG DAYS
JUST TO KEEP THEIR MINE AFLOAT.
Todd: IT'S BETTER TO GO OUT
IN FLAMES
THAN JUST TO SIT HERE
AND DWINDLE AWAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
HEY, DAD.
WE GOT COMPANY.
WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED.
Man: YOO-HOO.
DAD, THURBER. KILL THE PLANT.
COME ON DOWN HERE.
WE GOT VISITORS.
OH, MY GOSH.
ANDY.
DUDE.
WELCOME, BUDDY.
LOGAN.
WHAT'S UP, COUSIN?
AW, MAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
JACK.
HOW ARE YA?
BIG STEVE! NO WAY!
YEAH!
Narrator: TODD'S NEW MECHANIC,
STEVE PASLEY,
HAS COME FROM OREGON
WITH THE OLD CREW.
I'M REALLY SURPRISED
THAT YOU CAME, MAN.
WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND?
WHEN I HEARD
YOU WERE GETTING GOLD,
IT WAS KIND OF
A NO-BRAINER FOR ME.
I THINK WE ALL FEEL THAT
WE GOT SOMETHING TO FINISH.
WE GOT SOMETHING TO PROVE.
LET'S PROVE IT,
AND LET'S FINISH IT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU GUYS COMING.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE
STARTIN' SMALL AGAIN.
WE PUT OUR MINDS TOGETHER
AND EVERYBODY PUTS THEIR BACK
INTO IT,
AND WE'LL COME OUT OF HERE
WITH A HELL OF A LOT OF GOLD,
A TON OF GOLD.
COME ON OVER.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE SLUICE BOX.
LOOK, WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE
IN THE BOX?
GOLD.
YES!
AND I SEE IT IN THERE.
I SEE A LOT OF IT
IN THERE.
Todd: EXACTLY.
FAT KID, AN OLD GUY,
AND A GUY WITH A GREAT MUSTACHE
DID THIS.
WHAT CAN WE DO
ALL TOGETHER?
I WANT TO JUST APOLOGIZE
FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED
LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR, YOU'RE GONNA GET
SOME OF THAT RIGHT THERE.
THIS YEAR, LET'S REDEEM
OURSELVES, MAN.
HUH?
YEAH.
WE CAN DO THIS.
I BELIEVE IN THIS DREAM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE ASK THAT THE GOLD WILL JUST
POP OUT OF THE GROUND.
LORD, THAT YOU WOULD SHOW US
THE GOOD SPOTS AND BLESS US.
AND WE PRAY IT
IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
Together: AMEN.
BRING IT IN.
LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD.
Thurber:
NOW WE HAVE THE PEOPLE,
CRAP, SKY'S THE LIMIT.
IT'LL BE AWESOME.
Hiatt: REGARDLESS OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE PAST,
THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING
GOOD GOING.
WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER,
I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
SOME AMAZING STUFF
HERE THIS SEASON.
I'M HERE TO FIX
WHATEVER BREAKS DOWN,
HOP ON SOME EQUIPMENT,
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET GOLD
IN THAT SLUICE BOX.
Spinks: IT'S A TEAM.
YOU CAN'T BREAK THE TEAM UP.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT TO PROVE.
WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO,
AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT
WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
Jack:
THURBER, TODD, AND I,
WE COULDN'T MAKE IT
BY OURSELVES.
NOW THEY ARE HERE.
THE TEAM'S BACK TOGETHER.
WE'RE WHOLE.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR US.
Todd: YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE
HUMBLING RIGHT NOW
THAT THESE GUYS WOULD TAKE
ONE MORE RISK WITH US.
AND WHEN YOUR FAMILY COMES BACK,
THAT FEELS GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME ASS
THIS YEAR.
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH,"
PARKER SCHNABEL'S OUT
OF PAY DIRT.
Parker: GET THE [BLEEP]
TRUCK BACK HERE.
Narrator: HE MAKES THE
CONTROVERSIAL DECISION...
I THINK IT'S A WASTE
OF OUR TIME, PARKER.
...TO MINE UNTESTED GROUND.
YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE
YOUR [BLEEP] TIME?
IT'S MY [BLEEP]
TIME TO WASTE.
Narrator: FOR TONY BEETS,
IT'S CRUNCH TIME.
BUT MOVING THE HEAVIEST PART
OF HIS DREDGE...
...PROVES TOO MUCH...
Man: WHOA, WHOA!
Narrator:
...FOR HIS CRANE TO HANDLE.
Man:
WATCH THE LADDER. HEY!
HEY! WHOA!
Narrator: AND EVEN THOUGH
THEY'VE JUST COME BACK...
WELL, THAT'S HORSE [BLEEP]
...THE HOFFMAN'S CREW
THREATENS TO WALK...
THERE IS NO MINING PLAN.
...UNLESS TODD CONVINCES
DAVE TURIN TO RETURN.
WHY IS DAVE NOT HERE?
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY...
I NEED YOUR HELP.
...TODD CAN GET
HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN BACK.
I'LL DO IT
IF I'M A PARTNER.
UP IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN IS ATTEMPTING
TO RISE FROM THE ASHES.
I WOULD NEVER SELL GOLD,
BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.
Narrator:
HE'S DESPERATE FOR CASH...
YOU HAVE GOLD FEVER.
...DESPERATE TO KEEP
HIS WASH PLANT RUNNING...
CUT THE WATER.
...AND DESPERATELY IN NEED
OF HIS OLD CREW.
I NEED YOU BACK OVER HERE.
MAN: Can't do it.
I'm committed here.
PARKER SCHNABEL'S 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION SEASON...
Man: UP, UP, UP!
...IS FAST BECOMING
A PIPE DREAM.
YOU CAN SAY GOODBYE TO MAKING
ANY MONEY DOING THAT.
Narrator:
TO SAVE HIS SEASON,
HE REDESIGNS HIS OPERATION.
Man: HOLY CRAP.
A RADICAL DECISION TO MOVE
HIS 7 1/2-TON BIG RED...
WE DROP SOMETHING ON
THAT WASH PLANT, I'M SCREWED.
WHOA! [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...PUTS PARKER AND HIS
FOREMAN, GENE, AT LOGGERHEADS.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH,
THEN MAYBE YOU NEED TO GET
SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
Narrator: AND AS TONY BEETS
FALLS FURTHER BEHIND
BRINGING HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE
BACK TO LIFE...
I CAN'T PULL MONEY
OUT OF MY ASS.
...HIS ONLY HOPE...
...TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME...
...IS TO TAKE TO THE SKIES.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN
HEADS INTO DAWSON CITY
TO SELL EVERY OUNCE OF GOLD
HE'S MINED THIS SEASON.
NORMALLY, I WOULD NEVER SELL
GOLD THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON,
BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.
WE'RE BASICALLY LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK,
AND THIS RIGHT HERE
IS OUR FIRST PAYCHECK.
AND WITH THIS,
I GOT TO GET US RUNNING AGAIN.
THIS RIGHT HERE
REPRESENTS SURVIVAL
OF OUR MINING OPERATION.
I GOT TO GET A LITTLE BIT
NEWER EQUIPMENT,
AT LEAST SOMETHING THAT RUNS.
AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN JUST --
AND KEEP IT ROLLING.
KAY, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
EASY, EASY.
Narrator:
FOR NEARLY A MONTH,
A CREW OF JUST THREE --
TODD, JACK, AND THURBER --
HAVE REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP,
MINING WITH BEAT-UP
OLD MACHINES.
Thurber: GOT A COUPLE OF PIECES
OF EQUIPMENT,
AND THEY WERE NEW
A LONG TIME AGO.
Narrator: WHEN THEIR
20-YEAR-OLD EXCAVATOR
SUDDENLY BIT THE DUST...
Jack: AW, CRAP.
IT SEIZED UP.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
...THEY HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO SHUT DOWN
THEIR OPERATION.
TO STAY IN THE GAME,
TODD HOPES TO SCRAPE
TOGETHER ENOUGH CASH
FROM HIS ONE AND ONLY
GOLD CLEANUP
TO REPLACE HIS EXCAVATOR.
HEY,
HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
GOOD, AND YOU?
I'M DOING GOOD, MAN.
YEAH.
WELL, I GOT A LITTLE GOLD
HERE TO SELL.
OKAY.
SIMON MASON WOOD
BUYS AND SMELTS GOLD.
THERE YOU ARE.
IT'S 34 OUNCES.
OKAY.
SO WE CAN GO PUT IT
ON THE FURNACE.
THIS IS WHERE
YOU SMELT IT, HUH?
YEAH, THIS IS WHERE
IT ALL HAPPENS.
THE VALUE OF TODD'S 34 OUNCES
OF GOLD DUST
WILL DEPEND ON HOW PURE IT IS
ONCE THE SLAG OR IMPURITIES
ARE BURNT OFF.
HOW HOT DO YOU HAVE
TO GET THIS TO,
TO ACTUALLY GET A REALLY GOOD,
PURE GOLD BAR?
THE FURNACE GOES
TO ABOUT 2,000 DEGREES,
AND I WAIT UNTIL EVERYTHING
IS VERY CHERRY RED
BEFORE I'LL, UH,
PULL IT OUT OF THERE.
THAT'S FOR REAL.
[ CREAKS ]
[ SIZZLING ]
ONCE IT COOLS,
SIMON SEPARATES THE SLAG
FROM THE BAR OF PURE GOLD.
I'LL CLEAN IT UP, AND YOU'LL
HAVE A NICE LITTLE BAR.
AND YOU CAN HOLD IT
BEFORE I TAKE IT BACK.
HERE YOU ARE.
A PRETTY COLOR TO IT.
I HATE SELLING GOLD,
BUT I HAVE TO THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE GOLD FEVER, THEN,
I GUESS.
I DO.
HOPEFULLY, I'LL BE BACK
AND SELL YOU A WHOLE BUNCH MORE
OF THAT STUFF.
OKAY.
LET'S GET THE PAPERWORK DONE,
GET YOUR MONEY,
AND AWAY YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT.
TODD NOW FINDS OUT EXACTLY HOW
MUCH OF HIS 34 OUNCES WAS PURE.
YOU HAVE A MELT LOSS, OF COURSE,
SO YOU'LL HAVE 27 OUNCES.
WITH 7 OUNCES LOST
TO IMPURITIES,
TODD'S FIRST CLEANUP
IS WORTH LESS THAN HE HOPED.
FRICK.
SO YOU'LL HAVE
APPROXIMATELY $33,000
GET TRANSFERRED
TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
AND WHEN --
WHEN CAN WE GET A TRANSFER?
IT'LL BE DONE
TOMORROW MORNING.
NO KIDDING, THAT FAST?
YEP.
OKAY. WELL, ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ENOUGH,
BUT 33 GRAND, IT SHOULD KEEP US
IN THE GAME.
I GOT TO GO LEASE
SOME EQUIPMENT,
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN KEEP DIGGING.
AND HOPEFULLY,
WE'LL BE BACK HERE AGAIN.
Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
PARKER HAS BEEN FIRING ON ALL
CYLINDERS FOR WELL OVER A MONTH.
THEIR GOAL FOR THE SEASON
IS 2,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $2.4 MILLION.
BUT SO FAR,
THEY'VE ONLY PRODUCED
171 OUNCES, WORTH $205,000.
THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM:
KEEPING BIG RED, THEIR MASSIVE
WASH PLANT, FED.
THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW
WITH THE HAUL,
THE DISTANCE TO THE HAUL,
THERE'S NO WAY
THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE LEAD
TO A 2,000-OUNCE SEASON,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator:
THEY'RE RUNNING DIRT
FROM THEIR SECOND CUT
OF THE SEASON,
THE SWAMP CUT.
IT'S A HALF-MILE HAUL
BACK TO THE PLANT
FOR EVERY ROCK TRUCK.
HOLY CRAP!
WHERE'D ALL OUR [BLEEP]
FUEL GO?
WITH THOSE TRUCKS
AND THAT LONG OF A HAUL,
WE'RE PROBABLY BURNING
ALMOST $500 OF FUEL
JUST TO GET PAY TO OUR PLANT
AN HOUR.
AND THAT'S OVER 5 GRAND A DAY,
6 GRAND A DAY,
JUST FOR THE TRUCKS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SAY GOODBYE
TO MAKING ANY MONEY DOING THAT.
Narrator: THE 19-YEAR-OLD
MINE BOSS HAS NO CHANCE
OF HITTING MILLIONS IN GOLD
UNLESS HE MAKES
A RADICAL CHANGE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
AH, IT'S GOIN' ALL RIGHT.
DUSTY.
SO, I'M NOT SURE
WHAT TO DO.
WE, UM...
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A LONG WAYS
TO THE PLANT.
YEAH.
WELL, I WAS THINKING ABOUT,
YOU KNOW,
HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
AND I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED
TO MOVE THE PLANT CLOSER
TO THE PAY.
GOD.
THIS IS WHERE THE PAY IS.
THEN IT'S A SHORT HAUL,
AND WE CAN...
YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW HOW BIG
OF A JOB THAT IS?
WELL, IT'S NOT AS BIG A JOB
AS HAULING PAY TO THE PLANT,
KEEPING UP.
YOU MIGHT NOT SLUICE
FOR TWO DAYS,
BUT WE CAN DO IT.
THAT'S A LOT OF TIME SPENT
NOT SLUICING.
WELL,
WHAT'S THE OTHER OPTION?
[ SIGHS ]
THEN LET'S DO IT.
Cheeseman:
IT'S JUST TOO FAR TO HAUL.
IT'S A HELL OF
A LOT MORE EFFICIENT
TO MOVE THE PLANT
CLOSER TO THE PAY
THAN TRUCK THE PAY
TO THE PLANT.
IT'S JUST --
IT'S JUST HOW IT IS.
SIMPLE FACT.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE MOVING
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
OR SOMETHING.
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE-GUY
WASH PLANT.
Parker: GENE SAYS
MOVING THIS WASH PLANT'S
GOING TO TAKE TWO DAYS.
AND IT HAD BETTER TAKE TWO DAYS
'CAUSE, OTHERWISE,
WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator: EVERY DAY PARKER
DOESN'T RUN PAY DIRT,
HE'S LOSING OVER $15,000.
SPEED IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.
YEAH, GENE AND PARKER ARE OVER
THERE LIKE A COUPLE VULTURES
JUST WAITING FOR THESE LAST
COUPLE BUCKETS
TO GO TO THE WASH PLANT.
AND THEN I THINK THEY'RE GOING
TO START TEARING THINGS DOWN.
THAT'S IT.
HOPPER'S EMPTY.
CONVEYOR'S EMPTY.
THAT'S GETTING SHUT DOWN.
WORK OUR WAY THROUGH,
SHUTTIN' THINGS DOWN.
[ MACHINE POWERS DOWN, STOPS ]
Narrator:
GENE'S MADE PARKER A PROMISE.
HE'LL TAKE APART ONE OF
THE BIGGEST WASH PLANTS
IN THE KLONDIKE,
MOVE IT HALF A MILE
AND REASSEMBLE IT,
ALL IN JUST TWO DAYS.
NO MORE WATER!
GO STRAIGHT BACK OUT,
OUT OF THE WAY.
[ REVERSE SIGNAL BEEPING ]
WHOA!
[ CRASHING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Man: WHOA!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
I DON'T NEED TWO PEOPLE
TELLING ME WHAT TO DO
AND HIM HITTING THE THING.
HOLY CRAP!
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
GENE CHEESEMAN RACES TO MOVE
PARKER'S WASH PLANT.
IN THE MAD SCRAMBLE,
HE'S JUST BACKED HIS TRUCK
INTO THE SLUICE BOX.
LUCKILY, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S UNDAMAGED.
THEY CAN NOW MOVE
THE 7 1/2-TON STRUCTURE
PIECE BY PIECE TO ITS NEW HOME
HALF A MILE AWAY.
DO YOU WANT
TO DROP THAT DOWN?
GOOD.
Narrator: GENE PROMISED
TO COMPLETE THE MOVE
IN JUST TWO DAYS.
BY THE END OF DAY ONE,
THE CREW'S ALREADY DRAGGED
BIG RED OVER TO THE SWAMP CUT.
AND IT'S READY FOR REASSEMBLING.
Man:
HOW DID THAT GO, PARKER?
UH, IT ACTUALLY WENT QUITE,
QUITE BEAUTIFULLY.
Doumitt: WELL, EVERYTHING WE'VE
HAD PLANNED IS COMING TOGETHER.
ONCE WE GET THOSE RIFFLES
DIALED IN,
WE'RE GOING TO BE UNSTOPPABLE.
I THINK THIS PLANT'S JUST GOING
TO GO AND GO AND GO.
Narrator: 50 MILES AWAY,
AT CLEAR CREEK...
...TONY BEETS PREPS
FOR THE REMOVAL
OF THE NEXT SECTION
OF HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE.
THE $1 MILLION VESSEL
IS A SELF-CONTAINED
GOLD-MINING MACHINE
DESIGNED TO FLOAT
IN ITS OWN POND,
DIG AND PROCESS PAY DIRT.
TONY AND HIS TWO MACHINISTS,
JERRY AND MIKE,
HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OUT THE WALLS
AND THE STACKER.
IT'S TIME TO REMOVE THE ROOF.
I THINK THAT'D BE
THE BEST THING.
CUT THE HEADS
OF THE BOLTS OFF,
AND THEN THE WOOD'LL COME OFF
IN ONE CHUNK,
INSTEAD OF TEARING
THE [BLEEP] OUT OF IT.
PERFECT.
TAKIN' IT APART BOARD BY BOARD'S
GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
THIS ROOF COMES OFF
IN ONE WHOLE PIECE LIKE THAT,
IT'LL MAKE LIFE
A WHOLE LOT EASIER.
Narrator: TONY'S AMBITIOUS PLAN
IS TO TAKE THE DREDGE APART,
TRUCK IT 150 MILES TO HIS CLAIM,
THEN RESTORE AND REBUILD IT,
SO IT CAN MINE GOLD
BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON.
[ PHONE RINGS ]
HELLO.
MINNIE: Hey, it's me.
Everything is down.
Nothing is working.
We're not sluicing.
Nothing's working.
You have to get back.
Just get your ass
back here.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
Narrator: WHEN HE'S NOT
REBUILDING THE DREDGE,
TONY RUNS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
GOLD MINES IN THE KLONDIKE:
PARADISE HILL.
WITH THAT OPERATION
AT A STANDSTILL,
TONY HAS TO DROP EVERYTHING
AND DRIVE 3 1/2 HOURS
TO PARADISE HILL.
SOUTH AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD, JACK, AND THURBER
HAVE BEEN AT A STANDSTILL
SINCE THEIR OLD EXCAVATOR
UP AND DIED THREE DAYS AGO.
Jack: TODD EITHER COMES UP
WITH SOMETHING,
OR -- OR WE GO HOME, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME.
IT'S ALL KIND OF HANGING
IN THE BALANCE RIGHT NOW.
HE'S STILL GOT HIS SHIRT ON,
SO HE DIDN'T BET THAT.
WELL, HOW'D IT GO?
WELL...
UH-OH.
GET IN THE TRUCK.
I GOT SOMETHING
TO SHOW YOU GUYS.
LOOK AT THIS.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
OH-HO!
HOLY CRAP.
THERE YOU GO.
AH, MAN.
DUDE, LOOK.
DAD, I GOT YOU A 460.
I GOT YOU
A NEW BUCKET ON IT.
ONE-TEN LOADER.
I TOOK THE CLEANUP MONEY,
AND I GOT 'EM RENTED.
DUDE, THAT IS AMAZING.
WE STILL GOT THE OLD LOADER.
NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXCUSE.
YOU HEAR ME?
WE COULD KICK
SOME ASS NOW, THURB.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD JOB.
Jack:
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS,
BUT I'M GOING TO JUMP IN
THIS EXCAVATOR AND GET GOING.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
LET'S GO.
LET'S RUN
SOME FRICKIN' DIRT.
OKAY?
LET'S GO.
DREAM'S STILL ALIVE.
WE'RE STILL GOING.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW MAY
BE A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF,
BUT FATHER, SON,
AND THEIR FAITHFUL FRIEND
ARE ONCE AGAIN RUNNING DIRT.
Thurber: WE FINALLY GOT
SOME GREAT EQUIPMENT.
GOES WITHOUT SAYING,
WE'RE MINING BETTER.
MORE EFFICIENT.
YOU KNOW,
I'M ABLE TO DO TAILINGS.
TODD'S ABLE
TO KEEP JACK IN PAY.
WE'RE KEEPING LITTLE RED
FULL OF PAY.
SO, UH,
IT'S ALL WORKIN' RIGHT.
IT'S WHAT WE CAME HERE TO DO,
SO IT'S A GOOD DAY.
WHOO.
Jack: THIS IS A ROCK-EATIN'
SON OF A GUN, I'LL TELL YA.
HOLY SMOKES.
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
GENE CHEESEMAN
HAS GUARANTEED PARKER
THAT HE'D HAVE THEIR HUGE
WASH PLANT RUNNING
BESIDE THE SWAMP CUT
IN JUST TWO DAYS.
AND HE'S RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.
THE WASH PLANT
IS PRETTY MUCH ASSEMBLED.
THE LAST THING,
THE TAILINGS' CONVEYOR,
WE JUST GOT TO GET THE LEGS
FOR IT LEVELED OUT,
HOOK THE WATER UP, FIRE IT UP.
HEY, GENE.
STUFF WENT PRETTY WELL, HUH?
YEAH, WENT PRETTY GOOD.
I HAVE A BUNCH OF STUFF TO DO
BACK IN HAINES,
A BUNCH OF BILLS TO PAY
AND BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.
SO I'M GOING TO HEAD OUT
FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
IF YOU THINK
THAT'S AN ALL RIGHT TIME.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S FINE.
I THINK EVERYTHING'LL...
EVERYTHING
SHOULD JUST GO FINE.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
I THINK WE CAN HANDLE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE OF THE SANDBOX.
YEP.
SEE YOU IN A COUPLE DAYS.
HAVE FUN.
♪ I HAVEN'T GOT A PICKUP TRUCK
TO TAKE ME INTO TOWN ♪
♪ I DON'T HAVE THE WAYS AND
MEANS TO LAY MY MONEY DOWN ♪
♪ LAY IT DOWN
♪ BUT I GOT GOO-O-OLD
UNDERNEATH THE GROUND ♪
I'M LEAVING IT IN GOOD HANDS.
GENE AND MITCH ARE BOTH ON IT.
THEY SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING
TOMORROW MORNING.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG SUCCESS,
REALLY.
IT'S THE WATER FOR THE PLANT.
WE'RE ALL HOOKED UP,
READY TO GO.
Doumitt: WE'RE GETTING READY
TO FIRE THIS THING OFF,
DO A QUICK SHAKEDOWN.
IF EVERYTHING RUNS FINE,
WE'RE GOING TO BE SLUICING HERE
IN A FEW MINUTES.
ABOUT TIME.
YOU READY, MIKE?
YEAH.
YEAH,
GO AHEAD AND TURN IT ON.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
MAN:
There you go, Gene.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK
RUNNING AGAIN.
IT'S FINE SO FAR.
WE JUST GOT TO GET ALL
THE NOZZLES CLEANED OUT
AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S
RUNNING SMOOTH.
LOOK AT THE FLOW
IN THAT FIRST RUN.
YOU GOT TOO MUCH MATERIAL
ON THIS SIDE,
TOO MUCH WATER ON THAT SIDE.
Narrator:
GENE'S KEEN EYE
SPOTS A WATER-FLOW PROBLEM
IN THE SLUICE BOX.
YOU WANT TO LOOK
AT THAT PREWASH?
MAKE SURE IT'S EVEN UP THERE?
IT'S UNEVEN DOWN HERE.
LOOKS GOOD UP HERE, GENE.
WE JUST HAVE UNEVEN WATER
INTO THE SLUICES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS
RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT TO TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT.
MAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT GENE'S TALKING ABOUT.
IT LOOKS FINE TO ME.
THE WATER LOOKS EVEN.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THIS
'CAUSE THE WATER'S
NOT FLOWING RIGHT.
IT ALL STARTS UP THERE [BLEEP]
IT UP ALL THE WAY TO THE END.
SO, WE GOT TO JUST STOP
AND FIX IT.
[ MACHINE POWERS DOWN ]
DIRT IS ALL BACKED UP
ON THE SIDE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING
SLOWING THE WATER DOWN
INSIDE THERE.
HEY, MITCH.
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THERE?
THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF
THE DISTRIBUTION BOX IS SHOT.
IT'S FULL OF HOLES.
NO WONDER
THE DIRT'S BACKING UP.
Narrator: THREE SEASONS
OF WASHING PAY DIRT
THROUGH BIG RED HAS WORN
HOLES IN THE CHUTE
THAT RUNS INTO THE SLUICE BOX.
WATER THAT SHOULD BE WASHING
PAY DIRT INTO THE SLUICE
IS NOW LEAKING OUT OF THE HOLES.
AND PAY DIRT IS BACKING UP
INTO THE PLANT.
UNFORTUNATELY,
IT'S NOT AN EASY FIX.
[BLEEP]
WE GOT TWO DAYS' WORTH OF
WELDING TO DO ON THE PLANT.
IT'S ALL WORE OUT.
WE HAVE TO CUT IT OUT
AND WELD SOME NEW STUFF IN.
BETTER TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW
THAN TRY AND JUST
BUBBLEGUM IT TOGETHER.
WE GOT THE WHOLE SEASON YET
TO GO.
Narrator:
GENE PROMISED PARKER
HE'D HAVE THE PLANT RUNNING
IN TWO DAYS.
NOW IT'S LOOKING
MORE LIKE FOUR.
EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE.
NOW WE MOVED EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING'S DIFFERENT,
CHANGED STUFF.
IT'S JUST HOW IT GOES
WHEN YOU RE-SET UP.
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA
TO MOVE THE PLANT,
GET IT CLOSER TO PAY,
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO SAVE US
A LOT OF TIME,
BUT NOW WE'RE LOSING TIME
BECAUSE THE THING'S NOT RUNNING.
SO, IS IT GOING TO OFFSET ITSELF
IN THE END?
I SURE HOPE SO 'CAUSE WE GOT
2,000 OUNCES TO FIND.
Narrator: TEN MILES AWAY,
AT McKINNON CREEK,
JACK, TODD, AND THURBER
HAVE BEEN WORKING 16-HOUR DAYS
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
BUT RUNNING A MINE WITH JUST
THREE MEN IS TAKING A TOLL.
Jack:
THIS IS NOT AN EASY GAME,
AND IT'S NOT
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
BUT THIS IS HARD,
DOING THIS BY OURSELVES.
Thurber:
YOU KNOW, WE GET TIRED.
AND LET'S FACE IT,
IT'S HARD WORK.
AFTER 16 HOURS,
WE CAN BARELY THINK RIGHT,
LET ALONE RUN THE PLANT RIGHT.
SO, UH, THIS IS A MACHINE.
IT CAN RUN 24 HOURS A DAY.
IT DOESN'T GET TIRED.
WE DO.
Todd: WHAT THE FRICK?
WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE WASH PLANT?
JACK, THURBER,
GET OVER HERE QUICK.
LET'S SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
YEAH, I'M COMING.
CUT THE WATER.
DAD, CUT THE SHAKER.
CUT THE TROMMEL.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
WHAT THE FRICK?!
THIS WHOLE BOTTOM END
IS JUST CLOGGED WITH DIRT.
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE
IT'S STILL TURNIN'.
WE'RE FEEDING IT TOO FAST.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THIS,
RIGHT HERE, WE GOT GOLD,
AND IT'S COMING RIGHT OUT
OF THE TROMMEL.
Narrator: THEY HAVE NO ONE
TO WATCH THE PLANT,
AND JACK'S BEEN
OVERFEEDING IT.
DAD, WHEN YOU'RE FEEDING,
YOU GOT TO WATCH
SOME OF THIS STUFF, TOO.
THURB, YOU TOO, MAN.
I CAN HEAR SOMETHING
EVERY NOW AND THEN.
WELL, IF YOU'RE HEARIN'
SOMETHING WITH YOUR HEARING,
IT MUST BE PRETTY SERIOUS.
THE THING IS,
WE CAN'T HAVE WATER RUNNING OUT
OF THE END OF THE TROMMEL.
WELL, I'LL CRAWL IN THERE
AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
ALL RIGHT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Narrator: TO GET THE TROMMELS
SPINNING AGAIN,
THURBER CLEARS THE BLOCKAGE.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS TO DO.
YOU KNOW, THURBER'S DOING THIS.
JACK'S FEEDING THE PLANT.
I'M OVER HERE
RUNNING AROUND THE LOADER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER USED
TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM
'CAUSE WE HAD
OUR WHOLE TEAM HERE.
WE WOULD CATCH THINGS EARLY.
HEY, UH, TODD TO JACK.
YEAH, THIS IS JACK.
YOU THINK
IF I CALLED THE GUYS
THAT THEY WOULD, UH,
MAYBE COME ON OUT?
WE'RE IN GOOD GROUND.
JUST TELL 'EM, MAN,
AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'M GONNA GIVE 'EM A CALL.
I WANT TO SEE
SOME CHUNKY GOLD, FRED.
Narrator: AFTER THE HOFFMAN
CREW'S DISASTROUS SEASON
IN THE JUNGLE...
NO WAY.
...DAVE TURIN DECIDED TO MINE
WITH FREDDY DODGE THIS SEASON.
WHOO!
THAT'LL WORK.
Narrator:
THE REST OF TODD'S CREW
FOUND PAYING JOBS
BACK IN OREGON.
[ Ringing ]
TURIN: Hello?
HEY, DAVE.
IT'S TODD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Yeah.
Yeah, I hear you.
How's it going up there?
GOOD. I PULLED 34 OUNCES
OUT OF THE GROUND.
YOU KNOW WHAT, IF WE CAN TAKE
THIS UP ANOTHER LEVEL,
IT'D BE UNBELIEVABLE.
HEY, LISTEN.
I NEED YA.
I NEED YA BACK OVER HERE.
I NEED YA UP HERE
IN DAWSON.
I can't do it, man.
I've committed to Fred.
I've committed to Derek.
You're asking a lot,
and quite honestly,
I'm not interested.
I'm happy here.
YOU SURE?
This is a good fit for me.
I'm finally gold mining,
and we're getting a lot
of gold.
Things are going well.
ALL RIGHT.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
All right.
See you, man.
SEE YA.
THAT'S A DOWNER,
AND A REAL DOWNER.
THIS IS TODD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WE CAN'T DO IT ALL.
WE NEED MORE MEN.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
Narrator: TONY'S DRIVEN
3 1/2 HOURS FROM THE DREDGE
TO HIS MINE TO FIND OUT WHY
THE WASH PLANT ISN'T RUNNING.
HEY, KEVIN!
YO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UP.
CHECKED THE CABLES.
THEY'RE FINE.
GENERATOR'S FINE.
TONY'S WASH PLANT WAS BROUGHT
TO A GRINDING HALT
BY A TINY GLASS FUSE.
HE REPLACES IT IN SECONDS.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
YEAH, SHE'S GOING.
AFTER A THREE-DAY TRIP
TO HAINES,
PARKER IS BACK
AT SCRIBNER CREEK.
LOOKS LIKE THINGS
ARE GOING ALL RIGHT.
I'VE ALSO GOT A NEW MEMBER
OF THE TEAM TO INTRODUCE.
DOZER.
COME ON, BUDDY.
DON'T RUN AWAY.
[ DOG WHINES ]
OH, DO YOU NOT
LIKE GOLD MINING?
COME ON, BUDDY.
COME ON.
THIS IS HOME.
Narrator: HE'S BROUGHT
A 12-WEEK-OLD LABRADOR PUPPY
NAMED DOZER.
Parker: COME ON, BUDDY.
COME ON. [ WHISTLES ]
[ YAPS ]
Narrator:
GENE PROMISED PARKER
HE'D HAVE BIG RED RUNNING
IN JUST TWO DAYS.
IT'S NOW DAY FOUR.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YA.
YEAH.
SO, HOW MANY HOURS
ARE ON THE BOX?
DID WE GET
A COUPLE DAYS RUNNIN'?
WE DIDN'T REALLY GET STARTED
GOING GOOD
TILL TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT TWO HOURS
ON THERE NOW.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE DISTRIBUTION
WAS WORE OUT.
OH, THAT'S ALL
NEW STEEL, HUH?
YEAH, WE HAD TO REPLACE
ALL THAT.
IT'S A COUPLE DAYS
OF WELDING.
THERE WAS NO SENSE IN TRYING
TO GO AND BUBBLEGUM.
A COUPLE DAYS OF WELDING?
THAT'S A LOT OF TIME
TO LOSE.
IT'S NOT GETTING US
WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WE HAD TO DO WHAT WE HAD
TO DO TO FIX IT RIGHT,
OR NO SENSE
BUBBLE-GUMMING IT TOGETHER,
IN MY MIND, AND HAVING
TO REDO IT AGAIN.
YEAH, BUT TWO DAYS?
WELL, I KNOW.
YOU WEREN'T AROUND.
I HAD TO MAKE THE CALL.
DECIDED TO MAKE
SOMETHING HAPPEN.
WELL, I MEAN,
THAT'S JUST...
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
YEAH, I MEAN, WE JUST PAID
$150,000 IN BILLS.
AND IN THAT TIME PERIOD,
WE DIDN'T SLUICE
BUT FOUR HOURS TODAY,
IN FOUR DAYS.
SO IT'S JUST NOT REALLY WORKIN'.
IT TOOK WHAT IT TOOK.
NOBODY WAS SCREWING OFF.
NOBODY WAS NOT SHOWING UP
FOR WORK.
IT TOOK WHAT IT TOOK
TO GET THE PLANT FIXED.
YOU KNOW,
IF IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH,
THEN MAYBE HE CAN
GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: TONY BEETS
IS JUST OUTSIDE DAWSON.
THE SEVEN-HOUR ROUND TRIP
BETWEEN THE DREDGE AND THE MINE
IS PREVENTING HIM FROM WORKING
AT EITHER LOCATION.
HE OWNS A PLANE,
BUT IT'S BEEN GROUNDED
FOR MAINTENANCE.
TONY'S PLANE AND PILOT ARE BASED
AT DAWSON AIRPORT.
NOT GOOD, MAN.
OIL COOLER'S CRACKED,
LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WELL,
WE GOT TO ORDER ONE IN.
AND THE O-RING'S GONE,
AND THE...TOO.
YEAH.
I KNOW.
OKAY.
'KAY.
SEE YA.
Narrator: PAYING FOR REPAIRS
AND A PILOT WON'T BE CHEAP.
TONY NEEDS TO SPEAK
TO HIS BANKER:
HIS WIFE, MINNIE.
HI, MINNIE.
YEAH, WHAT'S UP?
WHERE YOU AT?
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED?
I NEED MONEY.
WE NEED INSURANCE.
WE NEED A PILOT.
WE NEED MAINTENANCE.
YEAH, WELL...
IT'LL COST YOU $10,000
BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT
THE STUPID PLANE IN THE AIR.
WELL, IT'S LIKE I SAID.
I CAN'T PULL MONEY
OUT OF MY ASS, EITHER.
YOU BETTER DO
A CLEANUP FIRST.
BECAUSE I OTHERWISE
CANNOT AFFORD IT.
WELL, ALL RIGHT.
'KAY.
SEE YA.
HE'S PRETTY PISSED OFF,
ACTUALLY,
BECAUSE THE PLANE IS NOT GOING.
SO...
BUT HE'S GOT TO REALIZE
I HAVE BILLS TO PAY.
AND I DON'T HAVE MONEY.
AND YOU NEED MONEY
TO DO THAT STUFF.
OH, NOT TOO BAD.
NICE AND SLOW.
Narrator:
TO GET HIS PLANE BACK IN THE AIR
AND HIS DREDGE PROJECT
BACK ON TRACK,
TONY NEEDS A GOOD GOLD CLEANUP.
THE BEETS' OPERATION
IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
IN THE KLONDIKE.
BUT TONY IS CONVINCED THAT IF
HE CAN GET THE DREDGE RUNNING,
IT CAN BE FAR MORE EFFICIENT
THAN A MODERN MINE.
OH, IT'LL WORK.
THAT MUCH I TRUST.
WE'RE GOING
TO MAKE IT WORK.
ALL RIGHT.
'KAY, LET'S GO.
I DIDN'T.
THAT'S IT?
THAT'S ALL?
OKAY.
YOU GOT YOURSELF A PLANE.
SOUNDS GOOD. BYE.
Narrator:
AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS HAS FINALLY FIXED
HIS RIDE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD.
YOU WANT TO GO
TO THE DREDGE?
SURE. LET'S GO.
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS ARRIVES BY PLANE TO
TAKE THE ROOF OFF HIS DREDGE.
HIS TRIP TO PARADISE HILL
COST HIM PRECIOUS TIME.
Man:
YEAH, IT'S FINE WITH ME.
HE'S BACK TO GET THE ROOF OFF
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
HERE WE GO. HOIST IT UP.
[BLEEP]
KEEP IT UP. KEEP IT UP.
KEEP IT UP. KEEP IT UP.
Narrator:
OVER AT McKINNON CREEK,
JACK, TODD, AND THURBER
ARE STILL PUTTING IN LONG DAYS
JUST TO KEEP THEIR MINE AFLOAT.
Todd: IT'S BETTER TO GO OUT
IN FLAMES
THAN JUST TO SIT HERE
AND DWINDLE AWAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
HEY, DAD.
WE GOT COMPANY.
WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED.
Man: YOO-HOO.
DAD, THURBER. KILL THE PLANT.
COME ON DOWN HERE.
WE GOT VISITORS.
OH, MY GOSH.
ANDY.
DUDE.
WELCOME, BUDDY.
LOGAN.
WHAT'S UP, COUSIN?
AW, MAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
JACK.
HOW ARE YA?
BIG STEVE! NO WAY!
YEAH!
Narrator: TODD'S NEW MECHANIC,
STEVE PASLEY,
HAS COME FROM OREGON
WITH THE OLD CREW.
I'M REALLY SURPRISED
THAT YOU CAME, MAN.
WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND?
WHEN I HEARD
YOU WERE GETTING GOLD,
IT WAS KIND OF
A NO-BRAINER FOR ME.
I THINK WE ALL FEEL THAT
WE GOT SOMETHING TO FINISH.
WE GOT SOMETHING TO PROVE.
LET'S PROVE IT,
AND LET'S FINISH IT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU GUYS COMING.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE
STARTIN' SMALL AGAIN.
WE PUT OUR MINDS TOGETHER
AND EVERYBODY PUTS THEIR BACK
INTO IT,
AND WE'LL COME OUT OF HERE
WITH A HELL OF A LOT OF GOLD,
A TON OF GOLD.
COME ON OVER.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE SLUICE BOX.
LOOK, WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE
IN THE BOX?
GOLD.
YES!
AND I SEE IT IN THERE.
I SEE A LOT OF IT
IN THERE.
Todd: EXACTLY.
FAT KID, AN OLD GUY,
AND A GUY WITH A GREAT MUSTACHE
DID THIS.
WHAT CAN WE DO
ALL TOGETHER?
I WANT TO JUST APOLOGIZE
FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED
LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR, YOU'RE GONNA GET
SOME OF THAT RIGHT THERE.
THIS YEAR, LET'S REDEEM
OURSELVES, MAN.
HUH?
YEAH.
WE CAN DO THIS.
I BELIEVE IN THIS DREAM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE ASK THAT THE GOLD WILL JUST
POP OUT OF THE GROUND.
LORD, THAT YOU WOULD SHOW US
THE GOOD SPOTS AND BLESS US.
AND WE PRAY IT
IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
Together: AMEN.
BRING IT IN.
LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD.
Thurber:
NOW WE HAVE THE PEOPLE,
CRAP, SKY'S THE LIMIT.
IT'LL BE AWESOME.
Hiatt: REGARDLESS OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE PAST,
THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING
GOOD GOING.
WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER,
I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
SOME AMAZING STUFF
HERE THIS SEASON.
I'M HERE TO FIX
WHATEVER BREAKS DOWN,
HOP ON SOME EQUIPMENT,
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET GOLD
IN THAT SLUICE BOX.
Spinks: IT'S A TEAM.
YOU CAN'T BREAK THE TEAM UP.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT TO PROVE.
WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO,
AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT
WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
Jack:
THURBER, TODD, AND I,
WE COULDN'T MAKE IT
BY OURSELVES.
NOW THEY ARE HERE.
THE TEAM'S BACK TOGETHER.
WE'RE WHOLE.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR US.
Todd: YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE
HUMBLING RIGHT NOW
THAT THESE GUYS WOULD TAKE
ONE MORE RISK WITH US.
AND WHEN YOUR FAMILY COMES BACK,
THAT FEELS GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME ASS
THIS YEAR.
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH,"
PARKER SCHNABEL'S OUT
OF PAY DIRT.
Parker: GET THE [BLEEP]
TRUCK BACK HERE.
Narrator: HE MAKES THE
CONTROVERSIAL DECISION...
I THINK IT'S A WASTE
OF OUR TIME, PARKER.
...TO MINE UNTESTED GROUND.
YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE
YOUR [BLEEP] TIME?
IT'S MY [BLEEP]
TIME TO WASTE.
Narrator: FOR TONY BEETS,
IT'S CRUNCH TIME.
BUT MOVING THE HEAVIEST PART
OF HIS DREDGE...
...PROVES TOO MUCH...
Man: WHOA, WHOA!
Narrator:
...FOR HIS CRANE TO HANDLE.
Man:
WATCH THE LADDER. HEY!
HEY! WHOA!
Narrator: AND EVEN THOUGH
THEY'VE JUST COME BACK...
WELL, THAT'S HORSE [BLEEP]
...THE HOFFMAN'S CREW
THREATENS TO WALK...
THERE IS NO MINING PLAN.
...UNLESS TODD CONVINCES
DAVE TURIN TO RETURN.
WHY IS DAVE NOT HERE?
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY...
I NEED YOUR HELP.
...TODD CAN GET
HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN BACK.
I'LL DO IT
IF I'M A PARTNER.