Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 6, Episode 12 - Crew War - full transcript

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
BIGGEST WEEKS OF THIS SEASON.

Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...

Schnabel:
THIS IS A HIGH-OCTANE DAY.

WE'RE MOVING GOLDZILLA.

STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.
LET'S JUST DO IT.

YEAH, I'M NERVOUS.
I'M NOT GONNA LIE. I'M NERVOUS.

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

YEAH, YOU NEED TO GET BACK.

Schnabel: IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE HE'S STOPPING.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO START
RUNNING THE DREDGE.

I WANT FAMILY ON THERE.



Monica: HOLY CRAP!

I'M LOOKED DOWN ON BECAUSE OF
MY GENDER AND BECAUSE OF MY AGE.

Hoffman: I GOT TO GET
THE GREEN UGLY IN HERE.

WE'LL DO THIS QUICK,
LIKE A PIT CREW.

Man: IT'S BENDING!
IT'S BENDING!

WHOA!
WHOA!

Jack: GUESS WHAT.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST CLEANUP
WE'VE EVER HAD.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WE MAY HAVE BEAT PARKER
THIS YEAR. WE'LL SEE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Ness:
MAN, THAT THING'S MASSIVE.

YEAH, THESE CONVEYORS
ARE JUST HUGE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE IMPRESSIVE.



Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL'S FOREMAN,

RICK NESS, IS TAKING DELIVERY
OF A BRAND-NEW STACKER...

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

...A KEY PIECE
OF THE NEW WASH PLANT

THAT PARKER'S INSTALLING

TO HIT HIS 3,000-OUNCE,
$3.3 MILLION SEASON GOAL.

Ness: PARKER'S GONNA BE HAPPY
TO SEE THESE.

THESE ARE GONNA HELP OUT HUGE.

I MEAN, 120-FOOT-LONG
FOR OUR FEED CONVEYOR.

YOU KNOW,
IF WE WERE ABLE TO BEAT TODD,

IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING.

PARKER DOESN'T LIKE TO LOSE.

Narrator: BUT OVER HALFWAY
THROUGH THE SEASON,

PARKER HAS JUST 1,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $1.1 MILLION.

AND HE JUST PULLED THE PLUG ON
HIS TRUSTY WASH PLANT, BIG RED.

Schnabel: FOR AN OPERATION
OUR SIZE,

TO NOT SLUICE --
A LITTLE NERVE-WRACKING.

Narrator:
THE 21-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS

HAS MADE THE BOLD DECISION

TO REBUILD HIS OPERATION
FROM THE GROUND UP.

I LOVE THE SETUP.
I LOVE WHAT WE'RE DOING.

EVERY YARD OF DIRT'S GETTING
MOVED A VERY SHORT DISTANCE.

WE WOULDN'T BE TRYING
SOMETHING NEW IF I DIDN'T THINK

IT WAS BETTER THAN
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

Narrator:
INSTEAD OF TRUCKING PAY DIRT
ALL THE WAY TO THE WASH PLANT,

HE'S MOVING HIS WASH PLANT
RIGHT NEXT TO THE PAY.

HIS CREW HAS BUILT
A 400-FOOT-LONG, 50-FOOT-HIGH

MEGA-PAD FOR THE PLANT,

RIGHT IN THE CENTER
OF HIS ENORMOUS BOUNDARY CUT.

Schnabel:
THAT'S GOOD RIGHT THERE.

Narrator:
TO GET MOUNTAINS OF STOCKPILED
PAY DIRT UP OUT OF THE CUT,

PARKER HAS SHELLED OUT
ON A NEW STACKER.

Schnabel: IT'S [BLEEP] HUGE.
[BLEEP]

IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS.

YEAH, BABY.

[ CHUCKLES ]

SO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE
TO BEAT TODD WITH THIS THING?

WELL, IT SHOULD BE
A LOT MORE EFFICIENT.

IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORK,

I THINK THE BENEFIT
FAR OUTWEIGHS THE RISK.

THIS IS GONNA BE
[BLEEP] COOL.

[ Chuckling ] YEAH.

Narrator:
JUST AS PARKER'S MASTER PLAN
STARTS TO COME TOGETHER...

...RICK GETS BAD NEWS FROM HOME.

Schnabel: WHAT'S UP?

UH...YOU'RE NOT
GONNA LIKE THIS,

BUT I GOT TO GO HOME --
LIKE, NOW.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I GOT A WEIRD MESSAGE
FROM MY BROTHER

SAYING MY MOM'S SICK
AND SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL,

AND I CAN'T GET AHOLD OF HER,
AND I CAN'T GET AHOLD OF HIM.

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE [BLEEP] GOING ON,

SO I... I -- I CAN'T --
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING FROM HERE.

I GOT TO GO SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON.

YEAH, GO AHEAD
AND PACK YOUR STUFF

AND GET OUT OF HERE.
ALL RIGHT.

LET ME KNOW
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.

ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, BUDDY.

GOOD LUCK.
THANKS.

[BLEEP]

WELL, I KNOW RICK'S MOM'S BEEN
HAVING SOME HEALTH ISSUES,

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE
IT WAS THAT BAD.

AND RICK DOESN'T REALLY
TALK ABOUT IT, AND...

HE WOULDN'T GO
IF IT WASN'T SERIOUS.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE BIGGEST WEEKS OF THE SEASON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO DO THAT WITHOUT HIM.

[BLEEP]

Hoffman: 2,700 OUNCES -- THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR.

KNOW WHAT?

WE MAY EVEN HAVE A CHANCE
TO BEAT PARKER THIS YEAR.

WE'LL SEE.

Narrator: HALFWAY THROUGH
THE MINING SEASON,

THE HOFFMANS' ENORMOUS SUPER CUT

HAS YIELDED NEARLY 1,200 OUNCES
OF KLONDIKE GOLD,

WORTH $1.3 MILLION.

BUT TO HIT 2,700 OUNCES,
THEIR LARGEST-EVER SEASON GOAL,

DAVE TURIN IS EXTENDING THEIR
SUPER CUT BY ANOTHER 750 FEET.

Turin: NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE IT
TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

IF WE'RE GONNA
GET TO 2,700 OUNCES THIS YEAR,

IT'S GONNA
TAKE EVERY ONE OF US HERE.

I FEEL THE PRESSURE.

NOW I'M GONNA PUT PRESSURE
ON THESE GUYS.

Narrator:
WASH-PLANT OPERATOR KEVIN HIATT
AND MECHANIC JUAN IBARRA

ARE RUNNING MONSTER RED
AT 300 YARDS AN HOUR,

DAY AND NIGHT.

Hiatt: 300 YARDS AN HOUR
IS NO JOKE.

IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE STAY ON PACE.

I NEED TO KEEP THIS PLANT
RUNNING.

I GOT TO PROVE MYSELF
TO THESE GUYS, YOU KNOW?

HEY, KEVIN,
WE GOT A PROBLEM HERE, MAN.

WHAT WAS THAT?

CAN'T MOVE
THE DANG THING.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO SHUT DOWN, MAN.

FRICK.

YEAH, JUAN,
I'M GONNA BE RIGHT THERE.

I'M GONNA COME TALK TO YOU.

Hiatt: OKAY,
WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHEN I WENT TO GO
TURN ON THE HYDRAULICS,

IT ALL STARTS PUKING
OUT OF THE BACK OF THE PUMP.

WATCH IT REAL QUICK.

THAT'S A LOT
OF FREAKIN' HYDRAULIC OIL, MAN.

DAMN IT.

SO I HAVE
NO CONTROLS ANYMORE.

I CAN'T USE ANY
OF THE HYDRAULICS FOR THE DRIVE,

THE STABILIZERS,
OR THE LIFT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPARE PARTS
FOR THIS DAMN THING.

IT'S GONNA TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK
TO GET THEM.

Narrator: THE BROKEN PUMP
WILL PREVENT THE RADIAL STACKER

FROM ROTATING
AND DISTRIBUTING THE TAILINGS.

WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

WE'RE STACKING UP QUICK.

GET IN THE DOZER
AND JUST START DOZING THEM,

GET RID OF THEM.

I'LL LET DAVE KNOW.
ALL RIGHT.

THE STACKER CAN STILL MOVE
ROCKS, BUT ONLY INTO ONE PILE.

SOON, IT'LL BACK UP
AND HIT THE CONVEYOR.

JUAN IS FORCED TO BULLDOZE
THE TAILINGS AWAY FROM THE PLANT

AND OFF THE EDGE OF THE PATH.

WE GOT 300 YARDS AN HOUR

COMING OUT OF THE BACK
OF THAT CONVEYOR,

AND WE GOT A MOUNTAIN
OF TAILINGS COMING IN,

SO IT'S A LOT TO DO.

Narrator: EVEN BEFORE
THE STACKER BROKE DOWN,

THE HOFFMANS HAD
A TAILINGS PROBLEM.

THE GIANT CONVEYOR
ROTATES IN AN ARC,

MOVING USELESS TAILINGS
AWAY FROM THE WASH PLANT

AND OFF THE EDGE OF THE PAD.

BUT FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS,

THOUSANDS OF TONS OF TAILINGS
HAVE EXTENDED THE PAD.

THE DOZER NOW HAS TO PUSH
TAILINGS 40 FEET TO THE EDGE

AND CAN'T KEEP PACE
WITH THE EVER-GROWING PILE.

Ibarra:
GETTING A LITTLE WORRIED

ABOUT HOW FAR
WE GOT TO PUSH THE TAILINGS.

IT'S GONNA GET TO THE POINT

WHERE WE WON'T BE ABLE
TO KEEP UP AT ALL.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
ANOTHER SOLUTION

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GONNA WORK,
FOR THE LONG TERM.

KEVIN TO DAVE.
KEVIN TO DAVE.

YEAH, GO AHEAD, KEV.

ALL RIGHT, DAVE,

WE'VE GOT A FAILURE
ON OUR STACKING CONVEYOR.

WE CAN'T MOVE IT.

IS THAT CONVEYOR
MOVING ROCKS?

IS IT SPITTING ROCKS
OUT THE END?

FOR THE TIME,
YES, IT IS.

KEVIN,
YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

KEEP THAT WASH PLANT
RUNNING.

IT CANNOT SHUT DOWN.

FIGURE IT OUT.

KEVIN'S GOT TO START TAKING
OWNERSHIP OF THAT WASH PLANT.

AND HE'S GOT TO START
MAKING THOSE KIND OF CALLS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

WITH THIS CONVEYOR
NOT BEING ABLE TO ROTATE

AND THIS DOZER
HAVING TO PUSH THEM ALL OUT,

I DON'T THINK
WE HAVE MORE THAN A COUPLE DAYS.

WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

IS THERE ANY WAY
WE CAN GET ANOTHER CONVEYOR?

YOU ALREADY
GOT TWO ON HERE.

I KNOW, BUT IF WE HAD ONE MORE,
SHOOT OUT ANOTHER 100 FEET,

WE GOT LOTS OF ROOM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
WE'RE OUT OF ROOM.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING APART

AND MOVE
THE ENTIRE PLANT.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL LOOK FOR SOMETHING.

THANKS.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
KEVIN'S RUNNING THE PLANT.

HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB.
HE'S TRYING TO THINK AHEAD.

WE'VE ALREADY FILLED UP

JUST ABOUT AN ACRE WORTH
OF GROUND OF TAILINGS.

SO I GOT TO FIGURE OUT
A SOLUTION AND DO IT NOW.

HE'S GONNA GO OUT
AND FIND US A CONVEYOR,

AND IF HE DOESN'T,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.

THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE.

WE'RE OUT OF ROOM.

Narrator:
TONY BEETS' MINING SEASON
IS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.

HIS $1 MILLION DREDGE
HAS PRODUCED

JUST A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS' WORTH OF GOLD --

LESS THAN HALF
HIS MID-SEASON GOAL.

WITH DREDGE MASTER
GENE CHEESEMAN ON VACATION

AND SEASONED VETERANS
MIKE AND JERRY LONG GONE,

TONY CALLS AN EMERGENCY MEETING

WITH HIS DAUGHTER, MONICA,
AND SON, KEVIN.

HOW'S THINGS?

YEAH, I HEARD THAT.

SO, YOU GUYS
UP FOR THAT?

HELL YEAH.
SEE NO REASON WHY NOT.

YOU REALLY
DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

I WANT FAMILY ON THERE.

TO ME, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO THE CHICKEN'S
GONNA GET NIGHT SHIFT, THEN?

Monica: [BLEEP] NO.

[BLEEP] YEAH.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID,

I THINK IT'S TIME
YOU BOTH GO TO WORK.

YOU'RE ON NIGHTS.

BEING A GIRL WHO'S 22,

I'M ALWAYS GONNA BE
TREATED DIFFERENT IN THIS FIELD

THAN A MAN WOULD.

PEOPLE DON'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY

BECAUSE OF MY GENDER
AND BECAUSE OF MY AGE.

IT DOESN'T REALLY COME TO FACTOR

THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR SO LONG.

Narrator: MONICA HAS BEEN
GOLD-MINING ALL HER LIFE,

BUT SHE'S NEVER BEEN IN CHARGE
OF A DREDGE CREW BEFORE.

MORNING.

HELLO, JASON.

EVERYTHING'S OFF.

IT'S ALL YOURS.

SEE YOU TONIGHT.
YEAH.

Monica: I'M THE ONLY PERSON HERE
IN THE DREDGE.

NONE OF MY CREW IS HERE.

UM...THAT'S OKAY.

I CAN WING IT.

Narrator: UNTIL THE REST
OF THE DAY SHIFT ARRIVES,

MONICA IS ON HER OWN.

HER FIRST TASK --
MANEUVER THE 350-TON DREDGE

ONTO FRESH PAY DIRT.

[ WHIRRING ]

AND THE LADDER'S SLOWLY COMING.

WHEN YOU MOVE FORWARD,

YOU WANT BOTH YOUR WINCHES
TO BE TIGHT

SO THEY'RE MOVING
AT MORE OR LESS THE SAME PACE.

Narrator:
TO MOVE THE DREDGE FORWARD,

MONICA ENGAGES
TWO ONBOARD WINCHES.

THEY PULL ON
HALF-INCH-THICK STEEL CABLES

ATTACHED TO TWO DOZERS
THAT ACT AS ANCHORS.

Monica: PERFECT.

THAT WAS A SUCCESSFUL STEP
AHEAD.

WE'RE GONNA START
RIGHT AT THE CENTER

AND DO A BIG, LONG CUT.

Narrator: ONE OF THE DOZERS
IS HEADING FOR THE DREDGE POND.

Monica: HOLY CRAP!

THAT'S NOT GOOD!

THROW ME A HARD HAT.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]

JUST ABOUT LOST THE FOUR.

I ALMOST PULLED IT IN.

THAT WOULD HAVE SUCKED.

WELL, YOU CAN ONLY WATCH SO MANY
THINGS AT ONE TIME, RIGHT?

Narrator: BIG MIKE BEAUDRY
AND HIS BROTHER, MATT,

ARRIVE TO JOIN MONICA
ON THE DAY SHIFT.

Monica: MIKE, THE FOUR
JUST ABOUT WENT LAKESIDE THERE.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]

LET'S FIRE IT UP,
TRY IT AGAIN.

FOUR'S MOVING.

WE'RE PULLING.

MIKE.

IT'S PULLING AGAIN?
YEAH.

I THINK THAT FOUR IS
JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO LIGHT.

IT'S POSING A BIG PROBLEM
RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: EXPERIENCED MECHANIC
BIG MIKE...

AH, WHAT THE [BLEEP] DO
WE DO HERE WITH THIS?

...IS OUT OF IDEAS.

UH...

I DON'T KNOW.
[BLEEP]

BUT THE ROOKIE DREDGE MASTER
COMES UP WITH A PLAN.

Monica:
SO, IT'S GOT A BLADE ON IT.

WHY DON'T WE
TURN IT THE OTHER WAY,

HOOK SOME CABLES
UP TO THE FRONT?

THAT WAY,
WHEN YOU YANK ON IT,

IT'S JUST GONNA PULL THE BLADE
INTO THE GROUND.

OH, YEAH.

THAT SHOULD WORK.

LET'S DO THIS.

THE CREW WASTES NO TIME PUTTING
MONICA'S PLAN INTO ACTION.

THERE WE GO.

THAT SHOULD WORK.

SO, GARY'S GONNA TIGHTEN UP.

WE'RE GONNA SEE
HOW IT'S GONNA DO.

WORKS LIKE A DREAM.

Monica: I HAVEN'T BEEN
RUNNING THE DREDGE FOR LONG,

BUT MEN ARE EASY TO CONTROL,

SO I'M RUNNING THIS THING
ALREADY.

Hoffman: I'M JUST
FLAT OUT OF ROOM FOR TAILINGS.

Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS HIT A WALL.

THAT'S WHAT 300 YARDS AN HOUR
LOOKS LIKE, I GUESS.

Narrator: THEIR TAILINGS
ARE OVERTAKING THEIR CONVEYOR

AND THREATENING
TO SHUT DOWN THEIR WASH PLANT.

KEVIN AND TODD'S SOLUTION --
ADD AN EXTRA CONVEYOR.

[ Chuckling ]
THAT IS ONE PIECE OF JUNK.

[ LAUGHS ]

THIS RUSTY CONVEYOR COST
JUST $8,000.

SO, I ASKED TODD TO GET ME
A BIG CONVEYOR FOR TAILINGS,

SO WE COULD SHOOT THEM OUT
FURTHER,

AND HE CAME BACK
WITH AN ANTIQUE.

I DON'T KNOW
IF I SEE DEPENDABILITY HERE.

I JUST SEE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

OKAY, GRAB THAT CHAIN.
WE'LL GO GET THE GREEN UGLY.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

Narrator:
TODD WILL MOVE THE RADIAL
STACKER FORWARD TO CREATE SPACE

TO SLIDE IN THEIR NEW
"GREEN UGLY" CONVEYOR.

GREEN UGLY WILL EXTEND
THE TAILINGS LINE BY 120 FEET,

OUT AND OVER THE EDGE
OF THE PAD.

WE'LL DO THIS QUICK,
OKAY, GUYS?

AS A TEAM,
LIKE A PIT CREW.

UH-OH.

I WANT TO DO THIS ONCE
AND GET IT RIGHT.

OTHERWISE,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS.

DAVE, ARE YOU READY?

YES, I'M READY,
SO ON YOUR COMMAND, FREDDY.

LET'S GO, GUYS.

EASY GOES.

[ METAL GRINDS ]

HO!

DON'T BOUNCE!
NO BOUNCING!

WE HIT A BIG HOLE AND BOUNCE IT.

WE MAY HAVE TWO CONVEYORS,
NOT ONE,

BROKE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

EASY, TODD!
IT'S BENDING!

I CAN'T HELP IT.

IT'S BENDING!

BENDING! HO!

WE NEED TO GET THIS THING
SET DOWN.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS UNDER PRESSURE,

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CREW
THAT'S BUCKLING.

THERE'S JUST WAY TOO MUCH
OF A BOW IN THIS THING.

IT COULD BEND.
IT COULD BREAK.

WE NEED TO GET IT
ON THE GROUND AND STABLE.

HURRY UP, FREDDY.

FIGURE IT OUT
AND GET IT DONE QUICK.

EASY, TODD.

OKAY,
NOW HAVE DAVE MOVE.

HEY, DAVE! BACK!

HO!

LET'S GO WITH IT THERE,
DAVE!

FREDDY, CAN I COME DOWN?

YEAH.

DAVE!
LET'S SET IT DOWN.

Turin: 10-4.

Dodge: PERFECTLY LEVEL
RIGHT THERE.

OKAY, LET'S FIRE IT UP.

COME ON.

COME ON.

YEAH!

IT'S WORKING.
IT CAME TO LIFE.

AWESOME!

Narrator: THE CHAIN OF CONVEYORS
NOW EXTENDS 265 FEET --

WELL BEYOND THE EDGE
OF THE TAILINGS PAD.

Man: OKAY, KEV,
LET'S RUN A LITTLE BIT.

Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS CAN NOW GET BACK
TO RUNNING 300 YARDS AN HOUR

WHILE THEY WAIT
FOR THE PARTS THEY NEED

TO GET THEIR RADIAL STACKER
ROTATING ONCE AGAIN.

Hoffman:
WE SHOULD WRITE A BOOK --

"BUILDING A WASH PLANT
WITH JUNK."

IT'S OLD, AND IT'S UGLY,
AND IT'S GREEN.

BUT THE COLOR OF MONEY IS GREEN,
I GUESS.

OKAY, GUYS,
IT'S FRICKIN' WORKING.

Man: YEAH!
Man #2: WOO!

Kevin:
AT NIGHT, IT'S VERY SIMPLE --
JUST KEEP RUNNING.

Narrator:
10:00 P.M. AT THE DREDGE,
KEVIN BEETS DREW THE SHORT STRAW

AND IS IN CHARGE
OF THE NIGHT SHIFT.

Kevin: MAN, WE'RE JUST
BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH,

HOPEFULLY NICE AND BORING.

Narrator: KEVIN HAS JUMPED INTO
THE 360 EXCAVATOR

TO CLEAR COURSE TAILINGS,

LEAVING PARADISE HILL VETERAN
CURTIS KOCH

TO MAN THE WHEELHOUSE.

[ METAL CLANGS ]

Kevin: WHAT WAS THAT?

[ METAL SCRATCHES ]

[ CRUNCHING ]

Koch: I SHUT HER DOWN.

Kevin: [BLEEP] [BLEEP]

[BLEEP]

THIS IS NOT WHAT NIGHT SHIFTS
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE.

NIGHT SHIFTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
BACK AND FORTH,

BORING AS [BLEEP]

Koch:
THAT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.

Kevin:
LET'S HAVE A LOOK-SEE.

I JUST GOT INTO A BIG ROCK,
SO I WAS GNAWING ON IT GENTLY.

I WAS BREAKING IT UP,
BUT IT'S STILL THERE,

SO I SHUT HER DOWN.

Kevin:
I'M BRINGING UP THE BUCKET LINE
SO WE CAN HAVE A LOOK.

GUESS CURTIS
HAS DROPPED IT TOO LOW.

I'M JUST REAL HOPEFUL

THAT IT'S STILL ON THE ROLLER
AT THE END.

IF NOT, WELL,
WE'RE KIND OF [BLEEP]

EH, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD,
THOUGH, FROM THIS SIDE.

HAVE SOME FAITH.

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
IT'S OVER AGAIN.

OH, SHE'S [BLEEP]

OH, YEAH, IT'S OFF.

Narrator:
CURTIS DROVE THE BUCKET LINE
INTO IMPENETRABLE BEDROCK,

KNOCKING THE BUCKETS
RIGHT OFF THE LADDER.

Kevin:
NO, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM
WITH THE BUCKET LINE.

IT'S OPERATOR ERROR.

[ SIGHS ]

SO FOR NOW, NIGHT SHIFT --
DONE FOR THE DAY.

Narrator: 7:00 A.M.,
THE DAY SHIFT ARRIVES.

Kevin: Y'ALL MIGHT WANT
TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.

IT'S GONNA GET
A LITTLE [BLEEP] MESSY HERE.

BUCKET LADDER UP.

Narrator:
BREAKING A BUCKET COULD PUT THEM
OUT OF ACTION FOR WEEKS,

BUT KEVIN GOES WITH
GOOD OLD-FASHIONED BRUTE FORCE.

Kevin:
ALL RIGHT, BACK IT DOWN.

KEEP GOING.
EVERYONE KEEP GOING.

MIKE, CAN YOU PULL
TO THE END ANY MORE?

EASY, MIKE.

YIPPEE KI-YAY [BLEEP]

[ LAUGHS ]
[BLEEP]

WAS THAT A [BLEEP]

Narrator: IN HIS NEW ROLE
AS DREDGE BOSS,

KEVIN MAKES
THE EXECUTIVE DECISION

TO REASSIGN THE MAN
WHO COST THEM A NIGHT SHIFT.

SO, DO YOU KNOW
THE NEW PLAN, CURTIS?

NO.

WE CAN'T AFFORD
TO HAVE YOU ON THE DREDGE.

THAT'S JUST
THE WAY IT IS.

SO YOU'RE GONNA BE
HEADING BACK TO THE HILL.

AND YOU'RE GONNA
GO BACK THERE FOR A WHILE.

SO YOU NEED TO GET
ALL YOUR CRAP.

WE'RE GONNA RIP OUT
TONIGHT.

IT'S KIND OF PROBABLY
FOR THE BEST THAT I GO.

GOT ANYTHING DOWN AT THE DREDGE
YOU NEED TO GRAB?

UH, NO.

Kevin: I'M SURE CURTIS KNEW
SOMETHING WAS COMING.

PROBABLY GONNA BE A BIT BLUE
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS,

BUT, WELL,
I THINK HE TOOK IT PRETTY WELL.

Koch: I KNOCKED
THE BUCKET LINE OFF, SO...

WE WERE DOWN FOR 10 HOURS,
RIGHT, LAST NIGHT,

SO IT'S KIND OF
A DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT THAT'S THE WAY SHE GOES,
I GUESS.

Kevin: I'M IN CHARGE,
SO THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

TODAY, WE'RE MOVING GOLDZILLA.

Narrator: GOLDZILLA,
A 200-YARD-AN-HOUR WASH PLANT,

IS THE LINCHPIN

OF PARKER'S NEW 3,000-OUNCE,
$3.3 MILLION MASTER PLAN.

LEASED FROM A NEIGHBORING MINE,
ITS FOUR OSCILLATING SLUICE RUNS

CAN PROCESS ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH
PAY DIRT AS BIG RED.

Schnabel:
COME ON, BRENDAN. LET'S GET
THIS THING ON THE ROAD.

Narrator:
PARKER HAS TO HAUL GOLDZILLA
7 MILES ACROSS THE KLONDIKE

TO ITS NEW HOME
AT SCRIBNER CREEK.

Schnabel: IT'S A BIG DAY.
I'M NERVOUS.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE --
I'M NERVOUS.

WITH RICK GONE, MITCH HAS GOT
A BIG RESPONSIBILITY NOW

WITH THIS PLANT MOVE.

HE'S GONNA BE IN CHARGE,

AND EVERYBODY'S GONNA HAVE TO
JUST PUT IN A LITTLE EXTRA.

Blaschke:
WE'RE REALLY SHORTHANDED
AROUND HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO MOVE
THIS WASH PLANT.

TAKES A LOT OF MANPOWER.

NEED PEOPLE
THAT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

Narrator: TO HELP MITCH OUT,
PARKER HAS RECRUITED

23-YEAR-OLD MECHANIC
DEREK ANTONIUK.

Antoniuk: I HAD SOME CONNECTIONS
TO PARKER, I GUESS,

AND ENDED UP HERE,
WORKING FOR HIM.

BEING RAISED ON A FARM,
OPERATING EQUIPMENT,

BEING AROUND ALL THIS STUFF
IS NOTHING NEW.

Narrator: DEREK HELPS ATTACH
A SET OF WHEELS TO GOLDZILLA

AND HITCH THE WASH PLANT
TO A SEMI.

NICE!

BUT GOLDZILLA
HAS NO BRAKES,

AND NOT EVERYONE SEES EYE-TO-EYE

ON THE SAFEST WAY TO TRANSPORT
THE 25-TON WASH PLANT.

Antoniuk: HEY, MITCH.
WHAT?

WITHOUT BRAKES,
YOU'RE [BLEEP]

IF YOU LOSE A GEAR
AND YOU'RE GOING DOWNHILL,

YOU'RE [BLEEP]
YOU KNOW.

IT'LL [BLEEP] DROP THIS THING
RIGHT INTO A CORNER

AND WRAP IT RIGHT AROUND THERE,
AND YOU'RE [BLEEP]

WELL, I DON'T WANT HIM, LIKE,
FOLLOWING ME THE WHOLE WAY.

THERE'S GONNA BE
SOME SECTIONS

I'M GONNA HAVE TO SPEED UP
TO GET A RUN AT, RIGHT?

IT WOULDN'T BE
A BAD THING

TO HAVE HIM HOOKED UP
THE WHOLE WAY THERE.

WE CAN DO THIS [BLEEP]
10 DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO...
OKAY, OKAY. HOOK ON.

LET'S JUST STOP
TALKING ABOUT IT.

LET'S JUST DO IT.

Narrator: THE CREW CONNECTS
THE BACK OF GOLDZILLA

TO CHRIS DOUMITT'S
38-TON LOADER.

IF THE BRAKES ON THE SEMI FAIL,
CHRIS WILL LOWER HIS BUCKET

TO TRY AND BRING GOLDZILLA
TO A STOP.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WE GAVE MITCH
AN UMBILICAL CORD,

SO WE GOT A CHANCE.

AND THERE'S NOT MUCH ANY OF US
CAN DO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW?

IT'S ALL ON MITCH.

CHRIS, YOU GOT A COPY?

GOT A COPY,
LOUD AND CLEAR.

LET'S ROLL.

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD PULL
FOR THIS OLD TRUCK.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST A LOT OF WEIGHT

FOR WHAT THIS THING
WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR.

THIS SPOT HERE
IS GONNA BE A LITTLE TRICKY.

Narrator:
MITCH REACHES THE STEEPEST HILL
ON THE ROAD TO SCRIBNER CREEK.

AH, THIS IS PROBABLY
A 12% GRADE HERE.

PRETTY STEEP WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY TRAILER BRAKES.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT
NICE AND EASY HERE.

[ WIRE SNAPS ]

OUR CABLE JUST BROKE.

WHAT'S THAT?

OUR CABLE EITHER JUST BROKE
OR A CLEVIS CAME UNDONE.

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, BUD.

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

YOU NEED TO GET BACK.
YOU NEED TO GET BACK.

Schnabel: IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE HE'S STOPPING.

[ CRUNCH ]

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

Narrator:
ON THE ROAD TO SCRIBNER CREEK...

OUR CABLE JUST BROKE.

...GOLDZILLA'S SAFETY CHAIN
HAS SNAPPED

AT THE WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
HE'S STOPPING.

[BLEEP]

HEY, MITCH,
YOU HAVE A COPY?

Man: WHERE IS HE?
I DON'T HEAR HIM.

EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT,
MITCH?

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

THANK [BLEEP]

YOU CAN DEFINITELY FEEL HER

PUSHING YOU DOWN THE HILL
BACK THERE.

WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.
JUST KEEP MOTORING.

GEEZ.

COME ON, BABY.
COME ON, COME ON.

WE'RE ON THE HOMESTRETCH NOW,
BOYS.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

Narrator:
FIVE HOURS AFTER SETTING OFF,

PARKER'S NEW WASH PLANT,
GOLDZILLA,

FINALLY ARRIVES
AT SCRIBNER CREEK.

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

WHOO!

[ Chuckling ] OH, YEAH.

THERE WE GO.

WE'RE HERE.

Schnabel:
NICE DRIVING, MITCH.

BEAUTIFUL DRIVING.

YEAH, BUDDY.

THE OLD GIRL MADE IT.

I WAS PLOWING
A GOOD 2 FEET OFF EACH SIDE.

WHOO!

[ Chuckling ]
NOW THE WORK BEGINS.

WE MADE IT HERE
IN ONE PIECE, SO...

PRETTY HAPPY.

JUST READY TO GET HER SET UP
AND START SLUICING.

HERE YOU GO, PARKER.

Narrator: MONICA AND KEVIN BEETS
HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE DREDGE

DAY AND NIGHT FOR A WEEK.

HEY, GIRL.
HEY, GUYS.

HEY, KEVIN.

HEY, MAMA.

Narrator:
ALL SEASON, TONY HAS BEEN AFTER
A MINIMUM OF 50 OUNCES A WEEK.

BUT WITH HIS KIDS IN CHARGE,

HE'S INSISTED
ON A 100-OUNCE HAUL.

Tony:
I GOT 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95.

97.5.

Narrator: MONICA AND KEVIN
HAVE DELIVERED OVER $100,000,

BUT THEY'VE FALLEN SHORT.

Minnie:
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

KEVIN,
YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

YOU MADE A GOOD CALL
WITH CURTIS.

I MEAN...

WELL, IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

HEY, MONICA,
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED

WITH YOU
RUNNING THE DREDGE.

THANKS, MAMA.

TO SEE MY BABY DAUGHTER
DO IT, IT'S PRETTY COOL.

IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

YOU GUYS
ARE DOING A GOOD JOB,

BUT WE NEED
TO STEP IT UP.

Narrator: IT'S 6:00 P.M.,
AND PARKER SCHNABEL

FINALLY HAS HIS NEW WASH PLANT,
GOLDZILLA, ONSITE.

BUT HIS NEW MINING PLAN HAS
COST HIM A WEEK OF SLUICING --

14 SHIFTS HE'LL NEVER GET BACK.

Schnabel:
A SHIFT OF SLUICING IS LIKE
LIFE AND DEATH TO ME RIGHT NOW.

GET POWER TO EVERYTHING.

WE NEED TO GET WATER
TO EVERYTHING.

WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF STUFF --
GET EVERYTHING LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, FIVE HOURS FROM NOW,

I WANT THAT THING
CHEWING THROUGH DIRT.

FIRST THING'S FIRST --
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GRAB THAT 700

AND GET THIS THING
DOWN ON ITS SKIDS.

LET'S CRANK IT UP, BOYS!

Narrator:
GOLDZILLA NOW SITS

IN THE MIDDLE OF
PARKER'S MONSTER BOUNDARY CUT,

ON TOP OF THE 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH BERM PAD.

WITH 200,000 YARDS OF PAY DIRT

STOCKPILED IN THE NORTH SIDE
OF THE CUT,

PARKER WILL USE HIS BRAND-NEW
120-FOOT-LONG SUPER STACKER

TO SEND PAY STRAIGHT
FROM THE CUT TO THE PLANT.

BUT FIRST HE HAS TO CONSTRUCT
A SYSTEM OF PIPES

TO SUPPLY
1,200 GALLONS OF WATER A MINUTE

AND ASSEMBLE A CONVEYOR
TO REMOVE

OVER 200 YARDS OF TAILINGS
AN HOUR.

WE SET A GOAL
TO BE GOING BY 11:00 TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET IT DONE.

WHOO-HOO-HOO!

Blaschke:
HOPPER FEEDER'S HOOKED UP.

PRETTY BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
RIGHT HERE.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE IT HERE.

[BLEEP]

[BLEEP] YEAH.

LET'S GET THAT [BLEEP] TOGETHER.

NOW WE'RE JUST HOOKING UP
OUR WATER SUPPLY.

THIS PLANT'S SUPPOSED TO DO
MORE YARDAGE,

SO WE'VE GONE WITH A 10-INCH
DELIVERY LINE FOR GOLDZILLA.

WE NORMALLY RUN AN 8.

REAL CRUCIAL
THIS ALL WORKS RIGHT.

EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
THIS PART'S COMPLETE.

WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE.

TIME TO BUILD THE SLUICES.

Schnabel: WE NEED TO PUT
THE SLUICE BOX TOGETHER.

WE'VE ALREADY GOT WATER.
WE'VE GOT THE FEED ALL SET UP.

WE'RE CLOSE.
WE'RE DAMN CLOSE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE ROCKS
BEING LAUNCHED TODAY.

Antoniuk: HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator: NEW MECHANIC DEREK
SPOTS A PROBLEM

THAT COULD KEEP THEM
FROM SLUICING TONIGHT.

WE'RE LEANING OVER.
WHAT?

YOU CAN SEE
THE [BLEEP] LEAN.

Narrator: IN THEIR RUSH
TO GET UP AND RUNNING,

PARKER'S CREW
FAILED TO GET GOLDZILLA LEVEL.

THEY SAID WE WERE
LIKE 2 INCHES OFF.

FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.

IF THEY'RE OFF
BY JUST 1 INCH,

THE SLUICE BOXES COULD LOSE
5 OUNCES OF GOLD A DAY.

THAT SIDE UP.

HEY!

WHERE'S YOUR LEVEL AT?
YEAH.

OH, AND WHERE ARE WE AT
FOR A LEVEL?

IT ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD
FRONT TO BACK.

UH, NO, LOOK AT HER.

WE'VE GOT THE WHOLE [BLEEP]
THING IN THE AIR.

I'M JUST GONNA START

WITH PICKING UP THAT CORNER
OVER THERE

AND GET SOME FINES UNDER IT
AND JUST GET IT ALL SMOOTH,

AND WE'LL SET IT BACK DOWN
AND JUST SEE WHERE WE ARE.

OKAY.

DO IT OURSELVES.

Narrator: PARKER AND DEREK
NOW HAVE TO LEVEL THE PLANT

ONE SHOVEL AT A TIME.

IT'S ALREADY PAST 11:00,

BUT WE CAN STILL
GET THAT ALL DONE TONIGHT.

Antoniuk: YEAH, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BED TILL IT'S DONE.

MITCH.
YO.

FROM NOW ON,
YOU LISTEN TO ME.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE
[BLEEP] KIDDING ME.

Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK...

A LOT OF SHOVELING.

...PARKER AND DEREK
ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO LEVEL

THEIR NEW WASH PLANT, GOLDZILLA,
BY NIGHTFALL.

Antoniuk: I MEAN,
THIS IS PATHETIC.

WE'RE SHOVELING [BLEEP] SAND
IN THE YUKON.

Blaschke:
GENE DEFINITELY WOULDN'T APPROVE
OF THAT TECHNIQUE.

THAT'D BE LIKE ME TRYING
TO CUT ALL THESE WITH A FILE

OR A TOOTHBRUSH.

Blaschke:
IT'S LIKE 0 DARK 30 OUT HERE,

AND WE'RE TRYING
TO GET GOLDZILLA RUNNING DIRT.

Narrator: THE CREW HAS MISSED
PARKER'S 11:00 P.M. DEADLINE.

DETERMINED NOT LOSE ANOTHER
SHIFT OF RUNNING PAY DIRT,

PARKER PUSHES HIS CREW
INTO THE NIGHT.

Schnabel: EVERYTHING'S
GOOD AND LEVEL RIGHT NOW,

AND NOW WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
THIS TAILINGS CONVEYOR IN HERE.

WELL, THIS TAILING CONVEYOR
IS THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

ONCE IT'S IN,
WE'RE READY TO FIRE UP.

BETTER GET TO IT.

RIGHT THERE!
Man: YOU LIKE IT?

YEAH, LET'S START
WITH THAT.

OKAY.

GET IT UNFOLDED.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TIME --

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT DAY IT IS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF HOURS,

BUT I DON'T FEEL VERY TIRED
RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL PUMPED UP.

I WANT TO JUST JUMP
IN THAT LOADER AND GET GOING.

SO...WE'RE GETTING THERE.

IT'S ALL CONNECTED.

Man:
THOSE LOOK REAL GOOD.

MOMENT OF TRUTH.

HEY, GUYS, FIRE IT UP!

Narrator:
6:00 A.M. -- 7 LONG HOURS
AFTER PARKER HAD HOPED,

THEY ARE FINALLY READY
TO FIRE UP GOLDZILLA.

TIME TO FLIP THE SWITCH
AND GET IT ALL SHAKING.

FIRE UP THE WATER!

TIME TO SEE
WHAT GOLDZILLA WILL DO.

[ MOTOR SPUTTERING ]

OH, COME ON, BABY.

COME ON.

[ MOTOR STARTS ]

YEAH, BUDDY!

SHAKE YOUR MONEYMAKER,
RIGHT THERE.

HEY! YOU'RE GOOD!

ONLY PUT IN HALF!

Narrator: GOLDZILLA IS SLUICING
ITS FIRST BOUNDARY-CUT PAY DIRT.

PARKER HAS RISKED HIS SEASON

TO HIT 3,000 OUNCES
AND BEAT TODD HOFFMAN.

Schnabel: YEAH, BABY!
LOOKS GOOD, BOYS!

Blaschke:
PARKER'S GOT A LOT OF FAITH
IN THIS NEW WASH PLANT.

HOPEFULLY, IT LIVES UP TO
EVERYTHING IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

WE ARE COMMITTED 100% NOW.

IT'S DO OR DIE, MAKE OR BREAK.

BUT, HEY,
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING.

Schnabel: WE DID IT.
WE GOT GOLDZILLA UP AND GOING.

THIS IS GONNA BE A GAME-CHANGER
FOR OUR SEASON.

WE'VE GOT THE PLANT TO THE PAY.
NOW WE JUST NEED TO RUN IT.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
LOST FIVE HOURS THIS WEEK

BRINGING IN THEIR NEW CONVEYOR,
GREEN UGLY.

BUT THEY STILL NEED TO HIT
THEIR WEEKLY GOAL OF 200 OUNCES.

Man: HERE'S JACK.
Man #2: HERE'S JACK.

AND THAT LOOKS GOOD.
LOOKS HEAVY, DAD.

IS THAT HEAVY?
YEAH.

Jack: HEY, GUYS.

AND GUESS WHAT.

I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO TELL YOU THIS,

BUT WE GOT TO GET WITH IT.

WE GOT 150 OUNCES HERE.

JUST THE WAY IT IS.

BUT WITH THIS 100 OUNCES...

[ CROWD CHEERS ]
OUR ALL-TIME HIGHEST...

YOU CAN'T DO THAT!
...TOTAL...

YEAH!
250.

OUR LARGEST CLEANUP EVER.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

THURBER, THAT'S MEAN.

I KNOW.
AND I LOVE IT.

Man #3:
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.

Narrator:
THE MASSIVE 250-OUNCE CLEANUP

TAKES THE HOFFMANS
TO 1,432 OUNCES --

WORTH OVER $1.5 MILLION --

AND A MAJOR LANDMARK.

Hoffman: GUYS,
WE'RE OVER LAST YEAR'S TOTAL.

WE GOT
A LOT OF SEASON LEFT.

IF THE SECOND HALF
OF THAT SUPER CUT HOLDS OUT,

WE'RE GONNA BEAT PARKER.

LIKE THE TURTLE
AND THE HARE.

THE TURTLE WON IN THE END
BECAUSE HE STAYED STEADY.

Turin:
WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY, GUYS.
WE GOT A WAYS TO GO.

LET'S BEAT THE KID.

THERE'S A CHANCE
WE COULD BEAT THE KID.

PART OF ME WANTS TO KICK
HIS ASS -- LET'S BE HONEST.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

Hoffman: THIS COULD BE ONE OF
THE HOTTEST SUMMERS ON RECORD.

GET US WATER FROM MONTANA.

Man: IF WE'RE ALIVE BY THE END
OF THIS, I'LL BE SURPRISED.

[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]

I AM RIGHT ON THE EDGE
OF A ROAD HERE.

HEY, MONICA, DO YOU COPY?

I WOULDN'T TREAT MY DOG

THE WAY THAT HE'S WALKING AROUND
TREATING PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.

I JUST WANTED TO PUNCH HIM
IN THE [BLEEP] FACE.

SO...LEAVE.

I REALLY DON'T [BLEEP]
LIKE PARKER'S ATTITUDE.