Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 7, Episode 13 - Lifeline - full transcript

Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...

Parker:
EVERY DAY HE'S NOT SLUICING,

IT'S COSTING US
20,000, 30,000 BUCKS.

I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS [BLEEP]
FOLLOWING ME RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T EVEN WANNA HEAR IT.
WE NEED IT RUNNING.

IT REALLY FEELS
LIKE MINE RIGHT NOW.

SHUT IT DOWN!
SHUT IT DOWN.

WHAT THE HELL'S
HE DOING HERE?

Todd: COMING TO OREGON
WASN'T THE RIGHT MOVE FOR US.

I AM TIRED OF FEELING
LIKE A FRICKING LOSER.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS



*

ANOTHER DAY,
ANOTHER 2,500 YARDS OF DIRT.

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER SCHNABEL IS RUNNING
250 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR

THROUGH HIS WASH PLANT,
SLUICIFER.

Parker:
THERE'S LOTS OF GROUND OPEN.

SO TYSON AND I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO KEEP MOTORING

ON OUR OWN FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THAT'S THE PLAN, ANYWAY.

Narrator: TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY
THROUGH THE SEASON,

PARKER IS LESS THAN A THIRD
OF THE WAY

TO HIS 4,000-OUNCE,
$4.8-MILLION GOAL.

RICK AND THE REST OF THE BOYS
ARE DOWN IN INDIAN RIVER.

Narrator:
PARKER IS DEPENDING ON RICK
TO SALVAGE HIS SEASON



BY OPENING UP
A SECOND OPERATION.

Parker: NOW I'M WAITING
FOR RICK TO BE READY

TO START SLUICING DOWN THERE

'CAUSE WE'RE BURNING DAYLIGHT
AND BURNING IT FAST.

EVERY DAY HE'S NOT SLUICING,

IT'S PROBABLY COSTING US
20,000, 30,000 BUCKS.

AND IT'S NOT TWO OPERATIONS

UNTIL THERE ARE TWO WASH PLANTS
SLUICING.

*

Narrator: FIVE MILES WEST
AT INDIAN RIVER,

FOREMAN RICK NESS HAS BEEN
STRUGGLING FOR NINE WEEKS

TO GET HIS OPERATION
UP AND RUNNING.

HE'S FINALLY STOCKPILED
OVER 10,000 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.

AND HE'S DETERMINED TO BE
RUNNING BY THE END OF THE DAY.

THE ONE THINGS THAT'S
BRINGING INDIAN RIVER TO LIFE

IS JUST PERSEVERANCE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT
MY GRANDPA TAUGHT ME.

IN FACT, THE NAME OF HIS BOAT
WAS PERSEVERANCE.

THAT'S WHY I'VE GOT
THIS TATTOOED ON MY HAND.

AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST REASON
WHY INDIAN RIVER'S

GOING ONLINE TODAY IS
'CAUSE I NEVER GAVE UP ON IT.

Narrator:
THE HEART OF RICK'S OPERATION
IS BIG RED,

THE WASH PLANT THAT,
IN THREE SEASONS,

SLUICED OVER $5 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD FOR PARKER.

BUT IT'S STOOD ABANDONED
FOR THE PAST YEAR.

HOW ARE YOU LIKING HAVING
EVERYBODY'S HAND-ME-DOWNS?

THIS IS KIND OF LIKE HAVING
A BUNCH OF BIG BROTHERS

THAT YOU GET ALL THEIR
OLD WORN-OUT CLOTHES.

EXCEPT I'M OLDER
THAN THE PERSON

I'M GETTING ALL THIS
HAND-ME-DOWN [BLEEP] FROM.

RICK'S RIGHT-HAND MAN,
BRENNAN RUAULT,

IS SMOOTHING THE RIM.

IT'S A LOT MORE LIGHTER
OF AN ATMOSPHERE DOWN HERE.

EVERYBODY JUST COMES TO WORK,
GETS THEIR JOB DONE,

AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF FUN IN BETWEEN.

AND IT'S GREAT.
THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.

Ness: LAST YEAR, WE WEREN'T
USING BIG RED AT ALL,

NOR DID WE HAVE ANY PLANS TO.

SO WE STARTED CANNIBALIZING IT.

BIG RED'S KIND OF LIKE
HUMPTY DUMPTY'S WASH PLANT HERE.

AND NOW, I'VE GOT TO TRY AND
FIND ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES,

TRY AND GET 'EM
ALL BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

GIVE ME A LITTLE BOOM DOWN.

GOOD! CAREFUL WITH HER!
IT'S THE ONLY ONE WE GOT!

RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

GOOD.
IT'S ON TO THE NEXT STEP.

Narrator: TO FEED BIG RED,

RICK'S HIRED A 40-FOOT
HOPPER FEEDER FROM A NEIGHBOR.

ALL THAT'S LEFT IS FOR RICK
TO HAUL THE 10,000-POUND LOAD

UP THE RAMP TO THE PLANT.

PLEASE HAVE THE CLEARANCE.

REALLY STEEP,
REALLY MUDDY.

I DON'T WANNA DO IT.

OH, MAN.

FIRST GEAR, DIFF'S LOCKED.

ALL RIGHT. ENOUGH THINKING
ABOUT THIS HILL.

I'M JUST GONNA GIVE HER.

THIS THING SLIPS BACK,
I'M PRETTY MUCH SCREWED.

I'LL HAVE NO WAY TO STOP IT.

ALL RIGHT. JUST GET THROUGH
THIS MUDDY PART, BABY.

[BLEEP]

OH [BLEEP]

[BLEEP]

COME ON, BABY.

DON'T SPIN.
DON'T SPIN.

WE'RE SPINNING.

[BLEEP]

WAY TOO MUDDY.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

HEY, BRENNAN.
CAN YOU HELP ME OUT?

Ruault:
MOVE THE WHOLE THING?

LET'S GIVE HER.

I'M SICK OF SCREWING AROUND.

BUCKET TO BUCKET, BRO.

IS THAT LOOKING GOOD?

FEELS LIKE THE ASS-END
OF MY MACHINE'S

COMING OFF THE GROUND A BIT.

[BLEEP]

OH, THAT'S TEAMWORK.

TEAMWORK.

OH, THAT'S A LONG UNIT.

THERE YOU GO.

PERFECT.

THAT'S GOOD!

WHOO!

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Blaschke:
YOU TRY AND GET 1,000 OUNCES
ON YOUR FIRST SEASON

STARTING HALFWAY THROUGH,

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG
DISADVANTAGE.

ALL WE NEED'S 1,000 HOURS
OF RUN TIME.

OF ALL THE WASH PLANTS
I'VE SEEN,

THIS IS THE WASH PLANT-IEST.

DUN, DUN, DUN, DUN.

*

[ SNAKE RATTLING ]

NO, I CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS SUMMER.

Narrator: TWO WEEKS AGO,
TODD HOFFMAN'S CREW QUIT,

LEAVING JUST HIS FAMILY
AND OLD FRIEND JIM THURBER.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN THE HOLE.

AND I GOT ALL THIS EQUIPMENT
LEASED.

BUT I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUEL
IN THE TANK.

AT THIS POINT, I REALLY
DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE.

WE'RE GONNA RUN THE MINE.

Narrator:
AT THE START OF THE SEASON,

TODD SET A $6-MILLION,
5,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL.

TWELVE WEEKS ON,
HE HAS A DISASTROUS 206 OUNCES.

Todd: FEEL LIKE WE DID
ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.

THOSE OLD-TIMERS
DIDN'T LEAVE US MUCH.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE COMING TO OREGON
WASN'T THE RIGHT MOVE FOR US.

Narrator: TODD IS LOADING TRUCKS
WITH DIRT,

DESPERATE, HOPING TO HIT
ANOTHER POCKET OF GOLD.

Todd: LOOKING BACK
ON THIS WHOLE SEASON,

AND I'M THINKING
TO MYSELF, YOU KNOW,

"HOW DID THE TRAIN GET
SO FAR OFF THE TRACKS?"

RIGHT NOW, TODD IS --
HE'S ACTING SCARED, YOU KNOW?

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I RAISED.

AND HE'S GONNA HAVE TO
TRUST GOD ON THIS ONE.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

Hunter:
YOU KNOW, I KNOW MY DAD'S
REALLY DOWN RIGHT NOW.

JUST SEEMS LIKE A BIG FAILURE.

BUT IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.

HEY. HOW YOU DOING, DAD?

I THINK I'M AT
THE END OF MY ROPE.

LET'S JUST TRY
TO STAY POSITIVE.

*

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
I'M JUST SORRY.

I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

MAYBE I'M JUST
FOOLING MYSELF.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
WHATEVER HAPPENS,

I'M JUST HERE
WITH YOU AND GRANDPA.

Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THE HOFFMANS SHUT DOWN
MONSTER RED

TO CHECK
IF THEY ARE ON THE GOLD.

GRANDPA, YOU WANNA KILL
THE BLADE MILL?

BLADE MILL GOING OFF!

HOW'S IT LOOK, HUNTER?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT DOESN'T LOOK
VERY GOOD TO ME.

ANOTHER DOWNER.

OH.

HERE'S THE DEAL, GUYS.

I'M SCRATCHING AND BITING
FOR PAY THAT'S --

THAT ANDY MISSED.

Jack: HE DIDN'T MISS MUCH.
NO, HE DIDN'T.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S
A LITTLE DINKY BIT THERE.

BUT IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

IT'S UP TO YOU.

THURBER,
LET'S GO DOWN IN THERE.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND
SOME OTHER PAY DIRT.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE COME UP WITH.

Narrator: AFTER SEVEN WEEKS
AT THE BUCKLAND,

MOVING OVER 400,000 YARDS
OF DIRT,

TODD HAS ONLY MANAGED
TO FIND 68 OUNCES,

WORTH JUST $80,000.

WE NEED TO FIND A POCKET
OF SOMETHING, THURB.

WELL, DUDE, THAT LOOKS
PROMISING RIGHT THERE.

WE'LL PAN IT.

WE'RE GONNA PAN AROUND,
SEE IF ANDY LEFT ANY SPOTS

BACK HERE ON TOP OF BEDROCK.

NOTHING IN THAT STUFF
AT ALL.

REALLY?

NOT EVEN A SPECK.

RIGHT THERE.

SEE THAT,
THAT LITTLE RIVER GRAVEL?

YEP.

WELL, HE LEFT IT
FOR SOME REASON.

WE'LL SEE.

IT'S WEIRD NOT HAVING
THE GUYS HERE, HUH?

Thurber: I KNOW.
IT'S JUST SO QUIET.

YOU DON'T HEAR THE MACHINERY
RUNNING, NOTHING.

Todd: ANYTHING?

NOT YET.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.

WE'RE THE LAST FOUR
ORIGINAL GUYS ON MY TEAM.

AND, UH...WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
IS WE STARTED TOGETHER

AND WE'RE GONNA
FINISH TOGETHER.

LOOK AT THAT.
THAT WAS LAID IN THERE.

STREAMBED.
YEP.

YEP. THAT'S DEFINITELY
STREAM-BORNE THERE.

YEAH?
YEP.

THAT LOOKS
MORE LIKE IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOME
BETTER-LOOKING STUFF.

THIS HERE'S, YOU KNOW,

IT'S ALL BEEN
RUNNING DOWN THE STREAM.

YEAH. THAT LOOKS WAY MORE --
THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE IT.

YEAH. WE'LL SEE.

COME ON, BABY.

OKAY. COME ON, BABY.

YEP. AND THERE YOU GO. THERE'S
SOME LITTLE ONES IN HERE, THURB.

MM-HMM.

THERE IS GOLD IN HERE.
BUT IT AIN'T IMPRESSIVE.

BUT IT'S GOLD.

*

Narrator: LAST YEAR,
TONY BEETS SPENT $1.5 MILLION

ON A SECOND DREDGE

WHICH HAS BEEN ABANDONED
100 MILES UPRIVER SINCE 1952.

HE'S REBUILT A 60-FOOT POWER
BARGE NAMED THE JASMINE B,

IN MEMORY
OF HIS MIDDLE DAUGHTER,

TO TRANSPORT THE DREDGE
DOWN THE YUKON RIVER.

A FEW DAYS AGO, HE HIRED
AN EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN, WAYNE,

WHO'S BEEN MAKING
FINAL PREPARATIONS.

BUT THINGS HAVEN'T
BEEN WORKING OUT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

OKAY.

Narrator: WITHOUT A CAPTAIN,
THE BARGE IS GOING NOWHERE.

BUT TONY ALREADY
HAS A BACK-UP PLAN.

GENE CHEESEMAN
REBUILT THE JASMINE B

AND IS AN EXPERIENCED SKIPPER
ON COASTAL WATERS

BUT HAS NEVER NAVIGATED
THE YUKON RIVER.

BEFORE TAKING ON THE ROLE
OF BARGE CAPTAIN,

HE WANTS TO SCOUT THE ROUTE.

FIRST TIME I'VE RAN
UP THE RIVER.

JUST GONNA CHECK THINGS OUT
AND SEE WHAT IT'S GONNA BE LIKE
TO RUN THE BARGE UP THERE.

SO, JUST GET A FEEL FOR THINGS.

Narrator: GENE PLANS
TO HEAD SOUTH FROM DAWSON CITY

AND EXPLORE THE 100 MILES
OF YUKON RIVER

THAT HE'LL HAVE TO
SAFELY NAVIGATE

TO GET TO AND FROM
THISTLE CREEK.

*

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON THE WATER
QUITE A BIT ALL MY LIFE

BUT NEVER ON A BIG RIVER
LIKE THIS.

*

Ness: VERY NICE.

Narrator:
AT INDIAN RIVER, RICK NESS

HAS VOWED HE'LL HAVE
HIS NEW OPERATION

UP AND RUNNING TODAY.

HE HAS BIG RED'S
HOPPER FEEDER IN PLACE.

HE'S ATTACHED THE SLUICES.

THE FINAL STEP --
JUST ADD WATER.

JUST HOOKING UP THE WATER
SUPPLY LINE TO THE WASH PLANT.

DOWN A LITTLE! DOWN!

SET HER DOWN RIGHT THERE!

PERFECT!

I'LL JUST KIND OF KICK
THIS END OVER, RICK!

OKAY.

IT'S GETTING THERE.
IT'LL BE IMPRESSIVE SOON.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE FOUND
ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES

TO MAKE THIS PLANT AGAIN.

THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT?

FIRING UP.

[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]

COME ON.

COME ON, YOU JERK.

IT'S BEEN SITTING A WHILE.
LET ME PRIME THE FUEL.

THIS IS JUST THE GENERATOR.

[ LAUGHS ]

THIS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

GO AHEAD AND TRY
AND SPIN IT UP AGAIN.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

OH, HELLO!

BOOYAH!

THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED!

OH, YEAH!
LIKE IT NEVER TURNED OFF.

TRY THE SHAKER OUT AND SEE
IF IT'S TURNING THE RIGHT WAY.

THAT'S A BIG PAY.

STEP ONE.

SHE'S RISING FROM THE ASHES!
DUDE!

THIS IS GONNA BE THE FIRST TIME
BIG RED'S SEEN WATER

IN A LONG TIME.

RICK, FIRE IT UP!

OH, YEAH.

WATER TO THE PLANT.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

I DRUG THIS PLANT UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE SET THE SLUICES.

MITCH AND KELLY
AND BRENNAN AND I,

WE SET THIS FEEDER IN HERE.

I WENT AND GOT THIS FEEDER.
I MADE THE DEAL FOR THIS FEEDER.

THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE --
FEELS LIKE MINE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S AWESOME.

DAMN IT!
WELL, THAT AIN'T GOOD.

THIS THING IS [BLEEP]

*

THIS THING IS [BLEEP]

Ness: WATCH OUT!
GOT OURSELVES A SPRINKLER.

DAMN IT!

Narrator: BIG RED
IS READY TO FIRE UP.

BUT ITS WATER SUPPLY
IS LEAKING.

Blaschke:
WE GOT WATER BLOWING OUT HERE
ON THE OTHER SIDE,

MORE BROKEN VALVES.

HEY! SHUT IT OFF!

[ MACHINE SHUTS DOWN ]

WE GOT A LEAK.
Ness: WHERE?

RIGHT AT THE LAY FLAP.

WE CAN CUT IT HERE
AND MOVE IT A FOOT.

BUT, I MEAN, TRYING TO DRAG
IT OUT BURIED LIKE THAT,

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO PULL IT THROUGH.

I'LL SEND BRENNAN UP HERE.
OKAY.

I'LL GET THIS UNDONE.

Narrator: MECHANIC MITCH REMOVES
THE LEAKING SECTION OF PIPE.

Ruault:
I DON'T NEED TO GET RIGHT
TO THE PIPE, I DON'T THINK.

YEAH. YOU JUST TAKE
SOME WEIGHT OFF OF IT.

TO MOVE IT CLOSER
TO THE PLANT,

BRENNAN NEEDS TO
DIG OUT THE PIPE.

[BLEEP]

[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]

[ SIGHS ] [BLEEP]

[BLEEP] SAKES!

[ SIGHS ] [BLEEP]

MUST HAVE GOT IT
WITH THE BUCKET

'CAUSE IT WAS WAY
OFF TO THE SIDE.

[ SIGHS ]

[BLEEP]

RICK'S GONNA BE [BLEEP] PISSED.

OKAY. QUIT FILMING
FOR A SECOND.

JUST [BLEEP] PISSED.

I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS [BLEEP]
FOLLOWING ME RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S UP?
I [BLEEP] NICKED THE PIPE, MAN.

AND I PUT A HOLE IN IT.
AW, DAMN IT.

I WAS GOING
SO [BLEEP] SLOW.

I COULDN'T HAVE [BLEEP]
GONE ANY SLOWER, MAN.

I COULD BARELY
PULL THE JOYSTICKS

'CAUSE I KNEW IT WAS CLOSE.

I APOLOGIZE, BUDDY.
I'M [BLEEP] SORRY.

Ness: NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
[BLEEP] HAPPENS.

AH.

WE'LL NEED
THE FUSION MACHINE.

AND WE'LL NEED
A GENERATOR.

WE STILL GOT A LOT
OF TIME TODAY, SO...

DON'T STRESS ON IT.
LET'S JUST GET IT FIXED.

YEAH. YEAH. FOR SURE.
THANKS, BUD.

YEP.

IF THAT HAD HAVE BEEN PARKER
THAT CAME DOWN

AND I HAD TO TELL HIM THAT,
HE WOULD'VE JUST EXPLODED,

YOU KNOW?

YOU KNOW HOW HE IS.

I MEAN, I'M HAPPY
THAT IT WAS RICK.

HE COULD TELL HOW DISAPPOINTED
I WAS IN MYSELF.

SO HE -- YOU KNOW, HE JUST SAID,
"LET IT GO.

DON'T LET IT RUIN YOUR DAY."

YOU SEEN
THE FUSION MACHINE?

THE FUSION MACHINE?
YEAH.

WHAT FOR?

I JUST [BLEEP] WAS EXPOSING
THE WATER LINE FOR BIG RED.

AND I CLIPPED IT.

I DON'T EVEN WANNA HEAR IT.

IT'S NOTHING
I HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE.

BUT WE NEED IT [BLEEP] RUNNING.
WE NEED THAT PLANT RUNNING.

IT'S OVER BY THE CMI CONTAINER
OVER THERE.

ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.
I'LL GET ON IT, MAN.

Ness:
I'M TRYING MY BEST TO NOT --
UPSET ABOUT IT.

I'M NOT [BLEEP] MAD AT BRENNAN.

I'VE NEVER REALLY COME UNGLUED
ON ANYBODY OUT HERE.

AND I REALLY DON'T PLAN ON IT,
YOU KNOW?

I JUST -- I DON'T SEE
THE POINT IN IT.

THAT'S PARKER'S M.O.
THAT'S NOT MINE, YOU KNOW?

IT'S GONNA SET US BACK
A COUPLE HOURS.

GET IT FIXED
AND MOVE ON.

Narrator:
BRENNAN'S MISTAKE MEANS

THEY HAVE TO REMOVE
SEVERAL FEET OF PIPE

BEFORE REPAIRING AND DRAGGING
THE ENTIRE PIPE FORWARD

TO FIX THE ORIGINAL LEAK.

Ness: GONNA TRY AND GET HER
LINED UP WITH THE PIPE.

IT'S 5:00 P.M.

AND EVERY HOUR THAT
THE PLANT ISN'T RUNNING,

RICK LOSES $1,500 IN GOLD.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE
A FEW MINUTES.

WE GOT TO HEAT THE PIPE UP.

ONCE THE PIPE GETS HEATED,
THEN WE PULL THE HEAT BLADE OUT

AND JOIN
THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER.

THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF LETTING 'EM COOL.

HOPEFULLY WITHIN AN HOUR NOW,

WE'LL BE PUTTING DIRT
THROUGH BIG RED.

COME ON. COME ON. COME ON. COME
ON. COME ON. COME ON. COME ON.

COME ON!

COME ON!

Blaschke:
WHILE THIS THING'S COOLING DOWN,

DO WE WANNA GO PUT
THE END ON THAT

AND THEN JUST JOIN
THE SNAP CONNECTOR?

YEAH.

WE GOT OUR PIPE
BACK TOGETHER.

WE JUST GOT TO GO, NOW,
TO FIX OUR ORIGINAL LEAK.

THERE WE GO.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND FIRE IT UP,
SEE WHAT IT DOES.

FIRE IT UP.

YOU READY FOR THE SHAKER?

IT IS HAPPENING.

FIRST BIT
OF INDIAN RIVER PAY DIRT

GOING THROUGH BIG RED
RIGHT NOW.

BOOYAH!

Narrator:
RICK'S ACHIEVED HIS GOAL
ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNSET.

Parker:
WELL, I JUST WALKED IN.

THE SLUICE BOX
PUT A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE.

I HAVEN'T HAD THIS THING
RUNNING IN OVER --

WELL OVER A YEAR, YOU KNOW?

Ness: LOOK AT THIS.
I GOT A FRIGGING RAINBOW

COMING DOWN
INTO THE CUT DOWN HERE.

THAT MEANS THERE'S
LOTS OF GOLD IN THIS CUT.

PRETTY DAMN SURE.

[ LAUGHS ]

*

Narrator:
TONY BEETS NEEDS TO BARGE

HIS 70-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
DOWN THE YUKON RIVER.

BUT BEFORE HIS NEW SKIPPER,
GENE CHEESEMAN,

TAKES THE HELM OF HIS
$250,000 POWER BARGE,

THEY'RE OUT SCOUTING
A SAFE ROUTE.

NOTHING WORRIES ME SO FAR.

NO!
NO.

YEAH. YEAH.
OH, YEAH.

THE 2,000-MILE YUKON RIVER

IS A CONSTANTLY CHANGING
NETWORK OF CHANNELS.

IN PLACES,
IT'S OVER A MILE WIDE.

AND THE DEPTH CAN DROP
TO LESS THAN A FOOT.

THEY'VE JUST ENTERED
ONE OF THE MOST BRAIDED

AND SHALLOW SECTIONS
OF THE ROUTE.

YEAH.
IT'S SHALLOWING RIGHT UP.

[ BEEPING ]

WELL, THAT DEPTH SOUNDER
AIN'T LYING, IS IT?

NO.

YEAH, PRETTY TRICKY HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.

CAN YOU GRAB THAT PIPE POLE
AND SEE?

I CAN FEEL US
SITTING ON THE BOTTOM EVEN.

[BLEEP]

YEAH. WELL, I CAN'T EVEN
MAKE IT IN THIS.

I GOT TO PAY ATTENTION BEFORE
WE END UP IN A REAL PROBLEM.

LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
A LOT OF WATER THERE.

BUT DEFINITELY
NOT DEEP ENOUGH.

THE OUTBOARD ON GENE'S SKIFF
NEEDS JUST 18 INCHES OF WATER.

TONY'S BARGE, FULLY LADEN,
DRAWS THREE TIMES THAT.

OKAY.

OH. I'M GONNA SLOW DOWN HERE
AND JUST KIND OF NOSE IN THERE.

YEAH.

WHOA. WHOA. WHOA. WHOA!

[ SKIFF THUDS ]

WE CAME ALL THIS WAY.
WE'RE RIGHT THERE BY THISTLE.

AND WE CAN'T GET THERE
FROM HERE.

*

Narrator:
TONY HAS THE PERFECT BARGE

TO TRANSPORT HIS DREDGE
BACK TO DAWSON,

THE 60-FOOT, 60-TON JASMINE B.

BUT SCOUTING THE ROUTE
TO THISTLE CREEK

HAS PROVED HE NEEDS
A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED

YUKON CAPTAIN TO OPERATE IT.

TWO LARGE VESSELS
OPERATE OUT OF DAWSON CITY --

THE CAR FERRY
AND A TOURIST PADDLEWHEELER.

TONY'S ONLY HOPE -- THE CAPTAIN
OF THE KLONDIKE SPIRIT.

TONY HAS KNOWN
CAPTAIN BRAD WHITELAW

FOR OVER A DECADE.

HEY.
HEY, TONY!

ALL RIGHT.
COME ON IN.

HOLY CRAP.

COME ON IN.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

OH, TONY.
MAN, I'M FLATTERED.

THAT'S, UH...
Tony: YEAH, WELL...

THERE'S NOTHING MORE I'D RATHER
DO THAN DRIVE A BARGE LIKE THAT.

YEAH. YOU CAN'T BE
TAKING CHANCES OUT THERE, TONY.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT.

YOU GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY
THAT DOES KNOW THE RIVER.

THERE'S -- THESE SANDBARS
AND THE MAIN CHANNEL,

IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME.

AND, ESPECIALLY A SHIP
THAT BIG,

YOU WANNA DO IT RIGHT.

I'D REALLY LOVE TO DO THAT.
IT'S JUST MY HANDS ARE TIED.

WE DO THREE,
SOMETIMES SIX TRIPS A DAY.

THIS TOUR BOAT
IS JUST LOADED.

AND IT'S SUCH A GOOD GIG.

I CAN'T TURN MY BACK
ON THIS FOR A DAY.

OHH.

TONY, MY SEASON GOES ON FOR,

WELL, AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH
OR SO.

BUT IF I CAN HELP YOU OUT
THEN...

YOU JUST GET A HOLD OF ME
AND SEE WHERE WE ARE THEN.

ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.

UNTIL TONY FINDS A CAPTAIN,

HIS DREAM OF RUNNING
A SECOND DREDGE IS ON HOLD.

[BLEEP]

*

Todd:
I FOUND SOME PAY DOWN HERE.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S GOOD.

SOMETIMES, IT'LL FOOL YOU,

HAVE A LOT MORE GOLD
THAN YOU THINK.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DOWN TO JUST FOUR MEN.

Todd: IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF
MY BEST SUMMERS I'VE EVER HAD.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH.

Narrator: ONE HUNDRED FEET
DOWN IN THE CUT,

TODD THINKS HE'S FINALLY
HIT A STREAK OF SIDE PAY

THAT COULD GET HIM
OUT OF THE HOLE.

Todd: TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE.

GONNA GO AHEAD
AND RUN THIS DIRT.

AND HOPEFULLY, IT WORKS OUT.

*

HEY, GUYS.
SOMEBODY'S PULLING IN.

*

WHAT THE HELL'S
HE DOING HERE?

*

HOW'S IT GOING, TODD?

NOT SO GOOD.

NOT SO GOOD, FREDDY.

KIND OF WHAT I HEARD.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WELL, I GOT WORD
THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY

HEADED OUT ON YOU, TODD.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE WORST
PART OF EVERYTHING

IS 'CAUSE WE GOT SEVEN YEARS
OF MINING TOGETHER.

AND -- AND I NEVER THOUGHT IT
WOULD END LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?

SORRY THE WAY I LEFT.

I JUST WANT YOU KNOW
I WASN'T BAILING ON YOU.

I'VE BEEN
PRETTY DANG BUSY.

IT SURE FELT LIKE, FREDDY.
IT FELT LIKE IT.

I DIDN'T BAIL OUT ON YOU.

WHAT -- WHERE'D YOU GO?

COLORADO.

PROSPECTING ON A FRIEND
OF MINE'S GROUND.

FOR HIM?

NO, FOR US.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "FOR US"?
HAVE A LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S A 2,000-YARD TEST.
THAT'S 19 OUNCES.

WOW.

I'VE GOT AN OLD WASH PLANT I'M
PUTTING TOGETHER OUT OF PIECES.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T HAVE HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

AND I DON'T HAVE A TEAM.

I LITERALLY
DON'T HAVE ANYBODY LEFT.

I JUST HAVE
A LITTLE SKELETON CREW.

AND I -- BUT I GOT MACHINES.
I GOT MACHINES GALORE.

WE CAN MINE THIS PROPERTY
WITH FIVE PEOPLE.

I THINK IF WE COME TOGETHER,
WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE A DECISION QUICK

BECAUSE IT'S AT 10,000 FEET.

AND WINTER COMES FAST THERE.
WOW.

IT'S HIGH
IN THE ROCKIES.

I DON'T KNOW, FREDDY.

THERE'S DECENT GOLD THERE.

I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
TURN THE SEASON AROUND,

AT LEAST BREAK EVEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF
MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY

I CAN MUSTER ANOTHER PUSH
THIS YEAR, MAN.

HAVE A LOOK AT THAT GOLD.
AND JUST LET ME KNOW, OKAY?

LET ME KNOW
AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

SEE YOU, FREDDY.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK...

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER OFFER.

...PRODUCER JOHN MILMO

HAS WORKED ON "GOLD RUSH"
FOR TWO YEARS

BUT HAS NEVER OWNED ANY GOLD.

IF YOU CRAWL THROUGH THE PIPE,
I'LL GIVE YOU TWO GOLD NUGGETS.

Milmo:
CRAWL THROUGH THERE?

IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME FEEL
A BIT CLAUSTROPHOBIC.

MILMO JUST DOESN'T WANT
THE GOLD BAD ENOUGH.

AROUND HERE, WE DO WHAT IT TAKES
TO GET THE GOLD.

I'M LEAVING.

Man: HE'S GOING IN!
HE'S GOING IN!

[ LAUGHTER ]

HOW'S IT GOING?

IT'S GOING GREAT.

IT'S A LITTLE TIGHT HERE,
HUH?

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU MANNED UP.

DO I GET TO
PICK MY NUGGETS?

YEP.
HA HA!

WHAT DO YOU WANT,
EARRINGS?

Milmo: MY MUM
QUITE LIKES DELICATE.

YOU WANT THOSE TWO?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY PLEASURE.
[ LAUGHS ]

*

BRING ON THE DIRT!

Narrator: RICK NESS HAS JUST
OPENED UP PARKER SCHNABEL'S

SECOND OPERATION
AT INDIAN RIVER.

SEE IF WE CAN
GET 1,000 OUNCES

BEFORE WE GET SNOWED OUT.

Narrator: SCRIBNER CREEK
HAS NOT PAID OUT AS HOPED.

SO PARKER'S RELYING
ON RICK'S TEAM

TO MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL.

FINALLY GOT HER, BUDDY!
[BLEEP] YEAH, MAN.

GOOD FEELING.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY?
WITH THIS LATE OF A START,

I'M STILL GONNA
BEAT THE HOFFMANS.

YOU ALREADY DID.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

ACTUALLY, YOU WANNA FEED THIS
A FEW BUCKETS

SO I CAN RUN UP THERE
AND LOOK?

YEAH.

WHOO!

*

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS, BUDDY.

THE OLD GIRL'S
RUNNING AGAIN.

*

OOH. [BLEEP] [BLEEP]

Ness: JAM-UP.
[BLEEP]

SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN!
SHUT IT DOWN.

Blaschke:
CUT THE CONVEYOR!

HEY! GET ME A BAR!

LET'S GET HER SHUT OFF
BEFORE IT RIPS THE BELT!

WATCH YOU DON'T PUSH IT DOWN
TOO MUCH.

STILL HAVE TO GET IT UP.

[ MACHINE POWERS DOWN ]

HERE, WATCH OUT, PARKER.
YOU GOT ONE COMING BACK AT YOU.

THERE SHE GOES.
BIG CUT.

HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT'S A BIG [BLEEP]

OH, WAIT.
THERE'S A COUPLE.

THIS FEEDER WOULD WORK PERFECT
FOR YOU.

AFTER TODAY,
NOT MY PROBLEM.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Narrator: BIG RED HAS RUN
FOR 6 HOURS.

WHILE IT'S DOWN,
THEY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY

TO CHECK THE SLUICES.

HOLY SMOKES.

LOOK AT THAT.

OH, YEAH. THERE'S SOME GOLD
IN THAT [BLEEP] HELLO.

THERE'S A GOOD SPOT THERE.
YOU GOT SOME OVER HERE.

OH, YEAH.

I DON'T EVEN GOT TO LOOK
IN THE SLUICE BOXES.

IT'S ALL
IN THE DISTRIBUTION RUN.

DUDE, THAT IS AWESOME.

THAT'S THE FIRST GOLD
OUT OF INDIAN RIVER RIGHT THERE.

EVERYBODY'S DONE A GREAT JOB
GETTING THIS THING GOING.

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET
SOME HOURS ON THE BOX

AND SEE IF WE CAN
FIND SOME GOLD.

Ness: HELL YEAH.

*

[ GROANS ]

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M PROUD OF EVERYBODY.

WE'VE BEEN BUSTING
OUR ASS.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT THE
GREATEST OPERATORS IN THE WORLD.

BUT, MAN, WE KEPT THE PLANT
RUNNING, YOU KNOW?

LOOKING AT
THE SLUICE BOXES TODAY,

AND IT DON'T LOOK GOOD.

DON'T LOOK GOOD AT ALL.

Hunter: WE GAVE IT OUR BEST SHOT
HERE.

AND I DON'T THINK
IT CAN GET ANY WORSE.

SO CAN'T GET WORSE
THAN THAT.

I AM TIRED OF LOSING.

I AM TIRED OF FEELING
LIKE A FRICKIN' LOSER.

FREDDY DODGE
CAME BY TODAY.

HE DIDN'T
JUST SPLIT ON US.

HE'S ACTUALLY BEEN TESTING
A NEW CLAIM IN COLORADO.

AND HE WANTS US
TO COME MINE IT WITH HIM.

HE HAS A PLANT.

BUT HE DOESN'T
HAVE THE GUYS.

AND HE DOESN'T
HAVE THE MACHINES.

WE GOT THE MACHINES.

IS THERE GOOD GOLD
THERE?

YES.

THIS IS WHAT HE HANDED ME.

AND IT'S 19 OUNCES
OF GOLD.

THIS CAME OUT OF
2,000 YARDS.

Thurber: THAT'S NICE.
Georgia: REALLY?

WOW.

SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
OF SALVAGING THIS SEASON.

REALLY?

THE BAD PART -- IT IS WAY UP
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S AT 10,500 FEET.

HOLY CRAP.

THE SNOW IS GONNA COME EARLIER
THAN THE KLONDIKE.

AND THIS COULD BE
STRIKE THREE.

YOU GOT TO -- WE ALL GOT TO
KNOW THAT GOING IN.

I'LL TAKE THIS --
THIS THIRD CHANCE

'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING --
NOTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.

Thurber:
WHEN WOULD WE LEAVE?

WE'D LEAVE NOW,
LIKE MORNING.

SEEMS SO LATE IN THE SEASON
TO GO TRY AGAIN.

BUT...
IT'S GONNA BE HARD

IF WE GO THERE
OR IF WE STAY HERE.

AND THIS DOESN'T
LOOK GOOD.

SO I'D RATHER GO FOR SOMETHING
THAT SOUNDS BETTER...

YEAH.
...AND TRY TO FINISH STRONGER

'CAUSE I -- HONESTLY,

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
CHANGING AT THE BUCKLAND.

MY FAMILY'S GONNA
THINK I'M NUTS.

I MEAN, WE'VE --
BUT WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION.

IF WE COULD SALVAGE THIS SEASON
IN ANY WAY,

I'M FOR IT.

IF WE GO OUT, LET'S GO OUT
KICKING AND SCREAMING, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
GUESS WHAT?

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE PACKING UP,
HEADING TO COLORADO.

LET'S DO IT.
LET'S DO IT.

OKAY, THEN.
CRAZY.

Narrator: TWO DAYS LATER,

AFTER FAILING DISMALLY
IN HIS HOME STATE OF OREGON,

TODD HOFFMAN IS MOVING
HIS ENTIRE OPERATION

1,000 MILES SOUTH

TO ATTEMPT TO SAVE HIS SEASON

WITH WHAT WILL BE HIS THIRD MINE
IN JUST THREE MONTHS.

FREDDY THREW US A LIFELINE.

AND WE'RE GONNA GRAB
ONTO THAT LIFELINE

AND KICK SOME ASS.

HERE WE GO!

IF I HAD TO WRAP IT UP
INTO ONE WORD, IT'D BE HOPE.

WELL,
THERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.

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

THIS IS A [BLEEP] [BLEEP]

THAT'S TOAST.
YEAH.

WE ARE KIND OF DEAD IN THE WATER
AT THIS POINT.

Blaschke:
THAT THING IS HUGE!

I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT'S THE
DUMBEST THING WE'VE EVER DONE.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE
RIGHT UP THERE.

THIS IS RICK'S GOLD.

Ness: 94.35

YEAH!

WE'RE IN THE LAST-CHANCE SALOON.

Dodge: SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE.

WE WILL NOT QUIT.

SEEING GOLD, BOYS!