Gold Rush: Parker's Trail (2017–2019): Season 4, Episode 4 - Driven to Extremes - full transcript
Hot, parched country and broken machinery place a toll on the team as pressure mounts to find gold. Tyler and Parker use detectors in search of gold beneath the cool waters of an outback oasis.
Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE
OF "PARKER'S TRAIL"...
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
Narrator: ...PARKER SCHNABEL
AND HIS TEAM...
WE'RE BASICALLY GOING FURTHER
AND FURTHER INTO HELL.
...ARE IN A GHOST TOWN,
KNOWN AS HELL'S CRACK.
THAT'S THE OLD CEMETERY.
Fred: OH, THAT'S CREEPY.
BATTLING EXTREME HEAT...
LIKE, I'M USED TO THE HEAT,
BUT THIS IS NEXT-LEVEL.
Narrator:
...AND MECHANICAL MELTDOWNS...
[BLEEP] BULL[BEEP].
OH! OH, OH, OH!
Narrator: ...PROSPECTING
ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S
RICHEST GOLDFIELDS...
OH! THAT'S A NICE CHUNK.
...WHERE ONLY
THE TOUGHEST SURVIVE.
HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS?
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
OH, GREAT.
-WHAT'S THIS?
-WHAT?
[BLEEP] ROAD ENDS.
GEEZ, THAT'S A LOT
OF WATER.
♪♪
Narrator: TO REACH THEIR TARGET
MINE AT OLD HALLS CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM MUST DRIVE
OVER THE IVANHOE CROSSING'S
NARROW 67-YEAR-OLD CAUSEWAY.
Tyler: I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
GONNA BE THIS FULL.
♪♪
Fred: WELL, OUR TRAILER'S
LIKE 1,000 POUNDS.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE A BIT LIGHT
GOING ACROSS, ISN'T IT?
FLOWING AT NEARLY
A MILLION GALLONS A MINUTE,
THE RIVER COULD SWEEP AWAY
THE MINI TROMMEL,
VITAL FOR THEIR
PROSPECTING MISSION.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED EYES
ON THAT TRAILER
TO MAKE SURE
IT'S NOT MOVING.
WANT ME TO, LIKE, HANG OFF
THE SIDE OF THE CAR?
WOULD YOU?
♪♪
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
IF IT STARTS MOVING?
WE'RE EITHER GONNA
HAVE TO UNHOOK IT OR GO.
DON'T SLAM ON THE BRAKE
OR THROTTLE
WITH ME HANGING OFF
THE SIDE.
I WON'T.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, WE READY?
YEAH, WE'RE READY.
THE TROMMEL'S MADE IT THIS FAR.
WE AIN'T LOSING IT NOW.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS.
♪♪
THAT'S PRETTY GNARLY
THERE.
♪♪
HOLY [BLEEP].
SLOW DOWN, FRED! IT'S, LIKE,
ALL THE WAY UP THE TIRES.
RIGHT, FRED,
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW.
YOU GOT THE WHOLE MOTOR
UNDERWATER.
OH, [BLEEP].
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
[BLEEP] THAT.
HOLY [BLEEP]. WHOO!
Tyler: YEAH, GOOD WORK.Danny: GOOD WORK, MATE.
OOH!
YEAH, SHE GOT
SOME WATER IN HER.
WE MADE IT, THOUGH.
♪♪
Danny: THAT'S THE LAST WATER
THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE.
YAY, HALLS CREEK,
HERE WE COME!
LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE 4,000 MILES
INTO THEIR SEARCH FOR
GOLD-RICH GROUND IN AUSTRALIA
THAT COULD EXTEND
HIS MINING SEASON YEAR-ROUND.
THEY'RE HEADING DEEP INTO
THE OUTBACK TO OLD HALLS CREEK,
WHICH HAS PRODUCED NEARLY
$400 MILLION OF GOLD SINCE 1885.
♪♪
SO, TODAY, WE'RE GOING OUT TO
SOME LEASES OWNED BY MARTIN.
I KNOW HIM THROUGH
A BLOKE CALLED STEVE.
STEVE SAID HE'S PRETTY KEEN ON
SELLING AND GETTING OUT.
WELL, THAT'S COOL.
THAT'S NICE TO BE
GOING TO SEE SOMEONE
THAT'S DEFINITELY GOT AN OFFER
ON THE TABLE, I SUPPOSE.
YEAH, EXACTLY.
YEAH.
GOOD TO KNOW.
THIS IS WHERE THE FIRST
GOLD RUSH
OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA WAS --
RIGHT HERE.
WELL THAT'S COOL.
YEAH. A GUY IN 1885 FOUND A
KILO NUGGET ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
-GREAT DAY TO FIND IT.
-MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOLD HERE.
THERE'S A MASSIVE MINE ABOUT
50 Ks OUT IN THAT DIRECTION
THAT PRODUCES
55,000 OUNCES A YEAR.
THIS DIRECTION WE'RE
DRIVING?
YEAH.
Narrator: AFTER THE FIRST
GOLD STRIKE IN 1885,
OVER 15,000 PEOPLE RUSHED
TO OLD HALLS CREEK.
MOST WERE ILL-PREPARED
FOR THE HARSH CONDITIONS
AND SCORCHING TEMPERATURES,
AND MANY DIED
OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND THIRST.
ONLY THE TOUGHEST SURVIVED,
AND IN JUST THREE MONTHS,
THE GOLD RUSH WAS OVER.
♪♪
Fred: IS THIS IT?YEAH, THIS IS IT.
WHAT'S IT SAY?
"LODGE OLD TOWN."
ALL THAT REMAINS OF
OLD HALLS CREEK ARE A FEW RUINS
AND A CEMETERY
ESTABLISHED IN THE 1885 RUSH.
OH, MAN.
OH, THAT'S CREEPY.
♪♪
WHAT DO YOU RECKON, PARKER?
ROCK AND ROLL.
OH, IT'S SO HOT.
HOW'S IT GOING?
I'M PARKER.
YEP, MARTIN.
STEVE.YOUNG BLOKE ADI.
I'M ADI.Parker: NICE TO MEET YA.
PLEASURE TO MEET YA.
FRED.HOW'S IT GOIN'?
-HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
-YEAH, HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD, BABE, GOOD. YOU?
OH, YEAH,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Martin:
NICE AND COOL TODAY.
IS THIS NICE AND COOL?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tyler: HAVE YOU DONE MUCH
MINING LATELY ON THESE LEASES?
NO. NO. NO WATER.
BIT OF A SHORTAGE OF WATER
FOR A FEW YEARS.
IT SORT OF SLOWED THINGS DOWN,
AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE TREES.
Parker: HOW MANY HECTORS
DO YOU HAVE FOR SALE?
AROUND ABOUT 160.
AND WHAT KIND OF PRICE
ARE YOU WANTING TO GET FOR IT?
FOR THE WHOLE ISSUE,
AROUND ABOUT $1.2 MILLION.
$1.2 MILLION AUSTRALIAN?
YEAH.
GET ME INTO
RETIREMENT MODE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HE'S ALREADY THERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO, CAN YOU
SHOW US AROUND?
YEAH, YEAH, DEFINITELY.
Tyler: SO, I MET STEVE WHEN
I WAS UP HERE DETECTING.
HE'S A GOOD BLOKE,
AND HE'S ACTUALLY BEST FRIENDS
WITH MARTIN, AND MARTIN'S HAD
MOST OF THE GOLD-MINING LEASES
TIED UP IN HALLS CREEK
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SO THE FACT
HE IS WILLING TO SELL
AND WE'LL BE THE FIRST PEOPLE
TO GIVE IT A GOOD GO
IS REALLY EXCITING.
IF THERE'S GOOD GOLD HERE,
THEN THE PRICE WILL BE WORTH IT.
Martin: SO, I BUILT THE WHOLE
LOT OF THE TEST PLANT ON HERE.
IT'S GOT ITS OWN GENERATOR.
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN SEE
IT'S ALL MADE OF SCRAPS.
IT'S LIKE MY GRANDPA'S
WASH PLANT.
SAME THING.
YEAH. SOMETIMES YOU GET
5 OUNCES, 10 OUNCES.
BUT SHE WAS DOING GOOD.
WHAT WERE YOU
FEEDING THAT WITH?
TESTED UP 5 MILLION TONS
GOING A THIRD OF A GRAM,
WHICH WORKED OUT
QUITE A FEW DOLLARS IN MONEY.
RIGHT.AND IT WAS VERY EASY MINING.
THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST
ANOTHER 65,000 OUNCES LEFT,
BUT I'M 73.
PARKER IS AT THE PRIME
OF HIS LIFE.
HE'S GOT THE ENERGY.
HIS TESTS SHOW 1/3
OF A GRAM A TON,
WHICH IS LIKE AN OUNCE
PER 20 OR 30 YARDS,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY
REALLY GOOD, RIGHT?
WE'RE DOING ENOUGH
FOR 100 YARDS.
THREE TIMES BETTER
THAN KLONDIKE.
YEAH, THREE TO FIVE TIMES BETTER
THAN WHAT WE'RE MINING.
LACK OF WATER IS
A PROBLEM.
THIS WEEK, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT
ENOUGH TO SAY, "OKAY,
DO WE TAKE IT
THE NEXT STEP?"
Narrator: MARTIN BELIEVES
HIS CLAIM HOLDS
OVER $100 MILLION OF GOLD.
AT NEARLY 400 ACRES,
IT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF 300 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,
AN ANCIENT RIVER RAN THROUGH
THE CLAIM, CARRYING DEPOSITS
OF FINE GOLD AND NUGGETS,
MUCH LIKE THE GROUND
PARKER MINES IN THE YUKON.
THE SITE INCLUDES
THE OLD TOWN LODGE
AND JUBILEE LEASE,
WHICH PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT GOLD
IN THE 1890s.
♪♪
Parker: IT'S JUST, LIKE,
A VERY BONY SHALE.
GOOD GOLD-CATCHER STUFF.
IT'S LIKE A SLUICE BOX.
SO, CAN WE BRING THAT DOZER UP
AND DO SOME TESTING HERE?
Martin: YEP.
Parker: SO, I WAS HOPING THAT WE
COULD GET FRED AND TYLER
GOING ON THE TROMMEL,
ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE DEAD.
FRED DECIDED TO DRIVE
THROUGH A RIVER WITH IT.
Fred: HOW DID I GET
BLAMED FOR THAT?
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT --
IVANHOE CROSSING?
WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING
IN THERE? [ LAUGHS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE'S SOME BIG
BLOODY CROCODILES
JUST SITTING AT THE BOTTOM,
WAITING FOR THE BARRIER
TO COME OVER --
GULP AND THEN GONE.
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
RIGHT THERE.THAT WASN'T TOO BAD.
YEAH, THAT SHOULD
BE GOOD.
Narrator:
FRED AND TYLER GET TO WORK
SETTING UP THE TEST TROMMEL.
ANYTHING I NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THIS THING?
Narrator: PARKER PREPARES
TO DRIVE MARTIN'S
60-TON 9L DOZER
2 MILES SOUTHWEST
TO THE JUBILEE LEASE
TO DIG PAY DIRT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
SOME SEAT TIME IN A DOZER,
BUT I FEEL LIKE THE 9Ls --
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A/C, DID THEY?
NO. THE CHAINS AND EVERYTHING
ARE PRETTY WELL NEW.
IT TOOK ME FOUR YEARS
TO PUT AN ENGINE TOGETHER.
Danny:
WOW. LABOR OF LOVE.
YEAH.
MOST PEOPLE
HAVE DRINKING HABITS.
I GOT A MACHINERY HABIT.
♪♪
THIS THING'S INSANE.
I MEAN, I'VE RAN
A LOT OF DOZERS,
BUT NEVER ONE
THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
♪♪
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
♪♪
MATE, SHE'S A [BLEEP] BEAST.
♪♪
WICKED!
♪♪
SO, WE'RE GONNA TEST THE TEST
TROMMEL, MAKE SURE IT WORKS.
WE TOOK IT THROUGH A RIVER,
AND THE MOTOR WAS SUBMERGED,
SO JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S ALL UP AND RUNNING.
Narrator: PARKER'S TEST TROMMEL,
BOUGHT AT THE BEGINNING
OF THEIR TRIP,
IS THE ONLY MACHINE ONSITE
THAT CAN TEST IF MARTIN'S GROUND
IS AS RICH IN GOLD
AS HE CLAIMS.
A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I PUT AN ENGINE
TOGETHER IN COLLEGE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S ABOUT ALL I GOT,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS POINT.
Fred: ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.
OH, GOSH.
[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]
♪♪
[ ENGINE GROWS QUIET ]
♪♪
YOU DID CHECK THE OIL
ON IT, RIGHT?
MAKE SURE NO WATER
WENT INTO IT?
WELL, NO.
♪♪
AS YOU CAN SEE
ON THE DIPSTICK THERE,
YOU GOT WATER IN THERE WHEN
YOU WENT THROUGH THE CROSSING.
Tyler: SO YOU CAN'T HAVE
WATER IN YOUR OIL, CAN --
NO, YOU CANNOT BECAUSE
THIS WILL GO BOOM.
♪♪
YEAH, THAT SUCKS.
WE KNEW CROSSING THAT RIVER
WAS GONNA CAUSE SOME ISSUES.
SO AT THIS POINT THE THING
TO DO IS DRAIN THE OIL.
SHOULD PUT NEW OIL IN IT AND
THEN WE SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
♪♪
HERE WE GO. SEE IF THERE'S
ANY GOLD OUT HERE,
MAD MAX STYLE.
♪♪
Narrator: AT THE JUBILEE LEASE,
PARKER IS USING THE 9L DOZER
TO REMOVE A 6-INCH LAYER OF PAY
FROM A 1/2-ACRE TEST AREA.
♪♪
THE TEAM WILL RUN THE PAY
THROUGH THE TROMMEL
TO ASSESS HOW MUCH GOLD
IS IN THE GROUND.
♪♪
LOOK AT IT. IT'S A MONSTER.
♪♪
[ LOUD BANG ]
[ BRAKES SCREECH ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] WAS THAT?
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
♪♪
LOOK AT IT. IT'S A MONSTER.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS
PROSPECTING THE JUBILEE LEASE,
A CLAIM FOR SALE
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
THAT COULD HOLD
$100 MILLION OF GOLD.
♪♪
[ LOUD BANG ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] WAS THAT?
Narrator:
BUT A PROBLEM WITH THE DOZER...
Parker: DANNY!
Danny:
OH, YOU ARE [BLEEP] ME.
...STOPS PROSPECTING
IN ITS TRACKS.
♪♪
[BLEEP].
PAIN IN THE ASS.
Parker:
THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE...
Danny: OH, MAN.
...UP THERE.
THAT DOES NOT
LOOK GOOD.
BLEW THE BLOODY SEAL,
MAIN LIFT SEAL.
IT'LL TAKE OVER A WEEK
TO GET THE DAMN PARTS,
UNLESS YOU FLY A HELICOPTER
UP FROM PERTH.
SO, DO YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT AROUND?
YEAH, ANOTHER BIG LOADER
THAT'S IN WYNDHAM.
IT'S IN WYNDHAM?
YEAH.
WHERE'S THAT, 500 CLICKS?
IT'S GONNA TAKE A DAY
TO GET DOWN.
WE SHOULD TO HAVE IT
DOWN HERE TOMORROW NIGHT.
AWESOME.
I'LL HAVE TO ORGANIZE A FLOAT
AND EVERYTHING TO PICK IT UP,
AND THAT'LL BE
ABOUT 4 GRAND.
GOTCHA.
♪♪
WELL, THEN...
I'LL PAY IT, BUT LET US KEEP
THE FIRST 2 OUNCES WE FIND.
THAT'S 4 GRAND.
YOU GOT IT.
I'M COUNTING ON THIS GROUND
BEING GOOD ENOUGH
THAT IT JUSTIFIES BRINGING
THIS LOADER IN HERE.
WE'RE GONNA FIND
2 OUNCES OF GOLD?
YOU THINK SO?
YEAH.
Parker:
WE'VE BEEN IN COUNTRY AWHILE,
AND WE'VE FOUND
SOME INTERESTING STUFF,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THE EXCITING THING FOR ME
IS THAT THIS PLACE COULD
BE EXTREMELY RICH GROUND,
BUT WITHOUT BEING ABLE
TO TEST IT...
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THAT WORTH?
IF THIS GROUND HAS
THAT GOOD A HISTORY,
THEN $4,000 IS A DROP
IN THE BUCKET.
HERE, THIS HEAT
DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING.
COLD'S PROBABLY A LOT BETTER
FOR A MACHINE THAN THIS HEAT.
♪♪
Fred: I'M GONNA DUMP
THIS OLD OIL OUT.
YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
FULL OF WATER. HOLY COW.
Narrator: TYLER, FRED, ADI,
AND STEVE ARE ATTEMPTING
TO FIX THE WATERLOGGED ENGINE
ON THE SECONDHAND TEST TROMMEL.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT
PUTTING FRESH FUEL AND FRESH OIL
IN IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.
ALREADY $4,000 IN THE HOLE
TO TRUCK IN A
REPLACEMENT LOADER,
PARKER NEEDS A WORKING TROMMEL
TO TEST THE GROUND
AND HAVE ANY CHANCE
OF RECOUPING HIS INVESTMENT.
STARTING TO GET HOT,
SO LET'S BRING IT THROUGH THIS.
HOPEFULLY WE SAVED.
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
FINGERS CROSSED
ON THIS ONE, HUH?
YEAH. PLEASE WORK.
YOU READY?
I'M NERVOUS.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
♪♪
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Steve:
HELL OF A LOT BETTER NOW.
WHOO!
YOU READY OVER THERE
TO TURN THE WATER ON?
DO YOU WANT ME
TO TURN IT ON NOW?
YEP. LET HER GO.
Narrator: YEARS OF DROUGHT MEANS
THE ONLY WATER AVAILABLE
ON MARTIN'S CLAIM COMES
FROM A 60-FOOT DEEP WELL
AT THE OLD TOWN LODGE
2 MILES FROM THE JUBILEE LEASE.
Fred: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
FIX THIS.
WE'RE MISSING A DIVIDER
RIGHT HERE.
THAT'S FALLEN OFF ON OUR TRIP.
♪♪
HOLD ON.
♪♪
THAT'S DANGEROUS.
EVERYTHING'S GOING WRONG.
THINGS ARE FALLING OFF
THAT SHOULDN'T.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA
LAST MUCH LONGER.
Steve:
CHOKING UP A BIT.
♪♪
OH! OH, OH, OH!
MIGHT WANT TO STAND BACK.
YOU GUYS, THAT LOOKS
LIKE A DEATH TRAP.
I MEAN, THE ENGINE'S
SMOKING A LOT.
THROTTLE'S NOT HOLDING.
[BLEEP].
OH, [BLEEP].
AH, [BLEEP].
I THINK IT MUST HAVE
HAD IT.
THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT
THE MOST FRUSTRATED
I'VE BEEN ON THIS ENTIRE
[BLEEP] TRIP.
THE SLUICE BOX IS FALLING OFF.
THE TOP SHOOTS OUT ROCKS
FAST ENOUGH AT YOU
TO SHOOT YOU IN THE FACE.
THE CHAINS ARE LOOSE.
I COULD GO ON AND ON.
HONEST OPINION,
THIS THING'S [BLEEP].
YEAH, THAT'S JUST FRUSTRATING
'CAUSE WE REALLY NEED
TO BE TESTING GROUND.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
AND IN THIS COUNTRY,
EVERYTHING'S GOT A
BLOODY USE-BY DATE.
WE HERE -- WE OBVIOUSLY
DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE GONNA GO FROM HERE.
IT'S JUST [BLEEP].
♪♪
Danny: FRED!
Fred: HEY GUYS.
HOW'S IT GOING?WE GOT SOME PROBLEMS.
I DON'T THINK THESE THINGS
ARE MEANT
FOR TRAVELING 4,000 MILES
DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
NO. IS THIS SALVAGEABLE?
WE CAN'T JUST GIVE UP. WE NEED
THIS TO [BLEEP] TEST THE GROUND.
DID YOU GUYS HAVE
ANY BETTER LUCK? PLEASE?
[ LAUGHS ] NO. WE [BLEEP] --
WE BROKE THE DOZER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ GROANS ]WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
I DO HAVE A MATE.
HE'S A LOCAL.
IF I COULD GIVE HIM A CALL,
HE'D PROBABLY COME AND HELP OUT.
IS HE A WIZARD
WITH TOOLS?
-YES.
-OH, WELL THERE WE GO.
Danny: IS HE REALLY?NO, HE'S REALLY GOOD.
YEAH, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S
TALKING ABOUT.
SO, SHOULD WE JUST
SET UP CAMP?
YEAH,
WE CAN SET UP CAMP.
Tyler: COOL.YEAH?
YEP, LET'S DO IT.LET'S DO IT.
Parker:
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS,
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT
GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES,
AND THINGS LIKE THIS ARE REALLY
PUTTING ROADBLOCKS IN OUR WAY.
WE GENUINELY COULD HAVE
GOTTEN SOME DIRT MOVED TODAY
AND COULD HAVE GOT
A REALLY GOOD TEST IN
IF THE TROMMEL
WOULD HAVE WORKED,
AND THEY BOTH [BLEEP] THE BED.
AND THAT'S NOT COOL.
HOPEFULLY, GET BACK ON TRACK.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪♪
Tyler:
YEAH, THAT'S DUANE.
HE HASN'T GOT A SPARE
TROMMEL, HAS HE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tyler: HI, DUANE.
HI, TYLER.
HOW YOU DOING, MATE?
I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
PARKER.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU, PARKER.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
-FRED.
-FRED?
THIS IS FRED.NICE TO MEET YOU.
OH, [BLEEP].
Danny: IT'S BEEN
A PRETTY RUBBISH DAY.
SO WE'RE GETTING
DESPERATE, THEN?
[ LAUGHTER ]YEAH, WE ARE.
Fred: WE WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT DINNER.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT A BIT
OF KANGAROO IN THE CAR.
FOR REAL?Duane: YEAH.
OH, MATE.
KANGAROO FOR DINNER?
YEAH, THEY'RE ALL RIGHT,
COOKED RIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THOUGH.
WE'D GET A REAL MEAL IN US.
THAT MIGHT HELP.
Narrator: AUSTRALIA'S ESTIMATED
50 MILLION KANGAROOS
OUTNUMBER THE POPULATION
BY 2 TO 1.
GRUBS UP, GRUBS UP.
CONSUMED BY ABORIGINAL
COMMUNITIES
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
KANGAROO MEAT IS LEANER AND MORE
SUSTAINABLE THAN PORK OR BEEF.
MMM! MMM!
Danny: SUPER GOOD.OH, YEAH.
I'M DOWN WITH THIS.
Duane: YEAH?
OH, THAT'S GOOD MATE.
DUANE, YOU TURNED A [BLEEP] DAY
INTO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
YEAH. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT
HELL'S CRACK.
IS THAT WHAT THIS PLACE
IS CALLED?
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M GONNA CASH IN,
AND WE'LL HIT HER TOMORROW.
I'M GONNA BRING THIS
TO BED WITH ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tyler: I'M REALLY HAPPY I GOT
DUANE OUT HERE,
BUT TODAY WAS HARD.
LIKE, PARKER HAD TO SPEND
4 GRAND TO GET THAT LOADER HERE.
THERE'S 2 OUNCES WE HAVE
TO FIND JUST TO COVER COSTS,
LET ALONE FINDING OUT
IF THE GROUND'S ACTUALLY VIABLE.
SO YEAH,
I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED
ABOUT LETTING PARKER DOWN.
HE OBVIOUSLY WON'T WANT
TO WORK WITH ME AGAIN
IF I CAN'T PRODUCE
SOME GOOD OPTIONS FOR HIM.
♪♪
MORNING, FRED.
DOESN'T FEEL LIKE MORNING.
IT FEELS LIKE NOON. IT'S SO HOT.
HOW'D YOU SLEEP?
IN A POOL OF SWEAT.
IT WAS SO HOT.
ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES
IT'S QUITE EASY TO GET PARKER UP
'CAUSE HE AIN'T GONNA WANT TO
STAY IN THERE FOR MUCH LONGER.
Parker:
I HEARD THAT, DAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]WHAT?
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE PROSPECTING ON GROUND
THAT COULD HOLD $100 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD.
BUT WITH A BROKEN TROMMEL
AND A REPLACEMENT LOADER
STILL ONE DAY AWAY,
THEY LACK THE EQUIPMENT
NEEDED TO GET THE GOLD.
HERE YOU GO, PARKER.
OH, THANK YOU.
TYLER'S FRIEND
AND FELLOW PROSPECTOR DUANE
JOINS THE TEAM
TO HELP THEM GET BACK ON TRACK.
SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN
FOR THE DAY?
I SUPPOSE A COUPLE OF US
SHOULD FIX THE TROMMEL.
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO GET
A KNOCK AT THAT TROMMEL.
I'VE GOT A FEW TOOLS
IN ME TOOLBOX.
I CAN PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
GIVE FRED A HAND IF YOU WANT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
AROUND HERE WE CAN DO?
THERE'S A PLACE THAT
I'VE BEEN PROSPECTING BEFORE
THAT WE COULD GO
HAVE A LOOK AT.
WELL, I THINK THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GOOD PLAN
WHILE WE'RE WAITING
FOR MARTIN WITH THE LOADER.
COOL.Fred: DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Danny: THE MAIN REASON WE'RE
HERE IS TO TEST THE GROUND,
AND THE TROMMEL
IS INTEGRAL TO THAT, SO...
MY OLD MAN WAS A MECHANIC.
MY BROTHER'S A MECHANIC.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THEM, AS WELL,
AND OBVIOUSLY,
WE'VE NOW GOT DUANE.
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US,
I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY
DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
ALL RIGHT, SO,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Danny: IT'S NOT GREAT.
WE HAVEN'T GOT
A SPARK PLUG SOCKET, HAVE WE?
YEAH.
I'VE GOT A SOCKET.
WICKED. SO, THE OLD SPARK PLUG
IS PRETTY GACKED UP.
DUANE'S SORTING THAT OUT.OKAY.
AND THEN I THINK WE SHOULD
JUST CLEAN THIS FAT BOY UP.
I'M GONNA START
WORKING ON THE SLUICE.
DURING THE TRANSIT,
WE LOST THIS DIVIDER.
WHEN THE WATER COMES OUT,
IT DIRECTS
THE FLOW EVENLY DOWN HERE.
WITHOUT THAT, WE'RE SCREWED,
SO I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING
TO GO IN THERE.
I THINK I'VE GOT AN IDEA.
[ TOOLS CLATTERING ]
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
I THINK THIS WILL WORK.
BOOM.
♪♪
SO, WE ARE GOING TO
A REALLY COOL PLACE --
A NATURAL SPRINGS,
LIKE A WATERING HOLE.
AND LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
WE FOUND GOLD IN IT.
♪♪
Parker: OH MAN.
IT'S NICE, ISN'T IT?
LOOK AT THIS.
♪♪
COOL.
Narrator: TYLER AND PARKER
ARE AT A NATURAL SPRING
20 MILES SOUTH
OF OLD HALLS CREEK.
♪♪
SO, I'VE FOUND A BIT
OF GOLD HERE, ACTUALLY,
IN THE EXACT PLACE
WE'RE GONNA GO DETECTING.
THE LOADER LOST 4 GRAND,
SO WE REALLY DO NEED SOME GOLD.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET
SOME GOLD WITH PARKER
AND HE ENJOYS IT, AND, YEAH,
WE GET TO SEE THE MORE
PRETTIER SIDE OF HALLS CREEK.
DON'T FALL IN TO YOUR LEFT.
THAT'S WHERE THE CROCS ARE.
OH, THERE'S A CROC
RIGHT THERE.
OH, MY [BLEEP].
I'M KIDDING.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: BENEATH THIS POOL,
HEAT AND PRESSURE FORCE
WATER UP THROUGH GOLD VEINS,
PICKING UP FLAKES
WHICH SETTLE IN THE POOL.
[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
♪♪
[ BEEPING INTENSIFIES ]
OKAY, THAT'S A SIGNAL.WHAT'D YOU FIND?
I HAVE A SIGNAL
JUST THERE.
WE MIGHT NEED TO GET
INTO THE CREVICES.
♪♪
FOUND IT?
OH, [BLEEP] YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ] [BLEEP].
YEAH! WHAT IS IT?
OH, WE GOT US SOME BAILING WIRE.
[ LAUGHS ][ BEEPS ERRATICALLY ]
OH, THIS DOES NOT
HELP MY CASE.
THE GOLD THAT YOU'D FIND HERE
IS ACTUALLY QUITE SMALL,
SO IT'S HARD TO PICK IT UP.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE
CALLED SNIPING.
COOL.
Narrator: SNIPING IS A FORM
OF UNDERWATER MINING
WHERE PROSPECTORS PINPOINT GOLD
CAUGHT IN CRACKS
AND CREVICES OF THE BEDROCK.
SO, WHAT YOU'D WANT TO DO --
COME IN ON THIS ANGLE.
SO YOU JUST TRY TO FLUFF
ALL THAT DEBRIS OUT THE WAY.
SO YOU'RE JUST GETTING RID
OF ALL THE TOP STUFF,
AND THEN WE WOULD SEE
THE GOLD PRETTY QUICKLY.
OH, YEAH.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S A NUGGET.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
THAT'S A NICE
LITTLE NUGGET.
SO, NOW, GO GET GET
THAT LITTLE BOTTLE THING.
WHAT'S THAT?
THIS IS A SNUFF BOTTLE.
SO YOU WANT TO DO THIS NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW GO.
WOW.
IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY
NICE-LOOKING
LITTLE PIECE OF GOLD.
YEAH.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE
IN THE RIGHT SPOT.
YEAH.
FIND 700 MORE OF THOSE,
AND WE MIGHT PAY FOR A LOADER
GETTING FROM WYNDHAM TO HERE.
♪♪
Danny: RIGHT.
I'M GONNA SIT THERE, DUANE.
YOU ALRIGHT, FRED?
[ GRUNTS ] YEAH,
I'M ALL RIGHT, JUST HOT.
WHAT DO YOU RECKON, FRED?
LET'S [BLEEP] PUT IT IN THERE
AND GET THIS THING GOING.
[ LAUGHS ]
RIGHT. THE LITTLE BABY --
HERE SHE COMES.
Danny: WE'VE TAKEN
THE ENGINE OFF,
GIVEN THE ENGINE
A BIT OF A CLEANUP.
IT'S GOT COMPRESSION.
IT'S GOT SPARK.
FRED'S GOT THE SLUICE
LOOKING BRILLIANT.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS RUNNING,
WE DON'T TEST
THE GROUND, BASICALLY.
SO THIS IS IT.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
ALRIGHT.
SHE IN?
SHE'S IN, BOYS.
WHOA, HERE WE GO.
Duane: ONE OF THE TRICKS
THE OLD TIMERS USED TO USE --
JUST GET LITTLE BITS OF LEAD
AND PUT IT THROUGH YOUR PLAN,
AND 'CAUSE LEAD'S CLOSE TO
THE WEIGHT OF THE GOLD,
YEAH.IF YOU CATCH YOUR LEAD,
WELL, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
YOU'RE GONNA CATCH GOLD.
AH, I LIKE THAT.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY LEAD?
YEP.
I'M READY TO DO THIS.
TURNING THE WATER ON.
YEAH, YEAH,
WE GOT PRESSURE.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
COME ON, BABY.
MOMENT OF TRUTH.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
SHE'S ALIVE!
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: TO TEST THE TROMMEL,
FRED LOADS JUNK DIRT
PEPPERED WITH LEAD SHOT
INTO THE HOPPER.
Fred: I THINK I'M OKAY
WITH THAT.
I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY SMOOTH.
BUSH FIX WORKING.
Danny: NICE.
THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS GOOD.
SO, WE GOT AN OPERATING
TEST TROMMEL.
OKAY, OKAY. READY?
I'LL SHUT THE WATER OFF.
YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
♪♪
THERE IT IS.
YEP.
HEY, LOOK AT THAT,
EVEN CATCH A BIT OF GOLD.
THAT'S NOT GOLD.
IS THAT GOLD?
[BLEEP] IS!
THAT'S GOLD!
SHUT UP.
OH, NICE.I'D SAY THAT'S A SUCCESS.
THIS IS LIKE A COLD BEER.YEAH.
IF THIS IS JUST JUNK DIRT,
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT PAY DIRT'S
GONNA LOOK LIKE.
♪♪
I DO FEEL A LITTLE BAD
THAT THEY WERE BACK HERE,
LIKE, SWEATING THEIR ASS OFF
WORKING ON THE TROMMEL.
BUT I'M REALLY GLAD
THEY GOT THE TROMMEL FIXED.
AND HOPEFULLY, THE TEST TROMMEL
CAN STAY RUNNING
AND FIND SOME GOLD AND REALLY
GET A GOOD TEST ON THIS GROUND.
SO, WE'VE GOT DUANE HERE.
WE'VE GOT TYLER.
IF THE LOADER IS RUNNING GOOD,
I THINK WE COULD COVER A LOT
OF GROUND WITH THE DETECTORS
AND HOPEFULLY GET BACK ON TRACK.
♪♪
[ GROANS ]
WHERE'S OUR LOADER?
Fred: YEAH, THIS SUCKS.
Tyler: YEAH, IT'S GETTING
HOT, ISN'T IT?
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S
OLD HALLS CREEK,
PROSPECTING A LEASE FOR SALE
THAT COULD HOLD
$100 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.
♪♪
AFTER A SERIES
OF EQUIPMENT FAILURES,
THEY'RE A DAY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
♪♪
I SEE IT. I SEE IT.
THERE IT IS.
♪♪
SOUNDS LIKE A TANK.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
Narrator: DETERMINED TO TEST
THE GROUND, PARKER PAID OUT
$4,000 AUSTRALIAN TO SHIP IN
A WORKING LOADER.
YOU GOT HERE.IT EVENTUALLY GOT HERE.
MARTIN, I WAS HOPING THAT
YOU COULD MAKE A COUPLE OF CUTS
FOR DUANE AND TYLER
TO START DETECTING
AND BRING A BUCKET TO THE CAMP
FOR THE TROMMEL.
NO WORRIES.SWEET. LET'S DO IT.
Fred: YEAH.
ALRIGHT.
LET'S GET THIS PARTY
STARTED.
Tyler: SO, WE HAVE FINALLY GOT
THE LOADER HERE.
TODAY IS DEFINITELY
THE LAST PUSH.
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
IT'S QUITE CRUCIAL
THAT WE GET GOLD
AND EVERYTHING GOES TO PLAN.
HERE WE GO, GUYS.
Fred: YEAH!
THIS IS OUR LUCK CHANGING.
♪♪
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS IT, FREDDIE BOY.
THANK [BLEEP] FOR THAT.
♪♪
[ TREE CRACKS ]
Fred: UH-OH.
♪♪
COME ON!
♪♪
PAY DIRT.
♪♪
UH-OH. [BLEEP].
UH-OH.
OH, PARKER.
[BLEEP] BULL[BLEEP].
Fred: [ GROANS ]WHAT'D HE SAY?
Parker: I THINK YOU'VE
HAD A BREAKDOWN.
I SAW HIM JUST
WAVE HIS ARMS.
IT'S SHOOTING OIL OUT.
OH, YOU ARE KIDDING ME.
NO.
I DON'T BLOODY BELIEVE IT.
WHAT BLOODY ONE WENT THIS TIME?
OH, MY [BLEEP].
[BLEEP]. I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
OF COURSE THIS HAPPENS --
WE PAY 4 GRAND TO GET IT HERE,
AND IT BREAKS DOWN
WITHIN 10 MINUTES.
Martin:
LOOKS LIKE THE STEERING.
Narrator: IN A 1,000 TO 1 SHOT,
A SPLINTERED TREE BRANCH
PUNCTURED A HYDRAULIC STEERING
HOSE, DISABLING THE LOADER.
Parker: I WOULD SAY THERE'S NOT
MUCH LIFE LEFT IN THAT.
Martin:
NO. NONE WHATSOEVER.
WELL, I'D STILL LIKE TO GET
A TROMMEL TEST DONE.
WE'LL DO THE ACTUAL SHOVELING
THE HARD WAY, BY HAND.
I THINK THAT YOU GUYS
COULD PROBABLY GO DETECT
WHENEVER YOU CAN FIND.
WE CAN DO THAT, HEY, DUANE?Duane: YEAH.
Parker: WE JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH
THE HAND WE'RE DEALT, I GUESS,
AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT.
POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE.
♪♪
♪♪
WHY ARE WE HERE?
HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS?
♪♪
PARKER HAD TO SPEND $4,000
TO GET THAT LOADER OUT HERE.
SO IF WE DON'T FIND GOLD HERE,
IT'S GONNA TAKE A HIT.
I'VE DRAGGED THEM OUT
TO HELL'S CRACK,
AND I'VE PROMISED THAT
THERE'S GREAT GROUND OUT HERE.
SO I REALLY CANNOT
GO BACK EMPTY-HANDED.
♪♪
IT'S REALLY [BLEEP] HOT.
LIKE, I'M USED TO THE HEAT,
BUT THIS IS NEXT-LEVEL.
LIKE, IT'S RADIATING OFF THE
GROUND, AND THERE'S NO SHADE.
Tyler: I'M THINKING,
LIKE, IF WE TARGET
THE TREE ROOTS
AND THE BEDROCK...
Duane: YEP.
...MAKE SURE THEY'RE
DEFINITELY DONE.
YEAH, THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GOOD PLAN.
Narrator: THE LARGEST NUGGET
EVER FOUND WITH A METAL DETECTOR
WAS IN AUSTRALIA IN 1980.
WEIGHING OVER 60 POUNDS AND
WORTH AN ESTIMATED $1.3 MILLION,
IT WAS JUST 12 INCHES
BENEATH THE SURFACE.
Duane: IT HAS MOVED SOME DIRT.
SO IT'S GIVEN US
SOME SORT OF CHANCE,
I GUESS, TO FIND SOMETHING.[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
THAT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD SOUND.
IT'S A NICE, LIKE, LOUD BEEP.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S NOT A BAD SIZE.
HEY, TYLER!
LOOK AT THAT.
Tyler: YAY!
IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ROCK
WITH IT, BUT THAT'S STILL --
THAT'S A NICE,
WEIGHTY PIECE.
[BLEEP] YEAH!
GOOD JOB!
OH, MY [BLEEP].
THAT IS SUCH A RELIEF!
I'M PRETTY HAPPY
WITH THAT.
Narrator: THIS NUGGET WEIGHS IN
AT NEARLY 1/4 OUNCE,
WORTH OVER $300.
Duane: IF WE CAN FIND
ANOTHER 12 OF THEM,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR THE LOADER.
Duane:
NO PRESSURE NOW, TY!
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME,
DUANE? YOU'VE UPPED THE ANTE.
AT LEAST WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD
HERE. THAT'S ONE POSITIVE.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.
♪♪
OH. THAT'S GOOD.
WE TURN THE WATER ON
AND DO IT?
YEAH. IT'S COMING.
Fred: YEP.
Narrator:
PARKER FIRES UP THE TROMMEL
TO TEST HIS SAMPLE YARD OF DIRT
FOR GOLD.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
LAST CHANCE SALOON.
Fred: IT'S ALIVE!
♪♪
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
OH, [BLEEP] SAKE.
Danny: IT'S DIED.
DID YOU PUT THE CHOKE IN?
[BLEEP] SAKE.
WHAT'S UP, DANNY?
I DON'T LIKE THAT S-- THAT
SCREECHING NOISE ISN'T NORMAL.
[ ENGINE SCREECHES ]
HEAR THAT?
THAT LITTLE EH-EH.
Parker: I DON'T THINK THAT'S
OUT OF THE MOTOR.
[BLEEP] OIL EVERYWHERE.
SOUNDS LIKE DEATH.
OH, [BLEEP].
[BLEEP]. YEAH.
♪♪
CAN WE TURN IT BY HAND?
AT THIS POINT, THAT WOULD
PROBABLY BE BETTER
THAN WHAT WE'VE GOT
GOING ON.
IS THIS FOR REAL?
Narrator:
WITHOUT A WORKING MOTOR,
THE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE PAY DIRT
IS TO TURN THE TROMMEL DRUM
MANUALLY.
THIS HOW WE DOING THIS?
WHAT ARE WE CALLING THIS NOW?
IT'S A HAMSTER-POWERED TROMMEL?
HELL'S HAMSTER WHEEL?
HELL'S HAMSTER WHEEL!
COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,
I WANT TO LEAVE HERE FEELING
LIKE WE GAVE IT OUR BEST CHANCE.
RUN IT UNTIL IT'S DONE.
THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE
AFTER THIS.
THANK [BLEEP].
♪♪
HEY, DUANE?
I'VE GOT A SIGNAL.
DO YOU MIND COMING OVER
AND JUST CHECKING IT FOR ME?
♪♪
[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
Duane: IT'S DEFINITELY
A GOOD SIGNAL.
♪♪
OH, WE'VE GOT IT.
SEE IF IT'S...
OH! [BLEEP].
♪♪
SO, GUYS, ON THE WAY IN,
SAW THERE'S A CEMETERY.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
THE ONLY PART OF IT.
THE ACTUAL CEMETERY
WAS A LOT BIGGER THAN THAT.
Narrator: THE CEMETERY AT
OLD HALLS CREEK
IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE
OF JIMMY DARCY,
WHO DIED IN 1917
AFTER WAITING TWO WEEKS
FOR THE NEAREST DOCTOR
TO REACH HIM.
DARCY'S DEATH
INSPIRED THE FOUNDING
OF THE ROYAL FLYING
DOCTOR SERVICE,
WHICH IS STILL PROVIDING
EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE
TO THOUSANDS OF REMOTE
COMMUNITIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
THE CEMETERY'S
FULL OF BLOODY GOLD.
GOLD TEETH?
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
OH, MAYBE IF WE MOVE IT HERE?
SEE IF IT'S ONE OF THESE?
OH, WE'VE GOT IT.
OH! [BLEEP].
Duane:
HAVE A LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S A NICE CHUNK!
THAT'S UNREAL.
GOOD WORK!
Narrator: IN OLD HALLS CREEK,
TYLER DETECTS A SECOND,
LARGER NUGGET ON THE GROUND
PARKER IS PROSPECTING.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
A GOOD PIECE,
ABOUT 9 OR 10 GRAMS,
I RECKON, FOR SURE.
$600, $700?
YEP.
HOW GOOD DOES THAT FEEL?NOT WRONG.
LET'S GO BACK
AND SHOW PARKER.
YEAH, LET'S SEE WHAT SORT OF
INTERESTING DAY THEY HAD.
♪♪
Parker: SHOULD WE START
CLEANING THIS UP?
THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT
LIKE HALLS CREEK
IS BEATING THE [BLEEP]
OUT OF US.
YEAH, IT WASN'T TOO FUN.
♪♪
Fred: HERE THEY COME.
♪♪
YOU'RE NOT HOLDING
A MASSIVE NUG.
Tyler: HANG ON. WE'VE ACTUALLY
DONE PRETTY WELL.
Danny: YOU'RE KIDDING?
NOT BAD, HEY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: TOGETHER,
TYLER AND DUANE HAVE FOUND
$1,000 AUSTRALIAN OF GOLD.
Danny: OH, MATE!
THAT'S DECENT-SIZED!
Parker:
WHO FOUND THOSE?
Tyler: I FOUND THAT ONE.
DUANE FOUND THAT ONE.
REALLY?
Duane: I WAS ON TOP
OF THE WORLD.
OH, WELL DONE, GUYS.
WE HAVE NOT DONE
SO WELL.
THE ENGINE [BLEEP] THE BED,
AND WE WERE HAND-TURNING
THE TROMMEL.
Narrator: EVEN WITH TYLER
AND DUANE'S NUGGETS,
PARKER IS STILL DOWN
$3,000 ON THE LOADER.
♪♪
HOW MANY YARDS
DID YOU PUT THROUGH?
ONE.
Duane: DO THIS IS THE
MOMENT OF TRUTH, IS IT?
PAN WHAT MIGHT BE
THERE.
Narrator:
DESPITE THE HARSH CONDITIONS,
IF PARKER DISCOVERS
FINE GOLD IN THE PAN,
OLD HALLS CREEK COULD BE
A VIABLE MINING OPERATION.
♪♪
COME ON.
Parker: COME ON.
♪♪
Danny:
WELL, IT'S THERE.
IT'S COLOR.
I MEAN, IT'S --
IT'S PRETTY SMALL,
AND THIS IS STILL NOT BAD.
I THINK WE'VE DONE
A PRETTY --
YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS WE CAN
CONSIDERING THE CONDITIONS.
FOR YOU GUYS TO FIND
THAT MUCH DETECTING,
I'M QUITE SURPRISED BY THAT,
CONSIDERING HOW BAD
THE CONDITIONS ARE.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M GONNA GO
HAVE A QUICK CHAT WITH MARTIN.
Parker: THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOME GOLD HERE,
AND THESE ACTUALLY ARE
THE PIECES OF GROUND
THAT I'M INTERESTED IN
BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH
A HARSH ENVIRONMENT,
LIKE, NOBODY
WOULD EVER HAVE MINED IT.
HEY, MARTIN.
OH, HOW YOU GOING, PARKER?GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
NOT TOO BAD.
HOW'D YOU GOT?
WE WENT ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.THEY FOUND THESE.
I'LL BE BLOWN.
LOOK AT THAT.
I DEFINITELY ADMIRE WHAT YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH HERE
TO GET GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND,
WITHOUT WATER
AND WITH THIS HEAT.
YEAH.
IT'S BRUTAL, AND...
YOU KNOW, GIVEN THOSE FACTORS
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN,
I DON'T THINK
THIS IS FOR US.
OH, YEAH. RIGHT ON.
AND, I'M SURE THAT SOMEBODY
WILL COME ALONG
THAT CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
YEAH, NO, SOMEBODY WILL.
IT'S A CHALLENGING PLACE
TO WORK.
YEAH, YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU DO IT.
YEAH.
YEAH, NO WORRIES.
I GUESS THE ONLY LAST THING
IS I SEE YOU HAVE
A LITTLE BONEYARD OVER THERE.
CAN WE ADD
A TROMMEL TO IT?
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH.
YEAH. NO WORRIES.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, PARKER.
NO WORRIES.
TAKE CARE, MAN.
IT'S EXCEPTIONALLY
HARSH UP HERE. VERY HARSH.
I WISH PARKER ALL THE BEST
IN HIS ENDEAVORS
AROUND AUSTRALIA.
BETWEEN BUSH FIRES,
DROUGHTS, AND NO RAINS,
HE'S GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
Danny: DUANE,
YOU'VE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE,
ABSOLUTE DIAMOND, MATE.
YOU'VE LOOKED AFTER US
SO WELL.
ALL RIGHT, MATE.
ANYTIME.
Tyler: IT WAS JUST ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER.
THIS TRIP DEFINITELY TOOK A TOLL
ON EVERYONE, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT ME AND DUANE MANAGED
TO FIND SOME GOLD,
SO AT LEAST THAT'S ONE POSITIVE.
THE OLD TIMERS LASTED
THROUGH EIGHT MONTHS.
I'M IMPRESSED
THEY LASTED THAT LONG.
READY? HEAVE!
♪♪
Parker: I'VE BEEN IN SOME
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS,
AND THIS TAKES THE CAKE.
YOU CAN GIVE ME -30° OR -40
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
THIS 120 OR 130 DEGREES IS...
IT'S BRUTAL.
♪♪
Parker:
WHERE TO, NOW, TYLER?
Tyler: SOUTH.
I HOPE IT'S COOLER THERE.
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
♪♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
GUYS, LOCK THE DOORS.
...PARKER AND HIS TEAM
COME FACE TO FACE
WITH BRAND-NEW MINING METHODS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.
...THAT COMES...Fred: CYANIDE?
...WITH A MAJOR HEALTH WARNING.
CAN GO FROM PRETTY BAD
TO DEAD PRETTY QUICK.
[ COUGHS ]
Parker: DANNY!
Danny:
MY EYES ARE BURNING.
NOT TOO USER-FRIENDLY.
GO EASY!
AAH!
OF "PARKER'S TRAIL"...
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
Narrator: ...PARKER SCHNABEL
AND HIS TEAM...
WE'RE BASICALLY GOING FURTHER
AND FURTHER INTO HELL.
...ARE IN A GHOST TOWN,
KNOWN AS HELL'S CRACK.
THAT'S THE OLD CEMETERY.
Fred: OH, THAT'S CREEPY.
BATTLING EXTREME HEAT...
LIKE, I'M USED TO THE HEAT,
BUT THIS IS NEXT-LEVEL.
Narrator:
...AND MECHANICAL MELTDOWNS...
[BLEEP] BULL[BEEP].
OH! OH, OH, OH!
Narrator: ...PROSPECTING
ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S
RICHEST GOLDFIELDS...
OH! THAT'S A NICE CHUNK.
...WHERE ONLY
THE TOUGHEST SURVIVE.
HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS?
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
OH, GREAT.
-WHAT'S THIS?
-WHAT?
[BLEEP] ROAD ENDS.
GEEZ, THAT'S A LOT
OF WATER.
♪♪
Narrator: TO REACH THEIR TARGET
MINE AT OLD HALLS CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM MUST DRIVE
OVER THE IVANHOE CROSSING'S
NARROW 67-YEAR-OLD CAUSEWAY.
Tyler: I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
GONNA BE THIS FULL.
♪♪
Fred: WELL, OUR TRAILER'S
LIKE 1,000 POUNDS.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE A BIT LIGHT
GOING ACROSS, ISN'T IT?
FLOWING AT NEARLY
A MILLION GALLONS A MINUTE,
THE RIVER COULD SWEEP AWAY
THE MINI TROMMEL,
VITAL FOR THEIR
PROSPECTING MISSION.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED EYES
ON THAT TRAILER
TO MAKE SURE
IT'S NOT MOVING.
WANT ME TO, LIKE, HANG OFF
THE SIDE OF THE CAR?
WOULD YOU?
♪♪
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
IF IT STARTS MOVING?
WE'RE EITHER GONNA
HAVE TO UNHOOK IT OR GO.
DON'T SLAM ON THE BRAKE
OR THROTTLE
WITH ME HANGING OFF
THE SIDE.
I WON'T.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, WE READY?
YEAH, WE'RE READY.
THE TROMMEL'S MADE IT THIS FAR.
WE AIN'T LOSING IT NOW.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS.
♪♪
THAT'S PRETTY GNARLY
THERE.
♪♪
HOLY [BLEEP].
SLOW DOWN, FRED! IT'S, LIKE,
ALL THE WAY UP THE TIRES.
RIGHT, FRED,
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW.
YOU GOT THE WHOLE MOTOR
UNDERWATER.
OH, [BLEEP].
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
[BLEEP] THAT.
HOLY [BLEEP]. WHOO!
Tyler: YEAH, GOOD WORK.Danny: GOOD WORK, MATE.
OOH!
YEAH, SHE GOT
SOME WATER IN HER.
WE MADE IT, THOUGH.
♪♪
Danny: THAT'S THE LAST WATER
THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE.
YAY, HALLS CREEK,
HERE WE COME!
LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE 4,000 MILES
INTO THEIR SEARCH FOR
GOLD-RICH GROUND IN AUSTRALIA
THAT COULD EXTEND
HIS MINING SEASON YEAR-ROUND.
THEY'RE HEADING DEEP INTO
THE OUTBACK TO OLD HALLS CREEK,
WHICH HAS PRODUCED NEARLY
$400 MILLION OF GOLD SINCE 1885.
♪♪
SO, TODAY, WE'RE GOING OUT TO
SOME LEASES OWNED BY MARTIN.
I KNOW HIM THROUGH
A BLOKE CALLED STEVE.
STEVE SAID HE'S PRETTY KEEN ON
SELLING AND GETTING OUT.
WELL, THAT'S COOL.
THAT'S NICE TO BE
GOING TO SEE SOMEONE
THAT'S DEFINITELY GOT AN OFFER
ON THE TABLE, I SUPPOSE.
YEAH, EXACTLY.
YEAH.
GOOD TO KNOW.
THIS IS WHERE THE FIRST
GOLD RUSH
OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA WAS --
RIGHT HERE.
WELL THAT'S COOL.
YEAH. A GUY IN 1885 FOUND A
KILO NUGGET ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
-GREAT DAY TO FIND IT.
-MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOLD HERE.
THERE'S A MASSIVE MINE ABOUT
50 Ks OUT IN THAT DIRECTION
THAT PRODUCES
55,000 OUNCES A YEAR.
THIS DIRECTION WE'RE
DRIVING?
YEAH.
Narrator: AFTER THE FIRST
GOLD STRIKE IN 1885,
OVER 15,000 PEOPLE RUSHED
TO OLD HALLS CREEK.
MOST WERE ILL-PREPARED
FOR THE HARSH CONDITIONS
AND SCORCHING TEMPERATURES,
AND MANY DIED
OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND THIRST.
ONLY THE TOUGHEST SURVIVED,
AND IN JUST THREE MONTHS,
THE GOLD RUSH WAS OVER.
♪♪
Fred: IS THIS IT?YEAH, THIS IS IT.
WHAT'S IT SAY?
"LODGE OLD TOWN."
ALL THAT REMAINS OF
OLD HALLS CREEK ARE A FEW RUINS
AND A CEMETERY
ESTABLISHED IN THE 1885 RUSH.
OH, MAN.
OH, THAT'S CREEPY.
♪♪
WHAT DO YOU RECKON, PARKER?
ROCK AND ROLL.
OH, IT'S SO HOT.
HOW'S IT GOING?
I'M PARKER.
YEP, MARTIN.
STEVE.YOUNG BLOKE ADI.
I'M ADI.Parker: NICE TO MEET YA.
PLEASURE TO MEET YA.
FRED.HOW'S IT GOIN'?
-HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
-YEAH, HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD, BABE, GOOD. YOU?
OH, YEAH,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Martin:
NICE AND COOL TODAY.
IS THIS NICE AND COOL?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tyler: HAVE YOU DONE MUCH
MINING LATELY ON THESE LEASES?
NO. NO. NO WATER.
BIT OF A SHORTAGE OF WATER
FOR A FEW YEARS.
IT SORT OF SLOWED THINGS DOWN,
AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE TREES.
Parker: HOW MANY HECTORS
DO YOU HAVE FOR SALE?
AROUND ABOUT 160.
AND WHAT KIND OF PRICE
ARE YOU WANTING TO GET FOR IT?
FOR THE WHOLE ISSUE,
AROUND ABOUT $1.2 MILLION.
$1.2 MILLION AUSTRALIAN?
YEAH.
GET ME INTO
RETIREMENT MODE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HE'S ALREADY THERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO, CAN YOU
SHOW US AROUND?
YEAH, YEAH, DEFINITELY.
Tyler: SO, I MET STEVE WHEN
I WAS UP HERE DETECTING.
HE'S A GOOD BLOKE,
AND HE'S ACTUALLY BEST FRIENDS
WITH MARTIN, AND MARTIN'S HAD
MOST OF THE GOLD-MINING LEASES
TIED UP IN HALLS CREEK
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SO THE FACT
HE IS WILLING TO SELL
AND WE'LL BE THE FIRST PEOPLE
TO GIVE IT A GOOD GO
IS REALLY EXCITING.
IF THERE'S GOOD GOLD HERE,
THEN THE PRICE WILL BE WORTH IT.
Martin: SO, I BUILT THE WHOLE
LOT OF THE TEST PLANT ON HERE.
IT'S GOT ITS OWN GENERATOR.
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN SEE
IT'S ALL MADE OF SCRAPS.
IT'S LIKE MY GRANDPA'S
WASH PLANT.
SAME THING.
YEAH. SOMETIMES YOU GET
5 OUNCES, 10 OUNCES.
BUT SHE WAS DOING GOOD.
WHAT WERE YOU
FEEDING THAT WITH?
TESTED UP 5 MILLION TONS
GOING A THIRD OF A GRAM,
WHICH WORKED OUT
QUITE A FEW DOLLARS IN MONEY.
RIGHT.AND IT WAS VERY EASY MINING.
THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST
ANOTHER 65,000 OUNCES LEFT,
BUT I'M 73.
PARKER IS AT THE PRIME
OF HIS LIFE.
HE'S GOT THE ENERGY.
HIS TESTS SHOW 1/3
OF A GRAM A TON,
WHICH IS LIKE AN OUNCE
PER 20 OR 30 YARDS,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY
REALLY GOOD, RIGHT?
WE'RE DOING ENOUGH
FOR 100 YARDS.
THREE TIMES BETTER
THAN KLONDIKE.
YEAH, THREE TO FIVE TIMES BETTER
THAN WHAT WE'RE MINING.
LACK OF WATER IS
A PROBLEM.
THIS WEEK, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT
ENOUGH TO SAY, "OKAY,
DO WE TAKE IT
THE NEXT STEP?"
Narrator: MARTIN BELIEVES
HIS CLAIM HOLDS
OVER $100 MILLION OF GOLD.
AT NEARLY 400 ACRES,
IT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF 300 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,
AN ANCIENT RIVER RAN THROUGH
THE CLAIM, CARRYING DEPOSITS
OF FINE GOLD AND NUGGETS,
MUCH LIKE THE GROUND
PARKER MINES IN THE YUKON.
THE SITE INCLUDES
THE OLD TOWN LODGE
AND JUBILEE LEASE,
WHICH PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT GOLD
IN THE 1890s.
♪♪
Parker: IT'S JUST, LIKE,
A VERY BONY SHALE.
GOOD GOLD-CATCHER STUFF.
IT'S LIKE A SLUICE BOX.
SO, CAN WE BRING THAT DOZER UP
AND DO SOME TESTING HERE?
Martin: YEP.
Parker: SO, I WAS HOPING THAT WE
COULD GET FRED AND TYLER
GOING ON THE TROMMEL,
ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE DEAD.
FRED DECIDED TO DRIVE
THROUGH A RIVER WITH IT.
Fred: HOW DID I GET
BLAMED FOR THAT?
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT --
IVANHOE CROSSING?
WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING
IN THERE? [ LAUGHS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE'S SOME BIG
BLOODY CROCODILES
JUST SITTING AT THE BOTTOM,
WAITING FOR THE BARRIER
TO COME OVER --
GULP AND THEN GONE.
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
RIGHT THERE.THAT WASN'T TOO BAD.
YEAH, THAT SHOULD
BE GOOD.
Narrator:
FRED AND TYLER GET TO WORK
SETTING UP THE TEST TROMMEL.
ANYTHING I NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THIS THING?
Narrator: PARKER PREPARES
TO DRIVE MARTIN'S
60-TON 9L DOZER
2 MILES SOUTHWEST
TO THE JUBILEE LEASE
TO DIG PAY DIRT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
SOME SEAT TIME IN A DOZER,
BUT I FEEL LIKE THE 9Ls --
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A/C, DID THEY?
NO. THE CHAINS AND EVERYTHING
ARE PRETTY WELL NEW.
IT TOOK ME FOUR YEARS
TO PUT AN ENGINE TOGETHER.
Danny:
WOW. LABOR OF LOVE.
YEAH.
MOST PEOPLE
HAVE DRINKING HABITS.
I GOT A MACHINERY HABIT.
♪♪
THIS THING'S INSANE.
I MEAN, I'VE RAN
A LOT OF DOZERS,
BUT NEVER ONE
THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
♪♪
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
♪♪
MATE, SHE'S A [BLEEP] BEAST.
♪♪
WICKED!
♪♪
SO, WE'RE GONNA TEST THE TEST
TROMMEL, MAKE SURE IT WORKS.
WE TOOK IT THROUGH A RIVER,
AND THE MOTOR WAS SUBMERGED,
SO JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S ALL UP AND RUNNING.
Narrator: PARKER'S TEST TROMMEL,
BOUGHT AT THE BEGINNING
OF THEIR TRIP,
IS THE ONLY MACHINE ONSITE
THAT CAN TEST IF MARTIN'S GROUND
IS AS RICH IN GOLD
AS HE CLAIMS.
A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I PUT AN ENGINE
TOGETHER IN COLLEGE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S ABOUT ALL I GOT,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS POINT.
Fred: ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.
OH, GOSH.
[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]
♪♪
[ ENGINE GROWS QUIET ]
♪♪
YOU DID CHECK THE OIL
ON IT, RIGHT?
MAKE SURE NO WATER
WENT INTO IT?
WELL, NO.
♪♪
AS YOU CAN SEE
ON THE DIPSTICK THERE,
YOU GOT WATER IN THERE WHEN
YOU WENT THROUGH THE CROSSING.
Tyler: SO YOU CAN'T HAVE
WATER IN YOUR OIL, CAN --
NO, YOU CANNOT BECAUSE
THIS WILL GO BOOM.
♪♪
YEAH, THAT SUCKS.
WE KNEW CROSSING THAT RIVER
WAS GONNA CAUSE SOME ISSUES.
SO AT THIS POINT THE THING
TO DO IS DRAIN THE OIL.
SHOULD PUT NEW OIL IN IT AND
THEN WE SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
♪♪
HERE WE GO. SEE IF THERE'S
ANY GOLD OUT HERE,
MAD MAX STYLE.
♪♪
Narrator: AT THE JUBILEE LEASE,
PARKER IS USING THE 9L DOZER
TO REMOVE A 6-INCH LAYER OF PAY
FROM A 1/2-ACRE TEST AREA.
♪♪
THE TEAM WILL RUN THE PAY
THROUGH THE TROMMEL
TO ASSESS HOW MUCH GOLD
IS IN THE GROUND.
♪♪
LOOK AT IT. IT'S A MONSTER.
♪♪
[ LOUD BANG ]
[ BRAKES SCREECH ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] WAS THAT?
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
♪♪
LOOK AT IT. IT'S A MONSTER.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS
PROSPECTING THE JUBILEE LEASE,
A CLAIM FOR SALE
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
THAT COULD HOLD
$100 MILLION OF GOLD.
♪♪
[ LOUD BANG ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] WAS THAT?
Narrator:
BUT A PROBLEM WITH THE DOZER...
Parker: DANNY!
Danny:
OH, YOU ARE [BLEEP] ME.
...STOPS PROSPECTING
IN ITS TRACKS.
♪♪
[BLEEP].
PAIN IN THE ASS.
Parker:
THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE...
Danny: OH, MAN.
...UP THERE.
THAT DOES NOT
LOOK GOOD.
BLEW THE BLOODY SEAL,
MAIN LIFT SEAL.
IT'LL TAKE OVER A WEEK
TO GET THE DAMN PARTS,
UNLESS YOU FLY A HELICOPTER
UP FROM PERTH.
SO, DO YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT AROUND?
YEAH, ANOTHER BIG LOADER
THAT'S IN WYNDHAM.
IT'S IN WYNDHAM?
YEAH.
WHERE'S THAT, 500 CLICKS?
IT'S GONNA TAKE A DAY
TO GET DOWN.
WE SHOULD TO HAVE IT
DOWN HERE TOMORROW NIGHT.
AWESOME.
I'LL HAVE TO ORGANIZE A FLOAT
AND EVERYTHING TO PICK IT UP,
AND THAT'LL BE
ABOUT 4 GRAND.
GOTCHA.
♪♪
WELL, THEN...
I'LL PAY IT, BUT LET US KEEP
THE FIRST 2 OUNCES WE FIND.
THAT'S 4 GRAND.
YOU GOT IT.
I'M COUNTING ON THIS GROUND
BEING GOOD ENOUGH
THAT IT JUSTIFIES BRINGING
THIS LOADER IN HERE.
WE'RE GONNA FIND
2 OUNCES OF GOLD?
YOU THINK SO?
YEAH.
Parker:
WE'VE BEEN IN COUNTRY AWHILE,
AND WE'VE FOUND
SOME INTERESTING STUFF,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THE EXCITING THING FOR ME
IS THAT THIS PLACE COULD
BE EXTREMELY RICH GROUND,
BUT WITHOUT BEING ABLE
TO TEST IT...
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THAT WORTH?
IF THIS GROUND HAS
THAT GOOD A HISTORY,
THEN $4,000 IS A DROP
IN THE BUCKET.
HERE, THIS HEAT
DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING.
COLD'S PROBABLY A LOT BETTER
FOR A MACHINE THAN THIS HEAT.
♪♪
Fred: I'M GONNA DUMP
THIS OLD OIL OUT.
YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
FULL OF WATER. HOLY COW.
Narrator: TYLER, FRED, ADI,
AND STEVE ARE ATTEMPTING
TO FIX THE WATERLOGGED ENGINE
ON THE SECONDHAND TEST TROMMEL.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT
PUTTING FRESH FUEL AND FRESH OIL
IN IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.
ALREADY $4,000 IN THE HOLE
TO TRUCK IN A
REPLACEMENT LOADER,
PARKER NEEDS A WORKING TROMMEL
TO TEST THE GROUND
AND HAVE ANY CHANCE
OF RECOUPING HIS INVESTMENT.
STARTING TO GET HOT,
SO LET'S BRING IT THROUGH THIS.
HOPEFULLY WE SAVED.
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
FINGERS CROSSED
ON THIS ONE, HUH?
YEAH. PLEASE WORK.
YOU READY?
I'M NERVOUS.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
♪♪
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Steve:
HELL OF A LOT BETTER NOW.
WHOO!
YOU READY OVER THERE
TO TURN THE WATER ON?
DO YOU WANT ME
TO TURN IT ON NOW?
YEP. LET HER GO.
Narrator: YEARS OF DROUGHT MEANS
THE ONLY WATER AVAILABLE
ON MARTIN'S CLAIM COMES
FROM A 60-FOOT DEEP WELL
AT THE OLD TOWN LODGE
2 MILES FROM THE JUBILEE LEASE.
Fred: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
FIX THIS.
WE'RE MISSING A DIVIDER
RIGHT HERE.
THAT'S FALLEN OFF ON OUR TRIP.
♪♪
HOLD ON.
♪♪
THAT'S DANGEROUS.
EVERYTHING'S GOING WRONG.
THINGS ARE FALLING OFF
THAT SHOULDN'T.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA
LAST MUCH LONGER.
Steve:
CHOKING UP A BIT.
♪♪
OH! OH, OH, OH!
MIGHT WANT TO STAND BACK.
YOU GUYS, THAT LOOKS
LIKE A DEATH TRAP.
I MEAN, THE ENGINE'S
SMOKING A LOT.
THROTTLE'S NOT HOLDING.
[BLEEP].
OH, [BLEEP].
AH, [BLEEP].
I THINK IT MUST HAVE
HAD IT.
THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT
THE MOST FRUSTRATED
I'VE BEEN ON THIS ENTIRE
[BLEEP] TRIP.
THE SLUICE BOX IS FALLING OFF.
THE TOP SHOOTS OUT ROCKS
FAST ENOUGH AT YOU
TO SHOOT YOU IN THE FACE.
THE CHAINS ARE LOOSE.
I COULD GO ON AND ON.
HONEST OPINION,
THIS THING'S [BLEEP].
YEAH, THAT'S JUST FRUSTRATING
'CAUSE WE REALLY NEED
TO BE TESTING GROUND.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
AND IN THIS COUNTRY,
EVERYTHING'S GOT A
BLOODY USE-BY DATE.
WE HERE -- WE OBVIOUSLY
DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE GONNA GO FROM HERE.
IT'S JUST [BLEEP].
♪♪
Danny: FRED!
Fred: HEY GUYS.
HOW'S IT GOING?WE GOT SOME PROBLEMS.
I DON'T THINK THESE THINGS
ARE MEANT
FOR TRAVELING 4,000 MILES
DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
NO. IS THIS SALVAGEABLE?
WE CAN'T JUST GIVE UP. WE NEED
THIS TO [BLEEP] TEST THE GROUND.
DID YOU GUYS HAVE
ANY BETTER LUCK? PLEASE?
[ LAUGHS ] NO. WE [BLEEP] --
WE BROKE THE DOZER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ GROANS ]WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
I DO HAVE A MATE.
HE'S A LOCAL.
IF I COULD GIVE HIM A CALL,
HE'D PROBABLY COME AND HELP OUT.
IS HE A WIZARD
WITH TOOLS?
-YES.
-OH, WELL THERE WE GO.
Danny: IS HE REALLY?NO, HE'S REALLY GOOD.
YEAH, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S
TALKING ABOUT.
SO, SHOULD WE JUST
SET UP CAMP?
YEAH,
WE CAN SET UP CAMP.
Tyler: COOL.YEAH?
YEP, LET'S DO IT.LET'S DO IT.
Parker:
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS,
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT
GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES,
AND THINGS LIKE THIS ARE REALLY
PUTTING ROADBLOCKS IN OUR WAY.
WE GENUINELY COULD HAVE
GOTTEN SOME DIRT MOVED TODAY
AND COULD HAVE GOT
A REALLY GOOD TEST IN
IF THE TROMMEL
WOULD HAVE WORKED,
AND THEY BOTH [BLEEP] THE BED.
AND THAT'S NOT COOL.
HOPEFULLY, GET BACK ON TRACK.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪♪
Tyler:
YEAH, THAT'S DUANE.
HE HASN'T GOT A SPARE
TROMMEL, HAS HE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tyler: HI, DUANE.
HI, TYLER.
HOW YOU DOING, MATE?
I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
PARKER.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU, PARKER.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
-FRED.
-FRED?
THIS IS FRED.NICE TO MEET YOU.
OH, [BLEEP].
Danny: IT'S BEEN
A PRETTY RUBBISH DAY.
SO WE'RE GETTING
DESPERATE, THEN?
[ LAUGHTER ]YEAH, WE ARE.
Fred: WE WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT DINNER.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT A BIT
OF KANGAROO IN THE CAR.
FOR REAL?Duane: YEAH.
OH, MATE.
KANGAROO FOR DINNER?
YEAH, THEY'RE ALL RIGHT,
COOKED RIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THOUGH.
WE'D GET A REAL MEAL IN US.
THAT MIGHT HELP.
Narrator: AUSTRALIA'S ESTIMATED
50 MILLION KANGAROOS
OUTNUMBER THE POPULATION
BY 2 TO 1.
GRUBS UP, GRUBS UP.
CONSUMED BY ABORIGINAL
COMMUNITIES
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
KANGAROO MEAT IS LEANER AND MORE
SUSTAINABLE THAN PORK OR BEEF.
MMM! MMM!
Danny: SUPER GOOD.OH, YEAH.
I'M DOWN WITH THIS.
Duane: YEAH?
OH, THAT'S GOOD MATE.
DUANE, YOU TURNED A [BLEEP] DAY
INTO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
YEAH. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT
HELL'S CRACK.
IS THAT WHAT THIS PLACE
IS CALLED?
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M GONNA CASH IN,
AND WE'LL HIT HER TOMORROW.
I'M GONNA BRING THIS
TO BED WITH ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tyler: I'M REALLY HAPPY I GOT
DUANE OUT HERE,
BUT TODAY WAS HARD.
LIKE, PARKER HAD TO SPEND
4 GRAND TO GET THAT LOADER HERE.
THERE'S 2 OUNCES WE HAVE
TO FIND JUST TO COVER COSTS,
LET ALONE FINDING OUT
IF THE GROUND'S ACTUALLY VIABLE.
SO YEAH,
I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED
ABOUT LETTING PARKER DOWN.
HE OBVIOUSLY WON'T WANT
TO WORK WITH ME AGAIN
IF I CAN'T PRODUCE
SOME GOOD OPTIONS FOR HIM.
♪♪
MORNING, FRED.
DOESN'T FEEL LIKE MORNING.
IT FEELS LIKE NOON. IT'S SO HOT.
HOW'D YOU SLEEP?
IN A POOL OF SWEAT.
IT WAS SO HOT.
ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES
IT'S QUITE EASY TO GET PARKER UP
'CAUSE HE AIN'T GONNA WANT TO
STAY IN THERE FOR MUCH LONGER.
Parker:
I HEARD THAT, DAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]WHAT?
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE PROSPECTING ON GROUND
THAT COULD HOLD $100 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD.
BUT WITH A BROKEN TROMMEL
AND A REPLACEMENT LOADER
STILL ONE DAY AWAY,
THEY LACK THE EQUIPMENT
NEEDED TO GET THE GOLD.
HERE YOU GO, PARKER.
OH, THANK YOU.
TYLER'S FRIEND
AND FELLOW PROSPECTOR DUANE
JOINS THE TEAM
TO HELP THEM GET BACK ON TRACK.
SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN
FOR THE DAY?
I SUPPOSE A COUPLE OF US
SHOULD FIX THE TROMMEL.
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO GET
A KNOCK AT THAT TROMMEL.
I'VE GOT A FEW TOOLS
IN ME TOOLBOX.
I CAN PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
GIVE FRED A HAND IF YOU WANT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
AROUND HERE WE CAN DO?
THERE'S A PLACE THAT
I'VE BEEN PROSPECTING BEFORE
THAT WE COULD GO
HAVE A LOOK AT.
WELL, I THINK THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GOOD PLAN
WHILE WE'RE WAITING
FOR MARTIN WITH THE LOADER.
COOL.Fred: DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Danny: THE MAIN REASON WE'RE
HERE IS TO TEST THE GROUND,
AND THE TROMMEL
IS INTEGRAL TO THAT, SO...
MY OLD MAN WAS A MECHANIC.
MY BROTHER'S A MECHANIC.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THEM, AS WELL,
AND OBVIOUSLY,
WE'VE NOW GOT DUANE.
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US,
I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY
DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
ALL RIGHT, SO,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Danny: IT'S NOT GREAT.
WE HAVEN'T GOT
A SPARK PLUG SOCKET, HAVE WE?
YEAH.
I'VE GOT A SOCKET.
WICKED. SO, THE OLD SPARK PLUG
IS PRETTY GACKED UP.
DUANE'S SORTING THAT OUT.OKAY.
AND THEN I THINK WE SHOULD
JUST CLEAN THIS FAT BOY UP.
I'M GONNA START
WORKING ON THE SLUICE.
DURING THE TRANSIT,
WE LOST THIS DIVIDER.
WHEN THE WATER COMES OUT,
IT DIRECTS
THE FLOW EVENLY DOWN HERE.
WITHOUT THAT, WE'RE SCREWED,
SO I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING
TO GO IN THERE.
I THINK I'VE GOT AN IDEA.
[ TOOLS CLATTERING ]
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
I THINK THIS WILL WORK.
BOOM.
♪♪
SO, WE ARE GOING TO
A REALLY COOL PLACE --
A NATURAL SPRINGS,
LIKE A WATERING HOLE.
AND LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
WE FOUND GOLD IN IT.
♪♪
Parker: OH MAN.
IT'S NICE, ISN'T IT?
LOOK AT THIS.
♪♪
COOL.
Narrator: TYLER AND PARKER
ARE AT A NATURAL SPRING
20 MILES SOUTH
OF OLD HALLS CREEK.
♪♪
SO, I'VE FOUND A BIT
OF GOLD HERE, ACTUALLY,
IN THE EXACT PLACE
WE'RE GONNA GO DETECTING.
THE LOADER LOST 4 GRAND,
SO WE REALLY DO NEED SOME GOLD.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET
SOME GOLD WITH PARKER
AND HE ENJOYS IT, AND, YEAH,
WE GET TO SEE THE MORE
PRETTIER SIDE OF HALLS CREEK.
DON'T FALL IN TO YOUR LEFT.
THAT'S WHERE THE CROCS ARE.
OH, THERE'S A CROC
RIGHT THERE.
OH, MY [BLEEP].
I'M KIDDING.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: BENEATH THIS POOL,
HEAT AND PRESSURE FORCE
WATER UP THROUGH GOLD VEINS,
PICKING UP FLAKES
WHICH SETTLE IN THE POOL.
[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
♪♪
[ BEEPING INTENSIFIES ]
OKAY, THAT'S A SIGNAL.WHAT'D YOU FIND?
I HAVE A SIGNAL
JUST THERE.
WE MIGHT NEED TO GET
INTO THE CREVICES.
♪♪
FOUND IT?
OH, [BLEEP] YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ] [BLEEP].
YEAH! WHAT IS IT?
OH, WE GOT US SOME BAILING WIRE.
[ LAUGHS ][ BEEPS ERRATICALLY ]
OH, THIS DOES NOT
HELP MY CASE.
THE GOLD THAT YOU'D FIND HERE
IS ACTUALLY QUITE SMALL,
SO IT'S HARD TO PICK IT UP.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE
CALLED SNIPING.
COOL.
Narrator: SNIPING IS A FORM
OF UNDERWATER MINING
WHERE PROSPECTORS PINPOINT GOLD
CAUGHT IN CRACKS
AND CREVICES OF THE BEDROCK.
SO, WHAT YOU'D WANT TO DO --
COME IN ON THIS ANGLE.
SO YOU JUST TRY TO FLUFF
ALL THAT DEBRIS OUT THE WAY.
SO YOU'RE JUST GETTING RID
OF ALL THE TOP STUFF,
AND THEN WE WOULD SEE
THE GOLD PRETTY QUICKLY.
OH, YEAH.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S A NUGGET.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
THAT'S A NICE
LITTLE NUGGET.
SO, NOW, GO GET GET
THAT LITTLE BOTTLE THING.
WHAT'S THAT?
THIS IS A SNUFF BOTTLE.
SO YOU WANT TO DO THIS NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW GO.
WOW.
IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY
NICE-LOOKING
LITTLE PIECE OF GOLD.
YEAH.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE
IN THE RIGHT SPOT.
YEAH.
FIND 700 MORE OF THOSE,
AND WE MIGHT PAY FOR A LOADER
GETTING FROM WYNDHAM TO HERE.
♪♪
Danny: RIGHT.
I'M GONNA SIT THERE, DUANE.
YOU ALRIGHT, FRED?
[ GRUNTS ] YEAH,
I'M ALL RIGHT, JUST HOT.
WHAT DO YOU RECKON, FRED?
LET'S [BLEEP] PUT IT IN THERE
AND GET THIS THING GOING.
[ LAUGHS ]
RIGHT. THE LITTLE BABY --
HERE SHE COMES.
Danny: WE'VE TAKEN
THE ENGINE OFF,
GIVEN THE ENGINE
A BIT OF A CLEANUP.
IT'S GOT COMPRESSION.
IT'S GOT SPARK.
FRED'S GOT THE SLUICE
LOOKING BRILLIANT.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS RUNNING,
WE DON'T TEST
THE GROUND, BASICALLY.
SO THIS IS IT.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
ALRIGHT.
SHE IN?
SHE'S IN, BOYS.
WHOA, HERE WE GO.
Duane: ONE OF THE TRICKS
THE OLD TIMERS USED TO USE --
JUST GET LITTLE BITS OF LEAD
AND PUT IT THROUGH YOUR PLAN,
AND 'CAUSE LEAD'S CLOSE TO
THE WEIGHT OF THE GOLD,
YEAH.IF YOU CATCH YOUR LEAD,
WELL, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
YOU'RE GONNA CATCH GOLD.
AH, I LIKE THAT.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY LEAD?
YEP.
I'M READY TO DO THIS.
TURNING THE WATER ON.
YEAH, YEAH,
WE GOT PRESSURE.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
COME ON, BABY.
MOMENT OF TRUTH.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
SHE'S ALIVE!
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: TO TEST THE TROMMEL,
FRED LOADS JUNK DIRT
PEPPERED WITH LEAD SHOT
INTO THE HOPPER.
Fred: I THINK I'M OKAY
WITH THAT.
I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY SMOOTH.
BUSH FIX WORKING.
Danny: NICE.
THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS GOOD.
SO, WE GOT AN OPERATING
TEST TROMMEL.
OKAY, OKAY. READY?
I'LL SHUT THE WATER OFF.
YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
♪♪
THERE IT IS.
YEP.
HEY, LOOK AT THAT,
EVEN CATCH A BIT OF GOLD.
THAT'S NOT GOLD.
IS THAT GOLD?
[BLEEP] IS!
THAT'S GOLD!
SHUT UP.
OH, NICE.I'D SAY THAT'S A SUCCESS.
THIS IS LIKE A COLD BEER.YEAH.
IF THIS IS JUST JUNK DIRT,
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT PAY DIRT'S
GONNA LOOK LIKE.
♪♪
I DO FEEL A LITTLE BAD
THAT THEY WERE BACK HERE,
LIKE, SWEATING THEIR ASS OFF
WORKING ON THE TROMMEL.
BUT I'M REALLY GLAD
THEY GOT THE TROMMEL FIXED.
AND HOPEFULLY, THE TEST TROMMEL
CAN STAY RUNNING
AND FIND SOME GOLD AND REALLY
GET A GOOD TEST ON THIS GROUND.
SO, WE'VE GOT DUANE HERE.
WE'VE GOT TYLER.
IF THE LOADER IS RUNNING GOOD,
I THINK WE COULD COVER A LOT
OF GROUND WITH THE DETECTORS
AND HOPEFULLY GET BACK ON TRACK.
♪♪
[ GROANS ]
WHERE'S OUR LOADER?
Fred: YEAH, THIS SUCKS.
Tyler: YEAH, IT'S GETTING
HOT, ISN'T IT?
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S
OLD HALLS CREEK,
PROSPECTING A LEASE FOR SALE
THAT COULD HOLD
$100 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.
♪♪
AFTER A SERIES
OF EQUIPMENT FAILURES,
THEY'RE A DAY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
♪♪
I SEE IT. I SEE IT.
THERE IT IS.
♪♪
SOUNDS LIKE A TANK.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
Narrator: DETERMINED TO TEST
THE GROUND, PARKER PAID OUT
$4,000 AUSTRALIAN TO SHIP IN
A WORKING LOADER.
YOU GOT HERE.IT EVENTUALLY GOT HERE.
MARTIN, I WAS HOPING THAT
YOU COULD MAKE A COUPLE OF CUTS
FOR DUANE AND TYLER
TO START DETECTING
AND BRING A BUCKET TO THE CAMP
FOR THE TROMMEL.
NO WORRIES.SWEET. LET'S DO IT.
Fred: YEAH.
ALRIGHT.
LET'S GET THIS PARTY
STARTED.
Tyler: SO, WE HAVE FINALLY GOT
THE LOADER HERE.
TODAY IS DEFINITELY
THE LAST PUSH.
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
IT'S QUITE CRUCIAL
THAT WE GET GOLD
AND EVERYTHING GOES TO PLAN.
HERE WE GO, GUYS.
Fred: YEAH!
THIS IS OUR LUCK CHANGING.
♪♪
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS IT, FREDDIE BOY.
THANK [BLEEP] FOR THAT.
♪♪
[ TREE CRACKS ]
Fred: UH-OH.
♪♪
COME ON!
♪♪
PAY DIRT.
♪♪
UH-OH. [BLEEP].
UH-OH.
OH, PARKER.
[BLEEP] BULL[BLEEP].
Fred: [ GROANS ]WHAT'D HE SAY?
Parker: I THINK YOU'VE
HAD A BREAKDOWN.
I SAW HIM JUST
WAVE HIS ARMS.
IT'S SHOOTING OIL OUT.
OH, YOU ARE KIDDING ME.
NO.
I DON'T BLOODY BELIEVE IT.
WHAT BLOODY ONE WENT THIS TIME?
OH, MY [BLEEP].
[BLEEP]. I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
OF COURSE THIS HAPPENS --
WE PAY 4 GRAND TO GET IT HERE,
AND IT BREAKS DOWN
WITHIN 10 MINUTES.
Martin:
LOOKS LIKE THE STEERING.
Narrator: IN A 1,000 TO 1 SHOT,
A SPLINTERED TREE BRANCH
PUNCTURED A HYDRAULIC STEERING
HOSE, DISABLING THE LOADER.
Parker: I WOULD SAY THERE'S NOT
MUCH LIFE LEFT IN THAT.
Martin:
NO. NONE WHATSOEVER.
WELL, I'D STILL LIKE TO GET
A TROMMEL TEST DONE.
WE'LL DO THE ACTUAL SHOVELING
THE HARD WAY, BY HAND.
I THINK THAT YOU GUYS
COULD PROBABLY GO DETECT
WHENEVER YOU CAN FIND.
WE CAN DO THAT, HEY, DUANE?Duane: YEAH.
Parker: WE JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH
THE HAND WE'RE DEALT, I GUESS,
AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT.
POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE.
♪♪
♪♪
WHY ARE WE HERE?
HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS?
♪♪
PARKER HAD TO SPEND $4,000
TO GET THAT LOADER OUT HERE.
SO IF WE DON'T FIND GOLD HERE,
IT'S GONNA TAKE A HIT.
I'VE DRAGGED THEM OUT
TO HELL'S CRACK,
AND I'VE PROMISED THAT
THERE'S GREAT GROUND OUT HERE.
SO I REALLY CANNOT
GO BACK EMPTY-HANDED.
♪♪
IT'S REALLY [BLEEP] HOT.
LIKE, I'M USED TO THE HEAT,
BUT THIS IS NEXT-LEVEL.
LIKE, IT'S RADIATING OFF THE
GROUND, AND THERE'S NO SHADE.
Tyler: I'M THINKING,
LIKE, IF WE TARGET
THE TREE ROOTS
AND THE BEDROCK...
Duane: YEP.
...MAKE SURE THEY'RE
DEFINITELY DONE.
YEAH, THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GOOD PLAN.
Narrator: THE LARGEST NUGGET
EVER FOUND WITH A METAL DETECTOR
WAS IN AUSTRALIA IN 1980.
WEIGHING OVER 60 POUNDS AND
WORTH AN ESTIMATED $1.3 MILLION,
IT WAS JUST 12 INCHES
BENEATH THE SURFACE.
Duane: IT HAS MOVED SOME DIRT.
SO IT'S GIVEN US
SOME SORT OF CHANCE,
I GUESS, TO FIND SOMETHING.[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
THAT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD SOUND.
IT'S A NICE, LIKE, LOUD BEEP.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S NOT A BAD SIZE.
HEY, TYLER!
LOOK AT THAT.
Tyler: YAY!
IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ROCK
WITH IT, BUT THAT'S STILL --
THAT'S A NICE,
WEIGHTY PIECE.
[BLEEP] YEAH!
GOOD JOB!
OH, MY [BLEEP].
THAT IS SUCH A RELIEF!
I'M PRETTY HAPPY
WITH THAT.
Narrator: THIS NUGGET WEIGHS IN
AT NEARLY 1/4 OUNCE,
WORTH OVER $300.
Duane: IF WE CAN FIND
ANOTHER 12 OF THEM,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR THE LOADER.
Duane:
NO PRESSURE NOW, TY!
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME,
DUANE? YOU'VE UPPED THE ANTE.
AT LEAST WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD
HERE. THAT'S ONE POSITIVE.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.
♪♪
OH. THAT'S GOOD.
WE TURN THE WATER ON
AND DO IT?
YEAH. IT'S COMING.
Fred: YEP.
Narrator:
PARKER FIRES UP THE TROMMEL
TO TEST HIS SAMPLE YARD OF DIRT
FOR GOLD.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
LAST CHANCE SALOON.
Fred: IT'S ALIVE!
♪♪
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
OH, [BLEEP] SAKE.
Danny: IT'S DIED.
DID YOU PUT THE CHOKE IN?
[BLEEP] SAKE.
WHAT'S UP, DANNY?
I DON'T LIKE THAT S-- THAT
SCREECHING NOISE ISN'T NORMAL.
[ ENGINE SCREECHES ]
HEAR THAT?
THAT LITTLE EH-EH.
Parker: I DON'T THINK THAT'S
OUT OF THE MOTOR.
[BLEEP] OIL EVERYWHERE.
SOUNDS LIKE DEATH.
OH, [BLEEP].
[BLEEP]. YEAH.
♪♪
CAN WE TURN IT BY HAND?
AT THIS POINT, THAT WOULD
PROBABLY BE BETTER
THAN WHAT WE'VE GOT
GOING ON.
IS THIS FOR REAL?
Narrator:
WITHOUT A WORKING MOTOR,
THE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE PAY DIRT
IS TO TURN THE TROMMEL DRUM
MANUALLY.
THIS HOW WE DOING THIS?
WHAT ARE WE CALLING THIS NOW?
IT'S A HAMSTER-POWERED TROMMEL?
HELL'S HAMSTER WHEEL?
HELL'S HAMSTER WHEEL!
COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,
I WANT TO LEAVE HERE FEELING
LIKE WE GAVE IT OUR BEST CHANCE.
RUN IT UNTIL IT'S DONE.
THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE
AFTER THIS.
THANK [BLEEP].
♪♪
HEY, DUANE?
I'VE GOT A SIGNAL.
DO YOU MIND COMING OVER
AND JUST CHECKING IT FOR ME?
♪♪
[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
Duane: IT'S DEFINITELY
A GOOD SIGNAL.
♪♪
OH, WE'VE GOT IT.
SEE IF IT'S...
OH! [BLEEP].
♪♪
SO, GUYS, ON THE WAY IN,
SAW THERE'S A CEMETERY.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
THE ONLY PART OF IT.
THE ACTUAL CEMETERY
WAS A LOT BIGGER THAN THAT.
Narrator: THE CEMETERY AT
OLD HALLS CREEK
IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE
OF JIMMY DARCY,
WHO DIED IN 1917
AFTER WAITING TWO WEEKS
FOR THE NEAREST DOCTOR
TO REACH HIM.
DARCY'S DEATH
INSPIRED THE FOUNDING
OF THE ROYAL FLYING
DOCTOR SERVICE,
WHICH IS STILL PROVIDING
EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE
TO THOUSANDS OF REMOTE
COMMUNITIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
THE CEMETERY'S
FULL OF BLOODY GOLD.
GOLD TEETH?
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
[ DETECTOR BEEPING ]
OH, MAYBE IF WE MOVE IT HERE?
SEE IF IT'S ONE OF THESE?
OH, WE'VE GOT IT.
OH! [BLEEP].
Duane:
HAVE A LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S A NICE CHUNK!
THAT'S UNREAL.
GOOD WORK!
Narrator: IN OLD HALLS CREEK,
TYLER DETECTS A SECOND,
LARGER NUGGET ON THE GROUND
PARKER IS PROSPECTING.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
A GOOD PIECE,
ABOUT 9 OR 10 GRAMS,
I RECKON, FOR SURE.
$600, $700?
YEP.
HOW GOOD DOES THAT FEEL?NOT WRONG.
LET'S GO BACK
AND SHOW PARKER.
YEAH, LET'S SEE WHAT SORT OF
INTERESTING DAY THEY HAD.
♪♪
Parker: SHOULD WE START
CLEANING THIS UP?
THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT
LIKE HALLS CREEK
IS BEATING THE [BLEEP]
OUT OF US.
YEAH, IT WASN'T TOO FUN.
♪♪
Fred: HERE THEY COME.
♪♪
YOU'RE NOT HOLDING
A MASSIVE NUG.
Tyler: HANG ON. WE'VE ACTUALLY
DONE PRETTY WELL.
Danny: YOU'RE KIDDING?
NOT BAD, HEY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: TOGETHER,
TYLER AND DUANE HAVE FOUND
$1,000 AUSTRALIAN OF GOLD.
Danny: OH, MATE!
THAT'S DECENT-SIZED!
Parker:
WHO FOUND THOSE?
Tyler: I FOUND THAT ONE.
DUANE FOUND THAT ONE.
REALLY?
Duane: I WAS ON TOP
OF THE WORLD.
OH, WELL DONE, GUYS.
WE HAVE NOT DONE
SO WELL.
THE ENGINE [BLEEP] THE BED,
AND WE WERE HAND-TURNING
THE TROMMEL.
Narrator: EVEN WITH TYLER
AND DUANE'S NUGGETS,
PARKER IS STILL DOWN
$3,000 ON THE LOADER.
♪♪
HOW MANY YARDS
DID YOU PUT THROUGH?
ONE.
Duane: DO THIS IS THE
MOMENT OF TRUTH, IS IT?
PAN WHAT MIGHT BE
THERE.
Narrator:
DESPITE THE HARSH CONDITIONS,
IF PARKER DISCOVERS
FINE GOLD IN THE PAN,
OLD HALLS CREEK COULD BE
A VIABLE MINING OPERATION.
♪♪
COME ON.
Parker: COME ON.
♪♪
Danny:
WELL, IT'S THERE.
IT'S COLOR.
I MEAN, IT'S --
IT'S PRETTY SMALL,
AND THIS IS STILL NOT BAD.
I THINK WE'VE DONE
A PRETTY --
YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS WE CAN
CONSIDERING THE CONDITIONS.
FOR YOU GUYS TO FIND
THAT MUCH DETECTING,
I'M QUITE SURPRISED BY THAT,
CONSIDERING HOW BAD
THE CONDITIONS ARE.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M GONNA GO
HAVE A QUICK CHAT WITH MARTIN.
Parker: THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOME GOLD HERE,
AND THESE ACTUALLY ARE
THE PIECES OF GROUND
THAT I'M INTERESTED IN
BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH
A HARSH ENVIRONMENT,
LIKE, NOBODY
WOULD EVER HAVE MINED IT.
HEY, MARTIN.
OH, HOW YOU GOING, PARKER?GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
NOT TOO BAD.
HOW'D YOU GOT?
WE WENT ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.THEY FOUND THESE.
I'LL BE BLOWN.
LOOK AT THAT.
I DEFINITELY ADMIRE WHAT YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH HERE
TO GET GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND,
WITHOUT WATER
AND WITH THIS HEAT.
YEAH.
IT'S BRUTAL, AND...
YOU KNOW, GIVEN THOSE FACTORS
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN,
I DON'T THINK
THIS IS FOR US.
OH, YEAH. RIGHT ON.
AND, I'M SURE THAT SOMEBODY
WILL COME ALONG
THAT CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
YEAH, NO, SOMEBODY WILL.
IT'S A CHALLENGING PLACE
TO WORK.
YEAH, YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU DO IT.
YEAH.
YEAH, NO WORRIES.
I GUESS THE ONLY LAST THING
IS I SEE YOU HAVE
A LITTLE BONEYARD OVER THERE.
CAN WE ADD
A TROMMEL TO IT?
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH.
YEAH. NO WORRIES.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, PARKER.
NO WORRIES.
TAKE CARE, MAN.
IT'S EXCEPTIONALLY
HARSH UP HERE. VERY HARSH.
I WISH PARKER ALL THE BEST
IN HIS ENDEAVORS
AROUND AUSTRALIA.
BETWEEN BUSH FIRES,
DROUGHTS, AND NO RAINS,
HE'S GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
Danny: DUANE,
YOU'VE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE,
ABSOLUTE DIAMOND, MATE.
YOU'VE LOOKED AFTER US
SO WELL.
ALL RIGHT, MATE.
ANYTIME.
Tyler: IT WAS JUST ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER.
THIS TRIP DEFINITELY TOOK A TOLL
ON EVERYONE, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT ME AND DUANE MANAGED
TO FIND SOME GOLD,
SO AT LEAST THAT'S ONE POSITIVE.
THE OLD TIMERS LASTED
THROUGH EIGHT MONTHS.
I'M IMPRESSED
THEY LASTED THAT LONG.
READY? HEAVE!
♪♪
Parker: I'VE BEEN IN SOME
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS,
AND THIS TAKES THE CAKE.
YOU CAN GIVE ME -30° OR -40
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
THIS 120 OR 130 DEGREES IS...
IT'S BRUTAL.
♪♪
Parker:
WHERE TO, NOW, TYLER?
Tyler: SOUTH.
I HOPE IT'S COOLER THERE.
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
♪♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
GUYS, LOCK THE DOORS.
...PARKER AND HIS TEAM
COME FACE TO FACE
WITH BRAND-NEW MINING METHODS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.
...THAT COMES...Fred: CYANIDE?
...WITH A MAJOR HEALTH WARNING.
CAN GO FROM PRETTY BAD
TO DEAD PRETTY QUICK.
[ COUGHS ]
Parker: DANNY!
Danny:
MY EYES ARE BURNING.
NOT TOO USER-FRIENDLY.
GO EASY!
AAH!