Moonshiners (2011–…): Season 6, Episode 13 - Thunder Pumpkins - full transcript

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Mike: BUILDING A STILL
AND RUNNING LIQUOR,

IT'S JUST HOME TO ME, YOU KNOW?

[ FIRE CRACKLES ]

I LOVE IT.
IT HELPED BUILD THIS COUNTRY.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER

BUILT A BAPTIST CHURCH
DOWN IN MISSISSIPPI

OFF OF THE MONEY
OF BOOTLEG LIQUOR.

AND MY GRANDMOTHER USED
TO HAVE TO GO STIR THE MASH,

AND I HELPED.

I WAS STIRRING WINE WHEN
I WAS PROBABLY 6, 7 YEARS OLD.



THEN COME HOME, GET A BATH,
AND WALK TO SCHOOL.

Narrator: IT'S EARLY SEPTEMBER,
AND ACROSS APPALACHIA,

THE ARRIVAL OF FALL

MEANS STILLS ARE BEING PUSHED
TO THEIR LIMITS

AS OUTLAW MOONSHINERS RACE
TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFITS

IN THE FINAL
TWO MONTHS OF THE SEASON.

THERE'S SOMETHING ROTTEN
IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

ON THE PIEDMONT,
A SHINER STRUGGLES ALONE.

Josh: I'M SO SICK OF DEAD
BATTERIES TODAY, IT AIN'T FUNNY.

Narrator:
AND IN NORTH CAROLINA,

ONE MOONSHINER
GETS A SHOT AT REDEMPTION.

♪ NO ONE CAN HOLD ME DOWN ♪

♪ OR MAKE ME CHANGE MY WAYS ♪

♪ SO DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH
SAYIN' ♪



♪ CRIME NEVER PAYS ♪

♪ GOIN' FOR A RIDE ♪

♪ RUNNIN' TO SURVIVE ♪

♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN'
OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪

♪ WE'RE LIVIN' OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪

Man: THIS IS HOW
WE MAKE THE MOONSHINE!

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Josh: THIS HAS ALMOST BEEN
A TOTAL DISASTER.

SEEMS LIKE I CAN'T WIN.

IT'S NOT JUST
A ONE-MAN OPERATION.

I DON'T CARE HOW YOU SLICE IT.

Narrator: A FEW MILES FROM
THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BORDER,

ONE SHINER TRAVELS
A LONELY ROAD.

♪♪

Josh: FALL'S HERE.
SEASON'S RUNNING OUT,

AND I'M REALLY STARTING TO DOUBT

THAT I'M GONNA REACH MY GOAL
OF 1,000 GALLONS.

ABOUT MY ONLY OPTION
IS TO WINTERIZE

MY STILL SITE
BEFORE IT GETS COLD.

BUT BIG CHUCK JUST HAD ENOUGH
AND ENDED UP WALKING OUT.

HOW CAN I BUILD ALL THIS STUFF

TO BE ABLE TO GET
MY ELECTRICITY GOING

AND GET THE HEAT GOING
WITHOUT BIG CHUCK?

I DON'T BLAME HIM
FOR NOT COMING BACK,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY WE CAN'T GET PAST IT.

Narrator: WITH LESS THAN EIGHT
WEEKS LEFT IN SHINE SEASON,

AND STILL OVER 700 GALLONS
SHY OF THEIR GOAL,

JOSH AND BIG CHUCK

ARE TRYING TO WINTERIZE
THEIR STILL SITE.

Josh:
THIS IS THE ACTUAL TROUGH.

GET SOME WATER FLOWING
DOWN TO THAT WATER WHEEL,

BE ABLE TO HOOK UP
OUR POWER.

BUT DAYS
OF GRUELING CONSTRUCTION

LED TO CHUCK CALLING IT QUITS.

Chuck:
[BLEEP] THIS SON OF A BITCH.

WE SHOULD BE MAKING
[BLEEP] DAMN LIQUOR.

[BLEEP] DAMN IT.

THIS LAST YEAR,
I FIGURED OUT A WAY

TO WINTERIZE MY OLD STILL SITE

WHERE I COULD KEEP THE MASH WARM

AND MAKE LIQUOR ALL WINTER LONG.

BUT WINTERIZING THIS NEW SITE
IS EVEN HARDER.

I GOT TO HAVE THE TROUGH GOING
TO GET THE WHEEL GOING

TO GET THE ELECTRICITY GOING.

AND IT'S DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE
TO KEEP THIS UP BY MYSELF.

AAH!

Narrator: IN ORDER TO GENERATE
THE ELECTRICITY NEEDED

TO WINTERIZE HIS STILL SITE,
JOSH NEEDS TO REBUILD

THE GRIST MILL'S
EXISTING WATER WHEEL,

AS WELL AS THE TROUGH SYSTEM
WHICH CHANNELS WATER

FROM A CREEK BEHIND THE MILL
TO THE WHEEL.

ONCE THE WATER IS FLOWING
AND SPINNING THE WATER WHEEL,

IT'LL TURN AN ALTERNATOR.

THE ALTERNATOR WILL THEN CHARGE

A BANK OF 12-VOLT BATTERIES,

WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE HEAT
AND LIGHT NECESSARY FOR JOSH

TO OPERATE
THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.

Josh: OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
A HARD TIME WORKING WITH ME.

I HAVE TO HAVE
EVERYTHING DONE MY WAY.

IT CAUSED PROBLEMS
WITH ME AND BILL,

SO I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO LEARN
TO QUIT BEING A [BLEEP]

[ CLICKING ]

I'M SO SICK OF DEAD BATTERIES
TODAY, IT AIN'T FUNNY.

IT'S 175 YARDS
FROM THE TOP OF THE CREEK

TO THE DANG WATER WHEEL.

I'VE STILL GOT TO GO BACK
AND PUT SLATS ON THE SIDES

AND UNDERNEATH TO SEAL IT UP.

BUDDHA SAYS, "LIFE IS HARD."

LIFE IS HARD,
BUT I'M, LIKE, WONDERING,

WHAT IF THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS MYSELF?

IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR
EVERYTHING WE'VE PICKED SO FAR.

-I KNOW IT.
-TAKE WHAT NATURES GIVES.

THAT'S WHAT
WE ALWAYS DONE,

-AIN'T IT?
-YEAH.

Narrator: IN NORTHERN LOUISIANA,

A FATHER/DAUGHTER SHINE TEAM

IS READY TO HARVEST
THE KEY INGREDIENT

FOR THEIR NEXT BATCH
OF SEASONAL SHINE.

-YOU KNOW?
-YEAH.

Patti: WE'RE CHASING
A HARVEST THIS YEAR,

SO NOW IT'S PEAR HARVEST TIME,

SO WE'RE GOING IN TO PICK THOSE

SO WE CAN MASH IN
OUR PEAR BRANDY.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE
THE PEARS IN THE JARS.

Narrator: THIS YEAR,
PATTI AND DAVID'S STRATEGY

OF CHASING THE LOUISIANA HARVEST

HAS PAID OFF IN SUCCESSFUL RUNS

OF MAYHAW AND SUGAR CANE SHINES.

[ LAUGHS ]

A BUSY FEW WEEKS HAVE PUT THEM
NEARLY HALFWAY

TOWARD THEIR 600-GALLON
SEASON GOAL.

WITH THE SUGAR CANE
HARVEST COMPLETE,

THEY'RE RETURNING TO A PROJECT
THEY STARTED SIX WEEKS AGO...

Patti:
LIKE A GENIE IN A BOTTLE, WE'RE
GONNA HAVE A PEAR IN A BOTTLE.

Narrator:
...PEAR IN A BOTTLE BRANDY.

Patti:
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

WE HAD TONS OF PEARS

THE LAST TIME
WE CHECKED THIS TREE,

BUT NOW THERE'S PEARS
ALL ON THE GROUND.

THEY'RE ROTTED.
I RECKON WHAT HAPPENED.

THIS TREE, IT'S RIGHT OUT
IN THE BOILING SUN,

AND WITH ALL THIS HEAT
THAT WE HAVE,

THE PEARS ALL JUST ROTTED.

WE BETTER PULL OUR JARS DOWN,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM PEARS
TO ROT INSIDE THEM.

I MEAN, THE PEARS IN MY JARS
THAT WE'VE DONE,

THEY'RE GROWING PERFECT,
BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER THE LEAVES

AND CLOSE TO THE TREE ITSELF,

SO THE SUN'S NOT ON IT AS MUCH.

SO, WE'VE GOT PEARS IN THE JARS.
NO PEARS TO MAKE MASH.

IT'S KIND OF
UPSETTING RIGHT NOW.

YES, FATHER.

THAT'S GONNA BE NEAT.

YEP.

Narrator: AS SHINE SEASON ENTERS
ITS FINAL FEW MONTHS,

TWO NORTH CAROLINA SHINERS

ARE READY TO GIVE THEIR MOUNTAIN
ABSINTHE ONE LAST SHOT.

HOPING TO PROVE HIMSELF TO JEFF,
LANCE STAKED THEIR SEASON

ON PRODUCING
A HIGH-DOLLAR ABSINTHE,

BUT HIS FIRST ATTEMPT
WAS A DISASTER.

[ GAGS ]

[ SNIFFS ]

[ RETCHING ]

Narrator: THEY AGREED
TO SPLIT PROFITS THIS YEAR

WITH THEIR PARTNER,
MARK, IN TENNESSEE.

BUT MARK HAS BEEN THE ONLY ONE

TO KEEP UP HIS END
OF THE BARGAIN.

SO JEFF IS GIVING
LANCE ONE FINAL SHOT

AT GETTING THE ABSINTHE RIGHT

BEFORE MOVING BACK
TO CORN LIQUOR.

Lance: MY GOAL IS TO MAKE OVER
1,000 GALLONS THIS YEAR, BUT...

Narrator: LANCE AND JEFF AREN'T
THE ONLY ONES TO EXPERIENCE

THE CONSEQUENCES
OF TOXIC LIQUOR.

IN THE 17th CENTURY,

SOME BRITISH DISTILLERS

REPLACED THE JUNIPER IN GIN

WITH MUCH-CHEAPER TURPENTINE,

INDUCING ILLNESS IN UNTOLD
THOUSANDS OF LONDONERS.

DURING PROHIBITION,
THE HIGH PRICE OF COPPER

LED TO A FEW
UNSCRUPULOUS SHINERS

USING CAR RADIATORS
AS CONDENSERS,

A PRACTICE
THAT TAINTED THE ALCOHOL

WITH LETHAL LEVELS OF LEAD.

SOME LIQUOR MAKERS
EVEN MIXED POISONOUS METHANOL

INTO THEIR PRODUCT,

CAUSING BLINDNESS, COMA,
OR EVEN DEATH.

A HIGH PRICE TO PAY
FOR A STIFF DRINK.

YEP.

Narrator: COMING UP...

Josh: I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME
TO REACH MY GOAL.

Narrator:
...A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS.

Josh:
I FIGURED MAYBE IN A DAY,

WE'LL HAVE ALL
THE PIECES DONE, RIGHT?

NO.

Narrator: AND SURPRISE GUESTS
IN LOUISIANA.

♪♪

Narrator: IN NORTH CAROLINA,

JEFF IS GIVING LANCE'S MOUNTAIN
ABSINTHE ONE MORE TRY.

WHEW.

[ SNIFFS ]

Narrator:
BEFORE THE ABSINTHE IS COMPLETE,

LANCE MUST ADD
A FINAL ROUND OF HERBS,

INCLUDING HYSSOP
AND PETITE WORMWOOD,

WHICH WILL INFUSE THE LIQUOR
WITH ADDITIONAL FLAVORS

AND ITS SIGNATURE GREEN COLOR.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: AFTER THE HERBS HAVE
BEEN MACERATED IN THE SPIRIT

FOR 24 HOURS,

JEFF AND LANCE WILL HAVE
ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF ABSINTHE

THEY HOPE TO SELL
AT A HEFTY $100 PER QUART.

YEP.
Narrator: IN TENNESSEE,

ONE SHINER IS READY
TO COME OFF THE BENCH.

ME AND MARK'S BEEN WORKING
TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW,

BUT I THINK THINK
I NEED TO PROVE TO HIM

A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAT HE CAN TRUST ME.

SO, IF EVERYTHING GOES GOOD,

WE'LL HAVE A TRUST BOND
THAT NO MAN CAN BREAK.

Narrator:
AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF
SUCCESSFUL RUNS OF CORN LIQUOR,

MARK AND MIKE HAVE
GOTTEN OVER HALFWAY

TOWARD THEIR SEASON GOAL.

[ COUGHS ]

YEAH, MARK,
WHAT I GOT THERE

IS SOME GOOD,
FINELY GROUND WHITE CORN.

TO ME, WHAT MAKES
THIS HERE SO SPECIAL

IS FINELY GROUND
WHITE CORN.

SOME SHINERS PREFER
WHITE CORN IN THEIR MASH,

BELIEVING ITS HIGHER
SUGAR-TO-STARCH RATIO

IMPARTS A SWEETER FLAVOR PROFILE

THAN OTHER CORN VARIETIES.

THAT'LL MAKE SOME REAL LIQUOR
RIGHT THERE, BUDDY.

GONNA GET THIS
STIRRED IN GOOD.

IF YOU DON'T CARE
TO GO DOWN THERE

AND GET A SACK OF THAT SUGAR
AND GET POURED OVER IN HERE.

ALL RIGHTY.

Mike: IT'S GONNA MAKE SOME
HIGH PROOF LIQUOR, OF COURSE.

THIS IS THE WAY
I DO MY LIQUOR EVERY TIME.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU KNOW,

YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE
GRANNY'S HOMEMADE BISCUITS.

THERE AIN'T NOTHING LIKE HERS.

ONCE SHE PERFECTS
SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

THEN CAN'T NOBODY DO IT
JUST LIKE YOU CAN.

I'D LOVE FOR ME AND MARK
TO BECOME 50/50 PARTNERS.

AND ONCE I'VE PROVED
MY PART TO HIM

MAKING THIS RUN OF LIQUOR,

I FEEL LIKE MARK'S GONNA FEEL
THE SAME WAY AS I DO.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'LL BE READY TO GO
IN ABOUT SEVEN DAYS.

Patti: DANG, LOOK AT 'EM,
THEY'RE LOADED.

Narrator: TWO LOUISIANA SHINERS
ARE ON THE HUNT FOR FRESH PEARS.

-I KNOW THAT MAN IN THAT YARD.
-YOU DO?

YEAH, I THINK HE'S AT WORK.

LET'S TURN AROUND
AND LOOK AT IT.

Patti:
THE TIME OF PICKING GOOD, FRESH
PEARS WON'T LAST LONG HERE.

IF WE CAN'T FIND
ANOTHER PEAR TREE,

WE'RE NOT GONNA MEET
THAT 600-GALLON GOAL SET

FOR THIS SEASON.

THEY LOOK LIKE THE SAME TYPE
OF PEAR THAT MY TREE HAD.

THAT'S GONNA BE PERFECT
IF HE'LL LET US PICK 'EM.

[ Ringing ]

HEY, MR. JOHN,
THIS IS PATTI.

I PASSED BY YOUR PLACE,

AND I SAW THAT PEAR TREE'S
LOADED DOWN.

YOU WOULDN'T MIND
IF I PICKED SOME, WOULD YOU?

-ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
-Thank you.

BYE-BYE.

WHEW.

THAT SON OF A GUN
RESCUED US, DIDN'T HE?

WE PICK EVERYTHING FRESH.

IF I'M GONNA SIT HERE
AND TOOK ALL THE TIME

TO GET THESE PEARS
TO GROW IN A JAR,

I'M GONNA TAKE THE TIME
OF PICKING GOOD, FRESH PEARS.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT 'EM IN
THE BUCKET, NOT ON THE GROUND.

WHEW, WE GOT LUCKY.

SO NOW WE CAN MASH IN
OUR PEAR MASH

AND START LETTING IT WORK.

-OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH.
-YEP.

THINK WE CAN JUST CUT 'EM
IN HALF OR SKIN THESE?

WHAT WE GONNA DO,
BOIL THEM AND MASH THEM?

LOOK HOW BIG THAT PEAR IS.

PEAR IN THE BOTTLE
IS GONNA BE A HIT.

NO.

JUST SEEING
THAT PEAR IN A BOTTLE

IS GONNA MAKE YOU WANT IT.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

YEAH, THEY GET
TO DRINKING ENOUGH.

OW.

-CUT YOUR THUMB?
-YEAH.

WELL, GIVE ME THE PEAR.
DON'T GET BLOOD ON IT.

CAN'T TAKE YOU NOWHERE.
DADDY'S HURT HIS SELF.

WE'RE CUTTING THE PEARS,
AND HE'S CUT HIS THUMB.

I NEED TO GO
GET YOU A BAND-AID?

I DON'T KNOW.
THAT MAN, HE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

IF ANYBODY CAN GET HURT,
IT'S GONNA BE DADDY.

YEAH.

YOU JUST GO
TAKE A SEAT THERE.

I'VE GOT IT.

HEAT UP ON 'EM,
GET 'EM GOING.

I SAY GIVE 'EM A SMASH,
AND THEN WE CAN PUT

THAT SUGAR IN THERE
WHILE IT'S STILL HOT.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET
AS MUCH JUICE OUT OF THE PEAR

THAT WE CAN,
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO

IS SMASH THE PEARS
AND BREAK 'EM DOWN.

IT'S GONNA RELEASE EVEN
MORE SWEETNESS OUT OF THE PEARS.

YOW!

YEAH.
IT'S BOILING THEM SUGARS OUT,

-BREAKING IT DOWN FOR US.
-YEAH.

GOD!
[ SPITS ]

-[ LAUGHS ]
-DANG IT.

-[ LAUGHS ]
-LORD.

I'M SORRY I LAUGHED AT YOU.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED.

[ LAUGHS ]

WE DON'T WANT SCALDING,
HOT JUICE BURNING US.

BUT HE'S A TOUGH, OLD MAN.

HE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

PUT THE LID ON IT.

I DONE GOT TIRED
TODAY, DADDY.

[ DRILL WHIRRING ]

Josh: YEAH, I STILL GOT
SOME WORK TO DO,

JUST TRYING TO SLAP IT
TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE.

Narrator: BACK IN
SOUTH CAROLINA, JOSH STRUGGLES

TO FINISH WINTERIZING
HIS STILL SITE SINGLE-HANDED.

DEFINITELY NEEDS
TO BE MOVED.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH [BLEEP]

THIS TROUGH
THAT WE GOT TO REBUILD

IS 100 MILES LONG.
I'M NOT EVEN JOKING.

BIG CHUCK HAD ENOUGH
OF THIS THING AND JUST LEFT.

ABOUT MY ONLY OPTION
TO REACH MY 1,000-GALLON MARK

IS TO GET THIS TROUGH BUILT,

GET THIS WATER WHEEL BUILT

SO WE CAN START
GENERATING ELECTRICITY.

WE KEEP THESE MASH BARRELS
GOING ALL WINTER LONG.

I'VE LOST BODY PARTS,
AND I'VE LOST MY STILL SITE,

AND I'VE LOST MY PARTNER.

WHEW.

WHEW.

WHEW.

OUCH.

HELL, I GOT PISSED OFF.

YOU GET PISSED OFF
SOMETIMES, TOO.

IT AIN'T NO BIG DEAL, THERE.
BUT GOD ALMIGHTY. I WAS DONE.

I WAS DONE.
I WAS GOING HOME.

I WENT HOME AND GOT INTO BED.

I JUST HAD ALL I COULD TAKE.

I WAS MAD AT HELL.

I DON'T KNOW WHY
YOU WAS YELLING AT ME FOR.

I KNOW IT. I KNOW IT.

IT'S NOT EVEN ME
THAT YOU WERE MAD AT.

HELL, WE BEEN WORKIN'
OURSELVES INTO A FRENZY.

I FIGURED WE'D MAKE THESE PIECES
IN WHAT, MAYBE EVEN A DAY,

WE'LL HAVE ALL
THE PIECES DONE, RIGHT?

NO.

ANYTHING I CAN DO
TO HELP YOU NOW?

WE GOT TO GET
THIS TROUGH DONE.

I'M READY
WHENEVER YOU ARE.

ME AND JOSH, WE HAVE
OUR SQUABBLES AND STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA QUIT.

WE CAN DO THIS.
COME ON.

YEAH, I'M HAPPY WITH THAT
RIGHT THERE, BUDDY.

-LET ME GRAB US A 4x4, BIG DOG.
-ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.

Josh: I CAN BE
KIND OF AN AGGRAVATING BASTARD.

WITH THAT BEING SAID,

JUST GONNA HAVE TO START
TRUSTING IN BIG CHUCK,

'CAUSE I CAN'T BE
THE ONE THAT DOES IT ALL.

NOW WE'RE MOVING.

GOOD.
WITH BIG CHUCK COMING BACK,

EVERYTHING'S GOING A HELL
OF A LOT FASTER.

RAISE IT UP AND RUN IT.
WE'LL BE DONE WITH IT.

AND WE'RE GONNA GET
THIS DAMN TROUGH DONE TODAY.

Josh: A LITTLE MORE.
[ GRUNTS ]

RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S IT.
[ WHISTLES ]

-THAT'S IT, BUDDY.
-LOOK AT THAT.

LOOK HOW STRAIGHT
THAT IS.

THAT'S GOOD, MAN.

SHE'S DONE NOW.

YEAH, WE'RE
IN BUSINESS NOW, OKAY?

NOW OUR NEXT STEP IS FINISH
BUILDING THIS WATER WHEEL.

BUT BIG CHUCK'S
IN A HURRY TO MAKE LIQUOR.

HE INSISTS ON IT, SO WE JUST GOT
TO GO GET SOME MASH SUPPLIES,

AND WE'RE BACK IN ACTION.

GOD ALMIGHTY.
TWO GUYS DOING ALL THIS WORK.

NO, THE LAST FEW DAYS,
IT'S BEEN ONE GUY.

YEAH, ALL YOU HAD TO DO
WAS CONNECT THAT LITTLE PIECE.

-OH, YEAH.
-IT'LL ONLY TAKE

-ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
-YEAH, BUDDY.

I WILL ADMIT
THAT I UNDERESTIMATED THIS.

[ LAUGHS ]

♪♪

Narrator: ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD
IN NORTH CAROLINA,

JEFF AND LANCE ARE READY
TO START SELLING THEIR ABSINTHE.

[ VEHICLE APPROACHING ]

WELL, IT'S --

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

YEP.

YEP.

Patti:
WE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THIS.

I KNOW.

Narrator:
IN RED RIVER PARISH,

PATTI AND DAVID ARE HEADED BACK

TO THE STILL SITE
TO CHECK ON THEIR PEAR MASH.

CUPCAKE, YOU READY
TO GO TO THE WOODS?

[ PIG GRUNTS ]
[ LAUGHS ] SHE'S READY.

COME HERE, GIRL.
YOU GOT TO BE CAMOUFLAGED.

[ PIG SQUEALS ]
Shh.

COME ON, GIRL.
LET'S GO TO THE WOODS.

COME ON. LET'S GO MAKE
SOME PEAR MOONSHINE.

NOW THIS SEASON,
WE'RE CHASING THE HARVEST,

SO IT'S JUST A ONE-TIME CHANCE

OF BEING ABLE TO GET THIS PEAR.

BUT IF IT MAKES
A GOOD BRANDY FOR US,

THEN IT'LL SET US ASIDE
FROM EVERY OTHER MOONSHINER

IN OUR STATE.

WHOO, I SMELL
THE LIQUOR IN IT.

MM-HMM.

GOOD STUFF.

THAT'S READY.

[ PIG SQUEALS ]

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME

WITH THIS PEAR THIS YEAR,
SO IF THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR US,

I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
IT'S A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT IF IT DOES WORK OUT FOR US,
IT'S GONNA BE REALLY UNIQUE.

AND I THINK IT'LL UP
THE PRICE A LITTLE BIT,

JUST HAVING THAT PEAR
THAT GREW INTO THAT JAR.

IF SHE GOT
TO ONE OF THEM PEARS,

SHE'LL BE DRUNK WALKING
AROUND HERE IN A MINUTE.

DYSFUNCTIONAL PIG
IN THE WOODS.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

LIGHT IT UP NOW.

Patti: TIME TO START
PASTING IT UP NOW, DADDY.

YEAH.

CUPCAKE, QUIT EATING THIS.

IT SPILLED.

NO, I ALWAYS HEARD
ABOUT GRANDPAS DOING IT.

I REALLY HADN'T
EVER BEEN TAUGHT.

LEARN A LOT
JUST BY LISTENING.

YEP.

CUPCAKE, QUIT EATING THE PEARS.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

WHO IS THAT?

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

GET DOWN.
CUPCAKE, QUIET.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

IT'S GONNA TURN OUT,
I GOT A FEELING, REALLY GOOD.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

WHO IS THAT?

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING
CONTINUES ]

Shh.

[ SIGHS ]
THIS IS THE PART I HATE

ABOUT MOONSHINING.

[ MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]

Patti: IS HE GONE?

David: YEAH.

I'M JUST GONNA SIT RIGHT HERE
TILL YOU EASE AROUND.

ME PERSONALLY WOULD RATHER
JUST GO ON HOME

AND LET THIS DAY REST.

YOU SEE HIM?

RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST
PLUMB SICK TO MY STOMACH.

I'D JUST AS SOON
GO TO THE HOUSE.

BETTER FOR ME TO COME BACK
IN TWO OR THREE DAYS

AND NOT GO TO JAIL.

IT WAS REAL TENSE THERE.

HOPEFULLY,
HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT IN THE BACK
OF YOUR HEAD, WHAT IF HE DID?

HE COULD POTENTIALLY
GO TO THE LAW.

OOH.

HERE, DADDY, IT'S RUNNING.
ABOUT DANG TIME.

WE NEED TO DUMP
SOME HEADS OFF OF THIS.

THIS PEAR BRANDY
THAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR,

IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT

THAN RUNNING
JUST REGULAR CORN WHISKEY.

IT'S A LOT MORE WORK TO IT.
IT STARTS FROM THE BEGINNING.

YOU'VE GOT TO HIT THAT HARVEST
AT THE RIGHT TIME PICK IT.

BUT WE KIND OF LIKE
THE CHALLENGE.

MMM.

[ SPITS ]
THAT'S HOT.

THAT RIGHT THERE'LL
LIGHT THE WORLD ON FIRE.

IT TASTES GOOD.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF PEAR FLAVOR.

BUT WE'LL PROOF IT DOWN.

NEED TO SEE
WHAT THE PROOF IS ON THIS.

♪♪

140.

THAT'S GOOD. I LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN GET MORE OUT OF IT.

140 PROOF, THAT'S HIGH
CONTENT FOR A BRANDY.

RIGHT NOW, THE ALCOHOL
IS OVERPOWERING THE PEAR.

SO, ONCE WE PROOF THIS DOWN,

WE WANT TO PROOF IT DOWN
TO ABOUT 65 PROOF,

THEN WE'LL TASTE MORE
AND MORE OF THE PEAR.

THAT'S GONNA LIGHT YOU UP.

-MMM. WHEW!
-[ LAUGHS ]

-[ LAUGHS ]
-I LIKE IT.

THAT'S GONNA LOOK GOOD
WITH THAT PEAR.

WE'LL MAKE PRETTY GOOD MONEY
ON THIS RUN.

THAT'S $50 A QUART.

BRANDY BRINGS A LOT MORE
THAN JUST REGULAR CORN WHISKEY.

CUPCAKE,
THAT WAS A GOOD RUN.

DON'T YOU GIVE HER
NONE OF THAT, CRAZY THING.

[ SMOOCHES ]
LET'S GO.

IT'S WET.
BUT IT AIN'T THAT BAD.

Narrator: AS NIGHT FALLS
ON THE TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS,

MARK AND MIKE ARE ABOUT

TO RUN MIKE'S
FAMILY MOONSHINE RECIPE.

IT IS?

Mike: WE COME IN HERE TONIGHT
TO RUN MY RUN OF LIQUOR.

JUST WANT TO SHOW MARK THAT
I CAN MAKE A REAL GOOD LIQUOR.

YOU NEVER KNOW.
I MAY BE ABLE TO TEACH HIM

A LITTLE SOMETHING. WHO KNOWS?

THERE WE GO.

WON'T BE LONG NOW,

LIKE THE MONKEY SAID
WHEN HIS TAIL GOT CUT OFF.

THERE SHE FLIES.

THAT'S SOME GOOD-LOOKIN' MASH
COMING THROUGH THERE, AIN'T IT?

MY CORN RECIPE WAS PASSED DOWN
FROM MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER.

IT TASTES JUST LIKE IT DID
100 YEARS AGO.

AND EVEN THOUGH MY GRANDPA NEVER
GOT TO SHAKE HANDS OR TALK,

IT'S LIKE HE'S STANDING
RIGHT THERE WITH ME.

IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL FEELING,

A FEELING
YOU JUST CAN'T DESCRIBE,

BRINGING THE PAST BACK ALIVE

EVERY TIME
YOU FIRE UP AND RUN IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE STARTING
TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF STEAM.

YES, SIR. I'D LOVE
TO DO SOME FISHING.

ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY.

I TELL YOU WHAT, ME AND MARK,
WE'VE MADE REAL GOOD FRIENDS.

WE TRUST EACH OTHER
WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING LIQUOR,

SO IT AIN'T ALL ABOUT
THE LIQUOR ANYMORE.

IT'S A BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN US.

IT IS, AIN'T IT?
YES, SIRREE.

I'M GLAD
TO CALL IT HOME, BUDDY.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

IT'S A LOT MORE
WIDESPREAD OVER HERE.

YEAH.

SO, WHAT'S THE PLANS
FOR NEXT YEAR?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA
DO ON THE OTHER DEAL?

WELL, I KNOW THAT,

BUT WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

-YEAH.
-I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I STAND,

YOU KNOW, FOR NEXT SEASON,
SEE WHAT I GOT TO DO.

RIGHT.

Patti:
CUPCAKE, IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.

I GOT TO CATCH HER.

LET'S GO HOME.

YOU WANT TO GO?

OH, LORDY.

[ BELL JINGLING ]

COME ON. COME ON.
[ BOTTLE SHAKING ]

-CUPCAKE.
-[ LAUGHS ]

GET OFF THAT TAILGATE
AND HELP ME OUT.

COME HERE. COME HERE.

-DADDY, YOU GONNA HELP ME OUT?
-NO.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ BELL JINGLING ]

[ PIG SQUEALING ]

UH-HUH.

THAT'S BAD, CUPCAKE.

Mike: SO, WHAT'S THE PLANS
FOR NEXT YEAR?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA
DO ON THE OTHER DEAL?

WELL, I KNOW THAT,

BUT WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

-YEAH, WE GOT TO --
-I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I STAND,

YOU KNOW, FOR NEXT SEASON,
SEE WHAT I GOT TO DO.

RIGHT.

I'VE TRIED MY BEST
TO SHOW YOU

THAT I KEEP MY END
OF THE BARGAIN UP.

I FEEL LIKE, IF WE CAN,

IT'D ALL BE FAIR TO ME,

YOU KNOW, MAYBE NEXT SEASON,
IF ME AND YOU JUST GO IN HALF,

SPLIT EVERYTHING
DOWN THE MIDDLE.

WELL...

RIGHT.
I GUESS WE JUST WAIT AND SEE

HOW IT GOES
WHEN WE GET THERE.

YEAH.

YOU GOT HIM?

BRING HIM ON IN HERE.

YEAH!

LIQUOR'S A-RUNNING,
ISN'T IT, BUDDY?

YEAH, IT WILL.

I'D SAY THERE'S 2 QUARTS
OR BETTER IN THERE ALREADY,

SO WE'RE PRETTY GOOD
ON THE HEADS.

YOU READY?

THAT'LL DO IT
RIGHT THERE.

YEAH, BUDDY.

LET'S TAKE A HORN OF IT
AND SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

IS IT GOOD?

OH, WOW, YEAH.

DAMN, THAT'S GOOD, SON.

WHEW.

Narrator: THIS RUN SHOULD YIELD
ANOTHER 10 GALLONS OF SHINE

WORTH A SOLID GRAND.

BOY, YOU CAN TASTE
THE CORN IN IT, CAN'T YOU?

THAT'S RIGHT, BOY.
THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S SMOOTH.

IT'S POURING WATER
OFF A ROOFTOP.

YOU'RE SCREWING IT
THE WRONG WAY.

[ LAUGHING ]

I KNOW.

Patti:
OH, I'VE BEEN EXCITED,

EVER SINCE IT CAME OFF 140.

Narrator: DOWN IN LOUISIANA,
PATTI AND DAVID

ARE FINALLY READY TO BOTTLE UP
THEIR HARVEST PEAR BRANDY,

BUT FIRST, THEY HAVE
TO PROOF IT DOWN.

Patti: GOT ABOUT 5 GALLONS,
SO WHEN WE PROOF IT DOWN,

IT SHOULD ADD ANOTHER
3 GALLONS TO THAT,

SO IT'S TURNED OUT
REALLY GOOD FOR US.

SEEING THAT PEAR IN THE JAR

IS GONNA BE THE MOST
EXCITEMENT PART FOR ME.

-WHOO.
-IT'S DOWN, AIN'T IT?

YOU CAN SMELL
THE PEAR IN IT, THOUGH.

YEAH.

IF WE PUT TOO MUCH WATER IN IT,

WE'RE GONNA SCREW
THIS WHOLE BATCH UP.

Narrator: AT 140 PROOF, THE
BRANDY IS TOO STRONG TO SELL,

SO PATTI AND DAVID ARE TEMPERING
OR DILUTING IT

BY MIXING IT
WITH PURE SPRING WATER.

Patti: WE GOT TO PROOF THIS
PEAR BRANDY JUST RIGHT.

IT'S LIKE COOKING
IN THE KITCHEN.

ONCE YOU ADD TOO MUCH SALT,
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK,

SO I'M-A GONNA HAVE
TO BE REAL CAREFUL

GETTING IT DOWN TO 65 PROOF.

I MEAN, IF I GET IT DOWN
TO 40 PROOF,

I'VE DONE RUINED
THIS WHOLE BATCH.

YOU'RE STARTING TO TASTE
THE PEAR A LOT MORE.

THE ALCOHOL'S NOT
OVERPOWERING IT.

YEP.

[ CLANG ]
GOD!

DAMN, THAT MESSED UP.

THIS IS 65 PROOF.

I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE IT.

TASTE IT AGAIN.

'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY
WHAT MATTERS, HOW THE TASTE IS.

[ LAUGHS ]

HERE WE GO.

Narrator:
AT 200 BUCKS A GALLON,

THE BRANDY SHOULD EARN THEM
$1,600 IN PROFIT.

Patti: WE DID ALL KIND
OF STUFF THIS SEASON,

BUT THIS PEAR BRANDY
COULD BE THE BEST THING

THAT WE'VE MADE THIS YEAR.

SON!
[ LAUGHS ]

THEM CUSTOMERS
GONNA LIKE THAT, AIN'T THEY?

Narrator:
NEXT TIME ON "MOONSHINERS"...

RED ALERT IN KENTUCKY.

[BLEEP] DAMN.
HE'S HERE, AIN'T HE?

BRING IT FORWARD.
FORWARD!

OPEN SEASON ON PUMPKINS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

BOOM!

Narrator: AND TIM TRIES
TO CLOSE THE DEAL.

ARE YOU READY
TO TRY SOME WHISKEY?

HEY, DON'T YOU WANT
SOME MOONSHINE?

WE GOT TO GET SOME PEOPLE
OVER HERE, MAN.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?