Moonshiners (2011–…): Season 6, Episode 5 - Big River Redemption - full transcript

Narrator: IT'S THE START OF
SUMMER IN APPALACHIA.

AND FOR OUTLAW MOONSHINERS

FORTUNES ARE MADE OR LOST

IN THE FEW
SWELTERING MONTHS AHEAD.

HOW DO I KNOW
THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN

JUST SET ME THE [BLEEP] UP?

IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
A PARTNERSHIP ON THE BRINK...

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE
IN KENTUCKY,

LEGACIES ON THE LINE
IN TENNESSEE...

IF WE KEEP FOULIN' UP
THIS LIQUOR,

JB'S GONNA GO BACK
TO HIS RECLINER.



AND THE RETURN OF A LEGEND.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN'
OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

THIS IS HOW WE MAKE
THE MOONSHINE!

Narrator:
ON THE TENNESSEE LINE,

MARK IS BREAKING NEW GROUND.

AFTER ARRESTS ACROSS
THE STATE LINE



LEFT A NEIGHBORING
TERRITORY UP FOR GRABS...

JEFF, MARK,
AND LANCE AGREED --

THE BEST WAY TO TAKE
OVER THE NEW MARKET

IS TO HAVE MARK SET UP SHOP
IN TENNESSEE.

LOOK HERE.
OH, HE LICKED THEM LIDS

AND KNOCKED THEM OFF.

HAS HE GOT ANY MORE
OF THAT OLD SOUR OUTTA THAT?

NAH, HE COULDN'T GET IT.

HE GOT SOME OF IT.

OH, UP YONDER,
WAY UP YONDER.

I STAND OUT AND WATCH FOR YOU.
YOU GO UP THERE AND GET IT.

Narrator:
IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS,

TWO TENNESSEE SHINERS

HAVE BEEN RUN OFF
THEIR STILL SITE BY A BEAR.

Man: OF ALL THE THINGS

THAT YOU THINK
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

WELCOME TO A MOONSHINER'S WORLD.

Narrator:
MARK AND DIGGER EXPERIMENTED

WITH CRANBERRY LIQUOR

AIDED BY LEGENDARY
MOONSHINER JB RAIDER.

BUT THE RUN WENT SOUTH.

THINGS WENT FROM BAD
TO WORSE...

OUR DAMN ARCHNEMESIS,
THE BEAR.

WHEN A 400-POUND
BEAR INVADED THEIR SITE.

WE CAN'T MAKE
ANY MORE MASH HERE.

HE'S GONNA BE HERE
EVERY TIME WE ARE.

WE'RE JUST THROWIN'
GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD.

WE MIX UP MASH.
HE EATS IT.

[ BANG ]

HEY, NOW, THAT'LL
SCARE A BEAR OFF.

IT'S BEEN A WIN-WIN FOR HIM
AND A LOSE-LOSE FOR US.

HAVIN' TO MOVE SITES,
UNSUCCESSFUL RUN,

YOU COMBINE THE TWO
OF THOSE TOGETHER,

WE'RE TWICE AS FAR BEHIND.

WELL, IF WE HEAR
SOMEBODY COMIN' UP HERE

AND KILLIN' A 400-POUND BEAR,

WE'LL KNOW WE CAN
COME BACK.

YEAH, HE PROBABLY GOT A TWIN.

STREAMS CAN GO DRY.

YOU KNOW, I HATE TAKIN'
AND RUNNIN'

ON SUCH A LOW,
SOUR NOTE THAT,

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T SUCCEED.
YEP.

WE'VE GOT NO CHOICE
AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE GOIN' CLOSE TO WHERE
OUR OLD STILL SITE IS.

WE'RE JUST GONNA NOT
GO SO FAR UPSTREAM.

I NEVER THOUGHT TEDDY RUCKS

COULD RUN ME OFF
A DAMN STILL SITE.

WE GOT WAY TOO MUCH
WORK TO DO.

MOVIN' FAST HERE, BOSS.

AIN'T THAT PRETTY?

YEAH, BOY, LOOKS LIKE
A FRESH SNOWFALL, DON'T IT?

OUR PROCESS IN THIS MASH
PREPARATION HERE,

WE STEEPED OUR CORN

AND MELTED
OUR 50 POUND OF SUGAR.

AND WE'LL GET SOME
CRANBERRIES A-STEEPIN',

PUT THE CRANBERRIES
IN THE STEEPIN' WATER

AND LET THEM
COME UP TO A BOIL.

PINCH OF YEAST AND WE'RE READY
TO ROCK 'N' ROLL.

I KINDA FEEL LIKE
A BARTENDER OVER HERE.

I JUST WANT A BEER.

WELL, WE AIN'T DRINKIN' NOTHIN'
TILL WE GET THIS LIQUOR DONE.

WHO MADE HIM
THE "ALCY-HOL" POLICE?

EVERY [BLEEP] THING IN THE WORLD
HAS BEEN GOIN' WRONG.

HERE YOU GO, LITTLE CHICKS.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF
KEEPIN' ON KEEPIN' ON?

BECAUSE EVERY TIME
I GET GOIN' GOOD,

THE POWERS THAT BE
KNOCK ME BACK DOWN.

THE STRUGGLE'S REAL.

Narrator:
ON THE PIEDMONT PLATEAU...

WHAT'S UP, JOSHUA?

EVERYTHING'S GONE TO HELL
IN A DAMN HANDBASKET.

Narrator:
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS.

THAT HAD A LOT
TO DO WITH ME, MAN.

I KINDA SPOILED OUR PLANS.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT UP

TO YOU SOME OL' KINDA WAY,
FIND US A SPOT

OR GET US SOMETHIN' GOIN'.

WE GOT NO STILL SITE.
WE GOT NO STILL.

WE GOT NO STASH LIQUOR.

PERSONALLY, I'M PRETTY [BLEEP]
TIRED OF WORKIN' MY ASS OFF.

Narrator:
JOSH'S PARTNER, BIG CHUCK,

MADE A SALE TO A STRANGER.

YOU GOT SOME CASH ON YOU?

WHICH MAY HAVE LED THE BUYER
RIGHT TO THEIR OPERATION.

[ BLEEP ]

SOMEBODY
STOLE OUR [BLEEP] STILL.

Narrator: NOW, WITH NO STILL
AND A COMPROMISED SITE...

WHY WOULD YOU [BLEEP]
SELL LIQUOR

TO SOMEBODY YOU DON'T KNOW?

JOSH IS BACK
TO SQUARE ONE AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANNA WORK
WITH YOU ANYMORE, MAN.

YOU [BLEEP] ME UP.

WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENED.

YOU THINK I'D INTENTIONALLY
HAVE SOMEBODY DO THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, HOW DO I KNOW

THERE'S NOT MORE TO THE STORY?

[BLEEP], YOU KNOW THERE
AIN'T NO MORE TO THE STORY.

I JUST...
HOW DO I KNOW

THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN JUST SET ME
THE [BLEEP] UP?

I THINK YOU KNOW ME
BETTER THAN THAT.

I'M NOT HERE BEGGIN'
FOR NO FORGIVENESS.

I'M HERE TELLIN' YOU
I'M TRYIN' TO [BLEEP] HELP YOU

DO WHAT I STARTED OUT TO DO.

LET ME GET US A STILL SITE
AND GET US GOIN'.

AND -- AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

I GOT A COUPLE PLACES
TO LOOK AT.

YOU WANNA COME LOOK
AT 'EM OR NOT?

DEAL OR NO DEAL?
IT'S UP TO YOU.

Narrator: COMING UP,
THE MASTER IS BACK...

THERE'S A PIECE OF CELLOPHANE
I'LL WRAP YOUR CANDY ASS UP IN.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR ASS
WITH A BIG [BLEEP] ROCK.

Narrator: FRAYED NERVES
IN SOUTH CAROLINA...

Woman: JUST GIVE ME LIKE 5,
10 MINUTES, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

BYE.

Narrator:
AND TRAGEDY IN KENTUCKY.

THAT IS CHICO. HE JUST TOLD ME
THAT HE WRECKED HIS BIKE.

BIG CHUCK, WHERE IN THE WORLD
ARE WE GOIN', MAN?

IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD SPOT.

I KNOW YOU BITCHIN' ALREADY.
YOU AIN'T EVEN SEEN IT.

[BLEEP] DAMN, LISTEN,
I'M NOT BITCHIN'.

WE JUST DAMN BEEN RIDIN'
FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF.

AND OTHER SPOT
WAS RIGHT BY THE HOUSE.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND YOU ABOUT
YOUR SPOT BY THE HOUSE.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR FINGER.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT
YOUR STILL SITE.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR DOG.
I UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT ALL.

OH, IT'S LIKE THAT, HUH?

Narrator: IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH AND CHUCK

ARE DESPERATELY TRYING
TO SALVAGE THEIR SEASON.

BIG CHUCK PROMISED HE WAS
GONNA MAKE THIS UP TO ME.

HE'S LIKE, "I'LL FIND A SPOT."

BUT, UH, IF THAT DON'T WORK OUT,

I'M GONNA HAVE TO FIND
A NEW PARTNER.

MAN, TELL YOU WHAT, BIG CHUCK,

IT'S BACK IN HERE,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

CUTIE PIE, LET'S GO.

WE ARE BACK
IN THE STICKS, BUDDY.

WELL, IF YOU WANNA
START COMPLAININ'

AND WHININ',
NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO START

'CAUSE WE GOT
A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT.

TO HAVE A GOOD STILL SITE,
YOU NEED GOOD AIR COVER.

YOU NEED GOOD WATER
AND ENOUGH SPACE TO SET UP.

TO FIND A PLACE THAT HAS ONE
OR TWO INGREDIENTS,

THAT'S ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.

BUT TO FIND A STILL SITE THAT

HAS ALL THREE OF THESE THING
IS DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE.

IT'S A GOOD SPOT,
IT'S THICK.

LOOK, THERE'S NO HUMANS.

AIN'T NO ONE GONNA STUMBLE
ON OUR [BLEEP]

AND FIND OUR STUFF.

UNBELIEVABLE, MAN.

WELL, WE HERE.

OH, THAT'S SWEET THERE.

WE GOT ALL THE GOOD WATER,

ALL ROCK UNDERNEATH OF THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN SET BARRELS
OUT THERE TO GET WATER.

EVERYTHING WOULD BE
FREE FLOWIN'.

CLEAN THAT UP RIGHT
THERE AND DAMN IT UP,

WE COULD GET US A LITTLE BIT
OF WATER RIGHT THERE.

YEAH, BUT WHERE WOULD
WE PUT THE STILL SITE?

'CAUSE THAT'S ALL STEEP.
AND THAT'S ALL STEEP.

WHEN THE MOUNTAIN FLOODS OFF,

ALL THIS RIGHT HERE
ON THIS SIDE'S GONNA GET WET.

CHUCK, THIS AIN'T GONNA WORK.

WE'RE ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN.

THERE AIN'T NOWHERE
TO REALLY SET UP RIGHT HERE.

WHERE YOU GONNA FIND
ANYTHING LIKE THIS?

WE HAD A SPOT LIKE THIS.

THAT'S WATER
UNDER THE BRIDGE.

DON'T LET YESTERDAY [BLEEP]
UP YOUR TOMORROW.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
TO SELL THAT [BLEEP]

MOTHER [BLEEP]
NO LIQUOR TO BEGIN WITH.

I TOLD YOU THAT WE DIDN'T
EVEN NEED THAT.

WELL, [BLEEP]...
IT JUST BURNS ME UP.

I'M FRUSTRATED, MAN.

THERE'S A PIECE
OF CELLOPHANE DOWN HERE

I'LL WRAP YOUR CANDY ASS UP IN.
HOW 'BOUT THAT?

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR ASS
WITH A BFR.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT NO BFR.

BFR, BIG [BLEEP] ROCK.

LET'S GO THEN.

Woman:
DON'T THROW THAT ONE TOWARDS ME.

WHY?
'CAUSE THE BUGS ARE COMIN' OUT.

IT'S JUST ANTS.

AH-AH! UNH!

I DON'T DO BUGS BY MY EAR.

YOU DON'T DO BUGS
NEAR YOU...

OH, I DON'T LIKE
'EM FLYIN' ON ME.

Narrator:
IN THE ROLLING HILLS

OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY,

CHICO AND SANDRA ARE
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

FOR THEIR HIDDEN STILL SITE.

SO WHAT'RE YOU THINKIN'?
IF A STILL'S RIGHT HERE,

THE BARREL'D BE
ABOUT RIGHT THERE.

THERE IS A REALLY LONG HISTORY

OF MAKIN' MOONSHINE IN KENTUCKY.

SHINE'S BEEN AROUND
A LONG TIME.

BUT SO HAS DEER HUNTING.

WE'RE GONNA, UH,
CAMOUFLAGE THE STILL SITE.

WE WANNA MAKE THIS LOOK
LIKE IT'S A DEER CAMP.

THE MORE IT LOOKS
LIKE A DEER CAMP,

THE MORE PEOPLE
ARE GONNA BUY IT.

TRY TO CAMOUFLAGE THIS THING
UP A LITTLE BIT.

Narrator:
THIS SEASON, CHICO AND SANDRA

ARE BLENDING IN
WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS

BY DISGUISING THEIR STILL SITE
AS A HUNTING BLIND.

A RUSE THAT THEY HOPE WILL
SAFELY HIDE THEIR OPERATION.

THINK IT'LL WORK?
YEAH.

IF WE GO TO JAIL, I'M BLAMIN' IT
ON YOU AND RUNNIN'.

YOU WOULD.

SO WE'RE GONNA DIG A HOLE.

AND WE WILL PUT
A LITTLE BARREL IN THE GROUND

TO USE IT JUST LIKE
A REFRIGERATOR.

THE CREEK PROBABLY
WOULD BE EASIER.

BUT IN MY MIND, IT'S SAFER

BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE GO LOOKIN'
FOR PEOPLE MAKIN' WHISKEY,

THEY FOLLOW THE CREEKS.

Narrator: IN LIEU OF A NATURAL
COLD WATER SOURCE,

CHICO AND SANDRA ARE

INSTALLING A BACKWOODS
REFRIGERATION UNIT

TO COOL THEIR CONDENSER.

THEY'LL BURY A BARREL
AND FILL IT WITH WATER.

THE EARTH SURROUNDING THE BARREL

WILL KEEP IT AT A CONSTANT
55 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT.

DURING DISTILLATION,

THE WATER FROM THE BARREL
WILL BE CIRCULATED

TO THE STILL'S CONDENSER
TO COOL THE SHINE.

THEN, THE HEATED WATER
COMING OFF THE STILL FLOWS BACK

TO THE VERY BARREL
TO BE COOLED AGAIN.

OOH, THAT HURT.

DAMN IT.
I KNOW THAT WAS COMIN'.

OH, [BLEEP].

THAT HURTS PRETTY BAD.

I NEED A CHAIR AND A HAT
AND A FOOTSTOOL.

JUST GO UP THERE AND LAY DOWN
ON YOUR SUN DECK

AND GET A TAN.

SANDRA'S
HAD A LITTLE BOO-BOO.

SO BASICALLY,
WHAT I'VE GOT TODAY

INSTEAD OF A HAND,

I'VE GOT A STRAW BOSS.

YOU WANNA KINDA PUT YOUR HAND
A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN,

THOUGH, AND GET --
GET MORE LEVERAGE.

THAT'S SOMEBODY
THAT SITS ON THE STRAW

AND TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO.

WE NEED TO KEEP A BORDER
OR SOMETHIN' OVER,

KEEP THE DIRT OUT OF IT
WHEN WE'RE NOT...

YES, MA'AM.
SHE'S BECOME PRETTY GOOD

AT THAT OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS.

HERE, CHECK THIS OUT.
OH, YEAH.

THAT'S NICE AND COOL.
IT'S ABOUT 50 DEGREES.

AND THAT WATER
IS GONNA BE TOUCHIN'

ALL THE SIDES OF ALL THIS.

IT'LL JUST BE LIKE

IT'S SITTIN' IN ITS OWN
LITTLE REFRIGERATOR.

HERE, LET'S SEE
IF IT'LL FIT.

IF YOU DOIN' SOMETHIN' ILLEGAL,
YOU'RE NEVER SAFE IN THE WOODS.

TA-DA.

GOOD JOB, BABY.

SO THE ONLY WAY I KNOW
TO HIDE IN PLAIN SITE

IS TO DESIGN A SITE

THAT EVERYBODY'LL SEE AND THINK
IT'S SOMETHIN' ELSE.

Narrator: THE SHINER TACTIC

OF HIDING IN PLAIN SITE
IS NOTHING NEW.

IN EARLY 20TH-CENTURY TEXAS,

ONE AUDACIOUS MOONSHINER
CONVERTED A COAL-FIRED

STEAM TRACTOR
INTO A PORTABLE STILL SITE.

STEAM PRODUCED BY
THE TRACTOR'S BOILERS

WAS PIPED INTO THE TRAILER

AND USED TO HEAT
THE STILL HIDDEN INSIDE.

THE SLY SHINER WOULD MOVE

THE INCONSPICUOUS MOONSHINE
RIG AFTER EACH RUN.

AND IN KENTUCKY,

A LOCAL POLITICIAN
NAMED JOHN MARTIN

MADE A CHANCE DISCOVERY

AFTER HIS DOG RAN OFF
IN PURSUIT OF A GROUNDHOG,

LEADING HIM TO A MASSIVE

CAVE UNDERNEATH HIS PROPERTY.

SMELLING AN OPPORTUNITY,

MARTIN SET UP A STILL
SITE INSIDE THE CAVE

AND BUILT A COTTAGE
DIRECTLY ABOVE IT,

USING THE CHIMNEY TO EXPEL
THE SMOKE CREATED

DURING DISTILLATION.

THE PLOY WAS SO
SUCCESSFUL THAT MARTIN

WOULD EVENTUALLY USE THE CABIN

TO ENTERTAIN LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND REVENUERS.

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW
THAT THE VERY LIQUOR

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR WAS
RIGHT BENEATH THEIR FEET.

Narrator:
IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS,

MARK IS TAKING THE NEXT STEP

TOWARDS ESTABLISHING
A FOOTHOLD IN TENNESSEE.

Narrator: ALL ACROSS
APPALACHIA,

THE NAME JIM TOM
IS SYNONYMOUS WITH MOONSHINE.

AFTER NEARLY 60 YEARS
OF BUILDING STILLS

AND RUNNING LIQUOR...

HE'S MORE THAN A LEGEND.

HE'S AN INSTITUTION.

WHISKEY, WHISKEY,
WHISKEY, COME ON OUT.

I'MA CRAVIN' WHISKEY
WITH MY SPOUT.

I WANNA DRINK A DRINK
AND SIT RIGHT DOWN,

IMAGINE I'M IN TEXAS
WITH MY GAL.

MAN, IS THIS NOT
AWESOME OR WHAT?

HUH?

WE WENT AND LOOKED YESTERDAY
AND NOTHIN' SUITED HIM.

HE'S SO PICKY.
AND I'VE BEEN SO MANY PLACES.

AND THEN -- AND THIS JUST
POPPED INTO MY HEAD.

IT'S BEEN 27 YEARS
SINCE I BEEN HUNTIN' HERE.

STOP RIGHT HERE.
STOP.

[BLEEP]
DANG, STOP.

IF I COULD JUST GET
HIS PANTIES OUT OF A WAD

AND JUST GET THERE
AND LOOK AT IT,

HE'LL LOVE IT.

Narrator:
IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS,

JOSH AND CHUCK HOPE
TO FIND A SITE

THAT WILL SAVE THEIR SEASON
AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP.

JESUS [BLEEP], CHUCK.
YOU GOTTA SEE IT.

BUT I'M TELLIN' YOU,
THE OTHER SIDE.

CHECK IT OUT, MAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DAMN, THIS IS PRETTY.

ALL THE WATER WE WANT.

WATCH IT.
WATCH IT.

GOD ALMIGHTY, BOY.

YOU OUGHT TO BUST
THAT ASS ONE TIME.

YOU'LL TAKE LITTLE STEPS.
I'LL PROMISE YA.

ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A GOOD-LOOKIN' SPOT.

THIS SPOT THAT CHUCK TOOK ME TO,

IT'S GOT GOOD WATER
AND GOOD COVER.

BUT THERE'S NOWHERE TO WORK.

ONLY THING IS, WHERE WOULD
WE PUT THE STILL SITE?

WE GOT THAT.
WHERE'S IT AT?

IT'S A LITTLE FARTHER
THAN YOU WANT.

HE DOESN'T EVEN WANNA
GO LOOK AT NOTHIN'.

GETTIN' JOSH TO DO SOMETHIN'S
LIKE PULLIN' TEETH ON A TIGER.

YOU WALKIN' US RIGHT OFF
THE WORLD'S EDGE, BRO.

IF WE GET TO THE WORLD'S EDGE,
I MIGHT HAVE TO PUSH YOU OFF.

IT AIN'T AS EASY
TO [BLEEP] INTO.

IT'S TOUGHER THAN
A NIGHT IN JAIL.

WE GOT JB BACK OUT AGAIN TODAY.

AND, UH, MARCHIN' HIM
OUT THROUGH THESE WOODS.

AND I'M HOPIN' TODAY'S
NOT A WASTED TRIP ON HIM AGAIN.

TODAY'S THE DAY, JB.

Narrator: DEEP IN THE WOODS
OF TENNESSEE...

WE GONNA MAKE LIQUOR TODAY.

Narrator: THREE SEASONED SHINERS
ARE READY TO TAKE ANOTHER SHOT

AT A RUN OF CRANBERRY SHINE.

NOW, WE NEED TO GET
THIS BAG BUILT.

WE'LL TAKE THIS RIGHT HERE,
DOUBLE IT OVER,

CUT IT RIGHT THERE.

YEAH.
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,

PEOPLE'S BEEN TRYIN'
TO GET ALL THE FLAVOR

OUT OF THEIR GRAIN

OR FRUIT THAT THEY
POSSIBLY COULD.

WANNA DUMP THE CRANBERRIES
IN THE MASH BAG

AND LET 'EM STEAM
INSIDE THE STILL.

AS THE STEAM PASSES BY,

IT WILL RELEASE
ADDITIONAL FLAVOR.

LAST TIME WE TRIED
TO RUN THIS CRANBERRY,

THE NYLON BAG GOT ON THE CORE.
IT SCORCHED.

AND IT GAVE OUR LIQUOR
A HORRIBLE FLAVOR.

JB HAD A SUGGESTION,

WE TRY TO FIND
SOMETHIN' COPPER.

WELL, WE FOUND SOME COPPER MESH.

SO IF IT DOES BOUNCE LOOSE
FROM THE J HOOK, YOU KNOW,

IT'S NO BIG LOSS BECAUSE
THE REST OF THE STILL'S COPPER.

YEAH, THEY'LL STRETCH
THAT DAMN SACK OUT.

IT'LL BE 6 FOOT LONG IN THERE.

LET'S GET THAT CAP OFF.

AND LET'S START
TRANSFERRING THAT MASH OVER.

ALL RIGHT.

I GUESS THIS IS THE POINT
WHERE WE PLAY HIDE THE SALAMI,

AIN'T IT?

I DON'T THINK THERE'S NO WAY
THAT'S GONNA COME OFF, DIGGER.

I'MA HOPIN' ON THAT ASPECT.

READY?
YEAH.

FIRE IN THE HOLE.

BETWEEN THE BAD RUN
AND THE BEAR,

THIS YEAR'S STARTED OFF
WITH A LOTTA HICCUPS.

IF WE KEEP FOULIN' UP
THIS CRANBERRY LIQUOR,

JB'S GONNA GO BACK
TO HIS RECLINER.

YEAH, YEAH. WE'RE HOT.
OH, YEAH.

WE GOT A DRIP
A-COMIN' RIGHT NOW.

THERE WE GO.

WHAT WE WAS WANTIN',
AIN'T IT THERE, BUDDY?

I HOPE SO. IF THIS TURNS OUT
TO BE A BAD RUN,

WE'RE 2 OR 3 WEEKS
MORE BEHIND THE SEASON.

JB...
SMELL GOOD?

IT'S ALL YOURS.

I'MA LET YOU HAVE
THE FIRST HORN OF THAT.

JB, I'MA GIVE YOU
THE FIRST HORN OF THAT, BUDDY.

Narrator: IN TENNESSEE, MARK
AND DIGGER'S CRANBERRY LIQUOR

IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST.

BOY, IT DOES SMELL PRETTY.

I'M TELLIN' YA,
IT'S COMPLEX.

MOTHER OF PEARL.

YOU GOT HARD ALCOHOL
THERE RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT.

THEN YOU GET THAT SWEET CORN.

AND I'M TELLIN' YA,
ON THAT VERY LAST BITE,

JUST LIKE A CRANBERRY
BIG AS A SOFTBALL.

I'M HAPPY THAT JB'S HAPPY.

BUT THE BIGGEST
UPSIDE TO ALL THIS,

WE'RE GONNA PUT A LITTLE CHANGE
IN OUR POCKET AS WELL.

Narrator: THIS RUN YIELDED
30 GALLONS

OF PREMIUM CRANBERRY SHINE

WORTH 4,500 TAX-FREE DOLLARS.

OH, MAN, JB,
I'LL TELL YA WHAT,

WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP [BLEEP]
THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.

NO.

MAN...

Narrator: ON THE EASTERN
BOUNDARY OF TENNESSEE,

AFTER BEING TURNED DOWN
BY OLD GUARD SHINER JIM TOM,

MARK IS LOOKING FOR HELP.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, OLD BUDDY?

WHAT'S BEEN GOIN' ON?

YEAH? ME, TOO.

BOY, IT'S HOT
OUT HERE, AIN'T IT?

DOIN' ALL RIGHT?

I'M SURE I CAN HELP YOU.
LET'S GO LOOK AT IT,

SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

I GOT A GREAT PASSION
FOR RUNNIN' LIQUOR.

ALL RIGHT.
CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED.

I WAS AROUND STILLS
WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

MY GRANDFATHER,
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER,

THEY BOTH RUN LIQUOR.

HAD OLD TIMERS PASS
THE RECIPE ON TO ME,

MAKE IT --
MAKE IT YOUR OWN.

AND THAT'S WHAT
I'VE GROWN TO DO.

RIGHT.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME, BUDDY.
I'M READY TO GO TO WORK.

Narrator: BEFORE THE LATE
INDUSTRIAL ERA

INTRODUCED THE CONVENIENCE
OF PROPANE

AND ELECTRIC BURNERS,

MOONSHINERS RELIED ON RESOURCES

READILY FOUND IN THE FOREST
TO HEAT THEIR STILLS.

FAR FROM THE CONVENIENCES
OF THE MODERN WORLD,

MARK AND MIKE
ARE CONSTRUCTING A FURNACE

AND FIREBOX OUT OF NATURAL
STONE AND MORTAR.

IN THIS SETUP, HEAT MIGRATES

FROM THE WOOD BURNING
IN THE FIREBOX

TO THE FURNACE THAT
SURROUNDS THE STILL POT.

THIS METHOD AVOIDS SCORCHING
BY DISTRIBUTING HEAT QUICKLY

AND EVENLY AROUND
THE ENTIRE POT,

RATHER THAN ONLY THE BOTTOM

WHERE THE MASH SOLIDS
TEND TO SETTLE.

MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDDADDY
RUN LIQUOR.

HE PASSED IT ON
TO MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER.

I GUESS IT'S BEEN
IN MY FAMILY OVER 100 YEARS.

SO THE IMPORTANT THING IS,
JUST MAKIN' A REAL GOOD LIQUOR.

IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT,
AIN'T IT?

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST
LIKE GRANDMAMA'S BISCUITS.

SOMETHIN' ABOUT THE HANDS
IN IT AND HOW YOU WORK IT.

YEP.

THAT'S THE REAL STIRRIN' TOOL
RIGHT THERE, AIN'T IT?

SOUNDS GOOD.
LET'S GET OUTTA HERE.

OY, HI, BABIES.

WHAT'RE YOU DOIN'?

YEAH.

GET THOSE HORSES FED.

Narrator: IT'S THE START
OF A NEW DAY IN KENTUCKY.

COME HERE.

LOOK.

WHY YOU ON YOUR BIKE?

I GOT STUFF I GOTTA DO.

I THOUGHT WE WAS SUPPOSED
TO MASH IN TODAY.

WE ARE.

I HAVE GOT TO GO WORK
ON THE STILL.

YEAH?
I GOT TO PICK UP YEAST.

SO I ABOUT GOT
MY WHOLE DAY BOOKED.

I NEED YOU TO RUN AND GET
SOME SUGAR AND CORN,

STUFF TO MASH IN WITH.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED?

50 POUND OF CORN,
50 POUND OF SUGAR.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GET IT IF YOU THINK

WE CAN GET THIS DONE FASTER
AND MASH IN, I'LL GO.

YOU WANNA CALL IN AND HAVE
HER HAVE IT READY FOR ME?

OH, MAN.

YES, HONEY,
IF YOU CAN'T REMEMBER THAT,

I WILL CALL AND...
UH, LOOK, THAT HAS NOTHIN'...

TELL HER WHAT
YOU NEED.

Narrator:
ALTHOUGH BUYING CORN AND SUGAR

IS NOT ILLEGAL,
THE BULK PURCHASE OF THEM

CAN TIP OFF LAW ENFORCEMENT

TO MOONSHINING ACTIVITIES.

Sandra: I KNOW I'M JUST
PICKIN' UP MATERIALS.

AND TECHNICALLY, THERE'S
NOTHIN' ILLEGAL ABOUT THAT.

BUT I'M A MOM.
THIS IS NOT MY USUAL GIG.

I DON'T DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL.
I MEAN,

I'VE NEVER BEEN ARRESTED
FOR ANYTHING

IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.

OKAY.

GOT IT DONE.

THAT'S NERVE-WRACKING.

AND I KNOW I'M NOT DOIN'
TECHNICALLY ANYTHING ILLEGAL.

BUT DAMN, IT KINDA FEELS
LIKE IT, YOU KNOW?

THAT HAVE ME BROKE
OUT IN A SWEAT.

THOSE ARE HEAVY.
YOU KNOW...

GOD.

SEE, THIS IS CHICO AGAIN.

HE'S ALREADY DOWN THERE
AT THE SITE.

YES?
I'M LEAVIN' WITH IT.

YOU DID WHAT?

YOU -- ARE YOU OKAY?
GIVE ME LIKE 5, 10 MINUTES.

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

I'LL BE... BYE.

THAT IS CHICO.
HE JUST TOLD ME

THAT HE WRECKED HIS BIKE.

UM, OBVIOUSLY,
HE'S ENOUGH --

HE'S ALL RIGHT ENOUGH
TO BE TALKIN' TO ME.

BUT I --
I MEAN...

WE WOULD NORMALLY WAIT
A LITTLE BIT

BEFORE WE BROUGHT
OUR STILL IN HERE

JUST OUT OF THE...
HELL FIRE.

THAT SON OF A BITCH
HAS BIT ME.

AH, YOU SON OF A BITCH.

DIGGER'S A PRANKSTER
SOMETHIN' FIERCE.

PLENTY OF CARGO ROOM.
OH, HELL NO.

HE GOT ME PRETTY GOOD
WITH THE HEARSE.

WE GOTTA GET
THE HELL OUTTA HERE.

CALM DOWN.
THAT'S [BLEEP].

AND HE PULLED
A HELICOPTER STUNT ON ME.

THEN, THE OLD WHITEY
STUFF WITH THE SKULL.

OH, YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU!

SO I THOUGHT I'D GET HIM BACK
A LITTLE BIT TODAY WITH A SNAKE.

NOW -- NOW PUNK ME
WITH A DAMN SKULL.

I DIDN'T DIE.

YOU DIDN'T, BABY.

OH...

GOD LOVE YOU.
I'M SO SORRY.

BABY, I...
WHAT'RE YOU SORRY FOR?

IT'S OKAY.

ACCIDENTS
HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, HONEY.

Narrator:
IN KENTUCKY...

I'M SORRY YOU WITH A TOOTHLESS
NO-GOOD SON OF A BITCH.

Narrator:
CHICO IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

ALL RIGHT, BABY.
HERE, TRY THIS.

HERE, IT'S FOR YOUR NOSE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

YOU GOT...
JUST LET ME GET IT.

PLEASE DON'T LAY ON THAT ARM.

I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO TOUCH YOU, HONEY.

YOU CAN'T HARDLY TOUCH ME
ANY DAMN WHERE.

I KNOW. AND YOU GOT YOUR --
YOU GOT BLOOD...

MY CHEST AIN'T SKINNED UP.

AW.

Sandra: I USED TO GET ASKED
ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW,

"WHAT DO YOU SEE IN HIM?
WHY ARE YOU GUYS TOGETHER?"

LIKE, Y-- YOU CAN'T JUST
JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HIM
THE WAY THAT I DO.

HE HAS A BIG HEART,
A VERY, VERY BIG HEART.

I GOT YOU.

JUST GET A HAMMER
AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD.

I'M DONE.

TODAY, I LEFT HIM A PRETTY NASTY
VOICEMAIL ON HIS PHONE.

AND TO THINK THAT THAT
COULD'VE BEEN THE LAST THING

THAT I EVER SAID TO HIM.

CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING
FOR GRANTED

'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

I'M NOT A VERY HAPPY
CAMPER RIGHT NOW, BIG CHUCK.

ALMOST THERE, JOSH.

CHUCK, YOU BEEN SAYIN'
THAT SINCE WE STARTED.

WELL, HELL, THAT'S THE ONLY
THING I GOT TO SAY.

ALL RIGHT, DAMN.

WE BEEN WALKIN'
AROUND FOR HOURS.

AND I'M REALLY HAVIN' A HARD
TIME KEEPIN' THE FAITH

THAT BIG CHUCK'S GONNA
FIND US A STILL SITE.

HOLY CRAP, DUDE.

GOT A LITTLE WORK
TO DO ON IT.

BUT WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.

SEE HOW EASY IT MOVES?
OH, MAN.

THAT THING SPINS, TOO.
MOVES REALLY EASY.

IT NEEDS SOME WORK ON IT.
OH, MY GOD.

THIS IS AWESOME, DUDE.

HOLY [BLEEP], BIG CHUCK.

BEFORE THEY DAMMED
THE BIG RIVER UP HERE,

THIS LITTLE CREEK
HAD ACCESS TO THIS MILL.

AND IN THE CIVIL WAR DAYS,

THEY BROUGHT SUPPLIES UP HERE,

GROUND MEAL FOR THE SOLDIERS.
IT'S OLD.

YOU HOOK IT UP TO THIS THING
AND CREATE POWER,

SO WE'LL HAVE RUNNIN' WATER.

WE'LL HAVE
A GOOD PLACE TO DRAIN,

SO WE AIN'T TROPPIN' AROUND
IN THE MUD ALL THE TIME.

I HATE THAT MUD.
WE COULD HOOK THIS THING UP

AND GRIND GRAINS
AND GENERATE POWER.

THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE.

IT'S GOT A WATER WHEEL.

WE GOT A --
A WAY TO MAKE ELECTRICITY.

WE CAN WINTERIZE IT.

I DOUBTED BIG CHUCK?

I NEVER DOUBTED
BIG CHUCK FOR A SECOND.

BIG CHUCK'S THE MAN.

DUDE, THIS IS PERFECT.

BIG CHUCK,
STICK MY DAMN LEG IN MY MOUTH.

I -- I'M SORRY, BUDDY.
THIS IS PERFECT.

THIS IS THE BEST PLACE
WE'VE EVER HAD.

Narrator:
NEXT TIME ON "MOONSHINERS"...

A FORBIDDEN SPIRIT
IN NORTH CAROLINA...

THERE'S VENOM
IN LOUISIANA.

THIS SNAKE HERE
COULD KILL YA, EASY.

AND TIM SMITH IS
IN SEARCH OF A MIRACLE.

WE'VE GOT SOME MOONSHINE

THAT I NEED TO MAKE IT
INTO WHISKEY

AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

WHISKEY OVERNIGHT?
YEAH.

I THINK WE'D BE BETTER OFF
FLYIN' THIS AIRPLANE

WITHOUT ANY WINGS ON IT.