Narrator: ON THIS
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
"GOLD RUSH"...
[ CLANGING ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
[ CLINK ]
[ CLANG ]
[ THUD ]
**
WE'RE OFF THE GOLD
AND WE'RE LOSING MONEY.
CHECK THIS OUT.
WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS?
THIS IS THE MOTHER LODE.
LOOK OUT!
[ CRASH! ]
WE GOT A PROBLEM
DOWN HERE.
THESE BOULDERS
ARE KICKING OUR ASS.
THAT'S SOME HARDCORE GOLD.
HO-LY MO-LY.
[ LAUGHING ]
**
HEY, PARKER!
HOW ARE YA?
HI. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
I GET WEIRD
BIRTHDAY PRESENTS.
I THINK THAT SHOULD PUT US
IN THE CATEGORY
OF REALLY GREAT PARENTS!
[ EXPLOSION ]
OH, [BLEEP]
THE FEED LINE!
SHUT IT DOWN!
YOU CAN'T BE [BLEEP]
SERIOUS HERE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ FLAMES CRACKLING ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
RIGHT NOW I'M JUST WORKING ON
GETTING PAY OUT OF THE UPPER CUT
AND MAKING SURE
THAT'S MOTORING ALONG WELL.
Narrator:
HALFWAY THROUGH HIS SEASON,
PARKER SCHNABEL HAS MINED
1,850 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH OVER $2 MILLION,
BUT THE YOUNG MINE BOSS
IS STILL 650 OUNCESSHORT
OF WHERE HE SHOULD BE
TO HIT HIS 5,000-OUNCE GOAL.
Parker:
I JUST TURNED 23.
MY PARENTS ARE COMING
UP FOR A VISIT
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN
THEM IN A WHILE,
SO IT'LL BE GOOD TO SEE THEM.
[ HORN BLASTS ]
**
MORNING.
HEY, HERE'S THE MAN!
THE MAN'S HERE!
[laughing]
HEY, PARKER.
GOSH, IT'S NICE
TO SEE YA.
IT'S REALLY NICE
TO SEE YA, PARKER.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
ARE YOU EATING
ANYTHING?
[LAUGHING]
-ARE YOU?
COME ON, PARKER,
YOU'RE BONES!
IT WAS 9 HOURS
IN THAT WITH ROGER.
IT WAS A LONG RIDE UP,
BUT, YEAH,
WORTH SEEING MY BOY, FOR SURE.
-HI.
[ LAUGHING ]
-I'M IN ROGER MODE.
-I KNOW.
-HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
-THEY WERE ALL --
-YEAH, RIGHT.
-HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
SO WHAT'D YOU BRING US?
A BUNCH
OF BIRTHDAY PRESENTS.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
LOOK AT THIS!
I GET WEIRD
BIRTHDAY PRESENTS.
IF HE CAN USE IT ON HIS JOB,
HE'S PROBABLY JUST AS HAPPY
THAN HE WOULD BE
IF I BOUGHT HIM A...
A CASE OF BEER, MAYBE,
YOU KNOW? [laughs]
Narrator:
ROGER'S BROUGHT SOME CASTOFFS
FROM HIS CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY IN HAINES, ALASKA.
DON'T DROP IT, MIKE!
DON'T SAY THAT!
WE BROUGHT UP THIS HUGE LOAD
OF STUFF FOR OUR CHILD.
THANKS FOR GETTING
THIS [BLEEP]
OH, HAPPY TO DO IT,
PARKER.
-APPRECIATE IT.
-NO. YOU'RE WELCOME.
THINK THAT SHOULD PUT US
IN THE CATEGORY
OF REALLY GREAT PARENTS!
[ MID-TEMPO TUNE PLAYS ]
**
Mike:
WE'RE GONNA DRAG
THESE TRACKS OFF.
IT'S THE ONLY MACHINE
WE'VE GOT IN THE YARD
[ ALERT BEEPING ]
THAT'S HEAVY ENOUGH TO DO SO.
COME MY WAY A BIT.
YEP.
THAT'S GOOD.
**
HE DOESN'T NEED
TO RAISE THE BOX.
[ MACHINERY WHINING ]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
PARKER! WHAT THE...?
WHAT ARE YOU
RAISING THE BOX FOR?!
[laughing] DON'T YOU WANT TO RIG
IT WITH THE BOX IN THE AIR?
OH, SHOVE IT.
[laughing] I THOUGHT YOU
WANTED THE BOX IN THE AIR.
[laughing]
OH, SHUT UP.
I DON'T NEED
THIS [BLEEP]
I'M GOING BACK
TO HAINES.
-THAT, I COULD HELP.
-YEAH, RIGHT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
**
HEY, HOW ARE YA?
ABOUT TIME, TOO.
IT COST ALOTOF MONEY.
WELL, IT'S A GOOD THING
THAT YOU HAVE TWO KIDS
THAT ARE SLUICING
RIGHT NOW.
THEY BETTER, OTHERWISE,
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
**
Narrator:
TO HELP FUND THE MOVE
OF HIS SECOND DREDGE,
TONY BEETS HAS KEVIN'S DREDGE
AND MONICA'S WASH PLANT MINING
FOR GOLD AT EUREKA CREEK.
HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR SEASON,
THEY'VE BANKED ALMOST
1,100 OUNCES OF GOLD.
Monica:
PLANT'S BEEN RUNNING
PRETTY GOOD,
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PUMP AS
MUCH DIRT THROUGH AS POSSIBLE.
I JUST WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW,
SITTING ON A YACHT SOMEWHERE,
IN EUROPE.
YEAH, WHAT'S UP, KEVIN?
UH, A LITTLE BUSY WITH IT.
WHY?
**
Narrator:
700 YARDS WEST
OF MONICA'S PLANT,
KEVIN'S DREDGE
IS DEAD IN THE WATER.
HEY, CHICK.
WON'T TAKE LONG.
**
CAN YOU HAVE HIM
PICK IT UP?
HEY, CAN YOU LIFT
THE BUCKET LINE?
GOTCHA.
**
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
**
YOU'RE CAUGHT ON THE
LIP ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I KNOW.
THAT [BLEEP] THING.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ CRASH ]
ALMOST, THOUGH.
**
THERE WE GO.
**
COOL.
THIS THING'S A PIECE
OF [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
SHOULD GET TO GET THAT
[BLEEP] THING FIXED.
**
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PIN
RIGHT THERE,
YOU'LL NOTICE I AIN'T GOT A LOT
OF [BLEEP] PIN TO WORK WITH.
THAT IS A BIG [BLEEP]
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
A TIGHT SEAL.
Narrator:
OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS,
FRICTION HAS WORN AWAY THE PINS
AND LINK HOLES THAT CONNECT
THE DREDGE'S BUCKETS.
THE JOINT ON EACH BUCKET
HAS WORN BY 2 INCHES.
OVER THE 72 BUCKETS, THIS WEAR
HAS ADDED A MASSIVE 12 FEET,
AND THE BUCKET LINE IS SO SLACK,
[ CREAKING ]
IT REGULARLY FALLS OFF.
AT THIS RATE,
IT WON'T BE VERY LONG
'TIL WE'RE PICKING
THE BUCKET LINE
OFF THE BOTTOM OF OUR POND
'CAUSE...
SAYING SHE'S [BLEEP]
IS BEING VERY POLITE.
IT'S [BLEEP]
IT'S LIKE, "OH, WELL."
THERE GOES MY WATER.
AM I PICKING UP ANYTHING?
PLENTY.
[ CREAKS ]
**
[ THUD! ]
[ CLANG-THUD ]
[BLEEP]
[ METAL GROANING ]
[ THUD! ]
[BLEEP]
BUCKET LINE IS OFF, AGAIN.
I'M OFF TO GO SEE TONY.
WE'RE GONNA GET THIS
[BLEEP] SORTED.
[BLEEP] THAT PIECE OF [BLEEP]
**
KNOW HE'S GONNA SAY
HE WANTS TO RUN THIS ONE
INTO THE [BLEEP] GROUND, BUT,
THAT THING SNAPS,
THEN WE ARE [BLEEP]
IT'S GONNA BREAK
SOMETHINGSERIOUS.
AND I KNOW WE GOT A NEW ONE
IN THE YARD, SO,
WHY DON'T WE PUT IT ON?
**
TONY.
WE NEED A NEW [BLEEP]
BUCKET LINE.
WELL, WE HAVE IT IN THE [BLEEP]
YARD. WE NEED TO PUT IT ON.
THE THING FALLS OFF THREE,
FOUR TIMES A [BLEEP] DAY.
'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T
LET US PUT IT ON?
NO, IT IS BEYOND [BLEEP] TIME.
WE'RE LOSING 2, 3 HOURS
EVERY DAY, EASY.
IT'S GONNA BREAK SOMETHING.
COOL.
COOL. PERFECT. [BLEEP] A.
-OKAY? OKAY.
[ DOOR CREAKS, CLOSES ]
**
Todd:
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS
RIGHT NOW,
BUT I KNOW ONE THING:
THAT WE'RE OFF THE GOLD
AND WE'RE LOSING MONEY.
Narrator: LAST WEEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW MINED LESS
THAN $27,000 WORTH OF GOLD
FROM THEIR JEWELRY BOX CLAIM...
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
...NOT EVEN ENOUGH
TO PAY THE FINES
FOR THEIR SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
SEND IT OVER TO MSHA,
BECAUSE HUNTER'S FINE
IS $30,000.
**
AND, WITH LESS THAN
750 OUNCES BANKED,
TODD'S DREAM OF 5,000 OUNCES
THIS YEAR IS TOAST.
HEY, GUYS,
WE NEED TO TALK.
YEAH, I THINK SO, TOO.
I'M ALL EARS. 22 OUNCES
AIN'T GONNA CUT IT.
WE'RE OUT OF THE GOLD.
WHATEVER WE DID,
WE'RE NOT ON IT NOW.
NO, WE'RE NOT ON IT.
WE'REWAYOUT OF IT.
IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
IF WE CONTINUE THIS WAY,
TODD, WE'LL BE UPSIDE-DOWN.
YEAH, WE GOTTA MOVE
OR DO SOMETHING.
WE GOTTA SWITCH GEARS.
I DON'T KNOW.
-YEAH.
-WE'RE JUST OUT OF IT RIGHT NOW.
-ALL RIGHT.
-Jack: ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS, GUYS.
WOULD NOT WANT
THAT MAN'S JOB.
**
Narrator:
TO KEEP HIS OPERATION
FROM GOING UNDER,
TODD HAS HIS CREW
SEARCHING FOR NEW GROUND
ON THEIR JEWELRY BOX CLAIM.
Hey, Todd,
do you have a copy?
-THIS IS TODD.
-Hey, man, there's something
up here
above the jewelry box
I think you oughta
take a look at.
LIKE WHAT, GOOD OR BAD?
I'd just recommend
coming up here.
Probably oughta
take a look at it.
OKAY, TREY,
I'LL MEET YOU DOWN THERE.
Cool, man.
**
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU
DOING WAY UP HERE, MAN?
COME OVER HERE.
I WANNA SHOW YOU THIS.
IT'S PRETTY NEAT.
**
CHECK THIS OUT.
WHAT IN THE HELL IS IT?
ABOUT THE BIGGEST
GROUND SLUICE
[chuckle] I'VE EVER SEEN.
IT'S A VALLEY OF ROCK.
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO,
THEY HAD MEN UP HERE
JUST STACKING EVERY
ONE OF THESE IN PLACE.
I THINK THIS IS THE PAY LAYER.
I THINK THIS IS IT.
I THINK IT'S THE HIGHEST
LAYER IN HERE,
AND THIS IS
THE RICHEST ONE.
SO YOU THINK WE OUGHTA TURN
AND START COMING UP THIS BABY?
YEAH. I DON'T THINK
IT'S DEEP,
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THINKS.
I THINK IT'S HIGHER UP.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THE SIZE
OF THIS BOULDER RIGHT HERE.
-WOW.
-THIS WAS PUT IN HERE
BY A GLACIER,
AND I HAVE A HUNCH
THAT THIS IS
THE MOTHER LODE.
Narrator:
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, OLD-TIMERS
CONSTRUCTED GROUND SLUICES:
TWO ROCK WALLS
CREATING A FUNNEL.
THEY LINED THE BASE
WITH TREE TRUNKS, AS RIFFLES,
THEN WASHED PAY DIRT
DOWN THE HILL
SO THE GOLD WOULD COLLECT
IN THE GAPS BETWEEN THE RIFFLES.
**
I TRUST THESE OLD GUYS.
I SAY THAT THIS IS GONNA
BE THE HOLY GRAIL.
-I DO, TOO.
-WE HAVE TO GET UP HERE.
-I THINK SO, TOO.
-LET'S DO IT.
THIS IS GONNA BE
THE GRAND FINALE.
-ALL RIGHT.
GET 'EM GOING, TREY.
LET'S DO IT.
**
Poulson:
THIS IS A HUGE CALL ON MY PART,
ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING
ELSE THAT'S HAPPENED RECENTLY,
SO, YEAH, MY NECK'S ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK ON THIS ONE.
I MEAN, THIS HAS TO PAY.
IT HAS TO PAY.
**
YOU KNOW, THE REAL PROBLEMS
RIGHT NOW HERE ARE JUST
RICK AND BIG RED AND ALL THE
WATER PROBLEMS THAT HE'S HAVING.
YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S STILL JUST
GOING PRETTY SLOW, YOU KNOW?
**
[ SQUEAKING ]
**
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
MUCH WATER, AT ALL.
**
Narrator:
AT INDIAN RIVER,
PARKER'S FOREMAN, RICK NESS,
IS STRUGGLING.
FOR THE LAST 7 WEEKS,
HE'S FAILED TO HIT
HIS WEEKLY TARGETS.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
RICK'S NEW
1,250-FOOT CHANNEL
PROVIDES AN ENDLESS SUPPLY
OF WATER,
BUT IT'S NOT REACHING BIG RED.
**
ARE YOU [BLEEP]
KIDDING ME?
CRANKED RIGHT TO THE MAX,
RUNNING AT 2,000 RPMs,
AND IT WON'T
SEND ENOUGH WATER.
[ BEEPING ]
**
YOU CAN'T BE [BLEEP]
SERIOUS HERE.
THE PLANT IS 40 FEET
ABOVE THE CHANNEL.
EVEN AT FULL REVS, THE PUMP
IS FAILING TO DELIVER.
WELL, MAN, LOOKS LIKE
THE PRESSURE'S REALLY LOW,
AND LOOK AT HOW DIRTY
YOUR TAILINGS ARE.
THERE'S A LOT OF FINES
LEFT ON THESE;
PROBABLY LOSING
SOME GOLD, TOO.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT
I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW
AND I MEAN, THAT,
IT JUST AIN'T CUTTING IT,
[ CLATTER ]
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
IF YOU WANT MORE WATER, YOU'RE
GONNA NEED A BIGGER ENGINE
AND A BIGGER PUMP.
AHHH.
Narrator:
WITHOUT THE WATER THEY NEED,
THEY CAN'T WASH
THE GOLD OFF THE ROCKS.
**
OUR GOLD TOTALS DOWN
AT BIG RED HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE
AND I HATE RUNNING
AT HALF-SPEED,
BUT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE
RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW?
THAT PIECE-OF-[BLEEP]
PUMP THAT WE HAVE
JUST ISN'T GETTING THE WATER
THAT WE NEED.
**
-HEY, RICK.
-HEY, PARKER.
SO...
-WHAT'S UP?
I HATE TO ASK, BUT WE'RE HAVING
MORE WATER PROBLEMS
UP AT BIG RED AND INDIAN RIVER.
THIS IS THAT PUMP.
IT'S NOT SENDING ENOUGH WATER.
I JUST NEED
A HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP.
I NEED SOMETHING THAT CAN
GET ENOUGH WATER UP THERE.
I MEAN, WE'RE RUNNING
AT HALF-SPEED
AND BLOWING GOLD
INTO THE TAILINGS.
MY DAD BROUGHT UP
THAT OLD GENERATOR.
WE'LL TRY TO FRANKENSTEIN
SOMETHING TOGETHER HERE.
SO IF YOU PULL
THE GENERATOR HEAD OFF
AND PUT THE PUMP HEAD ON,
THEN YOU'D HAVE A PUMP
INSTEAD OF A GENERATOR,
HOPEFULLY.
OKAY. THANKS.
WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
WELL, I DIDN'T GET A PUMP.
I GOT A BUNCH OF PIECES
THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO TURN INTO A PUMP.
I GUESS I SHOULD
EXPECT THAT BY NOW.
BACK IT UP.
**
[ CLANG ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S PLAN?
REMOVE THE GENERATOR PART
FROM HIS DAD'S
40-YEAR-OLD HAND-ME-DOWN,
THEN, ATTACH AN OFF-THE-SHELF
PUMP HEAD IN ITS PLACE.
SO, AS LONG AS
THE ALUMINUM COUPLER
WILL BOLT UP
TO THE FLYWHEEL,
WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
**
ARE YOU [BLEEP]
KIDDING ME, MAN?
THAT'S GONNA FIT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
WE NEED, RIGHT THERE.
THAT MAKES IT
A WHOLE LOT EASIER
AND A LOT QUICKER,
FOR US.
NO PARTS, DON'T HAVE
TO ORDER ANYTHING.
[BLEEP] YEAH, MAN.
JUST BOLT HER UP,
AND AWAY WE GO.
**
IT'S LIKE IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
WE'RE JUST TRYING
TO KEEP THINGS GOING
WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE, YOU KNOW?
WE DON'T GET THE PRIME PICK,
AS FAR AS WHAT WE GET TO USE
DOWN HERE,
SO WE GOTTA USE WHAT'S LEFT OVER
AND, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT,
WHAT'S LEFT OVER
ISN'T QUITE GOOD ENOUGH.
**
Narrator:
18 MONTHS AGO,
TONY COMMISSIONED A NEW SET
OF 72 DREDGE BUCKETS
FOR $350,000.
GOTTA GET THAT GOLD.
* FUN, FUN, FUN,
FUN, FUN! *
TONY'S TEAM WILL ATTACH THE
NEW BUCKET LINE TO THE OLD ONE,
THEN, WITH A PAIR OF EXCAVATORS,
LIFT THE OTHER END
OF THE OLD LINE.
BY RUNNING THE DRIVE COG
ON THE DREDGE,
HE WILL PULL THE NEW BUCKETS UP
AND AROUND THE BUCKET LADDER.
FINALLY, HE WILL REMOVE
THE OLD BUCKETS
AND JOIN THE TWO ENDS
OF THE NEW LINE.
**
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
[ CLANGING ]
**
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
[ CLANKING ]
[ METAL GROANING ]
**
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
COPY.
Narrator:
THERE'S ALMOST 50 TONS
OF BUCKET LINE IN PLAY.
NO ROOM FOR ERROR.
[ CLANKING ]
FINALLY [BLEEP] MOVING.
[ CREAKING ]
Man:
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!
AW, MAN.
**
[ METAL GROANING ]
EASY!
**
FINGERS ARE ON THE LINE,
SO TO SPEAK.
[ CREAKING ]
[ CLANG ]
[ THUD ]
**
Narrator:
THE BEETS FAMILY
IS ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE
THE DREDGE'S WORN-OUT,
75-YEAR-OLD BUCKET LINE.
[ CREAKING ]
[ THUD ]
EASY! [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
HOLD IT. OH, THAT'S
[BLEEP] FUNNY.
**
SO WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS
THEY PULLED TOO HARD
AND THEY BUSTED
A [BLEEP] CHAIN.
SHOCKING!
IT'S NOT MY FAULT.
THEY DIDN'T
CHAIN IT RIGHT.
NO, THEY WERE BEING
TOO [BLEEP] ROUGH.
THEY'RE RIPPING
THE LINE BACK,
[ METAL GRINDING ]
INSTEAD OF LETTING THE MACHINE
DO THE [BLEEP] WORK.
**
RIGHT, SECOND ATTEMPT.
THEY BUSTED
ONE CHAIN ALREADY.
LET'S SEE HOW
THIS ATTEMPT GOES.
OKAY.
[ METAL GROANING ]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
I ONLY GOT
ONE [BLEEP] SPEED.
[ GRINDING ]
**
[ CHAIN CLANKING ]
[ THUDDING, CLANK ]
[ CLANG ]
Narrator:
THE NEW BUCKETS ARE IN PLACE.
NOW, TONY MUST LINE THEM UP AND
INSERT A PIN TO CREATE A CHAIN.
DON'T BREAK
MY [BLEEP] BAR.
I LIKE THAT BAR.
[ CLANG! ]
WHOA!
THEY BROKE MY BAR.
I LIKE THAT BAR.
IT'S MY FAVORITE BAR.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ CLANKING ]
**
HA HA. OH, GOOD.
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ]
OKAY. READY?
OH, NO, NOT YET.
HERE WE GO.
**
SHE'LL STAY ON?
AH, SHE LOOKS GOOD.
I MAKE NO PROMISES.
**
I THOUGHT I WAS IN A BAD
SITUATION LAST YEAR,
BUT I HAD HOPE OF COLORADO AND,
WELL, I'M IN COLORADO.
WE'RE NOT BRINGING IN ANY GOLD.
WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
I HAVE BILLS TO PAY,
EMPLOYEES, I GOT --
YOU KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S BAD.
**
Narrator:
MIDWAY THROUGH
A DISASTROUS SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS COUNTING
ON THEIR NEW GROUND
AT THE TOP OF THE JEWELRY BOX
TO DELIVER A MIRACLE.
RIGHT NOW,
MONSTER RED'S DOWN.
WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.
WE'RE OUT OF PAY.
**
I'VE GOT ANDY AND LOGAN UP HERE,
OPENING UP A CUT
ON SLUICE BOX HILL.
THEY'RE REALLY GONNA
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
IT'S REALLY HIGH,
IT'S REALLY NARROW,
STEEP, EVERYTHING AROUND IT,
BUT AT THIS POINT,
WE'VE GOT NO OTHER CHOICE.
WE'RE OUT OF PAY,
SO HOPEFULLY IT PANS OUT.
Spinks:
THESE OLD-TIMERS, MAN,
THEY GOT IN HERE
AND THEY WORKED
ALL THIS MATERIAL BY HAND.
THE GOLD HAD TO BE GOOD.
[ ALERT BEEPING ]
Pierce:
THERE SHE GOES.
WE HAVE TO MOVE THESE BOULDERS.
WE'RE IN SUCH A NARROW LITTLE
AREA AS WE START THIS CUT.
WE HAVE TO --
WE CAN'T JUST WORK AROUND THEM.
THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE WAY.
**
THIS IS A GINORMOUS ROCK.
**
[ CLANGING ]
OH, [BLEEP]
LOOK OUT!
[ THUDDING HEAVILY ]
[BLEEP]
**
YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING
ABOUT THIS GROUND
IS THE BOULDERS THAT ARE
IN IT ARE JUST MASSIVE.
[ CREAKING ]
OH, YEAH, I MEAN,
THEY'RE JUST IN OUR WAY.
SOME OF THESE ARE SO BIG.
IT JUST MOVED MY ENTIRE 700.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
THIS THING AIN'T GONNA BUDGE.
**
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT.
THEY ARE BIG.
**
WE GOT A PROBLEM
DOWN HERE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
YOU GOT A PROBLEM?
THESE BOULDERS ARE FLAT
KICKING OUR ASS.
YOU CAN'T BUDGE 'EM
WITH THE 700.
PROBLEM IS WE'RE MOVING BOULDERS
THAT ARE AS BIG AS THE 700.
IT'S CRAZY. I'VE NEVER
SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
LISTEN. THINK UP
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO.
I GOTTA GET PAY.
CAN WE BLAST 'EM,
LIKE LAST YEAR?
I DON'T GOT MONEY
FOR THAT.
YOU GOT TO HAVE
ALL THIS CRAP,
PERMITS
AND ALL THIS, SO,
I DON'T HAVE TIME,
OR MONEY.
FIGURE IT OUT.
WORK TOGETHER.
I DON'T KNOW.
GET ME SOME PAY.
GET IT TO THE PLANT.
YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO:
WE'RE GONNA GET BOTH 700s.
-YEAH.
GET BOTH OF THEM IN THERE,
WE GET SOME BIG BOULDERS,
WE'LL TRY
TO WORK THEM TOGETHER.
**
I THINK THIS BOULDER IS
PROBABLY OVER 100,000 POUNDS.
THE EXCAVATORS CAN'T LIFT IT,
BUT WE CAN KIND OF
ROLL IT AROUND,
SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS
WE'RE GONNA DIG OUT BELOW IT
AND TRY TO SEE
IF WE CAN JUST, TOGETHER,
WORK IT DOWN THE HILL.
**
YEAH, IF YOU CAN KEEP DIGGING
THAT OUT LIKE THAT LOAD,
JUST MAKE SURE THAT SUCKER
DOESN'T START ROLLING
WHEN YOU'RE DOWN BELOW IT
'CAUSE IT'LL PULL YOU RIGHT OFF.
**
OH, COME ON.
[BLEEP]
**
-[BLEEP]
-OKAY, WATCH THIS. WATCH THIS.
[ TRIUMPHANT MUSIC CLIMBS ]
**
Spinks: Sweet!
DUDE, THAT WAS
PRETTY SICK.
I'D SAY, BY FAR,
THAT'S THE BIGGEST BOULDER
WE'VE EVER HAD TO MOVE.
YEAH, TWO 700s.
[laughs]
THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT
OF WEIGHT.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW CAN NOW
START DELIVERING PAY DIRT
TO MONSTER RED, FIRE UP,
AND FIND OUT IF SLUICE BOX HILL
CAN SAVE THEIR SEASON.
FIRST LOAD OF PAY FROM SLUICE
BOX HILL HEADED YOUR WAY.
HOPEFULLY IT'S GOOD, BUDDY.
HOPEFULLY,
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
THE SLUICE BOX IS LIT UP,
LIKE OLD TIMES.
FIRE THIS THING UP!
**
THE PLANT'S BACK UP
AND RUNNING.
[ TRIUMPHANT CHORD STRIKES ]
**
[ WHISTLING ]
[ ENGINE IDLING ]
[ WHISTLING ]
FANCY!
HA!
NOT REALLY, BUT...
IT'S GOT A GANGSTER LEAN.
IT'S GOT
A LOT OF THINGS.
NOW THAT IS CUSTOM,
RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S A CONVEYOR
ROLLER.
-OH, NICE!
-YEAH.
THAT IS REPURPOSED.
IT IS AS BASIC
AS YOU CAN GET.
GET AN IGNITION SWITCH
WIRED UP ON IT,
SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SPIN HER DOWN THERE
WHEN YOU GET THAT DONE.
-OKAY.
-THANKS, MITCH.
-YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
WE'RE DEFINITELY
GOING OLDSCHOOL.
THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT YOU WOULD SEE
AT TONY BEETS'S PLACE,
I THINK,
BUT, WE'RE EMBRACING
THE YUKON WAY.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
EASY NOW!
Narrator:
PARKER'S CREW HAS CREATED
A FRANKENSTEIN PUMP
FROM AN OLD GENERATOR
AND A BRAND-NEW PUMP HEAD.
IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT
IF IT CAN DELIVER
THE WATER PRESSURE NEEDED
TO FEED BIG RED
AND GET RICK'S OPERATION
BACK ON TRACK.
NORMALLY I'D LIKE TO SAY, "OUT
WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW."
WELL, WE JUST PULLED
OUT THE NEW
AND WE'RE PUTTING IN
AN ANTIQUE HERE.
[ THUDDING ]
WE'VE BEEN RUNNING WITH
NOT ENOUGH WATER
AND AT A LOW FEED RATE
FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS NOW.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG
[BLEEP] CHUNK OF TIME, SO.
WE'RE ALL READY
TO GO DOWN HERE.
We'll send some
water your way.
Start it up!
CROSS OUR FINGERS
HERE, BOYS.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
[ RUMBLING ]
[ TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ LAUGHING ]
**
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.
[BLEEP], YEAH.
**
[ EXPLOSION ]
WHOA! [BLEEP]
THE FEED LINE!
Mitch, shut it down!
The feed line!
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
**
APPARENTLY WE JUST BLEW
A LINE OFF BIG RED.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING
WITH A SMALL PUMP,
JUST NOT BEEN PRODUCING
THE KIND OF PRESSURE
THAT, APPARENTLY
OLD FRANKENPUMP IS,
SO, LOOKS LIKE [chuckling]
WE CREATED A MONSTER.
HOLD UP. OKAY.
Narrator:
THEIR NEW FRANKENPUMP
IS DELIVERING
MORE THAN DOUBLE THE WATER
OF THEIR OLD ONE.
HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN AGAIN.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
[ ENGINE STARTS, REVS ]
[ TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYS ]
**
WE GOT WATER SPEWING OUT
OF EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST PUTTING OUT
A LOT MORE PRESSURE
THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST,
SO IT'S JUST MAKING
SOME LEAKS HERE.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO
PATCH IT UP AS WE GO.
**
YEAH.
LOOKS PRETTY [BLEEP]
GOOD TO ME, GUYS.
SHE MIGHT NOT BE THE
PRETTIEST THING OUR THERE,
BUT, SHE DEFINITELY
MOVES SOME WATER.
YEAH, NO [BLEEP]
LET'S THROW SOME DIRT AT IT
AND SEE WHAT IT DOES.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
NO PROBLEM.
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST.
**
WELL, WE'RE BACK UP TO RUNNING
WHAT WE SHOULD
BE HERE AT BIG RED.
GOT THE WATER WE NEED,
GOT THE FEED RATE UP.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
ONWARD TO 2,500 OUNCES.
**
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
**
STILL GOT TIME TO MAKE A PROFIT,
PUT GOLD IN EVERYBODY'S POCKETS.
YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE TROUBLES
THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH US,
IT'S ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
NOBODY'S GIVEN UP
AND I'M NOT GIVING UP.
Narrator:
FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS,
THE HOFFMANS HAVE BEEN
RUNNING PAY DIRT
FROM TREY'S NEW CUT
AT THE TOP OF SLUICE BOX HILL.
THEY DESPERATELY NEED
THIS NEW GROUND
TO TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND.
THE MORE YARDS
WE PUT THROUGH IT,
THE MORE GOLD WE'RE GONNA
HAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
**
[ CREAKING ]
SOMETHING'S GOING ON
WITH THE FEEDER.
[ GRINDING ]
WHOA-OA!
[hollering]
AAH! SHUT IT OFF!
[ GRINDING CONTINUES ]
CUT THE POWER!
[ SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES ]
WE GOT A BIGASS ROCK
THAT'S JUST JAMMED.
I HAVE NO [BLEEP] IDEA.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS HAVE HIGH HOPES
FOR THEIR NEW GROUND,
BUT THE BOULDERS ARE
BECOMING A REAL HEADACHE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT:
THAT STINKING HILLSIDE
ISFULLOF BOULDERS.
LOGAN AND I ARE HAVING
TO MOVE 'EM WITH BOTH 700s.
WE CAN'T GET THOSE BOULDERS
OFF THAT HILLSIDE.
IT'S PRETTY NARROW.
-HEY, LOOK WHO'S BACK.
-HEY, GUYS.
-HEY, FRED.
HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.
Narrator:
TWO WEEKS AGO,
FREDDY LEFT FOR TESTS,
TO FIND OUT IF HE HAD CANCER.
I MIGHT HAVE SOME CANCER
STUFF GOING ON.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
Both: WHAT?
-OHH.
-I GOTTA GO IN.
I GOTTA GO IN FOR MORE TESTING.
AND WE'RE GONNA PRAY
FOR YA AND -- [sniffle]
LIKE I SAID,
I DON'T WANT YOUR SYMPATHY,
BUT I'LL TAKE
ALL YOUR PRAYERS.
YEAH.
YOU GUYS ARE MY BUDDIES.
[sniffle]
FREDDY,
WELCOME BACK.
WHAT A HORRIBLE DEAL.
-HOW ARE YA?
-WELL,
THEY CUT IT OUT OF ME
AND IT WAS BENIGN, SO.
THAT'S AWESOME, FREDDY.
C'MERE, MAN.
-NO CANCER!
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, GUYS.
-YEAH, NO KIDDING.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.
-THANKS, BUDDY.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S AWESOME NEWS.
IT'S ALL CLEAR, GUYS.
FREDDY,
YOU'RE CANCER-FREE.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
THANKS, TODD.
**
Monica: NEED A COFFEE, KEVIN?
-ALWAYS.
**
[BLEEP] IT'S AMAZING.
EVERYTHING JUST RUNS
[BLEEP] BETTER.
-YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
-NOW YOU CAN PUT
SOME [BLEEP] DIRT
THROUGH HER.
Minnie:
YOU GUYS WANT
TO WEIGH THAT UP?
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS,
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
THERE WE GO.
Narrator:
TONY IS HALFWAY
THROUGH HIS SEASON,
AND HE'S STILL
OVER 400 OUNCES SHORT
OF WHERE HE SHOULD BE
TO HIT HIS 3,000-OUNCE GOAL.
Minnie: 100.
-Tony: 100.
120.
130.
**
THAT'S A LOT OF [BLEEP]
DOWNTIME.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH, YEAH.
-IT IS WHAT IT IS, RIGHT?
-Kevin: YEAH.
**
Monica:
85, 90, 95,
100, 110,
165.
**
244.
257.
PBBT!
268.
Narrator:
TAKING THEIR TOTAL
TO 1,498 OUNCES.
TONY IS BACK ON TRACK
FOR HIS SEASON GOAL.
THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD
BECAUSE THAT'S MORE
THAN AN OUNCE AN HOUR,
WAY MORE THAN AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
YEAH. I THINK THAT CUT
WE'RE IN IS REALLY GOOD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES ]
Narrator: COMING UP...
COME ON OVER, YOU GUYS.
GETTING READY TO WEIGH.
-HOW'S IT LOOKING?
-YOU WANT TO SEE?
HERE WE GO.
**
LET'S GO LOOK AT THE SLUICE.
Narrator:
AFTER TWO DAYS, THE HOFFMANS
SHUT DOWN TO PULL THE MATS.
YEAH, I LIKE IT.
LOOK AT THAT.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
HO-LY MO-LY.
[ LAUGHING ]
SLUICE BOX THE OLD GOLD
RIGHT THERE.
[BLEEP]
EVERY SINGLE RIFFLE.
Poulson:
LOOK AT THAT.
EVERY SINGLE ONE
IS FULL RIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE RIGHT, MAN.
IT'S IN THERE.
IT'S RIGHT IN THERE
WHERE YOU SAID.
IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S SOME HARDCORE GOLD.
WHEN YOU GET IN THERE AND IT
ACTUALLY MAKES THE HAIR STAND UP
ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK.
I LOVE SLUICE BOX HILL.
MAN, THAT'S A GOOD
FEELING RIGHT THERE.
**
Jack: HEY, GUYS,
COME ON OVER.
I GOT IT ALL DONE,
READY TO WEIGH.
Narrator:
LAST WEEK, THE HOFFMANS GOT JUST
22 OUNCES FROM THE JEWELRY BOX.
HOW'S IT LOOKING?
ALL RIGHT.
YOU WANT TO SEE?
TO PROVE THIS GROUND IS RICH
ENOUGH TO DELIVER A PROFIT,
2 DAYS ON SLUICE BOX HILL
NEEDS TO BRING IN
A MINIMUM OF 30 OUNCES.
HERE WE GO.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
**
CALL IT OUT.
-LOOKS GOOD.
30,
40, 50.
-WHOO!
-64!
Jack: YEAH!
-YEAH!
Narrator: 64 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $75,000,
-[ WHISTLING ]
NEARLY THREE TIMES
WHAT THEY GOT LAST WEEK.
HEY, GOOD CALL, TREY.
-THANKS, BUDDY.
-I LIKE IT, MAN.
THAT'S THE BEST THAT WE'VE
HAD FOR ALONGTIME,
SO, LET'S KEEP
DOING IT, PLEASE.
BRING IT HERE.
-YEAH!
[ CHEERING AND APPLAUSE ]
-64!
WHEREVER THEY DUG THAT GOLD UP,
HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE OF IT
'CAUSE WHAT THEY POURED IN THE
PAN THERE IS PRETTY DARN GOOD.
LOGAN, ANDY, HANDLING
THOSE BOULDERS UP THERE,
THAT WAS CRAZY, MAN.
GOOD JOB UP THERE.
KEEP PUSHING THEM
OFF THE HILL,
IF WE CAN KEEP GETTING
GOLD LIKE THAT.
-YEAH.
-WE NEED SOMETHING
TO TURN AROUND AND I
REALLY FEEL THIS IS IT.
IF WE JUST STICK
WITH THAT HILLSIDE
AND KIND OF TRYING TO FOLLOW
WHAT THE OLD-TIMERS DID,
I THINK WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
[ FLAMES CRACKLING ]
**
HOW'S IT LOOKING,
DOUMITT?
GOLD AGAIN.
SHHH!
IT WAS SO NICE OF YOUR PARENTS
TO COME UP THIS WEEK.
YEAH, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE 'EM.
WELL, THAT PUMP SEEMED
TO CHANGE THINGS
DOWN THERE AT BIG RED.
YEAH, BIGTIME.
WHOEVER THOUGHT A OLD PILE
OF JUNK PARTS LIKE THAT
COULD MAKE SUCH
A DIFFERENCE? [laughs]
YEAH, DEFINITELY SHOULDN'T
BE A WATER PUMP,
BUT, SEEMS TO BE
WORKING, SO.
YEAH. FIRE THAT THING UP,
BLEW ALL THE [BLEEP] LINES
RIGHT OFF THE -- MAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
IT WAS CRAZY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S WEIGH SOME GOLD.
Narrator:
PARKER IS STILL
650 OUNCES SHORT
OF WHERE HE SHOULD BE
AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
**
Youle:
WE'RE AT 100, 110, 120,
150, 160,
190, 200,
-OH, YEAH.
220, 240,
-[WHISTLE]
260,
266.25.
-BINGO!
-WHOO!
WHOO!
HELL, YEAH.
YOU'RE LOOKING
AT ABOUT $320,000.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
FOR A WEEK, NOT BAD.
-WHERE'S BIG RED AT?
-OKAY.
YOU NEED TRIPLE DIGITS
ON THIS ONE, RICK.
COME ON, BABY.
Narrator:
TO HAVE A SHOT AT HITTING
HIS 5,000-OUNCE GOAL,
HE NEEDS AT LEAST
130 OUNCES FROM EACH CLAIM.
Youle: 80, 100.
-THERE WE GO.
-BINGO.
120.
-OH, YEAH!
-130.
-OH, YEAH.
-KEEP GOING.
140.
142.5.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
FINALLY A VICTORY.
-[laughs] GOOD JOB, RICK.
-WAY TO GO, RICK.
Narrator:
WORTH OVER $170,000, RICK IS
FINALLY BACK ON THE GOLD.
THAT'S THE BEST CLEANUP
YOU'VE HAD IN 2 MONTHS.
YOU'RE SMOKING.
YOU'RE RIPPING IT UP, BUDDY.
CHEERS!
-GOOD JOB, GUYS.
-HELL, YEAH.
KEEP UP THE HARD WORK
AND THE BUSH FIX.
-WILL DO.
-YOU'RE THE MAN, MITCH.
OHH, WOW.
JUST [BLEEP] RELIEVED
TO BE BACK
IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS
WITH BIG RED
AND, OVERALL, AS A WEEK,
I MEAN, OVER 400 OUNCES,
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WEEK
WE'VE HAD ALL YEAR,
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE
WATER WE NEED NOW AT BIG RED.
SLUICIFER'S DOING ITS THING.
ALL WE GOTTA DO IS JUST KEEP IT
DIALED IN LIKE IT IS RIGHT NOW,
AND [BLEEP] 5,000 OUNCES
SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM.
[ TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYS ]
THE BEST WEEK WE'VE
HAD YET THIS SEASON,
AND HOPEFULLY
WE CAN KEEP THAT UP.
COME ON. COME ON!
[ LAUGHS ]
[ TRIUMPHANT MUSIC CLIMBS ]
[ TRIUMPHANT
CHORD STRIKES ]
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
ROCK IS EQUAL TO GOLD.
-WHOA!
-STOP IT, HUNTER.
-GO ON!
-WHOA!
LOSING A GUY IS NOT GOOD,
ESPECIALLY NOT RICK.
YOU'RE THE FOREMAN.
-WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
[ THUD! ]
EASY!
-I'M TRYING!
OHH!
MIKE'LL HAVE THAT CAPTAIN'S
LICENSE, PIECE OF CAKE.
OFF WE [BLEEP] GO.
-GET OUT.
-GET IT THE [BLEEP] OUTTA THERE.
MIKE, YOU'RE
ON A [BLEEP] SANDBAR.