Narrator: NOW, ON "BERING SEA GOLD"...
Man: WE'VE PUT EVERY LAST DIME WE HAVE INTO THIS.
YOU SPEND ALL THIS MONEY ON AN OPERATION.
YOU DON'T WANT THAT THING TO STOP RUNNING.
THIS ONE ISSUE RIGHT HERE COST ME $20,000-SOMETHING.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE MEGA DREDGE GOING,
BUT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
POMRENKES ARE VERY GOOD AT BUILDING
WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF NOTHING.
GIVE HER A LITTLE NUDGE.
YEAH!
Woman: MY ICE SEASON IS ABOUT TO FALL APART.
AND IF I CAN'T SUCCEED, THEN I HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE.
IT'S NOT LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY OUT HERE.
WHOO!
HERE'S ANOTHER -- ANOTHER BIG OLD CHUNK HERE.
HELL, YEAH.
THAT'S NOT BAD FOR A DAY'S WORK.
GOLD JUST GOT A LOT BETTER!
GIVE ME SOME LOVE! ALL THE WAY!
LOVE, EVERYBODY, LOVE!
WHOO, BABY!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ WATER TRICKLING ]
[ WIND RUSTLING ]
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
THE ICE-MINING SEASON IS IN HIGH GEAR AND FUELED
BY WHAT COULD BE THE LARGEST GOLD RUSH
IN MODERN ALASKA'S HISTORY.
THE FLEET IS PUSHING TO THE LIMIT.
IN THE QUEST FOR PAYDIRT, THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES,
ONLY OPPORTUNITIES.
**
80 MILES EAST OF NOME, AT THE BLUFF.
Man: WE'RE GONNA BE BACK UP AND RUNNING,
PUTTING GOLD IN THE BOX.
Narrator: CAPTAIN SHAWN POMRENKE IS ON THE HUNT FOR A BOULDER
HE FOUND AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER...
Narrator: A BIG ROCK HE BELIEVES
MARKS A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PAY STREAK
THAT'LL FUND HIS $6-MILLION MEGA DREDGE
AND TURN HIS FAMILY BUSINESS INTO A GOLDEN DYNASTY.
Man: ONCE I BUILD THE MEGA DREDGE,
I'M GONNA BE FILTHY RICH.
I'M GONNA HAVE BIG, HUGE PILES OF GOLD, NOT LITTLE, TINY ONES.
IT'LL BRING IN $75,000 EVERY DAY.
MEGA DREDGE IS GONNA KEEP ME
AND MY CREW BUSY FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
Narrator: BUT SO FAR THIS SEASON...
Man: SON OF A BITCH.
Narrator: SHAWN HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK ON
THE SUMMER PAY STREAK.
DID YOU GUYS COME FIND THIS?!
AND NEW NEIGHBORS...
DID YOU FIND THIS?! NO --
DID YOU FIND IT?!
...HAVE BEEN AN UNWELCOMED DISTRACTION.
Man: WHENEVER YOU POP ONE OF THESE ROCKS UP,
YOU'LL FIND A COUPLE OUNCES.
Narrator: BUT PERSISTENCE PAID OFF...
Man: YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE YOUR GLOVES OFF
AND JUST START GRABBING THEM.
Narrator: WITH THE CREW STRIKING A CONCENTRATED
VEIN OF CHUNKY GOLD.
KEEP POPPING THOSE ROCKS AND SUCKING UP THAT GOLD.
Narrator: NOW...
Man: NOW IT'S TIME TO GET BACK ON THE BOTTOM
AND MAKE SOME CHEESE.
Narrator: MR. GOLD IS LOOKING TO STAY ON TRACK.
Man: I MEAN, EVERY TIME YOU GO DOWN,
YOU HOPE THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND THE MOTHER LODE.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING DIVING.
[ RESPIRATOR HISSING ]
**
BOY, THAT LOOKS INTERESTING OVER HERE.
LOOKING FOR THAT EASY-CHEESY STUFF.
IS THAT PUMP ALL THE WAY UP?
ROGER THAT.
**
LOTS OF BIG ROCKS, LOTS OF PLACES FOR GOLD TO HIDE.
**
HOPE THAT WE HAVE A BIG PAYDAY TODAY.
SEE IF MY HUNCH IS RIGHT.
**
Narrator: 80 MILES WEST, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME.
Woman: HASTINGS ISN'T REALLY WORKING OUT
THE WAY I WANT IT TO.
WE HAD A NEW HOLE, IT WAS A DEAD END,
AND NOW WE'RE KIND OF BACK TO PROSPECTING
WHEN WE REALLY JUST NEED TO BE MAKING GOLD.
Narrator: ONLY FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL'S WINTER OPERATION
IS ALREADY ON THIN ICE.
THIS SEASON I KIND OF TOOK A GAMBLE AND DID SOMETHING
THAT I WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO, EXPECTING BETTER RESULTS.
BUT IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE TO FIND SOME GOOD GOLD OUT HERE.
THE LAST HOLE WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THIS TROUBLE OF MOVING,
AND, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT WE WERE MAKING MONEY.
THE MOST DEVASTATING THING IS, YOU KNOW,
WE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD FINALLY HIT A STREAK,
AND IT JUST ENDED ABRUPTLY.
Narrator: DESPITE THE SETBACKS, EMILY STILL HAS GRAND PLANS.
FOR ME, IT'S ALL ABOUT EXPANSION AND -- AND UPWARD MOBILITY,
MAXIMUM GOLD, MAXIMUM POSSIBILITIES.
AND I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN HAPPENS.
I NEED TO MAKE IT A VIABLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
AT HASTINGS.
I KNOW THERE'S STILL GOLD THERE.
Narrator: LAST SUMMER,
WHILE PROSPECTING WITH ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN
BUSINESS PARTNER/LOVE INTEREST ZEKE TENHOFF...
Man: IT IS DEFINITELY 100% UNDOUBTEDLY HERE.
WHOA. -THAT'S OVER 6.
Narrator: THE DUO STRUCK GOLD AT HASTINGS CREEK.
UNBELIEVABLE.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO MEAN
EXACTLY AS FAR AS A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
IF THERE IS TO BE ONE.
Narrator: AND ZEKE QUICKLY DISSOLVED THE PARTNERSHIP.
Woman: I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM HASTINGS.
I MEAN, THE GOLD IS TOO GOOD, THIS WINTER,
Narrator: THE STAR-CROSSED PAIR AGREED TO WORK DIFFERENT AREAS
OF THE NEWLY DISCOVERED GROUNDS.
2.4. 2.7 OUNCES.
Narrator: BUT AFTER A PROMISING START...
AH [BLEEP] RICKY! PUMP MOTOR'S DEAD, DUDE.
IT'S BEEN ALL DOWNHILL FOR EMILY.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH IS WORSE -- YOUR PUMP MOTOR GOING OUT
ON GOOD GOLD OR YOUR PUMP MOTOR
GOING OUT ON BAD GOLD.
NOW...
Emily: I FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CREW,
AND I BROUGHT THEM DOWN HERE.
IF THIS NEXT HOLE DOESN'T WORK OUT,
WE MIGHT NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND --
AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STAY IN THE BLACK ICE MINING.
IT SOUNDS GREAT IN THEORY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE WEATHER.
YOU CAN MINE 24 HOURS A DAY.
BUT THE SHEER LOGISTICS AND THE REALITY OF WORKING
IN 27-DEGREE WATER UNDER 4 FEET OF ICE
MEANS THAT THERE'S GONNA BE MANY,
MANY THINGS THAT SLOW YOU DOWN.
**
LET THE PHYSICAL LABOR BEGIN.
Narrator: DETERMINED TO CASH IN
ON THE PROMISE OF HASTINGS CREEK,
CAPTAIN EMILY HAS RALLIED HER CREW -- VETERAN DIVERS
JESSE STRICKLING AND RICKY LARSEN --
FOR ONE FINAL PUSH TO FIND THE GOLD.
[ GENERATOR RUNNING ]
**
Emily: HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE
SOME GOOD MONEY AT THIS ONE.
Man: YEAH.
**
JUST PEELING BACK LAYERS, TRYING TO SEE IF I --
[ BREATHING ] CAN EXPOSE ANY --
ANY, UH, GOLD.
[ BREATHING ]
SOMETIMES YOU CAN FIND THE PERFECT ROCK.
**
Emily: HEY, RICKY, HOW'S IT GOING DOWN THERE, MAN?
Man: NOTHING THAT'S -- [ BREATHING ]
TOTALLY GONNA PAY US YET.
LET HIM DO A BIT MORE PROSPECTING.
JUST KIND OF HOPPING AROUND, HOPING I HIT SOMETHING
GOOD, LIKE, REALLY GOOD,
BUT IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO GOOD AT ALL.
I DON'T THINK IT'S DIED OUT.
I THINK IT'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.
I'M OUT HERE LOOKING AROUND.
I'M NOT SEEING [BLEEP].
**
ONE OF THE RECURRING NIGHTMARES
I'VE HAD REALLY EVER SINCE I CAME HERE IS WAKING UP ONE DAY
AND REALIZING THAT I HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR ALL THE TIME
I'VE SPENT, ALL THE WORK I'VE DONE UP HERE.
THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS.
SOUNDS LIKE THIS HOLE MIGHT BE A DUD.
IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING.
**
Narrator: 70 MILES EAST...
AT THE BLUFF.
HOW'S IT GOING DOWN THERE, BUDDY?
LOOKS GOOD.
THIS IS PROBABLY A GOOD PLACE RIGHT HERE.
LOTS OF BIG ROCKS.
Narrator: THREE HOURS INTO HIS DIVE,
MR. GOLD IS ON THE HUNT FOR HIS ELUSIVE PAY STREAK.
Man: THEY'RE ROUNDED.
SO, JUST KIND OF SEEING...
I'M COMING INTO LIKE --
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF BIG BOULDERS UP OVER HERE.
"BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD" -- THAT'S USUALLY THE SAYING.
Narrator: LARGE ROCKS ON THE SEAFLOOR
COMBINED WITH THE TIDAL ACTION OF THE OCEAN ACTION
LIKE RIFFLES IN A SLUICE BOX, SIFTING AND TRAPPING GOLD.
AS THE THEORY GOES, THE BIGGER THE ROCK, THE BIGGER THE GOLD.
Man: OH, YEAH, THERE'S SOME BIG BOULDERS DOWN HERE.
I'M THINKING THERE'S GONNA BE A TON OF GOLD
STUCK AROUND THIS GUY.
LET'S SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH BIG DADDY.
Narrator: AND MOVING BIG DADDY...
Narrator: THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME EXTRA MUSCLE.
LIFTING THE BIG ROCK, HOPING FOR A NICE PAYDAY.
SHAWN IS GONNA HOOK IT AROUND THIS BIG BOULDER,
AND I'M GONNA GIVE HER A YANK, SEE IF IT WORKS.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY,
AND I'LL TUG ON IT.
LET ME GET MY UMBILICAL OUT OF THE WAY.
ALL RIGHT.
GO FOR IT.
GIVE HER A LITTLE NUDGE.
**
THERE SHE GOES.
THINK YOU CAN GIVE HER HELL THIS TIME.
YEAH! IT'S MOVING.
LIKE THAT.
**
[ REVVING ENGINE ]
[ SHOUTING ]
**
-Narrator: COMING UP... -IT WON'T WORK AT ALL.
I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, KRIS OVER-THINKING THIS [BLEEP]
TRYING TO PUT MORE DIVERS ON.
WE'RE GONNA RUN INTO PROBLEMS.
HERE WE GO.
HA-HA!
Narrator: 80 MILES EAST OF NOME...
**
AT THE BLUFF.
Man: THERE SHE GOES.
THINK YOU CAN GIVE HER HELL THIS TIME.
Narrator: SHAWN POMRENKE'S LOOKING TO FIND
BIG GOLD UNDER A BIG ROCK...
YEAH! IT'S MOVING.
Narrator: IN HOPES OF REDISCOVERING
THE PAY STREAK HE NEEDS TO FUND
HIS $6-MILLION MEGA DREDGE.
LIKE THAT.
YEAH!
[ SHOUTING ]
OH, YEAH.
WE GOT IT.
HOW ABOUT I GRAB THE NOZZLE,
SEE IF THERE'S ANY NUGGETS DOWN THERE?
Man: WELL, WE GOT THE ROCK FLIPPED OVER
WITH THE SNOWMOBILE.
SHAWN'S LOOKING UNDER
WHERE IT WAS SITTING.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME NUGGETS UNDER THERE.
COME ON. WHERE ARE YOU AT?
SO, HOW'D THAT WORK? WAS IT SUCCESSFUL?
JUST GOT TO FIND THE SWEET SPOT HERE.
WELL, NOW WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE THE BIG ROCKS OUT OF THE WAY.
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S SEEING ANYTHING.
Narrator: AS THE MURK SETTLES...
NOT A WHOLE LOT UNDERNEATH IT.
SHAWN'S BIG MOVE COMES UP A BUST.
CAN'T ALWAYS WIN.
COME UP AND TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.
KIND OF TAKING ITS TOLL ON ME HERE.
**
GOLD DOES CRAZY THINGS,
AND SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO STAY ON IT.
IT COULD JUST BE NO GOLD FOR FIVE FEET
AND THEN PICK UP ANOTHER FIVE FEET OVER
AND THERE COULD BE $1 MILLION LAYING RIGHT OUT OF YOUR REACH.
THAT'S PART OF THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF MINING.
YOU THINK YOU FOUND THE MOTHER LODE, AND THEN IT --
PSCHEW! DISAPPEARS.
SO, AM I GONNA QUIT LOOKING FOR IT?
NO.
WELL, I'M GOING BACK DOWN.
**
HERE WE GO.
**
Narrator: 100 YARDS ACROSS THE ICE...
**
IT'S MR. GOLD'S FAVORITE NEIGHBORS
BACK AT THE BLUFF.
I WENT HOME. I TOOK A COUPLE NAPS.
I ATE A LOT. SO I AM FEELING GREAT.
WE'RE READY TO KILL IT...
AS SOON AS WE GET OUR HEADS OUT OF OUR ASSES.
Narrator: SO FAR THIS SEASON...
CAPTAIN KRIS HAS FOLLOWED A SIMPLE PLAN --
Man: THIS IS THE FARTHEST
YOU'VE EVER TAKEN US OUT OF NOME.
Man: THIS IS THE BIGGEST GOLD WE'RE GOING AFTER.
Narrator: FOLLOW NOME'S BEST MINER...
DID YOU GUYS COME FIND THIS?!
DID YOU FIND IT?!
TO GOLDEN GREATNESS...
Man: I FOUND 1,000 FLAKES.
Narrator: LEADING HOUSE KELLY...
-Man: 9.3. -Man: 9.3 OUNCES.
THAT IS THE BEST GOLD CLEANUP WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR LIVES.
Narrator: TO THEIR BEST CLEANUP EVER...
Man: NOTHING'S WORKING FOR ME.
KRIS, HERE!
Narrator: UNTIL SHODDY EQUIPMENT ENDED THE BEAUTIFUL DREAM...
AND SENT THEM BACK TO NOME FOR PARTS.
NOW...
Man: GOT IT!
Narrator: WITH NEW PARTS
AND EMBOLDENED BY THE RECORD HAUL...
LET'S DO IT! I CAN'T [BLEEP] WAIT!
THE YOUNG CAPTAIN IS DOUBLING DOWN.
YOU SPEND ALL THIS MONEY ON AN OPERATION,
YOU DON'T WANT THAT THING TO STOP RUNNING.
YOU NEED SOMEONE ON THE HOSE ALL THE TIME SUCKING UP MATERIAL,
MAKING YOU MONEY, MAKING ME MONEY.
DUDE, YOU GOT TO DO A NIGHT SHIFT.
THE WAY IT WORKS IS, THE GUYS THAT MAKE MONEY
RUN 24 HOURS A DAY.
Narrator: PHASE TWO OF OPERATION MILLIONAIRE --
BRING ON A NIGHT CREW TO MINE
24 HOURS A DAY AND SUCK UP TWICE AS MUCH GOLD.
Man: YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST THE WAY YOU DO IT.
I'M PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO -- TO DOING A NIGHT CREW,
AND I REALLY HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR ME.
THAT WON'T WORK AT ALL.
I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, KRIS OVER-THINKING THIS
[BLEEP] TRYING TO PUT MORE DIVERS ON.
Narrator: BUT THE FORMER CAPTAIN KELLY ISN'T BUYING IN.
Man: KRIS LED US TO NEW GROUNDS THAT ARE RICH,
BUT MY PLAN RUNS FROM 8:00 IN THE MORNING TILL 8:00 AT NIGHT.
THAT'S MY PLAN.
THAT'S ME, KRIS, AND ANDY.
Man: MY DAD HAS LIMITED VISION.
I WANT TO MAKE A [BLEEP] LOAD OF GOLD,
AND HOW I'M GONNA MAKE A [BLEEP] LOAD
IS I'M GONNA GET OTHER PEOPLE TO DIVE AT NIGHT FOR ME.
AND WE'RE ALL GONNA MAKE MORE MONEY FOR IT,
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK.
Narrator: FOR THE NEW PHASE OF HIS MIGHTY PLAN,
KRIS HAS PUT THE OPERATION ON A NEW HOLE.
WELL, TODAY I'M GONNA GO UNTIL MY ARMS CAN'T GO NO MORE.
THAT'S THE ATTITUDE I WANT TO HEAR.
AND BEFORE KRIS' NIGHT CREW CAN PACK THE BOX FULL OF GOLD,
IT'S UP TO LITTLE BROTHER
ANDY TO MARK THE GROUND FOR THEM TO MINE.
**
OKAY, BE CAREFUL THERE.
YEAH. I ALWAYS AM.
**
I'LL FIND SOMETHING BEFORE MY SHIFT'S OVER.
DON'T WORRY.
**
I'M NOT SEEING [BLEEP].
**
NOT THIS HOLE.
**
HOW'S IT GOING DOWN THERE, ANDY?
NO, I SAW NO GOLD IN THOSE LAST COUPLE HOLES
I JUST DID.
**
NO MOTHER LODE YET, HUH?
I'M NOT SEEING IT.
IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.
**
-Narrator: COMING UP... -GOLD JUST GOT A LOT BETTER!
WHOO! GIVE ME SOME LOVE! ALL THE WAY!
LOVE, EVERYBODY, LOVE!
THREE BIG NUGGETS IN ONE DIVE.
PRETTY DAMN AMAZING.
WHOO, BABY!
Narrator: 10 MILES EAST OF NOME...
AT HASTINGS CREEK.
AFTER STRIKING OUT ON HER FIRST HOLE OF THE DAY...
SEE IF IT DOESN'T PICK UP AND MAKE IT WORTH OUR WHILE.
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL IS TAKING A FINAL SHOT AT THE GROUNDS.
WE SPENT ALL THIS TIME AND MONEY AND EFFORT MOVING
AND CAN'T REALLY FIND ANYTHING.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT ONE MORE TRY AND TRY ANOTHER HOLE TO SEE THIS
IS WORTH EVEN STAYING HERE.
WE CAN'T JUST KEEP DIGGING A HOLE EVERY DAY AND MOVING
AND HOPPING FROM SPOT TO SPOT, HOPING THAT IT'S GONNA PAY US.
**
NEED TO LOOK AROUND A LITTLE MORE.
BETTER BE GOOD.
I'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THERE.
Emily: GOLD MINING IS A -- IT'S A BIPOLAR CAREER.
THE HIGHS ARE HIGH, AND THE LOWS ARE LOW.
WHEN YOU DO WELL, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD.
WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL,
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU AREN'T ACHIEVING ANYTHING AT ALL.
YOU EITHER ARE AMAZING, OR YOU'RE HORRIBLE.
**
HEY, RICKY, HOW'S IT GOING DOWN THERE, MAN?
GOLD'S NOT LOOKING TOO HOT DOWN HERE, EMILY.
I PROMISED MY CREW -- JESSE AND RICKY --
I PROMISED THEM A SPOT WITH A LOT OF GOLD.
I TAKE THEIR WELL-BEING VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO GOOD.
IT'S JUST NOT LOOKING LIKE --
LIKE WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY OUT HERE AT HASTINGS.
AH, YEAH. COPY THAT.
**
ROGER THAT.
**
I CAN MAKE A GOLD-MINING OPERATION SUCCESSFUL,
BUT MY ICE SEASON IS ABOUT TO FALL APART.
AND IF I CAN'T SUCCEED AT THAT,
THEN I HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE.
**
Narrator: 70 MILES EAST...
AT THE BLUFF.
SHAWN POMRENKE IS SIX HOURS INTO HIS DIVE
AND STILL SEARCHING FOR THE PAY STREAK
HE NEEDS TO FUND HIS $6-MILLION MEGA DREDGE.
Man: YEAH. I DON'T KNOW.
AIN'T SEEING MUCH GOLD RIGHT HERE.
POPPING HOLES HERE.
**
AHH.
NOT THE CHEESE, CHEESE, BUT CHEESY ENOUGH.
"CHEESY GOLD" -- THAT MEANS IT'S EASIER ROCKS
TO PICK UP AND MOVE.
THE ROCKS DOWN THERE ARE HARD TO MOVE, HEAVY,
NEVER MOVED IN THEIR WHOLE LIFE.
Narrator: UNDER FOUR FEET OF ICE,
SUBARCTIC WATERS DROP TO 29 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
85-DEGREE WATER IS CONSTANTLY CIRCULATED
THROUGH SHAWN'S WET SUIT.
WITHOUT IT, HYPOTHERMIA WOULD SET IN WITHIN MINUTES.
I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT CHEESE, THAT FIVE-OUNCE-AN-HOUR
[BLEEP], ACTUALLY, I KNOW WE ARE.
WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO IT.
NICE.
OH, MY GOD.
AHH! YEAH!
HELL, YEAH.
Narrator: AND JUST LIKE THAT...
OH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
MR. GOLD IS BACK ON THE TRAIL.
Man: THERE'S ANOTHER -- ANOTHER BIG OLD CHUNKER.
HELL, YEAH. SUCK THEM UP.
WHOO.
HE'S SEEING A LOT OF GOLD.
HE'S SEEING JUST WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
COME ON, BABY.
**
I'M, UH... I'M GONNA COME ON UP.
**
THERE'S AT LEAST THREE BIG ONES IN THE BOX.
**
THREE BIG NUGGETS IN ONE DIVE?
WE'VE GONE YEARS WITHOUT SEEING NUGGETS THAT BIG.
PRETTY DAMN AMAZING.
THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT ABOUT NOW.
THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHEN YOU GET INTO THOSE BIG, HUGE POCKET OF GOLD,
YOU GET TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND,
IT'S GOLD THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS SEEN FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,
AND IT'S JUST LAYING THERE, WAITING.
WE'RE GONNA GET BACK GOOD, GET IT ALL SUMMED UP.
WHOO, BABY!
**
Narrator: EAST OF NOME....
Emily: HASTINGS HAS KIND OF PROVED TO BE
THE MOST HEINOUS WASTE OF ICE-MINING TIME THERE EVER WAS.
AND THAT'S GONNA COST US.
THIS OPERATION HAS TO MAKE MONEY.
THIS OPERATION HAS TO SUCCEED.
SO WE NEED TO GO ON A PROVEN GROUND
SO WE CAN PULL TOGETHER SOME OUNCES THIS WINTER.
Narrator: AFTER WEEKS OF
NOT FINDING ANYTHING AT HASTINGS CREEK,
EMILY IS ON A MISSION TO SAVE HER SEASON BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO KIND OF HUNKER DOWN AND MINE
WHERE I KNOW THERE IS SOME GOOD GOLD.
**
HOLY [BLEEP] I MADE IT.
OH, MY GOD.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FREAKING IN BLUFF.
**
Narrator: EAST OF NOME.
**
HOLY [BLEEP] WE MADE IT.
OH, MY GOD.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FREAKING IN BLUFF.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE SHAWN'S TENT.
AND THAT DILAPIDATED SHACK OVER THERE MUST BE THE KELLYS'.
Narrator: AFTER CRAPPING OUT AT HASTINGS CREEK...
YOU LOOK LOST.
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL HAS A PLAN
TO GET HER OPERATION OUT OF THE RED.
HOW'S IT GOING OUT HERE?
MOVING DIRT.
ANYWAY, I JUST THOUGHT I'D MAKE A TRIP DOWN
AND ASK YOU ABOUT HOW THE GOLD WAS.
YOU MAKING ANY GOLD?
LITTLE BIT.
IS THAT, UM -- IS THAT THE OFFICIAL ANSWER,
OR IS THAT THE REAL ANSWER?
THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE GOLD HERE.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE AND SEE FOR OURSELVES, EH?
WELL, WE WOULDN'T COME OUT HERE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW,
TALKING TO YOU FIRST, GETTING YOUR BLESSING.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT I CAN'T REALLY STOP ANYBODY
FROM GOING DOWN THERE.
I DON'T MIND HAVING A PRETTY FACE DOWN AT THE BLUFF.
NICE CHANGE OF SCENERY INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT TWEEDLY-DEE
AND TWEEDLY-DUM KELLY BROTHERS.
**
SO, YOU GUYS NEED TO GET YOUR STUFF OUT HERE.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF DAYS.
THEY CAN FOLLOW.
HELL, COME ON DOWN AND TRY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GONNA DO ANY GOOD.
I'LL HEAD BACK TO TOWN AND TALK TO THE GUYS.
WE'LL SEE ABOUT GETTING OUR [BLEEP] DOWN HERE.
SOUNDS GOOD.
I DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT GOING TO BLUFF
UNTIL I TALKED TO SHAWN.
I MEAN, ULTIMATELY IT'S STATE GROUND.
I CAN GO AND BE WITHIN 50 FEET OF SHAWN
IF I WANTED TO BE WITHOUT SAYING A WORD.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF GOLD MINER I AM
OR THE KIND OF GOLD MINER I WANT TO BE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF STRAIN AND EXPENSE ON MY OPERATION.
BUT, I MEAN, GOLD MINING IS ALL ABOUT TAKING CHANCES
AND CRAZY RISKS.
I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
**
Narrator: 300 FEET ACROSS THE ICE.
HEY, UH, I DON'T MEAN TO BE STRESSED AT YOU, MAN.
AS SOON AS I START SEEING SOME OF MY MONEY COME BACK,
I'LL BE IN A BETTER MOOD.
CAPTAIN KRIS IS TRYING TO JUMP-START OPERATION MILLIONAIRE
BY HIRING A NIGHT CREW TO SUCK UP GOLD 24 HOURS A DAY.
Narrator: I'M GONNA PLOW THROUGH THIS WHOLE [BLEEP]
AREA AND FIND GOOD GOLD.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
NEARING THE END OF HIS SHIFT, LITTLE BROTHER ANDY
STILL HASN'T LOCATED PAYDIRT
FOR THE NIGHT CREW TO MINE.
Man: HE HAS A GOOD PLAN INITIALLY,
BUT HE ALWAYS VEERS OFF THE PLAN.
THE NIGHT CREW IS A WASTE OF TIME.
WE'RE PAYING FOR THE FOOD.
WE'RE PAYING FOR THE PROPANE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GOLD TO REPRESENT OUR DEBT.
HE'S TRYING TO GET THERE TWO FAST.
BABY STEPS.
THAT'S WHAT MY DAD'S BIGGEST BITCH IS AT THE MOMENT --
I'M GETTING AWAY FROM THE FORMULA, YOU KNOW,
ME, MY DAD, AND MY BROTHER.
YOU KNOW, AND I'M TRYING TO BE A COMMERCIAL OPERATION,
GO BIG TIME.
I'M LIKE THIS [BLEEP] CLOSE.
Narrator: GOLD IS THE ENGINE
THAT MAKES THE WHEELS GO 'ROUND,
AND WITH THE ADDED EXPENSE OF TWO NEW SALARIES,
THE KELLYS NEED TO GET ON IT FAST.
WE'VE PUT EVERY [BLEEP] LAST DIME WE HAVE INTO THIS.
I'M TRYING TO STAY OPTIMISTIC.
THE AREA I'M GETTING INTO IS LOOKING PRETTY PROMISING.
WELL, THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO HEAR.
JUST MOVING THIS BIG ROCK RIGHT NOW.
WHOO!
ALL RIGHT!
GIVE ME SOME LOVE! ALL THE WAY!
LOVE, EVERYBODY, LOVE!
TALK TO ME.
OH, JAY, WE'RE ON SOME REALLY GOOD [BLEEP]
RIGHT NOW.
HOW MUCH GOLD ARE YOU ON RIGHT NOW?
[BLEEP] I LOVE ANDY'S ESTIMATING SYSTEM.
SO, HOW MANY OUNCES IN THIS POCKET?
COME ON, BABY. TALK TO ME.
IT'S ABOUT A HALF A FOOTBALL
JUST SITTING IN THIS ONE LITTLE...
AH! OH!
ANDY FOUND A FOOTBALL FULL OF GOLD! HUT!
AFTER A GRUELING EIGHT HOURS, ANDY CALLS IT FOR THE DAY CREW.
OH, MY GOD. I FEEL GOOSE BUMPS.
I MIGHT FALL OVER.
I'M FEELING HOT.
**
HOW YOU FEELING?
IT'S AWESOME. AND LET ME TELL YOU --
I'M MOVING ROCKS THE SIZE OF MY BODY.
[BLEEP] BEST GOLD EVER.
OH, YEAH.
BEST GOLD EVER? BEST GOLD I'VE SEEN.
BEST GOLD EVER!
AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GOLD.
I BET IT'S CLOSE TO -- LIKE, CLOSE TO AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
Narrator: WITH GOLD LOCATED,
PHASE TWO OF KRIS' MASTER PLAN
CAN NOW BE PUT INTO ACTION.
TIME TO SEND DOWN THE NIGHT CREW.
BAM! YEAH.
OUNCE AN HOUR!
HOW ABOUT IT?
YEAH, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
WE WORK DURING THE DAY. THEY WORK DURING THE NIGHT.
IT'S ALL GONNA WORK OUT.
KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
THERE'S GONNA BE 10 OUNCES IN THE BOX WHEN YOU WAKE UP.
YOU KNOW, CHEER UP.
I WANT TO BE A COMMERCIAL OPERATION.
I'M SORRY TO SAY, BUT I KIND OF WOULD LIKE
TO BE LIKE THE OPERATION
SHAWN HAS.
SHAWN MAKES ME A LITTLE JEALOUS SOMETIMES.
YOU ALREADY PUT BABY SHAMPOO IN, OR NO?
YEP. OKAY, GOOD.
I WANT TO SUCCEED WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO DO WELL TOGETHER.
-Narrator: COMING UP... -HERE WE GO.
SECOND CLEANUP.
SEE WHAT IT WEIGHS UP TO BE.
THERE ARE SO MANY DANGERS IN ICE MINING.
THESE AUGERS THAT ARE BASICALLY AN ENORMOUS CORKSCREW,
EVERYTHING SHARPING STICKING OUT THAT YOU COULD FALL ON.
ANYTIME IN REALITY I COULD FALL AND SINK TO THE BOTTOM.
YOU GET SUCKED UP BY THE HOSE,
OR YOU GET STUCK UNDERNEATH THERE,
PINNED UNDERNEATH A ROCK.
IF THERE IS ONE EARTHQUAKE RIGHT NOW, I AM DEAD.
CHAIN SAWS THAT ARE SIX FEET LONG,
SUFFOCATING UNDERNEATH THE ICE, AN AVALANCHE ON THE MOUNTAIN,
MAYBE THE OCCASIONAL BLIZZARD, GET IMPALED.
YOU COULD EVEN LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE.
I'VE DONE IT A FEW TIMES.
DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT.
I'M OKAY, EVERYBODY.
THANKS FOR [BLEEP] WONDERING.
THE TRUTH OF WINTER MINING IN NOME
IS, UH, PROBABLY DON'T DO IT.
Narrator: 80 MILES EAST OF NOME.
Man: DUDE, WHERE'S THE NIGHT CREW?
WHERE ARE THEY?
THIS PUMP ISN'T PUMPING WORTH A [BLEEP]
Narrator: THERE'S SOMETHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF KELLY.
Man: THEY TRASHED MY EQUIPMENT.
THE PUMP GOT FRIED LAST NIGHT
BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BEEN PULLING IT IN AND OUT BY THE CORD.
THIS ONE ISSUE RIGHT HERE COST ME $20,000-SOMETHING.
THAT ONE ISSUE SHUT US DOWN, ALL BECAUSE OF NIGHT CREW.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF SUPER-CHARGING THE OPERATION,
CAPTAIN KRIS' NIGHT CREW TRASHED THE DIVE EQUIPMENT...
BECAUSE OF THAT WATER PUMP, WE CAN'T EVEN DREDGE TODAY ANYWAYS.
Narrator: AND GOT THE HECK OUT OF DODGE.
Man: I'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO TOWN AND GET A WATER PUMP.
Narrator: NOW PHASE TWO OF OPERATION MILLIONAIRE
IS IN SHAMBLES.
WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS --
THOUSANDS.
THIS IS A THREE-MAN BAND. THAT'S IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Narrator: AND THE FIGHTING IRISH ARE ONCE AGAIN SHUT DOWN
AND OFF THE GOLD.
JUST ANOTHER ONE OF KRIS' MISTAKES.
HE MADE A BAD CHOICE.
NOW WE'RE STUCK CLEANING UP THE MESS.
IF THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP HE'S GOT,
THEN HE JUST NEEDS TO BE
KICKED IN THE NUTS A FEW MORE TIMES BY ME.
THEN HE'LL STRAIGHTEN OUT, YOU KNOW?
THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS MY FOUNDATION'S CRUMBLING.
WE GOT TWO PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
MY BAD LUCK.
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS MAKE IT TO A LEVEL,
AND THEN WE NEVER MAKE THAT LAST LITTLE BIT
SO WE CAN KEEP GOING ON.
WE ALWAYS FAIL SHORT RIGHT HERE.
WE CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE IT THE NEXT STEP OF SUCCESS.
I JUST CAN'T GET MY LEGS UNDERNEATH ME RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE MY FOUNDATION'S CRUMBLING A LITTLE BIT.
YEAH, [BLEEP].
BUT I KNOW THAT I CAN CHANGE MOST OUTCOMES
WHEN I TRY.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M BARELY HANGING ON HERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
BUT I'M A FIGHTER, YOU KNOW?
LIKE, I'M NOT GONNA GO DOWN.
THE GOLD'S UNDER MY FEET.
ANDY AND I CAN TECHNICALLY DO THIS OURSELVES.
AT THIS POINT, I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SALVAGE MY SEASON.
**
TWO MILES WEST...
AT MR. GOLD'S CABIN.
SECOND CLEANUP.
WE'RE DOING PRETTY DECENT.
IT'S NOT THE $30,000, $60,000 IN A DAY YET.
Narrator: AFTER A NINE-HOUR SHIFT,
LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED ON THE BOTTOM OF
THE BERING SEA, SHAWN IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH CLOSER
HE IS TO FUNDING HIS MEGA DREDGE.
TO BE A SUCCESSFUL GOLD MINER, YOU DO HAVE TO GO ALL-IN.
YOU DO HAVE TO PUT 100% IN.
THERE'S NO, "OH, I'M GONNA ONLY WORK EIGHT HOURS,
AND THEN I'M GONNA GO HOME
AND GO TO BED AND REST AND WATCH TV."
YOU GOT TO WORK YOUR ASS OFF IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
AND YOU KEEP DOING THAT, IT PAYS OFF IN THE END.
GOT SOME HAM AND GOLD.
**
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SEE WHAT IT WEIGHS UP TO BE.
**
14.
NOW WE'RE AT 17.
19.5 PLUS PICKERS.
$20,000-DAY YESTERDAY.
THAT'S NOT BAD FOR A DAY'S WORK.
Narrator: 19.5 OUNCES IS WORTH OVER $20,000 --
FOR SHAWN, JUST A TASTE OF THE MILLIONS
HE NEEDS TO FUND THE MEGA DREDGE.
I GOT A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF ME.
Narrator: BUT FOR THE MAN THEY CALL MR. GOLD,
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.
MY PROJECT'S GONNA COME TOGETHER.
POMRENKES ARE VERY GOOD AT BUILDING
WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF NOTHING.
WE'LL GO TO A JUNKYARD AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED
TO BUILD IT IF WE HAVE TO, BUT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE KEEP THAT PACE UP, WE'LL BE DOING JUST FINE.
Narrator: MR. GOLD SOLIDIFIES HIS SPOT
AT THE TOP OF THE COUNT,
AS THE KELLYS HEAD BACK TO NOME FOR PARTS -- AGAIN.
I MAKE THIS WORK, OR I'M GONNA BE HOMELESS.
I MEAN SERIOUSLY HOMELESS.
THERE'S 9 GRAMS.
SHAWN THINKS THAT HE'S GONNA BUY MY EQUIPMENT
OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME.
THE EQUIPMENT'S YOURS.
WE ASK YOU GIVE THE STUFF UP PEACEFULLY,
OR I'LL BRING THE TROOPERS OUT.
I'M NOT GOING DOWN AT ALL.
ANDY IS LITERALLY RISKING HIS LIFE.
THERE'S GOLD UNDER EVERY ROCK DOWN HERE.
WE FOUND OUR NEXT 1,000 OUNCES.
HE'S PULLING ON THE UMBILICAL.
BEING PETTY?! YEAH, YOU --
YOU'RE GONNA [BLEEP] MOVE ON ME?!
THERE'S A BIG, GREASY CRACK JUST OPENING UP RIGHT THERE!
WE MIGHT BE [BLEEP] FLOATING AWAY AS WE SPEAK.
**