Bering Sea Gold (2012) s01e03 Episode Script
Suction
Steve P.:
WHO MAKES IT AS A GOLD DREDGER?
MOST START OUT WITH HOPE.
THERE SHOULD BE 25 OUNCES
IN THE BOX.
WE'RE ON THE GOLD, BABY!
Steve P.:
AND THEN THE PAIN SETS IN.
Shawn: AAH!
THERE'S NO GOLD
IN THE BERING SEA.
DUDE,
FRICKIN' CHECK YOUR EGO.
WHOA!
HEY!
Steve P.: SO, WHO MAKES I
AS A GOLD DREDGER?
I'LL NEVER TELL.
[ "GOLD IN THESE HILLS" PLAYS ]
LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW ♪
WHAT I SAY ♪
I'M A-GONNA TAKE THAT RISK
ONE DAY ♪
I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪
AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪
'CAUSE I HEARD
THAT THERE'S GOLD ♪
IN THESE HILLS ♪
--Captions by VITAC --
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
GOLD ♪
Narrator:
A NEW DAY DAWNS IN NOME, ALASKA.
Steve P.:
OCEAN'S KIND OF SMOOTH.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A COUPLE,
THREE DAYS IN HERE.
Narrator: AND WITH GOOD WEATHER,
THE HUNT FOR GOLD IS ON.
I KNOW THERE'S GOLD OUT HERE
SOMEWHERE.
GOT TO FIND IT.
I'M MAKING MONEY RIGHT NOW.
YEE-HAW!
AT PORT,
MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS,
IS THE 25-FOOT WILD RANGER.
Meisterheim: ONE OF THE BIGGES
PROBLEMS I'VE HAD THIS SEASON
IS THAT THE WILD RANGER WAS
A BAD DESIGN FROM THE BEGINNING.
ANYTHING THAT COULD BREAK
IS BREAKING.
THE DAMN DIFFUSER'S
PULLED AWAY FROM THE JET.
WE GOT A MAJOR LEAK
IN THE STARBOARD HULL.
WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE
WAS THAT CAPTAINING THIS BOA
WAS GONNA BE
SO STRESSFUL MENTALLY.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY THA
I AM CARRYING ON MY SHOULDERS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CREW
AND THE BOAT OPERATE CORRECTLY.
I LEFT MY TWO DAUGHTERS,
THAT MEAN THE WORLD TO ME,
TO BE SUCCESSFUL, NOT TO FAIL,
SO IF I FAIL HERE
[BLEEP] FAILURE, ALL AROUND.
[ WHISTLING ]
HALF-HOUR LATE.
OKAY.
ARE WE ABOUT READY TO GO?
YEAH. YOU DONE?
YOU GOT YOUR [BLEEP]
OUT OF THE WAY?
WE'RE GOOD?
OKAY.
STEVE IS DEFINITELY
ONE OF A [BLEEP] KIND.
[ WHISTLING ]
AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY REASON
I'M BEING NICE TO HIM
IS I NEED A SECOND PERSON
ON THAT BOAT WITH ME.
Narrator: BUT JUS
AS THEY'RE ABOUT TO SHOVE OFF
HUH.
INJURED DECKHAND JASON WALKER
SHOWS UP
OH!
STILL ON THE MEND
FROM A DISLOCATED SHOULDER.
HOW'S YOUR ARM TODAY,
JASON?
PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S ABOUT 60%.
PROBABLY WON'T BE PULLING
ANY ANCHORS ANYTIME SOON,
DOING ANYTHING REAL HEAVY
THAT REQUIRES TWO HANDS.
STILL GONNA GIVE YOU A COUPLE
MORE DAYS, FEW MORE DAYS.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA KEEP ME
OUT OF THE WATER FOR THAT LONG.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
HUH. IMAGINE THAT.
YOU TELLING ME
WHAT I'M GONNA DO?
I'M TELLING YOU
THAT I CAN DIVE.
I JUST CAN'T LIFT ANYTHING HEAVY
WITH THAT ARM.
YOU CAN GO ON THE BOAT,
IF YOU LIKE,
BUT I GOT TO SEE SOME
REAL ACTIVITY OUT OF THAT ARM
BEFORE I LET YOU --
LET YOU GO DOWN.
AS A DIVER,
JASON'S CUT OF THE PROFITS
IS HIGHER
THAN IF HE JUST WORKS THE DECK,
BUT IT'S THE SKIPPER'S CALL.
Walker:
I JUST WANT TO WORK.
IT'S GETTING
TO THE END OF THE MONTH,
AND I GOT TO GET SOME MONEY
TO MY WIFE.
Meisterheim: HE'S NOT DIVING
TILL I TELL HIM HE'S GONNA DIVE.
HE GOT REAL PISSY WITH ME,
TOLD ME THAT THAT'S GONNA BE
AN ISSUE BETWEEN US,
AND HE'S RIGHT -- IT IS.
GOT IT?
YEAH.
Narrator: TWO MILES UP THE
COAST, ON THE 19-FOOT SLUICEY
THAT'S WICKED EXCITING.
Narrator:
IAN AND SCOTT FOSTER
ARE ON THE GOLD
AND MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.
Ian: UP UNTIL THIS POINT,
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO PUT A 12-HOUR DAY IN.
NONE OF MY EQUIPMENT'S
BEEN RUNNING
EXACTLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
Narrator: AFTER A ROUGH STAR
TO THE SEASON
Scott: HAVE YOU EVER
WANTED TO SEE WHAT A
SWAMPED BOAT LOOKS LIKE?
IAN CALLED IN
VETERAN DREDGER SCOT
TO GET THE SLUICEY DIALED IN.
WE GOT OURSELVES
A WORKING WATER HEATER.
THAT'S THE SECOND PICKER
I FOUND.
WHOO!
Narrator:
AND SO FAR, HE'S DELIVERED.
AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THA
SCOTT IS JUST AS HUNGRY AS I AM.
IF YOU GOT SOMEBODY WORKING
FOR YOU AND THEY'RE MOTIVATED,
YOU LET THEM GO, YOU KNOW?
LET THE HORSES RUN.
Narrator: BUT THE GOOD TIMES
ARE SHORT-LIVED,
AS THE SLUICEY GETS POUNDED
BY A BUILDING SWELL.
IAN SIGNALS
FOR SCOTT TO COME TOPSIDE.
IT'S A RIVERBOAT.
I MEAN, IT'S LOW-HULL.
IT'S NOT MADE FOR OCEAN WAVES.
THE EQUIPMENT GETS WET --
WE HAVE A LO
OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT --
NOT TO MENTION THE FAC
THAT WE COULD SWAMP IT.
IF WE SWAMP IT,
THAT'S A BAD SITUATION.
I MEAN,
I'M NOT WILLING TO RISK IT.
WE'RE DONE, DUDE.
WE'RE DONE.
SCOTTY, HE WAS
REALLY, REALLY AMPED UP TO DIVE,
AND I HATED TO SAY NO TO THAT.
Narrator: AS THE WIND TICKS UP
TO 10 KNOTS
IT'S CLEAR IAN WAS RIGH
TO HEAD IN.
BUT FOR MOST DREDGES,
THIS IS STILL WORKING WEATHER.
Scott:
THIS ISN'T THE IDEAL DREDGE.
IT'LL WORK, BUT WE'RE
JUST MAJORLY HANDICAPPED
IF WE CAN ONLY GO OU
ON THE MOST PRISTINE, CALM DAYS.
WHEN I LOOK A
SOME OF THE DREDGES OUT HERE,
IT'S JUST REALLY STRESSFUL,
AND WE GOT TO CAPITALIZE
ON EVERY FREE MINUTE
THAT WE HAVE OF GOOD WEATHER.
Ian: WHEN YOU DO
THE BOOTSTRAP METHOD,
THIS IS WHAT YOU COME UP WITH.
I MEAN, THIS IS MY LIFE SAVINGS.
IT'S ALL I GOT.
I DIDN'T HAVE 100 GRAND.
I HAD 15. SO, HERE IT IS.
WHAT WE JUST LEF
IS, LIKE, THE BEST CONDITIONS
YOU CAN HOPE FOR.
ALL RIGHT.
Scott: I AM CONCERNED
THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE NEARLY
AS MUCH MONEY AS WE ANTICIPATED,
CONSIDERING THE FAC
THAT THE DREDGE CAN'T HANDLE
EVEN A SMI--
A FRACTION OF THE CONDITIONS
THAT I'M USED TO DIVING IN.
AND I KNEW IT WOULD BE BAD,
BUT I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS GONNA BE THAT BAD.
IT'S A FAIR-WEATHER VESSEL,
AND YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY
BY BEING A FAIR-WEATHER DREDGER.
Narrator: A MILE OFFSHORE,
ON THE 20-FOOT CLARK
CAPTAIN ZEKE TENHOFF
IS ON THE HUN
FOR A HOT SPO
THAT PAID OFF BIG LAST TRIP.
I DON'T THINK
WE FOUND THE SAME SPOT,
BUT, COME TO THINK
OF IT, I THINK WE'RE
PROBABLY GETTING CLOSER,
BECAUSE THIS IS ABOU
WHERE I REMEMBER US TO BE.
Narrator:
A FOURTH-YEAR DREDGER,
THIS IS WHERE ZEKE'S EXPERTISE
CAN PAY OFF.
IN ORDER TO FIND GOLD, YOU
HAVE TO COVER A LOT OF GROUND.
WHEN I'M WANDERING AROUND
THE BOTTOM, LOOKING FOR GOLD,
I'M DIGGING UP SMALL AREAS TO
FIND WHERE THE HARDEST LAYER IS.
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOTTOM,
THERE COULD BE GOLD HERE,
AND THEN 20 FEET AWAY,
THERE'S NO GOLD AT ALL
ON THE SAME LAYER.
SO, IT'S ONLY --
GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT.
Emily: WE'RE ON AWESOME GOLD.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M ABOUT TO
CHANGE IN MY WET SUI
AND GO DOWN THERE
AND GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION.
I WANT TO BE DIVING.
IT SUCKS TO BE UP THERE.
IT'S BORING.
IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE GOLD
THAT YOU'RE GETTING.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF
LIKE THE DREDGE SLAVE.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE MONEY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I WANT TO GE
MY MASTER'S OF OPERA ABROAD,
AND I NEED A LARGE AMOUN
OF MONEY [CHUCKLES] QUICKLY.
Narrator:
AFTER THREE HOURS ON THE GOLD,
ZEKE TAKES HIS FIRST BREAK
AND TURNS THE NOZZLE
OVER TO GREENHORN EMILY.
THE HOSE USES A POWERFUL
525 POUNDS OF PRESSURE
PER SQUARE INCH
TO SUCK UP
THE BOTTOM OF THE BERING SEA.
Narrator: 25 FEET BELOW
THE SURFACE OF THE BERING SEA
GREENHORN EMILY RIEDEL
IS DREDGING ALONE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
COMPLETELY UNAWARE,
ZEKE FINISHES HIS BREAK
AND DIVES BACK DOWN.
Emily: I JUST GOT MY HAND STUCK
IN THE HOSE,
AND THAT SUCTION IS SO STRONG.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHETHER YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET IT OUT OR NOT,
AND, LIKE, IF YOU TRY
TO USE YOU OTHER HAND --
MY OTHER HAND GOT SUCKED IN IT,
TOO, FOR A SECOND.
[ SIGHS ]
THAT THING IS [BLEEP] DANGEROUS!
I WAS STUCK DOWN THERE
FOR A FEW MINUTES,
AND IT WAS PRETTY TERRIFYING.
YEAH, I'M THINKING
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE I'M THINKING
IT'S TOO DANGEROUS
FOR ME TO BE DOWN THERE.
I'M ABSENTMINDED,
AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY
VERY SAFETY-CONSCIOUS,
AND I'M WONDERING WHETHER
I'M SUITED FOR GOLD DREDGING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
UM
YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES IN LIFE, LIKE,
THERE ARE
JUST MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.
[ CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES ]
AND THAT WAS PROBABLY --
I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDES
THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DO.
Narrator:
A MILE UP THE COAST
WILD RANGER CAPTAIN
SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
ZEROES IN ON HIS CHOSEN GROUNDS.
GONNA ANCHOR OU
ABOUT 10 FEET PAST THAT.
Walker: ARE WE HERE?
SCOTT HAS FORBIDDEN JASON
TO DIVE.
I WANT YOU TO GO
RIGHT NOW.
OKAY.
SO, FIRST UP
IS DECKHAND STEVE RIEDEL.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD IN THAT BOX
BY THE END OF THE DAY,
HOWEVER LONG WE'RE OUT HERE,
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A GOOD DAY
FOR ME.
Meisterheim: THERE'S A LO
OF ROCKS AND A LOT OF SAND.
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD,
IT'S GONNA BE VERY LITTLE.
OUR GOLD, IT DOESN'T EXCITE ME
IN THE LEAST.
PEOPLE DON'T TEACH YOU ANYTHING.
PEOPLE DON'T TELL YOU SECRETS.
THEY DON'T TELL YOU
WHERE IT'S AT.
THEY DON'T TELL YOU
HOW TO FIND IT.
YOU GET ON THE DREDGE, YOU GE
OUT THERE AND [BLEEP] DIVE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT,
YOU CAN'T FIND IT. YOU GO HOME.
I DIDN'T FIND A LICK OF GOLD
OUT THERE, NOT A LICK.
Steve R.: [ CHUCKLES ]
WELL, MAN, IT IS GR-- I MEAN,
I'M NOT FINDING ANY GOLD,
BUT I'M HAVING A BALL.
OH!
WELL, GOT PRETTY UP HERE.
NOT A GOOD SPOT.
HEAD THAT WAY.
Walker:
WHICH WAY AGAIN?
WILL DO.
Meisterheim: I JUST HAVE TO GE
OUT THERE AND MAKE THE MONEY.
I GOT TO FIND THE GOLD.
BASICALLY,
I'M DREDGING FOR MY FREEDOM.
I'M HERE TO PAY MY CHILD SUPPOR
AND OTHER BILLS
THAT I'VE ACQUIRED.
IF I DON'T PAY THAT [BLEEP]
IT'S JAIL TIME FOR ME.
AND I'M NOT TALKING
30 DAYS IN JAIL.
TALKING YEARS.
I'VE GOT TO STICK IT OUT.
I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
ANYBODY WHO'S GONNA GE
IN MY WAY OF MAKING THIS WORK
IS GONNA END UP IN THE OCEAN.
I'M JUST GONNA
THROW THE [BLEEP] OVERBOARD.
THEY CAN EITHER
SWIM BACK TO SHORE.
OR THEY CAN CALL
THE [BLEEP] COAST GUARD.
I DON'T CARE.
HOW YOU DOING?
BE NICE
IF I HAD SOME SUCTION.
THE HOSE.
GIVE ME SOME [BLEEP] SUCTION!
HE NEEDS SUCTION!
I'M TIRED
OF HAVING IDIOTS ON MY BOAT.
WHEN PEOPLE KEEP ME FROM DOING
MY JOB, GETTING IN MY WAY, YEAH,
I GET REALLY [BLEEP] ANGRY AND
I JUST WANT TO KILL THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: JUST OFFSHORE, TWO
MILES EAST OF NOME, ALASKA
I DON'T -- I DON'T GE
WHY SHE AIN'T PUMPING.
THE WILD RANGER
HAS LOST SUCTION.
IS THERE AIR
IN THE FOOT VALVE?
THE FOOT VALVE ALLOWS WATER
TO FLOW IN ONE DIRECTION,
CREATING SUCTION
FOR THE DREDGE'S VACUUM HOSE.
Steve R.:
THE ONE-WAY VALVE IN THERE,
IT'S JUST A FLAP OF RUBBER,
BUT A PIECE OF I
WAS PUSHED OUT.
IT NEEDS TO BE
ALL THE WAY IN.
WE NEED
A PHILLIPS-HEAD SCREWDRIVER.
Meisterheim:
IT'S RIGHT UNDERNEATH THERE.
THIS ONE?
NO. YEAH.
RIGHT THERE.
JUST REACH YOUR DAMN ARM
IN THE HELM.
OH [BLEEP]
YOU NEED A PHILLIPS?
[BLEEP]
DOESN'T HURT TO GET ON YOUR
DAMN HANDS AND KNEES AND LOOK.
PHILLIPS.
WELL, I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT'VE
PUT IT BACK WHERE IT BELONGED.
NOT ON THIS BOAT.
I DO.
THE CREW
IS A BUNCH OF [BLEEP] IDIOTS.
MENTALLY,
IT'S TAKING ITS TOLL ON ME.
COME ON. FOCUS!
HERE, HERE, HERE.
TAKE THAT.
I CAN'T FIND ANY GOLD.
I HAVE A LOT TO LOSE
IF I DON'T MAKE THIS WORK.
I GOT MORE TO LOSE
THAN THOSE TWO [BLEEP]
WILL EVER GAIN IN THEIR LIFE.
THIS [BLEEP] BOAT NEEDS TO BE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE, LIKE,
A HOME FOR A BUNCH OF --
FOR FISH AND STARFISH.
THIS BOAT'S
GOOD FOR THAT [BLEEP]
THAT'S JUST MY LUCK RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S HOW MY LIFE GOES.
SOMETHING THAT'S NO
SUPPOSED TO BREAK
SHUT YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH.
I'M SO TIRED OF HEARING
YOUR MOUTH SOMETIMES, JASON.
Narrator:
10 MILES INLAND
Woman:
DADDY'S GOT AN OWIE.
OWIE.
YEAH.
AFTER GETTING STABBED
IN A BAR FIGHT
HE SHANKED ME!
Man: WHAT THE HELL
HAPPENED TO YOUR HAND?
CHRISTINE ROSE CO-OWNER
SHAWN POMRENKE
IS TAKING SOME DOWNTIME
WITH HIS FAMILY.
Shawn:
GOT ATTACKED, GOT CUT.
GOT 11 STITCHES IN MY FINGER
AND FOUR IN MY BACK.
SO, MY BACK'S A LITTLE TENDER.
TRY TO MOVE FORWARD
AND SPEND TIME WITH THE KIDS.
Shawn: WHEN THE DOCTOR
WAS SEWING UP THIS,
I ASKED HIM
IF I COULD WATCH.
SHE TOLD HIM LIKE THREE TIMES
NOT TO WATCH.
AND WHAT DID I DO?
WATCHED ANYWAY.
I LOVE MY FAMILY.
THE POMRENKE NAME MEANS PRIDE
AND QUALITY -- QUALITY WORK.
BRATS.
I'M GONNA TAKE OVER
THE DREDGE EVENTUALLY
AND LET DAD GO ENJOY LIFE.
I MEAN, THAT GUY,
HE'S WORKED HARD ENOUGH,
AND HE'S TAUGHT ME WELL ENOUGH
TO WHERE I CAN HANDLE ANYTHING
THAT COMES UP.
Narrator: WHILE SHAWN
IS OUT OF COMMISSION
HIS OLD MAN
IS RUNNING THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
NOW I GOT TO WINCH OUT HERE
AND GET THE ANCHOR DROPPED.
NOW WE'RE READY TO FIRE UP THE
WATER PUMP AND THE WASH PLANT.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
THE HONDA DON'T START.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY HAD SOME
PROBLEMS WITH IT THE OTHER DAY,
BUT I'M WONDERING IF ANYBODY
ACTUALLY TRIED TO FIX IT.
LORD ONLY KNOWS, I GUESS.
IF THESE BOYS
WERE DOING THEIR JOB,
THAT WOULD BE FIXED
AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO
MONKEY AROUND HERE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE GENERATOR THAT KEEPS
THE BATTERY CHARGED UP
FOR THE GENERATOR
IS NOT CHARGING.
NOBODY SEEMED TO NOTICE THAT,
EITHER, I GUESS.
NOW WHAT?
FUEL VALVE SHUT OFF.
WHY WAS THAT SHUT OFF?
HUH.
NO, THAT DON'T SEEM
TO WANT TO PRIME.
HO! GEEZ!
I GOT SPRAYED.
NO REASON TO BE DOING THIS.
ANOTHER THING TO ADD
TO MY BITCH LIST.
Narrator:
BACK AT THE CAMPGROUNDS
I TOLD THEM TO BREAK THE STRAP,
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE WORK HARD,
AND THEN WE PLAY HARD, TOO.
WHOO!
TOTALLY DIFFERENT PACE
THAN ON THE DREDGE.
A GUY NEEDS A LITTLE BREAK
FROM THAT THING
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
TRY TO CRANK IT AGAIN.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERS, TURNS OVER ]
ALL RIGHT.
MAYBE WE CAN RUN SOME DIRT NOW.
ALL THAT MICKEY MOUSE CRAP,
YOU KNOW,
AGGRAVATES THE HELL OUT OF ME.
I COME OUT HERE TO DIG DIRT.
YOU GET OUT HERE
AND IT'S NOT READY TO GO,
EVERYTHING'S, LIKE, HALF-ASSED.
BOILS BACK DOWN
TO ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS
THAT SHOULD BE DONE
THAT DON'T GET DONE.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY
SHAWN IS.
HE DON'T GIVE A CRAP
ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS.
MAKES ME WONDER
IF I CAN TURN THE DANG THING
OVER TO SHAWN OR NOT.
Narrator:
BACK ON BELMONT BEACH
Scott: THE WAY THAT THIS WAS
DONE WAS SET UP FOR DISASTER.
SEE THAT?
SEE HOW THAT FLOA
IS FULL OF WATER?
HAD HE NOT PU
THAT STYROFOAM IN THERE,
WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE SUNK
THE OTHER DAY WHEN HE WENT OUT.
IAN IS ONE OF
THE MOST DISORGANIZED PEOPLE
I'VE EVER ME
AND ONE OF THE MOS
SCATTERBRAINED PEOPLE
I'VE EVER MET, SO THAT'S BEEN
REALLY FRUSTRATING.
THESE WELDS --
THE PLASTIC WELDS DID NOT HOLD.
HE PUT THE SEALANT ON THERE.
LOOK AT THAT.
I DON'T EVEN THINK
HE PLASTIC-WELDED THIS.
ONCE THE WATER STARTS SHAKING,
YOU KNOW,
ONCE THIS DREDGE
IS BOUNCING OVER THE WAVES,
THAT SEAL IN THERE
IS GONNA BREAK
AND IT'S GONNA LET WATER GET IN.
WHAT KIND OF JURY-RIG
[CHUCKLES] BALING-WIRE-
AND-DUCT-TAPE SOLUTIONS
ARE THERE TO BAND-AID
EVERY LITTLE PROBLEM
THAT'S ON THE DREDGE
AND JUST TURN THE THING
INTO JUST A FLOATING DISASTER,
YOU KNOW?
OR IN THIS CASE,
A SEMI-FLOATING DISASTER.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW IT TO HIM.
[ LAUGHS ]
IAN, THERE'S SOMETHING HERE
YOU NEED TO SEE.
THIS STUFF WAS PULLED BACK.
OH, MY GOSH.
THAT'S WHY
IT'S FULL OF WATER.
AWESOME.
YEAH. SO,
THAT WHOLE THING'S FULL, HUH?
YOU DIDN'T EVEN
SEAL THIS SIDE.
Scott:
WHY DID YOU NOT DO THAT?
DUDE, FRICKIN' CHECK YOUR EGO.
LIKE, HONESTLY.
WHAT'S --
WHAT'S THE POINT HERE?
IT'S MY F'ing DREDGE,
YOU KNOW?
LIKE, WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I'M WORKING FOR HIM FOR FREE.
I'M HELPING HIM FIX HIS DREDGE.
HE'S NOT PAYING ME BY THE HOUR.
THE ONLY WAY I GET MONEY IS
WHEN I GET MY CUT OF THE GOLD.
WHEN YOU'RE
COMMUNICATING STUFF,
IT'S TOTALLY, LIKE,
INSTRUCTOR/PUPIL,
AND YOU'RE BASICALLY
TAKING AWAY
ANY SORT OF, LIKE,
LEGITIMATE BRAIN WORK
THAT I PUT INTO IT, TOO.
I'M NOT GONNA STAND DOWN
IF I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M SAYING
IS RIGHT.
"PATRONIZING" IS THE WORD.
I'M NOT GONNA STAND DOWN
IF I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M SAYING
IS RIGHT.
"PATRONIZING" IS THE WORD.
LOOK, MAN,
I'M NOT TRYING TO DETHRONE YOU
OR TAKE ANY WIND
OUT OF YOUR SAIL.
I'M NOT TRYING
TO BUST YOUR [BLEEP]
LIKE, THIS IS THE WAY
THAT IT'S GOT TO BE
IF IT'S GONNA WORK,
AND I KNOW, AND IT'S NOT JUS
YOUR LIFE THAT'S ON THE LINE
IF THIS THING SINKS,
YOU KNOW?
I GET IT.
LIKE, YOU HAVE A LOT TO OFFER,
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF
COMPETENCIES THAT I DO NOT HAVE,
AND I TOTALLY GET IT.
I MEAN, PERSONALLY,
I FOLLOW REALLY EASILY,
WHICH IS A WEIRD SITUATION
TO PUT A NATURAL LEADER
AND A NATURAL FOLLOWER
YOU GOT TO BE THE CAPTAIN THIS
TIME INSTEAD OF A SHIPMATE.
YEAH,
AND THERE'S NO CHOICE.
AND, I MEAN,
THE STAKES ARE REALLY HIGH.
IT'S A GREAT FEAT THA
WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE HERE,
AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE
A BED OF ROSES.
Narrator:
JUST OFFSHORE, ON THE CLARK
ZEKE IS STILL ON THE GOLD.
BUT UP TOP
AFTER A CLOSE CALL
ON THE OCEAN FLOOR
Emily: I WENT FROM FEELING BAD
TO WORSE.
I HAVE, LIKE, THIS HEADACHE
STRAIGHT FROM HELL.
Narrator:
EMILY IS STILL SHAKEN.
Emily: AND I THINK IT'S TIME
TO CALL ZEKE UP AND GO HOME.
I LITERALLY --
LITERALLY HAVE GOLD FEVER.
I KNOW ZEKE
IS NOT GONNA BE HAPPY,
BUT I THINK I'M ABOUT TO PUKE.
I PROBABLY COULD'VE KEPT GOING,
BUT EMILY WAS FEELING SICK.
WE SO NEEDED
A STRETCH LIKE THIS,
A STRETCH OF GOOD WEATHER
AND GOOD GOLD.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S WORKING
IN MY FAVOR RIGHT NOW,
AND I HAVE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THE WEATHER
AND ALL MY EQUIPMENT -- WHOA!
I HIT THE SANDBAR.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME
TO SLOW DOWN?
WELL, LET'S SEE HOW YOU FEEL
TOMORROW.
IF YOU FEEL SICK
TOMORROW MORNING,
YOU'RE NOT GOING DOWN
ALL DAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SIT UP HERE
WITH A BOOK,
AND YOU'RE GONNA, LIKE,
FROM TIME TO TIME,
DO THINGS
THAT I TELL YOU TO DO.
SHE HAS NO ILLUSIONS
ABOUT HER VALUE TO THE PROJECT,
WHICH, IN THE LONG RUN,
ISN'T MUCH,
BECAUSE SHE ISN'
VERY EXPERIENCED.
BUT WE GOT ANOTHER 2 1/2 MONTHS.
SHE'LL HAVE TO DO A LOT BETTER
THAN SHE'S DOING NOW.
Narrator:
THREE MILES DOWN THE COAST
ALL RIGHT.
WASHER REPAIR HAS RESTORED
SUCTION TO THE WILD RANGER,
AND CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
GETS BACK TO WORK.
I WANT TO GO DOWN, AND I WAN
TO DO, LIKE, A 4-HOUR STRETCH,
BUT I'VE BEEN
AVOIDING ASKING.
Walker: IT'S RIDICULOUS.
HE'S KEEPING ME
OUT OF THE WATER.
MY ARM'S NOT 100%,
BUT I GOT TO GO DOWN.
WE HAD A TALK ABOUT THAT,
SCOTT AND I.
Meisterheim: AIN'T NO GOLD HERE.
IT'S A BIG JOKE.
Steve R.: I'M JUST TRYING
TO MAKE SENSE OF THIS.
Walker:
WHY ARE YOU SO FRUSTRATED?
TELL ME WHY
YOU'RE SO FRUSTRATED.
YOU KNOW WHAT -- YOU KNOW WHA
[BLEEP] MONTH THIS IS?
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT TIME THIS IS?
YEAH, I KNOW, MAN.
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG
I'VE [BLEEP] BEEN HERE?
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I'VE
SPENT AND HAVEN'T [BLEEP] MADE?!
I KNOW.
ASK ME AGAIN
WHY I'M FRUSTRATED!
THERE'S NO GOLD
IN THE [BLEEP] BERING SEA.
I'VE BEEN HEARING
THAT THERE IS.
Meisterheim:
JASON WANTS TO WHINE,
CONTRADICT EVERYTHING
I HAVE TO SAY.
HE'S A BIG CRYBABY.
WHY DON'T YOU GO DOWN
AND FIND IT, THEN?
YOU WANT MY SUIT?
YOU GUYS CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.
I GOT SO TIRED
OF HEARING HIM CRY ABOUT IT,
TELLING ME THAT HE WAS OKAY TO
DREDGE, THAT I LET HIM GO DOWN.
Walker: I'M NOT NERVOUS.
I'M NOT AFRAID.
ARM FEELS GOOD.
I'M READY.
I THINK YOU'RE RETARDED.
JUST SO YOU KNOW.
AAH! JUST KIDDING.
[ LAUGHS ]
JASON LEARNED HOW TO DO
THIS [BLEEP] ON YouTube,
BY WATCHING VIDEOS.
HE'S A COMPLETE [BLEEP] IDIOT.
I WANTED HIM TO REALIZE
THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO
FUNCTIONING LIMBS ON YOUR BODY
TO WORK THAT HOSE,
AND I WANTED HIM TO COME UP
MORE HURT THAN HE WENT DOWN.
THAT'S A SAD THING TO SAY,
BUT YOU'RE PUSHING MY BUTTONS,
I'M GONNA WISH
BAD THINGS ON YOU.
HE'S A COMPLETE IDIOT.
Meisterheim: JASON WAS
SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF WORK
BECAUSE OF HIS SHOULDER.
WANTED TO GO IN SO HE CAN PROVE
THAT HE'S OKAY TO DIVE.
I TOLD HIM HE CAN'T GO.
HE BITCHED AND BITCHED
AND BITCHED,
AND THEN, "FINE. [BLEEP] GO.
GET HURT. I DARE YOU TO DO IT."
I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S GONNA COME UP SOON,
I THINK.
THAT INJURY HE HAD,
THE DOCTOR SAID, "TAKE IT EASY."
I THINK HE'S PICKED UP
THE NOZZLE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE
THE END OF THE NOZZLE IS.
SO, HE MIGHT BE ACTUALLY
GETTING GOLD AS WE SPEAK.
[BLEEP]
Meisterheim:
IF HE WOULD'VE GOTTEN HURT,
IF HE WOULD'VE GOT DOWN THERE
AND DIED,
WELL, HIS WIFE AND CHILD
WOULD BE WITHOUT A HUSBAND
OR A FATHER,
BUT I WOULD'VE BEEN RIGHT.
ARE WE GOING IN?
ABSOLUTELY.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH.
I'M TIRED OF WASTING MY TIME.
[ SIGHS ]
NICE.
I, MYSELF, PERSONALLY,
HAVE SEEN NO GOLD TODAY.
JASON'S SEEN SOME, BUT I
ALL JUST SEEMS LIKE A BIG JOKE.
AND IT'S JUST TIME TO GO IN
ANDTHINK -- RETHINK IT.
Narrator: AT THE NOME HARBOR
BOAT LAUNCH
Shawn:
BACK'S FEELING A LOT BETTER.
BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Narrator: TWO WEEKS AFTER
GETTING STABBED IN A BAR FIGHT,
SHAWN POMRENKE
IS HEADING BACK TO WORK.
THERE'S NOTHING I'D RATHER DO
THAN MINE GOLD WITH THE OLD MAN.
Steve P.: THEY AIN'T GO
HALF THE TOOLS ON HERE
THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ON HERE.
CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU WANT.
BOILS BACK DOWN
TO ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS
THAT SHOULD BE DONE
THAT DON'T GET DONE.
MAKES ME WONDER
IF I CAN TURN THE DANG THING
OVER TO SHAWN OR NOT.
Shawn: HEY, DAD.
YOUR TOOL SITUATION ON HERE
SUCKS.
WE'LL HAVE EXTRA.
YEAH, BUT YOU GET THEM OFF HERE
IN TWO MINUTES,
AND THEY'RE HERE,
WHERE YOU NEED THEM,
INSTEAD OF GOING OU
IN THE YARD.
I DON'T KNOW.
ARE THESE THE
[BLEEP]
THAT AIN'T THE POINT.
I'M TRYING TO
GET THE JUNK OFF OF HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PUTTING
MORE JUNK ON HERE.
YOU ALWAYS COMPLAIN
ABOUT ALL THE JUNK ON HERE.
CLAMPS ARE NOT JUNK.
THAT'S THE POINT.
I GOT ENOUGH CLAMPS
ON HERE.
I DON'T WANT NO MORE
[BLEEP] CLAMPS ON HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY
YOU WOULD TAKE THEM OFF HERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BECAUSE I WAS BUSY
DOING OTHER THINGS.
ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU LATER.
Shawn:
EXCITED TO BE ON THE BOAT AGAIN.
JUST TRYING TO
DO MY DAD PROUD OUT HERE.
Wade:
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SHAWN BACK.
NOW WE CAN STAR
MAKING SOME REAL MONEY.
HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL LE
US STAY OUT HERE A LITTLE BIT.
Narrator:
AS SHAWN SETS THE ANCHOR,
THE SWELLS START TO KICK UP.
BUT SHAWN CAN KEEP
THE CHRISTINE ROSE STEADY
BY LOWERING THE DREDGE'S
STEEL I-BEAM SPUDS
INTO THE BERING SEA FLOOR.
SHAWN: How are we looking
on the front winches?
Clear.
WHOA!
HEY!
WHOA!
HEY!
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP] THE CABLE UP.
I JUST [BLEEP] UP BIG-TIME.
Narrator:
INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE SPUD,
SHAWN ACCIDENTALLY RAISED IT,
SHREDDING THE CABLE
IN THE PULLEY
AND DROPPING THE SPUD
TO THE OCEAN FLOOR.
UNTIL THEY FIX THE CABLE,
THEY'RE PINNED IN PLACE.
AND IF THE WAVES PICK UP,
THE IMMOBILIZED DREDGE
COULD CAPSIZE.
IF THE WAVES CAME,
WE COULD LOSE THE WHOLE BOAT.
Steve P.: IT'S TWISTED
QUITE A WAYS UP THERE.
Narrator:
WITH THE SWELLS RISING,
SHAWN SPRINGS INTO ACTION
AND SCALES THE GANTRY
WITHOUT A SAFETY HARNESS.
Wade: WE AIN'T GOT MUCH TIME
RIGHT NOW,
CONSIDERING THE SWELL.
Shawn: I GOT TO GET UP ON TOP
OF THERE, THOUGH, SEE?
THAT'S THE ONLY THING
I DON'T LIKE RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE NEEDS TO RUN
A SPARE CABLE THROUGH THE PULLEY
35 FEET ABOVE THE DECK.
THAT'S GOOD, SHAWN.
Shawn: [ GRUNTS ]
[ GRUNTS ]
WE NEED CLAMPS.
Narrator:
WITH THE CABLE IN PLACE,
THE ONLY THING LEFT IS TO CLAMP
THE CABLE ON TOP OF THE SPUD.
Shawn:
WELL, WE'RE GOING BACK IN.
Narrator: THE FIX HOLDS,
AND THE SPUD IS RAISED.
BUT WITH THE WEATHER
STILL BUILDING,
IT'S TIME TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
Wade: AT THIS POINT,
WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO IN
AND JUST GET IT BUTTONED
BACK UP.
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH FOR NOW.
NOTHING COMES EASY.
NOT OUT HERE.
Steve P.:
CRAZY BASTARD, DANGLING AROUND.
WHAT THE HELL
WERE YOU DANGLING AROUND ON?
I HAD TO HOOK THE SHACKLE
BACK UP TO THE SPUD.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
YOU GOT TO
GET IT HOOKED BACK UP.
Steve P.: SHAWN --
HE LIKES TO TAKE THESE RISKS,
AND THAT IS THE THING
THAT WORRIES ME THE MOST.
I TRIED TO PUT INTO HIS MIND,
"THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE A
POSSIBILITY OF LOSING, YOU KNOW?
YOU HAVE A POSSIBILITY
OF LOSING EVERYTHING.
THINK ABOUT IT, PLEASE."
WE NEED TO GE
A COUPLE OF PULLEYS THERE
AND SOME TAG LINES
HANGING OFF OF THERE
FOR WHEN THAT COMES TO THAT.
THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT.
AIN'T WORTH DYING FOR.
Narrator:
ON WEST BEACH
Scott: I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE
A REALLY GOOD CLEANUP, DUDE.
Ian: I HOPE SO.
IAN AND SCOTT OF THE SLUICEY
NEED TO CASH IN SOME GOLD.
OH, BABY!
OH, DEAR.
GOLD IS ALMOST 20 TIMES HEAVIER
THAN WATER,
SO AS THE MUD
FLOWS DOWN THE GOLD EXTRACTOR,
SILT IS WASHED AWAY,
LEAVING BEHIND GOLD.
GOLD, BABY.
THAT STUFF IS HOTTER THAN HELL.
LITTLE PILES OF GOLD
IN THERE.
HOME-STYLE GOLD COOKING.
I'M JUST BOILING THE WATER OFF
OF IT SO THAT I CAN WEIGH IT.
YOU CAN'T ACCURATELY WEIGH I
IF IT'S GOT WATER IN THERE,
BECAUSE
YOU'RE WEIGHING THE WATER.
Ian: COME ON, GIRL.
AND IT READS
WE GOT 1, 2
WE BASICALLY GO
3 OUNCES HERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I JUST REPLACED MY STATE JOB.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHOO!
Narrator: WITH GOLD
SELLING AT A RECORD HIGH,
THEY COULD GET AS MUCH
AS 5 GRAND FROM THE ASSAYER.
BUT THE SLUICEY BOYS
HAVE ANOTHER PLAN.
WE HAVE THIS FOR SALE TODAY.
UH-HUH.
THERE'S THIS GERMAN CRUISE SHIP
THAT'S COMING TO TOWN,
SO WE'RE TRYING
TO LIQUIDATE SOME GOLD HERE
AT A PREMIUM PRICE.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS ONE GRAM.
ONE GRAM.
ONE GRAM.
AND HOW MUCH IS THIS?
WE'RE SELLING THIS
FOR $75.
$75?
$75. UH-HUH.
ALL RIGHTY.
AND I GET THIS.
OKAY.
Narrator: IN THE END,
THE BOYS MAKE ALMOST $6,000.
Scott:
ENJOY YOUR GOLD.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
TO COME BUY SOME GOLD FROM US.
Narrator: FOR THE MEN
OF THE CHRISTINE ROSE
STARTING TO FEED DIR
THROUGH THE CLEANUP SHACK.
WE'LL JUST WORK 'EM DOWN
ONE AT A TIME,
SCOOP BY SCOOP, ONE BY ONE.
Narrator: SHAWN'S TIME OFF
AND A BUSTED SPUD
DIDN'T SLOW THEM DOWN.
THEIR TAKE?
75 OUNCES WORTH $125,000.
HOW MUCH CONCENTRATION
DOES IT TAKE
TO SHOVEL DIR
FROM HERE TO THERE
AND NOT LOSE IT OVER THE EDGE?
YOU GET A BUNCH OF THIS.
NOW YOU GOT A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS
THAT COME WITH IT.
THAT'S WHAT MY MAIN OBJECTIVE
IS, ACTUALLY.
Tenhoff:
YOU'RE A WOMAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE GREEDY.
Narrator: ON THE CLARK,
TRACKING DOWN THEIR HOT SPO
PAID OFF BIG.
WITH A 9-OUNCE, $15,000 HAUL,
GOLD FEVER KICKS IN
AND EMILY PUTS A PUNISHING TRIP
BEHIND HERFOR NOW.
KIND OF LIKE A STUPID WOMAN,
BECAUSE, LIKE,
I WOULD PROBABLY GE
PLENTY OF GOLD
WITHOUT HAVING TO DO
ANY GOLD MINING.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND ON THE WILD RANGER
I ALREADY KNOW.
I ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE GOT.
I COUNTED EVERY PIECE OF GOLD
THAT WENT IN THERE. [ LAUGHS ]
OH,
SO YOU CAN COUNT TO FOUR.
THEIR SLUICE BOX RACKED UP
ALMOST NOTHING BUT ROCKS.
WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE,
MINIMUM, IS AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME,
I ALMOST REGRET COMING HERE
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
I HAVEN'T MADE.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE GOLD IS.
BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP.
I'M NOT WALKING AWAY.
I'M GONNA STICK IT OUT UNTIL
TILL I'M THE LAST [BLEEP] DREDGE
ON THE WATER.
Narrator:
INFIGHTING AND A NEAR-DROWNING
DIDN'T STOP THE TWO SMALLES
DREDGES, THE CLARK AND SLUICEY,
FROM RACKING UP BIG PROFITS.
TRYING TO [BLEEP] KILL ME,
STEVE?
ARE YOU THAT PISSED AT ME?
Emily:
IT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS.
THE OUTBOARD'S RUNNING,
AND THERE'S A DIVER DOWN.
THE BOSS IS DYING, MAN.
ARGH!
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A WALK
AND HAVE A LITTLE CONVERSATION?
WHO MAKES IT AS A GOLD DREDGER?
MOST START OUT WITH HOPE.
THERE SHOULD BE 25 OUNCES
IN THE BOX.
WE'RE ON THE GOLD, BABY!
Steve P.:
AND THEN THE PAIN SETS IN.
Shawn: AAH!
THERE'S NO GOLD
IN THE BERING SEA.
DUDE,
FRICKIN' CHECK YOUR EGO.
WHOA!
HEY!
Steve P.: SO, WHO MAKES I
AS A GOLD DREDGER?
I'LL NEVER TELL.
[ "GOLD IN THESE HILLS" PLAYS ]
LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW ♪
WHAT I SAY ♪
I'M A-GONNA TAKE THAT RISK
ONE DAY ♪
I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪
AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪
'CAUSE I HEARD
THAT THERE'S GOLD ♪
IN THESE HILLS ♪
--Captions by VITAC --
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
GOLD ♪
Narrator:
A NEW DAY DAWNS IN NOME, ALASKA.
Steve P.:
OCEAN'S KIND OF SMOOTH.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A COUPLE,
THREE DAYS IN HERE.
Narrator: AND WITH GOOD WEATHER,
THE HUNT FOR GOLD IS ON.
I KNOW THERE'S GOLD OUT HERE
SOMEWHERE.
GOT TO FIND IT.
I'M MAKING MONEY RIGHT NOW.
YEE-HAW!
AT PORT,
MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS,
IS THE 25-FOOT WILD RANGER.
Meisterheim: ONE OF THE BIGGES
PROBLEMS I'VE HAD THIS SEASON
IS THAT THE WILD RANGER WAS
A BAD DESIGN FROM THE BEGINNING.
ANYTHING THAT COULD BREAK
IS BREAKING.
THE DAMN DIFFUSER'S
PULLED AWAY FROM THE JET.
WE GOT A MAJOR LEAK
IN THE STARBOARD HULL.
WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE
WAS THAT CAPTAINING THIS BOA
WAS GONNA BE
SO STRESSFUL MENTALLY.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY THA
I AM CARRYING ON MY SHOULDERS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CREW
AND THE BOAT OPERATE CORRECTLY.
I LEFT MY TWO DAUGHTERS,
THAT MEAN THE WORLD TO ME,
TO BE SUCCESSFUL, NOT TO FAIL,
SO IF I FAIL HERE
[BLEEP] FAILURE, ALL AROUND.
[ WHISTLING ]
HALF-HOUR LATE.
OKAY.
ARE WE ABOUT READY TO GO?
YEAH. YOU DONE?
YOU GOT YOUR [BLEEP]
OUT OF THE WAY?
WE'RE GOOD?
OKAY.
STEVE IS DEFINITELY
ONE OF A [BLEEP] KIND.
[ WHISTLING ]
AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY REASON
I'M BEING NICE TO HIM
IS I NEED A SECOND PERSON
ON THAT BOAT WITH ME.
Narrator: BUT JUS
AS THEY'RE ABOUT TO SHOVE OFF
HUH.
INJURED DECKHAND JASON WALKER
SHOWS UP
OH!
STILL ON THE MEND
FROM A DISLOCATED SHOULDER.
HOW'S YOUR ARM TODAY,
JASON?
PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S ABOUT 60%.
PROBABLY WON'T BE PULLING
ANY ANCHORS ANYTIME SOON,
DOING ANYTHING REAL HEAVY
THAT REQUIRES TWO HANDS.
STILL GONNA GIVE YOU A COUPLE
MORE DAYS, FEW MORE DAYS.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA KEEP ME
OUT OF THE WATER FOR THAT LONG.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
HUH. IMAGINE THAT.
YOU TELLING ME
WHAT I'M GONNA DO?
I'M TELLING YOU
THAT I CAN DIVE.
I JUST CAN'T LIFT ANYTHING HEAVY
WITH THAT ARM.
YOU CAN GO ON THE BOAT,
IF YOU LIKE,
BUT I GOT TO SEE SOME
REAL ACTIVITY OUT OF THAT ARM
BEFORE I LET YOU --
LET YOU GO DOWN.
AS A DIVER,
JASON'S CUT OF THE PROFITS
IS HIGHER
THAN IF HE JUST WORKS THE DECK,
BUT IT'S THE SKIPPER'S CALL.
Walker:
I JUST WANT TO WORK.
IT'S GETTING
TO THE END OF THE MONTH,
AND I GOT TO GET SOME MONEY
TO MY WIFE.
Meisterheim: HE'S NOT DIVING
TILL I TELL HIM HE'S GONNA DIVE.
HE GOT REAL PISSY WITH ME,
TOLD ME THAT THAT'S GONNA BE
AN ISSUE BETWEEN US,
AND HE'S RIGHT -- IT IS.
GOT IT?
YEAH.
Narrator: TWO MILES UP THE
COAST, ON THE 19-FOOT SLUICEY
THAT'S WICKED EXCITING.
Narrator:
IAN AND SCOTT FOSTER
ARE ON THE GOLD
AND MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.
Ian: UP UNTIL THIS POINT,
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO PUT A 12-HOUR DAY IN.
NONE OF MY EQUIPMENT'S
BEEN RUNNING
EXACTLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
Narrator: AFTER A ROUGH STAR
TO THE SEASON
Scott: HAVE YOU EVER
WANTED TO SEE WHAT A
SWAMPED BOAT LOOKS LIKE?
IAN CALLED IN
VETERAN DREDGER SCOT
TO GET THE SLUICEY DIALED IN.
WE GOT OURSELVES
A WORKING WATER HEATER.
THAT'S THE SECOND PICKER
I FOUND.
WHOO!
Narrator:
AND SO FAR, HE'S DELIVERED.
AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THA
SCOTT IS JUST AS HUNGRY AS I AM.
IF YOU GOT SOMEBODY WORKING
FOR YOU AND THEY'RE MOTIVATED,
YOU LET THEM GO, YOU KNOW?
LET THE HORSES RUN.
Narrator: BUT THE GOOD TIMES
ARE SHORT-LIVED,
AS THE SLUICEY GETS POUNDED
BY A BUILDING SWELL.
IAN SIGNALS
FOR SCOTT TO COME TOPSIDE.
IT'S A RIVERBOAT.
I MEAN, IT'S LOW-HULL.
IT'S NOT MADE FOR OCEAN WAVES.
THE EQUIPMENT GETS WET --
WE HAVE A LO
OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT --
NOT TO MENTION THE FAC
THAT WE COULD SWAMP IT.
IF WE SWAMP IT,
THAT'S A BAD SITUATION.
I MEAN,
I'M NOT WILLING TO RISK IT.
WE'RE DONE, DUDE.
WE'RE DONE.
SCOTTY, HE WAS
REALLY, REALLY AMPED UP TO DIVE,
AND I HATED TO SAY NO TO THAT.
Narrator: AS THE WIND TICKS UP
TO 10 KNOTS
IT'S CLEAR IAN WAS RIGH
TO HEAD IN.
BUT FOR MOST DREDGES,
THIS IS STILL WORKING WEATHER.
Scott:
THIS ISN'T THE IDEAL DREDGE.
IT'LL WORK, BUT WE'RE
JUST MAJORLY HANDICAPPED
IF WE CAN ONLY GO OU
ON THE MOST PRISTINE, CALM DAYS.
WHEN I LOOK A
SOME OF THE DREDGES OUT HERE,
IT'S JUST REALLY STRESSFUL,
AND WE GOT TO CAPITALIZE
ON EVERY FREE MINUTE
THAT WE HAVE OF GOOD WEATHER.
Ian: WHEN YOU DO
THE BOOTSTRAP METHOD,
THIS IS WHAT YOU COME UP WITH.
I MEAN, THIS IS MY LIFE SAVINGS.
IT'S ALL I GOT.
I DIDN'T HAVE 100 GRAND.
I HAD 15. SO, HERE IT IS.
WHAT WE JUST LEF
IS, LIKE, THE BEST CONDITIONS
YOU CAN HOPE FOR.
ALL RIGHT.
Scott: I AM CONCERNED
THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE NEARLY
AS MUCH MONEY AS WE ANTICIPATED,
CONSIDERING THE FAC
THAT THE DREDGE CAN'T HANDLE
EVEN A SMI--
A FRACTION OF THE CONDITIONS
THAT I'M USED TO DIVING IN.
AND I KNEW IT WOULD BE BAD,
BUT I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS GONNA BE THAT BAD.
IT'S A FAIR-WEATHER VESSEL,
AND YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY
BY BEING A FAIR-WEATHER DREDGER.
Narrator: A MILE OFFSHORE,
ON THE 20-FOOT CLARK
CAPTAIN ZEKE TENHOFF
IS ON THE HUN
FOR A HOT SPO
THAT PAID OFF BIG LAST TRIP.
I DON'T THINK
WE FOUND THE SAME SPOT,
BUT, COME TO THINK
OF IT, I THINK WE'RE
PROBABLY GETTING CLOSER,
BECAUSE THIS IS ABOU
WHERE I REMEMBER US TO BE.
Narrator:
A FOURTH-YEAR DREDGER,
THIS IS WHERE ZEKE'S EXPERTISE
CAN PAY OFF.
IN ORDER TO FIND GOLD, YOU
HAVE TO COVER A LOT OF GROUND.
WHEN I'M WANDERING AROUND
THE BOTTOM, LOOKING FOR GOLD,
I'M DIGGING UP SMALL AREAS TO
FIND WHERE THE HARDEST LAYER IS.
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOTTOM,
THERE COULD BE GOLD HERE,
AND THEN 20 FEET AWAY,
THERE'S NO GOLD AT ALL
ON THE SAME LAYER.
SO, IT'S ONLY --
GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT.
Emily: WE'RE ON AWESOME GOLD.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M ABOUT TO
CHANGE IN MY WET SUI
AND GO DOWN THERE
AND GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION.
I WANT TO BE DIVING.
IT SUCKS TO BE UP THERE.
IT'S BORING.
IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE GOLD
THAT YOU'RE GETTING.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF
LIKE THE DREDGE SLAVE.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE MONEY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I WANT TO GE
MY MASTER'S OF OPERA ABROAD,
AND I NEED A LARGE AMOUN
OF MONEY [CHUCKLES] QUICKLY.
Narrator:
AFTER THREE HOURS ON THE GOLD,
ZEKE TAKES HIS FIRST BREAK
AND TURNS THE NOZZLE
OVER TO GREENHORN EMILY.
THE HOSE USES A POWERFUL
525 POUNDS OF PRESSURE
PER SQUARE INCH
TO SUCK UP
THE BOTTOM OF THE BERING SEA.
Narrator: 25 FEET BELOW
THE SURFACE OF THE BERING SEA
GREENHORN EMILY RIEDEL
IS DREDGING ALONE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
COMPLETELY UNAWARE,
ZEKE FINISHES HIS BREAK
AND DIVES BACK DOWN.
Emily: I JUST GOT MY HAND STUCK
IN THE HOSE,
AND THAT SUCTION IS SO STRONG.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHETHER YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET IT OUT OR NOT,
AND, LIKE, IF YOU TRY
TO USE YOU OTHER HAND --
MY OTHER HAND GOT SUCKED IN IT,
TOO, FOR A SECOND.
[ SIGHS ]
THAT THING IS [BLEEP] DANGEROUS!
I WAS STUCK DOWN THERE
FOR A FEW MINUTES,
AND IT WAS PRETTY TERRIFYING.
YEAH, I'M THINKING
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE I'M THINKING
IT'S TOO DANGEROUS
FOR ME TO BE DOWN THERE.
I'M ABSENTMINDED,
AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY
VERY SAFETY-CONSCIOUS,
AND I'M WONDERING WHETHER
I'M SUITED FOR GOLD DREDGING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
UM
YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES IN LIFE, LIKE,
THERE ARE
JUST MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.
[ CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES ]
AND THAT WAS PROBABLY --
I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDES
THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DO.
Narrator:
A MILE UP THE COAST
WILD RANGER CAPTAIN
SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
ZEROES IN ON HIS CHOSEN GROUNDS.
GONNA ANCHOR OU
ABOUT 10 FEET PAST THAT.
Walker: ARE WE HERE?
SCOTT HAS FORBIDDEN JASON
TO DIVE.
I WANT YOU TO GO
RIGHT NOW.
OKAY.
SO, FIRST UP
IS DECKHAND STEVE RIEDEL.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD IN THAT BOX
BY THE END OF THE DAY,
HOWEVER LONG WE'RE OUT HERE,
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A GOOD DAY
FOR ME.
Meisterheim: THERE'S A LO
OF ROCKS AND A LOT OF SAND.
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD,
IT'S GONNA BE VERY LITTLE.
OUR GOLD, IT DOESN'T EXCITE ME
IN THE LEAST.
PEOPLE DON'T TEACH YOU ANYTHING.
PEOPLE DON'T TELL YOU SECRETS.
THEY DON'T TELL YOU
WHERE IT'S AT.
THEY DON'T TELL YOU
HOW TO FIND IT.
YOU GET ON THE DREDGE, YOU GE
OUT THERE AND [BLEEP] DIVE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT,
YOU CAN'T FIND IT. YOU GO HOME.
I DIDN'T FIND A LICK OF GOLD
OUT THERE, NOT A LICK.
Steve R.: [ CHUCKLES ]
WELL, MAN, IT IS GR-- I MEAN,
I'M NOT FINDING ANY GOLD,
BUT I'M HAVING A BALL.
OH!
WELL, GOT PRETTY UP HERE.
NOT A GOOD SPOT.
HEAD THAT WAY.
Walker:
WHICH WAY AGAIN?
WILL DO.
Meisterheim: I JUST HAVE TO GE
OUT THERE AND MAKE THE MONEY.
I GOT TO FIND THE GOLD.
BASICALLY,
I'M DREDGING FOR MY FREEDOM.
I'M HERE TO PAY MY CHILD SUPPOR
AND OTHER BILLS
THAT I'VE ACQUIRED.
IF I DON'T PAY THAT [BLEEP]
IT'S JAIL TIME FOR ME.
AND I'M NOT TALKING
30 DAYS IN JAIL.
TALKING YEARS.
I'VE GOT TO STICK IT OUT.
I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
ANYBODY WHO'S GONNA GE
IN MY WAY OF MAKING THIS WORK
IS GONNA END UP IN THE OCEAN.
I'M JUST GONNA
THROW THE [BLEEP] OVERBOARD.
THEY CAN EITHER
SWIM BACK TO SHORE.
OR THEY CAN CALL
THE [BLEEP] COAST GUARD.
I DON'T CARE.
HOW YOU DOING?
BE NICE
IF I HAD SOME SUCTION.
THE HOSE.
GIVE ME SOME [BLEEP] SUCTION!
HE NEEDS SUCTION!
I'M TIRED
OF HAVING IDIOTS ON MY BOAT.
WHEN PEOPLE KEEP ME FROM DOING
MY JOB, GETTING IN MY WAY, YEAH,
I GET REALLY [BLEEP] ANGRY AND
I JUST WANT TO KILL THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: JUST OFFSHORE, TWO
MILES EAST OF NOME, ALASKA
I DON'T -- I DON'T GE
WHY SHE AIN'T PUMPING.
THE WILD RANGER
HAS LOST SUCTION.
IS THERE AIR
IN THE FOOT VALVE?
THE FOOT VALVE ALLOWS WATER
TO FLOW IN ONE DIRECTION,
CREATING SUCTION
FOR THE DREDGE'S VACUUM HOSE.
Steve R.:
THE ONE-WAY VALVE IN THERE,
IT'S JUST A FLAP OF RUBBER,
BUT A PIECE OF I
WAS PUSHED OUT.
IT NEEDS TO BE
ALL THE WAY IN.
WE NEED
A PHILLIPS-HEAD SCREWDRIVER.
Meisterheim:
IT'S RIGHT UNDERNEATH THERE.
THIS ONE?
NO. YEAH.
RIGHT THERE.
JUST REACH YOUR DAMN ARM
IN THE HELM.
OH [BLEEP]
YOU NEED A PHILLIPS?
[BLEEP]
DOESN'T HURT TO GET ON YOUR
DAMN HANDS AND KNEES AND LOOK.
PHILLIPS.
WELL, I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT'VE
PUT IT BACK WHERE IT BELONGED.
NOT ON THIS BOAT.
I DO.
THE CREW
IS A BUNCH OF [BLEEP] IDIOTS.
MENTALLY,
IT'S TAKING ITS TOLL ON ME.
COME ON. FOCUS!
HERE, HERE, HERE.
TAKE THAT.
I CAN'T FIND ANY GOLD.
I HAVE A LOT TO LOSE
IF I DON'T MAKE THIS WORK.
I GOT MORE TO LOSE
THAN THOSE TWO [BLEEP]
WILL EVER GAIN IN THEIR LIFE.
THIS [BLEEP] BOAT NEEDS TO BE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE, LIKE,
A HOME FOR A BUNCH OF --
FOR FISH AND STARFISH.
THIS BOAT'S
GOOD FOR THAT [BLEEP]
THAT'S JUST MY LUCK RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S HOW MY LIFE GOES.
SOMETHING THAT'S NO
SUPPOSED TO BREAK
SHUT YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH.
I'M SO TIRED OF HEARING
YOUR MOUTH SOMETIMES, JASON.
Narrator:
10 MILES INLAND
Woman:
DADDY'S GOT AN OWIE.
OWIE.
YEAH.
AFTER GETTING STABBED
IN A BAR FIGHT
HE SHANKED ME!
Man: WHAT THE HELL
HAPPENED TO YOUR HAND?
CHRISTINE ROSE CO-OWNER
SHAWN POMRENKE
IS TAKING SOME DOWNTIME
WITH HIS FAMILY.
Shawn:
GOT ATTACKED, GOT CUT.
GOT 11 STITCHES IN MY FINGER
AND FOUR IN MY BACK.
SO, MY BACK'S A LITTLE TENDER.
TRY TO MOVE FORWARD
AND SPEND TIME WITH THE KIDS.
Shawn: WHEN THE DOCTOR
WAS SEWING UP THIS,
I ASKED HIM
IF I COULD WATCH.
SHE TOLD HIM LIKE THREE TIMES
NOT TO WATCH.
AND WHAT DID I DO?
WATCHED ANYWAY.
I LOVE MY FAMILY.
THE POMRENKE NAME MEANS PRIDE
AND QUALITY -- QUALITY WORK.
BRATS.
I'M GONNA TAKE OVER
THE DREDGE EVENTUALLY
AND LET DAD GO ENJOY LIFE.
I MEAN, THAT GUY,
HE'S WORKED HARD ENOUGH,
AND HE'S TAUGHT ME WELL ENOUGH
TO WHERE I CAN HANDLE ANYTHING
THAT COMES UP.
Narrator: WHILE SHAWN
IS OUT OF COMMISSION
HIS OLD MAN
IS RUNNING THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
NOW I GOT TO WINCH OUT HERE
AND GET THE ANCHOR DROPPED.
NOW WE'RE READY TO FIRE UP THE
WATER PUMP AND THE WASH PLANT.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
THE HONDA DON'T START.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY HAD SOME
PROBLEMS WITH IT THE OTHER DAY,
BUT I'M WONDERING IF ANYBODY
ACTUALLY TRIED TO FIX IT.
LORD ONLY KNOWS, I GUESS.
IF THESE BOYS
WERE DOING THEIR JOB,
THAT WOULD BE FIXED
AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO
MONKEY AROUND HERE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THE GENERATOR THAT KEEPS
THE BATTERY CHARGED UP
FOR THE GENERATOR
IS NOT CHARGING.
NOBODY SEEMED TO NOTICE THAT,
EITHER, I GUESS.
NOW WHAT?
FUEL VALVE SHUT OFF.
WHY WAS THAT SHUT OFF?
HUH.
NO, THAT DON'T SEEM
TO WANT TO PRIME.
HO! GEEZ!
I GOT SPRAYED.
NO REASON TO BE DOING THIS.
ANOTHER THING TO ADD
TO MY BITCH LIST.
Narrator:
BACK AT THE CAMPGROUNDS
I TOLD THEM TO BREAK THE STRAP,
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE WORK HARD,
AND THEN WE PLAY HARD, TOO.
WHOO!
TOTALLY DIFFERENT PACE
THAN ON THE DREDGE.
A GUY NEEDS A LITTLE BREAK
FROM THAT THING
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
TRY TO CRANK IT AGAIN.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERS, TURNS OVER ]
ALL RIGHT.
MAYBE WE CAN RUN SOME DIRT NOW.
ALL THAT MICKEY MOUSE CRAP,
YOU KNOW,
AGGRAVATES THE HELL OUT OF ME.
I COME OUT HERE TO DIG DIRT.
YOU GET OUT HERE
AND IT'S NOT READY TO GO,
EVERYTHING'S, LIKE, HALF-ASSED.
BOILS BACK DOWN
TO ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS
THAT SHOULD BE DONE
THAT DON'T GET DONE.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY
SHAWN IS.
HE DON'T GIVE A CRAP
ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS.
MAKES ME WONDER
IF I CAN TURN THE DANG THING
OVER TO SHAWN OR NOT.
Narrator:
BACK ON BELMONT BEACH
Scott: THE WAY THAT THIS WAS
DONE WAS SET UP FOR DISASTER.
SEE THAT?
SEE HOW THAT FLOA
IS FULL OF WATER?
HAD HE NOT PU
THAT STYROFOAM IN THERE,
WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE SUNK
THE OTHER DAY WHEN HE WENT OUT.
IAN IS ONE OF
THE MOST DISORGANIZED PEOPLE
I'VE EVER ME
AND ONE OF THE MOS
SCATTERBRAINED PEOPLE
I'VE EVER MET, SO THAT'S BEEN
REALLY FRUSTRATING.
THESE WELDS --
THE PLASTIC WELDS DID NOT HOLD.
HE PUT THE SEALANT ON THERE.
LOOK AT THAT.
I DON'T EVEN THINK
HE PLASTIC-WELDED THIS.
ONCE THE WATER STARTS SHAKING,
YOU KNOW,
ONCE THIS DREDGE
IS BOUNCING OVER THE WAVES,
THAT SEAL IN THERE
IS GONNA BREAK
AND IT'S GONNA LET WATER GET IN.
WHAT KIND OF JURY-RIG
[CHUCKLES] BALING-WIRE-
AND-DUCT-TAPE SOLUTIONS
ARE THERE TO BAND-AID
EVERY LITTLE PROBLEM
THAT'S ON THE DREDGE
AND JUST TURN THE THING
INTO JUST A FLOATING DISASTER,
YOU KNOW?
OR IN THIS CASE,
A SEMI-FLOATING DISASTER.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW IT TO HIM.
[ LAUGHS ]
IAN, THERE'S SOMETHING HERE
YOU NEED TO SEE.
THIS STUFF WAS PULLED BACK.
OH, MY GOSH.
THAT'S WHY
IT'S FULL OF WATER.
AWESOME.
YEAH. SO,
THAT WHOLE THING'S FULL, HUH?
YOU DIDN'T EVEN
SEAL THIS SIDE.
Scott:
WHY DID YOU NOT DO THAT?
DUDE, FRICKIN' CHECK YOUR EGO.
LIKE, HONESTLY.
WHAT'S --
WHAT'S THE POINT HERE?
IT'S MY F'ing DREDGE,
YOU KNOW?
LIKE, WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I'M WORKING FOR HIM FOR FREE.
I'M HELPING HIM FIX HIS DREDGE.
HE'S NOT PAYING ME BY THE HOUR.
THE ONLY WAY I GET MONEY IS
WHEN I GET MY CUT OF THE GOLD.
WHEN YOU'RE
COMMUNICATING STUFF,
IT'S TOTALLY, LIKE,
INSTRUCTOR/PUPIL,
AND YOU'RE BASICALLY
TAKING AWAY
ANY SORT OF, LIKE,
LEGITIMATE BRAIN WORK
THAT I PUT INTO IT, TOO.
I'M NOT GONNA STAND DOWN
IF I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M SAYING
IS RIGHT.
"PATRONIZING" IS THE WORD.
I'M NOT GONNA STAND DOWN
IF I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M SAYING
IS RIGHT.
"PATRONIZING" IS THE WORD.
LOOK, MAN,
I'M NOT TRYING TO DETHRONE YOU
OR TAKE ANY WIND
OUT OF YOUR SAIL.
I'M NOT TRYING
TO BUST YOUR [BLEEP]
LIKE, THIS IS THE WAY
THAT IT'S GOT TO BE
IF IT'S GONNA WORK,
AND I KNOW, AND IT'S NOT JUS
YOUR LIFE THAT'S ON THE LINE
IF THIS THING SINKS,
YOU KNOW?
I GET IT.
LIKE, YOU HAVE A LOT TO OFFER,
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF
COMPETENCIES THAT I DO NOT HAVE,
AND I TOTALLY GET IT.
I MEAN, PERSONALLY,
I FOLLOW REALLY EASILY,
WHICH IS A WEIRD SITUATION
TO PUT A NATURAL LEADER
AND A NATURAL FOLLOWER
YOU GOT TO BE THE CAPTAIN THIS
TIME INSTEAD OF A SHIPMATE.
YEAH,
AND THERE'S NO CHOICE.
AND, I MEAN,
THE STAKES ARE REALLY HIGH.
IT'S A GREAT FEAT THA
WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE HERE,
AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE
A BED OF ROSES.
Narrator:
JUST OFFSHORE, ON THE CLARK
ZEKE IS STILL ON THE GOLD.
BUT UP TOP
AFTER A CLOSE CALL
ON THE OCEAN FLOOR
Emily: I WENT FROM FEELING BAD
TO WORSE.
I HAVE, LIKE, THIS HEADACHE
STRAIGHT FROM HELL.
Narrator:
EMILY IS STILL SHAKEN.
Emily: AND I THINK IT'S TIME
TO CALL ZEKE UP AND GO HOME.
I LITERALLY --
LITERALLY HAVE GOLD FEVER.
I KNOW ZEKE
IS NOT GONNA BE HAPPY,
BUT I THINK I'M ABOUT TO PUKE.
I PROBABLY COULD'VE KEPT GOING,
BUT EMILY WAS FEELING SICK.
WE SO NEEDED
A STRETCH LIKE THIS,
A STRETCH OF GOOD WEATHER
AND GOOD GOLD.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S WORKING
IN MY FAVOR RIGHT NOW,
AND I HAVE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THE WEATHER
AND ALL MY EQUIPMENT -- WHOA!
I HIT THE SANDBAR.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME
TO SLOW DOWN?
WELL, LET'S SEE HOW YOU FEEL
TOMORROW.
IF YOU FEEL SICK
TOMORROW MORNING,
YOU'RE NOT GOING DOWN
ALL DAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SIT UP HERE
WITH A BOOK,
AND YOU'RE GONNA, LIKE,
FROM TIME TO TIME,
DO THINGS
THAT I TELL YOU TO DO.
SHE HAS NO ILLUSIONS
ABOUT HER VALUE TO THE PROJECT,
WHICH, IN THE LONG RUN,
ISN'T MUCH,
BECAUSE SHE ISN'
VERY EXPERIENCED.
BUT WE GOT ANOTHER 2 1/2 MONTHS.
SHE'LL HAVE TO DO A LOT BETTER
THAN SHE'S DOING NOW.
Narrator:
THREE MILES DOWN THE COAST
ALL RIGHT.
WASHER REPAIR HAS RESTORED
SUCTION TO THE WILD RANGER,
AND CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
GETS BACK TO WORK.
I WANT TO GO DOWN, AND I WAN
TO DO, LIKE, A 4-HOUR STRETCH,
BUT I'VE BEEN
AVOIDING ASKING.
Walker: IT'S RIDICULOUS.
HE'S KEEPING ME
OUT OF THE WATER.
MY ARM'S NOT 100%,
BUT I GOT TO GO DOWN.
WE HAD A TALK ABOUT THAT,
SCOTT AND I.
Meisterheim: AIN'T NO GOLD HERE.
IT'S A BIG JOKE.
Steve R.: I'M JUST TRYING
TO MAKE SENSE OF THIS.
Walker:
WHY ARE YOU SO FRUSTRATED?
TELL ME WHY
YOU'RE SO FRUSTRATED.
YOU KNOW WHAT -- YOU KNOW WHA
[BLEEP] MONTH THIS IS?
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT TIME THIS IS?
YEAH, I KNOW, MAN.
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG
I'VE [BLEEP] BEEN HERE?
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I'VE
SPENT AND HAVEN'T [BLEEP] MADE?!
I KNOW.
ASK ME AGAIN
WHY I'M FRUSTRATED!
THERE'S NO GOLD
IN THE [BLEEP] BERING SEA.
I'VE BEEN HEARING
THAT THERE IS.
Meisterheim:
JASON WANTS TO WHINE,
CONTRADICT EVERYTHING
I HAVE TO SAY.
HE'S A BIG CRYBABY.
WHY DON'T YOU GO DOWN
AND FIND IT, THEN?
YOU WANT MY SUIT?
YOU GUYS CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.
I GOT SO TIRED
OF HEARING HIM CRY ABOUT IT,
TELLING ME THAT HE WAS OKAY TO
DREDGE, THAT I LET HIM GO DOWN.
Walker: I'M NOT NERVOUS.
I'M NOT AFRAID.
ARM FEELS GOOD.
I'M READY.
I THINK YOU'RE RETARDED.
JUST SO YOU KNOW.
AAH! JUST KIDDING.
[ LAUGHS ]
JASON LEARNED HOW TO DO
THIS [BLEEP] ON YouTube,
BY WATCHING VIDEOS.
HE'S A COMPLETE [BLEEP] IDIOT.
I WANTED HIM TO REALIZE
THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO
FUNCTIONING LIMBS ON YOUR BODY
TO WORK THAT HOSE,
AND I WANTED HIM TO COME UP
MORE HURT THAN HE WENT DOWN.
THAT'S A SAD THING TO SAY,
BUT YOU'RE PUSHING MY BUTTONS,
I'M GONNA WISH
BAD THINGS ON YOU.
HE'S A COMPLETE IDIOT.
Meisterheim: JASON WAS
SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF WORK
BECAUSE OF HIS SHOULDER.
WANTED TO GO IN SO HE CAN PROVE
THAT HE'S OKAY TO DIVE.
I TOLD HIM HE CAN'T GO.
HE BITCHED AND BITCHED
AND BITCHED,
AND THEN, "FINE. [BLEEP] GO.
GET HURT. I DARE YOU TO DO IT."
I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S GONNA COME UP SOON,
I THINK.
THAT INJURY HE HAD,
THE DOCTOR SAID, "TAKE IT EASY."
I THINK HE'S PICKED UP
THE NOZZLE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE
THE END OF THE NOZZLE IS.
SO, HE MIGHT BE ACTUALLY
GETTING GOLD AS WE SPEAK.
[BLEEP]
Meisterheim:
IF HE WOULD'VE GOTTEN HURT,
IF HE WOULD'VE GOT DOWN THERE
AND DIED,
WELL, HIS WIFE AND CHILD
WOULD BE WITHOUT A HUSBAND
OR A FATHER,
BUT I WOULD'VE BEEN RIGHT.
ARE WE GOING IN?
ABSOLUTELY.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH.
I'M TIRED OF WASTING MY TIME.
[ SIGHS ]
NICE.
I, MYSELF, PERSONALLY,
HAVE SEEN NO GOLD TODAY.
JASON'S SEEN SOME, BUT I
ALL JUST SEEMS LIKE A BIG JOKE.
AND IT'S JUST TIME TO GO IN
ANDTHINK -- RETHINK IT.
Narrator: AT THE NOME HARBOR
BOAT LAUNCH
Shawn:
BACK'S FEELING A LOT BETTER.
BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Narrator: TWO WEEKS AFTER
GETTING STABBED IN A BAR FIGHT,
SHAWN POMRENKE
IS HEADING BACK TO WORK.
THERE'S NOTHING I'D RATHER DO
THAN MINE GOLD WITH THE OLD MAN.
Steve P.: THEY AIN'T GO
HALF THE TOOLS ON HERE
THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ON HERE.
CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU WANT.
BOILS BACK DOWN
TO ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS
THAT SHOULD BE DONE
THAT DON'T GET DONE.
MAKES ME WONDER
IF I CAN TURN THE DANG THING
OVER TO SHAWN OR NOT.
Shawn: HEY, DAD.
YOUR TOOL SITUATION ON HERE
SUCKS.
WE'LL HAVE EXTRA.
YEAH, BUT YOU GET THEM OFF HERE
IN TWO MINUTES,
AND THEY'RE HERE,
WHERE YOU NEED THEM,
INSTEAD OF GOING OU
IN THE YARD.
I DON'T KNOW.
ARE THESE THE
[BLEEP]
THAT AIN'T THE POINT.
I'M TRYING TO
GET THE JUNK OFF OF HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PUTTING
MORE JUNK ON HERE.
YOU ALWAYS COMPLAIN
ABOUT ALL THE JUNK ON HERE.
CLAMPS ARE NOT JUNK.
THAT'S THE POINT.
I GOT ENOUGH CLAMPS
ON HERE.
I DON'T WANT NO MORE
[BLEEP] CLAMPS ON HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY
YOU WOULD TAKE THEM OFF HERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BECAUSE I WAS BUSY
DOING OTHER THINGS.
ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU LATER.
Shawn:
EXCITED TO BE ON THE BOAT AGAIN.
JUST TRYING TO
DO MY DAD PROUD OUT HERE.
Wade:
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SHAWN BACK.
NOW WE CAN STAR
MAKING SOME REAL MONEY.
HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL LE
US STAY OUT HERE A LITTLE BIT.
Narrator:
AS SHAWN SETS THE ANCHOR,
THE SWELLS START TO KICK UP.
BUT SHAWN CAN KEEP
THE CHRISTINE ROSE STEADY
BY LOWERING THE DREDGE'S
STEEL I-BEAM SPUDS
INTO THE BERING SEA FLOOR.
SHAWN: How are we looking
on the front winches?
Clear.
WHOA!
HEY!
WHOA!
HEY!
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP] THE CABLE UP.
I JUST [BLEEP] UP BIG-TIME.
Narrator:
INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE SPUD,
SHAWN ACCIDENTALLY RAISED IT,
SHREDDING THE CABLE
IN THE PULLEY
AND DROPPING THE SPUD
TO THE OCEAN FLOOR.
UNTIL THEY FIX THE CABLE,
THEY'RE PINNED IN PLACE.
AND IF THE WAVES PICK UP,
THE IMMOBILIZED DREDGE
COULD CAPSIZE.
IF THE WAVES CAME,
WE COULD LOSE THE WHOLE BOAT.
Steve P.: IT'S TWISTED
QUITE A WAYS UP THERE.
Narrator:
WITH THE SWELLS RISING,
SHAWN SPRINGS INTO ACTION
AND SCALES THE GANTRY
WITHOUT A SAFETY HARNESS.
Wade: WE AIN'T GOT MUCH TIME
RIGHT NOW,
CONSIDERING THE SWELL.
Shawn: I GOT TO GET UP ON TOP
OF THERE, THOUGH, SEE?
THAT'S THE ONLY THING
I DON'T LIKE RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE NEEDS TO RUN
A SPARE CABLE THROUGH THE PULLEY
35 FEET ABOVE THE DECK.
THAT'S GOOD, SHAWN.
Shawn: [ GRUNTS ]
[ GRUNTS ]
WE NEED CLAMPS.
Narrator:
WITH THE CABLE IN PLACE,
THE ONLY THING LEFT IS TO CLAMP
THE CABLE ON TOP OF THE SPUD.
Shawn:
WELL, WE'RE GOING BACK IN.
Narrator: THE FIX HOLDS,
AND THE SPUD IS RAISED.
BUT WITH THE WEATHER
STILL BUILDING,
IT'S TIME TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
Wade: AT THIS POINT,
WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO IN
AND JUST GET IT BUTTONED
BACK UP.
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH FOR NOW.
NOTHING COMES EASY.
NOT OUT HERE.
Steve P.:
CRAZY BASTARD, DANGLING AROUND.
WHAT THE HELL
WERE YOU DANGLING AROUND ON?
I HAD TO HOOK THE SHACKLE
BACK UP TO THE SPUD.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
YOU GOT TO
GET IT HOOKED BACK UP.
Steve P.: SHAWN --
HE LIKES TO TAKE THESE RISKS,
AND THAT IS THE THING
THAT WORRIES ME THE MOST.
I TRIED TO PUT INTO HIS MIND,
"THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE A
POSSIBILITY OF LOSING, YOU KNOW?
YOU HAVE A POSSIBILITY
OF LOSING EVERYTHING.
THINK ABOUT IT, PLEASE."
WE NEED TO GE
A COUPLE OF PULLEYS THERE
AND SOME TAG LINES
HANGING OFF OF THERE
FOR WHEN THAT COMES TO THAT.
THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT.
AIN'T WORTH DYING FOR.
Narrator:
ON WEST BEACH
Scott: I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE
A REALLY GOOD CLEANUP, DUDE.
Ian: I HOPE SO.
IAN AND SCOTT OF THE SLUICEY
NEED TO CASH IN SOME GOLD.
OH, BABY!
OH, DEAR.
GOLD IS ALMOST 20 TIMES HEAVIER
THAN WATER,
SO AS THE MUD
FLOWS DOWN THE GOLD EXTRACTOR,
SILT IS WASHED AWAY,
LEAVING BEHIND GOLD.
GOLD, BABY.
THAT STUFF IS HOTTER THAN HELL.
LITTLE PILES OF GOLD
IN THERE.
HOME-STYLE GOLD COOKING.
I'M JUST BOILING THE WATER OFF
OF IT SO THAT I CAN WEIGH IT.
YOU CAN'T ACCURATELY WEIGH I
IF IT'S GOT WATER IN THERE,
BECAUSE
YOU'RE WEIGHING THE WATER.
Ian: COME ON, GIRL.
AND IT READS
WE GOT 1, 2
WE BASICALLY GO
3 OUNCES HERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I JUST REPLACED MY STATE JOB.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHOO!
Narrator: WITH GOLD
SELLING AT A RECORD HIGH,
THEY COULD GET AS MUCH
AS 5 GRAND FROM THE ASSAYER.
BUT THE SLUICEY BOYS
HAVE ANOTHER PLAN.
WE HAVE THIS FOR SALE TODAY.
UH-HUH.
THERE'S THIS GERMAN CRUISE SHIP
THAT'S COMING TO TOWN,
SO WE'RE TRYING
TO LIQUIDATE SOME GOLD HERE
AT A PREMIUM PRICE.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS ONE GRAM.
ONE GRAM.
ONE GRAM.
AND HOW MUCH IS THIS?
WE'RE SELLING THIS
FOR $75.
$75?
$75. UH-HUH.
ALL RIGHTY.
AND I GET THIS.
OKAY.
Narrator: IN THE END,
THE BOYS MAKE ALMOST $6,000.
Scott:
ENJOY YOUR GOLD.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
TO COME BUY SOME GOLD FROM US.
Narrator: FOR THE MEN
OF THE CHRISTINE ROSE
STARTING TO FEED DIR
THROUGH THE CLEANUP SHACK.
WE'LL JUST WORK 'EM DOWN
ONE AT A TIME,
SCOOP BY SCOOP, ONE BY ONE.
Narrator: SHAWN'S TIME OFF
AND A BUSTED SPUD
DIDN'T SLOW THEM DOWN.
THEIR TAKE?
75 OUNCES WORTH $125,000.
HOW MUCH CONCENTRATION
DOES IT TAKE
TO SHOVEL DIR
FROM HERE TO THERE
AND NOT LOSE IT OVER THE EDGE?
YOU GET A BUNCH OF THIS.
NOW YOU GOT A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS
THAT COME WITH IT.
THAT'S WHAT MY MAIN OBJECTIVE
IS, ACTUALLY.
Tenhoff:
YOU'RE A WOMAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE GREEDY.
Narrator: ON THE CLARK,
TRACKING DOWN THEIR HOT SPO
PAID OFF BIG.
WITH A 9-OUNCE, $15,000 HAUL,
GOLD FEVER KICKS IN
AND EMILY PUTS A PUNISHING TRIP
BEHIND HERFOR NOW.
KIND OF LIKE A STUPID WOMAN,
BECAUSE, LIKE,
I WOULD PROBABLY GE
PLENTY OF GOLD
WITHOUT HAVING TO DO
ANY GOLD MINING.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND ON THE WILD RANGER
I ALREADY KNOW.
I ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE GOT.
I COUNTED EVERY PIECE OF GOLD
THAT WENT IN THERE. [ LAUGHS ]
OH,
SO YOU CAN COUNT TO FOUR.
THEIR SLUICE BOX RACKED UP
ALMOST NOTHING BUT ROCKS.
WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE,
MINIMUM, IS AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME,
I ALMOST REGRET COMING HERE
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
I HAVEN'T MADE.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE GOLD IS.
BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP.
I'M NOT WALKING AWAY.
I'M GONNA STICK IT OUT UNTIL
TILL I'M THE LAST [BLEEP] DREDGE
ON THE WATER.
Narrator:
INFIGHTING AND A NEAR-DROWNING
DIDN'T STOP THE TWO SMALLES
DREDGES, THE CLARK AND SLUICEY,
FROM RACKING UP BIG PROFITS.
TRYING TO [BLEEP] KILL ME,
STEVE?
ARE YOU THAT PISSED AT ME?
Emily:
IT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS.
THE OUTBOARD'S RUNNING,
AND THERE'S A DIVER DOWN.
THE BOSS IS DYING, MAN.
ARGH!
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A WALK
AND HAVE A LITTLE CONVERSATION?