Bering Sea Gold (2012) s01e05 Episode Script

GOLD DREDGING IS THE ONLY THING
THAT'S EVER RELIABLY EXCITED ME
IN MY LIFE.
Emily:
WE'RE ON THE GOLD, BABY!
[ CLANGING ]
IT ALLOWS ME
ALMOST COMPLETE FREEDOM.
IT'S LIFE AS DIREC
AND AS VISCERAL AND REAL
AS I'VE EVER FELT IT.
BUT THAT FREEDOM CAN ACTUALLY BE
KIND OF SCARY.
SOME PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE IT.
Shawn:
[ GROANS ]
HURTS SO BAD,
IT'LL MAKE ME PUKE.
[ GAGGING ]
YOUR CAPTAINCY SUCKS.
GET THE [BLEEP] OUT!
Tenhoff:
IF YOU FAIL UP HERE
YOU FAIL HARD.
[ RATTLING ]
[ HORN BLARING ]
[ "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 ♪
Ian: I'VE BEEN UP HERE
THREE SUMMERS NOW.
AND THIS HAS BEEN, BY FAR, THE
WORST DREDGING SEASON I'VE SEEN.
I THINK THEY'RE GONNA SAY
THIS IS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORS
DREDGING SEASONS WE'VE HAD.
Narrator:
FOR SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS,
THE DREDGING FLEET HAS BEEN
AT THE MERCY OF WEATHER.
Shawn: IF MOTHER NATURE
DON'T LET ME GO OUT AND MINE,
I'M SCREWED.
I GOT TO PAY MY BILLS.
I GOT TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
Narrator:
NERVES ARE FRAYED.
IT'S BEEN A BAD SUMMER
TO BE A GOLD DREDGER.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY BAD SUMMER
TO BE A GOLD DREDGER.
Narrator:
NOW THE SKIES ARE CLEARING.
Tenhoff: WE GOT TO GE
ON SOME GOLD TODAY.
OTHERWISE, I'M GONNA LOSE IT.
WELL, I'M GONNA STAR
PADDLING OUT.
YEAH.
WE AIN'T GOT LONG.
WE NEED TO POUND SOME GOLD
THROUGH THIS BOX.
Emily: THE MAIN REASON WE'RE
HERE IS TO GET MONEY TOGETHER,
'CAUSE WE BOTH DIRELY NEED IT.
Narrator:
BUT ON THE WILD RANGER,
A STORM IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
SCOTT AND I ARE GONNA CLEAN OU
THE BOX.
SEE WHAT THE LAST 17 HOURS
OF BOTTOM TIME HAS DONE FOR US.
CAN YOU HEAR ME
DOWN THERE?
Narrator:
LAST TRIP,
A MALFUNCTIONING WATER HEATER
AND SUCTION SYSTEM
I HAD [BLEEP] FOR SUCTION
THE WHOLE TIME -- NO SUCTION!
DERAILED THE WILD RANGER.
NOW STUCK IN POR
WAITING ON PARTS,
CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
CLEANS THE DREDGE'S SLUICE BOX.
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE
YOU GET IT ALL.
THINKING OF MAKING
THE NEXT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT.
I HAVE A 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
THAT LIVES IN MICHIGAN
AND A 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
THAT LIVES IN ARIZONA.
MY DAUGHTERS LOVE ME
UNCONDITIONALLY,
AND I LOVE THEM BOTH
UNCONDITIONALLY.
BIRTHDAYS, HAPPY MOMENTS
IN THEIR LIFE --
IF I CAN'T SUPPLY THOSE
FOR MY DAUGHTER,
I'M PRETTY WORTHLESS
AS A FATHER.
I'M THINKING WE HAVE SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 5 TO 10 OUNCES.
MAYBE SOME OF THAT IS SOME HOPES
AND DREAMS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LICK
OF GOLD IN THAT BOX,
SO YOU CAN THINK
THERE'S A [BLEEP]LOAD,
AND I'M GONNA THINK
THERE'S NOTHING.
WHERE'S STEVE?
WHY ISN'T HE HERE?
STEVE'S NOT COMING.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
ABOUT STEVE.
DID YOU CONTACT HIM?
NO. I DIDN'T CONTACT STEVE,
AND I'M NOT GONNA.
YOUR IDEA.
GOOD JOB.
Narrator: CAPTAIN SCOT
AND TENDER STEVE RIEDEL
HAVE CLASHED SINCE DAY ONE.
YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS [BLEEP]
TODAY OR NOT?
I'M HERE.
LOAD THE [BLEEP] FUEL.
FILL THE TANKS.
I DON'T WANT STEVE HERE
'CAUSE I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
SCOTT'S BREAKING
THE DREDGER'S GOLDEN RULE --
HARVESTING THE VESSEL'S
GOLD HAUL
WITHOUT THE FULL CREW PRESENT.
WE'RE GONNA RINSE EVERYTHING OU
LIKE WE NORMALLY WOULD.
WHEN WE GET TO THE HARD PARTS,
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT THEN.
COPY THAT.
AYE, AYE.
[ WHISTLING ]
Walker: THIS RIGHT HERE
IS ALL ONE PIECE WITH THAT.
NO.
BUT ISN'T THAT BAR UP ON TOP?
BOYS.
OH.
FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
HOW COME YOU'RE HERE DOING THIS
WITHOUT ME?
I WAS TOLD --
THIS IS, LIKE,
EVEN SUSPICIOUS.
WHY AM I NOT HERE AN HOUR AND
A HALF AGO, WHEN YOU STARTED?
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WAN
ALL THIS [BLEEP]
THERE'S NO [BLEEP]
GOING ON.
Steve R.:
THIS IS OUR GOLD, NOT YOUR GOLD.
THIS IS THE BOAT'S GOLD.
IT'S MY BOAT, THOUGH.
I NEED TO BE HERE.
YOU'RE STILL MY TENDER,
SO I STILL NEED YOU TO JUST DO
WHAT I TELL YOU.
CAPTAIN SCOTT, MEANIE.
IT'S GETTING WORSE, ACTUALLY.
HE IS AGGRESSIVE --
OVERLY AGGRESSIVE.
IT'S NOT ME THAT HE HAS
NO PATIENCE FOR
OR JASON THAT HE HAS
NO PATIENCE FOR.
HE JUST HAS NO PATIENCE
FOR ANYTHING.
I WAS PUT IN MY PLACE
THAT I'M JUST A TENDER.
I JUST CAN'T HANDLE
EITHER ONE OF THEM [BLEEP]
I GOT TO GET SOME FOOD, AND
I'M GONNA LET THEM DEAL WITH I
SINCE THEY THINK THEY KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE GOT TWO GENIUSES ON BOARD.
LET THEM DUMP ALL THE GOLD
OUT OF THE BACK OF THE BOX
INTO THE WATER --
IF THERE IS ANY.
Narrator:
JUST OUTSIDE THE HARBOR
I'M JUST REALLY KEEPING MY
FINGERS CROSSED FOR A GOOD DAY.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Narrator: SCOTT FOSTER
TAKES THE 19-FOOT SLUICEY
ON A NEW HUNT FOR GOLD.
Scott:
I'VE BEEN FEELING THE PRESSURE.
WE'VE LOST SEVERAL DAYS
DUE TO THINGS LIKE THE SLUICE
BOX NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.
THESE THINGS COST US
THE OPPORTUNITY
OF GOING OUT AND GETTING GOLD.
Narrator:
ON SHORE, THE DREDGE'S OWNER,
IAN FOSTER,
KEEPS AN EYE ON HIS INVESTMENT.
Ian: I THINK THAT'S SCOTTY
RIGHT THERE --
SCOTTY AND MY GIRL SLUICEY.
Narrator:
THE SLUICEY'S MAIDEN GOLD SEASON
HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY MECHANICAL
PROBLEMS AND BAD DESIGN
Ian:
AND I'M SUNK, LITERALLY.
Narrator: CAUSING A RIF
BETWEEN THE PARTNERS.
IT'S MY F'ing DREDGE,
YOU KNOW?
LIKE, WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
Scott:
HE'S BEEN DREDGING FOR NOT EVEN
A YEAR OF HIS LIFE IN TOTAL.
I'VE BEEN DREDGING
MY WHOLE LIFE.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN
SQUEEZE THAT INTO JUST ONE YEAR
OF SELF-TAUGHT EXPERIENCE.
Narrator:
SOLO DIVING IS DANGEROUS.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
THAT A GIRL.
Narrator:
BUT IAN AND SCOTT HAVE TO GAMBLE
IF THEY WANT TO LEAVE NOME
WITH A HEALTHY STASH OF GOLD.
ALONE ON THE OCEAN BOTTOM,
SCOTT IS BOMBARDED BY ROCKS
TUMBLING FROM THE DREDGE
30 FEET ABOVE HIS HEAD.
A BIG ENOUGH ROCK COULD KNOCK
SCOTT OUT, LEAVING HIM TO DROWN.
THE ANTI-THRUST IS A PANEL THA
ABSORBS THE FORCE OF THE WATER
MOVING THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX.
IF IT FAILS,
THE WATER CAN PUSH THE DREDGE
IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE ANCHOR,
DROPPING THE TAILINGS
RIGHT ON THE DIVER.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S WAYLAYING
HIM ON THE SURFACE.
I THINK THAT MEANS ISSUES.
IF THIS KEEPS UP,
I'M NEVER GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY.
I'M PULLING IT IN.
I'M JUST WASTING MY TIME.
I'M GETTING FRUSTRATED.
I GOT TO HAVE A CHAT WITH IAN.
Narrator:
MIDNIGHT, BELMONT BEACH.
Tenhoff:
WE JUST DECIDED, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE HERE TO DREDGE,
AND SLEEP COMES SECOND."
STRAPPED FOR CASH, ZEKE TENHOFF
AND GREENHORN EMILY RIEDEL
HEAD OU
FOR THEIR FIRST NIGHT DIVE.
OKAY. WE HAVE TO PUT IN
AT LEAST 10 HOURS.
Emily:
AT LEAST 10 HOURS?
AT LEAST 10.
WAIT.
RUN AT LEAST 10 OR DREDGE 10?
DREDGE 10.
WHEN THE WEATHER'S GOOD,
I CAN'T GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
AND REALLY RELAX IF THERE'S
SOMETHING I COULD BE DOING.
IF FOR ANY REASON
I'M NOT PUTTING IN
AS MUCH ENERGY AS I KNOW COULD,
THEN I'M FAILING MYSELF.
IT'S GONNA GET PRETTY DARK
PRETTY SOON,
AND I WANT TO GE
A LOT OF HOURS IN.
SETTING THE BAR PRETTY HIGH
FOR MYSELF TONIGH
AS FAR AS SLEEP DEPRIVATION
IS CONCERNED.
THERE'S A DECENT SWELL
COMING IN,
BUT THE SPOT THAT WE'RE ON
IS IN DEEP ENOUGH WATER
SO IT'S NOT BREAKING.
Tenhoff:
OKAY. GET IN POSITION.
GETTING CHILLY OUT, ZEKE.
[ CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY ]
OKAY. DROP IT.
OH. [BLEEP]
[ SCREAMS ]
EMILY.
GETTING CHILLY OUT, ZEKE.
[ CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY ]
OKAY. DROP IT.
OH. [BLEEP]
[ SCREAMS ]
EMILY.
NO!
[ LAUGHING ]
[ Laughing ]
OH, GOD.
OKAY. OKAY.
I BROUGHT A TON
OF EXTRA CLOTHES.
YEAH.
OKAY. SWEATPANTS.
HERE'S A WOOL SHIRT.
THERE'S A COUPLE
BIG JACKETS.
WELL, I JUST DROPPED THE ANCHOR
AND FELL IN THE WATER,
AND THAT WATER IS REALLY COLD.
BRR.
THAT WAS FREAKIN' COLD.
[ COUGHS ]
Narrator: THE BONE-CHILLING
WATERS OFF NOME ARE 40 DEGREES.
[ SHIVERS ]
EVEN A 30-SECOND EXPOSURE
CAN CAUSE HYPOTHERMIA
TO SET IN RAPIDLY.
Tenhoff: I DON'T WANT EMILY
TO GET HYPOTHERMIC,
'CAUSE IT'S GETTING A LITTLE
WINDY, AND SHE'S FREEZING COLD.
THAT TOOK
MY BREATH AWAY.
I COULDN'T BREATHE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
REALLY?
I THINK YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT --
BUT I'M GOING DOWN THERE!
ALL RIGHT. GET ON IT, DUDE.
I WAS JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW?
ARE YOU GETTING COLD FEE
ON ME?
IT'S A LARGE SWELL, IT'S MURKY
WATER, AND IT'S DARK OUTSIDE.
UH-HUH.
UH-HUH.
AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN GOLD
DIRECTLY BELOW US.
WE NEED TO DREDGE
IN BAD CONDITIONS.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. LET'S
DREDGE IN BAD CONDITIONS, THEN.
Narrator: ONLY 15 MINUTES
AFTER EMILY'S ICY PLUNGE
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
ZEKE GETS BACK TO BUSINESS.
NOW I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS
BY TERRIFYING.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
BEING DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S CRAZY.
Narrator:
AS ZEKE DIALS IN
THE SWELL PICKS UP.
Emily:
IT'S KIND OF A ROUGH NIGHT.
Emily:
NO. I'M SEASICK AS HELL.
I DID NOT FACTOR IN
THE SWELL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I HAVE SO MUCH REGRET.
IT'S FINE, ZEKE.
I CAN TOUGH IT OUT.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY DOWN THERE,
I CAN TOUGH IT OUT.
IF YOU ARE IN THE MODE, THEN,
YOU KNOW, LET'S DO IT.
I'M IN THE MODE.
WE'RE ON THE GOLD.
OKAY.
LET'S STAY.
WHAT'S A LITTLE SEASICKNESS,
RIGHT?
Narrator:
JUST AFTER DAYBREAK
ON THE BIGGEST DREDGE
IN THE BERING SEA.
Shawn: OH, YEAH.
WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW
UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY,
AND THE MORE DIRT YOU PU
THROUGH THE PLANT,
THE MORE MONEY
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE.
Narrator:
SHAWN POMRENKE IS HITTING HOUR 5
OF A 12-HOUR SHIF
BEHIND THE BACKHOE.
Shawn:
I GOT TO BE OUT HERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SOME GOLD.
NEED TO FIND THAT MOTHER LODE
SO MY DAD CAN FINALLY RETIRE.
THERE WE GO.
BACK'S STARTING TO LOCK UP
ALREADY.
PUTTING MY FEET UP ON THE CHAIR
AND RUNNING LIKE THAT,
THAT USUALLY HELPS.
BUT THIS TIME,
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP AT ALL.
Narrator: DURING A BAR FIGH
SIX WEEKS AGO,
SHAWN GOT STABBED IN THE BACK
AND AGGRAVATED AN OLD INJURY.
AAH! [ GROANS ]
TRY TO WORK THROUGH IT.
MAKES IT HARD TO FOCUS
ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING
WHEN YOU'RE IN CONSTANT PAIN.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
EVEN TALKING RIGHT NOW.
IT HURTS SO BAD.
Wade: YOU KNOW,
HE'S SITTING IN THE CHAIR
WITH HIS KNEES ON THE PAR
WHERE YOU SHOULD BE SITTING,
AND HE JUST LOOKS LIKE
HE'S REALLY HURTING.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
WITH SHAWN DOWN FOR THE COUNT,
THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB
GOES TO GREENHORN ROBBI.
Shawn: BACK'S HURTING SO BAD,
IT'S MAKING ME SICK.
[ GROANS ]
IT'S LIKE HAVING SOMEBODY WITH
A KNIFE IN YOUR BACK ALL DAY.
Narrator:
DESPITE THE PAIN,
SHAWN KEEPS HIS EYE
ON THE PRIZE.
GONNA WATCH HIM HERE.
THE MORE DIRT HE PUTS THROUGH
THE BOX, THE MORE I MAKE.
BOY, ROBBI AIN'T MOVING IT.
HE'S GOT TO LEARN
SOONER OR LATER.
LOOKS LIKE NO DIR
IN THE BUCKET.
YOU GOT TO KNOW
WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE DOING.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE JUST GONNA
BURN FUEL AND NOT MAKE NO MONEY.
Wade: THIS MATERIAL HERE
I'M DIGGING, IT'S HARD.
IT DON'T LIKE TO GIVE ITSELF UP
QUITE AS EASY.
SOME DAYS IT'S GOOD.
SOME DAYS IT'S NO GOOD.
Shawn:
IF YOU MISS ONE LITTLE THING,
IT COULD COST YOU
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
I MEAN, GIVE HIM SOME ADVICE.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE SHAWN
CAN MAKE IT TO THE EXCAVATOR
[ GAGS, SIGHS ]
[ VOMITS ]
Shawn: HURTS SO BAD,
IT'LL MADE ME PUKE.
Narrator:
ON THE CHRISTINE ROSE
[ CELLPHONE DIALING ]
Shawn: HEY.
WHAT TIME WERE YOU GUYS PLANNING
ON COMING OUT?
ROBBI'S NOT BRINGING UP
FULL BUCKETS.
MY BACK'S [BLEEP] NOT FEELING
THE GREATEST EITHER.
ALL RIGHT, DAD.
THANKS.
Narrator:
WITH HIS INJURED BACK FLARING UP
AND DECKHAND ROBBI
PULLING WEAK BUCKETS,
SHAWN POMRENKE CALLS
AN EARLY SHIFT CHANGE.
Shawn: IF YOU AIN'T MOVING FULL
BUCKETS, YOU AIN'T MAKING MONEY.
SHIFT CHANGE NOW.
Narrator:
SHAWN'S RELIEF --
HIS FATHER, STEVE,
AND GREENHORN CODY MOEN.
Moen: POT OF GOLD, MAN.
LITTLE TROUBLES
HERE AND THERE.
YEAH.
WE NEED A GOOD OPERATOR
RUNNING THE BACKHOE.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE MAIN THING,
IS BRINGING MATERIAL UP
FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR
OF THE BERING SEA
AND GETTING IT UP
INTO THE WASH PLANT.
Narrator: WITH SHAWN AND ROBBI
NOT PULLING THEIR WEIGHT,
STEVE THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLE
TO GREENHORN CODY.
YOU THINK YOU CAN WHIP
THE OLD MAN'S ASS
IN A DIGGING COMPETITION?
A DREDGING CONTEST --
YOUNG BUCK VERSUS
THE OLD, RUSTY NUGGET.
Steve: CODY BELIEVES
HE'S A REALLY GOOD OPERATOR,
WHICH I DON'T REALLY KNOW
IF HE IS OR NO
BECAUSE I HAVEN'T WATCHED HIM
DIG OUT THERE YET,
BUT WE'LL SEE IF HE IS OR NOT.
MOEN: To set this up,
we need a judge.
I GOT THE PERFECT JUDGE.
MY BEST BUDDY, DAVE, IS IN TOWN.
PREPARE TO GE
YOUR [BLEEP] KICKED.
MEET THERE WITH THE SKIP.
Narrator: STEVE SWEETENS THE PO
WITH A $400 NUGGET.
FOR THE BIGGEST NUGGE
IN THE JAR.
Moen: ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
I'M EXCITED.
Narrator: THE JUDGES ARRIVE,
AND CODY TAKES THE CONTROLS.
ARE YOU READY?
GO!
THE RULES ARE SIMPLE.
STEVE AND CODY WILL EACH DREDGE
10 BUCKETS.
SINCE FULL BUCKETS MEAN
A BETTER SHOT AT GOLD,
WHOEVER PULLS
THE FULLEST BUCKETS WINS.
Virnig: OH!
Steve: OH!
I ALREADY GOT HIM BEAT.
Moen: FULL BUCKET!
GOOD BUCKET.
IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD.
Steve:
HE'S HAMMERING IT.
MAN, HE'S GONNA MAKE ME STAR
TO SWEAT HERE.
Narrator:
NOW IT'S THE BOSS'S TURN.
ALL RIGHT,
OLD, RUSTY NUGGET!
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOA!
GOT A GOOD ONE THERE.
I THINK I GOT STUCK HERE
IN A BAD HOLE.
THAT AIN'T FULL!
SOMEBODY'S ALREADY DUG HERE.
Virnig: WE'RE RUNNING
LIKE RIGHT DEAD EVEN.
OLD MAN'S
GETTING NERVOUS NOW!
NO WAY!
YEAH!
Narrator:
AS THE GOLD DUST SETTLES
FROM STEVE'S FINAL BUCKET,
IT'S TIME TO GO
TO THE JUDGE'S SCORECARD.
Steve:
THE JUDGE HAS THE VERDICT.
GOLDEN BOY --
80 POINTS.
NOT BAD.
OUT OF 10 BUCKETS.
AND STEVE THE BOSS MAN,
89 POINTS.
YEAH!
STEVE IS RELIEVED.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS AWFUL DAMN CLOSE.
GOOD COMPETITION.
AWFUL CLOSE.
YEAH!
400 BUCKS WORTH OF GOLD
IN MY POCKET.
I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE
HOW GOOD HE WAS
UNTIL WE DID THIS COMPETITION.
LOVE YOU, MAN.
CODY'S GONNA BE CLIMBING THE
LADDER ON THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE CAN
TAKE THAT WHOLE THING OVER.
FOR ONE SHIFT,
HE CAN BE THE DECK BOSS,
AND I'LL HAVE
COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
IT WAS A HARD BATTLE,
BUT I GOT HIM.
Narrator:
TWO MILES INLAND,
THE WILD RANGER CREW
CONTINUES THEIR CLEANUP
IN OWNER VERN ADKISON'S TRAILER.
RIGHT NOW THE BOAT IS IN
COMPLETE DISARRAY.
Narrator:
YESTERDAY
WHY AM I NOT HERE AN HOUR AND
A HALF AGO, WHEN YOU STARTED?
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WAN
ALL THIS [BLEEP]
Steve R.:
THIS IS OUR GOLD
CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
SQUARED OFF
WITH DECKHAND STEVE RIEDEL.
I WAS PUT IN MY PLACE
THAT I'M JUST A TENDER.
I JUST CAN'T HANDLE
EITHER ONE OF THEM [BLEEP]
Narrator: NOW THE SKIPPER'S
LAYING DOWN THE LAW.
I THINK THEY NEED
A BIG SHOT OF REALITY
BEFORE THEY GO BACK OU
ON THE WATER.
[ SPITS ]
CAPTAINING THIS BOAT IS THE
HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE.
THERE'S ONE PERSON IN CHARGE,
AND TWO PEOPLE THAT NEED TO DO
WHAT YOU TELL THEM.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
TELL ME.
I HOPE YOU'RE
[BLEEP] SERIOUS
ABOUT LISTENING TO WHAT I'M
SAYING TO YOU THIS TIME.
ANY TIME I OPEN MY MOUTH
AND SAY SOMETHING,
WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE,
DON'T CONTRADICT ME.
DON'T TELL ME ABOUT A BETTER WAY
TO DO IT.
YOU'LL BE GONE.
I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU
THAT MUCH.
YOU THINK THAT'S FUNNY?
OKAY, SCOTT.
I DON'T FIND YOUR LAUGHTER
TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL.
[ SIGHS ]
I'M HOLDING EVERYTHING IN, OKAY?
Walker:
HE JUST WANTS TO YELL AND SCREAM
AND BELITTLE YOU
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
TO MAKE HIMSELF FEEL BETTER.
'CAUSE IT ONLY WILL TAKE
ONE PHONE CALL
FOR ME TO TELL VERN
THAT YOU'RE DONE.
AND YOU'LL BE DONE.
TRUST ME.
DO IT TODAY.
OKAY.
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S STILL ONE DECKHAND
WHO HASN'T GOTTEN THE MESSAGE.
I CALLED STEVE
EARLY THIS MORNING
AND TOLD HIM THAT JASON NEEDED
HIS HELP TO RUN THIS MATERIAL,
TO CLASSIFY IT DOWN SMALLER,
AND HE SAID HE WAS ON HIS WAY.
FOUR HOURS LATER, I CALLED HIM
AND ASKED HIM WHERE HE WAS,
AND HE WAS BUSY TAKING CARE OF
STUFF IN HIS OWN PERSONAL LIFE.
WELL, HERE YOU DON'T HAVE
A PERSONAL LIFE.
YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO,
AND YOU DO IT.
I DON'T CARE IF IT TAKES
16 HOURS A DAY, 20 HOURS A DAY.
YOU DO YOUR JOB.
[ CELLPHONE DIALING ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
Steve R.:
HI. STEVE.
HI. HOW ARE YOU?
DON'T SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY,
OR I'LL HANG UP.
NO. YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO ME,
OR I WILL NOT TALK TO YOU.
DON'T INTERRUPT.
YEAH. YOU DO.
YEAH. YOU DO.
NO. I DO.
YEAH.
YEAH.
WELL, THAT'S TRUE.
NO.
AND HE HUNG UP ON ME.
THAT'S VERY SAD,
'CAUSE HE JUST REVERTS
IMMEDIATELY TO 4-YEAR-OLD,
EXCEPT FOR F-BOMBS.
4-YEAR-OLDS DON'T USE
THE F-BOMB.
EXCEPT FOR ONE 4-YEAR-OLD
I KNEW.
HE USED IT ONE TIME.
BUT THEN THAT 4-YEAR-OLD --
WELL, HE WAS ACTUALLY
A 5-YEAR-OLD.
HE THREW A PHONE AT ME.
SO NOW IT'S
FIVE AND A HALF HOURS NOW
SINCE I FIRST CALLED HIM,
AND HE'S NOT HERE YET.
[ WHISTLING ]
HE'S PUSHING IT.
HE'S ON THIN ICE.
REAL THIN ICE.
Steve R.:
IT'S APPARENT THAT SCOT
JUST DOESN'T WANT ME
ON THE BOAT.
HE'S SO AGGRAVATED AND SO
DEMEANING THAT, YOU KNOW --
AND HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS
ARE, LIKE, ZERO.
[ LAUGHS ]
STEVE'S HERE FOR THE GOLD.
I'M NOT HERE FOR THE POLITICS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE SCARY.
I AM WARY OF HIM.
I'M GONNA HAVE ONE MORE TALK
WITH HIM, SEE HOW IT GOES.
I GUESS HIS FUTURE DEPENDS
ON HIS REACTION
TO WHAT I GOT TO SAY.
HEY, GUYS.
Narrator: AT THE WILD RANGER
CLEANUP SHACK
HEY, GUYS.
Meisterheim:
AS THE LEADER OF THE DREDGE,
I TRY TO RUN A TIGHT SHIP.
AND TO ME, A TIGHT SHIP IS
I TELL YOU WHAT TO DO,
AND YOU DO IT -- SIMPLE.
IT'S NOT WORKING THAT WAY.
RIGHT NOW WITH THE WILD RANGER,
THERE'S GONNA BE A MUTINY,
IT'S EITHER JASON AND STEVE
ARE GONNA TOSS ME OVERBOARD,
OR I'M GONNA TOSS
THE TWO OF THEM OVERBOARD.
JUST A MINUTE
ON THE THING.
JUST HOLD ON A MINUTE.
YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA CHAT HERE.
WELL, IT'LL BE
A REAL SHORT CHAT,
I'M GONNA TRY NOT TO BE
A REAL [BLEEP]
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU
SOME [BLEEP]
AND I DON'T WANT YOU
TO INTERRUPT ME UNTIL I'M DONE.
OKAY.
I HAD THE SAME TALK
WITH JASON.
THERE'S NO MORE DOING I
YOUR WAY OR HIS WAY.
IT'S ONLY MINE.
AND THAT'S
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
COOL.
WELL, I THINK
THAT'S A BAD DECISION.
I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOU THINK.
OH, YES, YOU DO.
YOUR CAPTAINCY SUCKS.
DON'T THROW THE F-BOMB
AT ME.
YOU COULDN'T CAPTAINCY YOUR WAY
OUT OF A WET PAPER BAG.
YOU'VE MADE
SO MANY ILLEGITIMATE MISTAKES,
REPETITIVELY -- MADE MISTAKES
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU CAN'T SET AN ANCHOR
WORTH A DAMN.
YOU'RE A PILL
TO WORK WITH.
[ LAUGHS ]
NO LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY.
YOUR LEADERSHIP THING
IS LIKE --
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10,
IT'S A 0.
YOU SOMEHOW FOOLED YOURSELF
INTO THINKING
YOU'VE GOT SOME VESTED INTERES
IN THIS BOAT,
AND YOU DON'T HAVE [BLEEP]
YOU DID GOOD
FOR TWO DAYS, STEVE,
AND THEN YOU STARTED [BLEEP] UP
WITH YOUR STUPID ATTITUDE.
OH.
DON'T THROW THE F-BOMB AT ME.
THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE --
[BLEEP]
I'LL SAY I
AS MANY TIMES AS I WANT.
BAD, BAD, BAD.
I DON'T CARE.
SPANK, SPANK, SPANK, SCOTT.
THE CONVERSATION'S OVER.
OKAY. YOU MAY LEAVE NOW.
LEAVE MY PRESENCE.
GET OUT OF HERE.
YOU NEED TO GO AWAY.
I NEED TO GET BACK
TO WORK.
YOU GET THE [BLEEP] OUT.
OKAY. I'LL LEAVE.
Meisterheim: OKAY.
I'M GONNA GO GET ISAAC NOW.
ISAAC'S GONNA FIX
THE BOAT,
AND I'M GONNA COME BACK HERE
AND HELP YOU.
[ WHISTLING ]
[ SIGHS ]
I TRIED TO BE CIVIL AND CALM.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
FUNNY, 'CAUSE I DON'T SEE HIM
WALKING ANYWHERE
WHICH MEANS HIS ASS
TURNED AROUND
AND WENT BACK
TO THE [BLEEP] HOUSE.
I WISH PUNCHING SOMEBODY IN THE
FACE WASN'T AGAINST THE LAW
'CAUSE I WOULD HAVE DONE I
MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY.
[BLEEP] TURNED AROUND.
GET THE [BLEEP] OUT.
YOU'RE JUST TALKING
A WHOLE BUNCH OF GIBBERISH.
STEVE, YOU JUST NEED TO GO,
'CAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET UGLY.
YOU GET VERN ON THE PHONE.
VERN THROWS ME OUT, I'LL LEAVE.
Hey, Scott.
HEY, VERN.
UM, I GOT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SOME THINGS.
YOU GOT A MOMENT?
IT HAS EVERYTHING
TO DO WITH STEVE.
Okay.
HE'S IN THE [BLEEP] HOUSE RIGH
NOW, AND HE WON'T [BLEEP] LEAVE.
TELEPHONE FOR YOU.
Steve R.:
OKAY.
HELLO.
THIS IS STEVE.
I HAVE A TEXT MESSAGE FROM SCOT
ASKING ME TO COME HERE,
AND I'LL SHOW YOU
THE TEXT MESSAGE.
HE'S RIGHT HERE.
ALL I NEED IS FOR YOU TO TELL
HIM TO GET THE [BLEEP] OU
BEFORE I POUND
HIS [BLEEP] FACE IN.
THIS IS STEVE.
THAT'S CORRECT.
I JUST WANTED TO HEAR THA
FROM YOU, VERN,
BECAUSE SCOTT'S BEHAVIOR HAS
BEEN ERRATIC AND UNCONTROLLED.
OKAY. I HEAR YOU TO SAY
I AM TO GET OUT OF THE TRAILER.
OKAY.
GIVE ME
THE [BLEEP] PHONE!
WHOA.
AND GE
THE [BLEEP] OUT!
I'M LEAVING.
PLEASE DON'T HIT ME.
OKAY.
Meisterheim:
STEVE IS OFF THE BOAT.
HE'S DONE.
Walker:
THAT WENT WELL.
SO INSTEAD OF PUNCHING STEVE
IN THE FACE,
I PUNCHED THE GENERATOR.
WELL, IT DIDN'T FEEL AS GOOD
AS PUNCHING HIM IN THE FACE.
IT DID FEEL PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator:
ON BELMONT BEACH
IAN AND SCOTT EXAMINE
THE BROKEN-DOWN SLUICEY.
Scott: IT WAS LIKE TRYING TO
DREDGE IN A HURRICANE.
OKAY.
AND THE VISIBILITY
WAS CRAP.
FOR SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS
Ian: HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO SEE
WHAT A SWAMPED BOAT LOOKS LIKE?
HERE IT IS.
Narrator: THE DREDGE
HAS SPENT MORE TIME IN REPAIRS
THAN ON THE WATER.
Ian:
THERE'S NO POINT IN DIVING
IF YOU CAN'T KEEP
ANY OF THE GOLD YOU SUCK UP.
Narrator: AND YESTERDAY,
A BUSTED ANTI-THRUST SYSTEM
RAINED ROCKS
ON SCOTT FOSTER'S HEAD.
Ian: THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR
OWNING A DREDGE,
PUTTING ONE TOGETHER,
BUILDING IT FROM SCRATCH,
AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE AND
BEING RESPONSIBLE IN THE END
FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES WRONG.
Ian: TWO HINGES ON THERE.
TWO HINGES ON THAT SIDE.
WHAT I'M THINKING -- TWO BOLTS
WILL HAVE TO GO IN THERE.
Scott: I JUST DON'T WANT TO
UNDO A NUT EVERY DAY.
YEAH.
I GOT ALL THAT.
I'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE BI
OF A VIBE
THAT SCOTT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATED
WITH HIS PREDICAMENT.
YEAH.
WOULDN'T IT BE SWEET IF ALL WE
HAD TO WAS JUST GO "MERRR!"?
YEAH.
OUT OF RESPECT TO HIM,
HE'S POSITIVE ABOUT IT,
AND HE'S WORKING HARD
AND HE'S NOT COMPLAINING.
BUT I DO GET THE SENSE THAT THIS
ISN'T WHERE HE WANTS TO BE.
Narrator: SO FAR THIS SEASON,
SCOTT'S DONE ALL THE REPAIRS.
NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME,
IAN TAKES THE MANTLE.
Ian: IT'S DEFINITELY GAME TIME
RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THIS IS MY SHOT.
THIS IS MY DREDGE.
THIS IS MY BOAT. THIS IS MY JOB.
AND WE GOT TO PUT TIME
UNDERWATER.
WE DON'T GET PAID
FOR MECHANICAL FIXING.
[ DRILL WHIRRS ]
THAT'S IT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
FOR THE ANTI-THRUST TO WORK,
PUT A BOLT IN IT.
AND THAT'S GONNA HOLD IT FAS
SO WHEN ROCKS KICK IT,
THEY JUST KICK IT STRAIGHT.
IT'S LIKE A WALL.
AND WHEN YOU AIN'T DREDGING,
YOU PULL THIS PIN OUT,
LIFT IT UP ON THE HINGES.
THERE SHE IS.
THRUST HAS BEEN ANTI'ED.
I'M CONFIDENT THE SLUICEY
IS GONNA BE OPERATING
ON ALL CYLINDERS AT THIS POINT.
Narrator: WITH THE WEATHER
WINDOW STILL CLEAR
SCOTTY, WE WORKING TODAY
OR WHAT?
THE SLUICEY IS BACK
IN BUSINESS.
COME ON, GIRL.
TAKING THE SADDLE AGAIN SOLO.
IT'S JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT.
Narrator:
A MILE UP SHORE
ZEKE TENHOFF ON THE CLARK
HAS BEEN GRINDING ON THE GOLD
FOR NINE STRAIGHT HOURS.
Emily:
AND IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL,
THEY MIGHT SINK THE DREDGE,
POTENTIALLY.
SO IF WE EVER GET A ROCK DOWN
LIKE THIS IN THE SLUICE BOX,
WE HAVE TO CLEAR IT OUT.
IT'S VERY POSSIBLE
THAT WE'RE LOSING GOLD
BECAUSE THE WATER'S SHOOTING OU
THE SIDE HERE.
Tenhoff: THE ROCKS
WEREN'T WASHING THROUGH,
AND THEY BUILT UP.
Emily: ZEKE, ARE WE GETTING
ANY GOLD AT ALL?
THERE'S WHITE WATER
EVERYWHERE.
IT'S SPILLING OVER THE SIDES
OF THE BOX.
YEAH.
HUH?
GOLD IS HEAVIER THAN WATER.
IT SINKS DOWN WITH THE ROCKS.
Tenhoff: SOMETIMES IF SHE'S
FEELING KIND OF GROUCHY
AND I ASK HER TO DO SOMETHING
AND SHE GIVES ME SOME ATTITUDE,
I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH
THAT ATTITUDE.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S LIKE, TREAD LIGHTLY, EMILY.
I DON'T REALLY, REALLY ACTUALLY
NEED YOU HERE
IF YOU'RE NOT MAKING MY LIFE
EASIER.
LOOK, EMILY. I'VE BEEN
DOING THIS FOR YEARS, OKAY?
STOP FREAKING, LIKE
I'M JUST SAYING, MAN.
YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN I
WHEN I FIRST CAME UP HERE.
IT WAS ALL OVER
THE PLACE.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE SLUICE BOX
COMPLETELY FILLED WITH ROCKS
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T CHECK
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SLUICE
BOX WAS SET UP RIGHT.
I'M GONNA [BLEEP]
STAY UP TOP THEN.
OKAY.
NOW WE'RE SPENDING ALL OF OUR
TIME TOGETHER EVERY DAY,
AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER,
AND WE'RE SLEEPING
IN THE SAME TENT,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE ISN'T ANY SPACE AT ALL.
AND IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
THINGS GET TENSE BETWEEN EMILY
WHEN WE'RE OVERTIRED, FOR SURE,
AND IT'S PROBABLY GONNA GE
A LOT WORSE.
[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]
Narrator:
A STORM ROLLS INTO NOME
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ON P.A. ]
FORCING THE GOLD DREDGERS
OFF THE WATER
AND KICK-STARTING
A FLEETWIDE CLEANOUT.
ON THE CHRISTINE ROSE,
THE POMRENKES HI
ANOTHER HOT SPOT.
Moen: THE BOX LOOKS
AMAZINGLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.
SHUT UP AND FEED THAT PLANT.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
GREENHORN CODY MOEN
PROVED HIS METTLE
TO THE BOSS MAN,
HELPING THE DREDGE BANK
A MASSIVE 98-OUNCE,
$166,000 PAYDAY.
THERE'S MORE GOLD IN THE BOX
THAN WE THOUGHT, SO THAT'S GOOD.
Narrator: STUCK ON SHORE
WITH YET ANOTHER REPAIR,
THE SLUICEY BOYS MANAGE
JUST 2 OUNCES, WORTH $3,400.
IN THEIR YURT ON WEST BEACH
Tenhoff: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GONNA
DO ON A RAINY DAY, YOU KNOW?
ZEKE AND EMILY SLOWLY
COAX OUT THEIR TREASURE.
DON'T SPILL THAT.
Emily: I WANT GO GET A MASTER'S
DEGREE IN OPERA IN EUROPE,
AND THAT'S NOT GONNA BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT A LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO IT JUST KIND OF HANGS
OVER EVERYTHING I DO.
Tenhoff:
WE GOT TO SELL THIS STUFF.
YOU NEED TO GO TO VIENNA.
Steve R.:
WELL, I'M WALKING HOME,
AND RIGHT NOW I'M BOATLESS
AND HAPPY.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: FOR THE CREW
OF THE WILD RANGER
Meisterheim:
THAT MUCH GOLD IS NOT GOOD.
THE FEEBLE CLEANOU
IS ONE MORE HI
IN A SEASON OF FAILURES.
ALL YOU NEED
IS ABOUT 50 MORE PANS LIKE THAT,
AND YOU'LL HAVE AN OUNCE.
Walker: I CAME TO NOME
TOTALLY PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING.
THE ONLY THING I WAS NO
PREPARED TO DEAL WITH IS SCOTT.
Narrator:
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOME
HEY, ZEKE.
HOW'S IT GOING, KENNY?
HEY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I'M EMILY.
HI, EMILY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
Narrator:
THE CLARK CREW ARE RESTED
AND READY TO SELL SOME GOLD.
LET'S SEE
WHAT YOU GOT.
[ TINKLING ]
I LOVE THAT SOUND.
3.42 TROY OUNCES.
Tenhoff: 3.42.
I CAN GIVE
A 60% ADVANCE TODAY
AND THE BALANCE
AFTER IT GETS PROCESSED.
YEAH.
LET'S DO THAT.
I NEED TO GE
SOME MORE GOLD
IF I'M GONNA GET OUT OF NOME
THIS WINTER.
MIGHT NEED TO PULL DOWN
ANOTHER 20 OR 30 OUNCES.
SO, WILL $3,700 WORK
FOR AN ADVANCE FOR YOU TODAY?
YEAH.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
IS THIS GONNA BE ENOUGH
TO GET YOUR TICKET TO EUROPE?
YEAH.
Kenny:
TICKET TO EUROPE?
YEAH.
I'M MOVING TO AUSTRIA THIS FALL.
YOU'RE MOVING TO AUSTRIA?
YEAH.
AND YOU'RE LEAVING
POOR ZEKE HERE?
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]
I'D RATHER BE HERE,
HONESTLY.
MAYBE YOU'RE JUST FRIENDS.
EVEN BETTER.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
YEP. THANK YOU.
NICE MEETING YOU, EMILY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
ZEKE, GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
I'LL BE BACK.
HAVE FUN IN AUSTRIA.
THANK YOU.
I WILL.
SIX WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
AS THE CHRISTINE ROSE GATHERS
AN INSURMOUNTABLE PILE OF GOLD,
THE CLARK IS OPENING UP A LEAD
ON THE SMALLER DREDGES.
OOH.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
I SAY INDEED WE SHALL.
I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREA
IDEA IN THIS CRAPPY WEATHER.
NOME MAY BE A COLD,
HARSH PLACE,
BUT 60 MILES AWAY,
THERE'S ONE RELIABLE HOT SPOT --
A VOLCANIC HOT SPRING
WHERE GOLD MINERS HAVE SOOTHED
THEIR MUSCLES SINCE 1900.
Tenhoff: WE JUST HAVE TO GO EASY
ON THE JEEP.
IT'S GOT TEENY, LITTLE TIRES.
Scott:
IT'S LIKE RIDING A POGO STICK.
OH, THIS GONNA BE GOOD,
GUYS.
THIS IS GONNA BE REAL GOOD.
Emily: THIS LOOKS PRETTY STEAMY
AND NICE.
[ LAUGHS ]
FOR ME, DIVING AN 8-HOUR SHIF
IS, LIKE, EASY-PEASY.
I COULD DO THAT EVERY DAY.
I LOVED WORKING THE NOZZLE,
BEING DOWN THERE BY MYSELF,
JUST MOVING MATERIAL.
IT WAS AWESOME.
I'M A TOTAL ADDICT NOW.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN YOU'RE
DOWN THERE AT THIS POINT --
WHEN YOU'RE DOWN THERE,
I'M NOT RELAXED AT ALL.
I'M ON THE TOP,
AND I'M COMPLETELY TENSE.
THAT'S WHY I NEED TO BE
DOWN MORE OFTEN --
SO YOU CAN GET USED TO IT,
YOU CAN GET OVER IT.
WELL, WE'LL SEE
HOW IT GOES.
ALL RIGHT.
NO PEEKING, GUYS.
I'M GONNA PEEK.
IT'S DARK.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE WANTS TO SEE IF THE RUMORS
ARE REALLY TRUE.
Ian: ZEKE AND EMILY, THEIR
RELATIONSHIP, IT'S COMPLICATED.
ZEKE HAVING TO TRAIN HER
TO DO WHAT THIS JOB IS
AND THEN THROWING,
LIKE, LIVING CONDITIONS
AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT,
IT'S CRAZY.
[ RATTLING ]
[ HORN BLARING ]