Bering Sea Gold (2012) s01e06 Episode Script

Meisterheim:
THE FUNNY THING ABOUT GOLD
GOLD CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN
YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN YOUR LIFE.
THIS MATERIAL'S
GOT ME EXCITED.
THERE SHOULD BE 25 OUNCES
IN THE BOX.
OH, BABY.
OH, DEAR.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE UP HERE
ARE STRUGGLING.
LOOK, EMILY. I'VE BEEN
DOING THIS FOR YEARS!
HURTS SO BAD,
IT'LL MAKE ME PUKE.
THIS IS THEIR LAST RESORT.
HEY!
GIVE ME
THE [BLEEP] PHONE!
IT'S MY LAST RESORT.
OH, MY LEGS!
Steve:
MADE HIM A CRIPPLE FOR LIFE.
[ CRASH, HORN BLARES ]
GOLD IS THE DEVIL.
[ "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 ♪
[ HORN BLARING ]
Narrator: IN THE WILDS
OUTSIDE NOME, ALASKA,
A CAR CRASH AND FOUR GOLD MINERS
STUMBLING IN THE AFTERMATH.
WE BLEW A TIRE OUT ON THE ROAD.
IT JUST SENT US SIDEWAYS,
AND I WAS LIKE,
"WE'RE GONNA ROLL OVER."
EVERYBODY'S JUST HOLDING ON,
AND BOOM!
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: EARLIER, THE CREWS
OF THE CLARK AND SLUICEY
SOAKED IN A LOCAL HOT SPRING.
AAH!
[ CRASH, HORN BLARING ]
AND ON THE RIDE HOME, THEY BLEW
A TIRE AND PLUNGED OFF THE ROAD.
[ SIGHS ]
I'M LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S ADRENALINE OR WHAT,
BUT I'M JUST, LIKE, SHAKING.
ALL OF US WERE COLD, WET,
AND MISERABLE,
AND BORDERLINE HYPOTHERMIC.
IT'S A MIRACLE
THAT NOBODY GOT HURT.
I'M JUST SO GLAD
YOU GUYS ARE OKAY.
Narrator: IF THEY CAN'T REPAIR
THE DAMAGED JEEP,
THE FOUR MINERS
WILL BE STRANDED OVERNIGH
IN BELOW-FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
Tenhoff: TOTALLY UNPREPARED
FOR THIS SITUATION.
WE DON'T HAVE CAMPING GEAR.
WE DON'T HAVE DRY CLOTHES.
BUT WE NEED THAT BIG
CARGO STRAP OF YOURS.
WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA ANCHOR TO?
WE CAN ANCHOR
TO A BUSH.
WE CAN ATTACH IT TO THE AXLE
RIGHT THERE.
[ RATCHET CLICKING ]
ALL RIGHT.
PUSH IT. PUSH.
OKAY.
SHE'S JUST ABOUT THERE.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
WHOO-HOO!
OH, DEAR.
DIDN'T EVEN BREAK A STRAP.
[ SMOOCHES ]
[ GRUNTS ]
LET'S OPEN IT UP AND SEE
IF ANY OIL HAS DRAINED OU
THE INTAKE ON THE CARBURETOR.
Narrator: ALL THAT GRUNT WORK
WILL BE USELESS
IF THEY CAN'
GET THE ENGINE STARTED.
OKAY. OKAY.
[ ENGINE CRANKING ]
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS ]
[ CHEERING ]
OH, MY GOD!
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO!
IT'S GONNA BE BUMPY.
MAN, THIS COULD HAVE PLAYED OU
IN SO MANY HORRIBLE WAYS.
WHOO!
SO I'M JUST GONNA MAKE I
TO TOWN A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
THE WEATHER CLEARS.
BUT ON THE WILD RANGER
Meisterheim:
I TOLD MYSELF THIS MORNING
I'LL HAVE A NON-FRUSTRATING
DAY TODAY.
Narrator: THE FUTURE
OF THE DREDGE IS STILL CLOUDY.
OUR GOLD, IT DOESN'T EXCITE ME
IN THE LEAST.
Narrator:
A SEASON OF FAILURES CULMINATED
WITH THE FIRING OF DECKHAND
STEVE RIEDEL TWO DAYS AGO.
GIVE ME
THE [BLEEP] PHONE!
WHOA.
AND GE
THE [BLEEP] OUT!
NOW CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
IS A MAN DOWN,
AND THE PRESSURE'S ON
TO FIND SOME GOLD.
Meisterheim: AFTER MONTHS
OF NOT COLLECTING ANYTHING,
I HAVE A HUGE URGENCY
TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
IF YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY,
YOU DON'T EAT, YOU DON'T SHOWER,
YOU DON'T WASH YOUR CLOTHES.
OW.
OW.
HOLY [BLEEP]
OH, THAT HUR
LIKE A [BLEEP]
THERE MAY BE
A SMALL PROBLEM WITH TODAY.
I POPPED MY CALF.
IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE SMACKED I
WITH A BASEBALL.
I'M STILL GOING DOWN,
BUT WE JUST HAVE TO
KEEP THAT IN MIND.
YEAH.
WELL, I'M STANDING.
WE JUST GOT TO GET THIS BOA
OVER THERE.
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
IF I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING,
I'M GONNA DO IT MY WAY
UNTIL IT ABSOLUTELY
DOESN'T WORK.
AND THEN IF IT DOESN'T WORK,
WELL THEN, BAD ME. MY BAD.
THERE'S NO STEVE ON BOARD TODAY.
IT'S JUST GONNA BE ME AND JASON.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES, AND MAYBE
WE WON'T ARGUE SO MUCH.
Narrator: THE DREDGE ARRIVES
ON THE SKIPPER'S CHOSEN GROUND.
THEN SCOTT DROPS THE ANCHOR.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
OKAY. GO.
[BLEEP] JASON.
YEAH, I DROPPED IT!
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL
YOU WERE DOING.
GO PULL THEM ANCHORS.
PULL THE ROPES UP.
TIGHTEN US UP.
I'M NOT DOING IT.
Meisterheim: JASON, HE DOESN'
HAVE A CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THIS ISN'T THE [BLEEP] TITANIC.
THIS ISN'
PRINCESS CRUISE LINES.
IT'S NOT A [BLEEP] YACHT.
IT'S A DREDGE. IT'S SIMPLE.
NEXT TIME YOU DON'T GE
ALL CRAZY WITH THE THROTTLE
THINKING YOU'RE GONNA STRAIGHTEN
OUT THE TITANIC OR SOMETHING.
I'M STRAIGHTENING OU
THE BOAT.
YOU ASKED ME
WHERE I WANTED THE ANCHORS
AND HOW I WANTED TO
DO IT.
JASON, YOU'RE GONNA DO ME
A FAVOR RIGHT NOW
AND SHUT THE [BLEEP] UP.
FIX THE ANCHOR ROPE
SO WE CAN GET BUSY,
'CAUSE I'M NO
LISTENING TO YOU.
WE'RE NOT DOING THIS
TODAY.
SCOTT SUCKS AS A LEADER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
LINES NEED TO BE --
JUST GO THAT WAY.
JUST STOP TALKING
AND PULL IT IN.
IT'S NOT A CRUISE SHIP.
HE CROSSED SOME LINES
HE CAN'T STEP BACK ACROSS.
HE'S TAKING I
TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL,
AND AS LONG AS SCOT
IS ON THE WILD RANGER,
THE WILD RANGER
IS NOT GONNA SUCCEED.
Narrator:
A HALF-MILE UP THE COAST
GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!
YOU'VE TUNED IN
TO GOLDEN BOY RADIO,
WHERE ALL YOUR GOLDEN DREAMS
COME TRUE.
Narrator: 27-YEAR-OLD GREENHORN
CODY MOEN
IS RUNNING THE CHRISTINE ROSE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
LET'S SEE WHAT ROBBI THINKS
ABOUT GOLDEN BOY RADIO.
Narrator:
THREE DAYS AGO,
DECKHAND ROBBI WADE
FAILED TO PULL HIS WEIGHT.
Shawn: ROBBI'S NO
BRINGING UP FULL BUCKETS.
YOU GOT TO KNOW
WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE DOING.
Narrator: AND CODY WAS PROMOTED
TO SHIFT BOSS.
Steve:
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
HE CAN TAKE THAT WHOLE THING
OVER FOR ONE SHIFT,
AND I'LL HAVE
COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
Moen:
YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK?
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME
ROBBI GETS HIS ASS OUT HERE
AND DOES SOME MINING,
'CAUSE I'M GETTING TIRED.
YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND DO
A LITTLE RUNNING AND GUNNING?
YEAH. 10-4.
Narrator: AFTER SEVEN HOURS
OF DREDGING, CODY TAKES A BREAK.
Moen: YEAH, WE GO
A GOOD SHIFT IN TONIGHT.
PRETTY EXCITED TO COME OUT TODAY
AND GET BACK ROLLING.
[ METAL GROANS, CRACKS ]
COME ON!
THE WINCH JUST BROKE.
GOOD THING NOBODY
WAS STANDING HERE, DUDE.
THAT WHOLE BLOCK
CAME OFF THE GROUND AND WENT UP
PROBABLY ABOU
THREE OR FOUR FEET IN THE AIR,
SO IT COULD HAVE REALLY
HURT SOMEBODY BAD.
THAT THING
WEIGHS 40 POUNDS ITSELF,
BUT THIS BARGE WEIGHS 100 TONS.
SO THAT'S HOW MUCH FORCE I
HAD BEHIND IT.
Narrator: TO STABILIZE
THE DREDGE IN HEAVY SEAS,
TWO 520-POUND ANCHORS
ARE CONNECTED VIA CABLES
TO A PAIR OF WINCHES.
THE CABLES ARE KEPT IN PLACE
BY HEAVY METAL ANCHOR GUIDES
WELDED TO THE DECK.
IF THE SEAS GET TOO ROUGH,
THE INCREASED PRESSURE
CAN FRACTURE THE WELD,
TAKING OUT ANYONE
IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
GOT TO GET IT FIXED
SO WE CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
CODY PREPS THE SURFACE.
AND ROBBI WELDS THE GUIDE
BACK IN PLACE.
I'M PRETTY SURE THE BOSS
IS GONNA WANT TO MOVE DIRT.
Narrator: AFTER LOSING
VALUABLE DREDGING TIME,
ROBBI'S ANXIOUS
TO GET BACK ON THE GOLD
EVEN IF THE WELDS
ARE A LITTLE ROUGH.
Wade: WE'RE MINERS.
WE'RE NOT BUILDING PIANOS HERE.
ALL WE CARE ABOU
IS PUTTING DIRT IN THAT.
WE JUST DID THE QUICK FIX
AND PUT THE BLOCK BACK DOWN.
WE GOT TO GET MINING AGAIN.
BUT IT WAS REALLY DANGEROUS.
SOMEBODY COULD HAVE GOT KILLED
RIGHT THERE.
IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE
NEED TO ADDRESS WITH THE BOSS,
'CAUSE THIS IS KIND OF
A RED ZONE TO ME NOW.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO STAND HERE.
[ THUD ]
OH! [BLEEP]
I NEED A HAND!
OH, MY LEGS!
Narrator:
ON THE CHRISTINE ROSE
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE
NEED TO ADDRESS WITH THE BOSS,
'CAUSE THIS IS KIND OF
A RED ZONE TO ME NOW.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO STAND HERE.
[ THUD ]
OH!
[BLEEP]
I NEED A HAND!
OH, MY LEGS!
MY LEGS, DUDE!
[ GROANS ]
OH, MY LEGS.
COME ON.
COME ON.
[BLEEP]
[ GROANING ]
[BLEEP]
CAN'T DUDE.
BROKE AGAIN.
COME ON. GET AWAY FROM THERE
INTO THE BOAT.
AAH!
COME ON, CODY.
I GOT TO CRAWL, DUDE.
IT FREAKIN' HIT ME
IN THE LEGS, DUDE.
I KNOW. WHAT LEG?
OH [BLEEP]
OH, MY GOD, DUDE.
I TURNED AROUND.
I SAID, "THIS IS A RED ZONE.
WE CAN'T STAND HERE, DUDE,"
AND IT GOES BOOM!
Narrator: A WAVE
STRAINED THE ANCHOR CABLE,
SNAPPING THE BLOCK OFF THE DECK
AND NEARLY
TAKING CODY'S LEGS OFF.
IT HURT REALLY BAD,
DUDE.
COME ON.
SIT DOWN.
[ GROANS ]
JUST SIT DOWN
AND RELAX.
[ GROANING ]
YOU CAN SEE THE LINE WHERE I
ALMOST HOOKED AND RIPPED MY SKIN
ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE.
THAT COULD HAVE FLAYED ME OPEN
RIGHT THERE.
I'M A LUCKY DUCK.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
RIPPED MY PANTS THAT BAD,
ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE FREAKIN' CROTCH.
GOOD THING
YOU WEAR BAGGY PANTS.
IF I WAS, LIKE,
6 INCHES SHORTER,
WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE
TALKING RIGHT NOW.
I'D PROBABLY BE
ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL
'CAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE HIT ME
RIGHT BETWEEN THE LEGS
AND DONE
SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE.
HEY, STEVE?
WE LOST THE WINCH ROLLERS
ON THE PORT SIDE HERE,
SNAPPED OFF,
AND IT HIT CODY IN THE LEG
AND KNOCKED HIM OVERBOARD.
SO HE'S SOAKING WET.
AND HE'S OKAY,
BUT HE'S GOT A CUT ON HIS LEG.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
OLD MAN'S GONNA BE OU
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator:
OWNER STEVE POMRENKE MOTORS OU
TO RELIEVE HIS INJURED HAND.
Steve: ALL THE GOLD IN THE WORLD
AIN'T WORTH GETTING KILLED OVER.
WHERE'S YOUR CUT?
WELL, THAT'S A CUT.
MY LEGS ARE GONNA BE BLUE
TOMORROW.
THAT [BLEEP]
HIT ME HARD, MAN.
I BELIEVE IT.
ARE YOU GONNA SURVIVE?
AY-YI-YI.
ALL RIGHT.
BABYSIT THAT, MAN.
[ GROANING ]
Steve:
HE'S REALLY LUCKY.
THANK THE LORD HE DIDN'T GE
REALLY HURT, BUT HE'S HURT.
WE MADE A LOT OF GOLD,
SO I GUESS THAT'S
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
AND NOBODY'S DEAD.
I LOOK AT THIS WELD HERE,
AND I DON'T LIKE THAT.
LOOKS LIKE
A BUNCH OF CHICKEN SCRATCH.
PRETTY MEDIOCRE, AND MEDIOCRE
DON'T WORK OUT HERE.
THE CABLE CATCHING CODY
COULD HAVE TORE HIS DAMN LEGS
RIGHT OFF HIS BODY,
YOU KNOW, MADE HIM
A CRIPPLE FOR LIFE.
THAT WAS A LACK OF DILIGENCE,
AND I PUT THAT BLAME ON ROBBI,
'CAUSE HE DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB
WELDING.
WHEN YOU COME OUT HERE
TO DO THIS JOB,
YOU'D BETTER KNOW
WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE DOING,
OTHERWISE THE BERING SEA
WILL CLAIM YOU.
Narrator:
ON THE WILD RANGER
GREENHORN JASON WALKER
IS FOUR HOURS INTO HIS DIVE.
AND TOPSIDE
CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM
IS NURSING AN INJURED LEG.
I CAN'T EVEN PUT ANY PRESSURE
ON THE LEG, ON THE FOOT NOW,
AND CAN'T STAND UP STRAIGHT.
THERE'S NO WAY I'M GONNA
PUT MYSELF IN THE WATER.
JASON COMES UP,
I'M GONNA GIVE HIM AN OPTION
OF LEAVING OR GOING BACK DOWN.
YOU COMING UP?
I CAN'T GO DOWN AGAIN.
WHY?
'CAUSE MY LEG
IS [BLEEP]
SO IF YOU'RE
GONNA GO DOWN AGAIN,
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON
WE'RE STAYING.
[BLEEP]
Walker: WHEN SCOTT TELLS ME
THAT HE'S HURT,
IT'S JUST A FRONT,
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
IT'S A FRONT. IT'S FAKE.
IT'S A LIE.
HE CAN'T COVER UP
WHAT HE REALLY IS.
NO, I CAN'T.
NO, HE'S NOT A LEADER,
AND HE'S LAZY.
AND HE WOULD RATHER BE
THE ARROGANT, LOUDMOUTH,
TOUGH-GUY BULLY
THAT HE REALLY IS.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU
I'M NOT GOING [BLEEP] DOWN.
MAN, GO DOWN ONE TIME,
JUST FOR 30 MINUTES.
GO [BLEEP] YOURSELF.
"MAN UP" MEANS
DON'T BE A [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Meisterheim: I AM HARDHEADED,
THAT IS FOR SURE.
AND I WILL DIE HARDHEADED
WHETHER IT BE TOMORROW
OR IN 40 YEARS.
[ LAUGHS ]
HIS EGO IS SO [BLEEP]
PATHETICALLY HUGE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S LIKE MANIPULATING A CHILD.
I FEEL SO GUILTY.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT WAS QUICK.
IT'S REALLY IRONIC.
WHEN I DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER,
I COULDN'T WAI
TO GET BACK IN THE WATER.
SCOTT JUST PULLS A MUSCLE
IN HIS CALF,
AND HE'S "OH! OH!
I DON'T THINK
I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DIVE!
OH!"
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SCOTT AND ME.
YOUR LEG'S KILLING YOU?
Narrator: SCOTT'S INJURED LEG
MEANS NO MORE DIVING.
AND NO GOLD FOR THE WILD RANGER.
Meisterheim: CAN'T EVEN STAND
ON THE LEG NO MORE.
Narrator:
AT THE MOUTH OF NOME HARBOR
Scott:
WE GOT TO CAPITALIZE
ON EVERY FREE MINUTE
THAT WE HAVE OF GOOD WEATHER.
Narrator: SCOTT FOSTER
ON THE 19-FOOT SLUICEY
IS ITCHING TO GET ON THE GOLD.
I JUST WANT TO SPEND
A GOOD SOLID 8 OR 10 HOURS
UNDER THE WATER, RUNNING
GOOD MATERIAL THROUGH THE BOX,
AND GETTING GOLD.
Narrator: THIS SEASON HAS BEEN
PLAGUED BY BREAKDOWNS
OPENING UP A RIFT BETWEEN HIM
AND THE DREDGE'S ROOKIE OWNER,
IAN FOSTER.
DUDE, FREAKIN' CHECK
YOUR EGO.
BUT NOW, WITH ALL SYSTEMS GO,
IT'S TIME FOR SCOTT FOSTER
TO MAKE HIS MARK.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Scott:
ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.
THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE
I WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: SCOTT WORKS A SPO
AROUND A HUGE ROCK
AND FINDS A STASH
OF SMALL NUGGETS.
IN HIS QUEST FOR GOLD,
NO STONE WILL GO UNTURNED.
Scott: IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGES
ROCKS I'VE EVER MOVED,
AND IT'S JUST LITTERED --
JUST PILES OF NUGGETS.
NICE LITTLE PILE
OF PICKERS THERE.
TODAY'S A GOOD GOLD DAY.
WE'RE DOING GOOD.
LOTS OF GOLD IN THERE.
WHOO!
TIME TO GET SOME MORE.
Narrator:
TWO MILES UP THE COAST
Tenhoff: HEY, EMILY!
Emily: WHAT UP?
CAN YOU PU
THAT OTHER WEIGHT BELT ON ME?
CAPTAIN ZEKE TENHOFF
ON THE 20-FOOT CLARK
IS FACED WITH A SHIFTING TIDE
AND A RISING SWELL.
Tenhoff: I WANT TO GE
AS MUCH GOLD AS I CAN.
I'M IN A LOT OF DEBT, YOU KNOW?
SOME UNFORTUNATE THINGS
HAVE HAPPENED TO ME FINANCIALLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD OUT THERE,
AND I'M MOTIVATED TO GE
A LOT MORE, AND SO IS EMILY.
Emily: I'M STAYING UP
TO MONITOR THE TOP SITUATION,
MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GE
DANGEROUSLY ROUGH.
ZEKE'S REALLY DETERMINED
TO GET DOWN THERE.
LAST TIME WE WERE OUT,
HE HAD TO COME IN EARLY,
AND IT WAS REALLY HARD
TO LEAVE THE GOLD.
AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN
WANTING TO GET BACK ON IT.
OKAY, DROP IT.
Narrator:
SO FAR THIS SEASON
OH!
[ SCREAMS ]
FREAKIN' COLD.
GREENHORN EMILY RIEDEL
HAS BEEN SLOWING ZEKE DOWN
DON'T BE
[BLEEP] INSANE.
LOOK, EMILY. I'VE BEEN
DOING THIS FOR YEARS, OKAY?
I PROBABLY COULD'VE KEPT GOING,
BUT EMILY WAS FEELING SICK.
Narrator:
KEEPING HIM OFF THE GOLD.
AND NOW
Emily: THE WIND PICKED UP,
AND IT GOT REALLY COLD.
Narrator: EMILY HAS
DROPPED THE BALL AGAIN.
Emily: I DIDN'T BRING
ENOUGH WARM CLOTHING WITH ME.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD
IDEA TO START HEADING IN SOON.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OU
HOW TO FORMULATE MY ARGUMEN
TO ZEKE.
Narrator:
20 FEET BELOW,
ZEKE HITS A PRIME PATCH
OF GILDED GROUND
AND HEADS TOPSIDE
TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.
WE'RE ON GOLD.
SO FRUSTRATING.
THIS IS NOT VERY FUN
RIGHT NOW.
THE WAVES ARE PICKING UP.
THEY'RE PRETTY HUGE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL
ZEKE IS DOING.
HE'S NOT COMMUNICATING WITH ME,
AND I'M FREAKIN' COLD.
EMILY SIGNALS
FOR ZEKE TO RESURFACE.
HEY, ZEKE!
ZEKE!
Narrator:
ON THE CLARK
HEY, ZEKE!
ZEKE!
Tenhoff: EMILY!
GREENHORN EMILY RIEDEL
HAS DISAPPEARED
INTO THE 40-DEGREE BERING SEA.
IT'S TURNING INTO
A VERY BAD DAY.
IT'S ABOUT TIME
TO GO IN.
I'M SO COLD, DUDE!
THE WIND'S PICKING UP,
I'M FREEZING,
AND WE HAVE
ONE EXTRA THIN JACKET.
WELL, YOU HAVE YOUR WET SUIT.
YOUR WET SUIT'S DRY.
THE WATER IS GETTING ROUGHER.
DON'T THINK IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL DOWN THERE.
THERE'S LOTS OF GOLD.
SO YOU'RE MAKING TONS OF MONEY,
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE COLD.
OKAY, LET'S GO IN.
I'VE SACRIFICED A LO
AND SPENT A LOT OF MONEY
TO GET WHERE I AM NOW,
AND IF I LOSE TIME OUT THERE,
IT MAKES ME REALLY ANGRY.
IT'S NOT GONNA HELP US GET GOLD.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
IT'S MY DREDGE,
AND I'M IN CONTROL.
AND SHE HAS TO REALIZE THAT IF
SHE'S NOT MAKING MY LIFE EASIER,
SHE IS NOT VALUABLE TO ME.
Narrator:
JUST OUTSIDE THE HARBOR
THE WILD RANGER
LIMPS INTO PORT.
Walker: WHEN SCOTT AND I
STARTED OUT ON THE WILD RANGER,
I WAS THINKING SCOTT WAS GONNA
BE A REALLY GOOD LEADER --
YOU KNOW, GET US ON GOLD,
MAKE WISE DECISIONS.
I WAS REALLY THINKING
THAT HE WAS GONNA BE A GOOD GUY.
I WAS TOTALLY WRONG.
Meisterheim: AS THE CAPTAIN
OF THE WILD RANGER,
I BELIEVE I BRING LEADERSHIP,
DRIVE, AND AMBITION.
AND
THIS IS NOT EASY.
IF YOU ARE WEAK IN ANY WAY,
MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY,
OR EVEN EMOTIONALLY,
YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.
I GOT A FAMILY, GOT FRIENDS.
THEY'RE ALL COUNTING ON ME
TO DO GOOD HERE.
AND I'M NOT.
I DO HAVE A BOILING POINT,
AND I'M JUST ABOUT TO REACH IT.
OW.
Adkison:
I'M BACK IN TOWN.
THIS TIME, I INTEND TO DO
A THOROUGH SURVEY.
CURRENT GOLD COUN
FOR THE WILD RANGER
IS ABOUT 3/4 OF AN OUNCE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND YEAH, IT'S PITIFUL.
IT'S PITIFUL.
TEAM NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
Narrator: UNANNOUNCED
AND ON EDGE, OWNER VERN ADKISON
IS TAKING CONTROL
OF HIS FAILING OPERATION.
Adkison: IT'S BECOME
MORE AND MORE EVIDENT TO ME
THAT YOU GOT TO BE RIGHT HERE
ON TOP OF IT FULL TIME.
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
IT WAS TIGHT.
WE TIGHTENED IT ALREADY.
I HAD IT SUPER TIGHT.
IT'S NOT TIGHT NOW,
RIGHT?
NO, BUT IT'S NOT WOBBLING ENOUGH
TO COME OFF.
IT'S JUST WOBBLING.
BUT WOBBLING LIKE THAT,
I MEAN, IT'S NOT GONNA LAST.
Meisterheim: AT THIS POIN
IN THE GAME, I FEEL LIKE
VERNON AND MY RELATIONSHIP
MAY BE GETTING TESTED.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
COMPLAINING ABOUT ME TO HIM
THAT I'M A [BLEEP]
I'M THE ONE RUNNING THE BOAT.
I KNOW WHAT IT REQUIRES.
AND IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEBODY
FROM 2,000 MILES AWAY
TELLING ME WHAT TO DO.
ISN'T THERE SOMETHING
YOU CAN DO AT THE HOUSE?
I'M GOING WITH YOU.
Adkison: SCOTT IS THE TEAM
LEADER, BOAT CAPTAIN,
BUT SO FAR, I HAVEN'T REALLY
SEEN ANY RESPECTABLE DEGREE
OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
ON HIS PART.
Narrator: THE OWNER INSISTS
ON HEADING BACK OUT.
Meisterheim:
VERNON'S MY BOSS.
AND SOMETIMES WHEN HE TELLS ME
WHAT TO DO, THOUGH,
HE GOES A LITTLE OVERBOARD
WITH HIS TONE.
LOWER THAT ENGINE,
AND TURN THE TILLER THAT WAY.
ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME
KNOWS I DON'T LIKE TONE.
Narrator:
A HALF-MILE UP THE COAST
MY LEGS ARE HURTING, BUT I'M
READY TO GO DO SOME MORE MINING.
Narrator: AFTER A QUICK TRIP
TO THE CLINIC,
CODY AND ROB
ARE BACK IN BUSINESS.
HOW YOU DOING THERE, MOEN?
PRETTY BLACK AND BLUE?
YEAH, MY KNEE'S REALLY
MESSED UP, TOO, RIGHT HERE.
I'M GOOD, THOUGH.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, YOU'RE OKAY.
YEP.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD LUCK.
I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE BETTER LUCK
THAN WE DID.
Wade:
NOW WE'RE BACK AT IT,
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN LOAD UP
ON SOME GOLD HERE.
Narrator:
WITH CODY'S LEG STILL THROBBING,
ROBBI TAKES THE CONTROLS.
BUT ON HIS FIRST BUCKET
IT'S DOING SOMETHING WEIRD
RIGHT NOW.
SON OF A GUN.
I DON'T LIKE THIS
AT ALL.
THE DECK IS ON AN ANGLE.
THAT CAN MEAN ONLY ONE THING.
Moen:
THE WAY WE'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S ONLY A FOOT OVER THERE
AND TWO FEET OVER HERE.
SO I THINK THAT THE FRONT'S
FULL OF WATER.
IT'S NOT GOOD.
Narrator:
THE 80-TON DREDGE IS KEPT AFLOA
BY TWO 80-FOOT PONTOONS.
IF THE EXCAVATOR BUCKET'S
LONG TEETH
PIERCE A PONTOON
BELOW THE WATER LINE,
IT'LL FLOOD, UNBALANCING
THE MILLION-DOLLAR VESSEL
AND POTENTIALLY SINKING IT.
HEY, SHAWN.
CODY CALLS CO-OWNER
SHAWN POMRENKE.
I THINK THAT YOUR DAD
MIGHT HAVE HIT THE BOTTOM
WITH THOSE TEETH,
'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE
THE FRONT'S FULL OF WATER.
IT'S LISTING WAY OVER.
ALL RIGHT. 10-4.
SEE YOU IN A BIT.
I NEED TO PULL THIS OFF
TO SEE IF THERE'S A BUNCH
OF WATER IN HERE,
'CAUSE THE BOAT'S LISTING REALLY
BAD TO ONE SIDE RIGHT NOW.
[BLEEP]
WAY TOO MUCH
[BLEEP] WATER.
IT'S A RACE TO PUMP OU
THE FLOODED PONTOON
BEFORE THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER
TOPPLES THE DREDGE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO.
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
A PONTOON IS FLOODED,
AND IF THE CREW
DOESN'T PUMP THE WATER OUT,
THE DREDGE COULD CAPSIZE.
Moen:
WAY TOO MUCH [BLEEP] WATER.
HEY!
THERE IT COMES.
IT'S A LOT OF WATER.
CO-OWNER SHAWN POMRENKE'S
INJURED BACK IS ON THE MEND.
IT'S NOT GOOD.
WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.
Narrator:
AND HE'S READY FOR ACTION.
Shawn: I'M GONNA GO DOWN
IN THE FRONT HOLE HERE
AND SEE HOW BAD
THE HOLE IS.
THERE'S A HOLE IN HERE,
BUT I DON'T SEE IT.
YOU SEE IT BUBBLING?
YOU SHOULD SEE SOME BUBBLES.
NO, I DON'T SEE
ANY BUBBLES.
THE HOLE'S RIGHT HERE.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF DAYLIGH
COMING FROM OVER THERE.
RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT THERE.
SO THAT'S THE CULPRI
RIGHT THERE,
'CAUSE THERE'S NO HOLES
ON THE BOTTOM.
SO NOBODY HIT THE BOTTOM.
Narrator: WITH THE HOLE
WELL ABOVE THE WATERLINE,
THE FIX CAN WAIT.
THAT'S WATER FROM MINING AND
WEATHER AND SITTING IN THE PORT.
EVERYTHING'S GOOD. WE GOT TO
GET BACK TO MINING NOW.
Narrator:
THREE MILES UP THE COAST
OKAY.
DEPLOY THE STERN ANCHOR.
OWNER VERN ADKISON
IS ON BOARD
TO ASSESS HIS DREDGE
AND HIS TWO CREWMEN.
DO IT, SCOTT.
DESPITE HIS INJURED LEG, THE
BOSS WANTS SCOTT TO DIVE FIRST.
I CAN'T EVEN GET AROUND
THE BOAT.
I'M GONNA END UP FALLING OFF
OR FALLING AND GETTING HUR
EVEN WORSE THAN I AM RIGHT NOW.
I OBVIOUSLY TORE SOMETHING,
AND IT'S GETTING WORSE.
IT'S NOT A GOOD DAY.
IT STARTED OFF BAD.
AND IT'S GONNA FINISH BAD.
I CAN FEEL IT.
Narrator: VERN SPOTS A DEFEC
IN THE SLUICE BOX.
Adkison:
I DON'T THINK THAT SLUICE BOX
IS WORKING WORTH A DAMN.
Narrator: THE BOX IS TILTED
AT TOO SHARP AN ANGLE.
EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN
SUCKING UP ON THE BOTTOM
IS JUST GOING BACK
INTO THE OCEAN.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF TRAPPING
GOLD, THE WILD RANGER'S HAUL
IS GETTING PUSHED
OVER THE SCREEN
RIGHT BACK
INTO THE BERING SEA.
Walker:
THIS IS NOT GOOD AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
THE BOX IS GONNA CAPTURE.
I GOT A REAL STRONG FEELING
THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO
SOME FINE TUNING,
IF NOT A MAJOR OVERHAUL
OF THIS SLUICE BOX.
WE HAVE TO GO IN EARLY
BECAUSE OF THE SLUICE BOX.
WE'LL HAVE TO DO A LITTLE
REDESIGNING ON THIS THING.
Meisterheim:
THAT'S ALL I'VE DONE ALL SEASON
IS WORK ON THIS DAMN BOAT.
WHEN IT COME DOWN TO IT,
THE SLUICE BOX WAS PUT TOGETHER
COMPLETELY WRONG,
AND THAT'S WHY
IT WASN'T COLLECTING ANY GOLD.
[BLEEP] WORTHLESS.
Walker:
I ONLY CAME UP HERE
TO MAKE SOME MONEY
FOR MY WIFE AND BABY.
AND I'M TURNING INTO
A BIG FAILURE.
HOPES AND DREAMS
IN NOME, ALASKA.
THIS IS A SINKING SHIP.
IT JUST HASN'T GONE DOWN YET.
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
Ian:
CRAPPY WEATHER.
Narrator: WITH ROUGH SEAS
GROUNDING THE FLEET
IT'S TIME TO SEE
WHO'S ON THE GOLD AND WHO'S NOT.
THERE'S NO WAY OF TELLING
EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE IN HERE
UNTIL YOU GET IT DOWN
TO THE VERY BITTER END.
Narrator: OUTSIDE THE POMRENKES'
CLEANUP SHACK
Steve:
I SEE GOLD IN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YET,
BUT WE WILL FIND OUT.
Narrator: STEVE PANS DOWN
A BUCKET OF GOLD-LADEN SILT.
WHILE INSIDE
Shawn:
ENDED UP WITH FIVE BUCKETS.
WE'LL JUST WORK THEM DOWN
ONE AT A TIME.
Narrator: THE CREW SEPARATES
OUT THE REST OF THE HAUL.
Steve:
WE'LL PAN IT OFF
AND SEE WHAT THE HECK
THEM GUYS FOUND OUT THERE.
[ SIGHS ]
[ WHISTLES ]
TO DRY IT UP,
ONE OF MA'S OLD FRYING PANS.
THIS IS DONE COOKING.
WE'RE GONNA GO WEIGH THIS STUFF.
Narrator:
THE FINISHED PRODUCT
WE'RE AT 2.
WE'RE AT 3.
Narrator:
PURE BERING SEA GOLD.
8, 9
10, 11, 12
14.2 OUNCES.
Narrator: ADDED TO THE RES
OF THEIR HAUL FOR THE WEEK,
THE POMRENKES TOOK IN
A TOTAL OF 112 OUNCES.
THAT'S ALMOST A $200,000 PAYDAY.
Steve P.:
OH, MY GOSH.
I'LL JUST GIGGLE
ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
Narrator: JUST UP THE COAST,
IN THEIR BEACHSIDE YURT
Tenhoff:
IT'S GOOD GOLD.
I WISH I COULD GET IN GOLD
THAT GOOD ALL THE TIME.
Emily: THERE'S A LO
OF MATERIAL IN HERE.
ZEKE'S DETERMINATION TO STAY OU
IN ROUGH CONDITIONS PAYS OFF,
WITH A HEALTHY 4 OUNCES,
WORTH 7 GRAND.
WITH THE WILD RANGER'S SLUICE
BOX NOT WORKING PROPERLY
DAMN.
THERE'S NO GOLD
FOR A CLEANUP THIS WEEK.
SO IT'S BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
GET THIS OUT OF HERE.
UNTIL WE GET THE SLUICE
FUNCTIONING PROPERLY,
IT'S JUST WASTING OUR TIME.
Narrator:
IN THE CENTER OF TOWN
I HAVE TO PUT SOME GOLD MONEY
INTO REAL MONEY.
Narrator: IAN HEADS
TO A LOCAL GOLD ASSAYER
TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH
HE AND PARTNER SCOTT FOUND.
Man: OKAY. LET'S SEE
HOW MUCH YOU GOT HERE.
3.64 TROY OUNCES.
IAN QUIT HIS JOB AS
A SOCIAL WORKER TO CHASE GOLD,
A GAMBLE THAT'S STARTING
TO PAY OFF.
GOLD KEEPS ON GOING UP,
YOU KNOW?
ALMOST $7,000 --
MORE THAN ENOUGH
TO KEEP THE SLUICEY AFLOAT.
THANK YOU.
YEP. YOU BET.
IT'S GOOD.
FEELS REAL GOOD.
AND I HAVE ENOUGH
TO COVER ALL MY EXPENSES
FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.
Narrator:
AS THE CHRISTINE ROSE APPROACHES
THE MILLION-DOLLAR MARK,
THE WILD RANGER
FINALLY FIGURES OU
WHY THEY'RE BARELY SCRAPING BY.
Moen: THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF THE RACE TO THE END.
Emily: AM I YOUR EMPLOYEE
OR AM I YOUR FRIEND?!
CAN'T WORK ON THE WILD RANGER
ANYMORE.
I'M GOING TO TAKE IT EASY
ON YOU
OKAY.
IF YOU WANT TO
COME BACK.
Tenhoff:
SHE'S FIRED.