Gold Rush: Parker's Trail (2017) s02e05 Episode Script
The Jungle Strikes Back
1
♪♪
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
THE SITUATION IS
ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
PETE, WE'VE GO
[BLEEP] GOLD IN THE BOX.
WE ARE LEAVING TODAY.
Os:
KEEP YOUR HEADS DOWNS.
JUST KEEP
A STEADY PACE THROUGH.
THERE'S A ROADBLOCK
IN FRONT.
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
HOLY [BLEEP].
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON?
-LET'S GO, GO, GO.
-WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
-[BLEEP] WHOA, WHOA.
--Captions by VITAC--
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
♪♪
WE'VE TRAVELED BASICALLY ACROSS
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF GUYANA
TO GET TO THIS POIN
AND TO COME HERE,
AND IT'S A PRETTY COOL,
SPECIAL PLACE.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS SET UP A GOLD MINE
IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA,
SOUTH AMERICA.
AFTER FIVE WEEKS OF LEARNING
BACK-TO-BASICS MINING TECHNIQUES
FROM THE LOCALS,
HE'S FINALLY USING THEM
TO FIND HIS OWN GOLD.
Parker: ONE OF THE REALLY
COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS
IS IT'S PRETTY REMINISCEN
OF THE GOLD RUSHERS
THAT WENT TO THE YUKON
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD WATER
PRESSURE IF THEY WERE LUCKY
AND A WOODEN SLUICE BOX,
AND, I MEAN,
WE'VE GOT AN EXCAVATOR
TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK,
BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
THIS IS 120-YEAR-OLD TECHNOLOGY.
YOU KNOW?
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
SO THIS PAN IS JUS
FROM THE FIRST SPO
WE'RE MINING IN.
WE'VE GOTTEN A FEW SCOOPS.
♪♪
I REALLY, REALLY HOPE
THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THIS PAN.
♪♪
THERE'S A PIECE.
SEE IT?
-YEAH.
-THAT'S A BEAUTY.
GUYS, WE ONLY NEED
10,000 MORE OF THOSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOLY [BLEEP].
THAT'S ONE MORE FLAKE
THAN WE'VE SEEN ALL DAY.
IT IS ENCOURAGING.
THERE IS GOLD HERE.
-WE'RE IN THE MONEY.
-YES.
Narrator:
THE CREW HAS JOURNEYED DEEP
INTO THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA
TO THE GOLD FIELDS OF
THE LEGENDARY MARUDI MOUNTAIN.
♪♪
BUT IN JUST SEVEN DAYS,
PARKER MUST RETURN TO THE YUKON
TO PREPARE FOR
HIS NEXT MINING SEASON
IN THE FROZEN NORTH.
Parker: I'M HERE FOR A WEEK.
THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT LEFT.
AND I'VE BEEN HESITAN
TO SAY ANY GOALS OR ANYTHING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO NOT WAN
TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY
WITHOUT, YOU KNOW,
EACH OF US WALKING AWAY
WITH AN OUNCE OF GOLD
OR DAMN NEAR IT.
WE'VE DONE A LO
SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT.
PERSONALLY, I'VE GONE THROUGH
SOME LOW POINTS
THAT I HAVEN'
EXPERIENCED BEFORE,
BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE HERE
WITH SOME GOLD.
WE DO HAVE TO MINE SOME GOLD
AND, YOU KNOW,
PROVE THAT WE CAN DO IT.
Karla Ann:
IT'S GONNA BE A BIG WEEK,
IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE,
FOR SURE.
THIS WHOLE TRIP HAS BEEN
A CHALLENGE, BUT
WHATEVER DOESN'T KILL YOU
MAKES YOU STRONGER, RIGHT?
Sam:
OUT HERE WITH MINIMAL EQUIPMENT,
MANUAL LABOR IS WHA
IT'S ALL ABOUT
WHICH SUCKS, FRANKLY.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: SAM WILL CAPTURE
THE ACTION CLOSE UP
WITH THE HELP OF A FILM CREW
AND THE BACK-UP
OF A SECURITY TEAM.
IF YOU NEED US,
YOU HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY PLANS
AND YOU HAVE YOUR SAT PHONES.
WE WILL BE CONTACTABLE,
BUT REMEMBER, BE SAFE.
♪♪
-READY TO ROCK?
-OH, YEAH. FIRE IT UP.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
♪♪
Parker:
OH, YEAH.
WE'RE MINING.
YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE WASHING ROCKS,
RIGHT?
HOPEFULLY PUTTING GOLD
THROUGH A SLUICE BOX RIGHT NOW.
Parker: YOU KNOW, BACK TO
THE BASICS RIGHT THERE.
JUST LIKE SLUICING
WITH A STRAW, YOU KNOW?
THIS THING CAN ONLY MOVE
SO MUCH DIRT,
AND IT'S DEFINITELY
NOT WHAT I'M USED TO.
Sam: [ Laughing ] GOT A KIND OF
MIDGET MINING OPERATION
GOING ON AT THE MINUTE.
TEENY SLUICE BOX,
LIKE MINI, MINI HOSE.
♪♪
Parker: SOMETHING'S WRONG HERE,
WE'RE LOSING PRESSURE.
LOOK AT THAT.
♪♪
WOW.
THAT'S THE CREEK
WE'RE DEALING WITH,
SO WATER VOLUME'S QUITE LOW.
-[ SCOFFS ]
-YEAH.
Rick:
THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
WHAT DID WE GE
IN 20 MINUTES?
Sam:
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
LIKE, I MEAN,
WE'RE GONNA BE LIMITED
TO 20-MINUTE RUNS?
THAT KIND OF RUN TIME
AIN'T GONNA FLY,
SO WE'VE GOT TO GO
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
I MEAN THE WAY
I SEE IT, LIKE,
THE FLOW OF THIS CREEK
IS ONLY ABOUT 10%
OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER
THAT NEEDS TO GO
THROUGH OUR SLUICE BOX.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND
A SPOT TO PU
A RESERVOIR
TO HOLD MORE WATER.
WE NEED TO DAM UP
THIS CREEK.
Rick:
ONE WOULDN'T THINK THA
WATER WOULD BE A PROBLEM
IN THE JUNGLE.
I MEAN, IT'S A DAMN RAINFOREST,
BUT HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW?
WE'VE GOT A VERY, VERY LIMITED
AMOUNT OF WATER.
I MEAN, IT'S BASICALLY
JUST A TRICKLE,
AND WE'RE TRYING TO
TRAP IT AND USE IT.
TIME TO GET TO WORK.
♪♪
Narrator:
RICK'S PLAN?
BUILD A DAM TO CREATE
A LARGE RESERVOIR,
PUMP THE WATER 200 FEE
THROUGH A LAY-FLAT PIPE
UP TO A HOSE THAT WILL
WASH PAY DIRT DOWN
THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX.
THE WATER WILL THEN
RUN BACK INTO THE CREEK,
FLOWING DOWNSTREAM
TO THE RESERVOIR,
WHERE THE PUMP WILL RECYCLE I
BACK TO THE SLUICE.
♪♪
I'VE DONE A TON OF THIS
WATER-MANAGEMENT-TYPE WORK,
YOU KNOW, UP IN THE KLONDIKE
WHERE WE MINE.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
DOING I
WITH THIS KIND OF MATERIAL
HERE IN THE JUNGLE,
AND IT'S REAL POROUS,
AND IT'S JUST REALLY NO
PLUGGING UP THE WATER
LIKE I'M USED TO.
I'M PUTTING IN
A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE DAM --
A PRETTY GOOD PLUG IN THIS.
BUT THE WATER'S
SEEPING THROUGH A BIT.
HOPEFULLY I HAVE TO KEEP PACKING
DIRT IN HERE UNTIL SHE HOLDS.
♪♪
Narrator:
NOW, WITH LESS THAN A WEEK
TO FILL THEIR POCKETS
WITH SOME GOLD,
THE TEAM'S CHANCES REST ON
RICK'S DAM HOLDING OVERNIGHT.
♪♪
Parker: SO, RICK, HOW
CONFIDENT ARE YOU WITH
YOUR DAM-BUILDING?
THERE'S STILL SOME WATER
TRICKLING THROUGH THERE,
BUT NOT A LOT.
IF IT HOLDS LIKE IT IS NOW,
I THINK WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT,
BUT A LOT CAN HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
SO IF WE LOSE WATER
OVERNIGHT
YEAH, I MEAN, WE LOSE
THE WHOLE DAY TOMORROW.
YEAH. YIKES.
YEP.
NOT COOL.
Sam: SO ALL BEING WELL,
PARKER,
WHAT DO YOU THINK'S POSSIBLE
FROM THIS GRIND?
Parker: IF WE GO
AN OUNCE OF GOLD EACH,
THAT WOULD BE
PRETTY DAMN COOL.
YEAH, WE COULD GO
HOME WITH OUR HEADS
HELD HIGH, I THINK.
YEAH.
EH, I'M GONNA
HAVE NO REGRETS,
NO MATTER WHAT.
Karla Ann:
MM-HMM.
BUT LET'S
GET SOME GOLD.
♪♪
Parker: RICK, DO YOU THINK
YOUR DAM HELD OVERNIGHT?
-I HOPE SO.
-I'M NERVOUS.
WELL, IF THE DAM HELD
OVERNIGHT, WE'RE SLUICING.
WE'LL HAVE WATER.
IF IT DIDN'T,
I DON'T [BLEEP] KNOW, MAN.
WELL,
THERE'S A POND THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S FILLING, ISN'T IT?
-IT'S DEFINITELY COME UP.
-RICK, ARE YOU A BEAVER?
YOU CAN BUILD
A HELL OF A DAM.
-HEY-O!
-READY TO ROCK?
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: THE RESERVOIR HOLDS
OVER 8,000 GALLONS OF WATER,
ALLOWING THE CREW
TO SCALE UP THEIR OPERATION
AND USE THEIR BIGGER
FOUR-INCH PUMP.
-IT'S NOT REALLY BUNCHING.
-NO, IT'S NOT.
Rick: MAN, IT'S GOT TO GO ON
LIKE ANOTHER INCH.
I DON'T SUPPOSE
WE HAVE ANY OIL
OR ANYTHING WE CAN LUBE
THIS [BLEEP] UP WITH?
Karla Ann:
YOU GUYS WANT SUNSCREEN?
YEAH, LET'S PU
SOME SUNSCREEN ON IT.
THIS, I'VE NEVER
SEEN BEFORE.
[ LAUGHS ]
HERE.
♪♪
OOH, THERE YOU GO.
IT'S THE LUBE, KARLA.
YOU LUBED IT.
YEAH, IT WORKED.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
ALL WE NEED TO DO NOW
IS GET THIS PIPE LAID OU
AND HOPE THIS THING
STARTS, HUH?
[ SCOFFS ]
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO
START THESE THINGS?
NOPE.
-REALLY?
-NO.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS THE MOS
SIMPLE MACHINE
WE'VE EVER WORKED WITH,
PARKER.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU READY?
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.
♪♪
Rick: AHHH!
♪♪
Sam:
SHOULD WE CUT OFF THE PUMP?
THIS IS PRETTY
[BLEEP] PATHETIC.
Rick: HE WAS IN A HURRY
TO GET ME OFF-SITE
BEFORE I ASKED HIM
TO TURN IT ON.
HOW COULD I BE
THAT [BLEEP] DUMB?
Narrator: LAST WEEK, RICK PAID
$1,000 TO RENT THE PUMP.
JUST LIKE THE YUKON GOLD RUSH,
OVER A CENTURY AGO,
THE PEOPLE
WHO SUPPLY THE EQUIPMEN
OFTEN MAKE THE MOST MONEY.
1,000 BUCKS U.S.?
SA-WEET.
GO TRY TO FIND JUICY
AND GET HIS ASS UP HERE.
IT'S HIS [BLEEP] PUMP.
LET'S HOPE JUICY
IS A MAN OF CHARACTER
AND DIDN'T RENT ME OU
A PUMP THAT DOESN'T RUN.
WE'RE HERE,
WE'VE PAID FOR AN EXCAVATOR,
WE'VE HIRED A PUMP.
LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO WALK AWAY
WITH SOME [BLEEP] GOLD.
THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.
Narrator:
UP AHEAD
Parker: SHOULD WE TAKE
A LOOK AT WHAT WE GOT?
-YEAH, BUDDY.
-YEAH, WE SHOULD.
-LOOK AT THAT.
-NO WAY.
-THAT'S GOLD. IT'S A NUGGET.
-YEAH.
-LET'S ROLL, ROLL, ROLL.
-WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
WHOA, WHOA!
♪♪
Narrator:
WITH JUST SIX DAYS LEF
TO FIND GUYANESE GOLD,
PARKER'S OPERATION
IS AT A STANDSTILL,
UNLESS KARLA CAN PERSUADE
LOCAL MINER JUICY
TO COME AND FIX THE PUMP
HE'S RENTED THEM.
♪♪
HI, JUICY.
I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU COULD COME OU
AND JUST HELP US
WITH THE PUMP A BIT.
WE'RE JUST STRUGGLING.
YEAH.
THANKS, MAN.
THIS IS A PILE-OF-[BLEEP] PUMP
BRAND-NEW,
WHEN IT IS BRAND-NEW.
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG
THIS THING'S RAN FOR.
SURE MAKES ME APPRECIATE
MY [BLEEP] A LOT MORE.
Parker:
WHAT'S UP, JUICY?
WE'RE TRYING TO GE
YOUR PUMP GOING.
BUT WE CAN'T GET I
TO PRIME.
OKAY.
AND I'M SURE THAT YOU KNOW
SOME TRICK THAT WE DON'T.
Rick:
ABOVE THE PUMP, YEAH.
YEAH.
Narrator:
FOR THE PUMP TO WORK,
THE ENTIRE CASING
NEEDS TO BE FULL OF WATER
TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE.
IF ANY AIR GETS TRAPPED
INSIDE THE CASING,
IT WON'T PUMP.
BECAUSE THE POND
IS LOWER THAN THE PUMP,
THEY MUST FILL THE INTAKE HOSE
WITH WATER,
THEN DROP IT INTO THE POND
BEFORE ANY AIR
CAN GET INTO THE SYSTEM.
♪♪
Karla Ann:
MORE?
YEAH. YEAH.
TRY IT.
[ MOTOR CHUGS ]
YEAH. YEAH, YEAH.
YES.
NICE ONE, RICK.
-[BLEEP] ME.
-HERE WE GO, PARKER.
-WE GOT WATER.
-YES.
PRETTY GOOD WATER.
♪♪
Sam: PARKER, FIVE WEEKS OF
SWEAT, BLOOD, AND TEARS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
LOST TIME TO MAKE UP FOR.
NOW THE REAL WORK
BEGINS.
♪♪
RICK JUST CAME UP
THE THE EXCAVATOR.
HE'S GONNA STAR
STRIPPING OVERBURDEN
AND THROWING MORE PAY
IN HERE, HOPEFULLY.
AND WE'LL, UH
HAVE TO FIGHT --
[ Laughing ] HAVE TO FIGH
THE ROCKS LEF
AND GET IT CHEWED UP
FOR US A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS [BLEEP]
MISERABLE.
NOT THAT THERE EVER WAS
MUCH GLAMOUR TO GOLD MINING,
BUT THIS -- HOO! --
THIS BRINGS
A WHOLE NEW MEANING.
THERE'S NO GLAMOUR HERE.
IT'S JUST DOWN AND DIRTY.
♪♪
Narrator:
PARKER MANHANDLES THE HOSE,
KNOWN AS A DONKEY.
HE'LL RUN 20 YARDS OF PAY DIR
A DAY THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX.
IN THE KLONDIKE,
HE RUNS 200 TIMES AS MUCH DIRT.
BY THE END OF THE WEEK,
HE NEEDS THE MATS
BENEATH THE WATER
TO CONTAIN AT LEAST FOUR OUNCES
OF GUYANESE GOLD.
READY FOR A WEEK OF THIS?
IT'S ALL HOLDING
TOGETHER RIGHT NOW,
BASICALLY,
BY THE SKIN OF ITS TEETH.
Parker: UH, RICK,
WILL YOU COME HELP US?
Rick: YEAH.
CAN YOU GO
KINK THE SAUCE?
Sam:
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
THE HOSE IS COMING
OUT OF OUR DONKEY.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ COUGHS ]
YOU OKAY?
LOOK AT ME.
DO I LOOK OKAY?
NO.
UGH. THIS THING'S
SEEN BETTER DAYS.
WATER HELD UP.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
WE GOT GOOD PRESSURE.
THE PUMP'S RUNNING GOOD.
WITH HARD WORK, WE CAN KEEP ALL
THIS RAMSHACKLE [BLEEP] GOING.
Parker: SHOULD WE TAKE
A LOOK AT WHAT WE GOT?
-YEAH, BUDDY.
-YEAH, WE SHOULD.
Rick: THAT IS EXHAUSTING.
[ LAUGHS ]
Parker: ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE
THERE'S SOME LITTLE, FINE STUFF
GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE.
-YEAH?
-YEAH.
I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO SEE,
HARD TO TELL WHAT'S WHAT.
I THINK THAT'S
A YELLOW ROCK, AIN'T IT?
ALL DIRTY.
LOOK AT THAT.
-NO WAY.
-THAT'S GOLD. IT'S A NUGGET.
-YEAH.
-HOLY [BLEEP].
-THAT'S A NICE FIRST CHUNK.
Karla Ann:
NO KIDDING.
Sam: IMAGINE HOW MUCH GOLD
THERE IS IN THOSE MATS.
-WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
-YEAH.
-GOOD JOB, GUYS.
-YEAH. SWEET.
HOO-WAH!
FOUND OUR FIRST NUGGET --
OUR FIRST GUYANESE NUGGET.
THAT'S SO EXCITING.
Parker:
THAT CHUNK IS A NICE START.
THERE ARE SOME FLAKES
IN THERE, TOO,
AND HOPEFULLY NOW
WE'RE JUST MINING,
AND IF WE CAN STAY RUNNING,
WITH PIECES OF GOLD LIKE THA
GOING DOWN OUR BOX
TIME TO GET PAID.
♪♪
-WHAT TIME IS IT?
-[ MAKES KISSING SOUNDS ]
COME HERE.
COME HERE.
Narrator: THE CREW'S
WORKING AND LIVING ON LAND
OWNED BY THE UDU FAMILY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MR. UDU, HOW LONG AGO
DID YOU MINE THAT SECTION
WHERE OUR SLUICE BOX IS?
EIGHT YEARS AGO. WOW.
DO YOU THINK WE ARE DIGGING
IN THE RIGHT SPOTS?
THAT'S GOOD.
[ LAUGHS ]
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A SET-UP,
AND NOW THAT WE'VE GO
A COUPLE YARDS TO THE BOX
YEAH, IT'S GO TIME.
I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE
THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT,
YOU KNOW,
EACH OF US WALKING AWAY
WITH AN OUNCE OF GOLD
OR DAMN NEAR IT.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA
[BLEEP] DO THIS.
I'M GONNA MAKE DAMN SURE OF IT.
♪♪
♪♪
Parker: HEADS UP, GUYS.
WE GOT SOME VISITORS.
♪♪
Parker: EVERYTHING
ALL RIGHT HERE?
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS JUST FIVE DAYS
TO DIG FOUR OUNCES
OF GUYANESE GOLD
FROM HIS JUNGLE MINE.
Parker:
WE JUST GOT GOING.
OH, DO YOU WANT ME TO
TURN THIS CAMERA OFF?
ALL RIGHT,
I CAN TAKE THIS OFF.
THESE GUYS ARE FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
♪♪
Sam: PETE.
WE COME IN WITH
BIG CAMERAS AND WHATNO
IN A SMALL COMMUNITY,
YOU'RE GONNA TO DRAW
A LOT OF ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE ALL IT TAKES
IS WORD OF MOUTH
FOR THESE GUYS
TO SHOW UP AND
PUT THAT CAMERA DOWN.
THEY AREN'T HAPPY
WITH THE WAY
OUR SETTLING SYSTEM
IS SET UP,
AND THEY'RE
SHUTTING US DOWN.
WOW.
SO, WHAT DO WE
HAVE TO DO?
BUILD A SETTLING POND.
[BLEEP], WE JUS
GOT UP AND RUNNING,
LIKE, HOW FAST WAS THAT?
OH, YOU GOT TO
LAUGH OR CRY, RIGHT?
Karla Ann:
MM-HMM.
♪♪
WE HAVE THINGS SET UP PROPERLY
AS FAR AS ALL THE STANDARDS --
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS --
THAT I'M USED TO,
BUT YOU SHOW UP
IN A NEW COUNTRY,
YOU'VE GOT TO DO THINGS RIGHT,
RIGHT?
♪♪
Narrator: MR. UDU COMES UP
WITH A SOLUTION.
THAT WAY?
♪♪
THE WATER RUNNING THROUGH
THE SLUICE BOX
IS FULL OF MUD.
A SETTLING POND
SLOWS THE FLOW OF WATER
ENOUGH FOR THE SILT TO SEPARATE
AND SINK TO THE BOTTOM,
ALLOWING CLEAN WATER
TO FLOW BACK INTO THE CREEK.
♪♪
-LOOKS GOOD.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR. UDU?
IT IS GOOD.
-QUICK WORK.
-QUICK WORK.
Parker: I THOUGHT THIS WAS
GONNA BE SOME DISASTER.
LIKE, IT COULD BE NICE IF
THEY JUST SEE THIS RIGHT NOW
AND BE LIKE,
"YEAH, THAT'S GOOD."
♪♪
Narrator: THE ONLY WAY
THEY CAN REOPEN THE MINE
AND GET THEIR GOLD
IS IF THE INSPECTORS SIGN OFF
ON THEIR NEW SETTLING POND.
♪♪
Parker:
YOU'RE BACK.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
PERFECT. THANK YOU.
♪♪
Parker:
WE'RE GOOD, RICKY.
Rick: HOPEFULLY, THAT'S
THE LAST WE SEE OF THEM.
THE WEIRD THING WAS
THEY WERE TALKING ABOU
A BUNCH OF LAND DISPUTES
THAT ARE GOING ON
YEAH.
AND THAT THEY'RE HERE
TRYING TO DEAL WITH
A BUNCH OF
PROBLEMS AND UNREST.
AND HE REALLY SAID,
"JUST KEEP TO YOURSELF,"
AND WE SHOULD BE
FINE OUT HERE,
BUT IT WAS PRETTY WEIRD.
THAT IS WEIRD.
SO WE ARE VERY
OUT OF PLACE HERE.
-YES.
-YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, WELL
-JUST A LITTLE?
Narrator: LAND DISPUTES,
AND EVEN VIOLENCE,
ARE A FEATURE
OF EVERY GOLD RUSH IN HISTORY.
Karla Ann: THIS IS A BADASS
LITTLE MINING COMMUNITY.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
OUR TEAM WATCHES OUR BACK
AND JUST STAY SAFE OUT HERE.
DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT, YOU KNOW
I MEAN, WE STICK OUT LIKE
A SORE THUMB IN THIS COMMUNITY,
AND THIS PLACE IS ROWDY.
THE WORD "UNREST" IS
PRETTY UNSETTLING, YOU KNOW,
BUT I DON'T KNOW.
WE CAN ONLY DEAL WITH
THE PROBLEMS AS THEY COME ALONG,
SO TRY NOT TO OVERTHINK IT,
I GUESS.
Parker: ALL RIGHT,
SHOULD WE GIVE THIS A WHIRL?
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
-WHOO!
-NO.
-NO.
-GO, GO!
Karla Ann: NO.
[ MOTOR CHUGS ]
-YES!
-WHOO-HOO-HOO!
♪♪
WE'RE SLUICING AGAIN
FOR MAYBE ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
♪♪
WE NEED MORE DIRT, NESS!
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER LOSING
HALF A DAY TO BUILD THE POND,
THE CREW IS FINALLY
BACK TO MINING GOLD.
I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY THIS
'CAUSE I WILL TEMPT FATE
AND EVERYTHING WILL FALL APART,
BUT RIGHT NOW
-DON'T SAY IT.
-I'M GONNA SAY IT.
RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING
IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
RICK'S GETTING US GOOD MATERIAL,
AND THE SLUICE BOX
IS LOOKING GOOD.
Rick: WE JUST WORK OUR ASS OFF
AS HARD AS WE'VE EVER WORKED.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
Parker: THE SET-UP
IS WORKING PRETTY GOOD,
I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT.
I THINK WE'RE MOVING
AS MUCH DIRT AS WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST --
I HOPE THERE'S GOLD
IN THIS [BLEEP].
♪♪
[ THUNDER BOOMS ]
-UH-OH.
-UH-OH.
Parker:
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR.
Sam: SHOULD WE
CUT OFF THE PUMP?
OH, YAY.
Narrator: WITH ONLY
30 MINUTES TO SUNDOWN,
THE JUNGLE STORM FORCES THE TEAM
TO SEEK SHELTER.
-HOW MANY YARDS WAS THAT?
-15?
NOT BAD.
Parker: THE GIST OF IT IS THA
THERE IS GOOD GOLD HERE.
IS IT TIME TO EXPAND?
AND WE HAVE TO GE
THROUGH THIS WHOLE PIT,
AND THAT MEANS GETTING
SOME MORE EQUIPMENT IN HERE.
♪♪
Narrator: IN THREE DAYS,
PARKER HAS SLUICED
FOR LESS THAN SIX HOURS.
-LOOK AT THAT.
-[ SNORTS ]
Narrator:
WITH TIME RUNNING OUT TO REACH
HIS MINIMUM FOUR-OUNCE TARGET,
HE AND RICK BEGIN WORK
ON A SECOND SLUICE BOX.
THERE YOU GO.
ONE THESE YEARS,
IT OUGHT TO BE, LIKE,
"HEY, LET'S GO TO
[BLEEP] HAWAII
AND LAY ON A BEACH AFTER
THIS [BLEEP] MINING SEASON."
Narrator:
AT THE START OF THE TRIP,
RICK RESIGNED
AS PARKER'S FOREMAN,
CALLING TIME ON THEIR SIX-YEAR
WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
OH, [BLEEP],
I'M GONNA MISS WORKING
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH YOU,
RICK.
HEY, HEY, BUDDY.
PARKER, YOU WANT TO HEAR
SOMETHING FUNNY?
WHAT?
Parker on voicemail:
HEY, RICK, THIS IS PARKER
SCHNABEL UP HERE IN ALASKA,
AND I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT A JOB.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED,
GIVE ME A CALL.
I'LL TRY BACK AGAIN
HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
YOU WERE 17 YEARS OLD.
YOU KNOW I HAD NO BUSINESS
BEING IN CHARGE OF ANYBODY
AT THAT AGE.
THAT FIRST YEAR,
SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID TO ME
NEVER LEFT ME.
YOU TOLD ME THA
I WAS 100% REPLACEABLE,
AND YOU COULD REPLACE ME
WITH ONE PHONE CALL.
TRUTH IS THAT
I WAS.
AT THAT POINT,
YOU WERE.
EVERYBODY'S REPLACEABLE,
ME INCLUDED.
IT'S PRETTY EASY TO GE
YOURSELF ALL WRAPPED UP
IN THE CAMERAS
AND THE GOLD AND THE PEOPLE,
AND YOU AND I
HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD, AND
YEP.
WON'T DENY THAT.
MY LIFE HAS CHANGED
IN WAYS
THAT I CAN'
EVEN IMAGINE.
IT HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
IN A MILLION WAYS.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN ENJOY I
WHILE IT LASTS.
FOR THE TIME BEING,
I THINK WE'VE GO
OURSELVES A SLUICE BOX.
YEP.
[ LAUGHS ]
-TO ONE MORE TIME.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GE
SOME [BLEEP] SLEEP.
YEP.
♪♪
♪♪
REALLY IS
COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT,
AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
EVERY MINUTE COUNTS NOW.
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL'S TESTING
A SAMPLE OF CONCENTRATE
FROM THE MATS
IN HIS JUNGLE SLUICE BOX.
I'M STARTING TO
REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOU
WHAT DIRT WE'RE RUNNING,
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THA
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT,
FINALLY.
BUT THE MINUTE YOU SAY THAT,
SOMETHING GOES WRONG,
SO I SHOULDN'T SAY IT.
HOW'S THAT PAN LOOKING?
YOU GOT SOMETHING?
YEAH.
LOOKS [BLEEP] GOOD.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, YEAH.
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, WOW.
PARKER SCHNABEL,
I DO BELIEVE
WE'VE FOUND SOME GOLD.
YES.
-LOOK AT THAT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Parker:
SOME NUGGETS IN THERE.
THOSE ARE SOME
NICE CHUNKS.
SO WE'RE ON IT.
IT'S REALLY GOOD GROUND,
AND WE HAVE TO GE
THROUGH THIS WHOLE PIT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S SECOND SLUICE BOX
IS READY TO GO,
ALLOWING THEM TO SCALE UP
THEIR OPERATION.
Parker: I MEAN, WE'VE GO
A LOT MORE PAY IN THE CU
THAN WE CAN WASH IN
THE TIME WE'VE GOT.
WE'VE GOT TO GE
A SECOND PUMP IN HERE.
I THINK IT WOULD WAY MORE
THAN DOUBLE
THE AMOUN
THAT WE'RE DOING.
DOUBLE OUR PRODUCTION?
[BLEEP] YEAH.
Narrator:
RICK AND SAM HEAD OFF
TO SEE IF THEY CAN REN
A SECOND PUMP.
♪♪
THE CLOSEST MINING CAMP
IS HALF A MILE AWAY,
WHERE THE FILM CREW
AND SECURITY TEAM ARE BASED.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Sam:
YOU HEAR THAT?
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]
[ RADIO CRACKLES ]
SAM FOR PETE.
PETE, WHAT'S GOING ON
DOWN THERE?
COPY THAT.
I HEAR A LOT OF
SHOUTING GOING ON,
AND IT SEEMS TO BE
ESCALATING
AND GROWING IN NUMBER,
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA
GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
HOPEFULLY TRY AGAIN LATER.
[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: A LAND DISPUTE
BETWEEN LOCAL MINERS
AND A LARGE MINING CORPORATION
IS REACHING THE BOILING POINT.
THERE'S NO POLICE PRESENCE
IN MARUDI TO HELP
IF THEY PROTEST TURNS VIOLENT.
[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]
♪♪
-FIND THE PUMP?
-WE HAVE TO TALK.
♪♪
THERE'S SOME KIND OF
BIG PROTEST HAPPENING THERE,
BUT WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO GET RADIO CONTAC
WITH THE RES
OF THE FILM CREW.
AT THIS POINT,
I DON'T KNOW HOW BAD IT IS,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA
GO RUMBLING INTO
SOME BIG PROTES
TRYING TO GET THROUGH
THERE TO GET A PUMP.
-HELL NO.
-SO
I MEAN, I'VE NEVER
BEEN IN THAT SITUATION
BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
THAT FILM CREWS
AND PROTESTERS AREN'
A GOOD MIX, ARE THEY, SAM?
Sam: NO.
THERE'S A LOT OF
POLITICS IN PLAY
AROUND HERE IN THIS SPOT.
AND I'M SURE IT'S ABOU
WHOSE GROUND'S WHOSE,
AND THE GOVERNMENT,
AND ALL THAT BULL[BLEEP].
YEAH, IT'S
COPY THAT, PETE.
DID THEY HAVE,
LIKE, SIGNS AND
-YEAH.
-PITCHFORKS?
NO PITCHFORKS
THAT I SAW.
♪♪
HOW MUCH TIME
DO WE HAVE?
GOT [BLEEP] GOLD
IN THE BOX.
I DON'T SEE WHAT PROTES
WHERE YOU'RE CAMPED OUT AT --
HOW THAT AFFECTS US
RIGHT HERE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND
IF YOU GUYS
WANT TO MAKE A BIG STINK
AND ROLL OUT.
I GUARANTEE THAT NOBODY
WOULD COME IN HERE.
SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE
US ENOUGH BATTERIES AND CARDS
TO MAKE IT THROUGH
THE NEXT 48 HOURS?
THEY'RE GOLD MINERS.
THEY PROBABLY JUST NEED
A REASON TO GET DRUNK.
Rick: WHATEVER IT IS,
IF IT AIN'T SAFE,
I'M HAPPY TO
[BLEEP] GO.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
MUST EVACUATE HIS JUNGLE MINE,
BUT WITH NO TIME
TO DO A CLEANUP,
HE'LL NEVER GET TO KNOW
HOW MUCH HIS MINING LESSONS
HAVE PAID OFF IN GOLD.
I'M CONCERNED ABOU
PROTESTERS COMING OVER HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO DRAG
YOUR HOME HERE
INTO THE MIX OF WHAT'S
GOING ON, YOU KNOW?
YOU'VE LET US
INTO YOUR HOME
AND LET US MINE
IN YOUR AREA.
REALLY?
-OH, WOW.
THE GOLD IN
THE SLUICE BOX,
THE GOLD IN THAT PIT,
IS YOURS.
IT'S THE LEAS
WE CAN DO.
YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING,
MR. UDU.
♪♪
♪♪
[BLEEP]
TERRIBLE SITUATION.
Rick: YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
WHERE THERE'S GOLD
THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT WANT IT.
AND WHEN THERE'S
PEOPLE THAT WANT IT,
THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE
THAT THINK
IT BELONGS TO THEM, SO
MINING-LAND DISPUTES
ARE AS OLD AS
MINING IS ITSELF,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS ISN'T STUCK TO GUYANA.
THIS KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Narrator: THE THREAT OF
A VIOLENT LAND DISPUTE
IS FORCING PARKER AND HIS CREW
TO ABANDON
THEIR JUNGLE MINE IN GUYANA.
♪♪
THE NEAREST EVACUATION POIN
IS A DIRT AIRSTRIP
26 MILES AWAY.
♪♪
WE'VE BEEN HERE
FOR SIX WEEKS
TRYING TO FIND
SOME GOLD,
AND WE'VE GOT NOTHING
TO SHOW FOR IT.
I DON'T HAVE
A FLAKE OF GOLD ON ME.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE GO
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT,
BUT WE HAD TO DO
THE SMART THING
AND WALK AWAY.
THIS WHOLE THING FOR ME
IS TOUGH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
I'M HAVING
TO RELY ON GUYS
THAT HAVE
A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE
THAN I DO WITH
THIS KIND OF STUFF.
SO IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP]
FRUSTRATING FOR ME.
HEY. OKAY,
WE'VE GOT A LANDING
COMING UP
ABOUT 500 METERS.
THIS TIME OF NIGHT,
SOME OF THEM PROTESTORS
GONNA BE THERE,
GONNA BE DRUNK.
ALL RIGHT?
I NEED YOU TO KEEP
YOUR HEADS DOWN,
JUST KEEP
A STEADY PACE THROUGH.
ALL RIGHT?
-THANKS, OS.
-THANK YOU, OS.
Karla Ann:
WHOA, WHOA!
HOLY [BLEEP].[ GUNSHOT ]
Parker: WHAT THE [BLEEP]
IS GOING ON?
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
ARE THOSE HEADLIGHTS
HEADING OUR WAY?
SOMEBODY'S REVVING
THEIR [BLEEP] ENGINES.
PETER, DO YOU REALLY
THINK WE SHOULD GET OUT?
-NO, DON'T GET OUT.
-YEAH, DON'T.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
-HOLY [BLEEP].
-LET'S ROLL, ROLL, ROLL!
-YEAH, LET'S
-LET'S GO.
[ ENGINES REVVING ]
♪♪
-[BLEEP]
-THAT SPOOKS ME OUT.
♪♪
I DON'T WANT TO
SEE THAT AGAIN.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
GOOD JOB.
WE'VE PUT NINE KILOMETERS
BETWEEN OURSELVES
AND THE INCIDENT.
WE'RE NOW SAFE.
THANKS FOR GETTING US
OUT OF THERE, MAN.
QUITE WELCOME.
I'D BE LYING IF I DIDN'T SAY
I WAS READY TO GO HOME,
BUT I WASN'T READY
TO GO HOME LIKE THIS.
CAN'T REALLY TAKE IT IN,
TO BE HONEST.
IT'S, UM
SUCH A SHAME.
YEAH, I MEAN,
THAT'S THIS OVER.
THAT'S THIS TRIP OVER.
AND
IT'S A BIT HEARTBREAKING
TO ME,
YOU KNOW, DESPITE
ALL OF THE BULL[BLEEP],
BECAUSE SOME OF THE MOST AWESOME
PEOPLE I'VE MET IN MY LIFE
HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS
HERE IN GUYANA.
♪♪
[ CHUCKLES ]
Parker:
GETTING GOLD IN GUYANA
HAS BEEN TOUGHER
THAN I EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
WHOA, WHOA!
[BLEEP] PARKER!
WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE LOCALS
HOW TO MINE
USING THE MOST BASIC
JUNGLE EQUIPMENT.
Parker:
YEAH, I CAN'T DO THAT.
A WHOLE NEW IDEA OF
WHAT BUSH FIX IS.
IT'S, LIKE,
LITERALLY THE BUSHES.
-YEAH.
-[ LAUGHS ]
Parker: I'VE GOT ENORMOUS
RESPECT FOR THE MINERS HERE,
AND THEY RISK THEIR LIVES
EVERY DAY TO GET GOLD.
Parker: THERE'S SOME
BOULDERS UP THERE.
HAS ANYBODY
DIED IN HERE?
GEEZ.
Parker: JUST SURVIVING HERE IN
THE JUNGLE IS SUPER DANGEROUS.
[ GASPS ]
-IT'S FILLING WITH WATER!
-WHOO!
[ VOMITS ]
Parker: WE'VE BEEN A PART OF
A REAL-LIFE GOLD RUSH.
Parker: INGENIOUS USE
FOR TIRES.
THEY GET GOLD STUCK
IN THE CRACKS.
Sam: I DO BELIEVE
WE'VE FOUND SOME GOLD.
WE'RE IN THE MONEY.
THE FOUR OF US HAVE
HAD AN EXPERIENCE
THAT WE'LL NEVER FORGET.
Parker: WOULDN'T WANT TO
DO IT WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M GLAD
YOU GUYS ARE HERE.
-YEAH, BUDDY.
-PARKER.
♪♪
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Sam: JUST THE FACT THA
WE'VE ALL MADE IT TO THE END
AND WE'RE ALL STILL SPEAKING,
I THINK IS -- IT'S
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
Karla Ann: THE BOYS ARE
A BUNCH OF DITCH PIGS.
THERE'S TIMES WHERE
I WANTED TO STRANGLE THEM.
BUT THEY'RE LIKE BROTHERS TO ME,
AND THERE'S SO MUCH LOVE.
AND IT'S BEEN INSPIRING.
WE'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS
YEARS FROM NOW.
Rick:
AS FAR AS PARKER AND I GO,
MAYBE OUR LAST MISSION TOGETHER
WASN'T A COMPLETE SUCCESS,
BUT IT DEFINITELY
WASN'T A FAILURE.
WE'RE LEAVING AS FRIENDS,
AND I THINK
THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.
♪♪
THIS TRIP WILL BE
WHAT I'M THE MOST PROUD OF
THAT I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
AND, REALLY
I MEAN, [BLEEP] THE GOLD.
YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHS ]
I'VE LEARNED SOME PRETTY COOL
JUNGLE-MINING SKILLS
WITH PRETTY DAMN GOOD FRIENDS
AND THAT'S [BLEEP] COOL.
IT TRULY HAS BEEN
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
♪♪
♪♪
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
THE SITUATION IS
ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
PETE, WE'VE GO
[BLEEP] GOLD IN THE BOX.
WE ARE LEAVING TODAY.
Os:
KEEP YOUR HEADS DOWNS.
JUST KEEP
A STEADY PACE THROUGH.
THERE'S A ROADBLOCK
IN FRONT.
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
HOLY [BLEEP].
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON?
-LET'S GO, GO, GO.
-WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
-[BLEEP] WHOA, WHOA.
--Captions by VITAC--
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
♪♪
WE'VE TRAVELED BASICALLY ACROSS
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF GUYANA
TO GET TO THIS POIN
AND TO COME HERE,
AND IT'S A PRETTY COOL,
SPECIAL PLACE.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS SET UP A GOLD MINE
IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA,
SOUTH AMERICA.
AFTER FIVE WEEKS OF LEARNING
BACK-TO-BASICS MINING TECHNIQUES
FROM THE LOCALS,
HE'S FINALLY USING THEM
TO FIND HIS OWN GOLD.
Parker: ONE OF THE REALLY
COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS
IS IT'S PRETTY REMINISCEN
OF THE GOLD RUSHERS
THAT WENT TO THE YUKON
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD WATER
PRESSURE IF THEY WERE LUCKY
AND A WOODEN SLUICE BOX,
AND, I MEAN,
WE'VE GOT AN EXCAVATOR
TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK,
BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
THIS IS 120-YEAR-OLD TECHNOLOGY.
YOU KNOW?
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
SO THIS PAN IS JUS
FROM THE FIRST SPO
WE'RE MINING IN.
WE'VE GOTTEN A FEW SCOOPS.
♪♪
I REALLY, REALLY HOPE
THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THIS PAN.
♪♪
THERE'S A PIECE.
SEE IT?
-YEAH.
-THAT'S A BEAUTY.
GUYS, WE ONLY NEED
10,000 MORE OF THOSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOLY [BLEEP].
THAT'S ONE MORE FLAKE
THAN WE'VE SEEN ALL DAY.
IT IS ENCOURAGING.
THERE IS GOLD HERE.
-WE'RE IN THE MONEY.
-YES.
Narrator:
THE CREW HAS JOURNEYED DEEP
INTO THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA
TO THE GOLD FIELDS OF
THE LEGENDARY MARUDI MOUNTAIN.
♪♪
BUT IN JUST SEVEN DAYS,
PARKER MUST RETURN TO THE YUKON
TO PREPARE FOR
HIS NEXT MINING SEASON
IN THE FROZEN NORTH.
Parker: I'M HERE FOR A WEEK.
THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT LEFT.
AND I'VE BEEN HESITAN
TO SAY ANY GOALS OR ANYTHING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO NOT WAN
TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY
WITHOUT, YOU KNOW,
EACH OF US WALKING AWAY
WITH AN OUNCE OF GOLD
OR DAMN NEAR IT.
WE'VE DONE A LO
SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT.
PERSONALLY, I'VE GONE THROUGH
SOME LOW POINTS
THAT I HAVEN'
EXPERIENCED BEFORE,
BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE HERE
WITH SOME GOLD.
WE DO HAVE TO MINE SOME GOLD
AND, YOU KNOW,
PROVE THAT WE CAN DO IT.
Karla Ann:
IT'S GONNA BE A BIG WEEK,
IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE,
FOR SURE.
THIS WHOLE TRIP HAS BEEN
A CHALLENGE, BUT
WHATEVER DOESN'T KILL YOU
MAKES YOU STRONGER, RIGHT?
Sam:
OUT HERE WITH MINIMAL EQUIPMENT,
MANUAL LABOR IS WHA
IT'S ALL ABOUT
WHICH SUCKS, FRANKLY.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: SAM WILL CAPTURE
THE ACTION CLOSE UP
WITH THE HELP OF A FILM CREW
AND THE BACK-UP
OF A SECURITY TEAM.
IF YOU NEED US,
YOU HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY PLANS
AND YOU HAVE YOUR SAT PHONES.
WE WILL BE CONTACTABLE,
BUT REMEMBER, BE SAFE.
♪♪
-READY TO ROCK?
-OH, YEAH. FIRE IT UP.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
♪♪
Parker:
OH, YEAH.
WE'RE MINING.
YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE WASHING ROCKS,
RIGHT?
HOPEFULLY PUTTING GOLD
THROUGH A SLUICE BOX RIGHT NOW.
Parker: YOU KNOW, BACK TO
THE BASICS RIGHT THERE.
JUST LIKE SLUICING
WITH A STRAW, YOU KNOW?
THIS THING CAN ONLY MOVE
SO MUCH DIRT,
AND IT'S DEFINITELY
NOT WHAT I'M USED TO.
Sam: [ Laughing ] GOT A KIND OF
MIDGET MINING OPERATION
GOING ON AT THE MINUTE.
TEENY SLUICE BOX,
LIKE MINI, MINI HOSE.
♪♪
Parker: SOMETHING'S WRONG HERE,
WE'RE LOSING PRESSURE.
LOOK AT THAT.
♪♪
WOW.
THAT'S THE CREEK
WE'RE DEALING WITH,
SO WATER VOLUME'S QUITE LOW.
-[ SCOFFS ]
-YEAH.
Rick:
THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
WHAT DID WE GE
IN 20 MINUTES?
Sam:
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
LIKE, I MEAN,
WE'RE GONNA BE LIMITED
TO 20-MINUTE RUNS?
THAT KIND OF RUN TIME
AIN'T GONNA FLY,
SO WE'VE GOT TO GO
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
I MEAN THE WAY
I SEE IT, LIKE,
THE FLOW OF THIS CREEK
IS ONLY ABOUT 10%
OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER
THAT NEEDS TO GO
THROUGH OUR SLUICE BOX.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND
A SPOT TO PU
A RESERVOIR
TO HOLD MORE WATER.
WE NEED TO DAM UP
THIS CREEK.
Rick:
ONE WOULDN'T THINK THA
WATER WOULD BE A PROBLEM
IN THE JUNGLE.
I MEAN, IT'S A DAMN RAINFOREST,
BUT HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW?
WE'VE GOT A VERY, VERY LIMITED
AMOUNT OF WATER.
I MEAN, IT'S BASICALLY
JUST A TRICKLE,
AND WE'RE TRYING TO
TRAP IT AND USE IT.
TIME TO GET TO WORK.
♪♪
Narrator:
RICK'S PLAN?
BUILD A DAM TO CREATE
A LARGE RESERVOIR,
PUMP THE WATER 200 FEE
THROUGH A LAY-FLAT PIPE
UP TO A HOSE THAT WILL
WASH PAY DIRT DOWN
THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX.
THE WATER WILL THEN
RUN BACK INTO THE CREEK,
FLOWING DOWNSTREAM
TO THE RESERVOIR,
WHERE THE PUMP WILL RECYCLE I
BACK TO THE SLUICE.
♪♪
I'VE DONE A TON OF THIS
WATER-MANAGEMENT-TYPE WORK,
YOU KNOW, UP IN THE KLONDIKE
WHERE WE MINE.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
DOING I
WITH THIS KIND OF MATERIAL
HERE IN THE JUNGLE,
AND IT'S REAL POROUS,
AND IT'S JUST REALLY NO
PLUGGING UP THE WATER
LIKE I'M USED TO.
I'M PUTTING IN
A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE DAM --
A PRETTY GOOD PLUG IN THIS.
BUT THE WATER'S
SEEPING THROUGH A BIT.
HOPEFULLY I HAVE TO KEEP PACKING
DIRT IN HERE UNTIL SHE HOLDS.
♪♪
Narrator:
NOW, WITH LESS THAN A WEEK
TO FILL THEIR POCKETS
WITH SOME GOLD,
THE TEAM'S CHANCES REST ON
RICK'S DAM HOLDING OVERNIGHT.
♪♪
Parker: SO, RICK, HOW
CONFIDENT ARE YOU WITH
YOUR DAM-BUILDING?
THERE'S STILL SOME WATER
TRICKLING THROUGH THERE,
BUT NOT A LOT.
IF IT HOLDS LIKE IT IS NOW,
I THINK WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT,
BUT A LOT CAN HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
SO IF WE LOSE WATER
OVERNIGHT
YEAH, I MEAN, WE LOSE
THE WHOLE DAY TOMORROW.
YEAH. YIKES.
YEP.
NOT COOL.
Sam: SO ALL BEING WELL,
PARKER,
WHAT DO YOU THINK'S POSSIBLE
FROM THIS GRIND?
Parker: IF WE GO
AN OUNCE OF GOLD EACH,
THAT WOULD BE
PRETTY DAMN COOL.
YEAH, WE COULD GO
HOME WITH OUR HEADS
HELD HIGH, I THINK.
YEAH.
EH, I'M GONNA
HAVE NO REGRETS,
NO MATTER WHAT.
Karla Ann:
MM-HMM.
BUT LET'S
GET SOME GOLD.
♪♪
Parker: RICK, DO YOU THINK
YOUR DAM HELD OVERNIGHT?
-I HOPE SO.
-I'M NERVOUS.
WELL, IF THE DAM HELD
OVERNIGHT, WE'RE SLUICING.
WE'LL HAVE WATER.
IF IT DIDN'T,
I DON'T [BLEEP] KNOW, MAN.
WELL,
THERE'S A POND THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S FILLING, ISN'T IT?
-IT'S DEFINITELY COME UP.
-RICK, ARE YOU A BEAVER?
YOU CAN BUILD
A HELL OF A DAM.
-HEY-O!
-READY TO ROCK?
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: THE RESERVOIR HOLDS
OVER 8,000 GALLONS OF WATER,
ALLOWING THE CREW
TO SCALE UP THEIR OPERATION
AND USE THEIR BIGGER
FOUR-INCH PUMP.
-IT'S NOT REALLY BUNCHING.
-NO, IT'S NOT.
Rick: MAN, IT'S GOT TO GO ON
LIKE ANOTHER INCH.
I DON'T SUPPOSE
WE HAVE ANY OIL
OR ANYTHING WE CAN LUBE
THIS [BLEEP] UP WITH?
Karla Ann:
YOU GUYS WANT SUNSCREEN?
YEAH, LET'S PU
SOME SUNSCREEN ON IT.
THIS, I'VE NEVER
SEEN BEFORE.
[ LAUGHS ]
HERE.
♪♪
OOH, THERE YOU GO.
IT'S THE LUBE, KARLA.
YOU LUBED IT.
YEAH, IT WORKED.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
ALL WE NEED TO DO NOW
IS GET THIS PIPE LAID OU
AND HOPE THIS THING
STARTS, HUH?
[ SCOFFS ]
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO
START THESE THINGS?
NOPE.
-REALLY?
-NO.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS THE MOS
SIMPLE MACHINE
WE'VE EVER WORKED WITH,
PARKER.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU READY?
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.
♪♪
Rick: AHHH!
♪♪
Sam:
SHOULD WE CUT OFF THE PUMP?
THIS IS PRETTY
[BLEEP] PATHETIC.
Rick: HE WAS IN A HURRY
TO GET ME OFF-SITE
BEFORE I ASKED HIM
TO TURN IT ON.
HOW COULD I BE
THAT [BLEEP] DUMB?
Narrator: LAST WEEK, RICK PAID
$1,000 TO RENT THE PUMP.
JUST LIKE THE YUKON GOLD RUSH,
OVER A CENTURY AGO,
THE PEOPLE
WHO SUPPLY THE EQUIPMEN
OFTEN MAKE THE MOST MONEY.
1,000 BUCKS U.S.?
SA-WEET.
GO TRY TO FIND JUICY
AND GET HIS ASS UP HERE.
IT'S HIS [BLEEP] PUMP.
LET'S HOPE JUICY
IS A MAN OF CHARACTER
AND DIDN'T RENT ME OU
A PUMP THAT DOESN'T RUN.
WE'RE HERE,
WE'VE PAID FOR AN EXCAVATOR,
WE'VE HIRED A PUMP.
LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO WALK AWAY
WITH SOME [BLEEP] GOLD.
THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.
Narrator:
UP AHEAD
Parker: SHOULD WE TAKE
A LOOK AT WHAT WE GOT?
-YEAH, BUDDY.
-YEAH, WE SHOULD.
-LOOK AT THAT.
-NO WAY.
-THAT'S GOLD. IT'S A NUGGET.
-YEAH.
-LET'S ROLL, ROLL, ROLL.
-WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
WHOA, WHOA!
♪♪
Narrator:
WITH JUST SIX DAYS LEF
TO FIND GUYANESE GOLD,
PARKER'S OPERATION
IS AT A STANDSTILL,
UNLESS KARLA CAN PERSUADE
LOCAL MINER JUICY
TO COME AND FIX THE PUMP
HE'S RENTED THEM.
♪♪
HI, JUICY.
I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU COULD COME OU
AND JUST HELP US
WITH THE PUMP A BIT.
WE'RE JUST STRUGGLING.
YEAH.
THANKS, MAN.
THIS IS A PILE-OF-[BLEEP] PUMP
BRAND-NEW,
WHEN IT IS BRAND-NEW.
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG
THIS THING'S RAN FOR.
SURE MAKES ME APPRECIATE
MY [BLEEP] A LOT MORE.
Parker:
WHAT'S UP, JUICY?
WE'RE TRYING TO GE
YOUR PUMP GOING.
BUT WE CAN'T GET I
TO PRIME.
OKAY.
AND I'M SURE THAT YOU KNOW
SOME TRICK THAT WE DON'T.
Rick:
ABOVE THE PUMP, YEAH.
YEAH.
Narrator:
FOR THE PUMP TO WORK,
THE ENTIRE CASING
NEEDS TO BE FULL OF WATER
TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE.
IF ANY AIR GETS TRAPPED
INSIDE THE CASING,
IT WON'T PUMP.
BECAUSE THE POND
IS LOWER THAN THE PUMP,
THEY MUST FILL THE INTAKE HOSE
WITH WATER,
THEN DROP IT INTO THE POND
BEFORE ANY AIR
CAN GET INTO THE SYSTEM.
♪♪
Karla Ann:
MORE?
YEAH. YEAH.
TRY IT.
[ MOTOR CHUGS ]
YEAH. YEAH, YEAH.
YES.
NICE ONE, RICK.
-[BLEEP] ME.
-HERE WE GO, PARKER.
-WE GOT WATER.
-YES.
PRETTY GOOD WATER.
♪♪
Sam: PARKER, FIVE WEEKS OF
SWEAT, BLOOD, AND TEARS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
LOST TIME TO MAKE UP FOR.
NOW THE REAL WORK
BEGINS.
♪♪
RICK JUST CAME UP
THE THE EXCAVATOR.
HE'S GONNA STAR
STRIPPING OVERBURDEN
AND THROWING MORE PAY
IN HERE, HOPEFULLY.
AND WE'LL, UH
HAVE TO FIGHT --
[ Laughing ] HAVE TO FIGH
THE ROCKS LEF
AND GET IT CHEWED UP
FOR US A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS [BLEEP]
MISERABLE.
NOT THAT THERE EVER WAS
MUCH GLAMOUR TO GOLD MINING,
BUT THIS -- HOO! --
THIS BRINGS
A WHOLE NEW MEANING.
THERE'S NO GLAMOUR HERE.
IT'S JUST DOWN AND DIRTY.
♪♪
Narrator:
PARKER MANHANDLES THE HOSE,
KNOWN AS A DONKEY.
HE'LL RUN 20 YARDS OF PAY DIR
A DAY THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX.
IN THE KLONDIKE,
HE RUNS 200 TIMES AS MUCH DIRT.
BY THE END OF THE WEEK,
HE NEEDS THE MATS
BENEATH THE WATER
TO CONTAIN AT LEAST FOUR OUNCES
OF GUYANESE GOLD.
READY FOR A WEEK OF THIS?
IT'S ALL HOLDING
TOGETHER RIGHT NOW,
BASICALLY,
BY THE SKIN OF ITS TEETH.
Parker: UH, RICK,
WILL YOU COME HELP US?
Rick: YEAH.
CAN YOU GO
KINK THE SAUCE?
Sam:
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
THE HOSE IS COMING
OUT OF OUR DONKEY.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ COUGHS ]
YOU OKAY?
LOOK AT ME.
DO I LOOK OKAY?
NO.
UGH. THIS THING'S
SEEN BETTER DAYS.
WATER HELD UP.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
WE GOT GOOD PRESSURE.
THE PUMP'S RUNNING GOOD.
WITH HARD WORK, WE CAN KEEP ALL
THIS RAMSHACKLE [BLEEP] GOING.
Parker: SHOULD WE TAKE
A LOOK AT WHAT WE GOT?
-YEAH, BUDDY.
-YEAH, WE SHOULD.
Rick: THAT IS EXHAUSTING.
[ LAUGHS ]
Parker: ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE
THERE'S SOME LITTLE, FINE STUFF
GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE.
-YEAH?
-YEAH.
I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO SEE,
HARD TO TELL WHAT'S WHAT.
I THINK THAT'S
A YELLOW ROCK, AIN'T IT?
ALL DIRTY.
LOOK AT THAT.
-NO WAY.
-THAT'S GOLD. IT'S A NUGGET.
-YEAH.
-HOLY [BLEEP].
-THAT'S A NICE FIRST CHUNK.
Karla Ann:
NO KIDDING.
Sam: IMAGINE HOW MUCH GOLD
THERE IS IN THOSE MATS.
-WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
-YEAH.
-GOOD JOB, GUYS.
-YEAH. SWEET.
HOO-WAH!
FOUND OUR FIRST NUGGET --
OUR FIRST GUYANESE NUGGET.
THAT'S SO EXCITING.
Parker:
THAT CHUNK IS A NICE START.
THERE ARE SOME FLAKES
IN THERE, TOO,
AND HOPEFULLY NOW
WE'RE JUST MINING,
AND IF WE CAN STAY RUNNING,
WITH PIECES OF GOLD LIKE THA
GOING DOWN OUR BOX
TIME TO GET PAID.
♪♪
-WHAT TIME IS IT?
-[ MAKES KISSING SOUNDS ]
COME HERE.
COME HERE.
Narrator: THE CREW'S
WORKING AND LIVING ON LAND
OWNED BY THE UDU FAMILY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MR. UDU, HOW LONG AGO
DID YOU MINE THAT SECTION
WHERE OUR SLUICE BOX IS?
EIGHT YEARS AGO. WOW.
DO YOU THINK WE ARE DIGGING
IN THE RIGHT SPOTS?
THAT'S GOOD.
[ LAUGHS ]
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A SET-UP,
AND NOW THAT WE'VE GO
A COUPLE YARDS TO THE BOX
YEAH, IT'S GO TIME.
I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE
THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT,
YOU KNOW,
EACH OF US WALKING AWAY
WITH AN OUNCE OF GOLD
OR DAMN NEAR IT.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA
[BLEEP] DO THIS.
I'M GONNA MAKE DAMN SURE OF IT.
♪♪
♪♪
Parker: HEADS UP, GUYS.
WE GOT SOME VISITORS.
♪♪
Parker: EVERYTHING
ALL RIGHT HERE?
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS JUST FIVE DAYS
TO DIG FOUR OUNCES
OF GUYANESE GOLD
FROM HIS JUNGLE MINE.
Parker:
WE JUST GOT GOING.
OH, DO YOU WANT ME TO
TURN THIS CAMERA OFF?
ALL RIGHT,
I CAN TAKE THIS OFF.
THESE GUYS ARE FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
♪♪
Sam: PETE.
WE COME IN WITH
BIG CAMERAS AND WHATNO
IN A SMALL COMMUNITY,
YOU'RE GONNA TO DRAW
A LOT OF ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE ALL IT TAKES
IS WORD OF MOUTH
FOR THESE GUYS
TO SHOW UP AND
PUT THAT CAMERA DOWN.
THEY AREN'T HAPPY
WITH THE WAY
OUR SETTLING SYSTEM
IS SET UP,
AND THEY'RE
SHUTTING US DOWN.
WOW.
SO, WHAT DO WE
HAVE TO DO?
BUILD A SETTLING POND.
[BLEEP], WE JUS
GOT UP AND RUNNING,
LIKE, HOW FAST WAS THAT?
OH, YOU GOT TO
LAUGH OR CRY, RIGHT?
Karla Ann:
MM-HMM.
♪♪
WE HAVE THINGS SET UP PROPERLY
AS FAR AS ALL THE STANDARDS --
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS --
THAT I'M USED TO,
BUT YOU SHOW UP
IN A NEW COUNTRY,
YOU'VE GOT TO DO THINGS RIGHT,
RIGHT?
♪♪
Narrator: MR. UDU COMES UP
WITH A SOLUTION.
THAT WAY?
♪♪
THE WATER RUNNING THROUGH
THE SLUICE BOX
IS FULL OF MUD.
A SETTLING POND
SLOWS THE FLOW OF WATER
ENOUGH FOR THE SILT TO SEPARATE
AND SINK TO THE BOTTOM,
ALLOWING CLEAN WATER
TO FLOW BACK INTO THE CREEK.
♪♪
-LOOKS GOOD.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR. UDU?
IT IS GOOD.
-QUICK WORK.
-QUICK WORK.
Parker: I THOUGHT THIS WAS
GONNA BE SOME DISASTER.
LIKE, IT COULD BE NICE IF
THEY JUST SEE THIS RIGHT NOW
AND BE LIKE,
"YEAH, THAT'S GOOD."
♪♪
Narrator: THE ONLY WAY
THEY CAN REOPEN THE MINE
AND GET THEIR GOLD
IS IF THE INSPECTORS SIGN OFF
ON THEIR NEW SETTLING POND.
♪♪
Parker:
YOU'RE BACK.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
PERFECT. THANK YOU.
♪♪
Parker:
WE'RE GOOD, RICKY.
Rick: HOPEFULLY, THAT'S
THE LAST WE SEE OF THEM.
THE WEIRD THING WAS
THEY WERE TALKING ABOU
A BUNCH OF LAND DISPUTES
THAT ARE GOING ON
YEAH.
AND THAT THEY'RE HERE
TRYING TO DEAL WITH
A BUNCH OF
PROBLEMS AND UNREST.
AND HE REALLY SAID,
"JUST KEEP TO YOURSELF,"
AND WE SHOULD BE
FINE OUT HERE,
BUT IT WAS PRETTY WEIRD.
THAT IS WEIRD.
SO WE ARE VERY
OUT OF PLACE HERE.
-YES.
-YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, WELL
-JUST A LITTLE?
Narrator: LAND DISPUTES,
AND EVEN VIOLENCE,
ARE A FEATURE
OF EVERY GOLD RUSH IN HISTORY.
Karla Ann: THIS IS A BADASS
LITTLE MINING COMMUNITY.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
OUR TEAM WATCHES OUR BACK
AND JUST STAY SAFE OUT HERE.
DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT, YOU KNOW
I MEAN, WE STICK OUT LIKE
A SORE THUMB IN THIS COMMUNITY,
AND THIS PLACE IS ROWDY.
THE WORD "UNREST" IS
PRETTY UNSETTLING, YOU KNOW,
BUT I DON'T KNOW.
WE CAN ONLY DEAL WITH
THE PROBLEMS AS THEY COME ALONG,
SO TRY NOT TO OVERTHINK IT,
I GUESS.
Parker: ALL RIGHT,
SHOULD WE GIVE THIS A WHIRL?
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
-WHOO!
-NO.
-NO.
-GO, GO!
Karla Ann: NO.
[ MOTOR CHUGS ]
-YES!
-WHOO-HOO-HOO!
♪♪
WE'RE SLUICING AGAIN
FOR MAYBE ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
♪♪
WE NEED MORE DIRT, NESS!
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER LOSING
HALF A DAY TO BUILD THE POND,
THE CREW IS FINALLY
BACK TO MINING GOLD.
I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY THIS
'CAUSE I WILL TEMPT FATE
AND EVERYTHING WILL FALL APART,
BUT RIGHT NOW
-DON'T SAY IT.
-I'M GONNA SAY IT.
RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING
IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
RICK'S GETTING US GOOD MATERIAL,
AND THE SLUICE BOX
IS LOOKING GOOD.
Rick: WE JUST WORK OUR ASS OFF
AS HARD AS WE'VE EVER WORKED.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
Parker: THE SET-UP
IS WORKING PRETTY GOOD,
I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT.
I THINK WE'RE MOVING
AS MUCH DIRT AS WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST --
I HOPE THERE'S GOLD
IN THIS [BLEEP].
♪♪
[ THUNDER BOOMS ]
-UH-OH.
-UH-OH.
Parker:
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR.
Sam: SHOULD WE
CUT OFF THE PUMP?
OH, YAY.
Narrator: WITH ONLY
30 MINUTES TO SUNDOWN,
THE JUNGLE STORM FORCES THE TEAM
TO SEEK SHELTER.
-HOW MANY YARDS WAS THAT?
-15?
NOT BAD.
Parker: THE GIST OF IT IS THA
THERE IS GOOD GOLD HERE.
IS IT TIME TO EXPAND?
AND WE HAVE TO GE
THROUGH THIS WHOLE PIT,
AND THAT MEANS GETTING
SOME MORE EQUIPMENT IN HERE.
♪♪
Narrator: IN THREE DAYS,
PARKER HAS SLUICED
FOR LESS THAN SIX HOURS.
-LOOK AT THAT.
-[ SNORTS ]
Narrator:
WITH TIME RUNNING OUT TO REACH
HIS MINIMUM FOUR-OUNCE TARGET,
HE AND RICK BEGIN WORK
ON A SECOND SLUICE BOX.
THERE YOU GO.
ONE THESE YEARS,
IT OUGHT TO BE, LIKE,
"HEY, LET'S GO TO
[BLEEP] HAWAII
AND LAY ON A BEACH AFTER
THIS [BLEEP] MINING SEASON."
Narrator:
AT THE START OF THE TRIP,
RICK RESIGNED
AS PARKER'S FOREMAN,
CALLING TIME ON THEIR SIX-YEAR
WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
OH, [BLEEP],
I'M GONNA MISS WORKING
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH YOU,
RICK.
HEY, HEY, BUDDY.
PARKER, YOU WANT TO HEAR
SOMETHING FUNNY?
WHAT?
Parker on voicemail:
HEY, RICK, THIS IS PARKER
SCHNABEL UP HERE IN ALASKA,
AND I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT A JOB.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED,
GIVE ME A CALL.
I'LL TRY BACK AGAIN
HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
YOU WERE 17 YEARS OLD.
YOU KNOW I HAD NO BUSINESS
BEING IN CHARGE OF ANYBODY
AT THAT AGE.
THAT FIRST YEAR,
SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID TO ME
NEVER LEFT ME.
YOU TOLD ME THA
I WAS 100% REPLACEABLE,
AND YOU COULD REPLACE ME
WITH ONE PHONE CALL.
TRUTH IS THAT
I WAS.
AT THAT POINT,
YOU WERE.
EVERYBODY'S REPLACEABLE,
ME INCLUDED.
IT'S PRETTY EASY TO GE
YOURSELF ALL WRAPPED UP
IN THE CAMERAS
AND THE GOLD AND THE PEOPLE,
AND YOU AND I
HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD, AND
YEP.
WON'T DENY THAT.
MY LIFE HAS CHANGED
IN WAYS
THAT I CAN'
EVEN IMAGINE.
IT HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
IN A MILLION WAYS.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN ENJOY I
WHILE IT LASTS.
FOR THE TIME BEING,
I THINK WE'VE GO
OURSELVES A SLUICE BOX.
YEP.
[ LAUGHS ]
-TO ONE MORE TIME.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GE
SOME [BLEEP] SLEEP.
YEP.
♪♪
♪♪
REALLY IS
COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT,
AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
EVERY MINUTE COUNTS NOW.
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL'S TESTING
A SAMPLE OF CONCENTRATE
FROM THE MATS
IN HIS JUNGLE SLUICE BOX.
I'M STARTING TO
REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOU
WHAT DIRT WE'RE RUNNING,
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THA
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT,
FINALLY.
BUT THE MINUTE YOU SAY THAT,
SOMETHING GOES WRONG,
SO I SHOULDN'T SAY IT.
HOW'S THAT PAN LOOKING?
YOU GOT SOMETHING?
YEAH.
LOOKS [BLEEP] GOOD.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, YEAH.
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, WOW.
PARKER SCHNABEL,
I DO BELIEVE
WE'VE FOUND SOME GOLD.
YES.
-LOOK AT THAT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Parker:
SOME NUGGETS IN THERE.
THOSE ARE SOME
NICE CHUNKS.
SO WE'RE ON IT.
IT'S REALLY GOOD GROUND,
AND WE HAVE TO GE
THROUGH THIS WHOLE PIT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S SECOND SLUICE BOX
IS READY TO GO,
ALLOWING THEM TO SCALE UP
THEIR OPERATION.
Parker: I MEAN, WE'VE GO
A LOT MORE PAY IN THE CU
THAN WE CAN WASH IN
THE TIME WE'VE GOT.
WE'VE GOT TO GE
A SECOND PUMP IN HERE.
I THINK IT WOULD WAY MORE
THAN DOUBLE
THE AMOUN
THAT WE'RE DOING.
DOUBLE OUR PRODUCTION?
[BLEEP] YEAH.
Narrator:
RICK AND SAM HEAD OFF
TO SEE IF THEY CAN REN
A SECOND PUMP.
♪♪
THE CLOSEST MINING CAMP
IS HALF A MILE AWAY,
WHERE THE FILM CREW
AND SECURITY TEAM ARE BASED.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Sam:
YOU HEAR THAT?
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]
[ RADIO CRACKLES ]
SAM FOR PETE.
PETE, WHAT'S GOING ON
DOWN THERE?
COPY THAT.
I HEAR A LOT OF
SHOUTING GOING ON,
AND IT SEEMS TO BE
ESCALATING
AND GROWING IN NUMBER,
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA
GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
HOPEFULLY TRY AGAIN LATER.
[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: A LAND DISPUTE
BETWEEN LOCAL MINERS
AND A LARGE MINING CORPORATION
IS REACHING THE BOILING POINT.
THERE'S NO POLICE PRESENCE
IN MARUDI TO HELP
IF THEY PROTEST TURNS VIOLENT.
[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]
♪♪
-FIND THE PUMP?
-WE HAVE TO TALK.
♪♪
THERE'S SOME KIND OF
BIG PROTEST HAPPENING THERE,
BUT WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO GET RADIO CONTAC
WITH THE RES
OF THE FILM CREW.
AT THIS POINT,
I DON'T KNOW HOW BAD IT IS,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA
GO RUMBLING INTO
SOME BIG PROTES
TRYING TO GET THROUGH
THERE TO GET A PUMP.
-HELL NO.
-SO
I MEAN, I'VE NEVER
BEEN IN THAT SITUATION
BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
THAT FILM CREWS
AND PROTESTERS AREN'
A GOOD MIX, ARE THEY, SAM?
Sam: NO.
THERE'S A LOT OF
POLITICS IN PLAY
AROUND HERE IN THIS SPOT.
AND I'M SURE IT'S ABOU
WHOSE GROUND'S WHOSE,
AND THE GOVERNMENT,
AND ALL THAT BULL[BLEEP].
YEAH, IT'S
COPY THAT, PETE.
DID THEY HAVE,
LIKE, SIGNS AND
-YEAH.
-PITCHFORKS?
NO PITCHFORKS
THAT I SAW.
♪♪
HOW MUCH TIME
DO WE HAVE?
GOT [BLEEP] GOLD
IN THE BOX.
I DON'T SEE WHAT PROTES
WHERE YOU'RE CAMPED OUT AT --
HOW THAT AFFECTS US
RIGHT HERE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND
IF YOU GUYS
WANT TO MAKE A BIG STINK
AND ROLL OUT.
I GUARANTEE THAT NOBODY
WOULD COME IN HERE.
SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE
US ENOUGH BATTERIES AND CARDS
TO MAKE IT THROUGH
THE NEXT 48 HOURS?
THEY'RE GOLD MINERS.
THEY PROBABLY JUST NEED
A REASON TO GET DRUNK.
Rick: WHATEVER IT IS,
IF IT AIN'T SAFE,
I'M HAPPY TO
[BLEEP] GO.
♪♪
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
MUST EVACUATE HIS JUNGLE MINE,
BUT WITH NO TIME
TO DO A CLEANUP,
HE'LL NEVER GET TO KNOW
HOW MUCH HIS MINING LESSONS
HAVE PAID OFF IN GOLD.
I'M CONCERNED ABOU
PROTESTERS COMING OVER HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO DRAG
YOUR HOME HERE
INTO THE MIX OF WHAT'S
GOING ON, YOU KNOW?
YOU'VE LET US
INTO YOUR HOME
AND LET US MINE
IN YOUR AREA.
REALLY?
-OH, WOW.
THE GOLD IN
THE SLUICE BOX,
THE GOLD IN THAT PIT,
IS YOURS.
IT'S THE LEAS
WE CAN DO.
YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING,
MR. UDU.
♪♪
♪♪
[BLEEP]
TERRIBLE SITUATION.
Rick: YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
WHERE THERE'S GOLD
THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT WANT IT.
AND WHEN THERE'S
PEOPLE THAT WANT IT,
THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE
THAT THINK
IT BELONGS TO THEM, SO
MINING-LAND DISPUTES
ARE AS OLD AS
MINING IS ITSELF,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS ISN'T STUCK TO GUYANA.
THIS KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Narrator: THE THREAT OF
A VIOLENT LAND DISPUTE
IS FORCING PARKER AND HIS CREW
TO ABANDON
THEIR JUNGLE MINE IN GUYANA.
♪♪
THE NEAREST EVACUATION POIN
IS A DIRT AIRSTRIP
26 MILES AWAY.
♪♪
WE'VE BEEN HERE
FOR SIX WEEKS
TRYING TO FIND
SOME GOLD,
AND WE'VE GOT NOTHING
TO SHOW FOR IT.
I DON'T HAVE
A FLAKE OF GOLD ON ME.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE GO
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT,
BUT WE HAD TO DO
THE SMART THING
AND WALK AWAY.
THIS WHOLE THING FOR ME
IS TOUGH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
I'M HAVING
TO RELY ON GUYS
THAT HAVE
A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE
THAN I DO WITH
THIS KIND OF STUFF.
SO IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP]
FRUSTRATING FOR ME.
HEY. OKAY,
WE'VE GOT A LANDING
COMING UP
ABOUT 500 METERS.
THIS TIME OF NIGHT,
SOME OF THEM PROTESTORS
GONNA BE THERE,
GONNA BE DRUNK.
ALL RIGHT?
I NEED YOU TO KEEP
YOUR HEADS DOWN,
JUST KEEP
A STEADY PACE THROUGH.
ALL RIGHT?
-THANKS, OS.
-THANK YOU, OS.
Karla Ann:
WHOA, WHOA!
HOLY [BLEEP].[ GUNSHOT ]
Parker: WHAT THE [BLEEP]
IS GOING ON?
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
ARE THOSE HEADLIGHTS
HEADING OUR WAY?
SOMEBODY'S REVVING
THEIR [BLEEP] ENGINES.
PETER, DO YOU REALLY
THINK WE SHOULD GET OUT?
-NO, DON'T GET OUT.
-YEAH, DON'T.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
-HOLY [BLEEP].
-LET'S ROLL, ROLL, ROLL!
-YEAH, LET'S
-LET'S GO.
[ ENGINES REVVING ]
♪♪
-[BLEEP]
-THAT SPOOKS ME OUT.
♪♪
I DON'T WANT TO
SEE THAT AGAIN.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
GOOD JOB.
WE'VE PUT NINE KILOMETERS
BETWEEN OURSELVES
AND THE INCIDENT.
WE'RE NOW SAFE.
THANKS FOR GETTING US
OUT OF THERE, MAN.
QUITE WELCOME.
I'D BE LYING IF I DIDN'T SAY
I WAS READY TO GO HOME,
BUT I WASN'T READY
TO GO HOME LIKE THIS.
CAN'T REALLY TAKE IT IN,
TO BE HONEST.
IT'S, UM
SUCH A SHAME.
YEAH, I MEAN,
THAT'S THIS OVER.
THAT'S THIS TRIP OVER.
AND
IT'S A BIT HEARTBREAKING
TO ME,
YOU KNOW, DESPITE
ALL OF THE BULL[BLEEP],
BECAUSE SOME OF THE MOST AWESOME
PEOPLE I'VE MET IN MY LIFE
HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS
HERE IN GUYANA.
♪♪
[ CHUCKLES ]
Parker:
GETTING GOLD IN GUYANA
HAS BEEN TOUGHER
THAN I EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
WHOA, WHOA!
[BLEEP] PARKER!
WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE LOCALS
HOW TO MINE
USING THE MOST BASIC
JUNGLE EQUIPMENT.
Parker:
YEAH, I CAN'T DO THAT.
A WHOLE NEW IDEA OF
WHAT BUSH FIX IS.
IT'S, LIKE,
LITERALLY THE BUSHES.
-YEAH.
-[ LAUGHS ]
Parker: I'VE GOT ENORMOUS
RESPECT FOR THE MINERS HERE,
AND THEY RISK THEIR LIVES
EVERY DAY TO GET GOLD.
Parker: THERE'S SOME
BOULDERS UP THERE.
HAS ANYBODY
DIED IN HERE?
GEEZ.
Parker: JUST SURVIVING HERE IN
THE JUNGLE IS SUPER DANGEROUS.
[ GASPS ]
-IT'S FILLING WITH WATER!
-WHOO!
[ VOMITS ]
Parker: WE'VE BEEN A PART OF
A REAL-LIFE GOLD RUSH.
Parker: INGENIOUS USE
FOR TIRES.
THEY GET GOLD STUCK
IN THE CRACKS.
Sam: I DO BELIEVE
WE'VE FOUND SOME GOLD.
WE'RE IN THE MONEY.
THE FOUR OF US HAVE
HAD AN EXPERIENCE
THAT WE'LL NEVER FORGET.
Parker: WOULDN'T WANT TO
DO IT WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M GLAD
YOU GUYS ARE HERE.
-YEAH, BUDDY.
-PARKER.
♪♪
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Sam: JUST THE FACT THA
WE'VE ALL MADE IT TO THE END
AND WE'RE ALL STILL SPEAKING,
I THINK IS -- IT'S
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
Karla Ann: THE BOYS ARE
A BUNCH OF DITCH PIGS.
THERE'S TIMES WHERE
I WANTED TO STRANGLE THEM.
BUT THEY'RE LIKE BROTHERS TO ME,
AND THERE'S SO MUCH LOVE.
AND IT'S BEEN INSPIRING.
WE'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS
YEARS FROM NOW.
Rick:
AS FAR AS PARKER AND I GO,
MAYBE OUR LAST MISSION TOGETHER
WASN'T A COMPLETE SUCCESS,
BUT IT DEFINITELY
WASN'T A FAILURE.
WE'RE LEAVING AS FRIENDS,
AND I THINK
THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.
♪♪
THIS TRIP WILL BE
WHAT I'M THE MOST PROUD OF
THAT I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
AND, REALLY
I MEAN, [BLEEP] THE GOLD.
YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHS ]
I'VE LEARNED SOME PRETTY COOL
JUNGLE-MINING SKILLS
WITH PRETTY DAMN GOOD FRIENDS
AND THAT'S [BLEEP] COOL.
IT TRULY HAS BEEN
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
♪♪