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>> Narrator: IN THIS EPISODE...
>> LOCK 'EM!
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE
BUSTING OUT.
>> COUNT ON GETTING VERY, VERY
COLD.
>> Narrator: CAN THEY ESCAPE
FROM ALCATRAZ?
>> QUACK, DAMN YOU.
>> [ QUACKS ]
>> Narrator: SCIENCE OR
QUACKERY?
>> I WANT YOU TO DO THIS.
GOT IT?
>> Narrator: DOES A DUCK'S QUACK
ECHO?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: AND OUT OF THEIR
SKULLS -- HAVE WE ALL BEEN
INJECTED WITH MIND-CONTROL
CHIPS?
>> I FEEL PERFECTLY NORMAL NOW.
>> Narrator: WHO ARE THE
MYTHBUSTERS?
>> AM I MISSING AN EYEBROW?
>> Narrator: ADAM SAVAGE.
>> I ALWAYS ENJOY SEEING ADAM IN
PAIN.
>> OH!
>> Narrator: AND JAMIE HYNEMAN.
>> JAMIE WANTS BIG BOOM.
>> Narrator: BETWEEN THEM, MORE
THAN 30 YEARS SPECIAL EFFECTS
EXPERIENCE.
>> FEEL KIND OF SEXY.
>> Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST
TELL THE MYTHS.
THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ADAM, WE'RE
BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO DOING A
SHOW ABOUT MYTHS, SO OBVIOUSLY,
WE HAVE TO TACKLE THE MYTH ABOUT
THE ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ.
>> THAT THREE PRISONERS IN 1962
BUILT A RAFT OUT OF RAINCOATS
AND GOT OFF THE ISLAND?
>> YEAH.
DID THEY ACTUALLY DO IT?
WAS IT SUCCESSFUL?
WHERE DID THEY GO?
>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO
FOLKLORIST
HEATHER JOSEPH-WITHAM, THIS
STORY HAS ENDURED BECAUSE PEOPLE
OFTEN CHEER FOR THE UNDERDOG.
>> THE IDEA IS DAVID AGAINST
GOLIATH, THE LITTLE MAN REALLY
WINNING OUT OVER THE CONCRETE
AUTHORITY -- THE FACELESS,
NAMELESS CONCRETE AUTHORITY.
>> Narrator: AMERICA'S WORST
WERE CAGED IN ALCATRAZ'S 9x5
CELLS, COLD AS STONE, PERCHED
HIGH ABOVE THE CURRENTS THAT
CHAIN THE ISLAND.
OFFICIALLY, NO ONE EVER ESCAPED
AND LIVED TO TELL, THOUGH IN ITS
29 YEARS, 34 PRISONERS TRIED,
AND AS MANY AS 11 DIED IN THE
ATTEMPT.
ADAM AND JAMIE WILL FOLLOW THE
MOST FAMOUS ESCAPE ATTEMPT OF
ALL.
ALCATRAZ HAD BEGUN TO CRUMBLE.
MORRIS AND THE ANGLINS WERE ALL
ABLE TO CHIP THROUGH VENTILATION
GRILLS USING SPOONS.
>> [ GRUNTS ]
AHH.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> Narrator: SEEMS BEER AND FAST
FOOD WASN'T ON THE MENU AT
ALCATRAZ.
INCREDIBLY, THE ESCAPEES FOUND
THEMSELVES IN AN EMPTY SERVICE
SHAFT.
>> YOU KNOW, JAMIE, NOTE TO
MYSELF -- IF I'M EVER DESIGNING
A PRISON, I DON'T THINK I WOULD
EVER DESIGN IT WITH A HUGE,
SECRET, UNMONITORED WALKWAY
BEHIND EVERY CELL.
>> Narrator: LEAVING DUMMIES
BEHIND IN THEIR BEDS, NIGHT
AFTER NIGHT, THE PLOTTERS
CLIMBED UNDETECTED INTO THIS
SERVICE CORRIDOR.
>> I THINK I TWEAKED MY BACK.
>> Narrator: THE TRIO HAD
MANAGED TO STEAL MORE THAN 50
RAINCOATS AND, UNDETECTED UP ON
THAT ROOFTOP, TURNED THEM INTO A
PONTOON RAFT.
>> YOU WHISPER, AND EVERYBODY
CAN HEAR IT.
YOU CAN'T LIKE DROP A, YOU KNOW,
SINGLE BOLT OR NAIL.
YOU CAN'T KICK A PIECE OF WOOD
WITHOUT EVERYBODY ON THE CELL
BLOCKS HEARING YOU DO IT.
IMAGINE THAT EVERY NIGHT FOR
MONTHS IN PITCH BLACK.
>> Narrator: THE NIGHT THEY WERE
FINALLY READY, THE THREE BROKE
OUT THROUGH THIS VENT ONTO THE
ROOFTOP, THEN CLIMBED 50 FEET
DOWN TO THE GROUND.
>> YOU KNOW, THEY WENT DOWN
ABOUT HERE.
THE ORIGINAL PIPE'S BEEN
REMOVED, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT
THEY WENT ACROSS, UNDERNEATH THE
WATER TOWER, AND DOWN TO THE
SHORE ON THE SIDE OF THE
POWERHOUSE OVER THERE.
IT'S A LOT OF DISTANCE TO COVER
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH
ALL THAT EQUIPMENT.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
>> YEP.
>> Narrator: THE SWIRLING TIDAL
CURRENTS AROUND ALCATRAZ WERE
MORE FEARED THAN ANY WALL.
JOLENE BABYAK LIVED ON THE
ISLAND WHEN THE ESCAPE HAPPENED.
HER FATHER WAS ASSOCIATE WARDEN
AT THE TIME.
AND SHE'S WRITTEN THREE BOOKS
ABOUT ALCATRAZ.
>> DO YOU THINK THEY MADE IT?
>> THEY COULD BE HERE TODAY ON
THE TOUR, BUT I DOUBT IT.
>> Narrator: ALLEN WEST TOLD THE
FBI THE PLAN WAS TO PADDLE THE
RAFT NORTH TO ANGEL ISLAND, THEN
ONTO THE MAINLAND.
JOLENE THINKS THAT WAS
OPTIMISTIC AT BEST.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY
PHYSICAL WAY THEY COULD EVER GET
TO ANGEL ISLAND, AND IF THAT WAS
THEIR GOAL, IT WAS NOT WELL
THOUGHT OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY, IT'S
NOT ABOUT CURRENTS, IT'S ABOUT
TIDES, AND IF THE TIDE IS GOING
OUT THE GATES, SO ARE YOU.
>> Narrator: IT SEEMS TOO SIMPLE
AN END.
FRANK MORRIS WAS NO FOOL.
HE SPENT HIS LIFE IN AND OUT OF
REFORM SCHOOLS AND PRISONS, BUT
HE ALSO HAPPENED TO HAVE AN I.Q.
OF 133.
HE KNEW HOW TO ESCAPE, AND HE
MUST HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE
DANGERS OF THE BAY.
>> SO YOU THINK THEY WERE CLEVER
ENOUGH TO HAVE COUNTED ON THE
TIDES, USING THEM TO THEIR
ADVANTAGE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE
CLEVER ABOUT THE WHOLE THING
FROM THE GET-GO, LIKE HOW THEY
GOT THE MATERIALS IN THE FIRST
PLACE, WHERE THEY ASSEMBLED
IT -- RIGHT UNDER THE NOSE OF
THE GUARDS.
IT WAS ALL VERY WELL PLANNED
OUT.
SO IT'S ONLY LOGICAL TO ASSUME
THAT THEY GAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF
THOUGHT TO THE CURRENTS, AS
WELL.
>> Narrator: MAYBE MORRIS
FIGURED A WAY TO RIDE THE FEARED
TIDES TO FREEDOM.
>> IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S MORE
AGGRESSIVE ON THIS SIDE.
>> Narrator: HE COULD WATCH THE
EBB AND FLOW AND PLAN HIS ROUTE
FOR MONTHS.
THE MYTHBUSTERS DON'T HAVE THAT
LONG, BUT THEY DO KNOW A
SHORTCUT.
>> JOE, GRAB ONTO THE PYLON!
COME ON!
OOF.
OH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> Narrator: THE BAY MODEL WAS
BUILT IN THE MID '50s TO TEST
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF A
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN
SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
IT'S A PERFECT SCALE MODEL,
COVERING TWO ACRES, AND
REPLICATES A FULL DAY'S TIDAL
MOVEMENTS IN JUST UNDER 15
MINUTES.
>> IF WE TOOK A SMALL MODEL BOAT
AND PUT THIS IN HERE AT A
STRATEGIC POINT, WOULD IT
TELL US WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO
THAT BOAT IN THE CURRENTS?
>> I THINK THAT IT WOULD.
UP UNTIL THE YEAR 2000, IT WAS
PRIMARILY A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
AND ENGINEERING FACILITY, WHERE
MANY, MANY EXPERIMENTS FROM "A"
TO "Z" WERE CONDUCTED DAILY, AND
I THINK IT REPLICATES VERY
ACCURATELY THE TIDES, CURRENTS,
THE MOTIONS OF THE BAY.
>> Narrator: THE GUYS KNOW THE
HIGH TIDE HAD JUST TURNED WHEN
THE ESCAPEES HIT THE WATER.
>> I'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE
SIGNAL.
>> Narrator: IN THE COMPRESSED
TIME OF THE MODEL, THAT'S DUE IN
ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
>> THE WATER'S HAVING AN EFFECT
ON ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
>> Narrator: ONCE AGAIN, THE
MYTHBUSTERS' PROFESSIONALISM IS
WINNING ADMIRERS.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
OH, WE'RE GOOD.
DROP IT.
NICELY DONE.
>> Narrator: REMEMBER, THE MYTH
SAYS MORRIS AND THE ANGLINS WERE
HEADING NORTH TO ANGEL ISLAND.
THE CURRENT TELLS A DIFFERENT
STORY.
THE RAFT IS HEADING WEST, IN A
HURRY.
>> WE'RE ESCAPING ALCATRAZ AT
MACH 1!
>> NO WONDER THEY DIDN'T FIND
THEM.
THEY'RE PROBABLY IN JAPAN BY
NOW.
>> STAND BY, JAMIE.
>> OKAY.
>> RELEASE IT, JAMIE.
>> Narrator: THE SAME THING
HAPPENS EVERY TIME ON THIS TIDE.
>> THERE THEY GO.
NOW THE CURRENT CATCHES THEM.
>> Narrator: THE RAFT IS ALWAYS
WASHED WEST TO THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, AND IT'S
DOUBTFUL THE ESCAPEES COULD
PADDLE AGAINST IT FOR LONG.
>> BASICALLY, THERE'S NO WAY I
THINK THEY'D MAKE IT TO
ANGEL ISLAND, THOUGH.
>> Narrator: THE GUYS THINK
MORRIS WAS SMART ENOUGH TO WORK
THAT OUT.
SO DESPITE WHAT THEY TOLD OTHER
PRISONERS, MAYBE ANGEL ISLAND
WAS NEVER IN THE PLAN AT ALL.
>> I THINK THEY ACTUALLY TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENTS AND
GOT ON THEM AS A -- YOU KNOW,
LIKE A RIVER HEADED TOWARDS THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND
SPECIFICALLY THE NORTH SIDE OF
THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, WHERE
THEY COULD EASILY MAKE IT TO
SHORE.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS
HAVE HATCHED A NEW THEORY AND A
NEW PLAN.
FORGET ANGEL ISLAND.
THEY'RE GOING TO SEE IF THEY CAN
BUILD A RAFT AND PADDLE ACROSS
THE TIDE TO REACH LAND AROUND
THE MARIN HEADLANDS.
>> JAMIE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR
CHANCES OF SUCCESS ARE?
>> 100%.
>> 100%?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
WE CAN PRETTY WELL COUNT ON
GETTING VERY, VERY COLD.
>> Narrator: JAMIE SOUNDS LIKE
HE'S GETTING COLD FEET.
BUT BEFORE HE DOES, THE GUYS
HAVE A DATE WITH SOME WEBBED
FEET.
ANOTHER BIRD-BRAINED MYTH TO
BUST.
COULD IT BE TRUE?
>> [ PLAYING KAZOO ]
>> Narrator: OR HAVE ADAM AND
JAMIE GONE QUACKERS?
>> ANYTHING TO SAY TO THE DUCKS
BACK HOME?
SO, JAMIE, WHAT ARE WE WORKING
ON?
WHY ARE THERE DUCKS POOPING ALL
OVER YOUR DESK?
>> WELL, THE MYTH IS THAT A
DUCK'S QUACK DOES NOT ECHO.
>> THAT SOUNDS KIND OF SIMPLE.
>> WELL, I GUESS WE'LL FIGURE
OUT A WAY OF MAKING IT
COMPLICATED, WON'T WE?
>> THIS REALLY IS AN INTERNET
STORY, NOT EVEN A STORY, JUST A
LITTLE FACTOID.
AND IT GENERALLY COMES OUT ON
THESE INTERNET LISTS OF FACTS
THAT ARE VERY ODD.
IN THE PAST THEY WOULD HAVE
CIRCULATED AS XEROXLORE OR
FAXLORE.
>> Narrator: THE BOYS WILL TAKE
THE LORE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS
DOWN ON THE FARM.
>> WHOA.
>> ADAM, DON'T LET THEIR LOOKS
DECEIVE YOU.
THESE ARE ACTUALLY QUITE DEADLY.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: IF ANYONE CAN
ANSWER THIS MYTH, IT SHOULD BE
JIM REICHARDT, PART OF
AMERICA'S OLDEST DUCK-FARMING
FAMILY.
THE REICHARDTS HAVE BEEN
LISTENING TO DUCKS QUACK FOR
MORE THAN A CENTURY.
BUT THERE'S ONE THING THEY
HAVEN'T HEARD.
>> JIM, HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE
MYTH THAT A DUCK'S QUACK WILL
NOT ECHO?
>> I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT.
I'VE GROWN UP ON THE RANCH.
I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY ASK ME.
>> Narrator: IT'S PRETTY HARD TO
RUFFLE JIM'S FEATHERS.
HE'S AGREED TO HELP THE
MYTHBUSTERS WITH SOME TEST
SUBJECTS.
>> I ASKED FOR VOLUNTEERS THIS
MORNING, AND I CAME UP WITH A
COUPLE.
>> Narrator: MEET BOB, ON THE
LEFT, AND ROY.
>> I'M GOING IN FROM THIS SIDE.
>> YOU GO DOWN THAT SIDE.
I'LL WALK THEM DOWN THIS WAY.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
THAT WASN'T SO BAD, WAS IT?
>> THAT WASN'T SO BAD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> Narrator: SO, THEY'VE GOT
THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.
NOW THEY NEED A MAN WHO CAN
CATCH AN ECHO.
THAT WOULD BE HIM NOW.
ROGER SCHWENKEE IS AN
ACOUSTICIAN, WHICH MEANS HE
KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT
NOISE.
>> ROGER, HAVE YOU HEARD THE
MYTH ABOUT WHETHER A DUCK'S
QUACK ECHOS?
>> I HAVE HEARD THAT MYTH.
MOSTLY I SEE IT IN THESE LISTS
OF FACTOIDS AND JOKES THAT YOU
GET IN E-MAILS.
>> Narrator: ROGER'S AGREED TO
HELP CATCH A DUCK'S ECHO.
THE SCIENCE IS SIMPLE ENOUGH.
SOUNDS ARE JUST VIBRATIONS IN
THE AIR.
AN ECHO HAPPENS WHEN THOSE
VIBRATIONS HIT SOMETHING AND
BOUNCE BACK.
>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I HAVE
FOR YOU IS WE'RE GOING TO USE A
TIE-CLIP MIKE AS THE TRIGGER
MIKE TO START THE RECORDING, AND
WE NEED TO ATTACH THAT TO THE
DUCK.
>> DUCK TAPE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YEAH, YEAH, OH.
>> Narrator: THAT MICROPHONE
ACTS AS A TRIGGER.
IT'LL HEAR BOB QUACK, AND SWITCH
ON THE MAIN MIKE A FEW YARDS
AWAY.
THAT WILL RECORD THE INITIAL
QUACK, THEN LISTEN FOR ECHOES
BOUNCING BACK, THE WHOLE
SHOOTING MATCH PLOTTED BY A
COMPUTER.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO
DUCKS THAT DON'T COOPERATE, HUH?
>> YEAH.
GOT IT.
>> Narrator: THAT WAS A TEST.
YOU CAN SEE THE INITIAL SHOT
FROM THE STARTER'S PISTOL IS THE
PEAK ON THE LEFT, AND THE
SMALLER BUMPS AFTER IT ARE THE
ECHOES COMING BACK.
THE SYSTEM WORKS.
NOW FOR THE DUCKS.
>> I'LL TELL YOU GUYS TO BE
QUIET BECAUSE ANY SOUND WILL
START THE COMPUTER RECORDING.
AND THEN YOU NEED TO SILENTLY
INDUCE THE DUCK TO QUACK.
>> CAN YOU QUACK?
>> Narrator: SILENTLY INDUCE A
DUCK TO QUACK.
>> LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND QUACK.
QUACK.
COME ON, BOY.
QUACK.
QUACK.
>> ALL RIGHT, SEE IF THEY'RE
READY.
>> ARE YOU GUYS READY?
>> DON'T MESS WITH ME, DUCK.
WHEN I SAY, "QUACK," YOU'RE
GOING TO QUACK, RIGHT?
I'M THE BOSS HERE.
DON'T GIVE ME ANY BEAK.
>> QUIET.
>> Shh, shh.
>> GIVE HIM THE THUMBS UP.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S LIKE HE'S TRYING TO COLLECT
A LOAN FROM THE DUCK.
DUCK LOAN COLLECTION AGENCY.
"I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
SOME OUTSTANDING FEED."
>> Narrator: WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT
DUCKS GET COLD FEET?
>> OH, BOY.
>> Narrator: THERE'S NOTHING BUT
WIND NOISE.
CLEARLY, BOB'S GOT STAGE FRIGHT.
>> I WANT YOU TO DO THIS.
GOT IT?
[ BLOWS KAZOO ]
QUACK.
QUACK, DAMN YOU.
>> DONE.
>> I'M GONNA SWAP HIM OUT WITH
THE OTHER ONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BRING HIM OVER TO YOU.
>> Narrator: BOB'S OUT.
ROY'S IN.
BUT A FUNNY THING HAPPENS IN THE
CHANGEOVER.
[ DUCKS QUACKING ]
>> OH, MAYBE BRINGING THEM
TOGETHER.
>> Narrator: THEY JUST NEEDED
SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
SEEMS OBVIOUS NOW.
THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE BACK IN THE
HUNT.
[ DUCKS QUACKING ]
>> AH.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A QUACK.
>> IT'S ASTONISHING HOW WELL
THAT WORKS.
>> Narrator: THERE'S SOMETHING
ELSE ASTONISHING.
THEY'VE GOT THE QUACK, BUT THEY
DON'T HAVE AN ECHO -- NOT A ONE.
BUT, THEN, THERE'S NOT MUCH HERE
FOR THE SOUND TO BOUNCE OFF.
>> IN TERMS OF TREES AND PLANTS
AND SO ON, YOU DON'T GET VERY
MUCH OF AN ECHO -- CERTAINLY NOT
OFF OF LEAVES.
>> Narrator: ROGER THINKS IF
THERE WERE ANY ECHOES, THE
BACKGROUND NOISE DROWNED THEM
OUT.
TO PROVE THAT AND BUST THIS
SILLY MYTH ONCE AND FOR ALL, BOB
AND ROY WILL HAVE TO GO HI-FI.
>> OKAY, THAT'S REALLY COOL.
>> Narrator: MEYER SOUND MAKES
TOP-OF-THE-RANGE CONCERT
SPEAKERS.
ROGER'S THEIR STAFF SCIENTIST.
>> HI, GUYS.
>> Narrator: THEY PLAN TWO
EXPERIMENTS AT THE LAB -- FIRST,
TO CAPTURE A CRYSTAL-CLEAR QUACK
WITH NO ECHO.
THEN, THEY'LL RECORD BOB AND ROY
IN A ROOM THAT DOES ECHO.
THE COMPUTER SHOULD SHOW IF
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
TO GET THE CLEAR QUACK, THEY'LL
USE AN ANECHOIC CHAMBER.
IT ABSORBS ECHOES BY TRAPPING
SOUND VIBRATIONS IN BAFFLES ON
THE WALLS AND CEILING.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE THEM IN
THE CHAMBER.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> Narrator: BOB AND ROY ARE
GAME.
>> I NOTICE THERE'S A HOLE IN
THE SCREEN.
MAYBE I CAN GOOSE THE DUCK.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> QUACK.
>> Narrator: NOTHING.
BOB AND ROY HAVE WISED UP.
>> JAMIE, I HAVE AN IDEA.
WE GET UNDERNEATH THE PLATFORM,
AND WE STAY THERE FOR, LIKE, A
FULL MINUTE OR TWO, AND THEN WE
BOTH POP UP ON BOTH SIDES OF
THEM.
>> Narrator: A DUCK AMBUSH --
IT'S RISKY BECAUSE IF THIS
DOESN'T WORK, JAMIE AND ADAM
WILL LOOK REALLY STUPID.
>> ANYTHING?
>> NOTHING.
NOTHING AT ALL.
>> NOT A PEEP?
>> NOT A PEEP.
>> Narrator: IT'S ALL STARTING
TO LOOK LIKE A HIGH-TECH WASTE
OF TIME...
WHEN, FOR NO APPARENT REASON,
BOB AND ROY GET CHATTY.
>> GOT SOMETHING.
>> Narrator: IT'S A PRISTINE
QUACK, AND IT TURNS OUT THERE IS
SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT IT
AFTER ALL.
>> "WELL, I NEVER," HE'S SAYING.
>> IT'S A SERIES OF
EXPONENTIALLY DECAYING IMPULSES,
WHICH LOOKS ALMOST EXACTLY
LIKE ROOM REVERBERATION.
>> HMM.
>> Narrator: THIS IS THE EXACT
MOMENT JAMIE IS BLINDED BY
SCIENCE.
>> HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION?
>> Narrator: WHAT THEY'VE FOUND
IS THAT WHEN YOU PLOT IT ON THE
COMPUTER, THE QUACK LOOKS
EXACTLY LIKE AN ECHO.
AND THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE
ORIGINS OF THE MYTH.
>> ITS ECHO MIGHT ACTUALLY SOUND
JUST LIKE ITS QUACK.
IT MIGHT BLEND TOGETHER FOR YOU.
>> Narrator: SO YOU MIGHT BE
HEARING AN ECHO BUT THINK YOU'RE
STILL HEARING THE QUACK.
TIME TO CRANK UP THE SECOND
EXPERIMENT, IN THE ECHO-Y ROOM.
HOPEFULLY, THE COMPUTER CAN TELL
THE DIFFERENCE.
>> ARE YOU READY TO QUACK FOR
SCIENCE?
>> OKAY, QUIET, PLEASE.
GO.
[ DUCKS QUACKING ]
GOT IT.
>> YOU DID REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
>> GOOD JOB.
>> YOU DID EXCELLENTLY.
>> Narrator: FINALLY, BOB AND
ROY HAVE PRODUCED ON CUE.
THIS CAVERN OF A WAREHOUSE IS
PERFECT FOR ECHOES, IF THERE ARE
ANY.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED.
>> OKAY, SO YOU WANT TO SEE OUR
QUACKS?
HERE'S THE DUCK QUACK THAT WE
RECORDED, AND I THINK THIS
INITIAL PART HERE IS THE QUACK.
>> YEAH, WELL, DOES THAT MEAN IT
ECHOES?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S JUST HARD TO TELL.
>> REALLY?
>> THE REVERBERATION LOOKS JUST
LIKE THE QUACK.
>> Narrator: YOU'D THINK THE
COMBINED BRAINS OF MAN AND
MACHINE WOULD BE MORE THAN A
MATCH FOR BOB AND ROY.
BUT SOMEHOW, ONCE AGAIN, THEY'VE
FRUSTRATED SCIENCE.
AND, FOR ONE FINAL TIME, THEY'LL
HAVE TO SING FOR THEIR SUPPER.
ROGER KNOWS THE ECHO IS THERE
SOMEWHERE.
>> GOT IT.
>> Narrator: AND, SURE ENOUGH,
AMID THE TECHNOBABBLE, AT LAST
HE FINDS WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR.
>> THIS SERIES OF DECAYING
IMPULSES IS THE REVERBERATION.
DEFINITELY THE ECHO.
>> DEFINITELY THE ECHO.
>> MYTH BUSTED.
>> DON'T BE SO HASTY.
"MYTH BUSTED, LET'S GO HOME, SEE
YA."
>> Narrator: THEY'VE
CONCLUSIVELY SHOWN THAT ALTHOUGH
A QUACK'S ECHO MIGHT BE QUIET
AND TRICKY TO HEAR, IT DOES
EXIST.
>> SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE
RIDING THE ABSOLUTE CREST OF
URBAN MYTH BUSTING?
>> BUSTER-RIFFIC.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: AND FOR THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TO MODERN SCIENCE,
BOB AND ROY HAVE EARNED A
RENT-FREE, BAYSIDE HOME FOR
LIFE.
>> WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
LOOKS GOOD? ALL RIGHT.
>> WHERE WERE ALL THOSE QUACKS
WHEN WE NEEDED THEM?
>> [ QUACKS ]
>> Narrator: JAMIE AND ADAM ARE
IMMERSED IN THE ALCATRAZ ESCAPE.
DID FRANK MORRIS AND THE ANGLIN
BROTHERS DROWN, OR COULD THEY
HAVE GOTTEN AWAY ON A RAINCOAT
RAFT?
TO FIND OUT, THE MYTHBUSTERS
WILL MAKE A RAFT AND ATTEMPT THE
CROSSING THEMSELVES.
SOME LIVING HISTORY WILL HELP
THEIR CAUSE.
>> THAT'S THE RAINCOAT.
>> THIS FABRIC NOW IS VERY
FRAGILE.
IF I TRIED TO UNROLL IT, IT
WOULD DETERIORATE.
IT WOULD FALL APART.
>> Narrator: THIS BRITTLE, OLD
RAINCOAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF
THE ESCAPEES' RAFT.
FOR SOME REASON, THEY LEFT IT
BEHIND ON THE CELL-BLOCK ROOF.
IT'S KEPT IN ARCHIVES AT THE
MARITIME MUSEUM AND MAY YET GIVE
UP A FEW SECRETS.
>> AND YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE
THE GLUE ON THE EDGE OF THE SEAM
HERE -- CONTACT CEMENT.
>> Narrator: THE TINIEST HINTS
WILL HELP THEM MAKE THEIR OWN
RAFT MORE AUTHENTIC.
>> YEAH, IT DEFINITELY LOOKS,
I MEAN, LIKE A MILITARY-STYLE
RAINCOAT THAT I'VE SEEN.
>> Narrator: TWO PADDLES WERE
ALSO RECOVERED.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S THE REAL THING.
>> IT ACTUALLY KIND OF SENT
CHILLS UP MY SPINE TO SEE THESE
THINGS.
THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN A DARK
ALCOVE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE ON
ALCATRAZ THAT WAS SECRETLY
PULLING THESE MATERIALS TOGETHER
AND BUILDING THIS STUFF.
AND WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
HANDLED IT.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE REACHED
BACK 40 YEARS TO TOUCH THE MYTH.
BUT CAN THEY GET THEIR HANDS ON
THE RIGHT MATERIALS TODAY?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE AMERICAN
ONE.
>> LIKE, AS LONG AS WE SCUFF IT
UP WITH A LITTLE SANDPAPER,
CONTACT CEMENT OUGHT TO HOLD ALL
THE STUFF.
THAT FEELS MUCH BETTER.
>> Narrator: SEEMS THEY COULD
RENAME THIS PLACE "ALCATRAZ
ESCAPES 'R' US."
>> 40 REGULAR.
>> Narrator: THERE ARE HATS,
TOO.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S TOO BIG.
>> YO, WHAT IS UP?
PEACE TO YOUR MOTHER.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'D SAY WE DID PRETTY GOOD IN
THERE.
>> EVERYTHING WE NEED.
>> AND A BUNCH OF STUFF WE
DON'T.
>> Narrator: BACK AT THE SHOP,
IT'S DOWN TO WORK.
FIRST, THE EASY PART -- MAKING
THE PADDLES BASED ON FBI
DRAWINGS.
>> ONE PRISON ESCAPE PADDLE.
JAMIE, YOU WANT COME OVER HERE
AND BEND OVER?
THEN WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE
PRISON HAZING RITUAL.
WHACK!
>> Narrator: THERE'S A BIGGER
PAIN IN THE BACKSIDE AHEAD.
NOW OUR WANNABE JAILBIRDS HAVE
TO MAKE THE RAFT.
>> I ACTUALLY AM FEELING REALLY
CONFIDENT ABOUT HOW THIS BOAT'S
GOING TO DO.
OF COURSE, THE VERY NEXT CUT OF
THE SHOW WILL BE US, LIKE,
FLAILING IN THE BAY IN THE DARK,
FREEZING AND SCREAMING.
>> Narrator: THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN
GET THAT FAR.
TWO SECONDS INTO CONSTRUCTION,
AND THEY'VE DISCOVERED THEIR
RAINCOATS ARE PVC, NOT RUBBER.
>> NO.
THIS STUFF ISN'T REMOTELY
AIRTIGHT.
>> Narrator: THE PLAN IS COMING
APART AT THE SEAMS.
>> IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
MATERIAL.
AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE I'M
NOT GETTING OFF THE ISLAND.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FINISH THIS
LIFE SENTENCE.
>> Narrator: TURNS OUT, THE
RIGHT STUFF IS ALMOST NEVER USED
ANYMORE.
BUT JAMIE TRACKS SOME DOWN.
IT'S DELIVERED DIRECT TO THE BIG
HOUSE.
>> THIS, I SWEAR, THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT THEY USED ON THE
ALCATRAZ ONE.
>> Narrator: THE RAFT WAS NEVER
FOUND, BUT ACCORDING TO FBI
INTELLIGENCE, IT WAS MADE OF
THREE PONTOONS.
IT WAS 14 FEET LONG AND 6' WIDE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A RAINWEAR
MASSACRE.
THE PLAN IS TO FIRST CUT THEM
INTO EQUAL PANELS.
MORRIS AND THE ANGLINS USED MORE
THAN 50 COATS.
>> WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO
ALCATRAZ.
>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE
FBI, THE ESCAPEES HAD ACCESS TO
CONTACT CEMENT IN THE PRISON
WORKSHOP.
JAMIE AND ADAM WILL USE THE SAME
STUFF TO GLUE THE PANELS
TOGETHER INTO LONG SHEETS.
>> WHAT I WAS THINKING OF DOING
WAS BASICALLY SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
>> FOLDING IT OVER.
>> YEAH, SO YOU DO GLUE-GLUE,
GLUE-GLUE, GLUE-GLUE.
>> Narrator: SOUNDS EASY.
BUT THE GLUE IS BECOMING A
STICKING POINT.
>> DO A FULL-ON, 2 1/2-INCH LAP.
>> WHY DON'T WE COMPROMISE AND
MAKE IT LIKE TWO INCHES?
>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO A
SMALLER ONE?
>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY GOING
TO HELP US ANY.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> IT'S INSURANCE.
I HAVE TO INSIST ON THIS ONE.
IT'S ABSOLUTE INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST --
>> MAKE IT TWO INCHES.
THAT'S LIKE DOUBLE WHAT YOU
WOULD -- WHAT YOU NEED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AND, SO, WE'LL JUST EACH TAKE
A TABLE.
>> Narrator: TO MAKE SURE THE
RAFT IS AIRTIGHT, EACH SEAM
NEEDS TO BE GLUED,
DRIED, AND COMPRESSED TOGETHER.
THE REAL ESCAPEES DID THIS IN
THE DARK AND SILENTLY.
>> [ HAMMERING ]
WAIT.
WAS THAT A GUARD?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> NO.
YEAH, CHECK IT OUT, MAN.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.
WE'RE AT FIVE -- WE'RE JUST OVER
SIX FEET HERE.
>> Narrator: THAT'S BIG ENOUGH
FOR THE FIRST PONTOON.
THEY JUST HAVE TO ROLL IT UP
LIKE A RUG AND SEAL THE ENDS.
[ AIR HISSING ]
>> I'M A LITTLE WORRIED.
THIS LOOKS A LITTLE TOO GOOD.
IT'S ALMOST GONNA BE LIKE, "NO,
WE SWEAR IT WAS RAINCOATS."
>> HEY.
>> THE FACT THAT THEY EVEN MADE
SOMETHING THAT WAS REMOTELY
INFLATABLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME,
GOT IT UP THE ROOF THROUGH THE
BLOWER AND DOWN TO THE SHORE AND
INTO THE WATER IS ASTOUNDING.
>> Narrator: IF THEY GET THIS
DONE, IT'LL BE QUITE AN
ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE MYTHBUSTERS,
TOO.
>> MY CALIBRATED EYEBALL DETECTS
NO LEAKS WHATSOEVER.
DUDE, THAT'S A BOAT!
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH
THESE PRISON GUYS.
COME ON, GET IN.
HURRY UP, HURRY UP.
THEY'RE COMING.
>> Narrator: THE LAST STEP IS TO
BUILD IN THE FLOOR.
JUST A THIN SKIN OF RAINCOAT
BETWEEN THEM AND THE SHARKS.
BUT BEFORE THEY DO IT, THERE'S A
DISTRACTION NO PRISONER EVER
CONTENDED WITH.
>> IT'S A LITTLE HOT.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE NEEDED FOR
A DISCOVERY CHANNEL PHOTO SHOOT.
THEY'VE GOT TO STOP PLAYING AT
BANK ROBBERS AND START
PRETENDING TO BE STARS.
>> OW!
>> I DON'T DO MAKEUP.
THEY GET NEAR ME WITH SOME
POWDER AND SOME SCISSORS FOR
MUSTACHE, THEY'RE GOING DOWN.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: WELL, MAYBE JUST A
LITTLE TOUCH-UP FOR THE TOUGH
GUY.
YOU WANT TO LOOK YOUR BEST.
>> YOU DON'T CARE IF I TRIM THIS
JUST A TIDBIT?
>> MM. NO.
>> NO, IT'S NOT?
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT.
NOW PUT IT AROUND MY MOUTH.
>> Narrator: YEAH, HE'S TOUGH,
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S A GOOD THING THEY'RE NOT IN
ALCATRAZ NOW.
>> OH, BABY!
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> PSH.
>> HERE COMES THE OTHER LADY OF
THE EVENING.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
OH, MAN.
YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> Narrator: THEY SAY THESE GUYS
CAN MAKE ANYONE LOOK GOOD.
SOMETIMES THEY JUST HAVE TO TRY
A LITTLE HARDER.
>> THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT.
OH, OH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
>> Narrator: MUG SHOTS OVER --
BACK ON THE CELL BLOCK, THE GUYS
ARE MAKING UP FOR LAST TIME.
>> LOWER YOUR END A LITTLE BIT.
>> YOU DREW THE LINE, SO YOU
HAVE A GOOD IDEA ABOUT WHERE THE
WHOLE DEAL SITS, YEAH?
>> JUST DO IT A SECTION AT A
TIME.
>> IT'S GOING TO WRINKLE.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE NEARLY
DONE.
JUST A LAST CHECK FOR LEAKS.
>> THERE'S ONE.
SEE THAT?
THAT'S A LEAK.
[ CONCERTINA PLAYS ]
>> Narrator: AND A ROUSING SEA
CHANTEY TO GET IN THE MOOD.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE
FBI, THE GANG MODIFIED AN
ACCORDION TO PUMP UP THEIR RAFT.
AS ALWAYS WITH THESE
INSTRUMENTS, SILENCE WAS GOLDEN.
>> I AM YOUR FATHER.
[ AIR WHOOSHES ]
>> Narrator: USING A PING-PONG
BALL, JAMIE ENGINEERS AN
INGENIOUS ONE-WAY VALVE SO THE
THING WILL BLOW AIR IN BUT NOT
SUCK IT OUT AGAIN.
>> WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.
>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
>> WORKING.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: IT TOOK 30
RAINCOATS, BUT THE MYTHBUSTERS
HAVE THEIR RAFT.
THEY'RE READY TO USE IT TO
ESCAPE THE ROCK.
>> BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT
WE HAVE, I THINK THE RAFT IS
VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAD ON
ALCATRAZ.
>> I GIVE US A 60% CHANCE OF
MAKING IT, 20% CHANCE OF
IMMEDIATE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE
[CHUCKLES] AND 20% SLOW DESCENT
INTO THE DEPTHS OF HELL.
>> Narrator: HELL WILL HAVE TO
WAIT.
IT'LL BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE
TIDE IS RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR
ATTEMPT.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE MYTHBUSTERS
HAVE ANOTHER MISSION.
ADAM AND JAMIE ARE ABOUT TO GO
DEEP UNDERCOVER...
ARMED WITH ONLY THEIR WITS AND A
LARGE TELEVISION PRODUCTION
TEAM.
>> YOU'RE REALLY SENSITIVE.
YOU'VE GOT A SENSITIVE KIND OF
BELLY BUTTON THERE, DON'T YOU?
>> Narrator: THEY PLAN TO TEAR
THE LID RIGHT OFF A SCANDAL THAT
COULD ROCK THE WESTERN WORLD.
>> AND SEE IF WE CAN DETERMINE
WHEN EXACTLY THE GOVERNMENT
INSTALLS THEIR MIND-CONTROL
CHIPS.
>> Narrator: THESE GUYS LAUGH AT
DANGER IF THERE'S A MYTH TO
BUST, AND THEY KNOW THIS ONE
MUST BE TRUE.
AFTER ALL, THEY FOUND IT ON THE
INTERNET.
>> THIS ONE COMES FRESH OFF THE
NET.
THE WRITER OF THIS MYTH CLAIMS
THAT HE HAD HAD A CHIP EMBEDDED
IN HIM WHILE VISITING HIS LOCAL
HOSPITAL, AND HE WAS SO AFRAID
OF THIS, THAT THIS WAS SOME KIND
OF MIND-CONTROL CHIP.
AND HE WANTED TO CHECK FOR IT,
SO HE WENT TO THE LOCAL HOME
DEPOT, AND HE GOT A STUD FINDER.
AND HE RAN THE STUD FINDER OVER
HIS ARM, AND SURE ENOUGH, RIGHT
THERE HE DETECTED BOTH
ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY AND METAL.
>> THIS LEGEND ALSO LINKS UP
WITH THE IDEA OF ALIEN IMPLANTS,
THE IDEA THAT ALIENS ARE
IMPLANTING US WITH SOME KIND OF
CHIP TO CONTROL OUR MINDS OR TO
MONITOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AND
WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
>> Narrator: STUD FINDERS,
ALIENS, AND MIND-CONTROL CHIPS.
CHUCK HEGER CAN HELP WITH THE
FIRST PART.
HE'S A STUD-FINDER STUD.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT
MIGHT BE RIGHT OUT OF A SCIENCE
FICTION NOVEL.
>> Narrator: CHUCK DESIGNS AND
MAKES STUD FINDERS.
>> WELL, CHUCK, CAN YOU GIVE ME
A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW THE STUD
FINDER WORKS?
>> LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WHEN I PLACE THE UNIT AGAINST
THE WALL, LET'S TURN IT ON.
NOW I'M GOING TO SLIDE IT.
AND, AS I APPROACH THE STUD,
THERE'S THE FIRST EDGE.
>> Narrator: STUD FINDERS ARE
USED BY BUILDERS AND HOME
HANDYMEN ABOUT TO PUNCH HOLES IN
WALLS.
THE FINDER USES AN ELECTRICAL
FIELD TO DETECT WOODEN STUDS,
METAL BEAMS, AND WIRING HIDDEN
BEHIND THE SURFACE.
>> MUST BE METAL BACK THERE.
>> Narrator: BUT CAN IT FIND A
MIND-CONTROL CHIP BURIED IN
SOMEONE'S ARM?
>> IF THERE WERE METAL EMBEDDED
UNDER THE FLESH, IN METAL
SENSING MODE, AGAIN, IF THE
METAL WERE LARGE ENOUGH AND NOT
TOO DEEP, WE COULD CERTAINLY
SENSE THAT.
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE WILL
BE COUNTING ON THAT.
BACK AT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS,
THEY'RE STILL ANSWERING
QUESTIONS.
>> THE NAME "KENNEDY" WAS NOT
MENTIONED, NOR WERE ANY OTHER
POLITICAL OFFICIALS.
>> NO QUESTIONS ABOUT MY
POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, NOT THAT
I COULD DETERMINE.
>> Narrator: IN FACT, THE ONLY
QUESTIONS WERE HEALTH-RELATED.
THE GUYS' CUNNING PLAN IS TO
GIVE BLOOD.
AND EVERYONE IS SCREENED BEFORE
MAKING A DONATION.
>> OH, THAT'S NICE.
WOW.
>> Narrator: THEY CAN'T DROP
THEIR GUARD.
ACCORDING TO THE MYTH, THE I.V.
NEEDLE THEY'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE
COULD WELL CONTAIN A
MIND-CONTROL CHIP.
>> YOU CAN PROCEED, BUT WE'RE
WATCHING YOU.
>> OKAY. [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: BEFORE GOING
UNDERCOVER AT THE RED CROSS, THE
MYTHBUSTERS NEEDED TO BE JEDI
MASTERS OF THE STUD FINDER.
JAMIE'S MAKING A BUILDER'S
NIGHTMARE -- A WALL WITH MORE
STUDS THAN A SATURDAY NIGHT,
WIRING IN BETWEEN, AND A
SPRINKLING OF MICROCHIPS.
>> SO, I'M SUPPOSED TO USE THESE
THINGS TO TRY TO FIND THE WOOD,
THE METAL, THE CONDUIT, AND THE
MICROCHIPS, HOPEFULLY?
THIS IS LIKE A BIG GROWNUP
VERSION OF BATTLESHIP.
THAT'S COOL.
>> [ BEEPS ]
>> YOU'RE MESSING WITH ME.
I'M TRYING TO WORK IT OUT, BUT
I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
>> Narrator: ADAM'S MAP IS
PRETTY CLOSE, BUT HE STILL
HASN'T FOUND A MICROCHIP.
AND THERE'S A NASTY BLACK HOLE
TOP LEFT.
>> CAN I COME CHECK IT OUT?
INTERESTING.
IT'S FUNNY THAT, LIKE -- YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S IT.
THAT'S WHAT I COULDN'T SEE!
>> AND YOU DIDN'T PICK UP ANY OF
THE CHIPS AS FAR AS I CAN TELL
AT ALL.
>> NO, NONE OF THESE SHOWED UP
AS A HOT SPOT.
>> Narrator: THERE'S TOO LITTLE
METAL IN A CHIP TO SHOW UP
THROUGH A WALL.
BUT ADAM'S HOPING THEY CAN BE
DETECTED THROUGH FLESH.
THIS GEL REPLICATES HUMAN
TISSUE.
>> PEE-EW.
THAT'S RANK.
EW.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE
COME ACROSS THIS AND TRY TO
PIECE TOGETHER FOR THEMSELVES
WHY IT EXISTS.
IT DOES SEEM TO BE PICKING UP
THIS CHIP OVER HERE.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY PICKING UP
HINTS OF THE CHIPS -- SOME OF
THEM PICKED THEM UP BETTER THAN
OTHERS -- AND THE BONE.
>> Narrator: BUT STUD FINDERS
ARE DESIGNED FOR USE ON SOLID
WALLS.
WOBBLY FLESH GIVES PLENTY OF
FALSE READINGS.
>> NO, NO, NO, WE'RE JUST TRYING
TO FIND THE VEIN.
IT'S ALMOST THERE.
ARE YOU OKAY?
WANT SOME JUICE?
>> Narrator: WHAT THE GUYS
REALLY NEED IS SOME PRACTICE
LOOKING FOR CHIPS UNDER LIVING
FLESH.
MICROCHIPPING SEEMS FARFETCHED,
BUT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS HAVE
BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.
>> THE IDEA BEHIND THE MICROCHIP
IS TO MAKE A KIND OF PERMANENT
IDENTIFICATION OF THAT ANIMAL
THAT CAN'T GET LOST OR WORN AWAY
LIKE A TAG COULD.
>> Narrator: LESS THAN ONE IN
SEVEN PETS LOST IN AMERICA ARE
RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS.
THESE TINY CHIPS ACT LIKE BAR
CODE.
THEY'RE READ WITH A RADIO
FREQUENCY SCANNER.
THE I.D. NUMBER IS REGISTERED TO
THE OWNER.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACTUALLY
EXERT A RADIO FREQUENCY ON THIS
CHIP TO CONTROL THE MIND OF THE
ANIMAL?
LIKE, YOU COULD PUSH THE "STOP
RIPPING THE CURTAINS" BUTTON AND
THE "DON'T PEE IN THE CORNER"
BUTTON?
>> Narrator: FREE OF MIND
CONTROL, BETHANY THE DOG IS
BEING CHIPPED TODAY.
SHE'S KINDLY AGREED TO ALSO LET
THE MYTHBUSTERS SCAN HER.
THE CHIP IS INSERTED WITH A
HYPODERMIC NEEDLE.
>> THE NEEDLE GOES IN.
>> ONCE THE MICROCHIP IS PLACED,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
STILL WORKS.
SO WE'LL USE THE SCANNER TO SCAN
RIGHT OVER THAT AREA, AND WE GET
THE UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
AGAIN.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> Narrator: NOW, IT'S ONLY
MEANT TO BE FOUND WITH A RADIO
FREQUENCY SCANNER.
BUT CAN THE CHIP BE LOCATED BY A
STUD FINDER'S ELECTRICAL FIELD?
>> I'M GETTING A LITTLE BLIP,
ACTUALLY, RIGHT OVER THE SITE.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> I THINK I'VE FOUND IT.
>> YEAH, RIGHT ABOUT THERE?
>> YEAH.
[ BEEPING ]
>> Narrator: EVERYONE'S HAPPY,
AND ARMED WITH THEIR NEW
CHIP-FINDING SKILLS, JAMIE AND
ADAM ARE READY TO SPRING THEIR
SURPRISE BACK AT THE RED CROSS.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE STARTING OUT WITH NO
MIND-CONTROL DEVICES EMBEDDED IN
OUR ARMS ALREADY, SO WE'RE GOING
TO USE A STUD FINDER.
HERE YOU GO, JAMIE.
>> Narrator: IF THERE ARE
MIND-CONTROL CHIPS BEING
DISPENSED HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE
THE GAME IS UP.
ALL CLEAR.
IT'S TIME TO MAKE THEIR
DONATION.
>> A LITTLE STING.
HERE WE GO.
THAT'S NOT SO BAD.
>> Narrator: COMMON SENSE SAYS
THE RED CROSS IS FAR MORE
INTERESTED IN COLLECTING BLOOD
THAN BRAINS, PARTICULARLY IN THE
CASE OF THESE TWO MINDS.
BUT JAMIE AND ADAM HAVE PUT
THEIR HEADS ON THE BLOCK IN THE
NAME OF MYTHBUSTING.
COULD THEY PAY THE ULTIMATE
PRICE?
>> [ Monotone ] I DON'T NOTICE
ANYTHING AT ALL.
I FEEL PERFECTLY NORMAL NOW.
EVERYTHING FEELS GREAT.
LIFE IS GOOD.
THE WORLD IS IN PERFECT ORDER.
>> Narrator: THAT'S ADAM'S MIND
IN NORMAL, OUT-OF-CONTROL MODE.
AND ANY ATTEMPT BY THE
GOVERNMENT TO BRING IT SOME
ORDER SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED.
THOSE STUD FINDERS AREN'T
FINDING ANYTHING.
>> IT WOULD SEEM THAT THEIR
TECHNOLOGY IS FAR MORE ADVANCED
THAN I PREVIOUSLY SUSPECTED AND
THAT I'M RIDDLED WITH
MICROCHIPS.
>> OR MAYBE THERE ARE NONE.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT IS A THIRD OPTION.
DIDN'T EVEN OCCUR TO ME.
>> ANYTIME THERE'S A STORY...
>> Narrator: THE RED CROSS'
BECKY O'CONNOR HAS HEARD HER
SHARE OF RIDICULOUS STORIES
ABOUT BLOOD DONATIONS.
>> SO YOU CATEGORICALLY DENY IT?
>> I DO CATEGORICALLY DENY THAT
THERE IS ANYTHING LEFT BEHIND
WHEN YOU MAKE A BLOOD DONATION.
>> Narrator: THE RED CROSS
ALWAYS NEEDS NEW BLOOD DONORS TO
HELP SAVE LIVES.
LESS THAN 5% OF ELIGIBLE
AMERICANS DONATE.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE WERE
ACTUALLY SOMEHOW CONTROLLING
PEOPLE, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T
HAVE A SHORTAGE BECAUSE THE
FIRST THING WE MIGHT DO IS
ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME IN MORE
OFTEN.
>> I REALLY THINK THAT'S ONE OF
THE SILLIER MYTHS THAT WE COULD
HAVE RUN ACROSS.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK FOR A
COUPLE MORE INTERESTING MYTHS TO
DISPEL SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY
MORE PEOPLE WILL DO THIS.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS
HAVE COME THROUGH WITH MINDS
INTACT, A GIVING GLOW, AND MYTH
BUSTED.
>> Narrator: THE NIGHT OF
JUNE 11, 1962, THREE DESPERATE
MEN BREAK OUT OF ALCATRAZ AND
TRUST THEIR LIVES TO THE BLACK
WATER.
THEY ARE NEVER SEEN AGAIN.
FRANK MORRIS, CLARENCE ANGLIN,
AND HIS BROTHER JOHN.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
>> [ LAUGHS ]
YOU LOOK FUNNY.
>> YOU DON'T?
>> Narrator: IN FACT, JAMIE AND
ADAM ARE WEARING WHAT THE
ESCAPEES WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE
NIGHT THEY BROKE OUT.
DRESSED LIKE THIS, COULD THE
THREE HAVE PADDLED THEIR RAFT
MADE OF RAINCOATS TO SAFETY?
TONIGHT THE MYTHBUSTERS WILL
FIND OUT.
THE FBI FILES SAY THE ESCAPEES
WERE AIMING FOR ANGEL ISLAND.
BUT THE MYTHBUSTERS WILL TEST
THEIR OWN THEORY -- THAT THEY
WERE SMART ENOUGH TO USE THE
OUTGOING TIDE TO CARRY THEM TO
THE MARIN HEADLANDS.
OF COURSE, THERE WERE THREE IN
THE REAL ESCAPE ATTEMPT.
SO YOUNG WILL ABBOTT HAS BEEN
DRAFTED FROM THE WORKSHOP TO BE
THEIR PARTNER IN CRIME.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE
OTHER WORLD, NOT TO MENTION THE
SHOCK OF THE COLD, COLD WATER.
>> JUST REMEMBER, KID, IF IT
DOESN'T KILL YOU, IT JUST MAKES
A GREAT STORY LATER ON.
>> OH, HELL, YEAH.
>> Narrator: WILL IS ABOUT
FRANK MORRIS'S WEIGHT.
HE'LL WEAR A BUOYANT WET SUIT SO
HE CAN IMMEDIATELY HELP THE GUYS
IF THINGS GO WRONG.
>> JUST SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE
FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THIS
MEANS, "I NEED HELP."
THIS IS NOT, "HELLO."
THIS MEANS, "I'M OKAY.
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT."
ALL RIGHT?
>> Narrator: THE GUYS WILL ALSO
WEAR STROBE LOCATOR LIGHTS.
>> WE'LL GET YOU A BATTERY ON
THAT JUST AS SOON AS WE CAN.
>> THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: ON THE NORTHWEST
EDGE OF ALCATRAZ, THE TIDE IS
RUSHING OUT AT MORE THAN 3
KNOTS, THE WATER JUST OVER 60
DEGREES, THE WIND ABOUT 5 KNOTS.
THOSE CONDITIONS ARE VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT FACED MORRIS AND
THE ANGLINS.
AND, REMEMBER, THEY ARE PRESUMED
TO HAVE DROWNED.
>> DEAD OR ALIVE, I IMAGINE THAT
THE THREE ESCAPEES WOULD GET A
KICK OUT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE
GETTING INTO A BOAT AND
RETRACING THEIR STEPS FOR AN
ENTERTAINMENT SHOW.
>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE
CONVICTS WERE SAYING WHEN THIS
WAS OCCURRING.
I GUESS NOBODY WILL EVER
KNOW, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THEY
WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT HOW NICE
THE VIEW WAS.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE IN POSITION
JUST OFF THE SPOT WHERE THE
ESCAPEES TOOK THEIR CHANCES.
LIKE THEM, THE MYTHBUSTERS HAVE
NO IDEA IF THEIR RAINCOAT RAFT
WILL FLOAT.
>> YOU AND ME, FORE AND AFT,
WITH WILL IN THE MIDDLE.
THAT PUTS THE LIGHTEST WEIGHT AT
THE HIGHEST WEAKNESS.
>> Narrator: IT'S COLD, IT'S
DARK, AND IT'S TIME TO GO.
PARAMEDICS AND A TRAINED
LIFEGUARD ARE STANDING BY.
>> GOT IT?
>> GOT IT.
>> GO, JAMIE.
IT'S ALL YOU, BUDDY.
>> OH, JAMIE.
YOU THE MAN, BABY!
>> Narrator: THE RAFT'S PASSED
ITS FIRST TEST.
IT'S HOLDING JAMIE'S WEIGHT.
>> HERE I GO, JAMIE.
HERE I COME.
OH, YEAH.
WE'RE TAKING ON WATER.
OKAY.
>> OKAY, I'LL TAKE THAT.
I GOT THE -- GOT IT.
>> I GOT ONE PADDLE.
>> OKAY, WE'RE OFF.
>> WE'RE FREE.
HERE WE ARE.
WE'RE ESCAPING!
HA HA!
WHOO!
>> Narrator: SOMEWHERE AROUND
HERE, NO DOUBT, MORRIS AND THE
ANGLINS CELEBRATED, TOO.
THEY'D ESCAPED ALCATRAZ.
BUT WHAT LAY AHEAD?
>> IF THAT RAFT SANK, THEY WERE
SWIMMING.
IF THEY WERE SWIMMING, THEY
WOULD BE IN TROUBLE RELATIVELY
QUICKLY.
IT WAS 9 OR 10 HOURS BEFORE THEY
WERE FOUND TO BE MISSING.
IF YOU'RE STILL IN THE WATER
THAT LONG, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
MAKE IT.
>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE.
>> Narrator: ADAM, JAMIE, AND
WILL ARE PADDLING ACROSS THE
TIDE.
IF THEY'VE MISCALCULATED, THE
CURRENT WILL SWEEP THEM UNDER
THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND OUT
TO SEA.
>> I CAN'T SEE ALCATRAZ BECAUSE
THERE'S SOME DAMN BIG BOAT IN
THE VIEW.
OUR LEGS ARE FALLING ASLEEP.
>> Narrator: THE RAFT IS GETTING
WEAKER.
EVERY 10 MINUTES, THEY HAVE TO
ADD MORE AIR.
AND THE TIDAL RIP IS GETTING
ROUGHER.
DID THE SAME WAVES SINK THE
ESCAPEES?
NO SIGNS OF THEM WERE EVER FOUND
ON LAND, BUT THE WATER GAVE UP
CLUES.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS
A PACKET OF PHOTOGRAPHS.
ALSO, THERE WERE NINE SLIPS OF
PAPER WITH NAMES AND ADDRESSES
OF PEOPLE THEY WERE GOING TO
CONTACT.
NOW, UNLESS YOU'RE IN A
LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO LET GO OF THAT BAG.
>> KEEP LOOKING.
>> HEY, ADAM.
WE CAN SEE ALCATRAZ STRAIGHT
BEHIND US RIGHT NOW.
>> WOW.
>> WE'VE COME QUITE A WAYS,
HAVEN'T WE?
>> WE HAVE.
>> Narrator: AFTER ABOUT 40
MINUTES, THEY'RE CLOSING IN ON
THE BRIDGE AND THE SHORE.
IF THE REAL ESCAPEES MADE IT
THIS FAR, THEIR SPIRITS WOULD BE
STARTING TO LIFT BY NOW, TOO.
>> THIS IS SO COOL!
>> Narrator: IT SEEMED
IMPOSSIBLE, BUT THE MYTHBUSTERS
ARE ALMOST THERE, PADDLING A
RAINCOAT RAFT MORE THAN THREE
MILES ACROSS A RUSHING TIDE,
MAKING LANDFALL JUST EAST OF THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.
>> HA HA HA HA HA.
WE MADE IT!
>> Narrator: IF THE ESCAPEES
CAME ASHORE HERE, THEY'VE
STEPPED LIGHTLY EVER SINCE.
THERE WERE NO STOLEN CARS, NO
PHONE CALLS HOME.
FRANK MORRIS AND THE ANGLIN
BROTHERS DISAPPEARED WITHOUT
TRACE.
IN DOING SO THEY CREATED A GREAT
MYTH.
>> THERE WERE SIGHTINGS IN
NEW ORLEANS AND
WASHINGTON, D.C., AND I
PERSONALLY HAD A GUY TELL ME
THAT THE ANGLIN BROTHERS WERE
DOWN IN FLORIDA PLAYING GOLF,
AND THEY WERE NOT THE TYPE OF
GUYS THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED ON A
GOLF COURSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: AS FOR THE
MYTHBUSTERS, THEIR RUNNING DAYS
ARE OVER.
>> BEAUTIFUL, MAN.
>> GOOD JOB, GUYS.
>> GOOD JOB.
>> OH.
GIVEN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF
INTELLIGENCE, I THINK IT'S
ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT THEY MADE
IT.
AGAIN, I THINK THE MOST DAMNING
EVIDENCE THAT THEY DIDN'T IS THE
FACT THAT NO ONE'S HEARD FROM
THEM SINCE.
>> UNLESS THEY FIND ANY SPECIFIC
EVIDENCE THAT THESE GUYS, YOU
KNOW, LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER
OR SOMETHING AFTER THEY GOT
ASHORE, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T KNOW
WHETHER IT WAS TRUE OR NOT.
BUT WE KNOW THAT IT COULD HAVE
BEEN DONE, WHICH IS COOL.
>> Narrator: HERE'S SOMETHING TO
PONDER, THOUGH.
THE TIDE CARRIED AN OAR TO ANGEL
ISLAND.
THAT TIDE CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE
MARIN HEADLANDS.
HOW DID THE OAR GET THERE IF NOT
WITH THE ESCAPEES?
THE MYSTERY REMAINS.
>> I'M KING OF THE WORLD!
[ LAUGHS ]