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Meisterheim: I AIN'T WHAT MOST PEOPLE CALL A NICE PERSON.
[BLEEP] MOST PEOPLE.
HE NEEDS TO LEAVE.
I'M NOT LEAVING.
THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. I'M THE BOSS.
I'M HERE FOR ONE REASON --
GOLD.
Emily: RIDICULOUS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING THIS MUCH MONEY
IN OUR EARLY 20s.
IT'S THE BIGGEST ONE I'VE FOUND.
NICE GUYS FINISH LAST.
STATE TROOPERS, YOU COMING TO TALK TO ME NOW, TOO?
TIME TO PROVE THE OLD MAN WRONG.
Meisterheim: GOOD THING I AIN'T A NICE GUY.
[ "GOLD IN THESE HILLS" PLAYS ]
♪ LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW ♪
♪ WHAT I SAY ♪
♪ I'M A-GONNA HEAD OUT WEST 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 -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪ GOLD ♪
Narrator: TWO WEEKS INTO THE SUMMER GOLD-DREDGING SEASON,
A STORM RIPS THROUGH NOME.
Tenhoff: THIS IS NO DREDGING FOR A WHILE.
WE'RE NOT GETTING OUT INTO THE OCEAN
'CAUSE THE OCEAN'S TOO STORMY.
YOU DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY WHEN THE WEATHER'S LIKE THIS.
THE AMOUNT OF GOLD THAT I WANT TO MAKE,
IT SEEMS FURTHER AND FURTHER OFF NOW.
Steve P.: THE WIND BLOWS, AND THE WAVES ARE TOO BIG,
AND THE WEATHER'S BAD THAT WE CAN'T GET OUT THERE.
NO WAY OF MAKING ANY MONEY.
THE WEATHER IN NOME RULES OUR LIVES.
Narrator: WITH GOLD SCARCE AND DREDGING AT A STANDSTILL,
THE FLEET IS RESTLESS.
THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU CAN'T DREDGE,
AND THERE'S SOME GUYS OUT THERE THAT HANG IN THE BARS AND FIGHT.
Narrator: AT THE EDGE OF TOWN ON THE DREDGE 6 MINERS CAMP...
[ SIREN WAILS ]
[BLEEP] HIS STUPID ***.
[BLEEP] YOU.
...AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN STEVE RIEDEL
AND HIS FORMER BOSS, SCOTT MEISTERHEIM,
SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
I CAME OUT TO CAMP OUT HERE AT DREDGE 6,
AND IT TURNS OUT STEVE RIEDEL THINKS HE OWNS THE PLACE.
WELL, HE ASKED ME TO LEAVE.
I'M NOT LEAVING.
HE GOT RIGHT UP IN MY FACE, OFFERED TO FIGHT WITH ME.
STEVE?
HE SAID, "DO YOU WANT TO GO, STEVE?
DO YOU WANT TO GO?" IS WHAT HE SAID.
THIS IS NOT HIS CAMP.
THIS IS WHERE I'M AT.
[BLEEP] HIM.
I DON'T NEED THAT GUY ON MY PROPERTY.
THIS IS MY PROPERTY.
THIS IS MY PLACE. THIS IS MY HOME.
HE NEEDS TO LEAVE.
JUST NOT LEAVING.
THEN HE CALLED THE COPS ON ME, AND THE COPS ARE HERE.
STOP?
YOU'RE TELLING ME TO STOP?
NO, I'M SAYING CALM. OM. CALM.
AND I ALREADY DRANK A FIFTH OF CAPTAIN MORGAN, SO...
[ LAUGHS ]
HEY.
OKAY.
YEAH.
UH-HUH. OKAY.
[ LAUGHS ]
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, I WILL.
THANK YOU, OFFICER.
ALL RIGHT. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. YOU TOO. SEE YA.
STEVE -- I JUST CAN'T GET OVER WHAT AN IDIOT HE IS.
IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW HE ACTS, THE KIND OF PERSON THAT HE IS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Steve R.: HE'S DRINKING OUT OF MY CUP.
HE'S DRINKING ALCOHOL OUT OF MY CUP...
[ LAUGHS ]
...IN MY CAMP. [ CHUCKLES ]
[BLEEP] STEVE RIEDEL.
THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS KIND OF SCARY.
I FEEL LIKE HE'D TRY AND HURT ME,
MAYBE EVEN KILL ME.
Narrator: IN THE CENTER OF NOME,
AT CAPTAIN ZEKE TENHOFF'S APARTMENT...
Tenhoff: I DON'T LIKE BEING ACCUSED OF STEALING,
BUT I JUST NEED TO CHECK THESE COORDINATES
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WITHIN THAT LITTLE BOX.
Narrator: AFTER THEIR LAST DREDGE,
ZEKE WAS ACCUSED OF CLAIM JUMPING.
Tenhoff: THEY [BLEEP] CAME DOWN HERE LIKE A BUNCH OF THUGS AND WERE LIKE,
"GIVE ME YOUR MATS!"
YOU KNOW, "WE'RE GONNA REPORT YOU."
SHE'S [BLEEP] WRONG.
SHE'S JUST [BLEEP] DEAD WRONG.
Narrator: BUT AFTER CHECKING HIS GPS COORDINATES
AGAINST THE CLAIM MAP, ZEKE IS VINDICATED.
Emily: SHE WAS, LIKE, WAY OFF.
SHE'S -- YEAH, WE WERE WELL WITHIN OUR LEASE.
WE'RE IN THE RIGHT.
YEAH, SHE'S SO [BLEEP]
SHE JUST DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHICH WAY IS UP.
YOU DON'T GO DOWN
AND ACCUSE SOMEONE OF STEALING IN PUBLIC
BEFORE YOU CHECK YOUR FACTS.
SHE JUST, LIKE, [BLEEP] WALKED UP TO US
AND WAS LIKE, "GIVE US YOUR MATS."
YOU DON'T [BLEEP] DO THAT.
Tenhoff: BEING ACCUSED OF STEALING,
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA CREATE A WHOLE BUNCH MORE PROBLEMS.
IT'S GONNA PUT A NEON SIGN ON MY DREDGING OPERATION.
IT'S ALREADY ALL AROUND TOWN.
"ZEKE WAS DREDGING ON JUDY'S CLAIMS.
ZEKE WAS CLAIM JUMPING."
I KNOW THAT I'M RIGHT.
AND SO THEY CAN SHOVE IT. I DON'T CARE.
I'M GONNA GO RIGHT BACK OUT THERE.
Narrator: OUTSIDE NOME AT THE POMRENKE COMPOUND...
JUST A WHOLE BALL OF STRESS THERE THAT A GUY DIDN'T NEED
AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW?
YOU JUST GOT ABOUT EVERY DOLLAR IN YOUR POCKET SPENT
ON GETTING MACHINERY READY, AND YOU CAN'T GO DIGGING.
Narrator: SIX DAYS AGO...
THEY JUST SHUT US DOWN.
THE DNR.
THEY JUST SHUT THE CHRISTINE ROSE DOWN.
Narrator: ...THE CHRISTINE ROSE WAS KICKED OFF THE CLAIM THEY WORKED
BY THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
IT'S JUST GOT ME PISSED OFF.
Steve P.: WE'RE AT MAXIMUM STRESS LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
I GOT BILLS SITTING ON A DESK
THAT WE HAVE NO WAY OF PAYING IT NOW.
Shawn: WE HAVE NO PLACE TO MINE AND NO WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.
SO I NEED TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO GO MINING.
[ Ringing ]
NORM: Hello?
HEY, NORM. SHAWN.
Hey, Shawn.
HEY, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
LETTING US GO MINING ON YOUR GROUND AT ALL.
I think that'll be okay.
I need 20%
20%? THAT'S REASONABLE. WE CAN DO THAT.
Good.
OKAY. BYE.
Steve P.: YOU GOT SOME GOOD NEWS, I HOPE.
I GOT SOME GOOD NEWS.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW WE CAN GET OUT, AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY FIND SOME GOLD,
PAY SOME OF THESE DAMN BILLS THAT WE GOT.
Narrator: THREE HOURS LATER, THE WIND SETTLES,
AND THE BERING SEA OPENS FOR BUSINESS.
IT'S TIME TO MAKE MONEY.
YEAH, BULL, ARE WE READY TO MOVE?
I'LL START OFF RIGHT NOW.
Tenhoff: HELL, YEAH. YOU READY TO ROLL, EMILY?
OHH!
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE'RE READY TO GO.
SHOVING OFF HERE.
WE GOT TO GO FIND THE GOLD ON THIS NEW LAND HERE.
I'M ON THE RIGHT LEASE. THEY WERE WRONG.
Narrator: A WEEK AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF CLAIM JUMPING,
CAPTAIN ZEKE TENHOFF RETURNS THE EDGE TO THE DISPUTED AREA.
Tenhoff: WE'RE JUST GONNA GO BACK AND MINE
ON THE SAME SPOT AS YESTERDAY.
THEY ACCUSED ME OF STEALING GOLD FROM THEIR LEASE.
THEY JUST HAD BAD INFORMATION.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE ON THE SOUTH EDGE
OF THE LEASE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
WE'RE WELL WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.
THIS SHOULD BE GOOD.
YOU CAN JUST TIE OFF HERE.
Narrator: DECKHAND EMILY RIEDEL AND ZEKE'S BROTHER, SAM,
WILL TEND WHILE THE CAPTAIN DIVES.
PEOPLE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THOSE LEASES,
AND THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEM.
AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, I GUESS,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN
JUST WALK UP TO RANDOM DREDGES
AND ACCUSE THEM OF STEALING YOUR GOLD.
Tenhoff: WE JUST NEED TO GET THIS BALL ROLLING
AND OPERATE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.
I'M MOVING AS MUCH MATERIAL AS I CAN.
I HAVE DEBT HANGING OVER ME
AND THE OBLIGATION HANGING OVER ME.
PEOPLE THAT EXPECT ME TO SUCCEED.
PEOPLE EXPECT ME TO MAKE GOLD FOR THEM.
AND WE NEED TO GET ALL THE GOLD
THAT THE EDGE IS CAPABLE OF GETTING.
HEY, ZEKE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU FINE.
THERE'S TOO MANY PIECES TO EVEN COUNT.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS,
AND THEN YOU SEE GOLD LIKE THIS.
GETS YOU REALLY FIRED UP, SERIOUSLY.
DAMN, OUR JOB SUCKS.
OH, YEAH!
HOW BIG IS IT?
OHH!
DUDE, DON'T KILL MY JOY, OKAY? THAT'S AWESOME.
WHOA!
Sam: YEAH!
WHOO-HOO!
NOT [BLEEP] BAD.
OHH!
HOLDING ABOUT 400 BUCKS IN MY HAND.
THIS MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT -- THIS LITTLE GUY.
IT'S AWESOME.
Tenhoff: THAT'S A PRETTY ONE.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE I'VE FOUND
IN FOR FOUR YEARS OF DREDGING.
Narrator: FIVE MILES UP THE COAST...
Shawn: I'M JUST PUNCHING IN THE COORDINATES
INTO THE GPS FOR THE NEW LEASE TRACK.
...THE CHRISTINE ROSE STEAMS ONTO HER NEW MINING GROUNDS.
Shawn: WELL, I HOPE THIS MOVE PAYS OFF.
YEAH, I HOPE THIS MOVES PAYS OFF, TOO,
BUT I GUESS WE'LL FIND OUT IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS HERE.
Shawn: HOPEFULLY WE GET ON SOME GOOD GOLD.
MAYBE WE'LL BE STAYING THERE THE REST OF THE YEAR.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
I HAVE MY DOUBTS, BECAUSE THAT LAND DOWN THERE HAS
NEVER BEEN KNOWN FOR GOOD GOLD.
IT'S TIME TO MAKE SOME MONEY. I'M BROKE.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GONNA SIT HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA GO DOWSE AROUND HERE, THEN, HUH?
[ LAUGHS ]
Steve P.: I'M GONNA GO OUT AND DO MY DOWSING,
THEN THAT'LL TELL SHAWN WHERE TO START DIGGING.
THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
I'M THE BOSS.
Narrator: TO LOCATE GOLD,
OLD-SCHOOL MINER STEVE POMRENKE PRACTICES AN ANCIENT ART --
DOWSING.
Steve P.: I'M JUST DOWSING THE GROUND.
WHEN THERE'S MORE GOLD,
THE MORE THEY'LL CROSS ON THEIRSELVES.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD GOLD.
THAT'S NO GOLD.
DOWSING IS PURE VOODOO.
DAD -- HE GETS THE CHICKEN BONES
AND THROWS THEM ON THE TABLE IN THERE,
AND THEN GETS THE RODS OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU CALL IT VOODOO, HE STARTS FREAKING OUT.
Steve P.: AIN'T NO GOLD HERE.
IT IS SO DEAD THROUGH HERE, IT'S PITIFUL.
AND HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
I STILL LIKE THE PANNING VERSUS THE DOWSING.
DAD'S GONNA DOWSE.
I'M GONNA PAN.
WE'LL SEE WHO FINDS IT.
Narrator: SHAWN PROSPECTS HIS WAY.
HE SCOOPS UP SAMPLES OF THE OCEAN FLOOR
WHILE DECKHAND JASON HIGA PANS THEM FOR GOLD.
YOU AIN'T GONNA PAN A PIECE OUT OF THIS GROUND.
BET YOU YOU DON'T PAN BUT ONE FLY [BLEEP]
SKEPTICAL ON IF THERE'S ANY GOLD OVER THERE OR NOT,
BUT NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE OLD BEACH LINE
THAT THERE WAS SOME DIGGINGS HERE.
THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S MOST LIKELY SOME GOLD HERE.
TIME TO PROVE THE OLD MAN WRONG.
HERE WE GO. IT'S THE TIME OF RECKONING.
Higa: OH, YEAH!
WHOO, YEAH!
YEAH.
THROUGH PANNING, WE DID FIND SOME GOLD.
WE DID FIND SOME COLOR HERE FINALLY,
AND SO WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY DIG HERE FOR A DAY,
SEE IF WE CAN GET ANYTHING OUT OF HERE.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME.
I'VE TRIED TO FIGURE MY DAD OUT FOR 37 YEARS, AND I CAN'T.
SO I AIN'T GONNA TRY ANYMORE.
I'LL JUST DEAL WITH HIM.
LET'S GET TO DIGGING.
Narrator: ON THE EDGE...
I'LL GET YOUR HOT WATER ALL TUNED UP
WHILE YOU GET SUITED UP.
ALL RIGHT.
...AFTER SIX HOURS ON THE BOTTOM,
CAPTAIN ZEKE TENHOFF HANDS THE REINS OVER
TO DECKHAND EMILY RIEDEL.
Emily: LAST TIME I DOVE,
IT ACTUALLY MADE ME FREAKED OUT ABOUT DIVING.
I JUST WANT TO GET DOWN THERE AND GET COMFORTABLE AGAIN.
I REALLY LOVE TO DREDGE.
I REALLY LOVE TO DIVE.
AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO KILL THAT LOVE FOR IT.
EMILY MIGHT BE A LITTLE FREAKED OUT, STILL,
ABOUT GOING UNDERWATER,
BUT SHE JUST NEEDS TO GET DOWN THERE
AND GET OVER IT.
THE DREDGE NEEDS TO KEEP MAKING MONEY,
AND WE CAN'T STOP THE ENTIRE OPERATION
'CAUSE SHE'S HAVING A HARD TIME.
I'M READY! WHOO!
[ GRUNTS ]
OHH.
WORKING THE 10-INCH,
IT'S A COMBINATION OF HAVING STRENGTH
BUT ALSO LEARNING TRICKS TO BE ABLE TO USE IT EFFECTIVELY
WITHOUT USING TOO MUCH STRENGTH.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH A VACUUM HOSE
THAT, YOU KNOW, IS SUCKING EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH UP
WITH THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRESSURE.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MUSCLE IT AROUND TOO MUCH
AND YOU'RE EXHAUSTING YOURSELF, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.
UGH!
I THINK THE MORE MUSCLE POWER YOU PUT INTO IT,
THE MORE MONEY WE'LL MAKE.
WHICH IS KIND OF A PROBLEM WITH EMILY
'CAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH MUSCLE POWER.
HOSE. [BLEEP]
EMILY?
OHH.
[ PANTING ]
Narrator: ON THE EDGE...
Tenhoff: HOSE. [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...EMILY RIEDEL'S LOST HER AIR SUPPLY
AND HAS TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY ASCENT.
OHH!
[ PANTING ]
Sam: WE'LL RUN UP CLOSE AND PULL YOU IN.
YOU CAN POP YOUR WEIGHT BELT.
I CAN'T PULL --
I'VE GOT IT. I GOT IT.
UGH!
OHH!
PULL ME UP. PULL ME UP.
Tenhoff: YOU ALL RIGHT?
MY GOD.
YEAH, I KNOW. YOU'RE TOTALLY, TOTALLY HEAVY.
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS
JUST TELL YOU TO COME UP BY THE LADDER.
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, DUDE.
YEAH, I'M FINE. I JUST --
[ PANTING ] [BLEEP]
DAMN IT!
Emily: I RAN OUT OF AIR ON MY WAY UP,
AND SO WHEN I GOT TO THE SURFACE,
I WAS OUT COMPLETELY.
SO I PULLED THE MASK OFF, AND THEN I FOUND OUT
THAT I COULDN'T GET MY HEAD ABOVE THE WATER.
AND I COULD BARELY KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE THE WATER.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS WERE DOING.
WHEN YOU'RE PANICKING LIKE THAT,
EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE MOVING VERY SLOWLY.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ COUGHS ]
Tenhoff: YEAH, IT SUCKS. IT JUST --
IT'S REMINDING US OF SITUATIONS THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR.
UM [CHUCKLES] I'M REALLY KIND OF SICK
OF FEELING LIKE I'M ABOUT TO DROWN.
NEED TO [BLEEP] DOUSE MYSELF IN HOLY WATER OR SOMETHING.
[BLEEP]
[ COUGHS ]
THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH, BUT I'M GONNA KEEP ON GOING.
[ CRIES ]
NO, I'M -- I'M FINE. I'M FINE.
YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, YEAH. [BLEEP] HAPPENS, SO I'M FINE.
Narrator: ON THE WILD RANGER...
WE'LL SCOUT AROUND.
WE'LL DO SOME PROSPECTING, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET ON IT
AND RECOGNIZE IT WHEN WE DO GET ON IT.
Narrator: TWO WEEKS IN, CAPTAIN VERNON ADKISON IS
STILL LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST REAL TASTE
OF GOLD.
Vernon: LAST YEAR WAS A MONEY LOSER.
THIS YEAR, I GOT A POINT TO PROVE.
I'M LOOKING TO GET 100 OUNCES.
THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS GOLD IN YOUR HAND.
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE KEEP SCORE --
IN GOLD.
Narrator: THE SKIPPER HAS EXPANDED HIS FLEET
AND IS GOING THROUGH SOME GROWING PAINS.
Vernon: RIGHT NOW I GOT ABOUT SIX BOATS.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HAVING TOO LARGE OF AN OPERATION IS
KEEPING A SUPPLY OF GOOD DIVERS.
AND IF ONE OF THOSE LINKS IN THE CHAIN
ISN'T THERE FOR YOU, IT'S GONNA COST YOU MONEY.
Narrator: FIRST UP, DIVER STEVE RIEDEL.
GET ON THE GOLD. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. IT'S ALL BEEN ABOUT.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION BEFORE HE GOES UNDER.
AND GET DARYL TO COACH HIM UP A LITTLE BIT.
MAKE ENOUGH OF A HOLE,
BUT YOU ALSO GOT TO MAKE YOUR HOLE QUICK, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE YOU GOT TO MAKE A LOT OF THEM.
Narrator: 31-YEAR DIVING VETERAN DARYL GALIPEAU WILL
INSTRUCT THE NOVICE WHILE HE'S UNDERWATER.
YOU SHOULD BE SEEING MULTIPLE PIECES
AND NOT LITTLE SPECKS, YOU KNOW?
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH STEVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF STEVE'S GONNA MAKE A DIVER OR NOT.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY WONDER.
GET ANCHORED UP HERE.
OKAY, STEVE, YOU CAN LET IT GO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
OKAY.
MAN, THAT'S A LOT OF BUBBLES.
THAT'S NOT NORMAL.
TRY TO RELAX.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, STEVE?
JUST STOP.
PUMP THE NOZZLE STRAIGHT DOWN IN THE SAND.
IF YOU DON'T HIT COBBLE IN ABOUT A FOOT
OR FOOT AND A HALF, WE'LL KNOW.
OKAY.
Narrator: STEVE SEARCHES FOR COBBLE,
SMALL STONES THAT OFTEN CONCEAL GOLD.
HOW DEEP ARE YOU INTO IT NOW?
NOT REALLY.
JUST POKING AROUND,
TRYING TO FIND SOME OF THE GOOD STUFF.
I HOPE STEVE KNOWS WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR, BUT I --
YOU KNOW, HE'S GREEN.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
HOPEFULLY STEVE CAN PUT GOLD IN THE BOX.
THIS BOILS DOWN TO MONEY.
I NEED DIVERS WHO WILL GET THE GOLD
AND EARN THEIR KEEP.
Narrator: BACK IN NOME AND STILL OFF THE WATER...
AH [BLEEP]
NO?
[BLEEP] WITH A CAPITAL "F."
NOBODY HAS THEM.
THEY HAVE SOME HYDRAULICS ONES FOR HYDRAULIC.
WELL, COME HERE.
...AFTER DROWNING HIS ENGINES ON HIS FIRST TRIP,
SCOTT MEISTERHEIM HAS HIS DREDGE UP ON THE BLOCKS.
WHY DON'T WE JUST DOWNSIZE TO THESE SIZE?
IT'S ONLY WATER.
THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS USING.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
STATE TROOPERS, YOU COMING TO TALK TO ME NOW, TOO?
[BLEEP] I CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THESE [BLEEP]
EVERYBODY WANTS A PIECE OF SCOTT MEISTERHEIM.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
I DO.
EXCUSE ME? OH, [BLEEP]
I HEAR YOU. [ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT. [BLEEP]
Narrator: STEVE RIEDEL HAS TAKEN LEGAL MEASURES
TO PROTECT HIMSELF FROM SCOTT.
Trooper: OKAY?
I UNDERSTAND.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT IT,
AND THE FIRST THING I SAW ON THE TOP OF IT WAS
STEVE RIEDEL'S NAME.
IT WAS A STALKING RESTRAINING ORDER.
WHO THE [BLEEP] PUTS A STALKING RESTRAINING ORDER
ON ANOTHER GUY?
STEVE RIEDEL IS SUCH A [BLEEP]
LET ME JUST READ A LITTLE SOMETHING HERE TO YOU.
"2011, SCOTT MEISTERHEIM THREATENED
TO BEAT ME TO DEATH TWICE." [ LAUGHS ]
"HE ALSO THREATENED TO THROW ME INTO THE OCEAN."
OH, MY GOD.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MY GOD.
I JUST -- THAT'S SILLY.
THAT'S TOTALLY CHILDISHLY SILLY TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, HE COULD HAVE JUST TOOK IT LIKE A MAN.
I'M GONNA WIPE [BLEEP]
WITH THAT [BLEEP] PIECE OF PAPER.
Narrator: ON THE WILD RANGER...
YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA -- IT'S JUST GONNA KEEP BUILDING.
THE WIND IS DEFINITELY BUILDING. WE GOT SOME WHITECAP ACTION.
Narrator: ...CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATING
TWO HOURS INTO STEVE RIEDEL'S LONGEST DIVE THIS SEASON.
Vernon: THERE'S STILL SOME OTHER DREDGES OUT HERE.
I CAN REALLY -- I'D HATE TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO PULL UP.
GIVE IT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.
IT'S DO-OR-DIE, AND I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK.
WE'RE GONNA GET THE GOLD.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE IS EVERYTHING I GOT.
I MEAN, I PROMISED MY WIFE
THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO STILL LIVE IN OUR HOUSE.
SO I'M HOLDING BY THAT,
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S ON THE LINE.
Narrator: SO FAR THIS SEASON,
CAPTAIN VERNON ADKISON HAS FOUND ZERO GOLD.
NOW IT'S UP TO STEVE TO TURN THAT AROUND.
IS THERE ANY GROWTH ON THE COBBLE?
YOU KNOW, THE GRAY -- THE GRAY SILTATION,
THAT'S USUALLY GLACIAL,
AND A LOT OF TIMES, THAT GRAY IS PRETTY GOOD.
HE'S THROWING IN THE TOWEL.
SOUNDS THAT WAY.
YEAH, YEAH, STEVE.
LET'S TRY AND HANG IN HERE FOR A WHILE.
THESE OTHER GUYS AROUND US ARE STILL --
NO ONE'S THROWING IN THE TOWEL YET,
SO LET'S GET THE MOST OUT OF THE DAY WE CAN.
OKAY, OKAY.
YOU CALLED IT.
WOW.
OHH! WHOO!
THAT WAS WILD.
Narrator: FOR STEVE, THE LONG DIVE IS A VICTORY,
BUT FOR THE CAPTAIN,
SUCCESS IS MEASURED ONLY BY GOLD IN THE BOX.
I DON'T THINK WE REALLY HIT BIG TODAY.
I SPENT MONEY. WE HAVEN'T HIT BIG.
I MEAN, I'M NOT OUT HERE TO BE A DAMN LITTLE [BLEEP]
I MEAN, I'M HERE. I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M GONNA FRIGGIN' MAKE IT WORK.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MILITARY MIND
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
Narrator: ALL ACROSS THE FLEET,
THE WEATHER TAKES A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
Shawn: WHOA.
THAT WAVE JUST [BLEEP] SPLASHED THE BOAT.
Emily: THE BREEZE HAS PICKED UP.
IT'S A STRONG SOUTH WIND,
SO WE'RE GONNA PULL UP THE ANCHOR AND HEAD IN.
Narrator: THE DIVER DREDGES HEAD FOR THE SAFETY OF PORT.
Vernon: PRETTY DAMN SLOPPY OUT THERE.
Galipeau: YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS FROM THE CONDITIONS
WE MADE THE RIGHT CALL.
Narrator: ON THE EDGE...
THE CHALLENGE NOW IS
JUST MAXIMIZING THE HOURS THAT I'M OUT HERE.
MAXIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'RE ON THE BOTTOM.
I DON'T WANT THE DREDGE TO STOP RUNNING.
THAT GOLD I FOUND OVER THERE IS REALLY GOOD.
TODAY WAS AWESOME.
TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT I REALLY GOT A GRASP
FOR HOW POWERFUL THIS DREDGE IS AND, YOU KNOW,
HOW BIG OF AN IMPROVEMENT IT REALLY IS
TO WHAT I USED TO WORK WITH.
I'D SAY I MOVED 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL
IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME I'M DOWN THERE.
IT'S LIKE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DREDGE.
BUT THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE.
EMILY'S KIND OF SCARED, AND HER SPIRITS AREN'T HIGH.
YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WITH EMILY IS
THAT SHE COMPARES HERSELF TO ME.
AND SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT I DO,
BUT THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE ON HER
JUST MAKE EVERYTHING EASIER FOR ME.
Emily: HEY, ZEKE!
WHY DON'T YOU QUIT MONOLOGUING AND STEER?
[BLEEP]
NEVER MIND, DUDE. [BLEEP] YOU.
WHAT?
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PRETTY DANGEROUS,
AND SHE'S DEVELOPING MORE RESPECT FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, AS SCARY AS IT WAS FOR HER,
IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PROBABLY GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN.
DIVING IS DANGEROUS.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
DANGEROUS AS HELL.
Shawn: THIS DREDGE RIGHT HERE,
A LOT OF THIS ON HERE IS WHAT I'VE FOUND AND SCROUNGED.
THE "I" BEAMS ARE THE FLOOR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
I USED TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN.
I GOT THOSE BECAUSE I STAYED AFTER WORK
AND SAID I'D GO CUT OUT ALL THE "I" BEAMS
IF I GOT TO KEEP THEM.
THE ICE SHACK, ALL THE PANELS ARE FROM THE DOOR CUTOUTS
THAT I GOT FROM THE DUMP.
THERE AIN'T NOTHING I CAN'T BUILD OR FIX.
Narrator: IN THE SMALL-CRAFT HARBOR...
[ YAWNS ]
...THE WILD RANGER IS THE FIRST DREDGE AT THE DOCK.
Galipeau: WELL, WE WENT OUT AND POKED PROBABLY 15 HOLES.
WE JUST HAPPENED TO NOT GET ONTO ANYTHING,
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.
YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY, YOU GET INTO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
BUT IT GETS DISCOURAGING AFTER A WHILE.
THE MORALE DROPS.
I DOUBT WE GOT MUCH IN THE BOX.
IF YOU WEREN'T SEEING IT DOWN THERE,
THAT'S GOOD INDICATION THAT THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BOX.
IF HE WAS IN ANYTHING DECENT, HE'D HAVE SEEN IT.
MM-HMM. YEP.
ACTUALLY, STEVE...
I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.
LOOKIT HERE.
YOU SEE THE GOLD ON THAT ROCK RIGHT THERE?
YEAH.
LITTLE SPECKS.
THERE'S GOLD ON THIS ROCK OVER HERE.
GOLD ON THAT,
SO YOU GOT INTO SOME FINE GOLD SOMEWHERE.
SORRY, VERN.
I LIED TO YOU. I GOT SOME GOLD TODAY.
YEAH. OKAY.
MAYBE I GOT SOME GOLD.
Narrator: STEVE STUMBLED UPON THE WILD RANGER'S
FIRST REAL GOLD OF THE SEASON BUT DIDN'T KNOW IT.
Vernon: STEVE TOLD US THAT HE DIDN'T SEE
ANYTHING WORTH OUR WHILE DOWN THERE,
SO WE DIDN'T BOTHER TO MARK THE GPS
OR DROP A BUOY.
MY TENDENCY IS TO GIVE PEOPLE A LOT OF ROPE
AND LET YOU HANG YOURSELF.
IF THEY DO, THEN I GOT NO MORE USE FOR THEM.
Galipeau: WHILE WE'RE ON THIS,
WHAT WERE YOU IN THERE AT THE LAST?
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST HOLE?
IT WAS -- WELL, IT WAS THE --
NO, IT WAS NO COBBLE.
I MEAN, NO SAND.
I GOT SO MANY SAND, COBBLE.
NOT TOO BIG OF ROCKS. PERFECT.
AND HOW DEEP TO THE HARD, THE CLAY?
THAT WAS THE PROBLEM -- IS THAT I WASN'T FINDING --
I WASN'T FINDING THAT. I WASN'T FINDING THE BOTTOM.
Vernon: IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE NOW WE CAN ONLY WONDER
HOW GOOD IT WAS.
IT'S A LOST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'LL NEVER GET BACK.
IT'S LIKE FINDING A WINNING LOTTERY TICKET
AFTER IT'S ALREADY EXPIRED.
Narrator: JUST DOWN THE DOCK, ON THE ANCHOR MANAGEMENT...
TODD.
LOOK AT ME.
I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE TIME
WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ***.
...CAPTAIN SCOTT MEISTERHEIM'S CREW IS STILL REPAIRING
A RIG THAT HAS YET TO DREDGE.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
MAKING NO DIFFERENCE, IS IT?
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE SKIPPER HAS TO CONTEND
WITH A STALKING ORDER FROM STEVE RIEDEL.
Meisterheim: I'M MAD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
Steve R.: [ WHISTLES ]
I DON'T [BLEEP] DEAL WITH STUPIDITY.
THAT'S MY BIGGEST ISSUE.
IF YOU'RE STUPID,
IF YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF IGNORANCE
IN YOUR [BLEEP] BRAIN, DON'T TALK TO ME.
I JUST WANT TO POUND STEVE RIEDEL
RIGHT IN HIS [BLEEP] FACE.
Narrator: IN THE CENTER OF NOME, AT ZEKE'S APARTMENT...
THIS IS TOO MUCH. IT'S TOO MUCH.
Narrator: THOUGH THE EDGE HAD ITS BEST DAY ON THE GOLD...
Emily: THE DANGER ELEMENT IS BECOMING REAL,
AND I'M THINKING ABOUT IT IN A WAY THAT I HAVEN'T BEFORE.
Narrator: ...DIVER EMILY RIEDEL IS STILL SHAKEN.
Emily: I MEAN, BEFORE, I JUST KIND OF IGNORED IT,
AND NOW ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS
JUST BEING COMPLETELY TRAPPED AND HELPLESS IN THE WATER.
IF I CAN'T GET OVER IT,
THEN I'M NOT GONNA STAY ON THE DREDGE.
Narrator: IN DOWNTOWN NOME,
ZEKE ARRIVES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
TO CLEAR HIS NAME FROM CLAIM-JUMPING ACCUSATIONS.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
I'VE GOT GPS THAT PROVES WHERE WE WERE,
AND I HAVE THE AGREEMENT FROM THE LEASE OWNER
OF THE LEASE THAT I'M WORKING ON THAT STATES
THAT WE ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO MINE WHERE WE ARE MINING.
THAT'S ALL I NEED.
I DON'T NEED ANY MORE AMMUNITION THAN THAT.
Narrator: ACROSS TOWN,
CASH-STRAPPED CAPTAIN VERNON ADKISON SELLS
HIS FIRST GOLD OF THE SEASON.
Hughes: HEY, VERN. HOW YOU DOING?
WELL, I GOT JUST A SMIDGEN TO SELL YOU TODAY.
I HATE TO EVEN BOTHER BRINGING THAT MUCH DOWN HERE,
BUT RIGHT NOW I GOT SOME BILLS THAT ARE COMING DUE TODAY,
AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT ON HAND.
OKAY.
SO, LOOKS LIKE $1,050 ON THIS.
IF STEVE HAD BENT OVER TO SEE THAT GOLD,
WE COULD HAVE JUST HAMMERED IT.
MAYBE STEVE OUGHT TO GET A FRESH PAIR OF GLASSES
FOR UNDER THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, THAT WAS PRETTY DAMN PITIFUL.
Narrator: A HALF-MILE FROM SHORE...
SHOULD I WARM UP THE DRIVE MOTORS?
...THE CHRISTINE ROSE IS
THE LAST DREDGE STILL OUT ON THE WATER.
YEAH, WHY DON'T YOU WARM UP THOSE O-DRIVES.
YEAH.
I AIN'T GONNA WAIT.
I AIN'T GONNA WAIT FOR THEM TO GET ANY BIGGER.
WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD IN THERE, I'M SURE.
NOT TOO MUCH.
IT'S ROUGH OUT HERE TODAY, AND WE GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT.
IT AIN'T WORTH BREAKING SOMETHING.
Narrator: BACK AT THE DNR...
[BLEEP]
...THOUGH ZEKE WON HIS BATTLE AGAINST THE CLAIM-JUMPING RAP,
HE LOST THE WAR.
Tenhoff: THE GOVERNMENT'S JUST SHUT ME DOWN
OVER SOME STUPID PAPERWORK [BLEEP]
AND THERE WAS NO HARD EVIDENCE
TO SUGGEST THAT I WAS LEASE JUMPING,
BUT THEY HAD TO FIND SOMETHING TO PUT ME OUT OF THE WATER.
SO NOW THEY'RE SAYING THAT I DON'T HAVE
THE RIGHT PERMITS AND PAPERWORK IN PLACE TO WORK ON THE EDGE.
AND THEY CAN ALL GO [BLEEP] THEMSELVES.
Narrator: WITHOUT THE PROPER PERMITS,
ZEKE CAN'T DREDGE ON THE EDGE.
Tenhoff: THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I SPEND IN THIS COMMUNITY,
[BLEEP] I BRING NEW VALUE OUT OF THE OCEAN.
I [BLEEP] SPEND IT IN THIS COMMUNITY,
AND I GIVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY JOBS.
THIS YEAR, I'VE CREATED FIVE JOBS,
AND THEY -- NO, THEY WANT TO SHUT ME DOWN.
LIKE, "NOPE, NO, WE'RE GONNA
"MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF YOU AND SHUT YOU DOWN.
"NO, YOU'RE CREATING JOBS,
"AND YOU'RE BRINGING NEW VALUE INTO THE ECONOMY.
WE CAN'T HAVE THAT."
IT'S SO [BLEEP] I CAN'T EVEN -- I CAN'T EVEN --
THERE'S JUST -- WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW [BLEEP] THIS IS.
TIME TO DRINK.
COME ON, CHARLIE. [ WHISTLES ]
Narrator: WITH THE EDGE FORCED OFF THE WATER,
ZEKE'S DAY AT A HOT SPOT TURNED INTO A DISASTER.
AND THOUGH IT WAS TINY,
VERNON ADKISON SCORED HIS FIRST GOLD.
I GOT A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT RIGHT HERE.
[ ALL GRUNTING ]
Steve R.: ALEC [BLEEP] COME ON!
THAT FREAKS ME THE [BLEEP] OUT.
STOP IT!
OH!
THIS IS JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND A WASTE OF GAS.