Original subtitles

**

Parker: FOR FOUR SEASONS, I'VE HAD TO ANSWER TO TONY BEETS.

HE'S TAKEN $2.5 MILLION IN ROYALTIES FROM ME.

NOW I'VE GOT A PLAN TO BUY MY FREEDOM --

A DEAL ON NEW, VIRGIN GROUND.

Narrator: EARLIER THIS SEASON...

THIS MAY BE PICKING A BIG OLD BATTLE WITH TONY BEETS.

YEAH, SHOULD PROBABLY KEEP IT QUIET FOR A WHILE.

...PARKER WENT BEHIND THE BACK

OF ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MEN IN THE KLONDIKE.

Parker: OH, [BLEEP].

I'M ON A LEASE WITH KEN AND STUART

ON THE GROUND RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

IN THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF "GOLD RUSH"...

ALL RIGHT. LET'S CRANK HER UP.

...THE FOUR-YEAR BATTLE BETWEEN TONY BEETS...

MAN: Tony just shut us down.

OH, YOU'RE [BLEEP] KIDDING ME.

Narrator: ...AND PARKER SCHNABEL...

GET OUT OF MY [BLEEP] WAY.

...HOW PARKER'S MENTOR...

I WOULD HAVE NEVER GONE TO THE KLONDIKE

IF HE DIDN'T TAKE ME UNDER HIS WING.

Narrator: ...MADE MILLIONS OUT OF THE MINING PRODIGY...

...HOW TONY USED THE MONEY

TO SECURE HIS REIGN OVER THE KLONDIKE...

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

[ LAUGHING ]

Narrator: ...AND HOW PARKER FOUGHT BACK...

...HAVING LEARNED THE RULES OF THE GAME...

FROM THE MASTER HIMSELF.

Parker: THERE'S A LOT OF MINERS THAT GET SCREWED OVER,

AND I'M NOT GONNA LAY THERE AND TAKE IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL WAS BORN INTO A GOLD-MINING DYNASTY.

Nancy: PARKER WANTED TO GO TO THE MINE

AND WASN'T POTTY-TRAINED.

AND JOHN SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF DIAPERS,

YOU CAN COME TO THE MINE."

John: TWO WEEKS LATER, HE CAME UP WITH JOCKEY SHORTS

AND SAYS, "GRANDPA, I DON'T HAVE DIAPERS."

THE DIAPER STORY? YEAH. I DON'T REMEMBER IT.

-YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT AT ALL? -NOT ONE BIT.

Narrator: FROM A YOUNG AGE, PARKER DREAMED

OF BECOMING A GOLD-MINING LEGEND LIKE HIS GRANDFATHER.

HE IS A HERO, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.

IT'S PRETTY COOL.

Narrator: AT JUST 16, HE BECAME A MINE BOSS.

TO COME RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL AND HAVE THAT HAPPEN IS JUST --

I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT.

Narrator: BUT TO TRULY REALIZE HIS AMBITION,

HE'D HAVE TO CONQUER THE LARGEST GOLD FIELDS IN NORTH AMERICA.

I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OPERATION OUTSIDE OF PORCUPINE.

Narrator: SO PARKER TRAVELED 500 MILES NORTH

FOR A MEETING WITH ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL

AND RUTHLESS PLAYERS

IN THE GOLD-MINING INDUSTRY.

Tony: [ WHISTLES ] BOY!

Narrator: TONY BEETS CAME TO THE TAMARACK MINE

FROM THE NETHERLANDS WITH NOTHING.

HE FOUGHT HIS WAY UP THE RANKS,

AND IN JUST THREE YEARS, HE WAS RUNNING

ONE OF THE LARGEST GOLD MINES IN THE KLONDIKE.

**

**

PARKER. TONY BEETS. HOW YOU DOING?

-GOOD TO MEET YOU. -THERE YOU GO.

Parker: MEETING TONY FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS GREAT.

IT WAS EXCITING. HE WAS CRAZY, WILD.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MUCH GOLD IN A PAN.

Tony: SEE? [ LAUGHS ] RIGHT?

HE SEEMED TO TAKE TO ME PRETTY QUICK

AND HAD A LOT OF INTEREST IN HELPING ME OUT.

IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT AT PORCUPINE,

I MIGHT CRAWL UP HERE, BEG TONY FOR A JOB.

[ LAUGHTER ]

**

**

THIS COULD BE MINE.

Narrator: TONY WAS SO IMPRESSED,

HE OFFERED PARKER A CLAIM TO MINE.

IF I WANT TO PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS...

I GOT TO GET UP HERE WHERE THE BIG BOYS PLAY.

Narrator: WHILE HIS FRIENDS HEADED TO COLLEGE,

PARKER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY

TO SET UP HIS OWN GOLD-MINING OPERATION.

WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE YOU COLLEGE MONEY

TO START YOUR VENTURE.

HERE'S 100 OUNCES OF GOLD.

Parker: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO JUST REFILL THIS JAR ONCE.

I CAN TURN THIS 100 OUNCES INTO A LOT MORE.

HONESTLY, I'M PRETTY SCARED.

THE TOUGHEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IS GONNA BE LEAVING HERE.

-I LOVE YOU. -I LOVE YOU, TOO.

**

Narrator: PARKER STARTED HIS FIRST SEASON IN THE KLONDIKE...

[ HORN BLARES ]

...BY TESTING THE DIRT ON TONY'S CLAIM.

Parker: HOPE THERE'S SOME GOLD IN IT.

A LOT OF TRACES IN THERE, TONY.

YEAH, JUST MAKE BARELY ANYTHING?

TONY DIDN'T GIVE ME THE GOOD GROUND.

WE GAVE HIM A GOOD TEST PIECE.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID, JUST TO TRY HIM OUT.

Narrator: IF PARKER PROVED HIMSELF ON THE POOR GROUND,

HE COULD EXPECT BETTER GROUND NEXT YEAR.

THE GAME'S ON.

**

IT'S A 150-DAY SPRINT,

AND IF YOU'RE NOT GIVING IT 110% EVERY DAY,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS WEEK, WE'RE PUSHING TO DO 1,500 YARDS.

YEAH.

**

I RAN MY CREW INTO THE GROUND.

Man: GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Parker: COME ON. BACK THE [BLEEP] UP.

IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY, THEN YOU CAN LEAVE.

THE DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN. END OF CONVERSATION.

-YOU HAVE -- -END OF THE CONVERSATION.

-THAT'S WHY PEOPLE -- -DON'T TALK. NO, NO.

OKAY. JUST -- JUST LEAVE.

Narrator: DESPITE PARKER'S EFFORTS, TONY STILL WANTED MORE.

Parker: I'M THE BOSS.

I TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY. SO LET'S CRANK IT UP.

Narrator: TO RUN MORE YARDS,

PARKER DECIDED TO PUSH HIS 40-YEAR-OLD WASH PLANT.

[BLEEP] STUPID IS WHAT IT IS.

[ CLANGING ]

[BLEEP] WHOA! [BLEEP]

SHUT HER DOWN, PARKER! SHUT HER DOWN!

Parker: WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

THE SHAFT THAT DRIVES THE SHAKER -- SHE'S DONE.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]? OH, YOU'RE [BLEEP] KIDDING ME.

GET OUT OF MY [BLEEP] WAY.

Parker: THAT [BLEEP] PLANT.

**

Parker: 30.

30, 50, 70, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE 80.

85 OUNCES.

-YEAH. -SERIOUS?

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

Narrator: THE ONLY WAY FOR PARKER TO PLEASE HIS LANDLORD

WAS TO SPEND MORE MONEY,

SO PARKER BROUGHT IN A MASSIVE, NEW WASH PLANT...

Parker: START HER UP! HERE IT COMES.

Narrator: ...AND PUSHED HIS CREW HARDER THAN EVER.

Parker: I WASN'T GONNA LET ANYBODY HOLD ME BACK.

THAT'S WHY, EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ISSUE, I LET PEOPLE KNOW.

WE FIRED PEOPLE. YOU LEFT EARLY.

YOU'RE FIRED.

PEOPLE QUIT. ONE-DAY NOTICE?

THAT IS [BLEEP].

THERE WERE SOME DARK MOMENTS. BUT I DID IT MY WAY.

**

Tony: THAT'S THE FIRST 20.

40...60.

80.

120.

WHOA! AWESOME!

130.

-THERE YOU GO. -LOOK AT THAT!

-140.65. -GEEZ.

Narrator: BY THE END OF THE SEASON, PARKER HAD MINED

MORE THAN 1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH $1.4 MILLION.

BUT THE HIGH COST OF EXTRACTING THE GOLD

FROM THE LOW-GRADE GROUND

HAD LEFT PARKER WITH LITTLE PROFIT FOR HIMSELF.

**

THE REAL WINNER HAD BEEN TONY.

HE RETURNED TO HIS WINTER HOME IN ARIZONA WITH HIS ROYALTIES --

15% OF ALL THE GOLD PARKER HAD MINED,

WORTH NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.

BEFORE THE NEXT SEASON BEGAN,

PARKER MADE THE 2,000-MILE TRIP TO SEE HIS LANDLORD.

Parker: YEAH, LAST SEASON,

WE DID OVER 1,000 OUNCES ON LOW-GRADE GROUND.

TONY TOLD ME THAT IF I DID WELL LAST YEAR,

HE'D GIVE ME BETTER GROUND. I'M HERE TO GET IT.

**

Tony: SO, FIRE AWAY.

WELL, I MEAN, LIKE WE SAID LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW,

THAT WAS A BIT OF A TRAINING GROUND.

BUT THIS SEASON, YOU KNOW,

I'M PREPARED TO THROW EVERYTHING WE MADE LAST YEAR INTO IT.

BUT THAT MEANS, OBVIOUSLY,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED BETTER GROUND.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

I THOUGHT I COULD EXPECT IT BECAUSE,

YOU KNOW, THIS SEASON -- OR THIS LAST SEASON --

I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOWED THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME GROUND

THAT IS ECONOMICAL TO MINE.

NO.

IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS THAT YOU'RE LEASING ME GROUND

THAT YOU WOULD NEVER TOUCH.

Narrator: TONY WAS OFFERING PARKER

THE SAME POOR GROUND HE'D MINED IN THE SUMMER.

PARKER...

I DON'T KNOW, TONY.

HAVING INVESTED IN EQUIPMENT,

PARKER WAS COMMITTED TO MINING AGAIN THIS SEASON.

AND AT JUST 20 YEARS OLD,

NO ONE OTHER THAN TONY WOULD LEASE HIM A CLAIM.

Parker: YOU CAN'T PLAY POKER WITHOUT ANY CHIPS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH NO CHIPS.

SO GOT TO TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET. AND I GOT THE TABLE SCRAPS.

Parker: WELL, YOU MAKE IT HARD TO BE HAPPY.

I JUST MET WITH TONY,

AND, UH, TONY IS BASICALLY OFFERING ME

THE SAME GROUND THAT WE MINED LAST YEAR.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.

IF I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME TRUE ADVICE, I WOULD SAY THIS --

I THINK YOU SHOULD GO UP THERE,

OPEN UP THE GROUND THAT'S TONY'S GOT,

AND EARN ENOUGH TO BUY YOUR OWN CLAIM.

I WOULD GET OUT FROM UNDER TONY.

**

**

**

Narrator: AS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PLAYERS IN THE KLONDIKE,

TONY BEETS WAS ABLE TO SEE

WHERE THE GOLD-MINING INDUSTRY WAS HEADING.

LEAN GROUND WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR TONY TO MINE,

BUT IN A FEW YEARS, IT COULD BE ALL THAT WAS LEFT.

TONY HAD A RISKY BUT BRILLIANT PLAN

TO SECURE HIS REIGN OVER THE KLONDIKE FOR YEARS TO COME.

**

DREDGES HAD BEEN ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT

GOLD-MINING MACHINES EVER BUILT,

ABLE TO MINE EVEN POOR GROUND AT A PROFIT.

BUT RESTORING THIS 75-YEAR-OLD GIANT COULD COST MILLIONS.

TO HELP PAY FOR IT, TONY WAS LEASING

SOME OF HIS LEAN GROUND TO PARKER SCHNABEL.

**

Parker: WE'RE GOING ALL-OUT THIS SEASON.

I'M SETTING A 2,000-OUNCE GOAL FOR US.

-SHOULD WE GET TO IT? -LET'S DO IT.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S CRANK HER UP.

Narrator: PARKER WANTED TO GET OUT FROM UNDER TONY.

HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN?

TO MINE TWICE AS MUCH GOLD AS LAST YEAR

AND EARN ENOUGH TO BUY HIS OWN CLAIM.

Parker: THE KIND OF YARDAGE WE HAVE TO RUN,

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE.

Narrator: BUT IT WAS HARD TO MAKE MONEY

UNDER A LANDLORD LIKE TONY.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

TONY, WE JUST [BLEEP] GOT STARTED SLUICING. REALLY?

Narrator: TONY MADE PARKER INVEST IN SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.

THEN HE TOLD PARKER HOW TO MINE.

WE'RE TAKING A FOOT.

WELL, A DAY'S SLUICING IS 15 GRAND,

AND I'M THE ONE THAT LOSES [BLEEP] MONEY, TONY.

BUT WORST OF ALL,

WHEN PARKER MINED MORE THAN 1,500 OUNCES,

TONY'S ROYALTIES WENT UP.

THANKS FOR REMINDING ME.

THE MORE GOLD I FIND, THE MORE YOU TAKE?

THAT'S INSANE.

Tony: I REALLY DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP] WHAT HE THINKS

OR WHAT HE LIKES OR WHAT HE DOES.

THESE ARE THE RULES.

Parker: I DON'T KNOW WHO STARTED CALLING HIM A KLONDIKE LEGEND,

BUT IT'S MORE LIKE A [BLEEP] KLONDIKE [BLEEP].

**

LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LINE OF DRILL HOLES DOWN THERE.

BE RIGHT BACK.

REALLY, TONY DOESN'T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH ME,

BECAUSE HE KNOWS I HAVEN'T GOT ANY OTHER GROUND.

I NEED TO TRY AND FIND SOME OTHER GROUND TO EITHER BUY

OR USE IT TO BRING TONY BACK TO THE TABLE.

Narrator: WHILE PARKER SEARCHED FOR A CLAIM...

Gene: LET'S GET TO WORK.

...HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN, GENE CHEESEMAN, RAN THE MINE.

HEY, SET HER DOWN THERE, MITCH.

UNDER GENE'S COMMAND, THE GOLD FLOWED.

Narrator: BEHIND PARKER'S BACK,

TONY INVITED GENE TO LOOK AT THE DREDGE.

-HOW ARE THINGS, MY MAN? -NOT TOO BAD. AND YOU?

GOOD. CAN'T COMPLAIN.

-SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. -THERE YOU GO.

YEAH, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. ALL RIGHT. YES.

Gene: YOU KNOW, THE DREDGE IS INTERESTING TO ME.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE CHALLENGE OF IT.

NOW I'VE GOT OPPORTUNITIES AND I'VE GOT OPTIONS,

SO TIME WILL TELL.

Man: CBC NORTH RADIO ONE REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST.

A 30% CHANCE OF SNOW FLURRIES AROUND THE DAWSON CITY AREA.

Narrator: BY THE END OF THE SEASON,

PARKER'S CREW HAD REACHED THEIR 2,000-OUNCE GOAL.

BUT UNDER TONY'S HARSH REGIME,

PARKER STILL HADN'T MADE ENOUGH TO BUY HIS OWN CLAIM.

Parker: CAN'T AFFORD THE 2 MILLION BUCKS.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA END MY SEASON CRAWLING BACK TO TONY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU JUST HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU WANT.

WE DO ANOTHER 400 OUNCES OR SO,

AND I CAN MAKE A GOOD DOWN PAYMENT.

THE GUYS ARE NOT GONNA LIKE IT, BUT WE HAVE MORE GOLD TO FIND.

**

**

I'M JUST TRYING TO PACK UP MY TOOLS SO I CAN GET HEADED HOME.

Parker: I'VE GOT SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU.

WE'RE NOT DONE MINING. WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING.

WE NEED TO STAY AND FIND SOME MORE GOLD.

I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO GET AS MUCH GOLD AS YOU CAN GET.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT EVERYBODY'S WORE OUT.

IT'S [BLEEP], PARKER. YOU'RE -- YOU'RE GONE.

I'M NOT HERE, GENE, BECAUSE I'M RUNNING ALL OVER THE PLACE

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE A BUSINESS WHEN TONY BEETS SAYS,

"[BLEEP], PARKER, OR GET THE [BLEEP] OFF MY GROUND."

-I UNDERSTAND THAT. -DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT,

'CAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON HERE.

UNDERSTANDING THE...

I THINK OUR BACKS HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

THIS IS IT. WE'RE JUST GONNA DO IT, GENE.

THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE.

Gene: EVERYBODY'S WORE OUT. EVERYBODY'S TIRED.

YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE, OUT DOING SOMETHING HALF-ASSED

INSTEAD OF DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

THAT PISSES ME OFF. IT'S NOT THE WAY I LIKE TO DO THINGS.

I HOPE I'M NOT BURNING ANY BRIDGES BY DOING THIS.

**

**

WE POURED BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS

INTO GETTING ENOUGH GOLD TO BUY GROUND

AND GET OUT FROM UNDER TONY.

AND WE DID IT.

[ CHEERS AND LAUGHTER ]

THAT'S $2 MILLION RIGHT THERE ON THE TABLE.

THAT GROUP OF GUYS CAN MOVE DIRT.

THEY'RE A [BLEEP] GROUP OF ASS-KICKERS, RIGHT THERE.

[ CHEERS AND LAUGHTER ]

Man: LOVE THIS!

ONE GUY WHO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ESPECIALLY.

-THANK YOU, GENE. -IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR, GENE.

-YEAH. YEAH. -APPRECIATE IT.

YOU ARE THE BEST GUY I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.

Parker: HE'S DONE A DAMN GOOD JOB.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Narrator: BUT GENE HAD HAD ENOUGH OF THE YOUNG MINE BOSS.

I'M DONE WITH PARKER. I'M NOT COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.

THIS MORNING, HE GAVE ME A PHONE CALL THAT HE'S --

WANTS TO MOVE ON AND DOESN'T THINK HE'S GONNA COME BACK.

HE'S BEEN THE KEY TO EVERYTHING,

AND WITHOUT HIM, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

WE CAN EITHER BUY GROUND AND TAKE THAT ON, BUT WITHOUT GENE,

I DON'T THINK I'M IN A POSITION TO START THE SEASON OFF

JUST POURING MYSELF INTO DEBT.

AND THE OTHER OPTION IS, GO BACK AND MINE WITH TONY BEETS.

AS MUCH AS I HATE THAT I'M SAYING THAT,

MIGHT BE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.

YOU JUST NEED TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE WALKING INTO. THAT'S ALL.

HE THINKS HE'S THE KING OF THE KLONDIKE.

I GUESS HE DOES.

THE LAST PHONE CALL I WANT TO MAKE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW

IS TO TONY BEETS.

CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ABOUT TO DO THIS.

[ Ringing ]

GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'M HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES THIS WINTER,

AND, UM, I, UM --

I'D REALLY LIKE TO JUST COME BACK.

RIGHT NOW THAT GROUND'S ALL I'VE GOT TO GO TO, SO...

**

**

**

Narrator: TONY HAD SPENT MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS

ON A 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE.

100 MILES AWAY, TONY FOUND ANOTHER.

SERIOUSLY? NO.

YOU KEEP THIS UP, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING

FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES TO PAY OFF THESE SUCKERS.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

THAT'S TRUE.

BUT BUYING AND RENOVATING A SECOND DREDGE

WOULD COST MILLIONS MORE.

TO HELP BALANCE THE BOOKS,

TONY LEASED HIS LOW-GRADE SCRIBNER CREEK CLAIM

TO PARKER SCHNABEL.

Parker: SO, I JUST GOT THE NEW CONTRACT FROM TONY

AND WENT THROUGH SOME CHANGES IN IT.

NONE OF THEM GOOD. BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

HE'S JUST A POWER-HUNGRY [BLEEP].

SIGN IT. MAKE HIM HAPPY.

DEAL WITH ALL THEIR B.S. GET THE JOB DONE.

Narrator: DESPITE HIS FAMILY'S RESERVATIONS,

PARKER WAS BACK ON TONY'S GROUND.

I'M WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

I KNOW. THANK YOU, GRANDPA.

THINK IT WILL HELP.

-YOU OKAY, DAD? -PARDON?

-ARE YOU OKAY? -SURE.

OKAY, GOOD.

I HAVE TO BE A LITTLE SAD,

BUT IF WE DON'T START, WE'RE NEVER GONNA WIN.

Narrator: THIS WOULD BE PARKER'S TOUGHEST SEASON SO FAR.

Parker: I HAVE PRETTY MUCH A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KLONDIKE.

IT'S LIKE A GIRL THAT JUST KEEPS REJECTING YOU.

Narrator: FOR THE THIRD YEAR RUNNING,

PARKER WAS MINING TONY'S POOR GROUND,

AND THIS YEAR, HE'D HAVE TO DO IT WITHOUT AN EXPERIENCED CREW.

Parker: I GOT SO FOCUSED ON THE GOLD

THAT I DROVE MY GUYS INTO THE GROUND.

SOME OF MY BEST MEN QUIT, AND THAT WAS MY FAULT.

Narrator: HIS NEW TEAM WAS MADE UP ALMOST ENTIRELY OF ROOKIES.

-YOU MUST BE EMILY. -YEAH.

-HOW'S IT GOING? -OH, DOING DANDY.

A BUNCH OF YOUNG'UNS.

-ARE YOU YOUNGER THAN RICK? -I THINK SO. I'M 30.

YOU'RE THE OLDEST ONE HERE.

NOT MUCH MINING EXPERIENCE STANDING HERE.

YOU KNOW, THIS SEASON IS GONNA BE A ROUGH ONE,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN SIT HERE AND POUT ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

-COOL. -SOUND GOOD?

Narrator: WITHOUT HIS TALENTED FOREMAN, GENE CHEESEMAN,

PARKER'S MINING SKILLS WOULD BE TESTED TO THE LIMIT.

Parker: IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH,

BUT, HEY, WHAT'S EASY, ESPECIALLY AROUND HERE?

**

Narrator: TONY WAS READY TO UNLEASH

HIS FIRST DREDGE ON THE KLONDIKE.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT HERE TO STEAL ANYBODY'S GLORY, THUNDER.

EVERYBODY'S BUSTED THEIR ASS TO DO THIS.

WE GOT NO PROBLEM, GENE.

WELL, THAT'S -- THAT'S GREAT. I'M JUST, UH...

GLAD YOU'RE ON BOARD, GENE.

I JUST WANT TO GET THIS THING DIGGING AND FINDING SOME GOLD.

**

Narrator: WITH GENE AT THE HELM AND THE DREDGE OPERATIONAL,

TONY HAD NO USE FOR THE MEN WHO'D REBUILT IT.

MIKE! AND JERRY!

SO...

WE DO THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK.

WE WORE OURSELVES OUT TAKING THAT DREDGE APART.

WHAT HAVE WE NOT DONE FOR YOU?

-THAT'S A FACT. -THAT'S HOW IT IS.

**

Narrator: TONY HAD PUT ALL HIS FAITH IN PARKER'S EX-FOREMAN.

**

AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER'S YOUNG CREW WERE STRUGGLING.

-OH, MY GOD. -[BLEEP] JOKE.

Narrator: BUT PARKER HAD BIGGER PROBLEMS.

TONY STILL HADN'T SIGNED THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

TONY'S JUST A PRETTY UNSTABLE PERSON.

YOU KNOW, HE SCARES ME A LITTLE.

Narrator: WITHOUT A SIGNED LEASE,

TONY HAD THE POWER TO KICK PARKER

OFF THE CLAIM AT ANY MOMENT.

-HEY, PARKER. -HOW YOU DOING?

-HOW'S IT GOING, MY MAN? -I HAVE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

THAT YELLOW PIECE -- YOU NEED TO READ THAT.

"NEITHER PARKER SCHNABEL NOR ANY OTHER COMPANIES

OF WHICH HE IS A SHAREHOLDER SHALL MINE

ANY OTHER CLAIMS DURING THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT."

I'M NOT SIGNING THAT.

OKAY, GOOD ENOUGH.

I ALREADY SIGNED A CONTRACT AND SENT IT TO YOU GUYS.

NOT...

WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THAT CLAIM?

I WANT TO GO HOME AND MINE WITH MY GRANDPA IF I WANT TO.

I SIGNED IT. I SENT IT TO YOU. AND NOW YOU'RE CHANGING IT?

IT'S NOT VALID UNTIL TONY SIGNS IT, RIGHT?

BUT YOU CAN'T TELL ME TO TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

AND THEN CHANGE IT AFTER I SIGN IT.

I'VE ALREADY GOT MONEY IN THE GROUND.

HAVE A JUDGE TELL ME THAT, TONY.

OKAY.

**

Tony: DONE.

**

**

Narrator: TONY WAS THREATENING TO KICK PARKER OFF THE CLAIM.

WITHOUT A CLAIM, PARKER WOULD LOSE

THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS HE'D INVESTED

BEFORE HE'D RECOVERED EVEN AN OUNCE OF GOLD --

A LOSS THAT COULD SPELL THE END OF HIS GOLD-MINING CAREER.

Parker: THERE'S A LOT OF MINERS THAT COME TO THE YUKON

AND GET SCREWED OVER,

AND I'M NOT GONNA LAY THERE AND TAKE IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO PUSH BACK.

SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP DOING OUR THING,

AND, UM, I HOPE YOU'RE WITH ME ON THAT.

I'M HERE, MAN. I'M WITH YOU.

-GOOD. -I'VE DEALT WITH TOUGHER.

-THANKS, MAN. -[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: FOR YEARS, TONY'S RESTRICTIVE CONTRACTS

HAD KEPT PARKER UNDER HIS THUMB,

BUT PARKER WAS ABOUT TO TURN THE TABLES ON HIS LANDLORD.

**

**

GENE AND I HAVE A NONCOMPETE THAT PREVENTS HIM FROM WORKING

AT CERTAIN OPERATIONS IN THE KLONDIKE.

Tony: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

**

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN, WELL, EVER,

I'VE GOT SOME LEVERAGE WITH TONY.

SO I'LL TRY TO CASH GENE IN FOR SOME GROUND.

Narrator: UP UNTIL NOW, TONY HAD REFUSED TO LET PARKER MINE

HIS GOLD-RICH VIRGIN CLAIMS.

Parker: BOTTOM 123, BOTTOM 124, BOTTOM 125, BOTTOM --

AND I'LL WANT 1,000 FEET THAT WAY,

SO THAT'S TWO MORE MILES OF GROUND THAN WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M THINKING TONY IS NOT GONNA LIKE WHAT I WANT.

WE'LL SEE.

-KNOCK-KNOCK. -KNOCK-KNOCK.

YEAH, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THIS DONE.

UM... I NEED GROUND.

THAT'S ALL I NEED.

I WANT TO PULL OUT 124 TO 135.

WELL, THAT'S NOT REALLY BINDING.

-RIGHT? -I KNOW THAT.

LIKE I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS GONNA BE ANY CHANGES.

OH.

I DON'T HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT.

BUT IT'S JUST, LIKE, KEEPING ME ON A CHOKE CHAIN,

YOU KNOW, IS WHAT IT IS, RIGHT?

ONE YEAR AT A TIME, AND, "OH, EVERY YEAR, WE GET TO CHANGE THE LEASE."

RIGHT.

OKAY.

**

THEY'RE INITIALED.

-PERFECT. -THANK YOU, TONY.

-WE HAPPY? -I'M HAPPY.

-I'M HAPPY. -PARKER, YOU HAPPY?

-YEP. -GOOD, PERFECT.

Parker: WENT GREAT.

I'VE GOT GROUND. TONY'S GOT A DREDGE CAPTAIN.

GOT THE JOB DONE.

**

Narrator: WITH RICH PAY DIRT TO MINE,

PARKER COULD FINALLY SHINE ON GOLD-MINING'S BIGGEST STAGE.

Parker: THE MORE I LOOK AT IT, THE MORE I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW

AND PUT THE PLANT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUT.

IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.

THANKS, RICK.

Narrator: PARKER ORDERED THE CREW TO STRIP

A MASSIVE ONE-MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT CUT.

Parker: A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND NOT A LOT OF TIME TO DO IT.

Narrator: THEN, IN A RADICAL MOVE,

PARKER BUILT A 400-FOOT-LONG MEGA PAD

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

Man: YOU GOT TO ADMIT, WHEN THE KID TAKES A CHANCE,

HE TAKES A CHANCE, DOESN'T HE?

HE DOESN'T GO SMALL.

Narrator: TO SIT ON THE MEGA PAD,

PARKER LEASED A 200-YARD-AN-HOUR WASH PLANT.

Man: WHOO! OH, YEAH!

WE ARE COMMITTED 100% NOW. THIS CUT, THAT PLANT.

Parker: THIS IS GONNA BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR OUR SEASON.

LET'S CRANK IT UP, BOYS!

**

Tony: 30, 40, 50...

60, 70, 80.

150, 200.

GONNA MAKE 230?

250, 260, 270.

Parker: 283.2.

GEEZ.

YEAH.

A LITTLE UNDER, ONCE YOU GET YOUR CUT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Parker: THINGS WITH TONY SEEM PRETTY GOOD.

IT'S KIND OF BACK TO THE OLD FUN-LOVING,

BOTH-MAKING-MONEY TIMES.

Narrator: DESPITE EVERYTHING,

PARKER HAD PROVEN HIS MINING TALENT

WITH A HAUL OF MORE THAN 3,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH $3.5 MILLION.

**

**

Narrator: IN 2015,

TONY TRANSPORTED HIS FIRST DREDGE

RIGHT PAST SCRIBNER CREEK.

Parker: WELL, TONY KEEPS TALKING ABOUT THIS DREDGE,

BUT NOW MOST OF IT IS FINALLY SHOWING UP.

-THERE'S THE TROMMEL. -WHAT'S THAT?

OH, THERE'S THE WHEELHOUSE. IT'S SO OLD-SCHOOL.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO THE ANTIQUE SHOW WITH ALL THAT.

THEY'RE A LONG WAYS AWAY FROM GETTING GOLD WITH THAT THING.

THEY'VE GOT TO GET IT BACK TOGETHER,

AND THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT OF TIME TO DO IT.

GOD. TONY'S A MADMAN. I LOVE IT.

**

[ HORN BLARES ]

STILL SLUICIN'.

**

**

**

Tony: HA HA!

Narrator: SINCE TONY BEETS' FIRST MASSIVE DREDGE

HAD COME TO LIFE...

IT HAD PROVED ITSELF TO BE

ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT GOLD-MINING MACHINES EVER BUILT.

TONY STOOD TO EARN MILLIONS FROM HIS DREDGES,

BUT ONLY IF THEY WORKED.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

ONE OF HIS DREDGES LAY DERELICT IN THISTLE CREEK,

AND THE OTHER HAD NEEDED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL.

THAT'S, BALLPARK, 600 GRAND.

REALLY?

NOT YET. HEY, MUM.

I HEAR IT'S GONNA COST OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS

FOR YOUR MODIFICATIONS THAT YOU'RE DOING.

WE'RE HAVING TWO DREDGES TO PAY FOR.

IT'S NOT QUITE MAKING ME HAPPY RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO PULL THIS ONE OFF.

Narrator: AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BEETS FAMILY INCOME...

-HI. HAVEN'T SEEN YOU YET. -I KNOW.

Narrator: ...HAD COME FROM LEASING GROUND TO PARKER SCHNABEL.

HI, TONY.

ARE YOU BRINGING US GOODIES?

I AM. 100 OUNCES FOR YOU.

Narrator: FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,

HE'D MINED THEIR GOLD-RICH VIRGIN CLAIMS

AND HE'D BROUGHT THEM OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN ROYALTIES.

BUT PARKER THOUGHT HE WAS PAYING TOO MUCH.

Parker: WOW. WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS.

Tony: WHATEVER.

AND THIS SEASON, HE PLANNED HIS ESCAPE.

I JUST CAN'T KEEP MINING UNDER TONY.

RIGHT NOW, WE GIVE HIM A HUGE AMOUNT OF ROYALTY PAYMENTS,

AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HE'S GONNA BE TOO HAPPY

TO GIVE THAT UP.

Narrator: IN THE SPRING, PARKER WENT TO CALIFORNIA.

HEY, PARKER. HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD TO SEE YOU. COME ON IN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO, PARKER, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

WELL, I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THAT GROUND

YOU'VE GOT IN THE INDIAN RIVER.

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DOING WITH IT?

WE'VE DISCUSSED IT BETWEEN OURSELVES,

AND WE'D PROBABLY BE INTERESTED IN LEASING IT.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF ROYALTY RATE, I GUESS, YOU GUYS.

WE WERE THINKING OF THE STANDARD 10%.

WOW. IS THAT STANDARD?

RIGHT NOW IF I DO 6,000 OUNCES, I WOULD PAY DOUBLE THAT,

'CAUSE IT'S 30% ROYALTY.

-WHAT? -OVER 5,000 IS 30%.

WOW.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, REALLY, TO PAY THAT KIND OF ROYALTY.

WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

[ LAUGHS ]

THIS MAY BE PICKING A BIG OLD BATTLE WITH TONY BEETS.

YEAH, SHOULD PROBABLY KEEP IT QUIET FOR A WHILE.

THAT MAKES THIS VERY INTERESTING.

-MM-HMM. IT'LL BE FUN. -"IT'LL BE FUN."

WELL, HE CAN'T STOP YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ]

-DRIVE SAFELY. BYE, NOW. -THANKS, KEN.

**

WHOO!

Narrator: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON,

PARKER CHECKED OUT HIS NEW CLAIMS.

Parker: THE ONLY ROAD ACCESS TO THIS GROUND

OF KEN AND STUART'S IS RIGHT THROUGH TONY'S CAMP.

HOPEFULLY, HE'S NOT AROUND.

OH, [BLEEP]. THIS IS TONY.

WELL, NOW'S AS GOOD A TIME AS EVER.

WELL, UH, I'M ON A LEASE WITH KEN AND STUART

ON THE GROUND RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

NO [BLEEP] WAY.

I'M DONE JUMPING THROUGH [BLEEP] HOOPS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO HAVE A GOOD LEASE

THAT DOESN'T HAVE [BLEEP], TONY.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS, IS I --

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS I'M GOING OVER THERE.

YOUR GROUND.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THIS EASY.

WHATEVER, TONY. [BLEEP] LEASE.

[ HORN HONKS ]

**

Narrator: PARKER HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF

TO MINING 5,000 OUNCES FROM TONY'S GROUND

BEFORE HE MOVES TO THE NEW CLAIM.

AND TONY'S BEEN WAITING FOR HIM TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

Parker: [BLEEP] [BLEEP]

WHAT, UH -- WHAT YOU DOING?

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE KIND OF KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW,

AFTER A FEW YEARS.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH ALL THIS?

Narrator: SO FAR, PARKER'S PLAN HAS WORKED WELL.

BUT THE SEASON'S NOT OVER YET.

THE DAYS OF TONY BEETS ARE OVER.

-YEAH! -WHOO!

Narrator: STILL TO COME...

Parker: MY GUTS ARE TORN [BLEEP] UP.

Narrator: ...PARKER MAKES A BID FOR FREEDOM.

-IS THAT TONY BEETS? -YEAH.

Narrator: AND HIS OLD LANDLORD...

Parker: THAT WAS A PRACTICE RUN.

MEANING THIS TIME, IT'S THE BOMBING RUN.

Narrator: ...BECOMES HIS NEW NEIGHBOR FROM HELL.

Parker: IT'S JUST TONY BEETS NEEDING TO BE THE KING OF THE WORLD.

TONY DUG THE ROAD OUT.

THIS IS THE ACT OF A DESPERATE MAN.

TONY, DO YOU REALLY HAVE THAT BIG OF A PROBLEM

WITH ME BEING YOUR NEIGHBOR?

**