Original subtitles

Parker: IT IS A WILD COUNTRY.

THERE'S LOTS OF GOLD, INTENSE SITUATIONS, WARFARE.

IT'S WILDER THAN THE WILD WEST.

Narrator: PREVIOUSLY, PARKER AND HIS TEAM MINED HARDROCK GOLD

AT THE LEGENDARY EDIE CREEK...

AND THERE'S GOLD NUGGETS THIS SIZE?

Man: YES.

...AND HELP THE KUKUKUKU...

I CAN'T STAND THAT THEY HAVE TO USE MERCURY.

Narrator: ...PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM A DEADLY TOXIN.

NO PART OF THAT PROCESS IS SAFE.

HERE'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

HEY, HEY, LOOK AT THAT.

[ ALL CHEER ]

Narrator: NOW...

LOOK AT THAT.

...PARKER'S TEAM IS ON A MISSION TO ONE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S

BIGGEST GOLD MINES...

Sam: THEY BASICALLY JUST MINED A WHOLE MOUNTAIN.

YEAH.

Narrator: ...WHERE A 21st CENTURY GOLD RUSH...

...IS CREATING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND MASSIVE PROBLEMS.

THESE KIDS STEAL FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

THIS IS AS DANGEROUS AS IT GETS.

WE'RE IN A WAR ZONE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪

LET'S DO THIS. YEAH, BUDDY.

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL AND HIS TEAM ARE 3 WEEKS

INTO A 5-WEEK EXPEDITION TO FIND GOLD

AND LEARN HOW PEOPLE MINE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

WE'VE GOT TO PUSH ON.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, A LITTLE EXCITED.

FROM EDIE CREEK, THE TEAM IS TRAVELING 270 MILES WEST,

DEEP INTO THE REMOTE VOLCANIC HIGHLANDS,

TO THE PORGERA GOLD MINE,

WHERE PROSPECTORS HAVE FOUND THE MOTHER LODE,

IN A REGION PLAGUED BY CIVIL UNREST.

US COMING HERE TO PORGERA,

THERE'S A LOT OF SECURITY CONCERNS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FIGHTING

BETWEEN THE MINES AND THE LOCALS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FIGHTING AMONGST THE LOCALS.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT'S PRETTY A DICEY SITUATION.

OBVIOUSLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE,

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

IT'S ALL NEW TO ME.

I THINK IT'S ALSO UNPREDICTABLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, SOME --

THERE'S TENSION WITHIN TRIBES,

AND WHO KNOWS WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO IGNITE.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS ON HIGH ALERT.

THAT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE SHORTEST RUNWAYS

I'VE EVER SEEN.

OUTSIDE OF, LIKE, IRAQ, YEAH,

THAT'S PROBABLY THE SHORTEST I'VE EVER SEEN.

I HATE THE STALL NOISE.

[ LOUD BEEPING ]

WHOO.

♪

Narrator: PORGERA WAS COMPLETELY CUT OFF

FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD UNTIL THE 1930s,

WHEN AUSTRALIAN GOLD PROSPECTORS STUMBLED ACROSS

ONE OF THE BIGGEST GOLD DEPOSITS IN THE WORLD.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DEPOSIT HERE?

IT'S A VERY BIG MINE THAT'S HAD A VERY LONG PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

PRODUCTION PEAKED AT ALMOST 1.5 MILLIONS OUNCES A YEAR.

-[ WHISTLES ] -[BLEEP]

♪

♪

OOH, [BLEEP]

THIS IS CRAZY.

WHOA.

LOOK AT THAT.

Fred: [BLEEP] THIS PLACE IS HUGE.

THAT IS A BIG MINE.

WOW.

Narrator: IN 1990, THE MASSIVE PORGERA GOLD MINE STARTED PRODUCTION,

OPENING A PIT OVER A MILE WIDE,

CHASING A GIANT GOLD DEPOSIT 1/2 A MILE INTO THE EARTH.

EVERY YEAR, THE MINE HAULS 1.2 MILLION TONS OF ORE

TO ITS PLANT TO SEPARATE THE GOLD FROM THE ROCK.

TO THIS DAY, THE MINE HAS FOUND OVER 20 MILLIONS OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH OVER $24 BILLION.

THAT'S INSANE.

THIS MINE IS JUST MIND-BOGGLING HUGE.

FIVE OF THE BIGGEST GOLD MINES

I'VE EVER SEEN WOULD FIT IN THIS GOLD MINE.

Sam: THEY BASICALLY JUST MINED A WHOLE MOUNTAIN.

YEAH.

IT'S A BIG ONE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST GOLD DEPOSITS IN THE WORLD.

Fred: PRETTY HIGH SECURITY AROUND IT, TOO.

THIS FENCE IS NO JOKE.

LOOK AT THE FENCE GOING UP THAT RIDGE.

IT'S DOUBLE-PANELED, CONCERTINA WIRE ON THE TOP.

YEAH, THEY AIN'T MESSING AROUND.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET IN THERE.

HELLO? CRAIG.

CRAIG: Hey, Parker.

I'M STILL HOPING THAT I CAN GET A TOUR OF THE MINE.

I've heard from the security office, and it's a no-go.

I know it's not what you want to hear.

I'm sorry, mate.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

TOTALLY STRIKING OUT WITH THE MINE,

NO CAMERAS AND NO EMPLOYEES ON CAMERA.

I SORT OF HOPED WE'D GET SOMEWHERE WHILE WE WERE HERE.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WE COULD TRY, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS.

Narrator: THE GOLD STRIKE STARTED A MODERN-DAY GOLD RUSH.

PEOPLE FLOODED INTO THE AREA, LOOKING TO MAKE THEIR FORTUNE.

HUGE NUGGETS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

WERE THERE FOR THE TAKING.

NOW, PROSPECTORS HAVE BUILT MAKESHIFT TOWNS

OUTSIDE THE MINE'S PERIMETER FENCE,

TRYING TO GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION.

THESE TOWNS ARE PARKER'S ONLY OPTION,

IF HE WANTS TO SEE HOW THE LOCALS GET GOLD IN PORGERA.

I WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON,

FIND OUT WHERE THEY'RE FINDING GOLD.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PENETRATE

INTO THE COMMUNITIES HERE.

WHY IS THAT THE SITUATION THAT ARISES?

MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS TRIP,

IT'S A STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD.

I WANT TO CARRY ON HERE.

IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT

IS TO BREAK THROUGH THOSE BARRIERS.

Narrator: VIOLENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM,

AND THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD HAS MADE IT WORSE.

WITH OVER 60,000 PEOPLE

FROM DIFFERENT TRIBES DRAWN TO THE AREA,

HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH, TENSIONS RUN HIGH.

THIS IS PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S WILD WEST.

PORGERA IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

THIS IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST

DANGEROUS PLACES IN ALL OF PAPUA,

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE AT ALL TIMES.

YOU CANNOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN EVEN FOR ONE MOMENT,

AND YOU HAVE TO PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

IN THIS PLACE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POLICE ESCORT.

ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I AM FASCINATED

BY THE BIG MINE SITES,

AND I'M ALSO FASCINATED BY, IN A COUNTRY LIKE THIS,

HOW THE COMMUNITIES WORK -- DEAL WITH THAT.

I HOPE WE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL THIS PLACE'S STORY,

YOU KNOW, GO IN AND EXPLORE, FIND OUT WHAT IT'S ABOUT,

FIND OUT HOW PEOPLE SURVIVE, HOW THEY FIND GOLD HERE.

REALLY, THE BIGGEST THING WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT

IS JUST STEPPING ON OUR OWN TOES

AND DOING THINGS THAT MAY ANGER OTHER PEOPLE.

SO WE JUST GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WHAT WE SAY

AND WHO WE TALK TO, I THINK.

♪

THIS IS AS DANGEROUS AS IT GETS.

WE READY?

BORN READY.

EVERYWHERE THAT I'VE EVER BEEN, GOLD HAS A VERY DIFFERENT

MEANING TO THE PEOPLE FINDING IT.

FINDING OUT HOW THAT RELATIONSHIP WORKS

AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THESE PEOPLE IS,

YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE HERE.

Narrator: PARKER'S TEAM HEAD TO YARIK,

A SETTLEMENT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE PORGERA MINE.

HOLY -- LOOK AT THAT.

HUMONGOUS. IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG MARKET.

WELL, WE STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.

YEAH.

♪

WHOA.

MORNING.

GREAT HAT, MAN.

♪

ALREADY DRAWING A CROWD.

OH, HERE THEY COME.

THAT GUY HAS AN AXE.

AN AXE?

AND A HATCHET.

OH, BOY.

FOUR AXES, TWO MACHETES.

I'M GOING IN.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

♪

♪

HOWDY.

I'VE SEEN THINGS LIKE THIS, IN OTHER COUNTRIES,

JUST EXPLODE REALLY QUICKLY, SO...

MOVE, MOVE IT.

YEAH, YEAH.

♪

YEAH, YOU CAN TELL IT'S -- COULD GO EITHER WAY VERY FAST.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

-WHO CUT HIM? -A BOY?

Sam: LIKE A SMALL BOY?

A SMALL BOY CUT HIS ARM OFF?

HOW LONG AGO?

SIX MONTHS, HE'S HEALED FAST, STRONG BOY.

YEAH.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

WHEN TROUBLE BREAKS OUT HERE, IT BREAKS OUT FAST,

AND IT GETS PRETTY INTENSE.

Narrator: MANY LOCALS BELIEVE THE DEAL THE GOLD MINE MADE

TO LEASE THE LAND 30 YEARS AGO WAS UNFAIR.

THE TEAM HAVE ACCIDENTALLY WALKED INTO THIS

ONGOING DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT THE MINE OWES THE LOCALS.

THE SITUATION THIS MORNING HAS REALLY IGNITED.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING?

THERE WAS A COMMUNITY PROJECT BEING BASED --

BEING BUILT HERE THAT'S NOW BEING STOPPED.

OH, REALLY?

YEAH, AND IT WAS A HOUSING PROJECT.

SO THE HOUSING PROJECT HAS BEEN STOPPED,

AND THEY ONLY FOUND OUT THIS MORNING,

WHICH NOW MEANS THAT THEY'RE VERY UPSET BY THIS.

OKAY.

SO THERE WAS ROAD BLOCKS, AND THERE WAS FIGHTING.

WE HAVE TO PULL OUT.

THERE'S A PENDULUM HERE,

WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE VERY OPEN AND NICE,

BUT IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN WRONGED,

OR IF THEY'RE MISUNDERSTANDING A SITUATION,

IT WILL SWING TO A DARK PLACE IN A HURRY.

♪

Fred: OKAY, WE'RE GOING.

LIKE, I WAS ALERT.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN IN ENVIRONMENTS LIKE THAT,

WHERE [BLEEP] GETS OUT OF HAND SUPER FAST.

OH. YEAH, I WAS QUITE NERVOUS.

Sam: EVERYTHING IS OKAY, RIGHT UP UNTIL IT'S NOT,

AND THEN WHEN IT'S NOT, IT'S REALLY NOT OKAY.

YEAH.

I MEAN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN JUST FIND A PLACE TO STAY.

-YEAH. -YEAH, WE CAN HAVE A BASE.

LIKE, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THIS TOWN.

IT'S JUST HARD TO PENETRATE.

Narrator: THE TEAM HEADS BACK TOWARDS THE MINE.

WHEN THE MINE STARTED PRODUCTION,

GOLD RUSH TOWNS SPRUNG UP AROUND THE PERIMETER FENCE,

BUILT BY PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR FORTUNES.

PARKER TRAVELS TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT

BUILT RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE MINE.

WE'RE JUST PULLING IN TO A DIFFERENT VILLAGE,

THAN WE WERE AT THIS MORNING,

THAT'S RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF THE BIG GOLD MINE.

♪

Steven: HELLO.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS VILLAGE?

SEE, WE HEARD THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAY IN,

LIKE, A CHURCH AROUND HERE OR SOMETHING.

IS THERE A CHURCH NEAR HERE? YEAH.

WHERE? THERE, OUR CHURCH IS THERE.

THIS ONE HERE? YEAH.

WOULD IT BE OKAY IF FOUR OF US STAYED THERE TONIGHT?

-YEAH, OKAY. -YEAH?

WE GOT SOMEWHERE TO STAY.

REALLY? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OH, YEAH, IT'S PERFECT.

WELCOME.

Fred: GOOD JOB, SAM.

THANK YOU, AMOS.

I GOT DIBS ON THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE.

Karla: I'LL GO THIS LONG WAY.

OKAY, THIS IS PROBABLY THE SAFEST PLACE FOR US TO BE.

I HAVE NOT FELT SAFE OUT THERE IN THE STREETS.

KIND OF AGGRESSIVE AIR.

YEAH, IT'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.

THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO SAY IT.

ALWAYS FACING FORWARD.

AND THERE WAS, LIKE, 4,000 OR 5,000 PEOPLE

THAT LIVED HERE BEFORE THIS MINE STARTED UP,

AND NOW I THINK THERE'S ABOUT 70,000, AND SO, YOU KNOW,

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THE MINE IS THE PROBLEM,

BUT IT'S ALSO WHAT'S BROUGHT ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE,

SO I STRUGGLE WITH THE SITUATION.

Narrator: THE CHURCH THE TEAM ARE MAKING CAMP IN OVERLOOKS

THE PORGERA MINE SITE.

[ SIREN BLARING IN DISTANCE ]

THE SIREN YOU CAN HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND,

THAT'S THEIR WARNING FOR A BLAST.

SO THEY'RE ABOUT TO DO A BLAST.

♪

Parker: SEE, THEY'RE CLEARING THAT WHOLE AREA OVER THERE.

THERE'S CARS BLOCKING THE ROAD, SO IT LOOKS LIKE

THEY'RE GOING TO DO A BLAST IN A VERY VISIBLE SPOT.

THERE'S PEOPLE MOVING ON THERE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE RUNNING ACROSS THAT RIDGE OVER THERE.

RIGHT OVER THERE, YEAH.

Narrator: SOME PEOPLE IN KULAPI NUMBER 4

MAKE A LIVING JUMPING OVER THE RAZOR WIRE FENCE

TO STEAL GOLD FROM THE GIANT MINE.

MANY ARE CHILDREN.

Parker: RIGHT ABOVE THE TRUCK, RIGHT NOW.

OH!

♪

THEY JUST DID A BIG BLAST.

SEE THE FLASHING LIGHTS WAY BACK THERE?

-YEP. -SEE THE SMOKE?

THAT'S GAS.

SO THE MINE SECURITY HAVE OBVIOUSLY FIRED TEARGAS

AT SOME ILLEGAL MINERS

WHO WERE IN THE MINE, WAITING FOR THE BLAST TO GO OFF,

SO THEY COULD GO IN AND GET THE ORE.

LIKE, THAT'S GAS, RIGHT THERE.

Parker: THERE WAS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE JUST CLIMB --

THAT CLIMBED UP ON TOP OF THE BLAST.

SECURITY IS GOING UP THAT WAY.

RIGHT THERE?

Narrator: THE MINE EMPLOYS 450 SECURITY GUARDS.

TRESPASSERS HAVE BEEN SHOT ON SIGHT.

Parker: THERE'S MORE TEARGAS OVER THERE.

OH [BLEEP] YEAH.

OVER HERE?

IMAGINE JUST RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE,

WITH YOUR HEART IN YOUR MOUTH, TEARGAS GOING OFF AROUND YOU

AND A COUPLE OF ROCKS IN YOUR BACK POCKET.

♪

Fred: OH, HERE, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

WHAT?

SAM, HE'S CLIMBING THE FENCE RIGHT HERE.

HE'S GOING FOR IT.

THEY'RE KIDS.

THEY'RE, LIKE, PRETTY MUCH, LIKE, MY DAUGHTER'S AGE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET CAUGHT?

OH, HERE THEY COME.

PARKER, SHOULD WE GO DOWN?

♪

Narrator: STEALING THE ROCKS IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE.

THE VILLAGERS STILL HAVE TO EXTRACT THE GOLD FROM THEM.

I'VE LEARNED WE ARE QUITE THE ATTRACTION.

LIKE, LOOK BEHIND US.

HI.

WHEN THEY GET THE ROCKS,

WHERE DO THEY CRUSH THEM UP AND GET THE GOLD OUT OF THEM?

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

I'M PARKER. I'M PARKER.

-ALI? -YES.

-NICE TO MEET YOU. -NICE TO MEET YOU.

I HEARD YOU'RE A GOLD MINER.

IS THERE A PLACE THAT WE COULD SEE THE PROCESS?

OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

PARKER HAS MET A GUY CALLED ALI WHO SPEAKS PRETTY GOOD ENGLISH

AND SAYS HE'LL SHOW US WHAT THEY DO WITH THE --

HOW THEY GET THE GOLD OUT OF THE ROCKS, BASICALLY.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Fred: KARLA, KEEP MOVING.

Parker: ROCK COMING IN.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

THAT'S GOLD.

OH, THIS IS WILD.

♪

♪

Parker: DO YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THIEVES?

LIKE, THAT GOLD WAS STOLEN FROM THAT MINE.

Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM ARE FINDING OUT

HOW LOCALS CRUSH STOLEN ROCKS,

TO EXTRACT THE GOLD THEY BELIEVE IS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS.

YEAH, WE'VE MET A GUY CALLED ALI.

HIS ENGLISH IS EXCELLENT,

AND HE'S JUST TAKEN US TO A LITTLE HUT WHERE THEY CRUSH...

THEY'RE CRUSHING ROCK.

HE JUMPS THE FENCE, GRABS WHAT HE CAN,

BRINGS IT BACK AND CRUSHES IT OVER HERE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

OKAY, RIGHT.

AND THEN WHERE DO YOU TAKE THE GOLD?

OKAY. THEN WHERE DO YOU SELL IT?

OH, OKAY.

Parker: HOW OLD ARE YOU?

WELL, ONCE YOU'RE 18, YOU CAN GO TO JAIL, RIGHT?

PRISON HERE CAN'T BE A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

-RIGHT. -YEAH.

I WOULD RUN, TOO, YEAH, YEAH.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Parker: AND THEY'RE CRUSHING UP ROCKS

THAT THESE KIDS STEAL FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE,

AND THEY CRUSH THEM UP, GET THE GOLD CLEAN

AND THEN SELL IT TO AN ILLEGAL GOLD BUYER.

IT'S [BLEEP] WILD.

♪

WHICH GUYS FOUGHT WITH THE SECURITY?

Sam: HOW WAS THE FIGHT WITH THE SECURITY GUARDS?

-YES? -YES.

YOU FIGHT WITH FISTS OR A BUSH KNIFE OR...

CHOP, CHOP.

YOU CHOPPED HIM?

Ali: NO, NO, NO, HE TRIED TO STOP THEM.

OH, DAMN.

THAT KNIFE, THAT SAME KNIFE?

[ LAUGHTER ]

FOR HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN GOING INTO THE MINE?

-30 YEARS? -YES.

SINCE YOU WERE...

-SINCE I WAS LIKE THIS. -SINCE YOU WERE LIKE THIS?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN INJURED?

HE'S HAD... [ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

LET ME SHOW YOU ONE PERSON HERE.

OH.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

SOMEONE SHOT YOU? -YEAH.

OH.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

HE WAS ON THE MINE, AND HE GOT SHOT?

YEAH. RUBBER BULLET.

-OH, RUBBER BULLETS? -YEAH.

WOW.

IS IT FIGHTING EVERY NIGHT?

♪

IT MUST BE KIND OF SCARY GOING OVER THERE.

AND DO YOU GET CHASED BY THE SECURITY?

YEAH. DO THEY EVER CATCH YOU?

YOU GO TO THE WHAT?

Narrator: PARKER BRINGS IN LOCAL MINER WALTER TO HELP TRANSLATE.

HAVE YOU BEEN THERE? HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?

HE'S BEEN THERE.

YOU ESCAPED FROM THE PRISON OR FROM THE JUVENILE PRISON?

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU JUST CLIMBED THE FENCE?

HOW'D YOU GET BACK HERE?

CAN YOU ASK HIM HOW OLD HE WAS, WHEN THAT HAPPENED?

OH, REALLY?

GOT YOU.

SO FOR THESE KIDS TO EAT AND GET FOOD AND WHATNOT,

DO THEY HAVE TO GO OVER THERE?

AT 12 YEARS OLD?

GEEZ.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

♪

THEY HAVE CRUSHED IT UP.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT, LIKE, MULTIPLE,

MULTIPLE FELONIES GETS THEM.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THE BIG MINE THAT PROCESSES THROUGH THE MILL,

LIKE, 15,000 TONS PER DAY,

HAVING TO CRUSH IT DOWN TO THIS FINE.

THIS IS HOW THEY CRUSH IT DOWN THIS FINE,

AND I TOTALLY GET WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.

YOU KNOW?

IN A COUNTRY LIKE THIS AND CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS,

PEOPLE'S LAND HAS BEEN TAKEN,

OR THE APPEARANCE IS THAT IT'S BEEN TAKEN,

AND THE EMOTION IS THAT IT'S BEEN TAKEN

AND THAT THAT GOLD IS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS,

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND HOW THIS SITUATION ARISES,

AND I GET IT FROM BOTH SIDES.

THIS SIDE IS MUCH MORE HEARTFELT AND MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL.

YOU KNOW?

THE MINING COMPANY IS JUST A BIG MINING COMPANY.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S JUST A BOTTOM LINE PROFIT KIND OF THING,

BUT RIGHT HERE IS WHERE THE IMPACT OF THAT FALLS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

IT'S, LIKE, WE'RE IN A WAR ZONE.

♪

OOH.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR THAT MUCH GOLD.

THAT'S CRAZY. -A LOT OF RISK.

Narrator: IT'S ONLY ABOUT A GRAM, 15 BUCKS WORTH.

WHAT YOU GUYS DO IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

♪

IT'S NOT A PLACE I EXPECTED TO FIND MYSELF ON THIS TRIP.

THESE AREN'T THINGS I EXPECTED TO FIND MYSELF

THINKING ABOUT ON THIS TRIP.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED

SUCH A RICH GOLD DEPOSIT TO CREATE SO MUCH ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE COME HERE IN SEARCH OF THEIR FORTUNE,

AND THERE'S A FENCE IN THE WAY,

AND EVERYONE IS WILLING TO JUMP THAT FENCE

AND RISK THEIR LIVES.

AND IT'S CRAZY.

♪

♪

Sam: GOOD MORNING. SO WHAT'S THE PLAN, PARKER?

WE SHOULD BE QUITE CAREFUL WITH WHERE WE GO NEXT.

Fred: DEFINITELY.

I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE IN IMMINENT DANGER,

BUT I DEFINITELY SEE THE POTENTIAL

FOR THINGS TO GO WRONG.

WE SHOULD STICK TO THE GUYS

WE THINK ARE THE MOST LOGICALLY SOUND.

LIKE, WALTER, I THINK WALTER IS ONE OF THEM.

HE'S NOT GOING TO GET US INTO TROUBLE, I DON'T THINK,

AND JUST GO SEE, HOPEFULLY, A NORMAL MINING OPERATION HERE,

THAT THEY DON'T FEED OFF OF THE MINE SITE.

YOU KNOW?

Sam: YOU GUYS ALL SET?

♪

Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM HEAD

INTO THE CENTER OF KULAPI NUMBER 4 TO FIND WALTER.

BUT DOWN BY THE RAZOR WIRE FENCE,

ANOTHER ILLEGAL RAID IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

♪

IT'S WEIRD HOW CASUAL THEY ARE ABOUT IT.

Fred: YEAH.

♪

I SAW A KID COMING BACK WITH FIREWOOD LAST NIGHT.

I THINK ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN FIND DOWN THERE.

-SECURITY. -ARE YOU SERIOUS?

SECURITY, SECURITY.

Fred: GET UP HERE.

THE MINE HAS SHOT PEOPLE BEFORE.

[ MAN SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Narrator: COMING UP...

THIS IS ONE OF THE CRUDEST SETUPS I'VE EVER SEEN

ON SOME OF THE BEST GROUND I'VE EVER SEEN.

Fred: WHOA, BEHIND YOU.

RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT THERE, THEY ARE, RIGHT THERE.

IT'S A PRETTY SKETCHY SITUATION.

[ MAN SHOUTS IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Fred: YOU GUYS NEED TO HURRY.

[ MAN SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

SO THEY GOT -- THIS KID IS CARRYING A BATTERY.

HE'S CARRYING A BIG LARGE POLE,

LIKE ONE OF THE ONES THEY USE TO CRUSH,

BUT THE GUARDS ARE, LIKE, RIGHT THERE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

LIKE, WE'VE REALLY GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

THOSE SECURITY GUARDS, SOME OF THEM HAVE GUNS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TEARGAS.

THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT, IS SOMEBODY GETTING HURT.

YOU KNOW?

PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE IT A LITTLE EASY HERE,

MAYBE GET AWAY FROM HERE A LITTLE WAYS

AND SEE SOME OTHER MINING.

♪

HEY, WALTER.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YEAH, WE WOULD LOVE TO.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

Karla: ROAD TRIP.

OH, YEAH.

Sam: TOUGH PLACE TO GROW UP, WALTER.

LOOK AT THIS LITTLE PIG.

-WOW. -DON'T HIT ANY PIGS, FRED.

ALL RIGHT. MENTAL NOTE, DO NOT --

NOT THE PIG, GOT IT.

OH, WOW.

WOW, I'D BE A PIG FARMER, THEN, HAVE AS MANY PIGS --

YOU'D BE A MILLIONAIRE.

WOW.

Karla: PIG ON YOUR LEFT, FRED, PIG ON YOUR LEFT.

GOT IT, GOT IT.

SO, WALTER, TELL ME ABOUT THIS MINE SITE WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

AND IS IT YOUR LAND OR YOUR BROTHER'S LAND?

♪

♪

Parker: HI, HI.

[ CHILDREN SHOUTING IN DISTANCE ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ LAUGHTER CONTINUES ]

Parker: THIS WAY?

♪

WOW, LOOK AT THAT.

Sam: OH, WOW.

Fred: NICE.

Narrator: THE MINE IS LOCATED A MILE AND A HALF INTO THE HILLS AROUND

PORGERA, WHERE CREEKS

HAVE WASHED DOWN GOLD FROM THE SOURCE.

Parker: RIGHT.

♪

VERY STEEP LITTLE CREEK WITH MASSIVE BOULDERS

IN IT, TOUGH MINING.

THIS IS THE KIND OF MINING THAT'S REALLY TOUGH NO MATTER

WHAT EQUIPMENT YOU'VE GOT, LET ALONE BY HAND.

♪

SO WHERE IS YOUR SLUICE BOX AT?

♪

Parker: THEY'RE JUST WASHING IT DOWN.

THE GOLD WILL -- IT DOESN'T FLOW DOWN THE CREEK.

ALL THE MUD AND EVERYTHING DOES.

GOT YOU. SO THIS IS, LIKE, BEDROCK.

LIKE, IT CAN'T GO ANY LOWER THAN THIS.

IS IT ALL RIGHT IF WE CAN HELP FOR THE DAY?

CAN WE HELP DO SOME MINING?

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SWEET.

HOW'S IT GOING?

Karla: GO WHICH? HELP PARKER?

-YEAH. -YEAH.

MAYBE I'LL FIND SOME BIG ROCKS AND GET THEM OUT OF THERE.

THAT'S WHERE THE GOOD GOLD IS, IN THERE?

A LOT OF GUYS ACTUALLY DO THIS SAME KIND OF STYLE IN THE YUKON.

Sam: BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SLUICING ANY OF THIS, ARE THEY?

THEY'RE JUST CONCENTRATING THIS RIGHT IN THE CREEK HERE.

SO THE GOLD WILL SIT RIGHT THERE.

YEAH, IT, LIKE, IT'LL TRAVEL, YOU KNOW, NOT MUCH MORE THAN,

LIKE, 8, 10 FEET, AND THEN THEY'RE JUST SHOVELING IT UP.

THAT CLEANS ALL THE CLAY OUT OF IT.

THEY'RE JUST SHOVELING IT IN AND PANNING IT.

Narrator: LANDSLIDES AND CAVE-INS ARE COMMON

AT THE SMALL-SCALE MINES AROUND PORGERA,

BUT THE GROUND IS SO RICH, MANY THINK IT'S WORTH THE RISK.

FRED, JUST WATCH OUT ABOVE YOU.

Fred: OKAY.

SO THEY JUST WASH THE BANK FOR A WHILE.

IT CONCENTRATES RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM,

WHERE HE'S SHOVELING IT UP,

AND THEN THEY JUST PAN IT, LIKE --

PARKER.

IS THERE GOLD IN HERE?

OH, YEAH.

LOOK AT THAT.

OH, YEAH.

THAT'S NOT BAD, MAN. -LOOK AT THAT.

THERE YOU GO.

-THREE. -WHOA.

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL NUGGET.

OH, YEAH.

THAT'S SOME RICH GROUND, FRED.

LOOKS LIKE IT.

LET'S GET OUR TEETH INTO IT.

♪

OH, PIG, PIG, PIG.

Narrator: EX-GREEN BERET, FRED LEWIS LOVES ANIMALS.

YOU'RE A GOOD PIG, PIG.

HEY, PIG, LET ME GET A PICTURE OF YOU.

IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA, TRADITIONALLY,

WEALTH IS MEASURED IN PIGS.

THEY'RE USED TO PAY BRIDAL DOWRIES

AND EVEN RESOLVE TRIBAL DISPUTES.

PIGS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THESE PEOPLE.

[ PIG SNORTS ]

♪

Man #2: THAT'S GOOD.

FOR THEM TO BE DOING 5-PLUS GRAMS A DAY DOING THIS,

THE GROUND MUST BE VERY GOOD.

Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM ARE SEARCHING FOR NUGGETS

IN A REMOTE GOLD MINE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PORGERA.

THEY HAD GOOD NUGGET ON PORCUPINE CREEK.

THERE WAS SOME UNBELIEVABLY GOOD GROUND.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I REMEMBER ONE DAY MY GRANDPA

HAD A 42-OUNCE DAY,

AND THEY WOULD SLUICE FOR 4 HOURS, SAME CONDITIONS

AS HERE, MASSIVE BOULDERS, TIGHT SPACES, HIGH WALLS.

I MISS THOSE DAYS.

WE USED TO PICK GOLD NUGGETS OFF THE BEDROCK.

I HAD A LITTLE PART OF THE SLUICE BOX,

THAT IF IT GOT PAST ALL OF THE MAIN RECOVERY STUFF,

I COULD KEEP THE GOLD.

I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.

WE'LL STILL RETURN TO SMITH CREEK SOMEDAY.

WHOA.

Parker: WHOA, BEHIND YOU.

WHOA. [BLEEP]

IT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S ALL RIGHT.

Karla: TAKE 5.

YEAH, I'M GOOD. IT'S OKAY.

Fred: WELL, IT'S STARTING TO RAIN RIGHT NOW,

AND I CAN SEE CRACKS ALL OVER THERE.

I WAS JUST POINTING IT OUT TO KARLA, LIKE,

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

GOLD FEVER, I GUESS.

I WAS IN THERE DOING THE SAME THING.

YOU KNOW?

I SAW THAT NUGGET THEY FOUND, AND I WAS LIKE,

"OH, I'M GOING TO GO FIND A NUGGET,"

AND I'M PERCHED UNDER THIS HUGE ASS ROCK

NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT, LOOKING FOR A NUGGET.

SO I GET THAT, BUT -- I DON'T KNOW.

NOT MY CUP OF TEA.

♪

THIS IS ONE OF THE CRUDEST SETUPS

I'VE EVER SEEN ON SOME OF THE BEST GROUND

I'VE EVER SEEN, WHICH IS NOT A NORMAL COMBO.

A LOT OF ROCK FALLS THROUGH, SO IT'S DANGEROUS.

I HONESTLY CAN'T RELATE TO IT.

I MEAN, THIS IS ALL THEY HAVE.

I GUESS IT'S THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY,

WHICH IS REALLY SAD TO ME,

THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIFE AT RISK FOR,

WHAT, THEY FOUND, LIKE, 4 GRAMS TODAY.

THAT PROBABLY HAS TO GET SPLIT AMONGST THESE GUYS.

I'D DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I'D BUY SOME GOATS AND BREED GOATS OR SOMETHING, MAN.

NO, PIGS. YOU'D BE A PIG FARMER.

I'D BE A PIG FARMER, YEAH.

Narrator: WITH RAIN MAKING THE UNSTABLE

OVERHANG EVEN MORE DANGEROUS...

YOU GUYS GOOD? OH, I'M DOWN.

I'M DOWN.

...THE TEAM CALL IT A DAY AT THE RIVER MINE.

ON THEIR WAY OUT OF FRANK'S MINE,

THE TEAM ARE HANDED A LETTER.

WHAT UP, SAM?

THIS GOT HAND-DELIVERED TO THE FILM CREW.

I THINK IT'S FROM THE MINE.

Parker: "WE HEREBY PUT YOU ON NOTICE TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE

ENTERING ANY AREAS OR FILMING

WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SML,"

WHICH IS THEIR MINING LEASE.

WE TRIED OUR BEST TO GET THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY,

AND THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US THEIR SIDE.

I'M NOT SURPRISED BY THIS, ACTUALLY.

NO.

Karla: YEAH, DO WE -- ARE WE DONE HERE?

Sam: DOESN'T LEAVE US A LOT OF OPTIONS.

SO, I GUESS WE BETTER GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

Sam: YEP.

I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY SLEEP OVER IT.

LET'S RIDE.

♪

Parker: I'M KIND OF HAPPY TO PUT THIS PLACE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

IT'S SAD. YOU KNOW?

PROSPECTORS ROMANTICIZE THE BIG STRIKE,

BUT THIS IS WHAT THAT BRINGS.

THERE'S 20 MILLION OUNCES BEEN PULLED OUT OF THAT MINE SITE,

AND IT HASN'T MADE THIS PLACE ANY BETTER, REALLY.

IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION HERE. YOU KNOW?

I REALLY FEEL FOR THEM BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE,

THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS HERE THAT WILL NEVER KNOW ANY DIFFERENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT WE'VE MET OVER

THE LAST FEW DAYS THAT WILL PROBABLY EITHER GET KILLED

OR END UP IN JAIL, AND THAT'S SOBERING.

THAT'S PRETTY SOBERING.

♪

♪

♪

I'M PUMPED TO BE DOING SOME ACTUAL PROSPECTING.

I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS NEXT PART.

Narrator: NEXT TIME...

THEY CALL IT THE EL DORADO GOLD.

...PARKER AND HIS TEAM GO IN SEARCH OF A GOLD MINE

HIDDEN FROM THE JAPANESE MILITARY DURING WORLD WAR II...

Fred: WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, PARKER?

IT'S COOL TO SEE SOME GOLD.

...AND FIND AN UNEXPECTED DANGER.

GUYS, WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO FIGHT.

IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?

WE NEED TO GET THE [BLEEP] OUT OF HERE, GUYS.

Karla: THAT GUY HAS GOT A MACHETE.

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]