"Outback Opal Hunters" Blue Fire Opal or Bust

1 00:00:01,448 --> 00:00:03,931 Narrator: ON "OUTBACK OPAL HUNTERS"... 2 00:00:03,965 --> 00:00:05,413 I HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS. 3 00:00:05,448 --> 00:00:08,241 ROOKIE JUSTIN RECRUITS FIANCéE, BECKY, 4 00:00:08,275 --> 00:00:10,724 TO TRY AND SAVE HIM FROM FINANCIAL RUIN. 5 00:00:10,758 --> 00:00:11,965 DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'VE SPENT? 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:13,689 60 GRAND. 7 00:00:13,724 --> 00:00:15,793 THAT'S TOO MUCH. 8 00:00:15,827 --> 00:00:18,275 THE FIRE CREW FACE DEADLY REPTILES... 9 00:00:18,310 --> 00:00:19,827 STOP, STOP. THERE'S A SNAKE. 10 00:00:19,862 --> 00:00:22,310 WHERE?...AND SNAPPED SUSPENSION... 11 00:00:22,344 --> 00:00:23,517 YES. 12 00:00:23,551 --> 00:00:24,965 HAVEN'T EVEN TOUCHED A BIT OF OPAL YET. 13 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,793 Narrator: ...IN SEARCH OF FABLED BLUE FIRE OPAL. 14 00:00:27,827 --> 00:00:30,034 WE'RE NOT LOST. WE'RE GEOGRAPHICALLY EMBARRASSED. 15 00:00:30,068 --> 00:00:31,344 THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. 16 00:00:31,379 --> 00:00:34,000 Narrator: AND THE COOKE BROTHERS GO 20 METERS UNDER... 17 00:00:34,034 --> 00:00:36,206 COME ON, OPAL. WHERE ARE YOU? 18 00:00:36,241 --> 00:00:38,241 ...DESPERATE TO GET THEIR HANDS 19 00:00:38,275 --> 00:00:40,724 ON THE FIRST PIECE OF OPAL FOR THE SEASON. 20 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:48,074 21 00:01:06,413 --> 00:01:09,379 --Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com 22 00:01:09,413 --> 00:01:12,620 CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS 23 00:01:18,172 --> 00:01:20,655 Narrator: COOBER PEDY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 24 00:01:20,689 --> 00:01:23,862 THE BIGGEST OPAL-PRODUCING REGION IN THE COUNTRY, 25 00:01:23,896 --> 00:01:29,068 HOME OF WHITE OPAL, WORTH UP TO $7,500 A GRAM. 26 00:01:29,103 --> 00:01:32,241 BUT WITH TEMPERATURES OVER 47 DEGREES CELSIUS, 27 00:01:32,275 --> 00:01:35,896 MAKING A LIVING OUT HERE MINING OPAL CAN BE BRUTAL. 28 00:01:35,931 --> 00:01:37,413 Justin: I HAVEN'T FOUND MUCH THIS WHOLE YEAR, 29 00:01:37,448 --> 00:01:39,275 AND IT'S SORT OF GETTING A LITTLE BIT TIRING. 30 00:01:39,310 --> 00:01:41,448 I'M STARTING TO FORGET WHAT OPAL LOOKS LIKE. 31 00:01:41,482 --> 00:01:44,655 Narrator: AFTER 4 STRAIGHT MONTHS OF BACKBREAKING WORK 32 00:01:44,689 --> 00:01:46,413 AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON, 33 00:01:46,448 --> 00:01:50,586 ROOKIE JUSTIN IS STILL WAY OFF HIS $75,000 TARGET. 34 00:01:51,862 --> 00:01:53,689 WHY DON'T WE JUST CALL IT QUITS, HUH? 35 00:01:53,724 --> 00:01:56,827 HE'S JUST SPLIT UP WITH MINING PARTNER DAN, 36 00:01:56,862 --> 00:01:58,965 BLOWN THOUSANDS ON BUSTED EQUIPMENT... 37 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,310 Becky: LOOK AT ALL THAT OIL. 38 00:02:00,344 --> 00:02:03,172 ...AND EVERY DAY SLIDES DEEPER INTO DEBT. 39 00:02:03,206 --> 00:02:05,655 Justin: IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A THING WHEN PEOPLE AROUND YOU, 40 00:02:05,689 --> 00:02:07,655 ESPECIALLY PEOPLE YOU LOVE, START TO GO, YOU KNOW, 41 00:02:07,689 --> 00:02:11,586 "YOU'RE NOT FINDING SOMETHING," YOU KNOW, "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" 42 00:02:11,620 --> 00:02:13,379 Narrator: IN HIS LAST-DITCH ATTEMPT 43 00:02:13,413 --> 00:02:15,000 TO MAKE IT AS AN OPAL MINER, 44 00:02:15,034 --> 00:02:19,551 HE'S BANKING ON HIS LATEST CLAIM AT AN OLD MINEFIELD CALLED VINO. 45 00:02:19,586 --> 00:02:23,862 IT'S AN OLD FIELD, AND IT HAS PRODUCED A LOT OF OPAL. 46 00:02:23,896 --> 00:02:27,172 Narrator: RECENTLY ENGAGED AND WITH PLANS TO START A FAMILY, 47 00:02:27,206 --> 00:02:29,103 JUSTIN'S TAKING A BIG RISK 48 00:02:29,137 --> 00:02:32,551 SINKING ALL HIS CASH RESERVES INTO OPAL MINING. 49 00:02:35,482 --> 00:02:37,344 Justin: IT IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT SORT OF TIGHT. 50 00:02:37,379 --> 00:02:40,793 EVERY TRIP'S COSTING A LOT OF MONEY. 51 00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:42,724 AHH! 52 00:02:42,758 --> 00:02:44,862 BUT I'VE GOT POSITIVE HOPES ABOUT THIS SPOT, 53 00:02:44,896 --> 00:02:46,206 AND I THINK IT'LL BE GOOD. 54 00:02:46,241 --> 00:02:49,137 Narrator: HE NEEDS TO FIND OPAL IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS 55 00:02:49,172 --> 00:02:51,551 OR QUIT BROKE. 56 00:02:55,344 --> 00:02:58,206 DESPERATE FOR HELP, HE'S CALLED IN THE ONLY FRIEND 57 00:02:58,241 --> 00:03:02,413 HE CAN TRULY RELY ON -- FIANCéE BECKY. 58 00:03:02,448 --> 00:03:04,655 BECKY'S BEEN HERE JUST ONCE BEFORE 59 00:03:04,689 --> 00:03:07,172 AND IS EVEN MORE OF A ROOKIE THAN JUSTIN. 60 00:03:07,206 --> 00:03:08,965 Justin: I HAVEN'T SEEN HER FOR A FEW WEEKS, 61 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,896 SO IT'S SORT OF NICE JUST TO SEE HER 'CAUSE I MISS HER. 62 00:03:11,931 --> 00:03:12,896 I'M PRETTY EXCITED. 63 00:03:12,931 --> 00:03:13,965 HELLO, HELLO. 64 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,862 HI, SWEETIE. COME HERE. 65 00:03:15,896 --> 00:03:16,896 HOW ARE YOU? 66 00:03:16,931 --> 00:03:19,517 MWAH. MWAH. 67 00:03:19,551 --> 00:03:21,344 I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO SHOW YOU THIS CLAIM. 68 00:03:21,379 --> 00:03:22,827 I THINK THERE'S SOME OPAL THERE. 69 00:03:22,862 --> 00:03:23,896 ARE YOU READY TO DO SOME WORK? 70 00:03:23,931 --> 00:03:25,034 OKAY. 71 00:03:28,551 --> 00:03:30,068 THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE MOUNTING 72 00:03:30,103 --> 00:03:32,241 BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING ALL YEAR, 73 00:03:32,275 --> 00:03:34,931 AND BECKY AND I HAVE GOT ENGAGED THIS YEAR. 74 00:03:34,965 --> 00:03:38,000 HAVING A FAMILY IS EXPENSIVE THESE DAYS. 75 00:03:38,034 --> 00:03:41,000 THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO BE BROKE WITH A FAMILY 76 00:03:41,034 --> 00:03:42,793 AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MINE. 77 00:03:42,827 --> 00:03:45,724 I'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PROVE TO HER THAT I CAN FIND OPAL 78 00:03:45,758 --> 00:03:48,344 AT LEAST TO GIVE HER A TASTE OF OPAL FEVER 79 00:03:48,379 --> 00:03:50,586 AND TO KEEP HER ON BOARD FOR A BIT LONGER. 80 00:03:50,620 --> 00:03:53,137 Narrator: WITH JUST 3 MONTHS OF THE SEASON LEFT, 81 00:03:53,172 --> 00:03:56,344 THE NEW ROOKIES NEED TO HIT THE GROUND HARD. 82 00:03:56,379 --> 00:03:58,310 LET'S GO. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS CLAIM. 83 00:03:58,344 --> 00:04:00,137 HERE SHE IS. 84 00:04:00,172 --> 00:04:02,344 WHAT DO YOU RECKON, BECK? 85 00:04:02,379 --> 00:04:04,068 THAT'S WHERE I'M WORKING -- STRAIGHT AHEAD THERE, 86 00:04:04,103 --> 00:04:05,172 BEHIND THESE PILES OF DIRT, 87 00:04:05,206 --> 00:04:08,034 AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE OPAL IS. 88 00:04:08,068 --> 00:04:12,724 JUSTIN IS THE MOST OPTIMISTIC PERSON YOU COULD POSSIBLY MEET. 89 00:04:12,758 --> 00:04:14,724 SOMETIMES I THINK MAYBE TOO OPTIMISTIC, 90 00:04:14,758 --> 00:04:18,068 AND HE NEEDS SOMEONE WHO'S A BIT MORE RATIONAL. 91 00:04:18,103 --> 00:04:19,482 Narrator: IN THE OLD DIGGINGS, 92 00:04:19,517 --> 00:04:23,000 JUSTIN HAS ALREADY FOUND SEVERAL DIAGONAL FAULTS, 93 00:04:23,034 --> 00:04:27,551 KNOWN AS SLIPS, THAT ARE GOOD INDICATORS OF OPAL DEPOSITS. 94 00:04:27,586 --> 00:04:28,965 THE OPAL MAKES ON THE SLIPS, 95 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,931 WHICH ARE THE IRONSTONE 45-DEGREE ANGLE SLIPS, 96 00:04:31,965 --> 00:04:33,862 THE ACTUAL ROCK THAT'S EITHER RUBBED 97 00:04:33,896 --> 00:04:35,551 OR SEPARATED OVER TIME.Becky: MM. 98 00:04:35,586 --> 00:04:38,862 THE OPAL FINDS ITS WAY INTO THAT LITTLE CRACK AND SUCH, 99 00:04:38,896 --> 00:04:40,551 AND IT WILL THEN FILL UP THAT VOID. 100 00:04:40,586 --> 00:04:41,827 THIS MIGHT BE THE ONE. 101 00:04:41,862 --> 00:04:43,965 I KNOW THAT'S BECOMING A BIT OF A JOKE LATELY. 102 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,724 I'VE FOUND NOTHING ALL YEAR, SO, FINGERS CROSSED, THIS IS... 103 00:04:47,758 --> 00:04:50,896 THIS PAYS OFF. 104 00:04:50,931 --> 00:04:53,068 BUT THE PIT THAT SHOWS THE MOST PROMISE 105 00:04:53,103 --> 00:04:56,413 IS SURROUNDED BY DANGEROUS PILES OF LOOSE DIRT. 106 00:04:56,448 --> 00:04:59,241 THEY MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE MINING CAN BEGIN, 107 00:04:59,275 --> 00:05:02,724 OR THEY RISK BEING BURIED ALIVE. 108 00:05:02,758 --> 00:05:04,965 Justin: THE PLAN FOR TODAY IS MOVING ALL THIS DIRT, 109 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,275 AND I'VE GOT TO MOVE THAT TO GET TO THE OPAL. 110 00:05:07,310 --> 00:05:08,275 MWAH. MWAH. 111 00:05:08,310 --> 00:05:09,344 SEE YOU SOON. 112 00:05:18,448 --> 00:05:19,724 I'M EXCITED, ACTUALLY. 113 00:05:19,758 --> 00:05:21,344 I LIKE THE LOOK OF THE GROUND. 114 00:05:21,379 --> 00:05:23,344 WITH THE LITTLE BIT I LEARNT AT LAST TRIP, 115 00:05:23,379 --> 00:05:26,275 THAT LOOKS MORE PROMISING THAN THE LAST ONE ANYWAY. 116 00:05:26,310 --> 00:05:28,172 Justin: EVERY MORNING, YOU'VE GOT TO SORT OF TRICK YOURSELF 117 00:05:28,206 --> 00:05:30,862 INTO BELIEVING THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A BIG AMOUNT OF OPAL 118 00:05:30,896 --> 00:05:33,034 THAT YOU CAN FIND AND KEEP YOUR HOPE UP 119 00:05:33,068 --> 00:05:35,413 AND THEN JUST KEEP YOURSELF MOTIVATED. 120 00:05:35,448 --> 00:05:36,862 HELLO, DARLING. 121 00:05:36,896 --> 00:05:38,482 BECKY: Hi, sweetie. 122 00:05:42,172 --> 00:05:45,172 Narrator: BECKY'S PRESENCE LIFTS JUSTIN'S MORALE, 123 00:05:45,206 --> 00:05:49,931 AND AFTER JUST HALF A DAY, HE'S CLEARED THE OLD DIRT PILES. 124 00:05:49,965 --> 00:05:53,000 NEXT STEP -- START DIGGING THE PIT FACE. 125 00:05:53,034 --> 00:05:55,172 Justin: I JUST HOPE TO GOD THAT WE CAN GET THE OPAL 126 00:05:55,206 --> 00:05:58,275 AND THEN HAVE AT LEAST ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP GOING. 127 00:06:00,931 --> 00:06:04,206 Narrator: BUT TO REACH IT, HE HAS TO MOVE HIS 20-TON EXCAVATOR 128 00:06:04,241 --> 00:06:05,724 DOWN A STEEP SLOPE. 129 00:06:05,758 --> 00:06:08,068 Justin: SO, NOW I'VE GOT TO BRING THIS EXCAVATOR DOWN HERE, 130 00:06:08,103 --> 00:06:11,103 CLEAN THIS AREA UP, AND THEN WE CAN START MINING. 131 00:06:11,137 --> 00:06:13,586 Narrator: JUSTIN'S NEW TO EXCAVATOR DRIVING. 132 00:06:13,620 --> 00:06:16,000 HE'S ONLY OWNED THE MACHINE FOR A FEW MONTHS 133 00:06:16,034 --> 00:06:18,448 AND NEVER TRIED THIS MANEUVER BEFORE. 134 00:06:18,482 --> 00:06:23,068 THE ONLY CONCERN I DO HAVE IS, THIS GROUND HERE IS REALLY SOFT. 135 00:06:23,103 --> 00:06:24,310 YOU CAN SEE HOW SOFT IT IS. 136 00:06:24,344 --> 00:06:26,793 AND YOU DON'T WANT TO SORT OF HAVE THE MACHINE 137 00:06:26,827 --> 00:06:28,137 SORT OF LOSE CONTROL THERE. 138 00:06:28,172 --> 00:06:29,758 I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT HOW YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA 139 00:06:29,793 --> 00:06:31,241 GET THE EXCAVATOR DOWN. 140 00:06:31,275 --> 00:06:32,689 WHAT YOU DO IS, YOU USE THE ACTUAL BOOM 141 00:06:32,724 --> 00:06:34,551 AND THE BUCKET TO SORT OF STABILIZE YOURSELF, 142 00:06:34,586 --> 00:06:36,482 SO IT'S LIKE YOUR THREE POINTS OF CONTACT. 143 00:06:36,517 --> 00:06:39,655 I'M NOT FEELING VERY COMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS AT ALL. 144 00:06:39,689 --> 00:06:42,413 THAT LOOKS PRETTY STEEP. 145 00:06:42,448 --> 00:06:44,034 TOO STEEP. 146 00:06:52,724 --> 00:06:56,103 I'M KEEN TO GET IN THERE AND DIG UP SOME OPAL. 147 00:06:56,137 --> 00:06:58,586 DEEP IN THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK, 148 00:06:58,620 --> 00:07:01,655 THE FIRE CREW IS ON AN EPIC TREASURE HUNT. 149 00:07:03,793 --> 00:07:05,000 YEAH. 150 00:07:05,034 --> 00:07:06,517 SO FAR THIS SEASON, 151 00:07:06,551 --> 00:07:09,241 DAD AND VETERAN PROSPECTOR PETE'S HUNCHES 152 00:07:09,275 --> 00:07:13,310 HAVE SEEN THE TEAM STORM PAST THEIR TARGET. 153 00:07:13,344 --> 00:07:16,034 NOW HE WANTS TO RAISE THE STAKES AND GAMBLE 154 00:07:16,068 --> 00:07:18,310 ON TRACKING DOWN AN OPAL SO RARE, 155 00:07:18,344 --> 00:07:22,862 HE'S THE ONLY PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE EVER SEEN IT -- 156 00:07:22,896 --> 00:07:24,724 BLUE FIRE OPAL. 157 00:07:28,344 --> 00:07:30,517 THIS IS THE FINAL PART OF THE JOURNEY. 158 00:07:36,482 --> 00:07:38,310 IT'S GOOD OPAL, IS IT? 159 00:07:39,344 --> 00:07:40,793 OKAY. 160 00:07:40,827 --> 00:07:42,586 PHEW! HOT. 161 00:07:42,620 --> 00:07:46,551 Narrator: PETE BELIEVES HE SAW BLUE FIRE OPAL 14 YEARS AGO 162 00:07:46,586 --> 00:07:49,620 AT THE BOTTOM OF A SHAFT HE WAS DIGGING WITH SON ADAM. 163 00:07:49,655 --> 00:07:51,931 Pete P.: THERE'S THE PLATFORM WE MADE UP. 164 00:07:51,965 --> 00:07:53,517 THE HOLE'S DOWN THERE. 165 00:07:53,551 --> 00:07:55,620 IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN. 166 00:07:58,965 --> 00:08:03,103 Narrator: WITH THE MINE SHAFT UNSTABLE AND INFESTED WITH DEADLY SNAKES, 167 00:08:03,137 --> 00:08:04,965 PETE WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT, 168 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:10,310 BUT ADAM NEVER SAW IT AND ISN'T CONVINCED. 169 00:08:10,344 --> 00:08:12,827 DOWN THE BOTTOM OF THAT SHAFT, RIGHT, 170 00:08:12,862 --> 00:08:16,413 IT SORT OF LOOKED BLUISH WITH THE LIGHT. 171 00:08:16,448 --> 00:08:19,965 THERE WAS A NICE, BIG, THICK CHUNK, 172 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,689 A BEAUTIFUL BLUE LUSTER THROUGH IT. 173 00:08:21,724 --> 00:08:24,172 FIRE -- A BLUE FIRE OPAL. 174 00:08:24,206 --> 00:08:26,655 WELL, I'M A BIT SKEPTICAL ON IT 175 00:08:26,689 --> 00:08:28,793 'CAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. 176 00:08:28,827 --> 00:08:30,068 THIS WILL BE A FIRST. 177 00:08:30,103 --> 00:08:31,275 IT WILL BE A FIRST, YEAH. 178 00:08:31,310 --> 00:08:32,413 AND IT WAS PRETTY HOT OUT THERE. 179 00:08:32,448 --> 00:08:34,068 WE MAY HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE SUN FOR TOO LONG. 180 00:08:34,103 --> 00:08:36,275 WITH ADAM NOW A TRAINED FIREFIGHTER, 181 00:08:36,310 --> 00:08:39,344 HE HAS THE SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT TO FINALLY REACH IT... 182 00:08:39,379 --> 00:08:40,655 IF IT'S THERE. 183 00:08:40,689 --> 00:08:43,172 WE'VE GOT ALL THE GEAR TO GO AND HAVE A LOOK. 184 00:08:43,206 --> 00:08:44,896 YEAH, WE'LL KNOW ONCE AND FOR ALL 185 00:08:44,931 --> 00:08:47,379 IF IT'S DOWN THERE OR NOT. 186 00:08:47,413 --> 00:08:49,620 Adam: SOMEONE HAD TO FIND DIAMONDS ONCE. 187 00:08:49,655 --> 00:08:52,000 SO, OH, IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD BE THE FIRST ONES 188 00:08:52,034 --> 00:08:53,517 TO FIND BLUE FIRE OPAL. 189 00:08:53,551 --> 00:08:56,586 IT'D BE PRICELESS. I KNOW THAT. 190 00:08:56,620 --> 00:08:59,241 THE FIRE CREW WILL BE SEARCHING IN A REMOTE SECTION 191 00:08:59,275 --> 00:09:04,344 OF DESERT 100 KILOMETERS FROM THE TOWN OF LAVERTON. 192 00:09:04,379 --> 00:09:06,275 PETE BELIEVES THE BLUE FIRE OPAL 193 00:09:06,310 --> 00:09:10,689 GOT ITS COLOR FROM THE VIVID BLUE COBALT RICH IN THIS AREA. 194 00:09:10,724 --> 00:09:12,896 WE HAVE TO CROSS THE RIVER AND FOLLOW THIS TRACK 195 00:09:12,931 --> 00:09:14,758 ACROSS THE RIVER, WHICH IS JUST THERE. 196 00:09:14,793 --> 00:09:16,793 AND THE TRACK'S SUPPOSED TO BE OFF TO OUR... 197 00:09:16,827 --> 00:09:19,206 RIGHT. ...RIGHT. 198 00:09:19,241 --> 00:09:21,931 OH, WE NEED TO MOVE CAMP TO POSITION OURSELVES 199 00:09:21,965 --> 00:09:25,103 CLOSER TO THIS POTENTIAL MINE SHAFT. 200 00:09:25,137 --> 00:09:29,310 IT'S OVER 100 K DRIVE EASILY BETWEEN OUR LAVERTON SITE 201 00:09:29,344 --> 00:09:31,931 AND WHERE THIS POTENTIAL SITE IS. 202 00:09:31,965 --> 00:09:35,275 WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING A COUPLE OF DAYS THERE. 203 00:09:35,310 --> 00:09:38,620 BUT RIGHT NOW, THE FAMILY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR WAY 204 00:09:38,655 --> 00:09:42,206 THROUGH ENDLESS KILOMETERS OF DENSE BUSH. 205 00:09:42,241 --> 00:09:46,655 WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A SPOT FROM 14 YEARS AGO. 206 00:09:46,689 --> 00:09:49,689 THE TRACK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE NORTHEAST 207 00:09:49,724 --> 00:09:51,068 DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HERE ANYMORE, 208 00:09:51,103 --> 00:09:54,310 SO THE OLD MAN'S HAVING A QUICK WALK AROUND TO SEE 209 00:09:54,344 --> 00:09:57,344 IF HE CAN FIND REMNANTS OF AN OLD TRACK SOMEWHERE. 210 00:09:57,379 --> 00:09:59,517 WE'RE NOT LOST. WE'RE GEOGRAPHICALLY EMBARRASSED. 211 00:09:59,551 --> 00:10:02,620 THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. 212 00:10:02,655 --> 00:10:06,517 Narrator: FOR ADAM'S PARTNER, CASSIDY, GETTING LOST IS NOT AN OPTION. 213 00:10:06,551 --> 00:10:08,241 TO ME, EVERY TRIP WE HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING 214 00:10:08,275 --> 00:10:11,137 BECAUSE IT COSTS A LOT TO DO THIS. 215 00:10:11,172 --> 00:10:13,275 I NEED TO KNOW THAT WE CAN DO IT EACH TIME 216 00:10:13,310 --> 00:10:18,103 SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE A BUSINESS OUT OF THIS. 217 00:10:18,137 --> 00:10:21,172 THE GOOD NEWS IS, I FOUND THE TRACK, WHICH WAS OUT THERE, 218 00:10:21,206 --> 00:10:24,689 WHERE IT SHOULD BE, SO IT'S ALL GOOD. 219 00:10:27,551 --> 00:10:30,965 LOOK AT THAT. OH, THAT'S COOL. 220 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,965 DAD, DID YOU SEE THAT ROCK TO OUR RIGHT-HAND SIDE BACK THERE? 221 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,448 YEAH, THERE IT IS. I CAN SEE IT. 222 00:10:35,482 --> 00:10:36,862 WE'RE IN THE RIGHT AREA. 223 00:10:36,896 --> 00:10:39,517 Narrator: FINALLY, PETE'S FOUND THE OLD MINEFIELD 224 00:10:39,551 --> 00:10:41,965 WHERE HE CLAIMS HE SAW BLUE OPAL. 225 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,724 NOW THEY JUST HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT SHAFT 226 00:10:44,758 --> 00:10:46,344 AND GET TO THE BOTTOM. 227 00:10:46,379 --> 00:10:47,586 YOU JUST WANT TO GET IN A HOLE, 228 00:10:47,620 --> 00:10:49,137 AND YOU JUST WANT TO FIND BLUE OPAL. 229 00:10:49,172 --> 00:10:50,482 IT'S KIND OF A GOOD COMBINATION. 230 00:10:50,517 --> 00:10:51,689 WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? 231 00:10:51,724 --> 00:10:53,482 JUST NOT -- YOU NOT DIE WOULD BE GREAT. 232 00:10:53,517 --> 00:10:55,206 WELL, I'LL DO MY BEST. 233 00:10:55,241 --> 00:10:57,689 WE'LL SURVIVE. YEAH. 234 00:11:11,482 --> 00:11:13,482 COMING UP. 235 00:11:13,517 --> 00:11:16,965 36 KILOMETERS FROM THE TOWN OF LIGHTNING RIDGE, 236 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,862 ON THE COOKE BROTHERS' 50-BY-50-METER ALLAWAH CLAIM, 237 00:11:21,896 --> 00:11:25,206 PETE COOKE AND 19-YEAR-OLD APPRENTICE SAM 238 00:11:25,241 --> 00:11:27,310 ARE GETTING READY TO EXPLORE THE BOTTOM 239 00:11:27,344 --> 00:11:29,310 OF A FRESHLY DUG SHAFT. 240 00:11:29,344 --> 00:11:31,482 Pete C.: MIGHT BE SOMETHING DOWN THERE. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LOOK. 241 00:11:31,517 --> 00:11:36,344 IT'S TIME TO GET GOING, FIND SOME OPAL. 242 00:11:36,379 --> 00:11:37,758 Narrator: TO MAKE ENDS MEET, 243 00:11:37,793 --> 00:11:41,206 MICK HAS HAD TO TAKE A PAID DRILLING JOB OUT OF TOWN... 244 00:11:41,241 --> 00:11:44,310 YEAH, PLENTY TO DO. JUST TRY AND GET IT ALL DONE. 245 00:11:44,344 --> 00:11:47,931 Narrator: ...LEAVING PETE AND SAM TO DIG WITHOUT HIM. 246 00:11:47,965 --> 00:11:51,206 I GOT ME LITTLE TRUSTY SIDEKICK, SAM, WITH ME. 247 00:11:51,241 --> 00:11:52,689 HE'S GOOD. HE'S ON THE BALL. 248 00:11:52,724 --> 00:11:54,517 70 FOOT DEEP. YEAH. 249 00:11:54,551 --> 00:11:56,517 YOU FALL DOWN THERE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE. 250 00:11:56,551 --> 00:11:58,344 YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST PUT THE DIRT ON TOP OF YOU 251 00:11:58,379 --> 00:12:00,931 AND TELL YOUR MOM YOU WENT TO THE GOLD COAST, RIGHT? 252 00:12:00,965 --> 00:12:02,000 THAT'S WHAT... 253 00:12:02,034 --> 00:12:03,517 YEAH. 254 00:12:03,551 --> 00:12:04,758 NO, YOU JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL. 255 00:12:04,793 --> 00:12:07,931 SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. 256 00:12:07,965 --> 00:12:10,862 Narrator: WITH A $200,000 TARGET 257 00:12:10,896 --> 00:12:13,482 AND NOT A FIND SO FAR THIS SEASON, 258 00:12:13,517 --> 00:12:17,206 THE BOYS NEED TO GO BIG OR GO HOME. 259 00:12:24,379 --> 00:12:26,655 WHAT THEY'RE HUNTING IS LIGHTNING RIDGE'S 260 00:12:26,689 --> 00:12:30,793 SIGNATURE GEM, BLACK OPAL, 261 00:12:30,827 --> 00:12:33,137 WORTH UP TO $35,000 262 00:12:33,172 --> 00:12:35,620 FOR JUST 1/5 OF A GRAM. 263 00:12:35,655 --> 00:12:37,517 GOT TO KEEP TRYING, BASICALLY. 264 00:12:37,551 --> 00:12:39,689 JUST KEEP TRYING. WE'LL HIT IT ONE DAY. 265 00:12:39,724 --> 00:12:42,206 FOR SURE. 266 00:12:42,241 --> 00:12:44,620 BUT TO GET IT WON'T BE EASY. 267 00:12:44,655 --> 00:12:48,103 THE 20-METER SHAFT IS ONLY 1 METER IN DIAMETER, 268 00:12:48,137 --> 00:12:52,206 AND PETE HAS ALREADY SUFFERED NOT ONE, BUT TWO HEART ATTACKS. 269 00:12:52,241 --> 00:12:54,862 THAT SHOULD GO ON THE OUTSIDE. 270 00:12:54,896 --> 00:12:57,000 TO TRY AND MAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER, 271 00:12:57,034 --> 00:12:59,068 PETE'S BUILT AN ELECTRONIC WINCH, 272 00:12:59,103 --> 00:13:01,896 ALLOWING HIM TO BE LOWERED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DRILL HOLE 273 00:13:01,931 --> 00:13:03,965 IN A HARNESS. 274 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,517 I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF THE TRUCK, REALLY. 275 00:13:05,551 --> 00:13:07,413 I'LL JUST DRIVE THE TRUCK BESIDE THE HOLE. 276 00:13:07,448 --> 00:13:08,931 WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE IT'S STRAPPED ON GOOD 277 00:13:08,965 --> 00:13:11,379 ONTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK SO I DON'T FALL OFF. 278 00:13:11,413 --> 00:13:13,206 Narrator: BUT, TODAY, HE'S GOING TO TEST IT 279 00:13:13,241 --> 00:13:16,586 FOR THE FIRST TIME ON HIMSELF. 280 00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:17,965 I BUILT IT. I DID THE WELDING, 281 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,241 SO I'M THE ONE THAT SHOULD PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE. 282 00:13:21,275 --> 00:13:23,827 I'LL STAND UP AT THE TOP AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S 283 00:13:23,862 --> 00:13:25,172 ALL GOING WELL FROM UP HERE. 284 00:13:25,206 --> 00:13:27,034 I'LL SEND PETE DOWN ON IT. 285 00:13:27,068 --> 00:13:30,275 THERE YOU GO. 286 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:31,620 YOU'RE ON. 287 00:13:31,655 --> 00:13:33,931 Pete C.: IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT LIKE THIS. 288 00:13:33,965 --> 00:13:36,344 JUST GETTING IT ALL WORKED OUT, HOW TO DO IT SAFELY. 289 00:13:36,379 --> 00:13:39,310 THE OPAL'S BEEN DOWN THERE FOR OVER 100 MILLION YEARS. 290 00:13:39,344 --> 00:13:41,275 IT CAN WAIT ANOTHER 5 MINUTES. 291 00:13:46,965 --> 00:13:52,793 Narrator: PETE WILL SOON BE HANGING FROM A THIN STEEL CABLE. 292 00:13:52,827 --> 00:13:55,241 Pete C.: OH, A LITTLE BIT OF TREPIDATION, 293 00:13:55,275 --> 00:13:59,034 I SUPPOSE, A LITTLE BIT OF WARINESS. 294 00:14:00,896 --> 00:14:02,655 Narrator: IF THE NEW WINCH FAILS, 295 00:14:02,689 --> 00:14:06,068 IT'S A 20-METER DROP TO THE BOTTOM. 296 00:14:11,379 --> 00:14:13,068 AT THE VINO OPAL FIELD... 297 00:14:13,103 --> 00:14:14,620 THE WORST THING IS, IT CAN JUST ROLL 298 00:14:14,655 --> 00:14:16,896 INTO THIS BIG PILE OF DIRT, AND THAT'S IT. 299 00:14:16,931 --> 00:14:18,965 ...WITH FIANCéE, BECKY, LOOKING ON... 300 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,344 OR IT'D CRUSH YOU. 301 00:14:20,379 --> 00:14:21,379 YEAH. IF IT ROLLS. 302 00:14:21,413 --> 00:14:22,758 NO, I WON'T THINK ABOUT THAT. 303 00:14:22,793 --> 00:14:23,965 ...ROOKIE OPERATOR JUSTIN 304 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,310 IS ABOUT TO TACKLE A STEEP INCLINE 305 00:14:26,344 --> 00:14:29,000 IN HIS NEWLY ACQUIRED 20-TON EXCAVATOR. 306 00:14:29,034 --> 00:14:30,931 Becky: I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO RUSH IT. 307 00:14:30,965 --> 00:14:33,137 ALL RIGHT. LET ME DO IT, AND WATCH. 308 00:14:33,172 --> 00:14:36,448 I FEEL LIKE THE INCLINE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH 309 00:14:36,482 --> 00:14:39,517 FOR A ROOKIE EXCAVATOR DRIVER TO TACKLE. 310 00:14:46,482 --> 00:14:48,620 OH, MY GOD. 311 00:14:48,655 --> 00:14:51,482 HE JUST WANTS TO GET TO THAT OPAL. 312 00:14:51,517 --> 00:14:54,068 Justin: OUT HERE, THERE'S NO RULES, SO LET'S GO FOR IT. 313 00:14:58,275 --> 00:15:01,310 OOH, I DON'T REALLY LIKE DOING THIS, 314 00:15:01,344 --> 00:15:03,896 BUT I'VE GOT TO LEARN SOME WAY. 315 00:15:03,931 --> 00:15:07,172 THAT'S THE TIPPING POINT RIGHT NOW. 316 00:15:07,206 --> 00:15:10,241 Narrator: JUSTIN MUST USE THE BUCKET TO STOP THE EXCAVATOR 317 00:15:10,275 --> 00:15:11,896 FROM TOPPLING OVER. 318 00:15:13,931 --> 00:15:16,034 SLOW AND STEADY IS GOOD. 319 00:15:32,413 --> 00:15:34,068 PERFECT. 320 00:15:34,103 --> 00:15:35,448 LOOK AT THAT. 321 00:15:37,620 --> 00:15:40,241 BACK TO THE GRIND. 322 00:15:40,275 --> 00:15:43,000 STRAIGHT INTO IT. NO PAUSE. 323 00:15:44,172 --> 00:15:46,482 I'M GLAD YOU'RE ALIVE! 324 00:15:46,517 --> 00:15:48,448 NO REST. 325 00:15:50,517 --> 00:15:53,724 Narrator: NOW, CLOSER TO THE FACE OF THE OPEN-CUT MINE, 326 00:15:53,758 --> 00:15:56,896 JUSTIN CAN FINISH CLEARING THE LAST REMAINING DIRT 327 00:15:56,931 --> 00:16:01,241 TO EXPOSE THE DARK IRONSTONE ROCK THAT BEARS THE OPAL. 328 00:16:03,379 --> 00:16:05,000 THIS IS SO EXCITING. 329 00:16:08,689 --> 00:16:11,379 ONE STRIKE OF THE PICK'S GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE. 330 00:16:11,413 --> 00:16:15,689 THAT'S WHAT I KEEP TELLING MYSELF EVERY DAY. 331 00:16:15,724 --> 00:16:19,793 THE STAKES ARE HIGH BECAUSE BECKY'S HERE. 332 00:16:19,827 --> 00:16:21,448 THE PRESSURE'S ON. 333 00:16:23,896 --> 00:16:25,275 THERE'S THE LEVEL, BECK. 334 00:16:25,310 --> 00:16:27,793 THAT'S THE LEVEL, MATE. WOW. 335 00:16:27,827 --> 00:16:29,448 THAT'S AS DEEP AS WE HAVE TO GO. 336 00:16:31,517 --> 00:16:34,103 THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA FIND OPAL, AS WELL. 337 00:16:34,137 --> 00:16:36,103 ALL I'VE GOT TO DO IS FIND A BIG POCKET, 338 00:16:36,137 --> 00:16:38,862 AND PRETTY MUCH, ALL THE WORRIES WILL GO AWAY, 339 00:16:38,896 --> 00:16:41,206 THE WORRIES OF BEING A BIT OF A FAILURE. 340 00:16:43,482 --> 00:16:44,689 WE'RE CLOSE. 341 00:16:44,724 --> 00:16:46,000 YOU'RE GONNA FREAKING LOVE IT 342 00:16:46,034 --> 00:16:47,965 WHEN WE SEE SOME OPAL. 343 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,724 I WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT FOR MYSELF. 344 00:16:49,758 --> 00:16:51,103 YOU'D JUST GIVE UP YOUR WHOLE LIFE 345 00:16:51,137 --> 00:16:52,517 JUST TO COME OPAL MINING WHEN YOU SEE IT. 346 00:16:52,551 --> 00:16:54,655 YOU RECKON? YEP. 347 00:16:54,689 --> 00:16:56,793 I CAN DEFINITELY START TO VISUALIZE NOW 348 00:16:56,827 --> 00:16:59,000 MYSELF BEING UP HERE, GIVING JUSTIN A HAND. 349 00:16:59,034 --> 00:17:02,413 HAVE A LOOK THIS STUFF, SWEETIE. 350 00:17:02,448 --> 00:17:04,344 THIS IS SO AWESOME. 351 00:17:04,379 --> 00:17:07,068 IMAGINE IF WE BOTH FIND SOMETHING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW? 352 00:17:07,103 --> 00:17:09,034 BOTH CHIPPING AWAY. 353 00:17:11,137 --> 00:17:12,827 OH, YEAH! 354 00:17:12,862 --> 00:17:16,344 IT'S REAL SMALL. 355 00:17:16,379 --> 00:17:18,724 OH, I DROPPED IT SOMEWHERE. 356 00:17:18,758 --> 00:17:20,103 Becky: OH, MY GOD. 357 00:17:37,206 --> 00:17:40,172 Adam: SO, WE'RE GONNA GO AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND THIS MINE SHAFT 358 00:17:40,206 --> 00:17:41,931 THAT I WAS DOWN 14 YEARS AGO. 359 00:17:41,965 --> 00:17:44,034 WE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MINE SHAFT IS IN GOOD NICK 360 00:17:44,068 --> 00:17:46,379 AND IT'S NOT FULLY CAVED-IN. 361 00:17:46,413 --> 00:17:49,724 Narrator: AFTER 12 HOURS OF NAVIGATING OUTBACK TRACKS, 362 00:17:49,758 --> 00:17:52,896 THE FIRE CREW FINALLY ARRIVE AT THE AREA OF PETE'S 363 00:17:52,931 --> 00:17:55,586 FABLED BLUE OPAL SIGHTING. 364 00:17:55,620 --> 00:17:57,862 THEY DID A BIT OF SERIOUS WORK HERE, DIDN'T THEY? 365 00:17:57,896 --> 00:18:00,689 OH, YEAH. THEY WERE GETTING A LOT OF MATERIAL. 366 00:18:00,724 --> 00:18:02,172 THEY WERE CHASING IT. 367 00:18:02,206 --> 00:18:05,620 Narrator: BUT THEY MUST STILL FIND THE RIGHT MINE SHAFT. 368 00:18:05,655 --> 00:18:08,827 THE WHOLE AREA IS DOTTED WITH DANGEROUS OLD DIGGINGS 369 00:18:08,862 --> 00:18:13,344 DATING BACK 80 YEARS WHERE MINERS HUNTED FOR RED FIRE OPAL. 370 00:18:13,379 --> 00:18:15,482 A FEW OPALS THERE. YEP. 371 00:18:15,517 --> 00:18:18,206 -1, 2, 3. -3 METERS. 372 00:18:18,241 --> 00:18:20,241 JUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IF YOU FALL DOWN THERE, 373 00:18:20,275 --> 00:18:21,793 YOU'RE GONNA HURT YOURSELF BAD. 374 00:18:21,827 --> 00:18:24,379 SERIOUS WORK FOR NOTHING. 375 00:18:24,413 --> 00:18:28,103 Narrator: IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT SHAFT OR CAN'T ACCESS IT, 376 00:18:28,137 --> 00:18:32,000 THEY'LL HAVE WASTED $3,000 ON THIS TRIP. 377 00:18:32,034 --> 00:18:34,758 SO, WHICH WAY IS WEST? 378 00:18:43,344 --> 00:18:44,965 AND HERE IT IS. 379 00:18:47,172 --> 00:18:49,689 THIS IS WHERE I WAS 14 YEARS AGO. 380 00:18:58,758 --> 00:19:00,965 AH. IT'S FULL OF WATER. 381 00:19:03,655 --> 00:19:05,206 THAT'S A BUMMER. 382 00:19:05,241 --> 00:19:06,310 OH, MY GOD. 383 00:19:06,344 --> 00:19:07,482 AND I'LL BE IN THE SHAFT. 384 00:19:07,517 --> 00:19:08,862 IS IT FULL OF WATER? 385 00:19:10,275 --> 00:19:12,586 YEP, YOU'RE BUGGERED. 386 00:19:12,620 --> 00:19:15,172 Cassidy: ADAM, THAT IS SO DEEP. 387 00:19:15,206 --> 00:19:19,413 Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE PETE'S DREAM OF RETRIEVING MYTHICAL BLUE OPAL 388 00:19:19,448 --> 00:19:22,793 HAS DROWNED AT THE BOTTOM OF AN OLD-TIMER'S SHAFT. 389 00:19:22,827 --> 00:19:25,827 WELL, IT MEANS THE TRIP'S A BIT OF A BUST AT THE MOMENT. 390 00:19:25,862 --> 00:19:27,827 IT'S THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME.YEP. 391 00:19:27,862 --> 00:19:30,551 WE HAVEN'T GOT THE PUMP TO EXCAVATE ALL THE WATER OUT. 392 00:19:30,586 --> 00:19:33,827 THAT'S PUT A STOP TO IT COMPLETELY. 393 00:19:43,586 --> 00:19:44,724 YEP. 394 00:19:50,758 --> 00:19:52,413 OH. 395 00:19:52,448 --> 00:19:54,793 AT THE COOKE BROTHERS' ALLAWAH CLAIM, 396 00:19:54,827 --> 00:19:57,344 PETE IS DANGLING FROM A HOMEMADE WINCH 397 00:19:57,379 --> 00:20:00,275 ABOVE A NARROW 20-METER OPAL SHAFT. 398 00:20:00,310 --> 00:20:01,344 ALL GOOD? 399 00:20:01,379 --> 00:20:04,068 HOPE SO! 400 00:20:04,103 --> 00:20:08,241 Narrator: APPRENTICE OPAL HUNTER SAM IS GUIDING HIM DOWN. 401 00:20:08,275 --> 00:20:09,551 YOU'RE STUCK ON THAT LEVEL. 402 00:20:09,586 --> 00:20:10,689 IT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S OKAY. 403 00:20:10,724 --> 00:20:13,862 I'LL JUST GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT. 404 00:20:13,896 --> 00:20:15,206 WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WATCH IT. 405 00:20:15,241 --> 00:20:16,724 NO WATER? YEAH? 406 00:20:16,758 --> 00:20:18,655 ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE ON? 407 00:20:18,689 --> 00:20:21,344 GOOD, MATE. 408 00:20:21,379 --> 00:20:23,241 IF HE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM, 409 00:20:23,275 --> 00:20:26,689 PETE'S HOPING HE'LL FIND SOME PRECIOUS BLACK OPAL 410 00:20:26,724 --> 00:20:28,517 TO GET THEIR SEASON STARTED. 411 00:20:41,310 --> 00:20:44,000 HOW YOU GOING, MATE? 412 00:20:44,034 --> 00:20:45,620 YEP, ON THE BOTTOM NOW. 413 00:20:45,655 --> 00:20:48,000 ALL RIGHT. 414 00:20:48,034 --> 00:20:51,620 20 METERS ABOVE, SAM IS PETE'S LIFELINE... 415 00:20:51,655 --> 00:20:54,103 CAN YOU PUT THE AIR BACK ON, PLEASE, SAM?! 416 00:20:54,137 --> 00:20:55,344 YEP. 417 00:20:55,379 --> 00:20:59,655 ...CONTROLLING AIR, PUMPS, AND EQUIPMENT. 418 00:20:59,689 --> 00:21:01,379 COME ON, OPAL. WHERE ARE YOU? 419 00:21:01,413 --> 00:21:04,448 I NEED THAT NICE, GLASSY SOUND. 420 00:21:04,482 --> 00:21:07,517 EVEN WITH JUST A PICK, PETE'S TUNED EAR 421 00:21:07,551 --> 00:21:09,862 CAN DETECT IF HE HITS OPAL. 422 00:21:13,517 --> 00:21:15,896 THERE'S A BIT OF TRACE IN THE WALL RIGHT THERE. 423 00:21:15,931 --> 00:21:17,137 LOOK AT THAT. 424 00:21:18,896 --> 00:21:21,172 YEAH, THERE'S PLENTY OF TRACE IN THE WALL. 425 00:21:21,206 --> 00:21:23,000 YEAH, A BIT OF BLUE. 426 00:21:23,034 --> 00:21:25,724 TRACE IS TINY AMOUNTS OF OPAL 427 00:21:25,758 --> 00:21:29,620 THAT COULD INDICATE LARGER, VALUABLE PIECES NEARBY. 428 00:21:33,448 --> 00:21:36,000 ROCKS COMING DOWN! 429 00:21:36,034 --> 00:21:40,068 BUT ABOVE, SAM ISN'T MAKING LIFE EASY. 430 00:21:40,103 --> 00:21:43,172 YEAH, I CAN'T REALLY HAVE YOU STANDING THERE TOO CLOSE 431 00:21:43,206 --> 00:21:45,275 'CAUSE YOU'RE KNOCKING ROCKS DOWN ON ME. 432 00:21:45,310 --> 00:21:47,034 OH, RIGHTY-O. YEP.ARE WE GOOD ON THAT? 433 00:21:47,068 --> 00:21:48,379 YEP. 434 00:21:48,413 --> 00:21:51,793 TEMPERATURES IN THE SHAFT ARE WELL OVER 30 DEGREES. 435 00:21:51,827 --> 00:21:56,206 HUMIDITY IS RISING FAST. 436 00:21:56,241 --> 00:22:00,103 PETE'S BEEN DOWN THERE FOR 2 HOURS. 437 00:22:00,137 --> 00:22:03,586 FINALLY, HIS PICK CHANGES TUNE. 438 00:22:06,965 --> 00:22:09,068 I FOUND SOME OPAL! 439 00:22:09,103 --> 00:22:10,827 SO, YOU FOUND SOME? 440 00:22:10,862 --> 00:22:13,103 YEAH, I FOUND ONE BIG-ASS NOBBY, MATE. 441 00:22:16,965 --> 00:22:18,379 OH, THAT'S GREAT. 442 00:22:18,413 --> 00:22:21,344 I CAN EVEN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR IN THE SIDE. 443 00:22:21,379 --> 00:22:23,068 YEAH, IT'S GOT A BIT OF GREEN THERE, 444 00:22:23,103 --> 00:22:24,931 MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF RED ON IT. 445 00:22:24,965 --> 00:22:26,724 THERE'S A COUPLE OF SPECKS. 446 00:22:26,758 --> 00:22:28,137 Sam: IT'S ALL PRETTY EXCITING. 447 00:22:28,172 --> 00:22:30,103 NOW I'M JUST WAITING FOR HIM TO GET BACK TO THE TOP. 448 00:22:30,137 --> 00:22:31,310 THAT WILL BE PRETTY COOL. 449 00:22:31,344 --> 00:22:32,379 THAT ONE'S IN THE POCKET. 450 00:22:32,413 --> 00:22:34,034 WE'LL HAVE THAT. 451 00:22:36,620 --> 00:22:38,206 WHAT DID WE FIND DOWN THERE? 452 00:22:38,241 --> 00:22:40,310 OH, THAT ONE'S ALL RIGHT.YEAH. 453 00:22:40,344 --> 00:22:42,862 I LIKE THAT. I LIKE THAT ORANGE SITTING ON THE BLACK THERE. 454 00:22:42,896 --> 00:22:44,344 YEAH. IT'S STRIKING. 455 00:22:55,862 --> 00:22:57,758 I DROPPED IT SOMEWHERE.Becky: OH, MY GOD. 456 00:22:57,793 --> 00:22:58,827 WELL, WHERE DID IT COME FROM? 457 00:22:58,862 --> 00:23:00,068 IN HERE. 458 00:23:00,103 --> 00:23:02,068 RIGHT, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE. 459 00:23:02,103 --> 00:23:03,586 ACTUALLY, I'LL CHECK. YOU WAIT FOR THIS. 460 00:23:03,620 --> 00:23:04,620 READY? YOU WAIT FOR THIS. 461 00:23:04,655 --> 00:23:06,689 I HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS. 462 00:23:06,724 --> 00:23:09,172 Narrator: ROOKIE JUSTIN AND FIANCéE, BECKY, 463 00:23:09,206 --> 00:23:11,344 HAVE FINALLY HIT OPAL. 464 00:23:11,379 --> 00:23:15,344 IT'S TRACE -- A SIGN LARGER PIECES COULD BE NEARBY. 465 00:23:30,517 --> 00:23:34,103 BUT AS QUICKLY AS IT APPEARS, IT DRIES UP. 466 00:23:36,206 --> 00:23:38,137 IT'S A LITTLE BIT SAD. 467 00:23:40,034 --> 00:23:41,620 AH, MAN. 468 00:23:41,655 --> 00:23:44,275 IF I DON'T FIND OPAL HERE, 469 00:23:44,310 --> 00:23:47,034 THEN I WON'T FIND OPAL ANYWHERE. 470 00:23:51,068 --> 00:23:55,000 WITH DWINDLING FINANCES AND NO OPAL THIS SEASON, 471 00:23:55,034 --> 00:23:58,034 SOME HARD QUESTIONS HAVE TO BE ANSWERED. 472 00:23:58,068 --> 00:23:59,551 HOW CAN LONG WE DO THIS FOR, THOUGH, 473 00:23:59,586 --> 00:24:01,103 UNTIL IT'S TOO MUCH? 474 00:24:01,137 --> 00:24:03,551 AND, LIKE, IF WE DON'T FIND ANYTHING... 475 00:24:03,586 --> 00:24:04,655 IT'S NOT A RELIABLE INCOME. 476 00:24:04,689 --> 00:24:05,793 IT'S NOT CONSISTENT. 477 00:24:05,827 --> 00:24:07,241 BUT THE THING IS, IF YOU LOOK AT... 478 00:24:07,275 --> 00:24:08,724 IT'S UNPREDICTABLE. YES, YEP. 479 00:24:08,758 --> 00:24:10,206 WELL, THIS MUST BE WHAT THEY MEAN 480 00:24:10,241 --> 00:24:12,206 WHEN THEY SAY PEOPLE GO BROKE. 481 00:24:12,241 --> 00:24:13,310 MM-HMM. 482 00:24:20,896 --> 00:24:22,137 Adam: OH, WELL. 483 00:24:24,793 --> 00:24:27,448 I MEAN, BLUE OPAL WOULD'VE BEEN AMAZING, BUT ANOTHER TIME, 484 00:24:27,482 --> 00:24:30,586 WHEN WE CAN DO IT SAFER, I THINK. 485 00:24:30,620 --> 00:24:32,379 YEAH, I WOULD'VE BEEN STRESSED THE WHOLE TIME. 486 00:24:32,413 --> 00:24:35,172 Narrator: THE FIRE CREW HAVE STRUCK OUT ON THEIR SEARCH 487 00:24:35,206 --> 00:24:38,620 FOR FABLED BLUE FIRE OPAL, WITH THE SHAFT 488 00:24:38,655 --> 00:24:41,655 FILLED WITH WATER AND INACCESSIBLE. 489 00:24:43,689 --> 00:24:45,379 WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FROM HERE 490 00:24:45,413 --> 00:24:48,000 IS NOT COMPLETELY WASTE THE TRIP. 491 00:24:48,034 --> 00:24:50,000 I MEAN, THE OLD-TIMERS WEREN'T SILLY. 492 00:24:50,034 --> 00:24:53,344 THEY PUT THEIR MAIN SHAFTS DOWN WHERE THE GOOD OPAL WAS. 493 00:24:53,379 --> 00:24:55,724 I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS JUST THIS SHAFT HERE, 494 00:24:55,758 --> 00:24:58,172 'CAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S NOT FULL OF WATER. 495 00:24:58,206 --> 00:24:59,827 I MIGHT GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT 496 00:24:59,862 --> 00:25:01,310 AND HAVE A BIT OF A SQUIZ. 497 00:25:01,344 --> 00:25:04,931 YEAH, YOU'LL FIND THERE WILL BE VEINS OF QUARTZ. 498 00:25:04,965 --> 00:25:06,655 THERE WILL BE, ALSO, VEINS OF OPAL. 499 00:25:06,689 --> 00:25:07,724 JUST HAVE A LITTLE DIG DOWN THERE. 500 00:25:07,758 --> 00:25:08,724 SCRATCH, YEP. 501 00:25:08,758 --> 00:25:10,137 YEAH. SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE. 502 00:25:10,172 --> 00:25:11,689 YEP. ALL RIGHT. 503 00:25:11,724 --> 00:25:14,448 SO YOU'RE GONNA FINALLY USE THAT EQUIPMENT YOU BROUGHT. 504 00:25:17,965 --> 00:25:19,482 Narrator: TO CUT THEIR LOSSES, 505 00:25:19,517 --> 00:25:22,724 ADAM WILL GO DOWN ANOTHER DISUSED SHAFT 506 00:25:22,758 --> 00:25:25,931 WITH RED OPAL TRACE NEAR THE TOP. 507 00:25:25,965 --> 00:25:27,793 AN EXPERIENCED FIREFIGHTER, 508 00:25:27,827 --> 00:25:31,827 ADAM IS HIGHLY SKILLED IN CLIMBING AND RESCUE. 509 00:25:31,862 --> 00:25:33,206 I DON'T LIKE ANY OF THIS. 510 00:25:33,241 --> 00:25:34,758 I KNOW -- I GOT TO LISTEN TO MY GUT. 511 00:25:34,793 --> 00:25:36,206 MY GUT'S ALWAYS GENERALLY RIGHT, 512 00:25:36,241 --> 00:25:38,586 AND I DON'T LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. 513 00:25:38,620 --> 00:25:41,965 HANG ON A MINUTE. GOT THE ROPE FUNNY. 514 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,931 Narrator: BUT THIS DESCENT IS HIGH-RISK. 515 00:25:44,965 --> 00:25:48,275 IF ADAM GETS INJURED, THEY ARE 100 KILOMETERS 516 00:25:48,310 --> 00:25:50,724 FROM THE NEAREST TOWN. 517 00:25:50,758 --> 00:25:52,206 ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING OVER. 518 00:25:52,241 --> 00:25:53,241 BLOODY HELL. 519 00:25:53,275 --> 00:25:56,724 ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?YEP. 520 00:25:56,758 --> 00:25:58,689 STEADY, AND GO. 521 00:26:05,482 --> 00:26:09,172 ADAM, STOP. 522 00:26:09,206 --> 00:26:10,965 NO, STOP, STOP. THERE'S A SNAKE. 523 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:12,448 WHERE? DEFINITELY A SNAKE. 524 00:26:12,482 --> 00:26:13,724 WHERE? 525 00:26:20,931 --> 00:26:23,896 WHAT DID WE FIND DOWN THERE? 526 00:26:23,931 --> 00:26:25,206 THERE'S THE PRIZE. LOOK AT THAT. 527 00:26:25,241 --> 00:26:26,551 SEE? THE GREEN. 528 00:26:26,586 --> 00:26:29,137 OOH, THAT ONE'S GOT SOME COLOR. 529 00:26:29,172 --> 00:26:33,586 AFTER 2 HOURS DOWN A 20-METER SHAFT WITH JUST A PICK, 530 00:26:33,620 --> 00:26:35,137 PETE HAS RETURNED TO THE SURFACE 531 00:26:35,172 --> 00:26:38,413 TO EXAMINE A LARGE OPAL HE'S CHIPPED FROM THE WALL. 532 00:26:38,448 --> 00:26:43,172 GREEN THERE.YEAH, THAT LOOKS REAL NICE. 533 00:26:43,206 --> 00:26:44,482 IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. 534 00:26:44,517 --> 00:26:47,689 IT'S EXCITING TO SEE SOME COLOR JUST STRAIGHT UP, 535 00:26:47,724 --> 00:26:51,103 JUST BY GOING DOWN WITH A PICK. 536 00:26:51,137 --> 00:26:53,379 CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ONE 537 00:26:53,413 --> 00:26:56,551 UNDER SOME LIGHTS, AND, YEAH, SEE WHAT IT'S GOT UNDER IT. 538 00:26:56,586 --> 00:26:58,275 I DON'T KNOW. COULD BE 10 GRAND THERE. 539 00:26:58,310 --> 00:26:59,724 HOPEFULLY. 540 00:26:59,758 --> 00:27:01,758 THEY SAY, THOUGH, YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL SOMEONE CUTS IT, 541 00:27:01,793 --> 00:27:03,896 I SUPPOSE. 542 00:27:03,931 --> 00:27:07,517 Narrator: STONE IN POCKET, PETE AND SAM HEAD BACK TO TOWN 543 00:27:07,551 --> 00:27:09,586 TO DISCOVER WHAT LIES WITHIN. 544 00:27:09,620 --> 00:27:13,241 INTO THE ROOM OF TRUTH. WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. 545 00:27:13,275 --> 00:27:14,551 HELEN, HI.HOW ARE YOU, PETE? 546 00:27:14,586 --> 00:27:16,482 GOOD, GOOD.GOOD TO SEE YOU. 547 00:27:16,517 --> 00:27:20,586 Narrator: HELEN IS PETE'S GO-TO STONE POLISHER AND CUTTER. 548 00:27:20,620 --> 00:27:22,862 OOH, NICE. 549 00:27:22,896 --> 00:27:27,724 SHE'S BEEN WORKING OPAL FROM ROUGH TO GEM FOR OVER 30 YEARS. 550 00:27:27,758 --> 00:27:30,965 YEAH, IT LOOKS PROMISING. NICE BIT OF COLOR. 551 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,620 Pete C.: YEAH, I'M HOPING SO. 552 00:27:32,655 --> 00:27:34,448 EXCITING.IT IS, YEAH. 553 00:27:34,482 --> 00:27:36,310 IT IS EXCITING. 554 00:27:36,344 --> 00:27:38,689 Narrator: ON A DIAMOND-EMBEDDED CUTTING WHEEL, 555 00:27:38,724 --> 00:27:42,482 HELEN FIRST HAS TO RUB AWAY THE OUTER LAYER OF SAND AND ROCK 556 00:27:42,517 --> 00:27:46,241 TO REVEAL THE OPAL COLOR BENEATH, KNOWN AS THE BAR. 557 00:27:46,275 --> 00:27:49,068 THE THICKER AND WIDER THE BAR, THE BETTER. 558 00:27:49,103 --> 00:27:51,620 THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH, YOU KNOW? 559 00:27:51,655 --> 00:27:53,000 THIS IS WHERE ALL YOUR DREAMS END UP -- 560 00:27:53,034 --> 00:27:56,310 IN THE CUTTING-WHEEL TRAY. 561 00:27:56,344 --> 00:27:59,517 THIS IS WHERE THEY CAN COME TO LIFE OR DIE. 562 00:27:59,551 --> 00:28:02,137 HOLD YOUR BREATH, PETER. -I AM. 563 00:28:03,206 --> 00:28:05,034 OH, WOW. IT'S COMING UP WELL. 564 00:28:05,068 --> 00:28:06,448 LOOK AT THAT COLOR COMING THROUGH IT. 565 00:28:06,482 --> 00:28:09,586 YEAH. 566 00:28:09,620 --> 00:28:10,793 LOOKING ALL RIGHT, ISN'T IT? 567 00:28:10,827 --> 00:28:12,068 NICE. YEAH. 568 00:28:12,103 --> 00:28:16,068 Narrator: TO REMOVE ALL THE SAND EMBEDDED IN THE GEM, 569 00:28:16,103 --> 00:28:20,448 HELEN GRINDS AWAY WELL OVER HALF OF THE STONE'S 20-GRAM WEIGHT. 570 00:28:20,482 --> 00:28:23,931 SOFT COLORS, PASTEL ON BLACK -- IT IS VERY NICE. 571 00:28:23,965 --> 00:28:25,517 YEAH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. 572 00:28:25,551 --> 00:28:27,517 WELL, THERE YOU GO, PETE. HAVE A LOOK AT THAT. 573 00:28:27,551 --> 00:28:28,620 IT'S KIND OF ALL RIGHT, ISN'T IT? 574 00:28:28,655 --> 00:28:30,241 YEAH. PRETTY COOL, ISN'T IT? 575 00:28:30,275 --> 00:28:32,206 THAT'S GOT SOME NICE COLOR. 576 00:28:32,241 --> 00:28:36,172 THIS FINISHED PIECE IS CLASSIC LIGHTNING RIDGE BLACK OPAL. 577 00:28:36,206 --> 00:28:39,413 IT'S BLUE-GREEN WITH FLASHES OF VALUABLE RED. 578 00:28:39,448 --> 00:28:42,689 IT'S POLISHED AND WEIGHS IN AT JUST UNDER 7 CARATS, 579 00:28:42,724 --> 00:28:46,034 GIVING AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $6,000. 580 00:28:46,068 --> 00:28:47,724 OKAY. THANKS, HELEN.THANKS, PETER. 581 00:28:47,758 --> 00:28:48,931 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.THANK YOU. 582 00:28:48,965 --> 00:28:50,758 Narrator: TOMORROW, PETE WILL MEET WITH A BUYER 583 00:28:50,793 --> 00:28:53,862 TO GET HIS HANDS ON SOME MUCH-NEEDED CASH. 584 00:28:53,896 --> 00:28:55,103 YOU STILL GOT THAT STONE, SAM? 585 00:28:55,137 --> 00:28:56,379 YEAH, I'VE STILL GOT IT, MATE. 586 00:28:56,413 --> 00:28:57,413 I'VE STILL GOT IT. 587 00:29:12,862 --> 00:29:14,482 NO, STOP, STOP. 588 00:29:14,517 --> 00:29:16,724 THERE'S A SNAKE. 589 00:29:16,758 --> 00:29:18,137 WHERE? 590 00:29:18,172 --> 00:29:20,931 Pete P.: IT'S DOWN JUST BEHIND THAT LITTLE AWNING. 591 00:29:20,965 --> 00:29:22,965 YOU'D BETTER GET OUT. 592 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,275 Narrator: HANGING FROM A ROPE AT THE BOTTOM OF AN OLD OPAL SHAFT, 593 00:29:26,310 --> 00:29:29,931 ADAM IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO A VENOMOUS REPTILE. 594 00:29:33,241 --> 00:29:36,000 THIS ONE IS A RINGED BROWN SNAKE. 595 00:29:36,034 --> 00:29:39,344 VENOM FROM ITS BITE CAUSES DIZZINESS, COLLAPSE, 596 00:29:39,379 --> 00:29:42,482 AND CONVULSIONS. 597 00:29:42,517 --> 00:29:44,000 WE LOOKED DOWN THERE BEFORE. NOTHING. 598 00:29:44,034 --> 00:29:46,034 AND THEN HE GOT TO SEE IT MOVING. 599 00:29:46,068 --> 00:29:48,310 LIKE, HE MUST HAVE COME OUT FROM THE NOISE 600 00:29:48,344 --> 00:29:50,000 AND THE VIBRATIONS OR SOMETHING. 601 00:29:50,034 --> 00:29:52,551 Narrator: WITH MEDICAL AID A 2-HOUR DRIVE AWAY 602 00:29:52,586 --> 00:29:56,482 IN THE NEAREST TOWN OF LAVERTON, ADAM NEEDS TO GET OUT FAST, 603 00:29:56,517 --> 00:29:59,379 OR THE SHAFT COULD BECOME HIS GRAVE. 604 00:29:59,413 --> 00:30:01,896 Adam: AH, WRONG WAY! 605 00:30:01,931 --> 00:30:04,482 IT'S ALL WRONG. 606 00:30:04,517 --> 00:30:08,482 Narrator: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ADAM'S ROPES ARE JAMMED. 607 00:30:08,517 --> 00:30:09,793 YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP. 608 00:30:09,827 --> 00:30:11,517 Adam: COME UP WHERE?YOU GOT TO COME UP. 609 00:30:11,551 --> 00:30:12,689 YEAH, I'M COMING. 610 00:30:12,724 --> 00:30:14,724 HIS PULLEY ISN'T WORKING, 611 00:30:14,758 --> 00:30:16,655 SO HE'S ROCK CLIMBING HIMSELF OUT. 612 00:30:37,965 --> 00:30:40,344 HERE WE GO. 613 00:30:40,379 --> 00:30:41,379 WELL, THAT WAS LUCKY. 614 00:30:41,413 --> 00:30:43,137 NO, NOT WORTH IT. 615 00:30:43,172 --> 00:30:45,931 I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DIDN'T SEE THAT BEFORE. 616 00:30:45,965 --> 00:30:48,862 Narrator: WITH SHAFTS NOW OFF-LIMITS, THE FIRE CREW 617 00:30:48,896 --> 00:30:51,793 HAS ONLY 1 DAY LEFT TO FIND OPAL 618 00:30:51,827 --> 00:30:55,034 BEFORE HAVING TO RETURN TO THEIR REGULAR JOBS. 619 00:30:58,448 --> 00:31:00,724 THE NEXT DAY, THE FAMILY REGROUP 620 00:31:00,758 --> 00:31:04,241 TO DISCUSS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO FIND OPAL. 621 00:31:04,275 --> 00:31:06,482 Pete P.: I DID REMEMBER A PLACE. 622 00:31:06,517 --> 00:31:08,517 IT'S NOT THAT FAR FROM HERE. 623 00:31:08,551 --> 00:31:10,000 IT PRODUCED SOME GOOD OPAL. 624 00:31:10,034 --> 00:31:11,896 YOU JUST KEEP PULLING THESE OUT OF YOUR BACK POCKET. 625 00:31:11,931 --> 00:31:14,068 "I'VE GOT THIS SPOT. I'VE GOT THIS SPOT." 626 00:31:14,103 --> 00:31:17,551 SOME OF THE OPAL THAT WE FOUND WAS LITERALLY UNDER A ROCK. 627 00:31:17,586 --> 00:31:18,931 YEAH.I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. 628 00:31:18,965 --> 00:31:20,724 IF WE LEAVE WITH SOMETHING, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY. 629 00:31:20,758 --> 00:31:23,310 THEN IT'S WORTH THE COST AND THE TIME AWAY. 630 00:31:25,551 --> 00:31:28,344 Narrator: RAIN COULD QUICKLY FLOOD THE DIRT ROADS, 631 00:31:28,379 --> 00:31:31,724 MAKING PETE'S BACK-POCKET SITE INACCESSIBLE. 632 00:31:31,758 --> 00:31:33,931 THEY NEED TO MOVE FAST. 633 00:31:37,758 --> 00:31:39,068 I RECKON WE JUST GOTTA CHOW THROUGH IT 634 00:31:39,103 --> 00:31:40,862 AND HOPEFULLY FILL UP A WHEELBARROW FULL OF OPAL. 635 00:31:40,896 --> 00:31:44,413 LET'S JUST PICK UP THE PACE, I RECKON. 636 00:31:44,448 --> 00:31:46,068 AT THE VINO CLAIM, 637 00:31:46,103 --> 00:31:50,310 JUSTIN AND BECKY ARE ON THE BRINK OF FINANCIAL RUIN. 638 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:54,620 LET'S HAVE A QUICK LOOK.I'LL START THIS SIDE. 639 00:31:54,655 --> 00:31:56,310 GO FOR IT, BECKY. 640 00:31:56,344 --> 00:32:00,827 THEY MUST FIND OPAL SOON OR GO BROKE. 641 00:32:00,862 --> 00:32:02,103 WE CAN CHECK THIS LEVEL. 642 00:32:02,137 --> 00:32:04,310 IT HASN'T TURNED INTO ANYTHING YET. 643 00:32:04,344 --> 00:32:05,827 Justin: SHE'S ONLY UP HERE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS, 644 00:32:05,862 --> 00:32:07,137 SO I'VE REALLY GOT TO WORK HARD 645 00:32:07,172 --> 00:32:10,241 AND PROVE TO HER THAT OPAL DOES EXIST HERE. 646 00:32:10,275 --> 00:32:13,137 Narrator: THEY'RE SEARCHING THROUGH THE DARKER IRONSTONE LAYERS, 647 00:32:13,172 --> 00:32:15,034 WHERE THE OPAL TENDS TO FORM. 648 00:32:15,068 --> 00:32:16,379 -NOPE. -ALL RIGHT. 649 00:32:16,413 --> 00:32:17,931 NEXT GOUGE. 650 00:32:25,517 --> 00:32:26,689 ANY CHANGES, BECKY? 651 00:32:26,724 --> 00:32:29,275 IT'S NOT OPAL YET. 652 00:32:29,310 --> 00:32:31,172 ALL RIGHT. ANOTHER GOUGE, BECK. 653 00:32:31,206 --> 00:32:34,862 ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. 654 00:32:34,896 --> 00:32:35,931 LET'S HAVE A LOOK. 655 00:32:37,448 --> 00:32:39,310 I GUESS WE'LL KEEP CHECKING. 656 00:32:49,448 --> 00:32:51,137 STILL THE SAME. 657 00:32:55,482 --> 00:32:57,241 OH, MAN. 658 00:32:57,275 --> 00:32:59,206 I'M SO EXHAUSTED. 659 00:32:59,241 --> 00:33:02,793 Narrator: AFTER WEEKS OF NOT FINDING A SINGLE PIECE OF OPAL, 660 00:33:02,827 --> 00:33:04,620 JUSTIN HAS HAD ENOUGH, 661 00:33:04,655 --> 00:33:06,551 BUT WITH A BEGINNER'S OPTIMISM, 662 00:33:06,586 --> 00:33:08,896 BECKY ISN'T READY TO QUIT. 663 00:33:08,931 --> 00:33:11,137 IT'S LIKE FOLLOWING BREAD CRUMBS. 664 00:33:14,310 --> 00:33:15,724 I'M WORN OUT, EH? 665 00:33:21,206 --> 00:33:23,758 OH, GOD. 666 00:33:23,793 --> 00:33:25,896 OH, JUSTIN, LOOK AT THIS. 667 00:33:32,068 --> 00:33:33,862 I GOT OPAL! 668 00:33:33,896 --> 00:33:35,448 OH, MY GOD. 669 00:33:35,482 --> 00:33:36,862 SWEETIE, LOOK. 670 00:33:36,896 --> 00:33:38,034 WHAT THE 671 00:33:38,068 --> 00:33:39,344 IT'S LIKE CRYSTAL. 672 00:33:39,379 --> 00:33:40,793 IT'S CRYSTAL OPAL. 673 00:33:40,827 --> 00:33:42,586 IT'S EVERYWHERE. WHAT?! 674 00:33:42,620 --> 00:33:44,655 LOOK. WHOO! 675 00:33:44,689 --> 00:33:46,172 OH, MY GOD. EVERYWHERE. 676 00:33:46,206 --> 00:33:47,172 ME. 677 00:33:47,206 --> 00:33:49,551 IT'S FRAGILE AS HELL, THAT. AH. 678 00:33:49,586 --> 00:33:51,000 Becky: I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. 679 00:33:51,034 --> 00:33:52,965 I KNOW WHAT JUSTIN MEANS NOW WHEN HE SAYS 680 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:55,620 THAT WHEN YOU SEE THAT COLOR IN AMONGST ALL THAT SANDSTONE, 681 00:33:55,655 --> 00:33:57,241 IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL, AND IT REALLY WAS. 682 00:33:57,275 --> 00:33:59,275 IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. 683 00:33:59,310 --> 00:34:02,689 IT WAS NICE THAT WE HAD WORKED SO HARD ALL DAY TOGETHER, 684 00:34:02,724 --> 00:34:04,620 AND THEN WE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT TOGETHER, AS WELL. 685 00:34:04,655 --> 00:34:08,344 FINDING THAT LITTLE BIT OF COLOR AT THE END OF THE DAY WAS GOOD. 686 00:34:08,379 --> 00:34:09,931 THAT'S LIKE MOTHER NATURE SAYING, 687 00:34:09,965 --> 00:34:14,172 "HERE'S A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT'S TO COME." 688 00:34:14,206 --> 00:34:15,655 AND I FOUND IT. 689 00:34:15,689 --> 00:34:16,724 YOU'RE A GOOD-LUCK CHARM. 690 00:34:16,758 --> 00:34:18,448 RIGHT? YOU'RE WELCOME. 691 00:34:19,620 --> 00:34:21,034 SHE'S GOT OPAL FEVER. 692 00:34:21,068 --> 00:34:24,758 IT MIGHT BE A MILD CASE OF OPAL FEVER. 693 00:34:25,827 --> 00:34:27,965 OH, YEAH. SHE'S GOT IT. 694 00:34:30,172 --> 00:34:31,586 Narrator: BECKY'S CRYSTAL OPAL 695 00:34:31,620 --> 00:34:33,896 ARE TINY GREEN AND BLUE FRAGMENTS 696 00:34:33,931 --> 00:34:35,344 WEIGHING HALF A GRAM 697 00:34:35,379 --> 00:34:39,310 AND WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $200. 698 00:34:39,344 --> 00:34:42,172 BUT THEIR TRUE WORTH IS BECKY'S RENEWED FAITH 699 00:34:42,206 --> 00:34:45,034 IN JUSTIN'S DREAM TO FIND A FORTUNE. 700 00:34:45,068 --> 00:34:46,275 Becky: I BACK JUSTIN. 701 00:34:46,310 --> 00:34:47,896 HE GOT US THIS FAR. 702 00:34:47,931 --> 00:34:52,758 THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO SORT OF SOLIDIFY THAT, YOU KNOW, 703 00:34:52,793 --> 00:34:55,344 WHAT JUSTIN'S LOOKING FOR ISN'T JUST 704 00:34:55,379 --> 00:34:56,758 SUCH A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. 705 00:34:56,793 --> 00:34:57,896 THANKS FOR COMING UP. 706 00:34:57,931 --> 00:34:59,551 YOU'RE WELCOME. 707 00:34:59,586 --> 00:35:01,103 HE OBVIOUSLY NEEDS ME, BUT... 708 00:35:02,793 --> 00:35:05,068 ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE. 709 00:35:26,827 --> 00:35:28,793 Narrator: A BREAK IN THE WEATHER ALLOWS 710 00:35:28,827 --> 00:35:32,034 ADAM AND CASSIDY TO WIDEN THEIR SEARCH. 711 00:35:32,068 --> 00:35:34,379 FINDING A FAIR BIT OF TRACE OVER HERE, CASS. 712 00:35:34,413 --> 00:35:36,379 YEAH? OH, WOW. 713 00:35:36,413 --> 00:35:38,000 THAT'S JACKHAMMER WORTHY, I THINK. 714 00:35:38,034 --> 00:35:39,793 YEAH.LET'S TRY TO HIT LUCKY, EH? 715 00:35:39,827 --> 00:35:42,206 YEAH. 716 00:35:42,241 --> 00:35:45,275 FIRE OPAL IS ENCASED IN ROCK-HARD GRANITE. 717 00:35:45,310 --> 00:35:48,137 THE BEST WAY TO MINE IT IS A JACKHAMMER. 718 00:35:51,586 --> 00:35:54,448 BUT FIRE OPAL IS NOTORIOUSLY FRAGILE. 719 00:35:54,482 --> 00:35:57,862 SHATTERING IT COULD RENDER IT ALMOST WORTHLESS. 720 00:35:59,896 --> 00:36:02,172 THERE'S COLOR THERE. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. 721 00:36:02,206 --> 00:36:03,517 WE'RE ONTO IT.IT LOOKS PROMISING. 722 00:36:03,551 --> 00:36:05,448 YEAH. 723 00:36:05,482 --> 00:36:07,448 WHOO! 724 00:36:07,482 --> 00:36:10,758 COLOR THERE. 725 00:36:10,793 --> 00:36:12,793 BRIGHT ORANGE, MATE. 726 00:36:15,448 --> 00:36:16,896 I GOT IT. OH. 727 00:36:16,931 --> 00:36:18,275 YES! 728 00:36:18,310 --> 00:36:20,000 YEAH? YEP. 729 00:36:20,034 --> 00:36:21,655 LOOK AT THAT. 730 00:36:25,620 --> 00:36:27,655 THERE'S ONE. 731 00:36:27,689 --> 00:36:28,896 ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER ONE.OH, WOW. 732 00:36:28,931 --> 00:36:30,000 LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S HUGE. OH. 733 00:36:30,034 --> 00:36:32,310 NO, LOOK AT THAT. 734 00:36:32,344 --> 00:36:33,965 YOW! 735 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:35,206 I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. 736 00:36:35,241 --> 00:36:36,724 THAT'S SOMETHING. 737 00:36:36,758 --> 00:36:38,655 WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF GOOD CARATS THERE. 738 00:36:38,689 --> 00:36:40,275 I KNOW IT'LL CUT SOMETHING PRETTY NICE. 739 00:36:40,310 --> 00:36:41,448 YEP. WE'VE GOT SOME. 740 00:36:41,482 --> 00:36:43,551 THIS TRIP WASN'T A COMPLETE WASTE. 741 00:36:43,586 --> 00:36:46,379 SO, THIS IS OUR HERO PIECE OUT OF ALL OF THEM. 742 00:36:46,413 --> 00:36:48,241 TO BE HONEST, I RECKON YOU'VE GOT... 743 00:36:48,275 --> 00:36:49,448 6 1/2 CARATS? ...6 1/2 CARATS. 744 00:36:49,482 --> 00:36:50,620 YEP. 745 00:36:50,655 --> 00:36:52,206 BUT WHAT KIND OF QUALITY DO YOU RECKON IT IS? 746 00:36:52,241 --> 00:36:54,137 DOUBLE A. 500 BUCKS A CARAT. 747 00:36:54,172 --> 00:36:55,241 YEAH. 3 GRAND. 748 00:36:55,275 --> 00:36:56,724 3 GRAND? 749 00:36:56,758 --> 00:37:00,448 THEIR HAUL IS RED FIRE OPAL, DOUBLE-A QUALITY, 750 00:37:00,482 --> 00:37:02,310 WEIGHING IN AT 6 CARATS, 751 00:37:02,344 --> 00:37:04,586 WORTH JUST $3,000. 752 00:37:04,620 --> 00:37:08,172 BUT EVEN SO, HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR SEASON, 753 00:37:08,206 --> 00:37:11,758 THE FIRE CREW ARE ALREADY WELL PAST THEIR TARGET. 754 00:37:11,793 --> 00:37:14,551 DON'T LOSE IT. 755 00:37:14,586 --> 00:37:15,620 ALL RIGHT. 756 00:37:25,931 --> 00:37:30,586 Narrator: PETE AND SAM ARE ABOUT TO TRY AND SELL THEIR PRIZED OPAL FIND. 757 00:37:30,620 --> 00:37:31,965 FOR APPRENTICE SAM, 758 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:34,793 THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST TIME WITNESSING A SALE. 759 00:37:34,827 --> 00:37:36,413 HE'S GOT TO LEARN ABOUT IT ONE DAY 760 00:37:36,448 --> 00:37:39,275 SO HE CAN COME IN AND LOOK OVER ME SHOULDER 761 00:37:39,310 --> 00:37:41,482 AND SEE HOW NOT TO DO IT. 762 00:37:41,517 --> 00:37:43,827 I'M GONNA GO IN PRETTY HARD WITH HIM. 763 00:37:43,862 --> 00:37:47,068 I RECKON 12 GRAND, A LITTLE BIT MORE. 764 00:37:47,103 --> 00:37:49,206 REALISTICALLY, MAYBE HALF OF THAT. 765 00:37:49,241 --> 00:37:50,413 YEAH. 766 00:37:50,448 --> 00:37:52,241 BUT WE'LL GO IN THE BIMMER...YEAH. 767 00:37:52,275 --> 00:37:54,034 ...LOOKING LIKE WE DON'T NEED TO SELL IT. 768 00:37:54,068 --> 00:37:55,793 YEAH. THAT'S PART OF THE FUN. 769 00:38:08,172 --> 00:38:11,482 Narrator: THE BOYS MEET OPAL BUYER PAUL SEDAWIE. 770 00:38:11,517 --> 00:38:16,172 BUT WE'VE GOT A NICE LITTLE GEM, 771 00:38:16,206 --> 00:38:18,931 JUST UNDER 7 CARATS. 772 00:38:18,965 --> 00:38:20,172 OH, YOU POLISHED IT. 773 00:38:20,206 --> 00:38:21,448 YEP. ALL RIGHT. 774 00:38:21,482 --> 00:38:24,068 YEAH. 775 00:38:24,103 --> 00:38:25,827 HE'S GOT THIS MAGIC LASER LIGHT. 776 00:38:25,862 --> 00:38:28,965 YEAH, IT'S A SECRET. DON'T TELL ANYBODY. 777 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,896 Narrator: USING AN INDUSTRIAL-STRENGTH LIGHT, 778 00:38:31,931 --> 00:38:34,758 PAUL CAN ANALYZE THE INTERIOR OF THE STONE 779 00:38:34,793 --> 00:38:36,827 FOR IMPERFECTIONS OR FRACTURES. 780 00:38:36,862 --> 00:38:38,586 AND ALL THE FAULTS JUMP OUT AT YOU. 781 00:38:38,620 --> 00:38:40,931 Pete C.: HASN'T GOT ANY FAULTS. THIS ONE IS PERFECT. 782 00:38:40,965 --> 00:38:42,206 WHAT SORT OF MONEY YOU GOT ON IT? 783 00:38:42,241 --> 00:38:44,068 I WANT 2 GRAND A CARAT FOR THAT. 784 00:38:44,103 --> 00:38:45,827 SO, THERE'S 6 CARATS ON IT. 785 00:38:45,862 --> 00:38:47,689 YEP.BUT I REALLY DON'T SEE... 786 00:38:47,724 --> 00:38:49,517 THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THERE.MM-HMM. 787 00:38:49,551 --> 00:38:52,620 BECAUSE IT'S NOT OVAL, MY CUSTOMERS WON'T PAY THAT MONEY. 788 00:38:52,655 --> 00:38:54,310 RIGHT, OKAY. IT'S NOT YOUR MARKET. 789 00:38:54,344 --> 00:38:55,620 WELL, BUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 790 00:38:55,655 --> 00:38:57,413 I'D STILL GO $8,500 ON IT. 791 00:38:57,448 --> 00:38:59,275 YEAH? YEAH. 792 00:38:59,310 --> 00:39:01,551 I'M LOOKING AT A BIT OVER $12,000. 793 00:39:01,586 --> 00:39:03,896 YEAH, THAT'S A FAIR WAY APART, ISN'T IT? 794 00:39:03,931 --> 00:39:05,000 YEAH. 795 00:39:05,034 --> 00:39:07,482 WELL, WHAT IF WE RAN IT UP TO $9,000? 796 00:39:07,517 --> 00:39:08,965 WHAT DO YOU THINK? 797 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:15,275 OH, YEAH. OKAY, LET'S DO IT AT $9,000. 798 00:39:15,310 --> 00:39:16,620 DO THAT?YEAH, DO IT AT $9,000. 799 00:39:16,655 --> 00:39:17,724 OKAY, DEAL. 800 00:39:17,758 --> 00:39:19,689 DEAL. DONE DEAL.THAT'S A DEAL. LOVELY STONE. 801 00:39:19,724 --> 00:39:21,241 JUST GET THEM OVAL NEXT TIME. 802 00:39:21,275 --> 00:39:22,862 OH, SORRY. I'LL SEE WHAT I -- 803 00:39:22,896 --> 00:39:24,793 I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO. 804 00:39:24,827 --> 00:39:25,896 VERY GOOD. 805 00:39:25,931 --> 00:39:28,310 I BETTER GET THE BIMMER SERVICED NOW. 806 00:39:28,344 --> 00:39:29,965 GOT TO PUT SOME FUEL IN IT. 807 00:39:35,862 --> 00:39:38,655 IT'S NOBBY THAT WAS IN THE WALL. 808 00:39:38,689 --> 00:39:39,931 I REMEMBER SAYING WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, 809 00:39:39,965 --> 00:39:41,827 I HOPED THERE WAS 10 GRAND IN IT. 810 00:39:43,896 --> 00:39:46,724 I GOT $9,000. 811 00:39:46,758 --> 00:39:48,689 YEAH, I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH THAT. THAT'S GREAT. 812 00:39:48,724 --> 00:39:51,310 YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD THING, ISN'T IT? 813 00:39:51,344 --> 00:39:55,482 Sam: THE ENERGY OF TRYING TO FIND JUST THAT ONE PIECE OF OPAL 814 00:39:55,517 --> 00:39:58,448 THAT COULD BE WORTH, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS 815 00:39:58,482 --> 00:40:01,206 REALLY JUST -- YEAH, IT GETS YOU RUNNING AROUND. 816 00:40:01,241 --> 00:40:02,965 IT GETS YOU KEEN TO GO UNDERGROUND 817 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:04,482 AND, YEAH, JUST LOOK FOR IT. 818 00:40:04,517 --> 00:40:07,413 IT'S JUST SO EXCITING. 819 00:40:07,448 --> 00:40:09,517 Pete C.: IT'S HARD TO FIND A PERFECT GEM, 820 00:40:09,551 --> 00:40:12,000 AND NATURE JUST DOES WHAT IT BLOODY LIKES, 821 00:40:12,034 --> 00:40:16,103 BUT SOMETIMES IT'LL MAKE A MISTAKE AND MAKE A GEM. 822 00:40:16,137 --> 00:40:17,172 PAUL WAS HAPPY. I'M HAPPY. 823 00:40:17,206 --> 00:40:18,586 EVERYONE'S HAPPY. IT'S GOOD. 824 00:40:18,620 --> 00:40:19,793 HAPPY DAYS. 824 00:40:20,305 --> 00:41:20,745 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=-