07x09 - Curse of the Swamp

[bunniefuu]

Woman: you hear that?

-Jeremy, what is that?
-Shh!

Oh *bleep*!

Oh, my god.
That is a face.

Narrator: one man...

And one woman...

I'm not leaving!

...alone for 21 days...

What is that?

...with no food...

Oh, god, I'm freezing.

...no clothes...

Aah!

...no water...
Gah! Move!

Do they have the skills
and the will...

Hurts.

...to overcome the most primal
survival challenge

Of their lives...

...naked and afraid.

Why does everything out here
want to k*ll you?

'Cause it's the swamp.

Captions paid for by
discovery communications

Narrator:
louisiana's atchafalaya basin --

The largest swamp
in the united states.

It is the last
great wildernesses --

A network of suffocatingly
humid bayous,

Cypress swamps, and marshes

Crawling with cottonmouths,

Alligators, and wild hogs.

But these swamps also
bear the burden

Of a long, dark history --

Slaughtered native tribes,
bloodthirsty pirates,

And victims of voodoo curses

Are believed to have inhabited
these isolated wetlands.

To ignore this domain's
brutal past

Is to disrespect it.

Two brave survivalists
are about to take on

The most intense challenge

Of their lives.

And we're coming
in this bayou.

We're going in real deep,
in here.

Love the smell down here.

Smells like home.

My name's jeremy.
I'm out of monroe, louisiana.

And I'm 40 years old.

I was on this challenge before,

In the philippines,

On a little deserted island.

We had a rough go at it there.

There was no water source.

I mean,
we had a dig a 7 foot hole

To try to find water.

Dehydration got serious.

We ended up leaving day 13.

And then we left out together.

And I've been wanting
ever since then,

Just to have
another opportunity

To take on this challenge.

I knew coming back,
it would definitely be

A harsh environment.

I just thought to myself,

"Lord,
do not let it be louisiana."

And then, lo and behold...

I'm down at south louisiana
in a swamp.

Now, I've heard stories
about these swamps,

Down here in south louisiana --

The dead pirates,
the voodoo curses, the rugaru.

There's no doubt the nights
are gonna be creepy down here.

Knowing what I'm getting into,

This one's gonna be brutal.

And you know what?
I'm gladly going to accept it.

You know, 'cause coming back
for redemption --

I wouldn't want something easy.

Narrator:
jeremy's local knowledge

Should give him an edge
in surviving the swamps.

Having failed
to complete his challenge

In the philippines,

Jeremy's primitive
survival rating

Remains unchanged

From the day he tapped out.

He begins with a 6.1.

My name is michelle.

I'm 34,
and I'm from denver, colorado.

I spent six years
in the air force

As an aeromedical evacuation
technician.

One of the schools that
I got to go to

In the military was
s.e.r.e. School.

S.e.r.e. Stands for

"Survival, evasion,
resistance, and escape."

It's a pretty tough,
intense course,

And it's really kind of
helped me hone in

On my survival skills,

Not only mentally,
but physically.

Coming from
a military background,

I got to travel
to some pretty remote places

Where you see people
that don't have running water,

They don't know where
their next meal's coming from.

Doing this challenge
is really kind of a way

For me to understand
what that's like.

Narrator: michelle's
elite military training

Should serve her well

In an extremely
stressful situation.

But coming from
the cool mountains of colorado,

The oppressively humid swamps

Will test her survival skills
like never before.

Michelle also earns

An initial psr of 6.1.

Well,
it looks like we here.

Here we go.

Oh, my gosh,
can't believe I'm doing this.

All right.
Here goes nothing.

Let's get this going.

Jeremy: you know,
what are they gonna say?

Louisiana boy,

He's down here playing
in his backyard.

Of course he's got it.

But I know what we're gonna
be experience out there.

It's gonna be
definitely a test.

Oh, this is horrible.

Please be no snakes.
Please be no snakes.

So, in the military,
we have this saying --

"Embrace the suck."

You just get through it
and blow past it.

I just need to suck it up,
buttercup.

Oh, my god.

That's some cold stuff.

Hi!

Hey.

Hey.

You must be my new naked
best friend.

I am.
I'm michelle.

My name's jeremy.

Nice to meet you,
jeremy.

I'll take a hug.
I know, right?

Naked hugs.

Let's see
what we got here.

Narrator: jeremy and michelle
have been given a pot.

She's also brought
a fire starter...

-Definitely going to need that.
-Awesome.

Narrator: ...and he has a knife.

I got a machete.

Very cool.
You got the map?

And I got a map.
Perfect!

So, let's figure out
where we are.

I think we're here
at this point.

Yeah,
we come in this way.

Where do you think
we need to go?

Hmm.

I wanna say, probably,
the highest ground.

Where all this green is?

-Yeah, right up through here.
-Sounds good.

-Is that what you thinking?
-Looks good to me.

You know, this is my second time
around doing this.

Yeah, I saw you before.

All right.

I need redemption.
All right.

We're not leaving
unless we're leaving together

On 21 days.

-I'm not worried about it.
-Me, either.

Deal?

All right.
Let's do this. Come on.

You want me to lead the way,
or you?

-You lead the way.
-All right.

Let's go.

Michelle: it's crazy.

Everything is just wet.

Everything is just mud.

The fact that jeremy
is from here,

I think, is a huge bonus,

But I am worried
because, you know,

He did tap out
in his first challenge.

Boy, has a lot of stuff
been crawling through this.

-We just have to be careful.
-Yep.

This is where
snakes hang out.

Thicker it gets,

The harder it's gonna be
just to find 'em.

Narrator: the louisiana swamps
are filled with legends,

But also teeming
with more tangible threats.

The bayou is home
to over 1 million alligators

And six types
of poisonous snakes,

Including
the highly-venemous copperhead.

This deadly pit viper uses
heat-sensing pits

On each side of its head

To detect changes in temperature

As little as 1/1000th
of a degree,

Which often indicates
warm-blooded potential prey.

Oh, my gosh.
You all right?

I'm getting stuck
in the mud.

Michelle: it's louisiana swamps.
It's a little overwhelming.

Everything out here wants
to bite you.

It gives you a little anxiety
to know that

You have to live out here
for 20-some days.

Do you see that
over there?

Yep.

I'm not scared of them gators,
and I'm not scared of snakes,

But I respect 'em.

Yeah, right?
Exactly.

I'm gonna just say it's probably
best to go around it.

Let's go around it.

Oh!

I think we got a few more hours
before it gets dark here.

That's why we got to
get that shelter built.

The main thing
that's got me focused right now

Is trying to
get that shelter done

And that fire, 'cause I know
when that sun goes down,

The mosquitos are gonna come
out.

Oh, my gosh.

It looks a little better.

Yeah.
I'm liking it better already.

Ugh!

Ohh! The mosquitos!

Are freaking awful.

Oh, my gosh.

And it's a ton of 'em.
Look at this.

I know,
I'm gonna get eaten alive.

Michelle:
the mosquitos are awful.

They're everywhere.

They're constantly, like,
biting at us.

Look at that.
Gol-ly!

What are you thinking,
right up in here?

You want to make camp,
like, right here?

That's kind of what
I'm thinking.

Works for me.

We definitely need
to get a fire going.

Fire needs to be first.

Yeah, I agree.

Jeremy: yeah,
the fire is extremely important.

We need that smoke to help
keep the mosquitos away.

God,
I'm glad the fire is going.

We're gonna build us
a posturepedic mattress.

I am so glad
that jeremy's my partner.

I mean,
he's from louisiana, so...

Could not have picked
a better partner, for sure.

-Well, here we go.
-Yeah.

It ain't much,
but we'll make the best of it.

All right, let's high five.
-Come on, partner.

Michelle, she's a champ.

We already got us
something to drink.

I think we're gonna do
great together.

I could sleep if they weren't
buzzing in my *bleep* ears.

Yep.
I know I could, too.

This is just miserable.

Oh, my god.
They're driving me nuts!

I had no idea...

How bad
it was gonna be.

This is
*bleep* horrible.

Ugh, this is really
k*lling my ears.

*Bleep*

Oh, my gosh.

Relentless,
incessant mosquitos.

Aah!

Aaaaah!

Michelle:
it was a rough night.

Michelle:
last night was horrible.

The mosquitos were
of biblical proportions.

They're starting
to flare up now.

Being in the military, I went
through some pretty rough stuff,

But this -- I mean, it's like,

If you want to
t*rture prisoners,

Put them in a room
with mosquitos.

We need to have
a "come to jesus" meeting.

I can't do another night.

Jeremy: it is not
a place to be naked at.

I mean,
it plays on your mind,

And that's when just
got to dig down.

You got to decide
what you're gonna do.

You know, I had such
different expectations

When I came out here.

I did not take into
consideration the mosquitos,

The bugs,
the flying insects that...

You know, haunt louisiana.

I'll toss
these smaller ones,

'Cause they're not gonna work
right there.

We need to redefine our shelter,

Because last night did not work.

So, we started out
with a raised-platform shelter,

Which is ideal
and what we want.

But it's going to take
a lot of work

To keep the mosquitos out.

So, we decided to go
with a debris shelter

Because we feel like we can make

That a little more air-tight

So bugs cannot get in.

Jeremy: the biggest thing
is fighting these mosquitos.

We can't go through
another night like last night.

I've never seen it
where mosquitos are

Just this determined
to get to you.

We really got to make sure
this thing is butt-cheek-tight.

Tonight's gonna be better.

It better be.

It cannot get any worse.

I'm getting hungry now.

I'm pretty hungry,
myself.

Yeah.

My strategy is,
we just keep pushing on,

Try to get some
fish baskets made.

I think it'd cheer her up.

I'm starting to get mounds
of mosquito bites

On my ankles.

My ankle is on fire.

There's fish out there.
I want something to eat.

That'd definitely be
a huge morale boost right there.

Is it mud?

Mm-hmm.

I want to get it pressed down,
in the mud.

I don't wanna lose it.

*Bleep*
there's gators.

Hopefully,
we'll catch some fish.

Mosquitos.

Oh, they're, like,
everywhere.

*Bleep*

Ugh.

Oh *bleep*.

Stop it. Oh, my...

*Bleep*

What is that?

Mosquitos.
God, I hate you.

Last night was a rough night.

We...

Did not get any sleep.

I mean, you just...

Have a constant buzzing sound

In your ear.

Like, it's constant.
It doesn't go away.

Every time you get bit by one,

It feels like a needle...

Is being stuck into your skin.

It's awful.

Michelle:
the shelter is useless.

That's a lot of rain.

It's been a very long
three days.

Between mosquitos
and the rain...

And the mud,

My head's not in the game.

I just --

I'm at my threshold.

Like, I'm just at my limit.

Jeremy: my main concern
is my partner.

I feel like I'm losing her.

You all right in there?

This just sucks.

This shelter's flooded.

Like,
where are we gonna sleep?

It's just...

I don't think I can do
a night

Of no shelter, mosquitos,
and mud, and --

I just can't do it.

I just -- "embrace the suck"
is at my limit.

I just...
I don't think I can do it.

I know,
and I don't want you to.

You need to stay here,
don't give up.

I want it.

And that's, like,

When all of your demons
come out.

And it has just ate me up
ever since.

My threshold is just...
I just -- I'm done.

You're sure
that's what you want.

I feel bad leaving you.

It's not an easy decision.

It's not like, "okay, I'm done."
You know what I mean?

You've been --
you've been fighting it, okay?

If that's what you want.

Friends for life.

Yep.
Good.

The last thing I thought
that I would do

Was quit on day 3.

I thought that I would
definitely stick it out

To 21 days, like,
I was very confident in that.

And that confidence just got,

Basically, eaten by mosquitos.

And I wanted
to do this challenge

Because I wanted to understand

How people get through
such difficult things in life.

I never could
really understand it until now.

The hardest part was
leaving jeremy behind,

'Cause I know that...

He really wants
to make it to the 21 days.

But I just couldn't do it.

I just --
I had reached my limit.

Jeremy: I'm fixin'
to be alone in a swamp.

And I am not looking forward
to it at all.

My plan is...

Just dig my heels down deep
and push.

What the *bleep*?

I never would've thought

Coming into this,

That I'd have been
out here alone.

What, 18 more days left?

That's just all on me.

Never would've thought.

Man,
there's something out there.

There's that sound again.

What is that?

You know, I'm out here
completely alone.

I can't rely on nobody.

I'm just keeping myself focused

On other things that
I need to do.

Right now, I need food.

*Bleep*

And I lost my fish basket.

I bet you gators took that off.

One's right up in there.

Hmph.

It took it away.

I guess there won't be
no fish tonight

By the way it seems
to be rolling out here --

Constant setbacks.

Well, losing my basket seems
about like everything else.

So I'm aggravated
that I lost my fish basket,

Aggravated I lost my partner.

I didn't want to be
out here alone.

One of my worst fears.

It starts weighing heavy
on your mind.

Get ready
to face that night alone.

God!

Oh!

It just bit me.

Mosquitos.

Ugh! *Bleep*

*Bleep*

I mean, it's not easy out here.

It gets cold.

It's wet.

That's a lot of rain.

Gonna lose the fire.

These strange noises at night --

I'm going nuts
out here by myself.

And here it is --
my redemption out here.

But I mean, it's just --

About had all I could take
of it, you know?

Maybe the easiest thing to do

Is tap out.

That's it.

What the hell is this?

Hi-oh!

Hello!

Is that my partner?!

Well, hey!
I wasn't expecting company!

Hey!
How you doing? Give me a hug?

Oh, my god!
I needed company.

I don't smell so good.

I've been out here
five days.

Really?
This is my first day.

I've been out here five.

Narrator: after jeremy's
first partner, michelle,

Fell victim to the harsh swamps

Only three days in,

Another survivalist
was brought in to join him.

You know, it's the same feeling

Like when you jump
out of a plane --

You don't have time
to really be nervous, so...

It's happening.
What are you going to do?

Whoop that a*s is
what you're going to do.

My name is melanie.

I'm 29 years old,

And I am from philadelphia,
pennsylvania.

I did four years in the navy.

I learned
basic survival skills there.

I do, what some people
might call, extreme hiking.

I'm always outdoors.

I'm a very real person.

I like when you come
to me face-to-face.

If you have a problem,
you say it,

Especially
in something like this.

I want to complete the 21 days

Because it would
culminate everything

That I've learned in survival.

I consider myself
one of the most

Mentally-tough people
that I know.

This would validate
those feelings

And solidify what I'm made of.

Narrator: melanie is
driven to succeed.

However, her direct,
no-nonsense style

Could clash with a partner
as easy-going as jeremy.

Melanie begins
with a psr of 7.2

I got left out here,

And it's been the past
couple nights rough by yourself.

What happened?

I started five days ago,

Had a partner out here.

She checked out
on day 3.

I can't believe that
his partner left him so early.

Jeremy,
I will never do that to you.

We're in this together.

You're my jungle husband,
I'm your jungle wife.

There might not be
a ring on this finger...

But we're married.

So, I'm doing 21,
starting today,

And you're doing 25?

-Yeah.
-Well guess what?

I got you, boo.
All right.

This here?
We're winning.

-We're doing it.
-We got it. We are.

Come on.

We're making it.

Melanie: this is
another woman's home.

I'm gonna need my own.

Need your own mattress?

I sure do, I tell you what.

Well, we'll get it.

Narrator: melanie is beginning
her 21 day challenge

On jeremy's day 5.

If he intends
to walk out with her,

He'll need to stay in the swamps
for a total of 25 days.

Jeremy: you know, michelle,

She just kind of
burned out of it.

Melanie shows up,
she wants to get out here,

Wants to kick a*s,
get some stuff done.

She wants to be in this moment,
right here.

Oh, well,
it's like fluffing a pillow.

She wants to see her 21 days.

-Oh *bleep*.
-Put 'er there.

Yes.

-We got this.
-We do got this.

Jeremy: I don't know.

They going to play
on your mind.

And I'm gonna tell you,
when this thing goes out...

I am scared
of what's gonna come.

Melanie: yeah.

Jeremy, do you believe
in, like, demons and spirits?

Yes I do.

Have you ever heard
of incubus?

I've heard of him.

Well...

I was laying in bed
one night.

Something grabbed
my wrist,

And then I feel this
heavy weight on top of me.

I was scared as *bleep*.
And I tried to move,

And it didn't let me move.

And, like,
I looked over my shoulder,

And all I saw
was a dark figure.

Long story short,

I did sex
with this incubus spirit.

The legend is that,
if you have sex with incubus,

You're supposed to, like, pray
to have it not come back.

So I had to pray
to have it not come back.

Some people might say I'm crazy,
but it really happened.

I've never had sex
with a demon.

I'll take your word
for it.

*Bleep*

Melanie:
there's something over there.

What did you see?

I don't know.
I just heard something.

Something was just walking
around over there.

Then it left,
but I don't know
where it is now.

This place is full of,
just...

History.

Oh, my god.

These bugs.

Man,
I'm tired of mosquitos.

There's like 10 of them
on my a*s.

It's going
on six days now,

And I've got to get me
something to eat.

Jeremy: the farther I get
into the swamp,

The more concerned I get.

The most deadliest area
around here is in the swamp.

But at the same time,

I know
the most food is out there.

We're gonna need
a big food source

If we're going to make it
all the way.

I do not like it when
I can't see where I'm going.

Look out for snakes.

Oh *bleep*.
*Bleep* is *bleep* creepy.

You all right?

Yeah.

The sludge is where
all the snakes hide.

Yep.

I'm from the city,
I'm from philadelphia.

You don't see too many snakes
crawling around the streets.

So everything out here
is brand new.

*Bleep* *bleep*

Oh!
There's a poisonous snake.

That's a copperhead.

Oh *bleep*.

Narrator: copperhead snakes
bite more people annually

Than any other snake

In the united states.

That sucker there
will lay you out.

-It's a baby one.
-Mm-hmm.

Narrator: juvenile snakes
can be more dangerous

Because, unlike adults,

They release all
their venom at once.

Give me the machete.

You got him?

Jeremy: we got him.

Yes, you got him.

Yes.

So, we got to get rid
of his head?

Yep.

The copperhead snake's
severed head can still bite

Up to an hour
after decapitation.

That little dude...

Will put you out.

Why does everything out here
want to k*ll you?

'Cause it's the swamp.

Melanie:
that's all the meat?

Jeremy:
yeah, it ain't much.

I'm eating the bones, too.

Oh, my god,
that's *bleep* delicious.

Awesome job, dude.
I'm so proud of you.

It was both of us.

A lot more fish out there,
it seems like.

I mean,
just look at the action.

I mean,
they all through here.

Yeah.

You don't know
what's out there, mel.

That bubble right there,
come up?

That could be a gator.

Narrator: alligators can
slow down their heart rate,

Allowing them
to remain underwater

For up to 24 hours.

This enables them
to ambush their prey

And spiral into a death roll

Until their victim drowns.

So, you're not going
to walk out there.

You're gonna bog down.

It might be worth it
to cut down that tree.

We could use this tree
as a pier

To get a little farther
out there.

Yeah, you start cutting,
I'll walk...

Try to find stuff.
-All right.

You feel safer up there,
on dry land?

Yeah.

Just watch around them trees
for snakes.

Aah!

It's getting there.

I'm coming for you, suckers.

All right, so,
I'm almost finished

Latching this fish trap
together.

You want me to just
take it out to the tree?

Yeah, if you don't mind.
I'm going to get the firewood.

If I don't come back,

I'm just probably dead
by gators.

Don't think like that.

I mean, go out there
as comfortable as you feel.

It's kind of terrifying.

Melanie: we're starving,
and we need food,

And if we were to catch
something in the fish trap,

That would be amazing.

Oh, my god.
That would be phenomenal.

Melanie: oh, my god.

I feel very vulnerable
out here...

...'Cause there are
alligators and snakes.

This is *bleep* scary.

At least on land,
you can see what's there.

Oh, god.

Oh, god.

*Bleep*

That's a snake.

Are you kidding me?

God, *bleep*.

I have nothing...

To fight off a snake.

Narrator: when jeremy began
his survival redemption

In the swamps of louisiana
with michelle,

They were each given
an initial psr.

This is awful.

But the brutal onslaught
of mosquitos

Proved to be overwhelming,

Causing michelle to tap
out on day 3...

I feel bad leaving you.

...dropping her psr to 4.4.

Melanie joined jeremy
on his day 5.

If he stays until
the end of her challenge,

He will have survived
for a record 25 days.

Together, they have spent
sleepless nights

Terrorized by a strange sound.

Now a petrified melanie
faces a predator

That could take her out,

And the swamp could be
claiming its second victim.

*Bleep*

That's a snake.

Are you kidding me?

God!

I have nothing...

To fight off a snake.

That was so scary.

I couldn't see anything,

And there's a *bleep* snake
in there.

And my hands were full.

I couldn't do anything.

But I had to get it out.

That thing didn't even sink.

I just hope there's a fish
in there tomorrow.

We need food.

It's scary.

What's wrong?

*Bleep* terrified.

And there was a snake
in there.

It's scary.

I had no way to defend myself
if I fell.

I'm scared.

I've never been in a situation
where something could k*ll me.

Out here,
it always feels like

You're the prey.

We have to take risks
to get what we need,

And that was, without a doubt,

The most dangerous risk
I've ever taken.

I'll go out there and hang all
the fish baskets from now on.

Well, I mean, I'll do it,
but I don't want to go alone.

Jeremy: she's uncomfortable
about getting out in that water.

You can tell it rattled her cage
a little bit,

Being out there.

She don't have to prove herself.

I think she's
an awesome partner.

I don't want to lose her.

I've lost one,
I don't want to lose this one.

We got this.

I'm still shaking.

Melanie:
jeremy, there it is again.

I'm hoping for a fish today.

I think right now, it's just
finding the food that we need.

We need that big meal.

Jeremy,
please be careful.

There's gators out there.

Oh, god.

Anything?

Nothing.

-You all right?
-Yep.

All right.
Let's head back to camp.

It's still there.

What the *bleep* is that?

Do you hear that?

Jeremy, what is that?

Narrator: next time...

As jeremy and melanie's
survival challenge continues.

Melanie: I heard something
creeping through the woods.

It's stalking us.

Jeremy, what is that?

It's next to the tree.

Oh, my god,
that is a face.