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CNN Live Today

Bush Pushing Intel Reform on Hill; Program Pairs Teenage Scribes with Hollywood Directors

Aired December 06, 2004 - 10:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Just about the midpoint in this hour. We welcome you back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

Security is being increased around Kabul ahead of tomorrow's inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghan president. Police are blocking off the road from the capital's airport to the presidential palace. More NATO armored cars are on patrol and U.S. helicopters are searching nearby mountains. There's concern that the event could trigger insurgent attacks.

A pre-trial hearing is under way this hour for one of the soldiers implicated in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal. Specialist Charles Graner, who is seen in many of the photographs has been described as a ringleader in the alleged abuses. His lawyer will argue that public condemnation by President Bush and military leaders has made a fair trial impossible.

In Major League Baseball, representatives of the players union opened their annual meeting today and the mushrooming steroid scandal will be on their agenda. The latest revelations involve Barry Bonds' appearance before a grand jury investigating illegal steroid use. Bonds is on track to become the all-time leading home run hitter. He reportedly says that he used a cream and a clear substance, but he claims he was unaware that they were steroids.

More than a month after President Bush formally won re-election, the state of Ohio will officially certify its voting results today. Yet two major court challenges still loom. One is seeking a statewide recount. The other challenges the results because of problems at polling places.

SANCHEZ: All right, let's go over now to our CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano. She just finished the briefing there at the White House they usually call affectionately the gaggle, where you get the skinny on what's going to happen with the White House and our nation's affairs.

What did you learn, Elaine?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Rick. That's right, that off-camera briefing called the gaggle. A little bit about the president's schedule. Of course at this hour President Bush is meeting with the king of Jordan, and on the agenda, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But of course, also the situation in Iraq. In fact, just a short time ago, President Bush wrapped up a meeting with Iraq's interim president, Ghazi al-Yawer. The visit perhaps just as important for the symbolism as the substance. The symbolism of welcoming a member of Iraq's Sunni minority to the White House, a sign to other Sunnis in Iraq that they will be included in the political process.

Now the two leaders have stated they do not want to see a delay of any kind for Iraq's elections. Both Mr. al-Yawer and Mr. Bush remain firmly committed to the January 30th date, saying that any delay would only hand a victory to the insurgents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am confident that when peoples are allowed to vote and express their will, peaceful societies emerge. And I'm confident that the process that has been set up by the international community to allow the people of Iraq to express their will, is a major step in democracy in the greater Middle East. I believe the Iraqi people have got the capacity and the desire to self-govern. And these elections will be a very important moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And, of course, Mr. Bush has a lot at stake with the future of Iraq politically. He has steadily maintained that successful elections there, and the democracy that he hopes to see take hold would be a major step for the region, also may quiet some critics here at home who have argued that President Bush and his administration did not have an adequate plan in place for post-war Iraq.

In the meantime, as we mentioned, he is meeting with the king of Jordan today. One of the other things President Bush would like to focus on in his second term is the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr. Bush hoping to see some movement on the so-called road map for peace. A road map, Rick, in which President Bush envisions a two-state solution, an Israeli state and a Palestinian state, coexisting side by side in peace -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Has the president picked up the phone and called any of the holdouts, Sensenbrenner or Hunter or Warner, about this 9/11 bill that seemingly everyone wants passed?

QUIJANO: Well, the White House says that the president has, in fact, spoken. He has continued discussions with leaders in the Congress about this. What White House officials are saying is that they see things moving forward. Although they won't be specific on exactly what that might mean.

Now, there's also supposed to be that letter that has gone out -- that is supposed to have gone out, rather. At this point White House officials saying they are still in discussions about that, and when pressed on exactly why it hasn't gone out just yet, White House spokesman Scott McClellan saying only that you should look at it like it's a positive sign, because there are ongoing discussions taking place.

No word, though, on exactly when that letter might be going out to the Hill.

SANCHEZ: Well, I guess, who specifically they've called, right, because they keep saying leaders. But has he called Hunter? Has he called Warner? Has he called Sensenbrenner specifically and talked to one of those three gentlemen?

QUIJANO: Well, discussions have been going on we understand with Congressman Hunter. No word on Senator Warner just yet. But we know in the past that the president did, in fact, speak with Congressman Sensenbrenner. That was sometime ago before the Thanksgiving break. Now whether or not there has been any kind of movement since then, there hasn't been any indication of specifics. So we're waiting to see when this letter does come out, what exactly it might say that might have been different than before that letter had gone out.

But so far they're continuing to say you should look at this like it's a positive sign. The fact that discussions are continuing to go on as they have gone back and forth. They say that look for some kind of movement but they don't want to go into specifics just yet. Perhaps not ready yet to have any kind of deal publicized.

SANCHEZ: Elaine Quijano with a handle on that. We certainly thank you for bringing us up to date.

Daryn, over to you.

KAGAN: Well, I know you're a Florida boy. I know you enjoy the beach.

SANCHEZ: Yes, emphasis on boy.

KAGAN: Yes. And beach. This is not how you go to the beach. Take a look at this videotape we're just getting in from Southern California.

SANCHEZ: Oh, no.

KAGAN: Orange County. You're not supposed to drive your car onto the beach. Somebody did this overnight. Well, high tide came up, claimed the car. This is a Ford Expedition. It's huge. Now we can say this kind of lightheartedly. No one was hurt. No one is inside. But now they've got a problem, how to get the car out of the ocean.

SANCHEZ: Yes, try to call your insurance company and explain that to them.

KAGAN: Yes, hmm, OK, so the tide came up in Orange County. So that live, that just coming in from the O.C. More on that later.

Other news now, proponents of the intelligence reform bill say that passage will make Americans safe. Safety, though, is clearly a global issue. Canadian authorities are investigating the disappearance of more than 1,000 uniform parts and 90 badges that are worn by airport security screeners. Right now screeners are being double-checked at all of Canada's 89 airports.

To Paris, embarrassed French authorities say they lost track of five ounces of explosives deliberately placed inside a passenger's luggage. Those explosives were being used to test bomb-sniffing dogs. The luggage apparently made it on board one of several flights out of Charles De Gaulle airport and it hasn't been seen since.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES SLEPIAN, AVIATION SECURITY EXPERT: Aviation security is still a mess. It's in shambles. It's not consistent anywhere in the world. And when you have no accountability for explosives going through a system, we are really endangered by that kind of a situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: That is from Charles Slepian. He says that several handguns were lost during security training exercise at an airport in the U.S. earlier this year.

You heard our conversation just a little while ago with Elaine Quijano about the 9/11 reform bill and who's doing what to make sure it gets passed. Well, there is Charles Schumer, Representative Charles Schumer of New -- pardon me, Senator Charles Schumer of New York. He's going to be joined in just a little while by Chris Shays, also Carolyn Maloney. Let me tell you why they're there. They're meeting with some of the family members of the victims of 9/11. And they are going to also have their say on this day about why they think that it's extremely important for this measure to be approved. So we're going to be dipping into that from time to time as we follow this story throughout the course of the next couple of hours.

KAGAN: We're also bringing the story of one Alabama city, it's getting a new bus. That might not be the biggest news. But this bus is intended to travel a road into history.

SANCHEZ: Also still to come, a virtual step into the past, as a civil rights icon is honored.

KAGAN: Plus, a Spongebob napper confesses to his crime. The story straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: We welcome you back. You were pointing out the oil prices thing last week and boy, I zoomed right in on that and it really has been a trend, hasn't it?

KAGAN: Yes, but, you know, market's not feeling too happy about Monday morning today. So let's check with Rhonda Schaffler -- Rhonda.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT) KAGAN: Thank you. Let's take a look at other stories making news coast to coast. And for that we go to Birmingham, Alabama, and the road to history. The city's mayor unveiling a replica of the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white man. Rosa Parks' arrest launched the Montgomery bus boycott 49 years ago yesterday.

Scottsdale, Arizona, reaches out to Iraq. A 14-year-old local girl has launched a campaign to collect Beanie babies. She wants them for U.S. troops serving in Iraq so they can bolster goodwill by giving them to Iraqi children.

And then, boy, the big story of the day. Dozens of Spongebob Squarepants balloons have disappeared from Burger King restaurant roofs across the country. But one Spongebob napper in Ohio -- he has had a change of heart. Gary Liberatore of our affiliate WJW has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for choosing Burger King, go ahead with your order.

GARY LIBERATORE, WJW CLEVELAND (voice-over): It's lonely at the top.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We noticed that it was up and then it was gone.

LIBERATORE: The top of this Burger King has been empty for the past two weeks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had put up on our road sign, you know, where is he?

LIBERATORE: He is Spongebob.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: It's a sponge.

LIBERATORE: He came up missing November 27th.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: It got stolen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think about that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: I'll be back.

LIBERATORE: Spongebob is huge. Everybody knows the song.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD (singing): Spongebob Squarepants.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Absorbent and yellow and porous is he. UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD (singing): Spongebob Squarepants.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): If nautical nonsense be something you wish.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Then drop on the deck and flap like a fish.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): Spongebob Squarepants

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: It's a clever cartoon. It's very witty. It's not just for kids.

LIBERATORE: This guy is not a closet Spongebob fan. He is the sponge napper.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Took me approximately an hour to do it.

LIBERATORE: We found out who this guy was through an anonymous tip.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: It was easy to get up there and get it down. It was deflating it that was the trouble.

LIBERATORE: But his guilty conscience got the best of him.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: The very next morning I saw that there was a reward for it and I got pretty nervous.

LIBERATORE: So nervous he'd find himself...

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Looking over my shoulder at all times.

LIBERATORE (on camera): So this is it?

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Yes, here it is.

LIBERATORE: And what do you want to do with it from here?

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Actually I'd like you guys to return it for me.

LIBERATORE: Return it to Burger King?

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god, there he is. Guys, look, Spongebob!

LIBERATORE (voice-over): Spongebob is home. Well, almost home to be exact.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to put him back on the roof tomorrow. Tomorrow at some at some point.

LIBERATORE: And Burger King is so glad to have Spongebob back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will not be pressing charges. I had to make sure I contacted all the right people, but...

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: It was a prank. It was a little over the top, but of course, it's all in good fun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't think we'd ever see him again. I thought he was gone for sure.

LIBERATORE: Gary Liberatore, Fox 8 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Spongebob is home.

SANCHEZ: Isn't that nice?

KAGAN: It's so good.

SANCHEZ: Oh, my god. Look, he's there, it's Spongebob!

KAGAN: He's there. Happy ending. That one. But you know, this was happening all across the country, Spongebobs.

SANCHEZ: Is it? It's a major story. We're going to have to send all our correspondents out on this one.

KAGAN: A series, a new CNN series. Spongebob security. I can see it now.

SANCHEZ: We've got it covered, folks. Also chance of a lifetime for a few chosen teenagers.

KAGAN: Still to come, Hollywood gives young screenwriters a shot at the stars. Film writer David Koepp of "Spider-Man" and "Mission Impossible" will be joining us to talk about the project. Also this is what we're working on for next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all are funny.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you all trying to play me?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ain't nobody trying to play you. We didn't tell you to jump in our conversation like you did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: This looks pretty good, doesn't it? The angst of youth through the eyes and some of the words of someone who is still in its grip. Talk about Hollywood fairy tales. Some teenage storytellers have scripted their own tales of success. They won a contest for aspiring scriptwriters and are now watching their words literally come to life on film. This is called Scenarios USA. And what it does is it pairs those young scribes with real Hollywood filmmakers. And joining us now to discuss the project is producer-director David Koepp, he's a real Hollywood filmmaker, and 15-year-old writes Shantelle Woolridge (ph) who really taught him how to do this.

Right, is that the way it works, Mr. Koepp?

DAVID KOEPP, FILM DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Yes. She guided me through the process every step of the way.

SANCHEZ: As I understand it, you collaborated, right? She wrote it and then you being a very accomplished director helped bring this thing to life?

KOEPP: Right. We -- well, Shantelle and a friend of hers had written a treatment, which was a story outline. And then we spent last summer, I was sort of nudging her through the script-writing process. And teaching her that the first thing we do in Hollywood as script-writers is break their spirit. So I hope I was able to pull that off.

SANCHEZ: How did he do, Shantelle?

SHANTELLE WOOLRIDGE (ph), WRITER: I think he did well. I got frustrated and wanted to quit a couple of times. But I stuck to it.

SANCHEZ: Shantelle, set this up for us, OK, because we're about to show another clip from your movie, and give us a sense of what we're about to see or what you were trying to accomplish when you set out to write this. Go ahead.

WOOLRIDGE: Well, what scene are we about to watch?

KOEPP: I think Shantelle is not quite sure which clip you're going to show but...

SANCHEZ: Just tell us about the movie.

WOOLRIDGE: Well, the movie is about six teenagers who battle various issues and situations, but they overcome them in their different ways, basically.

SANCHEZ: It's called "All Falls Down" right?

WOOLRIDGE: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Now, you know, most people your age, if I can say this, because I have a little bit of experience with youngsters, I've got a few of them, would want to do a movie about cars crashing and action stuff, and stuff blowing up, and weapons, because that's often what kids are -- this is -- from what I read, this is more of a relationship movie. It's real drama. Why did you go that route?

WOOLRIDGE: I really don't know. I'm not really in to action movies, and those type of things. But basically when I wrote the story, it was for a class project. And it was basically on a topic that we were doing in class so I kind of wrote it to fit that. I didn't really think I was going to win the contest. So I just used experience and put it onto a piece of paper.

SANCHEZ: How do you think it turned out, David?

KOEPP: I'm really happy with it. I think what was -- you're always limited in a film by the quality of the writing. And I felt like from the very beginning Shantelle's writing was right on. And she really seemed to speak about people she knew about. And so then your job as director at that point is just to try not to screw it up. And try and get the reality that she got on the page up on the screen. I hope we did that. I think so.

SANCHEZ: Does Hollywood need to do more of this? Every once in a while you hear negative things if not too often from Hollywood. Here's a wonderful thing where someone like yourself is getting together and helping kids learn your craft. Is this going to be a trend?

KOEPP: I hope so. I mean I think it's really good for anybody who writes or directs or does anything like that to get outside your own head once in a while. And I felt like Scenarios had such a good game plan, they had such a simple, important message and such a great idea for how to get it across, have it told by the people to whom you're trying to communicate. I hope more people do it because I learned so much more on this than I have on my last three movies combined.

SANCHEZ: That's amazing. And by the way, some of the movies that Mr. Koepp has been in, "Spider-Man", "Panic Room", "Jurassic Park", "Mission Impossible", and he has got another one coming out real soon, they're shooting it right now in New Jersey, I understand it's going to be the return of "War of the Worlds." That should be good. My thanks to both of you. You've been wonderful guests. And Mr. Koepp, job well done.

KOEPP: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: You, too, Shantelle.

WOOLRIDGE: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: All right. Bye-bye.

KAGAN: We've seen some wacky stuff sold on eBay, now one woman is selling -- or at least trying to sell her father's ghost.

SANCHEZ: Oh, my goodness.

KAGAN: What do you pay? We'll tell you what the bids are we'll tell you why she's doing that, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Well, time is running out, did you know, to buy yourself a ghost? KAGAN: Bidding ends tonight on the eBay auction site. It seems a woman made the listing. She was trying to appease her 6-year-old son who is afraid that his recently deceased grandfather will come back.

SANCHEZ: Several dozen bids have pushed the price upwards of $100. The creative mom asks that the winning bidder write a letter to her son saying the friendly spirit is well-received.

KAGAN: Apparently for the winning bidder she's going to give you her father's walking stick. So you at least get something and maybe the ghost will know it's supposed to go to a different house.

SANCHEZ: As long as it doesn't walk on its own.

KAGAN: Yes, well, you know it's not easy. You have little kids. And Jacqui has little kids. When they're scared, it's kind of hard to move them on past that. So grandpa's ghost for sale on eBay. You do what you've got to do.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Is the nation's food supply a target for terrorists?.

SANCHEZ: We're going to take a look as we begin a series of special reports, well, timed, might you say, after the comments by Tommy Thompson. This will be special for you right here on CNN.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired December 6, 2004 - 10:29   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Just about the midpoint in this hour. We welcome you back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

Security is being increased around Kabul ahead of tomorrow's inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghan president. Police are blocking off the road from the capital's airport to the presidential palace. More NATO armored cars are on patrol and U.S. helicopters are searching nearby mountains. There's concern that the event could trigger insurgent attacks.

A pre-trial hearing is under way this hour for one of the soldiers implicated in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal. Specialist Charles Graner, who is seen in many of the photographs has been described as a ringleader in the alleged abuses. His lawyer will argue that public condemnation by President Bush and military leaders has made a fair trial impossible.

In Major League Baseball, representatives of the players union opened their annual meeting today and the mushrooming steroid scandal will be on their agenda. The latest revelations involve Barry Bonds' appearance before a grand jury investigating illegal steroid use. Bonds is on track to become the all-time leading home run hitter. He reportedly says that he used a cream and a clear substance, but he claims he was unaware that they were steroids.

More than a month after President Bush formally won re-election, the state of Ohio will officially certify its voting results today. Yet two major court challenges still loom. One is seeking a statewide recount. The other challenges the results because of problems at polling places.

SANCHEZ: All right, let's go over now to our CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano. She just finished the briefing there at the White House they usually call affectionately the gaggle, where you get the skinny on what's going to happen with the White House and our nation's affairs.

What did you learn, Elaine?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Rick. That's right, that off-camera briefing called the gaggle. A little bit about the president's schedule. Of course at this hour President Bush is meeting with the king of Jordan, and on the agenda, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But of course, also the situation in Iraq. In fact, just a short time ago, President Bush wrapped up a meeting with Iraq's interim president, Ghazi al-Yawer. The visit perhaps just as important for the symbolism as the substance. The symbolism of welcoming a member of Iraq's Sunni minority to the White House, a sign to other Sunnis in Iraq that they will be included in the political process.

Now the two leaders have stated they do not want to see a delay of any kind for Iraq's elections. Both Mr. al-Yawer and Mr. Bush remain firmly committed to the January 30th date, saying that any delay would only hand a victory to the insurgents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am confident that when peoples are allowed to vote and express their will, peaceful societies emerge. And I'm confident that the process that has been set up by the international community to allow the people of Iraq to express their will, is a major step in democracy in the greater Middle East. I believe the Iraqi people have got the capacity and the desire to self-govern. And these elections will be a very important moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And, of course, Mr. Bush has a lot at stake with the future of Iraq politically. He has steadily maintained that successful elections there, and the democracy that he hopes to see take hold would be a major step for the region, also may quiet some critics here at home who have argued that President Bush and his administration did not have an adequate plan in place for post-war Iraq.

In the meantime, as we mentioned, he is meeting with the king of Jordan today. One of the other things President Bush would like to focus on in his second term is the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr. Bush hoping to see some movement on the so-called road map for peace. A road map, Rick, in which President Bush envisions a two-state solution, an Israeli state and a Palestinian state, coexisting side by side in peace -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Has the president picked up the phone and called any of the holdouts, Sensenbrenner or Hunter or Warner, about this 9/11 bill that seemingly everyone wants passed?

QUIJANO: Well, the White House says that the president has, in fact, spoken. He has continued discussions with leaders in the Congress about this. What White House officials are saying is that they see things moving forward. Although they won't be specific on exactly what that might mean.

Now, there's also supposed to be that letter that has gone out -- that is supposed to have gone out, rather. At this point White House officials saying they are still in discussions about that, and when pressed on exactly why it hasn't gone out just yet, White House spokesman Scott McClellan saying only that you should look at it like it's a positive sign, because there are ongoing discussions taking place.

No word, though, on exactly when that letter might be going out to the Hill.

SANCHEZ: Well, I guess, who specifically they've called, right, because they keep saying leaders. But has he called Hunter? Has he called Warner? Has he called Sensenbrenner specifically and talked to one of those three gentlemen?

QUIJANO: Well, discussions have been going on we understand with Congressman Hunter. No word on Senator Warner just yet. But we know in the past that the president did, in fact, speak with Congressman Sensenbrenner. That was sometime ago before the Thanksgiving break. Now whether or not there has been any kind of movement since then, there hasn't been any indication of specifics. So we're waiting to see when this letter does come out, what exactly it might say that might have been different than before that letter had gone out.

But so far they're continuing to say you should look at this like it's a positive sign. The fact that discussions are continuing to go on as they have gone back and forth. They say that look for some kind of movement but they don't want to go into specifics just yet. Perhaps not ready yet to have any kind of deal publicized.

SANCHEZ: Elaine Quijano with a handle on that. We certainly thank you for bringing us up to date.

Daryn, over to you.

KAGAN: Well, I know you're a Florida boy. I know you enjoy the beach.

SANCHEZ: Yes, emphasis on boy.

KAGAN: Yes. And beach. This is not how you go to the beach. Take a look at this videotape we're just getting in from Southern California.

SANCHEZ: Oh, no.

KAGAN: Orange County. You're not supposed to drive your car onto the beach. Somebody did this overnight. Well, high tide came up, claimed the car. This is a Ford Expedition. It's huge. Now we can say this kind of lightheartedly. No one was hurt. No one is inside. But now they've got a problem, how to get the car out of the ocean.

SANCHEZ: Yes, try to call your insurance company and explain that to them.

KAGAN: Yes, hmm, OK, so the tide came up in Orange County. So that live, that just coming in from the O.C. More on that later.

Other news now, proponents of the intelligence reform bill say that passage will make Americans safe. Safety, though, is clearly a global issue. Canadian authorities are investigating the disappearance of more than 1,000 uniform parts and 90 badges that are worn by airport security screeners. Right now screeners are being double-checked at all of Canada's 89 airports.

To Paris, embarrassed French authorities say they lost track of five ounces of explosives deliberately placed inside a passenger's luggage. Those explosives were being used to test bomb-sniffing dogs. The luggage apparently made it on board one of several flights out of Charles De Gaulle airport and it hasn't been seen since.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES SLEPIAN, AVIATION SECURITY EXPERT: Aviation security is still a mess. It's in shambles. It's not consistent anywhere in the world. And when you have no accountability for explosives going through a system, we are really endangered by that kind of a situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: That is from Charles Slepian. He says that several handguns were lost during security training exercise at an airport in the U.S. earlier this year.

You heard our conversation just a little while ago with Elaine Quijano about the 9/11 reform bill and who's doing what to make sure it gets passed. Well, there is Charles Schumer, Representative Charles Schumer of New -- pardon me, Senator Charles Schumer of New York. He's going to be joined in just a little while by Chris Shays, also Carolyn Maloney. Let me tell you why they're there. They're meeting with some of the family members of the victims of 9/11. And they are going to also have their say on this day about why they think that it's extremely important for this measure to be approved. So we're going to be dipping into that from time to time as we follow this story throughout the course of the next couple of hours.

KAGAN: We're also bringing the story of one Alabama city, it's getting a new bus. That might not be the biggest news. But this bus is intended to travel a road into history.

SANCHEZ: Also still to come, a virtual step into the past, as a civil rights icon is honored.

KAGAN: Plus, a Spongebob napper confesses to his crime. The story straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: We welcome you back. You were pointing out the oil prices thing last week and boy, I zoomed right in on that and it really has been a trend, hasn't it?

KAGAN: Yes, but, you know, market's not feeling too happy about Monday morning today. So let's check with Rhonda Schaffler -- Rhonda.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT) KAGAN: Thank you. Let's take a look at other stories making news coast to coast. And for that we go to Birmingham, Alabama, and the road to history. The city's mayor unveiling a replica of the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white man. Rosa Parks' arrest launched the Montgomery bus boycott 49 years ago yesterday.

Scottsdale, Arizona, reaches out to Iraq. A 14-year-old local girl has launched a campaign to collect Beanie babies. She wants them for U.S. troops serving in Iraq so they can bolster goodwill by giving them to Iraqi children.

And then, boy, the big story of the day. Dozens of Spongebob Squarepants balloons have disappeared from Burger King restaurant roofs across the country. But one Spongebob napper in Ohio -- he has had a change of heart. Gary Liberatore of our affiliate WJW has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for choosing Burger King, go ahead with your order.

GARY LIBERATORE, WJW CLEVELAND (voice-over): It's lonely at the top.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We noticed that it was up and then it was gone.

LIBERATORE: The top of this Burger King has been empty for the past two weeks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had put up on our road sign, you know, where is he?

LIBERATORE: He is Spongebob.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: It's a sponge.

LIBERATORE: He came up missing November 27th.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: It got stolen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think about that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: I'll be back.

LIBERATORE: Spongebob is huge. Everybody knows the song.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD (singing): Spongebob Squarepants.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Absorbent and yellow and porous is he. UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD (singing): Spongebob Squarepants.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): If nautical nonsense be something you wish.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Then drop on the deck and flap like a fish.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): Spongebob Squarepants

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: It's a clever cartoon. It's very witty. It's not just for kids.

LIBERATORE: This guy is not a closet Spongebob fan. He is the sponge napper.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Took me approximately an hour to do it.

LIBERATORE: We found out who this guy was through an anonymous tip.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: It was easy to get up there and get it down. It was deflating it that was the trouble.

LIBERATORE: But his guilty conscience got the best of him.

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: The very next morning I saw that there was a reward for it and I got pretty nervous.

LIBERATORE: So nervous he'd find himself...

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Looking over my shoulder at all times.

LIBERATORE (on camera): So this is it?

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Yes, here it is.

LIBERATORE: And what do you want to do with it from here?

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Actually I'd like you guys to return it for me.

LIBERATORE: Return it to Burger King?

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god, there he is. Guys, look, Spongebob!

LIBERATORE (voice-over): Spongebob is home. Well, almost home to be exact.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to put him back on the roof tomorrow. Tomorrow at some at some point.

LIBERATORE: And Burger King is so glad to have Spongebob back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will not be pressing charges. I had to make sure I contacted all the right people, but...

SPONGEBOB NAPPER: It was a prank. It was a little over the top, but of course, it's all in good fun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't think we'd ever see him again. I thought he was gone for sure.

LIBERATORE: Gary Liberatore, Fox 8 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Spongebob is home.

SANCHEZ: Isn't that nice?

KAGAN: It's so good.

SANCHEZ: Oh, my god. Look, he's there, it's Spongebob!

KAGAN: He's there. Happy ending. That one. But you know, this was happening all across the country, Spongebobs.

SANCHEZ: Is it? It's a major story. We're going to have to send all our correspondents out on this one.

KAGAN: A series, a new CNN series. Spongebob security. I can see it now.

SANCHEZ: We've got it covered, folks. Also chance of a lifetime for a few chosen teenagers.

KAGAN: Still to come, Hollywood gives young screenwriters a shot at the stars. Film writer David Koepp of "Spider-Man" and "Mission Impossible" will be joining us to talk about the project. Also this is what we're working on for next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all are funny.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you all trying to play me?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ain't nobody trying to play you. We didn't tell you to jump in our conversation like you did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: This looks pretty good, doesn't it? The angst of youth through the eyes and some of the words of someone who is still in its grip. Talk about Hollywood fairy tales. Some teenage storytellers have scripted their own tales of success. They won a contest for aspiring scriptwriters and are now watching their words literally come to life on film. This is called Scenarios USA. And what it does is it pairs those young scribes with real Hollywood filmmakers. And joining us now to discuss the project is producer-director David Koepp, he's a real Hollywood filmmaker, and 15-year-old writes Shantelle Woolridge (ph) who really taught him how to do this.

Right, is that the way it works, Mr. Koepp?

DAVID KOEPP, FILM DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Yes. She guided me through the process every step of the way.

SANCHEZ: As I understand it, you collaborated, right? She wrote it and then you being a very accomplished director helped bring this thing to life?

KOEPP: Right. We -- well, Shantelle and a friend of hers had written a treatment, which was a story outline. And then we spent last summer, I was sort of nudging her through the script-writing process. And teaching her that the first thing we do in Hollywood as script-writers is break their spirit. So I hope I was able to pull that off.

SANCHEZ: How did he do, Shantelle?

SHANTELLE WOOLRIDGE (ph), WRITER: I think he did well. I got frustrated and wanted to quit a couple of times. But I stuck to it.

SANCHEZ: Shantelle, set this up for us, OK, because we're about to show another clip from your movie, and give us a sense of what we're about to see or what you were trying to accomplish when you set out to write this. Go ahead.

WOOLRIDGE: Well, what scene are we about to watch?

KOEPP: I think Shantelle is not quite sure which clip you're going to show but...

SANCHEZ: Just tell us about the movie.

WOOLRIDGE: Well, the movie is about six teenagers who battle various issues and situations, but they overcome them in their different ways, basically.

SANCHEZ: It's called "All Falls Down" right?

WOOLRIDGE: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Now, you know, most people your age, if I can say this, because I have a little bit of experience with youngsters, I've got a few of them, would want to do a movie about cars crashing and action stuff, and stuff blowing up, and weapons, because that's often what kids are -- this is -- from what I read, this is more of a relationship movie. It's real drama. Why did you go that route?

WOOLRIDGE: I really don't know. I'm not really in to action movies, and those type of things. But basically when I wrote the story, it was for a class project. And it was basically on a topic that we were doing in class so I kind of wrote it to fit that. I didn't really think I was going to win the contest. So I just used experience and put it onto a piece of paper.

SANCHEZ: How do you think it turned out, David?

KOEPP: I'm really happy with it. I think what was -- you're always limited in a film by the quality of the writing. And I felt like from the very beginning Shantelle's writing was right on. And she really seemed to speak about people she knew about. And so then your job as director at that point is just to try not to screw it up. And try and get the reality that she got on the page up on the screen. I hope we did that. I think so.

SANCHEZ: Does Hollywood need to do more of this? Every once in a while you hear negative things if not too often from Hollywood. Here's a wonderful thing where someone like yourself is getting together and helping kids learn your craft. Is this going to be a trend?

KOEPP: I hope so. I mean I think it's really good for anybody who writes or directs or does anything like that to get outside your own head once in a while. And I felt like Scenarios had such a good game plan, they had such a simple, important message and such a great idea for how to get it across, have it told by the people to whom you're trying to communicate. I hope more people do it because I learned so much more on this than I have on my last three movies combined.

SANCHEZ: That's amazing. And by the way, some of the movies that Mr. Koepp has been in, "Spider-Man", "Panic Room", "Jurassic Park", "Mission Impossible", and he has got another one coming out real soon, they're shooting it right now in New Jersey, I understand it's going to be the return of "War of the Worlds." That should be good. My thanks to both of you. You've been wonderful guests. And Mr. Koepp, job well done.

KOEPP: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: You, too, Shantelle.

WOOLRIDGE: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: All right. Bye-bye.

KAGAN: We've seen some wacky stuff sold on eBay, now one woman is selling -- or at least trying to sell her father's ghost.

SANCHEZ: Oh, my goodness.

KAGAN: What do you pay? We'll tell you what the bids are we'll tell you why she's doing that, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Well, time is running out, did you know, to buy yourself a ghost? KAGAN: Bidding ends tonight on the eBay auction site. It seems a woman made the listing. She was trying to appease her 6-year-old son who is afraid that his recently deceased grandfather will come back.

SANCHEZ: Several dozen bids have pushed the price upwards of $100. The creative mom asks that the winning bidder write a letter to her son saying the friendly spirit is well-received.

KAGAN: Apparently for the winning bidder she's going to give you her father's walking stick. So you at least get something and maybe the ghost will know it's supposed to go to a different house.

SANCHEZ: As long as it doesn't walk on its own.

KAGAN: Yes, well, you know it's not easy. You have little kids. And Jacqui has little kids. When they're scared, it's kind of hard to move them on past that. So grandpa's ghost for sale on eBay. You do what you've got to do.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Is the nation's food supply a target for terrorists?.

SANCHEZ: We're going to take a look as we begin a series of special reports, well, timed, might you say, after the comments by Tommy Thompson. This will be special for you right here on CNN.

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