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Family Battle Grows to Nationwide Debate; More People Investigating Living Wills; IED Explosion in Iraq Caught on Tape; Preview of Weekend Movies: "Miss Congeniality 2," "Guess Who?", "Millions"

Aired March 25, 2005 - 10:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, HOST: Good Friday observances in the Philippines tend to be more literal than any other place. Those seeking penance are known to have themselves physically nailed to wooden crosses. Others choose to participate in public displays of self-flagellation.
The Terri Schiavo case can be seen as a family dispute that has turned into a life and death legal fight. CNN's John Zarrella takes a closer look at the issues that are dividing a family and captivating the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband and legal guardian, has said repeatedly that Terri would want to die.

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI'S HUSBAND: She wouldn't want to live like this. She wouldn't want to survive like this. And that's all she's doing, is just she's surviving. There's nothing there. She's -- her conscious is gone.

ZARRELLA: But her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, say she'd want to live. And, though severely disabled, would be capable of rehabilitation.

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: The prognosis for her is that if she was given any kind of treatment, therapy, she can improve. And that's what we've been told by dozens of doctors.

ZARRELLA: But most doctors involved in the case say she wouldn't improve with therapy, that she's in a, quote, "persistent vegetative state." And the courts have agreed.

JAY WOLFSON, FORMER COURT APPOINTED GUARDIAN FOR TERRI: The fact is that the competent medical evidence that was presented in court, again, using the rules of evidence and the rules of civil procedure in Florida, establish that the medical evidence indicates she is in a persistent vegetative state.

ZARRELLA: As with many family disputes, this one involves money, who got it, what to do with it, where did it go? All connected to $1.2 million medical malpractice settlement that Michael Schiavo won years ago.

But just $300,000 went to him personally. The rest has gone for medical and legal bills and to pay for Terri Schiavo's funeral.

SCHIAVO: They are very angry that they didn't receive any money from the malpractice suit.

ZARRELLA: The parents deny that claim, saying they only want to help their daughter.

More recently, her parents have charged that Terri had been abused through lack of treatment and confinement. And others now have raised concerns about a 1991 medical report indicating bone trauma. But the report notes that could be the result of bone disease.

The courts most recently today have rejected the abuse claims. Jay Wolfson, Terri Schiavo's former guardian, supports that finding.

WOLFSON: I saw no evidence in the files that I reviewed of more than 30,000 pages of legal notes and medical evidence that there was abuse.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Even now it is difficult to find the truth. Terri's family says she is gray and wasting away. Michael's family says she's resting peacefully. For more than a decade now, there has been little common ground between the Schindlers and Michael Schiavo.

John Zarrella, CNN, Pinellas Park, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Terri Schiavo left no living will, but she's already leaving a legacy. Her case has made people confront the uncomfortable end of life issues and, more importantly, take steps to spare their families similar suffering. CNN's Aaron Brown has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT" (voice-over): It is perhaps the one certain lesson of the whole sad Schiavo affair. Will and Lisa Austen have learned the lesson.

CHRISTOPHER LIKENS, ATTORNEY: Your living will declaration provides that if you're in a terminal condition, an irreversible end stage condition or persistent vegetative state, that you would not like to have certain life prolonging procedures.

BROWN: The concept isn't new for them. What is new and what is important for them is that they have gone beyond the talk to put pen to paper.

LISA AUSTEN, LIVING WILL CLIENT: We had talked about our living wills, but hadn't executed them as we did today. The Terri Schiavo case, you can't really get away from it.

And we really do want to protect each other from the heartache, and it's a personal decision, I know, but we really want to take matters into our own hands. BROWN: Attorney Christopher Likens has heard this a lot these last days, heard it a lot because of the Schiavo case, a case that has made so many people in so many places think about the things they'd mostly like to avoid.

LIKENS: It's hard to turn the TV on without having a show or some issue come out of the Terri Schiavo case. So it's definitely been an issue. It's been in the forefront of clients' minds. Just about every client that we've signed documents like this in the past couple of weeks, in particular, they've all said the same thing: "Oh, that poor girl or that poor family and I don't want my family to have to go through that."

BROWN: The Austens are in their late 40s and in good health. He works in philanthropy. She works for a trade show marketing firm from their home near Sarasota. What they did today, she says, they did for others.

L. AUSTEN: I'm one of six children. You know, 10 nieces and nephews. I just don't find it -- there's no reason for them to have to bicker or be in a heated debate over my care.

WILL AUSTEN, LIVING WILL CLIENT: I think it gives us peace of mind and assurance, and it's a way of having -- yet another thing to worry about is resolved, a matter that's extremely important in terms of our life together and our legacy.

BROWN: Some day we will know how many people have seen these painful scenes, heard the sorrow and the shouting, and made the decision the Austens have made. We will know how many and we will know why.

L. AUSTEN: I think it would tear me apart if I felt that my family were arguing and getting to the point, like it has been on national television, about my care.

BROWN: Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: The family of Jessica Lunsford has announced a public memorial for the slain 9-year-old Florida girl. That public service will be held Saturday afternoon near her home town of Homosassa Springs. The family will hold private gatherings today.

Police say convicted sex offender John Couey has confessed to kidnapping Jessica from her bedroom and later killing her.

Let's take a look at other stories making coast to coast this morning.

The suspect in the Atlanta courthouse shootings reportedly left an escape plan in his jail cell. The Fulton County sheriff revealed hand drawn diagrams in an interview with a local Atlanta television station. Nichols is accused in four shooting deaths. Officials say it's too early to tell if anyone will be fired because of the attack. A couple of Vermont teenagers could go to prison for life if convicted in an alleged murder plot. Fifteen-year-old Brittany Woodward and her 18-year-old boyfriend are accused of planning to kill her parents. Woodward is accused of holding a gun to her father's head. Authorities say she didn't shoot. Prosecutors say the girl's parents wouldn't let her see her boyfriend.

An Iraqi general is killed and his two sons are wounded after a drive-by shooting. That tops the latest developments from Iraq. The three were leaving a relative's funeral when the shooting occurred in southeast Baghdad. The assailants are described as unknown gunmen.

In Ramadi, 11 Iraqi police officers were killed at a checkpoint when a suicide bomber blew up his car. Fourteen police officers, two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi civilians were wounded.

Five Iraqi women who work as contractors at a U.S. military base were shot dead in Baghdad. The women were on their way home from work when they were gunned down in a drive-by shooting.

And negotiators are working on details of an Iraqi coalition government. A parliamentary session might be held Monday, but it's not certain whether the new president and his deputies will be announced by then.

Well, like troops and civilians, journalists in Iraq face danger in Iraq even during what might appear to be routine assignments. As you're going to see in this report from CNN's Alex Quade, nothing is routine these days in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX QUADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An abandoned car on the important main supply route from Falluja to Baghdad instantly made the Marines of Dragon Platoon suspicious. We were on patrol with this weapons company from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when they secured the area and eventually used an armored Humvee to push the car off the side of the road. When it happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go! You OK? You OK?

QUADE: The Marines call this a vehicle-borne IED, improvised explosive device; translation, car bomb. The Marines believe it was detonated remotely by an insurgent triggerman watching and waiting for the right moment to injure or kill as many U.S. troops as possible.

In this case, nobody was seriously hurt. The blast blew CNN cameraman David Albrighton (ph) back 12 feet.

QUADE (on camera): I'm going to check on my cameraman.

(voice-over) I saw he was OK and picked up my mini cam to record what was happening right in front of us: Marines climbing into the flaming Humvee to get ammunition out, ammo that could blow and cause other casualties.

(on camera) You OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it knocked me down. I just got hit by a little piece of shrapnel. Didn't cut -- didn't break the skin.

QUADE: Marines coming in.

(voice-over) Reinforcement troops arrived. Apache helicopters provided close air support. And the Marines of Dragon Platoon continued fighting flames to salvage anything from the Humvee that might be of use to insurgents, including the 50 caliber machine gun mounted in the turret.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a scratch on them. Lucky son of a gun.

QUADE: That lucky Marine, Lance Corporal Jason Hunt, told me he thought he was going to die. Then he walked by me to immediately call security while his fellow Marines continued to deal with the smoking Humvee. They will all be out on patrol, hunting for improvised explosive devices again tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was pretty close. I consider myself lucky.

QUADE: Alex Quade, CNN, near Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: A newly released legal document shows U.S. forces were closer to Osama bin Laden than previously acknowledged.

The document summarizes evidence against a terror suspect now held at Guantanamo Bay. It says the prisoner had helped the al Qaeda leader escape the U.S. offensive at Tora Bora in Afghanistan. The document seemingly contradicts earlier Pentagon claims. It does not release the prisoner's name or nationality.

So did you forget where you put your car keys? You can't remember what you ate for dinner last night? A lot of people, including eyewitnesses to crimes, have trouble remembering. Ahead in our next hour, you're going to meet a woman who digs into people's memories to help authorities find their suspect.

Plus a dad who's not happy with his daughter's boyfriend. Don't miss my chat with comedian Bernie Mac about his new film.

First, though, Mr. Moviefone will be along to give a preview. And he's going to review "Guess Who?"

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: So you ever done this? We've all done this. Ever walk into a room and wonder why you're there? Maybe your once sharp memory is getting a little dull around the edges? Maybe you just have too much on your mind? For tips to keeping your memory in shape, we click onto CNN.com for this report from Veronica De La Cruz.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you remember the capitals of all 50 states? How about the name of your second grade teacher? Do you remember where you put your keys? Whether you know those answers or not, learn how memory works at CNN.com.

Details, impressions and opinions constantly bombard our brains, giving us fodder for memories. But how are memories made and later recalled? Well, when you have an experience it's stored throughout the cerebral cortex. At CNN.com, this interactive guide explains specific brain structures and their role in this complex process.

But even as scientists make strides in understanding memory, millions of Americans struggle with memory loss. According to the Alzheimer's Foundation, as many as 16 million could suffer from the mind-eroding disease by 2050, up from 4.5 million today.

And even though it is difficult to predict Alzheimer's, some say you can do yourself to prevent it. To keep your noggin nimble as you age, a few steps suggested by the Mayo Clinic: first of all, exercise your mind with brain teasers. Start by reading a book or learning a new language. Also, mind and body work together, so it's important to stay physically active.

In addition to the resources available at CNN.com, Dr. Sanjay Gupta hosts a primetime special on memory. That's at 10 Eastern this Sunday night on CNN. Hopefully, you'll remember.

From the dot com desk in Atlanta, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Are you going to remember to go to the move this weekend? Can Ashton Kutcher survive the weekend with the future father-in-law in Bernie Mac?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: Looks like rain.

BERNIE MAC, COMEDIAN: No.

KUTCHER: The clouds are pretty threatening.

MAC: I live here. I know the weather.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Guess who has a preview of this week's box office this weekend? It's Mr. Moviefone, of course, from CNN LIVE TODAY, returns. There he is. Hi, Russ. We'll be with you in just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Personal presentation issues. Clothing, makeup, so forth. He comes very highly recommended.

SAND BULLOCK, ACTRESS: Sir, I just went through a makeover for the pageant. I'm still getting hairspray off my butt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Sandra Bullock is "Armed and Fabulous" in the sequel to her hit "Miss Congeniality," once again playing FBI agent Gracie Hart as she infiltrates the ruthless and terrifying world of beauty pageants.

The producers "Miss Congeniality 2" can only hope it does as well as the first, which was a bona fide box office success.

Our pal Russ Leatherman here to tell us about it. And another Friday installment of "On the Big Screen."

Good morning, Russ.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, MR. MOVIEFONE: Happy Friday to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And do you know why it is a happy Friday?

LEATHERMAN: Why is that?

KAGAN: Because I'm looking at the list of movies you're going to talk about. Not a single bad dream movie on here today.

LEATHERMAN: No, no. They're all fantastic. But here's the thing. You know, I don't know about Sandra Bullock, but you are armed and fabulous.

KAGAN: Oh, thank you.

LEATHERMAN: I just want you to know that. You know what, Sandra Bullock is back. And the first movie, "Miss Congeniality," made a bazillion dollars.

KAGAN: It did.

LEATHERMAN: Everybody loved it.

KAGAN: And it was fun.

LEATHERMAN: It was fun.

KAGAN: It was a go to the movie house fun, feel good kind.

LEATHERMAN: Yes. You're a girl. You're now officially a girl.

KAGAN: Thank you. Thank you for noticing.

LEATHERMAN: No problem. Well, this time she's back in action. And, as you remember, in the last movie, she was in a beauty pageant, but now everybody knows her. So she becomes the spokesperson for the FBI, but guess what? Miss United States has been kidnapped. She's been abducted.

Yes. So now she and William Shatner, who's the host of the pageant, she has to go save them. And Regina King goes along with her, and the comedy mayhem ensues from there.

I have to tell you, Daryn. This is -- this is one of those movies that maybe would have better been left with the original. It's pretty much a lame retread of a flat tire to begin with.

But you know what? That doesn't matter. First of all, let me just say the writing's bad. The acting's bad. The whole thing is pretty lame, but it just doesn't matter because everybody is going to go see it. You love Sandra Bullock.

KAGAN: I love Sandra Bullock. I love Regina King.

LEATHERMAN: You love when Sandra snorts and when she runs into stuff and wears all the stupid clothes.

KAGAN: She's cute. Yes.

LEATHERMAN: So go see it. You go. I have to tell you, it didn't do much for me. But you, I think you're going to love it.

KAGAN: And it's not going to cause a single bad dream afterwards.

LEATHERMAN: That's for sure.

KAGAN: Bernie Mac, I had a chance to interview him earlier this week. We're going to play that interview in the next hour. He's very excited about his new movie "Guess Who?"

LEATHERMAN: He should be excited. I mean, Bernie Mac is a funny guy. And he's in a big holiday blockbuster, so that's good news. He stars with Ashton Kutcher, and he plays a doting dad who's in for the surprise of his life when he discovers that his daughter's new fiance is white! Do you believe it? That's where the comedy comes in.

KAGAN: Well, you know, he says it's not exactly a remake, but it is kind of a remake of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Sidney Poitier.

LEATHERMAN: Well, yes. In fact, if you're going to remake a classic with Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, who do you put in the movie but Ashton Kutcher? That's a pretty good idea.

I have to tell you -- Daryn, I have to be honest with you.

KAGAN: Yes.

LEATHERMAN: I didn't see this movie. I didn't. After "Miss Congeniality 2," frankly I just couldn't take any more.

KAGAN: You haven't seen "Guess Who?" and you're sitting here on our air reviewing it? LEATHERMAN: No, I'm not reviewing it. I'm telling you that I don't -- I haven't seen it. But it may be fantastic. It looks like there are some funny bits.

KAGAN: All right. We're moving on.

LEATHERMAN: Bernie Mac looks pretty funny. But -- but I don't know. So you got to check it out for yourself.

KAGAN: If have you not seen it, we're not talking about it. Have you seen "Millions"?

LEATHERMAN: I have seen "Millions." This is...

KAGAN: OK. Tell me. I haven't heard of this movie. Tell me about it.

LEATHERMAN: Well, this is the movie if you're going to spend $10 this weekend, this is the place you should put it. It's a fantastic little movie. It's directed by Danny Boyle. He's the guy who did "Shallow Grave," "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later," the zombie flick.

Well, now he's made a fantastic little family movie. It's about these two boys who lose their mother. And what happens is this bag of money falls from the sky. One thinks it was given to them from a saint, because he talks to saints. It's how he copes with his loss, really. And the other knows it's going to lead to trouble.

I have to tell you, it's beautifully made, beautifully directed. A nice mix of reality and fantasy. And it's a great movie if you have an 8- or 9- or 10-year-old kid who's moving out of the animated features into real movies. They're going to love this movie. You're going to love this movie, too.

So of all the movies opening this week, you know, "Miss Congeniality 2" not so much. The Bernie Mac movie, I didn't see it. You come back and tell me.

KAGAN: I will. "Millions."

LEATHERMAN: "Millions," I can tell you, a fantastic little movie. Go check it out.

KAGAN: Thank you. Russ Leatherman, Mr. Moviefone. I hope the Easter bunny is very good to you on Sunday.

LEATHERMAN: Thank you, Daryn. Talk to you next week.

KAGAN: Thank you so much.

Ten fifty-four on the East Coast, 7:54 on the West Coast. Stay with us. We'll be right back with a quick check of your morning forecast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Let's check in on weather for the holiday weekend. Orelon Sidney is doing that. Hi, Orelon.

I think she's doing that.

All right. She's as mysterious as the Easter bunny. Do we have Orelon? We're going to -- we're going to do our own Orelon Sidney hunt. We're going to do that. Take a break? I say we take one more break. We'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Going to a live picture now, Pinellas Park, Florida. This outside of the hospice where Terri Schiavo, as we have heard described by her husband's attorney is going through what they say, what they call the death process.

Both Michael Schiavo, her husband, and her parents and siblings have had a chance to visit with her over the last week since the feeding tube has been removed. We're getting word that her father, Bob Schindler, plans to come to the microphones there and make a statement shortly. And we're -- and we are going to have that for you live.

Meanwhile, also there in Pinellas Park is our Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, and what we know about the family's reaction is what you would expect the family's reaction to be: bitter disappointment. They deny that a resignation is setting in, but they're also very aware that the legal options are extremely dicey at this particular point.

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 March 25, 2005 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, HOST: Good Friday observances in the Philippines tend to be more literal than any other place. Those seeking penance are known to have themselves physically nailed to wooden crosses. Others choose to participate in public displays of self-flagellation.
The Terri Schiavo case can be seen as a family dispute that has turned into a life and death legal fight. CNN's John Zarrella takes a closer look at the issues that are dividing a family and captivating the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband and legal guardian, has said repeatedly that Terri would want to die.

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, TERRI'S HUSBAND: She wouldn't want to live like this. She wouldn't want to survive like this. And that's all she's doing, is just she's surviving. There's nothing there. She's -- her conscious is gone.

ZARRELLA: But her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, say she'd want to live. And, though severely disabled, would be capable of rehabilitation.

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: The prognosis for her is that if she was given any kind of treatment, therapy, she can improve. And that's what we've been told by dozens of doctors.

ZARRELLA: But most doctors involved in the case say she wouldn't improve with therapy, that she's in a, quote, "persistent vegetative state." And the courts have agreed.

JAY WOLFSON, FORMER COURT APPOINTED GUARDIAN FOR TERRI: The fact is that the competent medical evidence that was presented in court, again, using the rules of evidence and the rules of civil procedure in Florida, establish that the medical evidence indicates she is in a persistent vegetative state.

ZARRELLA: As with many family disputes, this one involves money, who got it, what to do with it, where did it go? All connected to $1.2 million medical malpractice settlement that Michael Schiavo won years ago.

But just $300,000 went to him personally. The rest has gone for medical and legal bills and to pay for Terri Schiavo's funeral.

SCHIAVO: They are very angry that they didn't receive any money from the malpractice suit.

ZARRELLA: The parents deny that claim, saying they only want to help their daughter.

More recently, her parents have charged that Terri had been abused through lack of treatment and confinement. And others now have raised concerns about a 1991 medical report indicating bone trauma. But the report notes that could be the result of bone disease.

The courts most recently today have rejected the abuse claims. Jay Wolfson, Terri Schiavo's former guardian, supports that finding.

WOLFSON: I saw no evidence in the files that I reviewed of more than 30,000 pages of legal notes and medical evidence that there was abuse.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Even now it is difficult to find the truth. Terri's family says she is gray and wasting away. Michael's family says she's resting peacefully. For more than a decade now, there has been little common ground between the Schindlers and Michael Schiavo.

John Zarrella, CNN, Pinellas Park, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Terri Schiavo left no living will, but she's already leaving a legacy. Her case has made people confront the uncomfortable end of life issues and, more importantly, take steps to spare their families similar suffering. CNN's Aaron Brown has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT" (voice-over): It is perhaps the one certain lesson of the whole sad Schiavo affair. Will and Lisa Austen have learned the lesson.

CHRISTOPHER LIKENS, ATTORNEY: Your living will declaration provides that if you're in a terminal condition, an irreversible end stage condition or persistent vegetative state, that you would not like to have certain life prolonging procedures.

BROWN: The concept isn't new for them. What is new and what is important for them is that they have gone beyond the talk to put pen to paper.

LISA AUSTEN, LIVING WILL CLIENT: We had talked about our living wills, but hadn't executed them as we did today. The Terri Schiavo case, you can't really get away from it.

And we really do want to protect each other from the heartache, and it's a personal decision, I know, but we really want to take matters into our own hands. BROWN: Attorney Christopher Likens has heard this a lot these last days, heard it a lot because of the Schiavo case, a case that has made so many people in so many places think about the things they'd mostly like to avoid.

LIKENS: It's hard to turn the TV on without having a show or some issue come out of the Terri Schiavo case. So it's definitely been an issue. It's been in the forefront of clients' minds. Just about every client that we've signed documents like this in the past couple of weeks, in particular, they've all said the same thing: "Oh, that poor girl or that poor family and I don't want my family to have to go through that."

BROWN: The Austens are in their late 40s and in good health. He works in philanthropy. She works for a trade show marketing firm from their home near Sarasota. What they did today, she says, they did for others.

L. AUSTEN: I'm one of six children. You know, 10 nieces and nephews. I just don't find it -- there's no reason for them to have to bicker or be in a heated debate over my care.

WILL AUSTEN, LIVING WILL CLIENT: I think it gives us peace of mind and assurance, and it's a way of having -- yet another thing to worry about is resolved, a matter that's extremely important in terms of our life together and our legacy.

BROWN: Some day we will know how many people have seen these painful scenes, heard the sorrow and the shouting, and made the decision the Austens have made. We will know how many and we will know why.

L. AUSTEN: I think it would tear me apart if I felt that my family were arguing and getting to the point, like it has been on national television, about my care.

BROWN: Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: The family of Jessica Lunsford has announced a public memorial for the slain 9-year-old Florida girl. That public service will be held Saturday afternoon near her home town of Homosassa Springs. The family will hold private gatherings today.

Police say convicted sex offender John Couey has confessed to kidnapping Jessica from her bedroom and later killing her.

Let's take a look at other stories making coast to coast this morning.

The suspect in the Atlanta courthouse shootings reportedly left an escape plan in his jail cell. The Fulton County sheriff revealed hand drawn diagrams in an interview with a local Atlanta television station. Nichols is accused in four shooting deaths. Officials say it's too early to tell if anyone will be fired because of the attack. A couple of Vermont teenagers could go to prison for life if convicted in an alleged murder plot. Fifteen-year-old Brittany Woodward and her 18-year-old boyfriend are accused of planning to kill her parents. Woodward is accused of holding a gun to her father's head. Authorities say she didn't shoot. Prosecutors say the girl's parents wouldn't let her see her boyfriend.

An Iraqi general is killed and his two sons are wounded after a drive-by shooting. That tops the latest developments from Iraq. The three were leaving a relative's funeral when the shooting occurred in southeast Baghdad. The assailants are described as unknown gunmen.

In Ramadi, 11 Iraqi police officers were killed at a checkpoint when a suicide bomber blew up his car. Fourteen police officers, two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi civilians were wounded.

Five Iraqi women who work as contractors at a U.S. military base were shot dead in Baghdad. The women were on their way home from work when they were gunned down in a drive-by shooting.

And negotiators are working on details of an Iraqi coalition government. A parliamentary session might be held Monday, but it's not certain whether the new president and his deputies will be announced by then.

Well, like troops and civilians, journalists in Iraq face danger in Iraq even during what might appear to be routine assignments. As you're going to see in this report from CNN's Alex Quade, nothing is routine these days in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX QUADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An abandoned car on the important main supply route from Falluja to Baghdad instantly made the Marines of Dragon Platoon suspicious. We were on patrol with this weapons company from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when they secured the area and eventually used an armored Humvee to push the car off the side of the road. When it happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go! You OK? You OK?

QUADE: The Marines call this a vehicle-borne IED, improvised explosive device; translation, car bomb. The Marines believe it was detonated remotely by an insurgent triggerman watching and waiting for the right moment to injure or kill as many U.S. troops as possible.

In this case, nobody was seriously hurt. The blast blew CNN cameraman David Albrighton (ph) back 12 feet.

QUADE (on camera): I'm going to check on my cameraman.

(voice-over) I saw he was OK and picked up my mini cam to record what was happening right in front of us: Marines climbing into the flaming Humvee to get ammunition out, ammo that could blow and cause other casualties.

(on camera) You OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it knocked me down. I just got hit by a little piece of shrapnel. Didn't cut -- didn't break the skin.

QUADE: Marines coming in.

(voice-over) Reinforcement troops arrived. Apache helicopters provided close air support. And the Marines of Dragon Platoon continued fighting flames to salvage anything from the Humvee that might be of use to insurgents, including the 50 caliber machine gun mounted in the turret.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a scratch on them. Lucky son of a gun.

QUADE: That lucky Marine, Lance Corporal Jason Hunt, told me he thought he was going to die. Then he walked by me to immediately call security while his fellow Marines continued to deal with the smoking Humvee. They will all be out on patrol, hunting for improvised explosive devices again tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was pretty close. I consider myself lucky.

QUADE: Alex Quade, CNN, near Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: A newly released legal document shows U.S. forces were closer to Osama bin Laden than previously acknowledged.

The document summarizes evidence against a terror suspect now held at Guantanamo Bay. It says the prisoner had helped the al Qaeda leader escape the U.S. offensive at Tora Bora in Afghanistan. The document seemingly contradicts earlier Pentagon claims. It does not release the prisoner's name or nationality.

So did you forget where you put your car keys? You can't remember what you ate for dinner last night? A lot of people, including eyewitnesses to crimes, have trouble remembering. Ahead in our next hour, you're going to meet a woman who digs into people's memories to help authorities find their suspect.

Plus a dad who's not happy with his daughter's boyfriend. Don't miss my chat with comedian Bernie Mac about his new film.

First, though, Mr. Moviefone will be along to give a preview. And he's going to review "Guess Who?"

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: So you ever done this? We've all done this. Ever walk into a room and wonder why you're there? Maybe your once sharp memory is getting a little dull around the edges? Maybe you just have too much on your mind? For tips to keeping your memory in shape, we click onto CNN.com for this report from Veronica De La Cruz.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you remember the capitals of all 50 states? How about the name of your second grade teacher? Do you remember where you put your keys? Whether you know those answers or not, learn how memory works at CNN.com.

Details, impressions and opinions constantly bombard our brains, giving us fodder for memories. But how are memories made and later recalled? Well, when you have an experience it's stored throughout the cerebral cortex. At CNN.com, this interactive guide explains specific brain structures and their role in this complex process.

But even as scientists make strides in understanding memory, millions of Americans struggle with memory loss. According to the Alzheimer's Foundation, as many as 16 million could suffer from the mind-eroding disease by 2050, up from 4.5 million today.

And even though it is difficult to predict Alzheimer's, some say you can do yourself to prevent it. To keep your noggin nimble as you age, a few steps suggested by the Mayo Clinic: first of all, exercise your mind with brain teasers. Start by reading a book or learning a new language. Also, mind and body work together, so it's important to stay physically active.

In addition to the resources available at CNN.com, Dr. Sanjay Gupta hosts a primetime special on memory. That's at 10 Eastern this Sunday night on CNN. Hopefully, you'll remember.

From the dot com desk in Atlanta, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Are you going to remember to go to the move this weekend? Can Ashton Kutcher survive the weekend with the future father-in-law in Bernie Mac?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: Looks like rain.

BERNIE MAC, COMEDIAN: No.

KUTCHER: The clouds are pretty threatening.

MAC: I live here. I know the weather.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Guess who has a preview of this week's box office this weekend? It's Mr. Moviefone, of course, from CNN LIVE TODAY, returns. There he is. Hi, Russ. We'll be with you in just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Personal presentation issues. Clothing, makeup, so forth. He comes very highly recommended.

SAND BULLOCK, ACTRESS: Sir, I just went through a makeover for the pageant. I'm still getting hairspray off my butt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Sandra Bullock is "Armed and Fabulous" in the sequel to her hit "Miss Congeniality," once again playing FBI agent Gracie Hart as she infiltrates the ruthless and terrifying world of beauty pageants.

The producers "Miss Congeniality 2" can only hope it does as well as the first, which was a bona fide box office success.

Our pal Russ Leatherman here to tell us about it. And another Friday installment of "On the Big Screen."

Good morning, Russ.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, MR. MOVIEFONE: Happy Friday to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And do you know why it is a happy Friday?

LEATHERMAN: Why is that?

KAGAN: Because I'm looking at the list of movies you're going to talk about. Not a single bad dream movie on here today.

LEATHERMAN: No, no. They're all fantastic. But here's the thing. You know, I don't know about Sandra Bullock, but you are armed and fabulous.

KAGAN: Oh, thank you.

LEATHERMAN: I just want you to know that. You know what, Sandra Bullock is back. And the first movie, "Miss Congeniality," made a bazillion dollars.

KAGAN: It did.

LEATHERMAN: Everybody loved it.

KAGAN: And it was fun.

LEATHERMAN: It was fun.

KAGAN: It was a go to the movie house fun, feel good kind.

LEATHERMAN: Yes. You're a girl. You're now officially a girl.

KAGAN: Thank you. Thank you for noticing.

LEATHERMAN: No problem. Well, this time she's back in action. And, as you remember, in the last movie, she was in a beauty pageant, but now everybody knows her. So she becomes the spokesperson for the FBI, but guess what? Miss United States has been kidnapped. She's been abducted.

Yes. So now she and William Shatner, who's the host of the pageant, she has to go save them. And Regina King goes along with her, and the comedy mayhem ensues from there.

I have to tell you, Daryn. This is -- this is one of those movies that maybe would have better been left with the original. It's pretty much a lame retread of a flat tire to begin with.

But you know what? That doesn't matter. First of all, let me just say the writing's bad. The acting's bad. The whole thing is pretty lame, but it just doesn't matter because everybody is going to go see it. You love Sandra Bullock.

KAGAN: I love Sandra Bullock. I love Regina King.

LEATHERMAN: You love when Sandra snorts and when she runs into stuff and wears all the stupid clothes.

KAGAN: She's cute. Yes.

LEATHERMAN: So go see it. You go. I have to tell you, it didn't do much for me. But you, I think you're going to love it.

KAGAN: And it's not going to cause a single bad dream afterwards.

LEATHERMAN: That's for sure.

KAGAN: Bernie Mac, I had a chance to interview him earlier this week. We're going to play that interview in the next hour. He's very excited about his new movie "Guess Who?"

LEATHERMAN: He should be excited. I mean, Bernie Mac is a funny guy. And he's in a big holiday blockbuster, so that's good news. He stars with Ashton Kutcher, and he plays a doting dad who's in for the surprise of his life when he discovers that his daughter's new fiance is white! Do you believe it? That's where the comedy comes in.

KAGAN: Well, you know, he says it's not exactly a remake, but it is kind of a remake of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Sidney Poitier.

LEATHERMAN: Well, yes. In fact, if you're going to remake a classic with Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, who do you put in the movie but Ashton Kutcher? That's a pretty good idea.

I have to tell you -- Daryn, I have to be honest with you.

KAGAN: Yes.

LEATHERMAN: I didn't see this movie. I didn't. After "Miss Congeniality 2," frankly I just couldn't take any more.

KAGAN: You haven't seen "Guess Who?" and you're sitting here on our air reviewing it? LEATHERMAN: No, I'm not reviewing it. I'm telling you that I don't -- I haven't seen it. But it may be fantastic. It looks like there are some funny bits.

KAGAN: All right. We're moving on.

LEATHERMAN: Bernie Mac looks pretty funny. But -- but I don't know. So you got to check it out for yourself.

KAGAN: If have you not seen it, we're not talking about it. Have you seen "Millions"?

LEATHERMAN: I have seen "Millions." This is...

KAGAN: OK. Tell me. I haven't heard of this movie. Tell me about it.

LEATHERMAN: Well, this is the movie if you're going to spend $10 this weekend, this is the place you should put it. It's a fantastic little movie. It's directed by Danny Boyle. He's the guy who did "Shallow Grave," "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later," the zombie flick.

Well, now he's made a fantastic little family movie. It's about these two boys who lose their mother. And what happens is this bag of money falls from the sky. One thinks it was given to them from a saint, because he talks to saints. It's how he copes with his loss, really. And the other knows it's going to lead to trouble.

I have to tell you, it's beautifully made, beautifully directed. A nice mix of reality and fantasy. And it's a great movie if you have an 8- or 9- or 10-year-old kid who's moving out of the animated features into real movies. They're going to love this movie. You're going to love this movie, too.

So of all the movies opening this week, you know, "Miss Congeniality 2" not so much. The Bernie Mac movie, I didn't see it. You come back and tell me.

KAGAN: I will. "Millions."

LEATHERMAN: "Millions," I can tell you, a fantastic little movie. Go check it out.

KAGAN: Thank you. Russ Leatherman, Mr. Moviefone. I hope the Easter bunny is very good to you on Sunday.

LEATHERMAN: Thank you, Daryn. Talk to you next week.

KAGAN: Thank you so much.

Ten fifty-four on the East Coast, 7:54 on the West Coast. Stay with us. We'll be right back with a quick check of your morning forecast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Let's check in on weather for the holiday weekend. Orelon Sidney is doing that. Hi, Orelon.

I think she's doing that.

All right. She's as mysterious as the Easter bunny. Do we have Orelon? We're going to -- we're going to do our own Orelon Sidney hunt. We're going to do that. Take a break? I say we take one more break. We'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Going to a live picture now, Pinellas Park, Florida. This outside of the hospice where Terri Schiavo, as we have heard described by her husband's attorney is going through what they say, what they call the death process.

Both Michael Schiavo, her husband, and her parents and siblings have had a chance to visit with her over the last week since the feeding tube has been removed. We're getting word that her father, Bob Schindler, plans to come to the microphones there and make a statement shortly. And we're -- and we are going to have that for you live.

Meanwhile, also there in Pinellas Park is our Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, and what we know about the family's reaction is what you would expect the family's reaction to be: bitter disappointment. They deny that a resignation is setting in, but they're also very aware that the legal options are extremely dicey at this particular point.

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