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CNN Live Today

Missing in Aruba; Downing St. Memo

Aired June 16, 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, CNN ANCHOR: Right now in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the widow of one of the Freedom Riders murdered four decades ago is face to face with one of the men charged in the killings. Former Klansman Edgar Ray Killen is now 80 years old and accused of organizing the attack. Killen disputed the allegation. The widow of Michael Schwerner is taking the stand five days before the 41st anniversary of the killings.
The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims edged up slightly this past week. The increase of about 1,000 new filings comes after a steep decline. Wall Street had expected those claims to hold steady.

Now the case of the Alabama teen who disappeared more than two weeks ago in Aruba. Three young men are still held in the case, and a police search suggests the focus may be narrowing on a court official's son.

CNN's John Zarrella is in Palm Beach on the Caribbean island and has these latest developments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The search for Natalee Holloway continues here on the island with no new developments on that front. As far as the investigation goes, it appears that it has focused clearly now on the three young men being held.

(voice-over): Police investigators spent several hours at the home of 17-year-old Joran Van Der Sloot. He is one of the three young men being held in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Investigators taped off portions of the property and searched around and in the house, but have not said what they were looking for. The search came after the three men appeared in court, but was not tied to that proceeding.

At the hearing, the attorney for Deepak Kalpoe, one of the two Surinamese brothers being held, asked the court to release documents and evidence.

RUDY OOMEN, DEEPAK KALPOE'S ATTY.: We had a brief hearing here about the withholding of certain documents regarding my client, documents related to the case.

If I knew, I would tell you. I don't know.

(CROSSTALK) OOMEN: That's what happened.

QUESTION: So what do you say to the security guards who are out, or telling stories about your clients?

OOMEN: I'm not saying anything else. I'm just saying that my client maintains his innocence of any crime.

ZARRELLA: The attorney representing Van Der Sloot, the son of an Aruban judge, asked the court to allow his client's father to visit him. A decision on that request is also expected today.

Van Der Sloot, Depak Kalpoe and his brother, Satish, are believed to be the last three people with Natalee Holloway on the night she disappeared. The brothers initially told police all three of them went to the lighthouse with Holloway, and Van Der Sloot was kissing her in the car.

(on camera): The three young men are not expected to be in court for the judge's ruling today. He will probably rule from the bench, but it is expected that they will have to appear in court by sometime this weekend, if prosecutors want to hold them any longer.

John Zarrella, reporting from Palm Beach, Aruba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Topping our news about Iraq. For the first time, a bipartisan resolution is urging a timetable to bring home U.S. troops. Two Republicans and two Democrats from the House are talking about a resolution at a news conference this hour. There's a live picture for you. The four lawmakers want President Bush to begin the withdrawal by October 1, 2006. The Bush administration says a timetable cannot be considered until Iraqi forces are strong enough to protect their country.

North Carolina Republican Walter Jones is one of the resolution sponsors. Jones voted for the Iraq war, and pushed the phrase "freedom fries" in Capitol Hill cafeterias, but he says now the U.S. has done what it can in Iraq. Jones also says the reason given for the invasion, Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, has been proven false.

Are insurgents becoming nor sophisticated in their attacks? the bombing in Ramadi may strengthen that question. Five U.S. marines were killed when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle on Wednesday. A U.S. sailor was killed in a separate fight. Five Marines were killed in the same area last week. U.S. officers say some rebels had been using shaped charges. Such explosives focused blasts into a small area, and that allows even heavy armor to be penetrated.

Prewar intelligence on Iraq and the decision to go to war is the focus of a session on Capitol Hill this afternoon. That forum in the wake of the leaked Downing Street Memo.

CNN's Bill Schneider explains what is in this 3-year-old memo, and why people care about it now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Six weeks ago, the "London Sunday Times" published leaked minutes of a July, 2002 meeting in the Downing Street offices of British prime minister Tony Blair eight months before the war in Iraq.

According to the notes, a high-ranking British intelligence official who had just returned from Washington reported "Bush wanted to remove Saddam through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."

The implication? The Bush administration had already decided to go to war before asking for a vote of Congress, before going to the United Nations.

At their June 7 press conference, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair addressed the issues raised by the memo.

TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN: But the facts were not being fixed in any shape or form at all.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Somebody said, well, you know, we had made up our mind to go -- to use military force to deal with Saddam. There's nothing farther from the truth.

SCHNEIDER: End of debate? Not if Democratic Congressman John Conyers can help it. He's holding a forum Thursday to look into the allegations. What does Conyers hope to prove?

REP. JOHN CONYERS, (D) MICHIGAN: It may turn out that we got into a secret war that had already been planned and now that we're in it, we can't get out of it.

SCHNEIDER: There were a lot of reports during the summer of 2002 that the Bush administration was I be tent on going to war. What's so sensational about the allegations of the British documents?

CONYERS: Ironically, there are those now writing that we knew he was going to go to war all the time. But if we -- those who claimed that they knew that, he wasn't telling the Congress that. And it's in this crucible that we get the question of deception. Did he deceive us into a war? Were we tricked in a war?

SCHNEIDER: The difference is, the mood of the country. In June, 2002, 61 percent of Americans favored sending U.S. troops to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Now only 42 percent say it was worth going to war in Iraq. That's why questions about how the U.S. got into the war are being raised now. More than they were then.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: Bravery and sacrifice coming up next hour. We're going to follow one family from Idaho as they go to war in Iraq. Brothers in arms. That's just ahead.

Plus, security breach, was Prince Harry ever in danger at school? A new tape has surfaced. We'll bring you the details, when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: A tabloid stunt has exposed a security lapse at Prince Harry's military school. A reporter with Britain's "Sun" newspaper posed as a student to get into the Sandhurst Military Academy. He took pictures of the prince and not only that -- look at this -- while he was on campus, the reporter built what the "Sun" called a fake bomb. Britain's defense secretary has ordered an investigation into that security breach.

Well, might not know his name -- not yet, but I bet you know his face. Take a look. Do you know this guy? Actor Stephen Tobolowsky has appeared in a ton of popular film and TV roles. Finally, he has his own movie. He is the star. He is here blowing things up when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: OK. You might not know the name of this prolific character actor, but I bet you remember many of his roles. His name, for the record, is Stephen Tobolowsky and you are invited to his birthday. In fact, Stephen has a rare starring role, a film that captures his birthday and a lot of his quirky charm and some pretty funny stories.

Stephen Tobolowsky, joining us here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta to talk about his new movie.

STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY, ACTOR: Thank you. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Good morning. It's great to have you here.

TOBOLOWSKY: Splendid to be here.

KAGAN: You are a rare breed, first of all, let's just say, in Hollywood. You're a guy who works -- you're a working actor, you can actually earn your living. I don't think you're waiting tables?

TOBOLOWSKY: No.

KAGAN: You got enough work coming in.

TOBOLOWSKY: Not yet. Not yet, yes. It's lucky, because I've been able to play the criminal and the lawyer. I've been able to play the doctor and the patient. So I just kind of keep going.

KAGAN: And you keep going to work. But one thing you really hadn't done is be the big star of your own movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: No, haven't -- now, onstage.

KAGAN: Right.

TOBOLOWSKY: Onstage I've been a big star.

KAGAN: But as say in the movie, people in Hollywood don't care about stage, really.

TOBOLOWSKY: They don't care at about stage. They don't care at all. But in -- I guess -- I don't know, 15 years ago, Robert Brinkman (ph), who's the director of the movie, said, you know, Stephen, your stories are always so funny, and you're always in the kitchen telling these stories. Why don't we do a movie where you just sit in your living room and talk?

KAGAN: Which is basically what this movie is.

TOBOLOWSKY: And I'm going, well, that's a good idea. You know? So we both forgot about that for about 15 years. And -- then, about a year and a half ago, we thought, why don't we try it? So we started at dawn and we went from dawn into midnight, and I talked non-stop, as you witnessed.

KAGAN: Yes, yes, as I saw. I feel like I lived your birthday.

TOBOLOWSKY: Thank you. With no script and we had no preparation.

KAGAN: Right.

TOBOLOWSKY: And I told something like 22 true stories...

KAGAN: They are true stories?

TOBOLOWSKY: All true. Everything is true.

KAGAN: Because there are some pretty wild stories in there.

TOBOLOWSKY: Pretty wild stories.

KAGAN: But I think it's really important to say, this is a movie that has no action, no script, no budget. And yet you make a movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: That's right.

KAGAN: This is -- you're telling a story about your rock and roll days.

TOBOLOWSKY: Oh, that's my rock and roll -- now, there's action!

KAGAN: OK. This is an action movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: That's about the height of action.

KAGAN: That's about it.

TOBOLOWSKY: But, you know, I have had weird things happen to me in my life. So I -- you know, was held hostage at gunpoint.

KAGAN: Yes, you tell that.

TOBOLOWSKY: I tell that story. Someone put acid in my coffee on Christmas Eve. I tell that story of what happened.

KAGAN: You had to sit next to lobsters on the plane.

TOBOLOWSKY: Sit next to live lobsters on a plane. So I tell that story. But we wanted to make sure that all the stories were true in the movie, and that they happened to me firsthand. And so we have a combination of real, live stories, like when I first became a father, what happened that day.

KAGAN: And that's sweet.

TOBOLOWSKY: That was sweet. Yes.

KAGAN: So, I mean, really, at the end of the day, besides being a very talented actor, you're a really good storyteller?

TOBOLOWSKY: Well, I think a story has to have like, a beginning, middle and an end.

KAGAN: Yes, but a lot of good descriptions and..

TOBOLOWSKY: Well, most...

KAGAN: ... and heart, which is what you bring to it. When I'm watching this movie, I got to tell you, my reaction is, I would like you to come over to my house for dinner.

TOBOLOWSKY: Where do you live?

KAGAN: I live here in Atlanta.

TOBOLOWSKY: And what are you serving?

KAGAN: Well, see, that's the thing. My cooking might keep you -- maybe we could all go out, you and your group of friends.

TOBOLOWSKY: We could talk about five tips to help me save money on my home loan.

KAGAN: Yes, you watched Gerri Willis' segment and you said you did everything wrong.

TOBOLOWSKY: Oh, it hurts.

KAGAN: Which is why you need to watch this program more often.

TOBOLOWSKY: Yep. KAGAN: Let me just ask you this. Is this going to change your life? Are we going to reporting -- our show biz people reporting -- that you beat out Tom Cruise for a leading part in movies, now that you have starred in your own?

TOBOLOWSKY: Absolutely. In fact, Tom's shaking in his boots right now. I don't think this is going to change my life, except it's a lot of fun, going all over the country with this movie. We're going to impact -- let me mention the Web site in case people want to follow what's happening with the movie. It's ST -- Stephen Tobolowsky -- BP -- birthday party. stbpmovie.com, and it tells where it's playing. Like it's playing in Atlanta, at the Rialto Theater at noon. And it's a big 800-seat theater, some come and bring 400 of your closest friends.

KAGAN: An hopefully with these film festivals it leads to more distribution.

TOBOLOWSKY: Exactly.

KAGAN: And so people can look for that.

Stephen Tobolowsky's "Birthday Party." I've seen it. I've watched it. It's fun. Good luck with your movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: Thank you. Thank you so much.

KAGAN: Thank you. Good to see you in person.

Let's check the time. It is 10:50 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. That is where the first round of the U.S. Open is under way this morning. We're going to go live there in a moment. First, though, today's CNN.com has an inside look at Pinehurst.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The U.S. Open is swinging into action. SI.com examines whether Tiger Woods can catch Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships. Set a tee time at si.com/golf.

Tiger heads to the U.S. Open ranked number one in the world, and with a Masters title already on his 2005 resume, he's hoping to win his 10th major this weekend. If he does, he'll do so at age 29, three years younger than Nicklaus was when he won his 10th.

But majors aside, see how the two stack up on the lighter side. For example, both have graced "Sports Illustrated" covers on one foot. And both players have zoo-related nicknames. Nicklaus is known as the Golden Bear. While the public knows woods at Tiger.

SI.com's golf gurus break down how they thing think things will play out at Pinehurst. You can also tour the course the players face in this interactive gallery.

Finally, check the leaderboard. You've got tee time or scores on your favorite players. You can find the action on the U.S. Open at si.com/golf.

From the dot-com newsdesk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We have breaking news out of Philadelphia, Mississippi. The trial of Edgar Ray Killen. He is on trial for allegedly murdering three civil rights workers back in the early '60s. He during this murder trial, we're getting word, has been taken out of the courthouse in Philadelphia, Mississippi on a stretcher. His supporters have said that he is in poor health.

This is a picture of him a long time ago. Here are the current pictures from today as he is taken out of the courthouse. His supporters saying that he has been in poor health, but this trial has gone on anyway.

Once again, Edgar Ray Killen, being taken out of the trial, out of the courthouse, in Philadelphia, Mississippi on a stretcher and taken for medical attention.

Our Ed Lavandera is there. We're going to check in with him and see what he can tell us what's taking place there and the status of the trial of Killen.

On to a much lighter note, a few minutes ago we told you that the U.S. Open is under way this morning. Tiger Woods may not be the player looming most prominently over the Majors return to Pinehurst in North Carolina.

Our Mark McKay is there to tell us more about that.

Good morning, Mark.

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Major tournaments are where legends are made. In the coming days, a golfer will be adding to his legend by winning the 105th United States Open. Payne Stewart became a legendary figure around these parts six years ago when he sank a 15-foot par putt on the final hole to win the 1999 U.S. Open by a single stroke.

Four months later, tragedy struck.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCKAY (voice-over): He was a passenger on a charter jet flight from Orlando to Dallas in October 1999. Shortly after takeoff, the cabin lost air pressure and its presumed all six people onboard died within minutes. The jet, set on autopilot, then made an eerie cross- country journey before running out of fuel and crashing into a South Dakota pasture.

On Tuesday, just off the 18th green, where Stewart sank his improbable putt, a short, yet poignant ceremony held to honor the memory of a great champion, husband and father. Phil Mickelson was the golfer who finished runner-up to Stewart in '99. He played a prominent role in Tuesday's ceremony, and told us earlier in the day that returning to Pinehurst has been a moving experience.

PHIL MICKELSON, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: It's a very emotional place. It has a lot of sadness for me, in that a lot of my memories of Payne took place here. A lot of the things I remember that were so great about Payne took place here, and I know we started talking a lot about Payne Stewart stories last week; I heard a lot. And everybody has got their own personal experience with the man, and I think that for me personally watching him win our national championship with the class that he did it in is something that I'll always remember.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKAY: Now the flag that was presented during that ceremony earlier this week at Pinehurst will be flying on the 18th hole this Sunday during the fourth and final round, and, Daryn, everyone through the gates that day will be receiving a lapel pin that bears the unmistakable image of on an unforgettable U.S. Open champion.

KAGAN: Good memories of Payne Stewart. They should also bring their track shoes, because I understand the greens are going to be pretty fast there this week. We'll talk about that next hour. Mark Mckay, Live from Pinehurst, the sit of the U.S. Open.

Well, we have an extraordinary view of the war in Iraq for you through the eyes of a real life band of brothers. There's Eric, Jeff, Evan, and Greg Pruett. They're from Idaho. They're all members of the U.S. National Guard. We're going it follow all four of them from the homefront to the dangerous streets of Iraq. It's coming up in the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, which, by the way, begins right now.

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 June 16, 2005 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the widow of one of the Freedom Riders murdered four decades ago is face to face with one of the men charged in the killings. Former Klansman Edgar Ray Killen is now 80 years old and accused of organizing the attack. Killen disputed the allegation. The widow of Michael Schwerner is taking the stand five days before the 41st anniversary of the killings.
The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims edged up slightly this past week. The increase of about 1,000 new filings comes after a steep decline. Wall Street had expected those claims to hold steady.

Now the case of the Alabama teen who disappeared more than two weeks ago in Aruba. Three young men are still held in the case, and a police search suggests the focus may be narrowing on a court official's son.

CNN's John Zarrella is in Palm Beach on the Caribbean island and has these latest developments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The search for Natalee Holloway continues here on the island with no new developments on that front. As far as the investigation goes, it appears that it has focused clearly now on the three young men being held.

(voice-over): Police investigators spent several hours at the home of 17-year-old Joran Van Der Sloot. He is one of the three young men being held in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Investigators taped off portions of the property and searched around and in the house, but have not said what they were looking for. The search came after the three men appeared in court, but was not tied to that proceeding.

At the hearing, the attorney for Deepak Kalpoe, one of the two Surinamese brothers being held, asked the court to release documents and evidence.

RUDY OOMEN, DEEPAK KALPOE'S ATTY.: We had a brief hearing here about the withholding of certain documents regarding my client, documents related to the case.

If I knew, I would tell you. I don't know.

(CROSSTALK) OOMEN: That's what happened.

QUESTION: So what do you say to the security guards who are out, or telling stories about your clients?

OOMEN: I'm not saying anything else. I'm just saying that my client maintains his innocence of any crime.

ZARRELLA: The attorney representing Van Der Sloot, the son of an Aruban judge, asked the court to allow his client's father to visit him. A decision on that request is also expected today.

Van Der Sloot, Depak Kalpoe and his brother, Satish, are believed to be the last three people with Natalee Holloway on the night she disappeared. The brothers initially told police all three of them went to the lighthouse with Holloway, and Van Der Sloot was kissing her in the car.

(on camera): The three young men are not expected to be in court for the judge's ruling today. He will probably rule from the bench, but it is expected that they will have to appear in court by sometime this weekend, if prosecutors want to hold them any longer.

John Zarrella, reporting from Palm Beach, Aruba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Topping our news about Iraq. For the first time, a bipartisan resolution is urging a timetable to bring home U.S. troops. Two Republicans and two Democrats from the House are talking about a resolution at a news conference this hour. There's a live picture for you. The four lawmakers want President Bush to begin the withdrawal by October 1, 2006. The Bush administration says a timetable cannot be considered until Iraqi forces are strong enough to protect their country.

North Carolina Republican Walter Jones is one of the resolution sponsors. Jones voted for the Iraq war, and pushed the phrase "freedom fries" in Capitol Hill cafeterias, but he says now the U.S. has done what it can in Iraq. Jones also says the reason given for the invasion, Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, has been proven false.

Are insurgents becoming nor sophisticated in their attacks? the bombing in Ramadi may strengthen that question. Five U.S. marines were killed when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle on Wednesday. A U.S. sailor was killed in a separate fight. Five Marines were killed in the same area last week. U.S. officers say some rebels had been using shaped charges. Such explosives focused blasts into a small area, and that allows even heavy armor to be penetrated.

Prewar intelligence on Iraq and the decision to go to war is the focus of a session on Capitol Hill this afternoon. That forum in the wake of the leaked Downing Street Memo.

CNN's Bill Schneider explains what is in this 3-year-old memo, and why people care about it now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Six weeks ago, the "London Sunday Times" published leaked minutes of a July, 2002 meeting in the Downing Street offices of British prime minister Tony Blair eight months before the war in Iraq.

According to the notes, a high-ranking British intelligence official who had just returned from Washington reported "Bush wanted to remove Saddam through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."

The implication? The Bush administration had already decided to go to war before asking for a vote of Congress, before going to the United Nations.

At their June 7 press conference, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair addressed the issues raised by the memo.

TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN: But the facts were not being fixed in any shape or form at all.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Somebody said, well, you know, we had made up our mind to go -- to use military force to deal with Saddam. There's nothing farther from the truth.

SCHNEIDER: End of debate? Not if Democratic Congressman John Conyers can help it. He's holding a forum Thursday to look into the allegations. What does Conyers hope to prove?

REP. JOHN CONYERS, (D) MICHIGAN: It may turn out that we got into a secret war that had already been planned and now that we're in it, we can't get out of it.

SCHNEIDER: There were a lot of reports during the summer of 2002 that the Bush administration was I be tent on going to war. What's so sensational about the allegations of the British documents?

CONYERS: Ironically, there are those now writing that we knew he was going to go to war all the time. But if we -- those who claimed that they knew that, he wasn't telling the Congress that. And it's in this crucible that we get the question of deception. Did he deceive us into a war? Were we tricked in a war?

SCHNEIDER: The difference is, the mood of the country. In June, 2002, 61 percent of Americans favored sending U.S. troops to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Now only 42 percent say it was worth going to war in Iraq. That's why questions about how the U.S. got into the war are being raised now. More than they were then.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: Bravery and sacrifice coming up next hour. We're going to follow one family from Idaho as they go to war in Iraq. Brothers in arms. That's just ahead.

Plus, security breach, was Prince Harry ever in danger at school? A new tape has surfaced. We'll bring you the details, when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: A tabloid stunt has exposed a security lapse at Prince Harry's military school. A reporter with Britain's "Sun" newspaper posed as a student to get into the Sandhurst Military Academy. He took pictures of the prince and not only that -- look at this -- while he was on campus, the reporter built what the "Sun" called a fake bomb. Britain's defense secretary has ordered an investigation into that security breach.

Well, might not know his name -- not yet, but I bet you know his face. Take a look. Do you know this guy? Actor Stephen Tobolowsky has appeared in a ton of popular film and TV roles. Finally, he has his own movie. He is the star. He is here blowing things up when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: OK. You might not know the name of this prolific character actor, but I bet you remember many of his roles. His name, for the record, is Stephen Tobolowsky and you are invited to his birthday. In fact, Stephen has a rare starring role, a film that captures his birthday and a lot of his quirky charm and some pretty funny stories.

Stephen Tobolowsky, joining us here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta to talk about his new movie.

STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY, ACTOR: Thank you. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Good morning. It's great to have you here.

TOBOLOWSKY: Splendid to be here.

KAGAN: You are a rare breed, first of all, let's just say, in Hollywood. You're a guy who works -- you're a working actor, you can actually earn your living. I don't think you're waiting tables?

TOBOLOWSKY: No.

KAGAN: You got enough work coming in.

TOBOLOWSKY: Not yet. Not yet, yes. It's lucky, because I've been able to play the criminal and the lawyer. I've been able to play the doctor and the patient. So I just kind of keep going.

KAGAN: And you keep going to work. But one thing you really hadn't done is be the big star of your own movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: No, haven't -- now, onstage.

KAGAN: Right.

TOBOLOWSKY: Onstage I've been a big star.

KAGAN: But as say in the movie, people in Hollywood don't care about stage, really.

TOBOLOWSKY: They don't care at about stage. They don't care at all. But in -- I guess -- I don't know, 15 years ago, Robert Brinkman (ph), who's the director of the movie, said, you know, Stephen, your stories are always so funny, and you're always in the kitchen telling these stories. Why don't we do a movie where you just sit in your living room and talk?

KAGAN: Which is basically what this movie is.

TOBOLOWSKY: And I'm going, well, that's a good idea. You know? So we both forgot about that for about 15 years. And -- then, about a year and a half ago, we thought, why don't we try it? So we started at dawn and we went from dawn into midnight, and I talked non-stop, as you witnessed.

KAGAN: Yes, yes, as I saw. I feel like I lived your birthday.

TOBOLOWSKY: Thank you. With no script and we had no preparation.

KAGAN: Right.

TOBOLOWSKY: And I told something like 22 true stories...

KAGAN: They are true stories?

TOBOLOWSKY: All true. Everything is true.

KAGAN: Because there are some pretty wild stories in there.

TOBOLOWSKY: Pretty wild stories.

KAGAN: But I think it's really important to say, this is a movie that has no action, no script, no budget. And yet you make a movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: That's right.

KAGAN: This is -- you're telling a story about your rock and roll days.

TOBOLOWSKY: Oh, that's my rock and roll -- now, there's action!

KAGAN: OK. This is an action movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: That's about the height of action.

KAGAN: That's about it.

TOBOLOWSKY: But, you know, I have had weird things happen to me in my life. So I -- you know, was held hostage at gunpoint.

KAGAN: Yes, you tell that.

TOBOLOWSKY: I tell that story. Someone put acid in my coffee on Christmas Eve. I tell that story of what happened.

KAGAN: You had to sit next to lobsters on the plane.

TOBOLOWSKY: Sit next to live lobsters on a plane. So I tell that story. But we wanted to make sure that all the stories were true in the movie, and that they happened to me firsthand. And so we have a combination of real, live stories, like when I first became a father, what happened that day.

KAGAN: And that's sweet.

TOBOLOWSKY: That was sweet. Yes.

KAGAN: So, I mean, really, at the end of the day, besides being a very talented actor, you're a really good storyteller?

TOBOLOWSKY: Well, I think a story has to have like, a beginning, middle and an end.

KAGAN: Yes, but a lot of good descriptions and..

TOBOLOWSKY: Well, most...

KAGAN: ... and heart, which is what you bring to it. When I'm watching this movie, I got to tell you, my reaction is, I would like you to come over to my house for dinner.

TOBOLOWSKY: Where do you live?

KAGAN: I live here in Atlanta.

TOBOLOWSKY: And what are you serving?

KAGAN: Well, see, that's the thing. My cooking might keep you -- maybe we could all go out, you and your group of friends.

TOBOLOWSKY: We could talk about five tips to help me save money on my home loan.

KAGAN: Yes, you watched Gerri Willis' segment and you said you did everything wrong.

TOBOLOWSKY: Oh, it hurts.

KAGAN: Which is why you need to watch this program more often.

TOBOLOWSKY: Yep. KAGAN: Let me just ask you this. Is this going to change your life? Are we going to reporting -- our show biz people reporting -- that you beat out Tom Cruise for a leading part in movies, now that you have starred in your own?

TOBOLOWSKY: Absolutely. In fact, Tom's shaking in his boots right now. I don't think this is going to change my life, except it's a lot of fun, going all over the country with this movie. We're going to impact -- let me mention the Web site in case people want to follow what's happening with the movie. It's ST -- Stephen Tobolowsky -- BP -- birthday party. stbpmovie.com, and it tells where it's playing. Like it's playing in Atlanta, at the Rialto Theater at noon. And it's a big 800-seat theater, some come and bring 400 of your closest friends.

KAGAN: An hopefully with these film festivals it leads to more distribution.

TOBOLOWSKY: Exactly.

KAGAN: And so people can look for that.

Stephen Tobolowsky's "Birthday Party." I've seen it. I've watched it. It's fun. Good luck with your movie.

TOBOLOWSKY: Thank you. Thank you so much.

KAGAN: Thank you. Good to see you in person.

Let's check the time. It is 10:50 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. That is where the first round of the U.S. Open is under way this morning. We're going to go live there in a moment. First, though, today's CNN.com has an inside look at Pinehurst.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The U.S. Open is swinging into action. SI.com examines whether Tiger Woods can catch Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships. Set a tee time at si.com/golf.

Tiger heads to the U.S. Open ranked number one in the world, and with a Masters title already on his 2005 resume, he's hoping to win his 10th major this weekend. If he does, he'll do so at age 29, three years younger than Nicklaus was when he won his 10th.

But majors aside, see how the two stack up on the lighter side. For example, both have graced "Sports Illustrated" covers on one foot. And both players have zoo-related nicknames. Nicklaus is known as the Golden Bear. While the public knows woods at Tiger.

SI.com's golf gurus break down how they thing think things will play out at Pinehurst. You can also tour the course the players face in this interactive gallery.

Finally, check the leaderboard. You've got tee time or scores on your favorite players. You can find the action on the U.S. Open at si.com/golf.

From the dot-com newsdesk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We have breaking news out of Philadelphia, Mississippi. The trial of Edgar Ray Killen. He is on trial for allegedly murdering three civil rights workers back in the early '60s. He during this murder trial, we're getting word, has been taken out of the courthouse in Philadelphia, Mississippi on a stretcher. His supporters have said that he is in poor health.

This is a picture of him a long time ago. Here are the current pictures from today as he is taken out of the courthouse. His supporters saying that he has been in poor health, but this trial has gone on anyway.

Once again, Edgar Ray Killen, being taken out of the trial, out of the courthouse, in Philadelphia, Mississippi on a stretcher and taken for medical attention.

Our Ed Lavandera is there. We're going to check in with him and see what he can tell us what's taking place there and the status of the trial of Killen.

On to a much lighter note, a few minutes ago we told you that the U.S. Open is under way this morning. Tiger Woods may not be the player looming most prominently over the Majors return to Pinehurst in North Carolina.

Our Mark McKay is there to tell us more about that.

Good morning, Mark.

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Major tournaments are where legends are made. In the coming days, a golfer will be adding to his legend by winning the 105th United States Open. Payne Stewart became a legendary figure around these parts six years ago when he sank a 15-foot par putt on the final hole to win the 1999 U.S. Open by a single stroke.

Four months later, tragedy struck.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCKAY (voice-over): He was a passenger on a charter jet flight from Orlando to Dallas in October 1999. Shortly after takeoff, the cabin lost air pressure and its presumed all six people onboard died within minutes. The jet, set on autopilot, then made an eerie cross- country journey before running out of fuel and crashing into a South Dakota pasture.

On Tuesday, just off the 18th green, where Stewart sank his improbable putt, a short, yet poignant ceremony held to honor the memory of a great champion, husband and father. Phil Mickelson was the golfer who finished runner-up to Stewart in '99. He played a prominent role in Tuesday's ceremony, and told us earlier in the day that returning to Pinehurst has been a moving experience.

PHIL MICKELSON, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: It's a very emotional place. It has a lot of sadness for me, in that a lot of my memories of Payne took place here. A lot of the things I remember that were so great about Payne took place here, and I know we started talking a lot about Payne Stewart stories last week; I heard a lot. And everybody has got their own personal experience with the man, and I think that for me personally watching him win our national championship with the class that he did it in is something that I'll always remember.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKAY: Now the flag that was presented during that ceremony earlier this week at Pinehurst will be flying on the 18th hole this Sunday during the fourth and final round, and, Daryn, everyone through the gates that day will be receiving a lapel pin that bears the unmistakable image of on an unforgettable U.S. Open champion.

KAGAN: Good memories of Payne Stewart. They should also bring their track shoes, because I understand the greens are going to be pretty fast there this week. We'll talk about that next hour. Mark Mckay, Live from Pinehurst, the sit of the U.S. Open.

Well, we have an extraordinary view of the war in Iraq for you through the eyes of a real life band of brothers. There's Eric, Jeff, Evan, and Greg Pruett. They're from Idaho. They're all members of the U.S. National Guard. We're going it follow all four of them from the homefront to the dangerous streets of Iraq. It's coming up in the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, which, by the way, begins right now.

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