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Piers Morgan Live
Interview with Montel Williams; Interview with David Arquette
Aired February 24, 2014 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: This is Piers Morgan Live.
Does this sound right to you, a law that will allow businesses to discriminate against you if you're gay? Protest on the streets of Phoenix tonight by people who are understandably pretty furious.
It's just one day after the NBA makes history with the first athlete in a major team sport and say, "Yes, I'm gay." The always out spoke Montel Williams is here to talk about all this and his plan to put the movie "12 years a Slave", in classrooms across America.
Also, my exclusive with the real life character who said the Wolf of Wall Street has ruined his reputation. And David Arquette, the screen star's a man who's definitely had his romantic ups and downs. I asked him one of my favorite questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID ARQUETTE, ACTOR, "HAPPY FACE KILLER": I've fallen in love several times in my life but really, probably, twice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: One of my favorites. How many times have you been properly in love? I might ask Montel Williams while I'm at it.
We'll begin with Our Big Story, a big idea from Montel Williams, one that could end up in a child's classroom soon. Joining me now is Montel.
Montel, I want to come to that in a moment.
MONTEL WILLIAM, TELEVISION PERSONALITY ,ENTERPRENEUR, PHILANTROPIST: Sure.
MORGAN: Because you and I were just getting quite steamed up ...
WILLIAMS: Absolutely.
MORGAN: ... about what is happening in Arizona, also happening in Uganda, and the common theme being an apparent attempt to use religion to basically attack gay people.
WILLIAMS: How about use religion to justify hate and that's the antithesis of religion, isn't it? Because religion is about love and about respecting others and about, you know, respecting your fellowman and doing to others as they would do unto you. You look at the basic, you know, root of almost every religion in the world as to treat others as you would expect to treat yourselves. So therefore, how can you stand under a veil of God, a veil of love, and turn around and propagate such hate?
MORGAN: And the one I though extraordinary is a lot of Americans who look at what happened right now in Uganda when the President Museveni, has signed this Anti Homosexuality Bill, he said, the president, "Homosexuals are disgusting." He says, "The west shouldn't falls these beliefs onto Ugandans and so on and so on." and an understandable outrage from most Americans about this and yet right here in Arizona is an attempt by lawmakers to do something and it's not dissimilar to empower businesses to say, "If you're gay, I am legally entitled to discriminate against you."
WILLIAMS: Isn't it a shame that early today had you just walked a way on the streets of New York and listen to people who heard that press conference held by the president of Uganda? People were disgusted. Where is the same disgust from our own citizens about what's going on right here on our own country?
Whether we like it or not and I say it this way, those people in most of the businesses in Arizona, at least what I'm hearing from people now and you hear the word on the internet, is that most people don't support this bill so why is it being pushed and telling them that it was on earlier with Anderson Cooper?
MORGAN: My god. I mean, literally ...
WILLIAMS: This guy, are you kidding me?
MORGAN: One of the most bigoted, stupid people who has ever held any form of public office in the world.
WILLIAMS: And he's getting ready to run for governor. So what do you have happen down here if he gets elected? And I think some of the questions of Anderson have asked were very pertinent because if I can say my religion -- but my religious beliefs tell me that I don't like people with strange accents, and I mean, because you might be speaking in tongues.
MORGAN: I think he'll be quite popular, I say Montel, right?
WILLIAMS: .... but you could be -- you could be speaking in tongues or something crazy. I don't know. And then ...
MORGAN: Any form of discrimination.
WILLIAMS: ... any form of description ...
MORGAN: I agree.
WILLIAMS: ... gives me right to do so under the veil of religion. I think that's wrong.
MORGAN: You know, obviously, we are going to talking about "12 years a Slave".
WILLIAMS: Sure.
MORGAN: One of the most popular films to see for a long time. The link here, I guess, is that religion used to be used a lot to try and justify slavery, didn't it?
WILLIAMS: Are we going to go back to that right now? We're going to use religion to justify whether you enslave a person would change you, or you enslave them by not allowing them the rights that they have on this planet. Slavery is slavery.
So now, we're going to do this again and what is to stop people from claiming that, you know, let's go back for that old Cain and Abel story, don't they give them the mark of devil, brown people, I'm not supposed to lock them, so therefore, I can't serve them, I can't -- I don't have to respect them and we, as a nation, aren't outraged? That's a part of this. What bugs me the most is that where is the rest of American citizenry?
MORGAN: I'll tell you ...
WILLIAMS: Where is the outrage?
MORGAN: Get angry because it is offensive and it's happening right here in America.
Let's watch a clip now from "12 Years a Slave", one of the hot tips to be the Movie of the Year on the Oscars obviously next Sunday. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You come here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said come here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I brought her back just like you ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it. Just as instructed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: I mean, to me, this brought into vivid perspective. Slavery in a way I hadn't seen of any issue probably since Schindler's List did with the Holocaust. I mean, it was that visceral, emotional, and yet so real that this happened.
I want to play another clip before I come to you about what you're doing because it's very pertinent. This is Lupita Nyong'O and she's up for Best Supporting Actress, terrific actress in the movie. This is what she said to me on the show about this subject. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUPITA NYONG'O, NOMINATED FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: I think this is a part in history that many of us take for granted. I studied slavery in school, but I never considered it in on an emotional level. And I know many people have expressed that "12 Years a Slave" kind of offers an opportunity to understand this time in history from an emotional level.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: And I completely agree, Montel, because I learned a lot watching that movie. I learned all about the history, the context, the reality, the emotions. Tell me what you're plan is.
WILLIAMS: Which have been crazy, and this is really wasn't just my plan. I mean Steve McQueen, even Penguin who released the books have been already working on a curriculum to see if they could get ...
MORGAN: Steve McQueen of "12 Years a Slave" is that correct?
WILLIAMS: The director so, you know, I spoke to him and then after screening I said, you know, I was involved 23 years ago in helping to get most efficient (ph) glory distributed in high schools across ...
MORGAN: I remember, yeah.
WILLIAMS: ... across every schools. And as a matter of fact, my face is on the tape of every one of those that went out to schools. And so I said let me just give a try. So reached out to David Pickler, who is the President of the National School Board's Association, got together with Fox Searchlight and we have now in the last two and half months honestly did precedent it. In two and half months, the National School Board has agreed to now distribute this motion picture, plus the book, plus the curriculum put together by Penguin to every high school across the country starting in September.
MORGAN: Brilliant.
WILLIAMS: It's going to be brilliant because, you know, what? In a way, I'm not knocking any other choices. I saw "Gravity" I thought it was one of the best movies but I've ever seen. But 20 years from now children don't need to see that movie in high school library. This is the movie that they want to see.
MORGAN: I completely and utterly agree with you. I mean heard only this week, three 19 year old white male freshmen from Georgia being expelled from their fraternity. They reportedly hung a news and confederate-theme flag over the statue of the black civil rights icon James Meredith the first black student enroll Ole Miss. I mean when you hear something like that it just makes your heart sink doesn't it?
WILLIAMS: I do, but I'm also hurt in amount of fact that that school rallied behind all the students. And they wanted that hate removed from their school. And so, though this is one incident on blacks from other, if you go back 10 years ago, there are maybe 60 incidents doing black (inaudible).
So we are making some changes. There are some things that are happening in this world and in this country that we don't actually report enough about. Those that come up and step up to the plate to do something. I just wish more people step up to the plate have a voice when it comes to things like Arizona. And a voice like the students did, and this is simply to say enough hate is enough.
MORGAN: Good to talk to you as always Montel. I can't let you go without asking you that question which asked David Arquette because he gave a fascinating answer coming up. It's actually a terrific interview in many ways, how many times that, out of interest, have you been properly in love, Montel?
WILLIAMS: You know, when you go through it you think you're properly in love probably almost everyday of your life. It wasn't until I met someone who made me understand what love really meant but now I recognize that I've now finally fall in love for the first the time ...
MORGAN: And what is the answer? What does it really mean?
WILLIAMS: The real answer is to love someone enough that you would make sure you would do anything for them first. And that's why (inaudible) talk, so when I met her I think though I may have thought I was in love many times before? I think I probably learn what love is all about and it's to her.
MORGAN: That's why I like the question. Montel.
WILLIAMS: Thank you, sir.
MORGAN: Great to see you. Come again.
WILLIAMS: Absolutely.
MORGAN: Coming up, the "Wolf of Wall Street" is a smash hit and Oscar nominated of course but not everyone is happy about the movie.
When we come back, I'll talk exclusively to the man who says the Wolf has ruined his reputation. He's one of those guys and he used to work in that extraordinary environment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is their gift of hate. They're built to be thrown like a lawn dart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: The infamous scene from the Wolf of Wall Street, one of many infamous scenes. You may not know the name, Andrew Greene, which is one of the millions of people you saw in Oscar-nominated film, you saw the character Nicky also known as Rugrat because of his terrible toupee Andrew Greene because that character is based on him, Andrew has ruined his reputation and how he's suing.
Andrew Greene joins me exclusively now with his attorney Aaron Goldsmith and welcome to both of you.
AARON GOLDSMITH, ATTORNEY FOR ANDREW GREENE: Good evening.
MORGAN: So, Andrew Greene, you are not Rugrat, your nickname was Wigwam and you're saying look you worked there at Stratton Oakmont which is the company Jordan Belfort who I interview obviously ran this character in the movie. Rugrat is clearly based on you, the nickname's just the derivative of it.
Why are you so angry?
ANDREW GREENE, SUING OVER, "WOLF OF WALL STREET" PORTRAYAL: There's no issue that the character was me. I'm the only person in the entire book that Jordy decided to not only to use my name or my full name Andrew Todd Greene. I've known Jordy since I'm 10 years old. There are reasons why he went after me personally which I hope that we'll get into but I'm angry because I was harmed, I was humiliated. I was humiliated in front of my family, my friends. I was humiliated in front of the woman that I plan to marry. I lost my job. I'm in the middle of being admitted to the bar in New York. I'm talking to companies that are sort of companies he involved with trying to reestablish investment banking relationships.
If you were me and you were just betrayed as deranged, degenerate, criminal, sex craved lunatic, would you offer me a job?
MORGAN: Well, I don't know. Let's go through these one by one. Which of those would you plead any kind of guilty?
GREENE: None.
MORGAN: You were completely -- you were the only person that the entire company, it was clearly like the wild west at the time who was none of those things?
GREENE: I'm going to disagree with you that most of the people in that company do not deserve to be described that way.
MORGAN: Really?
GREENE: Correct.
MORGAN: How many were crooked?
GREENE: I would definitely say that there were a bunch of people that I found in my time. I was there for few years.
MORGAN: Percentage wise. How many were on the fiddle?
GREENE: I couldn't really give you a percent but there was definitely a group that I would say where people should have never been involved in the firm. And I spent two years implementing systems to avoid a safeguard, a compliance for that firm. I was not only a head of corporate finance but as a board member had to implement all of the FCC ...
MORGAN: Just kind of one thing, Andrew. As far as you're concerned, you never personally broke the law in all your time working there?
GREENE: I'm proud of every single thing I did at that firm.
MORGAN: That wasn't a question. The question is did you ever break the law?
GREENE: Never.
MORGAN: Never. And you've never been accused of any offense?
GREENE: No, sir.
MORGAN: So, your real I guess issue about this is that Jordan Belfort and his book in the movie has depicted you as part of the general maelstrom of sleaze and degradation and indeed crockery.
GREENE: I'm saying to you that Jordan Belfort who is someone who I considered a brother. He's selling a bill of goods to and to the rest of the world right now who grew up with somebody that had an inferiority complex, who is smaller than everyone else, who wasn't the best athlete, didn't have his first girlfriend until he was in college. What he's portraying to you is this Napoleonic complex that he had. When they say Wolf Of Wall Street, I'd like to know anybody who can tell me that anyone ever calls him that?
MORGAN: I think he called him that, isn't it?
GREENE: Only himself.
MORGAN: (inaudible). Let's watch a little clip. This is from an interview that I did with Jordan Belfort. In fact, we re-aired it on Friday. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: A female employee shaved her head for $10,000 in front of the paying morbid (ph) stuff, true?
BELFORT: True. To get breast implants. So it was sort of even worse. It was like the whole idea of...
MORGAN: To get breast implant, she shaved her head for $10,000?
BELFORT: Yes, yes and if they -- I guess that the philosophy was, you know, her hair will grow back and then it would all be perfect in six months. So that that was the -- it's amazing with the rationalization. I think that was -- since that you brought that scene I think that was the scene that it personally disturbed me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Obviously, in the movie Rugrat who they denied you, they say it's an amalgamation of characters but ...
GREENE: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... you were called Wigwam, this guy is called Rugrat, you don't look massively dissimilar. I get why you're saying this is based on you. But in that scene, I think least one of the ones holding the clippers. In other scenes, he's taking drugs, he's doing this, doing that.
Are you saying that nothing that Wigwam does in the movie -- sorry, that Rugrat does which you're saying as you Wigwam that nothing that Rugrat does in the movie is accurately depicted.
GREENE: I am not saying that ...
MORGAN: If it's supposed to be you.
GREENE: I am telling you that that was me period, that I'm the only person who is the in position of authority when it came to corporate finance.
MORGAN: But did you do any of the things Andrew Greene that Rugrat is seen doing in the movie?
GREENE: Not a thing. When that scene that you just showed.
MORGAN: Yeah.
GREENE: I find highly offensive. First of all, if that happen which Jordan said it, did prior to my time at being and chat up (ph) or maybe it did. I find it highly offensive to women.
MORGAN: Let me come to you Aaron Goldsmith you're the attorney for Andrew. He's obviously very angry about this. He's obviously got a completely clear record and never got even a suspicion of wrong doing himself.
You know, I can see why he would feel the way he does having said that they would argue. Look, this guy is not supposed to be Andrew Greene. He's just a character based on a lot of characters that were there at the time.
GOLDSMITH: Sure. But here is the situation where we have a character in the book that is directly named, directly identifies Andrew. The character in the movie is not dissimilar from the character in the book. The descriptions of the wig, the descriptions of his persona, even as an individual I mean you can see physically is not too far of a scope.
MORGAN: Why didn't you sue over the book if that was all there and they gave you the full name unlike in the movie which doesn't? Why didn't you sue them? GREENE: Fair question. When I read the book, I only read parts of it, but the parts I found to be quite frankly I thought it would be a piece of trash that I didn't really think that I was going to pay any attention to that book. I really didn't.
Now, we're sitting here. We have some of the most brightest, most respected people in Hollywood who are giving interviews saying that their interviews with Jordan Belfort and the reason why they didn't want to depict the investors and what happen because they wanted to tell the story as it happened.
MORGAN: When you see Leo DiCaprio as he has done being very praise worthy about one of Jordan Belfort's character now. What do you think of that?
GREENE: I think he should be ashamed of himself. And I think that he's been sold the bill of goods because you even talked about it in your interview. Jordan called Gordon Gecko character as something that was just fictional which he already lived his persona is the movie. He was loved being called Gecko. And if people would just look at Wall Street one, that's Jordy and then he gets arrested and he goes to jail. Then to Jordy, Wall Street two is I come out of jail, I write a book, I've now become a public speaker. I reinvent my self over in Europe and then I find a way to stop making my way back to United States. He lives that persona.
MORGAN: Is he not entitled to rehabilitate himself? Lessons learned?
GREENE: I love them like a brother. I would love nothing more. Why he chose to throw me under the bus is a lot of reasons because he needed to be in control of everyone.
MORGAN: I find a question to you Aaron. You filed a lawsuit, have you?
GOLDSMITH: Yeah.
MORGAN: How much is it for?
GOLDSMITH: We're asking for 25 million.
MORGAN: And is this about money or is it about principle fee?
GREENE: It's about principle. It's about my reputation. It's about my family. It's about losing the woman I love. It is about me expecting...
MORGAN: Why did you leave the woman you love?
GOLDSMITH: While he's collecting himself, let me just be very clear. This goes to...
(CROSSTALK)
MORGAN: I mean, you've mentioned that fee to his wife. GREENE: If you're going to plan to marry someone, you spend the rest of your life for her. And then you start questioning because you're seeing these clips and then you see this movie of this individual who is being depicted as this depraved psychopath.
MORGAN: Does the woman that you loved believed this and left you or?
GREENE: Our relationship is over.
MORGAN: And you're blamed in the movie?
GREENE: Not just blamed. If we had the time, I can explain the details.
MORGAN: OK. Well, listen. I will leave you there. Andrew Greene, Aaron Goldsmith, thank you both very much indeed.
Coming up is one of the most unconventional people in show business. But now, David Arquette is playing the one role you might not have expected. He tells me why he's back on screen as a serial killer.
(COMMERIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COURTNEY COX, ACTRESS: Looks like we've got a serial killer on our hands
ARQUETTE: A serial killer's not really accurate. You got to knock off a couple more to get that title.
COX: All right. We can help, can't we? I mean we certainly don't have any lead. Have you located Sidney's father yet?
ARQUETTE: No, not yet.
COX: Well, he's not a suspect is he?
ARQUETTE: Well, we haven't ruled him out as a possibility. If you'll excuse me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: And "Scream" of course. Who could forget David Arquette as Deputy Dewey, the lovable and somewhat inept small town cop hunting a serial killer. Well now, David is doing (inaudible), playing real life serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson in Lifetime's "Happy Face Killer" which premiers on Saturday.
David Arquette, we meet you In The Chair tonight. Welcome to you.
ARQUETTE: Hey. Thanks so much for having me, Piers.
MORGAN: So, I remember all the Screams obviously the first one took $175 million, franchise of four films, $600 million. They kind of propelled you into that kind of weird celebrity stratosphere. ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: And over the years, I sort of watched your career develop. And I've listen to certain interviews known to be the Howard Stern where everyone remembers, and also never got to interviews. The question I'd ask you would be do you wish you haven't been propelled into that stratosphere just a part of you which you'd never been a famous star.
ARQUETTE: Not really, I mean, we're fourth generation. My family goes back to Bentonville. My grandfather was a character actor comedian named Charley Weaver, Cliff Arquette. And it's just sort of been in our bones. I do wish to certainly extend I was a little more, I don't know, a little whom were grounded and guided in specific decisions along my career path, but.
MORGAN: So, that's the old thing, you come from a family so steeped in it and yet by you're in a mission, possibly weren't prepared enough for it? Why would that be?
ARQUETTE: I don't know, I mean, I like to shake it up in general and just sort of look at the world a different way and sort of have a different approach to it. So, maybe it's among of those lines. I like doing, you know, a kid's film. I like doing, you know, I like dressing crazy. I don't know what's wrong with me in that sense but it's just an individuality and I don't necessarily play by the same roles.
MORGAN: With Howard interview, it was fascinating in many ways. When you thought about that after it, what did you feel about the way you laid yourself open that day?
ARQUETTE: Well, I tend to call or somewhat inappropriate times. It's not really a, I mean, career, you know, I don't know if it's like career suicide in the sense but, you know, I don't know, it's just I'm trying to be honest and trying to like at -- when I first called at that time, all the magazines were coming out and said I was a cheater and I hadn't. So, I wanted to set the record straight. It just wasn't in the most tactful way.
MORGAN: You regret it or not?
ARQUETTE: I don't really regret anything because, you know, I learn from my experiences but, you know, I don't know.
MORGAN: You came off Twitter as well recently.
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: Because you don't really like all the -- let's be honest, crap that goes with it...
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... and anyone on the public eyes on it knows what you're talking about. Are you quite of a sensitive guy when it comes to that kind of thing? Were you unprepared for the kind of, just making abuse, anyone famous (inaudible)?
ARQUETTE: Yeah. I think toward society in general and just the general public temperature kind of -- especially in the internet, its pretty -- it's a bullying mentality and it's cruel, and you know...
MORGAN: And anonymous in many case.
ARQUETTE: Yeah, yeah. Exactly. So, I wasn't prepared for it. I wasn't -- I'm not a fan of it. I understand for business it makes a lot of sense to do it and to, you know, have that fan base and stay connected. And I like staying connected with my fans. But, it's also, you know, being a celebrity in this day and age, you don't have a lot of privacy in this to where it's sort of taking some of that back.
MORGAN: In 1999, you made a great decision to somebody who was already very famous which was to marry somebody even more famous, Courtney Cox, very famous, and you know, I know that you get on very well together now. But again, I'll ask you now, when you looked back at that true love has it's obstacles but...
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... marrying one of the most famous actresses in America made you even more on the target for the paparazzi for the magazines, all that kind of thing, even more chipping away your own life and privacy. Do you wish again if I could take you back in time, you hadn't made that move?
ARQUETTE: No, I wouldn't save anything about that.
MORGAN: True love is worth...
ARQUETTE: Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, having Courtney in my life has been one of the great joys and friendships, and love. So for sure, now we have a beautiful daughter Coco.
MORGAN: Who is going to be 10 in the summer?
ARQUETTE: Yeah, yeah, and that's just been a gift. And now I have a baby on the way.
MORGAN: Right, this is with your girlfriend.
ARQUETTE: My new girlfriend Christina.
MORGAN: Yeah, she's having a little baby boy, right?
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: Are you a good dad?
ARQUETTE: I am a good dad.
MORGAN: Have you always been a good dad or you got better out of it? ARQUETTE: No, I mean, I've made mistakes, I definitely. I also don't believe in like, you know, being fake as a father. So if I make mistakes, I'm very honest about it and I'm going to clear and I discuss them openly with my daughter.
MORGAN: It's been described as one of the not happiest divorces but one of the best conducted divorces and subsequent relationships within divorced people that Hollywood has ever seen. A, is that true? Sounds like it is. And B, have you managed that because so many people find that almost impossible.
ARQUETTE: Yeah, well, it wasn't only Hollywood, I mean the lawyer, we sort of had draw everything up, had never, you know, done it that easily either or clear earlier cheaply.
But she was very helpful. And the way we did it was not to forget the love that we shared for each other, not to try to destroy each other in the process to understand each other's position, and then allow each other's needs to be met at the same time being generous and conscious.
MORGAN: Because I remember watching Dancing with the Stars week after week and get Courtney would turn up with your daughter and I remember thinking how nice that was, how unusual and how nice that you were able collectively to do that. And I thought it would one cost great beneficiary would be your daughter.
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: You must love that.
ARQUETTE: That has been the best aspect of our relationship, is you know, this beautiful child we brought into the world and just sharing that with Courtney and I don't know, just learning all that up.
And she is incredibly supportive. I'm incredibly supportive at first. We started a production company together. We produced several things. We have a game show coming out called Celebrity Name Game and...
(CROSSTALK)
ARQUETTE: What's that?
MORGAN: You two should get a lot.
ARQUETTE: Yeah, exactly. And she just directed her first film called "Just Before I Go," which has gotten in a film festival and we're excited about that. I produced it with her.
MORGAN: How many times did you say in your life you've been properly in love?
ARQUETTE: Properly in love, I mean, you know, if you want to count like the real deal twice.
MORGAN: Yes, twice. ARQUETTE: Yeah, I mean -- but if you want to extend that, you will fall in love.
MORGAN: You tell me, David. I'm not telling you. How many times you've been in love?
ARQUETTE: I've fallen in love several times in my life but really properly twice.
MORGAN: What have you learned about yourself, the romantic process over the years?
ARQUETTE: That I am romantic at heart, I'm also -- I don't know, like the divorce, that broke my heart a lot, you know, and changed my approach to it all too.
I was really dramatic and really like over the top when I was younger. But not now, not now.
MORGAN: You bet.
ARQUETTE: Yeah, well, I'm a little more grown up as far as relationships go. I don't -- it doesn't seem like everything is the end of the world, you know. When I was younger, I'd get pretty dramatic.
MORGAN: Do you think you will get married again or you've been slightly, you know what, I don't think I want to go there again?
ARQUETTE: I don't know. It has definitely changed that, you know, that experience changed it for me, but...
(INAUDIBLE)
ARQUETTE: ... because you know, again, I'm madly in love with my new girlfriend and she is a wonderful person and dear friend and we have a kid on the way, so I don't know.
MORGAN: How are you battling your demons that you talked about over the years so honestly?
ARQUETTE: It's an ongoing thing, you know. I try to keep, you know, the addict inside me in check, and also the sort of a self-critical voice in check and just kind of try to remain healthy. I'm not great at it because I am a bit of a wild man and you know, I'm...
MORGAN: So you're not clean in that sense?
ARQUETTE: No.
MORGAN: You still party, you still...
ARQUETTE: Yeah, I'd still drink, you know, I'm trying to only -- it sounds very, you know, if you're involved in any sort of alcoholics program that, you know, I have tried to only drink like beer, wine, champagne, but that doesn't always happen either. MORGAN: When you saw what happened with Philip Seymour Hoffman and others, obviously, very serious heroin addiction in his case. But, do you recognize that problem of fame, addiction, ready availability to whatever you want, and inability even after years perhaps to defy that the devil on your shoulder.
ARQUETTE: Oh yeah, I mean, it's not just a fame thing though. I mean, you know, one of the first deaths in my life was a guy named Reynard Gleeson (ph) and he was the oldest member of this family, the Gleeson family that I grew up with. He died of a heroin overdose when I was probably about 14, 13. And you know, and then two of the cast members that I did my first project with Rodney Harvey and Harold Pruett also overdosed.
So it's not something I'm unaware of, you know, and I feel for his family and I don't mean to take away anything or see anything callous, but there is an element to Cory Monteith as well where if you shoot heroin and you don't give it up for a little and you come back, that's kind of what happened with all three of my friends earlier that they did too much later. Or where the body wasn't ready for it or, you know, or just their demons caught up with them or whatever. I don't mean like to see demons that way because...
MORGAN: Because that's what they are, isn't it? Because they all talk of it in that way. Is there also, and again, it's not about being harsh, but perhaps realistic if you have children, if you have family, love ones, and so on. Is there a degree of selfishness to coming back if you're an addict into that world again?
ARQUETTE: Absolutely. I mean, addiction is all about being selfish to a certain extent, you know, it's about sort of this crazy brain that, you know, if we kind of figure out and we try to numb sometimes and you try to like just cope or whatever it is. And you try to have fun and whatever, but, yeah, it's a...
MORGAN: For those who have never been addicted to alcohol or drugs or whatever. What is that feeling when you maybe have been credibly well behaved for a long period of time and then you build and build it? Describe that feeling, what is it?
ARQUETTE: About like being sober then decide and...
MORGAN: Yes.
ARQUETTE: ... drink again or whatever.
MORGAN: Yeah.
ARQUETTE: You know, the thing about sobriety is that it's a wonderful path because it's difficult and it takes a lot of work but there's an accountability and there's a groundedness and there's a connectiveness that you really can't, you know, fake. You know, when I decided not to drink again, I just -- I don't know, maybe I just -- I don't want to be that real at that moment or whatever. I mean, I don't know if that make sense.
MORGAN: To escapism?
ARQUETTE: There is an element of escapism. There is an element of, you know, just wanting to have fun as selfish as bad it sounds.
But, you know, I tried to do it responsibly, you know, I never drive if I drink anything. And, you know, I've never been arrested, you know, I don't, you know, I don't know, but it's not, you know, it's not a safe world. It's not a safe as sobriety or but you also never know in life in what's going to happen. So I do like enjoying it. I'm like living it to the fullest.
MORGAN: Let's take a break. When we come back, let's talk about "Happy Face Killer," this lifetime movie because in it, you are a ruthless serial killer...
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... actively enjoys killing endless women. Lovely man.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARQUETTE: Am I under arrest, because if not I've got to get back out there, got to make a living.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you're not under arrest. Not yet.
ARQUETTE: I didn't write that letter. I know you want to find this killer and I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: David Arquette, as a real-life serial killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, in Lifetime's "Happy Face Killer" which premiers on Lifetime on March 1st, not to forget that such a nice guy plays such an evil character.
And David Arquette is back in the show with me to explain why do you want to play a ruthless serial killer with everything you've been through, David?
ARQUETTE: Well, for several reasons. I mean, I don't get the opportunity to play characters like that that often. People sort of see me as the goofy guy or whatever. So, you know, and also I always kind of been fascinated with serial killers. I read a book called "Whoever Fights Monsters" and Robert Ressler, making a FBI ...
Morgan: Yeah.
ARQUETTE: ... profile -- he was part of like the team that's ...
MORGAN: The Hannibal Lecter?
ARQUETTE: Yeah. And he -- we worked with him to develop the thing. I just love the -- I don't know about the human brain and trying to understand it and what makes a person do that and the different sides of people and why. So those are really great scripts, amazing director, and a great cast and a great group of producer and Lifetime does these movies really well.
MORGAN: You kill a woman over five years.
ARQUETTE: I don't, but he did.
MORGAN: Your killer does and he told the feds -- he even gets annoyed when other people claim credit in some of the murders.
ARQUETTE: Yeah.
MORGAN: What did you learn about the mind of a serial killer in making this?
ARQUETTE: Well, I learn a lot about him ...
MORGAN: Who's based on a true story, right?
ARQUETTE: Yeah. It's a true guy. He lives up -- I mean he's jailed up in Oregon. He'll be there until he's 118, at least. And I learn a lot. I mean you can go to the internet, you can read a bunch of stuff about him and, you know, I watch a bunch of documentaries.
I also -- his daughter wrote a book and I looked at that. The film is not represented by that at all but just to get an understanding of, you know, what she went through and what he was like from his daughter's perspective. But I don't know. I learned, you know, he is -- the reason he got so upset that somebody's taking credit, it's like only in America with something like that happen -- it's ludicrous -- is because, you know, he wanted the credit, you know. There was this crazy element of, you know, it's -- a lot if it comes down to power.
MORGAN: Did you ever meet him?
ARQUETTE: No. I don't want to.
MORGAN: Did you want to?
ARQUETTE: No. No interest of meeting him. I didn't really even do like a character of him or like a impersonation because I don't know I wanted to make it human from my point of view. And it's hard playing a real character because there's real victims. I'm more worried about like the family and the, you know, I don't know. Just -- the people are still dealing with destruction that he caused.
I mean I like entertaining people. That's been my job and my family's job for years and just sort to dive into that and to look at aspects of, you know, of this human mind and what makes them do that and essentially what I, you know, through my research I found out, he was abused. He was, you know, at one point violated and then he became violent.
And then he was also sociopath and a narcissist. So, you know, those -- the combination of all that, he was bullied as a kid and the combination of all those things just sort of made him (inaudible) after like his life cut and asserted unraveling and that kind of happens. I mean, we live in a society where we tell our children don't, you know, don't believe anybody but then like we were saying, it's a society of bullies or ...
MOIRGAN: Right.
ARQUETTE: ... we worship the people or we, you know, talk down to people. We think we're above them and below (ph). It's just like I believe that we're all equal and ...
MORGAN: Everything's very visceral now and unpleasant. I agree with that.
In the prosecute for the film, after long list of your credits, your bio and so this is what I love. "I'd like to thank you for taking the time to read this ridiculous amount of hogwash. The fact of the matter is, I'm a fourth generation performer and love entertaining people. Thank you for giving me the opportunity."
And you kind of said that a moment ago that really your heart, that's all you want to do, right, you want to entertain people.
ARQUETTE: Yeah. Absolutely. That's my job and whenever I see a fan, if they want to take a picture, I'm honored to because I've entertained them and it's my job to entertain them. And it's not, you know, it's my world to my eyes but it's their world to theirs and like if we start realizing and respecting each other and having more of, you know, respect for human life and a respect for people's feelings and a respect for common decency, that's what I'm trying to do.
MORGAN: We had a very sad news today. The death of Harold Ramis and you had a slight connection with him and your family do, I think. Tell me about that.
ARQUETTE: Yeah. Well, he was in Airheads which was the film I was a part of and my father also was in Second City and he's -- he was really in Second City. My dad was in Second City but he came out here but in the -- and probably and he was just a huge talent and I was a huge fan of his writing and his directing and his acting.
MORGAN: Yeah. Great man (inaudible).
ARQUETTE: God bless him and his family.
MORGAN: Happy Face Killer premiers Saturday March 1st at 8 PM on Lifetime. It's been great to meet you.
ARQUETTE: Hey, great to meet you too, Piers.
MORGAN: Thanks for being on the show. I appreciate it.
Coming up, a talented star of ABC's Nashville faces her own real-life drama. Kimberly Williams Paisley joins me next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MORGAN: Kimberly William-Paisley made her movie debut. It was with Steve Martin in "Father of the Bride." And tonight, it's the heartbreak of a national star's relationship with her real life parent mum Linda, has changed her life.
Well, joining me now is actress and writer, Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Welcome to you Kimberly. It's lovely to have you on the show. I wish you to be in happiest circumstances, but you've written this incredibly moving article in this month's Red Magazine about what happened to your mother who is suffering from a form of dementia called Primary Progressive Aphasia. Tell me about this and the impacts it had on you and your family.
KIMBERLY WILLIAMS-PAISLEY, ACTRESS, WRITER: Well, this is something that's been going on in my family for along time. My mom was diagnosed in 2005 when she was 61 years old, looks she's pretty young. And being able to write about it for Red Book has been so cathartic for me to try to make sense of what happened, try to turn something that was very tragic into something hopefully positive that it can, maybe, help other people going through a similar situation.
MORGAN: And how do you find your mother? I mean most forms of dementia and I've had experience of this in my family some days that can be extremely lucid and both lead normal, one of the better word, of the days and have no idea he'd been talking to or what day it is.
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Right. What my mom has PPA. It's characterized by a loss of language ability at first so her memories were actually very much there. And her awareness was very much there. She was the one that came to us and said, "I'm having trouble finding words. I'm having trouble writing my names on checks." So that's how her dementia began.
And now, it's sort of this all blended together and she doesn't speak at all. She's in the wheelchair much of the time. She doesn't necessarily recognize people. Her eyes light up when someone new comes in. She's always been a party girl and she kind of still lives in a way. But she's very, very calm most of the time now, which is good.
MORGAN: It's incredibly powerful piece and one really go and get rent a book and read on what you're saying there, Kimberly. I want to turn you to something lighter subject...
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Thank you.
MORGAN: ... which is I had your husband on, Brad. He'd been on the show couple of times. We'll play you a clip...
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Yes.
MORGAN: ... of what he told me the first time I interviewed him about you, actually.
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: No. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD PAISLEY, COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR: When I flew out to Los Angeles, I used a Hollywood Squares as a free ticket out. I took a gig on there for, you know, and taped some shows so I could be here for couple days. And then we went out on our first date and it was love at first sight for me and love at first month or two for her, you know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: And it's an amazing story that he told me because eventually, you were at the Father of the Bride. He actually was courting somebody else. I went to watch the movie twice over a year long period. And then began to realize he wasn't really into the woman he was trying to court taking to the movie. He was into you on the big screen.
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Yes. So he stalked me and it somehow worked.
MORGAN: I mean, here you are. You're now married to Brad Paisley who just fancied you in "Father of the Bride." It was a great story.
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: It was a great story. It's a very romantic story and it's fun to tell and it's -- yeah, we're going on 11 years coming up in March, so.
MORGAN: And he says it was love at first sight for him but you took
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Yeah.
MORGAN: ... a few months. Is that true?
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: I did. I needed a little -- I think just to get to know him a little better, you know, but then once it happened, I think it was when I finally got to see his sense of humor and he's really one of the funniest people I know and one of the smartest. And once I was able to see his personality coming through, I think he was maybe a little bit nervous in the beginning, but not anymore.
MORGAN: Well...
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Then I was gone now, you know.
MORGAN: You're absolute right about, I mean, he's a great guy but I think he is the one that's definitely batting above his league here. So, it's been lovely to meet you Kimberly. You're appearing in the hit show "Two and a Half Men" next week, so, best of luck with that. And it's been a delight...
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Thank you.
MORGAN: ... having you. And come on with Brad one time. That'd be good as it be.
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: Oh, I'd love to and he loves you. He loves you and your show.
MORGAN: Thank you. I like him too. Thank you very much. It's nice to talk to you.
WILLIAMS-PAISLEY: All right. Thank you. You too.
MORGAN: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MORGAN: Tomorrow night, the two and a half billion dollar-man, Maverick Billionaire Mark Cuban is never afraid to say what he thinks. I'll ask him about winning in sports, winning in business, what it takes to win on Shark Tank. If that's just winning...