3/20/02

LC020320

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> HOW SAFE IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM NUCLEAR TERROR? TONIGHT A LOOK AT HOW AUTHORITIES AT THE LOCAL SEAPORTS ARE TAKING NEW PRECAUTIONS.

GAY YEE>> PORT OFFICIALS ARE PREPARED FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE MOST NIGHTMARISH OF POSSIBILITIES: A NUCLEAR DEVICE. JUST LOOK AT THE LATEST PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THEY'RE CARRYING.

DAMON DRIVER>> IT'S A RADIATION PAGER. IF WE HAVE ANY KIND OF NUCLEAR DEVICE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF RADIATION THAT COMES THROUGH THE PORT, IT GIVES US A READING.

VAL>> IT'S A SAD REALITY. AT SOME POINT, MOST OF US WILL FACE THE IMPENDING DEATH OF A PARENT. BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD TO COPE WHEN THE PARENTS ARE 3,000 MILES AWAY. TONIGHT WE'LL MEET SOMEONE WHO SURVIVED THE EXPERIENCE. SHE SHARES HER LESSONS OF LOVE AND LOSS IN A MEMOIR, "PHANTOM LIMB".

JESS>> HE IS AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ACTOR YOU MIGHT PASS ON THE STREET WITHOUT A SECOND GLANCE.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> TOM WILKINSON'S WORK IN FILMS SUCH AS "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE" AND "THE FULL MONTY" FIRST BROUGHT HIM TO THE ATTENTION OF AMERICAN AUDIENCES AND TONIGHT WE'LL TALK WITH HIM ABOUT THE CAREER THAT NOW FINDS HIM ENJOYING AN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

TERRORISTS MAY THINK TWICE ABOUT TRYING TO SMUGGLE WEAPONS THROUGH AN AIRPORT, BUT CRITICS SAY THE NATION'S SEAPORTS REMAIN AN EASY MARK. TONS OF CARGO PASS THROUGH THE PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT NINE OUT OF TEN CONTAINERS PASS THROUGH THOSE PORTS UNCHECKED.

VAL>> WHY SO FEW INSPECTIONS AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BEEF UP SECURITY? TONIGHT GAY YEE GOES TO THE DOCKS FOR SOME ANSWERS.

GAY>> IT'S A BRAVE NEW WORLD ALONG THE DOCKS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, A WORLD IN WHICH U.S. CUSTOM AGENTS USE MILLION DOLLAR X-RAY MACHINES TO CHECK THE FLOW OF INBOUND CARGO.

PAUL PULETZ>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SCANNING CONTAINERS BEING OFFLOADED FROM A SHIP ARRIVING FROM PANAMA.

GAY>> SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, SECURITY IS THE MANTRA AT THE SEAPORTS OF LONG BEACH AND LOS ANGELES. X-RAYS BEAM INTO CARGO CONTAINERS THE SAME WAY SMALLER MACHINES SCAN LUGGAGE AT THE AIRPORT. BUT THESE INSPECTORS LOOK FOR MORE THAN SMALL WEAPONS OR HANDGUNS. THEIR SOPHISTICATED SOFTWARE IS DESIGNED TO ROOT OUT ALMOST ANY KIND OF CONTRABAND, ESPECIALLY THE KIND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLANTED BY A TERRORIST.

PAUL PULETZ>> IF THERE WERE A LOAD IN THERE, WHETHER IT BE NARCOTICS OR BE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVES, IT WOULD SHOW UP MORE DENSE AND WE'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT ON THERE.

GAY>> IF ANYTHING LOOKS SUSPICIOUS, INSPECTORS MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE SECURITY PROTOCOL. THEY CALL IT A TAILGATE SEARCH. THAT'S WHEN INSPECTORS GO INSIDE AND THEY'RE PREPARED FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE MOST NIGHTMARISH OF POSSIBILITIES: A NUCLEAR DEVICE. IF YOU DOUBT WHETHER AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THAT A REAL THREAT, CHECK OUT THE NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S NOW STANDARD ISSUE AT THE PORTS.

DAMON DRIVER>> IT'S A RADIATION PAGER. IF WE HAVE ANY KIND OF NUCLEAR DEVICE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF RADIATION THAT COMES THROUGH THE PORT, IT GIVES US A READING SHOWING US WHAT THE RADIATION LEVEL IS AND WHETHER WE SHOULD BE ALARMED OR WHAT TYPE OF RADIATION IT IS THAT WE'RE GETTING.

GAY>> BUT IS ALL THIS ENOUGH? THE PROBLEM IS, NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT'S EXACTLY IN NINETY PERCENT OF THOSE CONTAINERS. THERE COULD BE SHOES, THERE COULD BE SOCKS, THERE COULD BE SOMETHING HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT OF ALL U.S. IMPORTS COME FROM SHIPS THAT PASS THROUGH THESE TWO PORTS. LONG BEACH ALONE HANDLES UP TO 12,000 TWENTY-FOOT-LONG CONTAINERS EVERY DAY, BUT SURPRISINGLY ONLY TWO PERCENT OF THESE BIG BOXES ARE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED.

VERA ADAMS>> IF WE TRIED TO EXAMINE EVERY SINGLE CONTAINER THAT CAME INTO THIS COUNTRY, THE ECONOMY WOULD COME TO A SCREECHING HALT.

GAY>> VERA ADAMS IS THE PORT DIRECTOR FOR THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE. SHE SAYS IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO EXAMINE EVERY CONTAINER. SHIPPERS WITH A GOOD RECORD ARE FAST-TRACKED. INSPECTORS USE RISK MANAGEMENT TO ANALYZE THE CARGO, PORT OF ORIGIN AND SHIPPING COMPANY. THEY LOOK FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND CHECK THOSE SHIPMENTS.

VERA ADAMS>> THE CARRIER SENDS US AN ELECTRONIC MANIFEST WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S COMING IN ON THAT SHIP. USUALLY THAT'S TWO DAYS OUT. OF EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING IN ON THAT SHIP, WE DECIDE BEFORE IT EVEN GETS HERE WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT.

GAY>> BUT EVEN THIS ISN'T FOOLPROOF. IN RECENT YEARS, HUMAN BEINGS, CHINESE IMMIGRANTS, HAVE BEEN SMUGGLED INSIDE THESE CONTAINERS, LOCKED IN FOR WEEKS AT A TIME WITH NO ELECTRICITY, WATER OR TOILETS. AND A LOS ANGELES RADIO REPORTER DROVE UP TO AN UNLOCKED GATE RECENTLY AND WAS NEVER CHALLENGED FOR THIRTY MINUTES. CRITICS SAY IT COULD BE JUST AS EASY FOR A TERRORIST TO GET IN. THEY SAY, WHILE AIRPORTS ARE TURNING INTO FORT KNOX, SEAPORT SECURITY STILL HAS PLENTY OF HOLES.

JOHN HOLMES>> IS IT A LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH AN AIRPORT? I THINK IT'S HARDENED CONSIDERABLY. YOU CAN'T COMPARE AN AIRPORT AND A PORT BECAUSE ONE HANDLES PASSENGERS.

GAY>> AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, PORT AUTHORITIES WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GLOBAL TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW U.S. INSPECTORS TO CHECK CARGO BEFORE IT REACHES OUR BORDERS, BUT THAT TAKES MONEY.

FAUSTO CAPOBIANCO>> THOSE INCREASED COSTS HAVE TO COME IN THE FORM OF INCREASED FUNDING, SO WE'RE HOPING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN TERMS OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR SOME OF THAT CONSTRUCTION.

GAY>> AND THE MONEY ISN'T THERE YET, SO --

VERA ADAMS>> WE HAVE TO BALANCE SECURITY WITH PROTECTING THE COMMERCE AND THE SMOOTH FLOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE THE IMPACT THAT THE TERRORISTS ORIGINALLY INTENDED, WHICH IS TO DISRUPT THIS ECONOMY.

GAY>> BUT CRITICS SAY THEY ONLY HOPE TRYING TO KEEP THE CARGO MOVING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION IS WORTH THE RISK. AT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH SINCE THOSE TWO PORTS COMBINED ARE THE BUSIEST PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

GAY>> IN THE UNITED STATES. ONE-THIRD OF THE IMPORT-EXPORTS THAT COME INTO OUR COUNTRY COME THROUGH THIS GATEWAY.

JESS>> MOST OF BY CONTAINER?

GAY>> BY CONTAINER, THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> HOW DO THEY CHOOSE WHICH ONES? DO THEY DO GEOGRAPHIC PROFILING IF IT CAME FROM THE MIDDLE EAST?

GAY>> WELL, THEY DO KIND OF A RISK MANAGEMENT. THEY DECIDE -- THERE ARE SOME CUSTOMERS, K-MART, J.C. PENNEY. THOSE ARE REGULAR PEOPLE, REGULAR SHIPPERS. THEY KNOW THAT THEY USUALLY HAVE WHAT'S ON THE MANIFEST. BUT THEN THERE ARE CERTAIN RED FLAGS. IF IT'S A NEW SHIPPER OR PERHAPS THERE'S AN ODD ROUTE THAT IT STOPS AT DIFFERENT PORTS OF CALL AND IS KIND OF UNUSUAL, THOSE ARE RED-FLAGS. THEY WILL PROBABLY TARGET THOSE FOR THE SCANNING, THE X-RAY SCANNING THAT YOU SAW. THEN IF THEY STILL SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS, THEY'LL GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND THEY'LL DO THE TAILGATING. THEY'LL OPEN IT UP AND PHYSICALLY GO THROUGH EACH BOX.

VAL>> NOW THEY TALKED ABOUT GETTING MORE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO BEEF UP SECURITY. HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ANY ESTIMATION?

GAY>> THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ABOUT $93 MILLION DOLLARS, SO A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT FOR ALL THE PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT THEY'RE TALKING FOR LONG BEACH ALONE, WHICH IS JUST ONE OF THE PORTS WE HAVE HERE, THEY NEED AT LEAST ANOTHER $20 MILLION. SO ALL IN ALL, FOR THE NATION ENTIRELY, THEY THINK THEY NEED ANOTHER $2 BILLION TO BEEF UP SECURITY. A LOT OF MONEY.

JESS>> NINETY PERCENT DOESN'T GET SCANNED AT ALL?

GAY>> NINETY PERCENT, MORE THAN NINETY PERCENT DOES NOT GET SCANNED.

JESS>> MORE THAN NINETY PERCENT. AND THOSE ARE ALL SEALED CONTAINERS?

GAY>> SEALED CONTAINERS.

JESS>> I ASSUME, IF A SEAL IS BROKEN, THAT'S A RED FLAG?

GAY>> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY. THEY'LL PULL IT OUT, THEY'LL TAKE A LOOK, THEY'LL PHYSICALLY DO A TAILGATE.

VAL>> AND THERE'S ACTUALLY FOUR AGENCIES THAT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER OUR PORTS?

GAY>> THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. THERE'S NOT ONE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION THAT JUST DOES SECURITY. THE COAST GUARD DOES BEYOND THE BREAKWATER, THE OCEAN. THE U.S. CUSTOMS GIVES GUIDELINES. THEN THE INDIVIDUAL TERMINALS DO THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL SECURITY.

VAL>> BIG JOB.

GAY>> BIG, BIG JOB.

VAL>> GAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, AFTER MORE THAN FORTY YEARS, OSCAR IS COMING HOME TO HOLLYWOOD, BUT HE RETURNS TO A VERY DIFFERENT HOME. SECURITY IS TIGHT TO GUARD AGAINST POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACKS AND TALK OF SECESSION IS IN THE AIR. A LOOK AT THE NEW HOLLYWOOD TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> BRITISH ACTOR, TOM WILKINSON, HAS BEEN WORKING STEADILY ON STAGE AND SCREEN FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AND YET, UNTIL NOW, HE REMAINED RELATIVELY UNKNOWN TO AMERICAN AUDIENCES.

VAL>> IN FACT, IT WASN'T UNTIL HE PLAYED GERALD IN "THE FULL MONTY" THAT HIS MOVIE AND HIS CLOTHES REALLY TOOK OFF. (LAUGHTER) SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS, INCLUDING "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE", "RUSH HOUR" AND "THE PATRIOT". BUT IT'S THE LOW-BUDGET INDEPENDENT FILM "IN THE BEDROOM" THAT HAS EARNED HIM AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR BEST ACTOR. WE'LL TALK WITH TOM WILKINSON IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT "IN THE BEDROOM".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> TOM WILKINSON, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

TOM WILKINSON>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> WE'RE TOLD THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED NOT ANONYMITY, CERTAINLY, NO ONE ENJOYS THAT, BUT YOU ALWAYS ENJOYED THE REPUTATION AS A SOLID WORKING ACTOR. BUT NOW ALL THAT'S GONE WITH AN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION, ISN'T IT?

TOM WILKINSON>> I SUPPOSE IT HAS, BUT YOU RETAIN THE CAST OF MIND, WHICH MEANS YOU TRY TO, YOU KNOW -- THE CELEBRITY ROUTE HAS NEVER BEEN ONE FOR ME AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE FOR ACTORS. I THINK ACTORS HAVE GOT TO BE AROUND ON THE STREETS LOOKING AT STUFF, WATCHING STUFF, DOING WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OBSERVING STUFF AND SEEING HOW PEOPLE BEHAVE UNDER VARIOUS -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEVER GET OUT OF THE LIMOUSINE, THEN YOU CAN'T DO YOUR WORK PROPERLY.

VAL>> SO YOU ACTUALLY THINK CELEBRITY IS A DETRIMENT TO YOUR PROFESSION AS AN ACTOR?

TOM WILKINSON>> I THINK IT CAN BE. I THINK, IN A SENSE, THAT IT CAN SEAL PEOPLE OFF FROM THE WORLD. I THINK IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

JESS>> BUT DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS CERTAINLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE NOW.

TOM WILKINSON>> I GUESS THEY DO.

JESS>> AND THAT HELPS?

TOM WILKINSON>> WELL, YES, IT DOES. IT DOESN'T STOP -- YOU KNOW, YOU STILL WAIT FOR THE GOOD SCRIPT TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR AND THEY'RE STILL PRETTY RARE. YOU KNOW, YOU PERHAPS GET MORE SCRIPTS NOW, BUT THE GOOD ONES ARE STILL KIND OF ONE OUT OF FIFTY.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, ONE OF THEM IS "IN THE BEDROOM", A SUPERB SCRIPT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP NOW. THIS IS A SCENE BETWEEN YOU AND SISSY SPACEK PLAYING YOUR WIFE AFTER AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN YOU.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ARE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL AT THE ACCLAIM THIS MOVIE HAS RECEIVED, BOTH YOU AND SISSY SPACEK BEING NOMINATED?

TOM WILKINSON>> YEAH, IT'S GOT FIVE NOMINATIONS. TO SOME EXTENT, YES, IT IS SURPRISING. IT WAS A SMALLISH MOVIE AND NOT HUGE STARS. SISSY, OF COURSE, IS A LEGEND. YEAH, BUT IT'S A GOOD FILM. WHEN I FIRST SAW IT, I THOUGHT IT'S A GOOD FILM. IT DESERVES SOME RECOGNITION AND IT'S HAD A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK AND SOME VERY SKILLFUL PUBLICITY. IT'S GOT WHAT I THINK IT PROBABLY DESERVES.

VAL>> WELL, WHAT IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE CULTURE OF ACTING BETWEEN BRITAIN VERSUS THE UNITED STATES?

TOM WILKINSON>> WELL, IT'S INCREASINGLY SIMILAR. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT -- I MEAN, WHEN I FIRST STARTED, THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT, IF YOU WENT TO DRAMA SCHOOL, THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT YOU WENT INTO THEATER FIRST. THAT WAS WHAT YOU WERE TRAINED FOR AND YOU DID IT AND THERE WAS NO QUESTION. NOBODY WENT IN TO DO MOVIES OR EVEN TV. IT WAS THEATER, THEN MAYBE SOME TELEVISION. WE DIDN'T HAVE A MOVIE BUSINESS. BUT NOW BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS LAID ON THE THEATERS IN BRITAIN NOW, THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST ANYMORE. SO KIDS ARE NOW LOOKING FOR TV OR ANYTHING THEY CAN GET HOLD OF WHEN THEY LEAVE DRAMA SCHOOL.

VAL>> DID YOU SET OUT CONCERTEDLY TO BREAK INTO AMERICAN HOLLYWOOD FEATURE FILMS AND WHY WAS THAT?

TOM WILKINSON>> I SAW OTHER PEOPLE DOING IT AND I THOUGHT IT'S THE ONE SORT OF PART OF SHOW BUSINESS THAT I HAVEN'T TRIED. I GOT EVERYTHING I WANTED IN THEATER, EVERYTHING I WANTED ON TELEVISION IN BRITAIN. YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE SETTLED DOWN TO A COMFORTABLE LIFE DOING MORE OR LESS WHAT I WANTED ON TV AND THEATER AND I THOUGHT, NO, THAT'S WHERE THE BIG BOYS SIT DOWN AND PLAY.

JESS>> IS THERE NO MORE THE NOTION THAT WE USED TO HAVE OF THE RATHER SNOBBISH THEATER ACTOR BEING DISDAINFUL OF FILM?

TOM WILKINSON>> NO, THAT'S FIFTY YEARS OUT OF DATE, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, THAT IDEA. THAT WAS THE KIND OF OLIVIER, RALPH RICHARDSON DEBATE.

JESS>> GONE.

TOM WILKINSON>> YEAH, IT'S GONE. VERY OFTEN ENGLISH ACTORS WILL GO BACK AND DO THEATER PLAYS. YOU THINK, WELL, ONE ALLOWS ME TO DO THE OTHER. BUT THERE'S NO SENSE OF SNOBBERY THAT ONE IS WHORING AND THE OTHER IS, YOU KNOW, THE REAL WORK OF AN ACTOR. I THINK PEOPLE WHO DO FILMS ENJOY DOING THEM. I KNOW THEY DO.

VAL>> NOW "THE FULL MONTY" WAS KIND OF A BREAK-OUT FILM FOR YOU, BUT YOU DID NOT -- THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT YOU WERE CRAZY TO TAKE THAT PART.

TOM WILKINSON>> WERE THERE? WHO? (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, YOU HAD A CHANCE --

TOM WILKINSON>> -- WELL, THERE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THIS FILM CALLED "THE FULL MONTY". IT'S NOT A LEADING ROLE, BUT IT'S A GOOD ROLE AND THEN THERE'S THIS TV SERIES --

VAL>> -- TV SERIES, THAT WAS IT.

TOM WILKINSON>> THAT'S RIGHT, IN WHICH I SORT OF HAVE A SEXY RELATIONSHIP WITH A VERY WELL-KNOWN ACTRESS AND I WAS IN EVERY SCENE. HE SAID, NO QUESTION, TAKE THE TV ROLE. BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING, JUST AN INSTINCT, THAT TOLD ME, NO, NO, I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO MOVIES AND I SHOULD DO MOVIES.

VAL>> WELL, YOU HAD A SEXY ROLE IN "THE FULL MONTY". (LAUGHTER)

TOM WILKINSON>> ABSOLUTELY. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> WHEN SISSY SPACEK WAS ON THIS BROADCAST, SHE SAID I THINK ALMOST THE SAME THING YOU SAID, THAT IS VERY HARD TO FIND SCRIPTS THAT ARE REALLY GOOD TO DO. IS WRITING A LOST ART? ARE THEY JUST NOT BEING WRITTEN?

TOM WILKINSON>> NO, THEY ARE BEING WRITTEN. IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF OTHER STUFF BEING WRITTEN. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MOVIES ARE MADE ON THE WHOLE TO MAKE MONEY AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE. BUT VERY OFTEN, THESE COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS RATHER, YOU KNOW, PUT VARIOUS PRESSURES ON THE WRITERS TO COME UP WITH RATHER STEREOTYPED AND EXPECTED SORT OF SITUATIONS. YOU CAN GET VERY -- I MEAN, I'VE GOT A FEW AT THE MOMENT, SOME RATHER HIGH-QUALITY SCRIPTS, COP SCRIPTS, YOU KNOW, GANGSTERS, BUT WE'VE SORT OF SEEN IT BEFORE.

VAL>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, IS THERE A PART OR CHARACTER THAT YOU JUST KNOW YOU'D BE GREAT AT, BUT YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO BE, THAT YOU'D LOVE TO PLAY?

TOM WILKINSON>> NO. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THEM. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT -- SOMETIMES I THINK, IF I DIED, IF I LIVED TO BE 95, ON MY DEATHBED, I'D STILL REGRET THAT I HADN'T PLAYED THAT TEACHER OR THAT FARMER OR THAT HAIRDRESSER, YOU KNOW? STILL, THERE'S LOADS OF ROLES IN THERE.

VAL>> SO IT'S ENDLESS, THE NUMBER OF ROLES.

TOM WILKINSON>> IT'S ENDLESS. IT'S KIND OF VERY SERENDIPITY BEING AN ACTOR. YOU NEVER QUITE KNOW WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET A NICE SCRIPT THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO, IT'S FUN. YOU NEVER EXPECTED YOU WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING IN LIFE, ISN'T IT?

JESS>> IS IT YOUR GUESS THAT YOU WILL FOREVER BE A FILM ACTOR NOW?

TOM WILKINSON>> I GUESS SO. I SHALL DO SOME THEATER, I THINK, BUT I LIKE DOING FILMS AND WHEN I GET BORED, I'LL STOP.

VAL>> TOM WILKINSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU DO A GREAT AMERICAN ACCENT, BY THE WAY (LAUGHTER).

TOM WILKINSON>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THE ACADEMY AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 24. GOOD LUCK.

JESS>> ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO HERE IS TO SHARE LETTERS FROM OUR VIEWERS. HERE'S A SAMPLING FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG.

IN RESPONSE TO OUR ONGOING COVERAGE OF LAPD CHIEF BERNARD PARKS' CAMPAIGN FOR A SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM, ONE VIEWER WANTS US TO CONVEY THAT:

"THE CHIEF IS FAVORED BY A GREAT MANY OF LOS ANGELES CITIZENS FOR THE GOOD WORK HE DOES. HE IS A STRONG DISCIPLINARIAN, JUST WHAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS AND JUST WHAT THE POLICE OFFICERS' UNION DISLIKES."

VAL>> AND WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING TO OSCAR NOMINEES, AS YOU JUST SAW, IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS. ONE VIEWER SAYS:

"YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON FRIVOLOUS 'ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT' STUFF. WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS RELIEF FROM THE INCESSANT PARADE OF PERFORMERS, DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS" -- SORRY ABOUT THAT, MR. WILKINSON -- "THE FLUFF IS COVERED AD NAUSEAM ON EVERY OTHER CHANNEL."

VAL>> AND GOING BACK TO ELECTION DAY, ONE VIEWER WRITES:

"IT WAS VERY DISCOURAGING TO GO TO THE POLLS AND NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, THOUGH REGISTERED AS A DEMOCRAT, THAT I COULD CROSS PARTY LINES TO VOTE FOR REPUBLICAN DICK RIORDAN IN A PRIMARY. DID SOMETHING CHANGE?"

VAL>> WELL, IN FACT, IT DID. VOTERS VOTED IN THE OPEN PRIMARY --

JESS>> -- AND THE COURTS RULED IT OUT.

VAL>> THE COURTS RULED IT OUT BECAUSE THE PARTIES CHALLENGED IT, SAYING WE THE PARTY HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL OUR NOMINEES. SO THE COURTS AGREED WITH THE PARTIES AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRIMARY, WE DON'T REALLY QUITE HAVE AN OPEN PRIMARY.

JESS>> NOT OPEN.

VAL>> BUT YOU CAN BE INDEPENDENT.

JESS>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> IF YOU REGISTER INDEPENDENT, YOU CAN STILL VOTE FOR A WIDER VARIETY OF CANDIDATES.

JESS>> AND PREVIOUSLY, INDEPENDENTS ALWAYS FELT LIKE THEY WERE DISENFRANCHISED BECAUSE THEY GOT TO VOTE ONLY ON NONPARTISAN ISSUES AND NOT FOR THE CANDIDATES.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. SO IT'S CONFUSING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON OUR PROGRAM, HERE IS HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> THE DEATH OF A PARENT IS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL TIMES IN LIFE, BUT FOR ONE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA POET AND WRITER, JANET STERNBURG, IT TOOK PLACE UNDER ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. FIRST, HER FATHER DIED. THEN A YEAR LATER, HER MOTHER LOST FIRST ONE, THEN BOTH, LEGS TO AMPUTATION BECAUSE OF CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS. JANET HAD TO DEAL WITH IT ALL, MOVING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HER HOME IN LOS ANGELES AND HER PARENTS' IN BOSTON.

VAL>> JANET STERNBURG HAS RECORDED HER EXPERIENCES IN A MEMOIR CALLED "PHANTOM LIMB", BUT IT'S MORE THAN A PERSONAL STORY. IT HAS SOME LESSONS WE CAN ALL LEARN ABOUT IN THE FINAL WEEKS THAT WE SPEND WITH OUR AGING PARENTS. JANET STERNBURG, WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JANET STERNBURG>> I'M SO PLEASED TO BE HERE.

JESS>> FIRST OF ALL, THE TITLE "PHANTOM LIMB"?

JANET STERNBURG>> WELL, THE TITLE IS BASED ON TWO THINGS. ONE IS THAT PHANTOM LIMB, THE CONDITION WHERE YOU LOSE A LIMB, BUT STILL FEEL IT. THAT WAS A PROBLEM FOR MY MOTHER.

JESS>> AND IT'S A VERY REAL THING TOO, ISN'T IT?

JANET STERNBURG>> OH, YES. PEOPLE SAY IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND. OH, NO. WELL, IN ONE SENSE, IT IS BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY THE BRAIN GOING ON JUST AS THOUGH THE LIMB WERE STILL THERE. THE OTHER MEANING THAT IT HAD FOR ME IS THAT I CAME TO FEEL THAT WE ALL HAVE PHANTOM LIMBS, THE CONDITION OF PHANTOM LIMB, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING NO LONGER WITH US WHO STILL FEELS AS THOUGH THEY'RE A PART OF THEM.

VAL>> LIKE PARENTS DYING. THEY'RE STILL WITH US AFTER THEY'RE GONE.

JANET STERNBURG>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THIS? BECAUSE ALL OF US, WHEN OUR PARENTS ARE AILING OR THEY'RE SICK AND THEY'RE CLOSE BY, IT'S DIFFICULT ENOUGH. BUT 3,000 MILES AWAY, BACK AND FORTH, FLYING OFTEN AT VERY SHORT NOTICE, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.

JANET STERNBURG>> IT WAS DIFFICULT. IN THE RANGE OF DIFFICULT THINGS, I THINK I COULD ALSO PUT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. SOMEONE WHO HAS CHILDREN -- I DO NOT -- WHO HAS TO THEN THINK, OH, MY GOODNESS, CAN I LEAVE THEM WITH WHOM? FOR ME, AT FIRST I FELT A LITTLE LIKE A PING PONG BALL GOING BACK AND FORTH AND THEN IT STARTED TO BECOME A REGULAR RHYTHM. THIS WAS IT.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED BOTH MAKING NOTES FOR THE BOOK AND ALSO MAKING THOSE NOTES THAT I WRITE ABOUT IN THE BOOK THAT I PUT IN MY EYEGLASS CASE, NOTES THAT ARE WAYS TO TELL MYSELF WHAT I THINK I SHOULD BE DOING. ONE OF THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, IS "DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING. SIT THERE" BECAUSE I REALIZED THAT THAT'S WHAT WAS NEEDED AND WANTED: PRESENCE.

JESS>> YOU SHARE THE ANGUISH OF ADULTS WHO HAVE TO PUT THEIR PARENTS IN A NURSING HOME? THAT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR THEM TO MAKE, CLEARLY.

JANET STERNBURG>> IT'S WAY UP THERE IN THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT ANYONE CAN MAKE. NOW MY MOTHER WAS COMPLETELY IN POSSESSION OF HER FACULTIES, SO WE AT SOME LEVEL MADE IT TOGETHER, OR AT LEAST I TRIED AWFULLY HARD. ONE OF THE MOST TERRIBLE THINGS WHEN YOU GET OLD IS THE SENSE THAT YOU ARE PERHAPS NOT IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.

IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION, THERE WAS A WONDERFUL NURSING HOME TO GO TO THAT WAS ALSO A HOSPITAL. MY FAMILY HAD BEEN ASSOCIATED FOR YEARS WITH THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY. THAT SAID, AND KNOWING THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, I STILL, WHEN I HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS STAYING AT HOME IN THE LAST YEARS OF THEIR LIVES, I FEEL A PAIN EVEN AFTER WRITING THE BOOK. I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR HEALTH SYSTEM COULD DO AMONG MANY, MANY, MANY OTHERS IS SOME WAY TO HELP OLDER PEOPLE STAY AT HOME. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS, THOUGH, ABOUT THE CARE THAT MY MOTHER GOT.

VAL>> SO WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING THIS SITUATION? THEY KNOW THEIR PARENTS ARE ILL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE WITH THEM MUCH LONGER. WHAT KIND OF TRANSITION HAS TO OCCUR WITHIN ADULT CHILDREN TO HANDLE IT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY?

JANET STERNBURG>> WELL, YOU SAY "TRANSITION". MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M A WRITER, I THINK "JOURNEY". BUT EITHER WAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I WOULD SAY SEVERAL THINGS. ONE IS TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CONSTANCY. I DISCOVERED THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT I HAD TO SAY AS LONG AS I CALLED WHEN I SAID I WOULD CALL, AT A REGULAR TIME, EVERY DAY, THAT THERE WAS A REASSURANCE ABOUT THAT. I WAS THINKING THE OTHER DAY THAT THE WEB WILL MAKE THAT EASIER IN THE FUTURE. WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEND DIGITAL IMAGES OF JUST WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT DAY. THAT'S ONE THING.

JESS>> HOW MANY NURSING HOMES ARE WIRED FOR THE INTERNET, DO YOU SUPPOSE? (LAUGHTER)

JANET STERNBURG>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS. THE OTHER IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY, I THINK, DEEPER. THAT IS TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS IT. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE AND TO TRY TO DIG DEEP INSIDE YOURSELF. I KNOW THIS WILL SOUND VERY CORNY, BUT TO FIND THE LOVE THAT'S THERE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE LOVE IS SURROUNDED AND IT'S HARD TO GET TO IT BY "OH, I HAVE TO GO AND DO THIS" OR "I REMEMBER WHEN HE SAID THAT TO ME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP". YOU KNOW, BUTTONS GETTING PUSHED, WHICH IS SO HUMAN. I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO RECOGNIZE FOR OURSELVES THAT IT'S HARD, BUT THAT WE HAVE A JOB TO DO, WHICH IS TO FIND THAT LOVE.

JESS>> JANET STERNBURG, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US. AGAIN, THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "PHANTOM LIMB: A MEMOIR" BY JANET STERNBURG AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW AND IN BOOK STORES THE END OF APRIL?

JANET STERNBURG>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> ONE NOTE BEFORE WE GO. WE WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT WE SAID EARLIER IN OUR PROGRAM. IN THE DISCUSSION ON VOTING IN THE PRIMARY, WE MENTIONED THAT YOU COULD REGISTER AS AN INDEPENDENT. THE CORRECT DESIGNATION ACTUALLY IS "DECLINE TO STATE".

JESS>> THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS (LAUGHTER).

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

VAL>> AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK US OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG. THERE ARE TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO STREAMING. TAKE CARE.

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THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

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