5/14/03

LC030514

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> TURNING BACK THE CLOCK FOR A PIECE OF CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS AND GIVING NATIVE ANIMALS ROOM TO ROAM.

>> THE TARANTULA WAS REALLY COOL. IT WAS LIKE SMALL AND IT TICKLED WHEN IT WENT ACROSS MY HANDS. FIRST I WAS REALLY SCARED OF IT BECAUSE I DON’T LIKE SPIDERS.

VAL>> AND THEN WHAT A PLACE FOR A DANCE COMPANY. THEY MOVED INTO THE OLD AMBASSADOR HOTEL AND THEY’RE CLEARING OUT A FEW COBWEBS IN THAT DUSTY OLD LANDMARK.

JESS>> PLUS, THE TV ANCHOR WHO’S COMING TO LOS ANGELES TO BE WITH HER HUSBAND, POLICE CHIEF WILLIAM BRATTON.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES 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.

AND 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>> IT’S THE SIZE OF A SMALL NATIONAL PARK JUST AN HOUR’S DRIVE FROM LOS ANGELES.

JESS>> AND ALL EVIDENCE OF HUMAN BEINGS THERE IS BEING ERASED. THE PLACE IS A NEW WILDLIFE PRESERVE ON THE EDGE OF KERN COUNTY. NATIVE ANIMALS ARE BEING HERDED IN AND SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION SUCH AS HOMES AND BUILDINGS ARE BEING MOVED OUT. AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, IT’S ALL PART OF A GRAND PLAN TO RE-WILD A HUGE PIECE OF CALIFORNIA HILL COUNTRY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THIS IS THE KIND OF FIELD TRIP KIDS DREAM OF, A DAY IN THE WILDERNESS TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE. THE LOCATION? THE WIND WOLVES PRESERVE IN KERN COUNTY, A VAST STRETCH OF LAND ON THE EDGE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. IT’S THE LARGEST PRIVATELY-HELD NATURE PRESERVE IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. THE WILD LANDS CONSERVANCY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FROM A DEVELOPER SHORT ON CASH BACK IN 1996. EVER SINCE THEN, THEY’VE BEEN AT WORK HERE TRYING TO RESTORE THIS PLACE TO RESEMBLE WHAT IT WAS MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO. THE 95,000 ACRES INCLUDE SLOPING FOOTHILLS AND TALL MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> AND WE HAVE AN ELEVATION RANGE FROM JUST AROUND 600 FEET TO OVER 6,000 FEET, SO WE HAVE A WONDERFUL DIVERSITY OF HABITAT PIPES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> PRESERVE MANAGER, DAVID CLENDENEN, SAYS THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS A MAJOR PART OF THE CONSERVANCY’S MISSION.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> I THINK OUTSIDE OF PRESERVING IMPORTANT LANDSCAPES, BRINGING CHILDREN OUT INTO NATURE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE CORE OF OUR MISSION.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> NOW YOU SHOULDN’T BE AFRAID OF HIM. HE’S ACTUALLY VERY FRIENDLY.

>> THE TARANTULA WAS REALLY COOL. IT WAS LIKE SMALL AND IT TICKLED WHEN IT WENT ACROSS MY HANDS. FIRST I WAS REALLY SCARED OF IT BECAUSE I DON’T LIKE SPIDERS.

>> I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS COOL BECAUSE I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE BEFORE AND I’VE NEVER HELD ONE AND IT FEELS SO WEIRD.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> HIS NAME IS RAFAEL AND HE IS A GOPHER SNAKE.

>> THE SNAKE WAS KIND OF CREEPY AND, WHEN I FELT IT, YOU COULD FEEL ITS SCALES.

>> I’VE SEEN A LOT OF SNAKES OUT WHERE I LIVE AND I STAY AWAY FROM THEM, BUT IT WAS JUST REALLY FREAKY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE CONSERVANCY’S HOPE IS THAT THE CHILDREN WHO VISIT HERE WILL LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF NATURE.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> WE HAVE MANY CHILDREN FROM CITIES AND SCHOOLS THAT COME UP HERE WHERE THE CHILDREN HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN CAMPING WITH THEIR PARENTS. THEY HAVE NEVER GONE BEYOND EVEN A CITY PARK. WILDLIFE TO THEM IS A GROUND SQUIRREL.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> NOW WAIT A MINUTE. WHO CLEANS UP THE COYOTE SCAT?

>> THE BEETLE.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> THERE YOU GO. THE BEETLE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NATURALIST, LINDA HUFFMAN, WANTS THESE FIFTH GRADERS FROM BAKERSFIELD TO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENT LIFECYCLES OF ANIMALS THEY MAY SEE HERE.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> AS I TAKE THE CHILDREN OUT HIKING ON THE TRAIL, WE WILL ACTUALLY SEE COYOTE SCAT ON THE TRAIL BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE COYOTES LEAVE IT (LAUGHTER) AND EVERYTHING IS RECOGNIZABLE. THE STINK BUGS WILL WALK AROUND OUT HERE, WHICH WE HAD, SHOWING THE CHILDREN HOW THE STINK BUGS COME AFTER THE COYOTE SCAT. WE’LL ACTUALLY PICK UP THE STINK BUGS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE CREATURES ARE ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS. THE WILD LANDS CONSERVANCY IS TRYING TO RESTORE THE ANIMAL POPULATION AND MAKE IT WHAT IT ONCE WAS, DIVERSE AND ABUNDANT.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> WE HAVE BLACK BEARS HERE. THE CALIFORNIA GRIZZLY BEAR IS NOW EXTINCT, SO WE HAVE NO HOPE OF REINTRODUCING THEM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THEY DO PLAN TO REINTRODUCE ANTELOPE AND BIGHORN SHEEP AND THEY’VE ALREADY BROUGHT BACK TULE ELKS.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> WE HAVE, WE THINK, ABOUT EIGHTY TO NINETY ELK RIGHT NOW AND WE’RE RIGHT INTO CALVING SEASON, SO THE ELK ARE HAVING THEIR CALVES. THE BABIES ARE STARTING TO APPEAR NOW.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THEN THERE ARE THE BIRDS.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> THIS IS THE BEST PLACE I THINK I’VE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE TO REALLY SEE GOLDEN EAGLES. THEY’RE COMMONLY SEEN HERE, THEY NEST ON THE PROPERTY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THE PRESERVE HAS SOME IMPORTANT TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRD BREEDING COLONIES. THAT’S A SPECIES IN DECLINE. SOME DAYS THERE HAVE BEEN AS MANY AS FOUR THOUSAND OF THE BIRDS NESTING IN THE POND BELOW. IT’S A SPRING-FED NATURAL POND THAT WAS ONCE SET TO BECOME A HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY FOR A LOCAL OILFIELD.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PAVED ROAD IN HERE, SEVERAL STEEL BUILDINGS ON THE SITE AND A HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AT THE TIME THE WILD LANDS CONSERVANCY BOUGHT THE LAND, THERE WERE ALSO PLANS TO DEVELOP THE LOWER PART OF THE PROPERTY AND COVER IT WITH 10,000 NEW HOMES.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND IT’S SUCH A TRAGIC THING TO THINK ABOUT. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTINGS. THERE IS AN HISTORIC OCCUPATION SITE FOR NATIVE-AMERICANS HERE. THERE ARE CAVE PAINTINGS IN THE AREA. JUST A SPECTACULAR NATURAL SETTING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> OVER THE PAST CENTURY AND A HALF, MUCH OF THE LAND WAS USED FOR CATTLE GRAZING AND THAT TOO HAS LED TO PROBLEMS.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> THE NORM IN MUCH OF THE CATTLE GRAZING HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN OVERUSE, TOO MUCH GRAZING, SO THE LAND HAD REALLY SUFFERED FROM 150 YEARS OF OVERGRAZING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW THE POND WILL NO LONGER BE A GIANT CATTLE TROUGH AND OAK SEEDLINGS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO DEVELOP INTO TREES.

DAVID CLENDENEN>> COWS LOVE TO EAT SEEDLINGS, SO THEY’RE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE. SO ALL THE OAK TREES THAT YOU SEE HERE NOW ARE MOSTLY OLD TREES AND THERE’S NO YOUNG GENERATION TO REPLACE THEM. SO IF WE DON’T HELP THEM OUT AND HELP THEM TO REGENERATE, THEN EVENTUALLY THE LANDSCAPE WILL BE FREE OF OAKS.

A REALLY PHILOSOPHICAL GOAL IS TO TAKE THE PROPERTY BACK AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO WHAT IT WAS PRE-EUROPEAN CONTACT AND, IN DOING SO, THERE WILL BE SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS TO THE SOUTH, THAT WE’LL BE REMOVING ROADS AND ESTABLISHING WILDERNESS AREAS AND CARRYING ON A PROCESS CALLED RE-WILDING THAT WILL BRING THAT LAND AS CLOSE AS WE CAN BACK TO THE NATURAL STATE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THE PUBLIC WILL BE WELCOME ON PART OF THE LAND. THE PRESERVE IS OPEN TO WEEKEND VISITORS WITH RESERVATIONS AND A CAMPGROUND IS PLANNED, AND THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WON’T BE FORGOTTEN.

LINDA HUFFMAN>> WHEN KIDS GET OUT INTO THE OPEN AND THEY SEE THINGS THEY’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN A WAY THEY’VE NEVER SEEN IT, THEY REALLY DO JUST GO CRAZY OUT HERE (LAUGHTER) AND WE PRETTY MUCH LET THEM.

>> I LIKE THE HILLS, THE MOUNTAINS. I'LL ASK MY MOM TO SEE IF I CAN COME BACK AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS PRETTY COOL.

>> WE WALKED AROUND, WE WENT NEXT TO THE WATERFALL AND IT WAS ALL VERY FUN.

JESS>> AS WE TOLD YOU, THEY CALL THIS PLACE THE WIND WOLVES PRESERVE. THE NAME COMES FROM A KIND OF PRAIRIE GRASS KNOWN FOR THE HOWLING SOUND IT MAKES WHEN THE WIND BLOWS THROUGH IT. AS YOU SAW THAT SPOT IN KERN COUNTY, IT'S COVERED WITH THE GRASSES.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN FOR FIXING THE CALIFORNIA DEFICIT, BUT IS IT WORTH THE PRICE? WE'LL LOOK AT A KEY PART OF THAT PLAN: RAISING THE FEES FOR CAR LICENSES. THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE'S TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" POLL. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG AND WEIGH IN ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: "HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY TO EASE THE STATE'S DEFICIT?" WE'LL COUNT YOUR RESPONSES AND REPORT THE RESULTS ON TOMORROW NIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> AS THE SAYING GOES, BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN THERE IS A GREAT WOMAN, BUT THE WOMAN YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET IS EVERY BIT AS PROMINENT AS HER FAMOUS HUSBAND. RIKKI KLIEMAN IS KNOWN TO MILLIONS AS AN ANCHOR ON COURT TV, BUT HERE IN LOS ANGELES, SHE HAS ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE ROLE AS THE WIFE OF LOS ANGELES'S POLICE CHIEF, WILLIAM BRATTON. SHE IS ALSO A HIGHLY-REGARDED ATTORNEY.

VAL>> BUT AS HER LEGAL CAREER HIT ITS PEAK, KLIEMAN ADMITS HER PRIVATE LIFE HIT BOTTOM. VALIUM, EXHAUSTION AND TWO FAILED MARRIAGES HAUNTED HER. SHE TELLS THE STORY IN A NEW BOOK THAT CHRONICLES HER TURNAROUND. IT'S CALLED "FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE: HOW A DRIVEN WOMAN CHANGED HER DESTINY". RIKKI KLIEMAN JOINED JESS AND ME TO TALK ABOUT IT.

JESS>> YESTERDAY WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY AND THE BOOK IS OUT, "FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE". DID THE FAIRY TALE ALSO INCLUDE A CASTLE IN THE LOS FELIZ AREA OF LOS ANGELES?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> ONE COULD SAY THAT. IT'S A BIT OF A SPANISH MEDITERRANEAN POST AND BEAM CASTLE, BUT IT'S A CASTLE NONETHELESS (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> YOU COULD NEVER HAVE ANTICIPATED BEING IN LOS ANGELES, THOUGH, WHEN YOU WROTE THIS BOOK, HUH?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> NO. WHEN I WROTE THIS BOOK, I WAS WRITING IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT I REALLY DID HAVE A BOOK OF HOPE NOT ONLY FOR WOMEN, BUT ALSO FOR MEN, ABOUT CHANGING YOUR LIFE FROM PROFESSIONAL STRIFE TO REAL PERSONAL HAPPINESS. I THOUGHT MY LIFE IN NEW YORK WAS PERFECT AND I WANTED NOTHING TO EVER CHANGE. I HAD A GREAT JOB. I HAD A MAGNIFICENT HUSBAND, WE ADORED EACH OTHER, WE HAD FRIENDS, WE HAD FAMILY AND LIFE WAS PERFECT. NOW IT'S PERFECT AGAIN AND IT'S DIFFERENT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> JUST CONSIDER IT A CHANGE OF VENUE, THAT'S ALL (LAUGHTER).

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> FAIR ENOUGH. I LIKE THAT.

VAL>> BUT TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EARLY PART OF YOUR CAREER. YOU WERE VERY DRIVEN. CAREER ALWAYS CAME BEFORE LOVE AND MARRIAGE, I GUESS, SO TWO MARRIAGES FAILED. YOU WERE SO DRIVEN, BUT IT ALSO CAME AT A PRICE. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> IT CAME AT A GREAT PRICE. THE ORIGINAL TITLE OF THE BOOK WAS CALLED "THE PRICE OF THE PRIZE" WHEN I ORIGINALLY DECIDED TO WRITE IT AND REALLY WORKED THROUGH IT. IT WAS A BOOK ABOUT SACRIFICE, THAT IF YOU WERE DRIVEN IN ONE STRAIGHT LINE ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS, THAT THAT WAS YOUR GOAL, FAME, SUCCESS, APPLAUSE, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE JUST WENT BY THE BOARDS. YOU SACRIFICED A LOT.

YOU EITHER DIDN'T HAVE CHILDREN OR YOU HAD VERY BAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T HOME. YOU DIDN'T GET MARRIED OR, AS IN MY CASE, I HAD TWO -- COUNT THEM -- TWO FAILED MARRIAGES. YOU HAD VERY BAD PHYSICAL HEALTH BECAUSE YOU WERE CONSTANTLY WORKING AND YOU ALWAYS HAD TO LOOK GOOD, SO WHEN YOU GOT TO BE ALONE, IT WAS THEN THAT YOU SHOWED YOUR HEALTH CASE.

VAL>> AND YOU WERE PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED A LOT, YOU HAD CHRONIC BACK PAIN --

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> -- CHRONIC BACK PAIN, TWO SURGERIES, AND YET TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE A ROLE MODEL, YOU WERE A TRIAL LAWYER, YOU WERE A TV PERSONALITY, BUT INSIDE I WAS DYING. I THINK I WAS EMOTIONALLY BANKRUPT.

JESS>> WHAT CHANGED ALL THAT?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> SOMEWHERE AROUND MY LATE FORTIES, I REALLY TOOK A LOOK AT MYSELF AND I LOOKED AT WHAT MY LIFE WAS. I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THERE ARE JUST TIMES OF YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU DO WHAT I CALL THIS WGO, WHAT'S GOING ON? AS IN TAKING YOUR TEMPERATURE AND YOU SAY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY LIFE? I REALIZED THAT I LIVED FOR WORK. AT THAT TIME, I WAS MARRIED TO MY FORMER HUSBAND, LIVING IN BOSTON. HE HATED NEW YORK. SO I WAS WORKING AND I JUST KEPT WORKING. I WOULD GO HOME WITH A CARTON OF CHINESE FOOD AND I WOULD SAY IS THIS WHAT LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT?

I WOULD SEE HIM FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WE REALLY WERE NEVER CATCHING UP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND I SAID I'VE GOT TO REALLY REASSESS MY WHOLE LIFE. SO WHEN I REASSESSED ME, WHEN I TOOK A HARD LOOK AT ME AND REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE MY MOTHER, PEOPLE I ADMIRED WHO REALLY HAD BALANCE IN THEIR LIVES, I SAID I'VE GOT TO CHANGE. THAT WAS, OF COURSE, WHAT ALLOWED ME TO BE OPEN ENOUGH TO MEET MY MAGNIFICENT HUSBAND, CHIEF OF POLICE IN LOS ANGELES, BILL BRATTON (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> I WANT TO SAY YOU'RE VERY HARD-DRIVEN. I WON'T SAY CALLOUS, BUT PROBABLY YOU ARE A REAL REALIST, YET YOU SEEM TO JUST LIKE FALL IN LOVE AT AGE FORTY-NINE, WAS IT?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> FORTY-NINE, RIGHT. WE GOT MARRIED AT THE AGE OF FIFTY.

VAL>> AND ALMOST LIKE PUPPY LOVE AGAIN. IT MUST BE VERY CONTRARY TO YOUR CHARACTER IN WHAT YOU PERHAPS THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.

JESS>> IS THAT A TRIBUTE TO BILL BRATTON'S CHARM?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> I THINK IT'S A TRIBUTE TO BILL BRATTON'S CHARM AND IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE ESSENCE OF BILL BRATTON. I THINK THAT WE WERE BOTH -- HE'S PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON WHO WAS MORE AMBITIOUS THAN I WAS (LAUGHTER) AND WE WERE BOTH ON THESE PARALLEL TRACKS OF AMBITION AND DRIVE. I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS RE-MEETING. WE MET PROFESSIONALLY FIRST. I SURRENDERED A FUGITIVE TO HIM YEARS BEFORE IN BOSTON.

WHEN WE RE-MET, WE WERE READY FOR EACH OTHER. WE EACH HAD TWO SETS OF ROLE MODELS. HIS PARENTS AND MY PARENTS REALLY HAD LOVE AFFAIRS OF THE AGES AND I THINK EACH OF US THOUGHT THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE THAT IN LIFE. SUDDENLY THERE WE WERE AT A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE WE BOTH WERE OPEN AND IT WAS ADOLESCENT. THANK GOD, IT'S STILL ADOLESCENT (LAUGHTER). IT'S THIS RESPECT, IT'S THIS LOVE, IT'S THIS SYNERGY.

VAL>> EUPHORIA?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> EUPHORIA IS GOOD. NOW IT'S NOT WITHOUT STRUGGLE. I MEAN, I COMMUTE HERE EVERY WEEKEND AND HAVE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. THAT'S HARD FOR US. I WANT TO BE WITH HIM. I WANT TO BE JIMINY CRICKET. I WANT TO GO TO WORK WITH HIM IN HIS POCKET (LAUGHTER). BUT I THINK -- I'M COMING HERE JUNE 20, I AM GIVING UP THAT FULL-TIME JOB AT COURT TV, SOLD THE HOUSE I WANTED TO DIE IN, THE APARTMENT WE LIVED IN, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY, BUT WHY IS IT WORTH IT? IT'S BECAUSE BEING WITH HIM IS SHARING LIFE ITSELF AND I GOT BACK TO THE ESSENCE OF MY MOTHER.

SHE HAD A LITTLE PIECE OF PROSE SHE LEFT BY HER BEDSIDE WHEN SHE WAS QUITE ILL. I FOUND HER WHEN SHE HAD DIED. THIS PIECE OF PROSE REALLY WAS PART OF WHAT MADE ME WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK. SHE SAID TO ME YOU TAKE YOUR LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY. THE PIECE OF PROSE SAID WORDS TO THE EFFECT OF WALK HIGHER MOUNTAINS, WALK BAREFOOT MORE OFTEN, LAUGH A LITTLE, EAT MORE ICE CREAM, LAUGH A LITTLE MORE.

JESS>> SHE HAD A GOOD PHILOSOPHY. ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHIEF BRATTON AND THE MARRIAGE AND ALL THAT, THE MOST REMARKABLE THING TO ME WAS THE MAN WHO GAVE YOU AWAY AT THAT WEDDING.

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> MY FIRST HUSBAND.

JESS>> YES.

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> MY VERY BEST FRIEND --

JESS>> -- HE WAS GLAD TO GET RID OF YOU, HUH? (LAUGHTER)

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> (LAUGHTER) NO, THAT WAS SO MANY YEARS AGO, SO MANY YEARS AGO. WE GOT MARRIED TOO YOUNG. WE WERE FRIENDS. WE MET IN LAW SCHOOL. WE GOT CATAPULTED INTO A RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY. HE HAS BEEN STEADFAST IN MY LIFE. I HOPE I CAN SAY THE SAME ABOUT ME TOWARD HIM. BILL BECAME VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH HIM. HE WROTE BILL A LETTER AND I KNOW THAT'S IN THE BOOK. IT WAS REALLY A LETTER ABOUT HOW HE FELT WHAT I NEEDED AND THAT BILL PROVIDED THAT. I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE SOLID ENDORSEMENT OF KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP THAN HIS GOOD WISHES.

VAL>> YOU SAY ONE OF THE BIG LESSONS THAT YOU'VE LEARNED IS THAT, YES, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL, BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME. NOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOMEN HAVE TO LEARN. CAN MEN HAVE IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> NO (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NO ONE CAN HAVE IT ALL AT --

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> -- YOU CAN HAVE CERTAIN DAYS. YOU CAN HAVE CERTAIN DAYS WHERE YOU GO TODAY I GOT IT ALL, RIGHT, ALL IN ONE DAY. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YOU ALWAYS ARE PART OF A JOURNEY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT LIFE WAS A GOAL. YOU KNOW, YOU WENT, YOU GOT THERE, YOU WERE THERE. I FORGOT THAT IT WAS A JOURNEY AND IT IS FOR MEN AS WELL AS FOR WOMEN.

SO ON CERTAIN DAYS, AT CERTAIN TIMES OF LIFE, YOUR PROFESSION GIVES YOU THAT FEELING THAT YOU HAVE IT ALL AT THAT MOMENT. THEN AT OTHER TIMES, IT'S YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, AND IT'S HARD TO HAVE IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME IN ONE MOMENT. BUT I THINK, AS I SAY, SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET IT ALL ON THE SAME DAY.

JESS>> YOUR HUSBAND'S TAKEN ON A MAJOR JOB. TO WHAT EXTENT WILL YOU BE ABLE TO HELP HIM?

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> I THINK THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO HELP HIM A LOT. WE'RE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, OR AS THEY WOULD SAY IN LOS ANGELES NOW, "PAARTNERSHIP" WITH HIS BOSTON ACCENT COMING TO LOS ANGELES (LAUGHTER). WE TALK A LOT. WE COMMUNICATE A LOT. WE LOVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE SHARE A GREAT NUMBER OF IDEAS.

I HAVE TWO PASSIONS THAT I'VE HAD FOR MANY YEARS. ONE IS ABOUT WORKING AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I WANT TO WORK WITH HIM ON THAT. ANOTHER ONE IS ABOUT MENTORING AND I REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH MENTORING TROUBLED YOUTH IN GANGS OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET INTO GANGS AND KEEPING THEM FROM GANGS. I THINK THAT TOGETHER WE'RE BETTER THAN WE ARE INDIVIDUALLY.

VAL>> WELL, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO LOS ANGELES. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. WE NEED BOTH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> THANK YOU, AND IF I CAN GIVE ONE PLUG FOR THAT BOOK BEFORE I LEAVE, CAN I DO THAT?

VAL>> OH, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT FOR YOU.

RIKKI KLIEMAN>> ALL RIGHT.

VAL>> SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RIKKI KLIEMAN. WE CAN ALSO CALL YOU, BY THE WAY, MRS. BRATTON. AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE: HOW A DRIVEN WOMAN CHANGED HER DESTINY".

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JESS>> THEY'RE NOT YOUR TYPICAL GROUP OF DANCERS AND THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS SET FOOT ON A TRADITIONAL STAGE. THEY PREFER WHIRLING IN LAUNDROMATS OR PIROUETTING IN PRISONS. THE COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE CALLS ITSELF A SITE SPECIFIC DANCE COMPANY. THAT MEANS THEY CUSTOM-DESIGN SPECIAL DANCES FOR UNUSUAL PLACES.

VAL>> THEIR LATEST VENUE IS THE ONCE-GRAND AMBASSADOR HOTEL NOW CLOSED AND FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. TONIGHT VICKI CURRY TAKES US INSIDE THE LOS ANGELES LANDMARK FOR A GLIMPSE AT A VERY UNUSUAL DANCE COMPANY AT WORK.

VICKI CURRY>> ITS HALLS ARE EMPTY. ITS WALLS ARE CRACKED. THIS DESERTED LANDMARK SEEMS HAUNTED BY THE GHOSTS OF ITS PAST, BUT THESE FIGURES AREN'T APPARITIONS. THEY'RE DANCERS AND THE HISTORIC AMBASSADOR HOTEL IS JUST THE LATEST PERFORMANCE STAGE FOR THE COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE IS A COMPANY FOUNDED IN 1985 DEVOTED TO SITE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE IN DIFFERENT PUBLIC LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES. INSTEAD OF DOING OUR WORK ON A STAGE, WE DECIDED TO GO OUT TO WHERE REAL LIFE WAS REALLY HAPPENING, TO ENVIRONMENTS THAT WE COULD EXPLORE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

VICKI CURRY>> HEIDI DUCKLER IS THE FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE. SHE HAS CHOREOGRAPHED OVER FORTY ORIGINAL DANCE WORKS AT PUBLIC SITES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS HER THE REIGNING QUEEN OF LOS ANGELES'S SITE SPECIFIC DANCE PERFORMANCE.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> THE CONVENTIONAL DANCE WORLD IS VERY MUCH ABOUT CONTROL. THE STUDIO WAS SUCH A NARROW SMALL WORLD FOR ME AND VERY KIND OF ISOLATED AND I ENJOY BEING IN PLACES WHERE I'M INSPIRED BY LIFE AND BY THINGS THAT ARE UNPREDICTABLE, SO I WANTED TO KIND OF SPILL OUT, MOVE OUT OF THAT CONTAINED SPACE.

VICKI CURRY>> COLLAGE HAS PERFORMED AT SITES RANGING FROM THE GENERIC TO THE HISTORIC. ITS FIRST WORK WAS IN A LAUNDROMAT. OTHER LOCATIONS INCLUDED A GAS STATION, THE LINCOLN HEIGHTS PRISON AND THE OLD HERALD EXAMINER BUILDING.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE DO IS WE ANIMATE A PLACE SO THAT WE COME IN AND PART OF IT IS WHAT YOU IMAGINE AND SOME OF IT IS CONCEIVED WITH WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, THE HISTORY OF A SITE, ITS SOCIAL CONTEXT. WE TAKE ALL THOSE THINGS AND WE EXPLORE A SITE. THE STORY THAT WE TELL IS ALWAYS BASED UPON THE SITE THAT WE'RE IN. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE ART IS DEVELOPED AND SOMETIMES IT'S VERY ABSTRACT. IT REALLY COMES FROM THE SITE ITSELF AND THE STORY UNFOLDS.

VICKI CURRY>> DUCKLER CALLS THE COMPANY COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE BECAUSE THE PROJECTS EMPLOY A VARIETY OF ARTISTIC ELEMENTS.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> MOST PIECES INCLUDE TWELVE DANCERS, TEN ACTORS, FOUR MUSICIANS, YOU KNOW, BIG PRODUCTION DESIGN AND VERY LAYERED AND COMPLICATED. WE DO A LOT OF PLANNING OF THESE. YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS ARE NOT IMPROVISED, ALTHOUGH THEY SOMETIMES LOOK THAT WAY. WE PLAN FOR A YEAR OR SOMETIMES TWO YEARS, A PROJECT. WE DON'T USE A SCRIPT SO MUCH, BUT WE DO USE AN EVOLVING OUTLINE BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE OF WORKING IN THE LOCATION.

VICKI CURRY>> COLLABORATION IS ALSO AN INTRINSIC PART OF THE COMPANY.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> WELL, WE REHEARSE ON SITE, SO IT'S ALL RELATED TO BEING THERE, TO BREATHING, TO MOVING, TO EXPLORING THE LOCATION. A LOT OF IT COMES FROM THE DANCERS THEMSELVES. THE CHOREOGRAPHY COMES FROM THEIR BODIES IN RESPONSE TO MOVING IN THE SPACE.

VICKI CURRY>> HEIDI DUCKLER FINDS FREEDOM IN NEW SPACES, BUT DANCING OFF THE STAGE CAN BE CONFINING AS WELL.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> THERE ARE MANY, MANY LIMITATIONS WHEN WE WORK IN A PARTICULAR SITE. THERE ARE LIMITATIONS OF SITE LINES, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS WITH MATERIALS, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS. BUT YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THOSE LIMITATIONS WORK TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. THAT'S THE INTERESTING PART OF THE ARTISTRY OF IT, DIGGING DEEPER, GOING BEYOND THE LIMITATIONS. THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY FIND THE JUICY STUFF.

VICKI CURRY>> DUCKLER EMBRACES THOSE LIMITATIONS BECAUSE SHE'S LEARNED OVER THE YEARS TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> EVERY SITE IS UNIQUE. I MEAN, WHEN WE DANCED IN THE CAL PLAZA IN THE FOUNTAIN, IT WAS 10,000 POUNDS OF WATER THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH. WE DANCED IN THE SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING. IT WAS FULL OF RATS. SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS.

VICKI CURRY>> COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE USES A DIFFERENT SITE FOR EACH PIECE TO EXPLORE NEW KINDS OF MOVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE. BUT ALONG THE WAY, HEIDI DUCKLER ALSO TAKES AUDIENCES ON A TOUR OF THE VAST RANGE OF LOCATIONS ACROSS LOS ANGELES.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> OUR WORK IS VERY MUCH ABOUT LIVING IN LOS ANGELES. I TAKE A MENTAL FILE OF PLACES. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT LIVING IN LOS ANGELES IS THAT IT'S SO FULL OF UNEXPLORED PLACES AND TERRITORIES THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, A TREASURE CHEST OF WONDERFUL LOCATIONS. WE FOUND THAT, AS WE STARTED TO GO, WE DEVELOPED AN AUDIENCE THAT WAS INTERESTED IN SITE WORK, THE KIND OF AN AUDIENCE THAT DIDN'T TYPICALLY SEE DANCE.

PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE WORK BECAUSE IT'S NOT PASSIVE. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT'S VERY ENGAGING. AS MUCH AS THE LOCATION AND THE SITE IS A CHARACTER IN THE WORK, SO IS THE AUDIENCE. THE AUDIENCE IS REALLY VERY MUCH A PART OF THE WORK. IT'S NOT SEPARATED. THERE'S NO CURTAIN THAT SEPARATES OR DIVIDES THE AUDIENCE FROM THE WORK, FROM THE PERFORMERS, SO IT'S ALL INTEGRATED.

VICKI CURRY>> COLLAGE DANCE THEATRE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE AUDIENCES TO NEW SITES. BUT UNLIKE OTHER DANCE COMPANIES, WHEN THEY LEAVE BEHIND AN OLD SPACE, THEY ALSO LEAVE BEHIND THE PERFORMANCE THAT HAPPENED THERE. FOR HEIDI DUCKLER, THAT'S WHAT SITE SPECIFIC ART IS ALL ABOUT.

HEIDI DUCKLER>> DANCE IS EPHEMERAL AND IT JUST IS. BUT A LOT OF THINGS ARE EPHEMERAL. LIFE IS EPHEMERAL. I THINK THAT PEOPLE THINK A BUILDING IS NOT NECESSARILY EPHEMERAL, THAT IT'S STABLE AND THERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOT NECESSARILY SO. BUILDINGS ARE ABANDONED OR THEY ARE RE-ENVISIONED OR THEY'RE CHANGED, SO WHAT WE LEAVE IS THIS RESIDUE OF FEELING, OF MEMORY, WHEN WE'RE GONE. THAT'S WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND.

JESS>> THE NAME OF THE PERFORMANCE IS "SLEEPING WITH THE AMBASSADOR". IT RUNS THROUGH JUNE 15. FOR MORE DETAILS, CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN (818-784-8669) OR LOG ONTO THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.COLLAGEDANCETHEATRE.ORG.

VAL>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LIFE AND TIMES' PAST AND UPCOMING EDITIONS, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, NEW AND IMPROVED, AT KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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

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