Saturday, 05-Feb-2000 01:28:10
transcribed by Becky in MS
Intro with opening of QL
Pamela Wright: I loved that show. I haven't had exciting weekends for years since I used to watch that one. Quantum Leap, the first series that morphed people, pretty cool, and a great storyline. We have the star of that series and many other things including tonight's movie, In The Name Of The People. Please welcome Scott Bakula. It's nice to meet you in real life. How are you?
Scott Bakula: Thank you. I'm great. It's great to be here.
Ann Martin: We're thrilled that you are here. This is a character that's real different from the characters you've played before--could you tell us?
SB: Yeah, this is man who, uh, is in prison. He's going to be put to death in about 14 days when the movie opens because he's killed a teenage girl. And, uh, he's never been a good person. He's not a good person and the movie becomes about his desire or his quest to find a home for his 11-yr. old daughter who will be left alone after his death.
AM: And I'm sure that's something you can identify with as a father of a daughter yourself.
SB: Yeah, well I mean you--these are things you don't really like to think about but when you're making out wills and trusts and things, those are the questions, the hard questions you have to deal with so you never like to think about what is gonna happen to your children if something happens to you, but we live in a world where anything can happen as we know. So, it's something you think about, but hopefully can move on and move away from.
PW: We have a heavy-duty look at what's coming up tonight. (Show clip)
SB: Yeah, Amy Madigan, Richard Thomas plays the husband and Amy Madigan is the mother of the girl who was killed and he, at the beginning of the movie is asking questions. It's been 6 years and he's wondering is he going to feel better once my character is dead. And this leads him to come to the prison and talk with me and basically sends his wife to come and talk to me and try to clear whatever she's carrying because I'll be gone soon.
PW: So that wasn't going over well then, with the mom.
SB: It doesn't start out well, no. No.
PW: Earlier, when Kelly's introducing you and talking about you, she says "the loveable." Did you have any worries about that? I read an interview where you said you didn't want people thinking it's gonna pop up at the end he didn't really do it, he's secretly a nice guy. He's not.
SB: Right. He's not. This character, I wanted to change my look. I didn't want people to think that in the last act he's gonna, all of a sudden, somebody's gonna step forward. The reason I did this piece is that it's about forgiveness, the entire piece, and how stretching the boundaries of what we perceive as where we could draw the line in terms of forgiveness. He asks this family one--to go one step further and that's what the movie's about. And I just wanted to be a part of it.
PW: It's not about the death penalty. It's not about--
SB: No, no. I've done that movie.
AM: It sounds like a really great movie and is on tonight. I am going to watch it. So, glad you're here. Now that I know I must watch it.
SB: You must, or I'll find you.
AM: And I want to talk about real life too. We mentioned that you have a daughter and one of the producers was talking to you on your cell phone in the process to set up today and you were in the process of driving around delivering high school applications.
SB: Yes, yes.
AM: How did it go?
PW:--OH BOY-- (my emphasis)
SB: Well, you know, it's worse than getting into Harvard, I think. And there aren't enough good schools. There aren't enough places for kids these days and I'm just part of--I'm just a parent out there trying to find a fit for my kid, you know, and it's daunting, it's endless, and it's tons of paperwork.
AM: Let's start before preschool.
SB: Well, I have that kid. We haven't filled his applications out yet, but I'm seriously thinking about, at least this time--he's 6 months old. I'll just start him now in the system and see what happens.
AM: Just put him in.
SB: Yeah
AM: Good. So, what's next for you?
SB: I've got an independent film coming out in April called Luminarias. It'll premiere here in LA. It's the story of 4 Latina women and their lives and loves in LA and I play a lawyer who meets--his counterpart is a woman in the courtroom and we battle through this kind of strange romance as do the other women.
AM: Are you good or bad?
SB: Oh, I'm good. I'm a good guy. I defend a guy who is beating his wife, so everybody hates me, but that's my job.
PW: It was fun to see you in American Beauty.
SB: Oh, yes, well, it was fun to be in that and I'm so happy they're having such great success.
PW: Well, take a little piece of it for yourself, okay.
SB: Okay.
PW: Just a little bit. Thanks, we'll be watching you tonight. I'm a little bit scared of you, but not really. 9:00 tonight is the movie with Scott Bakula, so thank you for being here and tell me the name of it again?
SB: In The Name Of The People