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Fugitive Siblings Caught; Unrest in Britain Continues; U.S. Stock Market Plummets; Actresses Interviewed About New Movie; London Prepares for More Possible Rioting; Rick Perry Expected to Enter Presidential Race

Aired August 10, 2011 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Randi, thank you very much. And hello to all of you.

I know so many of you have been following the story. Here's the headline - "It is over." The crime spree of a heavily armed, dangerous band of siblings ended today in Colorado. They have come to be known as the Dougherty gang.

Take a good look here. You have a big sister, her two younger brothers. Here they are. These are images just in from southern Colorado, where all three were arrested a few short hours ago. The crime spree ended just as it began, bullets flying and a high-speed chase.

I want to bring in the sheriff of Pueblo, Colorado, which is not too far actually from those images where those three were caught.

Sheriff Kirk Taylor joins us now on the phone.

Sheriff, congratulations here. Do me a favor and just take me back to this morning and this tip that led to the trio's arrest. What happened?

KIRK TAYLOR, PUEBLO, COLORADO SHERIFF (via telephone): Well, we got some information out of our neighboring city, Canon City, last night and this morning. They gave us some information that they had been seen in the area over there purchasing some -- or attempting to purchase some stuff from a local store.

We had some information first that they may be wanting to go camping or get up in the mountains somewhere. So we subsequently -- in the morning we got a tip from a retired DOW officer, the Department of Wildlife officer, that he had seen a white vehicle matching the description back into a campsite and an individual that was hurriedly taking down the camp.

So based upon that information and the information from Canon City, I sent deputies from the fugitive and civil unit here at the sheriff's office up to check out that campsite. On the way up there, one of my deputies observed the vehicle at a small convenience store. And, ironically enough, it's in my hometown.

(CROSSTALK) BALDWIN: There you go, in your own hometown, where this whole thing ends. And we're looking at pictures of their car, this car that was spotted sort of tail up on this guardrail and a number of perhaps your own deputies there. Connect the dots for me. Between being spotted at this convenience store and this car ending up half flipped over, what happened next?

TAYLOR: Well, we spotted them at the convenience store. We contacted the state patrol because of the proximity to I-25, which is the main artery that goes down north to south in Colorado. So before we could get our resources in place, they took off, followed by the sheriff's officer. Sheriff's deputy followed them.

The patrol then engaged in the pursuit. They went about another 20, 25 miles or so south to a little town called Walsenburg, Colorado. And that's where the accident actually occurred. During the chase, there were some shots fired by the individuals in the vehicle at the law enforcement officers.

BALDWIN: Were shots going both ways? Because from what I was understand, and I was watching a press conference down in Florida, where this whole thing began, Pasco County, and that sheriff said that the sister, Grace Lee, was actually shot in her arm, brother tried to run. Can you confirm that for me?

TAYLOR: All I can confirm to you is that the officers were shot at. Any of the other details, I'm not able to relate to you at this time anyway.

BALDWIN: Are the officers OK?

TAYLOR: Yes. No law enforcement officers at all were injured. All three passengers were injured, a different amount on each person. So they are being treated right now. After they are treated and released -- none of the injuries were life-threatening.

BALDWIN: Have any of the siblings, were any of them talking, were any of them shouting? What have they said? Because I know that they have said some pretty colorful things in the past to law enforcement.

TAYLOR: Yes, we don't -- like I said, right now, we have got about four agencies, including federal agencies involved in this. We're trying to sort everything out. We have three different crime scenes, as you can imagine, to coordinate.

Any of that information is going to come out as we all get together and we hot-wash this thing and figure that out.

BALDWIN: Sheriff, stand by, because I just want to show our viewers this map and just remind everyone that this thing started in the South. Police have been tracking and sheriff's deputies have been tracking these three siblings for more than a week now. You can see the map, bottom right-hand corner. The siblings are wanted in Florida for allegedly shooting at police about a week ago. That's where this whole thing began. Then up to Georgia. Authorities say that the siblings are the suspects in this armed bank robbery, in fact, reports they were firing these high-powered rifles up in the ceiling within that bank. And then yesterday Colorado police and this sheriff's department here got a tip that the siblings were spotted out buying a tent in this camping store in Colorado Springs.

So, sheriff, back to you. Back to this morning, can you tell me anything about this car and what your team found inside?

TAYLOR: You know, I really can't. The CBI, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, is going to process the vehicle. And like I said, here in Colorado, we work very, very closely with each other. Different entities are doing different pieces of this investigation, to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Local police down in Walsenburg were very helpful as they crashed right outside their city.

We need to have a little bit of a chance to get together and compare notes and figure out everything that's happening and assign different people. We have got three different crime scenes. We have a lot of law enforcement officers involved. These guys are going to be trying when they have to write all the reports, so we don't have any of those reports done.

BALDWIN: I understand. No, I understand --

(CROSSTALK)

TAYLOR: So we're trying to get as much out to the public as we can.

BALDWIN: Sure, lots of jurisdiction working this thing, got to hot-wash it, as you said. But I'm a reporter, so I just have to ask you the questions, because a lot of us are curious.

TAYLOR: No, I understand.

BALDWIN: Tell me this, because, look, I was talking to a guy from the FBI yesterday. And we were just talking about this long distance they have traveled and I'm thinking if you're trying to evade authorities, you're going to alter your appearance. Is there any indication that they have done so?

TAYLOR: None at this time, ma'am. Again, that will all come out in the hot wash. Different entities are doing different things. I don't necessarily have all the information.

BALDWIN: How about do you know what happens next? Do they stay in your state of Colorado? Do they head back to where this whole thing began back home in Florida, Georgia? Do we know that yet?

TAYLOR: Well, as soon as they're released with a clear medical, they will be booked into the public county jail. Subsequent to that, our district attorney will get involved and see what kind of charges they face within our jurisdiction. And then the people of the great state of Georgia and Florida I'm sure are going to want them to go down and answer for their crimes there.

BALDWIN: I'm sure they will. Sheriff Kirk Taylor, best of luck to you. Thank you so much for filling in some of the spaces. We had so many questions there. Thank you.

And to another story here, yet another volatile day on Wall Street. Take a look at the Big Board, the Dow down 323 points, a lot of red there on that screen.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

BALDWIN: And now to this.

Over the last couple of months, partisan bickering in Washington has become the norm. But the latest spat between the GOP lawmakers and the White House, this is over a movie. We're going to explain in just a couple of minutes.

And this -- the rioting that has crippled London for days finally may be ending. But even after a huge police deployment, Scotland Yard is coming over some heavy, heavy criticism. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: If you have been watching the markets with us, which I know you have, if you have heard what the folks on Wall Street are saying, they say they're waiting for the government to show that it can make tough choices. Tough choices on the budget. Tough choices on the debt.

Well, here we all go. This so-called super committee, this debt- busting panel of Congress, now is starting to take shape. Here's what we know, Senate Democrats Patty Murray, Max Baucus, John Kerry, Senate Republicans, Jon Kyl, Pat Toomey, Rob Portman, House Republicans, Jeb Hensarling, Fred Upton, and Dave Camp. Those are the nine of ultimately the 12 people charged by Congress to agree on at least a trillion-and-a-half dollars in federal debt reduction.

Hard to overstate the importance of this, of course, especially given the erratic ups and downs we have all been watching this week on Wall Street.

Let's go to Joe Johns in Washington.

And, Joe, so, like I said, nine of these 12 names now officially out. We're waiting on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to name her choices. Time is a wasting. Do you know what's keeping Ms. Pelosi?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, honestly, she has until next Tuesday to make this decision. And we have been checking in with her. There was some speculation that she would take her time and try to react to the choices of House Speaker John Boehner.

We're told there are plenty of people among Democrats in the House of Representatives who want to do this job, Brooke. Nonetheless, we do know there are some potential downsides. What if you have to sort of give up your principles to compromise and then face the voters in November, next November? That could be difficult for some members.

BALDWIN: Sure.

JOHNS: But they say they have got plenty of people who want to do this.

BALDWIN: OK, plenty of people who want to do it. But as you look through the names on this, we're calling it the debt-busting committee today, I see some key electoral states. You have two members from Michigan, Congressmen Upton and Camp. And I also see Senator Toomey from Pennsylvania and Senator Portman from Ohio.

Joe Johns, do you think that's a sheer coinkidink here?

(LAUGHTER)

JOHNS: Well, the truth is, if you look at these individuals, the two members from Michigan, they are, respectively, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania, the senator has been for years and years and years in Washington, even before he came to the Senate, one of the loudest voices on the issue of holding the line against taxes. That was when he worked with the Club for Growth here in the Washington area.

So I guess what I'm saying to you -- and also the Senator Portman from Ohio, another member named to this committee, he was the former budget director for President Bush. So they're just people who happen to come from the Midwest, but also have really distinguished themselves in this very area where some of their knowledge could be useful.

BALDWIN: But speaking of louder voices, the name a lot of folks considered really a lock for this committee is this guy, Paul Ryan, the House Republicans' budget-cutting guru. Why no Paul Ryan?

JOHNS: Well, it's amazing. He actually put out a statement to try to clear up the rumors or whatever and said, hey, I asked not to be on this committee. He says the Budget Committee is going to have some things -- some very important things to do over the next several months and he would frankly rather not be there.

There is too that issue of Paul Ryan being a bit of a lightning rod for controversy. He didn't say anything about that, but we all know it's true. So, perhaps it was better he stayed off of that just in the interest of potential compromise.

BALDWIN: Well, just in time today, we do have a poll out I want to share with our viewers that shows 62 percent of Americans want higher taxes on the wealthy. Just 34 percent back no new taxes. That's a position adopted by, as we know, the Republicans, the Republicans including Congressman Jeb Hensarling, named today to this particular committee. Let's listen to him. This is the congressman from last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JEB HENSARLING (R), TEXAS: There are those who still called for job-killing tax increases from the federal government. It is not going to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, Joe Johns, these folks on this debt-busting committee who have said really thus far no new taxes, not no how, are they likely to change their tune here now that they have massive, massive responsibility to try to compromise, try to reach an agreement?

JOHNS: It's really hard to see how they're going to do that. But the poll you mentioned, which shows America is watching and listening, plus they really got people's attention with that downgrade over the weekend.

So there's a lot of pressure building on both sides of the aisle as they get this committee together for them to come to some solution because at the end of the day, if they don't, there's going to be a big problem because some very deep cuts to social programs and defense sort of goring the bulls of both sides will kick in if they don't figure it out.

BALDWIN: That's right, another potential $500 billion to $700 billion in defense.

Joe Johns, thank you so much from Washington.

And it's a small consolation for those 30 American families, but coalition forces say they have killed the militants involved in shooting down that Chinook helicopter Saturday morning in Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. JOHN ALLEN, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCES COMMANDER-DESIGNATE: It does not ease our loss, but we must and we will continue to relentlessly pursue the enemy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Still ahead: why the mission is far from over in the general's own words.

BALDWIN: And movies here -- one that doesn't even have a script yet has a congressman demanding an investigation. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We may never know what was really going on in the White House those fateful moments when Osama bin Laden was shot and killed in a top-secret raid. But a group of Hollywood filmmakers are apparently working to depict that very moment. And the Republican chair of the Homeland Security Committee thinks the White House could be up to no good, assisting a movie production about a highly classified mission that some congressional members have never even been fully briefed on.

We are going to hear more from the congressman himself, Congressman Peter King of New York, next hour live on this show. Stick around for that.

But, first, I want to bring in Barbara Starr just to weigh in on this from her CNN post there at the Pentagon.

And, Barbara, I have the copy. I have read this letter from Congressman King that he sent out today calling for an investigation. He says specifically an investigation in classified briefing regarding this matter from the Defense Department and the CIA's inspector general, this information shared with filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow.

First, Barbara Starr, let me just begin with, do we even know, has Bigelow been to Washington? Has she been to the Pentagon for this film?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know is officials are telling us that Kathryn Bigelow, the award-winning director of that movie "The Hurt Locker" about the war in Iraq, has spoken with administration officials about her team's new project to make a movie about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

She, by all accounts, has had some meetings, has talked to people about it. What we are told here at the Pentagon is her project is still -- we're talking Hollywood -- in the development phase. She doesn't have a script yet, she doesn't have specifics yet. She's developing the project, possibly developing the script to go ahead and make the movie.

Not unusual. There is right down the hall -- from where we broadcast here in the Pentagon, maybe 20 steps away, is a Hollywood liaison office, which works with filmmakers, with television networks that want to make programs or movies about the U.S. military, works with them to give them advice and thoughts, and, if they want to pay for it, possibly with approval, even giving them some military equipment.

They have to reimburse for that -- very longstanding tight relationship between Hollywood and the U.S. military. But did she get classified information? I got to tell you, I think it's not very likely.

BALDWIN: That seems to be perhaps one of Congressman King's biggest questions. I will ask him next hour.

But do know we have heard from the White House just a little while ago in the daily briefing. Press Secretary Jay Carney addressed that, saying, yes, they help members of the media all the time, whether it's journalists like us or filmmakers, directors. I want to play just a snippet from Jay Carney. This is what he told reporters today when he was asked about this pending investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: First of all, the claims are ridiculous. When people, including you in this room, are working on articles, books, documentaries or movies that involve the president, ask to speak to administration officials, we do our best to accommodate them to make sure that facts are correct. That is hardly a novel approach to the media.

We do not discuss classified information. And I would hope that as we face the continued threat from terrorism, the House Committee on Homeland Security would have more important topics to discuss than a movie.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, Barbara, and I realize you may not have the answer here, but what is Congressman King's beef exactly?

STARR: Well, I think a lot of members of Congress are concerned that they feel they never got the full briefing, all the classified details about the bin Laden raid. A lot of it is still very close hold.

But, you know, I would make this point. We have talked to a lot of movie directors over the years, a lot of television networks about their programs, a lot of authors who come and get briefings who may go interview the president of the United States for their book.

Nothing says they're getting classified information. But every time they talk to these people, they may get additional details about what happened. You ask a question, you get an interesting answer, something you didn't know, a little color, texture, background.

You know, so I'm sure it's very valuable to every author, to every filmmaker, every director to talk to as many people as they can because you always, even as a reporter, every time you talk to somebody, you get just a little bit more -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Of course. Barbara Starr, thank you.

And as we're speaking, CNN has just gotten a statement from Kathryn Bigelow, the award-winning director, as Barbara pointed out, for "The Hurt Locker." And here's what she told our entertainment unit.

Let me just look at my e-mail and see what she says -- quote -- "Our upcoming film project about the decade-long pursuit of bin Laden has been in the works for many years and integrates the collective efforts of three administrations, including those of Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama, as well as the cooperative strategies and implementation by the Defense Department and the CIA. Indeed, the dangerous work of finding the world's most wanted man was carried out by individuals in the military and intelligence communities who put their lives at risk for the greater good without regard for political affiliation. This was an American triumph, both heroic and nonpartisan. And there's no bias to suggest that our film will represent this enormous victory otherwise."

We will -- I will read part of that to Congressman King when he comes on next hour and see what his issue is specifically with this particular film. And maybe it's more directed at the CIA and Defense Department. We will ask him, Congressman King, next hour.

So what is more troubling to Congressman Peter King, that the White House may have consulted on a movie about the death of bin Laden or that the movie is coming out the month before next years' presidential election? Again, we will talk to Congressman King next hour.

Next to this -- a movie hitting theaters today tells the story of black women working in white homes -- this goes back to 1961 -- from the perspective of the help. The stars say the phenomenon portrayed in the film hasn't gone away. It just has a new face -- my interview with these two women coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Allied commanders say they got them. The insurgents responsible for downing of that helicopter in Afghanistan Saturday morning have been killed.

Late yesterday evening, President Obama was seen in silhouette here on the tarmac saluting the military planes as they brought home the bodies of those 30 Americans who died in last weekend's crash. This photograph was taken at Dover Air Force Base there in Delaware.

Of that 30, 22 elite Navy SEALs were among the victims. And the Pentagon, this -- is now expected to release the names of those troops in the coming hours. Coalition forces say the Taliban leader and the insurgent who fired upon that Chinook helicopter were killed in a precision airstrike on Monday.

I want you to listen now as Commander John Allen explains exactly what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: As you know, last Friday night we lost 30 American service members when a Chinook helicopter went down in the Wardak Province.

We're deeply saddened by the lost of these magnificent Americans. These fallen warriors represented the best of America.

We are on a path toward achieving our goals in Afghanistan, and we will face the obstacles ahead with a steadfast determination to prevail.

To that end, at approximately midnight on 8 August, coalition forces killed the Taliban insurgents responsible for this attack against the helicopter, which we assess was a -- an RPG round. This does not ease our loss, but we must and we will continue to relentlessly pursue the enemy.

All across Afghanistan, the insurgents are losing. They're losing territory. They're losing leadership. They're losing weapons and supplies. They're losing public support. And across Afghanistan, more and more of the insurgents are losing resolve and the will to fight. And they face relentless pressure from coalition and increasingly Afghan forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And while we have been paying special attention to the deaths of the 30 U.S. troops in that crash, Commander Allen says to remember the eight Afghans who died as well.

Activists in Syria, they are reporting more deaths today as the hands -- at the hands of government security forces. Today the United States is taking action against the Syrian regime. Details straight ahead.

And next, it's come to this. In an area where oil is often easier to come by than water, a plan to alleviate the shortage has some folks who live in the area cringing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Checking some of the top stories now. In Syria, activists report even more deadly violence across the country as Syrian troops depart the city of Hama. The U.S. has now slapped sanctions on a Syrian bank and mobile phone company and could call on President al Assad to step down once U.S. officials consult with the U.N. Security Council.

A suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan kills at least 20 people. Pakistani intelligence officials say two missiles hit a militant hideout in north Waziristan near the border of Afghanistan. The target, a pro-Taliban militant group is based in that particular area. The group is believed to be behind a number of attacks on the U.S. and NATO forces there in Afghanistan.

In Los Angeles, two men plead not guilty to felony charges relating to that beating of a San Francisco Giants fan back on March 31st. Marvin Norwood and Louie Sanchez are charged with mayhem, assault and battery. Those beatings put 42 year old paramedic Bryan Stowe into a coma with a brain injury. He is still in serious condition but family members say he's been responding to their voices.

Hot weather, extreme drought prompting leaders in Texas to resort to extreme measures. Look at this, all the soil is cracking. The three major reservoirs that provide drinking water for half a million people have just about dried up. So construction started this week on what they're calling water reclamation facility. The plant will turn sewage wastewater into drinking water. Experts say the water will be safe to drink and actually taste better than what comes out of the reservoirs. The facility will be finished by late next year. And take a look at this with me. This is an unreal image. This is a truck -- tractor-trailer struck on a freeway. Imagine if he was stuck in traffic there in Houston. Obviously this held up rush hour yesterday. Police say it was a total freak accident. No one was injured, but it took hours to clear the freeway. Transportation officials say repairs could cost into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Jurors in Ohio recommended the death penalty for convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell. The judge will deliver his ruling Friday morning. Last month the jury convicted Sowell of 11 counts of murder and 70 other charges, including abusing corpses and kidnapping. The first two victims' remains -- remember there were 11 altogether -- were discovered in 2009 inside his home, in some cases in the walls and in his backyard.

Next, my interview with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, stars of the new movie, "The Help" out in theaters today. But let me tell you, our conversation was less Hollywood and more personal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What disturbs me more than anything else, I would like to write something from the point of the view of the help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Hear why the film meant so much more than a movie role for these actresses. Stay with us.

And let's get a quick check of the Dow. It is down now even further than last time we saw, down 412 points. Remember yesterday it finished in positive territory. We are 24 minutes away, 23 minutes away from the closing bell. We'll check back in with Alison Kosik, New York stock exchange, in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It's 20 minutes away here from the closing bell. You see the numbers behind me. We were in different territory yesterday. The Dow down 433 points now. Alison Kosik, let me get back to you. We closed in the triple digits in the positive territory. What gives?

ALISON KOSIK, CNNMONEY.COM: I mean, this is what's known as the witching hour, Brooke, the final hour of trading. We're in the final 20 minutes. And it usually gets really rocky. Look at that number. We're down 416. Yesterday we were up almost just as much, 429. Can you say a big 180 here?

What you're seeing is investors at the end of the day, 20 minutes from the closing bell, they're saying you know what, I'm taking risk off the table. I don't want to go home with stocks still in the mix here. I will feel better going home knowing that I cut my losses.

You know what I find interesting. I just looked at how many trades are going through here today. Volume, the number of trades going through here, it's unusually high. Everybody kind of not taking vacations. They're sticking by their portfolios. They don't want to miss the boat if one of the stocks goes down. They want to sell before that happens. So I'm noticing that as well.

And look, in just a few minutes we're talking, just to show you the volatility. We've made up some ground, now down only 388 points, Brooke.

BALDWIN: I know you've been talking to traders. What are they telling you, Alison?

KOSIK: I did ask them what they're feeling, and they make the comparison back to the financial crisis of 2008, and they say we're not so scared. They say back in 200 they were scared to go home.

BALDWIN: Are they using the r-word?

KOSIK: They are using the r-word. They say what you could be seeing is the market factoring in the growing likelihood that we could be headed toward a recession. So you're seeing the market correct for that reason. The r-word is definitely being thrown around here at the New York stock exchange, and there is great concern that we're head today a recession, into a recession.

BALDWIN: Alison, we're watching the numbers with you. We'll check back in with you momentarily. Again, its 20 minutes until the closing bell.

But I do want to switch gears here, because, you know, I'm fortunate enough to live in a place with a lot of history. While we have come a long way here in Atlanta, there are still stories about the south that remind us that the civil rights era is a very new chapter in our contemporary history.

And of those stories, one of them really comes alive this weekend in the movie. It's called "The Help." And it depicts white upper class women in Jackson, Mississippi and the black maids who kept their households running back in the 1960s. I sat down at a southern institution. If you like fried chicken, you'll like this place, a little mac and cheese, Mary Mac's tea room here in Atlanta. I sat down with the stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. And I couldn't help but thinking a short few decades ago our conversation at that restaurant could have never happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Was there any moment where either of you said, I don't know if I want to slip on a maid's uniform each and every day and go to work for this movie?

OCTAVIA SPENCER, ACTRESS: Not for that specific reason. I was excited about the fact that the story was being told from this perspective.

BALDWIN: The perspective of what? SPENCER: The African-American maids in the '60s, because prior to then or prior to this moment, all of literature and the majority of films where we are represented during that time period is pretty much as facilitators of information, not really -- not much depth. And we definitely didn't have a voice. So this was a different type of film.

VIOLA DAVIS, ACTRESS: I had trepidation because I feel a great responsibility depicting images of black women that I feel are derogatory. I love creating characters that are complicated and have layers. But I didn't necessarily believe that people would get Abilene because of that.

I'd like to do a book of interviews about working for white families. I'd like to show what it's like to work for, say, Elizabeth.

SPENCER: You know what she do to me if I was telling stories on her.

DAVIS: I was thinking we wouldn't have to tell her.

BALDWIN: Was there any one person who you really drew upon, or was it sort of this amalgamation of ladies.

DAVIS: Amalgamation, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, filming in Mississippi, two miles from the Tallahatchie River where the body of Emmitt Till was found six miles down the river, 12 miles from Indianola, the birthplace of the White Citizens Council, and being in a movie set in 1961, yes, you're swallowing some pretty heavy duty emotions on a day-to-day basis.

BALDWIN: You were cognizant of your geographic location and the historic significance.

DAVIS: I think the people forget too, how much you felt invisible when you were a person of color. So you go through years and years and generations of feeling invisible, generations of not exploring one's dreams and hopes. And then you have a whole cyclical pattern of generations just kind of doing what their mothers did and what their grandmothers did. And what's so wonderful about this movie is someone comes into the midst of that.

All right, I'm going to do it. But I need to make sure she understands this ain't no game we playing here.

SPENCER: I think it definitely informed the performances. It helped to bring about the angst, anger, the gamut of emotions that you go through. And it also built a great bond between not only Viola and myself, but our white counterparts, because we all were uncomfortable.

These women raised white children. We love them and they love us. But they can't even use the toilets in our houses.

BALDWIN: I had read that there were homes in Greenwood, Mississippi, where they would still have help, African-American women dressed up in maid uniforms from head to toe. And did you see that while you were filming there?

SPENCER: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Was that surreal at all? Los Angeles to Greenwood, Mississippi. There's help today.

(LAUGHTER)

SPENCER: Everybody's help. I'm help.

DAVIS: The new help is defined by Mexicans and Guatemalans and we see it all the time. We see it in New York City with the nannies pushing the carts in central park west and Park Avenue. It's just the way it is.

I'm going to write my stories down and read them to you. They're no different than writing down my prayers.

BALDWIN: Let's talk about the evolution of Ms. Skeeter and Abilene. Describe that relationship and how it evolved through the film.

I think that I really start beginning to trust Skeeter when she asked me if I ever dreamt about being anything else.

SPENCER: Did you know as a girl growing up that one day you would be a maid?

DAVIS: Yes, ma'am, I did.

SPENCER: Do you ever dream of being something else?

DAVIS: I mean, my father passed away ,and he groomed and trained horses for 25 years, and he hated it. I never asked him what his dreams were, ever.

BALDWIN: Do you regret that?

DAVIS: Absolutely. And I think that when Skeeter asked Abilene, who is 51 years old, born in 1911, the granddaughter of a house slave, did you ever dream of being anything else? I think that that throws her for a loop.

BALDWIN: Why is this movie relevant for us? What is the takeaway?

SPENCER: The relevance is, I think it's teaching people to find within themselves the courage to change, effect and changing their own lives. Sometimes you have to dare not to fit in. Dare to, you know, tap into something bigger than yourself in life.

These characters are so humanized and they go on a journey. And they're ordinary women who become these extraordinary people by the end of this story.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BALDWIN: Octavia and Viola, thank you again for sharing sweet tea and sharing your stories with me there.

And by the way, I always enjoy hearing from you. We'll put that interview on my blog. Go to CNN.com/Brooke and feel free to share your thoughts about the women and the movie, which by the way opens today. You can see it. Bring some tissues. The movie opens today. Bring some tissues.

Night is falling there in Great Britain. The suburbs all around London are still on edge after multiple days of riots, today being day five. Hear the emotional words from a father who just lost his son and wants this violence to end.

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BALDWIN: A vow and a warning from Britain's prime minister to rioters and looters in London, where it's just about 9:00 p.m. there. Certainly the night has fallen. Prime Minister David Cameron says they are taking the streets back. They're cracking down on the crisis.

Britain is reeling from four nights of trouble, embracing for what could be a fifth tonight. Police are told to use whatever means necessary, including plastic bullets. They're readying their water cannons.

And for those who have criticized police for being too lenient, take a look at this video here. This is from YouTube in Manchester. It shows police chasing down a group of rioters there in the street. One of them hits the alleged rioter with a baton several times there. You see under the light now, Manchester police are investigating the matter and says the circumstances surrounding the video is not yet known.

But talk about the police force now increasing. Now some 16,000 officers are trying to restore order. In London alone hundreds of people are under arrest for looting and arson in multiple cities. I- Reporter Salaal Hasan says the streets of England now remind him of the conflict in the Middle East.

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SALAAL HASAN, IREPORTER: When I'm walking the street I can hear helicopters above me all around. I can hear at least 10 of them. Sounds like I'm in Beirut or some Middle Eastern conflict. And I have never witnessed this in the U.K. I could have never imagined this. It looks like the Gaza Strip here right now. Grenades going off left, right, and center.

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BALDWIN: I do want you to know our correspondent in London, Dan Rivers, is on the ground right around the area of Birmingham. We're told there are security issues so we can't speak to him right now. As soon as it's safe for him to hop on television, we'll have him do so. It has been another wild ride on Wall Street. We've been watching the numbers here. Dow continues to dive down 482 point now. And with the trading day winding down, eight minutes now to the closing bell, all these late day selloffs. We're keeping a very close eye there on the big board. We're going to take you live to the stock exchange at the top of the hour.

But first a look at what's happening in Washington with Wolf Blitzer and the Political Ticker. That's next as well. We'll be right back.

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BALDWIN: Let's take you to Washington here to Wolf Blitzer with the latest news fresh off the CNN Political Ticker. Wolf Blitzer, what do you have?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Keeping a close eye on the markets. What a roller coaster, another day today. Let's get through another couple political items. I just want to give myself a plug, my CNN.com/Situation Room blog. I write about something you might be interested in, Brooke. Will President Obama rip a page from President Clinton's playbook back in 1995-96 when he was engaged in the strategy called triangulation. I'm just going to leave it like that. Maybe people want to be read it.

Let's talk about these new CNN-ORC polls coming out. We asked two provocative questions on taxes. Should the deficit reduction bill increase taxes on businesses and higher income Americans? Look at this, 63 percent say yes, 36 percent say no. In other words, a clear majority would like some increased taxes on those who can afford it. That goes into the super committee debate that's about to unfold.

Another question, should the deficit reduction bill include major cuts in domestic spending, more spending cuts, and 57 percent say yes, 40 percent say no. So a clear majority on that as well.

This other poll that we asked on this Republican presidential contest, Rick Perry is going to announce that he's running at least informally on Saturday in South Carolina and then Iowa. In this poll, Romney is still ahead with 17 percent, but Perry is at 15 percent. He's closely behind within the margin of error. So already these two guys emerging potentially as the frontrunners in this race for the Republican nomination. Rick Perry hasn't even formally announced yet, but we expect him to do so, to make his intentions clear this weekend. Everyone thinks he's going to run. It could be a wild run for the Republican nomination.

BALDWIN: Wolf, thank you. I do want to begin where we left off there, talking and looking at the markets here. We are now less than three minutes away from the closing bell. This is quite a 180 from what we saw this time yesterday. Now the Dow down 532 points. I want to bring in Jason Weisberg, vice president of Seaport Security, also the son of Teddy. Jason, I've been talking to your dad for the last couple of days. He's been trading for 43 years there on the floor. How long have you been there? (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON WEISBERG, STOCK TRADER: About half that.

BALDWIN: Half that. So you're looking at these numbers with me. I can't make any sense of it, can you?

WEISBERG: I can't make sense of the volatility. The trend clearly makes sense.

BALDWIN: How so?

WEISBERG: It's a lack of faith in the, I guess, the political wherewithal of the current people that are sitting in office and the lack of confidence that the investment community has in them.

BALDWIN: OK, so you are specifically saying these numbers are directly tied to Washington. But I do want to jump in. I'm sneaking a peek at CNNMoney.com. The headline on our website at least right now, "The Fear is Back," fears about European debt crisis resurfacing. I know, Jason, that is also part of this dialogue. When you look at fears of default in Italy and Spain, mega economies over in Europe, that has to play a part as well.

WEISBERG: Well, it does. It certainly plays a part, but I think it really plays a minor role compared to the bottom line is that our U.S. treasury takes in $2.8 trillion a year. And they spend well beyond their revenues.

And just a few years ago we ran into the first financial crisis and it was because people were buying things they can't afford. The same rules apply to our government. We tried to unwind that and we'd tried to reset everything where people had to buy what they could afford. And the government needs to take a hard look at how they spend money. And it's not related to the party. It's just related to the spending policies.

We have a lot of programs that are in place that have been in the place since World War II. A lot of entitlement programs that were put in place for a reason and we don't need them now.

BALDWIN: Jason, let me interrupt just to hear the closing bell here and we'll pick it up in a moment.

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