[laughter] >> got on a plane drove back to monroeville. visit with miss alice that went on for a couple of hours and said would you be willing to talk to me on camera she said she would and i found a camera crew and she didn't just talk to me, she gave me five hours and she tutored me in alabama history, and soil, and politics, and all of the anecdotes that she gave me about what their family was like. it was very -- it really round out i think your picture of lights in monroeville in the 30s and lee family. >> do you think plain scout changed married adams life? >> i do. interviewing mary is a fascinating and hilarious experience because she was a nine-year-old girl in that movie when it was made. part of it you say okay mary you are on the swing with atticus he's saying that, you're saying that. what do you remember about that scene in she says freeway was crowded and mom wanted to get home early that day. so she remembers it like a nine-year-old which is a complete sense. i think it was late -- i think it was real play time on that set

i felt i was in monroeville. she spent a lot of time with me telling me about her life as an african-american woman who grew up at the time she did and she was a nurse and a midwife for many years. she would tell those tales and that spell that she knew how to cast where she was a master of the art and you would forget where you were for a moment. it for me it was a way to be out in the world even when i really wasn't. you know, there is a little bit of faith and hope involved in such a solitary process. the. the time will come when you are sharing those stories with people and how remarkable it is to be here doing that with you tonight. it was such a gift that they both shared with me and i want to share that gift with all of you. there were stories that they didn't want to share in eyes i mentioned in the book, a lot of times it's fair to spare the feelings of a friend or relative of a story they shared but not for the book and yet there were so many i think i'd be delighted delighted in sharing and they'd be s

at monroeville's old curiosities and book shop -- >> so you needed one copy? >> one copy. >> reporter: -- there's been a steady stream of people placing orders and calls come in from all over the country. bookstore owner ann moat says she's not surprised. >> it's impacted so many people, and they want to tell why it impacted their life and what it has meant to them. >> reporter: that a novel could move so many of us is the enduring legacy of harper lee. and if the new atticus doesn't live up to the old one, we can choose which one we prefer. harry smith, nbc news, monroeville, alabama. >>> that'll do it for us on this monday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. a bizarre twist in the kidnapping case of a vallejo woman. >>> right now at 6:00 the fbi says no hoax. a bizarre twist in the kidnapping case of a vallejo woman. what we're learning about the suspect and his link to another local crime. thank you for being with us. i'm raj mathai. >> i'm jessica aguirre. the case grabbed national headlines. police qui

at monroeville's old curiosities and book shop. >> you needed one copy?>> reporter: there's been a steady stream of people placing orders. and calls come in from all over the country. bookstore owner ann moat says she's not surprised. >> it's impacted so many people. and they want to tell why it impacted their lives and what it has meant to them. >> reporter: that a novel could move so many of us is the enduring legacy of harper lee. and if the new atticus doesn't live up to the old one, we can choose which one we prefer. harry smith, nbc news, monroeville, alabama. >> that'll do it for us on this monday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news thank you for watching and good night. >>> donald in danger? did mexico's escape drug lord threaten trump's life? >> now on "extra." >>> donald trump in fear for his life. is cartel el chapo targeting trump after hours of his headline jail break. >> the fbi is investigating. >> ben and jen dropping hints about getting back together. and comic-con, ben flashing his wedding ring. harrison ford back on his fe

cnn's correspondent ed lavandera in lee's hometown monroeville, alabama. >> reporter: no one here everected to read another word that harper lee had written or expected to have a book like this in their hands. we learned today from a friend close to her that there might be some more writings still out there. the frenzy over harper lee's novel "go set a watchman" started with a midnight party in the writer's hometown of monroeville, alabama. sher caldwell is an english schoolteacher who drove nine hours from kentucky to be here. she's mystified by the transformation of atticus finch in the "watchman" novel, the beloved character who's now a racist. >> he represents everything good in the moral compass of the book. and if i'm wrong, it's embarrassing. >> reporter: as thousands have flocked to lee's hometown the reclusive writer who is known around here simply as nell spent the day in this assisted living center security guards on the front porch keeping reporters and others away. wayne flint is a dear friend of harper lee. he says the writer struggles to hear and see and describes her li

harry smith, nbc news monroeville, alabama. >> i think i'll stick with the memories i've got. >> i think i'm going to read it. with the idea we know people are sometimes flawed and maybe that's what harper lee's real gift is. >> there was some rough drafting in there. the parent of the other. >>> let's check in with your weather. >> you going to read it? >> i don't know, we'll see. scott and chris, we do see some beautiful weather all across the bay today, it will be hard to stay inside and read a book maybe you'll want to take that outside. it will be 70 degrees, that's what we're looking at right now, across the south bay peninsula and east bay. 62 degrees, while we're at 71 degrees in the north bay. as we go into the rest of the afternoon, expect highs to reach into the 70s and 80s, all across the bay area with all of this sunshine. and as we go hour by hour we'll be at 69 degrees at 2:00. in san francisco at 6:00 we'll start to see a few more clouds and 67 degrees as the sun sets we'll see those low clouds moving in once again. 60 degrees early in the morning. what's happening here.

it is just past midnight in monroeville, alabama.arper lee's hometown and also home to a bookstore known as old curiosities and bookshop where copies of "go set a watchman" just went on sale. you see people cueing up there. cnn's ed lavandera is joining me on the phone. so you are in harper lee's hometown. i imagine there is so much anticipation. i can see the crowds on the screen gathering to buy this boat "go set a watchman." i'm curious what the reaction has been from the people you've spoken to about how atticus finch's character has been recast. >> caller: there are so many people who see this novel shrouded in mystery, in intrigue. they've read some of the initial reviews that have already been published, which suggests that atticus finch, this beloved character that has been portrayed as this hero of this small alabama town atticus finch. they have monuments and statues and pictures dedicated to atticus finch throughout this small town in southern alabama. and meany y many people say they're surprised by the twist and characte

. >>> harper lee's much anticipated new book go set a watch man goes on sale today in monroeville, alabama hosted a midnight party it's a sequel for the classic to kill a mocking bird, amazon says it's the most preordered book on its site in years. it's lee's second bok in 55 years. >> still ahead a pop star gets stuck on stage in the middle of her soldout concert and looking live at the ben franklin bridge from sky 6 hd there are storms in the area. karen rogers has your forecast when we come right back. >> karen is here with the accuweather forecast. >> the so humid and moisture in the atmosphere, you could get an inch an hour. the cells we had in philadelphia has mostly dissipated and it's south jersey getting hit the hardest, we are up to 29 lightning strikes just within this region in the past few minutes, lets go in closer to the area, still in malaga the same places we are talking about all morning, hammonton along the a.c. expressway. the areas of red crawling along at 15 miles per hour, i want to show you how much rainfall we have had through this region so far today and as we loo

>> this week the film's director mary murphy actually last week travelled to lee's home town of monroeville alabama, for a rare meeting with the author to ask her about her intentions. she joins me on the set in new york. you're putting the finishing touches on your film. >> it's a coda to my film. >> tell us what happened. >> i was eninvited by her attorney with her permission to record an event in monroeville, alabama, on june 30th. this was the day that harper lee's publishers both british and american came to her hometown to hand her a spanking new copy of her new book. most authors don't have their publishers show up at their door. it gives you an idea of what a rare publishing event this is. >> you were able to talk to her briefly. >> yeah. >> did you have the sense she wanted this publish? there have been many stories speculating about that. >> she has issued statements and her lawyers have issued statements. her close friends have been interviewed. everyone says she is delighted and happy to have it published. i asked her if she thought it was ever going to be published. she said do

a race novel, a victorian novel and entertainment, i will tear monroeville to pieces.he did not stop thinking about it, until all of a sudden, no more. >> why didn't she follow it up? >> she tried, but i think that when it began to snowball, and it snowball to the top of the mountain, i wonder if it snuck up on her after a while whether or -- whether it overwhelmed her. >> and you tell her to get the typewriter out? >> no. >> you have seen her recently? >> last week. >> how did you find her? >> what i did was to write out. she can speak, and she thinks about what you have written so that when she answers she is very specifically answering what you have written. >> issue happy about watchmen, or she not completely aware? >> she is very much aware. the fact she cannot hear or see well has nothing to do with the fact that her brain isn't running on full tilt. >> has she read watchmen? >> she said she didn't need to, she remembers it. >> it is unlikely to deter those who waited for decades to get an update from the finch family. laura: now that it is finally summer tempera

murphy had the rare opportunity to speak with harper lee just weeks ago in the author's hometown, monroevillelabama. lee has trouble hearing, so murphy wrote down one question for the author. >> i held up the book and i held up my question which was, did you ever think you would see this published? because of course it was handed in in 1957 and set aside, and she said, don't be silly. of course i did. >> reporter: and what did that tell you about who harper lee is i mean even just that little sliver? >> i think it tells you that harper lee actually really doesn't like being asked questions. >> reporter: while the atticus finch in the new book, "go set a watchman," holds racist views and denounces integration, the atticus of to kill a mockingbird has long been held up as an example of courage. in murphy's film, "harper lee: american masters," celebrities and authors discuss the impact to kill a mockingbird had on their lives. >> this was one of the first books i wanted to encourage other people to read. you know, read this book, read this book, read this book! >> scout, simply by the nature of

. -- monroeville, they have survived on this industry of mockingbird tourism.lly interesting stuff. thank you. pimm is going to stay with me. we will be right back. ♪ welcome to the bloomberg market day. the world runs on oil. it has been a wild ride. five consecutive sessions of declines. what drives the price swings? greece is too distressed. what does this mean for the cash-strapped country? we will continue to talk about greece. clicks the new york stock exchange computer malfunction prompts --. democratic lawmakers respond. matt: good morning. pimm: let's look at stocks. s&p 500 index adds

guest: there were 7000 books hometown ofhat monroeville, alabama. they needed to cart in trucks enough to get these all in there. but that's just one super relative around this whole story. there are 2 million books out there for the first run. it is the most preorder the book in harpercollins history and most preorder book on amazon.com since the last harry potter book came out, which was in 2007. so for a perspective, this is twice the run of the last "game of thrones" book and two thirds bigger than the last "hunger games is quote book. ark: we are talking about sequel, but sales of "to kill a mockingbird" is still impressive as well. years on, there are 40 million copies out there in the world. the initial run was only 5000 copies back in 1960 compared to the 2 million today. it has had 55 years to accumulate all of those sales and that has been a boon to harper lee, who is still alive. 89 years old and retired. she's eating royalties every single day. every day, $9,000 goes back to her in royalties. -- the first half of 2000 9 1.7 million dolla

. >> ron monroeville alabama. >> john john seigenthaler is here. >> more about the nuclear deal with iran, from the halls of the u.s. congress, to israel and saudi arabia, we'll talk about how the deal came together and the questions of whether it will work, and plus, daily life for millions of iranians. they only know a life of economic sanctions. what this deal could mean for them. >>> and also, diplomacy through jazz. the life-changing experiences american musicians are making in iran, and why the iranian government has welcomed them into their country. all coming up in just a few minutes. dave. >> i'm looking forward to it. >>> nine years and 3 billion miles in the making, it is the fly by that has nasa cheering. the new horizon probe that has gotten closer to pluto than any before it, and it sheds a new light on the planet. >> the end of a nine-planet checklist for the human species. we have put a spacecraft in all of the other male bodies in our solar system, and this is the last one pluto. until now everything about pluto has been a guess and we didn't know what was going on w

i'm joined by spencer, the owner of old curiosities and book shop in monroeville, alabama which happens the hometown of harper lee. good morning. >> good morning. >> what has been the reaction in your town? zbl>> we've had a lot of orders the past few days ever since the book came out, even. we have at lot of events going on this week. we are gearing up to that. >> well, you know, in reading about the book and, you know, the revelation that atticus finch wasn't like the gregory peck character in the movie it disappointed me because you admire that character. he was a pillar. he was everybody's, like that was the consequences essential father. how do you feel about the new atticus finch? >> i've only heard, you know, from other people. i have not read the reviews and stuff. i'm trying to keep a clear mind to read the whole book for myself. judging a whole book by the first chapter is a little, you know i don't know you can't get the whole -- i don't think you can get the whole book from the first chapter. we have to wait to see what is to come in that. and i want to see it from a fresh p

harper lee is now 89 years old and lives in an assisted living facility in monroeville, alabama. >>>s large bridges could soon get a makeover. >> a new project that would impact drivers across the delaware river. >>> plus danger in the water. the rescue mission happening now at a popular delaware beach after thieves stole several lifeguard stands. >>> short-lived shower just moved through philadelphia and the sun is coming back already. you can see that clearing. i'm tracking more rain and storms for later tonight and tomorrow. the timing ahead in my forecast. >>> all new on "nbc 10 news at 5:00," the veterans' headstones that vanished. you won't believe what police say the grave markers actually ended up being used for. that's all new on "nbc 10 news at 5:00." >>> rehoboth beach leaders sent a truck to pick up one of seven stolen lifeguard stands. this is a photo of one of those stands floating in the area near fenwick island. we have new pictures of three other stands being recovered. police say someone stole those seven stands last week and each stand weighs about 500 pounds. a fe

everyone around here, and did i several interviews in monroeville everyone around here who sees her regularly, who spends time with her said that the conversations are laided. >> there is talk about her health and mental condition and i noticed a friend quoted she has all her marbles. >> that's her oldest, dearest closest friend, she and her husband gave harper lee the money to quit her job and write. joy, who sees her a lot that's a person who is legitimately by her side. i mean, you have to give a lot of weight to what joy is saying. >> all the attention seems to be focused on atticus finch. did she expect that? >> without asking her directly, i can't say. here's what i would say i read the book, and atticus finch, as anyone who grew up in the south this atticuk finch is a very familiar type of white male southerner in the mid '50s in alabama in a state that didn't want integration at all. they would rather have the public schools close down than inter grate. what attikus finch is very much in tempo with its time. >> what does if mean? >> it's from isaiah, it means to go out get a report an

and 7:30, the 18 months she lived next door to harper lee and her sister alice in monroeville, alabama. at 9:00 p.m. eastern on afterwards, charles shields, author of the biography mockingbird, a portrait of harper lee discusses the events leading up to the discovery and publication of her fourth nursing novel go set a watchman. it all happens tonight on c-span2's booktv. >> of next military historian alan axelrod recounts the american bombing mission operation aphrodite/project anvil intended to stop germany's missile attacks on london. >> good evening. i am tony clark from the carter library. i am really glad you guys are here. we have a wonderful program tonight. as always i encourage you to pick up one of these sheets from the blue skirted table, it talks about other authors we have coming. this summer harper lee, they are releasing the book, the second book that harper lee wrote and i wish we had harper lee here, we do have the author, she moved in next door to harper lee and she writes about harper lee and getting to know her. the book is called the mockingbird next door. mark yo

this was in lee's hometown of monroeville, alabama.it contains seeds of the story that eventually became a classic staple of literature. >>> it is 5:42. still to come, the incredible moment this little girl sees her parents clearly for the first very first time. >> a live look at 880 in oakland. looks like traffic is backing up just a little bit. we'll have details on your commute for this tuesday morning coming up after the break. it's tougher than ever to be a... ... foster farms chicken. but foster farms simply raised chicken... ... is 100 percent natural... ... with no antibiotics. gasp! do i look natural herb man? can i call you herb man? i'm trying to look natural. say something. why aren't you guys saying anything? simply raised chicken with no antibiotics. from foster farms. ♪ southwest is having a sale because when there's a reunion every cent should go to a killer dress. ♪"never gonna get it" by en vogue ♪ and heels. and a blowout. mani/pedi. three weeks of tanning. facial. a backup dress. bronzer, lip gloss... book for as lo

so we could put a storm track up and show you this storm going to monroeville at 6:33 writes mill aturora at 6:41. that storm there causing problem. the one in glassboro getting heavy rain reported through the region right now and one that has moved through newark and will be moving through washington park at 6:34, then basin corners then penn acres and wilmington manor at 6:36. a as you're headed out you need to be careful about these storms. they're creating huge problems through the region. i want to put on a different mode right now with storm tracker so we can actually show you the rate of precipitation. 3-inches an hour coming down in salem. near elmer 2-inches an hour, near malaga, 2-inches. even up just east of berlin 2-inches an hour and that's what's producing the heavy rainfall that's causing problems this morning as you're headed out the door and you need to be so careful about that, not just in south jersey but in philadelphia we're seeing some of that rain through the region, had riverside, in florence, in malvern as well. and that's why those flash flood warnings conti

i came with a crew and microphones and i was given permission to record an event in monroeville, alabamaved her first copy of "go set a watchman." she expressed happiness about it being published. all her statements indicate happiness about it being published. and i think i will leave it there. everything's that come from her and from her lawyer and from her friends that are close to her, they all say she was delighted that this manuscript was found and that it's being published again. >> i have to say to me it enriched the experience of "to kill a mockingbird." >> did you get to the end? scout gets a little drunk. >> i have 50 pages to go. mary murphy, thanks very much. >>> the new york stock exchange, united airlines, the wall street journal, computer glitches got them all this week. coincidence or the latest strike in the cyber wars? that's up next. >> announcer: "this week" with george stephanopoulos brought to you by hp. are you moving forward fast enough? everywhere you look, it strategy is now business strategy. and a partnership with hp can help you accelerate down a path created

this gathering was in monroeville, alabama. the new book was written years before mockingbird and contains seeds of the story that became a classic staple of literature. and a great movie, too. the reclusive lee lives in a care facility and won't attendee vents. >>> the fremont city council -- tenant events. >>> the fremont city council is going to install cameras to track people who come into town. the plan calls for spending $300,000 or license plate readers and cameras at 10 freeway on-ramps. it's an attempt to track down criminals from outside the city. police say license plate data will be stored for one year and video for a month. >>> tonight berkeley city council will vote on some new regulations for balconies following last month's collapse that killed 6 people. the changes include a requirement that balconies are built with steel or rot- resistant timber. in addition, every balcony in berkeley would be inspected in the next six months. >> some of this will require more staffing and more inspections which would be suppo

. >> reporter: harper lee was born in monroeville, alabama. wrote "go set a watchman" set during the same times. >> son, there are some things you're not old enough to understand, just yet. >> reporter: in "watchman" readers meet a more complex the noble lawyer from "to kill a mockingbird" is now a rationalizing segregationist. >> it is totally realistic. >> he is breaking all of our hearts so we continue to look at these issues good versus evil but addicus was not evil. he was totally normal for his time. >> reporter: in 1957 publishers rejected watchman. >> so a lot of times we recognize things in ourselves by analogy and hindsight and it may well be this book would not be as nearly as powerful as "to kill a mockingbird" was. in that sense, maybe the editor was right. >> reporter: now 60 years later, harper lee is once again opening the book on race. "watchman "watchman" release is one month after a white man is accused of killing nine people in a black church. >> while we are patting ourselves on how much we change we are still doing the sa