1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000
Downloaded from
YTS.MX
2
00:00:07,048 --> 00:00:09,759
[dramatic music playing]
3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000
Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
4
00:00:44,169 --> 00:00:45,962
[imperceptible]
5
00:00:46,046 --> 00:00:48,298
[naming star signs in Spanish]
6
00:01:00,852 --> 00:01:02,395
[Lin-Manuel Miranda] Growing up
with Walter Mercado,
7
00:01:02,479 --> 00:01:06,357
I just remember thinking
how dramatic he was.
8
00:01:07,150 --> 00:01:08,359
[imperceptible]
9
00:01:09,819 --> 00:01:12,572
And how fabulous he was.
10
00:01:12,655 --> 00:01:14,699
[audience applauding]
11
00:01:16,951 --> 00:01:19,954
I can't think of
an English language astrologer
12
00:01:20,038 --> 00:01:23,541
that would command the attention
of millions of households.
13
00:01:23,625 --> 00:01:25,293
{\an8}[speaking Spanish]
14
00:01:26,169 --> 00:01:27,670
{\an8}[Lin-Manuel] It was just Walter.
15
00:01:27,754 --> 00:01:29,464
[speaking Spanish]
16
00:01:31,049 --> 00:01:34,761
[in Spanish] The first time I saw Walter
Mercado on television, it was a shock.
17
00:01:34,844 --> 00:01:36,888
I was like,
"What is this that I'm watching?"
18
00:01:36,971 --> 00:01:39,307
If you can give love, if you can
receive love? So what?
19
00:01:39,390 --> 00:01:41,768
[Eugenio Derbez in English] It's a woman?
It's a man?
20
00:01:41,851 --> 00:01:43,895
It's a sorcerer?
21
00:01:43,978 --> 00:01:45,313
[speaking Spanish]
22
00:01:45,897 --> 00:01:47,649
[Lin-Manuel] It was just a staple
of our childhood.
23
00:01:47,732 --> 00:01:51,194
If you went to visit anyone,
Walter Mercado was on.
24
00:01:51,277 --> 00:01:53,822
And you would be quiet
until you got to hear your sign.
25
00:01:53,905 --> 00:01:55,740
[speaking Spanish]
26
00:01:55,824 --> 00:01:57,492
[kids shouting]
27
00:01:57,575 --> 00:01:59,661
[woman shushing]
28
00:02:00,370 --> 00:02:02,497
[imperceptible]
29
00:02:02,580 --> 00:02:05,667
[Raul de Molina] Walter was unique.
He was different, he was a pioneer.
30
00:02:05,750 --> 00:02:07,377
-[audience cheering]
-Wow. Wow.
31
00:02:07,460 --> 00:02:10,213
El señor Walter Mercado.
32
00:02:10,296 --> 00:02:12,841
-[audience cheering]
-[woman] Bravo!
33
00:02:12,924 --> 00:02:15,426
{\an8}...the gifted,
the talented Walter Mercado!
34
00:02:15,510 --> 00:02:17,053
{\an8}[cheers and applause]
35
00:02:18,471 --> 00:02:20,348
{\an8}-Do you know who Walter Mercado is?
-Of course!
36
00:02:20,431 --> 00:02:22,267
Some people who speak English
37
00:02:22,350 --> 00:02:25,311
do not understand how loved you are
in the Spanish community.
38
00:02:25,395 --> 00:02:26,813
You're bigger than Jesus Christ.
39
00:02:26,896 --> 00:02:28,356
[crowd cheering]
40
00:02:29,983 --> 00:02:33,069
He made me believe
through the force of his oratory.
41
00:02:33,153 --> 00:02:35,029
[in Spanish] Manifest exactly
what you want.
42
00:02:35,113 --> 00:02:38,158
Visualize exactly your dreams.
43
00:02:38,241 --> 00:02:40,618
It will be yours.
44
00:02:40,702 --> 00:02:43,288
[Lin-Manuel in English] I just think
he's this positive force.
45
00:02:43,872 --> 00:02:48,042
He's literally sending positive vibes
through the television at you
46
00:02:48,126 --> 00:02:50,086
one astrological sign at a time.
47
00:02:50,670 --> 00:02:54,257
[Walter in Spanish] Follow your heart.
Your heart is never wrong.
48
00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:57,010
[in English] And then signing off
con "Mucho, mucho amor."
49
00:02:57,093 --> 00:03:00,138
Mucho, mucho, mucho, mucho...
[kisses] amor.
50
00:03:00,221 --> 00:03:01,180
Amor.
51
00:03:01,890 --> 00:03:02,932
Amor.
52
00:03:03,683 --> 00:03:07,145
[Eugenio] But all of a sudden,
he disappeared.
53
00:03:09,731 --> 00:03:12,609
Many people were calling in and asking.
They were asking me,
54
00:03:12,692 --> 00:03:14,527
"Hey, what happened to Walter Mercado?"
55
00:03:14,611 --> 00:03:15,737
I don't know.
56
00:03:15,820 --> 00:03:18,698
I've lost contact with Walter.
57
00:03:18,781 --> 00:03:20,325
I thought he was living in Mexico.
58
00:03:20,408 --> 00:03:22,327
[in Spanish] I have a theory that
59
00:03:22,410 --> 00:03:24,495
he didn't want to grow old
in front of the cameras.
60
00:03:26,539 --> 00:03:29,918
He's sick and he retired.
61
00:03:30,001 --> 00:03:33,713
He lives in a mansion in Puerto Rico
that's like a huge fortress
62
00:03:33,796 --> 00:03:34,839
where no one can enter.
63
00:03:36,382 --> 00:03:38,134
[in English] He died two times.
64
00:03:38,217 --> 00:03:39,135
Two times.
65
00:03:39,218 --> 00:03:41,095
I heard that he lives in The Grove.
66
00:03:41,179 --> 00:03:42,680
Maybe he's an extraterrestrial.
67
00:03:42,764 --> 00:03:44,724
Probably has his own planet somewhere.
68
00:03:44,807 --> 00:03:47,352
[in Spanish] People say a lot of things
and invent even more.
69
00:03:48,144 --> 00:03:51,022
[Eugenio in English] Where is
Walter Mercado? What happened to him?
70
00:03:51,105 --> 00:03:53,399
We miss him. We really miss him.
71
00:03:54,567 --> 00:03:56,986
[ambient music playing]
72
00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:10,291
[soft instrumental music playing]
73
00:04:58,172 --> 00:05:00,758
-[Walter speaking Spanish on TV]
-[exotic music playing on TV]
74
00:05:14,022 --> 00:05:16,899
[Walter in Spanish] These are old things,
very old.
75
00:05:18,359 --> 00:05:21,029
[woman on TV in English]
The highly successful spiritual master
76
00:05:21,112 --> 00:05:24,949
has established himself as a leading
authority in astrology and mysticism.
77
00:05:25,033 --> 00:05:26,034
[in Spanish] Look, Willie!
78
00:05:26,117 --> 00:05:29,370
{\an8}[woman in English] Walter Mercado
guest-starred on many popular TV shows.
79
00:05:29,454 --> 00:05:31,706
{\an8}[Walter exclaiming]
80
00:05:31,789 --> 00:05:32,999
[in Spanish] Look.
81
00:05:33,082 --> 00:05:35,126
[speaking indistinctly on TV]
82
00:05:35,209 --> 00:05:38,129
[in English] ...I made it available
to you all.
83
00:05:38,212 --> 00:05:43,593
Walter Mercado's exclusive
International Psychic Society
84
00:05:44,343 --> 00:05:45,678
has reached out...
85
00:05:45,762 --> 00:05:47,430
It's very emotional for me.
86
00:05:48,681 --> 00:05:52,477
Call now
and you can experience the benefits...
87
00:05:54,979 --> 00:05:59,192
[Walter] I think that the worst things
sometimes are necessary to grow up.
88
00:05:59,275 --> 00:06:00,943
[speaking Spanish]
89
00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:04,655
I've had very, very,
very difficult problems.
90
00:06:06,324 --> 00:06:07,992
[speaking Spanish]
91
00:06:09,452 --> 00:06:10,787
I suffered a lot.
92
00:06:11,829 --> 00:06:13,498
I lost a lot.
93
00:06:16,793 --> 00:06:19,378
[on TV] I'm here
in the heart of Manhattan.
94
00:06:19,962 --> 00:06:21,798
I want to tell you the story.
95
00:06:23,716 --> 00:06:24,801
[clearing throat]
96
00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:27,386
[singing indistinctly]
97
00:06:33,309 --> 00:06:35,394
[humming]
98
00:06:37,522 --> 00:06:40,066
Okay. I'm ready.
99
00:06:40,149 --> 00:06:41,734
[insects chirping]
100
00:06:42,944 --> 00:06:45,154
I was born in the country.
101
00:06:46,405 --> 00:06:49,492
Around my home,
there were lots of farmers...
102
00:06:49,575 --> 00:06:53,037
People working,
who were very, very, very poor.
103
00:06:54,163 --> 00:06:58,960
When I was a child,
I was very shy, insecure.
104
00:06:59,043 --> 00:07:02,255
My mother was very overprotective with me.
105
00:07:02,338 --> 00:07:05,133
And I was a dreamer.
I was always dreaming.
106
00:07:15,435 --> 00:07:19,772
One day, a bird fell in the yard.
107
00:07:20,481 --> 00:07:21,649
And it was dying.
108
00:07:22,191 --> 00:07:25,945
And I took the bird and I began to...
109
00:07:26,904 --> 00:07:28,948
to... to pray and to... [blows]
110
00:07:29,031 --> 00:07:30,867
giving life to that bird.
111
00:07:31,868 --> 00:07:33,703
A neighbor was watching.
112
00:07:35,163 --> 00:07:36,122
And I said,
113
00:07:36,205 --> 00:07:38,624
"You're going to live, little bird.
You're going to live."
114
00:07:40,751 --> 00:07:43,713
And suddenly,
the bird starts to flap its wings
115
00:07:43,796 --> 00:07:47,216
and it starts to get better
and it began to fly.
116
00:07:49,969 --> 00:07:53,222
And the lady said,
"Oh, this boy has the grace of God
117
00:07:53,306 --> 00:07:55,558
to help, um... to heal people."
118
00:07:55,641 --> 00:07:57,477
And began to talk about me.
119
00:07:59,145 --> 00:08:01,981
People in the village
would knock on the door of my house
120
00:08:02,064 --> 00:08:03,274
and ask my mother,
121
00:08:03,357 --> 00:08:05,693
"Oh, please, please let me see Walter."
122
00:08:06,736 --> 00:08:09,238
So my mother put me in a little chair
123
00:08:09,322 --> 00:08:10,656
and they began touching me.
124
00:08:10,740 --> 00:08:12,742
Touch, touch, touch, touch, touch.
125
00:08:14,577 --> 00:08:17,663
And then I turned
into "Walter of Miracles."
126
00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:21,709
[dog howling]
127
00:08:24,879 --> 00:08:26,631
Since the moment I was born,
128
00:08:26,714 --> 00:08:28,925
I know that I was not like everybody.
129
00:08:29,884 --> 00:08:33,763
When I saw other boys,
I know that I have another way of life.
130
00:08:34,430 --> 00:08:37,475
My brother was all the time riding horses,
131
00:08:37,558 --> 00:08:40,978
planting the sugarcane,
leaving with my father.
132
00:08:41,062 --> 00:08:45,691
And I stay with my mother,
playing the piano and reading books.
133
00:08:45,775 --> 00:08:47,276
Everything about me was different.
134
00:08:48,861 --> 00:08:52,114
My mother said, "If you're different,
go on being different.
135
00:08:52,198 --> 00:08:53,908
Don't worry about that.
136
00:08:53,991 --> 00:08:56,369
To be different is a gift.
137
00:08:56,452 --> 00:08:58,704
To be ordinary is common."
138
00:09:00,206 --> 00:09:02,166
I decided, at that time,
139
00:09:02,250 --> 00:09:06,420
I'm going to fabricate,
create a famous person in me.
140
00:09:06,504 --> 00:09:09,257
And so I know that that push
141
00:09:09,340 --> 00:09:13,344
is going to explode
in something important.
142
00:09:23,563 --> 00:09:25,189
[speaking Spanish]
143
00:09:25,273 --> 00:09:27,191
My little doll.
144
00:09:39,620 --> 00:09:40,997
Willie?
145
00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:42,415
[in English] Yes, Walter.
146
00:09:44,625 --> 00:09:46,168
-My vitamins?
-Yeah.
147
00:09:48,546 --> 00:09:51,882
These are the different
multivitamins that Walter takes.
148
00:09:51,966 --> 00:09:54,176
Salmon oil for the cholesterol.
149
00:09:54,260 --> 00:09:56,596
{\an8}Eyebright for the eyes.
150
00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:58,556
{\an8}Collagen peptides.
151
00:09:58,639 --> 00:09:59,932
Cod liver oil.
152
00:10:00,016 --> 00:10:01,684
Pycnogenols.
153
00:10:01,767 --> 00:10:03,811
{\an8}Hemp proteins.
154
00:10:04,437 --> 00:10:06,272
{\an8}My name is Willie Acosta,
155
00:10:06,355 --> 00:10:10,693
{\an8}and I'm Walter Mercado's
assistant for many years.
156
00:10:11,527 --> 00:10:12,945
Many years.
157
00:10:13,029 --> 00:10:14,697
[interviewer 1] So you're like
his right hand?
158
00:10:14,780 --> 00:10:16,198
And the left one, too.
159
00:10:17,783 --> 00:10:19,827
[in Spanish] Look what I got for Runo.
160
00:10:19,910 --> 00:10:20,745
[in English] Pet wipes.
161
00:10:20,828 --> 00:10:21,704
[laughs]
162
00:10:21,787 --> 00:10:24,332
-My dog never stinks.
-Stinks. He's stinky.
163
00:10:25,458 --> 00:10:27,918
{\an8}Never... No, he never stinks.
164
00:10:29,462 --> 00:10:31,672
I came to Walter's life very young.
165
00:10:33,799 --> 00:10:36,385
I'm still a young adult. [laughs]
166
00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:39,472
But I was very young
when I came to Walter's life.
167
00:10:40,806 --> 00:10:42,850
[Walter] Willie belongs now to my family.
168
00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:44,477
I have many nieces.
169
00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:45,811
{\an8}Ivonne,
170
00:10:46,395 --> 00:10:47,396
{\an8}Betty,
171
00:10:48,064 --> 00:10:49,774
{\an8}Bibi and Dannette...
172
00:10:51,025 --> 00:10:52,777
{\an8}and Carmensita and Charito.
173
00:10:52,860 --> 00:10:54,111
[in Spanish] What's her sign?
174
00:10:55,029 --> 00:10:57,657
[Carmen in English] Her sign
is Sagittarius.
175
00:10:57,740 --> 00:10:59,700
And she is Pisces.
176
00:11:01,035 --> 00:11:02,662
[laughs]
177
00:11:02,745 --> 00:11:03,996
[Walter] I love my family.
178
00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,499
But Willie is with me always.
179
00:11:06,582 --> 00:11:09,627
He assists me with my clothes,
with my costumes.
180
00:11:10,294 --> 00:11:12,129
[Willie] I do many jobs.
181
00:11:12,213 --> 00:11:14,507
I assist Walter
in everything that he needs.
182
00:11:14,590 --> 00:11:16,425
I take Walter shopping.
183
00:11:16,509 --> 00:11:18,386
I have gone to the movies with Walter.
184
00:11:18,469 --> 00:11:20,054
[indistinct chatter]
185
00:11:20,137 --> 00:11:22,765
We fly together to places.
186
00:11:24,433 --> 00:11:27,103
We stay in the same hotel
in the same room.
187
00:11:27,186 --> 00:11:29,146
[Walter] He knows everything.
All my secrets.
188
00:11:29,730 --> 00:11:31,315
Very small secrets, of course...
189
00:11:31,899 --> 00:11:33,776
-Thank you.
-You have to eat cookies, too.
190
00:11:33,859 --> 00:11:36,445
-They're good for the system.
-You want to see me fat?
191
00:11:36,529 --> 00:11:39,490
Not fat, but, you know, healthy.
192
00:11:39,573 --> 00:11:41,534
-I'm so healthy.
-I know you are.
193
00:11:41,617 --> 00:11:44,203
I protect Walter from anything,
from everything.
194
00:11:45,079 --> 00:11:47,873
So don't get too bitchy with him.
195
00:11:47,957 --> 00:11:49,375
Yes. [chuckles]
196
00:11:50,876 --> 00:11:53,462
-No. No cookies for Runo.
-No.
197
00:12:06,976 --> 00:12:08,519
[Walter chuckles]
198
00:12:10,521 --> 00:12:11,355
[kisses]
199
00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,442
[lively Latin music playing]
200
00:12:25,494 --> 00:12:28,164
[Walter] It was a tsunami of art
in Puerto Rico.
201
00:12:28,247 --> 00:12:29,999
Everybody was thinking about art.
202
00:12:33,085 --> 00:12:36,755
In the University of Puerto Rico,
I began dancing classes.
203
00:12:37,465 --> 00:12:39,967
I just have a passion for dancing.
204
00:12:43,596 --> 00:12:45,639
[vocalizing]
205
00:12:47,266 --> 00:12:49,393
Puerto Rico was a little island,
206
00:12:49,477 --> 00:12:53,355
and I was living 100 years in advance.
207
00:12:56,317 --> 00:12:59,236
But I was dancing,
and also at the same time,
208
00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,156
I was acting and having a lot of plays.
209
00:13:03,199 --> 00:13:06,243
After that, I became an actor
in television.
210
00:13:06,327 --> 00:13:08,329
[speaking Spanish]
211
00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,301
I did a lot of telenovelas.
212
00:13:22,384 --> 00:13:25,763
-[speaking Spanish]
-[Walter gasping]
213
00:13:30,476 --> 00:13:35,147
[Willie] Walter was doing a play
in Puerto Rico called
214
00:13:35,231 --> 00:13:40,236
{\an8}called El tríptico de amor,
dolor y muerte.
215
00:13:41,028 --> 00:13:43,739
Elin Ortiz had a show in Telemundo
216
00:13:43,822 --> 00:13:47,368
and he invited Walter
to do the promo for the play.
217
00:13:48,369 --> 00:13:51,080
Walter was dressed like a Hindu prince
218
00:13:51,163 --> 00:13:55,918
with a beautiful white cape,
a lot of makeup,
219
00:13:56,001 --> 00:13:59,213
and Elin Ortiz told him,
"No, we'll do the promo later on,
220
00:13:59,296 --> 00:14:01,840
but, Walter, let's talk about astrology.
221
00:14:01,924 --> 00:14:04,552
You're always reading the palm
of everybody around here,
222
00:14:04,635 --> 00:14:06,637
and you're always asking,
'What's your sign?'
223
00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:08,764
and, 'What's your sign?'
and, 'What's your sign?'
224
00:14:08,847 --> 00:14:10,349
Let's talk about astrology."
225
00:14:12,268 --> 00:14:16,730
I began to talk,
but in a very improvised way,
226
00:14:16,814 --> 00:14:17,815
from my heart.
227
00:14:17,898 --> 00:14:21,026
For 15 minutes, I was in a monologue.
228
00:14:21,110 --> 00:14:24,238
"Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, the Moon.
229
00:14:24,321 --> 00:14:27,199
Leo, you are the Sun. Virgo, Mercury.
230
00:14:27,283 --> 00:14:28,868
Libra, Venus."
231
00:14:28,951 --> 00:14:30,536
So... [gibbering]
232
00:14:31,704 --> 00:14:33,998
Nobody expect that.
233
00:14:34,081 --> 00:14:36,458
[Willie] When the segment finished,
234
00:14:36,542 --> 00:14:41,046
the general manager of Telemundo
came downstairs running,
235
00:14:41,130 --> 00:14:44,425
and said, "He has
to do that show again tomorrow
236
00:14:44,508 --> 00:14:45,968
because people are calling."
237
00:14:46,051 --> 00:14:49,263
"The telephone lines are full,
238
00:14:49,346 --> 00:14:53,767
so I need to see you tomorrow, here,
239
00:14:53,851 --> 00:14:55,311
doing the same show today.
240
00:14:55,394 --> 00:15:00,149
I want Walter Mercado every day,
15 minutes a day in this show.
241
00:15:01,650 --> 00:15:05,446
And I want you
with the same costume tomorrow.
242
00:15:05,529 --> 00:15:07,948
I want Walter in capes."
243
00:15:10,367 --> 00:15:14,371
After three months,
he started the one-hour show
244
00:15:14,455 --> 00:15:16,957
of Walter, las estrellas y usted.
245
00:15:25,299 --> 00:15:26,967
[upbeat music playing]
246
00:15:28,052 --> 00:15:31,513
{\an8}[announcer speaking Spanish]
247
00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:36,393
[dramatic music playing]
248
00:15:37,519 --> 00:15:40,648
[in Spanish] And now the sign
of Capricorn!
249
00:15:40,731 --> 00:15:43,025
We have two paths, two human beings
250
00:15:43,108 --> 00:15:45,527
and one important decision to make:
make it.
251
00:15:45,611 --> 00:15:51,075
You are beginning a cycle of good things:
health, money, joy and love.
252
00:15:51,158 --> 00:15:53,410
Have peace in your soul
and love for everyone,
253
00:15:53,494 --> 00:15:58,499
even for the unsufferable, for the critics
and for religious fanatics.
254
00:15:58,582 --> 00:16:00,626
Your whole life changes
and you'll be happy.
255
00:16:00,709 --> 00:16:03,963
Time will heal old wounds.
256
00:16:04,046 --> 00:16:07,591
A change is coming, a move, a trip,
something very favorable to you.
257
00:16:07,675 --> 00:16:11,136
And it will be very fortunate.
[continues indistinctly]
258
00:16:11,220 --> 00:16:17,101
[in English] That show started
August the 3rd, 1969.
259
00:16:17,184 --> 00:16:21,855
And it became
one of the top shows in Puerto Rico ever.
260
00:16:21,939 --> 00:16:24,274
[playing jaunty Latin music]
261
00:16:41,041 --> 00:16:42,543
[music stops]
262
00:16:46,588 --> 00:16:48,298
[man speaking indistinctly]
263
00:16:48,382 --> 00:16:50,509
{\an8}Let's go. Three, two...
264
00:16:51,468 --> 00:16:53,262
{\an8}I'm Bill Bakula.
265
00:16:53,345 --> 00:16:56,223
{\an8}I never wanted to be on the stage
or in front of the camera.
266
00:16:56,306 --> 00:16:57,850
I always wanted to be behind.
267
00:16:57,933 --> 00:16:59,893
That was my... my passion.
268
00:16:59,977 --> 00:17:01,895
I've known Walter
269
00:17:01,979 --> 00:17:06,567
since I was a young man
watching him on television.
270
00:17:06,650 --> 00:17:08,902
So I was flipping
through channels one night...
271
00:17:09,778 --> 00:17:11,739
[commercials playing indistinctly on TV]
272
00:17:16,076 --> 00:17:17,870
[Bill] You're flipping fast
and you stop...
273
00:17:17,953 --> 00:17:21,165
Saturn returns. [speaking Spanish]
274
00:17:21,248 --> 00:17:24,168
...because you saw
this guy dressed like...
275
00:17:24,251 --> 00:17:25,419
in all opulence.
276
00:17:25,502 --> 00:17:27,254
[speaking Spanish]
277
00:17:27,337 --> 00:17:30,090
[Bill] Rings and jewelry.
278
00:17:30,174 --> 00:17:32,176
He made you stop.
He had the "stop" quality.
279
00:17:32,259 --> 00:17:34,803
[speaking Spanish]
280
00:17:34,887 --> 00:17:36,805
[Bill] All of a sudden, you're engaged.
281
00:17:36,889 --> 00:17:38,557
And when he got to your sign,
282
00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,142
you identified with it immediately.
283
00:17:40,225 --> 00:17:41,810
You said, "He's talking about me."
284
00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:43,812
[continues speaking Spanish]
285
00:17:43,896 --> 00:17:46,607
[Bill] So I made an appointment
to get a consultation.
286
00:17:46,690 --> 00:17:47,941
And it was incredible.
287
00:17:49,276 --> 00:17:50,527
So I said, "Well...
288
00:17:51,737 --> 00:17:53,614
is the consultation over?"
He goes, "Yeah."
289
00:17:53,697 --> 00:17:55,824
"Okay, now I wanna talk
to you about something."
290
00:17:55,908 --> 00:17:58,368
Under my arm,
I had a bunch of storyboards.
291
00:17:59,369 --> 00:18:02,122
And those storyboards basically depicted
292
00:18:02,206 --> 00:18:04,458
a new television show for him.
293
00:18:04,541 --> 00:18:08,545
Something fresh
with a higher production quality.
294
00:18:11,006 --> 00:18:13,592
Two weeks later,
we were taping his first show.
295
00:18:14,176 --> 00:18:17,054
[speaking Spanish]
296
00:18:17,137 --> 00:18:20,724
[Bill] We did 10 one-hour episodes,
48 minutes,
297
00:18:20,808 --> 00:18:21,683
in a weekend.
298
00:18:21,767 --> 00:18:23,310
And Walter was on point.
299
00:18:23,393 --> 00:18:25,395
{\an8}[speaking Spanish]
300
00:18:29,316 --> 00:18:35,239
{\an8}It was the first program on television
that was wholly dedicated to astrology.
301
00:18:35,322 --> 00:18:37,324
[mystical music playing]
302
00:18:40,828 --> 00:18:42,079
It was terrific.
303
00:18:43,372 --> 00:18:46,041
It's kind of like
a motivational speaker, you know,
304
00:18:46,125 --> 00:18:48,085
that uses astrology to motivate people.
305
00:18:48,168 --> 00:18:49,670
And people need motivation.
306
00:18:49,753 --> 00:18:53,006
[in Spanish] Aquarius:
You are a positive Aquarian.
307
00:18:53,090 --> 00:18:55,467
Something important
is that you're a go-getter.
308
00:18:55,551 --> 00:18:58,679
You've broken barriers.
309
00:18:58,762 --> 00:19:01,640
You've always loved creating,
inventing, hustling.
310
00:19:01,723 --> 00:19:03,392
You never freeze up.
311
00:19:03,475 --> 00:19:05,811
[in English] In that moment,
the people were hungry
312
00:19:05,894 --> 00:19:08,772
to listen to some word of inspiration.
313
00:19:09,314 --> 00:19:12,651
Maybe it was the right moment
and the right occasion
314
00:19:13,443 --> 00:19:14,778
with the right people.
315
00:19:14,862 --> 00:19:16,196
Everything was right.
316
00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,282
According to the stars, it was perfect.
317
00:19:21,285 --> 00:19:24,163
[Bill] Every talent needs
somebody behind them.
318
00:19:24,830 --> 00:19:27,833
I was the coach for one single purpose:
319
00:19:27,916 --> 00:19:31,461
Walter's message to get out
to as many people as possible.
320
00:19:32,754 --> 00:19:37,384
[Walter] When I entered the world
of astrology, it was a boom.
321
00:19:37,467 --> 00:19:39,386
It was a boom! Really a boom.
322
00:19:42,431 --> 00:19:46,810
Walter was doing television,
he was doing radio.
323
00:19:46,894 --> 00:19:49,688
[Tony Hernandez] He would record
daily horoscopes.
324
00:19:49,771 --> 00:19:52,608
And would break them out
across morning drive time.
325
00:19:52,691 --> 00:19:55,819
[Walter speaking Spanish on radio]
326
00:19:55,903 --> 00:19:57,321
[Tony] It's easier to tell you about
327
00:19:57,404 --> 00:20:01,700
{\an8}the markets Walter wasn't in
than the markets Walter was in.
328
00:20:01,783 --> 00:20:06,413
Probably about 150 radio stations
carried his programming at his peak.
329
00:20:06,496 --> 00:20:08,749
We started getting interest from places
330
00:20:08,832 --> 00:20:12,169
that you never even imagined
that there would be a Hispanic community.
331
00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,673
[Bill] Next thing you know, Walter starts
airing all throughout Latin America.
332
00:20:18,175 --> 00:20:20,385
The next mission was Brazil.
333
00:20:20,969 --> 00:20:23,388
Second largest market after the US.
334
00:20:24,306 --> 00:20:28,268
Then we jumped to Italy, Holland, the UK.
335
00:20:28,352 --> 00:20:29,895
[crowd applauding]
336
00:20:31,438 --> 00:20:35,567
[Walter] Bill made me the most well-known
psychic of this world,
337
00:20:35,651 --> 00:20:38,195
the prophet of the new age.
338
00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,201
Then I put everything I had,
and everything I didn't have,
339
00:20:44,284 --> 00:20:47,162
into crossing over into
the general market in the US.
340
00:20:47,829 --> 00:20:49,248
-[man] Wow.
-[Howard Stern] Hey, Walter.
341
00:20:49,331 --> 00:20:51,166
-How you doing? There he is.
-[Robin Quivers] That's the outfit!
342
00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:54,169
-[Howard] That's the outfit I see on TV.
-[Robin] With the beads and everything.
343
00:20:54,253 --> 00:20:56,546
[Bill] We got an invitation
from Howard Stern.
344
00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:58,215
[Howard] You're bigger than Jesus Christ.
345
00:20:58,298 --> 00:20:59,967
{\an8}-No.
-[Howard] Oh, tell the truth.
346
00:21:00,717 --> 00:21:03,512
-They treat me like Jesus. Like Buddha.
-[Howard] Yes, see? Right.
347
00:21:03,595 --> 00:21:05,305
[Bill] At first, I was hesitant about it.
348
00:21:05,389 --> 00:21:09,226
But I knew that Howard was very much
into yoga and Hinduism.
349
00:21:09,309 --> 00:21:10,936
You know who was born on my birthday?
350
00:21:11,019 --> 00:21:12,771
-Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
-That's true.
351
00:21:12,854 --> 00:21:15,357
-[Howard] That is correct.
-At the same hour like you.
352
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:16,441
-[Howard] Yes.
-[Robin] The same hour?
353
00:21:16,525 --> 00:21:20,279
You are working from the navel down,
and he was working from the navel up.
354
00:21:20,362 --> 00:21:22,531
-[snickering]
-[Robin] Oh!
355
00:21:22,614 --> 00:21:23,991
[Bill] Then he did Regis & Kathie Lee.
356
00:21:24,074 --> 00:21:26,493
For him, I see a recuperation.
A stress, he's having--
357
00:21:26,576 --> 00:21:27,411
A recuperation?
358
00:21:27,494 --> 00:21:29,663
-For your heart.
-Yes, for your heart.
359
00:21:29,746 --> 00:21:31,331
{\an8}[Bill] Sally Jessy Raphael.
360
00:21:31,415 --> 00:21:34,793
{\an8}[Sally] A hundred-and-twenty
million people
361
00:21:34,876 --> 00:21:38,171
{\an8}turn to this man for advice every day.
362
00:21:38,255 --> 00:21:39,423
{\an8}And all of a sudden,
363
00:21:39,506 --> 00:21:42,968
{\an8}the general market started to get
who this Walter was.
364
00:21:43,051 --> 00:21:46,096
{\an8}I predict that you're going
to be the greatest comedian
365
00:21:46,179 --> 00:21:47,431
{\an8}of the next millennium.
366
00:21:47,514 --> 00:21:50,058
{\an8}-He is!
-[audience cheering]
367
00:21:50,142 --> 00:21:52,352
{\an8}[Bill] He landed a book deal
with Time Warner.
368
00:21:52,436 --> 00:21:54,104
{\an8}It was called Beyond the Horizon.
369
00:21:54,813 --> 00:21:58,275
{\an8}Before we knew it, we had
really penetrated all of the Americas,
370
00:21:58,358 --> 00:22:00,986
{\an8}from Canada all the way
to Tierra del Fuego.
371
00:22:01,069 --> 00:22:04,156
{\an8}There used to be this newscast
called Primer Impacto on Univision.
372
00:22:04,239 --> 00:22:06,366
{\an8}[announcer speaking Spanish]
373
00:22:06,450 --> 00:22:08,452
{\an8}[speaking Spanish]
374
00:22:15,167 --> 00:22:17,461
{\an8}And every day at 5:47 in the afternoon,
375
00:22:17,544 --> 00:22:20,922
{\an8}they would have the daily astrological
forecast with Walter Mercado.
376
00:22:21,006 --> 00:22:24,134
{\an8}They didn't have the weather forecast,
they had an astrological forecast.
377
00:22:24,217 --> 00:22:27,554
[in Spanish] Walter is here to reveal
the message of the stars.
378
00:22:27,637 --> 00:22:28,638
WALTER
AND THE STARS
379
00:22:28,722 --> 00:22:30,015
[mystical music playing]
380
00:22:30,098 --> 00:22:32,392
I want you to know
that the signs are divided
381
00:22:32,476 --> 00:22:36,063
into mutable, cardinal and fixed.
382
00:22:36,146 --> 00:22:40,317
Pisces, you're mutable.
You go with the flow.
383
00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,819
[Maria Lopez Alvarez in English]
We did it as a segment.
384
00:22:42,903 --> 00:22:45,739
{\an8}People love to hear their astrology.
Now you'll get it on TV,
385
00:22:45,822 --> 00:22:49,367
{\an8}and we're gonna give it to you
with none other than Walter Mercado.
386
00:22:50,035 --> 00:22:51,745
And immediately it was a hit.
387
00:22:51,828 --> 00:22:55,499
[Raul] For Primer Impacto at that time,
he was a big asset.
388
00:22:56,083 --> 00:22:58,835
{\an8}I would say he was
one of the biggest characters.
389
00:22:58,919 --> 00:23:01,004
{\an8}Not just with Spanish TV, anywhere.
390
00:23:01,088 --> 00:23:03,715
{\an8}December, the stars, and you.
391
00:23:03,799 --> 00:23:07,344
{\an8}Aries, your higher mind
pushing you to new attainments,
392
00:23:07,427 --> 00:23:08,845
to new heights.
393
00:23:08,929 --> 00:23:11,264
Travel is okay.
394
00:23:11,348 --> 00:23:13,767
I never dared to be
traveling through the world,
395
00:23:13,850 --> 00:23:17,938
or having 300 disciples in Brazil,
396
00:23:18,021 --> 00:23:20,190
or 500 disciples in Colombia.
397
00:23:20,273 --> 00:23:22,609
Bill opened many doors to me.
398
00:23:24,236 --> 00:23:28,073
I met presidents, ambassadors,
famous people.
399
00:23:30,909 --> 00:23:34,329
Prime ministers,
presidents from different countries,
400
00:23:34,412 --> 00:23:37,582
came to Walter for private readings.
401
00:23:37,666 --> 00:23:41,711
We saw his popularity just grow
and grow and grow and grow.
402
00:23:43,588 --> 00:23:45,340
[crowd cheering]
403
00:23:45,423 --> 00:23:48,218
[Bill] He couldn't walk on the street
or there'd be a mob.
404
00:23:48,301 --> 00:23:49,386
{\an8}[reporter] Everywhere he goes,
405
00:23:49,469 --> 00:23:54,808
{\an8}Walter Mercado is surrounded
by legions of adoring, devoted fans.
406
00:23:54,891 --> 00:23:57,060
{\an8}I've been waiting since
nine o'clock in the morning.
407
00:23:57,144 --> 00:23:58,895
[crowd cheering and screaming]
408
00:23:58,979 --> 00:24:01,648
I was in the eye of the eagle.
409
00:24:02,899 --> 00:24:05,277
-[applauding]
-[speaking indistinctly]
410
00:24:06,111 --> 00:24:09,072
Hundreds of millions of people
were watching his programs every day.
411
00:24:09,156 --> 00:24:11,241
He almost became like a religion.
412
00:24:11,324 --> 00:24:12,826
[crowd cheering]
413
00:24:15,328 --> 00:24:17,247
[Maria] We were doing a segment
on Primer Impacto.
414
00:24:17,330 --> 00:24:20,500
We put him in the headlines and said,
"And Walter is with us live."
415
00:24:21,376 --> 00:24:25,172
We had people swarming out
of the building in 15 minutes.
416
00:24:25,255 --> 00:24:27,215
[fans clamoring]
417
00:24:27,299 --> 00:24:30,260
People started wanting to touch him
418
00:24:30,343 --> 00:24:33,680
like if he was holier than the Pope.
419
00:24:34,723 --> 00:24:38,059
[Walter] Miami, New York,
Panama, Colombia,
420
00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:42,480
everywhere, everybody wants
a piece of Walter.
421
00:25:05,837 --> 00:25:06,922
[kisses]
422
00:25:21,686 --> 00:25:23,271
[beads rattling]
423
00:25:33,531 --> 00:25:37,452
Sometimes people say, "Walter you are
very egocentric or narcissistic."
424
00:25:37,535 --> 00:25:41,748
No matter how much money it costs,
I always say, "You have to be radiant.
425
00:25:41,831 --> 00:25:43,416
You have to be Walter."
426
00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:44,501
Okay.
427
00:25:44,584 --> 00:25:50,799
{\an8}He has an augmented face
that defies gender and maybe even age.
428
00:25:52,968 --> 00:25:56,471
And his hair is a hybrid between
429
00:25:56,554 --> 00:26:00,475
really good male hair from the '70s
430
00:26:01,309 --> 00:26:03,937
and really good, glamourous grandma hair.
431
00:26:04,521 --> 00:26:06,731
[interviewer 2] Have you had
any plastic surgery done?
432
00:26:08,191 --> 00:26:09,484
Little arrangement.
433
00:26:09,567 --> 00:26:12,862
A special Botox like Nicole Kidman.
434
00:26:14,614 --> 00:26:17,117
I'm just like Dorian Gray.
435
00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,578
My picture is growing old,
but I'm growing young.
436
00:26:25,292 --> 00:26:29,671
For every show, I have a special cape,
437
00:26:29,754 --> 00:26:30,797
or robe.
438
00:26:32,007 --> 00:26:33,842
Some are very heavy.
439
00:26:33,925 --> 00:26:35,385
Some are lighter.
440
00:26:35,468 --> 00:26:37,137
Some are hand-painted.
441
00:26:39,139 --> 00:26:40,974
Each one has a story.
442
00:26:41,057 --> 00:26:43,184
[instrumental music playing]
443
00:26:51,401 --> 00:26:55,989
[Willie] He was the first person
to use capes with beads,
444
00:26:56,072 --> 00:26:58,491
and makeup, dyed hairs.
445
00:26:58,575 --> 00:27:00,160
A lot of jewelry.
446
00:27:00,785 --> 00:27:04,331
[Walter] This is from one
of the best designers in Brazil.
447
00:27:04,414 --> 00:27:05,373
Very humble.
448
00:27:06,791 --> 00:27:08,793
[interviewer 1] Wait.
The bracelet is very humble?
449
00:27:08,877 --> 00:27:10,337
[Walter] Yes. You like it?
450
00:27:13,465 --> 00:27:16,468
Many designers started
doing capes for him.
451
00:27:16,551 --> 00:27:19,012
Versace did something for him.
452
00:27:19,637 --> 00:27:21,598
Isaac Mizrahi,
453
00:27:21,681 --> 00:27:23,767
Swarovski crystals,
454
00:27:23,850 --> 00:27:28,188
sequins, rhinestone, pearls...
455
00:27:28,271 --> 00:27:31,232
They cost a lot of money,
but they were beautiful.
456
00:27:32,817 --> 00:27:36,279
The message that Walter
is bringing to you, he decorated.
457
00:27:36,363 --> 00:27:37,989
[speaking Spanish]
458
00:27:38,073 --> 00:27:41,451
[Walter] I am the picture,
and the cape is the frame.
459
00:27:41,534 --> 00:27:42,911
[speaking Spanish]
460
00:27:42,994 --> 00:27:45,622
The cape covers me
461
00:27:45,705 --> 00:27:49,751
and makes my image to go...
462
00:27:50,668 --> 00:27:53,963
to the heart of my audience, of my people.
463
00:27:54,047 --> 00:27:56,007
[instrumental music continues]
464
00:27:57,967 --> 00:28:01,846
[Bill] He had his look,
so did Elvis, so did Liberace,
465
00:28:02,931 --> 00:28:03,848
so does the Pope.
466
00:28:04,849 --> 00:28:07,519
If it doesn't look good,
we're not even gonna listen.
467
00:28:07,602 --> 00:28:11,481
[in Spanish] Thank you very much
and don't miss Walter Mercado's outfit.
468
00:28:11,564 --> 00:28:14,484
It's something like a pumpkin,
a pumpkin about to smother him.
469
00:28:14,567 --> 00:28:15,402
It's marvelous.
470
00:28:15,485 --> 00:28:17,153
[mystical music playing]
471
00:28:17,237 --> 00:28:19,781
Night of magic and mystery,
472
00:28:20,448 --> 00:28:22,992
night where anything is possible,
473
00:28:23,076 --> 00:28:27,455
where those we loved and loved us,
return to the earth
474
00:28:27,539 --> 00:28:31,709
to seek out the warmth of heart
and home, of love.
475
00:28:32,544 --> 00:28:35,171
[Nydia Caro in English] Do you know
anybody else that looks like Walter,
476
00:28:35,255 --> 00:28:37,340
{\an8}or speaks like Walter,
or dresses like Walter?
477
00:28:37,424 --> 00:28:39,467
He's very much
his own incredible creation.
478
00:28:42,512 --> 00:28:46,349
He just broke the mold entirely.
479
00:28:46,433 --> 00:28:48,727
Walter Mercado!
480
00:28:48,810 --> 00:28:50,520
[audience applauding]
481
00:28:52,939 --> 00:28:56,443
{\an8}[Karlo Karlo] People are mesmerized
by the beauty of Walter,
482
00:28:56,526 --> 00:28:58,319
by the glamor of Walter.
483
00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:00,947
[Walter] I want to look beautiful.
484
00:29:01,030 --> 00:29:02,323
I want to look alluring.
485
00:29:03,241 --> 00:29:05,994
I want to mesmerize people.
486
00:29:06,077 --> 00:29:09,330
I study dancing, so I use my hands.
487
00:29:10,540 --> 00:29:13,334
The people love
all that kind of stupid things.
488
00:29:13,418 --> 00:29:15,003
[speaking Spanish]
489
00:29:15,086 --> 00:29:19,841
So, I used the stupid things
to teach, to help, to serve,
490
00:29:19,924 --> 00:29:22,844
to give a beautiful message
of love and peace.
491
00:29:22,927 --> 00:29:24,846
[in Spanish] Love is the reason
for everything.
492
00:29:24,929 --> 00:29:26,890
Love is the beginning and the end.
493
00:29:26,973 --> 00:29:30,518
Love is the reason to live.
494
00:29:33,980 --> 00:29:35,857
He broke many boundaries.
495
00:29:35,940 --> 00:29:42,238
His whole look: his capes, the layers,
the fabulous costumes.
496
00:29:42,322 --> 00:29:45,408
Now it doesn't seem that strange.
497
00:29:45,492 --> 00:29:48,995
But when he did it, it was scandalous.
498
00:29:49,078 --> 00:29:50,288
And he did it anyway.
499
00:29:50,955 --> 00:29:53,333
How are you doing,
little animals of creation?
500
00:29:53,416 --> 00:29:55,460
On this occasion,
501
00:29:55,543 --> 00:29:58,588
-I'm anxiously awaiting today's guest.
-[audience chuckling]
502
00:29:58,671 --> 00:30:03,468
But he's had many problems because
of the love of a woman.
503
00:30:04,052 --> 00:30:07,096
In the '90s, they gave me my own show.
504
00:30:07,180 --> 00:30:09,057
{\an8}[audience laughing]
505
00:30:10,433 --> 00:30:14,062
It was like a sketch show
where I played different characters
506
00:30:14,145 --> 00:30:18,274
and I immediately thought, "I have to
do a Walter Mercado impression."
507
00:30:18,858 --> 00:30:23,112
My impression has the same rings,
capes, hair.
508
00:30:23,196 --> 00:30:25,782
It's one of the most famous characters
I have.
509
00:30:25,865 --> 00:30:30,286
I think a big reason they love it is
because it's based on Walter Mercado.
510
00:30:30,370 --> 00:30:32,831
[speaking dramatically in Spanish]
511
00:30:32,914 --> 00:30:33,957
[kisses]
512
00:30:36,543 --> 00:30:38,169
[dramatic music playing]
513
00:30:40,088 --> 00:30:41,756
-[yelps]
-[audience laughs]
514
00:30:42,423 --> 00:30:44,050
[Mireya in English] Walter was
very beloved
515
00:30:44,133 --> 00:30:46,719
and very much an integrated part
of the culture.
516
00:30:46,803 --> 00:30:47,971
[speaking Spanish]
517
00:30:48,054 --> 00:30:49,764
-[exclaims]
-[laughing]
518
00:30:49,848 --> 00:30:53,768
[Mireya] But he would
also get folded into gay jokes.
519
00:30:53,852 --> 00:30:57,021
He was embraced and othered
at the same time.
520
00:30:57,105 --> 00:30:58,940
[speaking Spanish]
521
00:31:00,775 --> 00:31:04,445
[in Spanish] Many of his imitations
were meant to ridicule him.
522
00:31:05,113 --> 00:31:07,490
He never liked being imitated.
523
00:31:08,992 --> 00:31:11,286
You appear to be dressed
a little bit like me.
524
00:31:12,036 --> 00:31:14,956
Then don't do a bad imitation of me,
because everybody does.
525
00:31:15,582 --> 00:31:17,584
I would never wear those pants.
526
00:31:17,667 --> 00:31:19,460
[laughing]
527
00:31:19,544 --> 00:31:23,214
[Willie in English] When they see Walter
and they make fun of him,
528
00:31:23,298 --> 00:31:27,927
it's because they wish
they could be like Walter. Yes.
529
00:31:28,011 --> 00:31:31,097
-[in Spanish] What's your love sign?
-[Walter] Scorpio, shut up...
530
00:31:31,180 --> 00:31:32,348
He stings from behind!
531
00:31:32,432 --> 00:31:34,309
And I sting from the front!
532
00:31:34,392 --> 00:31:36,978
I'm like you, vice versa and versatile!
533
00:31:37,061 --> 00:31:38,980
[all exclaiming and laughing]
534
00:31:40,732 --> 00:31:43,776
[Karlo Karlo in English] The Latino
community was homophobic.
535
00:31:43,860 --> 00:31:48,197
{\an8}I mean, especially '70s, '80s...
I mean, still nowadays,
536
00:31:48,281 --> 00:31:51,075
{\an8}but back then,
it was, like, much stronger.
537
00:31:51,659 --> 00:31:55,079
And perception of masculinity
was so square.
538
00:31:55,914 --> 00:31:59,083
-[speaking flamboyantly in Spanish]
-[audience laughs]
539
00:32:00,001 --> 00:32:02,670
Growing up as a queer boy
540
00:32:02,754 --> 00:32:05,548
and watching Walter Mercado...
541
00:32:06,758 --> 00:32:07,592
gave me hope.
542
00:32:08,217 --> 00:32:12,597
I saw Walter and I was like,
"Okay, I'm not that different."
543
00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:13,932
[applause]
544
00:32:14,807 --> 00:32:18,603
Here you have a man on television
545
00:32:18,686 --> 00:32:21,064
breaking all of these rules.
546
00:32:21,147 --> 00:32:24,275
[woman in Portuguese] You have
a very feminine look...
547
00:32:24,859 --> 00:32:26,402
[continues in Portuguese]
548
00:32:26,486 --> 00:32:30,239
[in Spanish] As a kid, over the phone
people would call me Miss.
549
00:32:30,323 --> 00:32:31,366
It never bothers me.
550
00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,828
"Who is this? Hello, Mrs.--"
"No, it's a Mr."
551
00:32:35,912 --> 00:32:37,038
It doesn't bother me.
552
00:32:37,622 --> 00:32:40,416
[in English] He has
a very feminine energy.
553
00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:44,128
He's an androgyne.
He looks like a woman.
554
00:32:44,879 --> 00:32:46,839
Sometimes, he looks like a man.
555
00:32:49,509 --> 00:32:51,803
The people that, you know, they said,
556
00:32:51,886 --> 00:32:56,015
"Oh, that's a queer"
or, "That's a faggot"... I don't care.
557
00:32:56,099 --> 00:32:57,558
He doesn't care.
558
00:32:57,642 --> 00:33:01,562
Walter always takes a pill
called an I-don't-care pill,
559
00:33:01,646 --> 00:33:03,982
and I started drinking that pill, too.
560
00:33:04,565 --> 00:33:06,150
And I use Vaseline
561
00:33:06,234 --> 00:33:09,237
so everything's slippery
on my body. [chuckles]
562
00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:10,863
Whatever they say...
563
00:33:10,947 --> 00:33:12,573
I use Vaseline.
564
00:33:15,076 --> 00:33:18,788
[Mireya] Somehow, inside a misogynistic,
565
00:33:18,871 --> 00:33:21,541
super-Catholic culture,
566
00:33:21,624 --> 00:33:24,127
Walter could thrive.
567
00:33:24,210 --> 00:33:26,671
We needed Walter in that landscape.
568
00:33:26,754 --> 00:33:28,589
Arriba!
569
00:33:28,673 --> 00:33:30,842
[all speaking Spanish]
570
00:33:32,927 --> 00:33:34,345
[in Spanish] Are you heterosexual or no?
571
00:33:34,429 --> 00:33:38,141
Let me tell you something,
I respect sex as something sacred.
572
00:33:38,224 --> 00:33:39,684
For me, sex is spiritual.
573
00:33:39,767 --> 00:33:43,396
I'm married to my public, to my people.
574
00:33:43,479 --> 00:33:46,399
Walter is very protective
about opening up,
575
00:33:46,482 --> 00:33:48,359
including with his family.
576
00:33:48,443 --> 00:33:51,487
I've seen journalists try to talk about
577
00:33:51,571 --> 00:33:56,075
his sexuality, his partners,
his love affairs,
578
00:33:56,159 --> 00:33:58,870
and they're topics
that he just won't touch.
579
00:33:59,495 --> 00:34:03,624
[interviewer 2 in English] You don't talk
about sexuality or your identity.
580
00:34:03,708 --> 00:34:04,792
Why is that?
581
00:34:04,876 --> 00:34:08,337
Because I have sexuality
with the wind... with the wind,
582
00:34:08,421 --> 00:34:10,548
with the flowers in the garden,
583
00:34:10,631 --> 00:34:13,426
with all the beautiful display of nature.
584
00:34:14,761 --> 00:34:16,846
I don't need a person.
585
00:34:16,929 --> 00:34:19,348
Especially to make me happy, to make me...
586
00:34:19,432 --> 00:34:22,477
to have an orgasmic experience, no.
587
00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,145
I have sex with life.
588
00:34:24,228 --> 00:34:26,522
I have sex with everything.
589
00:34:26,606 --> 00:34:29,734
With clothes, with beauty.
590
00:34:30,943 --> 00:34:34,447
[Willie] People think that I'm his lover.
591
00:34:34,530 --> 00:34:38,159
I don't know what they think.
They think I have a relation with him.
592
00:34:38,242 --> 00:34:42,038
And my relation with Walter
is a very family relation.
593
00:34:42,789 --> 00:34:45,875
I have never touched Walter with a finger.
594
00:34:45,958 --> 00:34:47,627
Never in my life.
595
00:34:51,005 --> 00:34:53,508
[Tony] I don't think
Walter ever allowed himself
596
00:34:53,591 --> 00:34:56,677
to be defined through his sexuality.
597
00:34:56,761 --> 00:34:58,221
It was none of your business.
598
00:34:58,304 --> 00:35:03,101
He always sort of, you know,
straddled that line very carefully.
599
00:35:05,686 --> 00:35:10,108
[Karlo Karlo] If Walter Mercado
would've come out in the '60s, '70s, '80s,
600
00:35:10,191 --> 00:35:11,859
I think it would've hurt his career.
601
00:35:15,404 --> 00:35:17,532
Puerto Ricans say often...
602
00:35:17,615 --> 00:35:21,452
[in Spanish] "What you can see,
you don't ask about."
603
00:35:21,536 --> 00:35:23,955
[in English] And I know, like,
visibility is very important.
604
00:35:25,915 --> 00:35:31,838
But not coming out stopped, perhaps,
the homophobia from running wild.
605
00:35:34,048 --> 00:35:36,676
[Ivonne in Spanish] There are things
that are just so ingrained
606
00:35:36,759 --> 00:35:39,595
from your childhood, from your family,
607
00:35:39,679 --> 00:35:41,472
that play on repeat in your mind.
608
00:35:42,098 --> 00:35:45,268
It's difficult to change them.
609
00:35:45,810 --> 00:35:50,189
[Karlo Karlo in English] There are
so many societal laws that he broke,
610
00:35:50,273 --> 00:35:52,817
it goes beyond coming out.
611
00:35:53,943 --> 00:35:56,988
You use a cape because you're a superhero,
612
00:35:57,780 --> 00:36:00,992
and I see Walter as a superhero.
613
00:36:05,538 --> 00:36:09,500
[Ivonne in Spanish] In terms
of his open secrets,
614
00:36:09,584 --> 00:36:13,296
I don't think he confirms
or denies anything.
615
00:36:14,088 --> 00:36:17,216
[interviewer 2 in English] You're not
telling me Walter Mercado is a virgin?
616
00:36:18,176 --> 00:36:20,094
You're not telling me
that you're a virgin?
617
00:36:22,346 --> 00:36:25,141
-The only one in town.
-[both laughing]
618
00:36:26,726 --> 00:36:28,769
[interviewer 2] Yeah,
the only one in town.
619
00:36:33,107 --> 00:36:34,650
[in Spanish] Here I have a tarot deck,
620
00:36:34,734 --> 00:36:38,279
a special deck on such a special day
in such a special month.
621
00:36:38,362 --> 00:36:40,323
In the month of love,
ladies and gentlemen.
622
00:36:40,406 --> 00:36:45,161
For you, Aquarius, I've pulled a card
of strength. Because you're strong now.
623
00:36:45,244 --> 00:36:46,329
No one knocks you down,
624
00:36:46,412 --> 00:36:48,497
no one destroys you,
no one holds you back.
625
00:36:48,581 --> 00:36:51,500
You're stronger than ever, Aquarius!
626
00:36:51,584 --> 00:36:53,502
[Tony in English] I don't believe
in these things.
627
00:36:53,586 --> 00:36:56,380
That's just, sort of, my nature.
628
00:36:56,464 --> 00:36:59,592
But I'll be honest with you,
when you meet Walter,
629
00:36:59,675 --> 00:37:03,012
and you have a chance to spend
a little time with Walter,
630
00:37:03,095 --> 00:37:05,765
you realize that there's something there.
631
00:37:05,848 --> 00:37:08,726
Is that something divine?
I don't know.
632
00:37:08,809 --> 00:37:10,811
But it's quite unique, and I haven't...
633
00:37:10,895 --> 00:37:13,940
I haven't come across it with anyone else.
634
00:37:14,023 --> 00:37:16,317
[in Spanish] All of these
terrible predictions people make,
635
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:18,444
all of these cataclysms, tragedies,
636
00:37:18,527 --> 00:37:20,947
disasters coming with the arrival
of the new millennium...
637
00:37:21,030 --> 00:37:22,657
Nobody believe any of it.
638
00:37:22,740 --> 00:37:25,993
Those who follow God, don't fear a thing.
639
00:37:26,077 --> 00:37:28,788
[Willie in English] He planted
in the mind of everybody
640
00:37:28,871 --> 00:37:33,209
faith, belief,
believe you're gonna be great.
641
00:37:33,292 --> 00:37:34,502
You have to put faith.
642
00:37:34,585 --> 00:37:37,964
If you don't have faith,
you're never gonna get nothing.
643
00:37:38,047 --> 00:37:42,510
[in Spanish] Virgo, what was once so ugly
and sad, it all changes.
644
00:37:42,593 --> 00:37:44,679
The waters will recede.
645
00:37:44,762 --> 00:37:47,014
There will be a total change in your life.
646
00:37:47,098 --> 00:37:50,351
So take advantage to realize
647
00:37:50,434 --> 00:37:55,439
that which yesterday
you didn't dare to do, Virgo!
648
00:37:55,523 --> 00:37:57,525
[Bill in English] If you notice
in all his content,
649
00:37:57,608 --> 00:37:59,694
he never says anything negative.
650
00:37:59,777 --> 00:38:00,945
Blessings.
651
00:38:01,028 --> 00:38:02,154
[Bill] Never.
652
00:38:02,238 --> 00:38:04,991
I think that's probably the key ingredient
653
00:38:05,074 --> 00:38:08,035
to his success
and his ability to communicate.
654
00:38:08,119 --> 00:38:10,830
[in Spanish] Being a messenger
of the Aquarian Age,
655
00:38:10,913 --> 00:38:13,499
I bring you messages of light,
656
00:38:14,500 --> 00:38:15,751
of love,
657
00:38:16,502 --> 00:38:17,586
and of peace.
658
00:38:17,670 --> 00:38:19,255
[Mauricio Zeilic in English] He would
come out every day
659
00:38:19,338 --> 00:38:21,507
and he would tell you beautiful things,
660
00:38:21,590 --> 00:38:24,802
{\an8}and everybody wants to know
if tomorrow's gonna be a better day.
661
00:38:24,885 --> 00:38:26,012
[speaking Spanish]
662
00:38:26,095 --> 00:38:27,638
[Nydia] He's like a warrior.
663
00:38:27,722 --> 00:38:30,266
I think his message was and still is...
664
00:38:31,017 --> 00:38:35,021
to live with as much love
as you can in your life.
665
00:38:35,104 --> 00:38:37,106
{\an8}-[audience applauding]
-[music playing]
666
00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:43,404
{\an8}[in Spanish] Let's start by broaching
667
00:38:43,487 --> 00:38:46,198
the most controversial questions
about Walter Mercado.
668
00:38:46,282 --> 00:38:47,533
-[Walter] All my life.
-Uh-huh.
669
00:38:47,616 --> 00:38:49,452
[laughing]
670
00:38:49,535 --> 00:38:52,913
Why do you mix
so many different religions?
671
00:38:52,997 --> 00:38:57,251
Not just, for example, Santeria,
primitive religions,
672
00:38:57,335 --> 00:39:00,087
with Christianity, Catholicism,
but all of them?
673
00:39:00,171 --> 00:39:02,923
You mix them all
and you solve people's problems, why?
674
00:39:03,007 --> 00:39:06,093
No one has a monopoly on God.
675
00:39:06,177 --> 00:39:07,928
It's ridiculous to think so.
676
00:39:08,012 --> 00:39:11,140
It can be Chango or Santa Barbara.
Who cares what you call it?
677
00:39:13,934 --> 00:39:15,561
[in English] I got the best
from the Buddhism...
678
00:39:15,644 --> 00:39:16,687
[kisses]
679
00:39:16,771 --> 00:39:18,356
...the best from Hinduism...
680
00:39:18,439 --> 00:39:20,524
Lord Ganesha. Om.
681
00:39:20,608 --> 00:39:22,610
...the best from Christianity...
682
00:39:22,693 --> 00:39:25,321
I mix with all kinds of astrology.
683
00:39:25,946 --> 00:39:32,912
I realized that all religions
have a point of convergence.
684
00:39:32,995 --> 00:39:34,914
I call it interfaith religion.
685
00:39:35,706 --> 00:39:37,416
You have to be nice to people,
686
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,336
you have to give the best of yourself
every moment of your life,
687
00:39:40,419 --> 00:39:42,880
and you have to believe in yourself.
688
00:39:42,963 --> 00:39:48,469
[in Spanish] Taurus, be strong,
really strong. Insist, don't give up!
689
00:39:48,552 --> 00:39:55,434
Insist until you accomplish what you want.
The cosmos will gift it to you.
690
00:39:55,518 --> 00:39:57,937
[Tony in English] I think Walter appeals
to the masses
691
00:39:58,020 --> 00:40:01,565
because he's able to connect
with something that's missing
692
00:40:01,649 --> 00:40:05,069
for a lot of us, particularly immigrants.
693
00:40:05,152 --> 00:40:08,656
I think he gives us a sense of hope.
694
00:40:08,739 --> 00:40:12,576
I think he gives people
a reason to believe
695
00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:15,830
perhaps that their lot in life
696
00:40:15,913 --> 00:40:19,792
may have a chance of improving,
uh, in short order.
697
00:40:20,584 --> 00:40:22,169
And if you listen to him
698
00:40:22,253 --> 00:40:24,547
and you sort of follow his guidelines,
699
00:40:24,630 --> 00:40:29,051
it could be a road map
towards a better and more fulfilled life.
700
00:40:29,135 --> 00:40:34,390
[in Spanish] May God bless all of you,
today, tomorrow and always.
701
00:40:34,473 --> 00:40:37,351
[in English] My message is to give them
the force inside themselves.
702
00:40:37,435 --> 00:40:40,354
{\an8}You can win. You can do that.
Believe in yourself.
703
00:40:40,438 --> 00:40:44,900
{\an8}And that way, I'm helping people
to be stronger.
704
00:40:44,984 --> 00:40:46,861
{\an8}[audience applauding]
705
00:40:57,788 --> 00:40:59,582
{\an8}[announcer] Have questions? Need answers?
706
00:40:59,665 --> 00:41:01,542
Concerned about a loved one?
707
00:41:01,625 --> 00:41:03,961
Need career or love advice?
708
00:41:06,297 --> 00:41:09,008
{\an8}Hi, I am Walter Mercado.
709
00:41:09,091 --> 00:41:11,552
{\an8}Thanks for making
the Psychic Friends Network
710
00:41:11,635 --> 00:41:16,182
{\an8}the most popular
psychic phone service in the entire world.
711
00:41:16,265 --> 00:41:21,103
{\an8}[Jody Vialy] In the early '90s,
there were these 1-9-0-0 numbers,
712
00:41:21,187 --> 00:41:24,523
{\an8}and Walter's manager, Bill Bakula,
713
00:41:24,607 --> 00:41:27,443
{\an8}decided to do that for Walter,
714
00:41:27,526 --> 00:41:30,988
{\an8}so that people could call in
and connect to him.
715
00:41:31,071 --> 00:41:33,866
{\an8}You take calls on the Circle of Power line
no matter where you are?
716
00:41:33,949 --> 00:41:37,995
{\an8}Yes. I love to be in touch with my people.
717
00:41:38,078 --> 00:41:42,249
{\an8}[Bill] We created a traditional
1-9-0-0 psychic hotline
718
00:41:42,333 --> 00:41:43,542
{\an8}to great success.
719
00:41:43,626 --> 00:41:44,960
{\an8}[upbeat music playing]
720
00:41:45,044 --> 00:41:47,213
{\an8}[speaking Spanish]
721
00:41:47,296 --> 00:41:49,840
{\an8}[Bill] We were the only ones
in the Hispanic market in the US,
722
00:41:49,924 --> 00:41:53,135
{\an8}and we were the pioneers
to go out of the US.
723
00:41:53,219 --> 00:41:58,015
{\an8}[in Spanish] I won $9,000 at Indian bingo.
724
00:41:58,098 --> 00:42:00,518
{\an8}Thank you, Walter. Thank you.
725
00:42:00,601 --> 00:42:03,771
{\an8}[in English] Actually, in Brazil,
he's not really known as Walter Mercado,
726
00:42:03,854 --> 00:42:06,273
he's known as Ligue Já,
and that means "call now."
727
00:42:06,357 --> 00:42:07,316
Ligue já!
728
00:42:07,399 --> 00:42:09,693
{\an8}Ligue já! Ligue já.
729
00:42:10,986 --> 00:42:12,238
{\an8}[Bill] Before we knew it,
730
00:42:12,321 --> 00:42:16,116
{\an8}he had half a million subscribers
and 4,000 psychics.
731
00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:18,536
{\an8}Four thousand people answering phones.
732
00:42:18,619 --> 00:42:22,831
{\an8}My psychics, for me,
I don't believe, I know,
733
00:42:22,915 --> 00:42:25,209
{\an8}are the best in the whole world.
734
00:42:25,292 --> 00:42:29,672
{\an8}All of them are natural psychics
born with the gift.
735
00:42:29,755 --> 00:42:33,133
{\an8}The gift to help,
to empower other people's life.
736
00:42:33,842 --> 00:42:36,762
I knew that that was... baloney.
737
00:42:36,845 --> 00:42:40,224
It could be my housekeeper
answering the calls, you know,
738
00:42:40,307 --> 00:42:42,434
{\an8}and making 25 bucks a call.
739
00:42:42,518 --> 00:42:44,853
{\an8}[psychic over phone] I see the two of you
will be married
740
00:42:44,937 --> 00:42:48,482
{\an8}within two months of your baby's birth.
741
00:42:48,566 --> 00:42:49,775
{\an8}Married?
742
00:42:50,651 --> 00:42:51,569
{\an8}[gasps softly]
743
00:42:51,652 --> 00:42:55,823
I never say, "You're going
to win a lottery." Never.
744
00:42:55,906 --> 00:42:59,159
Or, "You're going to have
a husband in a week."
745
00:42:59,243 --> 00:43:03,956
I never try to fool people.
No, I never.
746
00:43:06,542 --> 00:43:09,920
{\an8}Only the International Psychic
Society has predicted
747
00:43:10,004 --> 00:43:14,592
{\an8}winning lotto numbers,
family reunions and success story.
748
00:43:15,759 --> 00:43:17,636
[interviewer 2] A lot of these hotlines
were scams.
749
00:43:17,720 --> 00:43:19,430
-Well...
-[interviewer] Critics would say
750
00:43:19,513 --> 00:43:23,183
you were doing it to make money
off of poor, desperate people.
751
00:43:23,267 --> 00:43:27,479
But always they receive
some kind of... uh...
752
00:43:28,188 --> 00:43:31,817
words of inspiration or motivation.
753
00:43:32,526 --> 00:43:35,571
{\an8}[Maria] A lot of people were
taking advantage of those 8-0-0 numbers,
754
00:43:35,654 --> 00:43:37,781
{\an8}and making millions.
755
00:43:37,865 --> 00:43:39,825
{\an8}Call me now for a free tarot reading.
756
00:43:39,908 --> 00:43:42,453
And I can guarantee you
Walter did not make millions on that.
757
00:43:42,536 --> 00:43:44,371
Bill Bakula made millions on that.
758
00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:47,291
Bill says, "Don't worry,
these are up-and-up people.
759
00:43:47,374 --> 00:43:48,709
Trust me, you'll be fine."
760
00:43:48,792 --> 00:43:51,712
I'm not saying Walter was not in it
for the money as well,
761
00:43:51,795 --> 00:43:54,965
but Walter was more innocent
and naive about it.
762
00:43:57,426 --> 00:43:59,345
{\an8}[Jody] Walter was not about business.
763
00:44:00,429 --> 00:44:03,557
{\an8}So, it was important to Walter to know
764
00:44:03,641 --> 00:44:07,061
that somebody was taking care
of business for him,
765
00:44:07,936 --> 00:44:10,773
so that he could concentrate
on what he did best.
766
00:44:12,358 --> 00:44:15,819
Walter expected only good things
767
00:44:15,903 --> 00:44:22,368
and ran into a world of trouble
that he never saw coming.
768
00:44:24,036 --> 00:44:26,330
[crowd cheering and whistling]
769
00:44:29,875 --> 00:44:32,252
[both speaking Spanish]
770
00:44:32,336 --> 00:44:34,672
[Walter] Bill Bakula was my angel.
771
00:44:34,755 --> 00:44:38,425
In one moment in my life,
he was sent by God
772
00:44:38,509 --> 00:44:43,722
to make me and my message of love
understand and be known.
773
00:44:44,431 --> 00:44:47,976
He was very smart.
He was the master.
774
00:44:48,852 --> 00:44:53,982
Walter had tremendous affection
for Bill, and trust and love.
775
00:44:54,066 --> 00:44:57,903
Bill became almost like a son,
I would think, to him.
776
00:45:01,031 --> 00:45:05,202
[Betty in Spanish] Bakula gave Walter
very expensive gifts.
777
00:45:05,285 --> 00:45:10,165
He would arrive at a hotel and he'd have
a room totally lined with white roses.
778
00:45:10,249 --> 00:45:12,543
[in English] Twenty bunches of roses.
779
00:45:12,626 --> 00:45:14,461
Twenty, every day.
780
00:45:15,212 --> 00:45:17,131
[Ivonne in Spanish] It was
very extravagant.
781
00:45:17,756 --> 00:45:21,176
[Walter in English] He would say,
"Walter, you can't eat rice and beans.
782
00:45:21,260 --> 00:45:23,720
No, you have to eat caviar
783
00:45:23,804 --> 00:45:26,723
and you have always
the most exquisite food."
784
00:45:26,807 --> 00:45:30,060
I had my own airplane.
Everything was excellent.
785
00:45:30,644 --> 00:45:32,479
I loved those things.
786
00:45:33,105 --> 00:45:35,649
[in Spanish] Walter likes
to please everyone.
787
00:45:35,732 --> 00:45:36,733
[Betty] Mmm-hmm.
788
00:45:36,817 --> 00:45:40,946
So if you're kind to him,
789
00:45:41,029 --> 00:45:44,700
he will try to please you.
790
00:45:45,451 --> 00:45:48,662
[in English] I don't ever
remember hearing Walter say no.
791
00:45:49,955 --> 00:45:51,540
He's not that type of personality.
792
00:45:53,125 --> 00:45:58,297
Inside, he's a little boy
that just wants to be loved and respected.
793
00:45:59,089 --> 00:46:01,884
Walter would do
what Bill would ask him to do.
794
00:46:01,967 --> 00:46:06,513
He was almost like, "Okay, if I have
to do it, I have to do it. Okay!"
795
00:46:06,597 --> 00:46:07,890
Okay.
796
00:46:07,973 --> 00:46:09,808
-[in Spanishi] Here?
-[in English] Okay.
797
00:46:09,892 --> 00:46:10,809
Okay.
798
00:46:10,893 --> 00:46:11,935
Okay.
799
00:46:12,019 --> 00:46:13,103
[in Spanish] "On my way!"
800
00:46:13,187 --> 00:46:15,189
[in English] Okay, no problem.
801
00:46:15,272 --> 00:46:18,942
[in Spanish] He had this power
to bewitch him,
802
00:46:19,026 --> 00:46:20,819
to wrap him up in promises.
803
00:46:20,903 --> 00:46:25,073
And Walter is so fanciful,
he had him hook, line and sinker.
804
00:46:33,207 --> 00:46:36,627
[Walter in English] One night I asked
the lawyer to come to my house
805
00:46:36,710 --> 00:46:40,047
and I said, "I have a contract
for something quite important.
806
00:46:40,130 --> 00:46:41,715
Read it very well."
807
00:46:41,798 --> 00:46:43,258
And he said, "Okay, I will do it."
808
00:46:44,051 --> 00:46:47,137
{\an8}The next day,
he say, "Sign it, it's perfect."
809
00:46:47,721 --> 00:46:50,265
{\an8}And I don't even read the contract.
810
00:46:54,102 --> 00:46:56,980
{\an8}[Maria] Walter just signed
what he was asked to sign.
811
00:46:57,064 --> 00:46:59,733
{\an8}He didn't have someone
really looking out for him.
812
00:46:59,816 --> 00:47:04,279
{\an8}The lawyer who reviewed it
didn't really properly advise Walter
813
00:47:04,363 --> 00:47:06,949
{\an8}on the scope and nature
of the contract.
814
00:47:07,032 --> 00:47:10,786
{\an8}So, Walter blindly signed the agreement.
815
00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:15,082
{\an8}[in Spanish] That's where
the problems began.
816
00:47:15,165 --> 00:47:17,167
[soft guitar music playing]
817
00:47:27,553 --> 00:47:31,014
[in English] They seemed to have a nice
friendship, a good business relationship,
818
00:47:31,098 --> 00:47:34,643
and so Walter trusted that
what Bill Bakula was doing for him
819
00:47:34,726 --> 00:47:36,103
was in his best interests.
820
00:47:36,186 --> 00:47:40,816
[in Spanish] Remember that the artist
is never a businessman.
821
00:47:40,899 --> 00:47:44,653
An artist is always thinking
about his art,
822
00:47:44,736 --> 00:47:46,071
how he's going to look,
823
00:47:46,947 --> 00:47:50,659
how he's going to impress
his audience that day.
824
00:47:50,742 --> 00:47:52,953
{\an8}[man in English] Five, four, three, two...
825
00:47:53,036 --> 00:47:54,329
{\an8}[speaking indistinctly]
826
00:47:54,413 --> 00:47:58,208
{\an8}At that point, my communication
with Walter ceased,
827
00:47:58,292 --> 00:48:01,253
{\an8}and Bill became my main contact.
828
00:48:03,046 --> 00:48:05,299
{\an8}For Bill, these things were transactional.
829
00:48:05,382 --> 00:48:09,469
It was about, you know,
how can I maximize revenue?
830
00:48:10,262 --> 00:48:13,682
Walter was being advised
by some of his family members,
831
00:48:13,765 --> 00:48:15,267
who made him realize
832
00:48:15,350 --> 00:48:17,477
that there were some issues
with the relationship.
833
00:48:18,353 --> 00:48:22,608
When family gets involved
in the businesses of an artist...
834
00:48:24,651 --> 00:48:28,071
vey seldomly it works well for the artist.
835
00:48:28,155 --> 00:48:32,326
He tried to sell all my old material.
836
00:48:32,909 --> 00:48:35,454
He was recycling old horoscopes
837
00:48:35,537 --> 00:48:38,498
and running it as if it was current.
838
00:48:38,582 --> 00:48:39,541
It was not right.
839
00:48:39,625 --> 00:48:41,793
I have to be very honest with my people.
840
00:48:42,377 --> 00:48:43,712
But I couldn't stop him
841
00:48:43,795 --> 00:48:47,966
because under the new contract,
he had control of all materials.
842
00:48:48,925 --> 00:48:51,011
[Carlos] The contract gave everything:
843
00:48:51,094 --> 00:48:54,890
his name, his likeness,
his image, to Bill Bakula.
844
00:48:55,724 --> 00:48:58,727
Both parties were represented
by competent attorneys.
845
00:48:59,519 --> 00:49:04,900
Both parties understood
the contract and he got paid.
846
00:49:05,817 --> 00:49:07,903
{\an8}He got paid according to the contract.
847
00:49:07,986 --> 00:49:10,614
{\an8}[Carlos] There was no timeframe
for the agreement.
848
00:49:10,697 --> 00:49:13,116
{\an8}In other words,
this thing would last forever.
849
00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:17,412
{\an8}There was very little room to even attempt
to terminate the agreement.
850
00:49:18,038 --> 00:49:20,582
It gave really no benefit to Walter.
851
00:49:21,958 --> 00:49:24,294
[Walter] He's the owner
of all my decisions,
852
00:49:24,378 --> 00:49:26,380
of everything in my life.
853
00:49:26,463 --> 00:49:28,340
He owns my life.
854
00:49:32,761 --> 00:49:36,056
And then he stopped paying.
He stopped paying.
855
00:49:36,139 --> 00:49:39,226
Wilma says, "We need the money.
We need the money.
856
00:49:39,309 --> 00:49:41,061
And they are not sending the checks."
857
00:49:41,144 --> 00:49:47,526
[in Spanish] Walter continued to record
his program and comply with the contract,
858
00:49:47,609 --> 00:49:51,196
but the money wouldn't come.
859
00:49:51,279 --> 00:49:52,447
[speaking Spanish]
860
00:49:52,531 --> 00:49:57,035
[Ivonne] So at that point,
Walter cancelled the contract.
861
00:49:57,119 --> 00:50:01,957
But Bill said the contract
was for eternity.
862
00:50:03,750 --> 00:50:06,086
[Walter in English] When I discovered
that my contract
863
00:50:06,169 --> 00:50:09,047
is so difficult to deal with,
864
00:50:09,131 --> 00:50:14,594
I tried to repair and to talk to him
to make a new contract and go on.
865
00:50:16,054 --> 00:50:20,142
[Bill] We paid him to buy his business,
not to rent it.
866
00:50:20,225 --> 00:50:23,186
He sold his name. He sold his brand.
867
00:50:24,479 --> 00:50:27,941
But there was a disagreement
of how they viewed things
868
00:50:28,024 --> 00:50:30,610
and the black letter on the contract.
869
00:50:31,611 --> 00:50:33,864
{\an8}So, we went to court.
870
00:50:37,409 --> 00:50:39,703
{\an8}Everything began to...
[imitates crumbling noise]
871
00:50:39,786 --> 00:50:40,912
Yes.
872
00:50:40,996 --> 00:50:45,250
Our claim for damages
against Walter was just $1.
873
00:50:46,501 --> 00:50:48,587
We didn't wanna hurt him economically,
874
00:50:48,670 --> 00:50:51,965
we just wanted the world
to know that we were right.
875
00:50:52,048 --> 00:50:53,133
That's not true.
876
00:50:53,759 --> 00:50:57,721
Actually, Bill Bakula
was looking for Walter to pay
877
00:50:57,804 --> 00:51:01,433
about $14-$15 million in damages.
878
00:51:02,184 --> 00:51:08,356
It was a nightmare
of many problems, injunctions and...
879
00:51:08,857 --> 00:51:10,734
It was a real nightmare.
880
00:51:10,817 --> 00:51:12,819
[somber orchestral music playing]
881
00:51:18,742 --> 00:51:22,204
At that point, Walter was
not allowed to do anything
882
00:51:22,287 --> 00:51:24,706
because Bill Bakula owned his image.
883
00:51:25,999 --> 00:51:31,171
And so, unfortunately,
we had to pull Walter from the show.
884
00:51:32,672 --> 00:51:35,050
[Wilma] It was very shocking
that, in the court,
885
00:51:35,133 --> 00:51:37,511
they would give Walter's name
to somebody else.
886
00:51:37,594 --> 00:51:39,846
{\an8}I've never seen anything
like that happen in the world,
887
00:51:39,930 --> 00:51:43,308
{\an8}that you could give your name
over to another person as a trademark.
888
00:51:43,391 --> 00:51:45,685
When you try to explain to people,
889
00:51:45,769 --> 00:51:48,730
"No, he lost the right to his name
890
00:51:48,814 --> 00:51:50,440
and he cannot be on TV,"
891
00:51:50,524 --> 00:51:53,401
people, like me, couldn't understand that.
892
00:51:54,611 --> 00:51:59,366
[Carlos] There was a pretty severe
financial impact on Walter.
893
00:51:59,449 --> 00:52:01,618
He was not receiving any funds.
894
00:52:01,701 --> 00:52:05,080
He was really unable to transact
any business during that period of time.
895
00:52:05,163 --> 00:52:06,206
It was difficult for him.
896
00:52:07,457 --> 00:52:11,127
{\an8}We brought in our own lawsuit
to do away with the agreement.
897
00:52:11,795 --> 00:52:13,713
{\an8}[Maria] I was asked to appear in court.
898
00:52:13,797 --> 00:52:18,343
And they had Walter and Bill Bakula
in the courtroom,
899
00:52:18,426 --> 00:52:20,136
one on one side and one on the other side,
900
00:52:20,220 --> 00:52:22,347
and they were looking
at me intently. [chuckles]
901
00:52:22,973 --> 00:52:25,600
[Walter] It was like a fight
between two forces.
902
00:52:27,352 --> 00:52:29,229
This was a war. A war.
903
00:52:30,355 --> 00:52:36,570
[in Spanish] In the first lawsuit,
one part Bakula won
904
00:52:36,653 --> 00:52:39,114
and another part Walter won,
905
00:52:40,198 --> 00:52:43,451
so then we had to initiate
another process.
906
00:52:43,535 --> 00:52:47,289
So we stayed sort of in limbo.
907
00:52:47,372 --> 00:52:50,917
[in English] He would have lawyers
in Mexico, lawyers in Argentina,
908
00:52:51,001 --> 00:52:54,379
lawyers in Puerto Rico, lawyers in Miami.
909
00:52:56,631 --> 00:52:59,718
To be in a court fighting
with the people that you love
910
00:52:59,801 --> 00:53:01,845
is difficult for me.
911
00:53:01,928 --> 00:53:05,515
And I had to face facts.
912
00:53:06,182 --> 00:53:09,895
That was a difficult time,
yes, very difficult.
913
00:53:11,396 --> 00:53:12,522
It was hard, yes.
914
00:53:14,024 --> 00:53:17,611
And Walter is very sensitive.
He's a very sensitive person.
915
00:53:19,946 --> 00:53:22,365
I've never regretted anything in my life.
916
00:53:24,242 --> 00:53:27,120
Regret, that's out of the dictionary.
917
00:53:27,203 --> 00:53:28,538
There are no regrets.
918
00:53:34,377 --> 00:53:37,505
Ultimately, the jury determined
919
00:53:37,589 --> 00:53:40,717
that Walter had interfered
with those contracts,
920
00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:44,721
but that there was no damage
suffered by Bill Bakula.
921
00:53:44,804 --> 00:53:48,725
So, Walter was returned all of his rights,
922
00:53:48,808 --> 00:53:51,728
his name, his image, his likeness,
923
00:53:51,811 --> 00:53:54,397
which is what Walter ultimately wanted.
924
00:53:54,481 --> 00:53:58,610
It was a long, hard battle, and, um...
925
00:53:59,945 --> 00:54:01,988
the consequences were severe for us,
926
00:54:02,072 --> 00:54:03,907
and for Walter, above all.
927
00:54:03,990 --> 00:54:08,453
[in Spanish] Six years he fought.
928
00:54:09,079 --> 00:54:13,625
Six lost years, during which he lost
millions of dollars.
929
00:54:13,708 --> 00:54:16,211
[in English] Emotionally,
it affected him tremendously.
930
00:54:16,294 --> 00:54:21,591
I think... I think, eventually,
it affected him physically.
931
00:54:21,675 --> 00:54:26,262
I do believe Bill broke Walter's heart.
932
00:54:26,346 --> 00:54:29,766
In the beginning, Bill was his angel,
933
00:54:31,059 --> 00:54:34,479
and towards the end, Bill was his devil.
934
00:54:39,359 --> 00:54:40,610
[smacks lips]
935
00:55:00,588 --> 00:55:04,384
When I get to the hospital,
Walter was dead.
936
00:55:05,343 --> 00:55:09,389
There was no... no vital signs at all.
937
00:55:11,975 --> 00:55:15,311
[in Spanish] I was clutching the Bible,
praying to God.
938
00:55:17,355 --> 00:55:19,899
[Willie in English] He has three arteries
that were clogged.
939
00:55:20,567 --> 00:55:23,445
[interviewer 2] Were you worried
that this was the end?
940
00:55:24,904 --> 00:55:26,781
Yes. Yes.
941
00:55:27,657 --> 00:55:29,909
He was so tired of fighting.
942
00:55:30,744 --> 00:55:34,748
He was tired of so many things, you know.
943
00:55:34,831 --> 00:55:41,046
[in Spanish] Stress was
the principle cause of the heart attack.
944
00:55:42,589 --> 00:55:46,259
In Puerto Rico,
there wasn't much help for him,
945
00:55:46,342 --> 00:55:49,387
so he was moved from hospital to hospital.
946
00:55:50,138 --> 00:55:52,682
[Betty] You see him fighting for his life.
947
00:55:52,766 --> 00:55:54,809
We're going to do everything in our power.
948
00:55:54,893 --> 00:55:57,103
Let's air lift him.
949
00:55:59,022 --> 00:56:02,442
You don't know what's going to happen,
you don't know if he'll make it alive.
950
00:56:07,072 --> 00:56:10,533
[Ivonne] We arrived in Cleveland
at five in the morning.
951
00:56:12,035 --> 00:56:14,370
[Walter in English] My consciousness
was coming and going.
952
00:56:15,455 --> 00:56:17,749
It's a very strange feeling.
953
00:56:19,751 --> 00:56:21,086
[in Spanish] I opened my eyes and I saw...
954
00:56:21,169 --> 00:56:23,213
[in English] ...beautiful eyes, blue eyes,
955
00:56:23,296 --> 00:56:26,382
blonde hair, a boy, a girl,
956
00:56:26,466 --> 00:56:27,926
another boy, another girl.
957
00:56:28,510 --> 00:56:33,640
And I said, "Oh, my God,
they are angels. I must be in heaven!"
958
00:56:34,682 --> 00:56:38,436
And Ivonne says,
"Walter, wake up, you're not in heaven.
959
00:56:39,187 --> 00:56:40,688
You're in Cleveland."
960
00:56:43,858 --> 00:56:48,780
[in Spanish] He was in the hospital
for a couple of weeks.
961
00:56:48,863 --> 00:56:53,034
They put in stents
and he started to recover.
962
00:56:53,743 --> 00:56:55,411
Thank God, he recovered.
963
00:56:59,707 --> 00:57:02,502
Walter has always been there for us.
964
00:57:06,214 --> 00:57:10,510
At some point,
he won't be here, physically.
965
00:57:13,012 --> 00:57:17,976
I can't imagine life without him. At all.
966
00:57:26,901 --> 00:57:28,903
[pensive music playing]
967
00:57:43,501 --> 00:57:45,503
[soft piano music playing]
968
00:58:08,359 --> 00:58:12,113
"THE MESSENGER OF THE STARS"
969
00:58:35,470 --> 00:58:36,763
[smacks lips]
970
00:59:01,996 --> 00:59:03,748
[mutters indistinctly]
971
00:59:05,583 --> 00:59:07,752
[Ivonne] It's got to be
a serious blow for him.
972
00:59:10,713 --> 00:59:13,341
He would like to be present
973
00:59:13,424 --> 00:59:16,344
on the TV and reach his audience again.
974
00:59:16,886 --> 00:59:19,639
It has been a loss for him.
975
00:59:26,396 --> 00:59:29,566
But he is very concerned about his image.
976
00:59:31,734 --> 00:59:34,279
He wants to project fabulousness
977
00:59:35,113 --> 00:59:40,868
because that has been the figure
he's projected to the public
978
00:59:40,952 --> 00:59:43,955
with his outfits, his sumptuous style.
979
00:59:45,498 --> 00:59:51,170
And then not being able to do it
with the same energy he's used to...
980
00:59:53,590 --> 00:59:55,675
-[coughs]
-[speaking Spanish]
981
00:59:56,759 --> 01:00:01,139
[Ivonne] It makes him very anxious
because he wants
982
01:00:01,222 --> 01:00:04,225
to show his best face to his audience.
983
01:00:04,309 --> 01:00:05,310
[Willie in English] Set.
984
01:00:10,648 --> 01:00:13,443
[Betty in Spanish] Sometimes he'll ask me,
985
01:00:13,526 --> 01:00:16,321
"Do you believe in reincarnation?"
986
01:00:19,282 --> 01:00:22,285
And, "What do you think about death?
987
01:00:22,368 --> 01:00:24,120
What happens afterwards?"
988
01:00:26,497 --> 01:00:28,207
[Walter] How depressing.
989
01:00:30,376 --> 01:00:35,298
[Betty] As soon as we start talking
and the conversation gets going,
990
01:00:35,381 --> 01:00:37,425
he stops and doesn't want to talk anymore.
991
01:00:38,301 --> 01:00:39,761
[Walter] Which side?
992
01:00:46,142 --> 01:00:47,435
[kisses]
993
01:00:47,518 --> 01:00:50,813
[Betty] He says he's eternal,
that he'll live 120 years or more.
994
01:00:52,482 --> 01:00:53,566
[Walter] Okay.
995
01:01:01,616 --> 01:01:03,951
-[speaking Spanish]
-[audience cheering]
996
01:01:09,415 --> 01:01:11,918
[Walter exclaiming in Spanish]
997
01:01:13,670 --> 01:01:18,549
Walter, did you ever think
you'd reach this level of fame?
998
01:01:18,633 --> 01:01:20,718
No, I'm a Puerto Rican country boy.
999
01:01:22,804 --> 01:01:25,640
And you never thought about
making a movie of your life?
1000
01:01:25,723 --> 01:01:28,393
I don't want a movie yet.
1001
01:01:28,476 --> 01:01:30,311
Because people wait until you're dead
1002
01:01:30,395 --> 01:01:33,189
to tell legends about you.
I don't want legends!
1003
01:01:33,272 --> 01:01:35,441
I still have a lot of years left to live.
1004
01:01:35,525 --> 01:01:37,110
[audience applauding]
1005
01:01:44,617 --> 01:01:46,828
-To the theater!
-[speaking Spanish]
1006
01:01:47,412 --> 01:01:50,581
[Walter in English] Look at that.
It's beautiful.
1007
01:01:52,458 --> 01:01:55,336
[in Spanish] I did
many productions here, many.
1008
01:01:57,463 --> 01:02:01,426
This is where I got the biggest applause
of my life.
1009
01:02:03,261 --> 01:02:07,974
[in English] We play here
a lot of dramas and comedies.
1010
01:02:12,478 --> 01:02:16,232
And the Ponce audience was terrific.
1011
01:02:16,315 --> 01:02:18,151
Pam-pam-pam-pam!
1012
01:02:18,234 --> 01:02:20,361
It was very, very, very good.
1013
01:02:20,445 --> 01:02:24,615
The atmosphere, the air,
the energy's terrific.
1014
01:02:25,408 --> 01:02:28,286
All the opening nights of all the ballets,
1015
01:02:28,369 --> 01:02:29,662
Midsummer Night's Dream,
1016
01:02:30,413 --> 01:02:31,789
La Sylphide.
1017
01:02:32,457 --> 01:02:34,625
I have a lot of memories.
1018
01:02:34,709 --> 01:02:36,961
I was a leader, breaking rules.
1019
01:02:37,044 --> 01:02:39,088
I'm breaking norms.
I'm breaking forms.
1020
01:02:39,172 --> 01:02:40,131
Yes, all my life.
1021
01:02:40,214 --> 01:02:42,341
[clapping rhythmically]
1022
01:02:45,636 --> 01:02:46,471
Huh!
1023
01:02:46,554 --> 01:02:48,806
[speaking Spanish]
1024
01:02:59,317 --> 01:03:00,818
[in English] It was a big theater.
1025
01:03:01,527 --> 01:03:04,781
It was so beautiful.
It still is beautiful.
1026
01:03:07,825 --> 01:03:09,869
La Perla means a lot to me.
1027
01:03:09,952 --> 01:03:11,788
And to all the Ponceños.
1028
01:03:12,747 --> 01:03:15,833
Do you remember
beautiful moments of your life?
1029
01:03:15,917 --> 01:03:19,003
But it was in the past.
1030
01:03:19,086 --> 01:03:22,048
I would like to do it tomorrow. [chuckles]
1031
01:03:22,131 --> 01:03:24,258
I would like to go on doing things.
1032
01:03:27,094 --> 01:03:28,054
[clears throat]
1033
01:03:28,679 --> 01:03:30,640
Okay, let's walk.
1034
01:03:46,197 --> 01:03:47,406
[Lin-Manuel in Spanish] Thank you.
1035
01:03:57,333 --> 01:03:58,960
[elevator beeping]
1036
01:04:00,837 --> 01:04:03,339
-[in English] This is very weird.
-[laughing]
1037
01:04:04,465 --> 01:04:06,050
{\an8}[speaking Spanish]
1038
01:04:06,133 --> 01:04:09,846
{\an8}You know why it's weird?
It's because he just lives in the TV.
1039
01:04:09,929 --> 01:04:11,848
I don't know anything about Walter Mercado
1040
01:04:11,931 --> 01:04:15,977
other than him telling me
about my day and my life.
1041
01:04:16,060 --> 01:04:18,020
So it's like,
we're gonna go inside the TV?
1042
01:04:18,104 --> 01:04:21,107
That's honestly how I feel
right now. [laughs]
1043
01:04:28,906 --> 01:04:30,867
-[Walter] Boricua!
-[Lin-Manuel] Boricua!
1044
01:04:30,950 --> 01:04:32,118
[Walter] Welcome!
1045
01:04:34,954 --> 01:04:37,707
Take a good look at that beautiful man.
1046
01:04:37,790 --> 01:04:39,792
Best smile. Beautiful man.
1047
01:04:39,876 --> 01:04:40,751
[in Spanish] The honor is mine...
1048
01:04:40,835 --> 01:04:42,628
-[in English] This is crazy.
-[all laughing]
1049
01:04:42,712 --> 01:04:45,840
[Lin-Manuel] If you talk to anyone my age,
1050
01:04:45,923 --> 01:04:47,425
we grew up with him.
1051
01:04:47,508 --> 01:04:50,136
He is this iconic figure to us.
1052
01:04:50,219 --> 01:04:52,430
El señor Walter Mercado.
1053
01:04:52,513 --> 01:04:54,265
[audience cheering]
1054
01:04:54,348 --> 01:04:55,182
[woman] Bravo!
1055
01:04:55,266 --> 01:04:58,352
[Lin-Manuel] In retrospect,
there was really nothing else like it
1056
01:04:58,436 --> 01:05:00,479
on Spanish television.
1057
01:05:00,563 --> 01:05:01,647
He was like an oasis.
1058
01:05:01,731 --> 01:05:03,774
It's like gossip show,
gossip show, gossip show...
1059
01:05:03,858 --> 01:05:06,277
"Shut up! Walter Mercado's on." [chuckles]
1060
01:05:06,360 --> 01:05:08,362
The people in Puerto Rico
love you so much.
1061
01:05:08,446 --> 01:05:09,488
[Lin-Manuel] They love you more.
1062
01:05:09,572 --> 01:05:12,450
They love you. They love you.
We've always loved you.
1063
01:05:12,533 --> 01:05:14,035
This is very, uh...
1064
01:05:14,118 --> 01:05:16,162
It feels very surreal.
1065
01:05:16,245 --> 01:05:19,332
I... I'm very emotional because...
1066
01:05:19,415 --> 01:05:21,375
[in Spanish] I grew up watching you
with my grandmother.
1067
01:05:21,459 --> 01:05:23,419
-We watched you every morning.
-Oh!
1068
01:05:23,502 --> 01:05:27,381
I remember walking into the room
and my grandmother saying...
1069
01:05:27,465 --> 01:05:28,966
Shh, shh, shh.
1070
01:05:29,050 --> 01:05:31,093
-No, no, no, but... [shushing]
-[laughs]
1071
01:05:31,177 --> 01:05:34,096
-"They're getting to Sagittarius!"
-Capricornio.
1072
01:05:34,180 --> 01:05:35,848
-[all laughing]
-Capricornio.
1073
01:05:35,932 --> 01:05:37,642
And later I would...
1074
01:05:37,725 --> 01:05:38,684
[in English] So we'd sit there...
1075
01:05:38,768 --> 01:05:41,187
[in Spanish] And we would wait
for Sagittarius and Capricorn.
1076
01:05:42,438 --> 01:05:46,817
[in English] He is this fabulous being
unto himself
1077
01:05:46,901 --> 01:05:49,028
in capes and makeup.
1078
01:05:49,111 --> 01:05:49,946
My cape.
1079
01:05:50,029 --> 01:05:52,573
I was three times
in the Puerto Rican Parade.
1080
01:05:55,660 --> 01:05:57,411
[Lin-Manuel] Through
Walter Mercado's existence,
1081
01:05:57,495 --> 01:06:00,247
we have a greater acceptance
for people around us.
1082
01:06:03,084 --> 01:06:06,796
-[Willie speaking Spanish]
-[Lin-Manuel] Oh, my God.
1083
01:06:06,879 --> 01:06:09,507
We love him without questioning anything.
1084
01:06:09,590 --> 01:06:12,051
And he has a great moral authority.
1085
01:06:12,635 --> 01:06:14,887
In that way, he's absolutely a pioneer.
1086
01:06:15,638 --> 01:06:17,181
It's gonna be weird when I wear this
1087
01:06:17,264 --> 01:06:20,601
-instead of my Hamilton costume tomorrow.
-[all laughing]
1088
01:06:20,685 --> 01:06:23,270
-[Walter] Take your natal chart with you.
-[Lin-Manuel] Yes.
1089
01:06:23,354 --> 01:06:26,065
I want you to know that you have in me
1090
01:06:26,148 --> 01:06:28,526
a friend and an admirer.
1091
01:06:28,609 --> 01:06:30,569
[laughing] I'm gonna start crying.
1092
01:06:30,653 --> 01:06:32,571
-[Walter] You can't believe it?
-I can't believe it.
1093
01:06:32,655 --> 01:06:35,157
I can't believe what's happening.
This is incredible.
1094
01:06:35,241 --> 01:06:36,075
[in Spanish] Thank you.
1095
01:06:36,158 --> 01:06:37,952
-No, thanks to you.
-[kisses]
1096
01:06:38,035 --> 01:06:39,578
[in English] You're a light in our lives.
1097
01:06:40,496 --> 01:06:42,665
You are.
[in Spanish] Incredible.
1098
01:06:43,666 --> 01:06:44,667
[camera shutter clicks]
1099
01:06:44,750 --> 01:06:49,088
"Lots of peace
and lots and lots of love..."
1100
01:06:49,171 --> 01:06:51,173
[upbeat Latin song playing]
1101
01:06:56,262 --> 01:06:58,347
[in English] Millennials know
1102
01:06:58,431 --> 01:07:01,851
perhaps maybe more
about Walter Mercado than I do.
1103
01:07:01,934 --> 01:07:03,561
I've seen the memes.
1104
01:07:06,772 --> 01:07:09,442
{\an8}Imagine there was, like,
a 20-year-old right now
1105
01:07:09,525 --> 01:07:12,069
who was like,
"I'm gonna read you your horoscope.
1106
01:07:12,153 --> 01:07:14,280
I'm nonbinary and asexual."
1107
01:07:15,656 --> 01:07:17,533
They'd be the biggest thing on Instagram.
1108
01:07:24,081 --> 01:07:26,333
[Ivonne in Spanish] There's a phenomenon
that I can't explain.
1109
01:07:26,417 --> 01:07:27,585
We don't understand why
1110
01:07:27,668 --> 01:07:30,504
so many young people love and admire him
1111
01:07:30,588 --> 01:07:34,884
when they haven't been able
to see him on TV in years.
1112
01:07:34,967 --> 01:07:38,095
[in English] Had the Liberace swag
on a million. You know what I'm sayin'?
1113
01:07:38,179 --> 01:07:40,723
Look at that shit, bro.
The cape game was immaculate.
1114
01:07:40,806 --> 01:07:42,141
Lookin' like my grandma's drapes.
1115
01:07:42,224 --> 01:07:44,685
[upbeat Latin song continues playing]
1116
01:07:47,897 --> 01:07:52,401
He's so nostalgic. He represents
moments where we're hanging out
1117
01:07:52,485 --> 01:07:54,612
with our abuelitas,
with our moms, with everybody.
1118
01:07:55,237 --> 01:07:58,115
{\an8}You could put him on a coin,
you could put him on a T-shirt,
1119
01:07:58,199 --> 01:08:00,201
{\an8}and we would all be like,
"Oh, I know that."
1120
01:08:00,785 --> 01:08:04,288
{\an8}Walter Mercado is from my family's
hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Eh!
1121
01:08:04,371 --> 01:08:06,749
So, I had instant appreciation for him.
1122
01:08:06,832 --> 01:08:07,750
You wanna go in there?
1123
01:08:10,586 --> 01:08:12,797
And here it is, the masterpiece itself.
1124
01:08:15,216 --> 01:08:16,258
Everybody takes pictures.
1125
01:08:16,342 --> 01:08:18,469
I have to tell the men
not to go into the ladies' room
1126
01:08:18,552 --> 01:08:21,180
because everybody
wants to see the bathrooms.
1127
01:08:21,263 --> 01:08:22,973
[interviewer 1] Do you believe
in astrology?
1128
01:08:23,057 --> 01:08:25,226
Uh... I believe in Walter.
1129
01:08:25,309 --> 01:08:27,144
I believe in anything
Walter does and says.
1130
01:08:27,895 --> 01:08:30,523
[Bobby Gilardi] We have a cocktail
named after Walter Mercado.
1131
01:08:32,358 --> 01:08:35,194
You get this, like, smoky floral note.
1132
01:08:35,986 --> 01:08:38,405
{\an8}Kind of represents what is
1133
01:08:38,489 --> 01:08:41,408
{\an8}mysterious and enigmatic
with Walter Mercado.
1134
01:08:42,785 --> 01:08:46,831
I'm happy to see that Walter Mercado
is still relevant.
1135
01:08:46,914 --> 01:08:48,374
{\an8}He is still an icon.
1136
01:08:49,291 --> 01:08:53,087
"BUT ABOVE ALL
LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE"
1137
01:09:10,896 --> 01:09:15,484
[Willie in Spanish]
The HistoryMiami Museum has planned
1138
01:09:15,568 --> 01:09:19,572
to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of what was
1139
01:09:19,655 --> 01:09:21,115
The Walter Mercado Show
1140
01:09:21,198 --> 01:09:24,577
and your role in the world of astrology.
1141
01:09:25,870 --> 01:09:29,665
[Walter in English] It's a moment
of celebration of my whole life.
1142
01:09:29,748 --> 01:09:32,293
I'm an ageless personality.
1143
01:09:32,376 --> 01:09:36,297
But according
to the chronological time of the shows,
1144
01:09:36,380 --> 01:09:39,258
it takes 50 years of fabulousness,
1145
01:09:39,341 --> 01:09:42,011
of excitement, of exoticism.
1146
01:09:42,094 --> 01:09:44,096
[instrumental music playing]
1147
01:09:50,853 --> 01:09:54,356
[Walter in Spanish] If we invite
everyone in Miami who knows and loves me,
1148
01:09:54,440 --> 01:09:58,944
I will need to invite all of my jewelers,
perfumers... everybody.
1149
01:09:59,528 --> 01:10:00,905
It will be a big scandal.
1150
01:10:00,988 --> 01:10:04,116
We're anticipating having
about 200 guests.
1151
01:10:04,200 --> 01:10:07,369
We have on the list of guests
1152
01:10:07,453 --> 01:10:09,747
your friend, Julio... Julio Iglesias.
1153
01:10:09,830 --> 01:10:12,958
[in English] But also Gloria Estefan,
Emilio...
1154
01:10:13,042 --> 01:10:16,045
[in Spanish] ...and their son,
who are my good friends.
1155
01:10:17,213 --> 01:10:19,590
And "The Beast."
1156
01:10:20,716 --> 01:10:22,218
"The Beast" needs to be there.
1157
01:10:23,427 --> 01:10:24,386
[Ivonne] Who is "The Beast"?
1158
01:10:24,470 --> 01:10:26,805
[Walter in English] The most famous
perfume dealer in...
1159
01:10:26,889 --> 01:10:28,265
-[Wilma] In Miami?
-Yes.
1160
01:10:28,349 --> 01:10:29,767
-[Wilma] La bestia?
-La bestia.
1161
01:10:29,850 --> 01:10:31,393
He's terrific.
1162
01:10:31,477 --> 01:10:32,978
He's a beast in perfumes.
1163
01:10:34,480 --> 01:10:36,482
[lively Latin music playing]
1164
01:10:43,656 --> 01:10:44,865
[photographer in Spanish] Beautiful!
1165
01:10:49,161 --> 01:10:52,289
[Ivonne] This photoshoot today
is to promote
1166
01:10:52,373 --> 01:10:54,917
the exhibition at the HistoryMiami Museum.
1167
01:10:56,377 --> 01:10:57,920
[photographer] Show me some face...
1168
01:10:58,003 --> 01:10:59,088
That's what I love.
1169
01:11:00,089 --> 01:11:00,923
Beautiful!
1170
01:11:03,550 --> 01:11:04,551
That's it.
1171
01:11:05,636 --> 01:11:08,389
And now, George,
tell him to put his hands like this.
1172
01:11:08,472 --> 01:11:11,350
Do you want a little break?
Let's take one.
1173
01:11:11,433 --> 01:11:13,018
Because that thing must weigh...
1174
01:11:13,102 --> 01:11:14,395
[Walter] I understand.
1175
01:11:17,940 --> 01:11:21,026
How much does one of those capes weigh?
1176
01:11:21,110 --> 01:11:22,361
They must weigh a lot.
1177
01:11:22,444 --> 01:11:23,821
Like 15 pounds.
1178
01:11:23,904 --> 01:11:25,114
Dude...
1179
01:11:25,197 --> 01:11:27,032
He has a pinched sciatic nerve,
1180
01:11:27,116 --> 01:11:32,746
and it's making the movements
difficult for him.
1181
01:11:32,830 --> 01:11:38,544
I have some capes that are crazy heavy...
but this one weighs like 15 or 20.
1182
01:11:38,627 --> 01:11:40,254
[Walter in English] To be on television,
1183
01:11:40,337 --> 01:11:44,675
you have to be
very well-dressed, prepared, planned.
1184
01:11:45,384 --> 01:11:46,635
It's work.
1185
01:11:47,261 --> 01:11:50,556
I demand too much of myself
and it demands much energy.
1186
01:11:51,515 --> 01:11:53,100
And it's exhausting.
1187
01:11:53,183 --> 01:11:55,185
[slow piano music playing]
1188
01:12:09,616 --> 01:12:11,452
[Willie] Right now, he's suffering.
1189
01:12:11,952 --> 01:12:13,829
He has terrible pain.
1190
01:12:13,912 --> 01:12:15,414
He hurt himself.
1191
01:12:25,424 --> 01:12:28,052
[in Spanish] He gets tired.
He gets tired because of his age.
1192
01:12:30,929 --> 01:12:34,183
[Ivonne] He wants to keep doing
a lot of things
1193
01:12:34,266 --> 01:12:38,145
that now aren't so realistic
for him to do.
1194
01:12:43,150 --> 01:12:44,526
Let's do another.
1195
01:12:45,027 --> 01:12:46,320
-[Walter] One more?
-Yes.
1196
01:12:47,029 --> 01:12:47,863
[camera shutter clicks]
1197
01:12:49,031 --> 01:12:51,283
[Walter] That one weighs a ton...
1198
01:12:51,367 --> 01:12:52,743
and it's double.
1199
01:12:54,244 --> 01:12:56,622
[interviewer 2 in English] Would you
describe this era of your life
1200
01:12:56,705 --> 01:12:58,165
as being in "semi-retirement"?
1201
01:12:58,248 --> 01:13:01,168
No, never! I will never retire.
1202
01:13:01,251 --> 01:13:04,338
I'm going to die
with my boots on. [snickers]
1203
01:13:04,963 --> 01:13:07,299
What are you saying, retire?
1204
01:13:07,383 --> 01:13:08,759
I will never retire.
1205
01:13:08,842 --> 01:13:10,177
I'm full of energy.
1206
01:13:10,260 --> 01:13:13,764
I'm 20 years old and I began a new journey
1207
01:13:13,847 --> 01:13:16,308
in the life of a hero.
1208
01:13:16,392 --> 01:13:18,435
[camera shutter clicking]
1209
01:13:18,519 --> 01:13:20,229
[soft orchestral music playing]
1210
01:13:34,451 --> 01:13:36,286
Life is so short.
1211
01:13:36,370 --> 01:13:37,621
I'm Walter, a body.
1212
01:13:37,704 --> 01:13:39,289
But more important than the body,
1213
01:13:39,373 --> 01:13:42,918
my spirit and my message
is going to be eternal.
1214
01:13:54,471 --> 01:13:57,433
[photographer] Mucho mucho...
amor. [chuckles]
1215
01:14:06,900 --> 01:14:07,776
[Walter clears throat]
1216
01:14:08,360 --> 01:14:11,029
[speaking Spanish]
1217
01:14:13,740 --> 01:14:16,410
I was in the office
and he called me on the phone.
1218
01:14:16,910 --> 01:14:19,663
And he said, "Please come, I fell down."
1219
01:14:22,749 --> 01:14:26,170
And apparently he got
tangled up with sheets.
1220
01:14:26,253 --> 01:14:28,964
So when he got out of the bed, he fell.
1221
01:14:30,424 --> 01:14:33,802
Three of us went running
and untangled him.
1222
01:14:33,886 --> 01:14:37,681
But then he went to take a bath
and he slipped and he fell.
1223
01:14:37,764 --> 01:14:42,019
And Willie said he heard
how hard he hit himself against the floor.
1224
01:14:42,936 --> 01:14:45,522
He had black and blues on his back.
1225
01:14:48,567 --> 01:14:50,402
[voice shaking] It's hard for all of us.
1226
01:14:50,486 --> 01:14:52,404
You know, we've never seen him like that.
1227
01:14:53,155 --> 01:14:54,865
[in Spanish] Take a look, Jesse.
1228
01:14:55,616 --> 01:14:57,659
Thank you, Jesse. Many thanks.
1229
01:14:57,743 --> 01:14:59,870
With all my heart, thank you.
1230
01:15:00,996 --> 01:15:03,040
You've made my life happy.
1231
01:15:04,082 --> 01:15:10,714
After we took him for tests
and we saw those first X-rays,
1232
01:15:11,423 --> 01:15:17,221
uh... the diagnosis was
that he had fractured a rib
1233
01:15:17,304 --> 01:15:22,601
and part of the dorsal vertebrae
of his spine.
1234
01:15:23,227 --> 01:15:26,688
In addition to the fracture
he has on his pelvis.
1235
01:15:27,272 --> 01:15:30,150
I'm taking it easy,
but it's driving me crazy.
1236
01:15:30,234 --> 01:15:35,280
Nothing scares me
and nothing stops me, so...
1237
01:15:36,657 --> 01:15:39,284
Sometimes I'm in pain, sometimes I'm not.
1238
01:15:39,368 --> 01:15:42,162
Yesterday, I was in tremendous pain.
1239
01:15:43,247 --> 01:15:46,041
[Ivonne] Being in front of the cameras
gives him energy.
1240
01:15:46,667 --> 01:15:48,919
Do you want more light? Less light?
1241
01:15:49,002 --> 01:15:50,379
[interviewer 1] It's okay how it is.
1242
01:15:50,462 --> 01:15:52,798
How do I look?
1243
01:15:52,881 --> 01:15:55,300
[in English] Not "okay."
You have to check.
1244
01:15:57,261 --> 01:15:59,846
[in Spanish] Just like the cameras
and the filming
1245
01:15:59,930 --> 01:16:02,140
and the lights gives him energy,
1246
01:16:02,808 --> 01:16:05,060
his public gives him even more.
1247
01:16:05,644 --> 01:16:07,437
[rolls tongue]
1248
01:16:11,817 --> 01:16:14,945
[Ivonne] Even though he has a fracture
and even though he's in pain,
1249
01:16:15,821 --> 01:16:19,199
he's definitely going to go
to the event in Miami.
1250
01:16:19,283 --> 01:16:20,450
He's going to be there.
1251
01:16:21,618 --> 01:16:23,161
[in English] Oh, my goodness.
1252
01:16:31,420 --> 01:16:33,422
[instrumental music playing]
1253
01:16:43,724 --> 01:16:45,309
[imperceptible]
1254
01:16:45,392 --> 01:16:47,269
[man] Hi, Walter. How are you?
1255
01:16:57,738 --> 01:16:59,698
[both speaking Spanish]
1256
01:17:03,619 --> 01:17:05,454
[indistinct chatter]
1257
01:17:07,039 --> 01:17:09,333
[both speaking Spanish]
1258
01:17:13,837 --> 01:17:16,506
[in English] This is our second home.
Miami.
1259
01:17:33,357 --> 01:17:34,941
[woman] Oh, my gosh.
1260
01:17:35,025 --> 01:17:37,027
[woman speaking Spanish]
1261
01:17:38,570 --> 01:17:40,906
-Muchas gracias.
-[both speaking Spanish]
1262
01:17:42,741 --> 01:17:44,117
-[in Spanish] How does the song go?
-What?
1263
01:17:44,201 --> 01:17:45,661
"And you, and you, and you..."
1264
01:17:45,744 --> 01:17:47,621
It's like, "May the skies..."
1265
01:17:47,704 --> 01:17:49,998
[all singing in Spanish]
1266
01:18:03,261 --> 01:18:07,599
♪ I care about you
And you and you ♪
1267
01:18:07,683 --> 01:18:11,144
♪ And no one else but you
And you and you ♪
1268
01:18:11,228 --> 01:18:15,148
♪ I care about you
And you and you ♪
1269
01:18:15,232 --> 01:18:18,235
♪ And no one else but you... ♪
1270
01:18:18,318 --> 01:18:21,863
[all continue singing in Spanish]
1271
01:18:32,416 --> 01:18:34,501
["Piel Canela" playing]
1272
01:19:21,840 --> 01:19:23,467
[Willie] Who's coming now? Who's coming?
1273
01:19:23,550 --> 01:19:26,428
-[woman] Right now, Primer Impacto.
-[Willie] Primer Impacto.
1274
01:19:26,511 --> 01:19:27,512
Okay.
1275
01:19:28,805 --> 01:19:31,016
[host] Look how privileged we are,
ladies and gentlemen,
1276
01:19:31,099 --> 01:19:32,726
to be with Walter Mercado today.
1277
01:19:32,809 --> 01:19:35,771
[in English] I'm here with Walter Mercado.
I don't need to introduce him.
1278
01:19:35,854 --> 01:19:38,064
I would like to ask you
about this incredible exhibit.
1279
01:19:38,148 --> 01:19:40,317
[in Spanish] It's been 50 years
in front of the lens.
1280
01:19:40,400 --> 01:19:44,321
What does it mean to you,
to share with your public?
1281
01:19:44,404 --> 01:19:46,198
It's so they get a little of the flavor...
1282
01:19:46,281 --> 01:19:49,826
{\an8}and the fragrance, the essence
of Walter Mercado.
1283
01:19:49,910 --> 01:19:54,790
[in English] Walter is not only the cape,
or the hair, or what they think.
1284
01:19:54,873 --> 01:19:58,794
[in Spanish] Walter Mercado
is a force of nature.
1285
01:19:58,877 --> 01:20:00,670
Would you return
to Primer Impacto, Walter?
1286
01:20:00,754 --> 01:20:02,923
{\an8}I don't know because some things
belong to their era.
1287
01:20:03,006 --> 01:20:06,176
[host] You were an actor,
a singer, a dancer...
1288
01:20:06,259 --> 01:20:08,053
Keep going, keep going, it's all true.
1289
01:20:08,136 --> 01:20:10,305
What is your message to Hispanics?
1290
01:20:10,388 --> 01:20:14,810
That every day we should be more united,
more heart.
1291
01:20:14,893 --> 01:20:18,605
Diversity makes us stronger.
1292
01:20:18,688 --> 01:20:20,690
[camera shutter clicking]
1293
01:20:26,071 --> 01:20:30,325
[clears throat] It's a shame
that I woke up without a voice.
1294
01:20:30,408 --> 01:20:33,537
I don't know why,
but I have many ailments.
1295
01:20:33,620 --> 01:20:38,416
I have sciatica, too, but I told myself,
"You can't ever miss Jorge Ramos!"
1296
01:20:38,500 --> 01:20:42,671
But then one says to oneself, "You have to
be healthy first in order to get sick."
1297
01:20:42,754 --> 01:20:44,422
In other words, you're doing well?
1298
01:20:44,506 --> 01:20:45,632
Of course I'm well!
1299
01:20:45,715 --> 01:20:47,676
-And with tremendous energy.
-I know.
1300
01:20:48,385 --> 01:20:49,928
Can I say your age? 87?
1301
01:20:50,011 --> 01:20:52,556
-No! No!
-[laughing]
1302
01:20:52,639 --> 01:20:54,808
[Walter] Between 50 and death,
and that's it.
1303
01:20:54,891 --> 01:20:56,685
That seems extraordinary to me.
1304
01:20:56,768 --> 01:20:57,853
[Jorge in English] So, let me ask you...
1305
01:20:58,603 --> 01:21:00,146
I am agnostic.
1306
01:21:00,230 --> 01:21:02,023
When we die,
1307
01:21:02,107 --> 01:21:03,775
I don't know what's gonna happen.
1308
01:21:03,859 --> 01:21:06,486
That's good. You will have surprises.
1309
01:21:06,570 --> 01:21:07,946
[Jorge] I hope that we have surprises.
1310
01:21:08,029 --> 01:21:09,406
And I hope that I'm wrong.
1311
01:21:10,240 --> 01:21:12,158
When we die,
1312
01:21:12,242 --> 01:21:14,077
what happens, Walter?
1313
01:21:14,160 --> 01:21:17,247
The body, which is just a house or a cage,
1314
01:21:17,330 --> 01:21:20,125
you begin from earth, to return to earth.
1315
01:21:20,208 --> 01:21:23,628
You are just atoms and molecules,
but there is inside you
1316
01:21:23,712 --> 01:21:25,422
something eternal, immortal.
1317
01:21:25,505 --> 01:21:26,590
[Jorge] Eternal?
1318
01:21:26,673 --> 01:21:29,885
So you think that
we'll be there without our body?
1319
01:21:29,968 --> 01:21:31,678
Yes, until you are reincarnated.
1320
01:21:32,220 --> 01:21:33,597
Because I believe...
1321
01:21:33,680 --> 01:21:38,518
Not believe.
I know that there is reincarnation.
1322
01:21:38,602 --> 01:21:41,021
[in Spanish] Are you going to die
in Puerto Rico?
1323
01:21:41,104 --> 01:21:43,148
-Wherever they catch me.
-[both laugh]
1324
01:21:43,899 --> 01:21:46,192
It's that death doesn't worry
me that much.
1325
01:21:46,276 --> 01:21:47,110
Really?
1326
01:21:47,193 --> 01:21:49,029
It's a topic I don't like
to broach because
1327
01:21:49,112 --> 01:21:51,698
we all know we're going to die someday.
1328
01:21:51,781 --> 01:21:55,285
The day you're born they mark a document
saying you'll die someday.
1329
01:21:55,368 --> 01:21:57,621
Is there someone? A god?
1330
01:21:57,704 --> 01:22:00,582
Who tells us what is going to happen?
1331
01:22:00,665 --> 01:22:03,084
God is in there, God is in here.
1332
01:22:03,168 --> 01:22:05,337
The God that is in me... [kisses]
1333
01:22:05,420 --> 01:22:07,339
salutes the God that is in you.
1334
01:22:07,422 --> 01:22:08,298
The Namaste.
1335
01:22:08,381 --> 01:22:10,717
You know I can't end the interview
1336
01:22:10,800 --> 01:22:13,637
without asking you to do
your "with lots of love" thing.
1337
01:22:13,720 --> 01:22:17,390
May God bless all of you, even though
he doesn't believe in God...
1338
01:22:17,474 --> 01:22:19,434
May God bless all of you...
1339
01:22:19,517 --> 01:22:21,394
today, tomorrow and always.
1340
01:22:21,478 --> 01:22:24,689
And may you receive from me always...
1341
01:22:24,773 --> 01:22:26,316
a lot of peace.
1342
01:22:26,399 --> 01:22:28,109
But above all, what?
1343
01:22:28,193 --> 01:22:32,405
A lot, a lot, a lot, a lot... of love.
1344
01:22:32,489 --> 01:22:34,074
[applause]
1345
01:22:45,460 --> 01:22:47,295
[Walter in English] I'm in the front page.
1346
01:22:49,631 --> 01:22:50,840
Look at that.
1347
01:22:50,924 --> 01:22:53,802
My capes in the museum.
1348
01:22:56,388 --> 01:22:58,348
{\an8}I'm happy tonight.
1349
01:22:58,431 --> 01:23:01,393
I'm flabbergasted.
1350
01:23:01,476 --> 01:23:05,855
I'm bombarded with many beautiful words.
1351
01:23:06,606 --> 01:23:09,818
Everybody's talking about tonight.
1352
01:23:10,527 --> 01:23:12,153
And I have all my family here.
1353
01:23:29,879 --> 01:23:31,506
[Willie] Yeah, okay. My bad.
1354
01:23:32,382 --> 01:23:34,509
[Walter in Spanish] What do you think?
Is it too big?
1355
01:23:34,592 --> 01:23:35,593
[in English] A little big?
1356
01:23:35,677 --> 01:23:37,929
[woman in Spanish] Very humble.
It's very you.
1357
01:23:38,013 --> 01:23:39,347
[in English] When I wake up
in the morning,
1358
01:23:39,431 --> 01:23:40,890
it's the first morning of my life.
1359
01:23:41,725 --> 01:23:43,226
Today is my day.
1360
01:23:43,977 --> 01:23:46,980
Today, I'm going to be
the best version of Walter.
1361
01:23:47,981 --> 01:23:50,525
Life is a constant reinvention.
1362
01:23:50,608 --> 01:23:53,737
I never rehearse to be myself.
1363
01:23:55,280 --> 01:23:56,906
[interviewer 1] Are you ready
for your close-up?
1364
01:23:56,990 --> 01:23:59,909
I'm ready... [clearing throat]
1365
01:23:59,993 --> 01:24:02,287
I'm ready... [clearing throat]
1366
01:24:02,370 --> 01:24:04,080
I'm ready for my close-up.
1367
01:24:09,419 --> 01:24:11,046
[in Spanish] Don't film my chair.
1368
01:24:11,129 --> 01:24:12,505
[in English] Don't shoot.
1369
01:24:12,589 --> 01:24:14,758
Only the upper part of the body.
1370
01:24:15,341 --> 01:24:16,259
[in Spanish] This way, Walter.
1371
01:24:36,279 --> 01:24:37,947
[instrumental music playing]
1372
01:24:52,587 --> 01:24:54,464
[indistinct chatter]
1373
01:24:58,593 --> 01:25:01,346
[in English] I've never been
in the same room with Walter.
1374
01:25:01,429 --> 01:25:04,182
I look forward to that.
We're all here for him.
1375
01:25:05,058 --> 01:25:06,184
Hi, Walter.
1376
01:25:06,267 --> 01:25:09,145
Gracias.
Mucho, mucho, mucho amor.
1377
01:25:09,229 --> 01:25:11,898
Mucho, mucho amor.
1378
01:25:11,981 --> 01:25:14,651
[all] Mucho, mucho amor.
1379
01:25:15,527 --> 01:25:17,153
[muffled music playing]
1380
01:25:18,029 --> 01:25:21,116
[in Spanish] It's hot.
I'm telling you it's a little hot.
1381
01:25:21,199 --> 01:25:22,200
It's hot.
1382
01:25:23,910 --> 01:25:25,787
-There's no more room for people?
-What?
1383
01:25:25,870 --> 01:25:27,539
There's no more space?
1384
01:25:27,622 --> 01:25:30,375
No, no more space.
They're not letting more people in.
1385
01:25:30,458 --> 01:25:32,961
-[lively chatter and laughter]
-[upbeat music playing]
1386
01:25:46,766 --> 01:25:50,436
{\an8}[in English] This just in. We are dying
of heat waiting for Walter Mercado.
1387
01:25:50,520 --> 01:25:51,521
{\an8}Music's playing...
1388
01:25:51,604 --> 01:25:53,064
{\an8}[in Spanish] ...but he's nowhere
to be found.
1389
01:25:53,148 --> 01:25:55,024
[in English] Haven't seen him.
We're super fangirling.
1390
01:26:05,702 --> 01:26:09,747
[in Spanish] The homage to Walter
is about to begin.
1391
01:26:09,831 --> 01:26:12,041
I don't know.
I don't know what's going to happen.
1392
01:26:12,125 --> 01:26:13,918
I feel emotional and happy.
1393
01:26:14,002 --> 01:26:16,337
[in English] I don't know
what his energy level will be right now,
1394
01:26:16,421 --> 01:26:17,463
but we're super excited.
1395
01:26:17,547 --> 01:26:18,715
[both] So excited.
1396
01:26:18,798 --> 01:26:21,426
Ah! My God. [laughs]
1397
01:26:22,010 --> 01:26:24,262
[woman] You have to sit on the throne now.
1398
01:26:24,971 --> 01:26:27,599
[in Spanish] But they have to do the dance
first and all that.
1399
01:26:27,682 --> 01:26:29,475
-[man] But he has to be seated already.
-I know.
1400
01:26:29,559 --> 01:26:31,561
[dramatic choral music playing]
1401
01:26:55,501 --> 01:26:58,004
Now? Should I get on it?
1402
01:26:58,504 --> 01:26:59,881
[dramatic music playing]
1403
01:27:08,848 --> 01:27:10,225
[woman in English] Okay, Walter, let's go.
1404
01:27:11,893 --> 01:27:13,895
[suspenseful music playing]
1405
01:27:30,328 --> 01:27:32,622
[dramatic orchestral music playing]
1406
01:27:36,125 --> 01:27:38,294
[cheering]
1407
01:27:58,064 --> 01:28:00,191
[woman screams]
1408
01:28:28,761 --> 01:28:30,763
[crowd cheering]
1409
01:28:35,685 --> 01:28:37,437
[man] I know that I look really calm,
1410
01:28:37,520 --> 01:28:39,105
but I'm about to freak out because...
1411
01:28:39,939 --> 01:28:40,940
[gasps]
1412
01:28:44,444 --> 01:28:45,862
[camera shutters clicking]
1413
01:28:56,372 --> 01:28:58,875
I watched when I was a kid. I love you.
1414
01:28:58,958 --> 01:29:00,293
[in Spanish] I love your vest!
1415
01:29:00,376 --> 01:29:01,961
-You like it?
-I love it!
1416
01:29:02,045 --> 01:29:03,546
I follow you from Spain.
1417
01:29:03,629 --> 01:29:04,464
Wow!
1418
01:29:04,547 --> 01:29:07,091
Like a good Cancer,
I always listened to you.
1419
01:29:07,175 --> 01:29:08,801
[in English] You're so beautiful!
1420
01:29:08,885 --> 01:29:11,262
[in Spanish] Thank you... I'm a Scorpio.
1421
01:29:12,972 --> 01:29:14,057
[in English] Okay, next.
1422
01:29:23,107 --> 01:29:25,860
[in Spanish] Bless them for me please,
for the photo.
1423
01:29:26,736 --> 01:29:27,570
[kisses]
1424
01:29:32,116 --> 01:29:33,284
[Walter] For me...
1425
01:29:33,368 --> 01:29:37,663
it was the most beautiful and memorable
moment of my life.
1426
01:29:37,747 --> 01:29:39,290
[crowd cheering]
1427
01:29:43,086 --> 01:29:44,712
{\an8}-[rain pattering]
-[Walter exclaims]
1428
01:29:47,715 --> 01:29:49,759
Look at that!
1429
01:29:52,845 --> 01:29:54,847
My God...
1430
01:29:54,931 --> 01:29:56,641
What good publicity!
1431
01:29:58,392 --> 01:30:02,021
It's all beautiful... my hair...
It's all beautiful.
1432
01:30:02,814 --> 01:30:04,148
[in English] Beautiful.
1433
01:30:11,697 --> 01:30:13,783
[in Spanish] Look at this one.
How beautiful.
1434
01:30:16,160 --> 01:30:18,579
Look at the photo of my family
when I was a child.
1435
01:30:18,663 --> 01:30:19,956
Oh, my God.
1436
01:30:20,540 --> 01:30:23,000
-I don't think I'm in this one, Willie.
-Where?
1437
01:30:23,084 --> 01:30:24,210
Over there.
1438
01:30:24,293 --> 01:30:26,546
-This one is you.
-No. I don't believe it.
1439
01:30:26,629 --> 01:30:29,006
This is Cuca, Henry,
your dad and your mom.
1440
01:30:29,090 --> 01:30:30,466
-How depressing.
-Oh, please...
1441
01:30:30,550 --> 01:30:31,384
[Walter] How depressing.
1442
01:30:37,265 --> 01:30:41,102
[in English] I'm a fortune teller,
but I don't like to know my future.
1443
01:30:42,353 --> 01:30:45,189
I just want to enjoy
each moment of my life.
1444
01:30:48,693 --> 01:30:49,777
[in Spanish] Look, look!
1445
01:30:52,446 --> 01:30:54,198
Look at that!
1446
01:30:58,661 --> 01:31:00,371
I was very cute, wasn't I?
1447
01:31:02,123 --> 01:31:02,957
Yes.
1448
01:31:06,752 --> 01:31:09,172
[in English] I feel
that I'm in heaven right now,
1449
01:31:09,255 --> 01:31:11,465
living the life I'm choosing to live
1450
01:31:11,549 --> 01:31:15,011
and with the people that I love.
That's heaven for me.
1451
01:31:15,094 --> 01:31:17,013
I don't expect another heaven.
1452
01:31:17,096 --> 01:31:19,140
Heaven is today and heaven is now.
1453
01:31:24,061 --> 01:31:25,938
[in Spanish] That's precious!
1454
01:31:27,690 --> 01:31:29,483
[Willie in English] Walter will never...
1455
01:31:30,234 --> 01:31:31,777
He will never leave.
1456
01:31:32,653 --> 01:31:34,989
This will leave, yes.
1457
01:31:35,072 --> 01:31:37,658
This is a carapacho. This is, uh...
1458
01:31:37,742 --> 01:31:39,243
This is nothing.
1459
01:31:40,286 --> 01:31:42,205
[Walter singing] ♪ If you go away ♪
1460
01:31:42,288 --> 01:31:44,457
[vocalizes]
1461
01:31:45,166 --> 01:31:47,001
♪ If you go away ♪
1462
01:31:48,377 --> 01:31:49,712
[Willie] When he passes away,
1463
01:31:49,795 --> 01:31:52,215
the essence of Walter will live
1464
01:31:52,298 --> 01:31:54,717
forever and ever
1465
01:31:54,800 --> 01:31:57,386
in the heart of everybody that love him.
1466
01:32:02,183 --> 01:32:04,727
[Walter] Walter Mercado
is a force of nature
1467
01:32:04,810 --> 01:32:07,438
without beginnings and endings.
1468
01:32:08,147 --> 01:32:10,650
He used to be a star, but now,
1469
01:32:11,525 --> 01:32:13,527
Walter is a constellation.
1470
01:32:34,924 --> 01:32:37,510
["Dame un Besito" playing]
1471
01:32:59,115 --> 01:33:00,324
[kisses]
1472
01:34:08,267 --> 01:34:11,103
We dedicate this film to our grandmas
and to all the grandmas of the world.
1473
01:34:11,187 --> 01:34:13,189
With lots of love,
Alejandrito, KanKan and Ceena
1474
01:34:13,272 --> 01:34:15,358
["Dame un Besito" continues playing]
1475
01:35:24,593 --> 01:35:29,598
[in Spanish] God bless you all
today, tomorrow, and forever.
1476
01:35:29,682 --> 01:35:34,061
And may you receive from me always peace,
lots of peace.
1477
01:35:34,145 --> 01:35:36,522
But above all,
receive lots and lots of what?
1478
01:35:37,148 --> 01:35:38,482
[kisses] Love.
1479
01:35:39,567 --> 01:35:41,735
-[interviewer] Thank you.
-[cheering]
1480
01:35:42,820 --> 01:35:44,238
[interviewer in English]
The One-Take Wonder!