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Can anyone help find a missing child?
Sir, sir, does this little girl look familiar to you at all?
OK, thanks for taking a look. I appreciate it.
Missing child, please... thank you, ma'am.
Take a look.
Thank you.
Excuse me. I'm, I'm confused.
Are you trying to find your daughter?
No, I'm the one who's missing, ma'am.
I need help finding me.
[upbeat music]
[Monique] This is my family.
That's my mama, Elizabeth.
I guess y'all thought y'all was runnin' to Boston, huh?
[Monique] She's got alpha energy,
always in charge.
Give me my buck.
[Monique] Most people were afraid of her,
avoided bumping heads, even men.
Usually, I tried to stay out of her way.
But daughters need mothers.
-Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. -That's right, partner.
Take them downtown.
[Monique] Miss Barbara was a family friend.
She always hung around in good times and bad.
[Sarah] Stop all that yapping, Barbara.
Let me see you get your hands dirty.
[Monique] My granny, Sarah,
she was second in command to Mama.
And Mama made sure to remind her when she overstepped.
Uh-uh, worry about your own partner.
Don't sell no whoop tickets over here.
[Monique] My uncles didn't make much fuss.
Boy, renege and see if I don't come for your behind.
[Monique] Uncle Eddie was kind of laid back,
but quick to let you know he was streetwise.
Nobody moves, nobody gets caught.
[Monique] Uncle Leroy liked to be
the center of attention.
Right as rain, boy, you better get yourself an umbrella,
because you about to kiss... hah!
Where the sun don't shine.
Mm-hmm.
[Monique] That's my uncle Nelson by the hi-fi.
He didn't fool with the family too much.
He was the stop by to show his face and leave early type.
And that's Uncle Leroy's wife, Elaine.
When she wasn't around, Mama and Granny talked about
how she wore her dresses too short and too tight.
Now which one of y'all gonna ride this train?
Ha!
Deuce or die, baby!
Deuce or die.
[laughs]
Girl.
What you want, girl?
I'm thirsty.
Glad I bought my umbrella.
It's about the rain diamonds.
Yeah, yeah.
That's what I'm talking about.
-Look what you made me do! -Liz!
You see me over here trying to focus,
and you dragging my game.
You supposed to be in bed.
Leave the gal alone, Liz. You was going to lose anyway.
Uh-uh.
Because if it was me at that age,
out the bed this late, in grown folks' conversations,
I would have lost a tooth.
Baby didn't mean no harm.
Sugar, come give Granny a kiss goodnight.
You better not move.
[Monique] And I am known as Symbolie Monique Smith.
My daughter. I wish you'd let me raise her.
[Monique] Everybody called me Bolie,
though I prefer Monique.
For years, I didn't know if either was my given name.
Mama, where did this gentle attitude come from
-when we was coming up? -Mm-hmm.
I still got that mark on my left cheek
from one of your back hands.
Spare the rod, spoil the child.
That is what the good book say.
Hey, look, Mama.
Why don't I just take off your hands?
Take your whoopin' in peace.
-Come on. -Go on.
Hey, hey, somebody put my hand, man.
Oh, yeah.
[Monique] When I was a young woman,
I discovered my entire identity was a lie.
None of these people are my real family.
All right, all right.
Hey, you got your water...
and your teddy bear,
everything you need for a good night's rest.
Uncle Leroy, am I really that bad?
It ain't you. Everybody make her mad, OK?
Look, I think that you are a very good girl.
But...
Ah, [mutters under breath]
What?
Uh, well,
I have something special that I could give you.
But, uh...
It's only for good girls, OK?
I can be a good girl!
Please, can I have it?
Oh.
Well, look,
if I give it to you,
you got to be real quiet.
And you can't tell your mama
She gonna get mad.
And, well, I don't know what she gonna do.
I might not be around to save you.
Yeah?
Can you keep my secret?
I won't tell.
Oh, okay. Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah. Lay back.
Lay back.
[Elizabeth] I'm not playing with him!
Not in that outfit.
[Leroy] Can you keep my secret?
[laughter]
Somebody better teach him how to play.
I'm gone.
Look what he got on.
[sinister music]
Mama, can we get it?
Didn't I tell you to come in this store
and touch nothin'?
Sick of you.
[Monique] I longed for a close mother-daughter relationship
like the ones I saw in other families.
But my relationship with my mother
was marked by fear and uncertainty.
I never knew when
the smallest infraction would trigger her rage
and make me question whether
she had even the tiniest bit of love or compassion for me.
[tense music]
Don't you ever get out in public
and embarrass me like that again.
You hear me?!
You got people out here thinking I don't feed you,
begging for some stupid cereal.
Maybe if I grab you around your damn throat,
you'll know what it feels like to want some food
and can't have it.
-[tearfully] I'm sorry... -I know you sorry!
You the picture of sorry.
I won't ever ask you for anything.
I know you won't. You know why?
'Cause that's your last time embarrassing me.
You hear me?
[car horn honks]
Let a tear fall and I'll give you something
to cry about.
[knocking on door]
Yeah.
I heard all the commotion.
I thought you could use a little pick-me-up.
Hmm?
[soft, tense music]
You know that you can always count on me
to look out for you.
I've got an idea.
I can help you forget
that this whole day ever happened.
Close your eyes.
Hm?
Now, take a deep breath.
Fine.
Now take another breath.
But just like that.
Just...
like... that...
I can help you forget that this whole day ever happened.
[Commentator on TV] [indistinct]
You turn that down.
Hey, you stop to the corner store
and cash your check?
Damn, let the girl get in the house good enough
before you shake her down like a pimp, man.
Shut up, Leroy.
When I want to hear what you got to say,
I'll tell you what to say.
Is this all that came today?
You looking for something?
I took the test to join the Army after graduation.
They said I should get a letter telling me how I did.
You want to fight in a white man's war?
The man who came to my school said
the Army would pay for me to go to college.
Oh, yeah.
He did call.
I almost forgot to tell you.
He said you flunked.
-Flunked? -Mm-hmm.
The Army don't take no stupid people,
and neither do college.
I'm graduating top of my class.
Play your cards right,
you can get those white people to let you clean their offices
full time after you finish school.
I want to go to college.
People in hell want ice water, Bolie.
Here.
That should be enough to get you back and forth
until you get your next paycheck.
Mama, I need more than just bus fare.
I gotta pay my graduation fees. I gotta get my cap and gown.
[sinister music]
[Elizabeth] Bolie!
Make sure that kitchen cleaned before you go to bed.
[Monique] Yes, ma'am.
Hey, Bolie. How was school today?
Good, Granny.
I got another A on my chemistry test.
Oh, you always have been a smart girl.
All that makeup and big old hair
is supposed to get you a man?
You don't know the latest styles.
Oh, I know what looks good
and what looks like somebody done had his way.
That lady that play on that TV show that you always watch
keep her hair fixed like this.
That lady got a doctor husband and five beautiful children.
That's what you think you gonna get?
Well, we know the children ain't a-happening.
Would've had some by now if that was the case.
[Elizabeth] Won't you mind your business, Eddie?
I think you look pretty, Mama.
That eye shadow brings out the sparkle in your eye.
There's one thing about you, Bolie.
You always did have taste.
Mama, can I get my birth certificate
and Social Security card?
What you want that for?
In case the Army changes its mind.
Girl, that is the government.
That decision is set.
Well, I am 18.
I should have a copy of those papers anyway.
Why haven't you ever shown them to me?
Because I give you everything that you need.
Well, I couldn't get my driver's license, remember?
Who car you gonna drive?
Where was I born?
Who's my father?
Girl!
Don't you ever question me like that.
You think 'cause you 18 and you grown-ass you can say
whatever you want to say to me, huh?
No!
I got news for you, honey.
[Monique] No, ma'am.
Leroy, give me your belt.
No, no!
Give me your belt now!
You can't keep doing this all the time, man.
Look, the little girl, she ain't say nothing...
-Oh, shut up! -Oh, Mama!
[smacking] [Monique whimpering]
[Monique sobbing]
Disrespecting me in my own damn house.
[Monique] The Army was going to be my sure way of escape.
Without it, I'd have to find a new route.
It may have been a tougher road ahead,
but I had to go.
[dramatic music]
[sinister music]
[Monique] Dear Granny,
I appreciate every hug, every kiss,
every kind word you ever spoken.
But I know I don't belong here.
It's time for me to find my place.
I will miss you.
Love, Bolie.
[gentle music]
[Monique] I knew someday I'd have to
escape this house and all of its horrors.
Didn't know today would be that day.
But I couldn't stay another day
in a place where I had to fight for my life.
[gentle music]
[Monique] I took the first bus route out.
Anywhere was better than Baltimore.
[gentle music]
No, no, no! Hey, wait! Stop!
[dramatic music]
[Woman on PA] Next bus leaving for Baltimore, Maryland
in 30 minutes.
You coming or going?
Just got in from Baltimore.
These benches don't make the softest beds.
Got somebody picking you up?
Got pickpocketed on the bus.
No choice but to stay here till morning,
figure out what's next.
I'm Caroline. What's your name?
I'm Monique.
Monique.
You got kinfolk in town?
No, ma'am.
Did you know St. Augustine
is the oldest city in these United States?
So much history here.
And the beaches.
I'd put our beaches up against
any other beaches in the entire world.
You should see them for yourself sometime.
Sure I'll get around to it.
These streets can be some mean places
for a young girl out here all alone.
I can handle myself.
Tell you what.
Why don't you come home with me?
I've got an extra bed.
No reason you can't sleep in it for a while.
I don't have any money to...
Oh, don't worry about that, baby.
I can help you find work.
If it were my daughter, stranded out here all alone,
I'd want someone to help her.
Just like I'm helping you.
You sure?
Come on, baby.
Gather your things.
[Monique] The lure of a woman who showed
all of the motherly compassion I craved
was irresistible.
The idea that she would immediately
find me worthy of care and attention
seemed like vindication, delivery from evil.
But I soon discovered that encounter would mark
the beginning of a life I could never have imagined.
What?
You've never seen a little clutter before?
You can clean up around here to help earn your keep.
Yes, ma'am.
See you in the morning.
[echo-y] I got you. I got you.
You can have Jackie's bunk.
-Thank you. -You'll be just fine.
All the girls get along nicely and they'll show you the ropes.
You'll fit right in.
Where's everybody?
Working.
They'll take you out tomorrow.
Is this some kind of boarding house?
The first rule of getting along around here
is everybody minds their own business.
Bathroom's down the hall to the right.
I'll put a set of towels in there for you.
Oh, you like that one.
This color suits you best,
but this cut would really flatter your figure.
That's a little low cut for me.
That's the point, princess.
[Monique] I changed into someone who I did not want to become
in Caroline's house.
I was forced into a life I did not want.
It had no means to escape.
I learned to never say what I would never do
in order to survive.
[lively chatter]
[funky music]
Bartender.
Let me get another drink for the young lady.
Thank you.
A tough night at the office tonight, huh?
Excuse me?
Just saying.
I thought your dance card would have been filled up by now.
Night's still young.
Yeah, so are you.
How old are you, anyway?
-Sir... -Gino.
Gino...
Would you like to go on a date?
Okay. I see, uh, small talk
isn't a part of your sales technique, huh?
Most customers know what they want.
No need for me to put on a show.
This seat's for customers only.
I'll ask again.
Sir?
Would you like to go on a date?
Actually, uh, yes.
I would love, love to take you out on a date.
[Monique laughing]
[Gino, chuckling] You're so silly.
Uh-huh.
You're something else.
I told you. I told you.
Oh, man.
Uh-huh.
A rose for the pretty lady.
[dreamy music]
No one's ever called me pretty before.
Yeah, well, not even that rose is as beautiful as you.
That's just silly.
You deserve so much more.
I mean, if I could give you the sun, moon,
and the stars, I would.
Most men are happy with what I can give them.
An hour at a motel.
That's if we make it.
Sometimes a parked car is as far as we get.
I'm not most men. You certainly aren't most women.
Monique, you're special.
I knew that the first moment that I laid eyes on you.
-You don't know me. -Yeah, but I want to know you.
What is a sweet girl like yourself
doing in your line of work?
Gullible.
Broke.
Desperate.
What if I told you I can give you a better life?
I can take care of you, Monique.
[tender music]
Will you let me?
[Monique] Fire danced in my belly
with the protective touch of Gino's strong hands
and the tenderness of his words.
If this was what love felt like,
it was worth the wait.
♪ My love I'm lovin' you now ♪
♪ I never thought that I
♪ Could take this chance with my life ♪
♪ I'm giving you all
♪ Life can give
♪ Take my hand and we can live this life so free ♪
♪ See, I waited so long for this moment in life ♪
[phone ringing]
What's up?
What you mean I gotta do the drop, man?
-Baby... -Get off of me!
[shouting, arguing]
Shut up! [glass shatters]
♪ Divine love
Not again.
Gino! Gino!
I was fighting for my life
while he was fighting his own demons.
It's one thing to find yourself in a bad situation.
It's worse to stay there.
Especially when you're pregnant with no job,
no money and no help.
All I had was bad choices.
I could stay here, where even in the house with my husband,
I'd give birth to my first baby alone.
Or I could go to the only place I knew as home.
With all of its problems, I knew I would at least
find comfort with my grandmother.
[exhales]
[somber music]
[Leroy, echo-y] I can help you forget
that this whole day ever happened.
[somber music]
[Elizabeth] Ma, I'll be home around nine, okay?
Take that chicken out the freezer.
Well, look what the cat done drug in.
How you doing, Mama?
[chuckles]
Well, I see you done went and got yourself knocked up.
Tell you right now, I ain't got no money
to take care of you and that bastard baby.
[Sarah] Leave that gal alone.
You can go to work, Liz.
I'm married.
Well, excuse me, Miss Married.
Where's the lucky groom?
Oh, he ain't want you either, huh?
Can I please stay here for a while?
Just until I get a job.
I'm going to get a place of my own.
Four long years you've been gone.
What made you come back?
I guess...
this is home.
I hope you got that money you stole from me.
And don't steal nothing else.
[exhales]
[tender music]
Mm.
[tender music]
I wanted to call.
But you didn't.
I didn't know what to say.
I appreciate the note.
I still have it.
Couldn't leave without saying goodbye.
You find what you was looking for out there?
I was looking for better.
Are you back home to stay?
I'm here for now.
Still trying to figure out what it means to be home.
Home is more of a feeling than a place, sugar.
It's where you feel the most loved and protected.
It's a safe refuge.
Is this where you feel safe?
Hand me that dish rag, love.
[tender music]
[Monique] Granny, I didn't know you were sick.
I'm just old, baby.
Keep living. You'll see.
Well, have you been taking your medicine?
I think you've got enough to tend to besides my medicine.
When are you due anyway?
Not much longer now.
Oh.
-Granny. -Mm-hmm?
Was Mama happy when she was pregnant with me?
I wouldn't know.
Liz had been away living in New York,
and she just showed up with you one day.
She never told you she was pregnant with me?
How do you even know she gave birth to me?
[gentle music]
[Monique] All I ever wanted to be was a mother.
Gentle, nurturing, loving.
The kind of mother I never had.
Now that I have brought life into the world,
I'm curious about my own mother's experience.
Did she feel for me what I feel for my sweet girl?
-[baby crying] -[indistinct chatter]
[Nurse] Good morning, Mommy.
How are you and the little one?
Fine.
Is Dad on his way?
I'm afraid not.
How about your parents?
It's just me and my baby girl.
We have each other.
And that's all you need, right?
I just have a few questions
so we can get her birth certificate filed?
Sure.
What's the baby's name?
Christina Sherelle Rogers.
And I have you listed as SYM-bo-lie...
Uh, Sym-BO-lie... SYM-bo-lie...
Sym-BO-lie Monique Smith.
Sorry.
Such a unique name.
Oh, beautiful, though.
Does it have a meaning?
No, ma'am. Well, I don't know.
I'm not sure where my name came from.
Well, you certainly know where
this little bambina got her name, huh?
So for the father, what's Dad's name?
Ma'am, if I wanted to get
a copy of my own birth certificate,
how would I do that?
[whistle blowing]
[Clerk 1] Three.
[Clerk 2] Number four.
Hey.
Um, can I request
a birth certificate for Symbolie Monique Smith?
Fill out the top portion, sign at the bottom.
Okay.
I am not finding a birth certificate
under that name and birth date.
Is it the correct spelling?
I think the spelling is correct.
Um, can you try it with 1968, '69, and '70?
I might be off on the year.
[Clerk 1] Sorry, miss. Still nothing.
[unsettling music]
Can you try for a death certificate?
-Same name? -Yes, ma'am.
That's a big swing.
Can you try leaving the year blank?
[computer beeps] [Clerk 1] Sorry.
No death certificate either.
Whoever you're looking for doesn't exist in Baltimore.
Maybe try the surrounding areas?
And you don't have to carry
your baby around with you to each municipality.
When you have some free time, just write a few query letters
and they'll send you any information they have
in the mail.
Thank you for your help.
Have a good day.
[Christina crying]
Shh...
[Christina crying]
I know.
[Christina crying]
[upbeat music]
Hey, neighbor! Welcome to work.
-I'm Rubye. -Monique. Monique Smith.
Well, Monique Smith, I stocked your desk
with everything you need.
Your pens, Post-it notes, file folders.
Thank you.
Last girl that worked here, she quit.
She went back to school full-time,
but her and I used to carpool. Do you drive?
Oh, I don't have a car.
Oh, uh, sometimes my mom or my boyfriend will drive me.
Where do you live?
I'm planning on moving soon.
Me and my baby girl, we need our own space.
A woman just moved out of my building.
I could put in a good word for you with my super
if you wanted.
I gotta bank a few checks
before I have first and last month
'cause I've got a new baby and all,
can't say how much savings.
Girl, I will tell him that you and I work together.
You're good for it.
-Thank you. -Welcome.
[Monique] I got a job and my first real friend.
Chrissy, we have our very own apartment.
My apologies.
Didn't mean to startle you.
I'm Jonathan.
What are you doing in my apartment?
The super sent me to unclog the drain
in the bathroom sink before you moved in.
Guess I'm a little late.
Oh, no, it's okay. You're fine.
I mean, you're okay. It's fine.
Um, I actually wasn't supposed to be here until tomorrow.
But I picked up the keys. I got excited.
Is this your first place?
Is it that obvious?
God bless the child who has her own.
Can't wait to start decorating.
I'm no expert on which pillows goes with what rug.
But I'm fairly handy with a toolbox.
Give me a call if you need help
hanging up your pictures or whatnot.
Unless your husband gonna be handling that for you.
Oh, we're not together anymore.
Me and Chrissy are on our own.
Just call me if you need me.
[gentle music]
[squeals]
[phone ringing]
[Rubye laughs]
Okay, so either Jonathan is turning up the heat,
or you are getting more action on what you've been
telling me about. What gives?
They're from Jonathan.
Aww.
What's it been? Six, seven months now?
Something like that, yeah.
Okay, so does he need to make up for something?
Or does he want to make out or both?
I, uh...
I got word last night that...
my granny passed away.
The funeral's this Saturday morning.
Honey, I am so sorry.
Loss is so hard.
How's your mom? How's the family holding up?
My relationship with my family is...
is complicated.
But my granny...
she always was on my side.
♪ Wading in the water
Walk with me, Father.
As I see depression and misery fade,
I can envision my steps on golden streets,
as angels from above pave the way...
♪ See that ghost all dressed in white ♪
Bolie?
Uncle Nelson.
Jonathan Hunt.
Nice to meet you.
I'll get the car.
It's good to see you.
You doing okay?
As good as anybody else, I suppose.
[Elizabeth sobbing]
How are you holding up?
I wish I would've came around a lot more these last few years.
Guess I didn't want to think about her getting older.
It seemed a lot easier just keeping my distance.
When I left home, I never planned on
coming back to that house as long as I lived.
Granny...
was the one person who made it worth it.
Glad you got to spend time with her.
Me too.
No regrets.
Listen...
don't let it be another funeral before I see you again.
If you need anything...
just let me know.
Thank you, Uncle Nelson.
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪
Thank you for coming with me today.
No need for you to go alone.
Come here.
[tense music]
[gasping]
-I'm gonna miss her. -Of course you will.
Sometimes I felt like she was my only family.
And now she's gone.
[Jonathan] You got Chrissy.
And you got me.
[gentle music]
[baby cooing]
Fatherhood looks good on you.
I'm a rookie.
Where's the owner's manual?
[chuckling]
I looked for one. Trust me.
It does not exist.
I know you're gonna be a great dad.
I never planned to be a dad.
Well, I certainly planned to be a mother.
Six kids...
I want six beautiful, healthy, strong children.
That's a lot of seats at the dinner table.
You're gonna need a much bigger place.
You sure you can handle all that?
It would be nice to have a partner.
Monique...
you know how I feel about you.
But...
I don't know if I'm the marrying kind.
No matter what happens between us...
we have Jonathan Jr.
With or without paperwork, we are family now.
You're right.
[Monique] It's true.
Love will find you when you're not looking for it.
Especially when you're a mother.
My connection to my own children
made it that much harder to understand how
my mother could have treated me the way she did.
How could a mother be so cruel to a living being
who is an extension of herself?
[unsettling music]
"Dear Miss Smith, thank you for your inquiry.
"Unfortunately, we do not show in our records any report
"of a live birth of Symbolie Monique Smith
"in the years between 1965 and 1975.
"Further, we cannot verify any
"single live birth to Elizabeth Ann Smith.
"Unless we hear from you with additional details,
we will consider this inquiry closed..."
"...of a live birth of Symbolie Monique Smith
"in the years between 1965 and 1975.
"Further, we cannot verify any
"single live birth to Elizabeth Ann Smith.
"Unless we hear from you with additional details,
we will consider this inquiry closed."
[unsettling music]
[dials phone]
[line trilling]
[Elizabeth] What you want, Bolie?
No wonder you never loved me.
You never cared one bit about me.
You couldn't have treated me the way that you did
all those years if I was your flesh and blood.
Not even if I was adopted.
You stole me, didn't you?
You stole me!
You are not my mother!
Who are you?!
[line goes dead]
[breathes heavily]
[breathing slows]
[Monique] Motherhood felt like my opportunity to make good.
A chance to be someone else, what no one ever was to me.
I loved my children, and they loved me.
My most agonizing fear was one day,
someone would take them away from me.
Some force.
Maybe it would be the police or state workers.
Somebody would stake claim to my children
because I couldn't prove they belonged to me.
That I'm their mother.
That I am who I say I am.
Mommy?
Sweetie, I'm so sorry I woke you.
When are we going to work on that family tree project?
Miss Cooper says it's due next Friday,
and we haven't even started.
We'll get around to it, okay?
Miss Cooper says we should try to go back
at least three generations.
What's a generation?
It's a group of people born in the same time period, dum-dum.
We're a generation. Mommy's a generation.
Uncle Eddie, Uncle Leroy, and Granny Liz
is a different generation.
Very good, Christina.
And I'm sorry we woke you.
But you know we do not call each other names
in this house, right?
-Sorry. -Thank you.
Now both of you get to sleep, okay?
It's going to be time for breakfast soon.
I'll help you fill in some
of these blanks by next Friday, okay?
Mommy?
Yes, Jon Jon?
I love you.
I love you so much.
Always and forever.
How could I tell my son that I didn't know where to start?
All of his short years, I had let him believe a lie.
We had no real aunts, uncles,
cousins or grandparents to speak of.
The people he thought were family were not.
My children deserved to know who they are
and where they came from once and for all.
I had that dream again. Or should I say nightmare?
Monique, that's not a reality.
You are the best mother that I know.
No one is coming to take your children.
I can't keep living
with this agony of not knowing my true identity.
It is not fair to my children.
Chrissy and Jon Jon both love you, girl.
Your kids are happy. They're well adjusted.
Nothing is going to change that.
Maybe I should just make peace
with the idea that I may never find the truth.
Or maybe it's time to shine a light in some places
you haven't searched before.
Get some help if you need it.
Monique, you have come too far to give up now.
Elizabeth spent some time living in New York in the '60s.
[Rubye] Well, maybe that's your next stop.
[traffic, indistinct chatter] [tense music]
Hello, how you doing?
I need help finding a missing child.
Sir, here you go. Take one, please.
Thank you so much.
So many missing children.
It felt like an epidemic.
For every child who had gone missing,
I knew there was a family who couldn't eat,
couldn't sleep.
The pain of not knowing
must have torn them up from the inside out.
Ma'am, help finding a missing child.
Thanks.
Does this little girl look familiar at all?
Can anyone help find a missing child?
Somewhere, there had to be a family who was grieving
their loss of me.
Does this little girl look familiar to you at all?
Okay. Thanks for taking a look.
Appreciate it.
Missing child.
Please, thank you, ma'am.
Take a look.
-Thank you. -Excuse me. I'm confused.
Are you trying to find your daughter?
No, I'm the one who's missing, ma'am.
I need help finding me.
[siren wailing]
[office chatter]
Thank you.
Thank you for your interest in my case.
You really think you can help me solve it?
I'm no detective, but I've been around a long time,
and I know a good story when I hear one.
You've done other cases like mine?
I cover politics mostly, but I have a penchant
for stories about women and children
who haven't gotten a fair shake.
I feel like...
any time I can help a victim find victory,
I get a little chip in heaven.
You have kids?
I can barely keep this fern alive.
[Monique] You think you can help me?
I did some preliminary digging.
It doesn't look like you were ever reported missing
in the state of New York.
I mean, somebody has to be looking for me.
I can feel it in my bones.
I'll never argue with intuition, but I deal with facts.
I'm sure that I was kidnapped in the late '60s.
Elizabeth Smith stole me from somebody.
That's a fact.
What makes you so sure you were abducted?
I never really fit in with my family.
Every family's got a black sheep.
Maybe you were it.
No, it was... it was deeper than that.
I...
I never felt loved.
No matter how badly I wanted it
or how hard I tried to force it,
she and I never had a real mother-daughter relationship.
It felt more like I was in her way.
Feelings are not facts.
All right.
Facts.
My so-called mother beat me within an inch of my life.
More times than I care to count.
I was raped repeatedly by her brother Leroy
from the age of four until I left when I was 18.
Her other brother, Eddie,
took up with me when I was in middle school.
I remember I asked him once to stop.
He said, "You ain't my real niece anyway."
He said it like a joke, but...
I never processed that comment until years later.
Have you been to the police with any of this?
When I was younger, I was too scared.
Now, I guess it's too late.
Only person who showed me any compassion was my granny.
But she passed away several years ago.
Now both uncles are dead, too.
So this Elizabeth has never been arrested?
There's no evidence she ever committed a crime.
We just haven't uncovered it yet.
Let's see what you got.
I checked every local municipality,
couldn't find a birth certificate.
But since I went to school, I figured
Baltimore Public Schools must have one on file.
And did they?
To my surprise, they had several.
And they all matched my Social Security card.
What a hodgepodge.
[Monique] I've been using the same card for everything.
It's the one I used to get my job at Johns Hopkins.
I had no idea there were
three different ones floating around.
All with fake information about you.
There is one consistency, though.
I'm holding my breath.
In all these forms, she wrote I was born in New York.
New York.
That would explain why I couldn't find any record
of my birth in Maryland.
I was looking in the wrong state.
So we need to check New York's Bureau of Vital Records.
"This is to certify that a search was made
"of births in all five boroughs of New York City and...
the names were not found."
According to all public records, I do not exist.
Let's come up with a timeline of who knew what when.
I want to prepare you, Monique.
We could do all of this searching and end up
no closer than when you started.
Good, bad, ugly, I'm ready.
For whatever rears its head.
Let's roll up our sleeves, then.
[Monique] But that's why I wrote it down.
Here, look, look, look, look.
Wait, let me use the...
Here, switch this side.
Put this on the left.
And this on the right. Okay?
Maybe if this happened before...
I think my little Italian had dark hair.
Elementary school.
Hi, yes, um, I would like to speak to...
Elaine...
And this happened after the 1975 to 1980,
somewhere in there?
Shh.
I don't know. I don't know.
I really don't know.
I don't know anymore. I really don't.
[Jonathan] How much longer do I have to babysit the kids?
Babysit?
I didn't know taking care of our kids is babysitting.
You know what I mean.
Where are the kids?
Chrissy's doing her homework,
and Jon Jon's sitting at the dinner table.
-Is that Mom? -Me first!
Mom?
When are you going to teach Dad to cook like you?
[Jonathan] Girl, you better stop talking about my chicken.
-[Monique] How's your brother? -I don't know.
Mommy, I got 100 on my spelling test.
Wow, that's fantastic, honey.
[Jon Jon] Miss Cooper said
we only have a few more days to finish
the family tree project,
and we still haven't started.
We need new markers and construction paper.
Mommy, when are you coming home?
I'll be back as soon as I have at least some of the answers
for that family tree.
[Monique] When phone calls and research weren't enough,
it was time to make visits to whoever I could get to.
[muffled shouting]
[glass shattering]
[muffled shouting]
Miss Elaine?
[Elaine] Who wants to know?
Monique Smith.
Symbolie Monique Smith.
[Elaine] Bolie?
Get yourself in here.
Let me look at you.
You are as beautiful as the day is long.
It's so good to see you.
It's good to see you, too.
And who's your friend?
This is Stacia Clemons.
She's writing a newspaper article on me.
-Oh! -Nice to meet you.
The pleasure is mine.
Why are you going to be in the news?
She's helping me find my family.
My real mother.
Please have a seat.
Does Liz know about this?
She won't tell me anything.
I've asked.
And what do you want from me?
You were married to my uncle Leroy
for as long as I can remember.
Did he ever say anything about where I came from?
Well, I remember Leroy mentioning visiting her
when she lived in New York.
The summer before she moved back to Baltimore.
But she didn't have a baby or a baby bump.
Then, when she arrived at your granny's house,
there you were.
Liz didn't offer any explanations.
That had to be 1970, '71.
How old was I then?
Oh, you were an itty bitty thing.
Probably like two or three.
Is there anything else you can remember from that time?
Leroy decided how you would spell your name.
He was really proud of that.
[Stacia] How'd that happen?
Well, Liz had to fill out paperwork
so Bolie could go to Head Start.
Liz said your name was Symbole, or something like that.
But she didn't know how to spell it.
So he sounded it out, filled out the forms,
and his way became the way you spell your crazy name.
What about the birth certificate?
A Social Security card?
Didn't they need those things to enroll me?
You know, Liz always had some scheme going on.
Thank you for your help, ma'am.
If you think of anything else, that's my direct number.
Bolie.
-Do you remember Barbara? -Of course.
Our house was like her second home back then.
Well, she moved in with her daughter.
Not too far from here.
Got an address?
Lost her leg to sugar.
But I hear her mind is as sharp as a tack.
Thanks. We'll check in with her.
[low rumbling]
[Leroy, echo-y] Can you keep my secret...
[Barbara] Ain't you a sight for sore eyes?
Been a long time, Miss Barbara.
How's your mama doing?
I ain't seen her since she stole that money from me.
Claims she ain't know nothing about it.
Hmm.
I always wondered why you stopped coming around.
Because if you lie, you cheat.
And if you cheat, you steal.
And I knew your mama was always a liar.
You knew?
You knew I was kidnapped?
Who did she steal me from?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on. Slow down, child.
I said that she stole money.
I don't know nothing about her stealing no babies.
But you was always around back then.
Where did she say I came from?
Elizabeth ain't never tell you nothing?
Not a mumbling word.
[siren wailing]
She said she knew your mama from the bar where they worked.
She was on drugs real bad.
She had about six or seven other kids.
But you?
You was as cute as a kitten, baby.
The little one of the family.
Who was this woman?
Did you catch her name?
Uh... Mary? Margaret? Martha?
Something like that.
Last name?
[Barbara] Nah. Can't say I recall it.
I'm sorry.
How did she get me from my mother?
The lady asked Liz to watch her when she went out of town.
Liz felt sorry for her and agreed.
But the woman, she ain't never come back.
Well, why didn't she call the police?
Why didn't you call the police?
Liz said that you had had it bad enough
because your mama didn't want you.
And that you'd get it worse in the system.
Suppose I agreed with her.
Miss Barbara,
do you remember coming by
the house one day looking for Ma...Elizabeth?
I was about ten years old.
[knocking on door]
Hey, Bolie! Where's your mama?
In the shower.
You've been crying.
What's the matter, baby?
[Elizabeth] Who's that at the door, Bolie?
[Barbara] It's me, Liz!
I brought over the jacket for you to wear tonight.
Go on and get dressed.
I'ma leave it with Bolie!
[Elizabeth] Thanks, girl. I'm gonna call you later.
[Monique] I showed you my bruises.
She had hit me with a two by four.
I trusted you.
I thought you would help me.
In those days,
you minded your business, baby.
You don't go telling what's happening in your own household
or anybody else's.
If you do, everybody is going to jail.
[Monique] You've been really quiet.
Haven't said a word all the way from the train station.
Is something on your mind?
Jonathan.
Is this the end?
We've been over this.
You found more information this time than you ever have before.
Yeah, I'm getting closer.
I mean, I have a first name, maybe.
I still don't know if my birth mother is dead or alive.
She could live right down the street
and I wouldn't know it.
And what about my siblings?
You're gonna keep leaving our kids
looking for family
who didn't care enough to ever look for you?
Monique? Monique?
Take it back.
-Monique... -Take it back!
Lower your voice.
The kids can hear you all the way inside of the house.
Take it back.
I did not mean that the way that it came out.
How did you mean it? Hmm?
You're trying to imply that I'm some throwaway,
some stray?
That nobody ever loves me, nobody ever loved me?
You're taking this the wrong way.
I could be laying in a gutter somewhere
after all I have been through.
I'm not supposed to be breathing.
But I'm doing better than most.
I have a successful career. I own my own home.
And most importantly, I am the mother
to two amazing children.
And if I were to find out
whose blood is running through their veins
as a cherry on top? Let me be!
I understand how you...
You can't understand.
You say you understand. How?
Every day...
I wonder if my mother would have been proud of me,
if I've become who she dreamt I would be.
You can never know the emptiness that I feel.
All I'm saying is...
you're spending a lot of time and energy
searching for family,
and your family is right in front of you.
Hey, Jonathan. How's it going?
Anybody home?
[Jon Jon] Yay! Mom is home!
-Hey, Mom! -Hey, girl! Christina!
You grew like two inches since I saw you!
-It's been only a week! -It feels like forever.
[Monique laughs] Rubye, thank you.
I don't know how I can ever repay you.
Yeah, you know that's not necessary.
Is everything okay?
Yeah, just...
Call me later, okay?
Okay.
Jonathan, do you mind dropping me off at home?
-Oh, uh, no problem. -Okay, thank you.
Come on, y'all wanna say bye to Rubye?
Yeah.
I called to check on my grandbabies and I found out
that you done left them with a stranger.
Rubye is as much my family as anybody.
They need to be with their grandmother.
Grandma, you finish your coffee and I'm ready to play.
Sweetheart, go upstairs to your room, okay?
Y'all go play for a little bit.
You too, Chrissy.
I'll go give you your souvenirs in a minute.
[Jon Jon] Yay! I hope you got me a dinosaur.
You have no right coming to my home uninvited,
intimidating my guests.
Who the hell do you think you are?
Miss High and Mighty?
Get over your damn self.
You need to leave.
I'll leave when I get good and ready.
You going to jail for the rest of your life.
For what?
For putting food in your mouth and clothes on your back
and a roof over your head?
Since when does taking care of somebody
be considered a crime? Huh?
I don't hear no sirens.
Yeah, you right.
If I could prove what you did, you'd already been arrested.
You got nothing to lose.
Just tell me.
Just tell me the truth.
The truth is that you had it good.
Always did, but you ungrateful.
You beat me.
For no reason.
More times than I can count.
You was a hard-headed little girl, Bolie!
Spare the rod, spoil the child!
Hell, look around.
Look like you did good for yourself.
You ought to be thanking me.
You stole me.
I know you did.
I don't know who told you what up there in New York,
but you better be careful what lies you spread.
I don't for one minute believe that my mother trusted you
to babysit me and then just never came back.
Your mama was a crackhead, Bolie.
I did you a favor.
So did you give her money or drugs in exchange for me?
Or did you steal me outright
because you couldn't have no kids of your own?
I will go to my grave before I tell you anything.
Get out of my house.
Don't ever come back to my home.
Don't ever come near my children again.
[tense music]
♪ I'm barely breathing
♪ I'm lost somewhere in the deep end ♪
[sobbing]
Oh God. Oh God.
♪ I don't know the answer
♪ I don't want none
♪ I can feel my anxiety break ♪
♪ Killing off the cancer
♪ Slowly feel in control
Kids, come down here, please!
Okay.
[Chrissy] Did Grandma leave?
Everything that Grandma told you is a lie.
Mommy needs to tell you the truth about our family.
[Chrissy] What's this?
Gonna put my DNA into these databases.
These companies search everybody who sends in a sample
and tells you all about your genealogy.
Where you really come from.
I thought they only used DNA to catch rapists and killers.
You watch too much TV, Chrissy.
The cops are always picking up
soda cans and wine glasses from the crime scene.
Well, DNA technology
has come a long way and can do a lot of good.
If somebody in our family
has also sent in a sample, we could match.
Just like that, I have a link to my biological family.
Well, if you can use DNA
to prove that someone is your biological family,
couldn't you also use it to prove that someone is not?
You're a smart cookie, sweet girl.
You might be on to something.
Must be all that TV I watch.
-[Monique scoffs] -[both laugh]
[Monique] Christina made a good point.
So, it was time to do process of elimination.
Bolie! It's nice to see you.
Good to see you, too, Uncle Nelson.
To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?
I need your help.
Anything for you, Bolie.
Come on. Let's sit.
For several years, I've been
trying to figure out where I came from,
who my real family is.
What do you mean, real family?
I believe Elizabeth kidnapped me.
Kidnapped?
That's a serious allegation.
I can't prove it.
But I've spoken to enough people,
heard enough stories to know that at the very least,
she's not my biological mother.
But I need you to help me prove it.
I need you to submit a sample of your DNA to the state police.
Police?
If the DNA comparison shows
that you and I have no biological connection,
then your sister can't possibly be my biological mother.
That will give them cause to investigate how she came
into possession of me.
And there are no adoption records anywhere?
I've checked.
I can only imagine what you must
have gone through growing up in that house.
I wish I could have protected you.
There's a lot of people who could have,
should have called the police
or Family Services to stop the abuse.
But I can't dwell on who didn't do what back then to rescue me.
I'm focused on saving myself now.
Tell me where I need to go.
Who I need to contact.
I'll give them whatever they need for them to help you.
[laidback music]
These look good.
I know.
I like how they turned out too.
So, how's the book coming along?
Why didn't you stop me
when I said I was going to write a book?
When have I ever stopped you from sharing your story?
And you should know by now that what happened to you,
that's not only about you.
You know, it's about all of those people
who are coming behind you.
All the parents, all the children
who are going to need to draw some inspiration
and some lessons from you.
You're right.
Gotta set the record straight for my kids and everybody else.
You know what?
I read those pages you sent me.
That's some pretty heavy stuff.
Writing this is bringing up some hard memories.
I mean, I even struggled reading some of those details.
You think your kids are going to be able to handle that?
If you haven't noticed, my children are young adults.
Yeah, it'll be tough to digest some of it, maybe.
But my whole life was built on lies.
It's important they know the truth.
They are going to support you
every step of the way, regardless.
-As will I. -[chuckles]
Oh. By the way,
what did you decide about tomorrow?
Still haven't decided.
Well, there is no wrong choice.
But just remember, whatever decision you make,
it's not only about you.
[tender music]
Thanks for agreeing to this, Mom.
I know it's difficult, but we all need closure.
Ty-Tyler! And Madison.
Lose the headphones, please.
-Christina. -[Christina] Guys.
Madison.
You're getting up?
It might be helpful if you say goodbye.
I said goodbye to Elizabeth.
A long time ago.
In this moment, all I was sure of
is that the truth of who I am
may have died with Elizabeth forever.
All right.
Congratulations on your first house.
Just want you to know, I am the type of landlord
who is always available.
So if you ever need anything, feel free to reach out.
[phone buzzing] Excuse me.
Detective Ellis, how are you?
What kind of information?
[gentle music]
Detective Ellis.
Oh, Ms. Smith.
Thanks for coming down so quickly.
-I got here as fast as I could. -I do appreciate it.
Right this way.
You said there might be a break in my case?
Yeah. Having that DNA sample
to rule out any biological connection
to the woman claiming to be your mother
gave me an idea to go in a different direction.
What did you find?
There's somebody I'd like you to meet.
So Trinity is a genealogist
who specializes in hard-to-crack cases.
Had a couple of cold cases.
Yours was one of them. She got a hit.
Your case was actually easier than I expected.
Well, that's a first.
What did you uncover that no one else has been able to find?
I found several people who share DNA with you.
All descended from a couple in the 1850s.
I kept digging and found a daughter named Margaret.
Margaret?
That's my mother's name.
[Trinity] So I was told.
So where's Margaret?
Do you know where my mother lives?
Everything you need is in this folder.
I wish you the best of luck.
No longer a Jane Doe.
You have a family now.
I belong to somebody.
You always have.
[Monique laughs happily]
After all these years, the information
I had been searching for, was in the palm of my hand.
And I was worried about using it.
What if she didn't want to be connected to me?
What if on the other side of the phone line
was yet another rejection?
There was only one way to find out.
[line trilling]
[Ruth] Hello?
Hi. Hello.
I'm looking for Ruth Harrison.
[Ruth] Yeah? Yeah, what?
Is this Ruth?
[Ruth] Who's asking?
[Monique] Okay, I'm working with a detective
and they gave me your information.
[Ruth] A detective? What is this?
This better not be no game.
[Monique] No, it's not a game, I promise.
This is... This is serious.
I'm from New York.
I don't play games and this better not be no scam.
So who is this and what the hell do you want?
[Monique] I'm working with
the Maryland State Police and a DNA detective.
My ancestry information came through
and they said we are a match.
[Ruth] A match? For what?
That we're kin. Relatives.
Maybe even sisters.
Well, what do you look like?
I don't know what I look like.
Well, send me something. Don't even tell me your name.
Just send me something. Anything.
A recent picture. Anything.
Okay. Okay.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
[Ruth] I have been looking for you
ever since I was a little girl.
You're Symbolie Harrison.
You're my baby sister.
We gotta meet.
[Monique] Aah! [laughs]
[gentle music]
Well, we're here.
We're here.
You ready?
I'm ready.
Okay.
[car chiming]
[tense music] [birds chirping]
Oh! Oh, okay!
Oh!
[sobbing]
Oh my God!
[sobbing]
You look like me.
You look like me, I'm older. [laughs]
We got the same skirt on!
[laughter]
[tender music]
[Monique] What was she like?
[Ruth] She was beautiful.
You look a lot like her.
[Monique] Oh, my God!
I look like our mother.
[Ruth] You definitely take after her.
We both do.
[Monique] [laughs]
You're the baby of seven girls.
I have six sisters?
And a ton of nieces and nephews.
[Monique laughs]
When did she pass away?
You would have been about eight years old.
What happened?
She died in a drug house from a heroin overdose.
Did she ever tell you...
what happened to me?
Mama never shared how or why you disappeared.
But I can assure you, she never stopped loving you.
And I never stopped thinking about you.
I thought about you every single day.
[sobs]
You have no idea how much
it means to me to hear you say those words.
I knew it.
I knew somebody had to miss me.
I couldn't just disappear...
and no one notice.
We all missed you.
Auntie Ruth?
Oh, baby.
This is my oldest.
Christina.
Looking at you is like looking at my own daughter.
This is perfect.
[laughs]
♪ His eyes are on
♪ The sparrow
♪ And I know he watches
♪ Me
♪ I sing because...
[All] Welcome home, Symbolie!
[excited chatter]
[Monique] I may never know
exactly what happened to me,
but I know I am a survivor.
I know I am loved.
I know I have roots.
My family tree
begins with me.
♪ ...he watches me