Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story (2025)

[bunniefuu]

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.

This is my family.

That's my mama, Elizabeth.

I guess y'all thought y'all

was runnin' to Boston, huh?

She's got alpha energy,

always in charge.

Give me my buck.

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.

Miss Barbara was

a family friend.

She always hung around

in good times and bad.

Stop all that yapping, Barbara.

Let me see you

get your hands dirty.

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.

My uncles didn't make much fuss.

Boy, renege and see if

I don't come for your behind.

Uncle Eddie was

kind of laid back,

but quick to let you know

he was streetwise.

Nobody moves,

nobody gets caught.

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.

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.

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.

Sugar, come give

Granny a kiss goodnight.

You better not move.

And I am known as

Symbolie Monique Smith.

My daughter.

I wish you'd let me raise her.

Everybody called me Bolie,

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.

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,

What?

Uh, well,

I have something special

that I could give you.

But, uh...

But, uh...

It's only for good girls, OK?

I can be a good girl!

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.

I'm not playing with him!

Not in that outfit.

Can you keep my secret?

Somebody better teach him

how to play.

I'm gone.

Look what he got on.

Mama, can we get it?

Didn't I tell you

to come in this store

and touch nothin'?

Sick of you.

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.

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.

-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?

Let a tear fall

and I'll give you something

to cry about.

Yeah.

I heard all the commotion.

I thought you could use

a little pick-me-up.

Hmm?

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.

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 w*r?

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.

Bolie!

Make sure that kitchen

cleaned before you go to bed.

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.

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-a*s you can say

whatever you want

to say to me, huh?

No!

I got news for you, honey.

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!

Disrespecting me

in my own damn house.

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.

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.

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.

I took the first bus route out.

Anywhere was better

than Baltimore.

No, no, no! Hey, wait! Stop!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Will you let me?

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

What's up?

What you mean I gotta

do the drop, man?

-Baby...

-Get off of me!

Shut up!

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.

I can help you forget

that this whole day

ever happened.

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?

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 b*stard baby.

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.

Mm.

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.

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?

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?

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?

Three.

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.

Sorry, miss. Still nothing.

Can you try for

a death certificate?

-Same name?

-Yes, ma'am.

That's a big swing.

Can you try leaving

the year blank?

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.

Shh...

I know.

I know.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

God's gonna

trouble the water

God's gonna

trouble the water

God's gonna

trouble the water

Thank you for coming

with me today.

No need for you to go alone.

Come here.

-I'm gonna miss her.

-Of course you will.

Sometimes I felt like

she was my only family.

And now she's gone.

You got Chrissy.

And you got me.

Fatherhood looks good on you.

I'm a rookie.

Where's the owner's manual?

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.

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?

"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."

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?!

Who are you?!

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.

Well, maybe

that's your next stop.

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.

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.

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 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 r*ped 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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Girl, you better stop

talking about my chicken.

-How's your brother?

-I don't know.

Mommy, I got 100

on my spelling test.

Wow, that's fantastic, honey.

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.

When phone calls

and research weren't enough,

it was time to make visits

to whoever I could get to.

Miss Elaine?

Who wants to know?

Monique Smith.

Symbolie Monique Smith.

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.

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.

Can you keep my secret...

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.

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?

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.

Hey, Bolie! Where's your mama?

In the shower.

You've been crying.

What's the matter, baby?

Who's that at the door, Bolie?

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!

Thanks, girl.

I'm gonna call you later.

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.

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?

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.

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

grand babies 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.

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.

I'm barely breathing

I'm lost somewhere

in the deep end

Oh God. Oh God.

I don't know the answer

I don't want none

I can feel my anxiety break

k*lling off the cancer

Slowly feel in control

Kids, come down here, please!

Okay.

Did Grandma leave?

Everything that Grandma

told you is a lie.

Mommy needs to tell you

the truth about our family.

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 K*llers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

-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.

Excuse me.

Detective Ellis, how are you?

What kind of information?

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.

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.

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.

Hello?

Hi. Hello.

I'm looking for Ruth Harrison.

Yeah? Yeah, what?

Is this Ruth?

Who's asking?

Okay, I'm working

with a detective

and they

gave me your information.

A detective? What is this?

This better not be no game.

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?

I'm working with

the Maryland State Police

and a DNA detective.

My ancestry information

came through

and they said we are a match.

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.

Hello?

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.

Aah!

Well, we're here.

We're here.

You ready?

I'm ready.

Okay.

Oh! Oh, okay!

Oh!

Oh my God!

You look like me.

You look like me.

You look like me, I'm older.

We got the same skirt on!

What was she like?

She was beautiful.

You look a lot like her.

Oh, my God!

I look like our mother.

You definitely take after her.

We both do.

You're the baby of seven girls.

I have six sisters?

And a ton of nieces and nephews.

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.

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.

His eyes are on

The sparrow

And I know he watches

Me

I sing because...

Welcome home, Symbolie!

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