Original subtitles

Hello?

Hi.

I'm Laura.

Laura Cowan.

I'm sorry.

What happened?

He locked me in that room.

And he nailed all the windows shut. And he put me in here. I don't know what

happened to me and my son.

I'm going to be okay.

Okay? You have to trust me.

Okay. Look at me.

Look, I know everything's lost.

And here I get that.

But we're going to get out.

Until then, prayers and words of encouragement to God.

Pray that he hears our cries.

Hello up there.

I finally made it out of the cold and snow and gray.

I used to dream about this.

The sun, the warmth, everything.

Your girl is 24 years old and never seen the ocean until this moment.

Goodbye, Cleveland.

Hello, California.

Just look at it.

Nothing but wonder and possibilities here.

This is where I'm supposed to be.

Bet you already knew that.

Sis, give me a breath. I just got here two days ago.

Where are you staying?

Some studio apartment that is killing my savings. Things are so much more

expensive here than they are in Cleveland.

I bet.

So, when you run out of money, then you'll come home.

What? No, I'm just getting started.

With what?

Living my life.

Coming together and cleaning up Memorial Park for everyone.

It's like this. When you start something for the community, if you can help the

community, help each other, even just a little bit, then wow.

Even small changes can have a positive effect.

It's like when you throw a pebble into a lake. Sister, if you throw a pebble

into a lake, you may not see that water rise, but you have to know that you made

a difference.

And then we all start throwing our pebbles in that lake, and we start

called a movement.

And when you have that movement, we give all praise to God. Amen? And that's

what we're here for. So go ahead and sign up. Can you take this for a second?

I'll be right back.

Sister, I don't mean to startle you.

I don't startle easy.

I saw you taking interest in what I was saying back there.

I was.

But not now.

You been in Memorial Park long?

Know the city?

Long enough to know not to speak to strangers.

Survive.

Laura. Laura.

See, now we're not strangers.

Hey, um, I liked what you said, you know, about the pebbles.

Well, if you like that, you should come back Saturday.

Maybe I will.

You know, what we're doing here is for the people in the community.

Strengthen them is strengthen all of us.

It takes just one person to make such a big difference.

Okay, if I say yes, will you stop selling me on it? Yes.

Then yes.

Good. See you then.

Got it? Hey, you made it.

I did.

Want me to work?

What do you do besides chasing women in parking lots?

That's my part -time gig, actually.

But, you know, I have three constants in life.

There's God, family, and numbers.

In that order.

I want to be an entrepreneur and start my own thing.

You know, all for the benefit of...

My family, my people, and God.

Wow.

Impressive.

You have it all figured out.

Still a work in progress.

Here, take this.

How'd you get involved in all this?

You know, I lived out here most of my life.

It's really important to me to reach out and stay connected to the community.

I feel like if people see that I'm here to...

Stand up for other people. Maybe somebody will pick up that example.

Next thing you know, everybody's raised up.

What?

I like that.

So, you just packed up your car and headed out here? No house? No job?

Oh, yeah. I know it sounds crazy, but...

Every year growing up, I used to watch the Rose Bowl Parade, right? And when

watch TV, I'd see those people smiling and the sun was shining.

Then I'd look outside and see the snow and it was cold. I just knew that was

for me.

No more Cleveland for Laura Cowan?

No, no.

And my mother was dead set on not letting me leave. She practically stood

front of my car before I left.

But I just thought I needed to take a leap of faith and do this for myself.

It's good.

How's it working out for you now?

I love it here.

It's nobody's rules to follow.

Well, Ms. Laura Cowan, I feel like you're the kind of woman who does what

wants, when she wants, in spite of anybody's rules.

You know, I'm learning that about myself.

So, what are your plans?

Well, I mean, to start, like I said, I'd definitely like to find a better job,

get a bigger place.

I'm thinking about my future.

I was thinking about for Saturday, but we could talk about the future, too.

Yeah. No, check with them.

What do you think?

Well, it's empty, so there's really not much to see.

Yeah, that's true.

Let's go inside.

How? There's nobody in there at all.

That's true.

You coming?

Okay, what is this?

Well, I'm going to rent this place.

Yeah, I'm going to sell the best books over here. I'm thinking, like, some

tables, chairs over here, maybe incense and plants, African art in the

window. You're serious?

Shabazz, that's amazing.

I'm just, uh...

Thinking of the future.

Our future.

Wait a minute. What are you getting at?

Laura, I love you.

I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

But it's only been four months.

Too fast.

Well, it should be.

And everything tells me that I should slow down, but... Honestly?

I just don't know if I could live another day without you in it.

So we should do this?

Yes.

But I'm going to need you to ask me a little better than that.

I'm a simple man.

There's nothing simple about my love for you. It is all. It is everything.

Will you take the journey of our life together with me?

Will you be my wife?

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Oh, my gosh.

Rings.

Beautiful. Are

you

doing

okay?

Okay, welcome.

Hi.

Mama, me and Miriam are hungry.

I'm sorry, I can't understand you with that language.

Miriam and I are hungry.

Great job.

Okay, well can I help this customer out? I'm hungry now.

Ahmed, lower your voice and I need you to have some patience, okay?

But Mama, don't you have to learn it too?

Moms get to have a little less patience because they have more to deal with.

That's not fair.

It is fair. More to deal with, less patient.

I'll feed them, my love.

Thank you.

Every time you want something, he does. Okay. All right, Laura.

All good?

All good.

All good?

Good. Fish stick?

Yes. Yes. Fries?

Yes. Yes.

Welcome, gentlemen.

Can I help you with something?

Uh, Laura?

Um... I'll take care of them.

Brother, I was just about to feed the kids, and you can look around for a

minute. You know what?

I got them.

Sure? Yep.

Let's go.

See

why

I'm at peace with God.

Hello up there.

Thank you for another beautiful day.

So many blessings, my children, my life, and feeling closer to you.

And as always, thank you for sending me this man.

Every moment with him, I feel so connected to, well, life and everything.

Miriam took forever to complete tonight.

And Ahmed?

As soon as my pet hit the pillow.

Who are those men today?

In the store?

Oh, um... Remember I'm working on getting that storage unit building over

Clark?

You know, just trying to secure our future for us, for the kids.

God, family, and numbers.

You remember that?

I do.

What are you writing tonight?

I'm just talking to him like I usually do.

I see you had something you wanted to say, too.

What are you going to do with all these journal entries?

Are you going to put them in a book?

Because if so, I'll put them on that front shelf, right in the window. I'll

married to a thug. No.

No, no, no. It's nothing like that.

I just... You know, I'm writing down all our memories.

That way when we're old and on the porch, we can smile at how a med tried

a daily basis.

Wife, you are so good at so many things.

And there was another, but they're a trilogy.

But they're a trilogy.

And, uh... What's going

on?

What's going on?

Shabazz, what's going on?

Shabazz, what's happening?

That's my husband!

step back okay listen to him okay tell me what's going on ma 'am i won't ask

again please step back just listen to him okay what did you do it's fine ma

let us do our job please can you please just tell me what happened your

husband's been arrested for trafficking in illegal firearms what no no my

husband's a good man shabbat that's the jessica i'm aware sorry

You don't like this?

What did your lawyer say?

It does not matter.

I am guilty in his eyes.

Yeah, but these men, they tricked you.

You didn't know you were storing guns for them.

I let them.

I look the way.

Makes me just this guilty.

Yeah, but what about me?

A man?

Mariam? That is all I am thinking about. I acted in greed. Not for my family.

That's not fair to you or to... What do you know?

I want my... I want my son to look me in the eyes and see a man who is willing

to accept responsibility.

Shabbat's priest.

I cannot do this without you.

Sister Laura.

Good morning.

Apologies. It's Musa.

Musa Mohammed.

I'm sorry. Do I know you?

Well, I worked with your husband on some of the community projects, so we've met

just a couple of times.

I know things have been difficult since Brother Shabazz has been incarcerated.

Yeah. Listen, your husband did so much for everyone else. I just want to see if

there's something I can do for you.

And that's really kind of you.

Anything you need.

You know, I just have to figure it out.

But thank you.

Brother Shabazz did say his wife is a proud woman.

You've talked to him?

Oh, yes, many times.

We've had conversation about faith, how to make things right with God, how

forgiveness can work in all of our lives.

Can I at least help put some of these books on the shelf?

Those I'm actually taking off the shelf, sending them back to the distributor. I

have to close the store, unfortunately.

Hi.

Mommy, do we have anything to eat today?

Of course we do.

Come on.

Go wash your hands, and can you make your sister up for me?

Thanks.

Please, take care of the kids.

I'll keep working on these both.

I need to be here when Shabazz gets out.

Plus, I don't want to see Mama's I -Told -You -So side -eye every time she sees

me.

Well, I just shut down the bookstore, and we have to eat.

I have a lot of bills that we need to take care of. Who is this man?

He's a friend of Shabazz's, and he's literally helped me out so much over

last week.

I couldn't have got through any of this without your help.

I really do wish there was something I could do for you.

There is joy to be found in giving without expecting anything in return.

Thank you.

I have to leave the house after next month.

After that...

Hey, Laura.

If I'm not being too forward.

I have a suggestion.

How long are you going to be with this man and his family? I mean, he's got

children.

Seven. Mother of God.

It's just temporary.

Okay, I'll find a job, get back on my feet. Trust me.

Everything's going to be fine.

Family, this is Sister Laura.

She and her children will be joining us. They'll just be here for a while. Say

hello. Hello,

everyone.

Okay, back to your studies.

This is my wife, Marva.

Nice to meet you.

Your kids don't go to school?

We homeschool them. We feel it's better for their spiritual mind and keeps them

safer in the hands of God.

I already have Ahmed and Miriam signed up to join us.

They can start next week.

Um, Ahmed, Miriam, let me talk to you.

I'm realizing that Brother Musa has a different way of doing things.

So we're going to stay on our P's and Q's while we're here.

Okay? Mama's going to find us a new place and we're going to start over.

How does that sound?

Mama? Yes?

What are P's and Q's?

Hey, kids.

You want to do something fun?

Come on.

Come on, guys.

Come on.

Hey, so the game is I'm going to be an animal, but I'm not going to make a

sound, and I can't tell you what it is, and just try to guess.

What is this?

Oh, we were just playing a game.

Playing games is not what they should be doing.

What they should be doing is studying and praying.

They have finished that.

Sister Laura, it is outside your boundaries to determine how much prayer

children get.

Children, in the house, now.

Hello up there.

Thank you for the roof over our head.

But it's so quiet here.

I think we need some light in this house.

Maybe that's my purpose.

Hi.

Yes?

Can I eat now?

If you had mopped the floor when I asked you to mop the floor, you wouldn't have

missed eating time. This is praying time. Please grab your book and stand in

corner.

Don't move until I tell you to move.

Are you okay? You're so cold.

Here.

Are you hungry?

Okay.

Let me find you some food, okay?

Jeans? Oh.

Yeah, well, children tend to lack self -control.

It's up to us to make sure they stay in line.

You understand that, right?

No, not really.

Well, you will.

Good night, Sister Laura.

Listen, you got a minute?

Yeah, what is it?

I need a job.

A job for what?

I need some money.

For what?

For food, my children, me. I mean, to contribute to this family.

I don't need a job. I got this.

Well, you get assistance and you pay for your groceries with food stamps.

But we eat, though.

Don't we?

You do. I just thought maybe I could help.

You thought you could help?

How?

Like you helped your husband?

What is business?

Ran that right into the ground, didn't you?

How?

How exactly are you going to help?

Right?

You don't need a job. I got that.

What was that about?

Oh, I took the kids on a walk and we met your neighbor, Wendy.

She's really nice. She said she's going to send over some flowers. Maybe we can

brighten up this place.

Yeah, we don't really socialize with everybody.

Especially not that type.

What did you tell her?

It was just a friendly neighbor conversation, Musa.

Nothing crazy.

Excuse me.

Good job.

All right, dinner's almost ready. You guys go wash your hands, okay?

Follow your brother.

Hi. I only made enough for us

three. But we're all hungry.

Okay, I suppose we can share with you guys.

They all look so hungry, so, you know, we just decide to share.

Spreading God's love.

Well, by all means.

I feed you.

I clothe you.

And what do I get in return?

I get disobedience.

I get gluttony.

We should be filling ourselves with the word of God.

And you know better.

Don't look at me. Put your head down.

Daryl, did you enjoy this food?

No, sir.

And you, in my... feet.

Did you eat like a glutton?

Are you stuffed with sin?

Yes, sir.

God tells us to put a knife to our throat if we are given to gluttony.

Lutha! This does not concern you.

They were just hungry.

Go to your room. Don't talk to me like I'm a child. Then do not act.

Like one.

We eat when I say we eat.

Correct?

Do not let this lead you astray.

She is not your mother.

Mama, what's going on?

I will not tell you again now clean it up

now

You have to

hate living like this He's my husband and

God tells him what to do.

It comes from him directly to Musa.

Come on, you can't believe that.

Using religion to justify his actions?

Marva, come on inside now.

Both of you.

You all better get up, get this house clean before you even think of closing

those eyes.

Let's go.

I have to see Shabazz.

I miss him.

The strength he gives me.

I've got to get my kids safe.

Are you going somewhere?

Yeah, we're walking into town to catch a bus to see my husband.

I don't think that's a good idea.

They want to see their father.

Brother Shabazz and I have spoken about it and he... He agrees with me.

He doesn't want you to come.

Are you talking to my husband?

Of course.

And he was very clear about this. He wants his wife protected.

And he's put me in charge of that.

Oh, and you wanted to help.

Back to your study.

Now!

I have to tell you,

I don't agree with you in the way you treat your children.

You really think this is good for them?

You've had a soft life.

Sister Laura, I can see why God felt fit to take everything from you.

Send you here.

God did that?

He has a way of taking everything from us so that we have to rebuild our

lives stronger, better.

Vigilance and discipline show respect.

Your children could stand to learn some of that respect.

My children don't need to learn anything from you.

If they learn from me, they learn from God.

And while they are under my roof, I will teach them what he teaches me.

Okay.

Well, then maybe we just won't stay here anymore.

And where will you go?

With no money?

No car.

Nothing.

I don't know.

But you can't keep us here.

Your failures as a parent need to be corrected.

Heaven awaits those who have lived a righteous life, Sister Laura.

It's time to live righteously.

Pastime.

And I am here to guide you.

I had three bags of potato chips.

Now I have two.

Which means somebody ate one.

Who was it?

open your mouth

I told you.

This boy has the devil in him.

Put your hands out, boy.

No, you're not going to hit my son.

Don't!

I will teach

what must be taught, and you will not interfere.

bad dream, and I'm just getting out of it.

Sorry.

Laura, that makes no kind of sense.

I gotta go.

Now get in your room.

His eyes are always on me.

He watches me every day, locks us in our room at night.

Every time I try to speak up, he hits me.

Tells me if I try to leave, he will hurt my babies.

I need you to help me find some strength.

I feel it draining from me every day.

What are you doing? Give me that back.

I am teaching the lesson God has chosen me to teach.

Now get inside and take care of your children.

Or would you rather I take care of them?

So what are you doing in here? What time is it?

Ahmed, Miriam, wake up.

Go in the room with the other children.

Come on.

Go ahead, babies.

Mama's going to talk to Brother Moose, okay?

I'll come get you in a little.

Come on.

Come on.

What are you doing?

No.

No, no.

You're not gonna do that. No!

Don't you dare!

No! No!

No! No!

But I think you heard me. Well, that's your wife.

I just told you.

I am your husband now.

That man will never want you again.

Look at you.

Broken.

You've got nothing.

You've got nowhere to go.

You belong to me now.

Here, take this stuff in the house.

Don't worry about looking for your stuff.

I threw most of it away.

You had too much.

Mama? Yeah? Can I rub your belly again?

Sure you can.

You saw the baby moving.

You can.

This one's a kicker.

Is Daddy going to be here when the baby comes?

No.

Daddy's not going to be able to make it in time.

God.

Oh, dear God.

I think the baby's coming. Go get your brother.

Stop being dramatic. It's not time yet.

Do I look like I'm joking?

I need to get to the hospital.

No, Marva can handle it here if it's time.

How's the pain?

Does it feel like a contraction?

No. No.

I think something's wrong.

I think something's wrong.

I'll be right back.

Morning, Laura.

Your baby girl is doing just fine.

Vitals all checked out. She's healthy as can be.

Do you think I can see her?

Of course you can.

We usually wheel them in, but... No, but can you take me?

Here.

Probably best if you rest and then... Take me.

Please.

Okay,

Laura, we can walk down the hall and see your baby now. She has just the

sweetest face.

No. No.

Lay down.

I need your rest.

Nurse, please bring the baby here. Thank you.

You checking out today as well?

You try anything like that again, and you'll never see that baby.

Need some protection out here.

What's her name?

Taslima.

But we're going to call her Tas.

You like that, Nate?

Yeah. It's pretty.

She's pretty.

Can I hold her? Kids, leave Laura alone now.

Baby needs to eat.

You all stop messing with that child.

After I feed her.

You need to sign this.

What's that?

You got another mouth to feed. We need more assistance.

What's that?

I'm there. What happened?

What's that?

Who did this to you?

You did this?

Why would you hurt him?

He started it.

Ahmed.

See, that's how we know.

He's not one of us.

Still can't follow the rules.

He's gonna learn now.

You let this happen?

Are you crazy? They're kids.

Ahmed, Miriam.

Go outside, please.

You are evil.

I should have left that blasphemy out of your mouth.

How dare you?

How am I evil when it is God who shows me the righteous path?

How am I evil?

When my every action is God speaking.

Do me!

You take his words and you twist them.

They mean nothing in your mouth.

Laura.

Laura!

What are you doing?

What are you doing? Give me my baby. Give me my baby. I

have the divine right.

And I cast you out.

Give me my baby. Give me my baby.

Mama, how long are we gonna stay here?

I don't know.

I need to use the bathroom.

Okay.

Hold on. Stand up.

Okay.

You can go now.

Go. Clean up these buckets.

Let's go.

Go on.

Dig.

You better dig faster, or I'll dig this hole deeper and put one of you in it.

Now dig the hole.

The kids need to eat.

Tonight we pray. Tomorrow we eat.

Mooses says you speak through him, but I know he's lying.

All this writing, where's it gotten you?

Nowhere.

up there that you think you're writing to.

If you believe you're speaking

to God, you show nothing but disrespect.

What you don't seem to understand is that God has chosen me.

He has shown me this path for you.

He guides my hand.

He gives me the words.

And he gives me the power.

To cleanse the sinful world.

And those in it.

The pen.

Hello up there.

I've been praying to you, but now I'm putting down some words again.

We've been in this garage two or three weeks. I don't know. I'm not sure. It's

hard to keep track.

Unless it gives us a little to eat.

We're starving.

I saw her yesterday.

Just about broke me.

But I know she's mine.

I can feel her in my heart.

I spy with my little eye.

Something... Something black.

A truck.

Starts with a B.

A bird?

Yeah, a bird.

That's it, you win.

Your turn.

I try to distract the Madden Miriam with stories, songs, or games.

Anything to hide this life.

But some horrors are just unavoidable.

As bad as it is for us, I know it's worse for his children.

He calls it discipline in your name, but we know that's not true.

Nothing but torture.

I pray for them.

If I don't do something, we're all going to die here.

Mama, what's that?

A tape recorder.

Sometimes people don't believe you until they hear what happens.

I'm going to record him.

Show people what he's doing to them and to us.

Don't you step away from me, boy.

Don't you step away from me, boy.

Keep that to yourself.

Never avenge yourself, but leave it to the wrath of God.

I am the wrath of God.

I need you to do some work.

Marva's sick. I need you to go to the grocery store with me and point out the

things that I eat.

You think you can handle that?

Come on, kid.

No, no, no, no, no. I didn't say anything about them. I said you.

I didn't say them. You stay.

I don't get smart.

Remember, you got your kids at home.

If you do anything, they're going to be the ones that answer for it.

I have to use the bathroom.

Can you wait till we get home?

Okay, well, I can pee right here and you can start explaining it to everybody.

Hurry up.

Get out of here.

Now you two stay on the stairs.

Don't move. You know the drill.

It's okay, kid.

Look, there's a bite in you.

I will have you whenever I choose.

No.

It's not you making the decision, sir.

No! No! No!

No! No!

You stabbed me!

I'm bleeding.

I need to go to the hospital.

Seriously, I could bleed. I could bleed to death.

So be it.

Mama!

Oh!

I'm at Miriam.

Come here, please.

All right, guys.

Pay very close attention to what I'm about to tell you, okay?

Every night, I write on this notepad, and I stick these in my waistband.

where I keep them, okay?

And this, this is where I keep this.

If something ever happens to Mama... What's going to happen to you?

I don't know.

I just... I just need you to know where these are.

If something happens to me, like if I go to sleep and I don't wake up...

You mean like if you die?

You must get the letter and this tape.

And you make sure nobody finds it, okay?

Okay.

Okay?

Hello up there.

Another day locked in this garage with no end in sight.

Hello?

Hi.

I'm Laura.

Laura Cowan.

I'm Zara.

Hey, what happened?

He hit me.

And he threatened my son.

He locked me in that room.

And he nailed all the windows shut. And I just say I'm...

I don't know.

I don't know.

And now he put me in here. I don't know what's going to happen to me and my son.

It's going to be okay.

It's okay. You have to trust me.

Look at me.

Look, I know hope seems lost.

In here, I get that.

But we're going to get out.

Until then, just...

Send up some prayers and words of encouragement to God.

Pray that he hears our cries.

Okay?

Can you do that?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

The food stamps came in.

They're in my name.

And you need an ID to go get them.

Put that on.

I'll be right back.

My name is Laura Cowan, and I'm being held captive in a garage with my

Help us.

Ahmed, Miriam, okay?

Remember what Mama told you.

Yes, if I die, you find someone that you think you can trust and tell them that

these papers are on me, okay?

Ahmed?

Miriam?

Okay.

Go.

Better act right.

You got those kids to think about.

Musa.

It's Reggie, your boo. From Bakersfield.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Brother Reggie. How you doing?

Hey, I'm good, man. You know, I used to run Duke Empowerment Zone.

Yeah, yeah, I remember.

You live out this way?

Not too far. Not too far. We're just moving in.

Oh, that's good news, brother.

We have a growing community here that I'd love for you to be a part of.

Well, we're just getting settled in, so we're going to settle and see about

that. All right. Well, come on, brother. Now, you got to remember, it's hard for

me to take no for an answer.

I can come out to where you stay. We can talk.

No, no, no. That won't be nice.

All right. Well, then you have a minute now?

Uh, okay. All right. One second.

I'd just go over there and sign for the package.

Then come back over here. Don't do anything stupid.

I don't have any problem with you pulling it in your head.

You understand?

Please.

So if you know I can party today, I'll buy myself a drink.

Come back and see me.

Next in line, please.

Good morning.

Good morning.

How's your day going?

Fine.

Your ID, please.

You just wait here. I have to get this in the back.

I'll be just a minute.

Ms. Cowan, I'm here.

Thank you.

Laura. Come on now.

Okay. Thank you.

Mama, why you up?

I was just praying.

You want me to pray with you?

I can pray too, Mama.

Sure.

Can't have too much prayer.

When I was younger, I had these two aunts, Bertha and Meredith.

And they used to drag me to church every single Sunday.

They were so full of life and Jesus.

Just to see God through them was amazing.

They used to sing this one song to me all the time.

What should my heart feel like?

When Jesus is my portion,

the constant friend is he.

Yeah? Yeah, it's Detective Robert Gallin, Riverside County Sheriff's

Can you open the door?

Yeah. Yeah, we're looking for Laura Cowan.

Who are you looking for?

Laura Cowan.

Come out here.

We need you at the door.

Ma 'am, can you identify yourself?

Laura.

Laura, Laura Cowan.

Mr. Cowan, do you mind coming outside and talking with us for a second?

Alone?

Ma 'am, could you tell me if you wrote this letter?

I did.

I did.

Okay.

My kids are in there. He has a gun. He has a gun.

Oh. He's alive.

Okay. Keep going. Keep going.

My kids are inside.

My kids.

Oh.

Go, keep going.

Mariam, your mother needs you.

Got him? I got him.

Ahmed? Miriam?

Come on! Come on!

Is there someone up there?

Yes. Yes, he's looking for another woman in there.

Help!

Can you believe me?

Help!

Can you

believe me?

Thank you. I got you. I got you. Okay.

Thank you.

I told you we'd make it out.

Right?

We're free, baby. We're free.

I love you so much.

Somebody shut him up.

Please, please.

That's my baby. That's my baby.

It's okay.

I'm never letting you go ever again.

Hello up there.

It feels good to be free.

Here we come. Shabazz is getting out of prison and meeting Paz for the first

time. I pray you can help us become a family again.

Our new beginning.

Why are you over here?

I missed you.

Not as much as I've missed you.

How are you holding up?

I should be asking you that.

Daddy!

My angel.

My prince.

I prayed to God that he would bless me to be able to have you guys in my arms

again. And God is good.

Yeah. Yes.

Oh, my God.

Husband, this is Pat Lima.

Let Daddy meet this beautiful queen.

Wow.

She's a part of you.

She will tend to us to be a part of this family.

I'll find my way to love her.

All good?

Yeah. All good.

Except we need to get this family fed, right?

Yeah. Yeah? Yeah?

You guys still eat fish sticks and fries?

Fish sticks and fries. Fish sticks and fries. Yes!

We were all together for a moment, happy.

But life sometimes takes its turn.

Shabazz died of a heart attack a month after he got out of prison.

My life changes forever again.

But you already knew that.

All right, little munchkins, come on.

We got a lot. We have to pack up.

Watch your sister.

Take it all in.

We're going to go back home to Ohio and I don't know if we'll be able to see

this again.

But look at what God can do.

There's so much beauty in the world with endless possibilities.

And I don't want you to ever forget that.

Okay?

Okay. Got it.

I promised God when I was in that garage.

And it was cold.

Wet.

And we were hungry.

I told him I dedicate my life to helping others.

And he did.

And I'm keeping my promise.

You know, I used to call myself a victim.

But I realized we're not victims.

I'm not a victim.

I'm greater than that.

We're greater than that.

We're survivors and thrivers.

I came home with three beautiful children.

Blessed with the knowledge that no matter how dark the days are,

they will always be my sunshine.