To Martin and Philomena's surprise, they see footage of Michael, dated shortly before he died, at the Abbey where he was adopted, and Pete explains that, although he never told his family, Michael had privately wondered about his birth mother all his life, and had returned to Ireland in his final months to try to find her.
Hal yang membuat Martin dan Philomena terkejut adalah mereka melihat rekaman Michael, berkencan beberapa saat sebelum ia meninggal, di biara tempat ia diadopsi, dan Pete menjelaskan bahwa walaupun ia tidak pernah memberitahu keluarganya, Michael sendiri bertanya-tanya tentang ibu kandungnya sepanjang hidupnya dan ia kembali ke Irlandia pada bulan-bulan terakhirnya untuk mencoba menemukannya.