Betsy Mallum

## Biography

**Betsy Mallum** is a main character in the first season of the show. She is played by Kaitlyn Dever and first appears in First Bottle. Betsy used to work in the mines with her dad, but was forced to stop after an explosion she caused in the mine. She lives with her parents, Jerry and Diane Mallum, who are religious and conservative. Betsy has a different view and says that she doesn't exactly believe that stuff anyways, but pretends she does for the sake of her parents. She is also revealed to be gay and was in a relationship with Grace Pell. Betsy hides her sexuality for a while before telling her mom, who pretends she doesn't hear her. However, her parents eventually accept her for who she is, her mom at least.

Betsy was introduced to OxyContin through the town's physician and her friend, Dr. Samuel Finnix. He puts her on two 10 mg pills due to a severe back injury she got from when she was in the mines. Sam planned to taper her off, but out of fear of addiction, Betsy threw the rest of the bottle away. This caused symptoms of withdrawal and she developed an addiction to OxyContin.

## Throughout the Series

**Season 1**

Betsy first appears down in the mines working with her father, Jerry. Grace Pell talks to one of the miners about eating pussy, which causes Jerry to warn her about using that kind of language around his daughter. Betsy is then having dinner with her family and their neighbor, Nancy Blevins, later that night. Jerry says grace and then they start eating. It is revealed that Betsy is into quilting after her mom, Diane asks her about it. Diane then brings up Grace, referring to her as the lesbian girl. Ms. Blevins mentions she knows a lesbian girl at the textile mill, to which Diane says it closed down. They talk about that girl, whose name is Patricia Ballinger, and the fact that everyone knew she was gay. Betsy says she even knew about it when she was ten. They continue talking for a bit before Jerry warns Betsy about Grace and tells her to stay away. Betsy listens and says she will keep her distance.

Betsy then goes to what looks like a bar where a band is performing. She goes to the bathroom where Grace then enters. It is revealed that they know each other and are in some sort of relationship. They jokingly pretend they don't know each other then start making out, to which they are interrupted by Marge. Betsy then goes home with Grace and they sit in her trailer. Betsy tells Grace her mom will pray for her and they both laugh.

The next day, Betsy is working at the mines when they all feel rocks crumbling. They stop to listen when one of the miners accidentally bumps into Betsy, causing her back to hit the machine behind her. She is left with a severe back injury that appears to be swollen when she is showering later that day. At a town gathering, Dr. Finnix advises her to come see him, which she agrees to, but does not do. She is at Grace's trailer later that night, where they were having sex. They stop after Grace starts crying, stating that she loves Betsy and wants to move away with her to a place they would be accepted, away from the mountains. Betsy says her home is the mountains and expresses her attachment to mining. Grace points out how much she is in pain and pretending she isn't. The discussion ends after Betsy says her dad will never speak to her again if she came out. Dr. Finnix visits her later that night after she is woken up from a sharp pain in her back. He gives her the OxyContin bottle Billy gave him, telling her to take only two 10 mg pills a day. She confides in him about her sexuality, not feeling accepted , and wanting to get away from all of that. Sam was completely understanding, already knowing she is gay, and encouraged her to move away to a place she can be herself.