Frequently Asked Questions
page 2 of 3

Did Becky’s financial situation really change once Alan went to prison?
Yes. Alan provided well for his family. They lived in a very nice house in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire. They had a couple of cars, a large screen TV, a stereo system, appliances, toys and clothes – they never had to live without. When Alan went to prison their financial situation went into a tailspin forcing Becky to pawn most of their possessions in order to pay rent and buy food.

What sort of job did Alan have before they moved to Georgia?
Alan had a very good job in a gun manufacturing plant in Newport, New Hampshire.

When did Alan and Becky get married?
Alan and Becky got married a few weeks before Alan was sentenced to prison. Prior to prison, Alan and Becky were common-law partners for over ten years. During those ten years Alan was, for all intents and purposes, the boy’s father. He raised them as his own and the boys loved and respected him very much. For logistical (prison visits) and emotional reasons Becky and Alan decided to tie-the-knot before Alan went into prison

Why did Becky move to Georgia?
The decision to move down to Georgia was made months BEFORE Alan committed his crime. Becky’s mother had already moved to Georgia from New Hampshire and Alan had always wanted to move down south because of the extended NASCAR racing season! So in order to be closer to her mother, and to escape the cold New Hampshire winters, Becky agreed to move the entire family down south.

Why doesn’t Becky move back to New Hampshire to be closer to Alan?
On first glance it seems like it would make sense for Becky to move back up north with the boys in order to be closer to Alan. This would make visitation much easier and they could visit him more often. But on a practical level she could not make it on her own in New Hampshire. The cost of living is so much lower down in Georgia plus she doesn’t need to heat a house for an entire winter, as she would have to in New Hampshire. Additionally, her mother lives in Georgia providing Becky with a “safety net” should she need assistance.

Why are Becky’s telephone bills so high? She must talk a lot!
Phone calls from a prison are inherently expensive. Since the free person cannot call into the prison, the inmate must call out to the free world. The only way the inmate can call out is to place a collect phone call. A regular collect phone call costs more than a direct dial call, but add the secured lines the call has to travel through coupled with the state to state transfer costs over these secure lines and a short phone call from prison can cost as much as two to three dollars a minute! An hour-long phone call from Alan can cost Becky upwards of one hundred dollars.

How did Becky pay for the trip up north?
Becky uses her mother’s credit card to pay for the entire trip up north. This way she doesn’t have to travel with all her cash on hand. Once she returns she gradually pays her mother back. After she is finished paying her mother back, it’s time to go up north once again for the next prison visit. They are only able to visit Alan once a year.

Becky smokes so much – couldn’t she save the money and use it for rent, food, or the phone bills?
Becky could give up smoking and use the money saved for practical things. But she has already given up so much and feels that this little vice is one of the only pleasures she has left. If it’s any consolation, she buys the cheapest generic cigarettes available.

How can Becky afford to have a computer?
Becky was not always this poor. In fact there were many years when Becky, Alan and the kids lived a fairly middle-class life up in New Hampshire. The computer is a remnant of that time. Most of their material belongings were pawned once Alan was sentenced.Through her computer and the Internet, Becky found a community which supported her in her time of need. This is far more valuable than the $200 should would have recieved if she had pawned her computer.

Does Becky have a job?
No. Due to Becky’s degenerative knee disorder she has been classified as disabled and cannot be working in her condition.

Where did Becky get the van they were driving up to New Hampshire?
The van that Becky drives in the film is actually her mother’s van. When Becky and the boys moved down to Georgia, Becky had a small pick up truck. Once they arrived in Georgia her mother traded her van for their pick up since Becky and the boys needed a larger vehicle to move around in.

Was Becky married before she met Alan?
Yes. Becky’s first husband was the biological father to both Donnie and Joshua. He was an abusive father and husband and their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Around that time, Donnie was seven and prior to Joshua’s birth, Alan and Becky got to know each other. They became close friends and eventually became a couple.

What was buried in the hole?
Becky’s cat Sammy. Sammy was the first cat Alan got Becky when he moved the family down to Georgia before he was sentenced. From the looks of it, someone deliberately killed Sammy with a very sharp knife.

Why does Becky have so many animals?
Becky and her children love animals and find solace and happiness in having them around the house. When the family moved to Georgia, Jessie, the little white dog you see on the couch in the potato cutting sequence, was the only pet they brought. After a few weeks in the trailer park word got around that Becky was very good at caring for animals and folks would bring their ailing pets to Becky for her to care for. Consequently Becky’s animal population grew considerably. Before her eviction took place, Becky was able to find homes for every dog and cat you see in the film. Jessie disappeared without a trace after Becky and Joyce moved into a house up the street from the trailer park. Becky fears that Jessie may have met the same fate as her cat Sammy.

Who took care of the animals while Becky and the boys were up in New Hampshire?
Becky’s mother took care of Jessie, and of all the little puppies you see in the film. The cats stayed in the trailer and were cared for by some of Joyce’s kids who did not go up to New Hampshire.

Go to page 1 of FAQ

Go to page 3 of FAQ

Return to Viewer's Guide Index Page

Got a question? Please e-mail your question to: asentenceoftheirown@yahoo.com