Borderline
Script for a Brief Zoom-Based Video Production
This is a work of fiction, set in the future. I hope groups will perform it. I hope others will learn from it.
Borderline
Characters:
Jenna, the young-looking therapist.
Discouraged BPD: Natasha, 30ish – psychotic/paranoid.
Petulant BPD: Patrick, 60ish — a philosophy professor, has a death-image artificial background on Zoom.
Self-destructive BPD: Skye — a young beauty.
Impulsive BPD: Irene, 40ish — alcohol dependent.
Dr Ken, the psychiatrist:
Act 1: Meeting via Zoom
Jenna: Hello, everyone, I’m the therapist, Jenna.
Patrick: I have bunions older than you.
Jenna smiles and says: You must be Patrick.
Patrick: I don’t have to be Patrick, but I am.
Skye laughs out loud, then goes quiet. She has the corners of her mouth turned down.
Jenna clears her throat.
Jenna looks at each client in turn as she speaks: This is a very interesting group. Everyone has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. My goal is to help you all learn to manage the emotions and social situations that trouble you.
Irene: I thought you were supposed to talk us out of assisted suicide.
Skye continues to look down.
Jenna looks at the speaker and says: Nah. Yeah. Right you are. I want to learn names. You are?
Irene: Irene. Like in the song Good Night Irene.
Natasha looks at Irene: Ominous name.
Jenna looks at Natasha and says: Your name is?
Natasha: Natasha.
Jenna turns her eyes to Skye and says: You are Skye, right?
Skye looks up, surprised, and nods.
Jenna looks at them quickly one at a time: Your future is up to you – and Dr. Ken. He is the one who signs the final approval.
Irene, eyes flashing: All we have to do now is attend three sessions, and then he gives us the go-ahead, right?
Jenna sighs and responds: That’s right.
Patrick laughs and says: The final hoop to jump through! I have been waiting a year to get the okie-dokie.
Jenna looks at the clients. We all have a story to tell. Who will start us off by telling us about your journey through life so far?
No one speaks.
Irene: Jenna, tell us what led you to take on the savior role.
Jenna smiles at her and replies: OK. Like each of you I have borderline personality disorder.
Skye’s eyes open wide. Patrick smiles.
Jenna: I was diagnosed at age 18, in my first year of college. The diagnosis explained why I never got along with my parents and why my romantic relationships fizzled, but most of all it explained why I hated myself and wanted to die. I went into treatment – for years. I eventually learned to accept myself and my negative emotions. Along the way I became a therapist, and here I am.
The group again becomes quiet. The clients stare at Jenna, without moving.
Natasha: Wow. I have never had a borderline therapist.
Skye looks more closely at Jenna and says: You are overly-nice, but otherwise you may be the real deal.
Irene: How did you make it through therapist training?
Jenna: By the skin of my teeth. I had a big blow-up with one supervisor, but I apologized and survived. I have been working as a therapist for 10 years.
Patrick: What’s your connection with Dr. Ken?
Jenna; Um, well. (With a smile): He and I have…collaborated for two years now. He thinks if anyone can help you all, I can. Now how about you each tell us about yourself.
Patrick speaks first. I have felt miserable my whole miserable life. Two marriages gone, other relationships also down the drain. I want out – in a civilized way, through assisted suicide.
Jenna paraphrases what Patrick said.
Patrick squeezes his lips together and looks at the ceiling.
Irene: I put two men in an early grave – first was my dad, who I led to despair. I caused him so much trouble that he had a heart attack and died. Next was my boyfriend, who raped me one night — it’s a long story. The next day we went to an outdoor event, and I told him what I thought of his raping me. In response, he punched me – knocked me out. I learned later that some men jumped on him and held him until the police came and took him away. My boyfriend had blood cancer, and the stress of the arrest finished him off. He died a few days later.
Silence.
Natasha: Wow, you all are spilling your guts. Maybe you are trying to prove you deserve to die.
Patrick speaks to Irene: You went out with your boyfriend after he raped you?
Irene looks at him, with hatred in her facial expression.
Jenna, softly: So, Irene, you feel responsible for their deaths?
Irene: No, but other people think I’m responsible.
Jenna nods at Irene and then looks at Natasha: Natasha, how about you telling us about yourself?
Natasha: I was diagnosed with Borderline when I was 15. I felt relieved at first to have an explanation of why I felt so bad and why I drove others away. But then people started to accuse me of using my diagnosis as an excuse for bad behavior. People are awful.
Jenna paraphrases Natasha and looks at her with a sad smile.
Jenna: That takes us to Skye.
Skye looks up. You want my story of woe? Here it is in a nutshell: I played a prank on my boyfriend, and he hanged himself. I’m a monster.
Patrick: That must have been some prank.
Skye gives him a sad look and continues: A friend and I convinced him to let us tie him up in cave. Then we moved a huge rock to block the cave and pretended to leave. I knew he was phobic about getting trapped. I never should have trapped him. I’ve hurt myself, but I wouldn’t hurt another person.
Skye looks down.
Irene: We’re a bunch of misfits – no wonder we want to knock ourselves off.
Jenna to Skye: I sense that you feel guilty about his suicide.
Skye nods.
Jenna: Who has done self-harm outside a suicide attempt?
They all raise their hand. Jenna raises hers last. Then she pulls down her right sleeve, showing several lines of scars. Patrick starts to unbutton his left sleeve. Natasha raises her uncovered arms. Irene shrugs.
Skye: Well, I’m not going to take off my pants.
The others smile.
Patrick: The world rejects us. We reject ourselves.
Irene, smiling: It’s not our fault. We were born this way.
Skye (sings): Born this way, born this way.
Natasha: We haven’t talked about the good things we’ve done – the good things about us.
Patrick: How about we take over the world and make people look at our good side?
Jenna laughs.
Skye, chuckling: The revolt of the borderlines!
Jenna: Tell us some good things about you, Natasha.
Natasha: I did well academically as a university student. I had some hot times with fellow students and with a roommate.
Jenna paraphrases and smiles at Natasha: I’m glad you had some fun.
Irene: I had loads of fun with men, but nothing came out of it. They come and they go. Like buses, my mother would say. There was a time when I was a very hard-worker, but something happened – too much alcohol, too many outbursts.
Patrick nods and says: I enjoy teaching. And doing puzzles. Not much else.
Skye: I like my little brother and the family dog. I’ve been nice to them.
Jenna nods and then looks from client to client: I feel glad that you all have had some good experiences. What emotions do you mostly experience?
Skye (speaking more boldly than before): I have crazy-strong emotions – mostly bad ones but sometimes nice. I felt love for my boyfriend, when I didn’t feel hatred.
Irene: I’m with Skye on that. I have very strong emotions – sometimes enraged, and sometimes I feel passionately in love.
Natasha: I feel afraid when Ricky Gervais is stalking me, but I usually feel sad.
Patrick: Who’s stalking you?
Natasha: Ricky Gervais.
Irene shakes her head and chuckles.
Jenna: You know Ricky Gervais, the comedian?
Irene: He knows me – and follows me in person and on social media.
Jenna rubs her hand over her mouth and then (realizing what she was doing, stops). She goes silent.
Skye squirms in her seat.
Patrick sighs: I experience a lot of depression, punctuated with rage. I find thinking about my end soothing.
Jenna looks at them all: You all have experienced strong negative emotions. I know what those are like. Who has attempted suicide?
Patrick: I made a half-assed attempt with pills.
Irene: I made a full-assed attempt with alcohol and opiates. Almost died, but my mother found me and called an ambulance.
Skye: Many attempts with pills.
Natasha shakes her head and says: I don’t want a sordid ending with people shocked. I want a calm ending with family members present.
Skye looks down sadly. Patrick leans forward and looks closely at Jenna.
Jenna looks back at him: Yes, Patrick?
Patrick: This whole rigamarole is bullshit. One year we have to wait – and get approval from an MD. Just to have a dignified death.
Jenna waits while she looks at the others and says: Which Dr. Ken will give to those who finish three sessions of this group.
Irene: He’s dad, and you’re mom. If you don’t turn us around, we’re goners. No pressure though.
Jenna smiles. So does Skye, as she looks closely at Jenna.
Jenna looks at Irene: It’s the law — people can get assisted dying for a mental disorder. Ken – Dr. Ken is trying one last thing to divert you all from death: This group. Me.
Skye smiles and says: What’s your secret, Jenna, for living a decent life with Borderline PD?
Jenna smiles back and says: I will tell you all my secret in the next session! We are out of time today. Session 2 is one week from now. See you then.
ACT 2: Meeting via Zoom
Jenna: Welcome back! I told you I would disclose my secret to borderline success. It’s this: I got help and made changes in what I think and what I do. My emotions improved enough for me to enjoy life – for the most part. Have any of you found some benefit from therapy?
Natasha: It helped me feel better, but it did not stop the stalking.
Patrick: It helps me for a bit, but then the negative emotions return. I have tried everything – CBT, hypnotherapy, Freudian, Jungian. All bullshit.
Jenna: I notice that you have a death-related filter, Patrick. Tell me about that.
Patrick: If I had a rosy outlook on life, I’d have a bed of roses filter. Would you prefer that?
Jenna: I like roses.
Irene: I’m like Patrick: Therapy never helped me – for long. Rehab dried me out – I stopped drinking for several weeks, but I also learned how to get opiates on the dark web. And I started smoking – there was nothing else to do during breaks.
Jenna: What about you, Skye?
Skye: It’s a good question. I learned some coping strategies, but I don’t use most of them.
Natasha breathing helps me calm myself a bit.
Jenna: Natasha, when did the stalking start?
Natasha: Gervais started stalking me about two years ago. I fell apart. I couldn’t work anymore. I couldn’t sleep. My relationships went to hell. No one believes me. It’s a nightmare.
Irene: Did you ever consider that the stalking is a figment of your imagination?
Natasha: Did you ever consider that you are overbearing?
Irene: I have considered that. I apologise. Your experiences are your experiences.
Skye: Natasha, I have had some weird stuff happen to me – weird sensations and things. Tell us more about what coping strategies you found useful.
Natasha: Natasha breathing. 5-4-3-2-1.
Jenna: Do you all know what 54321 involves?
Irene: Sure. Say 5 things you see, 4 things you touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and one thing you taste.
Patrick: That’s good, Irene.
Irene smiles.
Natasha: It grounds a person.
Skye: Yes, I use that once in a while. It helps.
Jenna: Thanks for the various ideas. I also benefitted from learning to look at things from another person’s perspective, for example my mother, my romantic partner. It’s not easy to do, but as a therapist I try my best.
Skye: So you have a romantic partner?
Jenna, squirming: Ya…yes. Somewhat. But let’s not focus on me. Do you each have a relationship you value?
Patrick: I have kids. They mean a lot to me. I have become friends with some of my former students.
Irene: I fight with my mother, but she means a lot to me.
Natasha: My mother died, but my dad is mostly good, except when he has me committed.
Skye: I still value the relationship I had with my boyfriend. I like my little brother.
Jenna: I am glad you each have a meaningful relationship. Maybe you will let that person know that you value him or her. I have one more idea for the day: I suggest that you each make a list of reasons to die and reasons to live. Let’s go with the positive side for now: What is one reason you each have to live?
Patrick: Good strategic question from your savior perspective. My kids don’t want me to go. They don’t understand.
Irene: I have a cat. I’m not sure my mother, who has a dog, will take good care of her once I’m gone.
Natasha: My dad is against my suicide. He is old school. But he keeps committing me to a hospital.
Skye: I…dying is so final. Dying is a big decision. I haven’t come here by accident. I have thought about what I am doing.
Jenna: Good reasons for all of you. Who has had substance problems?
Irene: Who hasn’t? I have been in and out of rehab for alcohol. I get dry for a while and then go back to drinking. I like wine – what can I say?
Patrick: I also like to drink. I have tried every substance known to man. Ludes, hash, magic mushrooms – I liked those. I don’t know why I drink – alcohol makes me depressed.
Jenna: Natasha?
Natasha: I have experimented – mostly at the suggestion of one boyfriend or another. Nothing had any lasting effect. I have been on anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. They made me gain weight.
Jenna: Skye?
Skye: I have tried a few things, but not enough to get hooked. I take pills for ADHD and for migraines. I don’t want too many chemicals in my brain – there is enough going on in there as it is.
Jenna: People would like to find a chemical solution to negative emotions. Some drugs help for a bit but then add a layer of problems. Other drugs are a drag from the get-go.
Irene: Yeah, I have had some bad trips – don’t mess with mescaline.
Jenna: Anyone had an eating disorder?
Natasha: Oh yeah. For many years. Bulimia. I still don’t eat properly but almost never puke.
Skye: Anorexia for me. I still have it, but I have enough weight to stay out of the hospital. Eating is one of the few things I can control.
Irene: I am naturally thin. I have never eaten much. My typical breakfast is coffee with a chunk of chocolate.
Jenna: Patrick?
Patrick: I used to have a sort of body distortion, dissatisfaction. I got over that and started eating like a champion in my 40s.
Jenna: Well, everyone has had some struggles with weight or body dissatisfaction. But no one hospitalized for it?
The clients all shake their heads.
Patrick: Can we talk about reasons to die?
Jenna: Sure. We’ll look at the big picture.
Jenna: Patrick?
Patrick: I don’t want to die as much as I want to end my suffering. Negative emotions, negative relationships – I have had enough.
Irene: I know what you mean. I never fit in really – anywhere. I’m always different.
Natasha: I’m tired of life. It’s exhausting.
Skye: I don’t—I am not right for this world. I don’t fit in.
Jenna: You all have reasons for seeking an assisted end. I suggest making a list of your reasons for living and your reasons for dying. You can do that before our next session. Next week we’ll talk about that and about our bodies. Now, we are out of time. I’ll see you all in a week.
The clients slowly click off. All, except Skye. She remains on screen. As Jenna notices that Skye is still there, she says: Skye?
Skye: I think you could help me. Could I set an individual appointment with you?
Jenna: Sure. It would have to be after the group ends – individual sessions don’t mix well with group sessions.
Skye: I want more than therapy.
Jenna: Um…sorry, not possible. I have…ethical rules to follow.
Skye (reluctantly): OK
Act 3: Meeting via Zoom
Jenna: We’re all here, except Patrick.
Irene (slurring her speech): He’s dead. He and I tried to have sex, and he couldn’t do his part. I was very nice to him, but he was upset when he left. I called him the next day. A police officer answered and told me he was dead. OD, apparently. I buried another man before his time. [cries]
Jenna: Well…
Skye: You poor kid. It wasn’t your fault. He made his own decision.
Natasha: He didn’t wait for approval. He wasn’t the type to wait. Why did he even… [upset, doesn’t finish]
Jenna: This is an upsetting development. I agree with Skye – Patrick made his own decisions. How is everyone feeling?
Natasha: I think having group therapy for borderlines is a mistake.
Skye: I was starting to like Patrick. Jenna, you are doing your best. We are all trying.
Irene (slurring): I am tired of trying. I want to finish this session and get my approval.
Jenna: I feel sad about Patrick dying and about you, Irene, feeling responsible and wanting to die. I feel like a failure. [starts to cry]
Natasha: It’s not your fault. You’re a good therapist.
Skye: You show us that there could be hope – that we could use our experiences to help others.
Irene (slurring): Don’t relapse on us! I appreciate your efforts, but there is no good solution for me.
Jenna (calming herself): Thanks for your support. It occurs to me that your emotional reactions to the death of Patrick show how others might react to your death, whether assisted or not. What do you think?
Skye: That’s a good point, Jenna. My loved ones will be unhappy if I take my life. But my life is mine to do as I think best. It’s not that I don’t care about my friends and family. They can’t really understand my feelings.
Natasha: I don’t think anyone wants me to die, although some people want to have nothing more to do with me. Whose feelings are more important – theirs or mine?
Jenna: Irene?
Irene: Some people DO want me to die. Others want to have nothing to do with me. The people who are close to me can cope with just about anything. I can cope with just about nothing.
Jenna: You each have your own perspective. Let’s turn to your list of reasons to live and reasons to die. Natasha?
Natasha: Uh, I have reasons each way.
Skye: It is hard to add and compare.
Irene: My total is dark and stark.
Jenna: OK. None of you actually did the assignment, right?
Irene: Correcto.
Natasha: I forgot.
Skye looks down and remains silent.
Jenna: OK. Now let’s turn to our bodies. What does your body say to you about living and dying?
Irene: My body says it is time to wind up.
Natasha: My body says nothing of relevance.
Skye: My body wants to live, but my mind says no.
Jenna: Skye and Irene get different body messages. Natasha gets nothing relevant. What effects have being in the group had on you?
Natasha: My semi-hard chair always gives me an aching butt.
Skye: [Laughing] I have learned to look at life from other perspectives. My own perspective sucks, so I have nothing to lose.
Jenna: Irene?
Irene (slurring): I hate myself and everyone else. But –-uh—I guess misery loves company, because I wish you all well. The group has been better than I expected. I just wish I had never…tried to connect with Patrick.
Jenna: Thank you all for your comments. Your bodies have sent you various messages. This therapy experience has been very emotional for me. But so is the rest of my life. I feel an urge to cut myself – I haven’t done that in years. And I won’t now. I will apply self-compassion. Irene, can you apply self-compassion?
Irene (slurring): You sound like Mister Rogers. I don’t really blame myself. Does a terrible virus blame itself? But I should have never gotten involved with Patrick.
Jenna: You don’t seem like a virus to me. I gave up “shoulds” long ago.
Skye: I want you to keep living.
Natasha: Me too.
Irene: Thanks, guys. But I have reached my due date. Like a can of chilis.
Jenna: Natasha and Skye, you have shown compassion for Irene. How about for yourselves?
Natasha: Yeah, I could be worse.
Skye: Me too. I…don’t have everything figured out, but who does?
Jenna: Am I hearing that you, Natasha, and you, Skye, will divert from assisted suicide?
Skye: Yes.
Natasha: I guess.
Jenna breathes a sigh of relief.
Jenna: Irene, you could make it a clean sweep.
Irene: Thanks for the thought, Jenna. You did your best.
Jenna: We are almost out of time. Final comments?
Natasha: I feel better now than when I started the group.
Jenna (looking happy): I’m glad to hear you say that.
Skye: I want to use my borderline experiences to help others. Maybe I could become a therapist or something. I’d like my many bad experiences to lead to something – to have some value.
Jenna: Skye, you seem on the right track. Finding meaning and value in hard times – that’s epic. Irene?
Irene: I have learned that I have not been a total mess. I’ve had good moments – I wish I’d had more – life is rough for people born this way.
Skye: You make me want to sing that song.
Irene: I’m not stopping you. I hope you all have many good moments in the future.
Jenna: I like the social support you have provided to each other. Life is better with social support.
Skye: You have provided that, Jenna.
Jenna: Thanks, Skye. We all worked well to help each other. To some extent we are in the same boat.
Skye: I hope it’s not the Titanic.
Natasha: This seems like a love fest now, but the cruel realities of life remain.
Irene: I’m with you there, Natasha.
Jenna: Life has its ups and downs. If we learn to enjoy the ups and tolerate the downs, we can lead a life worth living. Best wishes to all of you.
Skye: So long.
Natasha: Bye.
Irene: Sayonara.
[Clients click off]
Jenna calls on her cell phone.
Jenna: Hi Ken. Group ended. One dead by OD, one still headed to assisted suicide. Two diverted.
Ken: Fifty-percent success. Not bad. What worked the best?
Jenna: Hard to tell. Everyone provided social support in some ways.
Ken: Good. Shall I come over this evening?
Jenna: Yes…no. Maybe another day. I feel drained.
Ken: Disappointing, but I get you. Talk soon.
Jenna: Bye.
Copyright 2025, John Malouff, jmalouff@une.edu.au
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