WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK | Omeleto

An ex-couple demands a refund from their therapist.

A couple meets at a marriage therapist's office. But they're not getting counseling on any of their issues -- they've already done that. Despite their best efforts and paying their counselor hundreds of dollars to help them with their relationship, they are still estranged. And now they're demanding a refund for the money wasted trying to save their marriage.

Written and directed by Ethan Mermelstein (who also plays one of the lead roles), this quick-witted, punchy short comedy is rich with sharp banter and quicksilver performances that reflect the writing's terrific ear for irony. And though it's only six minutes long, it manages to traverse a great distance, finding a bridge between two partners who have become adversaries.

The narrative setup is simple, and the structure is one long scene between a small number of actors. Like many stories contained to a single location and scene, it's shot with a naturalistic intimacy that can be almost documentary-like in its efficiency.

But the pared-down visuals allow the writing to come to the fore, and the quick, sarcastic and sharp dialogue here reflects the unhappiness of the estranged couple. As the couple continues to argue and bicker, even as they try to unite to get a refund for their marriage counseling, we see the accumulations of slights create an atmosphere of malcontent that forms its own negative feedback loop.

Matched in wiry neuroticism and intelligence, actors Mermelstein and Sarah Steele both have a similar rhythm and tenor that hint at how the couple was drawn to each other. But clearly, those days are past, and their verbal sparring makes it easy to see how this couple have poked and prodded one another into irritation and estrangement.

Their demand for a refund is preposterously funny, especially when the therapist herself -- played with nonchalant aplomb by actor Bari Hyman -- seems nonplussed by their arguments. She firmly ignores their complaints and treats the meeting like another counseling session. But as the couple unites against the therapist, it reminds them just why they were together in the first place.

WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK finds great humor and irony in upending the prevalent gospel of what makes marriages work. Forget the six-second hug or kiss, the emphasis on even-tempered communication, daily appreciation or date nights. What makes this couple start to function again is... a shared sense of adversity, which sometimes may be enough to get this couple through a difficult stage in their relationship. It's a rough world out there, but it's nice to have someone you can rely on to kvetch with.

[pageperpage]

Lol im a marriage therapist and one big misconception in couple's therapy is that saving the relationship automatically means staying together

[thebookdoc.writing.and.editing]

That was weird enough to like. I thank my therapist for giving us 'homework' to come back with a reason we were in our relationship. I couldn't think of one and filed for divorce. It was like our third session and he performed a miracle. Worth every penny.

[cahidijoyoraharjo]

Oh, that Janet was good! She played that couple like a puppet master! Instead of giving them a refund, she made them pay once again and made sure that they'll come back.

[random_thoughts]

My therapist told me during our first session to run fast and far and get a divorce. He was a wonderful therapist ☺️

[VPLO]

Fantastic! All three actors were brilliant! I find it ironic that the one thing this couple is united in is disagreeing with their therapist...

[mchoffner]

I wish there were a dating app strictly for Omeleto-heads.

[aroundandround]

The implicit contract in counseling is that you are paying for engaging the counselor’s time and expertise, not for any particular outcome or the time to get there. In this case, the couple seems to have arrived at a reasonable decision, namely that they are just not good for each other, which is well and good, but there’s no way to disambiguate how much of a role the counselor played in bringing them to that point of mutual resolution and whether she could or should have sped it up or for that matter slowed it down.

[liquiddonkey]

Every 6 minutes of your life is somebody else's award-winning short film

[guguvisions]

The way this was written was just funny, I really liked it and I laughed a bit too.😀

[nguverenahua]

How do yall think up these scenarios? Love it. Haven' laughed that hard in a while

[mahima]

The moment when she asks "How have your lives been apart?" I loved it! A beautifully wove short movie.

[aliasreco]

I agree with Janet. It's a healthy couple with some minor issues. As long as they stay honest in their quarrels they can go a long way. Real fun. (my 42 years old marriage is more fun)

[AW___]

“This set of yours is a conflict of interest: the worse we are, the more we keep coming back!” 😂 The therapist fees should be capped to say, 10 sessions max, with a money back guarantee! 🤣😂😆.

[deeluve]

I wasn't the only one that immediately recognized the young woman as the daughter from Spanglish, was I?

Edit: Confirmed, it's her. Sarah Steele.

[mchoffner]

So well written, directed and acted. Thanks

[tomjoadism]

I thought it was nice she put her phone away when he walked up.

[ricardocarmona]

Yeah thay definitely need therapy. Lol 💔

[hgae]

The young woman also plays Marissa in The Good Fight, she's really good

[fredhubbard]

Written from experience, and acted with genius. John Gottman (relationship researcher) would have made short work of this. He has seen the simple things that mean a relationship is over, and this couple is right in asking for a refund.

[VelosoNarciso]

U can clearly see this was not her first rodeo.