Orange flower water

Orange Flower Water is a dramatic play written by Craig Wright published in August 2004.The Chicago Tribune describes the play as "Uncommonly intense and intimate ninety-minute drama." "A brutally honest drama about marriage and infidelity" by Chicago Sun-Times, and "Simultaneously visceral, with crackling humor, and intellectual." by Star Tribune.

Characters

David Calhoun, a pharmacist, 30s-40s

Cathy Calhoun, a choir director wife of David, 30s-40s

Brad Youngquist, owner of video rental stores, 30s-40s

Beth Youngquist, wife of Brad, 30s-40s

Setting

Present day in various locations of Pine City, Minnesota. The set is composed of a bed and nightstand, with a telephone, and four chairs.

Cathy recites a message to her husband, David, gives exposition of happy marriage. She speaks of their two children Annie and Gus and their schedule for the week while she is away for a choir festival. Cathy ends the letter expressing her deep love for David. She signs off with "Yours more truly than truly could ever say."

David and Beth are lying on a bed. Beth with her eyes closed is being prompted by David to imagine herself far away from Pine City and instead she is "in a bay in a kingdom in the clouds." She quickly realizes that it is a ploy for him to undress and kiss her and she does mind. David begins to expresses his feelings of true love and tells Beth that when he is with her, he is really living. Beth has reservations. They are both already married and she questions how their relationship could affect their families. David explains that he wishes he didn't have to hurt anyone to find his happiness but if he has to hurt someone to live his dream, it is a price he is willing to pay.

The argument fades and Beth begins to talk about a dream that she has had. She lays in bed at night next to her husband, Brad, and thinks about her relationship with David. She dreams that they have a four-year-old daughter named Lily. It is Christmas time in the dream and they driving home after getting the ingredients to make cookies together. While shopping, they picked up a bottle of orange flower water which she read about in Gourmet. In the backseat of the car, little Lily gets ahold of the bottle and spills it all over the back seat filling the car with the scent of oranges. They were all giggling and laughing. They were truly happy.

Even after her confession of the dream, Beth still has reservations about ruining their current relationships. David begins to harp on her for her husband's inattentive behavior. Beth, not wishing to talk about it anymore, suggests that she leaves. Disappointed at his failed attempt to be intimate with Beth and upsetting her in the process, he tries to convince her to reconsider. She concedes.

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Wikipedia