Andrey botvinnik: a Russian diplomat, he is urbane humorous and cynical. Meanwhile he is very good at diverting topics when someone talked about sensitive topics. He has been in Geneva negotiating with Americans for quite a long time.

John honeyman: an American negotiator who is sent to negotiate with andrey botvinnik after the former negotiator Mr. mcintyre was resigned. He is a newcomer to the negotiation table and an idealist who wants to realize reducing nuclear missiles with his efforts.

In the woods on the outskirts of Geneva, an American and a Russian arms negotiator meet informally after long talks at the bargaining table. The Russian, Botvinnik, who has worked in Geneva as a negotiator for several years and knows what results the talks can bring about. Honeyman, his American counterpart, is a newcomer to the negotiation table and an idealist and deeply believes the value of hard, honest bargaining. As the seasons change and the arms talks drag on, the two men continue their meetings in the woods and through their absorbing conversations we sense the growing understanding and mutual admiration developing between the two, and also the increasing frustration which confines them both. Botvinnik finally agreed with honeyman’s proposal and both of them hand that proposal to their governments. Unfortunately, they are rejected at the same time for the reason that this proposal is too perfect to pass. Botvinnik seems to know this result before based on his rich experiences in negotiating but honeyman is hard to accept this result. Both of them feel very frustrated of this negotiation.

The play is based on the actual peace talks held in Geneva in 1982, when American Paul H. Nitze and Russian Yuli A. Kvitsinsky got up from their bargaining tables and took an off-the-record “walk in the woods.”