Logline -
Trapped in an abandoned Ukrainian farmhouse during a snowstorm, a wounded Russian and Ukrainian soldier discovers shocking family connections to the opposing leaders and must decide whether their shared humanity outweighs the war that made them enemies.
One Bullet Each, set in an abandoned farmhouse in eastern Ukraine during a snowstorm, follows two wounded soldiers—Lieutenant Vladimir (Vova) Petrov, a Russian, and Captain Volodymyr (Volo) Mikhailov, a Ukrainian—who find themselves abandoned by their respective units. Initially poised to kill each other, their shared predicament and injuries force them into an uneasy truce. As they tend to each other’s wounds and share a fire, they reveal personal histories, including surprising familial connections: Vova is related to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Volo to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Through dark humor, mutual aid, and reflections on their pasts, they grapple with the absurdity of their situation and the war tearing their nations apart. As dawn breaks, they face a choice—return to their roles as enemies or walk away from the conflict—ultimately hinting at a fragile, unspoken resolve to choose survival over violence, influenced by the memory of their mothers’ shared hopes.
Runtime: 60 min. No intermission
Cast: 2M
One Bullet Each - A One Act Play
One Bullet Each - A One Act Play
CHARACTERS
LIEUTENANT VLADIMIR (VOVA) PETROV,
24, Russian soldier, wounded leg
CAPTAIN VOLODYMYR (VOLO) MIKHAILOV,
30, Ukrainian soldier, wounded side
SETTING & STAGING
An abandoned farmhouse in eastern Ukraine. Snow falls heavily outside, wind howls through broken windows, and the damaged roof lets in fading light and moonlight later. The stage is split into two sides for parallel action in Scene 1, then unified in Scene 2 and 3.
