Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Unspoken Recognition
Five Holocaust survivors meet weekly for their mah jongg game, unaware that their past is about to catch up with them.
Key Events
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Mah Jongg Club Gathering — Five Holocaust survivors meet weekly for their mah jongg game Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Community Center
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Recognition of Grossman — Women recognize restaurant owner as their former tormentor Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Restaurant
The Horrifying Discovery
The women recognize their restaurant owner as the Nazi doctor who performed experiments on them in the concentration camp.
Key Events
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Recognition of Grossman — Women recognize restaurant owner as their former tormentor Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Restaurant
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Researching Grossman's Past — Women discover Grossman's minimal punishment for war crimes Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Library
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Decision for Justice — Women decide to take matters into their own hands Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Private Home
The Justice Denied
Learning that Grossman served only a few years for his crimes, the women decide to take matters into their own hands.
Key Events
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Decision for Justice — Women decide to take matters into their own hands Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Private Home
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Drawing Lots — Women draw lots to determine who will perform the execution Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Private Home
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Execution Planning — Women prepare for the execution of Walter Grossman Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Various Locations
The Final Judgment
Drawing lots to determine who will perform the execution, the women prepare to deliver their own form of justice.
Key Events
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Execution Planning — Women prepare for the execution of Walter Grossman Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Various Locations
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Confrontation at Restaurant — The chosen confronts Grossman at his restaurant Characters: Marysia Walenka, Walter Grossman, Wilheim Gehbert
Location: Restaurant
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Aftermath — Women reunite after the execution, forever changed Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Private Home
The Silent Aftermath
Reuniting after the execution, the women are forever changed by their shared secret and the justice they delivered.
Key Events
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Aftermath — Women reunite after the execution, forever changed Characters: Marysia Walenka, Gertrude Simon, Sophie Langbein, Elsa Spahn, Hannah Epstein
Location: Private Home
The members of a San Diego Wednesday night womens' mah jongg club are five survivors of a Nazi concentration camp. They recognize the owner of a local restaurant, Walter Grossman, as a doctor from the camp who performed experiments on them as young girls. To their horror they learn that he has already been tried as a war criminal and has served but a few years for his crimes. They decide that they will "execute" him, drawing lots to determine which one will perform the act, without letting the others know who it is.
