Plot

Dying millionaire Jason Foster invites his greedy Boston heirs to a Mardi Gras party where they must wear the masks he had custom-made for them - or else be cut off from their considerably large inheritance.

When his doctor tells him that he could die at any moment, wealthy Jason Foster gathers his heirs including his daughter Emily Harper, her husband Wilfred and their children Paula and Wilfred Jr. Jason doesn't think much of any of them and it's clear they can't wait to inherit his fortune. It's Mardi Gras time in New Orleans and he has one last request - for each of them to wear a carnival mask during their visit. Each of the masks is meant to reflect some aspect of the wearer's personality - and leave a lasting impression.—garykmcd

On the day of the Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, the wealthy Jason Foster is diagnosed terminal by his friend Dr. Samuel "Sam" Thorne. Jason receives his greedy family from Boston, composed by his daughter Emily and her husband Wilfred Haper, his granddaughter Paula and his grandson Wilfred Jr. Jason tell his heirs that they will only receive their inheritance if they wear Cajun masks selected by him and spend the Mardi Gras with him until the midnight. He ironically explains that each ugly mask represents the opposite of the personality of each one of them. At midnight, Jason Foster dies and the heirs remove their masks.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It is Mardi Gras time in New Orleans. However, for Jason Foster, there is very little celebration, as he is close to death's door.

Also at hand to visit him, are his relatives:

Wilfred Harper, Sr- A man very concerned with money.

Emily Harper- Jason's daughter, constantly fretting over the fear that she has some form of illness or another.

Paula Harper- Wilfred and Emily's daughter, who is quite vain.

Wilfred Harper, Jr- a rather brutish young man, who Jason reveals is given to torturing small animals for amusement.

The family members greet Jason with concern, of which he shrugs this off by giving them rather scathing remarks about their personalities. Even so, Jason proves hospitable in having his servants provide the four with an excellent dinner.

Once dinner is finished, Jason reveals that he has a surprise for them all: he has prepared a series of masks for everyone to wear, fashioned by an old cajun. Per tradition, each person wears a mask that is supposed to be the opposite of their personality. For example, Jason's mask is a skull (the face of death), since he is still alive.

After viewing the masks that Jason has chosen for them, the family refuses to wear them. However, Jason reveals that their refusal comes with a price. He has already made out his will to them, well aware that they are only there out of concern for his fortune, and not for him. Per his conditions, the family must wear their masks until midnight, with the promise that if any of them removes their masks before then, they will be given train fare back to Boston, with no claim over Jason's fortune. The family concedes and put on their masks.

As midnight closes in, the family laments having to wear the masks, as Jason begins to grow weaker. With his dying words, he criticizes each of the family members, claiming that they think inwardly of their own petty wants and desires, and that they do not respond to love or consider it. As the clock finally strikes midnight, Jason expires. As Wilfred Sr checks his pulse, he happily proclaims that Jason is dead, and removes his mask...only to have his family recoil in terror.

Wilfred's face has taken on the exact appearance of the mask, and it is soon revealed that everyone else's face has done the same. Only Jason's face is the same once the doctor is called and the mask is removed. His face is one of calm. Though the family has Jason's fortune, they now must wear the faces of how they are on the inside.



(by Dane Youssef)

Jason Foster is a notably wealthy entrepreneur who has not much longer to be among us. He lives in the great city of New Orleans. He has acquired quite a monopoly during his long years here. But of all his accomplishments, one remains uniquely unimpressive--his family.

His only relatives are his daughter, a son-in-law and their two equally unsavory children.

His baby girl Emily panics over the slightest discomfort. Always diagnosis herself as terminal in any and all situation. Emily is terminal, all right. As a hypochondriac who fears illness so much, she bemoans life itself.

Her spouse Wilfred is a successful entrepreneur (but not in Jason's league) always calculating and appraising everything. A businessman to the core, seemingly incapable of love. Paula, thy name is vanity--forever looking into in the mirror. The son of Wilfred and Emily, Wilfred Jr. , is the stereotype of the ungentle giant--big, dumb and stupid. He's just a schoolyard bully all-grown up, body--but not age. We hear he even enjoys torturing small animals.

They are unaccountably bankrupt in morals. It may well-be having someone as rich-as-God as Jason in their kin may have spoiled them rotten to the core, past the point of no return. When the family arrives, it is not with open arms for Jason. They complain how uncomfortable the trip is. Everyone gives a forced greeting to the dying old miser. Why? Because the clan is all there for two simple reasons--to enjoy the end-all festival of Mardi Gras in its heartland city of New Orleans.... and to collect what Jason has earned all the time he has spent here the nanosecond he "leaves."

But Jason has a surprise planned for all of them. After a luxurious family banquet, they are to have a family get-together in the house. And they will all wear Mardi Gras masks, hand-picked by Jason himself, and hand-made by an old Cajun. And not to be removed until midnight sharp.

Why? Is this just a weird indulgence to humor?

At midnight, the masks are to be undone and to unveiled. And so is everything else....

(by Dane Youssef)