In the 1994 film *The Mask*, several characters lead double lives or harbor hidden agendas that drive the plot's tension and humor.
### **1. Stanley Ipkiss: The Secret Hero**
* **His Identity:** Stanley’s primary secret is that he is the person behind "The Mask." After finding the artifact, he uses it to commit crimes (like robbing his own bank to get money for a date) and fight gangsters.
* **The Cover-up:** He spends much of the film hiding the physical mask in his apartment and lying to **Lt. Mitch Kellaway**, who suspects him. In one notable scene, he frantically tries to hide the stolen bank money in his closet while Kellaway questions him at his front door.
### **2. Tina Carlyle: The Reluctant Spy**
* **The Bank Heist Scout:** When Tina first enters the bank to meet Stanley, she isn't actually interested in opening an account. She is secretly working for her boyfriend, Dorian Tyrell, and has a **hidden camera in her handbag** to film the bank's layout and vault for a future robbery.
* **Hidden Feelings:** As the story progresses, she keeps her growing affection for Stanley a secret from Dorian. Eventually, she secretly aids Stanley’s escape and works to undermine Dorian's criminal plans.
### **3. Dorian Tyrell: The Usurper**
* **The Coup:** Dorian is a high-ranking officer in the Edge City mob, but he is secretly plotting a **violent takeover** of the criminal empire from his boss, **Niko**.
* **Misuse of Power:** Dorian hides his true ambitions from Niko while using the Coco Bongo club as a front for his operations. Once he gains the Mask himself, his "secret" objective shifts from a simple heist to a full-scale murderous rampage to destroy his rivals.
### **4. Peggy Brandt: The Informant**
* **The Fake Friendship:** Peggy initially appears to be a supportive journalist helping Stanley. However, she is actually an opportunist who uses a **fake identity** (claiming to work for different newspapers like the *Evening Star* and the *Tribune* to gain different people's trust).
* **The $50,000 Betrayal:** Her biggest secret is her intent to betray Stanley. When she realizes he is the Mask, she leads him into a trap, handing him over to Dorian and his thugs in exchange for a **$50,000 bounty**.
### **5. Mayor Mitchell Tilton: The Public Secret**
* **The Hero Narrative:** In the film's climax, the Mayor witnesses Stanley’s heroism. To protect Stanley from prosecution, he engages in a "secret" of his own by **lying to the police**. He publicly claims that Dorian Tyrell was the Mask the entire time, effectively covering up Stanley’s vigilantism and bank robbery so that the city can treat him as a hero.
### **Minor Characters**
* **Charlie Schumaker:** While he is Stanley's best friend, he is shown to be slightly selfish. At the end of the film, he keeps his attempt to **steal the mask for himself** a secret, though he is ultimately foiled by Milo the dog.
* **The Mechanics (Burt and Irv):** They run a secret "racket" where they overcharge customers and perform unnecessary repairs on cars, which is why the Mask targets them for his first act of revenge.