[slade]

Hank explains to his son, Heath, that a "Monster's Ball" is the night before they execute someone and give them a super nice dinner, et cetera.

The whole movie, then explores death.

One of the most telling parts, for me, is when Hank puts his father, Buck, into "the home". Buck says, "I don't want to die this way." To which Hank responds, "Neither do I." Meaning, if he (Hank) doesn't want to be put in a home he is going to have to put aside the hatred that his father has and start anew. A message he gets when surrounded with the death of his son, and his new lover's son and husband.

I think Leticia undergoes a similar discovery when she is sitting on the porch with Hank at the end of the movie. The establishing shot of them includes the tombstones from Heath and (I'm assuming) Hank's and Buck's wives. These tombstones make Leticia ponder what kind of "Monster's Ball" she would like to have. I believe she decides that being with Hank will provide her with the most satisfying way to die (so to speak). So, she too let's go of her hatred and embraces the life she's being presented with.

Hank says something like, "I think we're going to be okay." and, she agrees.