Ex-cop James O’Malley arrives at his father’s house to find him dead and five boxes of police files missing. Was it an overdose or foul play? At Eric’s funeral, ex-security man Paul Rossi tells James that Eric had been obsessed with solving a case from 1984, “The Goodbye Party”.

In 1984, Bob and Evie Pratt hosted a swingers’ party, during which guests Murray and Alice died, supposedly victims of severe local pollution. But more than one person suspected murder. James and his neighbour Carla investigate the 1984 crime scene and try to understand the scandal that ruined the lives of most people at that party.

James interviews several interested parties including the man that discovered the bodies and the detective that says they died of sulphide gas. James also realises he’s falling in love with Carla, who helps him scatter his father’s ashes.

James starts tracking down guests from “The Goodbye Party” to get to the truth. The police then tell James that Eric was dealing drugs and that whilst he was injected with something, they don’t think he was murdered.

Helen Coventry, a witness from the party that James interviewed has been found dead. James visits her husband Sid for answers and ends up having sex with his daughter. Paul Rossi tells James that Eric stole the files 15 years ago, and nobody knows what was in them.

At Helen’s funeral James meets Brian Wright, another Goodbye Party guest and an acclaimed botanist. James goes to the pub with Carla but on the way home a speeding car runs them down.

James and Carla recover in hospital. James is sure it was a deliberate act and that Bob, Helen and Eric were all murdered over the years. Paul tries to convince James to give up. No chance. James meets Carla’s fiancé, Leon, who is taking Carla away to live with him.

James visits Emma, now a recluse in a dilapidated mansion. A home movie shows Alice and Emma on holiday together, filmed by Matilda. Emma remembers Matilda as a lesbian and a liar, but she also liked Alice. Paul tells James that Eric suffered a psychotic breakdown. But Eric’s lover Coco cannot recall it.