ITV's psychological thriller The Party concluded on October 19, revealing that Martin Glimour (Lucas Evans) did not shoot his friend Ben Fitzmaurice (Tom Cullen). The five-part series, based on Elizabeth Day's novel, ended with Ben waking from his injuries and confessing the shooting was self-inflicted, leading to Martin's release from custody.
The series followed the complicated relationship between Ben and Martin, beginning with Martin being questioned in a police station, covered in blood. Across three timelines, viewers saw the present, the night of the party, and flashbacks to their youth, which revealed the pair's hidden feelings for each other.
What Happened at the Party
In the penultimate episode, Ben demanded Martin stay to help confront a journalist who knew the truth about a teenage car crash that killed Ben's twin sister. Martin refused, as his wife Lucy was going into early labour, and the pair came to blows before Martin left for the hospital. Tragically, Lucy's baby was stillborn.
Martin returned to the party and confronted Ben in the outhouse, pulling a gun on him and accusing him of ruining his life. Ben talked Martin down, took the gun, and after admitting he always loved Martin, shot himself in the head. Ben's wife, Serena (Lydia Leonard), heard the gunshot and saw Martin holding the gun, leading her to believe Martin had shot her husband.
Ben's Recovery and Martin's Release
Ben survived the shooting, having suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage. He told police the injury was self-inflicted, which resulted in Martin being released from custody. Martin then decided to put distance between himself and Ben, leaving to face the world with fresh purpose.
The final episode showed Martin in a park, smiling at a male couple with a newborn baby. Meanwhile, Lucy left Martin after the loss of their son, expressing hopes of going abroad. Ben's involvement in his sister's death remained undisclosed, though a detective noticed Martin's seatbelt-related injury proved he wasn't driving, suggesting further investigation. The Party is available to watch on ITVX.
