A roadside garage in 1982 is seemingly stuck at 8:54pm, A car from 1948 appears with a man and a woman apparently waiting to return to 1948. Sapphire, Steel and Silver investigate, then time shifts forward to 9:04pm.

An encounter with a man from 1925 causes Sapphire, Steel and Silver to question why they are in this place. Time shifts forwards 20 minutes and footsteps are heard outside. Steel goes out to investigate. A stranger arrives.

Who is the mysterious Johnny Jack from 1957 and what is his connection to the man from 1925 and the man from 1948? The woman from 1948 wants to talk to Sapphire, Steel and Silver. Silver reveals that they are trapped.

Beings from the past that are like Sapphire and Steel but working for a higher power are revealed and the trap is sprung, a deception is underway but for who?