
At an abandoned service station and its adjoining café, time has stopped. Operator Silver has arrived first assessing the situation. Sapphire and Steel remain uncertain as to exactly what they are supposed to be investigating. The key may lie in two humans in the café who claim to be from 1948, a service station worker, and a travelling performer, but something envious and sinister gets closer before a trap is sprung.

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.