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Star date, unknown. The Enterprise is in orbit about a strange planet and is experiencing turbulence caused by ripples in time. Suddenly Mr Sulu's control panel shorts out, knocking him to the floor. Kirk calls for medical assistance to the bridge. McCoy appears shortly to look at the fallen crewman. He registers a slight heart flutter and determines that a few drops of cordrazine are needed. Captain Kirk mentions that cordrazine is tricky stuff, is the doctor sure ......
McCoy administers the drug and Sulu's eyes open. "You were about to make a medical comment, Jim", asks the doctor.
Scott tells Captain Kirk that they are now guiding around most of the time ripples; Spock announces that they are just about out of the disturbed area. Just one area of turbulence left which they are coming up on now. It seems to be of fairly heavy displacement.
The ship hits the ripple and jostles violently. McCoy, who was checking his hypo after finishing up with Mr Sulu, is caught off guard by the vessel's movement and accidentally injects himself with the remaining amount of the drug.
Spock and Kirk rush to his side and take the hypo. Captain Kirk calls for an emergency medical team. Cordrazine is a wonder drug. 2 drops can save a man's life, but 100 times that much has just been pumped into McCoy's body. The reaction has made him violently paranoid. He stands suddenly and begins to shout, 'Killers! Murderers! Assassins! I won't let you get me!' and in a wild frenzy, pushing several crewmen out of the way, makes for the turbo-lift and escapes the bridge.
Captain Kirk alerts security, all decks, to be on the watch for Doctor McCoy. His has no way of being sure whether the madness is permanent, temporary or in what direction it will drive the doctor.
McCoy has made his way to the transporter room. He is quieter now, but there is madness in his eyes. He steals up on the technician attending the transporter and strikes him, knocking the man senseless. The doctor takes the unconscious crewman's phaser, sets the transporter and beams down to the planet surface.
On the bridge Spock has been checking the library banks while Captain Kirk conferred with the medical section. In cases such as this, with the large dosage of the drug, subjects have become wildly paranoiac, failing to recognize even close friends. They feel as if in mortal danger and seek escape at any cost.
Kirk is signaled by security. They have found the transporter chief. The chief informs Captain Kirk that Doctor McCoy has beamed himself down to the planet. Spock informs the Captain, "And the transporter at that time, Captain, was focused on the center of the time disturbance." Whatever is on the planet's surface causing the ripples in time, Leonard McCoy is in the middle of it. Captain Kirk has Spock set up a landing party to retrieve the doctor.
On the planet surface Spock, Kirk, Uhura, Scott and two security men materialize. There is a strange wailing sound of the wind in the area and they soon spot some ancient ruins. As they walk towards a large donut shaped object Spock announces that the ruins are on the order of 10,000 centuries old. The large circular object seems to be active and draws the party toward it.
Kirk asks Spock for an analysis of the object. Spock studies it for a moment and answers, "This single object is the source for all the time displacement." "Explain.", orders Kirk. Spock answers, "I can't. For this to do what it does is impossible by any science I understand. It is operating even now."
While Spock and Kirk study the strange object, the rest of the landing party continue to search for Dr McCoy -- some walking right by him as he lay concealed. After they pass by, the doctor sneaks off in the other direction, but stays near the ruins and the strange object.
Back with Spock and Kirk --- "Incredible power", observes Spock, "It can't be a machine as we understand mechanics." Kirk wonders aloud, "The what is it?"
"A QUESTION! SINCE BEFORE YOUR SUN BURNED HOT IN SPACE AND BEFORE YOUR RACE WAS BORN, I HAVE AWAITED A QUESTION!", speaks a strange disembodied voice from the object.
"What are you?", questions Kirk
"I AM THE GUARDIAN OF FOREVER!", answers the voice.
They continue to question the object, getting some details in return. It is neither a being or a machine, but partly both -- and has been around for a long, long time. Spock thinks for a bit and then exclaims that the device/object is a time portal; a gateway to other times and dimensions. The Guardian replies that they are correct insofar as their limited capability to understand its nature will allow them.
The doctor is edging ever closer to the Guardian.
"BEHOLD! A GATEWAY TO YOUR OWN PAST IF YOU WISH!", the Guardian offers and begins to display Earth's past history. Spock and Kirk watch, fascinated. Years pass in seconds.
McCoy, now discovered by the searching crew, springs up, yelling insanely, 'Assassins, Killers!' and makes to get away from them. But he is cornered by Scott and a security man who grab him as he tries to push through them. A brief struggle and it's all over. Spock steps up and renders McCoy unconscious with the Vulcan nerve pinch. McCoy sinks to the ground.
Kirk looks back to the Guardian and calls for his science officer. He asks the Vulcan if the object is a doorway through time, could they not take Dr McCoy through, three days into the past and ensure that the cordrazine accident never happened? Spock points out, though, the speed at which the years are passing and the difficultly of stepping through the portal at precisely the correct time. Kirk queries the Guardian about the rate of time display, but it announces that it was made to offer the past in this manner. (A fancy way of saying 'no')
The landing party draws about the guardian, fascinated, and watches the past roll by. Spock, a little annoyed at himself, begins to record the living history with his tri-corder. Nobody sees Dr McCoy awaken and 
slip up behind the group. Silently he thrusts his way through the landing party and jumps into the Guardian, disappearing.
"Where is he?", asks Kirk. "HE HAS PASSED INTO -- WHAT WAS!", declares the Guardian.
Uhura steps up to Captain Kirk and informs him that she has lost contact with the ship -- she was talking to them. Kirk tries it but can't raise the vessel either, not even static. He hands the device to Engineer Scott. Scotty tells him that there is nothing wrong with the communicator.
From the Guardian, "YOUR VESSEL -- YOUR BEGINNING! ALL THAT YOU KNEW, IS GONE!"
McCoy has stepped into the past and done something which altered the future. There is no Star Fleet, there is no Enterprise, and probably not even an Earth that they would recognize. They are completely stranded -- alone.
Captain Kirk can see only one chance to put things right. Jim has requested that the Guardian play back Earth's history a second time. Mr Spock was recording the playback when Dr McCoy jumped through the portal. Using his tri-corder, the Vulcan can estimate the correct time for he and the captain to go through and try to stop Dr McCoy from doing whatever is was that he did. The Guardian has explained that if they are successful in stopping the doctor, all will be as it was and they will be returned here. It's not a very good chance, since Spock's estimation could be off by several weeks, but it's the only chance they have.
As they prepare to leave the Captain speaks with the rest of the landing party. He tells them that if he and Spock fail, then when they think they have waited long enough, they must each try. At least they will be alive in some period of the past. "Seconds now, sir. Stand by.", announces Spock. Kirk moves over besides his first officer. "And -- now!", says Spock, putting his tri-corder away. They leap together through the time portal and disappear .....
.... to reappear on a street in an American city circa 1930. Their manner of dress is at odds with the time and they gain the curious looks of people passing by. Spock also tries to hide his most noticeable feature, those elfin ears.
Uncomfortable with the attention they are getting, the two make for an alley where Kirk sees some clothes hanging out on a fire escape. "Theft Captain?", inquires Spock. "Well; we'll steal from the rich - and give back to the poor -- later.", answers Kirk. He quickly climbs up the ladder, takes two sets of clothing and returns. As he turns with his friend, they look up. "hmpt-um! --- Well?" A policeman is standing there watching them.
"You're a police officer.", states Kirk, "I, ah, recognize the traditional accouterments." Kirk stumbles around, trying to explain what he is doing with an armload of clothes, obviously which he just stole, and Spock's appearance. After a few seconds the policeman has heard enough and orders them back against the wall.
Kirk gathers his wits about him and remarks about something on the man's uniform and how careless of his wife to let him go out like that. Picking up the cue, Spock offers to fix the problem and renders the Vulcan nerve pinch. Down goes the cop like a heap of dirty laundry.
Kirk and Spock depart the scene hurriedly (actually they run as if the devil was after them, jabbing them in the hindquarters with his pitchfork at every step) and finally take refuge in the basement of a building. Here they take a few minutes to change their clothing and discuss their current situation. The Vulcan tells the Captain that the answer to where and what McCoy does is locked in his tri-corder - if only he could tie into the ship's computer's for a few minutes.
"Couldn't you build some form of computer aid here?", asks Kirk.
"In this zinc-plated, vacuum-tubed culture?", remarks Spock. "Excuse me", baits Kirk, "I sometimes expect too much of you."
Shortly a woman's voice is heard on the basement steps. It is Edith Keeler, the proprietor of this establishment and missionary. She asks what they are doing. Kirk answers that they came in from the outside because of the cold.
Edith points out that a lie is a poor manner of introduction, it isn't that cold outside. Kirk changes his tactics. He tells her that they were being chased by a policeman because they stole the clothes they are wearing -- they haven't any money. Edith looks around and mentions that she could do with some help around the building. (remember, she's a missionary)
"At what rate of payment?", inquires Spock. The Captain grimaces. He needs money for parts for his radio hobby, Spock explains.
"15 cents an hour for 10 hours a day." As she turns to return upstairs, "Well you can start by cleaning up down here."
Later Jim and Spock are upstairs, eating. The establishment is a 1930's style soup kitchen - formally, the 21st Street Mission. As they finish their soup with the other 'down-and-outs', Edith is climbing the steps to a small stage with a piano on it. The bum next to Kirk starts telling the captain how it is now time to 'pay' for their supper by listening to 'Goody-two-shoes'. Kirk tells the man to shut-up. He wants to hear what she has to say.
She is a visionary and speaks of survival for better times -- times yet to come. With extra-ordinary vision, she mentions harnessing atomic power and colonizing space, unaware that she has two space travelers sitting at her table. She continues that humankind will find a way of feeding the hungry millions and giving each person hope. It's almost as if she can peer into the future through a thick veil. Spock allows that she has gifted insight, speculation. Kirk finds her most uncommon.
As they clean up the area after the meal and Edith prepares to leave for home, she tells Kirk that they are uncommon workmen. The basement shines as if it were scrubbed and polished. The two can report for more work in the morning then, asks Kirk. She affirms this and asks if they have a 'flop' for the evening.
"A what?", asks Kirk. "You really are new at this aren't you.", she replies, laughing, "A flop is a place to sleep." It is apparent that they don't have a 'flop', so Edith tells them of a vacant room at the place where she lives for 2 dollars a week and offers to take them there.
Several days pass. Spock is sitting in their 'flop' working on his computer when Captain Kirk walks in. Spock informs him, "Captain, I must have some platinum. A small block would be sufficient -- five or six pounds. By passing certain circuits through there to be used as duo-dynetic field core ....
"Mr Spock,", interrupts Kirk, "I have brought you some assorted vegetables, bologna and a hard roll for myself and I've spent the other nine-tenths of our combined salaries for last three days on filling this order for you. Mr Spock, this bag does not contain platinum, silver or gold nor is it likely to in the near future."
"Captain, you're asking me to work with equipment which is hardly very far ahead of stone knives and bearskins.", retorts the Vulcan.
Miss Keeler pokes her head in their room to tell Jim that if they hurry, she can get them 5 hours work at 22 cents an hour. She stops short, looking at the array of electronic equipment spread over the room. "What on earth is that?", she asks.
Spock answers, "I'm endeavoring, Ma'am, to construct an neumonic memory circuit using stone knives and bearskins." She shrugs without understanding and leaves.
As the two work at their new job, Spock notices and calls the Captain's attention to two other men who are using a set of tools on a project. The Vulcan indicates that he needs those tools for a time. When the two other men are finished and leave Spock picks open the combination lock on the tool locker and removes the tools.
Back in the basement at the missionary Spock and Kirk are working on the furnace. Miss Keeler comes down the stairs and announces that those tools (she obviously figured out who took them) were secured with a lock, yet they opened it as would a real pro. Spock begins to tell her that the tools were needed for his 'radio' work and would have been returned in the morning. But she is having second thoughts about their being in her employ. Kirk pipes up and tells her that if Spock said the tools would have been returned, she could bet her reputation on it. She thinks a moment and then agrees -- under one condition -- that Kirk walk her home. She still has a few questions she wants to ask.
Kirk raises his eyebrows slightly. She tells him not to give her that, 'questions about little old us' look. They both know how out of place the two seem. "Interesting.", Spock states, "Where would you estimate we belong, Miss Keeler?"
"You;", she decides, "At his side. As if you've always been there and always will. And you," she turns to Kirk, "You belong -- in another place. I don't know where or how. I'll figure it out eventually."
Spock tells Jim to go ahead, he'll finish up the job on the furnace.
"Captain.", she adds for him. "Oh, even when he doesn't say it, he does."
As Edith and Kirk walk down the street together, she asks him why Spock calls him 'captain'. Were they in the war together? Jim tells her non-committedly that they served together. Sensitive, she picks up on the fact that he does not want to talk about it and asks, "Let me help."
"Let me help.", muses Kirk, "A hundred years or so from now, I believe, a famous novelist will write a classic using that theme. He'll recommend those three words even over 'I love you'."
She thinks he's playing a game and asks who the person is and where does he -- will he come from. Kirk asks if she wants to hear a silly answer, to which she nods. "A planet circling that far left star in Orion's belt. See?", Jim tells her, pointing. (Shift to romantic city skyline on the water scene, gentle music swelling)
Back in their apartment, Spock is using the crude computer circuit he has constructed to examine the tri-corder memory. It focuses on a newspaper article entitled 'Social Worker Killed', with Edith's picture under it. Captain Kirk walks in as Spock is making some adjustments to the equipment. The Vulcan announces that he may have found their focal point in time and warns that Jim may find the information distressing. Kirk is interested and looks at the tri-corder screen. This time is shows a different article - from 1936. 'F.D.R Confers With Slum Area "Angel" ', again with Edith Keeler's picture. After a few seconds, the computer circuits begin to smoke and short out. The tri-corder screen goes blank.
Spock and Kirk discuss the options. Kirk comments that they know that within six years, Edith Keeler will become very important; nationally famous .... "Or, Captain.", says Spock, "Edith Keeler will die -- this year. I saw her obituary. Some sort of traffic accident."
Edith Keeler is the focal point in time that both they and Dr McCoy have been drawn to. She has two possible futures. Depending on whether she lives or dies, the course of history will be changed. And McCoy, states Spock, is the random element. What does he do? Does he kill her, or prevent her from being killed?
The storey shifts it's focus back to the streets. It is now late at night. Dr. McCoy has just arrived thru the time portal. He stops to look about and spots a bum, stealing a quart of milk from a doorstep. "You!", 
he shouts, "What planet is this?!" The bum is petrified with fear and drops his quart of milk. As McCoy approaches, he turns and runs. McCoy circles the block and catches him on the other side. He questions the man on his location and comments on the perfection of the illusion of old earth. The old man just stands there trembling. The doctor begins to ramble about the hospitals, sutures, needles, pain; cutting and sewing people like garments ..... and slips to the ground, exhausted.
The bum rummages through McCoy's clothing and finds the phaser that the doctor had taken from the transporter chief. Taking that, he runs down the alley-way a short distance then stops to examine his find. Pressing its buttons, the weapon begins to hum as it builds up an overload, then extinguishes both itself and its hapless holder in a glow of light.
In the mission, Edith is pouring coffee. We hear a familiar but tired voice, "That coffee, it just smells wonderful." It is McCoy, much calmer now. Edith immediately hurries toward him and tells him to sit down. McCoy says in a sleepy voice, "I can't. I gotta keep moving. I can't let them find me." She takes his arm and takes him into the back room telling him that 'they' won't find him there.
As Edith Keeler helps the doctor away, Spock comes out of the back to take over pouring coffee. He does not see his shipmate.
Now, days later, Spock having repaired the damaged circuits to his 'computer', is sitting with Kirk. They are trying to find out more about what change was made in history. Whether Edith Keeler is supposed to live or die. Watching the recorded history tape they discover that Miss Keeler was a prominent figure in a pacifist movement in the late 1930's whose influence delayed the United States' entry into World War II. Because of this, Germany was able to carry out its heavy water experiments and develop the A-bomb first. With the A-bomb and their V-2 rockets to carry them, Nazi Germany won the war. All of this because McCoy came back and kept Edith Keeler from dying in a traffic accident as she was supposed to. But now there's a problem. Jim thinks he's in love with Edith Keeler.
"Jim.", warns Spock, "Edith Keeler must die."
In the back room, Bones has come around and is back to his saner self. The paranoia is gone. Edith is ministering to him. He frankly doesn't believe in what he sees, though. He remarks that it looks like old earth in the 1920's. She tells him it's 1930 at which he states, "I am unconscious -- or demented." Looking at her he declares, "I am Leonard McCoy. Senior medical officer aboard the USS Enterprise."
She apologizes for her disbelief, but observes that he is wearing what is hardly a Navy uniform. McCoy, tells her that's all right, because he does not believe in her either -- and slips off into a light slumber.
It is much later now and Bones is up and around, sipping on a cup of coffee. Edith re-enters the room. Dr McCoy has decided that she is real, he tells her. But the rest of his surroundings are a cordrazine illusion. He asks who she is. "A friend.", Edith replies, "When you showed up here, you looked like you could use one." McCoy thanks her and offers to show his gratitude by doing some chores around her building. Edith tells him they can talk about that later, her young man is taking her to a Clark Gable movie. McCoy, though, does not know who Clark Gable is -- an item she finds odd. But she must go and bids him to get some rest, she'll see him later.
On the street, Edith is walking with Jim Kirk. As they cross the street she tells him that if they hurry, they may be able to catch the Clark Gable movie... "What?", asks Kirk.
"You know", says Edith, "Dr McCoy said the same thing."
"McCoy!", exclaims Kirk, grabbing her, "Leonard McCoy?"
"Yes", she replies, "He's in the mission, he's..." "You stay right here.", Jim tells her. "SPOCK !!" Crossing the street at a run he calls back to her, "Stay right there!"
Kirk runs to the front door of the mission as Spock comes up, wanting to know what is going on. Kirk can only say "McCoy", and the doctor comes out of the doorway of the mission. Bones, now back to normal greets his old friends.
Edith is seeing all this and doubtlessly wonders what is going on. She begins to slowly re-cross the street. From further down a medium-sized truck is coming, who obviously does not see her. Turning, Kirk sees the truck and his 'girl friend'. He starts forward to save her, but Spock yells, "No, Jim!". Kirk stops at the curb. Now Leonard starts running forward, but Kirk grabs him and holds him as the truck and Edith meet in the street. A scream is heard, then all is silent....
"You deliberately stopped me, Jim.", hisses McCoy between his teeth, "I could have saved her. Do you know what you just did?!".
As Kirk moves to the side of the building in anguish, Spock tells McCoy "He knows, doctor. He knows."
Epilog: Kirk and Spock appear back on the planet through the portal. Scotty asks him, "What happened, sir. You only left a moment ago." Now McCoy jumps from the portal. Spock declares that their mission was a success.
"TIME HAS RESUMED ITS SHAPE!", announces the Guardian. " ALL IS AS IT WAS BEFORE! MANY SUCH JOURNEYS ARE POSSIBLE! LET ME BE YOUR GATEWAY!"
Uhura is now getting a signal from the ship, the Enterprise is asking if the landing party wants to beam up. Kirk orders stonily, "Let's get the hell out of here."
