Executive producer: Gene Roddenberry
Associate producers: Edward K. Milkis and Gregg Peters
Producer Fred Freiberger
Co- producer: Robert H. Justman
Story consultant: Arthur H. Singer

Writer: D. C. Fontana
Dir.: John Meredyth Lucas

Captain Kirk: William Shatner
Science Officer, First Officer, Cmdr. Spock: Leonard Nimoy
Dr. Leonard "Bones" Mc Coy: DeForest Kelly
Lt. Sulu: George Takei
Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott: James Doohan
Nurse Chapel: Majel Barret
Romulan Commander: Joanne Linville
Subcommander Tal: Jack Donner

Stardate 5031.3

Tensions seem to develop between Kirk and Spock. Kirk is overworked and gets easily irritated. In this state of mind he orders the Enterprise into Romulan space. In no time the ship is surrounded by Romulan ships and a deadline is given to surrender the ship or the Enterprise will be destroyed. They can arrange for a talk and Kirk and Spock beam to the leading Romulan ship to meet the presiding commander - an attractive woman. 

Kirk tries to explain to the lady that malfunctions on board have forced the ship to maintain this direction, but the commander does not believe him. Sharing her knowledge about Vulcans that they are incapable of lying, she asks Spock who honestly describes the state of mind his captain is in. Furiously Kirk shouts at Spock and accuses him of treason. Dr. McCoy is called to check on the Captain that, after Spock's betrayal, seems to have fallen in a catatonic state of mind. While thd doctor is examining him, Kirk suddenly jumps up and attacks Spock violently. 

Spock instinctively touches his captain's face and Kirk falls down. McCoy declares him dead. Spock explains that he did not expect an attack and instinctively used the Vulcan death grip. 

McCoy cannot believe Spock –obviously very friendly with the Romulan commander – will take over command of the Enterprise after having killed his captain. The doctor takes the dead body of his captain with him onto the Enterprise. To the their astonishment, the Romulan commander informs the Enterprise crew that Spock has surrendered the ship to her fleet. A very sad Nurse Chapel hovers on the Captain's dead body, which suddenly blinks at her. McCoy comes and orders the nurse to prepare for surgery, then summons Mr. Scott to sick bay. 

The Romulan commander understands that it must be difficult for Spock to serve under a human captain who has got so many moods and being exposed to them. She offers Spock command over a Romulan ship, a high position in the Romulan empire and invites him to dinner in her quarters to "discuss" the proposal. She acts very friendly, going to the point to reveal him her personal name and openly talking about the freedom fo Romulan women's customs. While she offers him a drink and leaves to change into private clothing, Spock uses his communicator and tells Kirk where the cloaking device can be found on the ship. 

Kirk, Spock and McCoy have staged Kirk's death, operating under top secret commands to obtain the device for the Federation. A very much Romulan-like looking Kirk beams onto the Romulan ship and steals the device from where Spock has told him it would be found. The moment the Romulan commander has changed her clothing and is beginning to spend some private time with Spock, subcommander Tal enters the room of his superior officer and informs her that a source of communication has been monitored from their ship to the Enterprise. When the commander asks where the call was sent from, she learns that it had come from her room: Spock. 

She hits him in agony and disappointment. Not moving at all Spock answers her question who he really is: "I am the First officer of the Enterprise." The announcement that the cloaking device has been stolen adds to Spock’s disadvantaged situation – he is put in a Romulan court. Spock uses his right to defend himself and speaks himself for his defense to give the crew of the Enterprise time to find him amongst the Romulans. 

Scotty manages and beams him up before the death sentence for spying can be pronounced. As quickly as the Romulan commander sees the beam she steps close to Spock and she, too, gets beamed on board of the Enterprise. There was no future for her with the Romulan fleet any more. Kirk orders her friendly to be detained and Spock accompanies her to her room. In the elevator both are aware of having done their duty and both respect each other's choice. They agree that there is mutual respect and a personal experience in spite of their various origins and futures. Scotty has installed in the cloaking device - only by that the Enterprise manages to escape the Romulan ships who fire at the place they have been seen last. Now, for Kirk it is time to have his ears restored.