Scientists have developed a weapon, called the "Super H-bomb", which if detonated will wipe out the human race. A "High Tribunal" in "The Great Court of Outer Space" is called upon to decide whether divine intervention should be allowed to stop the bomb's detonation. The Devil (played by Vincent Price), who goes by the name of Mr. Scratch, prosecutes mankind, while the Spirit of Man (played by Ronald Colman) defends it. Price and Colman are allowed to take the tribunal to any period of time to present evidence for mankind's salvation or damnation. They take the tribunal from prehistory through Egyptian, Greco-Roman, medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment and modern times, looking at historical figures played by a host of guest stars.