Prod.: Sam Rolfe
Executive producer: Norman Felton
Writer: Henry Misrock
Dir.: Joseph Sargent

Robert Vaughan: Napoleon Solo
Illya Kuryakin: David McCallum

Werner Klemperer: Laslo Kurasow
Vladeck: Leonard Nimoy
Michael Donfield: William Shatner
Anna Donfield: Peggy Ann Garner
Madame Kurasow: Narda Onyx

Act 1 The Exterminators 

A small nation's premier tries to trigger war between East and West. Though the country is small, it is influential and the ambassador powerful. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement) intervenes in an unorthodox way to make the scheming ambassador Laslo Kurasow less dangerous. Vladeck, the right hand of the ambassador, is suddenly confronted by two policemen trying to help and calm down a "deadly wounded man", who's last attempt in his life is to give on a message. 

The moment his shouting caused the premier to appear, he tries to reach him and – before breaking down and "dying" he utters the words: "Strigas – Y.L. 8 9 3." Then the "policemen" take the "dying man", who has a knife stuck in his back, out, informing the premier that the man had been stabbed right in front of the embassy. Kurasow does not want any incidents taking place in his embassy, but orders Vladeck to check on "strigas" – if there is anything to it. Meanwhile Solo (the Man from U.N.C.L.E.) approaches a couple in debts: Ann and Michael Donfield. The bills mounting they expect another creditor to be after them, but the Man from U.N.C.L.E. offers the solution to their money problems. 

Soon they find themselves posing as rich people. Their little business is to be a cover for the headquarters of project "Strigas" (strike gas) . Solo asks whether Michael would be convincing in posing as a man who likes beautiful women and strong martinis. Taking a quick look at his wife, who does not seem to be too fond of the first part of his "new" character he is supposed to play, Michael's first enthusiasm makes way for a happy: "Hmmmm, I can try!" 

Vladeck has found out about the stabbed man: An American agent who has died on the way to hospital. He was involved in a project called "strigas" and YL 893 stands for Michael Donfield. The ambassador is mean to Vladeck and a very arrogant man. He does not miss a chance to discredit Vladeck or to offend him. Another agent is sent in his place to search the premises of the Dunfields and find the phone installed by U.N.C.L.E. Trying it out, the agent gets the address of project strigas through an automatic tape, which also informs him that the president is not available right now. Striving for more power (i.e. the position of First Deputy premier), Kurasow is interested in more contact to other agents who can grant him more knowledge about the strigas project. 

An agent, a colonel Donjew, approaches him and supplies more information about strigas, he also informs him that he was sent by the premier to protect him. Vladeck later informs the minister about the direct line from Donfields rooms to the president. 

Act 2 The $ 100.000 Boxtop 

At the home of the Donfields Solo, meets with his co-worker, Illya, who (in disguise as colonel Donjew of national security) has informed Kurasow about the other officials who are interested in strigas. He sees a danger: Vladeck. Vladeck is afraid of loosing his position if ambassador Kurasow trusts him more than Vladeck himself. Michael Donfield gets a call from Kurasow himself - Kurasow has heard that he is going to sell his business and shows his interest. To meet the people in order to finish the deal, Michael has to go for himself. He gets the money and gives away the description of strigas. Just after he gave some vital information, the contact person shows him a recorder- the conversation has been taped. "Mr. Donfield, you have been photographed and recorded selling out your country." He gets until tomorrow night 10 p m to hand over the formula. 

Solo's co-worker, Illya, (disguised as Donjew) tries to convince Kurasow that he is the better person to do the deal, because he is a professional in espionage, but the ambassador insists that this $1 000.000 deal is his very own thing (a reaction they had hoped for). Even Vladeck is not informed about the next proceedings. He comes in as they leave for the deal, the minister carrying the $ 1 000.000 with him. As Vladeck asks whether he as his aid should better come along, he is ordered to stay out of this deal, Kurasow is going with the security agent alone. In a hurry Vladeck rushes to the phone and learns about the government's findings he has requested concerning the security agent. 

Act 3 There goes the old ballgame 

The ambassador, the agent, and Donfield meet in the contact person's rooms, the contact person present. Both exchange what they have got: $ 1 000.000 for the formula. The deal is done and Mike Donfield is just about to leave as Vladeck comes in pointing a gun at him and the security agent. Kurasow again tries to discriminate him, but reads the proof Vladeck hands over to him: The premier states that he never had sent an agent to protect the ambassador. The agent (Illya) fakes a quick suicide by taking cyanide. Now the three men leave before the minister is involved in a killing. They take the money and leave Mike with the "body" so that he will get blamed for murder. "Ilia! Ilia!" Mike calls out to him as they have left. Illya gets up and says: "No, no, I didn't, but when Solo finds out I wish I had!" Solo comes in and announces the end of the ballgame. 

Act 4 A diabolical scheme 

"Any ideas?" Solo asks them. "I have got no ideas, I am dead," Illya states dryly. This gives Solo an idea. As the contact man comes back to the room, he still finds the body he thought would have been removed by now. The "body" gets up and takes him along to the men from U.N.C.L.E. who find out all they want to know from him and his statements are taped as he had taped Michael's statements before. Now he is forced to work for them. He is sent to Kurasow and tells that he had found the body. He makes the ambassador believe that the other general had sent the agent to protect Kurasow without the premier's knowledge. The colonel/agent had killed himself because he had failed the general's order. To prove it the contact man shows pictures of Donfield and others – all faked by U.N.C.L.E. The minister believes it and sees only one way out to save his neck when his involvement will be known: To present strigas. 

Not listening to Vladeck and accusing him again to be stupid, he goes for the Donfield's home where both are packing in a hurry – ready to flee. Kurasow "convinces them" to do the exchange and gives them the money for the formula now. After he has left Solo tells the couple that the money (the numbers of that money would be known to the government) will be found in a Swiss safe with the ambassador's name on – a fact which will be discovered by the government. "This is diabolical," Anna says and Solo answers with a smile: "We try." Back at Kurasow's home Vladeck comes in without knocking, a cigarette in his hand and brings news: The ambassador is to leave with the next plane ... for custody. The premier would like to know how 1 million dollars got into Kurasow's safe in Switzerland and why Kurasow has sent him the formula for American floor wax... Vladeck enjoys to bring him the news - "paying back" all discrimination he had to suffer from him: He himself is now taking over the ambassador's place.