Ep 11. The Virtue Affair

The Virtue Affair is an episode of the second season of the spy television show Man From U.N.C.L.E. The series follows the adventures of two secret agents - American Napolean Solo (played by Robert Vaughn) and Russian Illya Kuryakin (played by David McCallum) - who work for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E.) to combat evil organizations around the world.

In The Virtue Affair, Solo and Kuryakin find themselves investigating the activities of a group of criminals led by the beautiful and cunning Felicia Vabaray (played by Lola Albright). Vabaray is the leader of a so-called "virtue gang" which uses deception and blackmail to commit a variety of crimes. The gang targets moralistic people in positions of power, such as clergymen and politicians, and threatens to reveal their supposed immoral activities unless they pay a ransom.

Solo and Kuryakin's investigation takes them to a small town where they pose as a pair of reporters and interview Vabaray's latest victim - a wealthy businessman named Drake (played by John Van Dreelen). Drake is being extorted for a large sum of money by the virtue gang, but he refuses to pay. Solo and Kuryakin team up with Drake's secretary, Abby (played by Barbara Feldon), in order to protect him from the gang's attacks.

As they delve deeper into the case, Solo and Kuryakin discover that Vabaray and her associates are planning on kidnapping a prominent cardinal in order to further their own goals. The agents must work quickly to prevent this kidnapping, and they are aided by a cagey old priest named Father Leo (played by Milton Selzer). Father Leo has some history with Vabaray and is more than willing to help Solo and Kuryakin take her down.

However, things become complicated when Abby reveals that she has been working for Vabaray all along. She has been feeding information to the virtue gang about Drake and his activities, and she was set up by Vabaray to get close to Solo and Kuryakin. Despite this revelation, Solo and Kuryakin are able to stop Vabaray and her cohorts from carrying out their kidnapping plot and bringing them to justice.

The Virtue Affair is a classic episode of Man From U.N.C.L.E. that showcases the series' unique blend of humor, action, and espionage. The episode is notable for its use of a female villain, as well as its exploration of themes of moral hypocrisy and public perception. The performances by the show's lead actors are as strong as ever, particularly Vaughn's portrayal of the suave and debonair Solo. The episode's thrilling climax, which sees Solo and Kuryakin engage in a high-speed chase across country roads, is one of the series' most iconic moments. Overall, The Virtue Affair is a must-see episode for fans of '60s spy fiction and television.