Lincoln Burrows awaits his fate on death row while his brother Michael Scofield, a structural engineer convinced of Lincoln's innocence, gets himself incarcerated as well in the hope of freeing his brother from the inside.
Michael obtains some caustic chemicals to use in his escape plan, while his psychotic new cellmate Haywire develops an uncomfortable fascination with his tattoos. Unaware that she is being monitored by shady Secret Service agents, Veronica enlists further legal help in her investigation.
T-Bag loses one slave and targets another, Kellerman and Hale continue to follow LJ who tries to contact Veronica for help, and Abruzzi's inability to meet the gangsters' demands jeopardises the escape.
Flashbacks shed light on the past actions that led to the incarceration of Lincoln, Sucre, T-Bag and C-Note. Also, the basis of Michael's ingenious break-out plan is revealed, and Sara recalls how she ended up working at Fox River.
Tensions mount after Lincoln warns Michael that someone in the group will have to remain behind, Michael makes progress in reaching the infirmary, and Abruzzi threatens to kill T-Bag if he doesn't drop out of the group.