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 encounters problems bringing Abruzzi and Sucre into his plan, Veronica gets a statement from Leticia that could help exonerate Lincoln, but then loses her. Finally, as his execution date draws nearer, Lincoln considers having a family member there.
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.
Michael's ploy to buy some work time by prompting a cellblock lockdown leads to a full-scale riot, Nick convinces Veronica that he really does want to help her, and Kellerman hires an inmate to kill Lincoln.
With Lincoln's execution now just a day away, Michael looks for a way to get him out of solitary confinement in time for an escape. Meanwhile, Veronica comes out of hiding and gains an ally.