Bellick was horrified upon discovering the tunnel dug by Michael and the others. Before he could react, he was ambushed and attacked by Westmoreland. After a struggle, he was tied up and thrown into the tunnel. The injured Westmoreland told Michael they had to escape that night before the guards noticed Bellick's disappearance. Michael immediately assigned tasks, and everyone scattered to prepare. The biggest obstacle became how to extract Lincoln, who was under 24-hour surveillance.
Michael confessed the escape plan to Sara, asking her a small favor: to leave her office door unlocked when she left work. Unable to bring herself to report Michael, a conflicted and torn Sara left work early as a way to avoid the decision. Meanwhile, the Vice President, deemed ineffective, was reprimanded and threatened by her shadowy backers.
Abruzzi called his contacts outside the prison to prepare the plane, revealing that only three people would successfully escape.
Veronica traced the mysterious Montana phone number to an address linked to Terrence Steadman's company and decided to investigate personally. Simultaneously, Nick received instructions from Abruzzi. In the tunnel, a conscious Bellick struggled desperately against his ropes and tape.
The group strongly objected when they learned Tuna would be joining the escape, but they relented in the face of Michael's firm stance. "Tweener" gave Michael "T-Bag's" knife, warning him to be wary of both "T-Bag" and Abruzzi. Michael stole a support piece from the Taj Mahal model. With Pope's permission, he visited Lincoln in solitary confinement, finding him chained to the wall, unable to move.
Sara learned from the news that her father was being considered as the Vice President's running mate and that his firm stance on Lincoln's execution was specifically noted.
Michael instructed Sucre to use peroxide stolen by "Tweener" to bleach the blue prison uniforms. Tuna, who had been hesitant about escaping, finally made up his mind after learning his cellmate Avocado was returning that night and began his preparations. Everyone waited tensely for the final moment, each with their own motives.
Nick finally revealed his true colors, pointing a gun at Veronica as she was about to leave. A disillusioned Veronica cursed him as a coward.
The Taj Mahal model Pope intended to give his wife suddenly collapsed. He immediately sent for Michael, just as a guard reported Bellick missing. In Pope's office, Michael pulled out a knife and announced that he was escaping—and taking Lincoln with him.