This third instalment, directed by frequent contributor to '24', Brad Turner, has four separate strands. The first of these relates to Lincoln's coming to terms with arrangements for his forthcoming execution, and whether he wishes anyone dear to him to be present at the end. This sets the scene for a highly emotional reconciliation between Burrows and his estranged son.
The second story thread concerns the continuing shaping of Scofield's plans for the escape attempt, and in particular, the need to ensure the trustworthiness of his cell-mate, Sucre. As such, the brothers concoct a test of his ability to keep a secret whatever the cost. The test involves tempting this lovelorn inmate with the one item he desires above all else - a mobile phone. This becomes even more of a lure, given that Sucre's fiancé's mother confirms his fears over his love rival Hector's intentions, and asks him to do the honourable thing and move on to allow her daughter to lead her life. In spite of the fact Scofield's cell-mate passes the test, the plan backfires when Sucre realises he has lost his conjugal rights for a fake made of soap, and his anguish at discovering the true nature of Scofield's plans. Not wishing to sacrifice his parole and a chance to lead a normal married life with his fiancé, Sucre requests a transfer to a different cell. This episode marks this character's entry into the hub of the action, having merely served as a minor irritant and diversion up to this point.
The third element of the story takes us back outside Fox Rover, where Veronica is attempting to persuade the girlfriend of the deceased witness to come forward with evidence to squash the murder charges against Lincoln. Eventually the latter agrees to have her testimony recorded, before taking a fight to restart her life elsewhere. So focused is Veronica on this case that her fiancé decides to call off their engagement. Yet, there are more fateful consequences in store for the girlfriend. Though her appearance within the show is brief, Adina Porter, later to find greater celebrity in 'True Blood', leaves a lasting impression as ill-fated Leticia Barris, whose trust in our crusading lawyer leads to her capture and silencing in a backwoods execution. The carrying out of this callous act reveals a growing divide between our two conspiratorial agents in terms of just how much colder Kellerman is compared to Hale in being able to dispose of Barris. Before her disappearance, Letitia revealed to Veronica that her deceased boyfriend did business concerning Burrows with a man, the like of which her boyfriend had not mixed before - someone who dressed and acted like they had nothing to fear, as if they worked for the government.
The final and most gripping story-line centres on John Abruzzi's struggle to find the means whereby he can extract the information he so desires from Scofield. Having used brutal torture and failed to get Scofield to talk, the pressure from his concerned mafia associates intensifies. None more so than from Philly Falzone, played with a masterful sense of control by Al Sapienza, already familiar to us in a similar guise as the main rival capo faced by Tony Soprano in the first season of that landmark series. The audience is left in no doubt of the seriousness of the threat posed to Abruzzi, his wife and children by Falzone, who will also pay a high price should Fibonacci survive to testify. With Lincoln threatening to exact revenge for his brother's mutilation, Scofield has to reveal how central Abruzzi is to the escape plans in being able to secure a midnight getaway flight when the time comes.
In recognition of the failure of the use of torture to make Scofield sing, and at the behest of Falzone, Abruzzi tries a new tack. As such, he decides to co-operate with Scofield in his plans to break out of Fox River, and as a goodwill gesture has 'T-Bag' severely beaten. This is more than timely, with the latter having been 'tooled up' with a 'gutter'. In both the attack on Scofield and that on 'T-Bag', Abruzzi acts with impunity, safe in the knowledge that he can do so without fear of any reprisal from Brad Bellick, the senior correctional officer at Fox River State Penitentiary.
In interview Stormare has revealed that the main attraction to the role of Abruzzi was in the changing relationship the character develops with the main protagonist, Scofield. As the most internationally recognisable member of the cast, Stormare adds real star quality to the acting credentials of the series, and relishes his role as the ruthless anti-hero.
The episode's cliffhanger has the arrival of Scofield's new cell-mate, 'Haywire', whose unhinged exterior appears to make more evident the array of monsters, aside from Abruzzi, who Scofield had spoken of to Dr Tancredi at the episode's opening. Just as ominous, as Scofield begins his secretive late-night digging in the cell, he learns that 'Haywire' suffers from a medical condition which precludes him from being able to get to sleep.
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