Michael is once again imprisoned, but now in SONA (Panama), together with T-Bag, Mahone and Bellick. The prison is solely ruled by inmates, whose local prison-lord Lechero feels threatened by Scofield's 'fame'. Lincoln tries legal means to get Michael transferred, and gets a call from a relative. Both receive the same message, through different channels, from The Company.

After Michael gets bad news from Lincoln, he sets out to find a prisoner named James Whistler, who holds the key to his freedom. That's easier said than done: James Whistler is hiding in Sona because there's a price on his head, and Lechero is not about to help Michael find him. In addition, both Mahone and Bellick want to get to Whistler too. Meanwhile, T-Bag won't allow a little humiliation stop him from insinuating himself into Lechero's good graces.

Lincoln tries to save LJ and Sara. But he can't. Meanwhile, Michael has a phone conversation with Sara. And Lincoln gets a call from Susan B. saying that she put something in the garage for him.

Aftermath of Sara's death, Lincoln decides not to tell about it to Michael. Susan B. told Lincoln that if he does something wrong again, she's going to send pieces from LJ to him. Meanwhile, Sucre got a job in Sona. And Sofia starts to help Linc.

A test with a rat proves the tower snipers are very good, so Michael figures the only option to breaking Whistler out within 24 hours has to be at 3 PM, during the distraction of soccer game. Sucre accepts $5,000 from Lechero's cousin, Augusto, to smuggle a package into Sona. Linc is to arrange transport outside, but he and Sofia get turned away roughly by an army patrol two miles away. He tells her Sara has already been killed. He keeps it from Michael, as LJ is his ultimate priority. New prisoner Andrew Tyge is robbed to his boxers on arrival, and recognizes Whistler (who denies it), mentioning the McFadden, Nice in 1997. He is warned off by Mahone who has noticed Tyge snooping around Michael and Whistler. They plan an electric signal disturbance device to distract the guard tower. Before they can make a move, a reflection from the binoculars is spotted: the troops move in and find it in his cell. Michael admits it's his. When the commander is about to shoot him, Whistler claims it's

Tyge tells Michael that he and Whistler were co-employees at the McFadden, a hotel in Nice, France. Mahone worries about Tyge's constant, keen observance of Whistler. Having to re-plan hastily, Michael tells Linc to find out the location of the nearby cafe and drug the guard's coffee, and also demands pictures of LJ and Sara before he escapes. Tyge is stabbed to death. Lechero questions McGrady and has Whistler dragged away for a confession. Michael believes Mahone and Bellick's denials. T-Bag offers Michael a ring he stole from Sammy (his rival for Lechero's confidence), to use to frame Sammy for Tyge's stabbing. Michael finds the murder knife under Mahone's bed and goes to Lechero to denounce Mahone, only to find he has just walked out of the prison. Agents Richard Sullins and Felicia Lang arrive at Sona to present Mahone with a plea bargain from the US Justice: a term reduction to 8 years for testimony against the government conspiracy and Lincoln. He could be out in 4 years, but Ma

Mahone is assured all he has to do is tell the truth, enjoying full immunity. Michael tells Whistler their row is part of a diversion, the escape is now or never, before the drug in the guard's coffee wears off. Just when the critical sun reflection blinds the other tower guard, they must wait and hide till Sammy has passed, but get through the cut bars. They climb down, but the glare disappears so they must climb back up as there is not enough time to escape. They get back in time and out to the courtyard, but Lechero refuses to allow them to cancel their duel to the death in the courtyard, which had been intended as a fake diversion. Sofia draws a gun on Lincoln to prevent him from turning Whistler over to killers. He retorts that's condemning an innocent L.J. to death. Guards wake the passed-out Captain Hurtado, see the climbing rope and storm into the prison. The Colonel shoots Papo, one of Lechero's crew, 'for not telling' and exposes his deal with Lechero, questioning if he's the

Lincoln tells Michael that they have four more days to rescue Whistler, but Michael is upset with his brother that he used him. Gretchen has a meeting with General and they decide to use power to release Whistler in an operation called "Bang and Burn". Later she asks Whistler to kill Michael. In Sona, the guards reinforce the bars in the windows, and Michael tells Lechero that this way it will be difficult to break-out. Sammy requests more men to Lechero to keep Sona under control. Sofia receives a call from Whistler's mysterious landlord telling that he has some "insurance papers" from her boyfriend, however, the Company intercepts the conversation. When Sofia receives the documents, she finds a passport of Whistler in the name of Gary Miller. But Gretchen arrives and takes the documents. Mahone tells Agent Lang how he killed Shales and then high from the pills, asks her to get some drugs for him otherwise he will not be able to speak in the hearing. T-Bag gives a message from Lechero

Sona's Commander General Zavala takes Michel and locks him in a "hot-box" in solitary confinement to be punished by law or by Panama's sun. Meanwhile Agent Lang brings Mahone back to Sona and gives an amulet to him that belonged to her father. Michael decides to tell the truth to General Zavala and he brings Whistler, who is submitted to torture and gives the name of Gretchen Morgan. Meanwhile Lincoln is blindfolded by Gretchen and has one minute of conversation with L.J. T-Bag proposes Mahone to kill Sammy; in return he would supply drugs for free for him. Bellick is challenged for a fight and he uses acetone to defeat his opponent. Gretchen is arrested and tortured by General Zavala and she gives the location of L.J. However she manages to revert the situation and kills Zavala. Augusto gives a pistol to Sammy and tells him that it is time to make a move.

Sammy reminds Lechero that Papo is dead and presses Lechero to kill Michael. Lechero replies that he also wants Michael dead, but he does not want an uprising in Sona. Mahone receives a picture of his son through the mail. Lechero, Michael, Mahone, Whistler and T-Bag inspect the hole in the tunnel and Michael requests a saw and hammer to support the tunnel. Sammy takes the over the reign of Sona with the pistol delivered by Augusto and other three gangsters and promises a box of bottles of rum for the inmate that kills Michael. T-Bag convinces Bellick to give the chicken foot to Sammy, promising him a spot on the escape team. When Bellick discovers that there is no more acetone, he unsuccessfully tries to call-off the fight. Meanwhile Lincoln and Sofia visits Osberto and buy a bomb. Sucre plants the bomb under the seat of Gretchen's car but she unravels that, saying she found Maricruz tracking the US$ 25,000.00 check she gave to him. Sammy leaves the fighting with Bellick to chase Mich

As Michael finalizes plans for the escape, his fellow plotters begin to turn on him. Meanwhile, Whistler ponders a betrayal when Sofia is threatened.

Michael, Whistler, Mahone and McGrady escape from Sona - but not everything goes according to plan, and the exchange is compromised.

LJ and Whistler are exchanged, but more surprises abound. Meanwhile, T-Bag's scheming finally pays off.