Episode Report Card Sobell: A | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT He is a man of constant smirking
By Sobell | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 08.28.2005
Back inside, Michael's making eyes at the pretty doctor lady while she's making small talk with him. Alert viewers will notice that this is Sara Tancredi, star of yearbook and newspaper clips. You will also notice that she's observant herself: she notes that the tattoos are fresh, and "as a diabetic, you're used to needles." Michael prods a little with "Tancredi like the governor? You're not related, are you? Wouldn't have thought you'd find the daughter of 'Frontier Justice Frank' working in a prison. As a doctor no less." Dr. Tancredi is goaded into responding, "I believe in being part of the solution, not part of the problem." Michael looks thoughtful, then says, "Hmmm. 'Be the change you want to see in the world'?" Little pink and red hearts erupt and begin circling around Dr. Tancredi's head. You can practically hear her thinking, "Who is this Gandhi-quoting stranger? And would it be awkward to change my name to 'Dr. Mrs. Michael Scofield'?" As Dr. Tancredi leaves him alone so she can go write "SARA + MICHAEL TLA" on her chart without him catching her, Michael dives for the grate and drops one of his origami swans down it. It's now swimming on the current in the prison sewer below. As Dr. Tancredi comes back, Michael asks her, "So, how do we play this? You give me a week's supply?" Nope -- no needles on the jail floor. Michael assures her, "I'm the farthest thing from a junkie. Trust me." She shoots back, "I got news for you, Michael: 'trust me' means absolutely zero inside these walls." Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we've just been introduced to one of the show's leitmotifs. She continues, "The only way you'll be getting that insulin is if I'm administering it." Michael flirts, "I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other, then." Dr. Tancredi's mouth is saying, "I guess so," but her eyes are saying, "Oh, yes!"
Meanwhile, back on the outside...we're now in Washington, D.C. Okay, then. We're at the Secret Service HQ, and two agents are busy talking about how Lincoln's scheduled to fry...except for the pesky Bishop Morrow. Apparently, this confidante of "Frontier Justice Frank" is a problem, what with his staunch moral opposition to the death penalty and his influence with the governor. The blond guy, Agent Hale, says, "The closer it gets, the more worried I am that the bottom is going to fall out of this thing." His compadre, the shifty-eyed Agent Kellerman, suggests a road trip to the bishop's house.
Then we're in chapel at the prison. It's a very sparsely-attended service. A manacled Lincoln is attending the service; despite being in chains, he's not attended by any guards. As he leaves, he runs right into his brother. Lincoln does not look pleased to see Michael; Michael looks nervous, like he's bursting to tell Lincoln something. Lincoln sidles over and asks, "Why?" Michael pulls it together and says, "I'm getting you out of here." Lincoln tells him, "It's impossible." "Not if you designed the place, it isn't," Michael replies. Ding-ding-ding! Another leitmotif!