Once inside, the story unfolds like a high-stakes chess game. Michael must navigate a treacherous hierarchy. He needs the permission of the menacing mob boss, John Abruzzi, to gain access to a specific work detail. He needs the medical records held by the secretary of the warden, Henry Pope—a man who sees Michael as a model prisoner and a friend, unaware that Michael is planning to bring his prison down around him. Most importantly, he needs Dr. Sara Tancredi, the prison doctor and the daughter of the state governor, whose growing feelings for Michael become a vital key in his escape plan.