Meanwhile, Michael was still fixated on that screw, even asking Andruzzi for help in getting it back. While engaged in this discussion, the singularly obsessed guard Bellick was sifting through Michael's cell. Just when it looked like he was about to quit in frustration, he noted a pad of paper with the telltale indentation of writing on it. So he used the old Bloodhound Gang pencil shading trick and was able to discern the words, "Allen Schweitzer, 111211147." Knowing he was on to something, Bellick tore off to begin dissecting the prison records and visitor logs. Instead of fixating on Michael, the guard should have been more aware of the rising tide of racial tension. The prison was gearing up for a full on race riot and no one seemed to notice. Shivs and makeshift knives were being passed around like Hepititis C and HIV. Shit was about to go DOWN.

Since Michael needed the screw from the "Hitler Youth" Teabag group but also needed his insulin blocking drugs from one of the black leaders, he was caught in the middle of the race war. In one scene, the drug dealer guy watched as Michael attempted to steal his screw back, got caught, and out of necessity, befriended the gay racist guys. Since they were more or less the leaders of the white power movement, this didn't sit well with the black contingent. Shoot, if there was ever a time for some goodwill origami, that time was now. Unfortunately, before Michael could fold even one piece of paper, the blacks ambushed him and knocked him around a bit. Uh-oh, this meant he wouldn't get his insulin blocker and that meant the hot Dr. Tancredi would realize he's not diabetic which meant that he couln't continue to hash out his elaborate escape plans. Arrrrrrgh!

Right now you're wondering, so what's up with the mafia guys? Good question, as Andruzzi was visited by a couple of corny-looking mobsters who essentially told him that he needed to get the information out of Michael as to Fibannacci's whereabouts using any means necessary. At this point, the white power guys hated Michael for pissing off Teabag, the blacks hated him for pissing off the drug dealer guy, the mafia guys hated him for withholding info on Fibannacci, his lawyer hated him for lying about Lincoln's case, the guard Bellick hated him for being just too damn handsome, and I'm sure Westmoreland's cat hated him too - but cats hate everyone, so that one doesn't count. (His nice little roommate, Sucre, was still stuck in solitary in case you forgot.) And also remember the blacks and whites were on the verge of war and ding-ding-ding, Leeeeeet's get ready to rumble! There's the bell and random white guy stabs random black guy and then everyone goes crazy, stabbing anyone of a different race - pretty grizzly primetime fare. The key during the fight was that Michael was able to steal his giant screw back from Teabag's boytoy who then promptly got murdered. So now Teabag REALLY hated Michael.

With all this excitement on the inside, which resulted in a 48 hour lockdown, the show then chose to focus on the outside. Veronica got the name of a kid named Crab Simmons and sought to find him. She approached Crab's mom and after asking her of his whereabouts, she was told that Crab was dead. Just then, we were shown a profile of a face peeking through the upstairs curtains at Veronica. "Hey, weren't you the bald chick in that Empire Records movie," the person screamed. I lied, the mystery person didn't say anything, but it was at that point in the show when I realized where I'd seen Robin Tunney the actress before. But the mystery person did contact Veronica and convinced her to meet.

Leticia Brown was the mysterious window watcher and while appearing to be a meth addict jonesing for a hit, she had some very compelling information for Veronica. Crab Simmons was her brother (I think) and Leticia knew that both Crab and Lincoln Burroughs were innocent pawns in a much bigger game. Her intense paranoia was a bit disconcerting as she kept noting that "they" were never far away and that they had to be super careful from here on out. Veronica thought it was all a bunch of hooey, but as the camera pulled away, there were those two prick Secret Service guys eating hotdogs with wires in their ears. As if we didn't have enough to keep track of, the next scene was of a bucolic house in Blackfoot, Montana where an older well-to-do woman was busy chopping garlic. The same Secret Service guys were on the phone with her explaining the situation with Veronica snooping around. The old lady responded, "Anyone that's a threat to what we're doing is expendable." Wow, she's a regular Mother Angelica.

Posted by on August 31, 2005 3:15 AM