Hell or High Water

Infobox Television episode
Title = Hell or High Water
Series = Prison Break


Caption = Lechero, Bellick and "T-Bag" running towards the perimeter fence of Sona
Caption
Season = 3
Episode = 12
Airdate = February 11, 2008
Production =
Writer = Nick Santora
Director = Kevin Hooks
Season list = Infobox Prison Break season 3 episode list
Episode list = List of "Prison Break" episodes
Prev = Under and Out
Next = T.B.A.

"Hell or High Water" is the 56th episode of the American television series "Prison Break" and the twelfth episode of its third season. It first aired on February 11 2008 in the United States on the Fox Network.

ummary

As the lights go off, the escapees have 30 seconds before the backup generator goes back on, and Lechero, T-Bag and Bellick are first to go. However, Michael and the rest remain in the tunnel. Power resumes and Lechero, Bellick and T-Bag are caught by the Sona guards in No Man's Land. Lechero is determined to run to the fence but is shot by the guards in the chest. Back in the tunnel the others are confused and are wondering the next move. They ask Michael his next move in light of the plan backfiring, but he confirms that what happened is indeed the plan. The captured are brought into the prison. Bellick is beaten until he reveals that they escaped through a tunnel under Lechero's room. The guards are brought there but they find nothing but an empty tunnel. A few seconds before Michael, Whistler, McGrady and Mahone have seized the opportunity to escape, taking advantage of the trucks parked above the tunnels, and make their way through the melted fence. Whistler, unknowingly, drops the bird book containing the coordinates under the truck.

Sucre, who has taken up the identity of Jorge Rivera, has been arrested by one of the Sona guards after they discover an arrest warrant for Rivera. Sucre is then handcuffed to a filing cabinet, freezing him out of the escape plan. In the midst of their escape, Lincoln calls Sucre only to reach his voicemail which leaves him worried. McGrady's father calls Lincoln, who at first thinks it's Sucre. Lincoln instructs McGrady's father to drive a jeep he'd concealed under some leaves to the docks.

While being pursued by the Sona guards and Panama police, the escapees head to the beach through the jungles. Whistler lands awkwardly on his right ankle and writhes in pain, asking Michael to let him go. Michael refuses and makes Mahone carry Whistler. They make it to the beach where Lincoln's buried package is uncovered - a cooler containing four oxygen canisters. Four canisters and five people: Michael decides to share with Lincoln, however later decides to share with McGrady as McGrady says he doesn't swim very well. Whistler realizes his bird book is missing, and he doesn't remember the co-ordinates either. However it's too late and there's nothing anyone can do about it now. They put their shoes and socks in the cooler and bury it before making a dash into the sea.

Sona guards and Panama Police arrive at the beach but they are unable to locate the escapees.

Michael, Lincoln, McGrady, Mahone and Whistler swim underwater to a buoy out in the Panamian ocean. Lincoln, to his horror, discovers that Sucre is not there to pick them up in the boat. They have no choice but to hang on to the buoy and wait for Sucre.

The Sona guards uncover the buried shoes of the escapees and the Captain calls in support from the coastal police.

McGrady's father arrives at the bay, in the car, and realizes the boat that is part of the escape plan—312—is still docked.

Back at Sona, Bellick is beaten by the Sona guards about the escape but swears he knows nothing. The guards decide to target T-Bag instead. On the way to the interrogation room, T-Bag falls to the ground, and spots Whistler's bird book. Knowing there was something special about it, he seizes the opportunity to stuff it in his pocket.

Just as Michael and the rest are almost out of strength, they spot a boat coasting towards them. McGrady fears it might be the coastal police, but he's relieved when he sees his father driving the boat. McGrady's father picks them up and heads for the bay.

At the bay, Lincoln, Michael, Whistler and Mahone retrieve new clothes from the car. McGrady, who is no longer part of the plan, thanks Michael for helping him to freedom. McGrady leaves with his father in a truck. The four of them head for the location to meet Gretchen. However, they are intercepted midway by means of the stopwatch, which is actually a tracking device, given to Whistler by Gretchen. Lincoln manages to side-swipe and disable one of the two cars and goes off road to reach a shack he rented earlier.

At the shack, a gunfight ensues. Lincoln uses the recording of the gunshots he recorded earlier to trick the 'hunters' into hiding for cover. Using this distraction, they are able to escape from the backdoor in another vehicle to an abandoned warehouse. Susan realizes they've been tricked and finds the boombox. She calls Lincoln, and applauds him for the neat trick. Lincoln turns the table on her, and demands LJ in exchange for Whistler in 20 minutes time.

Sucre is finally released by the Captain and he proceeds to the clerk to retrieve his personal belongings. He discovers that the receipt for the boat rental is missing and waits in the office while the clerk looks for it. T-Bag is being interrogated by the guards in the next room. As he refuses to reveal anything, the guards decide to apply electricity to his testicles. T-Bag panics and points to Sucre, whom he spotted through the window, as an accomplice.

McGrady and his father come across a roadblock and start to panic. McGrady pleads for his dad to turn around, but his Dad seems mystified.

Sucre is brought into the room and interrogated, but he denies any connections to Michael, calling T-Bag 'garbage'. One of the guards brings in documents regarding the escapees and the guard finds a wanted notice for Fernando Sucre with Sucre's picture on it.

In the factory, Linc attempts to shoot Mahone in revenge for killing his father. Mahone pleads with Lincoln, saying that his own family was at risk if he had not carried out The Company's order. Michael asks Lincoln to reconsider, but Lincoln is adamant and makes Mahone turn around so that he can shoot Mahone to his face. Just as Lincoln is about to pull the trigger, Whistler escapes through the window, forcing Lincoln to chase after him. Whistler jumps on top of a truck and then runs towards the road, thereby revealing that he feigned the injury to his ankle. Mahone quickly makes his way out of the warehouse as well.

Whistler steals a truck outside the warehouse and speeds away, leaving Michael and Lincoln at a loss and pondering what their next move will be.

International broadcast

In Armenia episode was aired on March 22 2008.The episode aired in Australia on July 30 along with The Art Of the Deal.