Pilot (Prison Break)

"Pilot"
Prison Break episode
Michael reveals his escape plan to his brother.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 1
Directed by	Brett Ratner
Written by	Paul Scheuring
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Production code	1AKJ79
Original air date	August 29, 2005
Guest appearance(s)
Rockmond Dunbar as C-Note Paul Adelstein as Paul Kellerman Jessalyn Gilsig as Lisa Rix Muse Watson as Charles Westmoreland Camille Guaty as Maricruz Delgado Stacy Keach as Henry Pope Danny McCarthy as Daniel Hale James Azreal as Prisoner Rolando Boyce as Cop Cheryl Lyn Bruce as Judge Billy Chase as Prisoner Matthew H. Harrison as Corrections officer Nicolas Iovino as Brian Darnell Jackson as Prisoner Ora Jones as Wendy Rich Komenich as Maggio Phillip Edward Van Lear as C.O. Louis Patterson Dan Maxwell as Cronie Danielle Mulligan as Nurse Ana Larry Nazimek as Prisoner David Pacheco as Prisoner Jeff Parker as Tsili Peggy Roeder as Teller Chelcie Ross as Bishop McMorrow Gianni Russo as Gavin Smallhouse Brandon DeShazer as Prisoner Philip Rayburn Smith as Adrian Rix Anthony Starke as Sebastian Balfour Robert Patrick Stern as Prisoner Christian Stolte as C.O. Keith Stolte Laura Wade as Syd David Dino Wells Jr. as Inmate Jay Whittaker as Sweatsuit Alan Wilder as Prison chaplain James Zahn as Prisoner
Episode chronology
← Previous — Next → "Allen"
List of Prison Break episodes

"Pilot" is the first episode of the American television series Prison Break, which premiered on August 29, 2005 in the United States. That night, it was aired as the first of a two-part pilot special, along with "Allen", which broadcast straight after this episode. The episode was directed by series producer Brett Ratner, noted director of such works as Rush Hour and Red Dragon, and written by series creator and producer Paul Scheuring. The episode was given numerous positive reviews in not just the US, but from the majority of the rest of world, reaching record ratings in various countries.

The episode introduces the two main protagonists of the series: Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (played by Dominic Purcell). Lincoln Burrows has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit: the murder of Terrence Steadman, the brother of the Vice President of the United States. Every motion to delay or appeal to Burrows' execution has been exhausted due to the high profile of the case. Burrows' brother Michael Scofield, a structural engineer, plans to get himself incarcerated so he can save his brother from his death sentence, by using his new body tattoo.

Michael Scofield receives a mysterious body tattoo, and then strips his apartment of articles of various people from Fox River, along with a hard disk which he throws into a river. The next day, he robs a bank, but surrenders without incident when the police arrive. Michael is sent to court, refusing to put up a fight, even after his lawyer, Veronica Donovan (Robin Tunney) attempts to defend him, so he is sentenced to 5 years at Fox River, the prison he requested to be sent to. Upon entering Fox River, Michael meets Capt. Brad Bellick (Wade Williams), whom he quickly discovers to be somewhat arrogant. He then meets his cell mate, Fernando Sucre (Amaury Nolasco), who tells him the only thing he can do is serve time. Sucre shows Michael around the outside, noting the territories throughout. He then shows Michael to the isolated Lincoln Burrows, or "Link the Sink" as they call him who killed Terrence Steadman, the Vice President's brother.