michael feigns type 1 diabetes, giving him daily access to the infirmary (the escapees' exit point from the prison) and allowing him to build a relationship with dr. sara tancredi (sarah wayne callies), who happens to be the daughter of frank tancredi (john heard), the governor of illinois. after agreeing to help warden henry pope (stacy keach) finish his taj mahal replica in his office, michael also forms a friendship with pope. he also later stages "brief insanity" to gain access to the penitentiary's premises to gain contact with one of its insane inhabitants gifted with photographic memory, in order to re-acquire the portion of the tattooed blueprint that he lost after coming into contact with a steaming hot piece of metal.