1998

Not long after arriving, Busmalis and cellmate Robert Rebadow began digging a tunnel out of Oz in their cell, until they were discovered by Mark Mack. Mack had his friend, Officer Metzger, switch their cells, and Mack was killed when the tunnel collapsed on him.

1999

Metzger put Busmalis in the hospital for getting Mack killed. Busmalis became a fan of the childrens' show "Miss Sally's Schoolyard" and began writing letters to the star, Whitney Allen (a.k.a. Miss Sally).

2000

Busmalis revealed to Miguel Alvarez that he was digging another tunnel, and the two escaped. Busmalis tried to meet Whitney Allen, but was arrested. For not letting him escape with him, Rebadow tried to kill Busmalis. Later, Rebadow apologized to Busmalis, then collapsed due to a brain tumor. He survived the operation, and Busmalis forgave him. Busmalis received a visitor from Norma Clark, a secretary from "Miss Sally's Schoolyard" who was moved by his letters and his escape.

2001

Busmalis asked Norma to marry him, and she said yes. Busmalis showed Rebadow the tunnel he'd been digging. Later, he asked Glynn if he could marry Norma, and Glynn said, "As long as you don't dig any more tunnels". When Busmalis tried to seal it, he busted a water pipe and water gushed out of the floor. He was sent to Solitary Confinement, but Rebadow got him released. Norma jilted Busmalis, but for once he seemed to hide it well. He became Jackson Vayhew's teammate, and the two won both basketball games.

2002

Busmalis comforted Rebadow when Rebadow revealed that his grandson has entered the final stages of Leukemia. Despite his efforts to petition to keep the show on the air, Miss Sally is cancelled, and Busmalis begins to worry about his ex-fiancee, Norma. Later, Busmalis has a visit from her only to discover that she is pregnant.

2003

Busmalis was cast as Banquo in the Oz production of "Macbeth". Busmalis revealed to Rebadow that Norma keeps trying to visit him, and he keeps refusing to see her. Rebadow spoke to Norma, who was distressed that Busmalis wouldn't even talk to her. Rebadow tried to talk some sense into Busmalis, but it was no use. Busmalis met with Norma, who finally explained the whole story: she'd gotten stuck in the snow on the way to the wedding and had called her ex-boyfriend (the man she'd dumped for Busmalis) to help her out, and one thing led to another and she was impregnanted. She still wanted to be with Busmalis. Busmalis was overjoyed. He met with Norma and her baby girl. She wanted to baby to have a father, and proposed to Busmalis again. He said yes. The day of Busmalis's wedding arrived. Almost all the inmates predicted that Norma would leave him. Waiting in the cafeteria, Busmalis was still hopeful after an hour and a half. Norma finally arrived, claming that the babysitter had been late. And the wedding commenced.