Home for the Holidays

"**Home for the Holidays**" is the tenth episode of the second season and the thirty-third episode overall of the legal drama series *Bull*, which was aired on December 12, 2017.

## Summary

Bull takes on a case of competing cell phone companies, representing the company making the cheaper of the two phones which is being sued for crossover technology. He charges triple TAC's usual fee with the caveat that the case must be wrapped up before Christmas, which is only five days away. Upon returning to his office, Bull meets a 9-year old girl who wants to be emancipated from her parents. Bull dismisses her because she's too young, but later learns of her family situation and gets caught up helping the girl, at the expense of the phone case. Meanwhile, Marissa reluctantly enlists the help of Cable and Danny to look into Kyle, learning that he is really a con man named Robert Allen.

## Recap

A little girl attempts to board a plane by herself. When she is asked where her parents are she tells them they are on the plane. Security stops her and pulls her into a waiting room. Her nanny arrives. She is upset that the little girl took off by herself.

Bull introduces their latest case, defending a cell phone company. It needs to be wrapped up by Christmas in 5 days. He wants the entire jury pool vetted by the end of the day. He goes to his office and finds a little girl in there. He is shaken. She is there to get a divorce from her parents. He corrects her. She wants to be emancipated. He tells her she needs to be 16. She lies and says she is. She goes by the name of Charlie. Bull tells her to come back when she is of age.

Later that night, Bull is reading files in his office. He comes out to find Marissa still there waiting for the little girl’s parents to come and get her. It is almost 9 pm. Bull tells Marissa to go home and he will take her home.

Bull arrives at the girl’s very large house. No-one is there. She asks him to stay until her father comes home. He feels bad so he does. Bull falls asleep on the couch. He is awakened by the girl’s father at 2:30 in the morning. He calls the police. Bull introduces himself. Bull is angry that the father would leave his daughter alone at night for so long.

Bull arrives at court the next morning looking like an unmade bed, according to Benny. They discuss the cell phone case they are on. Benny thinks they have it in a bag and can wrap things up early by 4 days. Bull sees a child court sign. He takes a walk over there to get some advice. A judge tells Bull he needs to report this and Bull is just the man the little girl needs to be a third party. Bull is hesitant but is forced to change his mind. He agrees to be the third party.

Back at the office, Bull gets a call from Family Court. He heads to his car and asks Marissa to call him in a bit. He is going to have a lot questions that he needs answers for. In the car, Bull learns that Charlie’s mom died 3 years ago.

Bull enters the court and comes face to face with Charlie’s father. He is devastated.

Marissa is on the phone trying to buy more time to pay her mother’s rent. They give her 72 hours. Benny barges in. Marissa starts crying. He asks her if she is okay. She tells him she needs to be alone. Benny offers her any help, money, anything. She confesses that her ex-boyfriend took all her money and took off to China. She feels like an idiot.

At court, Bull asks for a sidebar. He tells the judge he may have overreacted. The judge tells him to take a seat. They need to go through with the trial. The father takes the stand and talks about his late wife.

He is questioned about his daughter’s favorite book, and who her best friend is, as well as what she wants to be when she grows up. He cannot answer any of the questions. The judge ruled that Charlie will stay with her nanny. They will meet in 2 days time.

Outside of court, Charlie is thrilled. She thinks they got off to a great start. Her father runs after her. She doesn’t want to talk. Bull reminds her she can talk to him and it is almost Christmas.

Back at the office, Marissa finally breaks down and talks to Cable and Danny. Bull calls for them. He needs them to work on the cell phone case, getting the signatures of 3 CEOs by the end of the day.

Bull leaves for court. On his way out, Bull sees Charlie’s nanny. She cannot take it. She has a thesis due. She isn’t cut out for this. Bull tells her not to worry. They will contact the court. The nanny tells Bull Charlie needs to be picked up by 3:15 and it’s on him. He heads to the court, getting stuck in the cab in traffic only to have to turn around and head to Charlie’s school. Benny and Chunk are freaking out. They need him at the court.

Bull is a bit late. He sees Rex and Charlie. She called her dad when she got scared. She happily tells Bull that her father saved her. Bull asks them if they want to end this all. He asks them if they want to go see the judge. They agree. In the cab, Charlie and Rex apologize to one another.

On the courthouse steps, Bull runs into the cell phone clients. The man is angry. He wants Bull in the courtroom now. Bull tells him that he has a previous engagement. He looks to Charlie and Rex. Bull gives up the case. He tells the team to take off and enjoy Christmas.

Marissa gets word from Danny and Cable that the guy who conned her as a family in New York. Marissa surmises that he will be coming home for the holidays. She has a plan.

At the airport, Marissa waits for him with the FBI. Meanwhile, Bull plays Santa, paying Rex and Charlie a visit.

## Cast

### Main

* Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull
* Freddy Rodriguez as Benjamin "Benny" Colón
* Geneva Carr as Marissa Morgan
* Jaime Lee Kirchner as Danielle "Danny" James
* Annabelle Attanasio as Cable McCrory
* Christopher Jackson as Chunk Palmer

### Guest

* Ian Kahn as Rex Kensington
* Annabelle Wachtel as Charlotte "Charlie" Kensington
* Mark Zeisler as Judge Sullivan
* Lauren Norvelle as April (credited as Lauren Donahue)
* Eric Sheffer Stevens as Matthew Holt
* Blaire Brooks as Gloria Holland
* Kristin Carey as Greer McLachlan
* Fiona Walsh as Gate Attendant

## Trivia

### Goofs

* A guardian ad litem isn't always assigned in a child neglect case. However when it is, the role is taken by an attorney, not a psychologist. Furthermore, an investigation is usually conducted by Child Protective Services and a trial is not done until much later, if at all. More frequently, a case plan is put together by the case worker assigned to the investigation, and the family only goes to court after a period of time during which the parent has a chance to fulfill their case plan. Additionally, they mention that no one is able to meet with Charlie except for her attorney; however, the guardian ad litem's job is to determine what is best for the child, which involves speaking with the child to ascertain what s/he feels and wants in order to take that into consideration in their recommendation.

## Quotes

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