Bull 2016

I'm Dr. Jason Bull. I'm not a lawyer.

I'm an expert in what's called trial science.

I study the jury's behavioral patterns.

I know what they're thinking before they do.

Everything my team learns gets plugged into a matrix,

which allows us to assemble a mirror jury

that is scary in its predictive efficiency.

The verdict you get depends on me.

And that's no bull.

Welcome to Open and Shut with Ellen Huff,

a true crime podcast

investigating the unsolved murder of college athlete

Mike Tasker, considered a "golden boy"

for Hudson University's basketball team.

Three years ago,

Mike was found shot to death in Central Park,

the apparent victim of a robbery gone bad.

With no leads since the murder,

the case had gone cold...

That is, until earlier this year

Open and Shut unearthed a rape allegation

from another college student named Reese Burton

that the police knew nothing about.

Three years ago, she filed an anonymous complaint

accusing Mike of sexually assaulting her on campus.

The next week, Reese bought a gun,

began stalking Mike,

and the following week, she threatened him.

That was the night he was killed.

All of this was unknown

until my investigation began.

Three years later, Reese's DNA

has been placed at the scene of the murder,

a damning piece of evidence

that will most certainly land Reese behind bars.

You are listening to Open and Shut with Ellen Huff.

The news media has gone wild

over the sensational new podcast Open and Shut.

If the cops arrest you,

you're guilty of something.

I love being a part of something everyone's talking about.

It makes me feel connected.

Sad to say,

a good story spreads faster than the truth.

Doesn't matter if you really did it.

All that matters is that people think you did it.

You don't look like a lawyer from Legal Aid.

Technically, I'm a psychologist.

I'm... Dr. Jason Bull.

Are you analyzing me?

Yes.

But that's not why I'm here.

I'm here because you need help. A lot of help.

Not the kind of help you're gonna get from Legal Aid.

Trial Analysis Corporation?

How do you help with trials?

I change people's minds for a living.

Especially the jury's.

Have you heard the podcast?

No.

It's not really my thing.

I don't believe in "open and shut,"

especially when it's made to entertain 25 million people.

I want to hear you tell me the story.

Right.

Last time a stranger approached me

and asked for my story, well...

Ellen Huff sandbagged me

and twisted everything I said to make me into a killer.

So you can't blame me if my trust is wearing thin.

Okay.

I understand.

Enjoy prison. It was nice to meet you.

Wait.

Where are you going?

Well, I thought we were through.

Why do you think I'm innocent?

Because rape survivors react in different ways.

And rage is one of those.

Enough rage to kill their perpetrator?

Absolutely.

But that's not how you reacted.

The way you reacted...

You can't fake that kind of pain.

Why don't you tell me

why this podcast is full of crap?

I met Mike at this Phi Delt party.

He walked me home.

He asked to use the bathroom.

I was so naive.

The next day, I reported it to the administration.

I...

They said they would "look into it."

But the Hudson University basketball team

made it into the finals that year.

Ah.

And they were gonna protect their star player.

Didn't matter.

A few weeks later, Mike was dead

and that was the end of it.

I got a job, made new friends,

put it behind me.

And then, three years later, Ellen Huff

uncovers your complaint against Mike?

Yeah, this claim that I filed anonymously.

'Cause I didn't want to forever be that girl...

that girl that was raped.

After Ellen outed me,

the police reopened the case.

They said that my hair matched a hair on Mike's jacket,

and boom, my world is upside-down.

But Ellen twisted all the facts.

What about this hair on the jacket

that's a perfect DNA match?

That makes sense.

The night Mike was killed, he was wearing the same jacket

as the night he wore when he...

...you know.

I didn't kill Mike.

I believe you.

Can you get me out of here?

I take it this case is pro bono.

Which is why you need to try it.

Think that's a compliment?

You have heard the podcast.

I will, as soon as we've done our research.

And I know she was a victim.

She's still a victim,

a second time.

We're trying this case, Benny.

Okay.

Good. Good.

I've been eager to step back in the ring with the D.A.'s office.

I wonder who I get to knock gloves with.

Amanda.

Did you know she was prosecuting this case?

Benny.

Amanda.

What a surprise.

I heard you were working with your brother-in-law.

Ex-brother-in-law. Dr. Jason Bull.

Your reputation precedes you.

So... how have you been?

Busy.

I didn't realize

you were still trying cases.

I was fired.

I didn't die.

That's not what I meant.

Anyways, you shouldn't take this to trial.

It's open and shut.

All rise.

The Superior Court of New York is now in session.

State v. Reese Burton,

case number 0255348.

How do you plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

Reese, it's a good sign

the judge granted bail.

Chin up, back straight, don't smile, don't frown,

- don't look at anyone. Reese!

You're not guilty, there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Reese, do you expect a fair trial?

I can't catch my breath.

Okay. Taxi!

Hey, reporters, media!

Have we got a show for you!

Whoa!

So gather round, gather round, ladies and gentlemen!

Whatever your pleasure, we here, we got a great show for you!

Now, I know you don't want to...

...that you really don't want to talk to.

Are we on The Amazing Race?

'Cause I left my running heels at home.

Right.

I just want to get back to TAC

and start testing this case.

Look, if this is about Amanda...

Whoa, hey.

Are you accusing me of fast walking

to avoid talking about Amanda?

Defensive much?

How did you guys end it?

Not well.

You know?

I didn't plan to quit the D.A.'s office,

but there I was, in front of two reporters,

about to get a conviction on a man I knew was innocent.

I just...

I couldn't do it.

You're the Jerry Maguire of the American judicial system.

Yeah, well...

I guess I thought Amanda was gonna be my Renée Zellweger.

That she'd come with me when I left.

Her loss, our gain.

Don't sweat the mock trial, okay?

It's all just part of the process.

I'm not worried, I just don't like the idea of

having more strangers judging me.

I can't imagine why.