A message changes the family
Bruce Mathis contacts Dee online. Barbara confirms that he is the twins’ biological father, sending Frank into a furious search for him.
Supporting source ↗CASE FILE · S02 E10
Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad
S02 E10Photograph not available
Dee receives e-mails from a man who claims to be her father, so she confronts Frank and Barbara to find out what's up. Meanwhile, Mac seeks out his own dad, who's in prison.
THE SHORT VERSION · SPOILERS AHEAD
INSIDE THE CASE.
Looking for a father figure
Mac and Charlie visit Luther in prison. He wants help smuggling drugs; they instead seek advice for Frank’s revenge plan.
Supporting source ↗Charity as a test
Bruce’s concert offers music and socializing. The hospital visit that follows puts the family in red clown noses, facing the less glamorous side of helping people.
Supporting source ↗Another possible connection
Mac and Charlie pretend they attacked Bruce. Frank moves on to a date with Bonnie, whose arrival raises Charlie’s question about his own father.
Supporting source ↗THE EVIDENCE
THINGS IN THIS EPISODE.
Characters
Barbara Reynolds3 other recorded episodes
Barbara wears a red nose beside Dennis and Dee at the hospital.Source ↗
Bonnie Kelly18 other recorded episodes
Bonnie arrives for her date with Frank.Source ↗
Bruce Mathis1 other recorded episode
Bruce meets Dennis and Dee in his office.Source ↗
Charlie Kelly180 other recorded episodes
Charlie holds an instant photograph after confronting Bruce.Source ↗
Dee Reynolds179 other recorded episodes
Dee joins Bruce at the microphone during the fundraiser.Source ↗
Dennis Reynolds176 other recorded episodes
Dennis studies Dee’s laptop with Charlie and Mac.Source ↗
Frank Reynolds171 other recorded episodes
Frank sits with a handgun and a laptop in Charlie’s apartment.Source ↗
Luther McDonald8 other recorded episodes
Luther receives Mac and Charlie in the prison visiting room.Source ↗
The fundraiser guestOnly recorded here so far
Dennis chats with the dark-haired guest holding a drink.Source ↗
The young hospital patientOnly recorded here so far
The young patient lies in bed during the family’s visit.Source ↗
Locations
Bruce Mathis’s officeOnly recorded here so far
Bruce holds a framed photograph in his office.Source ↗
Charlie’s apartment48 other recorded episodes
Mac and Charlie prepare balloons on the apartment couch.Source ↗
Hospitals13 other recorded episodes
Bruce brings the Reynolds family into the children’s ward.Source ↗
Paddy’s Pub147 other recorded episodes
Dee’s laptop draws the gang together at the bar.Source ↗
Objects
Balloons4 other recorded episodes
An inflated yellow balloon is part of Mac and Charlie’s preparations.Source ↗
Baseball bats3 other recorded episodes
Mac waits with a wooden bat behind a parked car.Source ↗
Elmer’s glueOnly recorded here so far
Mac identifies Charlie’s glue as Elmer’s.Source ↗
Glue7 other recorded episodes
Charlie brings glue to the stakeout and persuades Mac to join him.Source ↗
Handguns20 other recorded episodes
Frank holds a handgun while trying to locate Bruce online.Source ↗
Instant camerasOnly recorded here so far
Charlie’s camera produces a photograph of Bruce.Source ↗
Microphones4 other recorded episodes
Bruce and Dee stand at the microphone during the fundraiser.Source ↗
Schemes
Drug smugglingOnly recorded here so far
Luther asks Mac and Charlie to bring drugs into prison.Source ↗
Costumes
BandanasOnly recorded here so far
Charlie wears a blue patterned bandana during the prison visit.Source ↗
Clown nosesOnly recorded here so far
The family wears bright red noses while visiting sick children.Source ↗
Miscellaneous
Charity events2 other recorded episodes
Bruce performs at a fundraiser for the Juvenile Lupus Association.Source ↗
GreenpeaceOnly recorded here so far
Bruce recalls Greenpeace work in Alaska.Source ↗
MySpaceOnly recorded here so far
Bruce contacts Dee through MySpace with news about her parentage.Source ↗
Patch Adams referencesOnly recorded here so far
The family compares Bruce to Patch Adams (mention only).Source ↗
FOLLOW THE THREAD
CONNECTED EPISODES.
S03 E03 Connected through Bruce Mathis, Paddy’s Pub, Frank Reynolds and 4 more.
S03 E12 
Connected through Speakers, Paddy’s Pub, Frank Reynolds and 4 more.
S13 E10 Connected through Prison, Glue, Luther McDonald and 5 more.
S03 E09 Connected through Guitars, Glue, Charlie’s apartment and 6 more.
SOURCES & NOTES.
- Episode reference · visual inspection of S02E10 ↗
- Springfield! Springfield! · S02E10 dialogue ↗
- Always Sunny Wiki · Luther McDonald ↗
Tags document researched occurrences, not every appearance. Read the research notes and attribution.