The Rooftop Christmas Tree

Sarah!

Hello!

Merry Christmas, Mrs. Costello.

Oh, Merry Christmas!

Sarah's home!

Now it's Christmas!

Hey there, kiddo!

Hi, Mom.

Hi, Dad.

I'll catch up later, Mrs. Costello.

God bless you, hun, you go on.

Give me a hug!

I missed you.

Of course your mother wouldn't let us decorate the tree

until you got home.

But I've got hot chocolate on the stove!

Perfect.

Come on.

Come on.

Chilly, huh?

It's a little cold, yeah.

Just watch your step there, it's awfully slippery.

Oh, it's so nice to have you home.

You know, I can't believe it's been three years

since we spent Christmas together.

Neither can I.

Sounds like that law firm really kept you hopping up there.

That's how they do things at Chandler, Abbott and Jonas.

Always on call, 24/7 even holidays.

You know, we're really sorry to hear about you and Richard.

You two seemed so happy together.

Richard's a very nice guy.

It just turned out, we wanted different things in life.

So, when's that truck supposed to get here

with the rest of your stuff?

Day after tomorrow.

You know, you could stay here.

I mean, your old room's just sitting up there.

Thanks, Mom, but I'm pretty sure my old room

isn't the best place to start my own practice.

She's got a point, Abby.

Well, you can't blame me for trying.

But I found a great place right in town.

It's not far, and it even has a spare bedroom

I can use as an office until I get things going.

That's gonna be quite a change for ya'

from that hotshot law firm in D.C.

Believe me, Dad,

I've had enough swimming with sharks to last a lifetime.

Well, all you've gotta do is sit back, relax

and let us spoil you a little bit.

Thank you.

At least until you're ready to hang out your shingle.

So, what do you think?

I think we're ready.

All set.

All: One. Two. Three.

It's beautiful.

Merry Christmas, kiddo.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Landis.

Remember me?

Sarah Wright?

Merry Christmas.

Here we go again.

He's still doing this?

A week before Christmas like clockwork,

it's the same thing every year.

I used to love it when I was little.

From my bedroom at night, it looked like the tree

was floating up there, like some sort of beacon.

Should I help him?

Since when has Dale Landis

ever let anybody help him put up that tree?

Dale, you're gonna break your fool neck one of these days.

We should have bought that man a net years ago.

Either that or a trampoline.

I think it looks nice.

What I don't understand,

is why he keeps doing it year after year.

I mean, he knows darn well what's gonna happen.

It's like he doesn't care.

He doesn't.

Where did all these people come from?

Dale's become a bit of a Christmas tradition

around Rosedale.

Some towns have Christmas pageants,

others have Candy Cane Lane.

We've got Dale Landis.

Sarah!

Welcome home!

Gosh, it feels like forever!

I know, it has been way too long.

But look at you, you look great!

And this place is amazing!

That's right, you haven't been home since we opened.

Mm-mm but I've been reading awesome things about it on-line.

Lord love the internet.

Did you ever think when we were in school

that I'd end up being a chef?

When we were in school, who knew you could cook?

So good to have you home for Christmas.

Your parents must be over the moon.

You have no idea.

Come on, so like, how's it going.

Tell me everything, you okay?

Yeah, yeah.

You know.

No regrets leaving that fast track law firm of yours?

It was time.

You hear from Richard?

Ughh, let's just say, that ship has sailed.

Then maybe I'll keep an eye out to find you a new shipmate.

Uh, I'm actually on an extended leave of absence

from the rocky world of romance, so thanks, but no thanks.

Okay, I'll just have to cook you a five-star meal instead.

I like where this is going.

If you need anything, anything at all, just ask.

Thanks, Jess.

Come on, let's sit down.

I have seen you stare at that Courthouse

in exactly the same way since you were a little girl.

Judge Conner.

For all these years, I wondered what mysteries were hidden

behind those bright young eyes of yours?

No mysteries.

Just the same questions.

As long as you're never satisfied

with the same old answers.

You haven't changed a bit.

And you are a sight for sore eyes.

How are you, Judge?

Well, I'm okay except I seem to be the last person on earth

to find out you're moving home.

Oh well, I was gonna come by.

Yeah and that you've left Chandler, Abbott and Jonas

to open your own practice?

I see my parents have been talking to you.

Well, as matter of fact, I got a call from Carl Jonas.

Your old boss asked if I would try and talk you out of leaving.

Mr. Jonas called you himself?

Well, he seemed to think you've got

a promising future with his firm.

According to him, they were gonna renew your contract,

with a promotion?

It was a good offer.

Which you declined.

What did you tell him?

Well, I told him that if my favorite young protégé

turned down his offer, she must have a pretty good reason.

It wasn't about the money.

With you, it never was.

Now look, I'm due in court.

Why don't you come by my chambers tomorrow

and we'll talk more.

I'd like that.

All right, I'll get Marcie to phone over to the diner,

order in sandwiches.

You still like tuna salad?

How do you remember that?

How many times did you come and visit me

when you were in law school? Huh?

You never ate anything else.

Hey, don't forget the pickle.

I know you're in there, Mr. Landis.

This doesn't change anything, Mr. Landis.

You've got 48 hours.

Mm, Mom this is so delicious.

I forgot how much I missed your cooking.

Wait till you see what's on the menu for Christmas dinner.

I assume you've invited the entire town again?

Your mother cut back this year,

she's only inviting half the town.

Ha-ha, you two.

I saw a someone posting a notice on Dale Landis' door today.

He had a police officer with him.

They didn't waste much time, did they?

What's going on?

He's from the city.

He was serving Dale with a court order to take that tree down.

What? Why?

They say it's a building code violation.

And a serious fire hazard, which makes it a danger to him

and everyone else in the neighborhood.

Dale Landis has been putting that tree on his roof every year

since I was 9 years old.

A lot's changed

since last time you were home for dinner, sweetie.

Changed? How?

Well, when you were growing up,

nobody minded that Dale put a tree on his roof.

You know, it looked nice, and it didn't hurt anyone.