ALL 4 ONE
Screen Play Written by Emil Cicogna
Based on the Novel All 4 One
ISBN 9781548560362
© 2026 Emil Cicogna
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
A funeral is taking place, the casket rests above an open grave, draped in ceremonial cloth. A group of people stand behind the family who are seated in front of the casket.
SARAH (O.S.)
It's difficult to know how to look at things sometimes, to know what they mean or why they happened. I am still not sure if I caused my husband's death, or if I was just the witness to it.
Four older women sit beside each other, SARAH wears a black dress, black veil, black gloves. Seated next to SARAH is her granddaughter VERONICA, eight years old, she wears her white Communion dress and white shoes. Next to Veronica is her mother JEAN BIDDING.
SARAH (O.S.)
Four days ago, my granddaughter came and spoke to me early on Saturday morning, which changed everything.
The faces of the other women: DIANE, CINDY, and BOBBY with the handle of her tri-pod cane between her fingers, stare at the casket. VOICE of the PRIEST heard as if from a distance.
SARAH (V.O.)
It seems that each of us during our life is given a gift. My granddaughter came to me that morning bearing a gift.
Pallbearers remove the cloth from the casket and begin to lower it into the grave. Sarah lets go a sob and Cindy grasps her arm, both crying as they watch the casket descend into the ground as the PRIEST sprinkles holy water on it.
SARAH (V.O.)
You get used to things being the way they've been, and then suddenly something happens, and good or bad, they're not that way anymore, and you have to accept it. I am trying to accept that that my husband BEN died because of a wish I made.
The three women take turns embracing Sarah as the other attendees gather around her, each in-turn grasping her hands or embracing her, some begin walking away from the gravesite.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. BIDDING HOME - MORNING
SUPERIMPOSE: FOUR DAYS EARLIER
Veronica sits on a kitchen chair while her mother JEAN combs her dark hair into two ponytails, one above each ear. Veronica stands and zips up her white jacket while her mother takes a pink and white safety helmet off the counter and places it on her head. Jean hands Veronica a Magazine.
EXT. BIDDING HOME - ALLEY ON SIDE OF HOUSE
VERONICA climbs onto her bike and rides out of the yard onto the sidewalk. JEAN watches from the kitchen doorway as VERONICA rides down the block seven or eight houses from their own, and turns into the front yard of another house.
VERONICA rings the bell on the handle bar, takes the magazine from the basket and runs up the steps onto the wooden porch. She KNOCKS on the door, SARAH CALLS from inside, "Come in!"
INT. SARAH'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
SARAH'S VOICE can be heard inside the kitchen. She is on the telephone and Veronica walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table. She removes her helmet and waits for her Grandma to finish on the phone.
SARAH
I don't mind going to play Bingo, it'll be better than coming straight home from church, the evening's too long then. It's all right if we get there early.
INT. CINDY'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Cindy is on the phone with Sarah, she is also in her mid/late sixties. There are still traces of red in her mostly gray hair, and she sits at her kitchen table with the phone tucked under her chin, sorting and discarding coupons.
CINDY
I know, I'm sitting around now waiting for the boy to deliver my groceries from the supermarket.
SARAH
You have your groceries delivered?
CINDY
I've been leaving half of the things I want to buy in the store lately because I can't carry it all home, it's too heavy. They just started a service for seniors that after you pay for your things they have this cute delivery boy bring everything home for you.
SARAH
That's why you're having them delivered! You leave that boy alone! His girlfriend is going to come over there and sock you one!
Cindy lets loose a CRAZY LAUGH as she tosses discarded coupons into kitchen garbage can.
CINDY
When he was here last week I showed him a picture of me from high school in my cheerleader outfit; he said I was hot!
SARAH
Oh God! Cindy if you show up tonight in your cheerleading sweater you're not coming with us to church!
The SOUND of the DOORBELL chimes through the phone.
CINDY
I have to go Sarah! He's here!
Cindy hangs up the phone and hurries to answer the door. She CALLS OUT almost singing:
CINDY
Who is it?
Through the door the VOICE of the DELIVERY GUY / JEFF, is heard:
JEFF
Groceries!
Cindy opens the door with a huge smile.
CINDY
Hello there!
JEFF, in his early twenties with a sparse trace dark beard, stands on Cindy's doorstep with a grocery bag in each arm.
JEFF
Hi Mrs. Smith, I'll just drop these inside, the rest of the stuff is in the car.
JEFF walks past Cindy toward the kitchen.
CINDY
I hope that apple pie I bought is in there, I want you to sit down and have a piece.
Cindy is on tippy-toes with excitement as she tries to ballet-walk down the hall after Jeff.
INT. SARAH'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Sarah hangs up the phone and smiles at Veronica.
SARAH
How are you this morning Veronica?
VERONICA
Fine Grandma, Mom was done reading the magazine so I brought it over.
SARAH
Well thank you, you didn't have to come over early just for that.
VERONICA
I didn't.
SARAH
Are you hungry? I can make you some breakfast.
VERONICA
I ate already.
Veronica stares at Sarah with a warm intent look in her eyes.
VERONICA
Grandma, why do you go to church so much?
SARAH
Oh, I like to pray.
VERONICA
What do you pray for?
Sarah hesitates, glances up at an old black and white photograph of herself and her husband BEN in a tarnished silver frame placed on a shelf on the kitchen wall.
SARAH
Things I hope for.
VERONICA
For everyone, or just for you?
SARAH
Well both, I pray for you and your mom and your dad...
Sarah looks at Veronica, then back at the photograph. Sarah is twenty-one years old with dark hair clipped just above her shoulders. Ben is in an Army uniform, they sit in a Ferris Wheel car waving at the camera. Sarah answers with her eyes still lost in the picture.
SARAH
...I pray for your Grandpa to feel well.
VERONICA
Why don't you make a wish?
SARAH
I don't think I can substitute a prayer with a wish.
VERONICA
Do you think God hears your prayers?
Sarah shifts her eyes from the old black and white photo to a more recent color photograph of her and Ben, both of them clearly older in the picture.
SARAH
I don't know.
VERONICA
Then why do you go?
Sarah looks at Veronica, smiles lovingly at her.
SARAH
I guess it gives me something to do. I get to see my friends.
VERONICA
I think you should make a wish. If you all wish together for the same thing at the same time, your wish will come true.
SARAH
How do you know it will come true?
VERONICA
God told me.
The smile fades from Sarah's face and becomes a quizzical stare at Veronica.
SARAH
Really? When?
VERONICA
When I was sleeping, and He told me to tell you.
SARAH
Well you certainly remembered to tell me.
VERONICA
Mmm-Hmm.
Veronica rises and smiles at Sarah. She puts the bike helmet back on her head.
SARAH
Did you tell Mom about your dream?
Veronica snaps the plastic catch beneath her chin and shakes her head 'No'.
VERONICA
Uh-uh, it's a secret.
(gives Sarah a hug)
VERONICA
I'll be back a little later. Mom said we're going to make grilled cheese sandwiches and bring them over for lunch. Bye Grandma.
SARAH
I'll see you later then.
Veronica walks from the kitchen, Sarah stares after her. SOUND OF FRONT DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING HEARD from the other part of the house. Sarah's eyes remain distant.
The silence is broken by the PHONE RINGING. Sarah snaps back to the present and picks the receiver up.
SARAH
Hello?
A WOMAN'S VOICE comes through the receiver as LOUD as though she used a MEGAPHONE. It is her friend DIANE.
DIANE
Hi Sarah! How are you today dear?
SARAH
I'm... fine, I just had a visit from my granddaughter.
DIANE
Oh! She's so beautiful that child.
INT. DIANE'S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Diane stands in her kitchen drying glasses with a dish towel as she talks on the phone. She is in her mid-sixties, grayish-white hair teased-up, dark penciled eyebrows, and numerous bangles on her wrists. She holds a glass up to the light and rubs it furiously to make it spotless.
DIANE
You want to go see Ben this afternoon, right? I can be there around twelve-thirty.
SARAH
Yes, definitely, I spoke with Cindy and she wants to go play Bingo tonight, is that OK with you?
DIANE
That's fine, I just want to stop in Burger King so my stomach isn't growling the whole time we're in church.
SARAH
Good, we'll be out the whole day.
DIANE
Anything else honey?
SARAH
No, I'll see you later.
DIANE
Buh-bye.
SARAH
Bye.
Hanging up the phone, Sarah looks at the photos on the kitchen shelf again, then walks from the kitchen.