This is merely a play I thought of based off of the Marvel Comic characters, Emma Frost and The Stepford Cuckoos. Obviously it is an alternate reality, where it asks the question, what would life be like if Emma raised the Cuckoos? The timeline differs from the canon 616 comics where Emma has not gone into a coma, or joined the X-men. Instead, she has lost her Hellions and has taken more time to focus on her career in Frost Enterprises. Instead of the Cuckoos being created by Sublime, they were created at the request of Emma Frost who believed she needed progeny. They are her biological daughters, carried by a surrogate mother. Their quintuplet status is merely an unexpected surprise, as Emma only intended to have one child, instead one egg split into five individuals. The five girls would be raised with the best of everything and be very privileged. The difference in these Cuckoos is that they are indeed telepathic and are about to share a hive mind, but as decided by their mother, are kept separated by psychic blocks. They only use their hive mind when in active training and this gives them more independence. Emma Frost eventually reopens her school, she is still a member of the Hellfire Club, but never joins the X-men. Remember, this is an alternate reality, so don't compare histories to the canon.

Stepford Girls

(Frost Manor sitting room.)

(All five girls are assembled in the sitting room area of the manor. Celeste, Mindee, and Phoebe are seated on the scarlet couch at the center of the room, the couch faces toward the center of the room with the back facing a large window. Esme, and Sophie both sit on navy blue recliners on each side of the couch, each angled toward the center of the room. Emma is seated across the room in a large white recliner of her own, with a glass of wine in hand, and her gaze turned toward the burning fireplace. The girls silently wait for their mother to speak.)

Emma: I'm sure you all understand why I have summoned you all here. (Takes a sip of her wine.) As you all know, your dear mother isn't going to be around forever.

Esme: (Sarcastically.) Got that right.

Emma: Esme dear, will you please keep your dimwitted comments to yourself?

Esme: Pft.

Emma: Lately I have pondered the idea of my demise. About how fragile life is, and how someday I shall eventually die. Though the day is far from us, no one knows what fate has in store. (She gets up from the recliner and walks over to the fireplace.) In this sense, I found that I needed someone to carry on my legacy. Someone who could take over Frost Enterprises and continue the work I have strived to achieve. Of course my mind instantly went to you girls, my progeny. I thought about dividing my company into five, leaving each of you girls with a piece of my fortune. Yet, I stopped for a moment and realized. What's the fun in that?

Sophie: What do you mean?

Emma: (She walks over and stands in front of the girls at the center of the room.) What I mean, Sophie, is why should I have to divide my company for you five? You girls can hardly share a hive mind without tearing each other to shreds. If I leave you a company, you'll kill each other on the spot. There is no fun with a bunch of dead siblings in the closet, contrary to popular belief. Instead of letting you girls fight when I die, why not do it now? Settle the decision.

Celeste: So you want us to fight over the inheritance of the company.

Emma: Precisely.

Esme: How?

Emma: By proving to me which one of you deserves it the most.

Celeste: That shouldn't be too hard.

Mindee: We already know which one of us you favor the most.

Emma: Oh? Who might that be?

Phoebe: Sophie.

Sophie: Me?

Esme: Don't play dumb.

Celeste: We can all see the favoritism toward her.

Mindee: Because of her telepathic strengths.

Emma: You girls honestly believe I favor Sophie over the rest of you?

Celeste, Esme, Mindee, and Phoebe: Yes!

Emma: Do you believe this to be true, Sophie?

Sophie: I had no idea.

Emma: Don't play coy.

Sophie: Honestly, I don't see any favoritism toward me.

Emma: Well, I guess since you all agree Sophie deserves it-

Esme: She doesn't deserve it!

Phoebe: We never said she deserves it.

Mindee: Only that you favor her.

Celeste: Over the rest of us.

Emma: Are you four willing to give up so quickly, being defeated by mere assumption?

Esme: Not in the slightest.

Celeste: We just won't be surprised if Sophie is your choice.

Emma: I assure you all have a fair chance.

Mindee: What if we don't want to participate?

Emma: You'll be left to fend for yourself in the big bad world, when I die or decide to cut you off.

Phoebe: So if we are chosen then we can't be cut from your funding.

Emma: Correct. (Pause.) If there aren't any other questions, I shall be on my way. (Emma downs the last of the wine in her glass and gracefully walks out of the room.)

Celeste: How could she do this?

Mindee: Don't whine.

Sophie: She's only trying to separate us.

Phoebe: By cutting off our money?

Sophie: To make us become individuals.

Celeste: But we're supposed to be together!

Esme: Stop being so stupid, Celeste. We can't be the five-in-one for the rest of our lives!

Celeste: But-

Sophie: She's only doing what is best for us.

Phoebe: Through competition?

Esme: Consider it a crash course in life. I say, let the games begin. (Getting up from the recliner, she takes one look at her sisters, gives a glare to Sophie, and walks out of the room.)

Celeste: I can't take this! (Celeste walks out in a huff.)

Mindee: What a drama queen.

(Later that day, outside the manor, in the backyard garden area. There is a gazebo in the middle, with a greenhouse to the right side.)

(Mindee walks around the garden area, as if she is taking a casual stroll, eventually she makes her way to the greenhouse, her intended destination. Inside is Francis, the young gardener, who has been waiting for her.)

Francis: (He rushes up and takes her in his arms to plant a tender kiss upon her lips.) What took you so long?

Mindee: My mother decided to call a family meeting.

Francis: Oh?

Mindee: She's making all five of us compete to be her sole heir of Frost Enterprises.

Francis: How ridiculous.

Mindee: Esme and Sophie think of it as a way to make us individual, independent which isn't such a bad idea, but I don't want to do it this way.

Francis: What exactly is she making you do?

Mindee: What do you mean?

Francis: Like is she going to make you do some physical and mental tasks?

Mindee: No, she simply stated one of us must "prove" ourselves.

Francis: That leaves the field wide open for possibilities.

Mindee: Pretty much, we have to do whatever it takes.

Francis: What happens if you don't do it?

Mindee: I get cut off.

Francis: Harsh.

Mindee: Doesn't matter to me, I could go without living under her roof for a while.

Francis: You could stay under my roof.

(Francis leans in and kisses Mindee again, except this time he lingers for a moment, then continues. She wraps her arms around his neck, and he puts his hands at her waist as they passionately kiss one another.)

(Afternoon. Inside Celeste's room.)

(Celeste sits on her bed with the maid, Rosa. Rosa comforts Celeste who is apparently distressed.)

Celeste: Rosa, what am I going to do? How am I going to prove myself to be good enough for mother?

Rosa: It's okay, Miss Celeste. Be confident.

Celeste: Why be confident? I'm not as perfect as Sophie, ambitious as Esme, fearless like Mindee, or like Phoebe. I don't really know what Phoebe has, but she's got something more than me!

Rosa: Why then participate?

Celeste: I don't want to be poor, duh.

Rosa: You should do what mother likes.

Celeste: Huh?

Rosa: Find what mother likes, do what she does.

Celeste: You're saying I should do the activities my mother likes, so that I might impress her.

Rosa: Yes.

Celeste: Good idea! But what does she like? Wine, too young to drink that. Wearing sexy outfits, no thanks.

Rosa: Clubs?

Celeste: Country clubs?

Rosa: Think bigger club.

Celeste: Political?

Rosa: Hel-

Celeste: Hellfire Club. What about the Hellfire Club?

Rosa: Join.

Celeste: I'm not old enough.

Rosa: Exactly.

Celeste: I see what you're getting at. You think that if I got into the Hellfire Club I would impress my mother. Not a bad idea at all. I could be youngest member and gain a great reputation, none of my sisters would ever think of that!

Rosa: So?

Celeste: So, I'll do it. I'm going to be in the Hellfire Club, no matter what it takes.

(Afternoon. Outside in the garden area, in the gazebo. Esme sits alone writing in a notebook in her lap. Phoebe appears and walks over to her.)

Phoebe: You wanted to see me?

Esme: Please, sit.

Phoebe: (Takes a seat in the gazebo.) What do you want, Esme?

Esme: I wanted to propose an idea to you.

Phoebe: About?

Esme: This little competition.

Phoebe: I'm listening.

Esme: What would you say if I asked you to join up with me to take down our sisters?

Phoebe: I would say what's in it for me.

Esme: A vast fortune for the rest of your life. I know you're worried about the money situation and being cut off, and you know it can happen since you aren't a front runner. That made me think, how about I take care of my sister in return for her services?

Phoebe: How do I know you won't betray me?

Esme: I'm practically your last resort, without me you won't have the slightest chance of winning.

Phoebe: I'm not hearing any reassuring words.

Esme: You want reassuring? Okay, you can either take this offer of getting money or fend for yourself and end up working at McDonalds. (Esme gets up and walks out of the gazebo.)

Phoebe: What do I need to do?

(Esme stops and turns around with a smirk on her face.)

Esme: I knew you'd see it my way. Here is my master plan, exploitation.

Phoebe: How?

Esme: Simple. Our dear sister Mindee has been sneaking around with the help, Francis. Both of them have been having secret rendezvous' here and there, secretly hiding their love affair from mother and the pesky servants.

Phoebe: What, are we going to tell mother?

Esme: Yes, but not as simple. What's the good in only taking out one sister? How about taking out two sisters at once? I believe we could take Mindee and Sophie down with my plan.

Phoebe: Sophie is so perfect though.

Esme: Exactly, so we'll tarnish her reputation by manipulating Francis into taking on both sisters. With my telepathic skills, I could make him my little puppet.

Phoebe: What about me?

Esme: You're the distraction. I need you to get Mindee out of the house while I do my work. Then when I get Francis to distract Sophie, we'll bring Mindee in and drive a wedge between the two. Finally, we'll tell mother and expose the both of them.

Phoebe: I like it, but what about Celeste? How are we going to get rid of her?

Esme: Celeste isn't competition at all, she's a fragile loser.

(Both girls laugh at Celeste's expense.)

Phoebe: Right, then let's do this.

(Night. Dinner in the dining room of the Manor. Emma sits at the head of the table, all the girls sit around the table.)

Emma: How have you girls been?

All: Fine.

Emma: (Swirls around her wine glass.) Sophie, I've heard you've been quite the charitable person, helping toward raising money for the homeless.

Sophie: It's a side project that will help boost my idea of a small business.

Emma: How is giving money away a good idea for business?

Sophie: Well, I need someone fund the start of my business. There are buyers out there, but they don't give money to just anyone. They do enjoy funding promising youngsters, though they have to show they are a use to society. The best strategy for me is to use my time for charitable work for credentials and make my way up from there.

Emma: Very clever, my dear. No better way to create yourself a reputation than contributing to those less fortunate for appealing purposes. I do hope this doesn't become a habit, the helping of the less fortunate, because you all know what my policy is-

Sophie: Don't help the helpless, only the potentially worthy of serving you later.

Esme: Pfft.

Emma: Something to say, Esme?

Esme: Why put on a façade to get what you want?

Sophie: I'm not putting up a façade.

Esme: Yes, you are. You're playing Mother Sophie to a bunch of homeless people.

Emma: What would you rather have her do?

Esme: Easy. Cut throat logic. You go to them and use your telepathic powers against them, as blackmail. We are homo-superior, so why not use the gifts we have to achieve success? Normal humans admit that we are better than them, let's live up to the expectation.

Emma: Esme brings up a good point-

Sophie: No, she doesn't! Her method involves attacking the enemy blindly because she doesn't consider the consequences. You can't expect someone with a high position to be your lap down forever, eventually they'll come back at you. Not only that, but you risk the chance of exposure. Once exposed you'll have the X-men on your back, ready to take you in. You can't act in such a blunt manner, you have to subtle, have a low profile, and take over from the bottom to the top.

Emma: Another go-

Esme: I'd rather be blunt and get taken in rather than have to live a false life! I'm not going to be serving soup to the poor and pretend I enjoy it, so I'll stick to my methods and avoid your pointless roundabout logic.

Sophie: At least I know how to use my brain, not my emotions.

Esme: That's it!

(Esme's eyes would light up and take on a completely glowing white color, displaying she is use of her telepathic powers. She uses a psi-bolt against her sister, but Sophie is quick to react and activates her own telepathic power to block hers. Both girls stand up from the table and wage a psychic battle between one another.)

Sophie: You can't win, Esme. My powers are stronger than yours.

Esme: No, you're wrong..! (Esme begins to struggle in her assault.)

(The rest of the family still sits, not getting involved. Emma sits intrigued, watching the girls as if they were entertainment with her dinner.)

Sophie: Just bow down. You're already squirming.

(Esme undoes her psychic assault and backs away from the table, aggravated with the result of letting Sophie win.)

Emma: Are we done now, girls?

(Sophie takes her seat back at the table, Esme angrily walks off back to her room.

Emma: I believe Sophie won that battle. Bravo, dear. But can you win the war?