Alas, neither woman is currently on the canvas and therefore unable to provide the support that Emma is experiencing given her grandmother’s imprisonment overseas. While Bruner is bringing great strength to her character, she’s also embodying the great vulnerability that her mother and grandmother both also possess.
On the surface, Emma has every reason to be keeping it together as school is going well and she has a boyfriend in Gio Palmeri (Giovanni Mazza), who recently whisked her off to New York for a romantic getaway.
However, Anna’s delicate mental state has slowly been taking a toll on Emma. She tried to keep up a brave front by making some tea for family friend Felicia (Kristina Wagner), but, in the process, she accidentally broke a childhood mug that had deep sentimental value. That was the straw that broke Emma’s back. When Felicia assured her that the mug could be replaced, the young girl lost it. “We can’t! We can’t!” Emma cried out. “I made this for grandma when I was 10! It was her favorite!”
Emma’s a young adult and she’s learning that life has more challenges than the loss of a sentimental item (though such losses are not to be underestimated!).
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Emma opened up to Felicia, pointing out that she’s relatively happy in life, and yet she questioned how she could be as she knows that her grandmother is locked away in a mental institution alone and terrified. “If I can know all that and still feel happy, I think that there’s something really wrong with me,” Emma shared.
The ever-compassionate Felicia assured her that there was not anything wrong with feeling that way.
Next, Laura (Genie Francis) visited Felicia and Emma, now joined by Mac (John J. York), to inform them that Anna’s predicament had gotten worse as she was now in jail, having attempted an escape worthy of Jason Bourne from her psychiatric hospital where she was being treated.
Francis delivered the expository information with great compassion for Anna’s loved ones and downplayed where Anna was about to be transferred — a long-term facility for patients who are potential dangers to themselves or others. Port Charles’ mayor gently shared that Anna would be sent to a “UMD” (a.k.a., a Unité pour Malades Difficiles, which translates to a Unit for Difficult Patients). Alas, Emma knows French, so the reality of Anna’s plight suddenly kicked her in the stomach.
Mac, Felicia, and Laura have been involved in high-stakes drama like this, but Emma’s not used to this kind of intense family drama, especially when her strong grandmother is involved. All of a sudden, Emma lamenting the loss of the favorite mug paled in comparison to the fear that she was feeling, knowing Anna’s future was bleak.
The more information that Emma learned, the more the reality of the situation washed over her. “Seriously? I can’t believe that this happening right now,” Emma cried out.
Fortunately, Gio walked in at this moment, prompting Emma to run into her boyfriend’s arms, telling him how much she needs him.
Emma suggested that Anna be brought to a better facility, but Mac said that wasn’t likely to happen. That’s when Bruner showed her character’s strength and lineage by announcing that she did not accept that.
Later, Emma was alone with Gio. She shared with him how she felt helpless as both the mug and her grandmother’s psyche were both shattered. “All I’m hearing is that my grandmother is getting worse,” Emma lamented.
Gio managed to cheer Emma up by pointing out that Anna getting into a high-speed chase with authorities was incredibly “badass.” Emma managed to share a smile, despite fearing for her grandmother’s safety.
As Felicia had assured Emma earlier, it’s OK to feel conflicting emotions, even in the worst of times. “How did you know that’s exactly what I needed to hear?” Emma rhetorically asked her boyfriend as they shared a smooch. A lesser actress might have wallowed in sulking, but Bruner plays her role as multi-faceted, a person capable of feeling diverse emotions.
The GH scribes entrusted Bruner with some heavy emotional material, as Emma explored the complexities of life, and the actress repaid that trust by delivering a heartfelt and honest series of performances.
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