Flashback Video: Neal's Murder ATWT

While I was never an obsessive fan of As the World Turns, there are moments from the show’s run that have stayed with me. Yet, most of the moments I remember are not the ones pointed to by most fans. Case in point: the mysterious relationship of Neal and Royce. Played by the amazing Mary Kay Adams and Terry Lester respectively, these two arrived in Oakdale chock full of secrets. As their stories intersected with the other residents, it was revealed that Royce and Neal were actually the half siblings of Oakdale’s Queen Bee Lucinda Walsh.

In this set of scenes, Neal meets a grisly end and Oakdale is thrown into a full scale murder mystery. What I remember most about this storyline was the exquisite work done by Terry Lester as he comes to grips with the death of his beloved sister and his part in it. And while the police letting a bunch of people pollute the crime scene is beyond absurd, the human emotion underlining the brother/sister reveal rings true thanks to the work of Lester.

It’s a dark and stormy night and murder is in the air. As Emily accepts Royce's proposal, the police receive a mysterious call.



Royce and Emily gleefully celebrate their engagement while Neal lies dead in a pool of her own blood.



Royce calls Neal to tell her of his engagement and takes off to her apartment once the police answer. Meanwhile, Royce’s butler flashes back to an earlier argument with Neal.



Neal and Royce’s relationship is revealed as a despondent Royce falls apart.




Royce refuses to leave Neal’s side until emily convinces him it is time to leave.