Once Upon a Time in Texas - Recap

Three years in the past, Hero appears in Midland, TX and looks into the Burnt Toast Diner to see Charlie. A woman passes by him and notices he's in a hospital robe, and Hiro goes to steal some clothes. A young boy in a cowboy outfit stops him and Hiro explains that he's there to save the woman he loves, and resolve his greatest failure. As they go back to the diner, Hiro insists that he's the good guy and will stop Sylar. The boy gives Hiro his white hat, insisting that good guys wear white hat and black guys wear black. Hiro turns and sees Sylar, wearing a black hat. Sylar, having no idea who he is, walks past him into the diner.

At the carnival, Samuel emerges from a trailer and tells Lydia that Arnold is dying soon and they need Hiro's ability now so they can fix the past, but doesn't know how he'll convince Hiro. Lydia says that desperate times call for desperate measures. Samuel draws the image of Charlie on her back and Lydia warns she's three years' dead, but Samuel views that as an opportunity. Additional images appear of Noah and another women, Lauren. Samuel goes to ask Edward to send him back despite Lydia's advice not to do so.

Hiro watches from behind a paper as Charlie serves Sylar coffee and comments about his watch. She's remarkably well informed and admits she' remembered it from a magazine. Sylar realizes she has an ability and tests her knowledge of Nobel prize winners. He asks her about the blood clot in her brain and explains that he has a gift for seeing how things work, and how to fix them if they're broken. He gestures at his forehead and makes a small exploding noise, and then orders the pancakes. Samuel appears next to Hiro and says he's smart to hide, and then takes him outside.

As they leave they're unaware that Noah is in the diner, and is talking to Sandra on the phone. He promises to be there for Claire's homecoming. His partner Lauren Gilmore comes in and notes that he's making a "face," the same face he makes every time he lies to Sandra. Noah admits that he'd rather tell Sandra the truth than out catching a serial killer who is threatening his daughter. Lauren admits that she wishes she could tell the truth to her mother. Noah admits that it's nice to relax with a friend he can talk to. She asks if what they're doing is two friends talking, and says it's flirting but he doesn't recognize it because it's been so long. Lauren points out they have been having breakfast out of town for months but the pancakes aren't that good. She observes that Noah is such a cowboy that he would never admit it so she's taking the initiative. Lauren offers him her hotel room key but realizes Noah isn't interested. Noah's gets a call informing him that Ethan is there with the Sylar paintings. Lauren says she'll meet him at the office and he leaves. As they go, Sylar telekinetically pulls his coffee cup to him.

Samuel watches Sylar from hiding and asks Hiro why he's there. Hiro says he's there to save Charlie and Samuel says he's there to protect Hiro and make sure he understands the magnitude of his choice. He explains that everyone is on a specific path and he's making a sacrifice to make sure Hiro is successful. Samuel warns that it's a mine field of destiny and wonders if Charlie is worth it, and Hiro says it is. He turns to discover that Charlie isn't there.

Charlie is in the storage room and thinks she hears someone. She's unaware that Sylar is hiding behind her. He prepares to telekinetically slice open her skull, and Hiro arrives to freeze time. He wheels Sylar outside and puts him into the baggage compartment of a bus going to Odessa, insisting that he'll continue on his destiny while he and Charlie are together. He closes the compartment door, goes back inside, checks his appearances, and then starts to contemplate the consequences. He realizes that if saves Charlie, he won't fall in love and history will "go kablooey." He goes out to the board and finds the birthday photo of Charlie. Hiro isn't in it. He vows that he will be, and then goes into the bathroom and unfreezes time for his past self. His younger self believes he's the future-self that Peter saw on the subway, but Hiro says he left his sword in the future. Future-Hiro then explains that the cheerleader will be fine and his past self must save Charlie, his true love. Hiro tells past-Hiro to go back six months to preserve the space-time continuum. If he doesn't they'll never fall in love with Charlie. Past-Hiro disappears and Hiro says he's a moron, and then checks the photo. He's now in the picture with Charlie.

Noah goes to see Isaac and asks him about the paintings, and explains that Isaac isn't the only one with special abilities. Noah needs his help to save the cheerleader that Isaac has been painting, and explains that the cheerleader is his daughter. Noah goes out and Lauren admits she was eavesdropping. She says she had no idea and promises that they'll handle it together. Lauren then leans forward and kisses him, and then apologizes for being such an ass. She assures him they have 37 hours until Homecoming and they'll nail Sylar, and then pretend she never kissed him. Noah says that he doesn't want to forget.

Hiro comes out of the bathroom and Samuel asks if everything is all right. He notes that Hiro looks satisfied and Hiro explains that he kept destiny from blowing up. However, he wonders if Hiro has everything straight. Hiro notices that Ando is sitting alone and runs over to explain that past-Hiro is six months in the past and Ando must wait for him. Ando agrees and Hiro goes to see Charlie. They embrace and he assures her that everything is fine from now on. He says they should go somewhere, anywhere, and asks her to pick a place. Charlie realizes that he's serious and says she wants to go to Otsu, Japan, to see where Takezo Kensei was born. However, she starts uncontrollably reciting information. Hiro snaps her out of it and she doesn't remember what she was saying. She starts to collapse and then admits that the aneurysm is rupturing and she's dying. Hiro assures her that she isn't yet.

Hiro drives to the bus' next stop in Odessa and opens the baggage compartment. Sylar comes up behind him and telekinetically slams him into the side of the bus. He demands to know who Hiro is, and Hiro asks him to fix Charlie. Sylar prepares to kill him but Hiro freezes time, gets to the side, and warns Sylar that he can't kill him. They face off in an alley and Hiro says he has something Sylar wants. When Sylar tries to kill him again, Hiro freezes time and gets behind him, and then unfreezes time again. Sylar figures Hiro will get tired eventually and tries to kill him again. Hiro freezes time, moves, unfreezes time, and warns that if Sylar kills him, he won't discover what Hiro knows about Sylar's own future. Sylar says he's on the way to meet the cheerleader, and he'll become invincible. Hiro warns him not to be so sure, and Sylar realizes that Hiro is dying of a tumor. He considers Hiro's offer as cheerleaders run by in the distance.

Hiro takes Sylar to see Charlie, and explains to Charlie's fellow waitress Lynette that Sylar is a doctor and can help. Once they're alone, Sylar says he can remove it. Charlie says that she's okay if it's her time, but Hiro insists that they're meant to be together no matter what it takes. Hiro holds her and talks about a poet named Ryokan, and recites a haiku the man wrote. Sylar begins to fix the aneurysm and Charlie's eye bleeds briefly. She realizes that Sylar did it and embraces Hiro.

The cheerleaders are at the bus station to greet the rival team. Claire notices Noah across the street and runs to talk to him. She wonders why he's there and he says he's there to hear her cheer. She offers to hang with him if he wants and Noah says he'd love to. They grab shakes and coffee and she asks if he likes his work selling paper. Noah admits that he does, and Claire says that she can't imagine him wanting to sell paper. He admits that he wanted to teach Shakespeare in high school and Claire accuses him of being a drama geek. She says he should teach once she graduates and should do what makes him happy, but Noah says that he is happy. Jackie calls Claire over and Noah kisses his daughter goodbye, saying he'll see her later. He then considers Lauren's hotel key.

Sylar eats some pancakes and reminds Hiro of their deal. Hiro tells him that he'll die alone after killing many people and becoming the strongest of them. However, it won't make any difference because they'll all gather to stop him. He then teleports himself and Sylar back into the alley in Odessa, gets away, and unfreezes Sylar. Sylar hears the cheerleaders in the distance and goes to find Claire.

Lauren is having a drink in her hotel room when Noah comes in and asks for one of what she's having. He tells her that he can't do this and it's not smart for either of them because they're partners. Lauren tells him not to blame it on the job and points out that it's more than just casual sex. Noah admits that he cares about her and Lauren says that they've been lying, and asks if he wants to be himself with her and have some happiness. Noah explains that he loves his family and no matter how complicated as it is to lie, he still loves them. He says Lauren is a great agent and he needs her help with Sylar and Claire, and she assures him she'll be there for him, now and always. They go back to work.

Hiro watches Charlie from outside and Ando comes out to ask if everything is okay. Hiro says that it is and tells Ando to go back inside and wait. Charlie comes out and Hiro realizes something is wrong. She says she has a knot in her gut and says Hiro put it there because he cheated. She wonders how Hiro could let Sylar go on to kill so many people. He insists it's their happy-ever-after, but she wonders why she has to live when so many others die every day. Hiro says it's because he loves her, but Charlie says he's selfish and walks away.

Noah is in the cafeteria at the Company building when Lauren comes in and gives him an envelope she says she found on his desk. Inside it is a note and the motel keys. He asks her if they're pretending it never happened and she has no idea what he's talking about. Noah reads the note, which is from Lauren and says that she is having the Haitian wipe her memory because it's better and more professional if they have a non-romantic relationship, and she doesn't remember what happened. She asks if everything is okay and he says it was his mistake and everything is fine.

Hiro goes back into the diner and orders root beer, and admits that it's over. Noah is sitting at the bar next to him and wonders if he knows him. Hiro says he doesn't. Noah asks if he's okay and Hiro admits that he ruined his chance at finding true love. Noah admits love is a messy business and wishes him well, and then leaves. Charlie comes in and apologizes for acting so terribly toward him. Hiro says that he understands but insists the world is a better place with her in it. She thanks him for saving his life and then gives him a piece of folding paper. She explains she was trying to make a thousand origami cranes, and she wants their happy ending. Charlie says she loves him and they kiss. Hiro says "Happily. Ever. After" and Charlie says they should go. Hiro walks outside while trying to fold the crane, but he realizes that she's disappeared. Samuel is standing thee and admits he's done something very bad. He's taken Charlie to the carnival in the present, and tells Hiro he's going to have to dig deep and take control if he wants to see Charlie again. Hiro grabs him and teleports them to the carnival. Samuel congratulates him and then points out all the other carnival members surrounding them. Hiro asks them where Charlie is but no one answers. He runs to a trailer and finds Arnold, dead. Samuel explains that Arnold's body couldn't take the strain, and he had a tumor like Hiro's. He asked Arnold to trap Charlie somewhere in time, and the effort killed the old man. Hiro accuses him of being a murderer, and Samuel agrees. However, he refuses to tell Hiro where Charlie is, noting that then there wouldn't be anything to keep Hiro there. He needed Hiro to fix his past, and admits that if anyone at the carnival found out about his transgressions, all of his good work would be undone. Samuel tosses Hiro Charlie's name tag and says Hiro can only save her if he does exactly what Samuel says. Samuel says that he's made a mistake about eight weeks ago.

Eight weeks ago, Samuel apologizes to Mohinder as the latter lies dead on the floor of a trailer.

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