Spoiler:Cautionary Tales

This article contains archived spoilers about Cautionary Tales. See the main article to see how they panned out. For general spoilers about upcoming episodes, see Spoiler:Heroes. For spoilers about Season Two, see Season Two spoilers.

NBC Blurb

When agendas clash, a hero dies.

Convinced that the Company is close to finding them, H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) prepares the family to run -- but Claire (Hayden Panettiere) has other ideas. Meanwhile, Hiro (Masi Oka) returns from the past and learns of his father's death. Grief-stricken, he flings himself into past and makes a stunning personal discovery. After a charged first encounter with Elle (Kristen Bell), Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) makes a decision that could change lives. Meanwhile, Matt (Greg Grunberg) struggles with his expanding mental abilities. Maya (Dania Ramirez) and Alejandro's (Shalim Ortiz) relationship is tested as they travel with Sylar (Zachary Quinto). Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) meets someone who could unlock his past. Noah Gray-Cabey, Dana Davis, James Kyson Lee, Ali Larter and Adrian Pasdar also star. Nick D'Agosto, George Takei, Adair Tishler and Stephen Tobolowsky guest-star.

11/7 -- NEW! TV Guide reveals several spoilers about Heroes, including a "very real showdown" complete with "gunfire and tears". According to the caption in the article, the showdown consists of West and Mr. Bennet holding Elle hostage as the Company holds Claire hostage.
10/23 - The episode will be entitled Cautionary Tales, according to an NBC press release. (Link)

A stand-off at the beach will involve Mohinder, Claire Bennet, Noah Bennet, Bob, Elle, and West in the form of a hostage exchange
The 'hero that dies' refers to fan-favorite H.R.G. will finally meet his fate and will be shot and killed in this episode, fulfilling Isaac's painting.
An alternative theory is that the dead hero will be Hiro or Kaito Nakamura
The dead hero will be H.R.G., but the two in the background of the eighth painting will be Elle and Peter.