In "The Penultimate Peril", he reappears as the owner of an Indian restaurant at the Hotel Denouement in room 954 after he was approached by Dewey Denouement. He waited on Vice-Principal Nero, Mr. Remora, and Mrs. Bass when they were brought to his restaurant by a disguised Sunny. Although he owns the Indian restaurant and is seen wearing a turban, Hal is a terrible cook as mentioned when somebody's voice was heard in one of the windows claiming that he or she couldn't sleep because of the Indian food that he made. It is hinted that Hal may be a V.F.D. member as he says the code "I didn't realize this was a sad occasion" to Mr. Remora who failed to understand it as Mr. Remora quotes that "it will be a sad occasion if you don't feed us." When Dewey Denouement is accidentally killed during a confrontation with Count Olaf which woke up all the patrons, Hal firmly says that the Baudelaires aren't criminals. During the blindfolded trial, Hal submitted some paperwork.