Episode 2 of "Interview with the Vampire" commences with Daniel Molloy patiently seated at the dining table, awaiting Louis' arrival. When Louis finally appears, a stark contrast unfolds - clingfilm spread gracefully over one side of the table, hosting a meager meal in stark contrast to Daniel's gourmet feast. Louis apologizes for his earlier outburst and prepares to sip from his bloodbag, a modern-day substitute for sustenance.
The narrative shifts, returning to the church where Louis' story was left dangling. Lestat explains the transformation Louis is undergoing, a metamorphosis into a vampire that initially feels like a deathly ordeal. The nausea, the agonizing pain, and the groans are all part of the journey, leading ultimately to a state of ecstasy. Lestat's blood pulsates joyfully within Louis' mind, elevating his senses to new heights. He is a fledgling bird in a nest, reliant on Lestat's guidance to maintain control and learn the intricacies of the hunt.
As they descend into a bar, their eyes set on a seemingly ordinary man as their target, Louis' attention is inexplicably drawn to another figure across the room. Lestat prompts him to focus, reminding him of their quarry. Together, they lure their prize back to their abode, where the lessons of feeding commence, initially a chaotic affair as Lestat endeavors to teach Louis the ropes.
Afterward, Louis' self-control slips, and he realizes he must retreat to the safety of his home. But the sun, the giver of life to all, is a bane to a vampire. Louis is left with no choice but to return to Lestat's sanctuary, his skin scorched by the daylight.
Gradually, Louis finds his footing in this new existence, maintaining his nocturnal appearances with ease. As a successful businessman with numerous Pleasure houses, this new role is not a far cry from his previous life. However, this time, Louis stands to gain much more than he ever imagined.
Lestat imparts the gift of mind-reading to Louis, cautioning him that this ability does not extend to other vampires.
Louis ultimately finds himself in the tragic position of terminating the life of a significant figure in their town, an act that deeply displeases Lestat. In retaliation, he incinerates the lifeless body but also admonishes Louis, urging him to exercise some form of self-control in such matters. Ultimately, Lestat relents, unwilling to end the day on a sour note with both of them angry. He offers a sincere apology for his dissatisfaction and vows to compensate Louis, assisting him in purchasing the Fair Play Saloon.
With the influx of cash, Louis generously rewards his staff with much higher wages, and between 1912 and 1917, he accumulates a significant fortune. However, this prosperity comes with a heavy price tag. Chiefly, it takes away from his family, particularly Grace, as he misses the joy of witnessing her children grow. Moreover, the pulsating vitality of the newborn babe's veins ignites a fierce desire in Louis, and after a visit to Grace, left alone with the infant, he hastily abandons them to hasten back to Lestat.
Lestat proposes a respite, suggesting they attend an opera together. While there, Lestat is deeply immersed in the music... until the tenor portraying Ernesto shatters Lestat's serene mood. He seethes with anger, hiding in the rafters, while Louis recounts that the tenor never saw the dawn of the next day. As the episode draws to a close, Louis confesses that he could hear the tenor's final thoughts as Lestat slowly extinguished his life.
