The fifth episode of Interview with the Vampire's second season commences with our romantic duo, Louis and Armand, reminiscing about their idyllic days in Paris, oblivious to the looming shadows. As Molloy observes, Louis's syntax betrays a deeper meaning when referring to himself, prompting him to wonder if Louis is hiding something. However, Armand stands up for his beloved, explaining that it's merely the daylight fighting Louis's vampire nature. With a farewell, Armand embarks on one of his infrequent hunting expeditions.
Alone with Molloy, Louis shares that Armand's victims are chosen with care and treated with gentleness. But Molloy's thoughts are elsewhere, fixated on San Francisco. His memories of Armand are a constant distraction, yet they seem out of place. Abandoning the script, he begs Louis for twenty minutes to revisit those memories. Louis acquiesces, recalling how Armand safeguarded his happiness in San Francisco by rescuing Daniel.
Molloy revisits their initial interview in 1973, when Louis took him to one of his apartments. There, he indulged in an array of drugs and psychedelics supplied by Louis. Initially skeptical of Louis's claims of being a vampire, Molloy's doubts vanished when Louis revealed his fangs, terrifying him into starting the tape recorder.
Louis then launched into a scathing critique of Lestat, sparing no compassion for his former lover. His vitriol surpassed even the harshest exchanges on Real Housewives. As the interview progressed, Molloy consumed more drugs, deeply engrossed in the narrative. Initially insightful, he joined Louis in lambasting Lestat. But as his desires spiraled out of control, he demanded the gift of vampirism, claiming he could replace Claudia and Lestat in Louis's life.
Louis, enraged, attacked the drug-addled journalist. Fortunately, Armand arrived to save the day, intervening just in time. As Molloy listens to the tape, he discovers a hidden truth and forces Louis to hear it too. We hear Armand's voice, rescuing Molloy and arguing passionately with Louis.
Armand's fury was palpable as he resentfully scrubbed away Louis' mess once again. It grated on him even more that Louis had treated Molloy with a unique tenderness, unlike his other protégés. Louis, strangely, had abstained from attempting to seduce the young man. This only escalated the already intense verbal duel between the two, one of the most vicious they had ever engaged in.
Louis sneered, branding Armand as boring and likening his life with him to being smothered by the world's fluffiest, most suffocating pillow. Conversely, Armand scolded Louis for his recklessness, his careless disclosure of their true nature to a mere journalist. He dredged up Louis' past, highlighting his constant whining and their enduring issues with Lestat. He was enraged by Louis' constant fixation on Lestat, even in his criticisms. Armand confronted Louis, accusing him of taking his love and empathy for granted.
The drugs coursing through Louis' veins and the adrenaline of their confrontation pushed him to the edge. He fled to the rooftop, exposing his vulnerable skin to the brutal sun. Narrowly escaping a fiery fate, Armand swooped in, saving him from incineration and dragging his burnt body indoors.
In the aftermath, Armand sought to unleash his fury on Molloy, desperate to uncover the boy's allure. For days, he tormented and manipulated the young man, using him as a proxy for his rage towards Louis. Meanwhile, Louis, nursing his charred flesh, pleaded with Armand to spare Molloy's life.
At a critical moment, Armand reached out to Lestat, relaying the news of Louis' injury but omitting the part about passing on Lestat's affection. He offered Louis the freedom to leave if his empathy and love became burdensome.
After enduring days of psychological torture, Molloy trembled in fear, convinced that Armand would eliminate him. But Louis, employing Armand's own past as a slave, persuaded him to relent. He argued that sparing Molloy's life would be a testament to their enduring bond, and Armand, ever susceptible to love's siren call, acquiesced.
A scarred Louis spoke words of encouragement to the young Molloy, words that would guide him through life's challenges. Looking back, Molloy realized that it was Louis, not the stranger he once interviewed who burned alive, who had imparted those wise words.
As the two reminisced about the events in San Francisco, they realized with shock but not surprise that Armand had tampered with their memories. As this realization dawned, Armand, the mastermind behind the manipulation, entered the room with a swagger, but his reception was anything but warm. Louis informed him that their discussion had centered on San Francisco, not Paris. Without a hint of remorse or hesitation, Armand explained calmly that he had saved Molloy because protecting Louis' happiness was his sole priority.
