Slippin' around on the road with Brad Pitt

"People at Missouri were really surprised when they found out what Brad was doing," says Pitt's pal Schudy. "But he's always been so charming that it made some sense. The first time my mom met him, she called him a little Roman god."

Pitt's ascension, in fact, has sent a ripple effect through the usually tranquil talent pool of Columbia. One college friend reports that no fewer than four of his pledge brothers have struck out for Hollywood. And an inquiry into Pitt at the fraternity house these days is met by a voice saying. "The composite picture with him on it gets stolen all the time. Last week we found it in some chick's dorm room."

For his part, Pitt speaks of college with his usual smirk, letting you know that you're not even hearing the half of it. "It was incredible just to get away from home," says Pitt, "living with a bunch of guys. That school kind of revolves around a keg. We had this idea of Animal House, and there was definitely that aspect. It was a highlight, without a doubt. Then — like everything — you grow out of it."

Around the same time, another period of Pitt's life was drawing to a close. It was while at school that he began divorcing himself from his strict religious upbringing. While his family was originally Baptist and is now nondenominational, Pitt is neither.

"I remember one of the most pivotal moments I've had," says Pitt, "was when I finally couldn't buy the religion I grew up with. That was a big deal. It was a relief in a way that I didn't have to believe that anymore, but then I felt alone. It was this thing I was dependent on."

Pitt lights a cigarette and fidgets in his chair like a suspect who fears he may have said too much.

"I always knew I'd leave Missouri," says Pitt. "But it's like that Tom Waits song: 'I never saw the morning until I stayed up all night/I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long.' I love my hometown. I just wanted to see more. You'd come across a book or something on TV, and you'd see all these other worlds. It blew me away."

Of all the Gin Joints in Scotland, she had to end up here. Or something like that. You see, everything is just a bit shaky, a tad blurry. All that is certain is that Pitt is not concentrating. It's midafternoon, and Pitt is seated in a Glasgow pub, trying to sand the edges off a post-Edinburgh hangover and attempting to put Interview with the Vampire into perspective. But there she is — the kind of naturally radiant barmaid who only saunters into film scenes. Or, as it turns out, into stories about film stars.

And lest anyone think that our young conquistador is only frequenting drinking establishments, it must be noted that the morning was spent conducting Pitt's primary objective for this city: a tour of all the buildings designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of Pitt's heroes. It's just that a quick lunch and a beer beckon. After that, the plan is to hop another train, head to the Scottish Highlands and try our hand at tracking the Loch Ness monster. Seriously. Problem is, each beer keeps getting better. And the barmaid... well, she keeps staying the same. We focus on Interview.

"Movies have always been cowboys and Indians for me," says Pitt, trying to explain the ordeal of filming. "But when they had offered the part to Daniel Day-Lewis, I heard his response was that he didn't like what it would do to him. Look, he's one of my favorites, but I thought, 'Jesus Christ, more actor bullshit.' Now I'd say I understand a little bit of what he was talking about. When I read the book, I thought it was great. I'm really proud of it. It's just that for me, making the movie wasn't so great."

To prove this is a universal phenomenon, an expert is consulted. "There's no question that it's a special skill to get into character as a vampire," says "Grandpa" Al Lewis of The Munsters. "The first requirement is to have a passionate desire for blood, then make sure that the money is good and the hours are not too long. As long as the checks cash at the bank, I'm always very happy, and Mr. Pitt will be as well."

Nonetheless, as it has been noted, nothing about Interview was easy. For anyone. When big budgets and Hollywood egos hang in the balance, however, things have a habit of working out in the end. At least on paper. In the days since filming completed, the dark, moody world of Interview With the Vampire has gotten unseasonably sunny. Anne Rice even reversed her position and purchased two entire pages in Daily Variety to accurately capture the awe she felt while watching Cruise inhabit the character of Lestat. Ah. Come on, everyone, group hug.

In truth, Interview With the Vampire remains remarkably true to the novel's narrative and its intensely brooding nature. Directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), Interview doesn't shy away from the ugly or grotesque aspects that make the story so compelling. Maybe the months of night shooting and tabloid rumors about onset turmoil were worth it.

"I didn't realize there were any rumors about Brad and Tom not getting along," says Jordan. "They're two very different actors. And their characters were very different. Tom's character loves control and loves inflicting pain on Brad's character. Brad's character just wants to escape. In many ways they related to each other the way their characters did. Brad really suffered this role. He came into it totally exhausted from doing Legends. He did agonize."

Pitt shrugs off talk about animosity between himself and Cruise by continually pointing out that he was extremely impressed by Cruise's performance. There was no tension, insists Pitt, only slightly different lifestyles. Cruise is in complete control at all times. Pitt is continually berated by friends because, as they tell him, he's "always drifting." Pitt even maintains a practice of buying a bike in every film location so he can slip away quietly. When production is complete, he locks the bike up and moves on to wherever the spirit moves him. If he ever passes that way again, he immediately checks in to see if his mode of transportation is still available.

"I tell you, the machine Tom runs is quite impressive," Pitt will say a few months later when Interview has been completed. "I wouldn't want to live like that but still.... Listen, if you want to stay on top, you've gotta stay on top. A lot of times, Sean Penn's movies don't make money. And in my opinion, Sean Penn is the best we have in that age group. So you can't sit and make Tom out to be the bad guy. Tom Cruise is good in this film."

Pitt pauses.

"I like the guy, I honestly like the guy," Pitt says. "But at a point I started really resenting him. In retrospect I realize that it was completely because of who our characters were. I realize that it was my problem." He laughs. "People take everything so seriously. It's a movie, and it's done."

At this moment, however, as a crowd of Glaswegians begin to swell at this neighborhood watering hole, production of Interview is not yet finished. Someone has sent over a round of shots. And the barmaid? She's extremely smart, personable and funny. She's also currently seated at our table. So before things get out of hand — a point which will soon be marked by the arrival of a complimentary bottle of champagne — talk turns serious. The last stage of filming — in just a few short weeks — will be the interview portion of Interview With the Vampire. It is this segment of the film that was supposed to include River Phoenix. Pitt's voice, which is normally quiet but infused with Southern hospitality, grows even more hushed, and an earnestness replaces his usual folksy inflection.

"I knew River a little, but I wanted to know him more," says Pitt. "His death affected everyone on the movie, but at the same time it was real personal. You gotta realize, River did a role in My Own Private Idaho that took it to a level that none of these other young guys have gotten to yet. I was really looking forward to him being on the set. It just seems like when we lost him, we all lost something special."