What was the Dubai interview plan?

Thinking back to how Armand didn't want to do the second interview at all, was the original plan to stay in character as Rashid the whole interview? Louis sticking with it and calling him Rashid even while breaking down and going into the zen garden room seems like it was.

If yes, when was Louis planning to end the story? If he was planning to end it in the same place right after Claudia's death, was he just hoping that Daniel wouldn't ask the obvious question of where is Armand now?