Salome

Plot summary

In the moonlight shining in the courtyard of Herod’s palace in the Judean desert, the captain of the guard contemplates the beauty of the princess Salome (Slomit). One of the servants warns him that his lustful glances at the princess are greatly exaggerated and will end in disaster. The voice of the prophet John (the Baptist) rises from a pit where he is being held as Herod’s prisoner. John predicts the coming of Jesus and the soldiers argue about his words and even about the degree of his holiness. Suddenly, Salome herself arrives, having quickly and in disgust left the banquet taking place in the palace, because the lewd glances that Herod, her stepfather, had fixed on her had terrified her.
John’s voice is heard again and Salome, enchanted by the voice, decides that she must see the man. She orders the soldiers to bring the prisoner up and bring him to her, and when they refuse to disobey Herod’s order forbidding this, she seduces Nervos to do it for her. John frees him, but Salome is not at all deterred by the angry prophet. On the contrary, she is drawn to his voice, to the look of death hovering over his face, and to his ascetic gaze. John demands that she express remorse for her mother’s promiscuous behavior, but she, on the other hand, says that she simply must touch the prophet’s white flesh, feel his shining black hair, and kiss his other lips. John denounces her, but Salome can no longer control her desire. Nervos is horrified by the commotion he has caused, irritated that Salome is not paying attention to him at all, and stabs himself to death. Salome continues to beg John to let her kiss him, but he cries out: “Prodigal daughter, go and repent.” Salome repeats her demand, but John curses her and returns to his place of imprisonment.

Herod arrives, with all his guests following him, and obsessively searches for Salome. His wife Herodias is filled with jealousy and accuses Herod of lustfully gazing at his daughter. Herod offers the princess food and wine, but she rejects him. John’s accusations return from the well, and when Herodias asks her husband to get rid of the prophet by handing him over to the Jews, a theological debate suddenly breaks out among the Jewish guests at the feast who hold the existence of good and evil in the world. Two Christians from Nazareth arrive and tell of the miracles performed by Jesus and claim that the Messiah has arrived. John once again curses the wickedness of Herodias, who screams and demands that they silence him. Suddenly Herod asks Salome to dance before him, but she refuses, encouraged by her mother. Only when Herod swears that he will grant her anything she asks of him does Salome agree, ignoring her mother’s pleas.

Salome dances the Dance of the Seven Veils before Herod. Herod asks her to demand her reward, and Salome demands John’s head on a silver platter. Herod is horrified, but Herodias is delighted, certain that Salome did it to avenge her own. Herod offers Salome priceless diamonds, rare white peacocks, anything she wants, but she does not give up on her original demand – John’s head, and in the end Herod has no choice but to agree. Salome waits in eager anticipation to hear the sounds of the execution, but all is quiet. Just as she is about to send more soldiers into the pit, the executioner’s arm jerks up as she carries John’s head. Salome snatches her prize and, with intense desire, sings to John as if he can still hear her: “The mysteries of love are greater than the mysteries of death.” Salome kisses the severed head in ecstasy, and the horrified Herod orders her to be killed.