Narraboth cannot bear to see this. He kills himself. Jokanaan tells Salome to repent and seek salvation from the Man in Galilee who is now talking to his disciples.

Salome will not listen. She insists, 'Let me kiss your mouth, Jokanaan.' The Prophet curses her and goes back to his cell.

Herod has followed Salome from the feast. He insists on staying where she is, though his wife is displeased. Herod slips in Narraboth's blood and orders the body taken from his sight. He feels a cold wind blowing through the palace and hears the sound of mighty wings beating, though no one else can hear anything.

Herodias tells him not to stare at Salome. Herod ignores her. Instead he offers his step-daughter wine to drink, fruit to eat and a throne to sit on. Salome rejects them all.

Jokanaan's voice is heard again. Herodias wants him silenced but herod knows he is a great prophet, one who has seen God. This angers one of the Jews at his court, who insists that no-one has seen God since the prophet Elias. The Jews quarrel amongst themselves. Two Nazarenes bear witness that the Man Jokanaan describes is the Redeemer of the World: he is the Messiah; he turned water into wine, healed two lepers, made the blind see and raised the dead. The last miracle appals Herod, who forbids Him to repeat it. Herodias takes offence at Jokanaan's veiled insults. To relieve the situation Herod asks Salome to dance for him, to his wife's displeasure. He promises to give Salome whatever she wishes, if only she will dance for him.

Salome makes him swear it. Intoxicated, Herod swears an oath and promises to give her whatever she wants - even if it were half of his kingdom. Once more he feels a cold wind blowing and hears the beating of wings. Contrary to Herodias' express wishes, Salome dances for Herod.

Afterwards she tells Herod that she wants to be brought immediately, on a silver plate...the head of Jokanaan. Herodias is delighted, Herod is appalled. Salome reminds him of the oath he swore. He offers her instead jewels, white peacocks, even the mantle of the High Priest and the veil of the Temple. But she is adamant. He orders that she be given what she wants.

In her impatience, Salome does not trust the executioner to carry out Herod's order and wants the soldiers to accomplish the deed.

When the head is brought to her she asks why Jokanaan never really looked at her, though he saw God. If he had seen her as Salome, not as the daughter of Herodias, he would have loved her. 'And the secret of love is greater than the secret of death...'

Herod tells Herodias that her daughter is a monster. Convinced that something dreadful will happen he proposes that they take refuge inside the palace.

The moon disappears. Salome kisses the lips of Jokanaan. She finds a bitter taste - not of blood, but of love.

The moon reappears.

Herod orders that Salome be killed.