Salome is the daughter of Herodias by her first husband Philip. His brother imprisoned him in a disused well, so that Herod himself could enter on an adulterous and incestuous liaison with Philip's wife, Herodias. Twelve years later, Herod had his brother murdered in this same pit where he now keeps Jokanaan (John the Baptist) incarcerated.

While Herod holds a feast his guards keep watch on the terrace above Jokanaan's cell.

'How beautiful the Princess Salome is tonight!' The young Syrian captain Narraboth gazes longingly at Salome. The page who loves him tries to distract his attention by talking about the strange moon.

The two soldiers comment on the Jews at Herod's feast who argue about their religion. Jokanaan prophesies from his cell, 'After me will come One whose sandals I am not worthy to  unstrap...When he comes the blind will see and the deaf will hear.' The soldiers disagree about the prisoner. For one, he is ludicrous; for the other a holy man. A Cappadocian pilgrim visiting Herod's court asks after Jakanaan: he learns that no one is allowed to see him.

Narraboth sees Salome coming from the feast. She couldn't stay: why did her step-father, the Tetrarch keep staring at her? Intrigued she hears a strange voice prophesying the advent of  ' the Son of Man. She knows the voice belongs to the prophet  of whom Herod is frightened, the one who says terrible things about her mother. Narraboth tries to persuade her to leave. She insists on seeking Jokanaan. The soldiers refuse to obey her. Narraboth, she knows will do what she wants, because he loves her. He commands the soldiers to let the prophet out.

Jokanaan calls on Herod and Herodias to hear the voice of One crying in the wilderness. He does not name the Tetrarch or his wife but Salome knows Jokanaan means her mother, whom he accuses of incest.

Salome is fascinated by his eyes and by his asceticism. Jokanaan resents her gaze. He refuses to speak to her. When she announces who she is he tells her that her mother has filled the earth with the wine of her lusts: her sins cry out to God. To Salome his voice is like music. When he mentions the Son of Man she asks Jokanaan, 'Is he as beautiful as you?'

The prophet rebukes her. He hears the wings of the Angel of Death in the palace.

In turn, Salome declares her love for Jokanaan's white body, for his black hair and for his red lips. Each time, the Prophet repulses her, horrified. She is fixated by his mouth and longs to kiss it.

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's 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 dead.

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 Herodius 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.