- Herod is delighted to see her dance. He asks her to come over so that she might be given her "fee." He asks her to tell him what she wants.
- "I would that they presently bring me in a silver charger [a platter]," she begins (345).
- Herod laughs, she thinks her request is cute. He tells her to go on and finish her request.
- "The head of Jokanaan," she says (347).
- Herodias approves of her choice.
- Herod is shocked. "No, no!" he shouts (349).
- Again, Herodias compliments her daughter on her choice.
- No, Herod insists, that's not what you want. You're mother is giving you bad advice, he says.
- Salomé insists that she's not taking her mother's advice. She simply desires Jokanaan's head. She reminds Herod that he has sworn an oath.
- Yes, he says, but he prays that she reconsider, that she ask for something else. Like not a head.
- She wants the head of Jokanaan.
- Herod refuses.
- Salomé reminds him that he's sworn an oath.
- Yes, Herodias says, and everyone heard you swear it.
- Herod tells her to shut up.
- Herodias continues to praise her daughter. Only a truly loving daughter would do something like that. After all, Jokanaan was constantly insulting her. Don't cave, she tells Salomé; he's sworn an oath.
- Herod tells her to shut up. He begs Salomé to change her dang mind. He doesn't understand why she would want something so gruesome as the head of Jokanaan. He offers her an emerald, the largest emerald in the whole world.
- She demands the head of Jokanaan.
- Herod tries to talk sense into Salomé.
- Once again, she demands the head of Jokanaan.
- Herod's losing his cool. He decides that she's doing it to get back at him, to punish him for looking at her. He promises not to look at her anymore. Nothing, he says, should be looked at, except in mirrors, because "mirrors only show masks" (364).
- He asks for wine. He asks Salomé to be his friend. He promises to give her his beautiful white peacocks, the most wonderful birds in the world.
- Nope. She demands the head of Jokanaan.
- Herod promises Salomé all sorts of jewels—amethysts, topazes, opals, onyxes, moonstones, sapphires, chrysolites, beryles, chryosprases…the list goes on and on.
- He promises her fans and a garment made of ostrich feather and glass-incrusted sandals. He promises to give her the mantle of the high priest and the veil of the sanctuary, if only she'll spare Jokanaan.
- Those last two offers frighten the Jews.
- Salomé wants the head of Jokanaan.
- Finally, Herod relents. He gives the order for Jokanaan to be beheaded. He gives the ring of death to the soldier, who gives it to the Executioner. Herod continues to lose his cool. He can't believe he gave his oath. Whether he keeps it or not, it leads to bad things.
- Herodias is pleased with Salomé.
- Herod is sure something bad is going to happen.