On a terrace above the banquet hall in the palace of Herod, Tetrarch of Judea, palace soldiers are keeping guard as the Tetrarch entertains within the hall. Narraboth, the Captain of the Guard, is discussing with the Page his love for Salome, the daughter of the Tetrarch’s wife, Herodias. Salome enters from the banquet hall, tired of the revel and of her step-father’s obvious interest in her. She hears a voice from deep within a cistern under the terrace, which she knows to be that of Jochanaan (John the Baptist). Jochanaan has been imprisoned for accusing Herodias of murdering her husband in order to marry his brother, who is now Tetrarch. Salome asks Narraboth to bring Jochanaan to her on the terrace. As Jochanaan is brought from the cistern, he curses the wickedness of Herodias, but Salome does not hear him. He is the most strangely beautiful man she has ever seen. She is intrigued and enchanted by him. She tells him of her love and says she wants to kiss him. Narraboth, watching, realizes that Salome will never love him as strongly as this, and in grief kills himself with his sword. The Page, kneeling over the fallen body of his friend, weeps. Jochanaan repulses Salome, telling her she is no better than her mother, and cautions her to change her life. He then returns to his prison.

Herod and Herodias enter from the banquet hall with their entourage. Five of them, Jews, begin a complicated religious argument about John the Baptist, while two others, Nazarenes, discuss the coming of Christ. Herod begs Salome to dance and she tells him she will do so only if he will grant any wish of her choosing. He agrees and she dances a dance with seven veils. At the conclusion of the dance she asks for the head of Jochanaan. Herod is appalled. He pleads with her, offering all the treasures of his kingdom, but she is adamant. The executioner is sent into the cistern. After a tense moment he ascends from the cistern holding aloft on a silver shield the bloody head of Jochanaan. Salome runs to seize the head with her hands and kisses the lips which are still warm. Herod, horrified at this spectacle, hysterically orders his soldiers to kill Salome and they crush her under their shields.