Salome's Last Dance Page #7

In the palace as in the desert,

God is always with him.

It's possible isn't it?

Well, we don't know.

But it is possible that

God is always with him!

And it could be that if he dies,

something terrible will happen to me!

Well, he said the day he died, a great

misfortune would befall someone!

It could only be me!

When I came out here,

I slipped in blood..

and then I heard, I know I heard the

beatings of wings in the air,

the beating of giant wings!

These are both very bad omens..

and there are others!

I know there are others..

though I haven't seen them.

So.. so Salome,

you.. you don't want something

terrible to happen to me, do you?

Listen to me!

Give me the head of John the Baptist!

Ah, you see! You're not listening to me!

Stay calm. I'm very calm!

What are you looking for?

- A handbag.

A handbag!

I have got jewels hidden here that

even you're mother has never seen!

In a casket of ebony, I have two apple

goblets that look like golden apples.

If an enemy puts poison in the goblets,

they become silver apples.

In a chest covered in amber, I have

slippers encrusted with glass!

I've got cloaks from the country of Ceres.

I have got bangles garnished

with carbuncles..

and jade from the city of Euphrates.

So tell me, Salome, what do you want?

Anything you desire, I'll give you. I'll

give you everything except one thing.

I'll give you everything I own except..

my life!

I will give you the cloak

of the high priest.

I'll give you the veil

from the Sanctuary.

Oy vey!

Give me the head of John the Baptist!

What did she say? - The head of John the

Baptist! - The head of John the Baptist!

Give her what she asks for.

She is truly her mother's daughter!

Why did I give my word?

Kings should never give their word.

If you don't keep it, it's bad..

if you keep it, it's worse.

- I think my daughter did right.

I'm afraid something

terrible is going to happen.

There isn't any noise.

I can hear nothing!

Why doesn't he cry out?

If someone were trying to kill me,

I'd scream and fight!

I wouldn't want to suffer.

Strike! Strike, Naamn!

Strike, I tell you!

I hear nothing!

You didn't want to let me

kiss you, John the Baptist!

Well, I will kiss you now!

I will bite your mouth with my teeth,

the way I bite into a ripe fruit!

Yes, I'll kiss your mouth,

John the Baptist!

I told you so, didn't I?

I told you.

Well, I will kiss it now.

Why don't you look at me,

John the Baptist?

Your eyes which were so terrible..

so full of anger and contempt

are closed now.

and your tongue that was like

a red snake darting poisons..

it doesn't move anymore..

it doesn't say anything now,

John the Baptist!

That red viper who vomited

his venom on me!

Strange, isn't it?

Why is it that the red snake is still?

You didn't want me!

You rejected me!

You said infamous things to me!

You treated me like

a courtesan, a whore!

Me! Salome,

Daughter of Herodias, Princess of Judea!

Though now, John the Baptist,

I am still alive but you are dead!

And your head is mine!

I can do with it as I please.

I can.. throw it to the dogs

or the birds of the air!

What the dogs leave, the birds will eat.

John the Baptist, John the Baptist..

You were.. the only man..

I've ever loved.

All the others filled me with disgust..

but you.. you were beautiful!

Your body was an ivory column

on a silver pedestal.

It was garden filled with doves

and silver lilies.

It was a silver tower

adorned with ivory shields.

There was nothing in the world

as white as your body.

There was nothing in the world

as black as your hair.

In all the world, there was

nothing as red as your mouth.

Your voice was a censor..

filled with strange perfumes.

And when I looked.. at you..

I heard strange music.

Oh, why didn't you look at me,

John the Baptist?

You hid your face behind your

hands and your blasphemy!

You placed on your eyes, the bandage

of one who wishes to see his god!

Well.. you have seen him, your god..

John the Baptist!

But me! Me!

You have never seen me!

How I loved you!

I love you still John the Baptist.

I love only you!

I am thirsty for your beauty..

I am hungry for your body!

And neither wine nor fruit

can appease my desire.

Oh, tell me what to do now,

John the Baptist!

Neither rivers nor floods

can drown my passion.

I was a princess!

And you humiliated me!

I was a virgin and you raped me!

I was chaste and you

filled my veins with fire!

Why didn't you look at me,

John the Baptist?

If you had looked at me,

you would have loved me!

I know you would have loved me!

And the mystery of love..

is greater than the mystery of death.

One must look only..

to love.

She is monstrous, you're daughter!

Utterly monstrous!

It's a vile crime she's done!

It's a crime against an unknown God!

I approve of what my daughter has done.

I like it out here..

I want to stay for awhile.

Ah! The incestuous wife speaks!

Come! I do not wish to stay here.

I am afraid something

terrible is going to happen.

Come, I say!

Manasseh, Issachar, Ozas!

Put out the torches!

I don't want to see anything,

I don't want anything to see me.

Extinguish the torches!

Hide the moon! Hide the stars!

Come, let us hide in

our palace, Herodias.

I'm beginning to feel afraid.

I have kissed your mouth,

John the Baptist!

I have kissed your mouth!

Is that the taste of blood?

Perhaps it is the taste of love!

They say love leaves a bitter taste..

But what of that?

I have kissed your mouth!

Kill that woman!

Bravo! Well done! Bravo!

What, no curtains calls?

It wasn't as bad as all that!

They're getting out of their drag.

I wish they drag me out of this hole!

Dear Bosie!

I knew you were more than

just a pretty face..

but considering how distasteful

you must have found it,

that was quite a performance!

I wish I could be as

enthusiastic about yours!

Come, come! Jealousy is not

part of a prophet's makeup.

And yours, my dear,

is just a little overdone.

If I may be permitted

a teeny criticism.

Oh, how I love your lips!

Let me kiss your lips, John the Baptist!

No, thank you!

You got too much gold on your own!

I'm well aware that he's your favorite,

but I find gold irresistible!

And as you know, I can

resist anything but temptation!

You took advantage of my position!

And I might be tempted to do so again,

if you don't close your mouth!

Ah, Alfred!

Our prophet is somewhat at a loss!

Bravo, Bosie! Don't panic,

help is on its way!

When you feel yourself getting a groping

you know the stagehands have arrived.

Very touching, isn't he?

He was always is.. touching!

The casting was nigh on perfect.

I've always admired the talent here,

but never more so than tonight.

Your Herod out-Heroded Herod!

You don't think it was mistake casting

the soldiers from the rough trade, then?

Inspired, my dear Alfred!

Absolutely inspired!

I was delighted to find that

written yet another comedy.

I'm afraid the staging left

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