Voila! Finally, the Salome
script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the movie based on the
Oscar Wilde play. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly
transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Salome. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally
tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to
drop me a line. You won't
hurt my feelings. Honest.
How beautiful Princess Salome
is tonight
How strange the moon looks
She looks like a woman
rising from a tomb
She looks very strange
Like a little princess
who has little white doves for feet
You would fancy she was dancing
She is like a lifeless woman
gliding along slowly
What an uproar!
Who are they howling
like wild animals?
The Jews
They never change
Always arguing about their religion
It's ridiculous
to get worked up about such things
How beautiful Princess Salome
is tonight
You're always looking at her.
You look at her too much
It's dangerous to look at people
in such a way
Something terrible may happen
She is very beautiful tonight
The Tetrarch looks very sombre
Yes, he looks very sombre
- Who is he looking at?
- I don't know
How pale the Princess is
I have never seen her
look so pale
She is like
the shadow of a white rose...
...reflected in a silver mirror
You must not look at her.
You look at her too much
Something terrible may happen
After me shall come another...
...who is stronger than I
I am not worthy to undo
the laces of his shoes
When he comes,
the desolate places shall rejoice
When he comes...
...the eyes of the blind
shall see the day
When he comes,
the ears of the deaf shall be opened
Make him be quiet!
He is a holy man
He's always saying ridiculous things
He is very gentle
Every day when I bring him food,
he thanks me
Who is he?
- A prophet
- What is his name?
- Jokanaan
- Where does he come from?
From the desert. Many young
people used to follow him
What does he talk about?
It's impossible to understand
what he says
May I see him?
No, the Tetrarch has forbidden it
The Princess is getting up
from the table
She seems very upset
She's coming this way
- Don't look at her!
- Yes, she's coming towards us
She's like a lost dove
I can't bear to stay there
any longer
Why does the Tetrarch
keep looking at me like that...
...with his mole's eyes
under those shaking eyelids?
It's strange for my mother's husband
to look at me like that
How sweet the air is out here
I can breathe freely
In there are the Jews
from Jerusalem...
...tearing themselves to pieces
over their foolish rituals
Crafty, quiet Egyptians...
...and brutal hulking Romans
with their uncouth language
How I loathe the Romans
Something terrible will happen.
Why do you look at her like that?
How good it is to see the moon
She is like a silver flower...
...cold and chaste
There is a virginal beauty about her
The Lord has come
The Son of Man has come
Who was that who just spoke?
The prophet, Princess
Ah, the prophet of whom
the Tetrarch is so frightened
We know nothing about that, Princess
It was the prophet Jokanaan
who called out
Shall I order your litter?
The garden is beautiful at night
He says terrible things
about my mother
Doesn't he?
We never understand
what he says, Princess
Yes, he says terrible things
about her
Princess, Herod would like you
to return to the feast
I don't want to go back in
Is this prophet an old man?
Princess, it would be better
to go inside
Let me lead the way
Is this prophet an old man?
No, Princess, he is quite young
Do not rejoice, land of Palestine...
...because the rod of him
who beat you is broken
For a basilisk shall come
from the seed of the snake
lts offspring
shall devour the birds
What a strange voice!
I would like to speak to him
Princess, Herod doesn't want
anyone to speak to him
He has forbidden
even the High Priest to speak to him
I wish to speak to him now
It's not possible, Princess
I want to speak to him
- Have this prophet brought out!
- We're not allowed to, Princess
How dark it is down there
It must be terrible to live
in so black a pit
It's just like a tomb
Didn't you hear what I said?
Bring the prophet out!
- I want to see him
- We can't do what you want
What will happen now?
Something terrible, I'm sure
You will do this for me, Narraboth
I've always been kind to you
You will do this for me
I just want to see
this strange prophet
People have talked about him so much
I think Herod is afraid of him
He has forbidden the cover
of the cistern to be lifted
You will do this for me, Narraboth
Tomorrow, when I pass the gateway
where the idol-makers stand...
...I shall drop
a little flower for you
A little green flower
Princess, I cannot
You will do this for me, Narraboth
You know that you will do this
for me
And tomorrow morning, when
I glance at you through my veil...
...I might even give you a smile
Look at me, Narraboth!
You know only too well
that you will do as I ask
You know it well
I know that you will do it
Let the prophet out.
Princess Salome wishes to see him
Where is he
whose cup of sins overflows?
Where is he who,
wearing a silver robe...
...will one day die
before all people?
Let him come forward
so that he may hear the voice...
...of him who cried aloud in the
desert and the houses of kings
- Who is he talking about?
- No one can tell, Princess
Where is she...
...who gave in to lust...
...when she stood before
painted images of men...
...and who sent ambassadors
into the land of Chaldea?
- He is talking about my mother
- No, Princess
Yes, he is talking about my mother
Where is she who gave herself
to the leaders of Assyria?
Where is she who gave herself
to the young men of Egypt?
With their fine linens
and precious jewels...
...their golden shields
and bodies like giants
Let her get up from her bed
of depravity and incest...
...to hear the words of him
who prepares the way of the Lord...
...and repent of her sins
And even if she never repents,
let her come...
...for the scourge of the Lord
is in his hand
He is terrifying
He is truly terrifying
Princess, I beg you not to stay here
His eyes are the most terrible thing
about him
They are like pitch-dark caves
where dragons live
They are like black lakes
troubled by fantastic moonlight
Do you think he will speak again?
Princess, I beg you not to stay here
How gaunt he is
He is like an ivory statue
I'm sure he is as chaste as the moon
His flesh must be as cool as ivory
I must look closer at him
No, Princess
I must look closer at him
Who is this woman looking at me?
I will not have her look at me
Why does she look at me with golden
eyes under those gilded eyelids?
I do not know who she is
I do not wish to know who she is
Ask her to go
I do not wish to speak to her
I am Salome, daughter of Herodias,
Princess of Judaea
Stand back, daughter of Babylon
Do not come near
the Lord's chosen one
Your mother has filled the earth
with the wine...
...of her iniquities, and God
has heard the cry of her sins
Speak again, Jokanaan!
Your voice is music to my ears
Speak again, Jokanaan,
and tell me what I must do
Daughter of Sodom,
do not come near me
Cover your face with a veil
and scatter ashes over your head
Go out into the desert...
...and look for the Son of Man
Who is he,
the Son of Man?
Is he as beautiful as you, Jokanaan?
Get away from me!
I can hear the beating of the
angel of death's wings
Princess, I beg you to go inside
I am in love
with your body, Jokanaan
Your body is as white as the lilies
of a field never mown
Your body is as white as the snow
on the mountains of Judaea
The roses in the garden
of the Queen of Arabia...
...are not as white as your body
Nor the feet of the dawn
when they touch the leaves
Nor the moon
when she lies on the sea
There is nothing in the world
as white as your body
Let me touch your body
Back, daughter of Babylon!
Evil came into the world by woman
Do not speak to me.
I will not listen to you
I listen only to the voice
of the Lord God
Your body is hideous,
like the body of a leper
It is like a plastered wall
where snakes have crawled...
...and scorpions
have made their nest
It is like a whitened sepulchre
full of loathsome things
It is horrible,
your body is horrible
It is your hair that I love,
Jokanaan
Your hair is like bunches of grapes
Like bunches of black grapes
that hang from the vines in Edom
Your hair is like
the great cedars of Lebanon...
...which give shade to lions
and robbers
The long black nights,
when the moon hides her face...
...and the stars are afraid,
are not as black as your hair
The forest's silence, nothing in the
world is as black as your hair
Let me touch your hair
Back, daughter of Sodom
Do not touch me
Do not profane the temple
of the Lord God
Your hair is horrible.
It is thick with dirt and dust
It is like a crown of thorns
on your forehead
It is like a knot of black snakes
writhing round your neck
I do not like your hair
It is your mouth that I desire,
Jokanaan
Your mouth is like a band of scarlet
on a tower of ivory
It is like a pomegranate
cut with a silver knife
The pomegranate-flowers
in the gardens of Tyre...
...that are redder than roses
are not so red
The red trumpet-blasts which herald
the approach of kings...
...and scare the enemy...
...are not as red as your mouth
Your mouth is redder than the feet
of those who tread the wine
It is redder than the feet of the
doves that live in the temples
It is like a coral-branch
in the twilight of the sea
It is like the vermilion
kings take from the mines of Moab
There is nothing in the world
as red as your mouth
Let me kiss your mouth
Never, daughter of Babylon,
daughter of Sodom
Never!
I will kiss your mouth, Jokanaan
Princess, you who are like a garden
of myrrh, dove of all doves...
...do not look at this man.
Do not speak such words to him
I cannot bear them
I will kiss your mouth, Jokanaan
Let me kiss your mouth
Aren't you afraid,
daughter of Herodias?
Daughter of adultery,
there is only one who can save you
Go and find Him
He is in a boat
on the Sea of Galilee
He is talking with His disciples
Kneel down on the sea-shore
and call Him
Call Him by name
When He comes to you...
...and He comes to all
who call Him...
...bow down before Him...
...and ask for forgiveness
for your sins
Let me kiss your mouth, Jokanaan
Curses on you,
daughter of an incestuous mother
Let me kiss your mouth, Jokanaan
I do not want to look at you,
Salome, you are cursed
You are cursed
Where is Salome?
Where is the Princess?
Why didn't she return to the banquet
as I ordered her?
There she is
You must not look at her.
You are always looking at her
The moon looks strange tonight
She is like a mad woman...
...looking everywhere for lovers
She reels through the clouds...
...like a drunken woman
No, the moon is like the moon,
that's all. Let's go in
I will stay here!
Manassah, lay carpets over there
Light torches. I will drink
more wine with my guests
I've slipped
I've slipped in some blood.
That's a bad omen
Why is there blood here?
And what is this body doing here?
Who is it? I will not look at it
- It's our captain, sir
- I didn't order him to be slain
He killed himself, sir
That's odd
This young Syrian was very handsome
I remember I saw him
look longingly at Salome
Take him away
It's cold here
There is a wind getting up
- Isn't there a wind?
- No, there's no wind
I'm telling you there is
And I can hear something like
the beating of huge wings
- Can't you hear it?
- I hear nothing
I can't hear it now,
but I did hear something
It was the wind blowing,
but it has stopped now
Listen! Can't you hear it?
It's just like beating wings
- You're ill. Let's go inside!
- I'm not ill
It's your daughter...
...who is sick
I've never seen her looking so pale
- I've told you not to look at her!
- Give me some wine!
Salome, come and drink
some of this exquisite wine with me!
Caesar himself sent it to me
Dip your little red lips into it,
so that I may drain the cup
I am not thirsty, Tetrarch
Do you hear how she answers me,
this daughter of yours?
She is right
- Why are you always gazing at her?
- Bring me ripe fruits
Salome, come and eat fruit with me
I love to see the mark of your
teeth in a fruit
Just take a little bite...
...and I will eat what's left
I am not hungry, Tetrarch
Do you see how you have brought up
this daughter of yours?
My daughter and I are of royal blood
Your father was a camel-driver
and a thief and robber
Salome, come and sit next to me.
I will give you your mother's throne
I am not tired, Tetrarch
- You see what she thinks of you?
- Bring me...
What do I want?
I've forgotten
I remember now
See, the time has come
The day I spoke of is at hand
- Shut him up! He always insults me
- He has said nothing against you
Besides, he is a very great prophet
I don't believe in prophets,
but I know you're afraid of him
- I am afraid of no man
- I tell you, you are afraid of him
Then give him to the Jews.
They've wanted him for six months
It really would be better
to hand him over to us
I won't hand him over.
He is a holy man
He is a man who has seen God
That cannot be
No man since the prophet Elijah
has seen God
He was the last man to see God
In these times God hides Himself
That is why great evils have come
upon the land
No one really knows if the prophet
Elijah saw God
Perhaps it was only God's shadow
that he saw
God is never hidden
He shows Himself at all times
and in everything
He is in evil as well as in good
Don't say that!
It's dangerous dogma from Alexandria
And the Greeks are Gentiles
No one can tell how God works.
His ways are very mysterious
We must submit to Him,
for God is very strong
That's true.
God is awe-inspiring
But this man has never seen God
No man has seen God
since the prophet Elijah
Make them be quiet!
I've heard it said that Jokanaan
himself is the prophet Elijah
That cannot be. Elijah lived
over three hundred years ago
I'm sure he is the prophet Elijah
No, he cannot be
Make them be quiet!
So the day is come...
...the day of the Lord
And I can hear on the mountains
the feet of Him...
...who will be
the Saviour of the world
What does that mean?
"Saviour of the world"
The Messiah has come
He has not come
He has come
and works miracles everywhere
He changed water into wine
at a wedding in Galilee
He healed two lepers at Capernaum
Simply by touching them
He healed blind people and was seen
on a mountain talking with angels
I don't believe in miracles.
I've seen too many
He raised the daughter of Jairus
from the dead
He raises the dead?
Yes, sir
I forbid Him to do that
It would be dreadful
if the dead came to life again
Where is this man now?
He is everywhere, my Lord,
but it is hard to find Him
- He must be found
- They say He is in Samaria
He left Samaria a few days ago.
I think He is now near Jerusalem
I forbid Him to wake the dead
The harlot!
The daughter of Babylon!
Thus speaks the Lord
Tell him to be quiet!
A multitude will rise against her
and stone her to death
This is outrageous!
Their captains will pierce her
with their swords...
...and crush her
beneath their shields
So it is that I will wipe out
all wickedness from the earth...
...and that all women shall learn
not to imitate her abominations
Do you hear what he says against me?
You let him slander your wife?
He didn't speak your name
On that day the sun shall become
as black as sackcloth
And the moon
shall become like blood
And the stars shall fall to earth
like ripe figs
And the kings of the earth
shall be afraid
This prophet talks like a drunk man
I can't stand the sound of his voice
I hate his voice.
Make him be quiet
Dance for me, Salome
I will not have her dance
I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch
Salome, daughter of Herodias,
dance for me
- I will not dance, Tetrarch
- You see how she obeys you
Salome, dance for me, I beg you.
I am sad tonight, so dance for me
If you dance for me,
you may ask of me whatever you want
I will give it to you
Will you really give me
whatever I ask?
Do not dance, my daughter
Everything you ask for
Even half my kingdom
- You swear it, Tetrarch?
- I swear it, Salome
- What will you swear by, Tetrarch?
- By my life, my crown, my gods
Salome, Salome, dance for me
- You have sworn an oath, Tetrarch
- I have sworn an oath
My daughter, do not dance
Even half my kingdom
You will make a lovely queen
It's cold here.
There's an icy wind
Why can I hear
the beating of wings in the air?
It's as though a huge black bird
were hovering over the terrace
Why can't I see this bird?
The beating wings are terrible.
There's a cutting wind
But no, it's not cold, it's hot
Pour water over my hands,
give me snow to eat, loosen my cloak
Quick, loosen my cloak
No, leave them.
It's my crown that hurts
I can breathe now
I'm happy now
Will you dance for me?
I will dance for you, Tetrarch
Who is this who comes from Bozra?
I will not have my daughter dance
while he keeps crying out
I will not have her dance...
...while you look at her like that
Don't get up, my wife, my queen.
It will do you no good
I won't go inside
until she has danced
Dance, Salome!
Don't dance, my daughter
I am ready, Tetrarch
Wonderful!
You see that she has danced for me,
your daughter
Come here, Salome,
so that I can reward you!
I will pay you royally
I'll give you whatever you want
Tell me what you want
I want someone to bring me...
...on a silver charger...
On a silver charger!
Isn't she charming?
What is it that you want
on a silver charger?
O sweet, fair Salome,
who is more beautiful...
...than all the daughters of Judaea
What do you want...
...on a silver charger?
Whatever it is, you shall have it
My treasures belong to you
What do you want, Salome?
The head of Jokanaan
That's well said, my daughter
Don't listen to your mother.
She's always given you bad advice
Don't listen to her
I don't listen to her
It's for my own pleasure
that I ask for Jokanaan's head...
...on a silver charger
Don't forget, Herod,
that you have sworn an oath
I know very well
that I have sworn an oath
I have sworn by my gods
But I beg you, Salome...
...to ask me for something else
Ask me for half my kingdom
I will give it to you
But don't ask of me
what you have just asked
I ask of you the head of Jokanaan
No, I won't give it to you
You swore an oath, Herod
Yes, you swore an oath.
Everybody heard you
Be quiet. I'm not talking to you
My daughter has done well
to ask for the head of Jokanaan
He has said monstrous things
about me
One can see
that she loves her mother well
Don't give in, my daughter
He has sworn an oath
Silence! I'm not talking to you
Salome, be reasonable
I have always loved you
Perhaps I have loved you too much
So please do not ask this of me
The head of a man
cut from his body...
...is not a pretty sight
I have an emerald,
the finest in the world
You would like that, wouldn't you?
Ask me for it
and I will give it to you
I demand the head of Jokanaan
You're not listening.
Let me speak, Salome
The head of Jokanaan
You're saying that to annoy me...
...because I've been looking at you
Bring me wine! I'm thirsty
Salome, let's be friends
Come on...
What was I about to say?
I remember
Salome, you know
my beautiful white peacocks...
...which walk in the garden
among the myrtles?
I will give them all to you
No king in the world
has peacocks like mine
I have only a hundred of them,
but I will give them all to you
Give me the head of Jokanaan
- Well said, my daughter
- Silence, wife
You and your peacocks are ridiculous
I am tired of listening to you.
Be quiet!
Salome, think of what you're doing
Perhaps this man
has been sent by God
He is a holy man
The finger of God has touched him
Salome, you wouldn't want
something terrible to happen to me?
Listen to me
Give me the head of Jokanaan
You're not listening to me
Calm down, Salome
I am calm, as you can see,
so listen
I have jewels hidden here
that not even your mother has seen
I have a collar of pearls
set in four rows
I have topazes as yellow
as tigers' eyes
Topazes as pink
as a wood-pigeon's eyes
Topazes as green as cats' eyes
I have opals that burn
with an ice-like flame
I will give them all to you
I have chrysolites, beryls,
chrysoprases and rubies...
...sardonyx, hyacinth stones
and stones of chalcedony
I will give them all to you and more
I have a crystal which women
are not allowed to look at
I have three wonderful turquoises
in a mother-of-pearl box
Whoever wears them on his forehead
can see what is not there
These are treasures without price.
What more could you want, Salome?
I will give you everything you ask
for, except one thing
I won't give you a man's life
I will give you
the High Priest's cloak
I will give you the veil
of the sanctuary
Give me the head of Jokanaan
Let her have what she wants
She really is her mother's child
Who has taken my ring?
There was a ring on my right hand
Who has drunk my wine?
There was wine in my cup.
It was full of wine
Someone has drunk it
Something evil will surely happen
My daughter has done well
I am sure that some misfortune
will happen
There's no sound
I hear nothing
Why does he not cry out, this man?
If any man tried to kill me,
I would cry out and struggle
Strike, strike, Naaman, I tell you!
No, I hear nothing
There is a terrible silence
I heard something fall to the ground
It was the executioner's sword
This slave is afraid
He has let his sword fall
He dare not kill him
This slave is a coward.
Send down soldiers!
Come here! Weren't you
a friend of the dead man?
Well, let me tell you
that there aren't enough dead men
Go to the soldiers and ask them
to go down and bring me what I want
What the Tetrarch promised me,
the thing that is mine
Soldiers, go down into the cistern
and bring me the head of this man
Tetrarch, order your soldiers
to bring me the head of Jokanaan
You wouldn't let me kiss your mouth,
Jokanaan
Well, I will kiss it now
I will sink my teeth into it...
...as one bites a ripe fruit
Yes, I will kiss your mouth,
Jokanaan
I said I would, didn't I?
I will kiss it now
But why don't you look at me,
Jokanaan?
Your eyes that were so terrible,
so full of rage, are shut now
Why are they closed?
Open your eyes!
Lift up your eyelids, Jokanaan
Why don't you look at me?
Are you so afraid of me, Jokanaan,
that you won't look at me?
And your tongue says nothing now,
Jokanaan
Your tongue, which was like
a red snake spitting poison at me
That's strange, is it not?
How is it that the red viper
moves no more?
You spoke evil words against me,
Salome, daughter of Herodias
Princess of Judaea
Well, I am still alive...
...but you are dead
Your head belongs to me
I can do what I want with it
I can throw it to the dogs
and to the birds of the air
The birds of the air will devour
what the dogs leave behind
Jokanaan, you were beautiful
Your body was a column of ivory
set on silver feet
It was a garden full of doves
and silver lilies
Nothing in the world
was as white as your body
Nothing in the world
was as black as your hair
Nothing in the whole world
was as red as your mouth
Your voice was like a censer
that scattered strange perfumes
And when I looked at you
I heard strange music
Why didn't you look at me, Jokanaan?
You covered your eyes
in order to see your God
Well, you saw your God, Jokanaan
But me...
...me you never saw
If you had seen me,
you would have loved me
I am thirsting for your beauty
I am hungry for your body
Neither wine nor apples
can assuage my desire
What shall I do now, Jokanaan?
Neither floods nor great waters
can quench my passion
Oh, why didn't you look at me?
If you had looked at me...
...you would have loved me
I know that you would have loved me
And the mystery of love...
...is greater
than the mystery of death
She's a monster, your daughter!
A monster, I tell you!
I approve of what she did.
I will stay here now
There speaks the incestuous wife
Come! I will not stay here
I'm sure something terrible
will happen
Let's hide in the palace, Herodias!
I'm afraid
Manassah, Issachar, Ozias,
put out the torches
Hide the moon! Hide the stars!
Something terrible will happen
I have kissed your mouth, Jokanaan
There was a bitter taste
on your lips
Was it the taste of blood?
No, perhaps it is the taste of love
They say that love
has a bitter taste
But what of that?
I have kissed your mouth, Jokanaan
Kill that woman!