In the evening of 5 November 1892, on Guy Fawkes Night, British writer Oscar Wilde and his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, known as “Bosey,” arrive at an upscale brothel in the Westminster area of London, England. The butler, Chilvers, greets the men at the door. While Bosey goes downstairs, Oscar goes to the second floor and finds two stages. On a sofa, he sees a copy of his new play, Salome, upon a sofa. Brothel proprietor Alfred Taylor tells Oscar he is sorry to hear that Lord Chamberlin has banned public performances of his latest play. However, the brothel’s courtesans and clients have produced their own production, and perform it for Oscar. When Rose, a chambermaid, arrives with cigars for Oscar, Alfred admonishes her for not being ready for the performance. After Rose apologizes and leaves, Alfred informs Oscar that Rose will be playing the role of princess “Salome.” Oscar comments about Rose’s meek appearance, but Alfred says that if she does not perform well, he could always kill her. As Alfred leaves, Oscar reclines on the sofa and looks at the larger stage as the play begins during an evening at the palace of King Herod, twenty years after the birth of Jesus Christ: Bosey, performing as “John the Baptist,” appears onstage, shackled. Suddenly, a flash distracts Oscar. Turning, he is greeted by a photographer named Kenneth, who informs him that he will being performing the character of a “Cappadocian,” but wanted to take photographs as well during the informal premiere. Oscar looks back to the stage as John the Baptist sits inside a dumbwaiter and is lowered into the stage “prison.” Onstage, the characters of the “Young Syrian” and “Pageboy” look over to the second stage to a banquet scene in which “Herod,” played by Alfred Taylor, leers at his stepdaughter, Rose’s “Salome.” Nearby, actress Lady Alice in the role of Herod’s wife, “Herodias,” glares at Herod for lusting after her daughter. Two guards appear on the main stage with the Cappadocian and listen to the voice of John the Baptist condemning Herodias as an adulteress for marrying the brother of her dead husband. Salome approaches the guards, wanting to see John the Baptist, but they tell her Herod has forbidden anyone from speaking with him. Instead, Salome flirts with the Young Syrian and convinces him to bring John the Baptist out of his cell. John the Baptist reappears, and Salome tries to flirt with him. However, John the Baptist rejects Salome’s advances. The Young Syrian pleads with her not to kiss the prisoner, but she ignores him. Heartbroken, the Young Syrian kills himself. John the Baptist spits on Salome, but the action only fuels her desire for him, and she promises she will kiss him. Meanwhile, the Pageboy leaves the stage and joins Oscar on the sofa. They recline together with their arms around each other. After John the Baptist leaves the stage, Herod, Herodias, and “Tigellenus,” a Roman ambassador played by Chilvers, the brothel butler, leave the second stage. While climbing the stairs to the main stage, Herod steps in a prop made to look like a pool of blood near the still body of the Young Syrian. After settling center stage, Herod attempts to entice Salome with wine and fruit, but she refuses his advances. Herodias complains about John the Baptist’s accusations, but Herod fears to harm the man because he believes John the Baptist may be a prophet. Salome walks over and eats a banana next to Herod. Aroused by her actions, Herod commands her to dance for him, but she refuses. Herod once again asks Salome to dance, and promises to give her anything she wants. Hearing Herod’s promise, Salome agrees to dance and leaves the room. Meanwhile, Oscar and the Pageboy get up from the sofa and embrace in a corner of the room. Herodias and Herod sit on Oscar’s recently vacated sofa. Salome returns to the stage, and performs the Dance of the Seven Veils. A male dancer, “Phoney Salome,” also appears. Meanwhile, Oscar and the Pageboy kiss before sneaking away. From the stage, Bosey sees them. Both Salomes dance and remove their veils, until they finish and both are naked. After Salome puts her clothes back on, she turns to Herod and asks for the head of John the Baptist. Herod tries to talk Salome into asking for something else, but she continues to ask for the head. Herod, Salome, and the rest of the cast watch as the executioner arrives and is lowered in the stage dumbwaiter. The dumbwaiter returns with John the Baptist’s head on a platter. As Salome gloats that she will now get the kiss she was denied, Oscar returns to the sofa without the Pageboy. After hearing Rose recite the monologue of Salome’s love for John the Baptist, Oscar begins to cry. Onstage, Herod realizes Salome tricked him and tells Herodias that her daughter is a monster. However, Herodias says she is pleased that John the Baptist is dead. Herod walks to the other stage, and tells a guard to kill Salome. The guard throws a spear, impaling her. After she staggers off stage, Oscar applauds. With his body hidden under the floorboards, Bosey’s head remains onstage. Oscar walks over and congratulates Bosey on his performance. Upset, Bosey mentions he saw Oscar and the Pageboy leave during the play. Alfred and Lady Alice arrive out of costume, and promise Bosey that someone will come along to free him from the stage. Oscar compliments Alfred on the production, especially the realistic effect of impaling Salome. Suddenly, a police sergeant and two constables arrive. They place Oscar under arrest for gross sexual indecency and corrupting minors. They also arrest Alfred for running a brothel. As Oscar is led from the room, he notices Bosey is gone. Outside, Oscar and Alfred are escorted into a “Black Maria” police van. Once settled, Oscar informs Alfred that for future performances, Bosey should play Salome, and he, himself, will portray John the Baptist. Meanwhile, the sergeant informs Lady Alice she must come with them as a witness, as they discovered one of the brothel chambermaids was murdered. As Lady Alice enters the Black Maria, she insists the girl was not murdered, but slipped on a banana peel. Oscar and Alfred laugh at her comment.