The Seventh Veil of Salome

Vera has continued to go on dates with Clifford but has avoided being alone with him. One day, he slips into her dressing room and tries to force himself on her. Clifford is outraged when Vera fights back, and he declares that he is going to make her suffer.

Vera tells her mother what happened. Her mother isn’t sympathetic and alludes to Vera having previously broken off her engagement with a man named Arturo. She advises, “[Y]ou’ll only make trouble for yourself. Calm down and be a professional” (155). A short time later, Vera impulsively accepts an invitation from Jay to attend a party at his house. After the guests leave, Vera and Jay linger alone together.

Nancy meets with her father and tentatively asks him to loan her money. She does not tell him what the money is for. He refuses and tells her that he does not think she will ever be successful. Furious, Nancy realizes that Benny is the only person who can help her obtain the money she needs.

Minnie, another documentary interviewee, is an editorial assistant at a tabloid called Hollywood Connection. She alludes to tips that were submitted about Vera, which led to investigations into what was happening on set. Minnie doesn’t know whether the tips were submitted by Clifford Collins.

Vera becomes increasingly nervous that Clifford will find a way to harm her reputation or career as revenge for rejecting him. She also finds it difficult to film love scenes with him because she is so uncomfortable. Meanwhile, she becomes closer with Jay as the two of them discuss their previous relationships; eventually, Vera and Jay kiss.

The birthday celebrations for Herod are drawing closer. Agrippa visits Salome in her private chambers and urges her to conspire with him against her stepfather. He explains, “[I]f you marry me, we can restore our fractured lands into a single kingdom […] you can be queen and I can be king” (184). Agrippa believes that if Jokanaan is executed, there will be an uprising: The Jewish population is already outraged that the prophet has been imprisoned. This uprising would highlight Herod’s incompetence and declining popularity, and Agrippa predicts that Rome would have him removed and replaced. Thus, if Salome agrees to marry Agrippa and advocates for Jokanaan’s execution, she stands to become a powerful queen. Salome is hesitant but excited by the plan Agrippa proposes.

Herod urges Salome to dance at his birthday celebration. If she does, he promises, “[Y]ou may ask of me what you will. I promise to give it to you, even unto half my kingdom” (189). He also reveals that Jokanaan will be present during the celebrations. Salome agrees to perform the dance but does not yet tell Herod what she will request as a reward. Salome has set the stage to enact Agrippa’s plan but is still hesitant because she can’t bear the thought of Jokanaan dying.

Lillian is one of Nancy’s childhood friends. When interviewed for the documentary, she shares her recollections of Nancy. She recalls how Nancy always dreamed of Hollywood and seemed happy when she first got married. However, when Lillian saw Nancy “almost a year before […] the incident happened” (192), she felt sad that Nancy was still clinging to hopeless fantasies of becoming a successful actress.

Nancy goes to see Benny: She explains that she is being blackmailed and needs $600. Nancy also tells Benny that she is no longer dating Jay. Benny and Nancy go to Wally’s apartment, where Benny beats Wally until he hands over the photos and negatives. Benny destroys them so that Wally can no longer blackmail Nancy. Nancy is grateful to Benny but also disgusted by his capacity for violence.

The next section is an excerpt from a 1955 tabloid. The article claims that Vera attempted to seduce Clifford, despite knowing that he was in a long-term relationship, and then jilted him to pursue Jay. The article also describes Vera as “not only demanding, but […] also completely unprepared for the role [of Salome]” (200).

Vera’s mother is outraged when she reads the tabloid article. She worries that Vera is jeopardizing her burgeoning career and forbids Vera from doing anything except working. Vera rebels, telling her mother, “[Y]ou can’t tell me where I can go and what I can do” (202). She decides to move out of her aunt’s house and into her own place (a friend has offered to rent his home to her).

Once Vera moves into her own home, she has more freedom and she and Jay begin a sexual relationship. They are rapidly falling in love. Meanwhile, Vera receives an offer for a new part in which she will play “the Indian maiden who is in love with the hero” (205). Vera is hesitant to take the part but is warned that she is “a hot enough commodity right now, but careers can grow ice cold in a few months” (207).