diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 498627f..3f496a7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ be present on your host system:
 
 ### Requirements (base image)
 
-* python interpretter — ansible-bender will try to find it (alternatively you
+* python interpreter — ansible-bender will try to find it (alternatively you
   can specify it via `--python-interpreter`).
   * It can be python 2 or python 3 — on host, you have to have python 3 but
     inside the base image, it doesn't matter — Ansible is able to utilize
@@ -105,15 +105,13 @@ be present on your host system:
 
 ### Requirements (Ansible playbook)
 
-You need to set `hosts` to `all`:
-```yaml
-$ cat playbook.yaml
----
-- name: Playbook to build my fancy image
-  hosts: all
-```
+None.
+
+Bender copies the playbook you provide so that it can be processed. `hosts`
+variable is being overwritten in the copy and changed to the name of the
+working container — where the build happens.  So it doesn't matter what's the
+content of the hosts variable.
 
-Setting `hosts` to localhost will result running the playbook against localhost and not a container.
 
 ## Configuration
 
diff --git a/ansible_bender/core.py b/ansible_bender/core.py
index f136827..cec269e 100644
--- a/ansible_bender/core.py
+++ b/ansible_bender/core.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ from ansible_bender import callback_plugins
 from ansible_bender.conf import ImageMetadata, Build
 from ansible_bender.constants import TIMESTAMP_FORMAT
 from ansible_bender.exceptions import AbBuildUnsuccesful
-from ansible_bender.utils import run_cmd, ap_command_exists, random_str
+from ansible_bender.utils import run_cmd, ap_command_exists, random_str, graceful_get
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 A_CFG_TEMPLATE = """\
@@ -187,11 +187,33 @@ class AnsibleRunner:
             a_cfg_path = os.path.join(tmp, "ansible.cfg")
             with open(a_cfg_path, "w") as fd:
                 self._create_ansible_cfg(fd)
+
+            tmp_pb_path = os.path.join(tmp, "p.yaml")
+            with open(self.pb, "r") as fd_r:
+                pb_dict = yaml.safe_load(fd_r)
+            for idx, doc in enumerate(pb_dict):
+                host = doc["hosts"]
+                logger.debug("play[%s], host = %s", idx, host)
+                doc["hosts"] = self.builder.ansible_host
+            with open(tmp_pb_path, "w") as fd:
+                yaml.safe_dump(pb_dict, fd)
+            playbook_base = os.path.basename(self.pb).split(".", 1)[0]
+            timestamp = datetime.datetime.now().strftime(TIMESTAMP_FORMAT)
+            symlink_name = f".{playbook_base}-{timestamp}-{random_str()}.yaml"
+            playbook_dir = os.path.dirname(self.pb)
+            symlink_path = os.path.join(playbook_dir, symlink_name)
+            os.symlink(tmp_pb_path, symlink_path)
+
             extra_args = None
-            if self.build_i.ansible_extra_args:
-                extra_args = shlex.split(self.build_i.ansible_extra_args)
-            return run_playbook(self.pb, inv_path, a_cfg_path, self.builder.ansible_connection,
-                                debug=self.debug, environment=environment, ansible_args=extra_args)
+            try:
+                if self.build_i.ansible_extra_args:
+                    extra_args = shlex.split(self.build_i.ansible_extra_args)
+                return run_playbook(
+                    symlink_path, inv_path, a_cfg_path, self.builder.ansible_connection,
+                    debug=self.debug, environment=environment, ansible_args=extra_args
+                )
+            finally:
+                os.unlink(symlink_path)
         finally:
             shutil.rmtree(tmp)
 
@@ -213,15 +235,21 @@ class PbVarsParser:
         :return: dict
         """
         with open(self.playbook_path) as fd:
-            d = yaml.safe_load(fd)
+            plays = yaml.safe_load(fd)
+
+        for play in plays[1:]:
+            bender_vars = graceful_get(play, "vars", "ansible_bender")
+            if bender_vars:
+                logger.warning("Variables are loaded only from the first play.")
 
         try:
-            # TODO: process all the plays
-            d = d[0]
+            # we care only about the first play, we don't want to merge dicts
+            d = plays[0]
         except IndexError:
             raise RuntimeError("Invalid playbook, can't access the first document.")
 
-        if "vars" not in d:
+        bender_vars = graceful_get(d, "vars", "ansible_bender")
+        if not bender_vars:
             return {}
 
         tmp = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="ab")
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index bd14d32..c3b7fde 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ Configuration is done using a top-level Ansible variable `ansible_bender`. All
 the values are nested under it. The values are processed before a build starts.
 The changes to values are not reflected during a playbook run.
 
+If your playbook has multiple plays, the `ansible_bender` variable is processed
+only from the first play. All the plays will end up in a single container image.
+
 
 #### Top-level keys
 

diff --git a/tests/data/multiplay.yaml b/tests/data/multiplay.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4297bb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/multiplay.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+- hosts: all
+  vars:
+    ansible_bender: {}
+  tasks:
+  - name: Run a sample command
+    command: 'ls -lha /'
+- hosts: localhost
+  vars:
+    ansible_bender:
+      target_image:
+        name: nope
+  tasks:
+  - name: create a file
+    copy:
+      content: "killer"
+      dest: /queen
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_buildah.py b/tests/functional/test_buildah.py
index 5b62642..517c7b7 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_buildah.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_buildah.py
@@ -135,13 +135,15 @@ def test_build_basic_image_with_all_params(tmpdir, target_image):
 
 
 def test_build_failure(tmpdir):
-    target_image = "registry.example.com/ab-test-" + random_word(12) + ":oldest"
+    target_image_name = "registry.example.com/ab-test-" + random_word(12)
+    target_image_tag = "oldest"
+    target_image = f"{target_image_name}:{target_image_tag}"
     target_failed_image = target_image + "-failed"
     cmd = ["build", bad_playbook_path, base_image, target_image]
     with pytest.raises(subprocess.CalledProcessError):
         ab(cmd, str(tmpdir))
-    out = ab(["get-logs"], str(tmpdir), return_output=True)
-    assert "PLAY [all]" in out
+    out = ab(["get-logs"], str(tmpdir), return_output=True).lstrip()
+    assert out.startswith("PLAY [registry")
 
     p_inspect_data = json.loads(subprocess.check_output(["podman", "inspect", "-t", "image", target_failed_image]))[0]
     image_id = p_inspect_data["Id"]
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_cli.py b/tests/functional/test_cli.py
index 331cefe..58d1a09 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_cli.py
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ metadata:
 def test_get_logs(target_image, tmpdir):
     cmd = ["build", basic_playbook_path, base_image, target_image]
     ab(cmd, str(tmpdir))
-    out = ab(["get-logs"], str(tmpdir), return_output=True)
-    assert "PLAY [all]" in out
+    out = ab(["get-logs"], str(tmpdir), return_output=True).lstrip()
+    assert out.startswith("PLAY [registry")
     assert "TASK [Gathering Facts]" in out
     assert "failed=0" in out
     assert "TASK [print local env vars]" in out
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_api.py b/tests/integration/test_api.py
index 6705c5c..8247527 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_api.py
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ import os
 import shutil
 
 import yaml
+from ansible_bender.builders.buildah_builder import podman_run_cmd
 from flexmock import flexmock
 
 from ansible_bender.api import Application
 from ansible_bender.conf import Build
 from ansible_bender.utils import random_str, run_cmd
 from tests.spellbook import (dont_cache_playbook_path, change_layering_playbook, data_dir,
-                             dont_cache_playbook_path_pre, non_ex_pb)
+                             dont_cache_playbook_path_pre, non_ex_pb, multiplay_path)
 from ..spellbook import small_basic_playbook_path
 
 
@@ -22,8 +23,8 @@ def test_build_db_metadata(target_image, application, build):
     assert build.build_finished_time is not None
     assert build.build_start_time is not None
     assert build.log_lines is not None
-    logs = "\n".join(build.log_lines)
-    assert "PLAY [all]" in logs
+    logs = "\n".join([l for l in build.log_lines if l])
+    assert logs.startswith("PLAY [registry")
     assert "TASK [Gathering Facts]" in logs
     assert "failed=0" in logs
 
@@ -229,3 +230,16 @@ def test_caching_non_ex_image_w_mocking(tmpdir, build):
         assert not build.layers[-1].cached
     finally:
         application.clean()
+
+
+def test_multiplay(build, application):
+    im = "multiplay"
+    build.playbook_path = multiplay_path
+    build.target_image = im
+    application.build(build)
+    try:
+        build = application.db.get_build(build.build_id)
+        podman_run_cmd(im, ["ls", "/queen"])  # the file has to be in there
+        assert len(build.layers) == 3
+    finally:
+        run_cmd(["buildah", "rmi", im], ignore_status=True, print_output=True)
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_conf.py b/tests/integration/test_conf.py
index 07a6f51..8519436 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_conf.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_conf.py
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ import os
 
 import jsonschema
 import pytest
+from ansible_bender.utils import set_logging
 
 from ansible_bender.conf import ImageMetadata, Build
 from ansible_bender.core import PbVarsParser
 
-from tests.spellbook import b_p_w_vars_path, basic_playbook_path, full_conf_pb_path
+from tests.spellbook import b_p_w_vars_path, basic_playbook_path, full_conf_pb_path, multiplay_path
 
 
 def test_expand_pb_vars():
@@ -78,3 +79,13 @@ def test_validation_err_ux():
 
     assert "is not of type" in s
     assert "Failed validating 'type' in schema" in s
+
+
+def test_multiplay(caplog):
+    set_logging()
+    p = PbVarsParser(multiplay_path)
+    b, m = p.get_build_and_metadata()
+
+    assert b.target_image != "nope"
+    assert "Variables are loaded only from the first play." == caplog.records[0].msg
+    assert "no bender data found in the playbook" == caplog.records[1].msg
diff --git a/tests/spellbook.py b/tests/spellbook.py
index 347a5a0..723f4fe 100644
--- a/tests/spellbook.py
+++ b/tests/spellbook.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ project_dir = os.path.dirname(tests_dir)
 data_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(tests_dir, "data"))
 buildah_inspect_data_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "buildah_inspect.json")
 basic_playbook_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "basic_playbook.yaml")
+multiplay_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "multiplay.yaml")
 non_ex_pb = os.path.join(data_dir, "non_ex_pb.yaml")
 b_p_w_vars_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "b_p_w_vars.yaml")
 p_w_vars_files_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "p_w_vars_files.yaml")

playbook: `hosts: all` vs `hosts: localhost`
* [x] try running bender with `hosts: localhost`
* [x] document the outcome
* [x] write a test
tests/integration/test_conf.py::test_multiplay
tests/functional/test_buildah.py::test_buildah_err_output tests/integration/test_conf.py::test_b_m_empty tests/integration/test_conf.py::test_validation_err_ux