ACT II

A month later, Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès have fun singing and dancing in the evening at Lilias Pasta’s tavern. Carmen hears that Don José, who was sent to prison because he let her escape, was released. The famous bullfighter Escamillo arrives, and everyone is happy to see him back in the neighborhood. He sings about his adventures in the bullring and flirts with Carmen, and she flirts back weakly. The soldiers and Escamillo leave as Dancaïre and Remendado join Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès. They need to deliver some smuggled goods and want the three women to join them. Carmen says she can’t go because she’s in love. Nobody believes her until Don José’s voice is heard outside. The others leave Carmen and José alone. He tells her how much he loves her. A trumpet signals that the soldiers must report back to the barracks and José says he must leave, but Carmen mocks his loyalty to the military. José proves his love by pulling out the flower she threw at him at their first meeting. That’s not enough for Carmen; she wants him to ditch the army and join her life of freedom. Don José tells her he could never leave the military. Zuniga shows up to see Carmen and orders Don José to leave. José refuses and begin to fight him. Before José kills Zuniga, men burst in and pull Zuniga into the back room. Don José has no choice but to flee with the Romani as they head into the mountains.