The guard is changing. Micaëla has brought a letter to Corporal Don José from his mother. It urges him to marry Micaëla. But Don José has already been transfixed by the gypsy Carmen. He has surreptitiously kept a flower she has tossed to him. A fight breaks out between Carmen and another girl. Don José is ordered to take Carmen to the jail. Alone, Carmen seduces Don José. He agrees to play patsy to enable Carmen to escape.

A month later, Carmen learns from Lieutenant Zuniga that Don José has been demoted and just released from jail for his part in her escape. The toreador Escamillo arrives and makes a play for Carmen, but she tells him she loves another. A couple of black- marketeers tell Carmen of their latest plan. Don José arrives and declares his love. Carmen continues to test him. Zuniga arrives. Don José is torn between Carmen and his duty. With Zuniga disarmed by the smugglers, Carmen and Don José elude recapture.

Together once more and in league with the smugglers, Carmen foresees in the cards death for herself and Don José. Micaëla arrives. Separately, Escamillo arrives too. Escamillo and Don José fight over Carmen. She returns and saves Escamillo from almost certain death. Micaëla entreats Don José to visit his dying mother and they leave together. Some time later, at the bullring, Carmen declares her love for Escamillo. But Don José has come back to town and has tracked down Carmen. He confronts her. She states that she loves Escamillo now and angrily throws Don José’s ring at his feet. Enraged, Don José kills Carmen.