- 1875 - Opéra comique The smugglers along with Carmen and José are travelling with the contraband, but Carmen has grown tired of José, and does not conceal this, taunting him to return to his village.
Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès read the cards: Frasquita and Mercédès foresee love and romance, wealth and luxury; but Carmen's cards foretell death for both her and José. The smugglers ask the girls to come and charm the customs officers and everyone goes off, leaving the jealous José to guard the goods.
Micaëla arrives with a guide seeking José. She sends the guide away and vows to take Don José away from Carmen. She sees José firing a gun, and hides in the rocks. It was Escamillo whom José had fired at, but when he arrives José welcomes him, until he says he is infatuated with Carmen and tells José the story of her affair with a soldier, not realising José is that soldier.
José challenges Escamillo to a knife-fight, but Escamillo fights defensively, infuriating José. They start again and José finds himself at the mercy of Escamillo who releases him, saying his trade is killing bulls, not men. The third time they fight Escamillo's knife breaks, but he is saved by the return of the smugglers and Carmen. Escamillo leaves, but invites Carmen and the smugglers to his next bullfight in Seville.
Remendado finds Micaëla hiding, and she tells José that his mother wishes to see him. Carmen mocks him and at first he refuses to go, until Micaëla tells him that his mother is dying. Vowing that he will return to Carmen, he goes.
As he is leaving, Escamillo is heard singing in the distance. Carmen rushes to the sound of his voice, but José bars her way.