Act II
A festive crowd celebrates Christmas Eve in the Latin Quarter. At the Café Momus, Rodolfo introduces Mimi to his roommates. Their carefree mood changes abruptly when Musetta, Marcello’s former lover, appears with Alcindoro, her elderly paramour, in tow. Musetta attempts to attract the attention of Marcello, who deliberately ignores her, but then finally succumbs to her charms. Musetta shrewdly gets rid of Alcindoro, and instructs the waiter to give him all of their bills. She and the bohemians escape through the crowd.

Act III
Early one snowy February morning at the Barriere d’Enfer, a tollgate in Paris, Mimi arrives seeking Marcello, who is painting a mural at the local tavern. She tells him that she and Rodolfo have separated, driven apart by his jealousy. Earlier that morning, Rodolfo had arrived at the inn himself, and when he now emerges to speak with Marcello, Mimi conceals herself and overhears their conversation. Rodolfo tells Marcello that he wants to leave Mimi because of her flirtatious behavior. Finally, he confesses that she is mortally ill and admits his guilty feelings; he knows that the harsh conditions of their life together have undoubtedly worsened her health. Hearing Mimi‘s coughing, Rodolfo suddenly realizes that she has overheard everything. The two lovers pledge to stay together until spring, while Marcello and Musetta argue viciously and separate.