Act I: In Seville, townspeople and soldiers are moving about when a young peasant girl named Micaela questions the soldiers about her love, Don Jose. Unable to find him, she leaves, and soon, Don Jose arrives with Officer Zuniga moments later. At the cigarette factory, workers leave work and appear in the square. The beautiful gypsy, Carmen, enters, flirting with all the men. When Carmen sees Don Jose, she tosses a flower to seduce him.
Don Jose picks up the flower and is enchanted by Carmen. Shortly thereafter, Micaela returns with a letter and a kiss sent to Don Jose by his mother. In the letter, Don Jose's mother has asked him to marry Micaela. Don Jose promises his fidelity and love to Micaela. Moments later, a fight breaks out between Carmen and another woman. Don Jose stops Carmen as Officer Zuniga arrests her. Zuniga commands Don Jose to escort Carmen to prison. However, Carmen charms Don Jose into letting her escape. When Don Jose is discovered for letting Carmen escape, he is imprisoned for one month.
Act II: At Lilas Pastia's Inn, Carmen and her friends are dancing with several soldiers, including Officer Zuniga, when the victorious bullfighter, Escamillo, arrives. Escamilla attempts to win Carmen's heart, but Carmen's heart waits for Don Jose's release from prison. The smugglers Dancairo and Remendado ask for help from Carmen and her two friends. Mercedes and Frasquita agree to help, but Carmen refuses, as she knows that Don Jose will be released from prison today. When he finally arrives, Carmen dances for him. Zuniga arrives at the inn searching for Carmen and tries to kiss Carmen as Dancairo and Remendado tackle Zuniga and take him away from the inn. Don Jose stays at the inn with Carmen.
Act III: Don Jose and Carmen are now at the smuggler's mountain hideout. Carmen, who has decided she no longer loves him, starts taunting him to leave, but he does not. Mercedes and Frasquita tell their fortunes by reading Carmen and Don Jose’s palms. The reading for Carmen and Don Jose reveal death. After discussing their plains, the smugglers and the girls leave while Don Jose watches over the hideout. Soon, Micaela comes to the mountain hideout and hides. Escamillo enters the hideout and tells Don Jose about his crush on Carmen. He also tells Don Jose about Carmen's relationship with a soldier, not knowing the story is about Don Jose. Don Jose becomes very angry and starts fighting Escamillo. The smugglers return before the fight gets worse. Escamillo invites Carmen and the others to his upcoming bullfight as he leaves the hideout. Micaela finally emerges from her hiding spot and tries to convince Don Jose to return home. After several unsuccessful attempts, she persuades him to leave by telling him his beloved mother is dying. Don Jose promises his return to Carmen and leaves with Micaela. In the distance, Escamillo can be heard singing, and Carmen begins heading in that direction. They dance and fall in love.
Act IV:
During the procession of the toreadors, Carmen and Escamillo are seen arriving together. Mercedes and Frasquita warn Carmen that Don Jose is lurking around the crowd plotting to kill her. She tells them that she will speak to him to resolve the matter once and for all. While Escamillo enters the bullfighting ring, a desperate Don Jose meets Carmen outside the arena. He tells her she must commit her love and fidelity to him. She explains that she no longer loves him and throws the ring he gave her on the ground. Now completely mad, Don Jose stabs Carmen in the heart with a dagger. She dies simultaneously with Escamillo's bullfighting victory.
