Rudolph's friends have repaired to their favorite Café. It is
Christmas Eve and everyone is in festive spirits. All the shops are
bright and displaying their goods. Hawkers offer their goods for sale
in the streets. Rudolph and Mimi are seen entering a milliner's where
Rudolph is to buy her a new hat. Colline, Schaunard and Marcel take
their seats in front of the Café, where a table has been prepared for
them. Rudolph introduces Mimi to his friends. Musetta, Marcel's flame,
with whom he has quarrelled, now enters with Alcindoro. Marcel is
deeply moved when he sees her. Musetta notices this and sends
Alcindoro on an errand. Whilst he is away, she makes peace with
Marcel. The friends find that they have not sufficient money to pay
for their supper, so they carry off Musetta and leave their bills to
be paid by Alcindoro.