Soldiers are waiting for guard to be changed. Michaela, a village girl, appears; she seeks a brigadier (don Jose), bearing a message from his mother. The officer on guard invites her to wait; she declines, and departs. The relief guard and Don Jose come on. The square is crowded by young men. Don Jose is indifferent. Girls enter, and young men inquire for Carmen, who asserts her desire for universal dominion by ?inging at the silent Don Jose the ?ower she wears in her dress. Factory bells ring. Girls hasten to work. Don Jose's blood is roused; but the arrival of Michaela, with a letter and purse from his mother, calms him, and he resolves to sti?e the sudden passion Carmen has excited, and devote himself, as his mother wishes, to Michaela. She has scarcely gone, when Don Jose is about to throw Carmen's ?ower away, when a noise is heard in the factory. The girls rush out. Two of them have quarreled. One of them is wounded — her assailant is Carmen. Jose is ordered to take her into custody. She sings, and is saucy to the officer. He resolves on sending her to prison. Don Jose and two soldiers escort her. At the foot of the bridge a sudden push from Carmen throws Don Jose down and she escapes.