Scene IIIĪt the tollgate, guards admit workers and peasants into the city.

Musetta solves the problem by having the amount added to Alcindoro’s bill. The waiter presents a bill to the bohemians who cannot pay it. Alcindoro runs off to have her shoe repaired while Marcello and Musetta fall into each other’s arms. Sensing her attempt is successful, Musetta pretends to have a pain in her foot to get rid of Alcindoro. Musetta’s behavior embarrasses Alcindoro as she sings a song to rekindle Marcello’s love. Marcello is surprised when Musetta, his former lover, arrives with her current paramour, the state councilor, Alcindoro.

She is readily accepted and tells them about the pink bonnet Rodolfo has bought her. The bohemians converge at the café, and Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends. Outside the Café Momus, peddlers sell their merchandise to the revelers. The woman in turn explains that her name is Mimì, and she makes her living by embroidering. Rodolfo tells her that he is a poet and attracted to her. The poet finds it but convinces the woman he has not and gently touches her hand in the dark. After Rodolfo revives her, they are forced to search in the dark for her lost key after both of their candles go out. A young woman asks to have her candle relit but faints once inside the garret. Unable to write, Rodolfo answers a knock at the door. Rodolfo decides to finish writing an article before joining his friends.

With mock indignation, the bohemians condemn Benoit’s marital infidelity and usher the landlord away without paying him. He is coaxed by Marcello into talking about his amorous adventures. The apartment erupts into turmoil when Benoit, the landlord, demands the rent. Tonight is Christmas Eve and he insists they dine out. He has food, money, and wood, but he tells his friends to save the food for another time. The philosopher Colline arrives, soon followed by Schaunard, a musician and the fourth inhabitant of the garret. Rodolfo decides to burn the manuscript of his play to heat the room. Marcello, a painter, works on his canvas while Rodolfo, a poet, looks out the window.

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