Several months later in the garret.

Marcello and Rodolfo are working but are also tormenting each other with remarks about Musetta and Mimì and pretending to be unaffected. Finally, neither can stand it any longer. Marcello furtively removes a ribbon from his pocket and kisses it; Rodolfo does the same with the pink bonnet. They muse sorrowfully on their lost loves (Duet: “O Mimì, tu più non torni”).

Schaunard bursts in, but this time all he carries are four rolls, a pickled herring, a bottle of water, and Colline. They all pretend that before them is a great feast. Colline makes a great pretense of having to leave early for an appointment with the king. Things get sillier as Schaunard suggests that the four of them dance. Rodolfo and Marcello (in the female role) dance together as Schaunard beats time and Colline calls the steps. Schaunard and Colline turn a disagreement over dance steps into a mock duel. Into the resulting bedlam suddenly comes Musetta, who announces that Mimì is downstairs and is seriously ill. Rodolfo and Marcello rush out to get her as the others prepare a bed.

Rodolfo tenderly carries Mimì to the bed. She expresses doubt that he wants her there, and he reassures her. Musetta explains to the others that Mimì, nearly dying, had left the viscount and was searching for Rodolfo. Musetta found her stumbling in the street; Mimì told her that she wanted to die with Rodolfo and asked Musetta to take her to him. As the lovers embrace, Marcello reveals that they have nothing to give Mimì to eat or drink. Schaunard realizes that she will be dead within a half hour.

Mimì’s hands are cold; she wishes she had a muff. Rodolfo takes her hands in his and tries to warm them as she smiles and greets the others. Musetta takes Marcello aside and gives him her earrings, telling him to sell them so they can get medicine and a doctor; she will go with him to get a muff for Mimì. Colline takes off his faithful old coat, in the pockets of which the work of great philosophers and poets have resided, and bids it farewell (“Coat Aria”: “Vecchia zimarra”). He advises Schaunard to do the lovers a kindness and leave them alone.

Mimì tells Rodolfo that she was pretending to be asleep because she wanted to be alone with him to tell him that he is her lifelong love. She recalls telling him her name at their first meeting. Rodolfo takes the pink bonnet out of his pocket, bringing back more sweet memories. She teases him, for she knows that on their first meeting he had found her dropped key much earlier than he pretended. Mimì’s coughing fit brings Schaunard back into the room. But she assures him and Rodolfo that she is all right, and she closes her eyes.

Musetta and Marcello return; the doctor is on his way, and they have brought some medicine. Musetta slips the muff onto Mimì’s hands. Mimì marvels at its softness and warmth. She asks if Rodolfo bought it; Musetta quickly says yes. When Mimì playfully calls him a spendthrift, he bursts into tears. She asks why he is crying when she is better, she is with her love, her hands are warm, and she can sleep.

Believing that she is asleep, Rodolfo leaves the bedside and asks Marcello about the doctor. Meanwhile, Musetta prepares the medicine and prays for Mimì. Schaunard checks on Mimì and discovers that she has died; he tells Marcello, who is horrified. Colline returns and asks Rodolfo about Mimì’s condition. Rodolfo begins to say she is asleep when he notices how Marcello and Schaunard are looking at him. Marcello tries to comfort Rodolfo, but he is overcome with despair and embraces her dead body, calling out to his Mimì.