Don Carlo, ACT 1
France and Spain are at war. Don Carlo, son of the King of Spain, but not heir to the throne, has secretly come to France. By happenstance, he meets with Elisabeth, his betrothed and whom he has never met, and the two instantly fall in love. They become even happier when they reveal their identities. In the distance, a cannon sounds signalling the end of the war. Moments later, Elisabeth is told by Thibault that as a condition of the peace treaty, her father has given her hand in marriage to Don Carlo's father instead. The news is confirmed by Lerma, the Spanish ambassador. Elisabeth is torn but decides to agree to the condition to uphold the peace treaty. She leaves behind Don Carlo who is inconsolable.
Don Carlo, ACT 2
Back in Spain, Don Carlo miserably sits inside the cloisters of St. Just, where his grandfather once joined and became a friar many years prior to escape the duties and responsibilities of the throne, contemplating the loss of his true love and her marriage to his father. He is approached by a man named Rodrigo. He is the Marquis of Posa, who has come from Flanders seeking means to put an end to their Spanish oppression. Don Carlo tells him that he is in love with his step-mother. Rodrigo urges him to forget about her and join his cause and fight for Flanders independence. Don Carlo agrees, and the two men swear friendship and allegiance. In a garden outside of the church, Princess Eboli sings a love song about a Moorish king to her court. When Queen Elisabeth arrives, Rodrigo delivers a missive from France along with a secret note to her from Don Carlo. After a bit of nudging from Rodrigo, she finally agrees to meet with Don Carlo alone. Don Carlo asks Elisabeth to convince his father to allow him to go to Flanders, and she quickly agrees. Finding her quick dismissal of him shocking, he confesses his love for her once more. She tells him she is not in a position to return his love. Don Carlo runs away brokenhearted. Moments later, King Filippo, Don Carlo's father, finds his Queen unattended. He dismisses her lady-in-waiting, and Elisabeth mourns her departure. The King is approached by Rodrigo, who asks for him to ease up on the Spanish oppression..Though the King favors his character, he says that it is not possible. The King, then, warns him that they will be keeping an eye on him. When Rodrigo exits the garden, the King tells his aid that they will also keep an eye on the Queen.

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