Summary

Act Two, Scene 1. The first scene of Act Two opens to Gallimard in his cell, reading from a leaflet. He informs the audience this is from a critic's commentary on “Madame Butterfly”. The review describes Pinkerton as an obnoxious bounder, and Butterfly as the most "irresistibly appealing of Puccini's 'Little Women.'" (Act Two, Scene 1). Gallimard concludes while most men may want to kick Pinkerton, few would pass up the opportunity to be him.

Act Two, Scene 2. Scene 2 returns to flashback, this time set in Gallimard and Butterfly's flat in Beijing, 1960. In the parlor, Gallimard sits on the sofa and Song curls up by his feet. Gallimard informs the audience he and Song have secured a flat on the outskirts of Peking. Song has continued her education, and tells Gallimard Chinese men keep women down, and that is part of the exciting things...