Three years pass after the culinary school burns to the ground and Zinfandella is returning from Milan. After a time lapse we see Baba gazing out to sea on his balcony with lute in hand. He's dressed and ready to go to work for his arch-enemy Machabelli, where he slaves in the obscurity of his kitchen. Baba looks out to sea and sings a duet as he longs for Zinfandella, believing her life is better without him. Arriving by sea at the same moment, Zin sings her part and her truth in a split frame from the deck of a sailing ship.