Act I
“A large square near the door of Paris, in Amiens.”

Near a tavern, students, middle-class guys and girls joke about love and youth topics. One of the students, Renato Des Grieux, boasts own indifference towards love. A coach approaches, Manon Lescaut, a girl destined to nun's life, and her brother, addresed only with the last name Lescaut get off. When Des Grieux sees Manon, it is love at first sight. As soon as the girl remains alone, he approaches her and when her brother comes back, he succeeds to get another date with her. Lescaut meantime is planning his sister's kidnapping on behalf of rich banker Geront de Ravoir. This way she will become the lover of the banker and he will be able to share the luxurious life. But one of the students, Edmond, listens to the dialogue, refers it to his friend Des Grieux and organizes a countermove: Renat will kidnap Manon, beating on the time the old Geront. Des Grieux persuades Manon with difficulty to elope with him and, while the students greet their departure by coach, Geronte ponders his vengeance. Lescaut, however, is almost sure that his sister won't accept a modest life for a long time.

Act II
“In Paris”

The scene starts in Geront's drawing-room. The romance between Renat and Manon lasted little and she has come back to her brother in order to become the banker's lover. She's looking in the mirror, while she's dressing for a party, where she will sing and dance. The girl begins to be bored of this lifestyle and she starts longing for Des Grieux, but her brother, in order to avoid this situation, decides to secretly call Des Grieux at the palace. The party ends and Manon is alone. Des Grieux rushes in her room and the passion of the past explodes again. The man is naturally furious, but, with thanks to her beauty, Manon finds easily a way to soothe him. Right in the middle of a long embrace Geront enters the room and, without too much rage, even if the girl jokes on the age difference between them, leaves the room with a menacing “good bye… and see you soon”. Manon doesn't feel the danger. Des Grieux begs her to run away immediately, but even after her brother, rushed to the palace, warns her that Geront has informed against her, Manon is unwilling to leave all that wealth. While she's trying to collect jewels here and there in the room, the guards enter in the room and arrest her as thief and adultress.

Act III
“The Havre. Large square near the harbour”

It is night. Manon is locked up with other women in Le Havre prison, waiting to be boarded at dawn on a ship going to the United States. Lescaut organizes an escape in order to avoid the deportation, but the plan fails and, when the petty archer officer begins to call the roll of the prisoners, Des Grieux has only one chance: to beg the captain of the ship to accept him on board with her. His words and his tears move the captain and the two fallen in love leave for umpteenth trip.

Act IV
“In America. A boundless plain on the borders of New Orleans.”

Under a red-hot desert sun of New Orleans, Manon and Des Grieux ramble without a goal, exhausted for the fatigue. Once again, the girl recklessness has forced them to run away, but it will be the last time. Manon is tired, falls to the ground, incapable to continue. There's no water. No traces of life appear at the horizon. Her faithful lover cannot do anything more, only cry out his desperation and listen to her last words; the beautiful and voluptuous Manon dies in his arms, lovingly smiling to him for the last time.