Einstein on the Beach does not have a conventional plot; the overall thematic divisions of the opera are as follows:
Knee Play 1
Act I
Scene 1. Train
Scene 2. Trial
Knee Play 2
Act II
Scene 1. Dance 1 - Field with Spaceship
Scene 2. Night train
Knee Play 3
Act III
Scene 1. Trial/Prison
Scene 2. Dance 2 - Field with Spaceship
Knee Play 4
Act IV
Scene 1. Building/Train
Scene 2. Bed
Scene 3. Spaceship
Knee Play 5