Silent Running

In a far future, Earth’s forests have vanished due to careless exploitation. Massive geodesic domes on cargo ships serve as closed ecological systems, preserving plant and animal life for possible return to Earth. These domes are part of a fleet of eight freighters stationed outside Saturn's orbit.

The crew receives orders to jettison and destroy their domes and return the freighters to commercial service. Freeman Lowell is the ship's resident botanist and caretaker of the domes, dedicating his work to preserving the last forests. The mission shift sets the stage for conflict between survival and duty.

Four of the six domes are jettisoned and destroyed with nuclear charges as part of the plan to repurpose the freighters. Lowell witnesses the destruction of his plants and animals, fueling his growing resistance to the mission. The loss deepens his commitment to saving the forest life onboard.

Wolf arrives to plant explosives in Lowell's beloved dome and is killed by Lowell in a violent confrontation. Lowell sustains a serious injury to his right leg during the struggle. The event marks a decisive turn from passive protest to active rebellion.

Lowell jets and triggers the destruction of the last remaining dome to trap the two other crewmen. With the domes compromised, his only chance to safeguard the forest becomes the life support and space voyage itself. The act demonstrates his willingness to risk everything for the plants.

Lowell enlists the ship's three service robots to stage a fake premature explosion as a ruse. He uses the ruse to propel the Valley Forge toward Saturn with the final forest dome aboard. The plan shows his readiness to bend reality to get a chance at escape with the precious cargo.

Lowell reprograms Huey and Dewey to perform surgery on his injured leg. Drone 3 is lost during the perilous passage through Saturn's rings. The surviving drones become essential partners in the forest mission and Lowell's bid for survival.

Lowell names the surviving drones Dewey and Huey, while the lost Drone 3 is memorialized as Louie. The naming underscores his fragile bond with the robots and his human need for companionship. The drones become his constant companions in the deep space voyage.

Lowell, Huey, and Dewey continue the forest maintenance by planting trees while burying Wolf in the bio-dome. He treats the drones as children, speaking to them and guiding their actions. The act reinforces his resolve to preserve life at all costs.

A reckless buggy collision damages Huey, and Dewey refuses to leave his side during repairs. The incident illustrates the emotional bond Lowell projects onto the robots. It also highlights the fragility of their fragile ecosystem in space.

Berkshire, another freighter, reestablishes contact and waits to see if the Valley Forge has survived. Lowell realizes that a lack of light has restricted plant growth, complicating the forest's viability. He races to install lamps to correct this situation and save the last forest.

To preserve the last forest before Berkshire arrives, Lowell jettisons the bio-dome to safety. He believes the forest can still thrive with the added artificial light and continued care from the robots. The decision epitomizes his willingness to sacrifice a part of the ship for the whole planet's future.

Lowell detonates nuclear charges to destroy the Valley Forge and ensure the forest remains free from capture. Huey is damaged again in the chaos, and Lowell sacrifices himself in the explosion. The last forest now drifts through space under a fragile beacon of light.

The well-lit forest greenhouse drifts into deep space, guarded by Dewey who tenderly holds Lowell’s battered watering can. The image sustains a glimmer of hope for Earth’s reforestation future, even as the ship is gone. The ending underscores the cost of preservation and the quiet resilience of life.