Sunday

"Sunday" is the seventeenth episode of the third season of Stargate Atlantis.

Synopsis
While the Atlantis Expedition tries and relax on a regular Sunday, a mysterious explosion rocks the city, leaving three people dead. It is later revealed that a scientist is a walking time-bomb, and has to be stopped. However, the appempt to resolve the problem will result in the loss of an important figure in Atlantis.

Plot
On an extraordinary day in the city of Atlantis, it is the manditory rest day, a type of day sanctioned by Dr. Kate Heightmeyer to give the Atlantis Expedition some time for recreation. Teyla Emmagan is talking with Dr. Hewston, who just finished a sparring session together. They both notice that so many people are having some time off. They also discuss a man who took a fondness for Teyla, though she didn't want to discuss it further, stating the ways of her people are different. After the discussion, they both agree to have a late lunch together.

However, just as they enter the mess hall, Teyla remembers that she left her bantos sticks behind in the gym. Just as she turns around to fetch her things, there is a massive explosion behind her and she gets thrown across the corrider. She realises that a bomb has just gone off in the mess hall. As she attempts to get up to help the wounded, she stops, due to shrapnel being lodged on her abdomen.

Three hours before the incident, Dr. Elizabeth Weir is in her office catching up on some work rather than relaxing, when a handsome young scientist, Mike Branton finds her. He wonders why she is working on her day off, as she has ordered everyone else to do. It also turns out, Branton is catching up on work, but has just finished. He invites her to lunch, but she thinks that it is a date, since she has a personal rule not to be involved with people under her. However, Branton insists that it is not a date, just friends or co-workers going out for lunch. He eventually persuades her to come. She agrees to go with him in one hour.

During that time, she passes Dr. Beckett, who was planning to go fishing with McKay on the mainland. He notices that she is hiding something, and just guesses that she is going on a "hot date", but agrees not to tell anyone. Weir later makes it to Teyla's quarters. Initially, she was to have lunch with Teyla, but she had other arrangements, she agreed to go sparring with Hewston. Weir then decides to join Branton for lunch.

During their "not a date" lunch, they argue about whether a man and a woman can be just friends. He later decides to take Weir to the outskirts of the city to enjoy the view of the ocean. Weir then finishes her bottle of water, meaning that lunch is over. Branton admits that he should have brought dessert to last longer. He then starts admitting that he likes her and begins to wear down her shields, and even kisses her. She seems attracted to him, but decides she can't allow a potential romance to bloom.

She is later saved from the awkward situation when the control tower radios her that there has been an incident in the city. When she arrives, she is informed that there was an explosion in the mass hall, with three people dead and more injured. They believe the explosion may have been caused by a bomb.

Five hours before the incident, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard and Ronon Dex plans to play golf with Teyla. However, Teyla regrets that she is behind on paperwork (which is an excuse not to play golf). Sheppard lets her off. Ronon then tells him that he has to catch up on mission reports too. However, Sheppard calls his bluff and takes him to the golfing area, where they meet up with Dr. James Watson, who is also playing golf, and Beckett, who plans to take one of them fishing. However, they all decline. Watson comes up to Beckett, complaining of a headache. However, Beckett points him to Dr. Cole.

Later, Ronon becomes bored playing golf, and takes Sheppard to the gym, to play a "real sport". The sport turns out to be an apparent Satedan training sport, of capturing the opponent's flag. Every time a level is complete, the next level becomes harder, such as using one leg, and one arm. Ronon easily beats him on rounds one and two. Sheppard later plans to stop playing, where he takes Ronon to his quarters to drink beer and listen to some music. There, Sheppard wonders if he left anyone back on Sateda, whether a wife or a girlfriend. Ronon says "close enough", referring to Milena. Ronon wonders if Sheppard was married. He says that he used to be. They then hear an explosion.

They rush to the mess hall, where they see Dr. Zelenka examining the wreckage. Luckily, there is no structural damage. However, he tells them that McKay is checking up on something, and informs them that a few eye witnesses claimed to have seen Dr. Hewston mysteriously blow up.

Fourteen hours before the incident, Dr. Rodney McKay is in the Atlantis infirmary in the middle of the night. He is with Beckett, Hewston and Watson. The two young scientists accidentally activated a device emmitting radiation, but deactivated it. McKay shouts at them, telling them to take extra care. He later thinks his is being too condescending, and decides to give the scientists a break, by giving them tomorrow off. However, he wasn't aware that it is the manditory rest day. He looks at Beckett, who is imatating the retraction of a fishing rod, meaning the fishing trip they planned a month ago is happening today.

The next morning, McKay sees Dr. Katie Brown in her botany lab. He wonders if he could have lunch with her today, because he thought the month within the planning the fishing trip and doing it was enough time to think of something to get out of it. He plans to take lunch to her in the lab. When he arrives in the mess hall, he sees Weir talking with Branton. Beckett comes in, thinking he has brought lunch for both of them. McKay then makes an excuse that he promised Katie to have lunch with her, since they are seeing too little of each other. He promises to come fishing next week.

Back in the botany lab, the couple were talking about the events over a year ago, with the Laura Cadman incident. She told him that he was ignoring her ever since for a year, but actually made time to see her the past few months. Later, they both hear an explosion, and McKay runs to a lab.

He informs Sheppard, Ronon and Teyla that the device Hewston and Watson activated, was an Ancient device created as a weapon. It uses an unusual type of radiation to create an explosive tumor behind a person's lung. After an unpredictable period of time, during which the tumor grows, it approaches critical mass and then unexpectedly detonates. With Hewston dead, the only other infected person, Watson, is still at large. They try contacting him, but he is already in the infirmary, about to be operated on by Beckett.

Two hours before the incident, Beckett plans to send someone else to the go fishing with him. He tries Zelenka, who is too busy playing chess with another member. He is playing for trades, and is winning. Beckett then comes to Major Lorne. But he's too busy painting the city skyline. He then goes to Dr. Biro, but discovers her erratic personality. He officially calls the fishing trip a bust. He goes to Cole, who has a migraine and dismisses her for some rest, while he catches up on paperwork.

A while later, he treats a young woman with a sprained her ankle from playing volleyball, when he hears the explosion. He rushes to the mess hall and sees Teyla, who he promises to take care of her. After he finishes on Teyla, he starts working on Watson, when he gets a call from McKay. He tells him the situation, and to leave Watson. However, Beckett evacuates the level, but stays behind with a nurse to operate the tumour out. He locks down the section, meaning teams can't get in to stop him. They attempt to talk Beckett out of helping Watson, but refuses and operates on him.

Half and hour later, he took out the tumour, and sends it to a box. He is called to stay in the infirmary while the disposal team moves into the infirmary. However, he takes the box and slowly moves through a corridor and meets them half way. When they meet, he gives the team the box. He then proceeds in turning around and starts his return to the OR, when it suddenly explodes, killing him and the others nearby.

Before the memorial service, after which Beckett's remains will be sent home to Earth for burial, McKay expresses guilt that he did not go fishing with Beckett earlier, because then he would not have been killed. However, Ronon tells him that there was nothing he can do, and tells him "what's done is done". Beckett's memorial service is held in the Atlantis gate room with all of the staff in attendance, and Dr. Weir gives his eulogy. After the service ends, Beckett's casket is carried through the gate back to Earth by McKay, Sheppard, Zelenka, Lorne, Ronon and Cole as the pallbearers.

After their return from Earth, McKay is standing on one of Atlantis' piers grieving over Beckett's death and sees a vision of him. He explains that his family was amazing, and later tells Beckett that it is his fault, and should've just gone fishing with him. Beckett comforts Rodney and tells him that it's not his fault that he died. McKay says that he's only saying what he wants to hear, and Beckett tells him, "That's what best friends do sometimes. And in this case it also happens to be true". Rodney admits that Carson was the closest thing to a best friend he ever had. They then say a final goodbye before Beckett fades away.

Memorable quotes
(The closing scene of the episode.) Imaginary Beckett:: How'd it go back on Earth? McKay: It was, it was awful. Your family was amazing, though. Imaginary Beckett: Aye, they are. Good turnout? McKay: Oh, packed the church. Imaginary Beckett: Oh, that's good to hear! McKay: It's not gonna be the same round here without you. Imaginary Beckett: Oh, you're telling me! McKay: You know, the universe is a big place. Who knows, maybe we'll bump into each other again. Imaginary Beckett: Aye, who knows? McKay: You were the closest thing to a best friend I ever had. I'm really, really sorry. I should have just... Imaginary Beckett: Hey. This wasn't your fault. McKay: You're just telling me what I want to hear. Imaginary Beckett: Well that's what best friends do sometimes. And in this case it also happens to be true. Take care of yourself, Rodney. McKay: Goodbye, Carson.

Production

 * This episode marks the last to feature Paul McGillion as a regular cast member (although he is still in the opening titles for the rest of Season 3.) It is also the first time we see Katie Brown since her first appearance in the episode, "Duet".
 * The story in this episode is told in a nonlinear fashion, using multiple flashbacks to show where each character was and what they were doing before the pivotal moment. This allowed viewers to get a sense of what was happening from each of the characters viewpoints as well as from the whole group together.