Ben asks what day it is; when told it's Sunday, he complains that he's missed "Fibber McGee and Molly" and wants to know if Fibber "got the hearse back." The doctor states that Ben has been unconscious for forty years. On March 5, 1946 an episode of "Fibber McGee" was broadcast in which Fibber's car was stolen. However, in 1946 March 5th fell on a Tuesday, so from Ben's point of view he's been unconscious for five days (believing it to be March 10th.) If the episode took place roughly when broadcast (March 2, 1986, which was a Sunday), then Ben has been comatose for 39 years and 362 days.