It was the prolog to a 70s sitcom as I recall, about the dad going to the corner for cigarettes and only coming back years later. I can’t remember what the show was now though.

The dad who went out for cigarettes is a big trope in American culture. The joke only really works if you know that. See https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ParentNeverCameB...