Coming to America (1988)

James Earl Jones: King Jaffe Joffer

Photos 

Quotes 

• King Jaffe Joffer : Do not alert him to my presence. I shall deal with him myself.

• King Jaffe Joffer : We've gone to a great deal of trouble to select for you a very fine wife. Since the day she was born, she was taught to walk and speak and think as a queen.

  Prince Akeem : But, father, what if I do not love her?

  King Jaffe Joffer : It is normal to feel anxiety about meeting your queen.

  Queen Aoleon : When I first met your father, I was terrified.

  King Jaffe Joffer : I must admit, I was frightened too.

  Queen Aoleon : I was so nervous, I became nauseous. But over the years, I have grown to love your father very much.

  King Jaffe Joffer : So you see, my son, there is a very fine line between love and nausea.

• King Jaffe Joffer : Semmi, you have disgraced yourself and you must be punished. You will confine yourself to our royal suite at the Waldorf-Astoria.

  [to Oha] 

  King Jaffe Joffer : And see that he puts on some decent attire.

  [to the rose bearers] 

  King Jaffe Joffer : And I want you to bathe him thoroughly.

  Semmi : Oh, thank you, Your Majesty!

• King Jaffe Joffer : [entering Akeem's old apartment to find the landlord sitting in a hot tub]  You're not Akeem.

  Landlord : I know that.

  King Jaffe Joffer : [looking at Akeem's employee of the month award from McDowell's]  What is this?

  Landlord : A photograph.

  King Jaffe Joffer : What is this - McDowell's?

  Landlord : It's a place on Queens Boulevard. I think he works there.

  King Jaffe Joffer : [outraged]  My son works?

• King Jaffe Joffer : Time does fly fast, my son. It seems only yesterday I ordered your first diaper changed and now you're a man who's about to be married. She will give you much pleasure, don't you think?

  Prince Akeem : I am not sure if I am ready.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Son, I know we never had a talk about this but I always assumed that you had sex with your bathers. I know I do.

• Prince Akeem : But when I marry, I want the woman to love me for who I am, not because of what I am.

  King Jaffe Joffer : And who are you?

  Prince Akeem : I am a man who has never tied his own shoes before!

  King Jaffe Joffer : Wrong. You are a prince who has never tied his shoes. Believe me, I tied my own shoes once. It is an overrated experience.

• King Jaffe Joffer : We shall return to Zamunda at once.

  Prince Akeem : I will not leave without Lisa.

  Queen Aoleon : So you do care for her?

  Prince Akeem : Mother, I love her.

  Queen Aoleon : Then go after her.

  [Akeem kisses her on the forehead and leaves] 

  King Jaffe Joffer : Akeem! Akeem! I forbid you!

  Queen Aoleon : Put a sock in it, Jaffe, the boy is in love.

• King Jaffe Joffer : Even if she said yes, they still could not marry. It is against the tradition.

  Queen Aoleon : Well, it is a stupid tradition.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Who am I to change it?

  Queen Aoleon : I thought you were the King.

• Cleo McDowell : What'd you say to my daughter?

  King Jaffe Joffer : I told her the truth. That Akeem could not be interested in her.

  Queen Aoleon : How can you be so sure?

  King Jaffe Joffer : Oh, come now. Our son cannot consort with such a girl.

  Cleo McDowell : Hey, now wait a minute!

  King Jaffe Joffer : Oha.

  [Oha gets out a chequebook] 

  King Jaffe Joffer : I know you have been inconvenienced and I am prepared to compensate you. Shall we say one million American dollars?

  Cleo McDowell : No way.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Very well then, two million.

  Cleo McDowell : You haven't got enough money to buy my daughter off.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Nonsense!

  Queen Aoleon : Jaffe. Apologize to Mr. McDowell.

  King Jaffe Joffer : I will do no such thing. The man is beneath me and so is his daughter.

  Cleo McDowell : I don't give a damn who you are! This is America, Jack. Now, you say one more word about Lisa here and I'mma break my foot off in your royal ass!

  King Jaffe Joffer : Pardon me?

• Clarence : Hey, what's up, brother? You a little late for the Christmas pageant.

  King Jaffe Joffer : I am King Jaffe Joffer, ruler of Zamunda.

  Clarence : Have a seat. Chair number two will be ready in a second.

  Saul : [touching the lion skin that King Jaffe is wearing]  This is beautiful. What is that? Velvet?

• Oha : This is King Jaffe Joffer, ruler of Zamunda. He is searching for his son, Akeem.

  Cleo McDowell : Your son?

  King Jaffe Joffer : Yes, my son, my prince.

  Cleo McDowell : The prince? Are you serious?

  Oha : Prince Akeem is the sole heir to the throne of Zamunda.

  Cleo McDowell : I always knew there was something special about that boy.

• Patrice McDowell : What's everybody yelling about?

  Cleo McDowell : Their son, the Prince, is love with your sister, but the King here, he can't handle it!

  Patrice McDowell : No, he's not. The Prince is in love with me.

  [Akeem and Semmi arrive] 

  Queen Aoleon : Are you all right?

  Prince Akeem : Yes, mother, I'm fine.

  Patrice McDowell : Why are you hugging him? He's just the servant.

  [points at Semmi, who is shaking his head at her] 

  Patrice McDowell : He's the Prince.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Who told you that?

  [everyone looks at Semmi, who backs away, guiltily] 

  Patrice McDowell : You mean Akeem's the Prince?

  Cleo McDowell : Yeah. And he's in love with Lisa.

  Patrice McDowell : How come she always gets the good ones?

• [Prince Akeem walks to the other of the very long dining table to speak to his parents face-to-face rather than over an intercom] 

  King Jaffe Joffer : Have you grown a moustache?

  Queen Aoleon : Jaffe, it has been a year.

• [Prince Akeem gets up from his end of the long dining room table] 

  Queen Aoleon : What is he doing?

  King Jaffe Joffer : I think he's coming down here to talk to us.

• King Jaffe Joffer : Son, please. I'm more than the exalted ruler of this land and the master of all I survey. I'm also a concerned dad.

• King Jaffe Joffer : It is of no consequence to me.

• King Jaffe Joffer : So, what is it, my son?

  Prince Akeem : Well, father, first of all it is things like this.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Like what?

  Prince Akeem : The rose petals.

  Queen Aoleon : What is the matter, dear? You are the son of a king, why should you not walk on the petals of roses?

  Prince Akeem : Ah, but mother, if there were no rose petals I would still be the son of a king.

  King Jaffe Joffer : Then it is settled.

  [announcing to the rest of the room] 

  King Jaffe Joffer : From this day forth, anyone who throws roses at my son's feet will answer to me.

  [the female rose bearers nervously back out of the room] 

• King Jaffe Joffer : I am looking for my son Akeem.

• King Jaffe Joffer : You're right! Get out, see the world, enjoy yourself, fulfill *every* erotic desire.

• King Jaffe Joffer : Akeem came to America to - sow his royal oats.