John Amos credited as playing...
Cleo McDowell
- Prince Akeem: Sir, did you happen to catch the professional football contest on television last night?
- Cleo McDowell: No, I didn't.
- Prince Akeem: Oh sir, the Giants of New York took on the Packers of Green Bay. And in the end, the Giants triumphed by kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin through a big "H". It was a most ripping victory.
- Cleo McDowell: Son, I'm only going to tell you this one time.
- Prince Akeem: Yes?
- Cleo McDowell: If you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs.
- Prince Akeem: Yes.
- Cleo McDowell: Look... me and the McDonald's people got this little misunderstanding. See, they're McDonald's... I'm McDowell's. They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs. They got the Big Mac, I got the Big Mick. We both got two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, but their buns have sesame seeds. My buns have no seeds.
- [King Jaffe Joffer and his entourage, all elaborately dressed, have come to McDowell's fast food restaurant looking for Akeem]
- Maurice: Mr. McDowell?
- Cleo McDowell: Yes?
- Maurice: There's some people here to see you.
- Cleo McDowell: They're not from McDonalds are they?
- Maurice: I don't think so.
- Cleo: And, baby, when I tell ya the boy has got his own money, I mean the boy has got his own MONEY!
- [Presents the currency of Zamunda bearing Akeem's picture]
- Cleo McDowell: [to Darryl] Look, the girl doesn't like you any more! Can't you get that through your greasy head?
- 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?
- Cleo McDowell: You know how to mop don't you?
- Prince Akeem: Oh yes.
- [Leaving the mop inside the wheely-bucket begins maneuvering it back and forth along the floor]
- Cleo McDowell: Don't use the bucket. It'll just confuse you.
- 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?
- Cleo McDowell: [Talking on the phone] Yeah, King Jaffe Joffer's room, please. Yeah, hello, King? Yeah, Cleo McDowell here. Yeah, King, both the kids are here... together. Right. 2432 Derby Avenue, Jamaica Estates. Right. Now, King, I was wondering if - hello, King?
- Cleo McDowell: A prince. He's a prince. Oh, Lisa, you did it this time. You hit the jackpot. Your little goat herder makes Darryl look like a welfare case.