 According to Johnny Depp (qv) on the Turner Classic Movies  documentary on Marlon Brando (qv), In the scene where he and  Brando are sitting at the table talking about the inconsistencies in  DeMarcos (Depp) character, when DeMarco admits his father was from  New York, Depps lines were re written just before shooting the  scene so he had no time to prepare and memorize the lines. So Marlon  Brando talked to the Director and cinematographer to find out where  the cameras angles were. He then worked out a way in which he cut up  Depps lines in the script and pasted them to the cup of coffee in  his hand and then held the cup in his hand in such a way that the  camera wouldnt pick up the pasted lines and Depp could read them.