[Lazamataz]

so she stupidly grins, blurts out a nonsensical non sequitur “A friend in need is a friend indeed,”

Additionally, Ben Franklin intended that quote as an insult. "A friend in need, is a friend indeed," is nothing less than a cut down.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I hadn't heard that about Franklin's interpretation of that aphorism. I looked it up and the best interpretation I could find is at The meaning and origin of the expression: A friend in need is a friend indeed at phrases.org.uk. You'd think those Brits would know a thing or two about the mother tongue.

That page is fascinating because it provides four differing interpretations of the phrase. It also says "A version of this proverb was known by the 3rd century BC. Quintus Ennius wrote: 'Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur'. This translates from the Latin as 'a sure friend is known when in difficulty'."