Annales Bac S : Visiting a new house

     At five o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, Zach Willet drove to the neighboring town of Madison and
     parked in front of the sales office of the Cartwright Town Houses Corporation. He went inside,
     where he found a sales clerk, a woman in her thirties, tidying up in preparation for closing down for
     the day. He noted the nameplate on her desk: AMY STACK.
 5       "Hi, Amy," Zach said as he looked around the room. "I can see you're getting ready to
     skedaddle¹ out of here, so I won't take but two minutes of your time."
          On the walls were sketches of different models of the town houses, and the artist's
     conception of how they might look when furnished. Zach walked from one to the other, examining
     them closely. Brochures on the table listed the prices and sizes and particular features of the
10  various units. He picked up one of the brochures and read aloud some of the selling features of the
     most expensive model. "Four-story town house, four bedrooms, master bedroom suite, state-of-
     the-art kitchen, three fireplaces, four baths, washer and dryer, double garage, private patio and
     yard, all services." Zach smiled appreciatively. "Looks as though you just can't go wrong with that
     one," he said. He dropped the brochure back on the table, walked over to the biggest picture, and
15  pointed to it. "Now, Amy, I know you're probably rushing to meet your husband or your boyfriend,
     but how about indulging a nice fellow like me and show me that fancy homestead."
          "I'll be glad to take you over, Mr. ..." Amy hesitated. "I don't think you introduced yourself."
          "That's right. I didn't. I'm Zach Willet, and unless you borrowed somebody else's nameplate,
     you're Amy Stack."
20       "You've got it." Amy opened the top drawer of her desk and fished inside for her key ring.
     "That's 8 Pawnee Avenue. I have to warn you that is our top-of-the-line town house. It's fully
     loaded with every conceivable extra, and naturally that is reflected in the cost. It's also the
     furnished model."
          "Sounds better and better," Zach said genially. "Let's take a look at it."
25       On the way through the development², Amy Stack pointed out that the landscaping was
     almost finished, and was scheduled to be featured in a national gardening magazine, and that the
     driveways were heated to prevent ice from forming in the winter. "Mr. Cartwright has thought of
     everything," she said proudly. "He's one of those hands-on builders who is involved in every detail,
     every step of the way."
30       Ted's a good friend of mine," Zach said expansively. "Has been for forty years, since we
     were both kids riding bareback at the stable." He looked around. Some of the handsome red brick
     town houses were already occupied. "Expensive cars in the driveways," he commented. "Nice
     class of neighbors. I can see that."
          "Absolutely," Amy assured him. "The nicest people you'd ever want to meet." She walked a
35  few steps more, then said, "Here we are at number 8. As you can see, it's a corner unit, and it
     really is the crown jewel of the development."
          Zach's smile broadened as Amy turned the key, opened the door, and led him into the
     family room on the entry level. "Raised-hearth fireplace, wet bar — what's not to like?" he asked
     rhetorically.
40       "Some people use the room on the other side for a gym, and, of course, there's a full bath
     with a hot tub right beside it. It's such a convenient arrangement," Amy said, her voice crackling
     with professional enthusiasm.
          "Two guest bedrooms," he joked. "I don't have close family, but with those two bedrooms,
     I'd better look up those cousins of mine in Ohio and have them out for a weekend."
45       They rode back down in the elevator, went outside, and, as Amy locked the front door, Zach
     said, "I'll take it. As is. Furnished."
          "That's wonderful," Amy Stack exclaimed. "Are you prepared to make a deposit now?"
          "Didn't Ted Cartwright tell you that he's giving me this unit?" Zach asked, his tone
     astonished. "I saved his life once, and now that I have to get out of where I've been living, he told
50  me to come over and choose my space. Ted never forgets a favor. You must be proud to be in his
     employ."

Mary Higgins Clark, No Place Like Home, 2005 (adapted)

1 skedaddle: run away hurriedly
2 development: housing development

Les candidats de la série S traiteront l'UN des sujets au choix (200 mots).
Les candidats de la série L devront obligatoirement traiter les DEUX sujets (300 mots au total, soit environ 150 mots pour chaque sujet).

1. The next morning, the female character meets her boss at the office. Write their conversation.

2. How important is friendship in life? Illustrate your point of view with examples.