def step_1():
    print("some step 1...")
    return 123

def step_2(some_value):
    print("some step 2... %s" % (some_value) )
    return "abc"

# main
x = step_1()
y = step_2(x)

$ python t.py
+ step_1()
some step 1...
+ x = 123
+ step_2(123)
some step 2... 123
+ y = "abc"