gzip -9 calling_stuff.py

ipython
import subprocess

In [9]: subprocess.call('zcat calling_stuff.py.gz > foo.py', shell=True)
Out[9]: 0

In [10]: ls -l foo.py
-rw-r--r--  1 schwehr  staff  143 Apr 19 21:16 foo.py

In [11]: cat foo.py
#!/usr/bin/env python

def say_hi():
    print 'hi'

def my_function():
    say_hi()
    say_hi()

if __name__=='__main__':
    my_function()