Python return values?

Question

How do I do this? Can I do this?

def aFunction(argument):  
    def testSomething():  
        if thisValue == 'whatItShouldBe':  
            return True  
        else:  
            return False  

    if argument == 'theRightValue': # this is actually a switch using elif's in my code  
        testSomething()  
    else:  
        return False  

def aModuleEntryPoint():  
    if aFunction(theRightValue) == True:  
        doMoreStuff()  
    else:  
        complain()  

aModuleEntryPoint()

aModuleEntryPoint() needs to first make sure that a condition is true before it starts doing things. Because of encapsulation, aModuleEntryPoint doesn't know how to check the condition, but aFunction() has a sub-function called testSomething() that does know how to check the condition. aModuleEntryPoint() calls aFunction(theRightValue).

Because theRightValue was passed to aFunction() as an argument, aFunction() calls testSomething(). testSomething() performs the logic test, and either returns True or False.

I need for aModuleEntryPoint() to know what testSomething() decided. I do not want aModuleEntryPoint() to know anything about how testSomething() came to its conclusion.

It would actually be an accomplishment to post my actual source while removing other functions and what-not, so I had to setup the general gist like this.

Solution

The only thing I see wrong right now is you need a return before testSomething() on line 9.