Stupid Python Questions

[JohnFrog]

I have never used Python, and I am wondering about this following
things (OS=Win2K):

1) Can I call and run DOS executables from a Python script?  

2) Can I easily create a standalone program (1 file) that runs under
DOS (command prompt) that contains my script and the Python
interpreter (or just what is needed for my script), so that from an
end-user perspective it just looks like a DOS executable?

3) Is there a preferred place to download a Python interpreter from?

Thanks,
John