sub x{ wantarray ? 'fred' : @_[ 0 .. $#_ ]; }

print x( 1, 2, 3 );;
fred

print scalar( x( 1, 2, 3 ) );;
3

##</code><code>##

    if (GIMME != G_ARRAY) {
        if (++MARK <= SP)
            *MARK = *SP;