It's not nice, or good, but i did the following :

#!/usr/bin/perl
$ENV{WATSON} = "It Worked";
print "Shelling ...\n";
exec('ksh');
[download]

and with a run saw ...

%shell >./shellme.pl
Shelling ...
%shell >echo $WATSON
It Worked
%shell >
[download]

But, this is not remotly safe ... it clobered certain shell optinos, not to mention this version forces ksh. I do not suggest this unless there is absolutly no other way. (and if so, please check $ENV{SHELL}, but be sure to also include a default)

---

_{can't sleep clowns will eat me}
-- MZSanford