You didn't post some code, so I can only guess:

I want to be able to start the script from a CGI script through a browser. All my attempts at doing this so far result in the browser timing out. The script will be started but my status message will not be displayed.

did you close STDOUT in your child process?

Today there is another node on this subject: Understanding fork. There is also a column by merlyn: Watching long processes through CGI. Where is merlyn when you need him? :)

Ciao, Valerio