I've tried getting perl to run on Apache 2, but it just won't work

When the perl script is called, I just see the source code appear on the screen. Even though the perl module is installed in the Apache2 conf, even though the script has execute rights, even though the aliases directory is a cgi directory with "Options +ExecCGI" on there.... no go! I can use perl from the command line too

When I get into the httpd.conf file and put in "AddHandler cgi-script .cgi", then the script is offered to me as a download!

Help, I am tearing my hair out here.

Mmmmm are the files executable (also for apache?)

First try chmod 777

then check if it works... If it does, you know it has something to do with permissions...