#!/usr/bin/perl -w

$pid = fork();

if ($pid == 0) {
   print  "We're in the child process.";

   exit(0);  # Terminate child.

} elsif (! defined $pid) {  
   print "Not defined: means an error.";
} else {
   print "Parent process.";

   print "Do something...";

   # Reap child.  
   $id = wait();  

   # Do something after child dies.
   print "Child $id is dead.\n";
}