Apache 2.0.47 won't execute .pl files on Windows NT4

Hello all;

I installed Apache v2.0.47 and Perl on an NT4 machine. Everything seems to
be working OK -- 1) Apache loads and runs OK, 2) I modified the hosts file
on another computer on my LAN and can access various virtual hosts, 3) Perl
is working fine and will properly execute .pl files.

But Apache wants to serve instead of exeucte files that end in .pl.

I copied the file cgin-bin/printenv.pl to b.cgi, b.bbb, and b.pl.

I am, currently, using the ScriptAlias command in the Apache httpd.conf file
and... when I enter:

localhost/cgi-bin/b.cgi or...
localhost/cgi-bin/b.bbb

into IE's address bar, Apache correctly executes both files and displays
their output.

However, when I enter:

localhost/cgi-bin/b.pl

into IE's address bar, the machine wants to open or download the file. I
just can't get this thing to execute files ending in .pl.

I tried using a combination of "Options ExecCGI" and the AddHandler
directives -- all to no avail.

I have read and re-read the Apache docs on CGI, and searched google for an
hour or so -- but can't seem to come up with anything definitive.

Can anyone explain what the problem is and how to correct it?

TIA.

Charles...