Again, sorry for not being more clear in my description. You all make very valid points.

The reason I have two Perl scripts, is because they will executed at different times. Some background information through an example:

User executes PerlScript1. This creates a directory with contains a Checklist and a small bash script. The reason the bash script isn't executed yet is because it will execute PerlScript2, which produces a timestamped file that contains updates (only as recent as the timestamp, which is why I delay PerlScript2 by means of the bash script. This way the user can complete and add to the Checklist document and they don't have to worry about executing the second Perl script until they are absoultey ready, so as to ensure they have the most current updates.) When the user is finally ready for the timestamped folder, they can execute the bash script, which will call upon PerlScript2 and execute it, thus creating an updated timestamped folder. PerlScript2 sends out an email notification when it is executed and ultimately needs to use the $final variable from PerlScript1 to populate the email with the correct filename given in PerlScript1.

Hope this helps fill in some of the gaps.

Thanks.