mysql_pconnect() on php as cgi

Hi, after I've used mysql_pconnect() in all my db routine for a lot of time -( , one big doubt is coming on my mind: this function is available only with php as module and not with php as cgi ... well, my script works with php as cgi, but what about my function *_pconnect()? Is it magically converted into *_connect() ones? And more: do I need (I mean: is it better) to specify mysql_close() in this case? Last question: is it right to use mysql_free_result() between two or more query result on the same script in order to produce faster db routines? I mean: /*connect and send query, eg. select ones*/ for($i=0; $i<mysql_num_rows($result); $i++) { $field=mysql_fetch_array($result); //and so on } mysql_free_result($result); /*send another query, eg. update ones*/ mysql_free_result($result); //and so on ... Many thanks in advance, max