PHP not being interperated by apache

I am fresh web script in general and have installed php5 mysql and apache2 on my ubuntu system. I believe by default my php5 install uses a module on mysql. My problem is when I serve a php script it would simply open it. I tried a purge and reinstall of php5 and some random configure change. I no longer open it but still no dice. Also my permissions are locked in my www folder. Anyone able to shed some light on this?

tl;dr : see subject.

these might be helpful:

http://httpd.apache.org/
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/
http://wiki.apache.org/httpd/
http://wiki.apache.org/httpd/PHP
http://www.php.net/manual/en/install.unix.apache2.php