pathing problems...

OK.

I have a 3 level movie hierarchy: main timeline contains MC1 contains mc1, etc.

I am able to drill down to the 3rd level using relative pathing, e.g.
on main timeline: MC1.gotoAndPlay(n);
on timeline of MC1: mc1.gotoAndPlay(n);

Now, MC1 contains a function that drills into mc1, executes a script, and then should go back to the second frame of its parent, MC1.

I have tried doing this a number of ways (yes, i have scoured the forums and tried everything i have seen) including:

on jump frame of mc1:

_root.MC1.gotoAndPlay(n);

theparent = this._parent;
theparent.gotoAndPlay(n);

Anyone have any ideas why this isnt working?

All my instances have been named properly.