xml won't work in a nested MC

[c_a]

hi! I am getting pretty desperate over an issue I have with both XML and the regular "loadMovie" methods of importing data into flash.
I have a main movie and in its main timeline I have another MC from where I do a loadMovie of a navigation menu movie. In the menu movie I used a piece of xml code I found online:

function loadXML(loaded) { 
if (loaded) { 
xmlNode = this.firstChild; 
image = []; 
description = []; 
total = xmlNode.childNodes.length; 
for (i=0; i<total; i++) { 
image[i] = xmlNode.childNodes[i].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue; 
description[i] = xmlNode.childNodes[i].childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue; 
} 
firstImage(); 
} else { 
content = "file not loaded!"; 
} 
} 
xmlData = new XML(); 
xmlData.ignoreWhite = true; 
xmlData.onLoad = loadXML; 
xmlData.load("images.xml"); 
///////////////////////////////////// 
listen = new Object(); 
listen.onKeyDown = function() { 
if (Key.getCode() == Key.LEFT) { 
prevImage(); 
} else if (Key.getCode() == Key.RIGHT) { 
nextImage(); 
} 
}; 
Key.addListener(listen); 
previous_btn.onRelease = function() { 
prevImage(); 
}; 
next_btn.onRelease = function() { 
nextImage(); 
}; 
///////////////////////////////////// 
p = 0; 
this.onEnterFrame = function() { 
filesize = picture.getBytesTotal(); 
loaded = picture.getBytesLoaded(); 
preloader._visible = true; 
if (loaded != filesize) { 
preloader.preload_bar._xscale = 100*loaded/filesize; 
} else { 
preloader._visible = false; 
if (picture._alpha<100) { 
picture._alpha += 10; 
} 
} 
}; 
function nextImage() { 
if (p<(total-1)) { 
p++; 
if (loaded == filesize) { 
picture._alpha = 0; 
picture.loadMovie(image[p], 1); 
desc_txt.text = description[p]; 
picture_num(); 
} 
} 
} 
function prevImage() { 
if (p>0) { 
p--; 
picture._alpha = 0; 
picture.loadMovie(image[p], 1); 
desc_txt.text = description[p]; 
picture_num(); 
} 
} 
function firstImage() { 
if (loaded == filesize) { 
picture._alpha = 0; 
picture.loadMovie(image[0], 1); 
desc_txt.text = description[0]; 
picture_num(); 
} 
} 
function picture_num() { 
current_pos = p+1; 
pos_txt.text = current_pos+" / "+total; 
} 

The issue I have is that when I test the menu movie on its own, everything works but if I test it in the main movie as it should be, the data import doesn't work. This happens with both XML and simple loadMovie methods. What am I missing? Do I really have to keep everything within the main movie or is there something wrong with my targets/urls?
Please help! Thanks in advance!