Flash Countdown Script help

Total newbie to Flash programming. Just read the tutorial on how to make a countdown script in flash using Senocular’s tutorial: http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/countdown.htm

I actually copied the code directly from the source code provided, but changed my display to avoid showing milliseconds. However, the script will not work. Rather than counting down, all of the numbers just cycle through from 9-0 so that I’ve got 8 numbers just spinning around. Looks more like a slot machine gone wild than a countdown.

Any suggestions? I’m completely at a loss…

By the way, I’m using Flash 8 Professional, instead of MX. Does this affect anything?