Loosing it :( with strings

I’m having several problems all linked.

I need to send variables (strings) out to PHP.

But when I’m collecting the input text from the boxes, it’s out putting it with HTML code :S.

Like so:<TEXTFORMAT LEADING=“2”><P ALIGN=“LEFT”><FONT FACE=“HelveticaNeue[FONT=monospace] [/FONT]BlackCond” SIZE=“20” COLOR="#000000" LETTERSPACING=“0” KERNING=“0”>myVariableText</FONT></P></TEXTFORMAT>

And also I have my variables in a movieClip called formHolder and within i wanted seperate movieClips holding the text Input boxes for each different answer on my page. But it will not collect the variables unless they are in the root of the formHolder MC. Can I get round this?