Problems with loading swf files

I am rather new to AS3 so this could be a really simple solution but have not found one in the last day I have spent searching. Anyway, here it goes…

I have two swfs, a container and the file loaded in, external.swf. The container has an empty movie clip inside it which loads the swf. I am able to load in the external swf and play it properly however, there is code on external.swf that needs to preform some functions on other parts of the container (change some dynamic text). But, i can not seem to be able to access the container timeline or anything in it.

Is it something to do with allowDomain? I have imported it and set it to the current directory.

Is it something else?..

Please help.