Using ._parent or ._root

hi, still struggling with making my drop down menu buttons act on the main timeline (scene1)

can anyone help me with the coding and where i need to place it (within the main timeline or within the movieclip itself)??

to recap. i have a dropdown menu with buttons. the buttons do not act on the main timeline no matter where or how i point to them.

eg. on main timeline i have:
kitchenmenu_mc.coffeemachines_btn.onRelease = function() {
gotoAndPlay(“coffeemachines”);
}

this does not work, either does:

(when placed within frame of movieclip)

coffeemachines_btn.onRelease = function() {
gotoAndPlay(“coffeemachines”);
}

(when places on the button itself)

on (release) {
gotoAndPlay(“coffeemachines”);
}