how can this be happening?

I'm working in AS2 in Flash 3.

I have one timeline. Frame one has the following code:

var age_gate = _root.age_gate;
if (age_gate!="yes"){
this.gotoAndPlay("show_video");
}else{
//this.gotoAndPlay("age_gate");
msg_txt.text = "should show age gate";
}
stop();

when I uncomment the gotoAndPlay(); it doesn't go to the "age_gate" label. It does, however, print out the msg listed in the code, so the if/else is working. Ideas. I've also tried going to another label, no luck. If I try going to the same label (show_video), it works. I have no ideas here... I've tried w/o the this. and tried with _root.

thanks

oh, and another thing. it works locally (ctrl/enter) but not on the server

ok - figured it out. it was playing too fast and wasn't registering the labels. moved everything out 10 frames and it worked.