спасибо за совет. привожу кусок скрипта - работает. может, кому пригодиться

Код AS1/AS2:
stop();
onLoad = function () {
//create graphic interface
/*******************************************/
//create main menu
//create main container for buttons
_level0.createEmptyMovieClip("mainMenu",100);
mainMenu._x = 50;
mainMenu._y = 150;
//attach menu buttons
mainMenu.attachMovie("b_main_1","b_main_1",101);
mainMenu.b_main_1._x = 0;
mainMenu.b_main_1._y = 0;
mainMenu.attachMovie("b_main_2","b_main_2",102);
mainMenu.b_main_2._x = 0;
mainMenu.b_main_2._y = mainMenu.b_main_1._height+5;
mainMenu.attachMovie("b_main_3","b_main_3",103);
mainMenu.b_main_3._x = 0;
mainMenu.b_main_3._y = mainMenu.b_main_2._height*2+10;
mainMenu.attachMovie("b_main_4","b_main_4",104);
mainMenu.b_main_4._x = 0;
mainMenu.b_main_4._y = (mainMenu.b_main_3._height*3)+15;
mainMenu.attachMovie("b_main_5","b_main_5",105);
mainMenu.b_main_5._x = 0;
mainMenu.b_main_5._y = mainMenu.b_main_4._height*4+20;
};
onEnterFrame = function () {
//submenu event
//create first submenu
mainMenu.b_main_2.onRollOver=function(){
//create submenu contaner
_level0.createEmptyMovieClip("submenu1",200);
submenu1._x=300;
submenu1._y=205;
//attach submenu buttons
submenu1.attachMovie("b_sub1_1","sub1",201);
submenu1.sub1._x=5;
submenu1.sub1._y=0;
submenu1.attachMovie("b_sub1_2","sub2",202);
submenu1.sub2._x=5;
submenu1.sub2._y=mainMenu.b_main_2._height+5;
submenu1.attachMovie("b_sub1_3","sub3",203);
submenu1.sub3._x=5;
submenu1.sub3._y=mainMenu.b_main_2._height*2+10;
submenu1.attachMovie("b_sub1_4","sub4",204);
submenu1.sub4._x=5;
submenu1.sub4._y=mainMenu.b_main_2._height*3+15;
submenu1.attachMovie("b_sub1_5","sub5",205);
submenu1.sub5._x=5;
submenu1.sub5._y=mainMenu.b_main_2._height*4+20;
submenu1.attachMovie("b_sub1_6","sub6",206);
submenu1.sub6._x=5;
submenu1.sub6._y=mainMenu.b_main_2._height*5+25;
}
if(
mainMenu.b_main_2.hitTest(_xmouse, _ymouse) or
submenu1.hitTest(_xmouse, _ymouse)
){
isItMouseInTarget=true;
}else{
isItMouseInTarget=false;
}
if(isItMouseInTarget){
submenu1.sub1.onRelease=function(){
_level0.gotoAndStop(3);
_level0.submenu1.removeMovieClip();
isItMouseInTarget=false;
}
} else {
_level0.submenu1.removeMovieClip();
//delete this.onEnterFrame;
}
};