getting node variables to work

Hi guys,

pardon the newb question - but I am having a hard time outputting any variables as I normally could in a template file. E.g. $node->path would output the path to the current node.

I have a panel for a node type I call video, and would like to add a custom content pane where I place e.g.

print $node->path;

but there is no output. What am I missing?

many thanks for any pointers!!