trying to add a second screen to Mac book pro

Hello, clw09.

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Your MacBook Pro doesn't support this feature. In order to use a Mac as a second display, you have to meet the requirements from this article: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

"iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014

To use any of these iMac models as an external display:

• The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
• The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
• The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Thunderbolt  or Thunderbolt 2  cable.

24-inch and 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010

To use any of these iMac models as an external display:

• The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
• The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
• The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Mini DisplayPort  cable."

This is only available for older macOS devices and software.

Best regards.