The implementation isn't great. I gave up on
In the desk is: a receipt, Clark's jotter and a newspaper clipping.
>take receipt
If you want the receipt you'll have to first tell me to take it out of the container that it is in.
>take out the receipt
You asked me to take out the receipt but I'm having trouble carrying out that instruction.
>take all
There doesn't appear to be anything lying around that I can take