ASYLUM examines the complex dynamics of Craig’s family, an immigration officer torn between his duty and his love for his child. He faces a moral dilemma as he decides the fate of a young refugee while grappling with his own son’s troubles.

The story begins with Craig interviewing Hajir, a young refugee from Lebanon. Concurrently, Craig’s son, Jason, is being questioned by the police as a suspect in an assault case. As events unfold, Craig’s estranged wife, Vicki, who has been mentally unwell, reappears after a three-year absence, adding to the family turmoil.

Raising Jason as a single father for fifteen years has been challenging, and Jason’s arrest feels like the breaking point for Craig. He contemplates whether it is time for Jason to face the consequences of his actions. Vicki, for whom Craig harbors cautious and conflicted feelings, pressures him to do more to help their son. Jason, aware of the gravity of his situation, pleads for his father’s assistance.

As Hajir shares his harrowing experiences of escaping the horrors of Lebanon, Craig struggles to reconcile this with his son’s self-destructive choices. Although both young men are of similar ages, their circumstances are starkly different: one fleeing a war-torn homeland, the other seemingly squandering his life.

Craig suspects both Jason and Hajir are concealing the truth to protect themselves. While he empathizes with their reasons, he finds it hard to accept their deceit. This internal conflict intensifies with further arguments with Vicki, leading to her isolation and eventual suicide.

Jason’s revelations shed light on the depth of his struggles, including coping with ADHD, a bipolar mother, and feeling constantly judged by his father. Meanwhile, Hajir implores Craig to overlook his deceit and grant him asylum in Australia.

Craig is ultimately faced with a profound choice: should he extend compassion and support to these two young men despite their dishonesty, or remain steadfast to the principles of truth and duty that have guided his life? ASYLUM is a poignant exploration of moral complexity, familial bonds, and the challenging intersections of personal and professional life.