In the eleventh chapter of "My Stand-In," Jim finds himself perched at Mike's office, the brother of Ming, where he subtly urges Mike to uphold his vow to Ming. Meanwhile, at Joe's dwelling, a jubilant ambiance pervades the space as they commemorate Joe's mother's birthday in the company of Sol. Sol's inquisitiveness is sparked upon noticing Ming's absence, yet he remains somewhat unfazed upon being apprised of Ming's familial complications. Likewise, Sol isn't astonished by Joe's lingering affection for Ming; instead, he candidly acknowledges his own sentiments for Joe while pledging to stand by him like a kindred.
Upon hearing that Ming awaits him at his apartment, Joe dashes off without delay. However, it's Mike who greets him there, revealing that Ming is confined to his home due to acknowledging his relationship with Joe. Joe, willing to sever ties, resists the urge to abandon Ming as he once did and instead asks Mike to facilitate a meeting.
Returning to his home, Joe discovers his mother clutching a copy of his paramour agreement, her disgust palpable. She insists on moving out immediately and refuses to see him until his debts are settled. Mike steps in to defend himself, denying he sent the agreement but offering to investigate and facilitate a meeting with Ming.
As promised, Mike reunites Joe with Ming, who appears to be falling apart, having refrained from eating for a week. Ming, desperate to avoid separation, invokes Mike's earlier promise of assistance if Joe reverted to his old self. As Joe and Mike strive to persuade Ming, his parents burst in, igniting a confrontation. Ming suddenly collapses, prompting them to rush him to the hospital.
However, Ming's illness was a ruse to evade his family's clutches. Amidst the turmoil, Mike confirms his agreement with the Seer, finally deciding to aid the couple. Ming's mother soon joins them, granting Joe permission to stay for Ming's sake. She confesses to hiring the lawyer and Joe vows to repay the money used for his mother's care. She also concedes to their relationship but warns them that dealing with his father will be their battle.
When Ming confronts his father, he presents evidence that Tong used their family's name to clear his debts. Tong abruptly halts the discussion, fearing Ming might harm his nephew with such revelations. May sides with Ming, forcing their father to stipulate that Ming can be with Joe only if he forsakes everything, including his business, and never returns. Without hesitation, Ming walks away, embracing a new chapter in his life.
In the cozy confines of Joe's vintage apartment, they finally find themselves side by side, Walking amidst the remnants of his past life. The last hurdle to conquer is Joe's mother's belongings. Meanwhile, across different circumstances, Tong delivers divorce papers to May, coldly confessing that their marriage was a mere monetary arrangement. As May storms out, debt collectors invade her space.
Tong, desperate and defeated, seeks Joe at their workplace, pleading for funds to save his child. The collectors seize Joe just as Ming arrives in search of him. Faced with Tong's absence, the collectors issue a grim ultimatum: Joe's life for Tong's debt. Ming's timely intervention halts the grim fate momentarily. Tong's obligation looms large at 500 million Baht (approximately 14 million USD), payable by midnight. They rush to their father for a solution.
Their father, weary of his sons' incessant troubles, reluctantly offers to settle Tong's debts but insists on confronting the loan shark personally. Ming, Tong, and Mike venture to the designated meeting spot, offering 10 million Baht and Ming himself as a bargaining chip for Joe's freedom, with the promise that Joe's mother will cover the remaining 500 million. As they finalize the deal, the piercing wail of sirens signals the police's arrival. Suspecting a trap, the men open fire, mistakenly striking Joe instead of Ming. The police intervene swiftly, averting further bloodshed.
Joe collapses into Ming's welcoming arms, his consciousness slowly drifting away into a bizarre and surreal dimension. Inside a dreamscape-like waiting room, Joe beholds a haunting vision: Ming and his friends encircle his lifeless form, their faces etched with sorrow and desperation. The Seer, a mysterious and enigmatic figure, confronts him, unveiling the stark truth—Joe stands once again at the precipice between life and death, confronted with a pivotal choice: to reclaim his body and resume the endless cycle, or to step through the door and finally bring an end to this relentless, brutal repetition.
Witnessing Ming's heart-wrenching grief, Joe instinctively leans towards his body. But the Seer poses a profound question, probing if Joe is weary of always being a substitute for others. Memories of shared hardships with Ming flood his mind, steering Joe towards the door. With a resolute step, he exits, bidding farewell to the endless loop.
