Episode 5 of "My Stand-In" introduces us to Joe, embarking on his workday after a restless night. As he steps out, a debt collector arrives unexpectedly to confront his mother. Returning home, Joe discovers her tidying up the mess left by the collector and confessing to a staggering debt of 3 million Baht (exceeding 80,000 USD). Both keen on sparing each other's worries, Joe ultimately decides to harness his skills to secure the funds.
Wut, now working with a fresh team, finds them lacking compared to the Joe who Tong had once booted out of the business. Joe serendipitously arrives, seeking additional work, and they reluctantly give him a shot. Both Wut and Tong's manager are left astounded – they've uncovered a revitalized Joe.
In Wut's office, Joe inks the contract, acknowledging it falls short of covering the entire debt but marking a crucial first step. Left alone to handle paperwork, Joe takes the opportunity to rummage through Wut's desk, uncovering his old bankbook. Linked to his former identity, Joe ponders whether he can still withdraw money via ATM.
Ming seeks solace from a fortune-teller, inquiring once more about Joe's fate. He receives the enigmatic reply that Joe exists in a liminal state, neither dead nor alive, offering no further clarity. To attain something positive, Ming must endure patience – but will he recognize his blessing when it arrives?
On set, Ming confronts Joe, who shuffles away with a pretense of busyness. Ming lingers to observe the stunts, initially unimpressed by Joe's failed attempts. Once Ming retreats, Joe executes the stunt flawlessly, earning rounds of applause.
Post-performance, Wut and the manager reassure Joe that initial mishaps are expected, and Wut shares an anecdote about his previous stuntman accidentally knocking out someone's tooth. Tong's manager eyes Joe's physique, contemplating his suitability as Tong's stand-in for an upcoming film. Joe declines, and Wut concurs, inviting him to chat later at his place.
Ming's secretary, Jim, unearths information on Joe, revealing his stint as a stuntman. Jim's initial observations were uninspiring, but he hears Joe improved subsequently.
At Wut's residence, Joe inquiries about the twins but learns only one survived. Wut reveals that no one in the office knew about the twins, prompting Joe's curiosity about how he learned of them. Wut also accuses Joe of fibbing about his boxing lessons, hinting at deeper secrets.
Joe artfully concocts plausible excuses for each revelation, convincing Wut to let him be. Later, Joe seizes the moment to quiz Wut about his predecessor named Joe. Wut recounts how he vigorously searched for his missing friend after a workplace accident, emphasizing the futility of their efforts due to the body's disappearance.
Now, Wut declares that he's taking charge of Joe's well-being, already turning down an advertising shoot with Ming's company and staunchly advising Joe to steer clear of him. Ming, he asserts, is the culprit behind the first Joe's untimely demise. However, if Joe can be patient, Wut has another opportunity lined up for him—a gig with a Korean singer connected to Wut. Joe, mindful of his mother's welfare, pleads to take the immediate job to repay the loan shark, prompting Wut to relent.
On the set, Wut sternly instructs Ming to ensure Joe's well-being, earning an instantaneous rebuke from Ming. During the downtime, Ming extends an invitation for Joe to chill in his personal green room, but Joe politely declines, preferring the camaraderie of the crowds.
As the shoot commences, Joe finds himself unable to resist the urge to strike awkward combat poses, while the other models remain relaxed and sleek. Ming's entrance catches Joe's eye, and he realizes his previous fascination with Ming has carried over into this new body, rendering him unable to tear his gaze away. Joe inadvertently hears the crew whispering that Ming only breaks into a smile when facing his brother-in-law, Tong.
When additional models join the shoot, Ming singles out Joe, who appears visibly uneasy, to pose alongside him, creating an altogether different ambiance. Later, Jim approaches Joe to convey Ming's apologies for his clumsiness during the shoot, extending an invitation to dinner on Ming's behalf.
At the restaurant, Joe experiences a vivid flashback to a previous drunken dinner with Ming. Joe persuades them both to unwind and indulge in drinks, ensuring their glasses are never empty. After a few rounds, Ming expresses curiosity about why Wut personally escorted Joe to the set. Joe hypothesizes that it's because he reminds Wut of his deceased junior, but Ming curtly dismisses him, urging him to inform his boss that Joe is still alive.
As Joe exits, Ming cautions him to watch his tongue regarding Joe, insisting that people only tolerate him because of the other Joe. Joe acknowledges this stoically, shutting the door behind him. In the hallway, Joe discreetly checks Ming's schedule on a phone he'd covertly pocketed, then slips it back to the waitress, claiming he'd found it.
Returning to the company, Joe learns from his boss that Wut has reassigned him to the stunt team. He's invited out with the rest of the guys, but Joe declines, citing his own engagements—specifically, a planned home invasion, he jokes. On his way out, he bumps into Sol, who ignores him and continues walking.
Breaking into his old apartment, Joe discovers his ID and the broken mugs meticulously glued together. Lost in memories, he's startled by another entrant—Sol, demanding to know who dares enter her house.
